asked the President of the Board of Trade whether an inquiry has been held into the loss of the s.s. "El Kahira," of London (O.N. 110,140), with all hands and passengers, which left London on the 7th July, 1922, bound for Algiers, and was last seen about 12 miles west of the Casquets on the 9th July, 1922, and has not since been heard of; if so, what was the result of the inquiry; whether the vessel was fitted with wireless; and is he aware that no compensation has been paid to the relatives of the crew?

An inquiry into the loss of the s.s. "El Kahira" has been ordered, and will be held at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday the 18th September. Questions of the equipment of the vessel will come before the Court holding the inquiry. I am informed that the owners of the vessel have at present no funds available for the payment of compensation, but this is not a matter in which the Board of Trade has any power to intervene.

Why is the inquiry only being ordered for 18th September next when the ship has been missing over a year?

If the hon. and gallant Member will put down a question on that point, I will give him a full explanation.

I think I am entitled to an answer when this is a clear case of neglect of duty on the part of the Board of Trade. The vessel has been missing for over a year and is there any reason why the inquiry has only been ordered now.

That question is not included on the Paper and the hon. and gallant Member should put it down.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what pensions are being paid from pilotage funds to the retired servants of the Pilotage Department of the London Trinity House; and what is the maximum pension being paid from the pilotage funds of the London Trinity House to any pilot retired from service in the area under the jurisdiction of the London Trinity House?

I am informed by Trinity House that there are no retired officials of the headquarter's staff of the Pilotage Department of Trinity House in receipt of a pension from the pilots fund. A former ruler of pilots at Gravesend is in receipt of a pension of £87 8s. per annum from the fund. The maximum pension which can now be granted to a retired London Trinity House pilot is £50 per annum, plus a bonus of 20 per cent., which latter will be increased to 50 per cent. on the 1st January, 1924.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action, financial or otherwise, he proposes to take to safeguard the interests of those policy-holders of the City Life Assurance Company who are not covered by the offer of another insurance company;

(2) what action, if any, his Department took to call the attention of the directors of the City Life Assurance Company to the company's financial position; and what assurances were given by the directors relative thereto?

On the 19th December, 1922, the Board of Trade wrote to the Chairman of the City Life Assurance Company, Limited, stating that, having regard to the serious financial position disclosed in the company's valuation which had been received on the 14th December, a meeting of the shareholders should at once be called to consider the position and that in the meantime the company should cease to incur new liabilities by the further issue of policies. The complete correspondence with the company, between October, 1922, and April, 1923, will be found at pages 27–35 of Part II of the Return relating to assurance companies which was published in June of this year. A copy of this Return is in the Library. As I informed the hon. Member on the 24th July, in answer to his previous question, an order for the compulsory liquidation of the company was made on the 17th July under which the Official Receiver who is an officer of the Board of Trade is provisional liquidator. A full investigation of the conduct of this company's affairs will be made by the Official Receiver. The value of the policies not taken over by another assurance company will be fixed by the Court in accordance with the rules laid down in the Sixth Schedule to the Assurance Companies Act, 1909. Until the assets have been realised it is not possible to state what amount will be available to meet the claims of such policy-holders.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's Department any power to prevent this company from continuing?

No, that is the difficulty. We have taken some power under the Industrial Assurance Act of this year.

When was the attention of the Board of Trade first called to the financial position of the company?

When the company failed to make its regular return of accounts, which, I think, was due in June of last year. The company was then prosecuted by the Board of Trade and the accounts were received in December.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that attention was called to this company in writing, three years ago, by a constituent of my own?

No.

If people are sent to prison for fraud under the Health Instance Act and the Unemployment Insurance Act, will anybody be sent to prison about this matter?

There will be a full investigation of the matter in liquidation and obviously I could not answer a question of that kind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much of the oil imported in this country from Russia during the last two years was produced from wells owned or developed by English capital;

(2) the amount of oil imported into this country from Russia during the last two years; and how much of this oil was shipped from Novorossisk and Batum?

The imports of petroleum into the United Kingdom, consigned from Russia during the two years 1921 and 1922, amounted to 10,480,601 gallons, of which 9,081,555 gallons were from Batum and none from Novorossisk. I am unable to say how much of the petroleum was produced from wells owned or developed by English capital.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the total expenditure chargeable to British creditors in respect of staffing, housing, and other costs of the Clearing House for Enemy Debts at Cornwall House for the month of July, 1923; and what was the total similarly for July, 1922?

The expenditure of the Clearing Office (including the Departments for the administration of Austrian, Bulgarian and Hungarian property and the accredited representatives in Berlin, Vienna and Budapest and their staffs) for July, 1923, is estimated approximately at £22,600, and that for July, 1922, at £27,000. The foregoing figures do not include any provision for the guarantee of debts under Article 296 ( b ) of the Treaty of Versailles and corresponding Articles of the other Treaties of Peace.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in certain cases dissatisfaction is felt among civil servants in respect of the working of the Treasury Technical Pool and that this dissatisfaction applies to a particular officer in the War Office and Disposal Board; that the dissatisfaction is based upon the fact that this officer is still employed as a temporary officer at a large salary and has been preferred to the advancement of permanent and temporary officials alike, not warranted by his experience, knowledge, or war service; and whether he will inquire into the matter?

I aw aware that representations have been made regarding the officer in question, and these representations are, I believe, now under the consideration of Lord Southborough's Committee on the Employment of Ex-service Men. In these circumstances, I do not think the case should be concurrently dealt with by way of question and answer in this House, but I will say that on the information before me, neither the alleged dissatisfaction, nor the allegations contained in the last part of the question, appear to me to be justified.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the writing assistants, Civil Service, have not yet received an increase in pay nor a promise of an increase similar to that given to women clerical officers: and whether he will state on what grounds women who entered the clerical class through the 1919 examination have not received the benefit of the Southborough Committee's recommendations?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 26th July to the hon. Member for Lambeth North.

Does the answer of the right hon. Gentleman mean that next September when these alterations come about there will be no chance for these assistants?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will read the reply to which I have referred, he will see that the claims made on behalf of these clerks are now under consideration.

Will they be in time for the alteration?

They are being considered very rapidly now.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the Second Report of the Select Committee on Estimates, which charges the Air Ministry with extravagance and lack of financial control and efficient organisation; and what measures, if any, does he contemplate to prevent the extravagance and correct the dis-organisation?

Yes, Sir. I am aware that these charges have been made, but not how they are substantiated. I have impressed on all my colleagues the need for efficient financial control, but my information does not lead me to suppose that it is right to impute extravagance and dis-organisation to the Air Ministry. I may add that the Air Council have the Report of the Committee under careful consideration.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that a Ministry which, after careful inquiry by a Select Committee of this House, has been brought under strictures of this character, is a fit and proper authority to meddle with the Royal Navy?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that users in Japan of 99–100 per cent. synthetic indigo can buy from British dye makers at 5s. per 1b. whilst the sum of 8s. 6d. per 1b. is charged to the British user; that this difference in price is due to the fact that British dye makers have a monopoly in this country both in manufacturing and in the distribution of imported German dyes; and whether he will inquire into this matter with a view to removing this grievance?

I think the hon. Member must be under a misapprehension, as I am informed by the only British makers of synthetic indigo that none of that product is being sold by them in Japan.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to consider the facts which I will produce for his benefit?

I will be very glad to consider any facts which the hon. Member produces.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been called to the statement of the president of the Colour Users' Association to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce of 23rd February, 1923, in which he asked the Government to redeem its pledge that the Act should not jeopardise the using industries; whether the Government does propose to do so;

(2) whether his attention has been called to the statement of the president of the Colour Users' Association that prices both of home-produced and reparation dyestuffs are at an artificially high level, 300 to 400 per cent. above pre-War; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this?

I am in constant communication with the representa- tives of the dye-making and dye-using industries, and every effort is being made to secure that the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act is administered in such a manner as to promote the best interests of both parties.

Does the Minister agree with the Chairman of the Licensing Committee, as stated in this House the other day, that these are fairy tales, or are they facts?

I agree with every single word that the Chairman of the Licensing Committee said in this House.

Then I can have no answer as to the procedure of the Board of Trade?

The hon. Member can have this answer. There is a very representative Committee there, presided over by a very distinguished Member of this House, and that Committee will continue to do its work in the admirable way in which it has been carried on in the past.

asked the President of the Board of Trade approximately the value of the tonnage built in German yards in each of the past three years, having regard to the class of vessels constructed?

I fear that I have not got the necessary information to enable me to add to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on 24th July.

Are we to understand from that reply that the Board of Trade know nothing of the expenditure on shipbuilding in German yards during the past three years?

No; the hon. and gallant Gentleman must not understand that. He must understand what I told him on the last occasion this question was put, and that was that while I could give him the figure of the aggregate tonnage launched, it was quite impossible without an analysis of each class of ship included in that, to give an approximate estimate of price.

Such an analysis not having been made, the Board of Trade has not the information?

I have not the information to make the analysis of each of the ships for which orders were placed in the German shipyards.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any alleged cases have been brought to the notice of the Board of Trade of ships taking out false clearance papers from Great Britain since the adoption of prohibition by the United States of America?

The answer is in the negative.

Have there been any similar complaints from the British Colonies?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that most of the 15,000 belated claims which have been lodged with the Reparation Claims Department were sent in by seafaring people in urgent need, he can assure the House that these claims will continue to be dealt with day by day and payments either in full or on account made with as little delay as possible?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead East (Mr. Graham White) on the I6th July and the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. T. Thomson) on the 24th July, of which I am sending him copies. As I have already stated to the House, each belated claim must be dealt with on its merits, and every step is being taken to expedite the work, and to put the Royal Commission in possession of the facts required to enable them to give their decisions.

Does this mean that the Commission are really going ahead with these reparation claims, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has been very serious delay, and that men are suffering severely in consequence?

Yes, the Commission is going ahead, but I do not think there has been any delay on the part of the Commission. What happened was that the Commission made its Report on the cases which were before it, and after that Report was issued an enormous number of further claims was received.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these claims have already been lodged for over four years, and can he give any indication as to when these claims which are at present under consideration will be disposed of?

I could not accept the suggestion which was made by the hon. Member. The Commission, I think, dealt with all the claims which were before it in its first Report, and, while they are proceeding as rapidly as possible, I cannot say when they will have completed the remaining claims brought before them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I, last year, brought forward a case, to which his Noble colleague replied, a case which has been lodged for over four years, and which has not yet been dealt with?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the two steamers "Claro" and "Cicero" belonging to Messrs. Wilson, now Messrs. Ellerman Wilson, of Hull, were in Petrograd loading for Hull, on the outbreak of War, were chartered by the British Admiralty, at the Blue Book rate, and lent to the Russian Admiralty, and afterwards passed through the German blockade to England; and how is it proposed to meet the claim of the owners for the cargo with which the ships were loading against the British Government whose Admiralty agent requisitioned the ships and cargoes in Petrograd?

I am aware of the facts of this case. The vessels themselves were requisitioned by the British Government and handed over to the Russian Government, and it was by the latter that the cargoes were requisitioned. Any claim, therefore, in respect of the value of the cargoes lies against the Russian and not the British Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the owners of the cargoes declare that the cargoes were requisitioned by the British Admiralty agent at Petrograd, and surely there is some liability of the Government in that case?

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept the expression in the question about the German blockade of Britain during the War?

No, it was meant for the German blockade of Russia, obviously.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the cost of maintaining armies in the following countries: Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States for the years 1913 and 1922?

As the answer is long, and includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Great Britain. —The total voted for the British Army in 1913–14 was £27,700,000 (exclusive of aviation). The figure for comparison in 1922–23 was £60,800,000 (exclusive of War terminal charges, but including the cost of troops in the Middle East repaid to Army Funds from the Colonial Office Vote).

France. —The total cost of the French Army for 1913 was: Francs. War Budget … 1,022,821,931 Colonial Budget … 88,023,178 Total … 1,110,845,109

The corresponding figures for 1922 were: Francs. War Budget … 3,409,473,659 Colonial Budget … 188,443,000 Total … 3,597,916,659

The cost of the French Army in Germany is not included in the War Budget, but is dealt with under the heading of "Compte Special," or expenditure recoverable from Germany.

Germany. —The total cost of the German Army for 1913 was about £60,000,000, and for 1922 it was Marks 3,341,477,038 (=£2,386,769 at Marks 1,400 to £1).

Russia. —The total cost of the Russian Army (including the Air Force) for 1913–14 was 647,000,000 gold roubles. The cost for the first nine months of 1922 was 556,000,000 gold roubles.

United States. —The cost of the United States Army for 1913, including a small supplementary estimate, was $320,800,000. The cost for 1922 was $361,075,165.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of old soldiers who have accidentally lost their medals, any provision is made, and, if so, of what nature, whereby such medals can be replaced at the cheapest possible rate; and whether he can make an official announcement on the subject?

Yes, Sir; such ex-soldiers can have their medals replaced on making a statutory declaration as to the circumstances of the loss and on payment of 7s. 6d. for a silver medal or 2s. for a bronze one.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether officers who held staff appointments during the War, although they had not passed through the Staff College, are eligible for staff appointments at present?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that Ernest Mason, of Woodlands, Doncaster, joined the Army in 1919, served a few years in India, and, after having undergone an operation for appendicitis, was discharged as suffering from ventral hernia and sciatica; that Mason's application for a pension was refused on the ground that his disability was not due to military service; that, since the date of discharge, his condition has got gradually worse to such an extent that a recent X-ray examination has revealed that he is suffering from a curved spine, which has deformed his body and prevents him being able to walk except with the utmost difficulty; and, seeing that the possibility of Mason being able to contribute anything towards his own support is exceedingly remote, and that he is meanwhile dependent upon his parents, will he have further inquiries made into the case with a view to rendering some assistance?

This case has recently been fully and carefully reconsidered by the medical authorities at the War Office, who are unable to find any grounds for departing from the finding of the Medical Board, held on 3rd April last, namely, that the man's disability was due to constitutional causes and was in no way attributable to his service in the Army. In these circumstances, as I informed the hon. Member on the 18th July, there are no Regulations under which an award of pension can be made.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this young man was passed into the Army as being thoroughly and physically fit and that his own medical advisers, who have looked after him for years, ever since he was a boy, are emphatically of opinion that this disability has been caused through his service; and, further, is he aware that since he has been treated for this deformity to his spine, he has been sent by the infirmary to the military authorities, because they say the case really belongs to the military?

Is there not an appeal from the decision of the medical board of the War Office, just as there is from the medical board of the Ministry of Pensions?

It is because of the representations made that the case has been thoroughly reinvestigated, and the medical authorities of the War Office are quite clear that they are unable to state that this man's disability was due to his service.

Is there not any Regulation or any way whatever by which the medical officers attached to the War Office and the medical men who have had charge of any particular patient for years are able, when their evidence differs, to be brought together to see whether any conclusion can be reached?

The hon. Member has just pointed out that this man has been under medical attention for years, and that does not quite bear out his former statement that he was perfectly fit all his life, but this case has been fully considered. The man has been before a medical board, and we have no power to go behind that board's decision.

If I can bring the hon. Gentleman evidence from the man's own medical advisers, under whom he was brought up, will be give attention to it?

The hon. Member does not seem to realise that this has already been done. The case was reconsidered, and this man had an opportunity of bringing evidence to refute the medical report.

If this man enlisted in 1919, when there was no urgent call for soldiers, he must have been absolutely physically fit, or he would not have been accepted, and does that not imply that this man's physical deterioration set in during his service in India?

( by Private Notice ) asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the rapid fluctuations in the mark, he is now in a position to announce the steps which will be taken to safeguard the interests of soldiers of the Rhine army in the matter?

Arrangements are now being made which will enable the soldier to purchase goods at the canteens at the same rate in marks for the £1 sterling as that at which he receives his army pay. These arrangements will come into effect by next pay-day, the 3rd August.

Would it not be practicable to pay soldiers in sterling if they so desire, on giving a month's notice?

That point has been raised on many occasions, and I have stated why we cannot do it. I have made these arrangements, which I think will meet the situation.

Having been in a similar difficulty myself, I invite the hon. Gentleman to tell me why the British soldier who has enlisted for so many shillings or pence a day cannot receive that money wherever he is, but must be paid in some foreign coinage that fluctuates from hour to hour. There is some swindle behind it, I am certain.

The hon. and gallant Member should be aware, seeing that he has served so much abroad, that it is the invariable custom to pay the troops in the currency of the country in which they are stationed.

I know, and I want to get at the reason for it.

If we paid in sterling we would not get the marks from Germany which at the present time we are getting.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland under what procedure the arrest and surrender of John McPeak was made; and whether any stated charge against him was made to a Court in Glasgow before the Irish warrant was endorsed?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to his question on 24th July. The procedure by which Irish warrants may be endorsed in Scotland is regulated by various statutory provisions, in particular, Section 14 of the Indictable Offences Act, 1848. That procedure has been continued, since the establishment of the Irish Free State, by Clause 8 of the Irish Free State (Consequential Adaptation of Enactments) Order, 1923. The warrant granted by the Irish magistrate would, in accordance with the usual practice, specify the charge. The procedure does not require that the charge should be stated in Court.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he can state the progress that has been made in the direction of obtaining by voluntary returns information as to stocks of sheep and cattle in deer forests?

The returns referred to are being collected by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in connection with the Annual Agricultural Returns, which are now in course of receipt and tabulation. The results of this tabulation are usually available in September.

Will the returns be complete?

As these returns are merely voluntary, I cannot yet state whether they will be complete, but, as the hon. and gallant Member knows, we have a Bill down to make these returns compulsory, and if the hon. and gallant Member could induce the two Members of his own party who have Amendments down for the rejection of this Bill to withdraw those Amendments, we might be able to make sure of him getting these returns complete.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he is aware that the Castle Park, Dunbar, is overgrown with weeds detrimental to the surrounding district; and whether the Board of Agriculture for Scotland has taken or will take steps to bring the delinquent authority to book?

No complaint or other representations have reached the Board of Agriculture for Scotland that the Castle Park, Dunbar, is overgrown with injurious weeds. Inquiry is being made in the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether the Scottish Education Department has received protests against the minute of 2nd July, 1923, in regard to maintenance grants to be paid to central institutions under Section 16 (1) ( c ) of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908; whether he is aware that institutions which do not happen to show a deficit are penalised, although their general needs may be great; and whether he will consider the advisability of making payment for actual work done, either for teachers' or for students' hours?

Various observations on the Minute have been received and considered by the Department, but only a very small minority of them could be described as in any sense protests. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative; under Section II ( b ) of the Minute the existing privileges of the institutions referred to are fully conserved. The method of calculation suggested in the third part of the question was carefully tested before the Minute was framed, but its adoption was found to be impracticable owing to the widely differing circumstances of central institutions generally.

If central institutions in Scotland are in a position to submit practical schemes to the Department, will the Department consider them at the present day?

I would ask the hon. Member to remember that all the grants coming to such institutions as he describes come out of the education fund, and are a first charge upon it, and pro tanto affect the sum available for education purposes.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health what steps have been taken to deal with the complaints of the Linlithgow smallholders in regard to water and transport facilities?

I am informed that the Board of Agriculture have arranged with the local authority for the latter to examine the possibility of augmenting the present water supply at Parkhead by giving an additional supply from the public main. The Board are also willing to provide free supplies of road material if the holders will undertake to spread it and to fulfil their obligation to keep the access roads in repair.

Will the Board arrange for carting the road material to the small holdings?

They will bring it to a central place. The actual bringing it to the access roads would, I am afraid, require to be done by the smallholders.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Sutherland County Council are advertising for a fully qualified sanitary inspector for that large county, to give his whole time to the duties of the office* at the inadequate salary of £200 per annum; and whether, in the interests of public health administration, he will make representation to the County Council on the subject?

I am informed that the post has been advertised by the county council at a salary commencing at the figure stated. The Board propose to consider the conditions of the appointment on their merits when they have had submitted to them the qualifications of the officer proposed to be appointed by the local authority. The Board do not propose at this stage to make any representation to the county council.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether it is the intention of the Scottish Board of Health to publish the Report of the Joint Committee set up in 1920 and composed of representatives from the Consultative Committee on Local Health Administration and General Health Questions and the Consultative Committee on National Health Insurance (Approved Societies' Work) to consider and report on the interrelation of maternity benefit under the Insurance Act and the maternity and child welfare schemes of local authorities; and, if so, when?

It is not proposed to publish this Report.

Is it not the case that when this Committee was set up it was the intention of the Government to publish the Report, which is in the hands of the Government and contains useful information? Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman not see his way to publish the Report?

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman see that no preference is given to Scotland over England?

These questions give an example of the trouble we are in. There is expense connected with the publication of these Reports, and it was not considered that the advantages would outweigh the disadvantages of this expenditure.

Was it not the intention of the Government, when this Committee was set up originally to make public any Report? Why is the Government not going to implement their promise?

It is the intention of the Government, if possible, to publish, for the public advantage, any report which may justify the expenditure of public money on it. It was thought, after consideration of this Report, that the advantage would not outweigh the disadvantage of the expense.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health the result of the negotiations with the local authorities in Scotland on the question of the Glasgow-Edinburgh road?

I have been asked to answer this question. The Director-General of Roads went to Scotland on 11th July and held further conferences with the local authorities. Negotiations are still proceeding, but agreement has not yet been reached as to the scope of the works to be undertaken, or the proportions of the total cost to be borne by the various authorities.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman give any assurance that the work will be proceeded with before next winter?

I cannot give any assurance, because it depends upon a satisfactory arrangement being made with the local authorities as to the proportion of the cost of the work which they will undertake. We are doing all we can, as evidenced by the visit of the Director-General of Roads, to push this matter through, but it will depend on the attitude of the local authorities.

In the event of the local authorities failing to agree, will the Government undertake the work themselves?

That is a matter I will have to consider.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman see that no money is spent on this road at the expense of the roads in the North-East of Scotland?

As one of the conditions laid down by the Ministry is that all the labour to be employed in the making of these roads is to be direct labour, are not municipalities and county councils which are not in favour of doing the work by direct labour ruled out from contract labour?

I understand that the trouble has arisen largely owing to an Amendment moved by hon. Members opposite recently.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman consult the Director-General of Roads when he comes back from Scotland?

Of course, I will consult him.

Is it not a fact that it is not a question of money? All the parties concerned are agreed about the money. The money is there. It is simply a question of certain municipalities being in favour of private enterprise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that a private company is about to be formed with the object of constructing private roads for motor traffic; whether he is able to state what capital is involved in this project; what progress, if any, has already been made by the company; and what are the roads to be constructed in the first instance; and whether he will state the attitude of the Ministry towards the proposal to establish private roadways on a large scale in this country?

I am afraid I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 1st May last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if he is aware of the inconvenience caused at Thorne, near Doncaster, by the failure of the canal company and local authorities to agree to the strengthening and widening of two bridges which are the only approaches to the town; if he has made inquiries into this question and, if so, with what result; and, if not, whether he will cause inquiries to be made at once with a view to facilitating this improvement?

This matter has been under negotiation for a considerable time. I have some hope that an arrangement will be arrived at in the near future for the reconstruction of the two bridges in question. I have received a proposal from the navigation company, and this is now before the West Riding County Council for their consideration.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman assure the House that he will speed up the negotiations and so facilitate the work on these bridges in view of heavy traffic across the bridges?

I quite appreciate the hon. Member's point of view and I am doing all I can.

Will the Ministry of Transport do something with other bridges in the West Riding, and in the county generally where they are suffering from the same inconvenience?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is able to give figures showing the number of accidents, fatal and otherwise, caused by mechanically-propelled vehicles during the last 12 months for which figures are available in New York and London, respectively?

The latest comparable figures that I have been able to obtain are for the calendar year 1922. These show in the Metropolitan Police district that 595 persons were killed and 17,138 were injured by mechanically-propelled road vehicles, whilst, in New York, from figures published in the Press, though not official, 932 persons were killed by mechanically-propelled vehicles, and the total number of persons injured by road vehicles was 28,097. I regret, however, that I am unable to say what number of the injuries included in the latter figure were attributable to mechnically-propelled vehicles.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied that the police take steps to see that motors do not exceed 20 miles an hour in towns?—[HON. MEMBERS: "Ask Curzon!"]

Put that question to your pal at the back.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, seeing that the number of accidents in Durham County causing more than seven days' disablement increased from 10,272 in the year 1921 for approximately nine months' employment to 26,119 in 1922 for a full year, he can give any explanation of this increase; and if he will consider the desirability of appointing more mines inspectors in this area?

The large increase in the number of non-fatal accidents re- ported under this head is not peculiar to Durham. It is common to all coalfields, and, indeed, to other important industries. There is no corresponding increase in the number of fatal accidents or of non-fatal accidents that were sufficiently serious to be reported immediately. In these circumstances it is, I think, reasonable to presume that the increase in the figure of minor accidents reported is due more to a growing appreciation of the importance of treatment than to any increase in the risks of mining. I have certainly no reason to suppose that the figures indicate any inadequacy of Government inspection.

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the percentage of absenteeism amongst coal hewers during the last month for which returns are available?

Particulars of absenteeism amongst coal hewers are not separately available. For all classes of colliery workers, both above and below ground, the number of man-shifts lost that could have been worked during April last was rather more than 8 per cent. of the total number of shifts that were, or could have been, worked.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman give us the percentage of absentees among directors of colliery companies for the same period?

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the large amount of lost time consequent upon the lack of ventilation in many of the older mines of the country, as a result of which men have to absent themselves from work?

—

Any further question must be put down.

On a point of Order. I wanted to ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman whether he is aware—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"] This is a very important point.

It is not a point of Order.

You made him a colonel, and now you will not listen to him.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any statistics are yet available showing the number of cases of miners' nystagmus at pits where electric lamps are used, as compared with pits where oil lamps are used?

No, Sir As I informed the hon. Member on 13th March last, such statistics would be of little value in themselves, owing to the number of factors involved.

Is it not possible in such districts as the Doncaster area, where there are pits which use electric lamps entirely, to get evidence, which, if followed up, might be very useful?

It is quite possible to get evidence as to individual collieries, but it is not possible to get a fair comparison between collieries as a result. Let me give an instance. If we have a group of collieries, and one colliery adopts electric lamps and the other continues to issue flame lamps, obviously the tendency of all the men in the district who are getting anxious about their eyes will be to drift into the colliery with electric lamps, and in a short time that colliery would have a worse record of nystagmus, due to the fact of its being better equipped.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many injured men and boys previously employed at collieries and now drawing partial compensation pay have been medically certified as hems; fit for light employment but have been unable to obtain such employment at the pits where the accident occurred?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the strong feeling throughout the country in favour of the repeal of the provisions of the Old Age Pensions Acts as to calculation of means, and the amendment of the Acts to enable old people to derive the full benefit of their thrift and personal provision for old age, and to receive assistance from friends, employers, and organisations without reduction of or disqualification for the full pension; and whether he can make any statement as to the intentions of the Government on this matter before the House rises?

It is quite impossible to make any statement at the present moment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Customs authorities permit scent to be imported into this country through the parcels post, and confiscate such article if sent by sample or letter post; whether he can inform the House under what Regulations this right is sought to be exercised and the interests sought to be served by this course; and whether he is aware that only a small percentage of cases are treated in this way?

Under the general Customs law, perfumed spirits may be imported through the parcels and insured box posts but not by sample or letter post. Such goods imported by the latter methods are liable to forfeiture and may be subjected to fines or returned to the country of export. The object of these provisions is to safeguard the revenue and they are in accordance with the Regulations of the International Postal Union which are operative in all countries within the Union. As regards the last part of the question, suitable action is taken by the Customs authorities in all cases of infringement brought to their notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the decision of the Court in the action of D. M'Donald v. Shand, 1922, S.C. 555, affirmed by the House of Lords on 30th April, 1923, whereby it was laid down that commission received by a director of a company was to be assessed for Income Tax purposes as perquisites under Rule 4, Section 146, of the Income Tax Act, 1842, Schedule E, and be based on the preceding year or the average of the preceding three years, his attention has been called to the action of the Inland Revenue in refusing to reopen assessments for the year 1921–22 made subsequent to the decision of the Court of Session, on the ground that no notice of appeal was lodged by the taxpayer within the time allowed, although such assessments have not been made in accordance with the law as laid down in the said decision; and whether he will give directions that on the application of any taxpayer such assessment shall be reopened and a fresh assessment made in accordance with the law as laid down in the said decision, and any money overpaid by such taxpayer shall be returned to him?

I am not aware of the cases to which my hon. Friend refers. If he will furnish me with particulars of any case he has in mind, I will gladly inquire into it and communicate to him the result.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that the present assessment of premises containing fixed machinery under Schedule A is in practice based upon or arrived at in the light of the assessment made for Poor Law purposes, and that the assessment for Poor Law purposes in some unions is arrived at by taking into account ordinary trade machinery, whereas in other unions such machinery is not taken into account, he will say how are commissioners engaged in assessing property under Schedule A to secure a uniform standard of value for Schedule A throughout the country?

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply which was given on this subject to the hon. Member for Deritend on the 14th June. I am sending him a copy of that reply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether there are any cases in which electricity extension is delayed owing to inactivity of local authorities; and whether, in view of the need for providing employment this winter, he will instruct the Commissioners to suggest to such local authorities either that they show greater activity in meeting public requirements, or allow other authorities, ready to take over the work, to expand their activities?

The Commissioners are not aware of electricity extensions which are being delayed owing to inactivity of local authority undertakers. On the contrary, there has, for some time past, been much activity on the part of such authorities, as is shown by the fact that the Commissioners during the past three years have sanctioned the borrowing of no less than £36,000,000 by such authorities for electricity purposes. If my hon. Friend will give any specific instances of extensions delayed through alleged inactivity, these will be inquired into.

Has the hon. and gallant Gentleman any power in the matter when a considerable amount of work is being held up by the Electricity Commissioners themselves not coming to a decision?

I do not think that is so.

Why, and how far, are the Commissioners themselves actually preventing the development of electrical enterprises, especially by private companies?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that disabled men were successfully trained in watch-case making and similar work in a private factory in Manchester but, owing to competing imports, the work could not be continued; and whether the Government will afford to this and similar trades facilities at least equal to any granted to the Brighton diamond factory?

I have no information as to the first part of the question, and I am not therefore in a position to determine whether the circumstances are the same as those which existed in the case of the Brighton diamond factory.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see to it that any facilities which are given to the Brighton diamond factory are extended to the Fort William diamond factory?

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether, seeing that the imposition of protective measures has avoided the total loss of large sums of public money advanced as subsidies to the beet-sugar and dyestuffs industries, he will consider the adoption, in lieu of further expensive experiments in subsidies of protective measures in the first instance where suitable industries require support;

(2) whether the Government will consider the possibility of encouraging factories for diamond cutting, watch-case making, and other luxury trades suitable for disabled men by means of protective duties on competing imported goods?

Where there is a case for special assistance to an industry, for whatever reason, it would, I think, be inexpedient to rule out of consideration any particular form which that assistance might take.

Can the right hon. Gentleman throw any light upon the policy of protecting these industries?

I do not think that arises.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that these protective measures are the policy of the Government in view of the pledges given before the last General Election?

asked the Prime Minister whether the British delegates to the League of Nations assembly have yet been nominated; and whether it has been decided to include a woman among them?

If the hon. and gallant Member will repeat his question to-morrow, I hope to be in a position to make a statement.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has recently received a deputation from the Tottenham Urban District Council with regard to the present inadequate post office accommodation; and what action he intends to take in the matter?

A deputation from the council was recently interviewed and the questions raised by its members are being actively pursued.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of its importance to trade, he can provide for laying the Report of the Broadcasting Committee before the House before it separates for the Recess; and if he can state what is the policy of the Government with respect to it?

lam informed that the Broadcasting Committee are holding a further meeting for the consideration of their Report to-day, but even if it is then completed, it is improbable that copies will be available before the House rises.

Will the Report be published for general information?

I think an undertaking has already been given to that effect.

asked the Post master-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in dealing with the account for telephone charges to the City Corporation, the Chief Commoner claimed that an error of 10,000 calls in favour of the Post Office had been made; and whether the correctness of that claim has since been admitted?

I am sorry to say that, as the result of a clerical error, an account rendered to the City Corporation contained an overcharge of 10,000 calls. The matter was rectified as soon as attention was drawn to it.

Seeing that a very large number of subscribers have protested against similar errors and failed, how is it that the City Corporation were so very fortunate as to have this little error acknowledged?

It was not a little error but a mistake in the addition, which showed the amount to be 24,000 calls when the proper and correct addition was 14,000.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that on the 31st of May of this year a letter was sent to a few firms in Reading informing them that it was the intention of the Post Office authorities to dispose of the old general post office buildings in Reading, and that offers should be made not later than 11 o'clock on Wednesday, 6th June, thus leaving very little time for would-be purchasers to have the opportunity of inspecting the property, getting the advice of competent valuers, and making their financial arrangements; that it was not even stated in the letter whether the property was freehold, leasehold, or copyhold; and that the sale of the property was subsequently rushed through; and will he explain why the property was not put up for public auction?

The Circular Letter in question was sent to all enquirers after the property. It was not practicable to allow a larger interval because a substantial offer for the premises had been received which was open only until the 7th June last. As, however, it had long been known that the property was coming into the market, I think that any really interested party should have been able to obtain such further particulars as he might require, and a number of offers were, in fact, received. Further, I am advised that the amount finally accepted for the property would in all probability not have been realised at a public auction.

Is he aware that the property was resold at a much larger figure, and does this not prove that it would have been wiser to have put these buildings up to public auction?