asked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will consider the possibility of recommending a revision of the existing Superannuation Acts covering employés in the dockyards which would enable odd months of service to be counted for pension and bonus instead of confining the calculation to completed years; and whether he will consider the possibility of reducing the period for hired men to qualify for bonus from 15 to seven years?

As no doubt the hon. Member is aware, the Superannuation Acts apply to the Civil Service as a whole, and I am not prepared to recommend that exceptional treatment in the direction suggested be accorded to employes in the dockyards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the number of men, categoried in branches, who have been discharged from the Navy with tuberculosis in the last three years?

No statistics have been prepared for 1920, and the figures for 1922 are not yet available. The following table gives the figures for 1921: Classes No. of cases. Ratio per 1,000 of average number borne. Commissioned Officers 10 1.77 Subordinate Officers — — Warrant Officers 2 .69 Seamen 103 2.46 Boys 14 1.69 Engine Room Ratings 75 2.50 Marines 24 3.20 Stewards and Cooks 5 1.33 Sick Berth Staff 6 4.27 Regulating Branch — — Writers 8 8.77 Victualling Ratings 3 4.49 Ships' Cooks 3 1.71 Armourers and Black smiths — — Other Artisans 3 .83 Kroomen, Seedies and Lascars — — Telegraphists 8 2.76 Miscellaneous Ratings — —

asked (1) the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a temporary officer recently arrived from Iraq, on completion of nine years' service, was demobilised without a day's leave of absence, and that a long service officer, who was 19 years in India without leave, has also been demobilised without the concession of a day's leave; whether he will issue instructions that temporary officers have the privilege of a short leave before demobilisation;

(2) the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the authority which precludes an officer holding a temporary commission obtaining a short period of leave prior to demobilisation?

I will look into the matters raised, and communicate privately with the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War for what reason Mr. William Byrne, of 12, Industrial Terrace, Bean Street, Hull, was transferred to Class Z of the Army Reserve on the 10th April, 1919, after 13 years and 217 days' service?

I cannot trace this man on the information given, but if the hon. and gallant Member will be good enough to inform me of his Army number and regiment, I will look into the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state the percentage of the British military forces to the civilian population, and the comparative figures for France, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Japan, Rumania, Jugo-Slavia and Czechoslovakia?

The percentage of the regular British military forces in Great Britain (including the Army of the Rhine) to the civilian popula- tion is 23 per cent. The comparative figures for the other countries are:

Percent. France … … 1.24 Belgium … … 1.6 Poland … … 1.1 Russia … … 0.62 Japan … … 0.4 Rumania … … 0.75 Jugo—Slavia … … 0.9 Czechoslovakia … … 1.11

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Parkgate Iron and Steel Works, Messrs. Steel, Peach, and Tozers, of Rotherham, or Messrs. Samuel Fox, of Stockbridge, are engaged upon any work for his Department; if so, whether he is aware that the labourers employed by these firms receive only £1 10s. per week, after stoppages for insurance, etc., whilst the district rate is £2 1s.; that with the fall in the cost of living these men are suffering reductions in wages according to a sliding scale, although they never received the benefit of any scale when the cost of living was rising; and whether he will make inquiries into this matter in order to secure the observance of the Fair Wages Clause?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The remaining parts do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of ex-service men who have applied for land in each county in Wales, and the number that have been settled on the land by each county council; whether there are any outstanding applications; and whether any facilities exist for agricultural training for disabled and other ex-service men in Wales?

The following statement shows for each county in Wales and Monmouth the number of applications for small holdings received from ex-service men, the number of applicants provided with holdings, the number outstanding, and the number who have been rejected as unsuitable or who have withdrawn their application. As I have explained in answer to previous questions, any ex-service men who desired to avail themselves of the preference given to such men over civilians under the Government scheme were required to send in their

County. Total Applications received for holdings (Ex-Service Men). Number of Applicants provided with holdings and still in occupation. Number of Applicants who have been provided with holdings since 18th December, 1918, and have vacated them. Number of Outstanding Applicants, including those waiting interview or standing over. Number of Applicants who have been rejected as unsuitable or who have withdrawn their Applications. Applications made on or before 1st Dec., 1920. Applications made after 1st Dec., 1920. Applications made on or before 1st Dec., 1920. Applications made after 1st Dec., 1920. Applications made on or before 1st Dec., 1920. Applications made after 1st Dec., 1920. Applications made on or before 1st Dec., 1920. Applications made after 1st Dec., 1920. Applications made on or before 1st Dec., 1920. Applications made after 1st Dec., 1920. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Anglesey 560 26 149 8 17 Nil. 110 18 284 Nil. Brecon 95 35 23 6 Nil. 1 48 16 24 12 Cardigan 95 33 8 5 Nil. 1 Nil. 1 87 26 Carmarthen 288 61 78 13 Nil. Nil. Nil. 41 210 7 Carnarvon 223 12 27 2 Nil. Nil. 31 10 165 Nil. Denbigh 442 54 144 Nil. 5 Nil. 15 54 278 Nil. Flint 374 100 94 22 8 Nil. 6 18 266 60 Glamorgan 451 111 76 19 15 Nil. 117 68 243 24 Merioneth 148 45 70 Nil. 1 Nil. 7 29 70 16 Monmouth 452 133 71 26 11 Nil. 306 100 64 7 Montgomery 456 123 160 20 27 Nil. 18 94 251 9 Pembroke 492 65 74 Nil. 5 Nil. 129 62 284 3 Radnor 192 26 62 Nil. 1 Nil. 111 26 18 Nil. County Boroughs 78 25 10 5 Nil. 2 36 12 32 6 TOTALS 4,346 849 1,046 126 90 4 934 549 2,276 170

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of an instructor french polisher, employed at Squires Gate, Blackpool, convalescent centre under the Ministry of Pensions, who is in receipt of instruction pay, also draws a pension from the Ministry, and in addition is an employer of labour in the evening and gets time off from his instructional work to carry out the contracts; and why, if a full-time instructor is not required, preference has not been given to an unemployed man?

In the short time available, I have not been able to complete my inquiries in this matter. I will however, communicate with the hon. Member later.

applications before the 1st December, 1920. In reply to the last part of the question, the Ministry's scheme for the agricultural training of disabled ex-service men terminated on the 31st March, 1922.

asked the Minister of Pensions why county and other tuberculosis officers and medical superintendents of sanatoria are not permitted to express opinion in the case of ex-service men that the tuberculosis is due to war service; whether the Ministry of Pensions has sufficient experts in tuberculosis in its employ that no necessity arises for the opinion of men who have spent the whole of their professional life in treating this disease; and why, where the county tuberculosis medical officer has expressed the opinion that the tuberculosis is due to war service, such opinion is usually ignored and no pension awarded?

Full consideration is always given by my Department to reports by tuberculosis officers and medical superintendents of sanatoria on cases of tuberculosis, but it is obvious that decisions on the question of entitlement to pension in the case of tuberculosis as in that of any other disability must rest with my Department. I am glad to be able to assure the hon. Member that I have the advantage of the services of a sufficient number of medical men with expert knowledge of the disease to advise me for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that it was arranged more than two years ago that medical officers with special experience in tuberculosis would be present on medical boards when such cases came up for review; whether ex-service men have now drawn attention to the fact that such medical officers are no longer allowed to appear on final medical boards; and whether, in view of the fact that these specialists are in a much better position to define a man's condition, he will arrange that they shall be present?

I think the hon. Member is under some misapprehension. The special medical boards by which a man is examined when a final award is in contemplation always comprises a specialist in the particular disability, and in addition, in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis a report from the tuberculosis officer is always obtained before the case is considered for a final award, and is laid before the examining medical board.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Sunderland, was closed on 14th July, that some of the patients were sent home pending the provision of other hospital accommodation, and that in some cases men did not receive treatment allowances while awaiting admission to another hospital, he will arrange that the treatment allowances for the waiting period shall be paid?

In the short time available, I have not been able to obtain a full report on this matter, but I understand that no trace can be found of any case of the nature suggested in the question. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any such case, I will have further inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that an ex-service man, Harry Ralph, No. 2,727, 5th Monmouthshire Regiment, now residing at 28, John Street, Cwmcarn (Mon.), is disabled through shell-shock and has been disabled over two years; that he is on a pension of 16s. per week and has to be partly maintained by his relatives; and that he claims that he has not received treatment allowance from 25th May, 1923, to 21st July, 1923, though recommended by the district commissioner of medical services of Newport for treatment allowance; and will he look into this case with a view to increasing the pension and granting treatment allowance?

This man, who has been provided with considerable periods of treatment, was examined on an application for further treatment in June, when it was found that further treatment was not necessary. Treatment allowances are not, therefore, payable. The degree of disablement from neurasthenia was recently assessed by a medical board at 40 per cent., at which pension will be renewed, but if the man be dissatisfied with that finding, he may exercise his right of appeal to a medical appeal board through the Area Office of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. John Cameron, of 62, Temple Street, Cheetham, Manchester, was invalided from the Army on the 8th August, 1917, suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, insomnia, and neurasthenia; that on the 28th June, 1922, he appealed to the local committee for treatment allowance pending recovery from illness, and was referred to the Hardman Street Tuberculosis Office, where he was informed that, as his illness was neurasthenia and the invaliding disability tuberculosis, no treatment could be allowed; that correspondence has been passing from that date until the present time, during which period the condition of the patient has become progressively worse; that a leading Manchester specialist certified on the 16th instant that Mr. Cameron is suffering from the effects of pulmonary tuberculosis; and whether, having regard to the serious condition of the patient and the treatment of this case by the Manchester Area Office and the headquarters of the Ministry, he will institute immediate inquiries?

I am inquiring into this case, and will communicate with the hon. Member later.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether emigration to any part of the world other than the British Colonies entails, in the case of all war pensioners, the immediate stoppage of their pensions; and, if so, what is the reason?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many war pensions com

WALES REGION. Area No. Name of Area. Area. Local Authority Areas. Headquarters of Area. 1. North-West Wales. Counties of: Bangor. Anglesey. Carnarvon. Merioneth (excluding the Rural District of Edeyrnion. 2. North-East Wales. Counties of: Wrexham. Denbigh. Flint. Montgomery. Rural District: Edeyrnion (Merioneth). 3. South-West Wales. Counties of: Carmarthen. Cardigan. Carmarthen. Pembroke. 4. Brecon, Radnor and West Counties of: Swansea. Glamorgan. Brecknock. Radnor. County Borough: Swansea. Boroughs: Neath. Port Talbot. Urban Districts: Briton Ferry. Glyncorwg. Maestge. Rural Districts: Gower. Neath. Pontardawe. Swansea.

mittees there are in Wales; what are the names of the committees; where the Area Office is situate in each area; what is the size of each area; whether in certain instances pensioners reside more than 15 miles from the centre where the committee meets; and whether, seeing that every pensioner has the right of appeal to his committee, he will authorise the payment of travelling expenses to men attending before committees, who live more than two miles from the place where the committee or sub-committee holds its meeting?

A list of war pensions committees in Wales with the areas covered and the situation of the area office is appended. I am afraid that I could not agree to the suggestion in the last part of the question, but I will consider the matter further.

Area No. Name of Area. Area. Local Authority Areas. Headquarters of Area. 5. North-East Glamorgan. County Borough: Pontypridd. Merthyr Tydfil. Urban Districts: Aberdare. Caerphilly. Gelligaer. Mountain Ash. Pontypridd. Rhondda. Rural Districts: Llandaff and Dinas Powis (part of, namely, the Civil Parishes of Lianvedw, Rhyd-y-Gwern Rudry and Van). Llantrisant and Llantwitfardre (part of, namely, the Civil Parish of Llantwitfardre). 6. South-East Glamorgan. County Borough: Cardiff. Cardiff. Borough: Cowbridge. Urban Districts: Barry. Bridgend. Ogmore and Garw. Penarth. Porthcawl. Rural Districts: Cowbridge. Penybont. Llandaff and Dinas Powis (excluding the Civil Parishes of Llanvedw, Rhyd-y-Gwern, Rudry and Van). Llantrisant and Llantwitfardre (excluding the Civil Parish of Llantwitfardre) 7. Monmouthshire. County of: Newport. Monmouth.

asked the Treasurer of the Household whether his attention has been called to the case of Captain A. H. H. Rice, late of the 16th South Lancashire Regiment, who was declared by the Ministry of Pensions in May, 1922, to be suffering from a disability attributable to war service, and a gratuity awarded, which Captain Rice refused to accept and appealed as to assessment to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal in November, 1922, enclosing wth his appeal certificates from eminent doctors and letters from officers who had served with him, including one from Sir John Harrington; whether he is aware that this appeal has never been heard; whether he is also aware that Captain Rice has now been requested by the Ministry to send in a new appeal as to entitlement though there has never been any question as to his disability being attributable to war service; and whether he will give instructions that the original appeal sent in by Captain Rice in November, 1922, shall be heard and that the original medical certificates and letters sent in by him at that time be at once returned?

I have been asked to reply. I have looked personally into the facts of this case. The question of entitlement arose out of statements made by the officer himself, but I am satisfied that the case was not one in which appeal to the Assessment Appeal Tribunal should on this account have been delayed. I have, therefore, directed that the appeal shall be forwarded to that tribunal without delay, and will ask that hearing may be expedited.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Corporal Ernest Mogford, of the 180th Company, Labour Corps, was passed for home service in February, 1917, having previously volunteered three times in 1915–16; that on demobilisation in 1919 he was attended by Dr. White, of Exeter, for valvular disease of the heart; and that he is now in receipt of out-relief from the Axminster Guardians; and if, in view of the hardship of this case, some appropriate action by the Ministry can be taken?

This man was found to be suffering from heart disease on enlistment. On examination by a medical board at demobilisation, no disablement from the condition was found, and a second board held later confirmed that finding. It was decided by the Ministry, on careful consideration of all the circumstances, that the condition had not been affected by service, that finding being confirmed on appeal by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. The decision of the tribunal being final, I regret that the case cannot be re-opened.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will authorise the payment of out-of-pocket expenses to the pensioner's friend who attends the tribunal in support of an appeal, more especially in those cases where the appellant is an in-patient in a sanatorium, asylum, or other institution?

No. 33 of the Statutory Rules and Orders governing the procedure of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals provides thatThere shall be paid to the appellant or to his next-of-kin or other near relative or guardian if summoned before the tribunal under Regulation 29 or 32, and to any person accompanying an appellant who is certified by the chairman of the tribunal, the pensions appeal tribunals (central office), the area office or the officers' branch of the Ministry of Pensions as the case may be, to be unfit to travel alone, such travelling and subsistence allowances, and in the case of a successful appeal by a man or his widow such compensation for loss of time as may be allowed in accordance with any Rules for the time being in force in respect of the matter, and as may be certified by the chairman to have been properly expended or incurred. Regulation No. 32 provides, inter alia, that 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. The question of extending the scope of these Regulations has on several occasions received most careful consideration, but it is not deemed advisable to make any alteration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Egyptian Government have now inquired into the affair when Messrs. Clement and Fearns were marched handcuffed through the streets of Alexandria; and whether the responsible officials have been punished?

I understand that the inquiry which the Egyptian Government, at the instance of Lord Allenby, is making into this case is not yet complete.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that a Treaty of Peace has now been signed with Turkey, he will say what arrangements have been made to secure to British creditors the sums due for reparation for goods destroyed during the War?

Under Article 58 of the Lausanne Treaty, Turkey and the other Contracting Powers, except Greece, agree reciprocally to renounce all pecuniary claims for loss and damage, suffered respectively by Turkey and these Powers and by their nationals between 1st August, 1914, and the coming into force of the Treaty as a result of acts of war or measures of requisition, sequestration, disposal or confiscation. British sufferers may present claims for loss during the War to the Separation Claims Department, Board of Trade, for registration with a view to participation in the sum of £T5,000,000 in gold, transferred to the Allies under the Treaties with Germany and Austria, and to which Turkey, by Article 58 of the Lausanne Treaty, has renounced all claim.

asked the Prime Minister if he can now give a general idea as to the manner in which the Lausanne Treaty of Peace has protected the interests of British claimants against Turkey, many of whom have waited five years for some settlement, and would naturally be reassured by such information if it can be given?

Under Article 58 of the Lausanne Treaty, Turkey and the other Contracting Powers, except, Greece, agree reciprocally to renounce all pecuniary claims for loss and damage suffered respectively by Turkey and these Powers and by their nationals between August, 1914, and the coming into force of the Treaty as a result of acts of war or measures of requisition, sequestration, disposal or confiscation. British sufferers may present claims for loss during the War to the Reparation Claims Department, Board of Trade, for investigation and assessment, with a view to participation in the sum of £T5,000,000 in gold, transferred to the Allies under the Treaties with Germany and Austria, and to which Turkey, by Article 58 of the Lausanne Treaty, has renounced all claim. British claimants whose claims arose out of loss caused before the War are protected under Article 71 of the Treaty of Lausanne, which provides that such claims may be continued against the Turkish Government under the conditions existing before 29th October, 1914, due regard being had to the abolition of the Capitulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for foreign Affairs what foreign naval, military, aeronautical and other foreign missions there are in Germany, other than diplomatic missions; what is the total personnel; what is the total British personnel; what is the actual cost of all the missions; what is the actual cost of the British missions; and how is this money being paid?

I regret that His Majesty's Government have not sufficiently detailed information available to enable them to reply at such short notice to the hon. and gallant Member's question.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether, in view of the fact that Great Britain, under the Peace Treaty, undertakes to relieve Turkey of all liability in respect of the Turkish loans secured on the Egyptian tribute and that in the case of one of these loans, namely, that of 1855, the Turkish Government were liable to provide a sinking fund of 1 per cent. per annum, which should have extinguished the loan tome 23 years ago, and seeing that the Turkish Government allowed the sinking fund to fall into abeyance in 1875 and, meantime, the whole of the outstanding bonds have been drawn for payment at par, he will state whether the obligation of Great Britain to provide for the redemption of the loan is included as one of the liabilities taken over from Turkey;

(2) whether His Majesty's Government, after payment of the interest of the bonds from revenues sequestered from the Turkish Government, have in their possession any surplus funds on account of the service of the loan; if so, what was the original amount of such funds when received; whether they have been invested; and, if so, what is the present value of the investments?

His Majesty's Government have not undertaken, under either Article 112 of the Treaty of Sevres or in the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne, which supersede that Article, any obligation to provide for the annual sinking fund payments in respect of the Turkish guaranteed loan of 1855, which have for many years been in default. The existing arrangements under which payments for the service of the loan are made remain unmodified. The balance of any annual sums received above the amount required for interest payments has been invested, and has a present market value of about £500,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can announce the decision with regard to the writing assistants whose case was excluded from the purview of the Southborough Committee on the understanding that it would be fairly and expeditiously dealt with by a Whitley Council committee; and whether, in view of the reconsideration of wages in September, he can make an immediate announcement upon this subject?

I would refer to the reply which I gave on the 1st August to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Middleton).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how the amount of £8,000 for legal expenses in connection with the Food Department in the Civil Service Estimates, 1923–24, is made up?

I have been asked to reply. The estimate represents the probable cost of litigation involved in the settlement of claims exceeding £5,000,000 in amount.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the functions performed by the Montreal office of the Timber Disposal Department; and if he is in a position to state how long this office will be maintained at a cost of £3,000 a year?

The Montreal shipping office of the Timber Disposal Department was closed on 30th April last, and the work of clearing up the remaining business of this Department in Canada has been entrusted to a firm of accountants, whose services are not likely to be required beyond October next.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that certain permanent clerks in the Civil Service, who obtained their positions as the result of passing an examination in 1919, are receiving smaller salaries than clerks in the same category who passed a similar examination in 1920; and whether steps can be taken to give equal treatment to these clerks?

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

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take into consideration during the Recess the possibility of considerably extending the organisation of the overseas trade representation of this country both within the Empire and in foreign communities; and whether, in the development of this branch of the activities, of his Department, he will endeavour to secure the services of practical experienced business men, who will not merely collect information, but will influence the flow of trade?

The question of expanding the Trade Commissioner and Commercial Diplomatic Services within the limits of the funds at the disposal of my Department is receiving my earnest consideration. The functions of the members of these services-are not merely to collect information, but also to secure trade for the United Kingdom, and this branch of their work is borne in mind when officers for the services are being selected.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that the Government has recently conceded the minimum salary of £176 14s. per annum to entrants to the permanent clerical class, Civil Service, whether he will undertake that the rates of pay of temporary clerical officers shall not be further reduced until their representatives shall have had an opportunity of submitting their views?

A reduction in the rates of temporary graded clerks falls due to be made as from 1st September under the existing cost of living sliding scale. In the meantime, it will be open to the representatives of these clerks to submit any proposal that they may think it right to put forward.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that the Report of the Anderson Committee has not yet been submitted, whether he will undertake that no revision of the rates of pay of the temporary clerical classes shall be made until the Report of the Committee shall have been received by the Government?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to-day to a similar question on the subject.

— Date Total Net Debt. Rate per Head, European Population. Canada 1st January, 1922 $2,366,861,252 $263.96 *Commonwealth of Australia 30th June, 1923 £335,371,461 £59 10s. 5d. New Zealand 31st March, 1922 £208,241,121 £166 16s. 7d. Union of South Africa 31st March, 1922 £180,209,434 £118 11s. 11d. * Exclusive of Australian States.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in a large number of cases great hardship is being caused to schoolmasters and school-mistresses with many years' service to their credit and the highest qualifications through the Government's policy of pressure upon the local education authorities to reduce the staffs; and whether he will give personal consideration to cases brought to his notice?

It is, of course, difficult to give effect to any measures of retrenchment which financial conditions necessitate without the possibility of injuriously affecting the position or prospects of some individuals, but I am confident that local education authorities are doing everything in their power to minimise hardships. I do not think it would be proper or desirable for me to adopt a practice of interfering with the discretion of local education authorities in the treatment of individual cases.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of the public debts of the Union of South Africa, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of Canada, and the Dominion of New Zealand, respectively; and what is the amount of those debts per head of the population of the respective territories?

I have been asked' to reply. According to the latest particulars available, the figures are as follow:

Treasury have agreed to grant a sum of money, in excess of the normal Vote, to provide for additional special schools in the country?

The Treasury have no power to grant any money in excess of the amount voted by Parliament. I have no reason to expect that the action referred to in the reply which I gave on the 9th July last to the hon. Member for Blackpool (Major Molloy) will cause an excess on the appropriate sub-head of the Board's Vote.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the officials at the Board have received communications from teachers' associations and from individual teachers on the subject of the delay in the payment of the lump sum and the first instalment of pension to teachers who have retired in accordance with the provisions of The School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918; whether he will inquire as to the necessity of an interval of three months and more elapsing without the receipt from the retiring teacher of any communication from the Board or of any portion of the lump sum; when the Board will make the first payments of pension and lump sum to Mr. W. R. Taylor, formerly headmaster of Lomond Grove London County Council School, who retired on 29th April, 1923, and when the Board will make the first payments of pension and lump sum to Miss F. Durrant, formerly of Brackenbury Road London County Council School, who retired on 9th April, 1923?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and for a general statement of the reasons for delay in the issue of awards I may refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given on the 16th April last to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Linfield). I am glad to say that the awards in the cases referred to in the question have already been announced to the teachers concerned, and payment will be made as soon as the Board receives from them the necessary declarations of identity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is, and what was, the cause of the delay in not holding an inquiry into the loss of the s.s. "El Kahira," last seen about 12 miles west of the Casquets on 7th July, 1922; why the hearing is not to be commenced until September next; and if he is aware that many of the dependants of the officers and crew have been suffering hardship owing to the delay in holding this inquiry?

This was a case of a vessel which disappeared with all hands, and for some time it was doubtful whether any really useful purpose would be served by ordering an inquiry. After it was decided to order an inquiry, further time was required to get together the necessary evidence as to the causes of this casualty. I do not think there is any reason why the delay in the holding of the inquiry should have affected any claims which the dependants of the officers and crew may have.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that full consideration has been promised for all belated claims made to the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action, he can give a definite undertaking that the Reparation Claims Department, which is dealing with such claims, shall not be closed down until the Royal Commission has reported all such claims and this House has the opportunity of considering such Report?

The Reparation Claims Department will not be closed down till after the Royal Commission has made its final report, and all the belated claims have been dealt with.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, the amount and value of timber of all kinds imported into this country from Latvia, Esthonia, and Lithuania during the six months ended 30th June; the corresponding figures for the imports from these States of the Russian Empire for the same period of 1913; and what steps the Government is taking to redevelop these sources of the timber which is so urgently required in this country?

The quantities and value of timber imported into the United Kingdom during the six months ended 30th June last, registered as consigned from the countries specified, were approximately as follow: Consigned from Quantity Declared Value. £ Latvia … … 287,400 1,153,123 Esthonia … … 59,000 253,951 Lithuania … … 21,800 133,605

From 1st April, 1923, the imports, if any, into the Irish Free State have not been included in the records. Corresponding figures for the same period of 1913 are not available. I am not aware of any steps that His Majesty's Government could take to increase these supplies.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the British mission at Moscow would be more usefully employed purely in the furtherance of British trade now that Mr. Hodgson has left that capital, he will consider whether it is possible to separate the purely British trade activities in Russia from diplomatic business which is under the direction of the Foreign Office, placing all matters for the development of Anglo-Russian trade directly under the Board of Trade?

I am unable to see that any advantage would be derived from a modification, on the lines proposed, of the present arrangement under which Mr. Hodgson, who is temporarily on leave, reports on questions relating to British trade activities to the Department of Overseas Trade, a Department under the joint control of the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade, specially created for dealing with such questions.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that extravagance and financial irregularities prevail in the conduct of affairs of the special constabulary of Northern Ireland; whether he is aware that this is attributed in Northern Ireland to the fact that a large proportion of the expenses is provided by the English Exchequer without any control as to expenditure; and whether he will take steps to safeguard the interests of the English taxpayer and in the interests of the special constabulary of Northern Ireland?

The reply to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. The last part of the question does not arise.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will have inquiries made into the disappearance from his father's home of the son of Mr. Alfred E. Hayes, of Rose Cottage, Pitstone, near Leighton Buzzard, who has been missing since the 12th May?

I understand that the disappearance has been notified to the police, and that they have taken such steps as they are able to assist the relatives to trace the missing man. I regret there is no further action which I can take in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that outside the Metropolitan police force area a policeman who summons a doctor to a street accident is responsible for paying the doctor's fees if, as sometimes happens, the patient will not pay; and will he secure that in future in such cases any charge incurred shall be borne by the police fund, as in the Metropolitan police force area?

If such a rule exist in any force, I do not think it can be general. If my hon. and gallant Friend will inform me of any case where difficulty has occurred, I shall be happy to make inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary (1) the total gross and net cost, local and national, for England and Wales during the past financial year, of police, asylums, prisons, reformatories, industrial homes, Borstal institutions, inebriate homes, and administration of law and justice, respectively;

(2) the average gross net cost per head of each inmate of asylums, prisons, reformatories, industrial homes, Borstal institutions, and inebriate homes, respectively, during the last financial year?

(a) Police. —The exact figures for 1922–23 are not yet available, but the difference between the gross and net cost is comparatively small, and the net cost was approximately £17,682,000, of which about one-half was contributed by the Exchequer and from local rates respectively.

(b) Prison Service .—The latest available figures are for 1921–22 — Gross cost. Per head. Net cost. Per head. £ £ £ £ Local Prisons … 949,154 103 730,429 79 Convict Prisons … 242,060 142 188,527 111 Preventive Detention Prison … 23,928 254 21,171 225 Borstal Institutions … 165,461 141 130,797 111

These figures do not include the cost of new buildings and charges such as fuel, rates, etc., borne on other Votes. The whole cost of the Prison Service is paid by the Exchequer.

(c) Reformatory and Industrial Schools .—The cost is divided between the Exchequer and local rates, the contribution of the local authorities being made by means of a weekly flat rate in respect of each child maintained in the schools. There is little or no difference between the gross and net cost. The latest avail able figures are for 1921–22, which show that the total cost was about £814,046, or about £65 per head.

(d) Administration of Law and Justice .—The Police, Prisons and Reformatory and Industrial Schools have already been dealt with. As regards the Supreme Court of Judicature and the County Courts, I would refer the hon. Member to the figures in the printed Estimates, Class III, Vote 3, and Class III, Vote 6. The cost of Courts of Summary Jurisdiction and Quarter Session falls entirely upon local rates. There are no longer any certified Inebriate Reformatories. As regards the Asylum Service, I would refer the hon. Member to the Ministry of Health.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the Report on the grinding of metals and cleaning of castings; and whether he proposes to adopt the recommendations contained in the Report?

The action to be taken on this Report, which makes a number of important and detailed recommendations, has been receiving careful consideration. No decision has yet been reached, but it is clear that, in order to deal effectively with the conditions described in the Report, it will be necessary to strengthen and extend the existing Regulations, and proposals far this purpose will be issued as soon as practicable. They will, of course, be published in the first instance in draft, in accordance with the procedure prescribed in the Act, so as to give the interests affected the opportunity of expressing their views on the various proposals.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the high incidence of lead poisoning in electric accumulator works; if he is aware that the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" reports 14 cases in May and 22 in June; and whether, in view of the fact that strong Regulations for the protection of workers in this occupation exist, he will consider the desirability of appointing additional inspectors to find out whether these Regulations are being properly carried out and, if so, whether new Regulations are required?

I am aware of the figures referred to by the Noble Lord which were supplied to the Ministry of Labour Gazette by the Factory Department. Most of the cases in question (10 in May and 19 in June) were reported from two works at which there had been a sudden increase of orders, and work had been carried on under conditions which, though not involving any breach of the Regulations, were unsatisfactory. The matter has been taken up strongly with the firms, both of whom are re-organising the departments affected. The cases occurred mostly among workers newly engaged and, I am glad to learn, have not been serious in character. Apart from these cases, however, the Factory Department has for some time been dissatisfied with the results obtained under the existing Regulations, and a special inquiry was commenced some time ago, with a view to ascertain in what respects the Regulations might require strengthening. This inquiry has now been completed, and further action will be considered in the light of its results. No ground has arisen for the appointment of additional inspectors. The works in question have been regularly visited by the district staff, and a number of special visits have been paid by the technical officers engaged in the inquiry. The chief inspector is satisfied that the increase of lead poisoning cases in these works is not attributable in any way to lack of inspection.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the large number of recent accidents to public service vehicles in which passengers are reported as having been injured by broken glass; and whether he will consider the advisability of only licensing vehicles fitted with glass of a non-splinterable variety?

I have been asked to answer this question, and would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him yesterday in reply to a somewhat similar question.

asked the Minister of Labour the present position in relation to the proposed new road between Manchester and Liverpool?

I have been asked to answer this question. As I stated on 14th May, in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. D. Somerville), the local authorities concerned were told that the offer of a contribution from the Road Fund equivalent to one-half of the approved cost of the work would remain open for their acceptance up to September. The attitude at present adopted by several of the local authorities leads me to fear that advantage will not be taken of the offer within the time limit.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that many cases of excessive speed and driving to the danger of the public in connection with drivers of road commercial vehicles arise from the fact that the driver is instructed by his employers to conform to a time schedule, which compels the disregarding of the law relating to the rule of the road; if such time schedule is to be observed; and will he inquire into the matter?

There is, so far as I am aware, no available evidence that the improper driving referred to in the question is occasioned by the prescription by employers of time schedules which cannot be carried out without breaking the law. Inquiries are being made into the matter, and I shall be glad to receive any evidence which may be in the hon. Member's possession.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his Department makes it a necessary condition that any person nominated to serve on a court of referees must be a member of an association of insured contributors?

Experience of the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Acts has shown that it is desirable that, in general, persons appointed to serve on the panels of the courts of referees should be representatives of associations of employers and employed in the insured trades.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any statement with regard to the arrangements for the employment of British workmen in France?

My Department have made arrangements to obtain carefully verified particulars of certain vacancies for skilled engineering workmen in France, and to bring these vacancies to the notice of suitable unemployed persons in this country. Assist- ance is given towards the payment of fares of selected workmen. During the past two months, experience of these arrangements has shown that difficulties arise principally owing to unfamiliarity with the French mode of living and workshop arrangements; moreover, the rate of exchange makes the French wages relatively unfavourable in the case of British workmen. I am satisfied, however, from careful inquiries which have boon made at the works in Paris and Nevers, to which most of the men have been sent, that the employers at these works have fully carried out their contracts with the men and, moreover, are prepared to do all in their power to give British workmen a fair chance. In my opinion, there is no reason why a workman with the requisite skill who obtains employment there and makes a real effort to adapt himself to new conditions, should not find it satisfactory, and certainly far preferable to remaining unemployed at home. Certain criticisms have appeared in the Press, but these criticisms, so far as they are accurate, amount to nothing more than a complaint that the mode of living and other conditions in France are different from those in Great Britain. I should add that certain special difficulties have occurred in the case of a party of eight men sent to Douai on 19th July, and these are being investigated.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that the Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron, and Coal Company closed three collieries at Blaina, Monmouthshire, early in 1921; that thousands of miners have been unemployed in this area for over two years; and will he, in view of the better demand for coal now prevailing, use his good offices with a view to inducing the company to restart their collieries?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part, I understand that steps have now been taken to work this coal through other shafts, including a new shaft at Blaina. I would gladly do anything in my power to mitigate the existing unemployment, but the question whether the old pits could again be worked remuneratively is not one upon which I could offer any opinion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if he will give the list and amounts of money granted to the Midlands (Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Staffordshire) for relief work during the 12 months ending 30th June, 1923; and what schemes have been sanctioned at the moment for the purpose of relieving distress during the forthcoming winter?

The grants sanctioned during the 12 months ending 30th June, 1923, for road works in the area in question, put in hand with a view to mitigating unemployment, amounted to a total of £220,796, on works estimated to cost £441,616. Further schemes in the area, to an estimated toital cost of £612,434, are under consideration, and a detailed list of the schemes and amounts of the grants is being communicated to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that it takes about 40 days for the mails to be taken from London to Peking at the present time; that the Siberian route is now open; and that letters between London and Peking reach their destination in about 20 days; will he therefore arrange for His Majesty's mails to be taken by the Siberian route so that traders in the Far East can get the benefit of this quicker despatch?

The average period of transit of mails from London to Peking by the sea routes via Suez and via North America is about 35 days. It is the case that the Siberian route is again open and mails for China have been sent by it since the end of last April; but the service is still uncertain, and only letters and postcards specially addressed by the senders for transmission via Siberia are at present being sent. The period of transit of the mails already sent has varied from 21 to 35 days. I am fully aware of the importance to traders of a fast mail service to the Far East and the possibilities of developing the Siberian route will be kept under consideration

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Italian Post Office are surcharging letters sent to Italy since 14th May and stamped with a 2½d. stamp; and whether he will bring the fact to their notice that this is the correct postage?

Yes, Sir. The matter has already been brought to the notice of the Italian Post Office. They have explained that the irregular surcharge was due to delay on their part in announcing the reduction in British postal rates for places abroad, and they have undertaken to repay any amounts wrongly collected.

asked the Minister of Health the reasons why an appointment of a relieving officer by the Swansea Board of Guardians has not been approved by him; and whether he is aware that the appointment was made by the guardians voting by ballot, as in previous selections which had been endorsed by the Ministry?

In this case an inexperienced officer was appointed by the guardians, and, on inquiry being made as to the reasons for his appointment, the guardians decided to reconsider the matter. Voting by ballot is not permissible in such a case, and the guardians' attention would have been drawn to this fact on previous occasions had it been within the knowledge of the Department that appointments had been so made.

asked the Minister of Health what is the population, according to the latest census figures, of Olney and Newport Pagnell, Bucks; whether he is aware that efforts by local doctors to get these figures have been unsuccessful; and will he cause all census figures to be published?

As stated in the Preliminary Census Report published in August, 1921, the provisional 1921 Census population for the Newport Pagnell urban district was 4,142, and the corresponding figure for the Newport Pagnell rural district was 14,753. The final and verified figures, together with the figures for the constituent civil parishes (including Olney civil parish) are not as yet available, but will be published in due course when Buckinghamshire is reached in the order of county tabulations. I am not aware of the efforts referred to in the question; but I should point out that it is open to any persons locally interested to make application to the Registrar-General under Section 4 (2) of the Census Act, 1920, which empowers him to supply unpublished Census statistics "at the request and cost of any local authority or person." I am informed that two applications were received over a year ago for unpublished Census statistics relative to these localities, and that in both cases the applicants were informed that the information would be supplied on the payment of certain charges to cover the cost of extraction. No further communication has, however, been received in either case.

asked the Minister of Health if he will supply the following information in regard to the vaccination of the general population in the United States, namely, names of states in which there is no compulsion to vaccinate; names of states in which vaccination is compulsory subject to a conscientious objectors' clause; and names of states in which vaccination is compulsory without any exemption?

I have no complete information as to the vaccination law throughout the United States, but I am advised, provisionally, that the States in which there is no penalty for neglecting vaccination are Illinois (excluding Chicago), Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan, Alabama, Vermont; that there is exemption on account of conscientious objection to vaccination in California; and that the States in which penalties are imposed for neglecting vaccination include New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, District of Columbia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Virginia, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Indiani, Washington, North Dakota, Texas, Iowa, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania.

asked the Minister of Health the number of infants born in Liverpool, the number vaccinated, the number exempted, the number dying unvaccinated, and the number unaccounted for in each of the last 20 years for which the figures are available?

These particulars are not available for the City of

VACCINATION IN THE REGISTRATION DISTRICTS OF LIVERPOOL, TOXTETH PARK, AND WEST DERBY. — Births. Vaccinated. Insusceptible. Had Smallpox. Exempted. Died Postponed. Remaining Unaccounted for. 1902 … 27,804 22,677 147 4 9 3,080 159 1,728 1903 … 27,653 22,562 142 1 20 3,081 249 1,598 1904 … 28,107 22,566 104 — 22 3,334 239 1,842 1905 … 28,116 22,950 75 — 26 2,813 431 1,821 1906 … 28,079 22,212 71 — 49 2,992 521 2,234 1907 … 27,351 21,543 59 — 171 2,732 541 2,305 1908 … 27,664 21,606 90 — 425 2,574 537 2,432 1909 … 27,295 21,067 112 — 613 2,514 559 2,430 1910 … 26,633 20,812 93 — 717 2,366 650 1,995 1911 … 26,103 19,952 126 — 787 2,639 633 1,966 1912 … 26,144 20,168 67 — 972 2,225 626 2,086 1913 … 26,362 19,996 57 — 1,153 2,399 885 1,872 1914 … 26,936 20,172 83 — 1,201 2,560 945 1,975 1915 … 25,019 18,983 71 — 1,136 2,153 1,243 1,433 1916 … 24,215 18,251 94 — 1,238 2,032 1,313 1,287 1917 … 21,001 15,947 98 — 1,156 1,714 1,130 956 1918 … 20,235 14,929 114 — 1,122 1,728 1,173 1,169 1919 … 21,898 15,723 197 — 1,537 1,691 1,316 434 1920 … 28,952 20,853 195 1 2,289 2,304 1,520 1,790 1921 … 25,390 18,283 120 — 2,175 1,948 1,061 1,803

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the great hardship which will result for working men and women who object to vaccination in the operation of the new Vaccination Order, seeing that in many unions the office of the vaccination officer is situated some miles from the homes of the parents, while mothers with tiny babies will be obliged to travel long distances to get the exemption form, seeing that the fathers will be at work during the vaccination officers' working hours; and whether he can arrange for the exemption forms to be obtained from the registrars as well as from the vaccination officers?

There appears to be some misapprehension in regard to this matter. The Vaccination Act, 1907, requires that a declaration of conscientious objection to vaccination shall be made in the form set out in the Schedule to the Act, or in a form to the

Liverpool, as they are compiled for registration areas only. The following statement gives the particulars asked for in respect of the registration districts of Liverpool, Toxteth Park, and West Derby, which comprised the City of Liverpool and certain adjacent areas:

like effect. There is nothing in the new Vaccination Order which requires parents to make personal application to the vaccination officer for a form of declaration. The form may be obtained on written application to that officer or the declaration may be made in a form to the like effect without applying to him. In the circumstances, I see no necessity to make further' arrangements for the supply of these forms.

asked the Minister of Health whether chicken-pox is notifiable in Birmingham; and whether he can give the number of cases that occurred there during the months of June and July, and also the number of cases of small-pox notified in the same period?

I understand that, under the provisions of local Acts in force in Birmingham, the parent or guardian of a child in attendance at school is required to notify the headmaster of the school if chicken-pox occurs in any member of the family. The number of cases of chicken-pox notified under these provisions during the eight weeks ended the 28th July was 623, while three cases of small-pox were notified to the medical officer of health during the same period.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Weetslade urban district council, Northumberland, is appointing an unqualified man to the office of sanitary inspector; whether such appointment has been approved by him; and what action he proposes to take in the circumstances?

I am aware of this appointment, since I refused to approve it on submission to me. The

DEATH OF WOMEN ASSIGNED TO PREGNANCY OR CHILDBIRTH. — England and Wales.* Holland.† Italy. Japan. Switzerland. Sweden. Deaths per million living. Deaths per 1000 Births. Deaths per million living. Deaths per 1000 Births. Deaths per million living. Deaths per 1000 Births. Deaths per million living. Deaths per 1000 Births. Deaths per million living. Deaths per 1000 Births. Deaths per million living. Deaths per 1000 Births. 1861–70 341 4.70 — — — — — — — — — — 1871–80 350 4.72 — — — — — — — — — — 1881–90 318 4.73 — — — — — — — — — — 1891–1900 301 5.09 — — — — — — — — — — 1901–10 206 4.01 — — — — — — — — — — 1913 185 3.96 — — — — — — — — 53 2.28 1914 192 4.17 — — 75 2.41 — — — — 58 2.60 1915 176 4.18 — — — — 120 — — — 63 2.90 1916 166 4.12 134 2.58 59 2.45 — — 64 3.37 56 2.66 1917 132 3.89 131 2.53 56 2.86 120 3.59 44 2.42 51 2.46 1918 127 3.79 147 3.00 — — — — 49 2.62 — — 1919 154 4.37 161 3.35 — — — — 60 3.19 — — 1920 210 4.33 — — — — — — 62 2.93 — — 1921 168 3.91 — — — — — — — — — — 1922 149 3.81 — — — — — — — — — — * Prior to 1911 Puerperal Nephritis and Albuminuria were not classed to Pregnancy and Childbirth, and consequently the rates shown from 1913 onwards are from .22 to .25 in excess of what they would have been under the old classification. † The number of deaths per million living in Holland for 1911–15 (inclusive) was 126. The number of deaths per million living in Denmark in 1920 was 60 and the number per thousand births was 2.35.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount received in 1922 from tuberculosis patients in London Medical Officer of Health of the district has resigned, as a protest against the appointment, and I have instructed one of my medical officers to inquire into the sanitary administration of the district.

asked the Minister of Health the percentage of deaths of women on confinement in this country for each of the last 10 years and for periods of 10 years prior; and how those figures compare with records in other countries?

Figures for England and Wales in regard to deaths of women assigned to pregnancy or childbirth for the last 10 years and for decennia from 1861 to 1910 are given in the following Table, together with such figures as are available in regard to other countries:

in respect of institutional treatment and the cost of collecting the same, and the amount which was found to be irrecoverable or cancelled; and also the number of people who are concerned with these charges and their collection?

I am obtaining this information, and will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the total expense on public funds of the inebriate institution at Langho since it was built 20 years ago; how many inebriates have been lodged there since the Armistice; and whether it is now used for the treatment of mental deficients and is under the supervision of the Board of Control?

I am not in a position to state the total expense to public funds during the period when inebriates were maintained at this institution, but I am informed that the Government grant from April, 1904, to May, 1920, amounted to £59,524. At the date of the Armistice, there were 55 inmates, but during the year 1919 the average number was 32. The institution is now used for mental defectives by the Lancashire Asylums Board, and is certified by the Board of Control. Some blocks were used for mental defectives in 1915, but since the spring of 1920 the whole of the institution has been used for mental defectives. The total cost of maintaining defectives at this institution since 1915 to the 31st March in the present year has amounted to £87,378.

asked the Minister of Health if he can give an estimate of the present cost of the materials in the construction of a cottage, taking the cost' in September, 1920, as £100?

There have been no changes which would appreciably affect the figure of 58 given by my right hon. Friend, in reply to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member on the 18th of July.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses approved for construction to date under the new Bill?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend yesterday to the hon. Member for Notts, Mansfield (Mr. A. Bennett).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the official announcement that the efforts which are being made in Kenya to stimulate the technical training of Africans have not yet progressed so far as to 6upply a sufficient number of Africans with such posts on the railways or elsewhere, he will state how long this training has been undertaken; whether it started with the construction of the Uganda railway in 1896; and why, presuming that the authorities have carried out the only obvious policy under the circumstances, the results have been so consistently unsatisfactory?

At short notice, and without reference to the Colony, it is not possible to answer my hon. Friend's question fully. I can say with confidence that no attempt to train Africans in Kenya for skilled labour was begun in 1896, when it was necessary to import even unskilled labour for the construction of the Uganda Railway. Financial conditions impeded progress until the native industrial school at Machakos was instituted in 1913–14. In the meantime, missionary effort and contact with European life had helped to fit the natives for skilled work, but it is possible that even now the number suited for such work is relatively small. During the War little could be done, though I understand that the training of Africans in Uganda railway workshops was not overlooked, but I believe that the vigorous efforts now being made are due largely to the initiation of the present general manager. Where economy in superior staff is essential, there has been a natural conservatism in preferring skilled artisans from India to Africans who, even after training, need a greater degree of supervision, but I am not prepared to agree that the results of the efforts made in the past have been consistently unsatisfactory.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the British Government have given frequent pledges that the ex-civil servants of the Crown, and other persons whose right to compensation is given to them by Article 10 of the Treaty, shall receive the compensation to which they are entitled; what objection there is to the British Government appointing an advisory committee, as the Free State Government have done, to advise them in dispute cases whether these persons have been given their proper compensation under Article 10; and what course is open to these persons, who are dissatisfied with the compensation awarded to them by the Free State Government, to assert their claims?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part, the right to compensation under Article 10 is, as has been pointed out, a statutory right, and it is for the Courts, if necessary, and not for an advisory committee, to determine whether or not the Statute has been observed. In reply to the last part of the question, any person who is of opinion that the compensation awarded to him is less than that to which he is entitled should seek legal advice in the matter.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will give the amount of money received by each of the 12 persons who had over £7,000 from coal royalties in the County of Durham in the last financial year?

My hon. Friend asked me to reply to this question. The information desired is only obtainable from returns, etc., in connection with the administration of the Mineral Eights Duty, and I regret that the obligations of secrecy which attach to all matters of taxation do not permit the Board of Inland Revenue to disclose individual amounts of income from any source.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will consider the allocation of the £12,000 annual grant for combating venereal disease between the Society for the Prevention of Venereal Disease and the National Council for Combating Venereal Disease; whether he is aware that the latter organisation is the only one in receipt of any State assistance; and why, seeing the Trevethin Report has been unconditionally accepted by both, there is any differentiation made in respect to the Government assistance given?

As regards the first part of the question, the maximum grant which will be paid from the Ministry direct to voluntary organisations in aid of their work in combating these diseases is £7,500. The answer to the second part is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, the question of Government assistance to the work of voluntary organisations will come up for review in connection with the recommendations in the Trevethin Report, which is now under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the fact that the representatives of the lower deck for canteen matters have put forward a recommendation that the Navy should sever its connection with the Navy Army, and Air Force Institutes; whether the rank and file representatives of the Army and Air Force have been given similar facilities to those afforded to the lower deck to put forward their views with regard to the management and policy of the canteens which are provided for their convenience; and if he is prepared to establish a committee similar to that of which Lord Rotherham was chairman at the beginning of the late War, and in this manner bring into existence a system of canteen trading which shall be satisfactory to the men?

I have been asked to answer this question. I will look into the matters raised, and communicate privately with the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office (1) if he will give the number of employés in the printing works of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes and the amount paid in wages during the month of June; whether a list of the orders carried out during the last week in June can be furnished; if a statement of accounts can be furnished showing the income and expenditure of this branch of the business of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes for the month of June;

(2) if he is aware that private tradesmen were induced to build shops in the vicinity of Tidworth Barracks on the understanding that they would be permitted to supply the troops with any goods which might be required, which conditions did obtain for a considerable time; whether he is aware that, since the appearance of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes, regimental orders have been issued prohibiting messing officers and others to transact business with the private traders; if he is now prepared to allow these to enter into business competition with the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes;

(3) if ladies' underclothing is still sold in the canteens of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes; and, if so, whether it is regarded as a necessary of a soldiers' life?

(4) if he is prepared to relax the order that the messing officers at Tidworth Camp shall not purchase goods from the private tradesmen whose businesses are established in Station Road, Tidworth?

I will look into the matters raised in these questions, and will communicate privately with the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister what is the exact position regarding claims on the present Russian Government for goods supplied and services rendered by British subjects to the previous Russian Government; and when His Majesty's Government intends to carry out the terms of the Trade Agreement with Russia by holding a conference with the Russian Government for the settlement of this and other outstanding questions?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. A. T. Davies) on the 8th June, and to the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Morel) on the 18th June last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in arriving at the present figure for cost of living, precisely the same basis has been adopted as was adopted in August, 1914; and whether in the necessitous areas, where rents have been increased by 40 per cent. and rates by 100 per cent., any adequate consideration has been given to this matter, or whether such increases have been ignored with the effect of materially lowering the purchasing power for food?

The present figure for the cost of living represents the average increase in the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of working-class families. The basis of compilation has not been changed, the same items and the same descriptions and quantities of each of the items being taken now as for 1914. In compiling the figure, account has been taken of the increases of 40 per cent. on net rents, and of increases on account of rates.

also asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state what percentage of the cost-of-living figure in August, 1914, was attributable to rent and rates, and what percentages of the present figure is so attributable?

The present average increase in rents and rates over the 1914 level, as calculated for the cost of living index figure, is 47 per cent. The proportion which expenditure on rent and rates formed of the total weekly expenditure of working-class families averaged approximately 15 per cent. before the War. The corresponding proportion for the present time would be approximately 13 per cent., taking into account the same dwellings and the same standard of living generally as before the War.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, on 10th April, 1923, a decision was given by Sheriff Orr at Edinburgh in favour of the tailors' and garment workers' trade union in their action under the Trade Boards Act against Messrs. Harrison, Brown and Dummer, Edinburgh, and that the decision was upheld on appeal; and whether he proposes to take any action to secure payment of the arrears of wages due to workers employed by this firm?

I am considering the point raised by the hon. Member, but prima facie the Trade Union concerned, who undertook the expenses of the first action, should now be prepared to follow the matter up.

asked the Minister of Labour what schemes for the relief of unemployment were sanctioned, are now in progress, or have been completed in the six months ending 30th June last; how many men have been, or will be, prospectively employed under these schemes; and whether any approximate calculation of the wages accruing from those schemes are available?

The following information is available concerning the schemes for the relief of unemployment which were sanctioned by the Government, acting through the Departments concerned, during the six months ended 30th June last:—

1. The Ministry of Transport have approved schemes costing approximately £5,532,000. In addition, work has proceeded on a certain number of schemes previously sanctioned.

2. The Unemployment Grants Committee have approved schemes on the loan basis to the extent of £4,694,000, and schemes on the basis of 60 per cent. of the wages bill, costing £1,885,000. In addition, work has proceeded on a number of schemes previously approved for the year 1922–23 on both the above-mentioned bases.

It is not possible to say how many of the schemes mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 have been completed.

3. The Ministry of Agriculture have approved 539 schemes of land drainage and water supply, costing approximately £300,000. All these schemes were completed between the 1st January and the 16th June, though some were commenced during the latter part of 1922. The total wages accruing in respect of the schemes amounted approximately to £250,000, of which it is estimated that about £205,000 accrued during 1923.

4. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland has approved schemes of land drainage and improvement (including certain special road work in the Hebrides) representing grants by the Board of about £63,000, and a total expenditure of about twice that amount. These schemes were completed by the 30th June.

5. The Forestry Commission are committed to the extent of approximately £63,000 in respect of schemes of afforestation, apart from additional work in the Commission's own forests. Operations on these schemes ceased after the 30th June.

6. Credits sanctioned under the Exports Credits Scheme during the six months ending 25th June amount to £2,637,014.

7. Further guarantees under the Trade Facilities Act have been approved amounting to £3,776,000, making a total of £26,019,645.

The total number of men directly employment on Government-assisted and other schemes, including the schemes guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Act, so far as reported to this Department, was 121,000 on the 6th January. The number increased to 151,000 on the 28th April, and on the 30th June the figure was 138,000. These figures relate only to men directly employed on the works in question, and do not take account of the very considerable number of men for whom ancillary employment has been provided in the supply and transport of materials, etc.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the thousands of women textile workers who are now out of work, or on very short time; and can he provide any useful schemes of employment of a temporary sort for these women, most of whom are experts at their work, and whose industrial efficiency it is desirable to maintain?

I regret to note that the number of women textile workers unemployed or working short time is considerable. It has hitherto not been found practicable to deal directly with unemployment among women, especially those normally employed in a skilled industry, by the provision of relief work, but I should be glad to consider any suggestions in this connection which the hon. Member may be able to make. Meantime, I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House on 1st August, showing the plans of the Government to stimulate normal trade activity, which alone can be of real benefit to the women textile workers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give a continuation, up to date, of the Return of 28th February giving the figures of unemployment in the building trade?

The total number of persons in the various branches of the building trades registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain at 21st May, 1923, the latest date

Occupation. Numbers Registered as Unemployed at 5th Feb., 1923 5th March, 1923. 9th April, 1923. 7th May, 1923. 4th June, 1923. 2nd July, 1923. Carpenters 16,188 14,917 13,245 10,290 8,736 7,463 Bricklayers 8,436 7,405 5,791 3,639 2,360 1,533 Masons 2,484 2,311 1,891 1,406 1,086 844 Slaters 901 819 757 624 569 505 Plasterers 3,241 3,040 2,969 2,096 1,781 1,376 Painters 39,339 30,041 16,699 9,795 10,415 13,290 Plumbers 6,514 6,632 6,458 6,217 6,191 6,085 Labourers of above occupations. 59,870 57,287 51,405 44,722 43,837 42,213 Total 136,973 122,452 99,215 78,789 74,978 73,309

Separate figures showing the amount of benefit paid in particular trades are not available, but assuming that the workpeople included in the table presented drew the same average amount per head as unemployed workpeople gener-

for which figures are available, was as follows:— Carpenters 8,994 Bricklayers 3,096 Masons 1,204 Slaters 561 Plasterers 1,542 Painters 8,138 Plumbers 3,896 Labourers of above occupations 44,138 All other occupations 14,347 85,916

It is not possible to give the figures of unemployment in the several occupations in the building industry proper for a later date than 21st May. Owing to a recent revision of statistical procedure, the figures of unemployment in the various branches of the building trade will in future relate to unemployment among persons following building trade occupations, whether working in the building industry proper or on building work in other industries. Later figures compiled on this basis are given hereafter, the table being carried back to 5th February, to facilitate comparison over the period in question:

ally, and allowing for the relatively small proportion of women and juveniles included, the total amount of benefit drawn by these persons in the six months ended 2nd July, 1923, is estimated to be about £1,650,000.