asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will state what proportion of the salaries of the officials employed in the directorate of research is supposed to be compensation for flying risks; whether officers in this directorate have been instructed by their superior officers not to undertake flying duties because such risks are not covered; and whether he will cause an investigation to be made as to the stipulation that flying duties shall be undertaken in the formal course of duties, seeing that the pay of these technical officers is very much lower than that of flying officers in the Royal Air Force?

In answer to the first part of the question, the salaries of the officials referred to are not divisible into proportions corresponding to the flying and the non-flying parts of their duties, but represent the fair remuneration for their work as a whole, including flying risks. In answer to the second part, I have no information that any such instruction has been given, and cannot in any case admit the soundness of the reason alleged for it, since, as I informed the hon. and gallant Member on 15th April last, the risk is in fact covered. In answer to the last part of the question, the stipulation referred to, as I stated in the same reply, is contained in the officers' contracts of service, and I do not understand, therefore, what there would be to investigate. Many of them are paid at a higher rate than flying officers of the Air Force.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he can state the calculations on which the reduction of 271½ per cent. of the variable 20 per cent. of the pay of officers of the Royal Air Force is based, showing how the amount is arrived at and what items have been taken into consideration?

The reduction of 27½ per cent. upon the variable 20 per cent. of the pay represents the fall that has taken place in the cost of living since July, 1919. In that month the cost of living was approximately 107½ per cent. above that for July, 1914; the corresponding average figure for the six months preceding March, 1924, was 77 per cent., which shows that the cost of living has fallen 30½ points on 107½, or more than 27½ points on 100. As regards the items taken into consideration, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on 14th May and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 13th May.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will be good enough to publish the calculation on which the reduction of 5½ per cent. in the pay and pensions of officers is based?

The cost of living index figures for July, 1919, was 105 to 110, or an average of 107½ points above the pre-War cost. For the six months preceding March, 1924, when the 5½ per cent. reduction was announced, the cost of living index figures averaged 77 only, 30½ points below the 107½. The reduction due is, therefore, 30½/107½ of 100, which equals rather over 27½ per cent. 20 per cent. of the pay, etc., is subject to this reduction. 27½ per cent. on 20 per cent. is equivalent to 5½ per cent. on the whole. The index figures for 1st April and 1st May were 73 and 71 respectively, and the percentage adopted is considerably more favourable to the officer than the reduction that would have been necessary if these figures had been used in fixing the percentage reduction.

asked the Attorney-General if he will give the names and addresses of the Advisory Committee acting with the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Glamorgan for the purpose of recommending justices of the peace for that county?

The names and addresses of the Committee are as follow:

• The Right Hon. the Earl of Plymouth, Hewell Grange, Redditch (His Majesty's Lieutenant).
• Sir Rhys Williams, Bart., D.S.O., K.C., J.P., Miskin Manor, Pontyclun.
• J. P. Jenkins, Esquire, J.P., Tonypandy, Rhondda.
• T. W. David, Esquire, J.P., Eby Rise, Cardiff.
• Lieut.-Colonel J. T. D. Nicholl, J.P., Merthyr Manor House, Bridgend.
• Hopkin Morgan, Esquire, J.P., Brynclydach, Neath.
• Colonel Henry Lewis, J.P., Green-meadow, Tongwynlais, Glam.
• Thomas Griffiths, Esquire, J.P., Macs Gwyn, Perth, Rhondda.
• Sidney H. Byass, Esquire, J.P. Llandough Castle, Cowbridge.
• Alderman William Jenkins, M.P., 3, Mount Pleasant, Cymmer, Port Talbot.
• Lieut.-Colonel H. E. Morgan-Lindsay, C.B., J.P., Ystrad, Mynach, Glamorgan.
• Henry Howard Evans, Esquire, J.P., Gilfyndd, Pontypridd.
• Alderman Hubert Jenkins, J.P., 1, Cross Street, Abertridwr.
• Alderman Morgan Williams, J.P., Porth, Glam.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any of His Majesty's overseas Dominions have at present separate diplomatic representation in any foreign capital; if so, which Dominion; and at what capitals?

The reply to the first part is in the negative. The second and third parts do not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that cheap potato-spirit of German and Dutch origin is being shipped to British West African Colonies from Holland, and also cheap Cuban rum from New York, to the detriment of the native population of these British Colonies; and whether the Governments of the United States and of Holland have been asked by the British Government to take any action in the matter?

No, Sir. If the hon. Member has any definite evidence of the importation of spirits which are not admissible under the laws of those Colonies, perhaps he will place it at the disposal of the Colonial Office. I may add that the import duties on spirits in the West African Colonies are so high that it seems impossible that cheap spirits can be on sale to the natives.

asked the Home Secretary if machines used for measuring leather are periodically tested in accordance with Clause 11 of Schedule B of Statutory Rules and Orders, 1921, No. 942; how many machines were inspected for the last year for which a return is made; how many were found not to measure within the margin of error set out in Clause 8 of Schedule B; if samples of imported leather are ever tested for accuracy; if not, will he take into consideration that most of this leather is sold to small users, who have no means of checking the measurement; and will he authorise periodical checks to be made?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The Weights and Measures (Leather Measurement) Act, 1919, and the Regulations made under the Act to which the hon. Member refers apply only to such types of leather-measuring instruments as have been voluntarily submitted to the Board of Trade and approved by them. As but two types have so far been submitted and approved, nearly all the instruments in use for trade are outside the scope of the Act and Regulations, and the points mentioned in the earlier parts of the question consequently do not arise in respect of them. As regards the latter parts of the question, the matters raised appear to he for consideration by the trading interests concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the total expenditure incurred in setting up and equipping the customs posts on the boundary line between Northern Ireland and the Free State; and what the cost has been in salaries and expenses for the first year?

The approximate cost to the Imperial Exchequer of setting up and equipping the Customs posts on the boundary line between Northern Ireland and the Free State was £4,000; the expenditure incurred in salaries and expenses during 1923–24 was approximately £55,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Interdepartmental Committee on Health and Unemployment Insurance (1922) is still in being; whether that Committee has presented any Reports since that dated 17th March, 1922; whether any further or final Report from the Committee may, be expected; and, if so, when?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes The Committee presented a third interim Report on the 23rd February, 1923. No further report has been prepared and it is doubtful whether the Committee can profitably resume its deliberations having regard to the fact that a Royal Commission is about to be appointed to investigate the working of the system of Health Insurance, and that modifications of the Unemployment Insurance Scheme are also under consideration.

asked the Minister of health what is the cost of the central administration of National Health Insurance benefits for insured persons, i.e., by the Ministry of Health, the Welsh Board of Health and the Scottish Board of Health, respectively?

The approximate total cost of the central administration of National Health Insurance (including expenses incurred by other Government Departments and certain amounts recoverable from insurance funds) in the year 1923 was as follows:England—Ministry of Health, £871,000.Wales—Welsh Board of Health, £70,600.Scotland—Scottish Board of Health, £123,000.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can state the number of jacket, vest and trouser machinists who are now on the unemployment registers of any of the Employment Exchanges; whether he is aware that one firm alone in the East End is trying to obtain at least 70 such machinists if it can secure them: and whether, when there exist such openings for employment, any of the Employment Exchanges have intimated that the men on their books decline to try this sort of work?

The occupations mentioned by the hon. Member are not separately classified in the statistics collected by my Department. I have, however, made inquiries in the London area and find that only eight men and three women in these occupations are on the registers of Employment Exchanges in that area. So far as I can ascertain, none of the applicants have refused offers of employment. I cannot trace any notification to the Exchanges by any one firm of vacancies for anything like 70 machinists, but I may mention that a shortage of labour of this class is customary at this time of the year.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications for uncovenanted benefit by men and women, respectively, at the Bridgeton Employment Exchange during each of the months of March, April and May; the number of cases in which benefit was refused by rota committees: the number of rota committees during those months on which there was no representative of the workers present, during the hearing of the case; and the corresponding figures for the Gorbals district?

I am endeavouring to get this information, but it will not be, possible to do so before the House rises. As soon as it is received, I will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state how many individuals applied to the Govan Labour Exchange for unemployed benefit in the months of January, February, March, April and May, respectively; how many of them received benefit; how many were refused benefit; and how many of the latter were refused on the grounds that they were not genuinely seeking employment?

I am endeavouring to get this information, but it will not be possible to do so before the House rises. As soon as it is received, I will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the names and addresses of the members of the Bridgeton local employment committee, Glasgow; the names and addresses of the members of the rota committees of the Bridgeton exchange; and by what organisation in each case these members have been nominated for these committees?

In order to obtain this information it has been necessary to make enquiries from local records. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the railway shopmen have been put recently on short time; and whether he proposes to take any steps so that the schemes in existence for the extension of the railways may be accelerated?

We have received no information to confirm the statement made in the question. As regards railway extensions, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend in the House on 22nd May. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, is discussing with the railway companies the possibility of extending their programmes of work for the current year.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of ex-service men who have been trained under the training scheme; and how many of such men have been found improverships?

The number of men in Great Britain and Ireland who have been trained under the Industrial Training Scheme is 83,000. I have no information showing the number of improverships found before September, 1921, but nearly 18,000 have been found since. The hon. Member will, of course, realise that an improvership period forms part of the training in certain trades only.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any further evidence or abjection has been received by his Department regarding the proposal for the construction of the Broom Light Railway since the close of the public inquiry held at Worcester on 21st March; what is the present stage of the proceedings; and at what date a decision may be expected?

The inquiry to which the hon. Member refers was adjourned, and was continued and completed in London on the 25th March. I expect to be able to announce my decision very shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that he has no power to make Regulations with regard to the use of carrier tricycles in London traffic, he will consider the possibility of introducing legislation to secure such powers?

The London Traffic Bill, which is at present before the House, will, if passed, increase the powers of the Minister of Transport to regulate all forms of traffic in the area covered by the Bill. At the same time I think it is doubtful whether it would be desirable to make any special Regulations affecting carrier tricycles as such.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any further steps have been taken regarding the construction of a ship canal between the River Clyde and Forth?

On the information available it is not considered that the receipts from such a canal would be likely to be sufficient to justify the very heavy cost of its construction, and no recent action has been taken by the Government with regard to the scheme.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the mistakes occurring in the transmission of telegrams to and from Messrs. Paul Brothers, Homepride Mills, Birkenhead; whether he is aware that such errors as the following have occurred, namely, the substitution of the number 10 for the number 1,000, the substitution of the price 7s. for the price 8s., the substitution of the price 30s. for the price 40s., the substitution of the word sheep for the word ship, etc.; whether he is aware that, during the past two years, Messrs. Paul Brothers have repeatedly made written complaints to the postmasters at Birkenhead and Wallasey regarding these discrepancies; and whether he will take immediate action in the matter.

I much regret the mistakes that have occurred in Messrs. Paul Brothers' telegrams. These were caused by errors in transmission at separate offices. Those quoted by the hon. Member occurred during a period of nearly 10 months, and, as Messrs Paul Brothers send and receive some 750 telegrams a month, the total during this period probably numbered many thousands. Every effort is made to maintain

Inland and Foreign and Colonial Postage Rates.
—	As at 3 June, 1918.	As from 1 June, 1920.	As from 1 Sept., 1920.	As from 13 June, 1921.	As from 29 May, 1922.	As from 14 May, 1923.
Inland Letters.	4 oz. 1½.; each addl. oz. ½d.	3 oz. 2d; each addl. oz. ½d.	No change	No change	1 oz. 1½d.; 3 oz. 2d.; each addl, oz. ½d.	2 oz. l½d.; each addl. 2 oz. ½d.
Inland Printed Papers.	1 oz. ½d.; 2 oz. 1d. (Then by letter rate.)	1 oz. ½d.; 2 oz. 1d.; each addl. 2 oz. ½d. up to 2 lb	No change	2 oz. 1d.; each addl. 2 oz. ½d. up to 2 lb.	1 oz. ½d.; (Subject to special conditions of posting); 2 oz. 1d; each addl. 2 oz. ½d. up to 2 lb.	2 oz. ½d. (Subject to special conditions of posting); each addl. 2 oz. ½d. up to 2 lb.
Inland Post cards.	1d.	No change	No change	1½d.	1d.	No change.
Inland Newspapers.	6 oz. ½d.; each addl. 6 oz. ½d.: up to 2 lb.	No change	6 oz. 1d.; each addl. 6 oz. ½d. up to 2 lb	No change	No change	No change
Inland Parcels.	3 lb. 6d.; 7 lb. 9d.; 11 lb. 1s.	2 lb. 9d.; 51b. 1s.; 81b. 1s.3d.; 11 lb.1s.6d.	No change	No change	No change	2 lb. 6d.; 5 lb. 9d.; 8 lb. 1s.; 11 lb. 1s. 3d.
Foreign Letters.	1 oz. 2½d.; each addl. oz. 1½d.	No change	No change	1 oz. 3d.; each addl. oz. 1½d.	No change	1 oz. 2½d.; each: addl. oz. 1½d.
Imperial & U.S.A Letters.	1 oz. 1½d.; each addl. oz. 1d.	1 oz. 2d.; each addl. oz. 1d.	No change	1 oz. 2d.; each addl. oz. 1½d.	1 oz. 1½d.; each addl. oz. 1½d.	1 oz. 1½d.; each addl. oz. 1d.

Postal rates were increased in 1920 and 1921 and reduced in 1922 and 1923. I regret it is not possible to estimate the financial effect of each change separately, but I may state that the cash revenue from postal services for 1921–22 exceeded that for 1919–20 by £7,170,000, and the revenue for 1923–24 fell below that for 1921–22 by £6,872,000. a high standard of accuracy in the telegraph service, but it is impossible under any telegraph system to eliminate all risk of error. From a recent return for the country, the number of complaints of error in telegrams is, on an average, less than one per thousand messages, and all complaints are investigated and suitable disciplinary action is taken when officers of the Post Office are in fault.

asked the Postmaster-General the changes in postal rates since 1918, together with the financial gain or loss resulting from each change?

The following statement shows the more important changes since 1918:

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the brighter and more attractive decoration of post offices and the supply of more modern and more artistic fittings?

A new scheme of colouring is being adopted for the interior of post office buildings which will, I think, greatly improve their general appearance; and every effort is being made to overtake the arrears of decorating work which accumulated during and immediately after the War. With regard to the fittings in public offices, to which, presumably, reference is made, I think that the standard designs meet the case. These are provided in all new offices, and are introduced into existing offices as the need for refitting arises.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that Barra parish council recently applied to the Goschen Committee for a loan of £1,500 to be expended on an approved road scheme under a scheme detailed by a Board of Health official at a special meeting of the parish council, when it was pointed out that in order to provide potatoes at the lowest possible price for the men to be employed on this road scheme the Board of Health would purchase as cheaply as possible and authorise the parish council to sell at cost price a quantity of potatoes, and that as soon as a loan of £850 was sanctioned the Board assumed control of the grant and expended the entire amount on potatoes, with the result that no relief work could he provided for the destitute; and, seeing that in the regulations governing the distribution of these potatoes at cost price, £8 10s. per ton, it was stipulated that any person failing to pay the full cost price was to be registered as a pauper and the application treated as an ordinary application for relief, will he cause an immediate inquiry into the whole circumstances, and ascertain the reason why the district committee were not allowed or asked to expend the money loaned on an approved road scheme, as was intended in the original application by the parish council?

I have made inquiry into the matter and find that the facts are as follows: On 17th December last the parish council of Barra applied for sanction of the Board of Health to a loan of £1,500 to be expended in giving work to the able-bodied unemployed in the parish in need of help. From the correspondence which ensued, it was obvious that, although the position had been fully explained to the parish council at a meeting between them and an officer of the Board, the council were under a misapprehension as to the various measures that might be adopted in order to secure for the parish assistance from Government funds. Accordingly, the position was again explained at considerable length to the parish council in a letter from the Board dated 26th January. No application in regard to the provision of relief works has yet been received by the Unemployment Grants Committee either from the parish council or from the district committee. Any such proposals would be carefully considered. One of the measures for the relief of distress adopted by the parish council was the supply of potatoes for food for distribution as relief in kind, and in certain cases for sale, to persons who, in the opinion of the council, were regarded as necessitous. Some of the potatoes might also have been used in part payment of wages to men employed on relief works, but, as already indicated, no such works appear to have been started. Meanwhile the parish council had asked the Board of Health to purchase on their behalf 100 tons of potatoes for the purposes above indicated, and in order to meet the expenditure thereon at the then current price the Board obtained for the parish council, through the Goschen Committee, a preliminary loan of £850. A first instalment of 50 tons of potatoes was shipped to Barra early in January. The parish council were informed that a further consignment would be forwarded on being requisitioned by the council. No further requisition was, however, received. The money was retained by the Board to meet the accounts in connection with the supply of the potatoes, which, so far, have amounted approximately to £443, leaving an unexpended balance of about £407. With regard to the statement as to the entry on the poor roll of persons who received such potatoes with remission of the whole or part of the cost, I would point out that this course was necessary, looking to the terms of the Poor Law Acts.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the unrelieved unemployment in the Ross of Mull, Argyll, he will have consideration given to the construction of a cart road from Fionphort to Bagalie, which road, it is believed, was approved, and assistance for its construction promised, by the Congested Districts Board during the existence of that Board?

No application for a grant-in-aid of the construction of this road has been made to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, and no promise of assistance made by the Congested Districts Board in the period prior to 1912 can be traced. Any application to the Unemployment Grants Committee by the Road Authority which would be responsible for the construction and maintenance of the proposed road will be considered.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the danger to the people crossing and recrossing between Mull and Iona, caused by the precarious condition of the boat-slip at Fionaphort, in the Ross of Mull; and whether he will have consideration given to the question of extending this boat-slip and making it safe for travellers, thereby also helping to relieve unemployment in the district?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Any application for assistance made to the Board of Agriculture by a statutory authority having power to extend and maintain this boat-slip will be considered.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many houses were erected in Scotland with State assistance in the years 1921 and 1922, respectively?

The number of houses erected with State assistance in Scotland during the year 1921 was 5,817, and during 1922 10,504.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many homeless persons had to be accommodated in police cells in Glasgow during the week ending 31st May; and what arrangements are made, and by whom, for their accommodation?

790 males and 214 females were so accommodated. The cells reserved for the use of such persons are apart from those occupied by prisoners, but otherwise no special arrangements are made for their accommodation.

asked the secretary for Scotland how much of the recent grant of £100,000 for seed poratoes and oats has been expended; and whether he can detail the amounts expended in the Western Isles and other Highland districts?

I refer to my reply of 13th May last to a similar question by the hon. And gallant Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Sir A. Sinclair). For the reason therein stated, I cannot at present give the amount of the Board's expenditure.

asked the Secretary to road construction in the new smallholding settlement of Dalemore, Barvas, Island of Lewis, he had further investigated the position; whether he can now state the conditions upon which the Board of Agriculture's offer of assistance is still open to the landholders; and, in view of the fact that a Grant-in-Aid has been sanctioned for a similar purpose in the new settlement of Reef, what action he has taken or proposes to take for the provision of access roads at Dalemore?

The Dalemore holdings were formed alongside an existing road which leads to the main public road, and the Board constructed a bridge on the road. No further assistance has been offered, and it is not considered that any further expenditure of public funds is required in this instance.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Lewis District Committee have petitioned the Government to make a grant for the completion of the Tolsta-Ness road; and if, in view of the large number of unemployed men in this area and the permanent benefits that would accrue to the people in the Back and Ness districts who are in needy circumstances, he has investigated the position and is prepared to sanction the total grant necessary for the work in view of the inability of the local authority to contribute?

I have received a, communication on the subject from the district committee, to which consideration has been given. As stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 13th May, however, I can hold out no hope of a grant being made towards the heavy cost which would be involved in completing this road.

(The various currencies are coverted at the rates of exchange in London during the period concerned.)
A.—Pit-head Costs (per Statute Ton based on all Coal raised).
	1913		1923
	s.	d.	s.	d.
Great Britain	8	7	16	3
Germany—Rhur coalfield	8	10	7	3	(1922)
Belgium	14	1	27	9	(1922)

B.—Pit-head price {per Statute ton).
	1913.		1923.
	s.	d.	s.	d.
Great Britain:
All coal raised	10	2	18	10
United States f.o.r.:
All coal raised:
Anthracite	14	5	25	4	(1922)
Bituminous Coal	5	5	15	3	(1922)
Average "spot" prices of Bituminous Coal	5	8	13	6
France:
All coal raised	13	4	*
Nord & Pas de Calais Schedule Price for Thro' & Thro' 20/25 per cent, large, f.o.r.	*		19	0
Germany:
All coal raised (not including lignite)	11	2	*
Rhenish Westphalian Schedule Price for Thro' & Thro' 20/25 per cent, large, f.o.r.	11	11	12	11
Belgium:
All coal raised	14	9	27	1	(1922)
Schedule Price for Thro' & Thro' 20/25 per cent. Large, Industrial coal, f.o.r.	*		22	6
The "spot" prices for American coal and the "Schedule" prices for coal in other foreign countries are simple averages of market quotations for a particular quality of coal or a number of qualities. They differ from tbe average prices of "all coal raised which represent the average pit-head selling value of the coal, actual or estimated.
* Information not available.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that there is a difference of responsible legal opinion as to the legality of sales of liquor in Scotland to the consuming public by the holders of wholesale dealers' or manufacturers' excise liquor licences without a certificate from the local licens-

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state for the years 1913 and 1923, respectively, the pit-head cost or price of coal in Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany, and Belgium?

Complete information with regard to the pit-head cost and price of coal in 1913 and 1923 in the foreign countries specified, is not available. Such comparable information as is available is summarised below:ing Court; and whether, in view of this difference of responsible legal opinion, of the demoralising effect of such sales in non-licence areas, and of the expense which would be incurred by any one local authority in prosecuting a test case, the Lord Advocate is prepared to now reconsider his former decision, and to authorise the institution of a test prosecution on the matter by a procurator fiscal in a Sheriff Court, subject to any guarantee which might be considered necessary for any expenses for which he might be found liable in the High Court of Appeal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him regarding this matter on the 11th April. The decision of the Lord Advocate therein referred to was arrived at after full consideration of all the circumstances, and he sees no reason to reconsider it. I may again remind the hon. Member that it is open to the local authority, if they so choose, to take legal proceedings to test the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Agricultural Advisory Committee was consulted in regard to the introduction of the Agricul- tural Wages Bill, or in regard to the provisions of the Bill, at any stage prior to its presentation to Parliament; and what was the advice given by the Committee and the decision taken in regard to such advice by the Government?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is in a position to make a statement regarding the meeting at Chequers on Saturday last, attended by Sir James Craig, Mr. Cosgrave, and Sir John Anderson?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on the 4th June, in reply to a Private Notice Question by the right hon. Member for the Ladywood Division of Birmingham (Mr. N. Chamberlain).