asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can inform the House of the terms of the concession granted to Wembley Amusements, Limited, in connection with the amusements park at the British Empire Exhibition; by whom such concession was granted; who are the directors of Wembley Amusements, Limited; and what is the amount of its subscribed capital?

I have been asked to reply. The Department of Overseas Trade doubt whether any useful purpose would be served if the terms of the concession held by Wembley Amusements, Limited, in connection with the amusements park at the British Empire Exhibition were made public. The concession was granted by the exhibition authorities. The directors of Wembley Amusements, Limited, are:

• Sir R. M. McAlpine, K.B.E.
• W. H. McAlpine.
• F. E. M. Bussey.
• Warwick Brooks.
• George Wilson.

The Department has no information with regard to the last part of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that, on Whit-Monday, 9th June, the majority of the side-shows and small games in the amusements park of the British Empire Exhibition were closed to the public; and if he will state the reasons therefor?

I have been asked to reply. The Department of Overseas Trade have been informed by the Exhibition authorities, with whom they have been in communication on this question, that a certain number of side-shows in the amusements park at the British Empire Exhibition were closed to the public on Whit-Monday, the 9th June. They understand that this was due to a dispute between the amusement concessionaires and certain of their sub-con tractors over a matter in which the Exhibition authorities had no jurisdiction, although they did their utmost to adjust the difficulty. The difficulty has since been settled.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction which exists among the showmen of this country at the monopoly rights possessed by Wembley Amuse- ments, Limited, in connection with the amusements park at the British Empire Exhibition; and, in view of the public moneys guaranteed to the British Empire Exhibition, what steps he proposes to take to ensure that these monopoly rights are not exercised against the interests of the public?

I have been asked to reply. The Department of Overseas Trade are not aware of any dissatisfaction existing amongst showmen in connection with the concession granted to Wembley Amusements, Limited, at the British Empire Exhibition, and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has had no inquiries before him which would make it necessary for him to take any action in the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can inform the House of the price per foot frontage charged by Wembley Amusements, Limited, to licensee's in connection with space allotments in the amusements park of the British Empire Exhibition?

I have been asked to reply. The Department of Overseas Trade have no information regarding the charges made by Wembley Amusements, Limited, for spaces allotted by them to sub-concessionnaires in the amusements park at the British Empire Exhibition.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board of Education will make special grants to schools in West Suffolk in order that children from that county may be enabled to visit the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley?

The Board have already made provision in Circular 1327 (a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member) for assistance to those authorities who have arranged for visits to the exhibition of parties of school children from their areas. I should not be justified in making a special grant to West Suffolk for this purpose.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that omnibuses, not belonging to the London General Omnibus Company, were, on Whit Monday, turned back by the police at Wembley some distance away from the exhibition gates, while those belonging to that company were allowed to drive up to them; whether any such regulation is generally enforced, or was specially enforced on that day, and, in either case, by whose authority; and on what ground this discrimination is made?

The police did not turn back any omnibuses on Whit Monday or upon any other day. In order to prevent obstruction the Commissioner has directed that no omnibus is to stop in Wembley Hill Road or in Forty Lane to take up or set down passengers, and these Regulations are enforced. There has been no discrimination by the police, but the London General Omnibus Company has leased a private motor park, and the police have no power to grant access to that park by other omnibus concerns.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that it is the policy of the State management scheme to spend as little money as possible in the Carlisle area where the profits under the scheme are made; that ail stores are purchased and all printing, etc., orders placed outside the Carlisle area: and that the traders of Carlisle complain that, in consequence of the Government's policy, the trade of the city suffers by comparison with conditions under private enterprise; and whether he will cause a due amount of the stores, etc., required by the scheme to be purchased within the Carlisle area?

The answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the negative. As regards the third part, I understand that complaints have been made by local tradesmen, and that, so far as they have been addressed to the management, they have received full consideration. The general policy as regards purchases is to give the preference to any local firm which is able to quote on equally favourable terms with an outside firm. If my hon. Friend knows of any orders given to outside firms which might, in his opinion, equally well have been executed by local firms, and will send me details, I will look into them.

asked the Home Secretary if, after taking action through the ordinary channels of inquiry, he will lay a White Paper upon the Table of the House showing the exact conditions governing the grant of the fanchise in the various European countries and in the Dominions?

The preparation of the information desired would entail a good deal of labour on the Governments of the countries concerned as well as on the British representatives in those countries, and unless some useful purpose were likely to be served I should not feel justified in asking that the Governments in question should be approached.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received any reports from the Petty Sessional Divisions in England and Wales or from probation officers as to the desirability of a. competent medical man being at the service of the probation officers in cases of young offenders who are suffering from epilepsy and kindred diseases; and, in the event of no such reports having been received, whether he will cause inquiries to be made?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Some juvenile courts have made arrangements for the medical examination where necessary of young offenders who are brought before them, and attention was drawn to the desirability of such a practice in the Report of the Children's Branch issued last year. The matter is receiving further consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the difference of treatment meted out to public sweepstakes, he will reconsider the desirability of inquiring into the whole question of these competitions with respect to the law, and will thus complete the work of the Betting Tax Inquiry, whose investigations were officially expected to throw light on this issue, but which did not do so owing to the premature end of its activities?

I am advised that there is no doubt that under the existing law all public lotteries, including public sweepstakes, are illegal. As I have previously said, the desire of the authorities is to administer the law with complete impartiality and subject to difficulties of proof, which are more formidable in some cases than in others, I believe that this is being done. I greatly doubt whether any form of inquiry that I could set on foot would lead to any practical result.

asked the Home Secretary whether his Department has received any reports indicating that the recent and existing irresponsible labour troubles are connected with efforts to spread Communist and kindred doctrines; and whether he will make inquiries to see if this is the case?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I do not think that it is necessary to supplement the sources of information already at my disposal by any special inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the 58th London company of the Boys' Brigade formed in Islington, which up to this year has received a free grant of camp equipment from his Department, has now been deprived of that privilege on account of its unwillingness or inability to comply with the new Regulations for attachment to the Territorial Force, and that great resentment is felt by those responsible for this and other boys' brigade units with regard to these new Regulations; and whether he will consider the valuable work done by these organisations and restore the assistance formerly given to them by his Department?

I am aware of the circumstances of this case, which has been carefully considered. Recognised cadet units are allowed, under conditions, certain loans of camp equipment, but those which do not accept the present conditions of recognition are required to pay 4s. 9d. per boy for the equipment issued, to cover the cost of labour and depreciation involved in the issue. The boys' brigade now in question has not accepted the present conditions of recognition, and I regret, therefore, that I cannot make a special concession in its favour.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present position with reference to the Blandford camp; whether it is proposed to put the site and the buildings upon it to some use; and, if so, what use?

Blandford camp is being dismantled. The materials of which the buildings are comprised will be disposed of and the site will he handed back to the owners.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether representations have been received on behalf of provincial candidates who have entered for the examination to be held on 10th and 11th July to fill vacancies in the ex-soldier clerk establishment of the War Office; and whether he will arrange that the examination on those days shall be held simultaneously in Edinburgh, York, Chester, and Salisbury, as well as in London, so as not to penalise financially candidates from the above centres?

No representations in the sense suggested were made whilst the list of candidates was still open. I understand that certain informal representations have been made since, but I regret that it has not been found possible at this stage to alter the conditions under Which the applications had been accepted. I would point out that the provincial candidates will receive three days' leave with full pay to enable them to attend the examination, whereas the London candidates will receive only one and a half days' leave with pay.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the refusal of the renewal of the certificate of the Govan United Ex-service Men's Club, 12, Carmichael Street, Govan, Glasgow; and whether he can do anything to mitigate the hardship caused to the members, many of whom may now be unemployed?

I assume that this question refers to the refusal of a certificate of registration under the Licensing (Scotland) Act, 1903, which certificate is required before excisable liquor can be supplied or sold on club premises. I have no information regarding the case referred to, and it is not a matter in which I have any power to intervene.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of cases of claims in respect of post-War insanity of ex-service men in which the Department declines to admit attributability or aggravation; and whether he will give the number of such cases now carried on the Poor Law, and, in addition, the number of such cases in which the guardians have protested against the official decisions?

I regret that the records of my Department do not enable the information asked for to be given.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of ex-officer's who have been placed in salaried employment through the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour, 3, Clement's Inn, W.C., during the year 1923; the number so placed from the beginning of 1924 to date; and the total cost of the Department for the above periods, respectively?

The number of ex-officers and ex-service men of similar education placed by the Appointments Department in Great Britain in 1923 was 5,306 and in 1924, up to 13th June, 1,677. The cost of salaries, travelling and incidental expenses was £18,178 for the year 1923, and for the period 1st January to 13th June, 1924, approximately £5,000. These figures exclude such items as rent, light and heating; they include the cost of both the training and appointments side of the work, for which separate figures cannot be given.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he I aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst ex-service men regarding the rates of pension laid down for the widows of officers from the rank of captain downwards and the widows of other ranks; and whether he is prepared to consider increasing the pensions laid down, in accordance with the representations made by the British Legion on the 2nd April, 1924;(2) whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst ex-service officers and other ranks discharged since the official termination of the War, and dependants of officers and other ranks killed since that date, because they have no right of appeal against decisions of the War Office in connection with their claims for pension; and whether he is prepared to accede to the request made by the British Legion on the 2nd April, 1924, to extend to such officers, other ranks and dependants the same right of appeal to the House of Lords independent tribunal as is enjoyed by the Great War applicants?

I am aware of the representations made by the British Legion on 2nd April, but no complaints were made in the War Office before that date nor have any been made since. I have, therefore, no grounds for believing that general dissatisfaction exists. Having regard to the present financial position of the country and the heavy claims in other directions falling upon public funds, I regret that I cannot see my way to recommend an increase in the present scale of pensions. With regard to Question No. 95, I would point out that the present conditions are quite dissimilar from those applicable to the Great War cases, for which the medical and other records were necessarily much less complete. I do not think, therefore, that there are any sufficient grounds for extending to post-War cases the special arrangements made to meet the wholly abnormal conditions of the War cases.

asked. the Minister of Pensions, if he will re-examine the case of William Bulpitt, now residing at Birling, near West Mailing, Kent; and is he aware that this man was discharged from the Royal Air Force on 21st February, 1919, placed on full pension for six months, and since then has received nothing, though he is quite incapable of earning anything?

This man was demobilised from the Royal Air Force in January, 1919, after seven months' home service having enlisted in July, 1918. There is no record of hospital treatment during service, nor did the man report sick to the medical officer of his unit. He made no claim on demobilisation, but in October, 1920, he claimed for rheumatoid arthritis, for which, pending consideration of his claim, he was granted treatment and allowances for a period of six months, no award of pension being made. On full consideration of all the circumstances of the case it was decided that the rheumatism which was admittedly the result of "septic poisoning from pyorrhoea," could not be regarded as either due to or aggravated by his short period of military service at home. On an appeal being made to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal the Ministry's decision was upheld.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will investigate the circumstances attending the stoppage of a pension from John Cray, 21, Cullum Street, Stratford, No. 566,094?

I regret the interruption of payment which arose from the man's change of residence from Canada to England and the consequent transfer of documents from the Canadian authorities. Payment of pension has now been resumed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will inquire into the circumstances attending the refusal of his local Department to grant to Mr. William Pattinson of 14, William Street, Stratford, the right to appeal against his pension assessment; and, as the man was ill at the time that he should have applied, whether 'he can grant a further appeal?

I am unable to find that, in this case, the man in question was, in fact, refused the right of appeal, although he did not make an appeal within the statutory period. If, however, he claims, and can show, that he was prejudiced by illness in preferring his appeal within the time allowed by law, he should communicate with the local office, and the case will then be put to the tribunal, with whom it will rest to determine whether, in the circumstances, they are empowered under the statutory provisions to hear the appeal.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the massage advisory committee recently made a unanimous recommendation that the payment of moneys granted for the extra certificates in medical electricity and Swedish remedial exercises be made to all masseuses holding these certificates, and that the reservation limiting such allowances to masseuses engaged in the work requiring the certificates be annulled; whether the Ministry has taken any action on the resolution: and, if not, whether it intends to do so?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, I would draw attention to the fact that the Civil Service Arbitration Board agreed in their award of the 22nd May, 1922, that payment of allowances for additional certificates should be made only when the masseurs or masseuses were required to render the forms of treatment in which such certificates indicate that they are proficient, but I am considering the whole question raised in the light of present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation, where such be needed, to effect reforms in any regulations of his Department which have proved to be obsolete and objectionable; and whether, if there is any doubt on the point, he will form a committee representative of all Members to advise him as to the results of their experience?

Legislation is not required for the amendment of regulations. I am always ready to consider reasoned complaints against the regula- tions of the Ministry and to secure their modification so far as possible where they are shown to be unjustified. The Central Advisory Committee of the Ministry has already Members of this House upon it, and I do not think a further committee of the kind suggested would be of advantage.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make provision in his new Housing Bill for powers to be given to local authorities to prevent the withholding from use of any dewelling-

District.			Description	Price per 1,000 January, 1924.		Price per 1,000 May, 1924
				s.	d.	s.	d.
Willesden	…	…	Common Bricks (Flettons)	59	3	61	3
			Facing Bricks (Picked Stocks).	97	0	106	0
Birmingham	…	…	Common	55	0	60	0
			Facing	110	0	115	0
Bristol	…	…	Common	60	0	62	6
			Facing	65	0	67	6
Leeds	…	…	Common	45	0	50	0
			Facing	55	0	60	0
Leicester	…	…	Common (Flettons)	56	0	56	0
			Common (Sileby)	57	6	57	6
Manchester	…	…	Common	55	0	59	0
			Facing	73	6	75	0
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	…	…	Common	55	0	59	0
			Facing	104	0	104	0
Swansea	…	…	Common	59	0	70	0
			Facing	68	0	77	6
Hampshire	…	…	Common	80	0	80	0
			Facing	100	0	100	0
Dundee	…	…	Common	58	4	64	4
			Facing	80	0	80	0
Edinburgh	…	…	Common	55	0	55	0
			Facing	68	0	68	0
Glasgow	…	…	Common	44	6	47	6
			Facing	110	0	110	0

As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Fourth Interim Report (Cmd. 2153) of the Inter-Departmental Committee appointed to survey the prices of building materials.

asked the Minister of Health when Form A. S. 73, relating to the transfer under the National Health Insurance of a member from one approved society to another was last revised; did

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to him yesterday.

asked the Minister of Health if there have been any increases in the price of pricks per 1,000 since 1st January, 1924; if so, whether there have been any inquiries as to the cause of such increases in price; and what are the causes of the increase?

The increases in the prices of bricks per 1,000 in selected centres are shown in the following table:such revision have the effect of preventing the transferring member being entitled to any additional benefits until the January of the fifth year following transfer, whereas previously such a member was only disqualified from obtaining additional benefits until after the next valuation of the society; when did such revised form take effect from, and can anything that has been done by the Ministry have the effect of bringing an assured person under the provisions of the revised form although he signed Form A.S. 73, as revised in November, 1920, while this was still current; and, if so, under what Act, Order, or Regulation is this provided for?

Form A.S. 73 was last revised in December, 1923. The form merely forecasts the position with regard to the title of insured persons to additional benefits under schemes to be prepared as a result of the second valuation of approved societies and was issued in order to make the position clear to insured persons contemplating transfer from one society to another. The position of members already entitled to additional benefits is not affected in any way, and in the case of persons who have recently joined or, in future, join a society, the position will be governed by the terms of the scheme to be prepared by the society and sanctiond by the Minister in accordance with the provisions of the National Health Insurance Acts.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have adopted the model by-law which provides for the use of the humane killer; and if he has any information as to the results of the working of the by-law issued by his Department?

The model byaw has been adopted by 110 local authorities. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that the by-law, where properly applied, is not satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the inferior quality of much of the milk sold in this country, he will, in the interests of consumers, enforce a definite standard of quality for all milk on sale?

My right hon. Friend is advised that in view of the natural variations in the quality of milk there would be great difficulty in laying down a definite standard which would at the same time protect consumers and be fair to producers. The law already provides that if the percentages of milk fat and other solids in milk fall below certain specified limits the onus of proving that the milk is not adulterated rests on the defenc; and the experience of local authorities shows that less than 8 per cent. of the samples taken by them fall below these limits.

asked the Minister of Health whether he approved the appointment of Mr. C. Gayfer as district sanitary inspector to the Borough of Lowestoft on 14th December, 1923, at a salary of £145 per annum, rising to £165 by annual increments of 26; whether he is aware that this salary is without bonus; and whether, in view of its inadequacy, he can state what action he proposes to take with the authority in question?

The local authority informed my right hon. Friend's predecessor that as the officer in question was only recently qualified, and as his work would be supervised by a chief sanitary inspector, who would himself discharge the more important duties, they considered the proposed salary adequate. In the circumstances it was not considered that object-ion to the proposal could be maintained. The question of an increase of salary is one for the local authority in the first instance, but my right hon. Friend would he prepared to give sympathetic consideration to any reasonable increase that may be submitted to him by the town council.

asked the Minister of Health why, seeing that the scales of salaries for Local Government officers agreed upon by a provincial Whitley Council representing employers and employés are regarded as trade union rates of pay, he is encouraging Metropolitan borough councils to pay the sanitary inspectors in their employ a lower salary than that which the Metropolitan Provincial Whitley Council has approved?

My right hon. Friend has been in communication with the London District (Whitley) Council and has decided not to withhold approval of salaries in accordance with the scale suggested by that body where proposed by the authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Health what were the exact terms of the advice recently given by an official of his Department to the Southwark Board of Guardians with reference to the sending of unemployed men in the borough to the Belmont and Hollesley Bay Institutions?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the letter which was addressed to the guardians.

asked the Minister of Transport if, having regard to the distress in the Cleator Moor area caused by the closing down of iron-ore mines and kindred industries, he will expedite as rapidly as possible the passing of the plans for the making of the proposed new road at Cleator and facilitate the making of the grant, so that employment may be at once found for the many workless men in this area?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, I will gladly consider an application for a grant in respect of the proposed by-pass road at Cleator Moor, if the county council, which is the authority responsible for the maintenance of the existing road, is prepared to promote the project. I understand, however, that the county council is not disposed to approve of the proposed by-pass road, as the small amount of traffic on the existing road does not appear to warrant a large expenditure at the present time on the construction of a by-pass. Perhaps the local authorities concerned might with advantage confer, with a view to the preparation of some alternative scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a list of the works included in the road-making programme of 13½ millions for the relief of unemployment which the Minister of Labour informed the House on 22nd May that the present Government have approved, in addition to the programme formed by the late Government; and whether he will state the estimated cost of each of the works included in this programme and the advances which it is proposed to make out of the Road Fund and the Exchequer, respectively, to each?

I propose to give as to these proposals at an early date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many individuals would be affected if the permanent officials of the Indian Civil Service who were invalided out owing to war disabilities before 7th November, 1921, and who at that date were on leave without allowances and not in active Civil Service, were allowed to profit as regards pension by the revised rules which came into force on that date; and what the approximate cost of this concession would be?

Accurate figures are not available, but the number cannot be large. I assume that the rules, referred to are the premature retirement rules. As the hon. and gallant Member is aware these were introduced for officers retiring in quite different circumstances.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that on the Doom Dooma Tea Company's plantations of Assam, out of a total working population of 8,691, there are 1,559 children at work; what is the average age of these children, how many hours they are required to work on the plantations, and what wages are paid to them?

My Noble Friend has no information, but will inquire.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty which of the trades essential to the process of house building, apart from the supply of raw materials, are represented among the employés in the dockyards, specifying the number of each trade so represented, and showing these numbers separately for each of the royal dockyards?

The numbers of men of the several trades ordinarily employed on house building work now employed in the

Trades.	Chatham.	Portsmouth.	Devonport.	Sheerness.	Pembroke.	Rosyth.
Bricklayers	25	80	—	2	—	3
Masons	1	32	51	1	3	14
Plasterers	2	8	—	—	—	—
Carpenters and Joiners	40	167	64	3	5	25
Plumbers	20	24	32	2	2	10
Slaters	—	3	—	—	—	—
Painters and Glaziers	53	92	72	5	5	17
Smiths	9	50	23	2	1	8

The work performed by these tradesmen is not confined to building construction.Joiners, painters, plumbers, bricklayers and smiths are also employed in the shipbuilding and other departments of the dockyards.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can give any undertaking that the pensions of dockyard men now retiring from the service shall he brought up to the scale laid down in the proposals dealing with pre-War pensioners?

I regret that I am not in a position to give the undertaking asked for. The rules under which dockyard pensions are assessed apply to the Civil Service as a whole, and I am not prepared to recommend that exceptional treatment in the matter should be accorded to employés in His Majesty's Dockyards.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) what sum of the £30,000 Canteens Improvement Fund has been expended on Admiralty property; and why this expenditure from the men's fund was accepted when the money could have been obtained from the Navy Votes passed by this House;(2) if his attention has been called to the Report of the 19th Men's Canteen Committee meeting held on 25th April, 1924, and to the fact that part of the £30,000 Canteen's Improvement Fund has been expended in Admiralty property;

This fund is not administered by the Admiralty, but is expended by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes in accordance with the wishes of the men of the Fleet, as decided by their authorised representatives. The amount allocated for the improvement of buildings is, I understand, approximately £8,000, but this expenditure could not have been made from Navy Votes in the current financial year, and owing to the necessity for economy in Navy Estimates it is unlikely that the money could have been found from public funds in future years. The Admiralty do not, therefore. propose to take any steps in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is in a position now to state his decision with reference to the establishing for poor counties scholarships to take suitable children from the secondary schools to the university, particularly from such counties as Suffolk?

The Board have already revived the scheme for the award of State scholarships to assist scholars from grant-aided secondary schools to attend university institutions, and it will be operative this year.

asked the President of the Board of Education what were the amounts paid in the last financial year by way of increased grants to highly rated areas for educational services and to which authorities were such grants paid; and will he state the approximate amount of such grants likely to be paid in the current financial year and the local authorities likely to benefit thereby?

The amounts of the increased grants payable to highly rated areas are not determined until the audited accounts for the year are received and examined. The audited accounts for 1923–24 have not yet reached the Board, and I cannot add anything to the information given by my predecessor in his reply of the 17th January last to the hon. Member for Walsall (Mr. Collins), a copy of which I am sending the hon. Gentleman. For the year 1924–25 the sum contained in the Estimates for this purpose is £200,000, as stated in paragraph 12 of the Memorandum of the Board's Estimates [Cmd. 2148], but the number of probable participants cannot be ascertained at this early date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated present value in sterling of the shares held by this country in the Suez Canal; what was the dividend in. sterling for the year ending 31st March, 1924, or latest appropriate period and what return that dividend represents an the original purchase money?

The estimated value of the shares in sterling on 10th June last is £28,672,951. The sterling value of the interest and dividends received in the year ended 31st March, 1924, is £878,202 11s. 7d., representing a return of about 21½ per cent. on the original purchase price of the shares.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the Austrian currency notes at the time of the last loan; and what was the amount at the end of May, 1924?

The note circulation of the National Bank of Austria on 15th June, 1923, was 5,014 milliards of paper crowns, and on 31st May, 1924, 7,554 milliards of paper crowns.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that at the cricket match between Middlesex and Somerset at Lord's cricket ground, on Saturday, 14th June, the charge for admission to the ground was 1s. including Entertainments Duty; and whether, seeing that this figure is the same as obtained before the reduction in the Entertainments Duty was made, he can inform the House why the concession was not passed on to the public?

I have no information as to the reasons for the charges levied by particular entertainment proprietors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Mr. A. Heane, of Ash Vale, Surrey, the inventor of a synchronised firing gear for aircraft, has not yet received out-of-pocket expenses incurred with regard to his invention, and for which he made a claim as long ago as 1918; whether Mr. de Mole, who received £987 out-of-pocket expenses with regard to his tank invention, after his claim had been rejected by the Royal Commission on Awards, was asked to supply a detailed statement to show how this amount was arrived at; and why Mr. Heane's claim was not dealt with in the same way as Mr. de Mole's?

I have been asked to reply. As regards the first part of the question, the claim for out-of-pocket expenses put forward by Mr. Heane was disallowed on the ground that the expenses were not incurred at the request or with the consent of any Government Department, and Mr. Heane was so informed. As regards the second part of the question, I am not prepared' to admit that Mr. Heane's claim is in any way analogous to that of Mr. de Mole, which was settled in the special circumstances explained by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in reply to the hon. Member for IIford on 7th May last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the number of the Russian Soviet Trade Mission in Great Britain; and if the number has been increased since the 1st January this year?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Kensington South (Sir W. Davison) yesterday. I have received no notification of any additions to the staff of the Soviet Trade Delegation subsequent to the 1st January of this year.

asked the Minister of Health how many posts above the lower clerical, excluding inspectors, there are in the Local Government Administration Division of the Ministry of Health; and how many of these posts are held by women?

There are 39 posts in the Local Government Administration Division of the Ministry above the lower clerical grade. None of these posts are held by women.

asked the Minister of Health how many posts above the lower clerical, excluding inspectors, there are in 14he infectious diseases division of the Ministry of Health; and how many of these posts are held by women?

There art 20 posts in the infectious diseases division of the Ministry above the lower clerical grade. None of these posts are held by women.

asked the Minister of Health why the consultative councils authorised by the Ministry of Health Act to advise him upon matters of public health administration relating to medical and allied services, local health administration and general health questions have not met since 1921; and whether, owing to lack of interest in their work, he is prepared to dissolve such councils and reconstitute them from bodies closely concerned and taking an active interest in health matters?

Meetings of these bodies have not been held since the date named because no questions have arisen upon which the Minister of Health has considered it desirable to ask for their advice. The principle suggested in the latter part of the question was followed in constituting these bodies, and provision is made for periodical variations in their membership.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, since the passing of the Fees (Increase) Act, the number of outdoor and transmission officers at our shipping ports has been reduced; whether he is aware that such officers hitherto employed in preventing illegal boarding of steamers, instead of being in attendance on the docks, are now employed in many cases inside the Board of Trade offices at the various ports; and whether this has been done under instructions from his Department?

The outdoor staff of the mercantile marine offices at the ports was reduced about two years ago in order to reduce expenditure, and the services rendered to ships and seamen had to be curtailed. The officers whose services were retained are employed, under instructions from the Department, on indoor or outdoor work as may be required.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the specific instances in a long series of very grave errors in the transmission of telegrams of Messrs. Paul Brothers, Homepride Mills, Birkenhead, on which Messrs. Paul Brothers have made written complaint to the postmaster at Birkenhead and Wallasey; whether he is aware that the postmaster has replied to Messrs. Paul Brothers on each of the following dates saying that suitable notice has been, or will be, taken of the incidents, namely, the 21st September, 12th October, 15th November, 1923, and 11th February, 20th March, 3rd and 19th April, 1924; what exactly is the meaning of the expression suitable notice, and if it implies disciplinary action; and, if so, the nature of the disciplinary action that has been taken in each case, giving the names and rank of the officials involved?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question of the 5th June. The errors to which he refers were made by officers of the rank of telegraphist or telephonist, with the exception of one error in delivery made by a boy messenger. It would be contrary to the usual practice to give tile names of the officers concerned. The notice taken of an error in a telegram depends upon the character of the mistake, the conditions under which it was made, and the degree of certainty with which responsibility can be fixed, especially as between the sending and receiving operators. In two of the cases in question, fines were imposed; in one case the officer in fault was required to perform extra duty without pay; and in the others, the officers concerned were cautioned.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is now in a position to supply the information promised of the comparative retail coal prices charged by merchants and co-operative societies, respectively, in London and provincial districts?

I have arranged far a White Paper on this subject to be published. Copies will be available in the Vote Office to-morrow.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in what counties (with the numbers in each such county) were the 287 insolvent farmers in the Returns for 1922; and in what counties (with the numbers in each such county) were the remaining 116 insolvent farmers in the Returns for the same year?

The following table gives the particulars desired by the hon. Member:

asked the Prime Minister whether the Constituent Assembly at Bagdad has so far declined to accept the Treaty drafted with King Feisal by British representatives in the form agreed upon by both sides; whether it is proposed by the Government to apply to the League of Nations for fresh powers; and what is the position of the A mandate for Mesopotamia originally formulated under the Peace Treaty?

As I stated yesterday, the Constituent Assembly has accepted the Treaty. With regard to the second and last parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. and gallant Member for Stafford (Mr. Ormsby-Gore) on the 2nd June.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government is in possession of information showing that Communist organisations in this country are in receipt of, or have received, money grants from foreign revolutionary societies; and, if so, whether he will state the sources from which the money emanated?

Yes, Sir; but it would not conduce to the public interest to disclose such information as we possess on the particular point to which the hon. Member adverts.