asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardship caused to disabled men by the present strict interpretation of Article 6 (i) of the Royal Warrant as it relates to treatment allowances; that there are 35,000 disabled men receiving out-patient treatment, and of these only 9,000 are receiving treatment allowances despite the fact that the number of the remaining 26,000 are unable to work because of their war disability; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I fear that the hon. and gallant Member has misinterpreted the figures which have been supplied to him. At the end of March the total number of disabled ex-service men in receipt of treatment of any kind other than inpatient treatment was 35,000, but of this number not 9,000 but 14,500 men were in receipt of allowances at the maximum rate of pension under Article 6 (i) of the Royal Warrant. Moreover, allowances may be and are made in other cases to cover occasional loss of remunerative time involved by out-patient treatment. This form of treatment, which is administered in the main through clinics set up by my Department, is as far as possible arranged by way of evening sessions and otherwise in such a manner as to involve the minimum of inconvenience to patients.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can now inform the House what steps he proposes to take to deal with those cases of pension where the appeal to the tribunal has been unsuccessful, but where additional evidence has been produced which clearly shows that an error of judgment has been made?

The best method practicable to enable such cases to be dealt with has been under most careful consideration, and I expect very shortly to be able to inform the House more fully on the matter.

Will the hon Gentleman remember particularly those cases where the final award has been made, and from which there is no further right of appeal, and where the man, in fact, finds after the final award that he is no better than he was at his last medical board?

Yes, Sir. Full consideration has been given to that point, but I will take further note of what the hon. and gallant Gentleman has said.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of letters which were despatched to the Post Office by his Department during the last 12 months?

I regret I have not available the figures for the whole of the Ministry throughout the United Kingdom, but I can inform the hon. Member that the number of letters despatched for delivery by the Post Office from headquarter offices in London was approximately 11,380,000 for the year ended the 31st March last.

Does that mean the hon. Gentleman's Department has no idea of the number of letters they send to the Post Office? Does it mean they send them out regardless of cost?

No, Sir. We have a full record, but the collection of these figures would mean an investigation of every area office throughout the country, and that would not be possible.

Is it not a fact that the absence of these statistics is largely due to the anti-waste campaign of two years ago?

Is it not the fact that all this correspondence is not necessarily in the interests of the ex-service men?

asked the Minister of Pensions when he will be in a position to make a statement to the House as to whether or not it is his intention to revise the final awards Regulations in view of the great hardship and injustice inflicted by these Regulations in their present form?

asked the Minister of Pensions what steps are now being taken to deal with the final awards regulations; and whether we may expect an early announcement respecting the same?

I am glad to say that the arrangement to which I have referred in previous answers by which, with the sanction of the Treasury, I am enabled to amend errors of final awards is already in effective operation. What amendment, if any, of the Regulations is necessary will be determined by further experience of the existing procedure. There will be no avoidable delay in settling this question.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can now make a statement regarding the position of those pension cases in which pension appeal tribunals have found that a final award should not have been made; and whether he proposes to take any action in those cases where there is a fixed rate of disablement of 6 to 14 per cent.?

As already announced in the reply given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead West (Mr. Egan), on the 6th instant, instructions were issued last month which provide that in all cases in which the Assessment Tribunal has set aside a final award the officer or man concerned shall be re-examined, as soon as possible after the decision of the tribunal by a medical board, with a view to the award of any further compensation which his condition may justify. This procedure applies to all cases irrespective of the rate of assessment on which the award was based.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether instructions are, or have been, given to the medical officers of the Ministry of Pensions at hospitals or on boards to consider and, wherever possible, to lower the pensions of pensioners?

No, Sir. No such instruction has been issued by my Department. Perhaps I may be allowed to add that in more than 25 per cent. of all the cases examined during the past four months the assessment for pension purposes has actually been increased.

Is it not the case that instructions to medical boards to give the benefit due to all pensioners were issued by my predecessor, and were in force during my time?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Pensions the composition of the newly proposed advisory councils on war pensions?

The scheme for the constitution and procedure of the new advisory councils is at present in draft, and is the subject-matter of discussion at the series of conferences which I am holding in certain important centres, with representatives of war pensions committees. I may say, however, that it is intended that the new councils shall include one representative appointed on the nomination of each war pensions committee in the area covered by the council, together with direct representatives of disabled ex-service men, widows and dependants.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the immediate restoration to the Special Grants Committee of the power to make grants to widows of ex-service men who are suffering from serious and prolonged illness?

As I announced last week, I am glad to be able to inform the hon. and gallant Member that the Government are prepared to authorise the making of grants by the Special Grants Committee to widows and children in cases of hardship due to serious and prolonged illness, under suitable conditions, the details of which will be settled in conjunction with the Treasury.

Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to make this provision known?

I take it that the fullest publicity is given by the answer to a question across the Floor of the House and the subsequent publication.

Will that arrangement include widows who are not widows under the terms of the Royal Warrant.

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the dependants of ex-service men suffering from mental disability, whose cost of maintenance has now been accepted by his Department from boards of guardians, are still chargeable to the Poor Law and thus forced to accept assistance as paupers; and will he reconsider his decision and accept full and complete responsibility not only for the men concerned but also for their wives and dependents?

As my hon. Friend is aware, the cases in question are those in which after repeated examination it has been decided that the disability is in no way connected with War service. While I have every sympathy with the dependants in question, I do not see how the Government could accept responsibility for them without doing the same for the dependants of all ex-service men whose physical disabilities have been found to be in no way due to War service.

Is it a fact that these men are still in the same public asylums as they were in during the time of my predecessor in office and myself?

That is a matter for the Ministry of Pensions. I should think the majority of them are, but of course that was not the point of the question. The real point was the transfer of the liability for their maintenance.

Will the Treasury not consider that, as they have removed these men from chargeability to the guardians and taken them over, it is just as wrong to put the wives and children in the position of paupers as to put the man who is insane in the position of a pauper?

Is it not the fact that every Minister of Pensions has considered this case with sympathy, and has found that if he gave in on this particular disability, he would have the same thing to do with regard to every other disability.

Does not the hon. Gentleman know that the disability has been removed in this case by the Ministry of Pensions and a definite liability accepted for the cost of the men; why not do the same for the wives and children?

The hon. Member should put down a further question on that point.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, with a view to ascertaining the numbers of ex-officers and others of similar educational qualification who are totally unemployed, he will cause inquiries to be made through the officers' branch of the British Legion and other organisations engaged in the work of charitable relief of this class of man?

From preliminary inquiries already made, my right hon. Friend has little hope of being able to obtain the information required in the manner suggested, though if he finds it to be practicable, he will gladly do so. The number of ex-officers and ex-service men of similar education who are registered with the Appointments Department and whose unemployment is regarded as being due to their War service is 2,680, as compared with 4,585 at the end of December last.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that, under the Old Age Pensions Act, when a contributor reaches the age of 70 years he must cease work before he can derive any benefit from the Act; if he is aware of cases in which persons continuing to work after the age of 70 years, who have been taken ill, have been refused sickness benefit; and whether he will consider the desirability of removing this restriction?

My right hon. Friend does not quite understand the first part of the hon. Member's question, unless it is intended to refer to the present statutory means-limit for the receipt of an old age pension. As regards the second part of the question, the title to sickness and disablement benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts ceases on the insured person attaining the age of 70 when the liability for the payment of contributions also ceases. The extension of these benefits to persons over 70 years of age would necessitate an increase in the weekly contributions, and would present serious administrative difficulties to approved societies in the application of the test of incapacity for work. My right hon Friend does not, therefore, think it desirable that legislation to this effect should be introduced.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that, under the National Health Insurance Act, should a person become incapacitated but nevertheless be able to do light work he is unable to draw any weekly allowance on account of performing light duties, and that this has been applied to people who are incapacitated by blindness; and will he introduce legislation to remove this disability in such cases?

An insured person who has, through blindness or any other cause, been rendered permanently incapable of following what was formerly his normal occupation is not entitled to continue to receive sickness or disablement benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts after he has become capable of following some other remunerative occupation which is reasonably open to him, either at once or as the result of a course of training. My right hon. Friend does not think it desirable to introduce legislation to enable benefit to be paid to persons who are undertaking remunerative work.

Does the hon. Gentleman not think a distinction might be made in the cases of blind persons?

The point of the answer, is I think, that it could not well be made under the National Health Insurance Act.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the proposed reduction in hours of work in area offices will result in the lowest paid staff making the greatest monetary sacrifice while the higher paid staff will suffer no loss of pay, and that the staff associations agreeing to the reduction in hours do not represent the staffs in area offices; and whether he will postpone the operation of the memorandum issued by his Department, under which the hours of work in these offices will be reduced as from the 24th May to 42 hours a week, until such time as he has received a deputation appointed by a representative meeting of the staffs concerned under the auspices of an association which does represent their views?

The reduction in the working hours of the temporary clerical grades employed in London was introduced at the instance of the staff associations concerned, and the effect of this reduction on pay was clearly understood by all parties. For the sake of uniformity in the Ministry offices in London as well as for the reason that it will result in the continued employment of men who would otherwise be discharged, it has been decided to introduce, as from the 24th instant, the new hours in the area offices situate in the London postal area. I regret that I am unable at this date to suspend my decision, but I shall be happy to receive at any time representations from the associations who were parties to the arrangement.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of his staff now employed at the Pensions Issue Office at Acton; and what available accommodation is there in the building for other Ministries?

The staff of my Department employed in the Acton premises at the present time numbers 4,264, of whom 3,400 are attached to Pension Issue Office. There are, in addition, a number of members of the staff of the Ministry of Health. The concentration of certain branches of the Ministry of Pensions into these premises is in progress, and other buildings are being surrendered in consequence. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works that he does not anticipate that for some time to come there will be space in the building to accommodate further staff from other Departments when the present concentration is completed.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how big a staff the Ministry of Health have there?

No: I have not that information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct the Departments during the current year to estimate with their annual expenditure the cost of delivering their letters by the Post Office, so that the Post Office can receive this amount as revenue?

Estimates of the cost of postal services to Departments are appended to the Estimates of all Departments and are also summarised in an appendix to the Post Office Estimate. The value of the services rendered is credited to the Post Office in the Commercial Accounts. The suggestion that Departments make actual payments is contrary to the general principles of public accounting and would not, so far as I can see, offer any advantage whatever.

Is this not really a book entry crediting the Post Office with the amount of service rendered to other Departments, and could he not use this money to reduce postage rates?

I should not have the money, because I have to provide for it in the Estimates, and the expenditure of the Departments would be increased.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reduction in the rate of postage is being delayed by reason of the fact that the Post Office is not generally credited with the amount of work it does for other Departments of the State?

I am not aware of that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why the Post Office should be expected to reduce its rates to pre-War prices when private enterprise keeps them up by 75 per cent.?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is able to state the proportion of Borstal inmates who revert to a career of crime alter their release from that institution?

The only information readily available on this point will be found on pages 34 and 35 of the Prison Commissioners' Report for the year 1022–23, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy.

asked the Homo Secretary the number of prisoners from Northern Ireland now confined in the prisons of England and Scotland; whether all these have been brought to trial, and, if not, how many have not been; and what are the financial arrangements made with the Government of Northern Ireland under which these prisoners are held?

There are 73 prisoners and 10 Borstal inmates from Northern Ireland at present detained in prisons in England and Wales. I am informed that the number of such prisoners detained in prisons in Scotland is 62. All of these prisoners have been brought to trial. The whole cost of maintaining these prisoners (including the cost of conveyance from and to Northern Ireland) is recovered from the Government of Northern Ireland.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Home Secretary has to accept the responsibilty for the safe care and custody of these prisoners while they are in his jurisdiction?

That is a question of which I should require notice.

Can the right hon. Gentleman not send these prisoners back to Northern Ireland?

What seeps does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take to compensate the many hundreds of Nationalist refugees driven from Northern Ireland?

asked the Home Secretary the policy of the Carlisle Liquor Control Department with regard to redundant houses?

The large reductions already made in the number of public houses in the Carlisle district has left but little scope for further reductions. The policy of closing houses on the score of redundancy will, however, be continued so far as opportunity offers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman's policy to let or to sell redundant houses? If it is to sell, is he aware that a certain public house has recently been let to the Carlisle Labour party, and that the name of that house is the "Lion and the Lamb"?

asked the Home Secretary whether there is any intention of taking proceedings in regard to the Mammoth Derby Labour Subscription Draw, promoted by the Bootle Trades Council and Labour Party, tickets for which are advertised as being circulated amongst organisations affiliated to the Labour party only?

I am informed by the Chief Constable that he has arranged to caution the principal promoters that this sweepstake is illegal, and that further action will expose them to proceedings. I gather that tickets are being sold to the public.

Did the chief constable arrange to caution the other people who have been prosecuted, and whose correspondence has been seized, on a similar charge?

Is the action which the right hon. Gentleman is taking in this case exactly the same as, or is it different in any particular from, the action taken in respect of the Conservative Club at Otley?

I am not aware that there is any difference in the treatment of the two cases.

Was the Conservative Club at Otley cautioned in the same way as this Mammoth Bootle organisation has been cautioned?

Are you pinching their letters?

If no proceedings are taken by the police locally, will the right hon. Gentleman exercise his power and himself institute proceedings in a higher Court?

I am prepared to treat this case as the other case has been treated. I am not going to make any distinction, whatever be the colour of the party concerned.

asked the Home Secretary the number of foreigners naturalised in Great Britain in each year since the beginning of 1919, and in the first four months of 1924?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answers to similar questions by the hon. Members for Kidderminster (Mr. Wardlaw Milne) and the Epping Division (Sir L. Lyle) on the 13th March and the 15th of this month. The number of certificates of naturalisation granted in 1919 was 1,417; in 1920, 2,013; in 1921, 1,053; in 1922, 735; and in 1923, 1,125. The figure for the first four months of 1924 is 325.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is intended to advise the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into the consolidation and amendment of the various branches of the criminal law of England and Wales and to prepare draft Bills relating thereto or, alternatively, to prepare a criminal code fo England and Wales which shall amend as well as consolidate the ciminal law?

There is no intention at present to advise the setting up of such a Royal Commission.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Metropolitan police have received any instructions to prevent the overcrowding of vehicular traffic upon Westminster Bridge, or whether the police authorities, in consultation with the engineering experts of the London County Council, are satisfied that the fabric of the bridge is capable of safely bearing any stress that may be imposed upon it, and that no special regulation of the traffic is therefore necessary?

No special instructions have been given to the Metropolitan police to prevent overcrowding of vehicular traffic upon Westminster Bridge but, with a view to relieve congestion, in the communiqué issued to the public as to alternative routes consequent upon the closing of Waterloo Bridge, drivers have been induced, as far as possible, to avoid Westminster Bridge and make use of Vauxhall. The London County Council are the Highway and Bridge Authority for Westminster Bridge, and they recently informed the police that no special restriction of traffic was required in the case of Westminster Bridge.

Has the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself that these enormous weights imposed upon the bridge are safe?

I am afraid I have not.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the London County Council are taking precautions to see if it is safe by having engineers to investigate it?

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the rolls of electors for Scottish counties, except the county of Stirling, contain an indication as to the appropriate form of address for each woman elector, by having printed before each name the word Mrs. or the word Miss, as the case may be; and will he, therefore, for the convenience of political parties and with a view to establishing equality in this matter as between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, instruct registration agents in England and Wales to have similar information included in their registers of electors?

I am aware of the practice in Scottish constituencies; but it is estimated that the alteration of the registers in England and Wales to include the information referred to would cost upwards of £70,000, and I do not consider that this large expenditure would in the circumstances be justified.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that in this matter there ought to be uniformity of practice as between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, because we have to bear the expense of this procedure in Scotland?

That would require consideration.

Is it not the duty of the local Members to know exactly the designation of all the electors?

asked the Home Secretary by whose authority Mrs. Helen Crawford was arrested by officers connected with the Special Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department at Manchester on Monday last; why was she released; will he explain why this action was taken without first obtaining a warrant from the magistrate; and why, after arrest, Mrs. Crawford was not taken before the bench of magistrates?

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that police officers of the Special Branch in plain clothes arrested Mrs. Helen Crawford at her hotel in Manchester on Monday morning last; why she was arrested and on what charge; and why she was afterwards released without being brought before a magistrate?

The information that I have obtained from the Manchester Police, of whom I have made inquiry, is to the following effect. It is not the case that Mrs. Crawford was arrested. I am informed that the facts are that two officers of the local police wished, in the course of their duties under the Aliens Order, to see the passport of an alien lady staying in the hotel, and on being told that she was one of a group of ladies about to leave the hotel, approached the group and asked for her by name. Mrs. Crawford stated that she was the lady, and when asked to show her passport appeared to search for it in her bag; but while she was doing so the police officers were able to satisfy themselves that she was not the alien lady in question, and they then left the hotel. There was no question of arrest, and any inconvenience Mrs. Crawford may have been occasioned was the direct result of her own incorrect statement to the police. As regards the reference to officers of the Special Branch, I am informed definitely by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that no such officers were on duty in Manchester during the period in question.

Another mare's nest!

asked the Home Secretary whether every member of the Metropolitan Police Force has yet been provided with white overalls or white gloves to assist him in the regulation of traffic at night?

White gloves are already in use by police performing traffic duty in the inner divisions of the Metropolitan Police District, and arrangements have been made to extend the issue to men so engaged in the outer divisions. White overalls are not used.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that three months ago he promised that this should be done at once, and that several of these police stations have only one pair of white gloves, and are entirely gloveless when that odd pair goes to the wash?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that no less than 78 city and borough authorities throughout the country already put their police forces into white overalls, and why cannot he do the same?

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the cost of the sanction of the applications from local education authorities in Wales for the abolition of fees in secondary schools that have already been granted by him; and, if all local education authorities in the country avail themselves of his offer to sanction the general abolition of fees in secondary schools, how he intends to find the money to replace the £3,000,000 now derived from fees in existing grant-earning schools?

The total amount of fees in those Welsh secondary schools in which I have sanctioned the abolition of fees is £4,413 10s.; the cost of their abolition will fall as to one-half on the Board's Vote, and as to one-half on the local authorities. The second part of the question is hypothetical.

Do the local authorities agree to pay this extra money?

The local authorities have asked my permission to remit the fees.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in removing the restriction on free places in secondary schools, and giving school authorities liberty to raise the percentage of free places in these schools to 40 per cent., he has taken into consideration the cost involved in sending pupils from elementary to secondary schools who do not complete their time; and will he state what is the estimated amount of money wasted annually in this way?

It is impossible to estimate the cost to public funds involved in premature withdrawals from secondary schools. The matter is one that is continually engaging the attention of the board and the authorities of the schools, and the figures at my disposal show a steady improvement. Premature withdrawals are less frequent among free-place than among fee-paying pupils.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care to send into the secondary schools those who are likely to benefit by the teaching by remaining the whole time?

Every effort is made to get children who will stay the full time, and they are staying the whole time more and more as time goes on.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in certain schools receiving grants from the Board, where there is a recognised cadet corps or officers training corps, every scholar is compelled to join or else to resign from the school; and whether he will take steps to inform such schools that no scholar who desires to remain outside this corps is to be penalised?

I have not had my attention called to any case of a school in receipt of grants from public funds where compulsion of the kind referred to in the question is practised.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware of the lack of school accommodation at Linton and Lynmouth, Northumberland; and will he give the reason why the building of permanent schools in these districts is not being proceeded with?

I am aware of the facts stated in the question. A difficulty has, however, arisen in the acquisition of sites for the new permanent schools owing to a considerable discrepancy between the values placed on the sites required by the district valuer and the local education authority's advisers, and in the circumstances the authority are having recourse to their powers of compulsory purchase under Section 111 of the Education Act, 1921. I regret that there should have been several months of delay owing to the slow working of the present machinery for the acquisition of land needed for public purposes, but I hope the delay is nearly at an end. In the meantime, the Board have approved the provision by the authority of additional temporary public elementary school accommodation at Ellington.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will circulate a Parliamentary Paper showing in detail the expenditure involved at Cardington on the Government airship scheme; and will he state the numbers that the Government propose to employ?

I hope to deal with the question of expenditure at Cardington and, so far as possible, the numbers to be employed there, when introducing the Supplementary Estimate for Airships next week.

Will the Under-Secretary issue a White Paper giving particulars?

I hope to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the invention known as the death ray; whether he is aware that a French syndicate has been formed with a view to the acquisition of the patent; and whether he will take steps at once to ascertain the value of the patent from the point of view of aerial defence and prevent its passing out of British hands?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the invention of a so-called death ray stated to be of potential value in aerial warfare; whether the Air Ministry has taken any steps to invite the inventor to demonstrate his invention; if so, what opinion has been formed of it; and what steps are being taken to secure any benefit from this invention to His Majesty's forces?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to an invention known as the death ray, by means of which the engines of hostile aeroplanes can be stopped and explosives ignited; whether he is aware that the inventor has failed to find a purchaser of the invention in this country and that he is about to sell it to a foreign firm; and whether he will take steps to have the invention tested with a view to purchase by the nation before it shall have been acquired by a foreign firm or Power?

My attention has been called to the claims made for the invention referred to, and the Air Ministry is in touch with Mr. Grindell-Matthews. But for the present it is inadvisable to make any full statement upon the matter.

Was this invention offered to the British Government?

I cannot answer that.

Does the hon. Gentleman admit that this invention will, in all probability, be more effectual in repelling hostile aircraft than all babbling-beatitudes and high moral gestures?

Are the Government taking steps to prevent the use of this diabolical device?

Has the inventor shown a very high moral attitude in the matter?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether a Court of Inquiry has yet inquired into the circumstances under which Flying-Officer Jones met his death in a flying accident in Flintshire recently; and whether, in this case, he can state what the finding of the Court was?

Yes, Sir, a Court of Inquiry has met and has reported. The report has been received at the Air Ministry, but has not yet been fully considered. The proceedings and findings of such Courts are always treated as confidential in all three Services, being made for the information of the Department only, and I regret I cannot undertake to state the finding in this case; but if the hon. Member will allow me I will let him know in due course the conclusions reached by the Air Council as to the cause of the accident.

What steps have the Ministry taken to ensure, in future, the safety of the officers: that they shall not fly before being qualified to do so?

All necessary steps are taken to ensure the safety of the officers; our precautions in this respect are more stringent than in any other country in the world.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give the names of any employers of labour in South Derbyshire who have had petitions against the removal of the McKenna Duties signed under duress?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his statement on 13th May that the Government had proof that the petitions signed by various bodies of workmen against the abolition of the motor-car duties had been signed under duress, he will arrange for the evidence in the Government's possession to be published?

I have been asked to answer these questions. The answer to both questions is in the negative.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the names of any firms whose workers have actually signed under the circumstances stated?

I have already said that we do not propose to give the names of any workmen who have written to us explaining the conditions under which these petitions were signed.

In my question I ask whether the Government have proof, and the right hon. Gentleman has said that "the reply is in the negative." If the Government have no proof, they have no right to make the statements that have been made to the House of Commons.

The question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman asks whether we will arrange for the evidence to be published, and my reply is, "No."

Had the right hon. Gentleman one single case when he made the statement the other day, and is this part of his raging propaganda against the McKenna Duties?

I may say that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Birmingham (Mr. A. Chamberlain) was questioned at a public meeting last Friday and—according to the newspaper report—expressed some doubt as to the genuineness of one particular case to which I referred, and asked me to give particulars of the case. I have seen the right hon. Gentleman and have offered to put before him confidentially particulars of the case.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation this Session for the purpose of controlling the food prices in the country in order that the community may not be deprived of the advantages of any reduction in taxation on articles of food?

The Government see no ground at present for fearing that the community will be deprived of the advantages of reduction of taxes on foodstuffs. I understand that there has been a general fall in retail prices of the dutiable articles by the full amount of the recent reductions of duty. In the circumstances no legislation of the character indicated by my hon. Friend appears at present to be necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, notwithstanding the reduction in taxation, potato prices and the price of butter have gone up?

I cannot accept that view that prices have gone up as a result of reduced taxation; indeed, it is known that these charges and variations in prices have been due to other causes over which the Government have no control, such as the purchases in foreign markets.

Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that bacon and cheese are also rising?

And butter?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the abolition of the duty on sweetened table waters will effect any reduction in the price of single bottles; and when any such reduction will be made?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on the subject on opening the Budget. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer him to the reply given to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Twickenham on the 13th May.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply mean that these individual manufacturers are not making the reductions, and that nothing has been done to give effect to these proposals?

I do not see that the individual manufacturers could make any reduction at present, because the reduction in the tax has not taken place.

What provision was made in the Budget statement to take the tax off sweetened mineral waters which are sold at ice-cream soda fountains?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the arrears of Income Tax and Super-tax remaining unpaid on 31st March, 1924, and the arrears which, for the purposes of his Budget, he anticipates will remain unpaid on 31st March, 1925?

As regards arrears at the 31st March, 1924, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply (of which I am sending him a copy) given on the 15th April to a question by the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. H. H. Spencer). The Budget Estimates take account of many factors, including a forecast of the amount of arrears at the 31st March, 1925, but I should be rash at present to give a quantitative measurement to each separate factor.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the anxiety as to the continued depression in trade, the Government will appoint a Committee to inquire into the present condition of the industry and commerce of Great Britain, and into the factors influencing its expansion?

Yes, Sir. This matter has been engaging the attention of the Government for some time. They feel that an inquiry sufficiently limited in its scope to be definite in its results, and yet sufficiently wide to be really enlightening, ought to be held. The terms of reference are being carefully considered, and I hope shortly to be able to announce them.

Another Committee!

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government propose to proceed with the Legitimacy Bill which has come down from another place?

The Government would welcome a Second Reading being given to this Bill; but they regret that they cannot grant it any special facilities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the maximum air speed of the fastest fighting aeroplane in the service of the British, French, American, Italian, and Japanese Air Forces?

It is undesirable to publish comparisons between the relative performances of British and foreign fighting aircraft.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the machine used by the young French officer who is attempting to fly round the world is faster than any machine we have got in our service by more than 25 miles an hour?

The whole matter is receiving our very careful attention.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what opportunities have been arranged by the Air Force for Dominion visitors to see something of that arm of the Service during the period of the British Empire Exhibition?

It has not been possible, in the absence of a suitable aerodrome, to arrange for a flying display at Wembley itself, but Hendon is not very far distant, and I hope that visitors from the Dominions will take advantage of the opportunity of the Pageant which is to be held there on 28th June to see some thing of the Royal Air Force at work.

Is it not a fact that the hon. Gentleman has arranged for special displays by the Air Force for specific groups of Dominion visitors?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to renew the provisional Air Treaty between the British and Czechslovakian Governments for the establishment of an air line between London and Prague which expired on 31st March; and, if not, whether it is proposed to conclude any other arrangement with the Czechslovakian Government in this respect?

It is the intention of the Government to enter into a permanent air agreement with Czechslovakia as soon as it appears that the difficulties to which I referred in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull on 1st May are likely to be removed.

Do the German Government still adhere to the view they then took?

Yes; negotiations are in progress.

When is the Government going to take up the policy of stopping this hellish campaign of competition in air services in warfare?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount received by the Treasury from the sale of war stores during the five years ending April, 1924, and the amount allocated during that period to the reduction of the National Debt?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by me on the 13th May to the hon. Member for Harborough, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that Treasury sanction has been given for the absorption of the Guernsey Commercial Banking Company by the Westminster Bank, Limited, and the absorption of Messrs. Child and Company by Messrs. Glyn Mills, he is aware that the organised labour movement of this country has placed on record its concern at the prospect of a huge bank trust; will he state on what grounds these amalgamations were approved of by the Advisory Committee; and if he will state, for the information of the House, the personnel of this committee?

I am aware of the fears to which the hon. Member refers, and as I stated the other day amalgamations of the larger banks are not likely to be viewed with favour. Of the two transactions mentioned in the question one was of quite minor importance and the other tends to strengthen an independent group outside the five big banks. The hon. Member may be assured that all applications for amalgamation are very carefully considered both by the Treasury and the Board of Trade and by the Advisory Committee, the members of which are Lord Inchcape and Lord Colwyn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total cost of the compulsory retirement of officers from the Regular Army under the system introduced by the Geddes Commission; and whether any saving has been effected by this action, seeing that many officers holding temporary commissions are still employed on duties which might have been carried out by the regular officers who have been retired?

I have been asked to reply. The amount paid in gratuities to the officers in question was £1,458,850 and the total of the annual rates of retired pay allowed to them is £167,485. It is not possible to calculate how much more these officers would have cost the State if they had not been retired, as such a calculation would necessarily depend on details that are entirely hypothetical, but the reduction in the annual cost of the Army of which these compulsory retirements were unfortunately a necessary part is many times larger than any of these figures. No officer who was compulsorily retired was qualified to carry out the duties on which any of the temporary officers at present retained are engaged.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman himself only yesterday say that the regular officers are quite capable of carrying out all the duties which the temporary officers are carrying out at the present time?

I am not aware that I said anything of the kind. I said, and I have repeated it several times, that these particular duties are of such a character that the regular officers could not, in my opinion, and I have gone very carefully into the matter, carry them out.

Would not the regimental officer be capable of carrying out the duties of the Summary Court Officer in Cologne, which are now being carried out by temporary officers without any legal qualifications whatever?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present condition of the benefit branch of the Royal Irish Constabulary Force Fund; how much is paid into this fund yearly; how many subscribers are there still; and whether there is any reason why this fund should not be wound up?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The latest statement of account is for the financial year, 1922–23. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of this statement. The number of subscribers at present is 3,700, and their yearly subscriptions amount to about £3,200. The question of winding-up the fund has been carefully considered, but any scheme for the immediate distribution of the assets would be contrary to the interests of the widows and orphans for whose benefit the fund is intended. I will send the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the Report made by the Government actuary last year on this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that an appeal is being made for funds for the relief of distress among persons in Ireland who have suffered, and are suffering, on account of their loyal attachment to the British Crown; and whether, following the precedent of the recent Vote by this House of £5,000 for the relief of distress in Albania, he will introduce a supplementary Estimate for a like sum to be given as a contribution towards relief of distress in Ireland?

I have been asked to reply. I have been in communication with the Free State Government regarding specific cases of apparent hardship which have been brought to my notice, and I am always willing to give what assistance I can. But I regret that I cannot ask the House to vote a contribution to the private fund referred to by the right hon. Gentleman. I may mention that as far as personal injuries are concerned His Majesty's Government, in accordance with their undertaking under the Treaty, have paid approximately £3,000,000 in compensation to Crown supporters, and that the Irish Grants Committee, besides granting relief to the extent of over £40,000 to refugees from the Irish Free State, have also, in the exercise of their very wide terms of reference, been the means of affording considerable assistance to persons (other than refugees) with statutory claims.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the victims of the recent Queenstown outrages have received full compensation?

Has the right hon. Gentleman communicated with the Northern Government of Ireland concerning the large number of refugees from Northern Ireland?

That question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will approach the milk combine with a view of ascertaining the prices paid for milk from the producer and the prices charged to the consumer?

The operations of the company to which the hon. Member refers are, in the main, confined, so far as the distribution of liquid milk is concerned, to the London area, and the price paid to producers is usually determined in accordance with an annual contract the terms of which have been agreed between the representatives of producers and distributors. At the present time the price paid to producers, subject to the conditions of the contract, is 1s. per gallon delivered to buyer's station. The usual retail price in the London area is 2s. per gallon.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that that margin of profit is too much?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider the advisability of completing the investigations of the Linlithgow Committee, by instituting an inquiry into the prices and methods of distribution of Colonial produce in this country?

My right hon. Friend does not think that an inquiry limited to Colonial produce is necessary, but he is proposing to appoint certain officers to investigate methods of marketing agricultural products in this country, and it is anticipated that their inquiries will include the methods of distribution of imported produce. My right hon. Friend hopes it will be possible to publish from time to time reports on this subject.

Could the hon. Gentleman state off-hand whether any representations have been received from the representatives of the Overseas Dominions on this point?

I cannot answer that question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the Newcastle area, with the names of the farms or places where they occurred; and what steps are being taken to deal with the situation?

As the reply is long and contains a number of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Could the hon. Gentleman say if there have been any fresh cases notified within the last week?

I could not answer offhand.

Following is the reply prepared:

Of the seven recent outbreaks confirmed in the Newcastle area, two occurred in farms near the city and the remainder in slaughterhouses within the city. Prior to the first of these outbreaks on the 12th of May, there had been no outbreak in Northumberland since the 24th of March. Details of the premises on which they occurred are given below:

Date of Confirmation, Name of Owner and the Place where the Disease has been found to exist .

12th May.—Dixon Bros., East Coldcoats Farm, Ponteland, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 13th May.—John Deas, No. 2. Slaughterhouse, Old Yard, Dispensary Lane, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 14th May.—John Edwin Glaholm, 9, Marlborough Crescent, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. (Disease at M. Deas, No. 1, Slaughterhouse, Old Yard, Dispensary Lane, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.) 14th May.—Nos. 4, 6 and 13, Slaughterhouses, Cattle Market, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 14th May.—John Edwin Glaholm, No. 12, Slaughterhouse, 2, Old Yard, Dispensary Lane, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 2404 15th May.—M. Beaford and Sons, Nos. 9 and 15, Slaughterhouses, Cattle Market, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 20th May.—A. and T. Turner, Cheviot View, Westerhope, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. (Disease at Newbiggin Hill Farm, Westerhope, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.)

With regard to the last part of the question, affected animals and immediate contacts have been slaughtered as usual and the premises disinfected. In addition, the Newcastle local authority have had over 100 slaughterhouses in Newcastle disinfected practically simultaneously. I would add that these outbreaks were brought to light by a combined campaign of inspection by the Ministry and the local authority, owing to a suspicion that cases of foot-and-mouth disease were being dealt with by slaughter in slaughterhouses within the city and not reported. The Ministry's efforts are still being hampered by delays or failures to report cases of the disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the approximate number of agricultural workers who will come within the provisions of the Agricultural Wages Bill?

The most recent information in regard to the number of agricultural workers is that furnished in the agricultural Returns collected on 4th June last year. These Returns showed that there were employed on that date, on holdings of over one acre in England and Wales, 625,000 regular workers and 147,000 casual workers. These numbers may be taken as indicating the minimum number of workers covered by the provisions of the Agricultural Wages Bill, but I may point out that the number of casual workers varies considerably at different periods of the year.

Do these figures include members of farmers' families?