asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that since taxi-cabs have been allowed access to Hyde Park, serious congestion of traffic takes place at Hyde Park Corner, which was never designed to take such a flow of traffic; that it is now necessary to employ extra police to control the traffic, and that, while there are two entrances there is only one exit, in each case sufficient only for one line of traffic; and whether, in view of the fact, he proposes to take any steps to improve matters either by re-designing the entrances and exits, or by the construction of a traffic subway under Piccadilly?

As the number of vehicles leaving the park at Hyde Park Corner is much greater than those entering, I am making arrangements, in consultation with the Commissioner of Police, to convert one of the entrances into an exit. I am not prepared to consider any structural alterations to the entrances, as this would involve a reconstruction of the facade, which is of considerable architectural interest. The question of the traffic subway is one which concerns the Ministry of Transport, the local authority, and the police, and I have no jurisdiction in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education, how many of the 5,243 pre-1919 retired teachers now receiving pensions of the average amount of £37 are debarred by Clause 2 (3) of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, from receiving any increase of pension under that Act owing to their possessing some small means which they obtained from portions of their salaries saved by lifelong thrift?

About 1,400 of the pre-1919 retired teachers are not now receiving pensions under the Pensions (Increase) Act; the greater number of those have not applied for such increase, and the remainder have applied but were found ineligible. The number of those who have applied and been found ineligible on account of their means is not large, but the exact figure is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state, in terms of school places, the total number of new public elementary schools and extensions of existing schools now under construction, or which are due to be commenced during the financial year 1924–25 under plans already approved by his Department?

I fear I could not, without a very laborious investigation, tabulate details of the stage now reached in the erection of buildings or enlargements, the plans of which have been approved by the Board at any time in the past. I have already given particulars in my reply to the Noble Lord's question of 10th April last of the progress which has been made since the present Government took office.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the highest average amount of salary paid to the elementary teacher in England during any year prior to and including the year ended 31st March, 1918?

The highest average amount of salary, calculated upon the salaries paid to all adult teachers (including certificated, uncertificated and supplementary teachers), in public elementary schools in England and Wales, prior to the 31st March, 1918, was £125, paid in respect of the year which ended on that date. Details of the average salaries for different types of teacher are given on page 260 of the Volume of Statistics of Public Education for the year 1920–21, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that mechanicians who have served a commission on the China Station have this year been drafted to another foreign station within nine months of their arrival in home waters; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent this state of affairs in view of the provisions of the Drafting Regulations?

I am not aware of the details of the particular case to which the hon. Member refers, but it must be recognised that no definite time of shore service can be guaranteed to any rating since this must depend upon the requirements of the Service and the disposition of His Majesty's ships.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why clerical service in the Chart Depot at Portsmouth is not considered as approved service for the purposes of the examination qualification for Grade 3 clerks, while service in the Mining School is considered as qualifying service; and if the Chart Depot is one of the establishments usually staffed by ex-pensioner writers or clerks?

The reason that clerical service in a chart depot does not qualify for the Admiralty departmental class competition whilst service in the mining school does qualify is that the complement of the former establishment does not comprise the departmental clerical class, whereas that of the latter will include members of that class. Chart depots are not usually staffed by either ex-pensioner writers or clerks, but by chart assistants and chart attendants.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if, in view of the proposed increase of the Mediterranean Fleet, he will state the number of supernumeraries that can be accommodated in His Majesty's Ship "Cormorant"; if this accommodation is considered adequate to meet the needs of re-organisation; and if, seeing that after the last docking of the "Hart" a serious leak had to be plugged with cement and concrete, he will have these old hulks replaced by more modern accommodation?

The number of supernumeraries that can be accommodated in "Cormorant" is 60. As the demand for accommodation at Gibraltar in connection with the Mediterranean Fleet will be so greater in the future than it has been in the past the accommodation is considered adequate.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the construction of the battleship "Nelson," now building at Newcastle, is considerably behind the time stipulated in the contract, and that the work is proceeding very slowly at the present time; and whether, in view of the number of men unemployed in Newcastle, he will take steps to ensure that the work on the vessel is proceeded with more rapidly?

The construction of the "Nelson" has been delayed by the boiler-makers' lock-out, which lasted about 30 weeks. The work is at present proceeding at a rate quite consistent with the stage of progress that has been reached. Under the contract the contractors are responsible for completing the ship in a stipulated time, subject to interruptions caused by strikes, lock-outs, etc., and the Admiralty cannot control the number of men employed on the vessel.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the annual cost of the military establishment in the Straits Settlements: and what is the amount of the contribution from Colonial revenues in aid of such expenditure?

As shown on pages 214 and 215 of the Army Estimates for 1924–25, the estimated cost of the garrison of the Straits Settlements in 1924–25 is £389,000, the whole of which is repayable from Colonial revenues.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has had any complaints from ex-service men undergoing a course of training in photography; is he satisfied that reasonable efforts are being made to teach these men the art of photography; and will he state the hours per day the trainees are supposed to work and the number now undergoing training?

Eighteen men are at present being trained under the industrial training scheme in photography. I am not aware of any complaints regarding inadequacy of training. The hours are those of the establishments in which the trainees are being trained. If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any individual case, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the legislation promised for the reform of the Poor Law, he proposes to generally follow the recommendations of the Report of the Royal Commission of 1909, as modified by the Maclean Report of 1918?

I am not yet in a position to say what form the proposed legislation will take, but the recommendations to which the hon. and gallant Member refers will certainly receive the fullest consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to a new building material, known as magnolite, the invention of Signer Paulo Marpillero, by means of which it is claimed that eight-roomed houses can be erected in a week at an appproximate cost of £350 per house; and whether, in view of the housing shortage, he will have immediate investigation made as to the possibilities of this Italian invention?

My attention has been drawn to the material named by the hon. Member. Samples have been examined, and as a result I am advised that this material does not promise to be suitable for erecting dwelling-houses in this country.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware of the constitution of the Hebrew Cemetery Company which is negotiating for the use for burials from the East End of London of certain land at Wyatt's Farm, Fiachley; that a similar application by the same company was recently refused by him in respect of land situate within the Edmonton urban district; and that the establishment of such a cemetery along the Great North Road and close to Barnet would have a prejudicial effect upon the development of first-class building sites in the vicinity; and whether he is satisfied that land is not available to the company for their purposes on or near the eastern borders of London;

(2) whether, in connection with the application of the Hebrew Cemetery Company for approval of the provision and use for burial purposes of certain land at Wyatt's Farm, Finchley, he is aware that strong objections to the proposal have been raised by the councils of the four urban districts affected; whether he has taken the representations by these bodies and petitions by private residents into account in considering the application; whether he has decided to approve the use of the land in question for burial purposes, and has notified the promoters accordingly; and whether he is prepared to receive a deputation representative of the four urban districts concerned with a view to meeting their wishes?

A local inquiry was held in regard to the application of the company referred to, and the objections raised were very carefully considered. I did not feel that I could properly refuse the application, and I accordingly approved it, subject, however, to a number of conditions and a reduction in the area of the land to be used for burials. In the circumstances, I do not think there would be any advantage in receiving a deputation as suggested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information as to the alleged discovery by two German investigators, Dr. Dahmer and Professor Frosch, of the germ of foot-and-mouth disease?

Some information has been received, and it is understood that full details as to these investigations will be published in the near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total annual cost under the Corn Production Act, 1917, of the Agricultural Wages Board and the district wages committees; the number of such committees in the Board's last financial year; and the counties or districts in which they operated?

The expenditure of the Agricultural Wages Board and the district wages committees in each of the complete financial years during which they were in existence was as follows:— 1918–19, £50,392; 1919–20, £62,770; 1920–21, £63,665. The number of district wages committees remained the same during the whole period, and was 39, covering the whole of England and Wales, the separate areas for which committees were established being

Berkshire.

Buckinghamshire.

Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire.

Cheshire.

Cornwall.

Cumberland and Westmorland.

Derbyshire.

Devonshire.

Dorset.

Essex.

Gloucestershire.

Hampshire.

Herefordshire.

Hertfordshire and Middlesex.

Kent.

Lancashire.

Leicestershire and Rutland.

Lincolnshire.

Norfolk.

Northamptonshire.

Northumberland and Durham.

Nottinghamshire.

Oxfordshire.

Shropshire.

Somerset.

Staffordshire.

Suffolk.

Surrey.

Sussex.

Warwickshire.

Wiltshire.

Worcestershire.

Yorkshire.

Anglesey and Carnarvon.

Brecon and Radnor.

Denbigh and Flint.

Glamorgan and Monmouth.

Merioneth and Montgomery.

Pembroke, Carmarthen and Cardigan.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department on what date it is anticipated, the British Empire Exhibition sections at Wembley will be completed; on What date will the roads and approaches be in a fit state for pedestrian and other traffic; and when is it hoped to open the whole of the amusements section?

As those who have visited the British Empire Exhibition are aware, most of the pavilions are now not only complete, but also have their exhibits fully installed. The roads have no doubt suffered from the unprecedented rain of the last month, but I am assured by the British Empire Exhibition authorities that every effort is being made, in this respect and in all others, to attain completion at the earliest possible date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department on how many days the Stadium at Wembley has been taken during the month of May for games, athletic sports, etc.; whether any of the local authorities of the country have taken it during that month; and, if so, which are they?

I am informed by the British Empire Exhibition authorities that the Stadium at Wembley has been taken on the 2nd May by the Royal Air Force for their Association Football Senior Cup Final, and on the 3rd May by the City of Hull for an athletic and sports carnival. The City of Hull is the only local authority which has taken the Stadium during the month of May, but on the 24th May, Empire Day will be celebrated, and on Sunday, 25th, there will be an open-air service of thanksgiving. During the last week in May a series of massed band concerts will be given, and on the 31st May there will also be a concert given by massed Choirs from various parts of the Empire.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state the date on which the Pensions (Increase) Act Amendment Bill will be introduced?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have given to-day, in answer to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Penny).

asked the Home Secretary whether he will inform the House as to the present number of Irish political prisoners in England?

As I explained in answers to the hon. Members for Woolwich East (Mr. Snell) and Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury) on the 25th and 27th March, prisoners are not classified according to the motives underlying their offences, even when those motives are known, which is by no means always the case. I am afraid that it is, therefore, impossible for me to give the information desired.

asked the Home Secretary how many aliens from the territory administered by the Union of Soviet Republics have been admitted to this country within the last three months?

The aliens to whom the question refers are included in the heading "Russian" in the quarterly returns of alien passengers. The return for the first three months of this year, which is now in preparation, will show that 1,775 Russians landed in this country during that period, and that 1,625 left the country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the numbers of aliens employed in the following trades: tailors, waiters, caterers, tobacco, drapery, and furriers during the years 1921, 1922, and 1923, respectively?

I have been asked to reply to this question, and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 10th April to a similar question by the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison). I regret that the information requested cannot be given.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has been asked by the National Unemployed Workers' Committee Movement to receive a deputation on the subject of the release of Mr. Harry Homer; whether he was unable to See his way to accede to this request; and the grounds for his decision?

It has been the invariable practice of my predecessors in office to refuse to receive deputations in relation to cases in which the exercise of the prerogative of mercy is asked for, and the position of the Home Secretary would be intolerable if he were to depart from this practice.

asked the Home Secretary what decision has been come to as the result of the consultation which he proposes to have with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the question of the attendance of police representatives at Communist meetings which have for their purpose the overthrow of existing Governmental institutions?

Yes, I have conferred with the Commissioner of Police, and though there is no likelihood of a recurrence of what happened on the 13th of last month, the police will continue to show the necessary vigilance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that in previous years the balance sheet of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company has never been passed until nine months after the close of the trading period, he will urge upon the company the importance of earlier publication in future; and whether, seeing the financial year of the company terminated on 31st March last, he can inform the House the probable financial result of the past year's trading?

The Government do not propose taking the action suggested, as they are satisfied that the board of the company, which includes two representatives of the Government, are quite alive to the importance of the earliest possible publication of the accounts. As regards the second part of the question, the Government is not in possession of any information, and, if it were, would not be at liberty to divulge it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that certain British subjects are only allowed to remain in Gibraltar on the authority of permits issued under police supervision, and that British subjects are not allowed to open establishments for the transaction of business in certain parts, while foreigners may do so; will he state the reason British subjects are placed under these restrictions; and what steps are taken to prevent the abuse of the regulations governing the issue of permits?

Gibraltar is a fortress; and for military reasons, and particularly in order to prevent over-crowding, persons other than natives of the city, whether British subjects or not, require a permit to allow them to reside. For similar reasons the Government controls the opening of business establishments by non-natives. I am not aware that the Government of Gibraltar has abused its powers in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the terms of any Crown concession granted for Trinidad lake asphalte (pitch lake); and to whom the concession was granted, when, and for how long?

A concession over the pitch lake was granted on 12th July, 1888, to Mr. J. W. Previté, Mr. H. A. Greig, and the New York and Trinidad Asphalte Company for a period which, with the renewals authorised by a supplemental agreement with the Trinidad Asphalte Company on 28th July, 1891, will not expire until 1930. It is impossible to summarise within the limits of an answer all the terms of the concession, but the following is a statement of its main features: undertaking by the Crown that, during the continuance of the concession, no asphalt, pitch or other asphaltic or bituminous substance should be taken from any lands in the possession of the Crown within three miles of the pitch lake. An undertaking by the company to provide the Government at La Brea with such asphalt as may be required for the public works of the Executive Government of Trinidad."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the financial firm of J. P. Morgan and Company has been invited to nominate an unofficial financial adviser to the Reparation Commission; and whether eminent British banking interests will be similarly invited to assist?

I understand that the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; and the second part therefore does not arise.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can see his way to publish an up-to-date balance sheet of the Post Office savings bank?

Under Section 9 of the Savings Bank Act, 1904, a statement showing the aggregate amount of the liabilities of the Government to the depositors in Post Office savings banks at the close of each year and the nature and amount of the securities held to meet those liabilities is required to be laid before Parliament. Owing to pressure of work, there has been some delay in presenting the return for 1922, but it will be published shortly and the return for 1923 will, I hope, be presented in a few weeks.