asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware that grave dissatisfaction exists amongst overseas visitors to the British Empire Exhibition, owing to the fact that the patrons of the great dancing saloon in the amusement park are unable to secure tea or any form of refreshment in that building; and will he consider the advisability of making arrangements to deal with this inconvenience?

I have been in communication with the British Empire Exhibition authorities, and understand that they have this matter under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the circumstances under which a monopoly of the catering at the British Empire Exhibition has been granted to Messrs. Lyons and Company; whether they hold a contract entitling them to such monopoly; when it expires and what provision the contract contains enabling it to be terminated in the event of the catering being unsatisfactory?

I am informed by the British Empire Exhibition authorities that the contract whereby Messrs. J. Lyons and Company, Limited, were granted a virtual monopoly of the catering rights at the exhibition was made only after the fullest consideration of all tale circumstances and after public tenders had been called for. I understand that the contract is for the period of the exhibition, and that it contains the usual safeguards against unsatisfactory service.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the difficulties which have arisen with regard to the conditions of employment at the British Empire Exhibition, as well as at preceding exhibitions. steps will be taken in connection with any contemplated legislation to extend the protection of the Factory and Workshops Acts to such exhibitions?

Retail trading at exhibitions is already subject to the Shops Acts, and any further provision necessary in regard to conditions of employment at exhibitions should, in my opinion, be carried out by an extension of those Acts. The matter will he carefully considered when amending shops legislation is undertaken.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Government intends to introduce the promised new Factory Bill before the Summer Recess; and, if so, whether, in that case, he intends to endeavour to pass it into law this year?

This Bill was introduced last Thursday. Every effort will be made to get it passed into law this Session.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is prepared to state his reason for refusing, to grant permission to Miss Lilian Scott Troy, an American citizen, to come to London for the purpose of settling her business affairs

The return of this alien lady to this country is precluded by the Deportation Order made against her in 1919, which requires her to remain outside the United Kingdom. After inquiry, my right hon. Friend has found no sufficient grounds to justify him in cancelling the Order.

asked the Home Secretary if he will investigate the circumstances attending the refusal of the Commissioner of Police for a street carnival proposed to be held in North West Ham on Saturday, 6th September, the entire proceeds of which would have been divided between the National Union of Railwaymen's orphan fund for the district, the British Legion War orphans' fund, and the local hospital?

I am informed that the applicants were the "Essex Orphan Fund Committee" of the National Union of Railwaymen, acting in conjunction with the North West Ham Branch of the British Legion, and in accordance with the usual practice in such cases, the committee were referred to the headquarters of their organisation, who had already obtained a permit to bold a collection throughout the Metropolitan police district on an earlier date. This is how the matter now stands; and it is not correct to say that the application has been refused, although in view of the collection already authorised a specially strong case would have to be made out before permission could be granted.

asked the Home Secretary the total accommodation for male prisoners in Holloway Prison; the total accommodation for female prisoners in Holloway Prison; the maximum number of each class of prisoners in that prison at any one time between the 1st January, 1922, and the 1st January, 1924, and the date upon which there was that maximum; and the total number of prison officials and officers employed at that prison in 1923 and their total salaries and bonus?

The information asked for is as follows:

Accommodation for men	Nil
Accommodation for women	937
Maximum number of women prisoners between 1st January, 1922, and 1st January, 1924 (on 10th February, 1922)	476
Total number of officers (excluding temporary officers) in 1923	123
Total salaries and bonus	£21,600

asked the Home Secretary the total accommodation for prisoners in Brixton Prison; the maximum number of prisoners at any one time in that prison in 1922, 1923, and 1924; and the total number of prison officials and officers in that prison during 1923, and their total salaries and bonus?

The information asked for is as follows:—

Total accommodation	694
Maximum number of prisoners:
In 1922 (on 13th September)	535
In 1923 (on 16th October)	530
In 1924 (on 25th March)	401
Total number of officers (excluding temporary officers) in 1923	110
Total salaries and bonus	£22,565

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill dealing with leasehold enfranchisement, to enable leaseholders to purchase the freehold estate and other outstanding interests affecting their property?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to lay before the House the Resolutions of the Imperial Conference, and especially that referring to the Report of the Committee on the Nationality of Married Women?

The hon. Member will find that the Resolutions of the Imperial Conference were laid before the House in November last (Command Paper 1987). As regards the last part of the question, I would refer also to Command Paper 1988.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Post Office is being used for distributing, in open envelopes with a halfpenny stamp, circulars in the name of Lieut.-Colonel Sir Brodrick Hartwell, Baronet, asking for public participation in adventures for the smuggling of wines and spirits into the United States; and whether, in view of the strong feeling in the matter in the United States, His Majesty's Government have considered the possibility of any, and what, action?

The Postmaster-General's attention was recently called to the circulars in question. No infringement of the law or of any Post Office Regulation is involved; and the Postmaster-General is advised that he has no power to detain the circulars, however reprehensible their purpose may be. As regards the second part of the question. I must refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Foot) by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the 12th of March, as I regret I can add nothing to it.

asked the Prime Minister whether the naval disarmament of Germany is deemed to have been completed; and whether supervision over Germany's naval armaments now remains with the League of Nations, on the conditions indicated in Article 213 of the Treaty of Versailles?

Naval disarmament of Germany is, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, practically complete. His Majesty's Government are anxious to withdraw the Naval Commission of Control as soon as possible. Until this is done, the supervision of German naval armaments must remain in the hands of that body.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the German Reparation (Recovery) Act yielded in the month of April, 1924, and the month of April, 1923?

The sums paid into the German Reparation (Recovery) Act accounts in the months of April, 1924, and April, 1923, were £147,000 and £698,000 respectively

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the local Commissioners of Inland Revenue frequently hear and decide appeals against assessments under Schedule A in the absence of the appellants; and whether he will consider the advisability of recommending the practice of adjourning the hearing of appeals, at least once, to enable appellants to attend or be represented?

The General Commissioners of Income Tax for the district and not the Commissioners of Inland Revenue hear and decide appeals against assessments under Schedule A. I cannot accept the suggestion in the first part of the hon. and learned Member's question, and I am informed that the general practice of bodies of local Commissioners is not to refuse any reasonable request for an adjournment of the hearing of an appeal. If, however, the hon. and learned Member has in mind any particular case to which he desires to draw my attention, and will let me have the necessary particulars, I will gladly have the matter looked into, and communicate to him the result.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the gross and actual amount of Income Tax brought under review under the various schedules, respectively, for the latest available year and 1913–14?

The gross income brought under review and the actual income under the various Schedules of the Income Tax in the year 1913–14 were respectively as follows:

Schedule.		Gross Income.	Actual Income.
		£	£
A		282,262,109	175,661,608
B		17,500,213	5,373,061
C		51,168,329	47,775,979
D		670,633,544	584,345,743
E		145,620,034	137,884,036
Total	…	1,167,184,229	951,040,487

Final information for 1922–23 is not yet available, but the following provisional estimates have been made:

Schedule.	Gross Income.	Actual Income.
	£	£
A	302,000,000	188,000,000
B	51,000,000	28,000,000
C	110,000,000	96,000,000
D	1,467,000,000	1,100,000,000
E	650,000,000	600,000,000
Quarterly assessments on weekly wage-earners.	320,000,000	288,000,000
Total	2,900,000,000	2,300,000,000

Actual income means the statutory income of taxpayers, estimated in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Acts, excluding the income of individuals with a total income not exceeding the exemption limit, namely, £160 in 1913–14 and £135 of assessable income in 1922–23.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the British Government has any gold deposited in foreign countries, excluding the United States of America?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of Exchequer whether, from his Budget sure plus, he can make an additional grant of £1,000,000 to the hospitals of the country, having special regard to industrial centres where hospitals are in serious financial difficulties?

The demands that have already been made on my right hon. Friend's Budget surplus leave him little scope for accepting fresh liabilities of this kind.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of appointments to the administrative, higher executive, junior executive, and higher clerical grades, the appointment of women to the Civil Service; and whether he will furnish a list of the successful candidates in the order of merit in which they were placed in each grade by the Selection Board?

The number of appointments made to each of the classes mentioned on the result of the competitions for women held in November-December, 1922, under the Regulations dated 26th May, 1922, is as follows: —

Administrative	…	…	…	3
Special posts	…	…	…	2
Executive	…	…	…	7
Higher clerical	…	…	…	22

I am sending the hon. Member a complete list of the appointed competitors, their classes and departments. No list in order of merit was issued by the Selection Board, which had to take account of the relative qualifications of the competitors for the vacant posts which were to be filled. I am also sending the hon. Member a copy of the published list of the result of the competitions: a few candidates whose names appear in the complete list but not in the original list were assigned to vacancies reported subsequently to the issue of the original list.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that civil servants who retired before, the new rates of pay were established in 1917 are drawing pensions on a lower scale than those who retired after this date; and whether, in making pro- posals for the increase of civil servants' pension, he is giving consideration to the position of those who retired before the date in question?

Civil servants who retired before the grant of pensionable war bonus are drawing pensions of lower amounts than comparable officers who retired at a later date, because the pensionable salary and emoluments of tilt, former were, in fact, lower than those of the latter at the time of retirement, and, under the provisions of the Superannuation Acts, Civil Service pensions are related to pay and cannot be awarded on a total pensionable remuneration in excess of that actually drawn before retirement. As regards pensions, however, which fall within the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, the difference between the pensions in the two cases referred to is offset by the provision in Part II to the schedule of that Act under which officers who retired without pensionable war bonus would normally receive a larger increase than civil servants who retired afterwards. As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, it is now proposed, under the terms of the Financial Resolution, of which notice has been given, to augment still further pensions, not exceeding £100 a year, to which that Act applies.

asked the Secretary of state for Foreign

—	Number.			Value.
	1921.	1922.	1923.	1921.	1922.	1923.
				Rs.	Rs.	Rs.
From United Kingdom	1,242	555	722	1.31.63.019	45.35.520	36.14.117
From Canada	932	1,655	2,876	27.92.657	33.14.595	54.42.450
From United States of America	1,680	1,450	2,270	93.73.164	49.52.314	55.46.019

The India trade returns for the calendar years do not show the origin of imports of commercial cars (

I am afraid that I must ask him to wait for the Prime Minister's promised statement, after which there will be an opportunity to discuss these and kindred questions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give the imports of motor and commercial cars to India from Great Britain, Canada and the United States, respectively, for 1921, 1922 and 1923?

The following table shows the imports into India of motor cars (including taxi cabs) from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, respectively, during the years 1921, 1922 and 1923:—motor cars and motor lorries). The total imports during the years in question were:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his latest returns throw any light on the ability or inability of British iron and steel constructional work to hold its own in non-British markets, stating the names of the countries and the reasons for the result in each case?

I am aware that British iron and steel constructional work is at the present time meeting with severe competition in non-British markets. I may remind the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal stated, on the 22nd instant in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Bedwellty (Mr. C. Edwards), that the Government would institute an inquiry into matters of this kind; and I hope that it will soon be possible to make a definite announcement on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the most recent volume of Statistical Abstract for the several British Oversea Dominions and Protectorates, published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, does not relate to any year later than 1919; and whether, having regard to his expressed desire to supply the business world with all the knowledge to be obtained, he will give instructions for its publication to be resumed, seeing that the information contained therein is of the greatest value to the trading community, and in par-

A new issue of the Abstract is in an advanced state of preparation, and it is hoped that it may be ready for publication by about the end of June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is cognisant of the fact that notice has been given in the Canadian Senate of a Motion to amend the Customs Act of the Dominion to repeal preferential duties on imports from Britain until the British Government grants a reciprocal tariff on goods imported from Canada; and, in view of the effect such action must have, if carried, on the export trade of this country, if he will grant a respite from the suspension of the McKenna Duties pending the findings of the Committee of inquiry recently promised?

As regards the first part of the question, I have seen a statement in the Press to this effect. I do not accept the argument which forms the second part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state for each of the years 1911, 1921, and 1923 the quantities and value of net imports into Great Britain of condensed milk, not sweetened, condensed whole milk, sweetened, condensed, separated, or skimmed milk, sweetened, milk powder, not sweetened, preserved milk, not sweetened, and all milk and milk products?

The following statement shows the quantity and value of the net imports (i.e., imports less re-exports) of milk and milk products into the United Kingdom during the years 1911. 1921 and 1923:—

Description of Articles.	Quantity.
	1911.	1921.	1923.
	Cwts.	Cwts.	Cwts.
Milk, Fresh	11,215	17,766	66,311
Milk, Cream	10,142	12,891	45,147
Milk, Condensed, not Sweetened	45,241	558,625	406,209
Milk, Powder, not Sweetened	28,612	35,498	61,067
Milk, Preserved, Other Kinds, not Sweetened	6,243	111,091	18,958
Milk, Condensed, Sweetened, Whole	462,285	670,784	397,867
Milk, Condensed, Sweetened, Separated or Skimmed.	602,498	871,924	1,426,804
Milk, Condensed, Slightly Sweetened, whether Whole or Separated.	86	Nil	Nil
Milk, Powder, Sweetened	14	(—) 191 (b)	7,391
Butter	4,167,140	3,329,418	4,983,383
Butter and Milk, Mixture of	338	Nil	Nil
Cheese	2,295.837	2,792,703	2,799,855
	Lbs.	Lbs.	Lbs.
Sugar of Milk	(a)	683,227	991,704
	Tons	Tons	Tons
Casein	(a)	3,011	3,531
	Value.
	£	£	£
Milk, Fresh	5,178	15,328	30,489
Milk, Cream	38,126	124,137	237,711
Milk, Condensed, not Sweetened	77,522	2,226,432	1,181,373
Milk, Powder, not Sweetened	51,125	195,350	227,544
Milk, Preserved, Other Kinds, not Sweetened	3,187	988,428	122,828
Milk, Condensed, Sweetened. Whole	1,008,350	3,669,580	1,302,059
Milk, Condensed, Sweetened, Separated or Skimmed.	845,480	3,643,336	3,663,593
Milk, Condensed, Slightly Sweetened, whether Whole or Separated.	145	Nil	Nil
Milk, Powder, Sweetened	71	(—) 1.023 (b)	54,833
Butter	23,841,405	40,483,181	43,111,225
Butter and Milk. Mixture of	1,620	Nil	Nil
Cheese	6,957,794	17,283,890	15,040,569
Sugar of Milk	(a)	36,877	35,305
Casein	40,520	216,426	258,140
(a) Not separately recorded.
(b) Re-exports exceeded total imports in this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of worn-out horses which were exported for butchery purposes last year; the average number which are being exported each week this year and whether he has made any personal inquiries recently into the conditions under which this traffic is being carried on?

I would point out that no worn-out horses are now exported. The Ministry's regulations as to the fitness of horses shipped abroad are stringently enforced, and they secure that all horses exported are in every sense working horses. Concurrently with this, there has been a considerable increase in the export of horse carcases to the Continent, viz., from 16,000 carcases in 1920 to 52,000 in 1923, which indicates that the trade in live horses has been mainly converted into a trade in horse flesh. The Ministry, however, has no control over the disposal of horses when disembarked on the Continent and the proportion of horses of British origin which are ultimately slaughtered for food is not known. The weekly average of shipments of all classes of horses to Holland, Belgium, and France was 318 during 1923 and 413 during the first 17 weeks of this year. A close watch over the trade is constantly kept by officers of the Ministry. With regard to the last part, I have recently discussed the matter with representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of allotments at 31st December, 1923, and the total unsatisfied demand for allotments at the same date; and what results, if any, have accrued from the circulars he recently addressed to local authorities on the subject of encouraging allotments?

It is estimated that the total number of allotment holders in England and Wales at the 31st December, 1923, was 1,190,000. According to returns received from local authorities, the unsatisfied demand at that date was from 15,912 individuals and one association, the area required being 1,939 acres. In reply to the last part of the question, the circulars referred to were issued as recently as the 6th March last, and although I anticipate good results, I have no definite information as to the number of additional allotments provided by local authorities since the end of last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total acreage gone out of cultivation during the past 25 years?

The total area of crops and grass on holdings of over one acre in England and Wales, as returned in 1898, was 27,548,000 acres and last year 25,943,000 acres. The decrease is partly due to land formerly classed as "permanent grass," now being more properly returned as "rough grazings," owing to the latter heading having been more closely defined in recent years. But the decrease is mainly attributable to land having been taken over for buildings, railways, roads, allotments, and other public or private purposes. I have no information as to any land which has otherwise ceased to be cultivated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of persons employed in agriculture in 1851 and in 1921?

It is regretted that precisely comparable figures are not available. Accordirg to the 1851 Census, 1,712,739 persons in England and Wales over ten years of age were either occupied in agricultural occupations or had retired from such occupations. The number of retired included in that figure is not, however, known. At the 1921 Census, 1,254,000 persons over 12 years of age were enumerated in England and Wales as occupied in agricultural occupations, while 54,899 were also enumerated as having retired from such occupations.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the long hours worked by the, indoor staffs of mental hospitals, particularly the 13½ hours per day worked by the female nurses; and whether it is the intention of the Government to include such workers when the Washington Convention on hours is brought before the House for ratification?

As my right hon. Friend stated in his reply on the 14th May to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Hope Simpson), the question of hours of duty in mental hospitals is under the consideration of a Departmental Committee, and he would prefer to await their Report before answering the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received requests from local authorities asking for powers to make it illegal to erect hoardings without the consent of the local authorities and for power to request the removal of existing hoardings deemed to be undesirable, and that definite rateable values be placed on such hoardings as are erected; and if he is prepared to consider favourably introducing legislation with these objects?

My right hon. Friend has received a number of such resolutions. The existing law provides for the rating of these hoardings, and a Bill now before the House contains additional provision for their control. The whole matter is being carefully considered.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to state the amount of the subsidy proposed by the Government to meet the housing needs in rural areas?

As a result of discussions with the representatives of rural authorities an Exchequer grant of £12 10s. a house for 40 years in agricultural parishes will he proposed.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he can state the number of notices to quit, and for delivery up of possession of dwelling houses he has served on occupiers on the estates administered by him during the last 14 days?

The number of notices to quit served during the past fortnight On tenants on housing estates administered by my Department is 18. The arrears of individual tenants range from £58 15s. 9d. to £9 15s. 6d. and amount on an average to £30 16s. 6d.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the ever-increasing pressure of work in the Committee Rooms, he will make such arrangements as will expedite the move- ments of the lifts thereto and so save time to Members of this House?

An improvement of the lift service would involve the reconstruction of one lift and the acceleration of another, at considerable expense, for which there is no provision on the Vote for the current financial year. The question of improvement will, however, be reconsidered in connection with the Estimates for next year.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Coal Mines Regulation Act by embodying statutory obligation to work mining minerals upon the retreating system, with the object of increasing output per person employed and reducing cost of production in future-sunk mines?

As I have already informed my hon. Friend, I regret that I do not see my way to introducing legislation on the lines he suggests.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the quantity of work lost by coal trimmers on the Tyne, especially at Tyne Dock; that a few weeks ago they were being urged to work three shifts; and whether he prepared to have an inquiry, with a view to balancing the shipments on the Tyne?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that the present arrangements were settled by agreement between the employers' and workers' organisations. In the circumstances, if any change is needed, I would suggest that any necessary modification of the arrangements should he discussed and settled in the same way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of coal exported from this country in 1913 to the principal countries when substantial quantities are consigned, with the average price f.o.b., with the corresponding figures for the year 1923?

Destination.	1913.			1923.
	Quantity.	Average Value per ton (F.O.B.).		Quantity.	Average Value per ton (F.O.B.).
	Tons.	s.	d.	Tons.	s.	d.
Russia	5,998,434	14	6	476,205*	29	2
Sweden	4,563,076	13	3	3,168,367	24	11
Norway	2,298,345	12	7	1,609,758	23	4
Denmark	3,034,240	13	1	3,170,269	23	11
Germany	8,952,328	11	11	14,806,232*	25	5
Netherlands	2,018,401	12	6	6,794,346	23	5
Belgium	2,031,077	11	7	6,504,592	23	1
France	12,775,909	12	8	18,826,352	24	7
Portugal, Azores and Madeira	1,356,081	14	10	834,982	26	5
Spain and Canaries	3,648,760	14	7	1,756,647	27	1
Italy	9,647,161	14	3	7,592,735	26	8
Austria-Hungary	1,056,634	13	9	—	—
Greece	727,899	14	10	463,070	29	0
Algeria	1,281,664	13	8	1,060,180	25	1
Chile	588,526	17	0	19,091	27	2
Brazil	l,886,871	17	10	1,151,629	26	4
Uruguay	723,936	17	0	404,894	28	7
Argentine Republic	3,693,572	16	9	2,461,074	27	9
Malta	700,111	14	10	297,804	25	8
Egypt (including Egyptian Sudan)	3,162,477	15	0	1,697,060	26	4
* Not including 1,005,440 tons of coal exported during 1923 to territory which was formerly part of the Russian or German Empires, viz., Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Esthonia, Poland and Danzig

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will circulate a White Paper giving the details of the agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Airship Guarantee Company before the Debate on the Supplementary Estimate?

A White Paper will, I hope, be available for the information of Members to-morrow.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total number of established workmen that have been superannuated from the Royal Dockyards at home for each year since April, 1918?

The total numbers of established workmen who were superannuated from the Royal Dockyards at

The information is as follows:home for the years commencing 1st April, 1918, 1st April, 1919, 1st April, 1920, 1st April, 1921, 1st April, 1922, and 1st April, 1923, were 171, 786, 445, 472, 526 and 221 respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount that has been paid to pensioners who have been superannuated from the Royal Dockyards for each year since April, 1918; and will he show, separately, each year's total of additional allowances, pensions, and supplementary pensions?

I have been asked to reply. The records do not readily afford the information asked for, and having regard to the large amount of clerical labour which would be involved in obtaining it, I regret that, in present circumstances, it is not practicable to furnish the desired statistics. I may say, however, that the annual values of the pensions (including supplementary pensions) granted during the past few years to established workmen discharged from the dockyards at home and abroad are approximately as follows:

				£
1920–21	…	…	…	23,000
1921–22	…	…	…	34,000
1922–23	…	…	…	25,000
1023–24	…	…	…	17,000

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty

Rank.	Writer Branch.	Supply Branch.	Regulating Branch.	Sick Berth Branch.	Cookery Branch.
Lieutenants (promoted from Commissioned Officers from Warrant rank).	3	4	1	1	1
Commissioned Officers from Warrant rank.	10	11	3	4	3
Warrant Officers	31	35	11	14	9
Total	44	50	15	19	13

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total personnel of the writer branch supply branch, regulating branch, sickberth staff, and cookery staff, respectively, borne on the books of the three divisions of Devonport, Portsmouth, and Chatham for sea service?

The total numbers of ratings borne on the rosters of the three port divisions on the 15th May, 1924, were as follow:

Branch.	Devonport.	Portsmouth.	Chatham.
writer	251	306	280
Supply	305	287	323
Regulating	168	166	166
Sick-berth	370	388	341
Cookery	449	431	468

All are liable for sea service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if, in view of the recent industrial development in the neighbourhood, it is the intention of the Admiralty to make use of the vacant building known as Rosyth Naval Mansions, Inverkeithing; to what purpose it is proposed to put the building; and if, in view of the shortage of housing

The following statement shows, the numbers of Warrant Officers and above borne on 26th May, 1924. All are liable for active sea service:in the district, the question of transforming the building into dwelling-houses has been considered?

The building known as "Naval Base Mansions" at Inverkeithing is not now vacant: it has recently been converted (at small cost) for use as a store for surplus machinery for which no accommodation is available at Rosyth, and for which purpose, the building is very suitable owing to its construction. The question of transforming the building into dwelling-houses was considered and found to be impracticable at a reasonable cost.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total number of established men employed in His Majesty's dockyards at April, 1924?

The number on the 1st of April was 14,343, including those employed in the works department and in torpedo depots in the dockyards.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to an inquest held upon Mrs. Mary Morris, employed by the Palmerston Restaurant Company, Limited; that, during the evidence it was stated that she was in receipt of a weekly wage of only 9s.; and whether he contemplates the introduction of legislation to secure the abolition of sweated conditions of labour?

I have seen a newspaper report of the case referred to. I have received representations in favour of the application of the Trade Boards Acts to the catering trade, and I am examining the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the new Wesleyan school which was completed at Frome, Somerset, on 13th December, 1923, is now being used for the purpose of elementary education and, if not, why; and whether he has received reports indicating that the existing older schools are not overcrowded?

The Frome Wesleyan school has been in existence for many years. I understand that extensions have recently been made to the premises, and the Board are now awaiting full information from the managers in order that the question of their recognition may be considered. There appears to be a sufficiency of accommodation in public elementary schools in Frome, although one infants' department has quite recently been reported to be full up to the recognised accommodation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will investigate the circumstances attending the refusal of a motor-driving licence to Mr. E. T. Hale, 17, Reynolds Road, West Ham; whether he is aware that this man has passed the full test in the motor instruction school of the omnibus company, and the company is willing to start him to work as soon as the licence to drive is granted; and whether, therefore, he will expedite such issue?

I have inquired into the facts of this case. The Commissioner does not regard it as one in which he can properly grant a licence, and I am not prepared to overrule his decision.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to introduce legislation whereby the onus of paying full compensation in regard to any injury to a passenger, irrespective of the class of ticket held, while travelling by train, be put upon the railway company should such injury arise out of the negligence of the railway company or any of its servants?

Railway companies are at present liable under common law and otherwise to pay compensation for injuries to passengers due to negligence of the company or its servants. It is, however, open to passengers to enter into special contracts by which the companies' liabilities are lessened, but I do not feel prepared to recommend to Parliament to prohibit such arrangements in return for special fares or facilities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is prepared to issue a Return showing the preferential treatment given by railway companies in connection with foreign produce sent to this country?

I have been asked to reply. I am not aware that preferential treatment is given by the railway companies to foreign as compared with home produce under similar circumstances. I would remind my hon. Friend that the Railway and Canal Commission has jurisdiction in regard to any complaint brought before them as to an undue preference given by a railway company, and that Section 27 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, provides that whenever it is shown that a railway company charge one trader or class of traders less for the same or similar merchandise or services than they charge to other traders or classes of traders, or make any difference in treatment in respect of such traders the burden of proving that the lower charge or difference in treatment does not amount to an undue preference lies on the railway company.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the amount received by each county council in England and Wales from the Roads fund and the Unemployment Grants Committee, respectively, for road making; and upon what terms have such grants been made?

Information as to the grants made to each county, and the conditions under which they are made, is contained in the Annual Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for the year 1922–23. The Report for the year 1923–24 will be available before long, and I hope my hon. Friend will not now press for the detailed information asked for in the question. As regards the Unemployment Grants Committee, I am informed that the amounts of the grants made for road works to each county council could not be ascertained without the expenditure of a considerable amount of time and labour, and perhaps my hon. Friend communicate with the Secretary of the Committee if he wishes to press for the information to be supplied. Approximately 40 per cent. of the grants hitherto made by the Committee have been in respect of schemes involving road works generally. I am arranging for a copy of the terms and conditions under which grants are made by the Unemployment Grants Committee to be forwarded to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that Whitehaven is an area suffering from long continued trade depression; and that, having regard to the fact that a deep-water dock is a long standing need to complete the port of Whitehaven and find continuous employment for a large number of men, will he consult Mr. J. R. Irons and Commander Venn, who inspected the port last year, with the view of making a substantial grant towards the making of the dock referred to?

The question of the construction of a deep-water dock at Whitehaven is primarily a matter for the consideration of the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, who have not approached me on the subject. I have no funds out of which a grant could be made for such a purpose, but the Harbour Commissioners could apply to the Unemployment Grants Committee for a grant towards the cost of any suitable works to be carried out with a view to the relief of unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which Colonies or Dependencies the Governor's salary is defrayed wholly or in part by the British taxpayer; and what is the reason in each case for the money not being found entirely by local taxation?

The Colonies in question are Malta, Gibraltar, Bermuda and the Bahamas. In the first three cases the strategic importance of the Colony makes it necessary to place the Civil Governorship and the Command of the Imperial troops in the same hands, and the appointment, therefore, is always held by a military officer. It is not unreasonable, in the circumstances, that some part of the emoluments of the combined post should be provided by the Imperial Treasury. The Secretary of State has no financial control in the Bahamas, and a Select Committee of the Legislative Council, which considered the matter in 1922, expressed the view that from a sentimental and Imperial point of view it was desirable that the Imperial Government should still pay a part of the salary of the Governor of the Colony.