asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Fair Wage Clause in relation to reconditioning of mail steamships is being violated in the Southampton repairing area; that skilled mechanics have been offered 47s. per week for their labour; that unskilled labourers are being offered 37s.; and whether he will steamship companies, and the Fair Wages Clause?

I have no control over the arrangements made by the steamship companies for reconditioning their ships. The conveyance of mails is only an incidental part of the general business of transport carried out by the steamship companies and the Fair Wages Clause has never been included in these contracts.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give the names of the firms to whom the contract for installing automatic telephones has been given in this country; whether he can state the proportions in which the contracts have been given to the different firms; whether such firms have been granted a monopoly and, if so, for what period; and how many of these firms are under American control?

The firms in question are the Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company, Limited, the Western Electric Company, Limited, Siemens Brothers and Company, Limited, and the Coventry Automatic Telephones, Limited, and the orders are divided between them in the proportion of approximately 8, 4, 2, and I respectively. The agreements with these manufacturers provide that the plant required for equipping London exchanges with automatic apparatus should be ordered from them until the summer of 1926, after which date the Postmaster-General is at liberty to order plant of this type from any manufacturer. All these companies are registered in Great Britain, and the plant supplied will be, with negligible exceptions, if any, manufactured and installed by British labour. I understand that a considerable part of the capital of the two first-mentioned companies is held by American shareholders.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give the estimated surplus or deficit on the postal, telephone, telegraph, and wireless services, respectively, for the current year?

I am not yet in a position to give an Estimate for 1924–25. But, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate a statement as regards 1023–24 with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The particulars referred to are as: follow:

The estimated deficit in connection with the Post Office wireless stations is £43,000, which is included in the telegraph deficit.

These figures are calculated on the basis of the commercial accounts of the Post Office. They are subject to a contingent liability, following on the case of Sutton v. Rex, for arrears of War bonus to men who served with the Colours during the War.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated cost to the Post Office of each 1½d. letter?

The cost of an ordinary letter is estimated to be about 1d., but I would remind the hon. Member that the postal services are operated as a single organisation, and the cost of other classes of postal matter, such as printed paper and newspapers, is considerably greater than the revenue which they produce.

asked the Postmaster-General if his Department has any information as to Senator Marconi's recent work in short-wave directional transmission of wireless telegraphy; and whether, seeing that this system greatly reduces the initial and operating costs of wireless stations whilst securing a much higher speed of transmission, the stations the Post Office is erecting are so planned as to permit the use of the new system?

The experts of the Post Office have been cognisant of these experiments during the last five years, but there is no evidence at present that the system is capable of maintaining regular and efficient communication of the continuous character required in a commercial service. So far as is known, it has not been tested over the long distances covered by the Empire scheme. If and when the system is developed, it might conceivably have the advantages suggested by the hon. Member, but it would have the serious disadvantage of destroying the elasticity of wireless communication, which permits of stations being allocated to different lines of communication according to the varying exigencies of the traffic. As a matter of fact, the Post Office Station which is being erected at Rugby would admit of its being adapted to the use of the system if this should later be considered desirable.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to be in a position to make a statement with regard to the restoration of penny postage?

I regret that I am unable to make a statement in anticipation of the Budget.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the inconveniences and misunderstandings which arise in consequence of telegrams being telephoned and then confirmed by letter; whether he is aware that at weekends such confirmation, particularly in the country districts, takes 40 hours to reach the recipient; whether this policy of avoiding immediate delivery of telegrams by hand is due to economy and, if so, what is the saving effected; and whether he will consider, in the public interest, a reversion to the old practice?

Unless a telegram is actually addressed by the sender to a telephone number, delivery is made by telephone only after previous agreement with the addressees. By this means delivery is effected more promptly than by messenger, especially where the address is at a considerable distance from the delivery office, and moreover can often be effected after the local delivery office is closed. I am aware that the confirmatory copy of a telegram delivered by telephone on Saturday may not be delivered until Monday morning, there being no postal delivery on Sundays. The large use made of the facility shows that the service meets with general public approval, and I am not prepared to withdraw it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can now state the number of places in the county with a population of over 100 who do not receive a daily delivery of letters; and how many places there are with a population below 100 who suffer from the same disadvantage?

As indicated in my reply to the question asked by the hon. Member on the 18th of March, this information could not be furnished without taking a special Return for the whole country. I do not propose to take such a Return, which would serve no other purpose, but as previously stated, I should be glad to make inquiry into any particular case which the hon. Member may have in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General, regarding Mr. F. J. Edmonds, sorting clerk and telegraphist at Wokingham, if he is aware that this man was in receipt of 5s. per week supervising allowance from May, 1913, to June, 1921, and that in 1921 this allowance was stopped; and whether, as it is understood that where an officer enjoys an allowance such as the one referred to for a period of three years or more, he is allowed to retain it as a personal emolument, he will recommend that this allowance should be at once restored or some consideration shown to him in another direction?

I assume that Mr. F. J. Edmonds is referred to. The allowance of 5s. a week was withdrawn from Mr. Edmonds because he was not qualified for promotion to an overseership into which the allowance duty was absorbed. It is the rule to withdraw an allowance in such circumstances however long an officer may have held it, and I regret that I am unable to restore the allowance to Mr. Edmonds or to promise him special treatment in any other way.

asked the Postmaster-General the time of the first morning delivery of letters at Alderley Edge, Bramhall, Wilmslow, Knutsford, Hazel Grove, Bollington, Prestbury, Poynton and Stockton Heath?

The particulars are as follow:

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in connection with the new buildings to be erected at Margaret Street, Finsbury, it is proposed to pull down any more dwelling-houses; and, if so, whether accommodation is to be provided in the borough for the displaced persons?

I am advised that the ground already vacant will suffice for initial needs, and no works involving removal of dwelling houses are likely to be required for several years.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that complaints exist in the entire district that Leafield wireless station spoils the whole of the local broadcasting installations, and that the recent alterations at this station have made it very much worse for listeners-in; and whether, under the circumstances, he can cause a thorough investigation into the whole matter to abate the nuisance?

Some interference with broadcast reception is unavoidable in the vicinity of a high power wireless station such as Leafield. Certain modifications of the circuits in use at that station have, however, recently been made; and, from tests carried out in the vicinity, it would appear that considerable improvement has now been effected. The hon. Member may rest assured that everything possible will be done to minimise such interference as far as practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the clauses in the bill of lading of the North Atlantic lines provided that, if in the opinion of the master of the ship or the owners it is impossible or unsafe to deliver the cargo at the port of destination, it may be delivered at the next convenient and safe port at the risk and expense of the owner of the goods, and which are similar in terms to the clause proposed for its bills of lading by the United States shipping board, are in conflict with The Hague rules, he will say what steps he proposes to take to have the clauses withdrawn from the bills of lading to which The Hague rules apply; and whether the Government is prepared until these clauses are withdrawn from the bills of lading referred to, to delay proceeding with the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill?

I do not think I can add anything material to the answer given to the hon. Member's two questions on this subject on 24th March. The Board of Trade cannot, for obvious reasons, express any opinion of the merits of this particular clause, and they have no power to intervene. To delay the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, the early passage of which is desired by the shipping, cargo, banking and insurance interests, would not in any way benefit those who object to the clause.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the men employed by him in the present coastguard service are made to attach 2d. receipt stamps when paid their weekly wages; and, if so, can this custom be altered?

The men in the coastguard service are at present required to attach a 2d. receipt stamp when paid their weekly wages, but as stated by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in answer to a question asked on 27th March by the Member for Bristol East, it is proposed to introduce legislation on the subject of witnessed pay sheets during the current Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the civil engineer sent down to Richborough by the Disposal and Liquidation Board to inquire into the future of the Port of Richborough has yet reported; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government have yet decided what action they will take in the matter?

I have been asked to answer this question. The Report has now been received and is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of sittings of the Second Division of the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal during the last four weeks, and the number of cases settled by it during that period; and how many were Anglo-German cases?

During the four weeks ending Saturday, 22nd March, 1924, the Second Division of the Anglo-German Mixed Arbitral Tribunal sat on 13 days. The number of cases disposed of by judgment after trial was 27. In addition, judgment, which will be delivered shortly, was reserved in six other cases. The above cases were all Anglo-German.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if, in the public interest, he will consider the desirability of disbanding the staffs administering the British clearing office for enemy debits, giving up Cornwall House and other offices now occupied by the staff, and distributing the remaining work among the staff of the Public Trustee and the less occupied Departments of the Board of Trade?

The adoption of the hon. Member's proposal would not be, in my opinion, in the public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers have been executed in accordance with sentences of courts-martial under the Army Acts since 4th August, 1914, and for what offences were these convicted?

Including officers, the number is 350. The offences in question were mutiny 5, cowardice 18, desertion 266, murder 40, striking or violence 5, disobedience 5, sleeping on post 2, quitting post 7, and casting away arms 2.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give further consideration to the case of Mr. J Bray, who joined the Army Service Corps on 13th January, 1891, and was from time to time promoted, and re-enlisted on 5th August, 1914, but has only been granted a pension based on 20 years' service at 4s. 3d. a day?

This non-commissioned officer served during the War under the conditions of Article 1158 of the Royal Warrant for Pay, etc., 1914, which provided that a re-enlisted pensioner would continue to receive pension during his further service, but would receive no addition to pension in respect of such service. His pension is, therefore, based on his pre-War service only, in accordance with the conditions under which he served in the Great War. On the termination of the War, his pre-War pension was re-assessed at the post-War rates under Army Order 325 of 1919. His qualifying service for pension, calculated in accordance with the conditions laid down in that Army Order, amounted to 20 complete years only, and the award made on re-assessment represents the maximum to which he is entitled under the Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that when warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men are discharged from Aldershot upon the expiration of their service, there is no housing accommodation for them, and that grave hardship is caused by their eviction from military quarters; and whether he will arrange with the Minister of Health that a large proportion of the houses the Government propose to build shall be erected at Aldershot and other military centres for the accommodation of ex-service men?

I do not think this suggestion could be adopted with advantage. I am, of course, aware of the housing shortage, but I am not aware that it is more acute at military stations than elsewhere, and I do not think there would be any special advantage in encouraging ex-soldiers to settle at the places where they happen to take their discharge, unless civil employment on an effective scale existed at the time. Soldiers on discharge must necessarily leave their Army quarters, which are required by their successors, but every consideration is shown in carrying out the change, of which two months' notice is always given.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that the system of leasehold in land for the purpose of house building adds materially to the problem of housing; and if he will take steps, both in regard to prospective building and present owners of leasehold property, to bring forward legislation to deal with this land system which now operates against the general welfare?

So far as I am aware the leasehold system has not added materially to the problem of the housing of the working classes, and I do not think it would be practicable to deal with this question in the forthcoming housing Act.

asked the Minister of Health if he can give the average cost per house and rent chargeable of the houses built by local authorities and approved for subsidy under the Housing Act, 1923?

The average cost per house of houses in contracts let by local authorities up to the 1st March, excluding cost of land and development, was £368 for non-parlour houses and £421 for parlour houses. Local authorities are not required to obtain my approval to the rents of houses erected under the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923, and I have no statistics bearing on this point.

asked the Minister of Health if he can give the average selling price and the rent chargeable of the houses built by private enterprise and approved for subsidy under the Housing Act, 1923?

Statistics are not available giving the information desired by the hon. Member. Very few of these houses, so far as I know, have been rented.

asked the Under-secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether it is the policy of his Board to encourage local authorities to build new houses when there are houses fit for occupation vacant within the burgh; and what rent is expected from tenants for three and/or four-roomed houses so built?

The necessity for encouraging local authorities to build new houses in such circumstances would depend on whether the vacant houses referred to are available for letting at rents which the working classes can afford to pay. The rents of houses built by local authorities fall to be fixed primarily by them and vary acccording to such considerations as locality, convenience, amenity and planning.

asked the Minister of Health whether it has been the general practice of boards of guardians since 1918 to advance money on loan to able-bodied unemployed men when destitute; if not, to what extent; and if he will give any information respecting repayments?

Boards of guardians are empowered, where they think fit, to make any grant of relief given by them a loan to the person relieved. I cannot say to what extent use is made by boards of guardians of this power in dealing with cases of able-bodied unemployed men, but I understand that in the three years prior to March, 1923, £304,000 was repaid to boards of guardians in England and Wales in respect of outdoor relief which they had given on loan.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that great inconvenience is caused to the women and juveniles of Finsbury who have to travel to the extreme end of the borough, at King's Cross, in order to sign the employment register; and will he consider the possibility of increasing the accommodation at the men's Exchange in Goswell Road so as to merge the two Exchanges into one?

The question of extending the huts in Goswell Road sufficiently to enable the women and juveniles to be accommodated there is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of persons between the ages of 60 and 70 who are drawing unemployment benefit?

Statistics are not normally compiled respecting the ages of claimants to unemployment benefit. In November last, however, an investigation was made of the personal circumstances and industrial history of 10,000 claimants to benefit, selected in such a way as to form a representative sample of the whole body of claimants, which showed that at that date 11·3 per cent. of the male and 2·2 per cent. of the female claimants to benefit were aged 60 years and over. If these proportions still apply, the approximate number of claimants to benefit at 17th March, 1924, aged 60 and over, would be about 90,000 males and 4,800 females.

asked the Minister of Labour when the two schemes for the relief of unemployment in the Woolwich area sanctioned since 1st January, 1924, were first presented; and upon what dates, respectively, the grants for the same were so sanctioned?

The figures given on the 24th March in answer to the hon. Member's previous question related to three schemes assisted by the Unemployment

asked the Minister of Transport to what road schemes approved and started in the winter of 1923–24, largely for the relief of unemployment, contributions, in addition to grants from the Road Fund, have been promised from the Exchequer to cover the increased cost of labour?

In no case have contributions been promised from the Exchequer to works assisted out of the Road Fund during the period in question.

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-service trainees are now undergoing institutional and workshop training; how many trainees are at present disengaged through not being placed for workshop training; and what is the cost per annum of maintaining this Department of the Ministry?

The number of ex-service men in training under the industrial

Grants Committee and two by the Ministry of Transport.

The following are the further particulars asked for:

training scheme in Great Britain and Ireland at the end of February, 1924, was 10,332. The number awaiting improverships was 3,651. The cost of the industrial training scheme for the financial year 1923–24 will be approximately £2,700,000, including maintenance allowances to trainees (approximately £2,000,000), expenditure on running training institutions, cost of administration and expenses incurred by Departments other than the Ministry of Labour. At the present time, the cost is at the rate of approximately £2,250,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is taking any steps to aid a settlement in the Southampton shipbuilding dispute?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Henley (Captain Terrell), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there are any aliens employed in Government Departments and, if so, how many; whether any aliens are employed in Portsmouth dockyard and, if so, how many; and whether he will take steps for the removal of any aliens in Government Departments, and for their replacement by unemployed ex-service men?

I have been asked to reply. Section 6 of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919, provides that no alien may be appointed to any office or place in the Civil Service of the State. I understand that no aliens are employed in Portsmouth dockyard. I am not aware that any aliens are employed in Government Departments, and the latter part of the question does not appear therefore to arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can state on the Census figures of 1921 the number of agricultural labourers in England and Wales, giving in addition the totals of those between 50 and 60 years of age and those over 60 years, respectively?

According to the Census of 1921 the total number of agricultural labourers in England and Wales was 549,329. Of these, 72,776 were between the ages of 50 and 60 and 71,880 were over 60.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is prepared to adopt the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on Distribution and Prices of Agricultural Produce, No. 303, relating to the licensing of commission salesmen, provided that the conditions under which such licences are granted shall not be onerous?

This question is under consideration, but failing voluntary agreement any such proposal would require legislation for which there can hardly be time this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give full particulars about the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Orton Grange, Penn, and Wolverhampton; and what steps have been taken to prevent the disease from spreading?

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Orton Grange, Penn, Wolverhampton, was reported to the Ministry and confirmed on the 26th March. The total stock on the premises consisted, in the buildings, of 52 cattle, 43 pigs and 12 sheep, and in the fields, of 282 sheep. The disease appeared at first in the buildings only, 2 cattle being affected, and the 52 cattle, 43 pigs and 12 sheep were accordingly slaughtered. Slaughter was completed the same day (26th March). On the following day (27th March) disease appeared in 12 ewes and several lambs in the fields, and in view of the fact that all the sheep on the pasture had been exposed to infection (with the exception of 20 in one field), through the medium of the shepherd, slaughter of 262 sheep and lambs was proceeded with and completed on the 28th March. The remaining 20 ewes are being kept isolated. The farm buildings are within 200 yards of the two outbreaks confirmed on adjoining farms at Orton, Penn, on the 21st March, and drainage from the latter passes through the stockyard of Orton Grange. On the 21st March every effort was made to disinfect this drainage, and on the same day Orton Grange was placed under a special notice of isolation. A further possible source of infection existed in the association of the attendants of the three farms. All three outbreaks occurred in an area already scheduled under the Ministry's Order as an infected area. No further general restrictions on movement in the surrounding district were, therefore, necessitated by these outbreaks. All the infected premises are subject to the Rules for Infected Places laid down by the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Orders.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that certain parish councils, in dealing with applications from farm servants, are placing a narrow interpretation upon the phrase necessitous cases; that many farm servants who are in regular employment are badly needing seed potatoes owing to the complete failure of the potato crop last year, but are unable to buy them; that farm servants in Caithness and Sutherland, unlike those in other counties, where they receive so many cwts. of potatoes as part of their pay, are provided with portions of ground in which they are allowed to plant potatoes for themselves but have to supply the seed; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will make it known to parish councils that if a farm servant is in need of potatoes for seed purposes he should be entitled to the benefit of the scheme?

It is a general condition of the scheme that assistance from public funds is only to be given in necessitous cases. This condition applies to farm servants as well as to other classes of applicants. The parish councils are entrusted with the duty of considering whether applicants comply with this condition, and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to interfere with their discretion in this respect.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that smallholders who placed orders for seed potatoes and oats prior to the publication of the Government's scheme are unable to pay for the same; and will he have arrangements made for assistance in such cases?

My right hon. Friend is not prepared to extend the terms and conditions of the Government's scheme so as to include persons who have been able to make their own arrangements for the purchase of seed.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what assistance can be expected by fishermen in respect of loss of gear?

My right hon. Friend is unable at present to state whether any such scheme will be adopted, but a decision will be intimated as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been directed to the inadequacy of the provisions of Sections 424 and 430 of the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act, 1892, for dealing with cases of sales of short weight in the country districts of Scotland; and whether he will introduce legislation to strengthen these provisions?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The representation, to which the hon. Member refers, will be considered when any legislative opportunity arises.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the cost of the Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom (1905–19) was 3s. 6d., whereas the succeeding volume (1906–20) costs 10s.; whether he can inform the House what profits the Stationery Office estimates for on such publications; and whether he has been able to arrange for the issue to Members, through the Vote Office, of State publications they require for the discharge of their public duty?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The present price represents no more than the cost per copy of printing, paper and trade discounts. With regard to the last part of the question, I have given careful consideration to the whole question of the supply of Government publications to Members of Parliament with special reference to the correspondence between the Select Committee of Publications and Mr. Speaker of last July. While every effort is made to secure that publications in general demand by Members are issued in the Parliamentary list, I recognise that in many cases individual Members may require publications included in the non-Parliamentary list. I am accordingly arranging that in future any Member shall be able to obtain, on special application to the Controller of the Stationery Office, a copy of any non-Parliamentary publication of the current Session reasonably required for the discharge of his Parliamentary duties. In any case of difficulty, the Controller will refer the matter to the Treasury. As some set-off to the cost of this arrangement, I think it not unreasonable to suggest that, as regards Parliamentary pub- lications, Members should in future mark separately on the Pink Lists the publications they require and not, as is done in a few cases, requisition in advance the whole of the publications of a Session irrespective of whether they are interested in them or not. I propose to arrange accordingly with Mr. Speaker.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to provide for the exclusion from the incidence of Income Tax the surplus of receipts over expenditure of societies which do not trade for profit?

The hon. Member's proposal is in such general terms, and would involve so wide a departure from established Income Tax principles, as inevitably to invite an answer in the negative, but if he will furnish me with information as to any particular society or type of society that he has in mind, I will look into the matter and communicate with him in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of unearned taxable income for the years 1919–20, 1920–21, 1921–22 and 1922–23?

I regret that this information is not available. I can only roughly estimate that the total amount of the actual investment income (above the effective exemption limit of £130 in 1919–20 and £135 of assessable income in subsequent years) lay between £900,000,000 and £1,000,000,000 in each of the years 1919–20 to 1921–22, inclusive. I am unable at present to give any estimate for the year 1922–23.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total sum received by the Government from the taxation of motor vehicles of all descriptions; and what is the total sum paid by the Government towards the maintenance and repair of existing roads, exclusive of that paid for the construction of new roads?

As far as can at present be estimated, the gross receipts from the taxation of motor and other vehicles for the financial year 1923–24 will be in the neighbourhood of £14,750,000. The amount available for grants, after deducting prior statutory charges, was about £13,500,000. It is not possible at present to give the actual payments during the financial year just ended, but the grants sanctioned during the year towards the cost of maintenance and improvement of existing roads (as distinct from new construction) amounted approximately to £13,750,000.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case at Salford in which Messrs. H. W. Lee and Company, Islington Mills, James Street, were fined £5 for failing to fence dangerous machinery; that through this failure a woman had been injured; and that the inspector of factories stated that in May last he had written requiring these particular wheels to be guarded; in view of the desirability that an inspector should, after having informed the employer of the requirements of the law, revisit the factory within a short period to see that these requirements have been carried out, whether the present inspectorate is numerically adequate to make these return visits; and, if not, whether he proposes to increase the inspectorate to enable this to be done?

The facts in the particular case referred to are as stated in the question. As regards strengthening the inspectorate, I would refer the Noble Lord to my answer to the question on this subject asked yesterday by the Member for North Bristol (Mr. Ayles), when I stated that I intended to review the position at the earliest opportunity. I fully recognise the importance of special inspections for the purpose of ascertaining that any serious irregularities observed at a previous visit have been put right. That has been the policy of the Department for many years, and should be maintained.

asked the Home Secretary the total number of prisoners for whom there is accommodation in Wands-worth Prison; the number of prison officers employed there and their total annual salaries; the maximum number of prisoners in that prison at any one time between 1st January, 1920, and 1st January, 1924; the period during which there was that maximum; the number of first offenders included in that maximum; and the number of visits paid by friends and relations of prisoners to the prison between 1st January, 1920 and 1924?

The total cell accommodation of the prison is 1,367; the number of officers, 144 (excluding temporary officers); the total annual salaries with bonus, £31,000; the highest popula- tion reached between 1st January, 1920, and 1st January, 1924, 1,000, on 30th April, 1921. The remaining questions could not be answered without considerable expenditure of labour and time.

asked the Home Secretary whether any request has been made to him for reinstatement by those members of the police force who were discharged after the last strike; and, if so, what action he is proposing to take?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 20th March to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. D. G. Somerville).