asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the amount of profit to the Government caused through the sale of clothing, soap, and tobacco to the men of the Royal Navy during the year 1923; and how this profit, if any, has been disposed of?

There is no profit, the prices charged being the actual cost to the Admiralty plus a small percentage addition to cover establishment charges.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the average number of years' service after which men were promoted to the rank of petty officer and chief petty officer in the seamen and stoker branches, respectively, in the year 1903, in the year 1914, and in the years 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923, respectively; the percentage of these petty officers and chief petty officers who attained to their maximum rates of pay as laid down in the Navy list before being retired on pension in each of the years mentioned; and, if any stagnation in promotion is revealed, having regard to the most recent figures, whether there is any reason why a system of extra pay should not be universally instituted for those who have passed all necessary examinations for higher rating, in order that all ratings may have adequate encouragement and compensation for their inability, owing to circumstances beyond their control, to rise with that rapidity to which their capacities entitle them?

With regard to the first and second parts of the question, I am afraid the figures asked for could not in any case be obtained without an altogether disproportionate amount of labour and in some cases they could not be obtained at all. With regard to the third part of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 8th instant.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that employés in His Majesty's dockyards are being invited to remain on until the age of 65 years and that some of them find themselves compelled to remain on till this age because the average pension of 15s. which a retired established man receives is insufficient to sustain him; whether, in these circumstances, he will take immediate steps to place pensions upon a higher scale so that men may be allowed to retire in comparative comfort at the age of 60 upon a satisfactory pension; and whether, as regards thse men who have accepted the invitation to remain on, will allow them to draw pay and pension concurrently as other pensioners do?

No general invitation is issued to employés to remain in the Admiralty service until the age of 65, and the hon. and gallant Member probably has in mind the cases of men who, under the Regulations, may be retained, if they so desire, between the ages of 60 and 65, subject to their services being required and to physical fitness. The pensions recently awarded, including the supplementary pension which is based on industrial bonus, average approximately 23s. 6d. a week in the case of dockyard workmen retiring on account of age. As regards the second and third parts of the question, the pensions are assessed by the Treasury in accordance with the provisions of the Superannuation Acts, and eligibility for pension does not arise until actual retirement. The Superannuation Act, 1834, stipulates for the cessation of a civil pension if the pensioner is re-employed in a public Department at a rate of pay equal to that of the situation formerly held by him. The hon. and gallant Member will realise that these statutes are applicable to the whole of the Civil Service and no ground is seen for amending legislation in favour of Admiralty employés.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty with reference to the comparative tables of pay of officers of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, respectively, furnished by him, whether the figures given in respect of naval officers represent the nomal emoluments or the emoluments of officers working under special circumstances; and will he give the percentage of naval officers at the present time working under conditions under which they are neither victualled nor accommodated by the Admiralty?

In regard to the first part of the question, the figures given in the comparative table represent the emoluments of officers serving on shore and not victualled or accommodated. These conditions of service are special for naval officers to the extent that the general liability of such officers is to serve afloat. As regards the second part of the question, the proportion is roughly 11 per cent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many lieutenants there are on the active list in the Navy; and how many are drawing pay and allowances to the extent of £573?

In regard to the first part of the question, the number of lieutenants at present on the Active List of the Navy is 1,308. As regards the second part of the question, to furnish exactly the information required would entail an amount of clerical labour which would scarcely appear justifiable, but since the normal liability of these officers is to serve afloat, the number drawing full pay and compensatory allowances amounting to £573 per annum may be taken to be very small. The number entitled to the maximum rate of full pay of the rank (namely, £438 per annum) is, however, about 297, i.e., 22.7 per cent. approximately. Only those officers who are not accommodated and victualled at the expense of the Crown receive the compensatory allowances in lieu.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if the erection of a new aircraft station on the south coast is contemplated; and if, in view of the recent institution of the naval arm, he will investigate the advantages of building such a station or factory in the vicinity of Portsmouth, where land and dockyard assistance are available?

In answer to the first part of the question, no addition to the number of Air Force stations on the south coast is contemplated in the immediate future. As regards the second part, the hon. Member's suggestion will be borne in mind if and when the question of the establishment of an additional station arises.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the great desirability of encouraging as many young men as possible to join the Territorial Army, he will consider altering the Regulations so that separation allowances may be paid to men under 26 in the Territorial Army whilst in camp?

This question has already been very carefully considered, but I regret that I cannot see my way to adopt the suggestion of the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the statement made by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff that it is impossible to obtain sufficient suitable non - commissioned officers to fill the 30 cadetships offered annually at Sandhurst; whether this unsuitability arises from defects in the Army educational system, or from lack of the power of leadership, or from medical unfitness on the part of the candidates, or to what cause it is to be attributed; whether he will consider the question whether the extension of the age limit by one year, together with an extension of the scheme to include non-commissioned officers up to the rank of corporal, would remedy the deficiency; and whether it is intended to persevere with this scheme of throwing open commission status to the non-commissioned ranks, or whether the statement of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff is a prelude to its abandonment?

As my hon. and gallant Friend is probably aware, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff said, not that it was impossible to obtain suitable non-commissioned officers, but that suitable non-commissioned officers had not been obtained up to the present time. The Regulations on the subject were only issued last month, and the Army Council attribute the present deficiency to the fact that the scheme is still in its infancy. There is no intention of abandoning the scheme, which already includes not only corporals but lance-corporals. I do not think the extension of the age limit from 23 to 24 years would be desirable.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. Lily Knighton, of 24, Beck Street, Nottingham, whose pension has been forfeited by the Ministry of Pensions; and whether he is prepared to reconsider this decision?

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member, I am having further inquiries made into the circumstances of this case, and I should be glad if he would repeat his question next week.

asked the Minister of Pensions, whether, in view of the large number of ex-service men who, though incapacitated and in some cases confined to hospitals or become dependent on poor relief, fail to obtain pensions through informality and lack of technical or medical assistance in the preparation of their cases, he can see his way to provide applicants with medical advice and other assistance in the preparation and presentation of their claims?

I am afraid I cannot admit that the position is as stated. The instructions of the Ministry provide that applicants, in submitting claims through local area offices, are to be given every assistance in the preparation of their claims. The local officer is also instructed to inform the applicant that it is open to him to enlist the assistance of a member of the War Pensions Committee or a voluntary worker in the preparation of his case, and such assistance has been freely given and will be continued where necessary.

asked the Minister of Pensions, if his attention has been called to the case of Mr. H. Clarke, now in Lenham sanatorium suffering from tuberculosis alleged to be caused by munitions work during the War; and, if not, will he examine the case with a view to granting this man compensation for disabilities incurred by the said service during the War?

I have not been able to identify this case from the particulars given, but if, as I gather, the man did not serve as a soldier, he is not eligible for compensation under the Royal Warrants administered by me.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will have further inquiries made into the claim for a pension of ex-Private George Henry Bradford, No. 040,699, 92nd Royal Army Ordnance Corps, discharged from Chiseldon on 7th January, 1919; is he aware that Bradford served four years in the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment; was wounded in France; was six times in hospital in France; that he enlisted A1 and was discharged B2; that he is certified by a doctor of a British Legion medical advisory panel as suffering from nervousness and D.A.H., and as being unable to carry on his work; and that he has been ill for eight months, with a heavy family depending on him?

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

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Walthamstow Education Committee is advertising an appointment for a juvenile employment officer, with the condition attached that he must be a member of a recognised union or association; whether, in view of the fact that this condition imposes a restriction on the number of possible applicants and on the freedom of choice of the committee in selecting an officer a large proportion of whose salary is met out of Parliamentary grants, the local authority is exceeding its administrative powers; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Board have been informed that the Walthamstow Education Committee have imposed the condition mentioned in the question. The appointment of a juvenile employment officer rests with the local education authority; and the requirement that the officer must be a member of a recognised union or association does not contravene any regulation of the Board, nor do I propose to take any action in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the excessive rates prevailing in many industrial areas, he can see his way to amend paragraph 6 of the Elementary Education (Substantive Grant) Regulations so as to reduce the prescribed amount to 30d. in order that the additional grant may be participated in by the highly-rated boroughs, which do not at present receive any benefit from this additional grant owing to the prescribed amount having been raised to its present excessive figure?

In the Draft Regulations for 1924–25 which have been issued, some of the restrictions reducing the amount of special grant payable under this Article are removed, but the Board do not propose to amend them so as to admit to the benefits of this Article areas where the rate is less than 42 pence in the £. The grants under this Article are intended for cases which are altogether exceptional.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) if his attention has been called to the further overcrowding of the West Hill Schools, Dartford, as the result of the attendance of hundreds of children from the neighbouring area of Crayford, for whom there is no local provision; and if he will institute an inquiry into the shortage of both elementary and secondary schools in the crowded and rapidly growing residential areas of Crayford, Dartford, Bexley Heath, and Welling;

(2) if his attention has been called to the lack of educational facilities or suitable accommodation in the Crayford area of Kent; if he can state the age of the present church schools; and how much longer the meeting halls that have been used for temporary schools will be recognised as suitable for and deserving of educational grants, in view of the fact that they in no instance comply with the Board's Regulations?

I am aware that overcrowding exists at Dartford and Crayford, though not, so far as I know, at Bexley Heath and Welling. The Board are at present investigating all cases where the provision of elementary and secondary school accommodation does not reach a reasonable standard of adequacy, and the areas named are being brought under review in this connection. They have already agreed to the acquisition by the local education authority of a site for a new public elementary school at Dartford, and they have informed the authority that they are prepared to consider detailed proposals for a similar purpose at Crayford. As regards the provision of secondary school accommodation in this area, proposals are at present before the Board for extending the premises of the Dartford Grammar School and for acquiring a site at Erith for a new secondary school, and I am giving instructions for these cases to be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. The Church of England School at Crayford was built between the years 1813 and 1838, and the Roman Catholic School about 1859.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the estimated cost to the nation of his announcement to local education authorities that he is prepared to consider applications to abolish fees in secondary schools?

It is impossible to make any estimate, as I cannot tell how many local education authorities are likely to apply for power to abolish fees. The income derived from fees in existing grant-earning schools is at present about £3,000,000.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has received resolutions from the Education Committee of the Abertillery Urban District Council and the Monmouthshire Education Committee complaining that the need of footgear for pupils is detrimental to the progress of education; and will he take steps to secure for local education authorities powers to provide boots from the education funds, such expenditure to be subject to the same conditions as are contained in the Education (Provision of Meals) Acts?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that many children are prevented from attending school through the lack of boots or shoes; and will he take steps to secure for local education authorities power to provide the same from education funds, under the same conditions as are contained in the Education (Provision of Meals) Acts?

I have received resolutions from the two Welsh authorities mentioned; but I have no evidence yet of any widespread difficulty in children attending school from lack of boots and shoes or any general demand for the power of provision by the local education authorities. It would require legislation to enable the local education authorities to make such provision, and I am not at present prepared to undertake it.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of teachers discharged from the training colleges of England and Wales at the end of the 1923 term, and the number, if any, who have not received appointments?

The latest information at my disposal is based on returns received from the training colleges at the beginning of April. These return show that out of 7,271 students who left the colleges in July, 1923, and about whom the authorities of the colleges possessed information, 6,268 (86.2 per cent.) had then obtained teaching posts, 177 (2.4 per cent.) had not attempted to obtain posts, and 826 (11.4 per cent.) had failed to obtain posts.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will grant facilities for the discussion of the Motion on the Rents Restriction Bill standing in the name of the hon. Member for Pontypridd— That Standing Order 27a, relating to Selection of Amendments, shall apply with respect to proceedings in Standing Committee on the Rent Restrictions Bill, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee to which the Bill is committed shall have power to select Amendments in accordance with the said Standing Order."—[ Mr. Mardy Jones .]

In view of what transpired in Standing Committee A at its meeting yesterday, clearly no useful purpose would be served by such a discussion.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can circulate a statement of the progress made under the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923, showing the number of authorisations issued up to

III. Building Progress at 1 st May, 1924. — Foundations completed. Roofed in. Total under construction. Completed. Schemes of Local Authorities … 6,940 4,791 11,731 4,629 Private Enterprise … 14,988 9,282 24,270 5,890 Total houses (included in Table II) … 21,028 14,073 36,001 10,519

NOTE.—Tables II and III. For 38 Local Authorities, from whom Returns for the 1st May, 1924, have not yet been received, the numbers included above are taken from the previous month's Returns.

1st May, the number of houses definitely arranged for by local authorities and private enterprise, respectively, the number under construction, and the number actually completed?

The following statement gives the information desired by the hon. Member:

Housing with State Assistance .

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

I. Houses authorised by the Minister of Health up to the 7th May, 1924: To be erected by local authorities 45,647 To be erected by private enterprise 87,909 Total 133,556

II. Houses included in definite arrangements on or before the 1st May, 1924: Schemes of local authorities: Number of houses included in contracts or in approved direct labour schemes 28,754 Private enterprise: Number of houses included in undertakings given by the local authorities under Section 2 (3) 52,225 Number of houses approved by the Minister under Section 3 and included in contracts 4,401 Total (included in Table I) 85,380

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in the case of schools where, from one reason or other, it may be impossible to arrange for parties of the children to visit the British Empire Exhibition, he would consider the granting of special terms to any teachers who might thus be enabled to visit Wembley, so that they could acquire first-hand knowledge of the Empire to the great benefit of their scholars?

This is a matter for the board of management of the exhibition.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the large number of school excursions which will visit the British Empire Exhibition, arrangements can be made for the provision of competent guides, whose services would assist the children to obtain the maximum of advantage with the minimum of fatigue?

The Board expect that groups of school children who visit the exhibition under arrangements made by the local education authorities shall be accompanied by teachers, who will, to some extent, have acquainted themselves with the chief features of the exhibition. A guidebook is being prepared for the use of teachers, and has been advertised in the "Weekly Bulletin of Empire Study, No. 13." Apart from this, some guides to conduct parties of children and teachers will be available.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Budget breakfast table benefits, which were acclaimed by the housewives of the nation, have already been neutralised by the action of the food profiteers, who last week increased the price of butter by 3d. per pound and bacon by 1d. per pound; and whether he can see his way to introduce legislation which will prevent such profiteering taking place in the future?

I have been asked to reply. I have no evidence at present that these increases have been due to other than economic causes, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Lord Privy Seal to the hon. Member for Bristol East (Mr. Baker) on the 8th May.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government have any policy in respect to the establishment of a minimum wage for all employés engaged on Government work; and if the wage of £2 4s. 2d. per week, payable to labourers in His Majesty's fuel research factory, Greenwich, is in conformity with the Government policy?

The practice of the Government is to pay rates of wages and observe hours of labour not less favourable than those commonly recognised by employers and trade societies (or in the absence of such recognised wages and hours, those which in practice prevail amongst good employers) in the trade in the district where the work is carried out. Where there are no such wages and hours recognised or prevailing in the district, those recognised or prevailing in the nearest district in which the general industrial circumstances are similar are adopted. The minimum rate of wages payable to unskilled labourers at His Majesty's Fuel Research Station, Greenwich, is being increased to £2 7s. 2d. per week, with effect from the first full pay week in February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was aware that the average dividend declared by 31 London Ceylon tea companies for the year ending 31st December last was 30 per cent., the highest dividend being 60 per cent., when he made his recent statement that it was quite an ordinary thing for Indian and Ceylon tea companies to declare dividends of from 100 to 150 per cent.?

I would point out that the real dividends of tea and of some other companies cannot be accurately estimated from the nominal dividends declared, as these dividends are often paid on a capital which has been considerably increased by the gift of bonus shares.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that there is a want of uniformity throughout the country in the practice of Income Tax inspectors in the making of allowances to architects, draughtsmen, civil engineers, surveyors, and members of similar professions in respect of the provision of technical books and the maintenance of instruments required in their professional work; and if he will undertake to give instructions to all districts that adequate allowances for these purposes be given in future?

I am not aware of the want of uniformity to which my hon. Friend refers. If he will supply me with the facts of any cases that have come to his notice I shall be happy to look into the matter and communicate the result to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the position of public libraries and institutes which have to pay Income Tax on their funds, most of which is collected from the workers through a levy from their wages; and, seeing that these institutions exist for purely educational and recreation purposes, will he abandon the imposition of the same?

If my hon. Friend will supply me with particulars of any case or cases which he has in mind, I will gladly have the matter looked into and I will communicate the result to him in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the saving which accrued to the public in the purchase of land for housing and other purposes in the three years 1920, 1921, and 1922, owing to the existence of the Land Valuation Department; and the cost of that Department for the same period?

It is in the nature of things impracticable to frame a precise estimate of the savings effected by the Land Valuation Department in the purchase of land for public purposes. The saving is, however, undoubtedly, very large. As an illustration of the activities of the Department in a single sphere, I may say that, during the three years from 31st March, 1920, to 31st March, 1923, the difference between the prices paid, in cases in which the Valuation Office acted for Government Departments and public authorities, and the prices claimed by the owners, in respect of purchases of land for assisted housing schemes, was £1,588,000. The Department has, of course, numbers of other duties of various kinds. The cost of the office charged to the Valuation Office sub-heads of the Inland Revenue Vote for the years 1920–21 to 1922–23 was £1,433,554.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to introduce the necessary legislation recreating the machinery for the taxation of land values; whether any estimate of the cost has been included in the present Budget; and, if so, what is the amount?

I shall as soon as possible name a day for the introduction of the legislation foreshadowed in my Budget statement. The cost will be quite small and I anticipate that it will be met by savings on the general Vote of the Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Danish Parliament have put into operation the capital levy for the purpose of reducing the State debt; and if he is in a position to state whether any other country has put the capital levy into operation?

I am aware that proposals have recently been placed before the Danish Parliament for a levy on capital for the purpose of reducing the debt, but the text of the proposals, which have not yet become law, has not yet reached me. Special taxes on capital have been levied or are in operation in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland and Switzerland. The various taxes differ widely in scope and character and range from a non-recurring graduated tax levied on total capital to an annual tax levied at low rates over a period of years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of worn-out horses which have been exported from Weymouth via the Channel Islands to France in each of the last six months; and whether the inspectors have rejected any on the ground that they are not fit to travel?

The total numbers of horses exported from Weymouth to the Channel Isles during each of the last six months were as follow: 1923. November … … … 15 December … … … 13 1924. January … … … 6 February … … … 10 March … … … 4 April … … … 13 Total … … … 61 Horses shipped to the Channel Isles are not examined by the Ministry's veterinary inspectors before shipment, as is the case with horses destined for the Continent of Europe, but under Article 9 of the Exportation and Transit of Horses, Asses and Mules Order of 1921, their embarkation is not permitted for carriage to any port in Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Isles if, owing to infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue or any other cause, they cannot be carried without avoidable suffering during the intended passage. I have no information as to the numbers of horses shipped to France from the Channel Isles, but I understand that the Governments of Jersey and Guernsey have Regulations in force prohibiting the shipment to France of horses from the Channel Islands unless they are certified to be fit to travel and to work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the amount of land, under the Small Holdings Colonies Acts, in respect of which a loss of £393 has been incurred at South Hinksey; and what was the commencement and end of the period during which the loss occurred?

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on the 14th April last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a military competition by local Territorials, which had been arranged for the Sussex County Agricultural Show, has had to be abandoned, owing to the fact that this would render the show liable to Entertainment Tax; and whether, in view of the fact that this competition was arranged with the object of encouraging recruiting in the district, he will see his way to waive the tax, so that the competition can be held?

My attention has been drawn to this case, but I have no power to waive payment of Entertainments Duty if the statutory conditions of exemption are not complied with.

asked the Postmaster-General the capital represented by each of the companies which have united to form the international wireless trust known as the Commercial Radio International Committee?

I have no information as to the capital of the German member of the Commercial Radio International Committee, but I understand that the authorised capital of each of the remaining members is as follows: The Marconi Company, £4,000,000. The Radio Corporation of America, 25,000,000 dollars. The Compagnie Générale de T.S.F., 62,500,000 francs.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the case where Mr. E. F. Young, of 118, St. Leonard's Road, East Sheen, S.W.14, has applied for a telephone to be put on to his house; that his Department has refused to supply him with a telephone, as it is stated that the cable is full; and will he take steps to see that East Sheen is better served, and that all demands for telephones can be met?

Owing to the rapid telephone development in the neighbourhood, no spare wires are at present available for supplying Mr. Young with a service. An offer was made to meet his requirements in about six weeks by a rearrangement of the existing cables, but Mr. Young preferred to await the completion of the additional underground cable work which has been planned with a view to meeting all the demands for telephone service in this district.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of companies, and the names of the companies concerned, in which the Marconi Company has an interest?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the detailed information given on pages 39–41 of the Report of the Imperial Wireless Telegraphy Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in more than 60 provincial Post Offices from 50 to 100 per cent. of the eligible staffs of sorting clerks and telegraphists are members of the National Federation of Postal and Telegraph Clerks, and that, as such, they are denied the right of approach or negotiation with local postmasters and other administrative officials; and whether he is prepared to grant them the same privilege as those members of the same trade union in London Post Offices, where, under similar conditions, they have been granted local recognition?

The statement made in the first part of the hon. Member's question has previously been brought to my attention. The membership of the National Federation of Postal and Telegraph Clerks amongst the class of sorting clerks and telegraphists, taken as a whole, amounts to less than one-tenth of the eligible staff, and I should not feel justified in granting any form of recognition to a body with so small a proportionate membership. I cannot agree that the conditions in the provinces are similar to those in London, where the federation has a much larger proportion of members.

asked the Postmaster General how many men there now are on the Dudley postal staff under the age of 40 years who did not serve in the Army or Navy during the Great War; and have any of these men received promotion over the heads of any senior and ex-service men on the same staff?

There are five such men, none of whom has yet been promoted.

asked the Postmaster-General why a postman who is not an ex-soldier and was medically unfit to serve in the War has been brought from another office to Dudley to do acting inspector's work when there is already available there a medically-fit senior and ex-service man qualified for the work?

The postmen at the head and branch offices at Dudley form one establihment on a common seniority list and have equal claims to be tried on higher duties. For this reason a postman normally employed at a branch office at Dudley is being tried on the duties of an assistant inspector at the head office. The fact that an officer was medically unfit to serve in the Army does not disqualify him for employment on higher duties in the Post Office.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the breaches of the law that are taking place daily in connection with the sale of ice cream; is he aware that ice cream is sold in theatres and other places of amusement, and in tea shops after the hour of 9.30 p.m. when it is not part of a meal; and if he will take steps to see that this law is enforced?

I have no information bearing out the allegations in the first two parts of the question, but the responsibility for the enforcement of the law in this matter rests with the local authorities and not with the Home Office.

asked the Home Secretary if the supply of meat to the county prison at Strangeways, Manchester, is open to public tender; and, if not, will he undertake that in the future this shall be done?

The contract is open to public tender, and tender forms are forwarded to any firms who apply.

asked the Home Secretary how many aliens who were refused admission into this country last year have since then been allowed to enter on the ground that they constitute hard cases?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on Monday last to a similar question by the hon. Member for Windsor (Mr. A. Somerville).

asked the Home Secretary the number of certificates of naturalisation issued in each of the last six months?

The certificates granted are published in the London Gazette every month and in an Annual Statement laid before Parliament. For the first four months of this year the figures are 106, 76, 79, 62, as compared with a monthly average of 94 for the year 1923.

asked the Home Secretary for what reason codeine was omitted from the list of narcotics to which the Dangerous Drugs Act applies; and whether His Majesty's Government will advocate the inclusion of this drug in any forthcoming international convention for the restriction of the traffic in narcotics?

The Dangerous Drugs Act was passed in order to give effect to the International Opium Convention of 1912, and codeine is not one of the drugs included in that Convention. I am advised that codeine is not generally regarded by medical opinion as a dangerous drug of addiction.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Government contemplate an investigation into the constitution of the British Fascisti Society to be undertaken by the law officers of the Crown; and, if so, on what grounds?

I am by no means unfamiliar with the objects and methods of this body, but on the information at present before me, I see no reason to refer the matter to the law officers.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the gradually decreasing numbers of the lapwing, plover, or peewit, commonly known as the farmers' friend, he will make it illegal for the eggs of this bird to be taken or exposed for sale between the dates 15th March and 30th May?

Following a recommendation of the Departmental Committee on the Protection of Wild Birds and on the advice of the Wild Birds Advisory Committee a special provision was included in the Wild Birds Protection Bill of last Session to prohibit the collection of the lapwing's eggs after the 15th April and their sale after the 20th April. On the question of proceeding with this Bill I am afraid I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on the 13th March.

asked the Home Secretary if he has yet sent a reply to the memorial, dated 4th February, 1924, from Art O'Brien and Sean McGrath, at present in Wormwood Scrubs Prison, the said memorial raising the question of political or first division treatment?

Yes, Sir, and in accordance with that reply both prisoners have been removed to Brixton Prison, where they are being treated as offenders of the first division.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons convicted in England and Wales for the sale of tobacco after 8 p.m. for the last 12-monthly period?

I regret that the information asked for cannot be supplied. The statistics available do not show the number of prosecutions or convictions either under the Sunday Observance Acts or under the Shops Acts in respect of any particular class of trade.

asked the Home Secretary when it is anticipated the Local Government Commission is going to make its Report?

I understand that the Commission are not yet able to indicate when they will be in a position to make any Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now able to state when the Papers relating to the Ceylon Constitution will be available?

Further correspondence on this subject was published in February (Cmd. 2,062). I do not anticipate that any other Paper will be published, at any rate until the new Legislative Council has been established.

asked the Minister of Transport if the suggested new road from London to the Kentish coast, passing through Aylesford to avoid the congestion at Maidstone, has now been decided upon; and, if so, in view of the serious unemployment at Hailing, will he take steps to have the work on the section of the road that is adjacent to the locality put in hand without delay as a means of relieving distress?

No such scheme has been submitted to my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Town Council of Canterbury have recently incurred heavy expenditure in a complete renovation of the main roads under their jurisdiction; that before carrying out the work the council notified the authorities of the Post Office of what was in contemplation, and requested that any Post Office work involving the laying of underground cables or otherwise interfering with the road surfaces might, be executed before the roads were finally laid down; that since the recent renovation of the roads was completed the council have now received notice from the Post Office authorities of a long list of works which the latter propose to carry out; and whether, in view of the unnecessary expenditure thus thrown on the local authority by want of foresight on the part of a Government Department, he is prepared to make a special grant-in-aid from funds at his disposal or, if none such are available, to approach the Treasury with a view to such a grant being provided?

I am informed that the disturbance is not likely to be so serious as is suggested in the right hon. Member's question. The Canterbury City engineer is in consultation with the engineer of the General Post Office with a view to arranging that the cables shall be laid, as far as possible, under the footways. The cost of re-instatement will be borne by the Post Office.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the many complaints concerning the railway service of the Southern Railway between Woolwich and London, and particularly that the travelling public are being subjected to great inconvenience from the dirty condition of the carriages and the excessive crowding of trains during the rush hours in the mornings and evenings; and whether he will take such action as may be possible with the company to remedy these complaints?

I have not recently received any complaints of the train service between Woolwich and London, but I will call the attention of the Southern Railway Company to the complaints which the hon. Member says are being made.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what is the number of members of the recently-appointed Commission of Fine Art; how-many of these are practising artists, architects, or sculptors who have been already employed on public works; what number of them are members of the Royal Academy or other recognised societies of artists; whether he is aware of the widespread criticism with which the Commission has been met; and whether, in view of this criticism, he will discontinue the public grant of £2,000 a year to the Commission and appoint a Committee, with power to take evidence, to inquire into the question of the further expenditure of public money on art?

I have been asked to reply. The Commission of Fine Art consists at present of nine members. These include four architects, one painter, one sculptor, and one specialist in town planning. Three of the architects have been employed on public works, five of the personnel are members of the Royal Academy, and one is the present President of the Royal Institute of British Architects. I am not aware of widespread criticism: criticism and divergence of opinion are always active in the realms of art. I see no reason to discontinue assistance from public funds which is at a much lower rate than £2,000 per annum, or to appoint a Committee of Inquiry. I believe the Commission are already doing very useful work in the public interest. The Commission was created by the late Government, and it may possibly be strengthened by the addition of one or two members.