asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has had under consideration the question of paying to the widow or other dependant of an ex-service man who dies while in receipt of a final weekly allowance the balance of the sum unpaid?

I have had this matter under consideration, and if my hon. Friend will repeat his question in a fortnight's time, I expect to be able to give him a satisfactory answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the injury to health suffered by men using pneumatic tools; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be held into the matter?

I received recently a communication on this subject from the Transport and General Workers' Union, hut no definite evidence of injury has so far been furnished. I will have the matter looked into, but I shall be glad if the hon. Member can supply me with particulars of actual instances of workmen who have suffered injury to health from this cause with a view to facility inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to an advertisement in the "New Leader" of 23rd May inviting subscriptions to Labour's Calcutta Derby subscription draw; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The advertisement appears to relate to the same draw as that to which the hon. and gallant Member drew my attention on the 22nd ultimo, and against the organisers of which the police are taking proceedings.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking any action in the matter?

Will proceedings be taken against those people who received money from the draws, including Members of Parliament?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if he has taken any action in regard to this particular case?

I understood that I answered a question on this very draw some days ago, and intimated that the matter was in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking any action against the journal in question, and also against the "Daily Herald," for if he looks at yesterday's "Daily Herald," he will see a large number of advertisements of a similar character?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the police at Scotland Yard usually run sweepstakes, and can he say whether they have run one this year, and, if so, what action he is taking?

(by Private Notice) asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that among the classified advertisements in a daily publication of the 4th June the following draw results were advertised: Amalgamated Society of Brassworkers' Benevolent Fund, Barrow Labour Band Draw, Birkenhead Independent Labour Party, Chatham Branch, N.U.R., Croydon Coal Porters' Derby Sweep, East Fulham Labour Party, Hammersmith L.P. Derby Sweep, H.L.P.I. Holiday Draw Results, Holborn Labour Party Derby Draw, Hounslow Branch, N.U.R., Linford ex-Service Men's Free Derby Competition, Llandaff Ward Labour Party Ballot, Mill Hill Labour Group, National Union of Printing, Bookbinding. Machine-Ruling and Paper Workers' Result, North Southwark Labour Party, N.U.R. Orphan Fund, Essex O.F.C. Derby Sweep, N.W. Central Branch Benevolent Fund, A.S.F. and B. Derby Draw Result, Padiham S.D.F. Whitsuntide Draw, Pianoworkers' Social and Athletic Association Derby Draw Result, Pols, Result of Lowestoft Labour Club Development Fund Derby Prize Draw, S.L.P. Draw, Stapleford and Sandiacre I.L.P. Derby Sweepstake, St, Crispin Sweepstake Result, Tynemouth Labour Party Derby Draw Result, Wimbledon Labour Hall, Vehicle Builders' Shop Committee Prize Distribution, Wallington and District. Result of Motor-cycle Prize Draw, W.C.T. AA. Holiday Draw Result, and West End Drapery Employés' Benevolent Fund; and whether in each of these cases he has taken similar action to that taken in respect of the Otley Sweep; and whether he proposes to take any action in respect of the paper in which these advertisements appear?

May I ask whether such a question, which could be put down at any time, is in order as a Private Notice Question?

I accepted it under the circumstances of to-day, with considerable alteration of the form in which it first reached me.

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask whether be is aware that advertisements of a similar character have appeared in newspapers for the last 25 or 30 years?

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the fact that a Member of this House has won a very large sum of money?

I have seen the advertisements to which the noble Lord refers, but was not previously aware of the draws mentioned therein. I do not know whether the police have taken action in any of these cases, but will consider the suggestion in the last part of the question. With regard to the question of the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury), I am aware that these advertisements have been appearing for a considerable time in many papers, and it is very difficult to decide where to draw the line. In a previous answer I said that I was going to try to administer the law impartially, irrespective of the character of the political parties concerned.

Can we be assured that the right hon. Gentleman will take in respect. of these sweeps exactly the same action as that which he has taken already in connection with the Otley sweep?

Yes, with regard to the sweeps, but:18 T have already said it is very difficult to decide where to draw the line as far as newspapers are concerned. There is not a single newspaper in the country that does not to-day report the result of one of these draws in which a Member of this House is concerned. Am I to be asked to proceed against the whole of these newspapers for announcing that result?

In order that persons who are associated with newspapers may know the actual law, will the hon. Gentleman bring in a Bill to define what is the legal responsibility, in connection with these matters, of those who publish newspapers?

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that a newspaper which makes a news announcement of the result of a draw commits an offence?

I never made any such suggestion. [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes!"] What I said was that it was very difficult to see where the line could be drawn between a paper that may announce the result of a draw as an advertisement and another paper that may announce the result as news.

What was the sense of your remark at all?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that on Thursday, 29th May, at a meeting called by the Rotherhithe Conservative party at the Rotherhithe Town Hall, there appeared a body of people, purporting to he the British Fascisti, armed with ash sticks, who assaulted people, knocked off their hats, and brutally assaulted two young men; and what action is he prepared to take to put a stop to such activities on the part of an organised body which are likely to lead to a breach of the peace?

The police are, of course, ready to afford protection to anyone who is assaulted or threatened with assault when they are in a position to do so, but on the occasion in question they bad no knowledge of the assault till afterwards, and I do not see what action on my part could lie taken to prevent the occurrence of such breaches of the peace altogether.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, further, that these British Fascisti scaled the town hall at Rotherhithe and drilled on the roof prior to coming down and assaulting the people?

Is there any evidence that these young men were noisy or created any disturbance?

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the frequent petty and vexatious prosecutions instituted by the Metropolitan police at Mitcham against the drivers of motor vehicles for technical offences, and to the remarks of the Croydon bench on the case of Sir Howard Frank and, more recently, to the remarks of the hon. Member for North Salford (Mr. Tillett) in a recent case; and whether steps can be taken to employ the police more usefully in the detection of serious offences rather than in the detection of purely technical offences where in any Court a caution would in all probability have more effect?

I am informed that the police are frequently hampered in their work by the illegibility of the identification marks on motor cars. They are fully justified, in my opinion, in taking measures to render the offence less prevalent, and in this they are generally supported by the magistrates.

Will the right lion. Gentleman answer that part of my question in reference to the remarks made by the hon. Member for North Salford, and is he aware that the police in this particular division are continually bringing prosecutions which are equally continually being dismissed, and that they are very petty and vexatious?

I am afraid I have nothing further to add.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that Principal Officer Hamby and Officer Wheeler were dismissed from the service at Wormwood Scrubs Prison for securing their sons employment through the friends of Horatio Bottomley; that the two officials had good records: and that they had nothing to do with smuggling the articles out of the prison to the Press; and, in view of the fact that special facilities were given to the prisoner Bottomley to keep a diary and write articles, which articles were smuggled out of Maidstone and not Wormwood Scrubs prison by a private individual, will he have further inquiry made into the case of these dismissed officials?

These two officers were dismissed for carrying on unauthorised communications with a prisoner's friends, and the other points do not, therefore, arise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that none of the other persons involved was punished, not even the prisoner Bottomley himself?

Has any inquiry been instituted as to how the documents were obtained from the prison, seeing that as a matter of fact these documents came from another prison and not from the one at which these officers were employed?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Frederick Walter Baugh, a boy of 15, a first offender, who bore a good character, was recently sentenced to 21 days' hard labour at Deal Quarter Sessions for breaking into premises and stealing a quantity of tobacco and cigarettes; and on what grounds a first offender under 10 years of age was, contrary to the usual practice, committed to prison?

My attention has already been called to this case, and I have been in communication with the Recorder of Deal, who reports that he committed the boy to prison as he regarded him as being of so unruly a character that he could not be detained in a place of detention provided under the Children Act, and that he gave a certificate to that affect, as required by Section 102 (3) of the Children Act.

Has the right hon. Gentleman followed the reports of the case, from which it will he seen that the boy was given an exceptionally good character, and that it was suggested by the evidence that it was merely as an escapade by a child that he was taking this step?

Yes, I have followed it, and am not very satisfied that this was the case, or the sort of case that the Legislature had in mind when this Section of the Act was passed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that two Coldstream Guardsmen, who were recently tried at Berks Assizes on a charge of window breaking, had been kept in prison for four months and three months, respectively, having been committed for trial by the lower Court without being given an opportunity of applying for bail; whether he will advise magistrates and the police that prisoners should be asked whether they desire bail in every possible case; and whether, with a view to shortening the period during which unconvicted persons may he kept in prison, time will he given shortly for the Criminal Justice Bill?

I am obtaining full particulars of the case referred to, and when I have received them T will consider whether there is any action that I can usefully take. As regards the last part of the question, I am in communication with the Leader of the House

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, on the death of a man caused by accident, no provision is made in the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, for any adopted child, whether related or not, Who may have been supported by him; and will he take steps to have this hardship rectified?

I am advised that the inclusion of adopted children among the dependants entitled to claim compensation could only he effected by amending legislation which cannot be undertaken this Session. The suggestion of my hon. Friend will, however, be noted for consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. J. D'Arcy Hartley, of Billesden Coplow, Leicestershire, who, owing to his omission to make a special claim to the Income Tax Commissioners for a refund on account of interest on bank overdraft, paid in Income Tax during the 10 years 1913 to 1922, approximately, £1,414 in excess of his legal liability, of which only £747 has been refunded to him on account of the years 1920, 1921, and 1922; and whether, in view of all the circumstances of the case, and, in particular, that during all this time Mr. J. D'Arcy Hartley was in fact returning an exact account of his net income to the Super-tax Commissioners, which was accepted by them for Super-tax purposes, he can see his way to make a return of tax overpaid prior to 1920?

I have made inquiry with reference to the case referred to by my hon. Friend, but cannot see my way to authorise a refund for any period which is outside the statutory time limit for claims for repayment of tax.

Do I understand from that that the right hon. Gentleman is unable to make any concession?

I am afraid that is so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Lord Meston's Committee upon percentage grants is still in being; how the Committee is composed; when it was set up; when it last sat; and when it is expected to report?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Committee appointed in May, 1922, under the chairmanship of Lord Meston, to inquire into the method of making Treasury grants, has yet reported whether, if not, the Committee is still sitting; whether all the persons nominated to constitute it on 23rd May, 1922, are still members of it; and when it is likely to report?

As the answer to these questions is necessarily a long one, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is this Committee still in being?

It is difficult to say either "yes" or "no." The Committee was very much depleted, owing to the fortunate or unfortunate results of two General Elections. The Chairman of the Committee, I understand, is preparing a Report.

Have any members been appointed on the Committee to take the places of those who were originally appointed, or have the original members gone on?

That is so; the original members have gone on.

Does the right hon. Gentleman anticipate that the Report will presently be presented? He will realise, of course—I need not ask him if he does realise—that this was one of the most important recommendations of the Geddes Committee, and that a very large number of people are exceedingly anxious to know the result?

As I have already suggested, I expect a Report from the Chairman of the Committee before very long.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to introduce Bills to remove the restrictions on old age pensions and also to establish pensions for mothers?

I am afraid I cannot at present add to my previous statements on these matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to amend the Trade Facilities Act so that its provisions may apply to the granting of credits for expenditure other than of a capital nature where such expenditure will help employment?

The limitation to expenditure of a capital nature was embodied in the Trade Facilities Act deliberately and with general assent, and I am not prepared to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion, the effect of which on balance would be to make more difficult the problem of unemployment.

Is it not a fact that last night, on a Vote, Scotland received the concession for which I am now asking?

Is it not the fact that the facilities for which the hon. Gentleman the Member for Stockport (Mr. W. Greenwood) is asking can be obtained if he applies to the Export Credits Committee?

I believe that is so. I think the case to which the hon. Gentleman refers is precisely the case which will be considered, as suggested by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Farnham (Mr. A. M. Samuel)—although I am not very familiar with it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the replacement of nets for the Scottish fishing industry was arranged for last night on the Vote of this House?

The hon. Gentleman is evidently under a misapprehension; the guarantee is to be considered by the Exports Credits Committee, and was not under an Estimate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if any depots under the Department controlling the disposal of unsold war stores and assets have been wound up and closed since 18th March, 1924; and will he state which of the southern depots, northern depots and magazines it has been decided to close within the next six months?

As the answer is a long one, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in how many Departments a considerable amount of overtime has been worked since 1st, January; in how many and in what Departments overtime is still being worked; and whether he will issue instructions, in view of the large number of ex-service men unemployed, that further temporary staff shall be engaged rather than that the existing staff shall have to continue working overtime?

I would refer to the reply given to the Noble Lord on the 10th March last. It is not possible within the limits of a reply to a question to give detailed particulars of actual overtime worked. The necessity for avoiding the working of overtime, as far as practicable, by the engagement of additional temporary staff was recently emphasised in a circular instruction issued to all Departments and is, I believe, fully appreciated.

Can the special attention of the Air Ministry be drawn to this matter?

I have given the list, and the Noble Lord will find that the amount of overtime worked is really very small.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in amending the Increase of Pensions Act, 1920, he will take into consideration the case of police officers and others who retired after many years' service, but are not 60 years of age, having regard to their inability to live on their present pension and their difficulty in obtaining other work in competition with younger men?

The proposals of the Government are contained in the revised Financial Resolution of which notice has been given and which is to be discussed to-day. I regret that I am not in a position to propose an Amendment of the Act of 1920 in the sense suggested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture exactly how many acres are to be reclaimed from the Wash for the outlay stated of £32,000; whether the land when reclaimed will have a market value of anything like the cost; what the ultimate loss to the taxpayers will be; and how many unemployed persons will be engaged upon the work?

It is proposed to reclaim about 390 acres, which are unlikely, when reclaimed, to have a market value equal to the cost of reclamation. At this stage it is very difficult to estimate what the loss, if any, will be. With regard to the last part, I anticipate that not fewer than 200 men recruited from the unemployed will be required.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the amount of the loss will be more than the cost of keeping those men as unemployed without work?

I can only express the hope that it will not.

I beg the right hon. Gentleman's pardon. Is this the plan the Government have got for finding work for the unemployed?

asked the Prime Minister whether any agreement has been come to with regard to the constitution of the Committee of Inquiry into the question of Home Rule for Scotland, Wales, and England; their terms of reference; and the date when they will commence their work?

This question is being fully considered, and I hope it will be possible to make an announcement after the Whitsun Recess.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Civil Lord of the Admiralty is retaining the directorship of a certain printing and publishing company with his consent?

My hon. Friend was by inadvertence re-elected a member of the board of directors of the Victoria Printing House Company. The position is an unpaid one. His re-election was brought to his notice, and he at once resigned.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that His Majesty's Government has recently raised the British Legation in Portugal to the rank of an Embassy, His Majesty's Government will consider favourably proposing to the Argentine Government that the British Legation in that country should be raised to the rank of an Embassy also?

The decision to raise His Majesty's Legation at Lisbon to the rank of an Embassy was taken in fulfilment of a pledge given to the Portuguese Government during the late War. It must not be taken, therefore, as a precedent.

Is this a matter for the Argentine Government to bring up or for His Majesty's Government? Why is it not considered important enough that Buenos Ayres in the Argentine should be represented by an Embassy?

The hon. Member must not suggest that I said it was not important. What I said was that this case of Lisbon must not be treated as a precedent.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his predecessor has already acted in the same way in the case of Brazil, and does he not think there is much to be said for the proposal to raise the Legation at Buenos Ayres to the rank of an Embassy?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Home Secretary has sent a message to a candidate at the General Election pending in South Africa wishing success to the Labour party in that election; and whether he sanctioned this action?

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that he has neither sent nor authorised any message such as that referred to in the first part of the question. The last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.