asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the serious condition of disrepair, want of renovation and inconvenience of the Chertsey post office; whether a decision has been reached that an entirely new building is required; and whether, in view of the bad conditions, he will put the new work in hand without delay?

The defects of the present post office premises at Chertsey are realised, and a site has been purchased for the erection of a new building. Subject to Parliamentary sanction, it is hoped to provide for the work in the Estimates for 1925–6.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can see his way to provide an extra pillar box at Dunlow Bassett, near Rugby, as requested by the parish council in March last?

I have had inquiry made. The posting facilities in this village appear to be adequate, and I regret that I cannot see my way to meet the wishes of the parish council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the imports into Great Britain from the Soviet Union, and the exports from Great Britain to the Soviet Union during each month of 1923; and what are the corresponding figures for the first five months of 1924?

asked the Secretary for Scotland the annual increased cost of the Roxburghshire constabulary in respect of wages and clothing as compared with the statement of accounts for 1914; and what sums are annually paid to Mr. J. Murren, as chief constable for Roxburghshire, Berwickshire and Selkirkshire?

The cost of the pay and clothing of the Roxburghshire constabulary for the financial year 1913–14 was £3,813, and for the financial year 1922–23, £9,442. The chief constable of the three counties receives an annual salary of £750 and the following allowances:

The following statement shows the values of imports into and exports from the United Kingdom, registered during each of the months specified as consigned from and to Russia:deduction of 2½ per cent. and the rent allowance to a deduction of 30 per cent.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the transport difficulties in the district of Park, Island of Lewis, with its 2,000 inhabitants, and in view of the unfortunate local conditions, he is prepared to consider an application for a grant to complete 1½ miles of road to link up the district with the main county road?

On the assumption that this question relates to the Kerahader-Garyvard section of the South Loch Erisort Road, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 24th instant, in which I explained the position in regard to expenditure from the grant of £2,500 offered for work on this road. It has been decided that the balance of this grant unexpended as at 30th June should be made available for the continuance of the work for a further period of two months. I am aware that this grant will be insufficient to cover the construction of the complete section of the road, but in present circumstances I am not prepared to give any undertaking as to any additional grant.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what would be the estimated cost of raising steam in one of His Majesty's sloops and one of His Majesty's flotilla leaders, respectively, for the, purpose of conveying the Board of Admiralty round the lines of warships at the forthcoming naval review in the place of the yacht "Enchantress"; and whether the yacht "Enchantress" is to proceed outside the waters of the Solent with the Board of Admiralty?

The answer to the first part of the question is £7 for a sloop and £9 10s. for a flotilla leader. The movements of H.M. Yacht "Enchantress" during her forthcoming commission will be ordered as the Board of Admiralty may determine at their discretion when the time comes.

asked the Home Secretary whether the re-organisation of the Home Office is yet complete, and, if so, how Many administrative and executive posts are on the revised establishment; and how many of these posts are filled by men and how many by women?

The general re-organisation scheme for the Home Office was settled in 1921, and provided for 37 administrative posts but no executive posts. It is subject of course to reconsideration from time to time in the event of changes or developments in the work of the Department, and since 1921 five administrative posts have been added. In addition, two administrative officers and three executive officers have been temporarily allocated to the Home Office pending the liquidation of certain Irish business. One administrative post is filled by a woman; the remaining posts are filled by men.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now state the result of his inquiries about Reggie Ford?

I have received a full report from one of the inspectors of the Children's Branch of the Home Office who has seen the boy, visited the boy's home, and obtained information from a number of local officials and other persons who are acquainted with the circumstances. I am satisfied that the magistrates, who included two women magistrates, dealt with the case with the fullest sympathy, and with a desire to do what was best for the boy. The parents admitted that he was given to pilfering, that he was falling under the bad influence of older boys, and that they were unable to control him; and they asked that the boy might be sent away to school. The magistrates decided to send him to the Somerset Boys' Home, where he could complete his elementary education under proper supervision. To describe this as treating the little boy as a criminal and giving him a sentence of detention for eight years gives an entirely unfair and misleading impression of the decision of the Court. When the boy was received into the school in January, 1923, he was said to suffer from nervous trouble and to need care. Special attention was accordingly given to the boy under the supervision of the school doctor. As his conduct was good he was allowed home in the holidays and taken to camp with the other boys, and appeared to be very happy. In April last a nervous twitching was noticed, and on the advice of the school doctor he was sent at once for observation to the Royal United Hospital, Bath, where he has been receiving suitable treatment, and he will soon he able to leave the hospital. After careful consideration of the home surroundings of the boy, I should not be prepared at present to discharge the boy to his parents, but it has been arranged for a medical inspector to visit the boy in hospital next week and to consider whether it is best for him to return to school or whether some other arrangement should be made.