asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the maximum rate of salary for a temporary grade III clerk in the Civil Service; and what reduction has been made in that salary to correspond with the reduction in hours of work from 44 hours a week to 42 hours a week?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given, on the 9th April last, to a question by the hon. Member for Rotherhithe (Mr. B. Smith).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, whether he will make a grant for the education of the two young sons of the late Mr. Thomas Guyatt, British Consul at Vigo, who died on 1st February last at Worthing from heart failure, in view of Mr. Guyatt's distinguished record in the public service since 1891, and the valuable work which he did as a Consul throughout the War, the strain of which is considered to have been mostly responsible for his death?

I regret that there is no fund from which the Foreign Office can make grants for the education of the children of deceased Consular officers however distinguished their service may have been.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the total number of non-service men temporarily employed in the Department of Customs and Excise; whether a Substitution Committee was ever set up in that Department, as requested by the Lytton Report; if so, how was it constituted; what was the date of its last meeting; and were the ex-service men in the Department allowed adequate representation thereon?

With the exception of four technical experts who are employed on a part-time basis, only one non-service man is now employed temporarily in the Customs and Excise Department. He has been retained so far on the ground of extreme hardship. A Substitution Committee was set up in the Department under paragraph 8 of the Lytton Report in October, 1920, and was constituted as laid down in that paragraph, viz., an officer of the Establishment Division and two representatives of the Staff Associations, one representing the ex-service men, and one representing the women employed in the Department. The Committee last met in July, 1921, having by that time reviewed the case of every temporary non-service employee in the Department.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Department of Customs and Excise have refused to recognise the local branch of the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants; and whether, seeing that this association represents the majority of ex-service men temporarily employed, he will ensure that they are in future duly recognised as a staff association in the same way as they are recognised in all other Government Departments?

I am not clear what the hon. Member means by the term "recognise." If he refers to representation on departmental Whitley bodies, I would point out that this is a matter for the staffs concerned to settle amongst themselves.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that there is a vacancy for a watcher in the Department of Customs and Excise, Greenock, and that Mr. Dunsmore, a pre-War pensioner, having served in His Majesty's Forces for 27 years and having been awarded the M.C. for gallant conduct and devotion to duty, was submitted for the post and rejected on account of age, he will consider whether the procedure of age limit may not in this instance be waived and Mr. Dunsmore allowed to take up the appointment for which he would appear to be particularly fitted?

Appointments to the grade of watcher are restricted to ex-service men who are under 50, and in receipt of life pensions. Having regard to the number of eligible candidates awaiting appointment there is no valid reason for waiving the rule as to age in favour of Mr. Dunsmore.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it was intended that the nine quasi-permanent ex-soldier clerks employed in the War Office, who passed a Civil Service qualifying examination for admittance to the pensionable establishment on the 27th September, 1923, should be compulsorily classified for pay in the lowest grade, namely, Grade C, and remain in that grade six months before being eligible for promotion to Grade B; and whether it is within his knowledge that these clerks are all men with between eight and nine years' continuous service in the War Office, are between the ages of 45 and 55 years, and that in some cases, although at present performing the duties equivalent to a Grade A or Grade B appointment, are being paid at Grade C rates, thus losing £1 10s. a week by becoming established?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware of the circumstances referred to, which, however, are not peculiar, as appears to be suggested, to nine particular clerks. There has been a complete reorganisation of this establishment, and the rule is that ex-soldier clerks entering the pensionable establishment shall do so in Grade C. No special reason existed for modifying the rule in these particular cases. I would further point out that these men, on entering Grade C, start at the rate of pay to which they had been entitled in their previous substantive rank, and also that Grade C men are eligible for promotion to Grade B after six months' probation. The men now in question will become thus eligible in a few weeks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount per head of population distributed in 1923–24 in respect of service and kindred pensions, including the pensions of school teachers and police; and of war pensions?

The cost per head of population of Navy, Army, Civil Service, Police and Teachers' pensions was about 12s. 2d., and of war pensions and allowances (excluding cost of treatment), £1 6s. 4d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what is the amount per head of population distributed in 1923–24 in respect of old age pensions; what was the number of persons in receipt of Civil Service pensions; the average pension paid; the maximum and minimum pension actually paid; and the total amount so paid?

The amount issued in 1923–24 in respect of the Vote for old age pensions was £23,245,000. Assuming a a population in Great Britain and Northern Ireland of 44,601,000, the charge per head would be about 10s. 5d. The number of Civil Service pensioners is 32,000, and the total amount of the pensions paid was approximately £4,200,000, giving an average pension of about £132. The largest pension in course of payment was £2,000: the smallest is believed to be 10s. 5d. (for short service, followed by service pensionable from other funds). In addition, the sum of £1,600,000 was expended in additional allowances and other lump sum gratuities under Section 2 of the Superannuation Act, 1909, Section 6 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, and Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1887.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount per head of population distributed in 1923–24 in respect of each of the following: Unemployment Insurance benefit, Poor Law relief, and Health Insurance benefit?

The figures for Great Britain are as follow: s. d. Unemployment Insurance benefit 16 10 Poor Law relief (approximately) 21 6 Health Insurance benefit 11 6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of persons prosecuted for offences under the Old Age Pensions Act during 1923, and the number of cases in which the pensioner was committed to prison for such offence?

The number of persons prosecuted in Great Britain in 1923 under Section 9 (1) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, in respect of false statements or false representations, was 93. Seven of these were sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine. No information is available of the number who were committed to prison in default of payment of the fine imposed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of old age pension committees and subcommittees in the United Kingdom; the cost thereof for 1923; the number of officers employed in connection with inquiries relating to old age pensions; and the cost thereof for 1923?

There are 1,907 old age pension committees and sub-committees in Great Britain. The estimated cost in 1923–24 was £55,000. There are 314 women pension officers wholly engaged on old age pension work. The rest of this work is performed by officers of Customs and Excise in conjunction with their Revenue duties. The estimated cost of the work performed by the Customs and Excise Department in connection with the Old Age Pensions Acts in 1923–24 was £460,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the incidence of direct taxation per head of the population in Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, respectively?

The Committee of Experts appointed by the Reparation Commission have pointed out that the comparison of statistics of taxation in various countries presents many technical difficulties, and is not in itself useful unless the result is related to per capita wealth or income. Differing financial systems, differing administrative units of expenditure, and even differences of classification as between "direct" and "indirect" taxation complicate the difficulties arising from defective statistics and the disturbance of national economics arising from currency depreciation. In these circumstances, I fear I cannot give the hon. and gallant Member any reliable statistics on the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net revenue for the year ended 31st March, 1924, from homemade spirits, imported spirits, beer, licences, and tobacco, respectively; and what is the estimated revenue for the year ending 31st March, 1925, from the same items?

The figures are as follow: — Receipts, 1923–24. Estimates, 1924–25. £ £ Imported spirits … 8,885,000 8,500,000 Home-made spirits … 45,121,000 44,500,000 Total spirits … 54,006,000 53,000,000 Beer … 81,703,000 81,000,000 Liquor licences … 4,310,000 4,360,000 Other licences … 464,000 460,000 Total licences … 4,774,000 4,820,000 Tobacco … 51,888,000 54,000,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many proof gallons of home-made spirits were during the year ended 31st March, 1924, distilled in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, respectively; received from the Irish Free State, retained for consumption in the United Kingdom and Ulster; removed to the Irish Free State; exported; exported as medical preparations; used for ships' stores, fortifying wines, etc.; used in arts and manufactures; methylated; allowed as deficiencies; the number of proof gallons of home-made spirits remaining in bond on 1st April, 1924; the number of proof gallons of imported spirits duty paid and retained for consumption during the year ended 31st March, 1924, namely, brandy, rum, geneva, and other un-enumerated spirits tested, not tested and perfumed; and the number of proof gallons of imported spirits used during the year ended 31st March, 1924, for methylation, and for arts and manufactures, respectively?

The figures asked for will not be available until the end of this month, when perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to repeat his question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a petition from Liverpool policyholders in the Irish National Assurance Company, Limited, in regard to the operation of the Industrial Assurance Act, 1923; and, if so, whether he can give any satisfactory answers to the questions raised therein?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Salford (Mr. Toole) on the 29th April.

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that he has no power to deport undesirable Russian subjects back to Russia who have been convicted of offences in this country if the Russian Government refuse to take them back, he will take steps to come to some arrangement with the Russian Government so that undesirable Russians are not kept here permanently at the taxpayers' expense?

An alien cannot be deported from the United Kingdom except to a country of which he is recognised as a national, and, whatever the nationality claimed, there may in some cases be difficulty in obtaining recogni- tion. The question of the recognition of Russian nationals by the Soviet Government is among the subjects to be discussed with the Soviet representatives at present in this country.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state, with regard to the girls now serving a Borstal sentence in Holloway prison, what privileges are given them which are denied to ordinary prisoners; and what privileges, if any, which the ordinary prisoners enjoy are denied to them?

There is no privilege enjoyed by the ordinary prisoners which is denied to these girls. Their additional privileges include special physical training and educational classes and slightly different cell furniture.

asked the Home Secretary what percentage of the women placed on probation in the Metropolitan area during the last 12 months have been required to go into homes as a condition of their probation order; whether these women are regarded as having broken their probation if they leave these homes; and whether the homes are inspected by any public authority?

I can only give the figures for the year ending the 31st December, 1923. During that period 542 women and girls were placed on probation from the Metropolitan Police Courts, and of these, 53, or 9.8 per cent., were required to reside in homes as a condition of the probation order. When this condition is broken the probationer would be reported to the magistrate who made the order, and who would deal with each case on its merits. The homes are well known to the magistrates or the probation officers, whose duty it is to keep in touch with the probationers, and, if necessary, may be inspected under the provisions of the Children Act, if they are not already liable to inspection by any other Government Department.

asked the Home Secretary whether an order has been made under Section 8 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, extending the benefits of the Act to members of the crew of a fishing vessel who are remunerated wholly or mainly by shares in the profits or gross earnings of the working of such vessel, and, if not, what steps are being taken to secure it?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Any application for an Order which may be submitted by or on behalf of any class of shave fishermen will be carefully considered, but no such application has so far been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the terms of the Crown concession granted to Mr. J. W. Previté, Mr. H. A. Greig and the New York and Trinidad Asphalte Company for Trinidad Lake asphalte (pitch lake), permit of a monopoly being created in the United Kingdom?

The lease granted by the Government of Trinidad covered the whole area of the Pitch Lake in Trinidad. No conditions regulating the sale of asphalt were included in the terms of the lease, but I see no reason to suppose that the concession would have the effect indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what British Colonies or Dependencies the smoking of opium is permitted; and under what restrictions?

The only British Colonies, Dependencies and protected States in which the smoking of opium is permitted are Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, the Malay States, North Borneo, Sarawak, Ceylon and Weihaiwei. In Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, the Malay States and North Borneo Governments monopolies have been estab- lished for the manufacture and sale of prepared opium under stringent regulations, at a high price which is intended to discourage consumption. In Ceylon and Weihaiwei consumers of opium are registered. In Weihaiwei the medical officer may only issue licences to persons whose health would be injured by the deprivation of the accustomed use of opium. In Ceylon no new licences for the smoking of opium are now issued. In Sarawak the sale of opium has hitherto, subject to strict regulation by Government, been in the hands of a licensed syndicate, but this system is shortly to be replaced by a Government monopoly

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Prudential Approved Society refused sickness benefit to Arthur William Wood, No. 2,235,233, now deceased, although there were 27 credits governing benefit during the year ending July, 1924, because the books were not sent in at the proper time; and, as the books were accepted by the society in December last, will he give instructions for the money due to be paid to the widow?

I am informed by the society that no contribution cards in respect of the member for the contribution year ended 1st July, 1923, were surrendered until 7th January, 1924, upon which date his illness commenced, and that he was, therefore, treated as not entitled to any sickness benefit until 4th February, being four weeks from the date of surrender of the cards, in accordance with the regulations relating to arrears of contributions. In these circumstances I do not think that I should be justified in interfering with the decision of the society.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Prudential Approved Society have refused maternity benefit to G. Farley, No. 1,153,995, Men 136, on the ground that arrears were due to the extent of 12s., as the contributor had been unemployed for nearly two years and had not been given the benefit of the prolongation of the Insurance Act; and will he make inquiries and authorise payment of maternity benefit in respect of the child born on the 14th March this year?

I have made inquiries into this case and am informed that, as fewer than 26 contributions were paid in respect of the insured person for the contribution year ended 1st July, 1923, and the necessary payment in redemption of arrears was not made, he was suspended from maternity benefit for the year 1924 in accordance with the provisions of the Arrears Regulations. The member was not eligible for the credit of free contributions as the requirement of the Prolongation of Insurance Act that at least 80 contributions should have been paid during the two years to July, 1920, was not satisfied in his case. In these circumstances, I have no power to authorise the payment of maternity benefit in respect of the confinement on 14th March last.

asked the Minister of Health the increase per hundred which has been put on the price of bricks during the past six weeks; and whether the Government will institute an inquiry into the causes of the increase?

As regards the first part of his question, perhaps I may refer my hon. Friend to the very full statement on brick prices included in yesterday's OFFICIAL REPORT in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Woolwich West (Sir K. Wood). The Committee appointed to survey the prices of building materials is at present making inquiries into the causes of the increases which have taken place. My right hon. Friend will then consider whether any further action must be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now able to state by what date hiss review of the circumstances relating to the national competition open to all art schools will be completed; and, in view of the great demand for the re-institution of the competition, will he take steps to have the matter expedited?

It is not possible for me to fix a date for my decision on this question. It is one on which I must take advice, and I shal, of course, carefully consider any representations which may be made to me on the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will inquire into the case of Miss Edith Williams, who was appointed by the London County Council headmistress of Wanstead House Camp School, Margate, in May, 1920, and held that position for two years and nine months, during which time she was responsible for the educational supervision, examination, and organisation; if he is aware that during her service the school was twice visited by Board of Education inspectors and three times by London County Council inspectors, and upon all these occasions time table and educational work was discussed with Miss Williams as headmistress; and, in view of the fact that other duties which in an ordinary school she would not have been called upon to perform were only undertaken because of her zeal to co-ordinate and organise the school under conditions which were largely experimental, can he see his way to reconsider the case and recognise Miss Williams' service at this school for purposes of pension?

The Board have on more than one occasion given careful consideration to the case of Miss E. A. Williams; but in view of the fact, as stated to the Board by the London County Council, that she did not devote more than one and a half hours a week to actual teaching, and the remainder of her time to supervisory duties, principally of a domestic character, the Board are unable to regard her as having been in full-time service as a teacher for the purposes of the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, during the time when she was employed at the Wanstead House Camp School. Margate.

asked the Prime Minister when Zaghloul Pasha is expected here from Egypt; and what opportunity there will be for the House to discuss the Egyptian question prior to his arrival?

No date has been fixed. No useful purpose would be served by discussion in this House of the difficult and delicate questions outstanding with Egypt in advance of the negotiations which are being undertaken in pursuance of a policy already approved by Parliament (on the 14th March, 1922).

asked the Postmaster-General when the telephone service will be in operation for Dunstan Road, Golder's Green, from the new exchange designed to serve that district; and whether, as this new exchange is not yet ready, he can see his way to connect up subscribers with some other exchange as a temporary measure, and so lessen the inconvenience caused at present?

Should no unforeseen difficulties arise, all demands for service in the Dunstan Road area will be met within the next six weeks. The new exchange at Golder's Green was opened for service on the 5th April, and is now in full operation, and it is not thought advisable to make any further temporary arrangements in regard to applicants still awaiting service.

asked the Postmaster-General if arrangements have beer, made by His Majesty's Government to transmit mails to China and the Far East via the Siberian Railway in order to give merchants in the Far East the benefit of the quicker despatch?

It is open to the British Post Office, under the Postal Union Convention, to send mails for China and the East (except Japan) by the Trans-Siberian route, and for the past year mails have, in fact, been sent by that route when specially marked by the senders. But the British Post Office has, of course, no control over, or responsibility for, the safety of the mails after they are despatched from this country.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will give the scale of expenses paid to members of the Special Grants Committee; and the total amount paid to each member during the past year?

First-class railway fares, any necessary cab fares, and subsistence allowance on the following scale are allowed: s. d. In respect of absence of 24 hours 20 0 In respect of absence of 8 or more hours, but not entailing over night absence 7 0 In respect of absence of 5 to 8 hours 3 6

During the last financial year the following claims to travelling and subsistence expenses were met: £ s. d. Mr. S. Chorlton, Bowes Park, N.11 23 8 1 Mr. D. Hardaker, J.P., Brig-house, Yorkshire 174 18 0 Miss E. H. Kelly, C.B.E., J.P., Southsea 101 4 6 Mr. W. L. Marshall, O.B.E., Stratford, E.15 23 1 0 Dame Ethel Shakespear, D.B.E., D.Sc., J.P., Birmingham 133 11 0 Total £456 2 7

The amount is necessarily greater where the member resides at a considerable distance from London.

asked the Minister of Pensions what Regulations, if any, are now in force whereby disabled ex-service men are placed in hospital for the purpose of observation; what is the object of this period of observation; and is any compensation paid to the men concerned in cases where they have suffered financial loss through loss of time while under observation?

In exceptional cases it is the practice to admit a man to hospital for medical observation with a view to the proper determination of his case. If the disability has been accepted by the Ministry as due to, or still aggravated by, service full treatment allowances for the man and his family are paid; in other cases allowances are paid in respect of his family.

asked the Minister of Pensions, regarding the late Corporal E. Lawrence Johnson, of the East Surrey Regiment, who died in Richmond Park Hospital in March, 1924, is he aware that the result of the post-mortem examination was that he died through wounds contracted whilst on active service; is he aware that his mother has been refused a pension because his death occurred more than seven years after the receipt of the wounds which caused his death; and will he see that in future special provision is made for these cases, and that no time limit is imposed as has been done in this case?

Entitlement to pension has now been admitted, under the concession announced in the reply given to

— Portsmouth. Devonport. The Nore. 1914–15. 1924–25. 1914–15. 1924–25. 1914–15. 1924–25. £ £ £ £ £ £ Full pay … 1,825* 2,450* 1,825* 2,100† 1,825* 2,100† Table money … 1,643 1,643 1,643 1,643 1,643 1,643 Allowance in lieu of servants … 500 750 500 750 500 750 Provision allowance … 24 55 24 55 24 55 Allowance in lieu of Yacht … 500 — 500 — 500 — 4,492 4,898 4,492 4,548 4,492 4,548 * Admiral. † Vice-Admiral.

In addition to these emoluments each commander-in-chief is provided with an official residence. In 1924–25 the commanders-in-chief are allowed the services of two or more naval servants with a proportionate reduction from the maximum allowance authorised (£750). In 1914–15 the allowance only was paid.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that William S. Atkins, second writer, No. M/34775, His Majesty's Ship "Victory," applied for his discharge in June, 1923, and again the hon. Member for West Birkenhead (Mr. Egan) on the 5th instant, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The soldier's mother thus becomes eligible for a parent's pension should she be in need, and infirm. I am arranging for an application to be considered on that basis.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of commanders-in-chief on shore at home, with the detailed expenses attendant thereon, in respect of each command for the years 1914–15 and 1924–25?

I have been asked to reply. The number of naval commanders-in-chief on shore at home in 1914–15 and 1924–25 is three in both years, namely, at Portsmouth, Devonport and The Nore. The detailed expenses in respect of each command are as follow:

in November, 1923, on the grounds of the ill-health of his parents, the release to be on compassionate grounds or by purchase, and that both applications have been refused; that on Atkins joining the Navy as a writer in June, 1919, his father wired to the commanding officer at Devonport asking whether his son could obtain his discharge after signing on, and that he received a reply in the affirmative that he could on the payment of £24; and whether he can now order Atkins' discharge?

The reply to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the third and fourth parts that nothing is known of such telegraphic correspondence, and that no service records are now available to confirm it. As regards the fifth part, the necessity for retaining Atkins is due to the shortage of writer ratings in the Portsmouth port division. The question of his discharge by purchase will be reconsidered when numbers admit.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will institute a system of extra pay for those who have passed all necessary examinations for higher voting which they cannot hope to attain to owing to the stagnation in promotion, and thereby obviate the discouragement which is detrimental to the efficiency of the service?

Progressive pay is already in some instances dependent on passing for higher rating, but it is not proposed to extend the system. I must not be understood as agreeing that there is any general stagnation in advancement at the present time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the new Regulations governing the promotion of writer ratings to warrant rank become operative; how many writer ratings it is expected to benefit; and what is the earliest age it is considered any writer may be promoted to warrant rank under the new Regulations?

I assume that the hoc and gallant Member refers to the Regulations for promotion to warrant rank laid down in A.F.O. 495/24. These Regulations, which were designed to increase somewhat the element of selection in making promotions, while continuing to give due credit to experience gained in the actual performance of the duties of the branch, are already in force, but, from the nature of the case, it is impossible to give any figures as to the ultimate effect of the new Rules in practice. A rating of this branch is eligible for warrant rank on completing seven years' service, but any such early advancement is most improbable, since it would clearly be at the expense of the many deserving senior men. There are five prospective vacancies in the next six months, and the age of the candidates selected to fill them is not likely to fall below 40 years.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why ex-Seaman Albert Hughes, No. 2,987 J, of H.M.S. "Tiger," notwithstanding repeated applications, has not received any payment in respect of his disability following an injury whilst on his ship, and for which an award was made on 25th May, 1922?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in stating that an award was made in respect of Hughes' injury on the 25th May, 1922. That was the date of his discharge at the expiration of his first engagement, and he is, therefore, not entitled to a pension, as if invalided. There is no trace of the receipt of repeated applications from the man, but he was informed in reply to the only application received, which was dated 17th August, 1922, that he was not eligible for any grant in respect of the hurt certificate. The latter decision will, however, be reviewed if the certificate is forwarded to the Admiralty, and his claim to a gratuity will be investigated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that all acting store-housemen and laboratory men connected with his Department who have passed the Civil Service examination, and who have had to revert to the lower rank through no fault of their own, have on reinstatement in acting rank had to start on the minimum wage, losing all increments previously earned; and whether he will consider the introduction of a regulation that all such men who subsequently within a period of two years regain their acting rank be allowed to count their previous acting period for increments?

The Rule applicable to all grades is that the rate of pay previously attained shall be paid on re-appointment provided the interval between reversion and re-appointment does not exceed six months. There are not considered to be any grounds for making an exception to the rule for the classes named in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether men under 26 years of age, who belong to the Territorial Army, are given separation allowances when in camp?

The answer is in the negative. Soldiers of the Territorial Army, like regular soldiers, must be 26 years of age or upwards in order to be eligible for marriage allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to allow any hon. Members, who may desire to do so, to examine the War Office file of general routine orders issued during the late War?

If any hon. Member will notify to me his desire to examine these records, I shall be glad to arrange for him to see them in the War Office Library.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British troops and how many Indian troops respectively there are in Iraq?

I have been asked to reply. It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what provision is made for dependants of officers of the Royal Air Force killed while flying?

Pensions may be granted to the widows of officers dying as the result of a flying accident on duty, the rates, which vary according to the rank of the deceased officer, being as follows: Per annum. Rank of Officer. £ Pilot Officer … … 90 Flying Officer … … 90 Flight Lieutenant … … 100 Squadron Leader … … 140 Wing Commander … … 180 Group Captain … … 200 Air Commodore … … 240 Air Vice-Marshal … … 300 Air Marshal … … 375 Air Chief Marshal … … 450 Marshal of the Air … … 600

Eligibility for the award is subject to conditions referring to the date of the officer's marriage and the date of his death in relation to the date of the wound or injury which caused his death. Under existing Regulations, which, however, on this point are subject to review, the award of a pension may be accompanied by the award of a gratuity at the following rates according to rank: £ Pilot Officer … … 100 Flying Officer … … 150 Flight Lieutenant … … 200 Squadron Leader … … 300 Wing Commander … … 450 Group Captain … … 600 Air Commodore … … 800 Air Vice-Marshal … … 1,000 Air Marshal … … 1,250 Air Chief Marshal … … 1,500 Marshal of the Air … … 2,000

The child or children (sons under the age of 18 and daughters under the age of 21) may be granted a compassionate allowance of £24 a year each, or, if motherless, £40 a year. In certain circumstances of pecuniary need, a child or children above the age of eight may be granted in addition an education allowance not exceeding £35 a year each.

If the deceased officer has not left a widow or child, an allowance not exceeding half the appropriate widow's pension rate may be granted to his parents, or, if he did not leave a parent, to his young brothers and sisters, provided in each case that they were largely dependent on him at the time of his death and their pecuniary and other circumstances are such as to justify the grant. The maximum allowance to any one 'brother or sister is £24 a year. The allowance to a parent or parents is subject to increase up to three-quarters of the widow's pension rate in certain circumstances of age or serious incapacity due to ill-health.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any information with regard to the large number of fatal flying accidents in the Royal Air Force recently; and whether he proposes to take any special steps to minimise the dangers of instructional flying in the future?

I think the hon. and gallant Member will find that his questions are answered by the replies which I have recently given in the House to other hon. Members, and more particularly to the hon. Member for Rotherhithe (Mr. B. Smith) on 14th April, to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. A. T. Davies) on 16th April, and the hon. and gallant Member for Hallam (Sir F. Sykes) on 29th April. I have only to add that the Air Ministry is fully alive to the great importance of using all possible means to reduce to the minimum the risk of accident during instructional and other flying.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can state what amount of public funds was expended in the recent Felixstowe flying experiment, when an aeroplane was landed on the sea; whether that experiment proved a success; and, if so, whether the experience gained has resulted in any special regulations being framed for passenger-carrying aeroplanes across the Channel?

The answer to the first part of the question is, approximately, £365; to the second, that the experiment furnished valuable information; to the third, that the modifications that may be necessary in passenger aeroplanes which have to fly over the sea are being considered, in the light of this experiment. I may add that the aeroplane used would in any case have been broken up as unserviceable.