asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the total exports in 1922 and 1923 of each of the following, sheep shearing and clipping machines, blasting powder, and household brushes, to all foreign countries together, and to the Commonwealth of Australia; and what was the Australian rate of Imperial Preference thereon?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the total exports in 1922 and 1923 of pencils, pencil leads and crayons, machine-made bags and envelopes, and pipes for smoking tobacco to all foreign countries together and to the Commonwealth of Australia; and what was the Australian rate of Imperial Preference thereon?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what were the total exports in 1922 and 1923 of incandescent gas mantles to all foreign countries and to the Commonwealth of Australia; and what was the Australian rate of Imperial Preference thereon;(2) what were the total exports in 1922 and 1923 of artificial flowers to all foreign countries together and to the Commonwealth of Australia; and what was the Australian rate of Imperial Preference thereon;(3) what were the total exports in 1922 and 1923 of fancy goods other than celluloid, xylonite, ivory, bone, horn, amber, and jet to all foreign countries together and to the Commonwealth of Australia; and what was the Australian rate of Imperial Preference thereon?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what were the total exports in 1922 and 1923 of corsets, etc., to all foreign countries together and to the Commonwealth of Australia; and what was the Australian rate of Imperial Preference thereon;(2) what were the total exports in 1922 and 1923 of cotton underwear, newsprint, electric converters and transformers, including static coils, and fancy hosiery made of textiles other than wool or cotton, respectively, to all foreign countries together and to the Commonwealth of Australia; and what was the Australian rate of Imperial Preference thereon;(3) what were the total exports in 1922 and 1923 of artificial silk, including waste and yarn, and spun silk yarn, respectively, to all foreign countries together and to the Commonwealth of Australia; and what was the Australian rate of Imperial Preference thereon.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what were the total exports in 1922 and 1923 of metal toys, dolls and soft toys, billiard tables, bagatelle tables, and accessories, respectively, to all foreign countries together and to the Commonwealth of Australia; and what was the Australian rate of Imperial Preference thereon?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the total exports in 1922–23 of iron and steel hollowware, and cast enamelled household and

Description of Merchandise.	Declared Value of the Exports of Merchandise (United Kingdom manufacture) consigned in 1922.		Australian Rate of Imperial Preference thereon (during both 1922 and 1923).
	To all Foreign Countries.	To the Commonwealth of Australia.
	(a)	(b)	(c)
Hollow-ware (household, kitchen. etc., utensils):—	£	£
Of iron or steel:
Cast, enamelled	23,248	29,612	10% ad valorem.
Wrought, enamelled	37,000	98,612
Of aluminium	3,581	79,749
Electrical Machinery:
Generators — alternating current.	71,786	104,452	12½% ad valorem.
Converters and transformers, including coils:
Rotary	51,985	200,831	12½% ad valorem.
Static	55,629	85,944

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what were the total exports in 1922 and 1923 of tooth-brushes, brushes other than tooth-brushes, fancy goods made of celluloid, xylonite, ivory, bone, horn, amber, and jet to all foreign countries together and to the Commonwealth of Australia; and what was the Australian rate of Imperial Preference thereon?

The annexed statement will, I hope, be found to contain the information desired by the hon. Members, as far as the year 1922 is concerned. The information as regards 1923 is at present available only to the extent indicated in the statement.The following statement shows the value of the undermentioned descriptions of merchandise (the produce and manufacture of the United Kingdom) exported from the United Kingdom during the year 1922, and registered as consigned to (

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, taking the Trade Returns of last year as a basis of estimate, he can state the annual cash value to the Dominions of the reduction of duties recommended by the Imperial Conference and the new duties recommended by this body for acceptance?

I assume that the hon. Member wishes to ascertain the amount of additional or new preferences that would have been accorded to Dominion goods if the proposals made by the late Government to the Imperial Economic Conference, as set out in Command Paper 1990, had been in force and the quantities of such goods had remained the same. It will be seen that the amount by which the duty on currants was to be increased was not named and that the kinds of dried and preserved fruits which were to be made dutiable for the first time were not specified. It will also be appreciated that the financial effect of the proposal relating to sugar could not be ascertained unless and until the Sugar Duty had been reduced by a specified amount. I am, therefore, unable to give any figures relating to these items. As regards the others, the figure required is approximately £900,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what have been for each of the past five years the total emoluments for each Law Officer of the Crown, differentiating salaries from fees?

The figures are as follow:

ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
—			—	Salary.			Fees.			Total.
				£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
1918–19	…	…	Lord Birkenhead	4,733	6	8*	8,482	10	8	13,215	17	4
			Lord Hewart	1,477	15	7	—			1,477	15	7
1919–20	…	…	Lord Birkenhead	—			43	2	0	43	2	0
			Lord Hewart	7,000	0	0	19,469	11	10	26,469	11	10
1920–21	…	…	Lord Hewart	7,000	0	0	27,990	9	7	34,990	9	7
1921–22	…	…	Lord Hewart	6,533	6	8	24,170	13	2	30,703	19	10
			Sir E. M. Pollock	466	13	4	—			466	13	4
1922–23	…	…	Sir E. M. Pollock	7,000	0	0	17,278	19	11	24,278	19	11
SOLICITOR-GENERAL.
1918–19	…	…	Lord Hewart	3,944	8	10*	10,370	7	6	14,314	16	4
			Sir E. M. Pollock	1,266	13	4	—			1,266	13	4
1919–20	…	…	Lord Hewart	—			243	8	6	243	8	6
			Sir E. M. Pollock	6,000	0	0	9,505	18	0	15,505	18	0
1920–21	…	…	Sir E. M. Pollock	6,000	0	0	12,928	15	6	18,928	15	6
1921–22	…	…	Sir E. M. Pollock	5,600	0	0	9,723	17	0	15,323	17	0
			Sir L. F. Scott	400	0	0	—			400	0	0
1922–23	…	…	Sir L. F. Scott	6,000	0	0	6,565	2	0	12,565	2	0
* The salaries were reduced at the wish of the Law Officers during the war from £7,000 and £6,000 to £6,000 and £5,000, the pre-war figures being restored from 14th January, 1919. Hence the odd amounts shown for 1918–19.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can furnish the average wholesale and retail prices of sugar in the month of February in each of the years 1918 to 1924, inclusive,

Country and Description of Sugar.			Feb. 1918.	Feb. 1919.	Feb. 1920.	Feb. 1921.	Feb. 1922.	Feb. 1923.	Feb. 1924.
GREAT BRITAIN:
Pence per lb.	Tate's Granulated	W.	5	6·20	7·07	7·59	4·99	5·90	6·76
	Granulated	R.	6	7	8	9	5½	5¾	7
FRANCE (Paris):
Francs per kg.	White No. 3 refined	W.	1·00	1·10	2·24	1·86	1·62	3·06	3·76(b)
	Granulated	R.	1·90(a)	2·10	3·20	3·45	2·80	3·72	4·75 (c)
GERMANY:
Marks per kg.	Refined loaf	W.	0·73	0·86	2·03	5·72	10·04	807	0·60 (gold) (d)
	Granulated household	R.	0·88	1·08	—	7·60	19·00	1,200	0·875 (gold) (e)
BELGIUM:
Francs per kg.	Crystallized	W.	—	—	—	—	1·72	2·27	3·63 (e)
	Crystallized	R.	—	—	—	3·00	2·00	2·65	4·25 (c)
HOLLAND (Amsterdam):
Florins per kg.	Refined Melis No. 1	W.	—	0·68(f)	0·94	0·73	0·49	0·60	0·63(g)
	Av. Moist and Granulated	R.	0·64	0·72	1·10	0·88	0·60	0·74	0·67(d)

The following table gives the prices of sugar in Great Britain and in certain foreign countries in 1918–24, so far as the particulars are available:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take immediate steps to deal with the increasing price of petrol by producing in this country fuel to take the place of petrol or petrol itself?

I regret that I am unable to add anything to the replies already given to my hon. Friend on this subject.

asked the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring, as representing the Charity Commissioners, when he proposes to appoint trustees to administer the estates of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lovell, who left a considerable sum of money about 15 years ago for the purpose of building almshouses and providing pensions for poor people in Bedfordshire; and if any money has already been spent in respect of this matter?

There is already one trustee of Mr. Lovell's Charity. As regards Mrs. Lovell's Charity I am to refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the hon. Member for Tonbridge (Lieut.-Colonel Spender-Clay) on the 11th July last to a similar question. Mr. Gulland's executors have agreed to appoint as trustees of Mrs. Lovell's estate two gentlemen whose names were kindly suggested by the hon. Member himslf. It is understood, however, that these gentlemen declined to be appointed until furnished with a complete account of the dealings with the trust funds. The Commissioners are informed that this account which is being prepared by chartered accountants will be ready in 10 days. The Commissioners cannot state whether any money has yet been spent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the Reports of the Departmental Committee on the Distribution and Prices of Agricultural Produce; and whether he can yet state his attitude towards the Committee's recommendation in so far as they concern his Department?

The Committee's recommendation which concerns my Department was that the Government should consider the advisability of introducing legislation to require certain holding companies to file a co-ordinated balance sheet with their annual return at Somerset House. This is one part of the general question of legislation in respect of trusts and combines, which is under consideration, and I am not at present in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the reports of the Departmental Committee on the distribution and prices of agricultural produce; and whether he can yet state his attitude towards the Committee's recommendations in so far as they concern his Department?

The action taken or contemplated by the late Government in regard to the recommendations contained in these Reports was stated in considerable detail on 21st January last in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Louth (Mrs. Wintringham). I am not yet in a position to make any further statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many authorities have appointed allotment committees in accordance with Section 14 of the Allotments Act, 1922; how many authorities have claimed exemption from the provisions of that Section; and how many applications for exemption have been granted?

Of the 519 authorities who come within the Section referred to, 88 applied for exemption. In 31 of these cases exemption has been granted so long as the circumstances remain unaltered. In every case action has been taken with the concurrence of the Allotments Advisory Committee, of which the hon. Member is a member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the cause of British wheat average selling prices advancing from 9s. 5d. to 10s. 10d., barley 9s. to 11s. 9d., and oats 9s. 10d. to 10s. 2d. per cwt. for the week ending 9th February, 1924, over the corresponding week of 1923; what quantities of cereals did British farmers dispose of for the week ending 1924 as against the same week of 1923; and how farm labourers' wages compare on the average for the same two periods?

A rise in the price of wheat and oats has taken place since the beginning of this year, probably in sympathy with imported cereals, which show a similar increase. British barley has been securing better prices during most of this season, the quality being superior to that of the 1922 crop. The quantities purchased at markets scheduled under the Corn Returns Act, 1882, on which the average prices quoted are based, were: Wheat, 376,374 cwts.; barley, 261,060 cwts,, and oats, 99,901 cwts.; as compared with 367,292 cwts.; 179,362 cwts., and 76,376 cwts. respectively in the corresponding week of 1923. These quantities refer to purchases at scheduled markets only. The total quantities sold would be much larger, but cannot be accurately estimated. As regards the last part of the question, I do not know that there has been any very material change in agricultural wages since last year, but it is difficult to make precise comparisons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give particulars as to the average yields of wheat, oats, and barley for the years 1903 to 1923, inclusive, in Russia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France, and Great Britain; and will he give the highest known yields of the above cereals in Great Britain by the ordinary methods of farming, excluding intensive systems of cultivation?

The reply to the first part of the question is set out in the table below in so far as the information is available. As regards the latter part of the question, it is not possible to state the results of any particular class of farming, but the years in which the highest average yields were recorded for Great Britain as a whole were as follow:—

			Average Yield per acre.
		Year.	Cwts.
Wheat	…	1921	19·9
Barley	…	1909	17·3
Oats	…	1907	15·3

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Germany reimbursed her traders to the extent of 26 per cent. under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, and was this paid by paper or gold bonds; and in what proportions?

Down to 17th November last the German Government paid its exporters in paper marks on their presenting customs receipts. After 17th November, it did not pay the exporters except in respect of goods covered by existing contracts, in which case it paid 20 per cent. in bonds.

asked whether the German Export Committee is still in existence in connection with the German Reparation Recovery Act?

I have been asked to reply. I presume the hon. Member is referring to the Committee appointed by the Board of Trade under the provisions of Section 5 of the German Reparation (Recovery) Act. This Committee is still in existence.

asked if the British representative on the Reparation Commission was consulted in regard to the alteration in the German Reparation (Recovery) Act?

I do not think it in the public interest to indicate what particular officials have advised on particular issues. The decision is that of Ministers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount received from the German Reparation (Recovery) Act to 31st December, 1923; and have the proceeds been credited to Revenue Account?

The amount received from the date of Act (March, 1921) up to the 31st December, 1923, is approximately £18,000,000. The receipts are paid into the Exchequer from time to time as "Miscellaneous Revenue: Special Receipts" (see page 36 of the Finance Accounts of the United Kingdom, 1922–23—House of Commons Paper No. 89).

asked the Prime Minister what countries still impose on Germany the full reparations levy which we have abandoned; whether there was, on this subject, any understanding between the Allies in respect to common action; and whether, in that case, our other Allies have been consulted in the matter?

The rate of levy under the Act is such rate (not exceeding 50 per cent.) as may from time to time be fixed by the Treasury. It was, in fact, reduced from 50 per cent. to 26 per cent. in May, 1921, just as it has now been reduced to 5 per cent. No other country has in force legislation similar to the German Reparation (Recovery) Act and there is no understanding between the Allies as to common action on the subject. The last part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the recent researches by leading economists and bankers into the possible effect of a reform in monetary policy upon employment, an authoritative committee to inquire into this subject will be constituted by His Majesty's Government?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. T. Johnston) on Monday, the 18th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it will be within the terms of reference to the Committee on the National Debt to consider the contention that the policy recommended by the Cunliffe Committee has substantially increased the burden of the National Debt and must progressively benefit the bondholders at the expense of the community?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will announce to the House the details of the grants which have been made under the Trade facilities Act?

My hon. Friend will find the particulars of the guarantees given under the Trade Facilities Acts in the quarterly statements laid in pursuance of Section (1) (5) of the Act of 1921, the last of which is House of Commons Paper No. 5 of 1924.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of temporary messengers in Government offices who are not eligible for sick pay; whether he will consider the removal of this deprivation; and how many of such temporary messengers are ex-service men?

The figures requested by the hon. Member are not readily available and could not be obtained without elaborate inquiries. With few exceptions temporary messengers are ex-service men. As regards the question of sick pay, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day to a similar question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Lieut.-Colonel Guinness).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Section 7 of the Superannuation Act of 1859, which authorises a special annual allowance as compensation for loss of office, is still in force; if so, whether effect is being given to the provisions contained therein to appropriate cases for abolition of office; and, if it is in suspension, by what authority is the Section suspended?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative so far as concerns civil servants who entered the service before the passing of the Superannuation Act, 1909, and effect is given to the provisions of the Section in appropriate cases of abolition of office. In accordance, however, with undertakings given to Parliament it has been the rule for many years past that any allowance granted under the Section shall not exceed the amount calculated upon the number of years actually served by the retiring officer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials are employed in each of the Departments dealing with Income Tax and Super-tax; and what is the cost of each Department?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the pages of the Estimates for Revenue Departments which deal with the Inland Revenue. I regret it is not possible to isolate figures of personnel dealing with Income Tax and Super-tax, or of the cost of their services, from the particulars of staff and expenditure necessitated by other duties of the Inland Revenue Department.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the importance of the relative efficiency of his staff in determining the order of discharge, or whether he is committed to the retention of any one section of his staff irrespective of whether they might be found to be of lower efficiency than another section?

Efficiency is an important factor in determining the order of discharge of redundant personnel, and I am not committed to the ignoring of this consideration in connection with any section of my staff.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what was the inclusive salary previously paid to the temporary official acting as personal assistant to the Air Member for Supply and Research; what is the amount, including basic salary and bonus, being paid to a permanent official now doing the same work; and whether he will explain what economy, if any, was effected by the change?

The answer to the first part of the question is, £585 per annum; and to the second part, £595 7s. per annum. As regards the last part of the question, the termination of the appointment of the former official, who had no ex-service qualifications, was a measure of substitution and was in pursuance of the recommendations of Lord Lytton's Committee.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what was the number of persons employed at the Admiralty and the Admiralty outport establishments, respectively, together with the personnel of the Fleet, in July, 1914, and the latest available date?

The figures are as follow:

July, 1914:
Admiralty	2,072
Outport establishments	57,800

1st February, 1924 (latest available figures):
Admiralty	3,569
Outport establishments	62,439

The figures for the outport establishments are composed as follows:

	July 1914.	1st February, 1924.
Officials and clericals	3,249	4,558
Industrials	54,551	57,881
	57,800	62,439

The figures for the Admiralty include messengers and charwomen, and, for 1st February, 1924, the staff at the Admiralty Chart Establishment, Cricklewood. Numbers borne on Vote A were 146,047 on 15th July, 1914, and 99,477 on 15th February, 1924.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for the codification of all Civil Service Superannuation Acts and Treasury interpretations?

At the request of the staff side of the Superannuation Committee of the National Whitley Council it has already been arranged to publish a document containing the Superannuation Acts and the Statutory Rules made thereunder. I understand that this arrangement is satisfactory to the staff side, and I fear that any further measure of codification on the lines proposed by the hon. Member would be impracticable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that service members of the Loyal Orange Institution of England are not permitted to wear the regalia of their order when attending in uniform any lodge or demonstration; and whether he can see his way to alter the regulations so that they may be permitted to do so?

The wearing of any unofficial insignia on uniform is not permissible and the Air Ministry see no reason to modify this rule.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, if he is aware that candidates for the Air Force, after they have successfully passed the necessary examinations, are reviewed by the medical authorities and in some cases rejected; and, in view of the hardship created and the time and money wasted, will he take steps to ensure that the medical examination shall be held prior to the written or oral examination?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The possibility of holding the medical examination prior to the examination conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners was carefully considered recently and the conclusion arrived at was that the disadvantages outweighed the advantages. I may add that this opinion was shared by the headmasters who were consulted by the Departments. Parents and guardians are strongly recommended in the regulations to have their sons or wards examined by a medical practitioner or by a Royal Air Force preliminary medical board previous to their becoming candidates for commissions in the Royal Air Force, and full details of the medical standards are published in the regulations. If my hon. and gallant Friend's question refers to candidates for aircraft-apprenticeships as well as to cadets, I may add that the same reasons for holding the educational examination first are applicable to their case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will insert a condition in all contracts that during a period of peace and great industrial depression no overtime shall be worked whore extra labour is available?

It is the policy of the Air Ministry to discourage the working of overtime on contracts, and every effort is made to obviate the need for it by indicating probable requirements to firms as far in advance as possible. The insertion of a specific prohibition of overtime in the conditions of contract would present difficulties, but the Air Ministry is prepared to consider any particular case on its merits.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any and, if so, how many of the forms which are in future to be supplied by the Stationery Office for use in Parliamentary elections have been altered from their original style as drafted by private firms; and, if none, whether those firms who have the type standing have been asked to tender for their production; and how their prices compare with those submitted by the State printing works?

All the forms to be supplied by the Stationery Office, which have been drawn up after conference with representative acting returning officers, differ from those hitherto supplied by private firms. As stated in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for York on the 19th instant, the arrangement will effect a minimum saving of £5,500 at each General Election.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state, in view of the opinion of Lord Justice Atkin's Committee on insanity and crime, and of the accompanying memorandum of the Council of the British Medical Association, whether the similar recommendations made by the Departmental Committee on Prisons in April, 1895, to the effect that candidates for medical appointments in prisons should be required to show that they have given special attention to lunacy, have ever been carried out; and will he furnish a return showing the experience in the treatment of insanity before appointments in prisons and criminal asylums?

When candidates are selected for the appointment of medical officer, preference is always given to those who have had some experience of lunacy. Of the 24 whole-time medical officers now serving, 13 had asylum experience, and five had attended students' courses at asylums. As regards posts for part-time medical officers, these are filled by practitioners in the locality, and preference is given, wherever possible, to those who have had special experience of lunacy. The Medical Superintendent of Broadmoor Asylum and his deputy had had asylum experience before their appointment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government accepts the principle of the right of individuals to move freely from one country to another; and whether in that case he proposes to modify the regulations governing the immigration of aliens into this country?

I can accept the proposition in the first part of the question in the abstract and as an ideal; but I cannot recognise the suggestion which follows as a practical consequence. The present circumstances and the needs of this country, to which I referred in my answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Lieut.-Colonel J. Ward) on Monday, render necessary very vigilant control over alien immigration. We are moving very cautiously in this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of aliens wishing to enter this country to whom permits have been granted and from whom permits have been withheld in each of the last 12 weeks?

As I said in answer to a question the other day, the figures of aliens given and refused leave to land are most conveniently dealt with in complete quarters of the year, and I regret that I cannot undertake to have them got out for broken periods such as that suggested in the question. If it will serve the purpose of the hon. and gallant Member, I can give him the figures relating to leave to land for each of the last three months of the year 1923.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any applications have been received in his Department for the licensing, in the London area, of the motor cycle and side-car taxi-cab; why he has decided to refuse a licence to this type of vehicle; and whether he is aware that this type has been proved to be a great convenience in Birmingham and other provincial towns, particularly in those areas where traffic is most congested?

From time to time applications are received for the licensing of side-car taxi-cabs. The matter was thoroughly investigated at the beginning of 1921 by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, and in their Report of 6th January, 1921, they recommended that these vehicles should not be licensed for the London area. I have no further information to suggest that this recommendation should not continue to be followed, but if a new London Traffic Authority be constituted, the matter can be referred to it for consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the advisability of setting aside a definite proportion of the money in the Road Fund for roads maintained by rural district councils; and whether he will consider a method whereby such proportion can be allocated equitably to the rural district councils in proportion to their cost of maintenance?

As I stated on the 18th February, in reply to the hon. Member for the Sudbury Division (Mr. Loverseed), a total allocation has been made from the Road Fund revenues for 1923–24 and 1924–5, amounting to £2,750,000 for the improvement of important roads in rural areas in Great Britain. Every effort has been made to distribute the moneys so as to render assistance where it is most required, but many other factors have to be taken into account besides the actual cost of the maintenance of highways in any particular district.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department why the office of the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police is regarded as being outside the scope of the Lytton recommendations concerning ex-service men; and whether he is aware that girl clerks and boy messengers are still employed in this Department to the prejudice of unemployed and disabled ex-service men on the pool of the Joint Substitution Board?

The office of the Commissioner of Police is not technically a Department of the Civil Service and does not, therefore, come within the scope of the recommendations of the Lytton Committee, but the principles laid down by the Committee are being progressively applied, so far as the exigencies of the Service will permit. No girl clerks are employed and the few women retained are mainly employed on work for which women are, by general consent, regarded as more suitable than men. The boy messengers are mainly boys taken from the Police Orphanage, i.e., boys whose fathers have been killed or died while serving in the Metropolitan Police Force.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether the hostels recently started for the reception of ex-service mental patients are entirely distinct and apart from lunatic asylums; whether the hostels are provided with recreation grounds and games; and what medical staff is employed at each;(2) how many hostels, other than asylums, for the reception of ex-service mental patients have been started, where they are situated, and how many men are now under treatment in them?

I have been asked to reply. Under the existing law, I have no power to establish or control institutions for the treatment of pensioners certified to be insane, except under powers vested in some existing licensee or Local Authority. As previously announced to the House, the Government has made special arrangements for a selected number of certified cases of a hopeful type likely to make progress under special treatment. Accommodation for 150 such cases is provided at the Old Manor, Salisbury, and for a further 300 at Kirkburton, a detached block of Storthes Hall Asylum, near Huddersfield. At the former institution there are two medical officers and in the latter three, in addition to the medical superintendent of the main asylum. In both institutions ample facilities are provided for recreation and games, and at the latter there is a welfare officer, whose special duty it is to look after the general welfare of the patients, apart from the purely medical treatment. As regards those mental cases which are not certifiable under the Lunacy Law, it has always been the policy of my Department to provide special treatment and accommodation with a view to their complete recovery. To that end, the Ministry have given special training to a number of medical officers and established throughout the country neurological hospitals and clinics where skilled treatment on the most approved modern lines is provided. These efforts have, I am glad to say, met with conspicuous success; for instance, as is shown by returns for a recent quarter, the percentage of those patients discharged recovered or improved is about 70, while in one hospital devoted to the most serious cases, out of 134 patients treated during a year, 68 were discharged recovered, while of the remainder a number had shown considerable improvement. At all these hospitals full provision is made for the recreation, amusement and occupation of these patients under a welfare officer.These hospitals, numbering 19, are situate at

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has received communications from branches of the British Legion protesting against men being retained in the service of the Pensions Ministry who are in receipt of civil pensions, and whose retention prevents ex-service men from being appointed to these positions; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. There is only one non service officer employed in the Ministry in receipt of a civil pension and that officer is filling a professional post.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that 39 ex-service temporary civil servants employed by the Ministry at Newcastle-upon-Tyne have received notice that their services will not be required after the 31st March next; and if he will agree to suspend these notices until the whole question of the absorption of temporary ex-service civil servants into the Civil Service has been examined and settled?

There are at Newcastle 35 ex-service temporary clerks under notice of discharge which expires on the 31st March. The number of discharges has been reduced to a minimum consistent with economy, but the falling off in the volume of work makes it, I regret to say, impracticable to adopt the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of ex-service men who were settled on holdings, under the Land Settlement Facilities Act, 1919, during the year 1923; and the number of approved applicants still unsupplied?

According to returns furnished by councils, up to the end of 1922, 16,801 ex-service men had been settled on holdings under the Act of 1919. From returns similarly furnished, up to the end of 1923, 19,190 ex-service men had been provided with holdings, of whom 2,565 had left for various reasons. The returns furnished at the end of 1922 did not distinguish the men who had vacated their holdings, and did not in every case include such men, and for this reason it is not possible to give an exact figure of the number of men who were settled during the year 1923. In reply to the last part of the question, the number of approved ex-service men who applied on or before 1st December, 1920 (the last date for which such applications could qualify for preference over civilians), and who have not yet been provided with holdings, is 4,792.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when his Department intends to report to Parliament on the administration of the Land Settlement Act of 1919?

A general Report on the land settlement scheme up to 31st December, 1923, is being prepared, and will be presented to Parliament as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many ex-service trainees are now receiving instruction; and the number of ex-service men who have been trained and who are unable to find situations in the industry for which they have been made fit?

I have been asked to reply. The number of men in training under the industrial training scheme is approximately 9,000 in Great Britain and 1,400 in Ireland. No recent figures are available showing the number of ex-trainees who are not employed in the trade for which they have been trained. Inquiries made last year showed that less than 10 per cent. of the men who had been trained were unemployed.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will reconsider the case of Mr. James Filmer Day, No. 11/M/402,817, who is now unable to follow his employment through disabilities alleged to have been caused by war service?

This man first made claim to pension in October, 1922, three and a half years after demobilisation. The case received full and careful consideration, but it was not found possible to accept his disability as either due to or aggravated by service.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that George M'Lease (1/MM/25,120), 85, Greenfield Street, Govan, was informed by the Ministry, Scottish regional headquarters, that he had been given a final award of 20 per cent. for life; whether he is aware that on the same form, dated 7th January, 1924, is stamped in red ink that the case has been considered for final award, but it has not been found practicable to make such an award, and in a letter dated 16th January, 1924, M'Lease is informed that the award is for 12 months; and whether he will clear up this contradiction, and enable this man to know the position he is in with relation to the pension awarded?

The award notified on the 7th January was a pension of 20 per cent. for a further 52 weeks. I cannot find that a notification to a contrary effect has been issued, but if my hon. Friend will send me the form which he says contained such an intimation, I will have further inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Myles McInnes, 1/MM/8,540, of 102, Crossloan Road, Govan, was awarded a permanent pension of 20 per cent. on 15th December, 1922, against which he appealed on 19th June, 1923; that as a result of that appeal McInnes was sent into Bellahouston hospital and his pension made conditional and raised to 30 per cent.; that this increase is made retrospective only to the date of the hearing of the appeal, and not to the date of entering the appeal; that the Pension Issue Office has forwarded to the Post Office a draft book which runs for 13 weeks for 8s. only, and that McInnes has been told that this book must be finished before he gets his increased pension; and will he inquire into this case?

I have looked into the facts of this case, and having regard to the report of the medical board which examined the man in November, 1922, prior to the making of the final award, effect will be given to the assessment at the higher rate from the date of commencement of the final award. The necessary instructions for payment on this basis have been given. I may add that a general instruction dealing with this particular type of case has been approved and is on the point of issue.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that the late Government promised that pensions awards made to disabled ex-service men during the present financial year should be made permanent, it is his intention to carry that out and thus remove from these permanently-disabled men the necessity of appearing before any further medical boards?

I am afraid my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. I am not aware of any promise that all awards of pension should be made permanent this year. The Regulations for the making of final awards, which were issued over two years ago, provide that a final award shall be made in all cases in which the man's condition warrants that course. This scheme is at present in active operation and a large number of final awards of pension have already been made under it. I may add that where the case is not found suitable for a final award, instructions have recently been issued to make conditional awards for a year and until further instructions thus largely obviating frequent re-boarding.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will give instructions to the effect that the circular relating to reduction of dependants' pensions on the ground of alleged error on the part of the Ministry shall be forwarded to all dependants whose pensions have been so reduced; and if he will agree that the time for appeal shall commence to run as from the date such circular is received?

I am afraid it would not be practicable to adopt the method suggested by the hon. Member. It has always been open to a pensioner to make representations either to the Ministry or to the War Pensions Committee against a reduction made in a dependancy pension and the facilities for making complaint (which have recently been extended) should ensure that there is no difficulty about any pensioner affected having full opportunity of bringing his or her case to notice. There is no time limit for making complaint.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether it is his intention to take steps for the reopening of admittedly hard cases where pension has been stopped; and, if so, will he state the procedure to be taken in applying for the same?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. E. Brown) on the 14th February, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the Cardiff regional committee refused to advance a sum out of pension to Mr. R. J. Baker, 40, Mary Street, Bedwas (Mon.), to enable him to buy a bed and bedclothes which were badly needed; whether he is aware that this man served in the Navy and is in receipt of 9s. 6d. per week pension; that he has a wife and four children, one of them an invalid; that he has been in and out of hospital for five years, which made it impossible to purchase these necessary things; and will he take steps to see that more consideration be given to applications of this kind?

Having looked very carefully into the facts of this case, I think the war pensions committee acted correctly and in the best interests of the man.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. Frank Hudd, 37, The Crescent, Bedwas (Mon.), late lance-corporal 2nd and 3rd South Wales Borderers, applied for and was refused a lump sum to enable him to take a small holding which had been offered him by the county council, he having had experience in agriculture and having been advised by the medical board to take up this kind of work; and whether, seeing that his parents live on the adjoining small holding, which would have been a considerable help, he will take steps to provide against such decisions as this?

This case has been carefully considered, but I regret that I am unable to grant any assistance in the circumstances mentioned.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that His Majesty's Government has approved of the principle of pensions being granted to widows with dependent children, he is prepared to advise an immediate amendment of the definition of the term widow in the Royal Warrant of 1919, so that all widows of service pensioners with dependent children may become eligible for pensions, whether their marriage took place before or after the end of the War or before or after the discharge of the pensioner?

I could not agree to this proposal. The responsibility of my Department in respect of death as resulting from war service has been consistently defined by the Royal Pension Warrants as limited to the man's family obligations as existing at the date of the contraction on service of the fatal disability.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of ratings which have been invalided since the issue of Admiralty Fleet Order No. 13 of 1922, showing those whose disabilities have been assessed as 50 per cent. or above, and those whose service pension is smaller than the disability element?

It would be a matter of some little difficulty to ascertain these details in full at short notice, but I am able to give the figures for the past 12 months and perhaps this will suffice. These figures are:

Total number invalided for disability attributable to the service	60
Pension cases (i.e., pension for either disablement or service element or both)	33
Gratuity (only) cases (disablement and service element both)	27
Men with 50 per cent. disablement or over	8
Pension cases in which the service element is less than the disablement element	22

In gratuity (only) cases, the service gratuity is invariably less than the gratuity for disablement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if it is proposed to convert the nautical school at Portishead into an industrial school; whether he is aware that this step is being taken against the wishes of many who, in the past, have contributed to the building, upkeep, and equipment of the school, with the object of it being used for the training of sailors; if there are any endowments attached to the school; and what it is proposed to do with these endowments in the event of the change taking place?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The nautical school at Portishead has been certified as an industrial school since its foundation. Although its main object has been to train boys for the sea, only a small proportion of the boys have in recent years become sailors. The number of boys sent to the school from the Courts having decreased, the managers, at the request I of the Home Office, are considering a scheme of reorganisation under which nautical training will continue to be a prominent feature of the school, but at the same time adequate provision will be made for those boys who do not wish to adopt a seafaring life. The only endowment attached to the school is, I understand, a small one, and this will not be affected by the proposed scheme.