asked the Secretary of State for War if he will inform the House how the 23 British soldiers who were wounded at Queenstown are progressing; and whether they or the relatives of the murdered soldier have yet received any compensation from the Irish Free State Government?

Fourteen soldiers and one civilian are still in hospital at Netley and are, I am glad to say, making satisfactory progress except in one case. I much regret that Lance-Bombadier Boniface is still dangerously ill. As regards the last part of the question, compensation has been paid by the Free State Government in the four cases, one of death and three of minor injury, in respect of which the Wood-Renton Commission has made awards to date. The other cases will be dealt with by the Commission in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any Army order, instruction or circular letter was issued from the War Office in 1918 permitting officers in receipt of full pay to stand as candidates for Parliament; if so, would he give the terms of the instruction: and whether the privilege has been withdrawn and, if so, when?

The answer to he first part of the question is in the affirmative. The instructions in question are rather long, and, with the hon. Member's permission, I will not read them, but I will send him copies. These instructions have not been withdrawn, but the general question of the candidature of State servants for Parliament is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is receiving protests from the British Legion, the Association of ex-Civil Servants, and other bodies interested in finding employment for ex-service men, against the retention in the service of the War Office of pensioned officials; and whether he is prepared to take any action in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the latter part, I regret I can add nothing to the reply which I gave the hon. Member on 8th April last.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether there has yet been a discontinuance of the practice of putting pressure on the wife of an ex-service patient in an asylum by the pensions medical officer threatening her with the loss of the whole or part of the dependant's allowance should she wish to exercise the petitioner's right of directing a discharge in cases where the patient cannot be proved to be dangerous or unfit to be at large?

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind those cases in which, by virtue of the fact that the Ministry has classified the man as a "Service Patient," the responsible relative has the power to insist on his removal even against the considered advice of the medical superintendent. In such cases there is no question of "threatening" the relative, but it is the practice to inform the relative that should application be made for re-admission of the patient to the asylum (which experience shows frequently happens) the question of re-issuing family treatment allowance must be considered afresh. This procedure is exercised with the greatest discretion, and solely in the interests of the patient's treatment and prospects of recovery.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he can make any statement as to the latest steps taken to increase the number of firms on the King's Roll?

I have been asked to reply. Special Local Committees are dealing with the question of employment of disabled ex-service men and the enrolment of firms on the King's Roll. Their work is co-ordinated by the King's Roll National Council under the Chairmanship of Field Marshal Earl Haig. By public meetings, personal appeals and the restriction of Government, and in many cases, of municipal contracts to firms on the Roll, additional enrolments are secured, and in the last six weeks a considerable increase in the numbers of disabled men who have been placed in employment has taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the provisions of the Empire Settlement Act of 1922 are available for the purpose of assisting Irish ex-service men, by way of free or assisted passages or otherwise, to settle in the overseas Dominions; and, if not, whether, in view of the fact that large numbers of these men are anxious to settle overseas if the State assists them, provision will be made immediately to render them effective aid?

The reply to the first part of the question, in so far as it relates to ex-service men resident in Northern Ireland, is in the affirmative; as regards those resident in the Irish Free State, in the negative. In reply to the latter part of the question, it is not possible for His Majesty's Government to offer assistance of the kind contemplated to persons under the jurisdiction of the Government of a Dominion.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that many pensions are refused because the doctor, when giving a death certificate, only mentions the immediate or chief cause of death, and not knowing that such action may affect the withholding of a pension, does not trouble to trace any connection between the immediate cause of death and a pensionable disability: and that when a man goes before a medical board there are three doctors to adjudicate upon his case, but when he dies one doctor's certificate is accepted as final by the Ministry; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consider the advisability of granting a post-mortem examination in pension cases in order to discover the real cause of death, if requested so to do by the relatives of the deceased man?

I am afraid the hon. Member is under some misapprehension. Claims to pension on behalf of widows and dependants of ex service men are considered on their merits in the light of all the available evidence, and in fact many claims have, after investigation, been admitted, notwithstanding that the certified cause of death did not, on the face of it, substantiate the claim. The suggestion made in the last part of the question is, I fear, one that I should have no power to adopt.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he can make any statement as to his intentions on the subject of the appointment of advisory councils, regional or centralised?

As I informed the hon. Member for Rugby on the 8th May, I am making arrangements for bringing War Pensions Committees into closer relationship with the Ministry by providing for an improved system of representation for Committees on Advisory Councils and of representation, in turn, of Advisory Councils on the Central Advisory Committee. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that reply together with a copy of the circular therein mentioned. The constitution and membership of the Central Advisory Committee, on which I propose to include a representative from each Advisory Council, will be considered further after the latter bodies have been set up.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. William James Barrett, of 13, Welford Lane, Newbury, Berkshire, fought in the Boer war and was granted a pension in respect of that war service, and that he fought in the recent war and was granted a disablement temporary pension in respect of that war service; that the Ministry claims there was an overpayment of £27 16s. in respect of pension; that £9 11s. has been waived and that an attempt is being made to recover the sum of £18 5s. representing a year's alleged overpayment by deduction from the pension to the man; and that the man has become chargeable to the local union; and whether, in view of all the circumstances of the case and that the man is without means, he will waive the demand for repayment and allow the pension to be paid in full without deduction?

The overpayment in question was due to the fact that pension in respect of former war service was, for a period of 18 months, paid to the man concurrently both by my Department and by the War Office. After further investigation into the facts of this case, I am advised that the man's statement that he was unaware of error in the duplicate payment may, in the circumstances, be accepted; consequently, under the recent concession sanctioned by the Treasury for such cases, it has been directed that further recovery of the overissue shall be waived.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that Cukrownia Kruszurica Towarzystwo Akcyjue Company, Kruszwica, declared a bonus during the War, and that English shareholders in the company never received any bonus; and what steps does he propose to take in the matter?

My attention has been drawn by a British firm to certain difficulties experienced by one of their clients in connection with the Polish concern mentioned. The Commercial Secretary at Warsaw has been instructed to assist the British firm and has done so in so far as it lay in his power.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will give an exact résumé of the present state of the finance of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, indicating the cost of all the structures so far as this country is concerned, and the extent and nature of the guarantees?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on the 14th instant on the Financial Resolution of the British Empire Exhibition Guarantee Bill.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the large number of agriculturists and others who may be expected to visit the official exhibit of the Ministry of Agriculture in the Government building at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in search of information, it is proposed to arrange for supplies of the leaflets and other literature issued by the Department to be available on demand: and, if so, whether immediate steps can be taken to carry this into effect?

The Ministry is not permitted to undertake the sale of publications itself at the British Empire Exhibition, but certain of the Ministry's publications, including bound sets of leaflets, are on sale at the bookstall of the Stationery Office at the entrance to the Ministry's exhibit. I would add that there is a guide lecturer in the Ministry's gallery, who is ready, not only to explain the Ministry's exhibit to all who may be interested, but also to refer them to such leaflets and other publications as may be of assistance in furthering their inquiries.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the estimated cost of land and new buildings for the Animals Diseases Research Association, which is being transferred from the Glasgow College to Edinburgh; is he aware that the above association, in addition to the proposed new buildings, has also taken over a portion of the Edinburgh College; why is this necessary, seeing that these new buildings are being designed to have all the work carried out under one roof; and will he state the rental and estimated cost of putting these premises within the Edinburgh College into proper order, and who pays these charges?

The estimated cost of land and field laboratories, including apparatus, is £17,550. Central laboratory accommodation for the association will be provided in the Royal Dick Veterinary College, Edinburgh. The arrangements made are necessary for the efficient conduct of the work of the association. The cost of adapting premises within the college is estimated at £1,650. Expenditure for this purpose will be met from the grant of £150,000 provided under Section 3 of the Corn Production Acts Repeal Act, 1921. The rental which will be paid by the association has not yet been fixed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of agricultural labourers in England and Wales employed in 1913 and 1923, respectively; and what proportion of these numbers were regular full-time workers?

The information available in regard to the numbers of agricultural labourers in England and Wales in the years mentioned was given in detail in the reply to a question put on the 7th instant by the hon. and gallant Member for Honiton (Sir C. Morrison-Bell). I would refer the hon. Member to that reply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give the total number of persons farming land in England and Wales whose holdings exceed 50 acres in extent, and the total acreage farmed by them; the total number whose holdings are under 50 acres and the total acreage farmed by them; the total number of owner-occupiers; and the total acreage of agricultural land occupied by them?

The number of agricultural holdings in England and Wales in 1923 exceeding 50 acres in extent was 141,085, and the number above one acre and not exceeding 50 acres was 270,588. The total area of land in these two groups was not ascertained in 1923, but in 1919, the number of holdings not exceeding 50 acres in extent was 272,368 of a total acreage of 4,150,813 acres and the number of holdings above 50 acres was 144,100 of a total acreage of 22,597,140 acres. The number of agricultural holdings returned as owned or mainly owned by the occupiers in England and Wales in 1923 was 87,900, and the area of land returned as owned by occupiers was 6,273,000 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the latest information as to foot-and-mouth disease in the administrative county of Warwick?

Since August, 1923, 56 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in Warwickshire including five during this month, the last of which was confirmed on 18th instant. 3,346 animals have been slaughtered at a cost for compensation of £45,261.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any steps have been taken, in accordance with the original despatch on reforms by the Indian Government, to permit officers at present in the provincial services who, like their colleagues in the covenanted services, find their position intolerable owing to the reforms, to receive proportionate pensions; and whether he is aware that there are a considerable number of Englishmen in these services anxiously waiting a decision of the Indian Government?

It is true that the original proposals of the Government of India for the grant of proportionate pensions in the last resort to an officer who found his position under the reforms intolerable were not limited in their scope to any one class of officers, nor was the similar recommendation of the Joint Committee on the Bill of 1919. The general offer of retirement on proportionate pensions on a prescribed scale which was published in 1921, was, however, limited to members of the All-India Services in recognition of the greater degree of responsibility of the Secretary of State for India for those Services with the members of which he has in fact as well as in theory entered into contract.

asked the Home Secretary whether his Department is in possession of information showing the alleged inadequacy of State and voluntary assistance towards the relief of the civil blind; whether the Government proposes legislation on the subject; and, if so, whether it will first make an inquiry into the whole subject?

I have received certain representations alleging inadequacy in the amount of assistance provided towards the relief of the civilian blind. These representations are receiving consideration, but I am not at present in a position to say whether the Government will be prepared to promote legislation on the subject, or whether any inquiry will be necessary.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is his intention to set up the appeal tribunals for the police force recommended by the Desborough Committee, so that a policeman threatened with dismissal may have adequate legal assistance and a fair trial before being cast out of the service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Edge Hill (Mr. Hayes) on the 3rd of April last. This question is still under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will institute a system whereby, after a constable has been medically examined by a medical practitioner for the purpose of deciding whether he is physically capable of discharging police duties, he shall be informed in writing that if he wishes to appeal on medical grounds against the decision of the medical practitioner he has the right to lodge an appeal within 14 days; whether all medical practitioners can be instructed to take the constable's service into account and the consequent natural deterioration of his physical powers in their medical findings; and whether, in all cases before a constable is dismissed upon the grounds of ill-health, the question of his dismissal can be considered in relation to his pension rights and efforts be made to give him a lighter form of employment in order that he may complete his time for pension?

As regards the first part of the question, the suggested notice in each individual case would appear unnecessary if, as I presume, the police are generally aware of the existence of the appeal procedure. I will, however, take steps to make sure that this procedure has duly been brought to the notice of the members of all forces. As regards the second part, the question the medical practitioner has to consider is whether the constable is, or is not, incapacitated by infirmity for further police duty, and whether such incapacity is likely to be permanent; and the length of the constable's service may or may not be relevant thereto. The question raised in the third part must be left to the police authority to decide.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the continuance of the temporary economy reductions in the police force has caused dissatisfaction; and whether, seeing that these reductions were originally agreed to by the Police Federation as a temporary measure, to last for one year only, and in view of the fact that the recent meeting of the Police Council recommended their cancellation, he can see his way to cancel them, so that the recommendations of the Desborough Committee as regards police pay may have their full effect?

The arrangement agreed to by the representatives of the Police Federation at the Police Council of 15th March, 1922, was not that the deductions from pay and rent allowances should be made for the one year only, but that they should not be continued beyond the year 1922–1923 unless renewed by further Regulation. The deductions were continued for the current financial year after full consideration of all the circumstances and of the views expressed by the various sections constituting the Police Council. It is not correct to say that the council at the meeting this year recommended the cancellation of ohe deductions, the vote which was taken, after lengthy discussion, having been inconclusive. The matter was very fully discussed at the Police Council, and I think it is generally recognised that under present conditions the continuance of the deductions was inevitable.

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that free medical treatment is part of the contract of police service, he will say why police patients are charged 2s. per day in addition to the ordinary sick he is aware that stoppage of 1s. per day; whether sick men are compelled to go to St. Thomas's Hospital; and if he can see his way to assure that free medical treatment is provided for the force in the future?

I would refer the hon. Member to Regulation 88 of the Police Regulations, which requires that members of the police shall have free medical attendance by a medical officer of the force or other medical practitioner appointed or approved by the police authority, but also provides that a man who receives treatment in hospital may be required to make a contribution towards the cost of his maintenance. The contribution required from members of the Metropolitan Police is made under the authority of this Regulation, and is not in any way contrary to any of the Conditions of Service of the Force, which make no mention of medical treatment. In most cases where hospital treatment is required by members of the force, it is afforded in St. Thomas's Hospital, special arrangements having been made with the hospital for the purpose, but in exceptional cases the patient may be taken to a local hospital, and in a good many cases the men receive treatment elsewhere than at St. Thomas's.

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that refreshment allowances should be paid to every policeman who performs an extended period of duty away from his usual place of duty, at the rate of 1s. 6d. upon the completion of nine hours and 3s. 6d. on the completion of 12 hours; that the Police Council agreed to the payment under such conditions; and that the Metropolitan police authorities have imposed a practice contrary to this agreement, whereunder no allowance is to be granted unless 10 hours' duty is performed and until 14 hours' duty has been performed; and, in view of the fact that it is imposing too much strain upon policemen to expect them to carry food and drink to last them for such extended periods, he will see that the agreement arrived at by the Police Council is put into operation?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The proposition which he lays down in the first part of the question has never been accepted, and the Police Council did not agree to the payment of the allowances under the conditions he suggests. The allowances are granted in the Metropolitan police in strict accordance with the Regulations, and I am not aware of any necessity for further action on my part in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary what were the recommendations of the Sub-Committee of the Police Council appointed to inquire into and report on rent allowances; whether these recommendations have been put into operation; and, if not, whether it is proposed to put them into operation?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Report. Steps are being taken to give effect to the Committee's recommendations, and a circular on the subject was issued to all police authorities on the 8th April.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the growing practice of newspapers of publishing detailed accounts of the last moments of condemned persons in the cells and on the scaffold, purporting to be written by officials present in the prison at the time of the execution; and whether he will consider using the powers which he possesses, under the Capital Punishment Amendment Act, 1868, of issuing rules supplementary to those issued by the Secretary of State on the 5th June, 1902, for regulating the execution of capital sentences, in order that the publication of information by persons present at the execution may be prevented in future?

My attention has been called to certain articles which have appeared. The powers referred to would not authorise the making of rules forbidding the writing of such articles.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, during the sessions of the Communist Conference held in Manchester on Saturday and Sunday last, officers connected with the Special Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department made persistent efforts to secrete themselves in the hall during the private sessions of the conference; and will he tell the House what steps he proposes to take to put an end to these practices?

As just stated, I have made inquiry, and am definitely informed that no officers of the Special Branch were on duty in Manchester during the conference. The second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that ex-temporary women have now been established on the clerical grade of the Civil Service and have received substantial increases of salary, and that many permanent women who entered the clerical grade by the harder pre-War method of recruitment or by promotion from a lower grade are now in receipt of smaller salaries than ex-temporary women with shorter service, he will forthwith take steps to see that the permanent pre-War woman clerk shall not be in a worse position financially than the ex-temporary woman clerk who has entered the service without the full examination still required for the established class?

Followiing claims made by associations representing, not only Lytton entrants, but the clerical class generally, the Southborough Committee (in accordance with the general principles adopted previously by the Lytton Committee) granted preferential starting rates of pay within the clerical class to Lytton entrants. Arrangements have been made in agreement with the associations concerned for the extension of the Southborough increases to all who, by any stretch of the imagination, can be regarded as Lytton enrants, but I do not think that it would be consistent with those arrangements that what was explicitly granted by way of special treatment should now be abrogated by a general levelling up of the salaries of other clerical officers to whom the special considerations noted by the Lytton and Southborough Committees do not apply. I am not aware, however, that any clerical officers with pre-War service as women clerks are in receipt of lower salaries than those drawn generally by Lytton entrants.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) the number of clerical officers appointed to £300-£400 higher clerical posts since January, 1920, and the number of clerical officers appointed to junior executive (£100-£400) posts in the same period, giving the number of appointments made in each of the Departments concerned:

(2) the number of ex-second division clerks appointed to higher clerical (£300-£400) posts since January, 1920, giving the number of appointments made in each of the Departments concerned?

The total numbers are approximately as follow for the period from and including the application of the re-organisation complements to the 15th April, 1924: Appointments to higher clerical of second division clerks, etc., assimilated to the executive scale of pay 873 Appointments of clerical officers to higher clerical 278 to executive 49

These figures do not cover the General Post Office, for which figures are not yet available. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a statement showing the distribution of the figures over the several Departments.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state, in the case of retired civil servants who were called back to active duty during the war period, whether they received pensions as well as salary during such period; whether they received a gratuity at the termination of the War; and whether, on retiring after the War, they received a new pension based on any enhanced salary during the War, or merely their pre-War pension?

The pensions of Civil Service pensioners who were re-employed during the War were subject to suspension or abatement in accordance with the provisions of Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1839, so far as applicable. Except where such pensioners were re-appointed in an established capacity or recalled under Section 11 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, being under the age of 60, there is no provision in the Superannuation Acts for the reassessment of their pensions in respect of temporary re-employment. No gratuity would be payable in any case under

— Age at retirement. Duration. Army (Soldiers' Service Pensions) 40 25 years. Navy (Ratings' Service Pensions) 43 23 years. Teachers 62 Information not available. Police (based upon Metropolitan Police figures only). 48.5 20 years. Old Age Pensions — Information not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Boston Rural District Council have applied for his sanction to the appointment of the surveyor, Mr. A. Barton, as sanitary inspector, at an additional salary of £300 per annum for the inspectorship; whether he is satisfied that the sanitary

those Acts beyond the full effective remuneration granted for their services at the time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed to add fresh members to the Commission of Fine Arts; and, if so, on whose recommendation wilt these appointments be made?

As regards the first part of the question, no final decision has yet been taken. If any fresh members be appointed before the time when the present members automatically retire, the appointments will be made on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average age on retirement of those who become Army pensioners, Navy pensioners, teacher pensioners, and police pensioners; and the average duration of Army pension, of Navy pensions, of teachers' pensions, of police pensions, and of old age pensions?

The following are the approximate averages (as far as known) regarding normal retirements, excluding disability cases:

inspector's duties in a district with a population of 21,944 can be efficiently carried out by a part-time officer; and what action he proposes to take?

The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question is "Yes," and to the second part "No." I am in communication with the council on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health if, simultaneously with the introduction of his Housing Bill, he will introduce an actuarial statement showing the entire cost of his proposals, both to the taxpayer and to the ratepayer?

In accordance with usual practice, a White Paper, setting out the whole cost of the proposals in the Housing Bill, will be circulated before the Financial Resolution is discussed.

asked the Minister of Health the present position of housing in the case of Workington Town Council, who applied in July to build 500 houses, of which 24 were sanctioned; Hull Town Council, who applied

Local Authority. Number of houses sanctioned for erection up to 14th instant including those referred to in the question. Number of houses commenced on 1st instant.* Number of houses completed on 1st instant. Number of Bricklayers out of employment. By L.A. By P.E. By L.A. By P.E. By L.A. By P.E. Workington … 50 — — — — — Nil Hull … 474 510 134 207 62 4 8 Norwich … 394 53 122 16 — 2 Nil Jarrow … 30 General approval given to scheme. — — — — 3 Bristol … 704 643 344 127 104 42 1 W. Bromwich … 71 200 — 62 — 17 1 * Includes number completed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will amend Section 1, Sub-section (1), of the Poor Law Act, 1899, by substituting 21 years for 18 years as the limit of age of the vesting of parental powers in the guardians where the guardians consider that, in the interest of the person with respect to whom a resolution of vesting is passed, the extension of the age limit is necessary or desirable?

As I have said in reply to previous questions, I am not aware of any sufficient grounds for introducing legislation for this purpose.

in October to build 603 houses, of which 200 were sanctioned; Norwich Corporation, who applied in November, 1923, to build 1,000 houses, of which 200 were sanctioned; Jarrow Corporation, who applied in October, 1923, to build 100 houses, of which none were sanctioned; Bristol Corporation, who applied in December to build 500 houses, of which 250 were sanctioned; and West Bromwich Corporation, who applied in September to build 500 houses, of which 50 were sanctioned; and state the number of houses completed and the present position of employment in the bricklaying trade in each town; and whether any further applications have been received from such towns?

The information desired by the right hon. Member is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the increasing number of persons being admitted into the guardians' institutions who are entitled to receive benefits under the National Health Insurance Act; and will he so amend that Act as to enable guardians to claim an equitable amount of benefit in order that the money can be appropriated towards the cost of the patient's maintenance?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave on 6th May to the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. S. Robinson) in answer to a similar question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that persons applying recently for passports to Russia have been informed that His Majesty's Government cannot give any protection in that country; whether a similar warning is given in the case of any other European country; and whether it is intended to continue these warnings?

Intending travellers to the Soviet Union have, in the past, been informed that His Majesty's Government were unable to afford to them the same protection as in other countries; they are now warned that they travel at their own risk, and intending travellers to the less inhabited parts of the Union are advised to apply to the officials of the Soviet Union as to the risks involved. These warnings are in part necessitated by the fact that the British Consular Service in the territories of the Union has not yet been restored to the normal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is his intention to adopt the findings of the advisory committee to the Board respecting extra life-saving apparatus in merchant ships; and, if so, when will the order be given making it compulsory to carry such extra life-saving apparatus?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply on this subject given to the hon. Member for Barrow (Mr. D. G. Somerville) on 13th May, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour the average length of attendance of unemployed young persons at juvenile employment centres?

The information asked for is not available, but it may be of some assistance to the hon. Member if I mention that in the period from 17th September, 1923, to 31st March, 1924, the average weekly attendance was 6,247, and the total number of boys and girls who passed through the centres was 42,369.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that teachers who, on account of War service, had their period of post-graduate training shortened from three terms to two terms, are being penalised in the application of the Burnham scale (paragraph 4, b ); and whether he will take the necessary steps to prevent such penalisation?

The Burnham Report does not provide for an additional payment for a period of post-graduate training of less than one year. I cannot anticipate the results of the reconsideration of the Burnham Report which is now proceeding between representatives of local education authorities and of the teachers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many boys have passed through the Greenwich Royal Naval School in the last five years; and how many of these boys entered the seamen's branch of the Royal Navy?

The numbers of boys discharged from the Royal Hospital School, Greenwich, during each of the last five years ending 31st December last, are as follow: Year. No. 1919 … … … … 281 1920 … … … … 296 1921 … … … … 255 1922 … … … … 307 1923 … … … … 258 Total number discharged 1,397

The numbers who entered the seamen's branch of the Royal Navy during the same years are as follows: Year. No. 1919 … … … … 106 1920 … … … … 160 1921 … … … … 146 1922 … … … … 199 1923 … … … … 187 Total 798