asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he will agree to representatives of pensioner clerks and timekeepers employed in His Majesty's dockyards giving evidence with regard to wages and working conditions before the Southborough Committee?

A request by these classes to be allowed to give evidence before the Southborough Committee would be one that should, I suggest, be addressed to the Committee itself. It would appear, however, to be unlikely that such evidence would be pertinent to the Committee's terms of reference.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the stagnation of promotion on the one hand and the shortage of staff on the other in the cookery branch of the Royal Navy, he can say what steps have been taken, in the first place, to advance promotion and, in the second, to advance recruitment?

The matter is now under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve instructors shown on Vote 7 can be removed from the advancement rosters from the moment they are appointed to Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve divisions for instructional purposes, in order that they may not prejudice promotion whilst they still remain on the active-service personnel?

Petty officers are removed from the advancement rosters on appointment as instructors to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if battle clasps will be issued to those entitled to them at their own expense?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of to-day to the Noble Lord, the Member for South Battersea (Viscount Curzon).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the proposed reduction of 5½ per cent, in the pay of naval officers is to be made on the 20 per cent, increase granted in respect of the cost of living or on the whole pay or pension; and whether, seeing that, in view of the Admiralty's statement that the 20 per cent, increase was granted subject, after five years, to alteration according to how the cost of living should rise or fall, there would be an element of non-compliance with the undertakings given in taking 5½ per cent, from the whole pay or pension, he will reconsider this?

I regret that in making a last minute alteration in order to shorten my reply of last Wednesday to the Noble Lord, the Member for South Battersea (Viscount Curzon), I overlooked the fact that the words "total increase" and not "total pay" were used in the question, and in this particular my answer was incorrect. As I stated during the recent Debate on the Navy Estimates, the reduction of 5½ per cent, will apply to the whole of the pay or retired pay of naval officers. As regards the second part of the question, 20 per cent, of the rates of pay and retired pay granted in 1919 were stated to be due to the high cost of living, and if the hon. and gallant Member will compare the index figures, showing the excess over pre-War prices in July, 1919, and now, he will find that there has been a fall of approximately 27½ per cent. It is immaterial whether the reduction to be made in July next is described as a reduction of 27½ per cent, of 20 per cent, of the pay, or 5½ per cent, of the whole of the pay. With this explanation I trust that the hon. and gallant Member will realise that there is in the decision of His Majesty's Government no element of non-compliance with undertakings given in 1919 when the present rates of pay and retired pay were settled.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he can make a statement on marriage allowance for the officers of the Navy?

This matter is now under consideration, but I am unable to say how soon it will be possible to make any announcement on the subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that, owing to the stagnation in promotion in the sick-berth branch of the Royal Navy, a large number of sick-berth attendants will never be able to obtain the long service and good conduct medals, although they may have been assessed as very good throughout the whole of their naval service; and whether, seeing the King's Regulations and Admiralty instructions are now under revision, the Admiralty can see their way clear to make the necessary amendment in the new volumes, so that this rating may become eligible?

In order to qualify for an award of the medal on completion of 15 years' service, a man requires the first recommendation in the 12th year of his service, and this recommendation is permissible in the rating next above sick-berth attendant ( i.e., leading sick-berth attendant), and previous service as sick-berth attendant, with continuous V. G. character, counts towards service quali- fying for the medal. The records show that the average length of service before leading rating is attained is about eight years, and it is, therefore, considered that no reason exists for the amendment of the existing Regulations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, as regards grants allocated from the surplus of the. Naval Prize Fund, the claims of the Mercantile Marine Masters' and Officers' Relief Fund have been considered; if not, for what reasons; and whether, in any future allocation of sums of money at the disposal of the Admiralty, he will ensure that this fund, and others doing similar work in connection with representative organisations, will not be excluded?

The claims of the Mercantile Marine Masters' and Officers' Relief Fund were considered when the recent grants from the surplus of the Naval Prize Fund were made, and the claims of this fund and others doing similar work will be taken into account in the event of it being found possible to make a further distribution.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the expression of hope by the Treasury that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will, in framing their Estimates for 1924–25, take a much more conservative view of their requirements, he will state more explicitly the aspects of such Estimate in respect of which this advice is tendered?

As explained on page 3 of the Statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty, dated the 10th March, 1924 (Cmd. 2071), explanatory of the Navy Estimates for 1924–25, the under- spendings of previous years have been due chiefly to the progress on contract work of various descriptions proving slower than was anticipated in the original Estimates. With a view to discounting the effect of the causes to which the delay is attributed, a reduction has been made in the Estimates for 1924–25 under the contract Votes principally affected, namely, Votes 8 (Section III), 9 and 10.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will cancel the dismissal of Mr. H. W. Allen, senior grouper, tailor factories, from Woolwich Arsenal, who has served nearly 47 years, and who throughout that period was only twice absent through sickness, the last occasion being 24 years ago?

Mr. H. W. Allen was discharged on reaching the age of 65 years, which is the age limit laid down for compulsory retirement in the Rules and Regulations for the Ordnance Factories, under which he was serving. In these circumstances, I regret that I am unable to make any exception to the general rule in Mr. Allen's case.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will reinstate at Woolwich Arsenal Mr. L. W. Hancock, where he has been employed over 50 years, 20 of which have been served in a supervisory position as assistant foreman?

Mr. L. W. Hancock was discharged on reaching the age of 65 years, which is the age limit laid down for compulsory retirement in the Rules and Regulations for the ordnance factories, under which he was serving. I regret that I am unable to make any exception to the general rule in this case.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will cancel the discharge from Woolwich Arsenal of Mr. William Gear (War Department Laundry), who has served there for 22 years, having previously served for 13 years in His Majesty's forces, and who, during his service at the Arsenal, was never absent from work for any cause?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, Mr. Gear was discharged on attaining the age of 00 years. Under the Regulations for civilian employçs, under which Mr. Gear was serving, an employç can, at the discretion of the officer in charge of the establishment in which he is employed, be called upon to retire on attaining the age of 60 years. In view of the large number of discharges of younger persons which it has been necessary to make owing to the reduction of work at War Department establishments at Woolwich and elsewhere, I regret that I am unable to cancel the discharge of Mr. Gear.

asked the Secretary of State for War, seeing that the writers class at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield Lock, were placed on the establishment list last year after passing a qualifying medical test, and in view of the fact that W. H. Briden, who has been employed as a writer at the factory since 1889, failed to pass the necessary medical test, and consequently was not placed on the establishment, will he, considering his long period of service and his age of 53 years, take steps to waive the medical test and to accord him all the rights and privileges attaching to establishment?

I wrote to my hon. Friend on the 26th February last, explaining the circumstances of this case. The position is that, under the Order in Council of 22nd July, 1920, and the General Regulations made there under, appointments to established rank cannot be made until a certificate of qualification has been granted by the Civil Service Commissioners. In the case of Mr. Briden, the Civil Service Commissioners, after considering the report of their medical examiners, have been unable to issue a certificate of qualification. The discretion of the Civil Service Commissioners is final and absolute, and I have no power to require them to waive the medical test. In the absence of this certificate, the Treasury would have no legal power under the Superannuation Acts to award Mr. Briden a pension.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the House any information regarding the progress of the 18 British soldiers who were wounded during the recent outrage at Queenstown and say whether any of these men are likely to suffer permanent dsablement or injury as a result of their wounds?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the noble Lord the Member for the Fylde division of Lancashire (Lord Stanley). The answer to the second part is, I regret to say, in the affirmative, so far at any rate as concerns those men who have suffered amputations, but I am not yet in a position to say how far the injuries of other men will be permanent.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of Gunner Pragnell, who was dangerously wounded in the recent Queenstown outrage and is now in Netley Hospital, he will favourably consider the issue of free railway passes to Pragnell's parents who desire to visit their son but who cannot afford to do so?

A free railway pass to enable the parents of Gunner Pragnell to visit him in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, has been sent to them.

asked (1), the Secretary of State for War at how many meetings of the inter-Departmental Committee to consider the resettlement of ex-service men his Department has been represented since 1921, and when a Report of progress may be expected for the information of the House;

(2) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, the number of times the inter-Departmental Committee appointed in 1921 to consider the resettlement of ex-service men has met; and if he is now in a position to report the progress made, if any, for the information of the House;

(3) the Minister of Labour, if his Department has been called to the assistance of the Committee considering the resettlement of ex-service men since 1921; and, if so, will he inform the House of any practical suggestions that have emanated from his Department that are now operative?

I assume that the reference is to the inter-Departmental Committee appointed to consider the employment of time-expired ex-service men. This has met formally on five occasions. A representative of the Ministry of Labour attended a meeting of a War Office Committee which was considering the same subject in February, 1921. Since that time no representative of the Ministry of Labour has attended the meetings of the inter-Departmental Committee, but the Committee has had the advice of that Department throughout its deliberations, and the scheme which it has had under consideration will not be recommended for adoption without the prior sanction of the Ministry. I cannot at present indicate when a Report will be signed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the Regulations governing the detention and subsistence of mental cases in the Naval Mental Hospital, Great Yarmouth; what appeal, if any, exists as to the question of attributability; in the case of a man entitled to a pension how much for subsistence is deducted there from when the disability is attributable to service and when the disability is not attributable to service; and how such deductions compare with the charges made by civil mental hospitals?

The information desired is being obtained, and I will circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Captain J. Drawbell, lately in the Highland Light Infantry, was before a medical board at Westminster on the 11th December, 1922, when he was found by that board, consisting of three medical officers, as suffering from diabetes attributable to war service and in consequence was placed on half-pay on 17th January, and was retired on 3rd February, 1923; that after the medical board had certified this officer as suffering from illness attributable to service the medical history sheet was altered, without the knowledge of two members of the board, so as to indicate that the officer was not suffering from illness attributable to service, and that as a consequence the officer lost his war service pension; whether he has taken any and what steps to punish the person responsible for making the alteration; and whether he will take steps to have Captain Drawbell re-examined by an in-dependant medical board?

In answer to my hon. Friend I am advised that the finding of the Board as orginally recorded, namely, that the disease was aggravated by, though not attributable to, war service, was not justified by the evidence before the Board, but I am making inquiries as to the alleged irregularity in procedure and I will communicate further with my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what course is open to an invalided naval rating whose invaliding disability is attributable to service and who is not satisfied with the degree of disability assessed by the naval medical board?

It is open to an invalided rating to appeal to the Board of Admiralty, under whose directions the case would be reviewed in the light of any representations made on his behalf.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the practice to make a reduction in the pensions of men invalided for non-attributable disabilities associated with specific disease; whether any scale of deductions exist; whether any disease other than venereal is included in the practice; and whether naval ratings generally are aware that such a practice exists, and under what legal sanction?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The deduction made is considered on the merits of each case. A disease such as alcoholism would be included in the practice. The practice is sanctioned by the terms of Order in Council of the 6th February, 1922 (Statutory Rules and Orders, 1922, No. 132). These Regulations have been published in Fleet Orders.

asked the Minister of Pensions why payment of arrears of pension for the long-service and good-conduct medal is withheld from Mr. W. A. Smith, of 4, Elm Road, Portsmouth, observing that the man was in possession of the good-conduct medal when invalided and under the Regulations was eligible for the award of 2d. per day on his service pension, and that he was not responsible for the error in assessment?

I am looking into the facts of this case, and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, having regard to the fact that independent medical testimony shows that the neurasthenia from which W. J. Palmer, No. 2,444, late private Royal Defence Corps, suffers, is the result of service in the Great War, and that the continuance of his complaint renders him incapable of continued regular work as an employé of the Hackney Borough Council, he will reconsider the whole case with a view to granting an adequate pension?

I am having inquiries made regarding this case, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions if it is his intention to include in the Bill to be introduced dealing with the claims of pre-War pensioners any revision of the pensions granted to those who retired after March, 1922?

I regret that I cannot undertake to announce the proposals of the Government before the introduction of the Bill.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether it is his policy to refuse to have any nego- tiation with the British Legion concerning wages and conditions of ex-service men in the Royal Aircraft Establishment?

I would refer the Noble Lord to the reply given to a similar question put to me on the 20th March, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air whether, seeing that the Cove Branch of the British Legion have requested him to receive a deputation to discuss wages questions for the industrial employés of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, and that he has refused to receive a deputation on the ground that representations should be made through the Whitley Council, he will, in view of paragraph 25 of the Constitution of the Royal Aircraft Establishment Works Committee, which precludes questions of wages being raised by the Whitley Council, reconsider his decision?

I regret that I am unable to reconsider the decision contained in my reply of 20th March to the Noble Lord. The appropriate Whitley Council for the discussion of wages questions affecting the employés of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, is the Engineering Trade Joint Council for Government Departments.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air whether his attention has been directed to the relatively increasing number of aeroplane accidents in the Royal Air Force during the past year; whether he is aware that the number of accidents to aeroplanes engaged in civil aviation over that period for miles flown is much smaller than those which have occurred in the Royal Air Force during a similar period; whether the Ministry has had under consideration for the purposes of report the cause of accidents to aeroplanes engaged both in the Royal Air Force and in civil aviation; whether he is awaref that investigation tends to show that an appreciable and greater number of accidents in the Royal Air Force have occurred through the inexperience of their pilots contrasted with those employed in civil aviation; and that this has been proved by the faulty running of the Royal Air Force engines, and what was the number of accidents, lives lost and men injured in the Royal Air Force during the year ending 31st March last?

As regards the first part of the question, it is not the case that the number of aeroplane accidents in the Royal Air Force has been relatively increasing during the past year. On the contrary, the number of fatal or serious accidents has largely decreased relatively to the number of hours flown.

As regards the second part of the question, it is not possible to institute a comparison between Royal Air Force and civil flying on a basis of miles flown, the basis on which flying is computed in the Royal Air Force being one of hours and not of miles. A comparison on the basis of miles flown would in any case be quite misleading, since accidents are much less likely to occur as the result of the comparatively small number of long and straight flights carried out for the purposes of commercial transport than as the result of the very large number of shorter flights carried out by service aviators in training or manœuvres.

As regards the third part of the question, every serious flying accident and all accidents of which the causes are in any way obscure, whether happening to Royal Air Force or civil aircraft, are investigated by the Accidents Investigation Branch, which directs special attention to ascertaining the causes and makes a report on which action is taken to prevent the recurrence of accidents from the same causes in future. In the case of Royal Air Force flying accidents, a Service Court of Inquiry is held in addition.

As regards the fourth part of the question, I am not aware on what evidence the statement made is based, but it is obvious that when inexperienced pilots are being taught to fly the risk of accident is greater than when experienced pilots are flying standard machines on commercial flights over well-known routes. Practically every pilot employed in civil aviation at present was trained by Service aviation.

As regards the fifth part of the question, the engines of Royal Air Force aeroplanes are subject to continual overhauls and tests by experienced mechanics under the supervision of technical officers, and only a very small proportion of the accidents which have occurred have been found to be due to engine failure.

As regards the sixth part of the question, the number of serious flying accidents in the Royal Air Force during the year ending 31st March, 1924, was 87, resulting in 55 deaths and injuries to 87 officers and airmen.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the two Press officers retained in his Department are members of the National Union of Journalists; whether he is aware that one of them had no previous experience of Press work before coming to the War Office; and whether he will consider the replacement of these officers by suitably qualified members of the National Union of Journalists?

I have no information as to the first part of the question, and the statement contained in the second part is inaccurate. As regards the last part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 29th February to the hon. and gallant Member for East Fulham (Colonel Vaughan-Morgan).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the date for the Admiralty departmental examination has yet been fixed; and, if so, can it be announced, observing that the Treasury proposals were promulgated early in 1923, and that the application forms were to be forwarded to reach the Admiralty not later than the 22nd March, 1924?

The date of the examination has been fixed by the Civil Service Commissioners for the 3rd July next, and this will be published in Fleet Orders this week.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of officials on the staff of the Admiralty on 1st January, 1914, and the number on 1st January, 1924?

The figures for the Admiralty staff, excluding naval officers, messengers and charwomen, are

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that, owing to the action of the permanent members of the staff side of the Departmental Whitley Council, the temporary staff in the Department is not represented on the Council, and, as a result of this action, the temporary staff are practically disenfranchised for Whitley Council purposes; and, if the official side is not prepared to insist on the inclusion of the representatives of the temporary staff, whether he will set up separate machinery by which the temporary staff may raise matters concerning their terms of service, etc.?

In answer to the first part of the question, it is unfortunately true that a portion of the temporary staff is not at present represented upon the Departmental Whitley Council, owing to its being organised in an association which excludes certain members of the grades which it purports to represent. As regards the second part of the question, the matter is one primarily for the staff side to settle, and I understand that it is now in a fair way to be adjusted; the suggestion for separate machinery has been considered and could not be agreed to.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that many temporary officers in his Department are compelled to accept liability for flying duties without any extra pay or emoluments; and whether, in view of the fact that flying risk necessitates a large addition to insurance premiums, he will undertake to investigate the position with a view to granting special allowances in every case where an officer is liable to undertake flying duties?

As regards the first part of the question, I am aware that the duties of the officials of the Research and Inspection Departments necessitate their going into the air, but this liability was taken into account when their emoluments were fixed and is expressly mentioned in their contract of service as entitling them to no additional allowance. As regards the second part of the question, I cannot undertake to grant a special allowance for a liability which is thus part of the contract of service, and which, moreover, is already covered to the extent that compensation is granted under the Superannuation Act, 1887, in the event of death or injury from a flying accident on duty.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what grounds Lord Crewe was instructed to agree to the decision of the Ambassadors' Conference with regard to the Janina murders; why the question of the payment to Italy of the 50,000,000 lire deposited by the Greek Government in the Swiss National Bank was not referred to the Court of International Justice; and if he is now prepared to publish the text of the Commission's Report presented on the 22nd September last?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer returned to a similar question of his on 20th February last, and point out that, although the Report of the Commission was communicated at the time to the Council of the League of Nations for their information, it remains, like all the records of the Ambassadors' Conference, a confidential document, the publication of which, without the consent of all the parties concerned, would be both contrary to practice and to the public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Germany has made any payments to Montenegro on account of reparations; and, in that case, who has received the money, and how it has been spent?

Montenegro is a part of the Serb-Croat-Slovene Kingdom, and not being a separate signatory of the Treaty of Versailles, is not entitled to any separate payment from Germany on reparation account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Orders have been made by the Board of Trade under the German Reparation Recovery Act which are still in operation, with the date of each Order?

I am sending the hon. Member copies of the 14 Orders which are still in operation.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in respect of the external loan of £40.000,000 to Germany, which the Expert Committee recommended should be subscribed, the Government will ensure that British support shall be given only on condition of the military and economic evacuation by the French?

"the fiscal and economic unity of Germany will be restored,"

and that

"economic activity will be unhampered and unaffected by any foreign organisation other than the controls provided in their Report."

The Committee expressly stated that their recommendations were to be regarded as an indivisible whole. I have already stated that His Majesty's Government are prepared to support the scheme in its entirety, provided that all the other parties are willing to take the same course, and I do not think I can usefully add anything further at the present stage or enter into a discussion of details.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the deadlock in the negotiations over the retrocession of Wei-hai-Wei to China u due to the claim by this country for the use by British warships of the waters of and certain land in the bay each summer; and what is the point of view taken up by the Chinese Government on this matter?

According to the draft agreement negotiated by a British and a Chinese Commission last year, British warships visiting the bay of Wei-hai-Wei between April and October are to have the use, after the Chinese Navy, of a certain part of the anchorage and the British Navy is to have the loan for ten years, free of charge, of certain land and buildings for the purpose of a sanatorium, with the option of renewal on the same terms by the British Government until both Government's agree that, the loan shall terminate. An objection to this option clause was one of the pretexts advanced last October by the Chinese Government in justification of their desire to make fundamental changes in the agreement reached after protracted discussion with their representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the

From 1st April, 1923, the particulars are exclusive of direct imports, if any, into the Irish Free State.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any of the recommendations contained in pages 45 to 47 of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the position of the iron and steel trades after the War, published in 1918, have been adopted; and what results, if any, have been derived from their adoption?

The Committee made 61 recommendations, many of which raised

present position with regard to the conventional tariff on the importation of British goods into Japan, as regulated by Article 8 of the Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty, 1911?

The Japanese Government have given notice that they wish to abrogate Article 8 of the Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty, 1911, together with the Schedule annexed to the Treaty, and His Majesty's Government have consented to arrive at an understanding with the Japanese Government that the Article and the Schedule will cease to operate on 10th March, 1925. This understanding will in due course be embodied in an exchange of Notes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the annual value and weight of tobacco imported into this country from the United States of America during the years 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1923?

The following statement shows the quantity and value of tobacco (unmanufactured and manufactured) imported into the United Kingdom and registered as consigned from the United States during the years specified:

large questions of Government policy, whilst others were entirely for the consideration of the trade itself. If the hon. Member will specify the recommendations in which he is particularly interested, I will see what information can be furnished.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of arms, ammunition and military and naval stores exported from the United Kingdom in the year 1913, with the corresponding figures for each year 1919 to 1923, with the proportion exported to foreign countries and to British possessions, together with the approximate total quantities of high explosives, machine guns, rifles, loaded cartridges, swords and bayonets exported during the years 1919 to 1923, with the principal destinations of these articles?

My hon. Friend will find the particulars for each of the years 1913, and 1919 to 1922, inclusive, on pages 567–587 of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom, Volume III. Corresponding particulars for the year 1923 are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give a table showing approximately the percentage of increase or decrease in the volume, based on 1913 prices, of the following exports and imports in 1922, 1923, and the first

NOTE.—From 1st April, 1923, the Accounts include the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the Irish Free State. From the same date, the direct foreign trade of the Irish Free State has been excluded from the Accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to telegrams from China laying stress on the prejudicial effect on Anglo-Chinese trade generally of the existence of the differential duty against China tea; and whether any representations have been made to the British Government on the subject by the Chinese Government?

quarter of 1924, as compared with the corresponding volume for 1913, and taking the 1913 volume in each case as 100, namely: net imports; food and drink, raw materials, manufactures, and total net imports; exports of United Kingdom goods: food and drink, coal, raw materials other than coal, manufactures, and total exports?

, pursuant to his answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 14th April, 1924; col. 967, Vol. 172], supplied the following figures:

The following table shows the percentage proportions of the values, calculated on the basis of 1913 prices, of the net imports into the United Kingdom and the exports therefrom of produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom in the periods specified:

Representations have been made by the Chinese Legation. They are being considered by the Treasury and Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state any instance in East Kent where officers of the Reparation Claims Department went down to make personal local inquiries regarding claims lodged with the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action?

An officer of the Reparation Claims Department stayed at Margate from 31st August till 6th September, 1923, investigating claims in respect of damage to property. He also visited Folkestone for the same purpose on 10th October, 1923. Another officer stayed at Ramsgate from the 27th September till the 29th September, 1923, for the same purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of newspapers in which an advertisement has been inserted by the Reparation Claims Department notifying persons having claims for compensation for enemy action that the latest date for the lodging of such claims is the 1st June, 1924; whether any other channels of publicity for this notification are being made use of; whether he will consider the desirability of such a notice being inserted in the small books of stamps issued by His Majesty's Postmaster-General; and whether he will consider the question of displaying notices in all post offices and other Government buildings, and in town halls, in all parts of the country affected by enemy action during the late War?

A paid-for advertisement has been inserted in 18 newspapers and a notice sent to the Official Gazettes, the "Board of Trade Journal," the Press agencies and about 100 newspapers. An announcement is also posted in Mercantile Marine offices, and the seamen's unions are being communicated with. I am considering whether other means of publicity should be employed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received representations from business interests concerned against the delay and the cost attending the working of the Anglo-German Mixed Arbitral Tribunal; and what steps the Government proposes to take to secure satisfactory working of the existing tribunal?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The matter is receiving the serious attention of the Board of Trade, with a view to expediting the work of the Anglo-German Mixed Arbitral Tribunal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give figures showing the quantities of British-made arc-lamp carbons exported to foreign countries during the years 1921, 1922, and 1923, respectively, together with the corresponding values?

The total quantities and values of "Electric Carbons, Lighting," of United Kingdom manufacture, registered as exported to all foreign countries in the years specified, were as follow:

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantities of arc-lamp carbons imported into this country during the years 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1923, respectively; and whether he has any information as to the output during the corresponding periods from the English factory which was given protection under the key industries schedule in 1921?

The total quantities of "Electric Carbons, Lighting," imported into the United Kingdom in the years specified were as follow:

As from the 1st April, 1923, the particulars are inclusive of the imports, if any, into Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Irish Free State, and are exclusive of direct imports into the Irish Free State from foreign countries. As regards the last part of the question, I am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in respect of the industries which were given protection under the key industries Schedule of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1912, he has taken any steps to ascertain the comparative state of employment in 1923 as compared with the years preceding the duty; and, if so, when he anticipates that he will be able to give the House the benefit of the figures ascertained?

Many of the products specified in the Schedule of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, are manufactured by concerns engaged in the production of a wider range of commodities, and it is consequently not practicable to give definite information as to the volume of employment affected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that if British manufacturers of toy fish-pond games import toy magnets to use for the same they are charged 33⅓ per cent., whereas foreign competitors can send the same games, including toy magnets, into this country duty free; and whether Le is prepared to take steps to alter this anomaly?

Permanent magnets of any kind are dutiable under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, and there is no power under the law to exempt them except when they form a part of small value of an article not otherwise dutiable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in the offices of inspectors of taxes there are generally no facilities for private interviews with taxpayers other than the inspectors' rooms; and whether, in view of the number of callers who are interviewed on confidential matters by members of the inspector's staff, he will arrange for the provision in every tax office of adequate accommodation by way of interview rooms?

I am aware that the position is frequently as stated in the question. I regret that I cannot contemplate the expense which would be involved by the provision of interview rooms in every tax office, but such rooms are provided in the most important offices where the necessary space can be made available without undue expense.

asked the President of the Board of Education, in connection with the School Teachers (Superannuation) Bill, 1924, whether, in view of the fact that the recent Departmental Committee under Lord Emmott recommended that the service of teachers of the blind and deaf prior to 1924 should be recognised for pension purposes, and that many of the teachers concerned will be retiring within the period of extension stated in the Bill, namely 1926, he is prepared to make provision for the recognition of this pre-1894 service for superannuation in the cases of the few teachers affected, either in the Bill itself or by administrative regulation?

As I have already said in reply to questions in this House, the position of these teachers will receive full consideration in connection with legislation to amend the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918; but it is not practicable for me to undertake special legislation in advance of the general Measure.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now prepared to remove the restriction on admissions to training colleges which was imposed by Circular 1301 in 1923?

After considering the information before me I have decided to discontinue at once the restriction on admissions to training colleges which was imposed by Circular 1301 in 1923. Training college authorities will accordingly be at liberty to accept applicants this year up to their full normal number of admissions, provided the recognised accommodation is in no case exceeded. The colleges will, however, understand that I do not feel able to authorise them to admit additional numbers this year in order to fill up the vacancies caused by last year's restriction on admissions.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that the cottage with ¾-acre of garden at Wash Common, near Newbury, Berkshire, in the occupation of the late William H. Harris, postman, of Newbury, until two years ago, has since then been unoccupied; whether he is aware that the cottage is the property of the Crown; whether he is aware that there is an acute shortage of accommodation in the neighbourhood, so that seven and eight people1 are compelled to occupy a single room, and many of those who are able to pay rent are occupying barns and outbuildings: and whether he will take immediate steps to call upon the Commissioners for Woods and Forests, or the Government Department which can deal with this property, to make the cottage and land available for occupation by selling it or letting it to working-class people?

I have been asked to reply. The cottage in question escheated to the Crown and was transferred to the management of the Commissioners of Woods in February this year. It is reported to be in a bad state of repair and considerable expenditure will be necessary before it can be made fit for habitation. An estimate is being obtained and the work will be put in hand without delay to enable the premises to be occupied as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he will have inquiry made as to the exceptional difficulties under which the district committees labour in Argyllshire in the carrying out of housing schemes under the Housing Acts, owing to the large areas of low rateable value under their jurisdiction, the small number of houses already built by them, and the strong demand in the various areas for more houses, with a view to securing an increased building of house's in these districts and a greater participation by their inhabitants in the Government housing schemes?

In view of the fact that the terms upon which State assistance was given to local authorities carrying out housing schemes under the Housing, Town Planning, Etc. (Scotland) Act, 1919, were particularly favourable in districts where the areas were large, the rateable values low and the demand for houses great, and that conditions in the landward areas of Argyllshire are not peculiar, I am not satisfied that an inquiry of the nature suggested would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any record of the number of houses vacant for sale but not for letting purposes; whether the local authorities concerned possess such information; and whether, in view of the importance to the proper consideration of the housing problem, he will prepare statistics on the subject and lay them before the House?

Statistics are not available showing the number of houses vacant for sale but not for letting. The number of such houses is constantly fluctuating, and I am of opinion that the value of a return, if obtained, would not be commensurate with the labour and expense involved by its compilation.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any information with reference to cases where houses are kept empty for the deliberate purpose of obtaining a high price for the same?

Representations have been received from a number of local authorities calling attention to the fact that unoccupied houses are held for sale at enhanced prices, but detailed statistics on this point are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that some landlords are dispossessing tenants on the assertion that they need the houses for personal occupation and then, when the tenants have left, are putting the structures up for sale with vacant possession; and whether, seeing that this is absolutely opposed to the spirit of the law, he will, in the event of such cases being submitted to him, take steps to make such action illegal?

Provision is already made to meet cases of this kind. Under the existing Act the Court can require the landlord to pay compensation to the tenant for loss or damage sustained if possession of a house is obtained by misrepresentation, and to direct that the house in question shall not be decontrolled.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give the usual monthly statement of progress under the Housing Act of 1923?

The following statement gives the information desired by the Noble Lord:

Housing, with State Assistance.

Statement showing the position of housing schemes under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, on the under-mentioned dates:

asked the Minister of Health why he has refused permission to the Leicester Guardians to let a number of vacant cottages and the old infirmary situated in the workhouse grounds, notwithstanding that these have been empty since the close of the War; and whether, in view of the admitted housing shortage, he will reconsider his decision and allow these buildings to be let to deserving tenants?

I am advised that it would be difficult and costly to convert

I.—Houses authorised by the Minister of Health—up to the 9th April, 1924:

II.—Houses included in definite arrangements—on or before the 1st April, 1924:

III.—Building progress—at 1st April, 1924:

the buildings mentioned, but I am prepared to consider an application for their transfer to the borough council as the housing authority, if that authority should think it worth while to proceed with the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in South Yorkshire the cost of bricks has increased during the last few weeks by 10s. per thousand, one increase of 5s. about six weeks ago and another of 5s. last week, and that the cost of lime has also increased by 3s. per ton; and whether he will take steps to prevent these continual increases in the cost of building materials?

I am aware that in certain parts of Yorkshire increases have taken place in the price of bricks, though I cannot, without further inquiry, accept the figures in the question as accurate. I am not aware that there has been any general increase in cost of lime, although I am informed that there are instances of increase in price in certain parts of Yorkshire. Such increases in prices as have been recorded are at present being investigated by the Committee on Prices of Building Materials, and the question of any further steps that may be necessary to prevent increases in cost of building materials will be dealt with in connection with the Government's housing proposals.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the shortage of British bricks and the high price for hand-made bricks, the Government is prepared to grant facilities for installing machinery in brick works with a view to speeding up production?

The question of the supply of bricks has been under consideration by the National House Building Committee, and reference to the subject is made on page 33 of their Report (Cmd. 2104). This Report is now under consideration by the Government, and I am not in a position to make a, statement on the point referred to by the hon. and gallant Gentleman at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the average cost of building non-parlour and parlour houses has increased since February last year by £41 and £68, respectively, he can state what proportion of the increase is due to the higher prices charged for building materials and what proportion has gone in increased wages to the building operatives?

It is not possible from the information at the disposal, of the Ministry to say what proportions of increase in the contract price of houses are due to wages and materials, respectively, but it is one of the questions which is under consideration?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will at once repeal Article VII of the Relief Regulation Order, 1911, which forbids guardians to pay the rent of any poor person whom they relieve direct to the landlord, though it permits them in regulating the relief to consider the expense that will be incurred by him in providing lodging; and will he communicate the repeal to all the guardians, reminding them that it is the duty of guardians to provide shelter as well as food and clothing where it is needed?

The question of issuing a Circular to the boards of guardians on this subject is under consideration, but I do not contemplate the repeal of Article VII of the Relief Regulation Order.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received any representation in respect of difficulties, present or prospective, in connection with the water supply by and through the administrative authorities in the country; whether he is aware of any such difficulties as a result of newly-populated areas; and whether he will consider the advisability of an inquiry into the whole subject-matter of the country's water supply, having regard to the movement of population and the limited catch-ground area which is available?

The Ministry of Health are constantly dealing with difficulties in connection with water supply, and the whole question of water supplies is being considered by the Department with the assistance of the Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received any representation in respect of the production and sale of tuberculous milk; and what action he proposes to take in connection with the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 19th ultimo to the hon. Member for Ealing (Sir H. Nield).

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the serious danger to infant life and welfare arising from the widespread and continually increasing importation of condensed machine-skimmed milk, the sale of which is prohibited in most civilised countries of the world; and whether he proposes to take steps to follow the example of those British Colonies and foreign countries which have prohibited its importation or sale?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave on the 25th and 27th of February to the lion, and gallant Member for the Maid-stone Division (Commander Bellairs) and the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Murrell).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the Regulations governing the handling of milk in this country, he will consider the desirability of legislation compelling foreign importers of condensed, liquid, or dry milk to produce guarantees, subject to official investigation, of equally satisfactory conditions governing the handling of the article they sell to the British public?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Condensed Milk Regulations, 1923, and the Dried Milk Regulations, 1923, made in pursuance of the provisions of the Public Health Acts and the Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act, 1922. These Regulations apply equally to the imported as to the home-produced commodity, and I do not think that further legislation is needed to protect the interests of British consumers.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the high percentage of deaths from tuberculosis amongst printers, as shown by the Report signed by Professor Benjamin Moore, D. Sc, F. R. S, arising out of an inquiry into the percentage of deaths from tuberculosis in the printing industry undertaken in 1916, for the Department of Applied Physiology and Hygiene, Medical Research Committee, which Report states that, in spite of the welcome improvements of the past generation, tuberculosis throughout all the printing trades still, preponderates over all other causes of death; and, in view of the importance of this matter to those engaged in the printing industry, and of the necessity for up-to-date figures, will he consider ordering a further inquiry to establish the facts existing since the Report in question was prepared and, if necessary, would he receive a deputation from, the Joint Industrial Council representing the printing industry?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes." As regards the second part, I am not at present satisfied as to the need for any further inquiry, but I should be glad to consider any representations from the Joint Industrial Council on the subject of the mortality from tuberculosis in the printing industry.

asked the Minister of Health what decision the Government have arrived at with regard to the recommendations in Clause 16 of the Trevethin Report dealing with the expenditure of money for reducing venereal disease; whether the question of Government financial assistance to the work of voluntary organisation has yet been decided upon; and whether any grant given by the Government will be divided between the Society for the Prevention of Venereal Disease and the National Council for Combating Venereal Diseases, both of these societies having unconditionally accepted the Trevethin Report?

The recommendations in the Trevethin Report, including the question of financial assistance from the Exchequer to the work of voluntary organisations, are still under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to say how any Government grant for this purpose will be allocated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the New Zealand Government offered £50,000 to develop the Spahlinger treatment of consumption on the condition that the Ministry offered a similar amount; whether the Ministry has adequately investigated the results of such treatment; and whether any action is to be taken?

The answer to the first part of the question is "No." As regards the second part, I may say that all such inquiries have been made by my Department as have been practicable in the absence of a supply of M. Spahlinger's preparations for scientific investigation. As regards the third part I am anxious to arrange for a scientific investigation of this method of treatment in this country, and have personally given M. Spahlinger assurances to that effect.

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that 35 approved societies and branches failed to produce their books for audit so that certification thereof could be given by the auditors at 31st December, 1923, and that 58 in like manner were in default at 31st March, 1924, he will consider the provision of an automatic regulation compelling the production of the books within a specified period under a substantial penalty in case of default?

The Report for the year 1923 just issued by the National Insurance Audit Department shows that the stringent procedure which was adopted by the Department in 1921 has resulted in a marked improvement in the delays in production of books for audit. Continued failure to produce books is regarded as mal-administration and no less than 54 societies or branches have been closed down, and their engagements transferred, on account wholly or partly of such failure. The hon. Member will appreciate that the figures he gives are-to be compared with a total of 9,226 societies and branches subject to audit. A Regulation such as the hon. Member suggests would require legislation and it is doubtful if it would be more effective than the administrative action now taken, but the matter will doubtless be considered by the forthcoming Royal Commission on National Health Insurance.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants for unemployment insurance benefit, men, women, boys, and girls separately, on the registers of the employment exchanges who are illiterate: what proportion this constitutes of the total number of claimants on the live register; and what is the highest percentage of illiteracy in any exchange area?

So far as regards illiteracy, the Departmental records would only enable me to distinguish between claimants who were, and those who were not, able to sign their names. The expense of taking out this information would be considerable, and I do not feel 1 should be justified in incurring it.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will undertake to issue an order to the local Unemployment Committees that in future a record must be kept of all aliens in receipt of covenanted and uncovenanted benefit; and whether he will have these figures published monthly in the Labour Gazette;

(2) the number of aliens at present in receipt of unemployment benefit?

I have already offered on several occasions to obtain a return of aliens drawing uncovenanted benefit if it is the general desire of the House that I should do so, but in the absence of any indication of such a desire I am not prepared to incur the expense. As regards covenanted benefit, the information could not be compiled without first introducing an inquiry, which is not authorised by the Acts of Parliament, into the nationality of claimants to, such benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the intention of his Department to question the payment of unemployment benefit to dock workers for Good Friday and Easter Monday or whether payment will be made in accordance with the practice followed in the past?

This matter has been further considered, and arrangements have now been made for claims from dock workers and other casual workers in respect of Good Friday and Easter Monday to be dealt with in the same manner as in previous years. I should add, however, that the point is not free from difficulty, and I propose to have it examined at an early date with a view to the establishment of a uniform practice.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the total contribution of the State, employers and workers, respectively, under the unemployed insurance schemes for the last financial year for which the figures are available; and what was the cost of the total benefits paid and received, and the total working and administrative expenses under all heads, for the like period?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Ardwick (Mr. Lowth) on 18th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the inequality in the burden of rates due to prolonged abnormal unemployment in certain industrial areas; and what steps the Government are prepared to take to equalise this burden and make the charge a national instead of a local one?

I am aware of the inequality in the burden of rates, but I would remind the hon. Member that 91 per cent. of the "unemployed" and their dependants in receipt of outdoor relief in England and Wales are persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, and that the Government have submitted to the House proposals which will have the effect of transferring charges in respect of these persons from the rates to the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government has received a resolution from the Sheffield City Council intimating that in the view of the council it is undesirable to take upon itself any further financial burdens unless the Government is prepared to offer better financial assistance than has hitherto been the case; whether he can state the total cost of all Sheffield schemes approved by the Government; and what is the estimate of the total approximate amount to be found by the Government and by the city, respectively, during the next 50 years?

I understand that a resolution from the Sheffield City Council to the effect mentioned in the first part of the question has been received by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I am collecting the information desired, and will communicate later with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to a Report on Juvenile Unemployment in Liverpool; and what steps he proposes to take to mitigate the moral and physical ill effects of unemployment referred to in that Report?

The Report makes suggestions with regard to various methods of approaching the problem, all of which have, in fact, been under consideration already by the Government. The Exchequer grant to juvenile unemployment centres, to which reference is made in the Report, has for the time being been raised to 100 per cent. of the cost, with the object of encouraging the opening of these centres during the present abnormal period. The requirements of attendance at these centres in the case of unemployed boys and girls between 14 and 16 years of age, on which stress is laid in the Report, will be facilitated by the proposals now before the House in the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Bill to bring these boys and girls into insurance if employed in an insured trade. This proposal will also be of great assistance in other ways in enabling the problem of juvenile unemployment to be more accurately diagnosed and more efficiently dealt with. The suggestion for retaining children voluntarily at school till they obtain employment has, I am assured, the warm approval of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education. As regards the suggestion for raising the compulsory school age, I understand that my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider on their merits bye-laws proposed to be made by local education authorities for this purpose. The Report makes certain judicious observations, with which I am in general agreement, on the advisability of promoting, under proper safeguards, overseas settlement for boys and girls. Finally, the Report urges that action should be taken in connection with the regulation of boy labour at the docks, and particularly of sealer boys. So far as this involves regulation of the conditions of employment, it involves an amendment of the Factory Acts, and is being considered by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. A scheme for regulating the engagement of these boys has been drafted by my Department, but the adoption of such a scheme must be voluntary, and the proposals are still under negotiation with those concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of waiters of alien origin shown by the last Census Returns to be employed in the United Kingdom; how many aliens have been added to that number since that Return; and under what Regulations or conditions they have been admitted into this country?

According to the 1921 Census, 3,536 male aliens were employed as waiters in England and Wales. In Scotland, 100 aliens, or naturalised British subjects of alien origin, were so employed. The number of permits under the Aliens Order, 1920, issued between the 12th June, 1921, and 21st March, 1924, in respect of waiters was 87. Except in three cases, where the aliens were previously resident in this country, the permits were issued upon the conditional basis explained in my answer to the hon. Member's previous question on the 19th March. Information as to the number of alien waiters who left the country during this period is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what States have ratified the Maternity Convention drafted by the International Labour Conference at Washington in 1919?

Bulgaria, Greece, Rumania and Spain have formally deposited their ratifications of this Convention with the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, and I understand that its ratification has been recommended or authorised in certain other countries.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, with a view to assisting in the direct marketing of small parcels of farm produce, he will consider the inauguration of an agricultural cash-on-delivery postal service?

I regret that, while fully sympathising with the object in view, I do not see my way to introduce an agricultural cash-on-delivery service at a cost which would render it of any appreciable value to the agricultural interests.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that under a guarantee from the Hensingham Parish Council a public telephone has been installed in the village; and what are the duties imposed upon the manager of this sub-exchange and at what rate of salary is he paid?

A call office only —not an exchange—has been installed in private premises at Hensingham under the parish council's guarantee. The council undertook to arrange for attendance at the call office from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 to 10.30 a.m. on Sundays, and no payment is made to the attendant by the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Oxford Wireless Company holds the view that the interference with the local listening-in is now worse than before the carrying out of the tests at Leafield which were officially stated to have improved conditions; and whether he will make still further efforts to abate this nuisance?

The effects of the modifications of the circuits in use at the Leafield Station which were recently made are still under investigation; and, as the hon. Member was assured on the 1st instant, everything practicable will be done to minimise interference with broadcast reception by the working of the station.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the very general desire expressed in the Wingrove district of New-castle-on-Tyne for the re-establishment of the sub-post office in that area; and if he will consider the possibility of this being done in the interests of the large number of residents concerned?

There is an existing sub-office at a distance of about a quarter of a mile from the former site of the Wingrove sub-office and two other offices within half a mile. The needs of the locality appear to be adequately met and I regret that I do not see my way to re-establish the former Wingrove office.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that the amount which it wais originally estimated would be required from the motoring community for road costs in 1921 was £7,000,000 net, and that in that year the amount was exceeded by over £3,000,000, and that for the present year the original amount has been nearly doubled, and, having regard to the long-delayed Report of the Departmental Committee, appointed to investigate the question of motor taxation, he will take steps immediately to reduce the present burden on the owners of light cars, motor-cycles, and other vehicles which do, comparatively, little damage to the road?

The original amount of £7,000,000, to be raised from motor taxes, was a provisional sum submitted to the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles in October, 1919, and was estimated to cover the contemplated contributions towards the maintenance of first and second-class roads, with a balance from which grants could be made for new road construction and road improvements. When the Committee reported in March, 1920, they estimated that the amount required to be raised for this purpose would be £9,025,000 in 1921. Any increase in the yield since that date is due to the large increase in the number of mechanically-propelled vehicles using the roads, which has also increased the cost of maintaining the roads. The question of the incidence of the present system of taxation on particular classes of vehicles is under consideration by the Committee, and their Report on this matter is expected to be ready in June. I am, obviously, not in a position to examine the question of amending the existing schedule of duties until I have had an opportunity of considering their Report. In any event, such an amendment would require legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received representations from the Millom Urban District Council urging for a grant to cover the cost of a much-needed main road through Millom; if so, what is being done in the matter, seeing that unemployment on a Large scale has been continuous in the Millom area for nearly three years; and if, to find work for these, the arrangements respecting the grant can now be expedited?

Representations in favour of the construction of this road have been made to me by the Millom Urban District Council. The proposal is at present under consideration by the county councils concerned, but no definite proposal has yet been laid before my Department. Any scheme which may be submitted will receive prompt examination.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make inquiries into the case of Archibald Fletcher, who served 20 years as an instructor in Newcastle-on-Tyne Industrial School, and who was discharged on 31st March, 1922, owing to an instruction from the Home Office to close down trade departments; and, in view of the fact that Fletcher is still without employment, and that he has been refused a pension, will he consider the possibility of granting him compensation or of providing alternative employment?

The managers of this school decided, at the request of the Home Office, to close their bootmaking department at the end of 1921, and as a consequence of this decision the services of Mr. Fletcher, the bootmaking instructor, were no longer required. The managers, however, were able to find him other employment in the school temporarily, and with the consent of the Home Office he was employed until October, 1922, when he finally left the service of the managers. I regret that Mr. Fletcher was not qualified to receive a pension, and that it is not within my power to give him any assistance.

asked the number of tacksmen of salmon fisheries along the coasts and estuaries of Scotland; the rents payable by them; and the number of fishermen employed by them, indicating the number of individual fishermen who are small tacksmen, and the number of firms employing fishermen?

I understand that 183 fishings have been let to 150 tacksmen by the Commissioners of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues, and that the total rents payable thereunder amount to £9,179 5s. Apart from the foregoing particulars, information on the points mentioned in the question is not available.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware of the large area of land in Argyllshire and other Highland counties which is at present used as deer-forest land and regarding which there is a strong demand among the agricultural community that much of it should be made available for sheep and cattle-grazing; and can he make any statement as to the Government's policy in this matter?

I am aware that representations have been made from time to time that considerable areas of land now used as deer forest should be used for the purposes mentioned. Under their general powers the Board of Agriculture, as suitable opportunity offers, promote schemes for new holdings or enlargements on lands formerly under deer. Up to the present 13,500 acres of such lands have been so used, and will be mainly if not entirely devoted to sheep and cattle grazing. The Bill, which has been introduced by the Government for the purpose of assisting in the collection of agricultural returns, contains a special provision giving the Board of Agriculture power to require returns of stock in respect of land used as a deer forest.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that, in the case of a joint application for a reference by Thomas Greer and the Fife Coal Company, made in January last, to the sheriff clerk at Dunfermline, the sheriff clerk has refused to make the reference unless the parties pay the referee's fee before the reference proceeds; and whether he is prepared to give instructions that in joint references the provisions of Section 10 (1) of The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, will be observed, and the fee paid by Parliament as provided for in that section?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the similar question asked by him on the 13th March. As was then pointed out, the matter is governed by Section 25 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, which provides that, notwithstanding anything in Section 10 of the Act of 1906, the fees for the services of the Medical Referees in cases1 under paragraph (15) of the First Schedule to the Act of 1906 shall in future be borne by the applicant or applicants for the reference.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that no persons who have been connected in any capacity with the lunacy system, nor any who have taken an active part in attacking that system, shall sit as Judges on the Royal Commission on Lunacy, but that their evidence shall be given before the Commission subject to cross-examination?

I have been asked to reply to this question; and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a question on the 2nd April, in which I indicated that the aim of the Government will be to set up an impartial body. As regards the conditions under which evidence will be taken, I would remind the hon. Member that it will be for the Royal Commission to determine their own procedure.

asked the Prime Minister when His Majesty's Government propose to set up an investigation of a systematic kind with a view to determine whether by co-operation with the trade unions or otherwise it is possible to mitigate the circumstances that lead to industrial unrest?

There is at present nothing to add to the statements which have already been made on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether the question of inter-Allied debts has recently been the subject of formal or informal conversations between Great Britain and the United States or France; and whether it is possible to outline the policy of His Majesty's Government on this subject?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative and the second part, therefore, does not at the moment arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the quantity and value in pounds sterling of potable spirits imported into India during the year 1922–23, the amount of revenue derived therefrom, and the countries from which the spirits were exported?

The following statement gives the information asked for: