MARRIED QUARTERS (QUEEN MARY'S BUILDINGS, WESTMINSTER).
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is able to state the cost of the land, cost of erec- tion (including fittings), and rental charged to occupants of the soldiers' married quarters at Queen Mary's Buildings, Stillington Street, Westminster?
The tenure of the land upon which the married quarters known as Queen Mary's Buildings are erected, is a 999 years' lease with a progressive rent as follows: 1st year, £500; 2nd year, £800; 3rd year, £1,200; 4th year. £1,700, and subsequent years £2,100. The estimated cost of erection of the buildings (including engineer fittings), which are for the accommodation of soldiers on the married quarters roll to whom no rent is charged, is £140,500.
TERRITORIAL OFFICERS (COMMISSIONS).
asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the granting of commissions in the Regular Army to non-commissioned officers of the Territorials up to and including 26 years of age, men who have served overseas and are1 still serving with the Territorials?
Commissions in the Regular Army are only granted to members of the Territorial Army who hold commissions therein, and it is not proposed to extend this grant to noncommissioned officers.
TRAINING SHIP "ARETHUSA."
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury by what method the boys on board the training ship "Arethusa" are entered?
The training ship "Arethusa" is not controlled by the Admiralty, but by the "Shaftesbury Home and Arethusa Training Ship." The arrangements for the entry of boys are made by the managing committee of the establishment.
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to what amount grants are made from Government funds to the training ship "Arethusa"; who is the commanding officer; how is he appointed; whether Government inspectors visit the ship; and, if so, on behalf of which Department, and how often?
The training ship "Arethusa" is recognised by, and receives grants from, the Board of Education and the Admiralty under the respective Regulations of these Departments. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education that grants are paid by the Board of Education to recognised mercantile training establishments at the rate of £10 per annum for each pupil who completes the approved course of not less than one year. If the approved course lasts for more than a year the Board of Education may pay a proportionate part of the grant for pupils who have been in residence in the school and in regular attendance at the course for less than its full duration, but no grant is payable for any pupil who has been in attendance at the course for less than one year. No grant is paid in respect of any pupil under the age of 13. Grants are paid by the Admiralty to recognised mercantile training establishments at the rate of £15 for each advanced class boy entered in the Royal Navy, or £25 where the proportion of advanced class boys exceeds 40 per cent. of the total output of the establishment. In addition, a recruiting fee of 2s. 6d. is paid for each ordinary boy entered in the Navy, and an additional grant of £3 for the 20th and any subsequent boys entered in a given year. The grants paid to the "Arethusa" during the financial year 1923–24 by the Board of Education and the Admiralty amounted respectively to £2,173 and approximately £380. This training ship is lent by the Admiralty to the "Shaftesbury Home and Arethusa Training Ship" free of rent, but subject to insurance and the general conditions governing the loan of naval vessels as training ships. The Commanding Officer of the "Arethusa" is Commander William E. Prowse, R.N. (retired). The Commanding Officer is appointed by the Committee of the training ship. The "Arethusa," in common with other recognised mercantile training ships, is inspected annually by the Admiral Commanding Reserves on behalf of the Admiralty, and by officers of the Board of Education as often as may be deemed desirable.
TEMPERANCE (SCOTLAND) ACT.
asked the Secretary for Scotland what was the total cost to the ratepayers of the 257 polls on local veto in Scotland in 1923; and what were the average and maximum cost of each vote recorded?
The total cost of the 1923 polls under the Temperance (Scotland) Act, 1913, was £18,821 16s. 2d., and the average cost of each vote recorded was 5.6d. I have no information which would enable me to state the maximum cost of a vote recorded on the basis of "Voting Areas," but I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Return recently presented to Parliament (Cmd. 2059 of 1924), which gives all the figures which are available.
EMPIRE SETTLEMENT.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will state the number of persons who have left this country under the various assisted schemes of emigration and overseas settlement agencies during the latest complete years for which returns are available; the approximate cost of passage per head; the total cost involved; what proportion of the cost falls upon the Exchequer; to what extent that cost is recoverable; and what is being received?
The number of persons who proceeded overseas under the Government free passage scheme for ex-service men and ex-service women, which operated from the 8th April, 1919, to the 31st December, 1922, was as follows: Canada 26,905 Australia 37,576 New Zealand 13,349 South Africa and Rhodesia 6,064 Other parts of the Empire 2,133 Total 86,027
The total expenditure by the Imperial Government was £2,418,263 and the average cost of passage per head was approximately £28.
The number of persons assisted to proceed overseas under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, and the expenditure of the Imperial Government up to the 31st March last was as follows: Imperial Government Expenditure. Number of Settlers. £ Canada … 7,957 48,300 Australia … 38,779 341,400 New Zealand … 8,287 70,200 South Africa … 13 200 Totals … 55,036 £460,100 Of this sum, £103,998 was advanced by way of loans to migrants and recoveries up to the 31st March last amounted to £4,051.
The basis of the expenditure incurred under the Empire Settlement Act is that the contribution of His Majesty's Govern- ment shall not exceed one-half of the cost of the scheme concerned. Detailed information is not, however, available as to the amounts expended by the Dominion Governments on the settlers under the Act. It should be added that the figures given include certain schemes arranged between the Imperial Government and philanthropic societies in this country, in which the Dominion Governments do not share.
The fare for assisted passages per adult is as follows: Canada, £16 (with rebate of £3 from 1st March to 31st October, 1924, Australia and New Zealand, £33. The portion of the fare paid by the Imperial Government varies in each case, according to the amount of loan required.