asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will obtain figures showing the comparative burden of taxation per acre falling upon agricultural land in Denmark, Holland, France, Germany, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Great Britain?

The variety of the systems of taxation, central and local, which in the different countries mentioned may affect agricultural land, either by way of its capital value, rental value or profits emerging from its use, and the manifold complexities and reactions of such taxation, make it impossible to prepare the figures which the hon. Member desires. In the United Kingdom particularly the nature of the incidence of taxation on agricultural land as such would not permit of a comparison with similar taxation in the countries mentioned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the whole of the £1,250,000 allotted from the Road Fund surplus to the upkeep of rural roads has now been allocated; and, in that case, whether he will state the extent to which each of the counties in England and Wales has benefited?

I have been asked to answer this question. The allocation of grants from the sum of £1,250,000, specially set aside from the Road Fund for the assistance of rural areas, is proceeding, and the applications of local authorities are being dealt with as they are received. I anticipate that a large number of applications have still to be forwarded to my Department, and, in the circumstances, I think it would be undesirable and misleading to give any figures showing the amounts granted to authorities in each county at the present time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the average cost per head of military, naval, and air defence in this country; and what the contributions made by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa to the cost of Imperial defence amount to per head of the population of these Dominions?

The defence expenditure of this country, on the basis of the provision made in the Estimates for the current year, amounts to £2 18s. 5d. per head of the population. On the basis of the Estimates for the year 1922–23, the approximate cost of defence per head of population of European descent in the Dominions is as follows: s. d. Australia … … 17 11 Canada … … 6 8 New Zealand … … 11 4 South Africa … … 12 1

It is not possible to discriminate between the cost of internal defence by the self-governing Dominions and their contribution to Imperial defence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Co-operative Wholesale Society, through its branches in Lancashire and Yorkshire, whilst immune from taxation under Schedule D, is supplying flour for sizing purposes to trading concerns outside the co-operative movement in competition with firms which are taxed under that Schedule; and if he will take the necessary steps, by making the tax general, to put an end to competition which is bearing heavily on traders in these counties?

A cooperative society registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893, is entitled under the provisions of Section 39 (4) of the Income Tax Act, 1918, to exemption from Income Tax under Schedules C and D, unless it sells to persons who are not members and the number of its shares is limited by its rules or practice. I would, however, remind my hon. and gallant Friend that co-operative societies do not enjoy any general exemption from Income Tax. As is evidenced by the Report of the Royal Commission on the Income Tax (Cmd. 615), the tax paid by the societies and their members under the legal provisions which govern their case does not greatly differ from that which would be payable under the ordinary Income Tax law. The matter to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers does not, in my judgment, afford any sufficient ground for altering the existing law.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the trustees of the British Museum, having failed to produce their agreement with the Corps of Commissionaires, the commissionaires employed on warding duties at the Museum hold that they come under Award A81 of 1920, like all those employás who were dealt with under Agreement A30, 1918; that on the 28th April, 1922, the trustees of the Museum by letter threatened the commissionaires with the loss of their situations if they left the Corps of Commissionaires; that the commissionaires, being employás of the State, resent this interference with their private relations with the Corps of Commissionaires; and whether he will give instructions that the threat in ques- tion shall be withdrawn and give an assurance that the commissionaires will be given the same rights and liberties as other unestablished State employás?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his question on the same subject on the 10th May last, and I would at the same time draw his particular attention to the suggestion put forward in the last paragraph of that answer. With regard to the rest of the question, no threats have been employed and the trustees have not interfered in the private relations of the men with the Corps except in securing for them remissions of the contributions to which reference has been made in several previous answers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that certain temporary women clerks who sat in the 1919 establishment examination and passed into the clerical class by this means, are now worse off financially than those who failed in 1919 but passed the 1920 clerical class examination owing to Treasury action in excluding the former from the benefits of the Southborough Committee findings on starting pay; and whether he will have this anomaly remedied?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Lambeth, North (Mr. Briant), on the 26th July.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether there is any prospect of the issue of nickel coinage to replace the inconveniently small threepenny-piece and the much-worn sixpence, by which issue it might be possible to rehabilitate the standard of the larger silver coinage;

(2) whether, in the case of the introduction of a new standard of coinage in regard to certain denominations, such as the threepenny and sixpenny pieces, opportunity will be found for a general reissue of the very unsatisfactory types serving for the reverses of the coins of the national currency?

I am not at present in a position to make any statement on these matters.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the anxiety among those concerned, he will state whether the Government hope to be able to introduce and pass in the Autumn Session the Bill carrying into effect the recommendations of the Rigby Swift Committee with respect to the pay and position of County Court officials?

I have been asked to reply. The Bill dealing with the pay and position of County Court officials will be introduced tomorrow, and it is hoped to take the remaining stages during the Autumn Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish for the benefit of industrial assurance policy-holders a list of those organisations, both societies and companies, which do not require a period of five years, as specified under the Industrial Assurance Act, to comply with the Act, seeing that, in view of the numbers of industrial policy-holders, such a step would be both desirable and beneficial?

WHEAT. Consigned from— 1920. 1921. 1922. 1923 (Jan.-June).* Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. United States of America … 2,271,115 1,803,250 1,863,075 811,946 Canada … 509,470 729,466 1,145,490 593,530 WHEAT MEAL AND FLOUR. Consigned from— 1920. 1921. 1922. 1923 (Jan.-June).* Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. United States of America … 291,870 395,037 228,835 117,290 Canada … 115,930 293,301 329,822 146,748 * Exclusive of Imports into the Irish Free State as from 1st April, 1923.

I have been asked to reply. I assume that the information desired relates to the grant of free paid-up policies. This information is not at present available, and could only be produced at considerable trouble, which would not, I think; be justified by the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, in numbers and value, the production of motor tyres in the United Kingdom for the year ending 30th June, 1923?

There is no obligation on manufacturers to furnish the Board of Trade with statistics of production, and I regret that I am consequently unable to give the hon. Member the information which he desires.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the tonnage of wheat and flour exported from the United States of America and Canada, respectively, to Great Britain for the year 1920, 1921, and 1922, and for the first six months of 1923?

The following statement shows the quantities of wheat and wheat meal and flour imported into the United Kingdom from the United States of America and Canada during the periods specified:

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in cases where need pensions are granted which will not be reviewed for three years, the parents or dependants will be entitled to appeal for an increase in the amount of pension awarded should their income be seriously reduced?

As stated in the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Hexham (Major D. Brown) on the 26th July, it will always be open to the pensioner to apply for an increased award on the ground of a material change in circumstances, even though the award has been made for a period of three years.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of dependent persons that have been awarded grants or pensions as a result of the death of the ex-service men who died from pernicious anæmia and who had previously been drawing pensions for injuries on disabilities; the number of claims that have been made by the dependants arising from the deaths of ex-service men who have died from pernicious anæmia but who had not previously been drawing pensions for disabilities or injuries; and the number of persons awarded any claims, pension, or grant as a result of these claims?

I regret that the form in which the records of my Department are kept does not enable me to add anything to the information given to the hon. Member on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health on the 23rd July.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will state the rules governing the commutation of pensions?

Regulations governing the commutation of disablement pensions have been approved and will be laid before the House as soon as the actuarial tables of rates, which are in course of preparation, have been completed. Commutation will, as at present, be closely restricted to exceptional cases of permanent pension in which it is clear that benefit would, undoubtedly, accrue to the pensioner and that a refusal to commute would occasion hardship.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Peter James Walters, late private, No. 513,652, Labour Corps, was examined whilst in prison and awarded a final weekly allowance which he never received; and whether he will now pay to the man the money awarded him and withheld while he was in prison?

Compensation, which would otherwise have been payable by my Department, is forfeited during imprisonment. The balance due under the award referred to was paid to this man on his discharge from prison.

asked the Treasurer of the Household, whether in mental cases, where the appellant is an in-patient in an institution, facilities are afforded for a pensioner's friend to represent the man before the appeal tribunal at the domiciliary visit; by whom is the examination of the man made; whether in these cases the tribunal includes a mental specialist; and whether, in view of the distressing nature of these cases and the necessity of the appellant receiving every assistance, he will authorise the payment of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the pensioner's friend?

Regulation 32 of the Statutory Rules and Orders provides as follows: Where owing to mental incapacity an appellant is unable to give leave for his case to be taken in his absence his next-of-kin or other near relative will be summoned before the tribunal to give evidence. If the tribunal is able to allow the appeal upon such evidence, together with the documents in the case, the appeal shall be allowed forthwith. If the tribunal is unable to allow the appeal, the secretary of the tribunal shall ascertain from the appellant's relatives, doctor, hospital or other authorities whether the appellant is able to give evidence in support of the appeal. If the reply is in the affirmative, the tribunal will proceed under Regulation 31; otherwise, the tribunal will give its decision upon the evidence before it.

Regulation 33 provides, inter alia , that there shall be paid to the appellant, or his next-of-kin, or other near relative or guardian, if summoned before the tribunal under Regulation 29 or 32, such travelling and subsistence allowance and, in the case of a successful appeal, such compensation for loss of time as may be allowed by the rules in force for the time being. The visit is made by the medical member of the tribunal, but the tribunal has power, under the Regulations, to call in the services of a specialist. If, after taking the evidence, the next-of-kin or other near relative wishes to be present at the visit at the asylum, due notification of the time and date is given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what would be the estimated total cost of providing full-dress uniform for all the units of the Regular Army; and whether members of the Army Council have suggested that this should be done in order to encourage recruiting?

The total cost of provision, including Regular troops in India, would be about £1,400,000. The subject has not escaped the attention of the Army Council.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of writer ratings who have qualified educationally and professionally for warrant rank to date, and the number of writer ratings who have been promoted to warrant rank during the last three years; and whether he will take steps to assist these writers by appointing warrant writers to all ships with a complement of 600 or over or to ships on which no accountant officer is borne?

Fifty-two chief writers are now qualified educationally and professionally for promotion to warrant rank; but figures are not available of the number of writers other than chief writers so qualified. Two writer ratings have been promoted to warrant rank during the last three years. Up to August, 1922, however, there was a surplus of officers in the branch and no promotions were made. The present number of warrant writers and above is sufficient to meet requirements, and no necessity is seen for making the additional appointments suggested.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any Indian orders for railway material have been placed in Germany this year; whether delivery has been effected within the contract time; and, if not, whether the orders have been cancelled?

In the case, of the State-worked railways no orders for railway material proper have been placed in Germany this year, but four orders for miscellaneous goods for railway use have been placed. Their total value is £2,700, whereas the total value of railway stores ordered from British firms in the first half of the year is £834,797. In the case of the company-worked railways an order for 11,000 volute springs of the value of £4,525 has been placed in Germany this year. Delivery in these cases has not been effected within the contract time, but the delays have not been sufficiently serious to warrant cancellation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the present numbers of men, women, and children, respectively, in the Indian community in Fiji; whether there are any fully trained medical woman, nurses, or midwives in the islands and, if so, of what nationality; and what arrangements are made by the Fiji Government for the medical treatment of the Indians?

The census of 1921 showed 23,407 Indians under 15 years of age, 24,886 men and 12,326 women. There were two European women medical practitioners (one of whom was presumably the Government medical officer, whose agreement recently expired) and women nurses numbering 33 Europeans, seven half-caste, 31 Fijians (not including those in the native villages) and five Indians. No distinction between races is made by the Government medical and hospital service, which cost in 1922 £51,319, not including buildings; that is, over 11 per cent. of the revenue.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that the costs of floating the

— 1st Issue (£5,155,000). 2nd Issue (£4,200,000). £ s. d. £ s. d. 1. Interest on deferred instalments 12 1 6 2 2. Underwriting Commission 1 0 0 1 0 0 3. Overriding Commission (paid to Crown Agents' Brokers) 5 0 5 0 4. To Crown Agents Office Fund for Commission on the issue. 5 0 5 0 5. Brokerage paid to Bankers and Brokers on applications bearing their stamp. 5 0 5 0 6. Composition duty on inscription of stock 5 0 Nil. See note below. 7. Miscellaneous expenses, e.g., advertising, printing, stamp duty on allotment letters and scrip, legal and inspection charges, etc. 3 7 2 0 Total 3 15 8 2 3 2

In the case of the second issue it was considered more advantageous not to compound the duty on the inscription of the stock, but to pay duty from Federated Malay States funds as transfers take place. So far from questioning the cost of flotation, the Straits Settlements Government have officially expressed their appreciation of the excellent arrangements made by the Crown Agents. The commission payable to the Crown Agents on the issue, namely, ¼ per cent. seems to the Secretary of State to be a very reasonable charge, and has been approved for loans on behalf of the Colonies generally.

recent Federated Malay States loan were nearly £700,000, including stamp duties. discounts, and five sets of commission and brokerage, the Crown agents receiving 200,000 dollars; and whether, in view of the burden on any Colony, this percentage of expenditure can be reduced in future in similar cases?

The question no doubt refers to the two instalments of the loan recently issued on behalf of the Straits Settlements for reloan to the Federated Malay States. The fact that each instalment was issued at a discount in order to obtain the benefit of a lower rate of interest cannot be included in the costs of floating the loan; otherwise, e.g. , in the case of the funding loan, over £80,000,000 sterling would have to be added to the cost of flotation on this head. The actual costs of flotation were for £100:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the reason for the deportation from Mesopotamia within the last two weeks of certain sheiks and other prominent Moslem leaders; where these men have been deported to; and whether he is aware of the resentment that these proceedings have aroused in Persia, Iraq, and throughout the Middle East?

Sheikh Mahdi el Khalisi, a prominent Shi'ah Divine, was deported from Iraq by the Iraq Government on the 25th June under the Immigration law. He was accompanied by his two sons and a nephew. The reason for the action taken was that the Sheikh was unlawuflly interfering with the local elections and had issued "fatwas" purporting to excommunicate those taking part in them. The Sheikh is under no restraint, and is, I understand, at present taking part in the pilgrimage to Mecca with his family. No one else has been deported, but nine Persian Ulema subsequently left Iraq of their own free will and returned to Persia. The incident has, I believe, created some stir in Persia where the facts were imperfectly understood, but I am not aware that it has caused resentment in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether any Indians are now being brought from India for any purposes of the local administration apart from the railways; and, if so, whether, in view of the domestic situation, this policy can be discontinued and preference given to locally-trained natives;

(2) whether, in view of the fact that the Uganda Railway has been, and is mainly, staffed from Indians drawn from India, he will state whether there are any Indians of any sort now being brought over from India to East Africa for railway purposes; and, if so, whether, in view of the domestic situation, this policy can he altered and recruitments for the lower grades on the railway confined solely to the natives?

I am not aware to what extent Indians are being engaged in India for railway or other Government purposes, but it is certain that the efforts which are being made to stimulate the technical training of Africans have not yet progressed so far as to supply a sufficient number of Africans for such posts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Committee to be set up by the Colonial Office will be able to consider the results of the working in the past of the Departmental system of railway con- struction and of private enterprise in our African Colonies, or whether its deliberations will be confined merely to a general review of the principles underlying such alternative construction?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative: the second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is any objection, and, if so, what, when any railway contructional work is undertaken Departmentally, to arrange that the Crown agents or their consulting engineers shall obtain private tenders for the same work, so that the public may be assured that the undertaking is being carried out on the most economical lines?

The Committee which has recently been appointed to report on questions of railway construction in Tropical Africa will be asked to take the hon. Member's suggestion into their consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the large number of defalcations occurring in connection with paying-in clubs and funds which exist for the purpose of mutual annual distribution, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation compelling such funds only to be drawn on by at least two members who shall be authorised by the whole body of contributors to do so?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer to a similar question put by the late Member for Stratford (Mr. Lyle), on the 7th March, 1922.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now reply to the requests of the Northallerton Urban District Council, dated 4th May and 9th July, asking to be allowed to become the tenants of the warders' quarters and Employment Exchange house at Northallerton?

A reply was sent on 25th instant assenting to the requests, and the council and the Prison Commissioners are being placed in direct communication as to details.

asked the Home Secretary the number of prison governors who are authorised to act also as medical officers; and whether he proposes to make any change in this practice?

No change in the present practice is contemplated. There is only one governor holding the necessary qualifications to act as a medical officer.

asked the Home Secretary how many prison officers have been compelled to resign the prison service within the last five years under Section 2 of the Superannuation Act of 1887?

Two, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that, a few minutes after 10 p.m. on Wednesday night, a number of mounted policemen acted in a most unusual way in dispersing the people who had been attending a meeting at the corner of Beckton Road, Canning Town, in connection with the dock workers' dispute, and a number of people were injured; and if he is prepared to have an inquiry made into the matter at once?

I am informed that about 4,000 persons had assembled in connection with the meeting to which the hon. Member refers. The police had reason to believe that a considerable proportion of those present were provided with stones and other missiles, and as the behaviour of the crowd towards the few police on duty was becoming very threatening, additional police were sent for. Shortly after 10 p.m., a small number of mounted police arrived, and the crowd, on seeing them, stampeded up side streets. The mounted police were stoned near Hermit Road and again near Rathbone Street, but no police drew or used their truncheons, and the crowd eventually dispersed by 11.30 p.m. The police appear to have acted in a very forbearing manner under considerable provocation, and I see no need for further inquiry into the incident.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that, on Tuesday evening, a number of men and women were marching in procession in connection with the dock workers' dispute in the Custom House district when about 40 policemen-made an attack upon the men and women; that a number of the men were knocked about by the police; and if he will have an inquiry made into the conduct of the police?

I am informed that on the evening of the 24th instant, during a series of demonstrations near the Royal Albert and Victoria Docks, about 1,000 men broke away from the main body and proceeded to charge the cordon of police across Victoria Dock Road, apparently with the intention of entering the dock. Stones were thrown at the police, who were obliged to draw their truncheons to defend themselves. My information is that there were no women among the persons who attacked the police cordon, although there were women on the footways, and no complaints of injury to women have been received by the police. I see no reason for any inquiry into the action of the police, who appear to have done no more, than their duty.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will give the number of owners of coal royalties in the county of Durham, and also the numbers of those owners who receive over £7,000 per year in that county?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The number of royalty owners of coal situate in the county of Durham, who were assessed to Mineral Rights Duty for the financial year 1922–23 was 260, and of that number 12 were in receipt of royalties which, before deduction of Income Tax, exceeded £7,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the inadequate wages paid to mine surveyors throughout the country; and whether, in view of the importance of their duties as affecting the safety and efficiency of the mines, the Government will cause an inquiry to be made into the prejudicial effect the present inferior conditions of employment of mine surveyors has upon the safety and efficiency of mining?

I agree with the hon. Member about the importance of surveyors' duties, but my information does not bear out his suggestion that their present conditions of employment are such as to have a prejudicial effect on safety and efficiency.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Oxford Street highway has been reconstructed recently at great expense to the ratepayers, and that no sooner has the work been completed than it is proposed to reopen a trench or trenches for the purpose of laying new ducts for telephones from Oxford Circus to Market Court, from Oxford Circus to Davies Street, and from Portman Street to Edgware Road; that such works will cause serious further blockage of the already congested traffic and serious loss to traders in those thoroughfares; and will he state why these works, if urgent, were not undertaken when the general reconstruction of these highways was taking place?

It is the practice of the Post Office to keep in close touch with local authorities in order to take advantage of any opportunities to lay ducts for Post Office services when roads are under reconstruction or are disturbed for other purposes. In London prospective Post Office works which entail the opening of streets are notified in advance to the local authorities and also to the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee, and arrange- ments are made, as far as possible, to carry the works out when the streets have to be opened for other purposes. In the section from Oxford Circus to Market Court, diversion of sewers, water mains and Post Office ducts is rendered necessary by the impending construction of an escalator by the Underground Railway Company at the Oxford Circus tube station. It is proposed to cooperate with the borough council and the water board so that the diversion of the plant of the three authorities may be effected concurrently in August with a minimum of inconvenience to the public. Similar diversions of Post Office ducts in the section Davies Street to Duke Street, due to the impending construction of an escalator at the Bond Street tube station, were carried out concurrently with the diversion of the water mains and sewers, and are nearing completion. The work proposed in the section from Oxford Circus to Davies Street, which was repaved some four years ago, is for the purpose of linking up this diverted plant. The new line of Post Office ducts will then be continuous from Market Court to Portman Street. With the exception of an isolated section on the south side of Oxford Street, no repaving operations between Portman Street and Edgware Road have been carried out recently, and consequently no convenient opportunity has been afforded for laying ducts.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the great delay and inconvenience caused to persons and firms who have made application for telephone instalment; and will he take action to expedite this work?

The average time for the provision of a telephone exchange line is about three weeks. A temporary shortage of spare plant, or difficulty in obtaining the necessary wayleaves, may be the occasion of delay, but such cases become less frequent with the general development of the service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to complaints that a verbal agreement for the regrading, as from January, 1920, of examiners in the Department of the Accountant-General, London, and the accountant's office, Edinburgh, of the General Post Office, which was arrived at in January, 1922, has been cancelled by a national agreement of April, 1922; whether he is aware that this has resulted in a loss, not only of pay and increments, but also of pension, to the officers concerned; and whether he will take the necessary steps to get the verbal agreement of January, 1922, restored?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by one of my predecessors to a question asked by the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Middleton) on the 13th December last. The position is clearly governed by the overriding general agreement of April, 1922, and there are no grounds on which the operation of that agreement could be waived in this particular case.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the receipts and withdrawals of the Post Office Savings Bank for the six months January to June, 1922 and 1923?

The amounts were, approximately

Receipts. Withdrawals. £ £ January to June, 1922 43,600,000 47,800,000 January to June, 1923 44,000,000 42,400,000

I may add that £3,000,000 of the amount withdrawn during the former period was utilised to buy Savings Certificates before the price was increased to 16s. on the 1st of April, 1922.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of ex-service men who have applied for land in the County of Durham; and the number that have been settled on the land by the Durham County Council in the years 1917 to 1922, inclusive, with the figures for each year?

Any ex-service men who desired to avail themselves of the preference given to such men over civilians under the Land Settlement Scheme were required to send in their applications before the 1st December, 1920. The number of ex-service men who applied to the Durham County Council for small holdings before that date was 752, of whom 439 have been rejected as unsuitable, or have withdrawn their applications. The number who have applied since 1st December, 1920, is 154. The following statement shows the number of ex-service men settled on the land by the Durham County Council each year since the inauguration of the Land Settlement Scheme in December, 1918. The Ministry has no information regarding the number of ex-service men settled by the council in the year 1917 and 1918

Year. 1919 … … … nil 1920 … … … 97 1921 … … … 23 1922 … … … 13

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Frederick Green, who was born 24th September, 1882, entered a training college in September, 1915, and, after completing one year's training, joined the forces in 1916, was demobilised in February 1919, and commenced teaching and received his certificate in March, 1919, and who but for the War would have left college in 1917 and been eligible for pension in 1947, but is now ineligible under the Regulations; and whether he will consider the granting of relief in such cases?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. On the general question, I regret I can add nothing to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Bradford (Mr. Jowett) on the 7th March last.

asked the Prime Minister whether arrangements are going to be made to summon Parliament at short notice during the Recess in the event of a serious worsening of the European situation or other grave event?

As Parliament will be standing adjourned, arrangements can be made for summoning Parliament at short notice should circumstances require.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the large and increasing emigration from this country to foreign lands of young engineering craftsmen to the certain detriment of our engineering industry; and, if so, whether the Cabinet Committee, dealing with the question of unemployment, has given attention to this aspect of the matter?

I have no official information with regard to the numbers of young engineering craftsmen who have emigrated recently to foreign countries. In view of the heavy unemployment which has for some time existed in the engineering industry, I do not think there would be any advantage in making any special attempt to prevent such emigration, or in referring the matter to the Cabinet Unemployment Committee for their consideration.

asked the First Comsioner of Works whether he is aware that the Outer Circle Road in Regent's Park is now being used as a relief main road, resulting in an enormously increased amount of day and night traffic; whether any provision is made in the Crown leases held by occupiers of houses round the Outer Circle for certain restrictions on the use of this road for traffic; whether he has issued any Regulations with regard to this matter; and whether such Regulations are being carried out?

Regulations consistent with the provision in the Crown leases have been issued limiting the class of traffic using the road in question, and such regulations are duly enforced.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the smallpox deaths registered during 1922 were classified as vaccinated, how many as unvaccinated, and how many as doubtful as regards vaccination; and how many of these deaths occurred in children under five years of age?

Of the 27 deaths attributed to small-pox during 1922, 12 occurred in persons who had been vaccinated at some time in their lives, 10 among unvaccinated persons, three among those who were said to have been vaccinated but who showed no signs of vaccination, and two among those previously unvaccinated who were vaccinated during the incubation period of small-pox. There were four deaths among children under five years of age; of these three were unvaccinated and one was vaccinated during the incubation period of small-pox, but had not previously been vaccinated.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he has decided to alter the system of obtaining forms under which exemption from vaccination can be obtained and which has been in force for 15 years; and whether, in view of Section 3 of the Vaccination Act of 1907, he will state his authority for making such order?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the authority for the Vaccination Order recently made is contained in Section 15 of the Vaccination Act, 1871, and I find nothing in the Act of 1907 which prescribes the manner in which forms for the purpose of statutory declarations under that Act are to be obtained.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the recent transfer of the Lunacy Department by Order in Council from the Home Office to his Department has had the result of throwing into abeyance many matters connected with legal sanction and the liberty of the individual; and, in view of the fact that the scope of his Ministry does not extend to judicial investigation, will he consider the possibility of instituting a court of appeal for persons unjustifiably confined in asylums?

The transfer of certain powers under the Lunacy Acts to the Ministry of Health by Order in Council under the Ministry of Health Act has not had the result suggested by the hon. Member; the second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the Lunacy Act provides that no sick person can be committed to an asylum unless the initiative is taken by a relative while, in the case of the poor, patients are constantly committed to asylums against the wishes of their friends and relatives, who are told by Poor Law officials that they have no voice in the matter, he will see that steps will be taken forthwith by his Department to post up in the waiting rooms of infirmaries Section 22 of the Lunacy Act, 1890, so that the rights of the friends and relatives of poor patients shall no longer be purposely concealed from them?

The hon. Member is doubtless aware that the Lunacy Act provides for other means of admission to an asylum in addition to the particular one stated in the question. His suggestion of wrongful action on the part of Poor Law officials is one which I cannot, on my present information, accept. If the hon. Member has any proofs of it, I shall be glad to be made acquainted with them. As I stated in answer to his question of the 11th of July, I doubt if the posting up of Section 22 would serve any useful purpose, but I am quite ready to consider the point further on receipt of the particulars above mentioned.

asked the Minister of Health who is responsible for the fact that certificates recently issued to medical men for use under the National Insurance Acts have printed on the back of them an advertisement for certain kinds of butter and tea; and whether he will give orders that all certificates bearing this advertisement and which have not yet been issued shall be called in and destroyed?

As regards the first part of the question I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the right hon. Member for Derby (Mr. J. H. Thomas) on the 16th May. As regards the second part, I cannot undertake to withdraw certificate books which have already been issued, but I may mention that the supply of these books will be exhausted at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a copy of the resolution passed by the Abertillery Urban District Council requesting the Government to introduce a Bill to make illegal the practice common among the vendors of accepting from customers unused bread in exchange for fresh, and that it is the opinion of the council that this practice provides means of spreading contagion and infection and is prejudicial to the health of the community; and will he take steps to prohibit this practice?

I do not appear to have received any communication on this subject from the Abertillery Urban District Council. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the Noble Marquess the Member for Newark (Marquess of Titchfield) on the 13th June.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that uncovenanted benefit has been refused upon the ground that the applicant had an insufficient number of stamps upon his card; and the authority for such refusal?

Under the Unemployment Insurance Acts applicants for uncovenanted benefit have, among other things, to prove either that they have paid 20 contributions or more or that they have been employed in insurable work for a reasonable length of time since December, 1919 Uncovenanted benefit would not be disallowed on account of non-payment of contributions if the second of these alternatives is satisfied. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of the case he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will represent to the National Joint Council for Dock Labour the desirability of at once taking steps to put into effect the recommendations of Lord Shaw's Committee for the decasualisation of dock labour, including the maintenance of unemployed casual labour?

The National Joint Council are fully aware of the recommendations referred to and have them under consideration on a number of occasions. I do not think it is necessary for me to make representations to the Council on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether a revised formula has been submitted to him on behalf of the representatives of necessitous areas; and, if so, whether he has yet decided whether he can adopt such formula as a basis for making a special grant from the Treasury to meet the abnormal charges thrown upon such areas by the exceptional unemployment in their districts;

(2) whether he has yet reconsidered the question, of giving help or relief to the

State. 1919. 1920. 1921. 1st Qtr. 2nd Qtr. 3rd Qtr. 4th Qtr. 1st Qtr. 2nd Qtr. 3rd Qtr. 4th Qtr. 1st Qtr. 2nd Qtr. 3rd Qtr. 4th Qtr. New South Wales … 5.6 8.4 5.6 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.2 6.9 13.7 13.5 12.3 11.9 Victoria … 6.0 7.2 5.2 4.3 4.5 5.6 5.3 7.3 8.7 9.8 10.2 5.9 Queensland … 12.4 14.2 9.3 8.5 10.5 13.0 13.4 16.3 15.5 21.8 13.5 11.3 South Australia … 3.5 6.4 6.7 4.2 4.4 4.1 5.9 5.1 7.9 9.1 8.5 6.1 Western Australia … 5.7 5.4 6.8 6.5 3.7 3.4 3.2 4.8 8.9 8.3 9.2 8.0 Tasmania … 4.0 3.3 9.9 3.6 3.6 2.4 3.1 3.0 4.8 10.3 15.7 16.7

necessitous areas; and, if not, how soon will he be in a position to reconsider the same?

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government's proposals relative to relief for necessitous areas are yet complete; when the statement will be made to the House; and whether a White Paper containing these proposals will be printed and distributed to these areas?

As regards the formula, I may refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough West (Mr. T. Thomson) on the 25th instant. I hope to be able to state the decision of the Government on this question before the Houses rises. I do not think that a White Paper on the subject will be required.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the percentage of unemployed registered in the States of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, respectively, for each quarter of the years 1919, 1920 and 1921?

The following are the percentages of members of trade unions returned as unemployed in each Australian State for each quarter of the years 1919, 1920 and 1921: