asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now arrived at any decision in respect of the application for an increase in wages in Woolwich Arsenal, including those of the skilled workers?

As indicated by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary during the Debate last Monday on Army Estimates, the outstanding points of this matter are engaging close consideration. I am not yet in a position to make any further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can state the number of British troops stationed at Spike Island?

The total number in question, including those stationed at neighbouring forts, is 619 all ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that, prior to enlistment in the Army, applicants shall be required to produce their birth certificates to show that they are 18 years of age or over?

I do not think this proposal would prove practicable. The production of birth certificates would in many cases involve intending recruits in hardship, difficulty and expense.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what are the names and categories of all ex-service men dismissed from the Department of Civil Aviation or transferred from that Department to other sections of the Ministry within the last 12 months; and why such officers were dispensed with while an officer with practically no ex-service qualifications is still retained?

In answer to the first part of the question, the appointments of Brigadier-General Festing, Controller of Aerodromes and Licensing, and Lieut.-Commander Bernard, Senior Assistant, were terminated on abolition of their posts and no other suitable appointments could be offered to them; Mr. Ransom, Junior Assistant, was transferred on reduction of Civil Aviation establishment to the educational staff; and Mr. Lilley, Junior Assistant, whose appointment in the same directorate was terminated on re-organisation, has been offered a post in the Aeronautical Inspection Department. As regards the second part of the question, the officer referred to is filling a post for which he was considered to be more suitable than three of the officers named above, while the fourth (General Festing) could hardly be regarded as a candidate for it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) whether, in view of the fact that competent ex-service men at present in the directorate of contracts are not to be discharged from the Air Ministry, he will give an undertaking as to the minimum length of time that such men shall be retained, in order that they may not work under the constant anxiety of knowing that they may be discharged at any moment to make room for the promotion of permanent civil servants;

(2) whether it is his intention to replace the ex-service men who have been employed in the engine and supply sections since the inception of the Air Ministry by non-technical permanent civil servants; and whether, in view of the undesirability of transferring such important work as the purchase of technical equipment for the whole of the Air Force to non-technical non-flying permanent civil servants, and of the hardship involved in discharging ex-service men who have devoted 10 years of their lives to Army and Government service, he will find some other way by which avenues of promotion can be opened to permanent civil servants already in employment?

As regards the first question, I regret that I am unable to give the undertaking suggested, which would be contrary to the policy of the public service in regard to unestablished staff. As regards the second question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East (Mr. Hogge) on 6th March, when I explained fully the position of the ex-service staff to whom he refers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, seeing that the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty have, in certain cases, granted to officers the right to retain their late rank and wear the uniform of that rank on state and other occasions within the British Empire, he will state whether they can see their way, in the case of officers who hold the rank of lieutenant and, had the War continued, would have, on attaining eight years' seniority, automatically become lieutenant-commanders, to allow them in future, on attaining eight years' seniority, to retain the rank of late lieutenant-commander and wear the uniform of that rank on State and other occasions?

The privilege in question was granted on the lines of the privilege granted to corresponding officers in the Army, in whose case there is no corresponding automatic promotion. Moreover, the arrangement would cause difficulties in other branches of the Naval Service, where the rules for promotion are not the same. The Admiralty think it desirable, therefore, to adhere to the present arrangements.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the poor stationery supplied by the Stationery Department, and for which Members pay; whether he is aware that much better stationery could be obtained outside at the same rates or less; and whether, under these circumstances, he will have inquiries instituted as to the improvements which could be effected without delay?

This is the first complaint of the kind that I have received, and the samples that I have seen hardly appear to me to bear it out either as regards quality or price. Purchases are effected by the Stationery Office in bulk quantities after open competition between the biggest mills and firms of the United Kingdom, and there is every reason to suppose that the prices paid are on the lowest scale. The prices charged to Members are the actual cost to the Stationery Office plus incidental Departmental expenses.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the message he has sent to workers in the savings movement, he can state the figures upon which he bases his statement that the extended facilities now provided by the State for the secure investment of small savings are obviously justified by the results which continue to be achieved in the steady sale of savings certificates; whether he is aware that the sale of these certificates is decreasing, owing to the terms offered not being sufficiently attractive; and whether he proposes to reconsider the terms made to the public to invest in this type of State security?

My message was based upon the results which have been achieved by the national savings organisation, regarding which the hon. Member will find details in the committee's seventh annual report, of which I am sending him a copy. The total amount raised by certificates up to the end of February was £528,000,000, of which about £328,000,000 has been raised under peace-time conditions. Up to the same date repayments (excluding interest) represent less than 31 per cent. of the total subscriptions. Naturally, sales of certificates have been on a reduced scale since the terms of issue were altered on the 1st October last by my predecessor, but it must be remembered that an exceptionally heavy subscription took place in September last and sales already show signs of improvement. As I have previously stated, the yield on certificates is, in my opinion, fully as high as the conditions of to-day justify the taxpayer in paying.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give the production of coal in the occupied Ruhr districts for each month of 1923 and 1924?

According to information compiled by the Essen Bergbaulicher Verein the output of coal in the occupied Ruhr districts during each month of 1923 and 1924 was as follows:

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in the process of certification of an alleged lunatic as ordinarily conducted, the magistrate only hears evidence against the sanity of the individual; and whether he will bring in legislation enabling the alleged lunatic to have the opportunity, if he desires it, of having his case placed before the magistrate by his legal adviser, who shall be entitled to test the adverse evidence by cross-examination and, if necessary, to call rebutting evidence?

The points raised by the right hon. Member will no doubt be considered by any Commission that may be appointed to inquire into the lunacy laws, and I cannot give any undertaking to introduce legislation in anticipation of such an inquiry.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that men who were employed by the National Building Guild, until it went into liquidation in 1922, are not entitled to benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts for the current benefit year, because the contributions payable by the Guild, as employer, for the contribution year ended the 1st July, 1923, have not yet been paid; and if he is prepared to take any action to relieve these employés of the consequences of their employers' failure to pay their health insurance contributions?

I am aware that the National Building Guild failed to pay contributions due in respect of a considerable number of men employed by the Guild. A Receiver was appointed in November, 1922, and claims for the unpaid contributions have been lodged with him, in accordance with the provisions of Section 110 of the National Insurance Act, 1911. Any moneys ultimately received will be apportioned as contributions among the respective employés concerned. In reply to the last part of the question, I am considering the position of the employés with a view to determining whether it is possible to extend to them the special concession provided under the Arrears Regulations whereby they would become entitled, during the present benefit year, to medical benefit and full maternity benefit and to a modified scale of sickness and disablement benefits.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the delays in the negotiations proceeding between the Post Office authorities and the Union of Post Office Workers regarding the claim of the Chepstow and Lydney post offices being placed in the next grade of offices owing to the high cost of living, he will state when a decision is likely to be arrived at, seeing that the question has been under review since 1914 regarding one of these offices; and whether he can state what are the grounds for withholding an early answer?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on the 19th March. A further meeting with the Union of Post Office Workers is about to take place.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, as the result of the representations which have been made, he is in a position to announce a decision with regard to the creation of a branch post office at Tottenham?

The position is still as stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Tottenham, North (Mr. R. Morrison) on the 4th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General why William McLaughlin, of 79, George Street, Whitehaven, who for many years served as a postman at Whitehaven until he was compulsorily retired on the ground of ill-health, has been denied either pension or gratuity from the postal service for the years which he put in; and will he have inquiries made with the view of removing this grievance?

I am having inquiry made into the matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Government will take steps to prevent the publication in the public Press of the details of the wills of deceased persons?

I have been asked the reply to this question, the answer to which is in the negative. I find no occasion to differ from the reasons given by my predecessor in office, in answer to a similar question on the 29th March, 1923.

asked the Home Secretary if he will consider the issue of a notice to the effect that during the strike owners of conveyances not licensed to carry passengers will not be proceeded against if they carry passengers for payment?

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is now in a position to announce the policy of the Government in regard to teachers' superannuation and the adoption of the recommendations of the Emmott Committee?

It has been found necessary to prepare a Bill which will be introduced shortly, extending temporarily the operation of the Education (Scotland) (Superannuation) Act, 1922, in order to afford time for the framing of a permanent Measure, which is to be taken in hand in the near future, in the light of the recommendations of the Emmott Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if the men employed by him in the present Coastguard service are allowed full pay when sick;

(2) If the men employed by him in the present Coastguard service are allowed full pay when sickness is caused by Government service?

During absence on account of sickness, Station Officers and Coastguardsmen receive such benefits as they are entitled to under the National Health Insurance Acts, but they are not entitled to receive pay when so absent, whether the sickness is caused by Government service or not. Absences due to accident or injury incurred on duty are, however, dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Acts.

This treatment of absences due to sickness is in accordance with general Treasury Regulations, in regard to which I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, to the hon. Member for North Hackney (Mr. J. Harris) on the 13th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the sterling amount of exports and the sterling amount of imports from and to Newfoundland?

The latest period for which statistics of the aggregate trade of Newfoundland are available is the year ended 30th June, 1922. During that year the total value of the imports into Newfoundland was approximately £4,172,700, and the value of exports approximately £4,463,400. These figures are inclusive of imports and exports of bullion and coin.