asked the Minister of Pensions if he will extend the time limit in the matter of applications for the civil liabilities grants to such persons who, in the opinion of the war pensions committees, are exceptional cases?

I have been asked to reply. In exceptional circumstances, including, of course, cases in which the war pensions committees make representations, applications for civil liabilities grants which are out of time can be considered.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that his Department has refused the issue of pensions under Article 1,163 of the Royal Warrant of 1914 to men suffering with a disability due to War service who have more than 14 years' Army service in cases where the man was demobilised and the disability accepted after discharge; and, if so, whether he will take the necessary action to amend the Royal Warrant so that in all cases where a man has 14 years' or more service, and is suffering from a War disability, he shall receive a pension for life?

The intention of this Article was to provide compensation for service in the case of regular soldiers who had been prevented by discharge on account of disability from completing the service necessary to qualify for long service pension. Men serving on short time engagements during the War and demobilised when their services were no longer required are not within the scope of the Article. The Article referred to is common to the Ministry and the Service Departments, and my right hon. Friend would have no authority to adopt the course suggested as regards those cases which come before his Department.

Is it not unsatisfactory that a man, having been brought into the service pension and the disability pension, should be deprived of the service pension because the disability pension has been taken away from him?

This article was intended to apply only to the case of those men who had been disabled and whose service was thereby cut short in qualifying for long service pension.

When a man has been granted a service pension in addition to a disability pension surely it is unsatisfactory and unjust that, because he is deprived of the disability pension, the service pension should be taken away from him?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider cases of appeal against final award in those cases where application was not made before 6th February, 1924, in special cases where it can be proved that applicants were not aware of a final date having been fixed, and where real hardship exists?

As I pointed out in the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on the same subject on the 29th April last, the period of appeal is fixed by Statute and it is in the last resort for the tribunal to determine, subject to the statutory provisions, whether it is empowered to entertain an appeal. I may add that the arrangements to which I then referred for dealing with cases in which it is shown that an award was erroneously declared final at the time it was made, owing to a definite error of fact or judgment, are now in active operation.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that there are thousands of ex-service men who have never been individually told that they have any right of appeal at all? Will he reconsider this matter in view of the fact that a man who signs form Z22 does think in many cases that he has no further right of appeal?

Notice has been given, and if there are any outstanding cases——

This is a most important matter. No man who had a final statutory award before the 19th August, 1921, has received individual notice. Will the hon. Gentleman reconsider the matter?

The change has been a recent one, and notice has been given of it.

What form has the notice taken

The notice has been in the Press.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the pensions assessment appeal tribunal, sitting to hear and decide on a pensioner's appeal against a final award, do not always have the whole of the evidence relevant to the case submitted for their consideration; and, if it can be proved that relevant evidence has been omitted, where the decisions are against the pensioner, will the Ministry be willing to review any such case?

The Ministry's instructions require that the whole of the evidence relative to the case, so far as it is known to the Ministry, shall be embodied in the précis which is prepared for the hearing of a case by the tribunal, and I am satisfied that this instruction is generally observed. Two copies, of the précis are sent to the man at least 10 days before the hearing, and if he has any objection to it, any representations made to the Ministry before the hearing, or to the tribunal at the hearing, would receive full consideration. An exceptional case in which evidence materially affecting the question of assessment only became available subsequent to the earlier decision on the case would be considered.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardships imposed upon certain pensioners who are not permitted, by the terms of Article 1,078 of the Royal Warrant, to commute a part of their pensions unless they are receiving more than 2s. per day; and whether he will consider the advisability of amending the terms of Article 1,078 so as to allow of the part commutation of pensions, where satisfactory reasons are shown, below 2s. and above 1s. per day?

I have been asked to reply. I do not think it would be in accordance with the permanent interests of the pensioners concerned to reduce their pensions to as little as 1s. a day in order to increase the capital sums paid them for commutation.

Is the Department carrying out the policy which has hitherto been carried out of Assenting sparingly to applications for commutation? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases in which commutation has been granted it has turned out very ill indeed?

The present practice is to look very closely into every application for commutation so as to see whether it would be a real benefit to the applicant.

asked the President of the Board of Education if, seeing that the education grants for children of widows of ex-service men is at present based upon the policy of whether the father, had he lived, would have been in a position to provide such education as secondary or grammar school standard, he will make a change by suggesting to the special grants committee that in future they should base their decision on the principle of whether the child would benefit by such higher education?

I have been asked to reply. Perhaps I may be allowed to refer my hon. Friend to the answer on a similar point given to the hon. Member for Tottenham on the 26th ultimo, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in four county police forces and in 50 city and borough police forces white overall coats are worn, in most cases continuously, and in all cases after dark, by police employed on point duty; and, in these circumstances, will he reconsider his refusal to issue equipment with such overalls at the more inadequately lighted points in the Metropolitan Police Area, in view of the difficulty experienced by drivers of vehicles in certain cases in seeing the signals of the officers employed on point duty?

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to the Noble Lord on the 28th February last.

Am I to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that, in spite of the particulars given in the question, he refuses to make any experiment in this matter?

Is this to apply to the police force in Northern Ireland?

This matter has been decided according to the judgment of the Commissioner, and he thinks that the overalls are not suitable for London service.

I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment on the first opportunity.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the case of aliens registered with the police in this country, any details are furnished by such persons in regard to their place of employment; whether, in the event of their change of address, the police authorities communicate to the new district information regarding the individuals concerned; and whether any restriction is enforced in regard to the employment of aliens in trades or industries in which there is considerable unemployment?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, an alien is not admitted to this country for employment unless he is in possession of a permit issued to his prospective employer by the Ministry of Labour.

How many of these aliens are keeping British people out of employment?

None, that I am aware of.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the danger of the street crossing between Old Palace Yard and Westminster Hall; whether any steps are taken by the police to regulate the speed of traffic proceeding between Millbank and Parliament Square; and whether, with a view to safeguarding the lives of Members of this House and others who have business in Abingdon Street, he will consider what steps he can take, by the erection of additional refuges or otherwise, to eradicate the present dangers of the crossing?

The difficulties of the crossing are well known, and police are instructed to prevent any person driving at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous. The Commissioner does not think that additional refuges are at present required.

Is there any policeman on point duty there at all?

In this case the police are aware. They have to watch the traffic coming from that part and to see that drivers do not exceed the speed.

Will they pay particular attention to the safety of the people who frequent Abingdon Street?

May I advise the right hon. Gentleman to stand for 10 minutes in the street and see the speed of the traffic?

I know the difficulty, and if the instructions of the police are observed I think that it will be all right.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bring the matter to the notice of the Commissioner, to see if anything can be done to safeguard the lives of the people?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has been approached to permit of advertisements being placed in licensed taxicabs; and whether he can give this House an assurance that he will not permit any cabs which are to be licensed by his Department to carry advertisements either inside or outside?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I have asked the Commissioner to arrange that if any concrete proposals are submitted to him he will consider them on their merits, having regard to considerations of safety, interference with lighting, etc. In the circumstances, I cannot give the general assurance asked for.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that we have our eyes assailed enough already by advertisements without putting them in taxis? Is not that nearly reaching the limit?

Is there any reason why a taxi-cab owner, or a taxi-cab driver and owner, should not enjoy the same privilege as the omnibus proprietor?

Should you not take a lesson from Glasgow, where they do not allow advertisements of any description in the tramcars?

Should not taxi-cab owners have the same opportunity of advertising themselves as Members of this House?

asked the Home Secretary how many young women in prison in England and Wales during the the past five years, in default of payment of fines, have been liberated on payment of these fines at the prison without any notice having been given?

This information cannot be given, but the Prison Commissioners have obtained figures covering the two periods of six months ended 12th January, 1923, and 1924, respectively, and showing the number of cases in which women prisoners were liberated on payment of their fines. There were 258 in the former period, and 294 in the latter. I have no information as to the ages of these women. No notice is required before payment of a prisoner's fine.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether he has any reason to believe that persons of undesirable character, including men of alien origin, have been known to come to a prison and pay the fine of a female prisoner, thereby securing her release and, as a result, obtaining possession of her; whether any Reports on this subject have been received by him from governors, chaplains, or visitors of prisons; and, if not, could he obtain such a Report and present it to the House;

(2) whether a recent change in administration has been made giving young women the choice of remaining in prison for a night, thereby placing on them the onus of refusing immediate release; and, if so, whether he is prepared to inquire into the working of this order and to take any steps needed to prevent any evils arising from this system?

I will answer these two questions together. Some information on this subject was collected by the Commissioners of Prisons, which, though not sufficiently definite for publication, suggested that it would be well to take precautions. Where payment of a fine is tendered and the prisoner desires release, there is no power to refuse it. In cases, however, where the payment is tendered at night by some person, who may be an undesirable character, the suggestion is made to the prisoner that, if she desires to avoid such person, she will be allowed, at her own request, to sleep in the prison for the night, and go out the next morning. The practice, which is not new, appears to me to be reasonable and in the prisoner's interest and not one from which evils are likely to arise.

Is it because of legislation or regulation that no alteration can be made in this arrangement? Although it is very undesirable that outside people should investigate this subject, and no charge is brought against the Home Secretary's own officials in this matter, would the right hon. Gentleman be kind enough to make inquiries among his own people?

Although the present practice seems to be reasonable, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the results are really disastrous to hundreds of girls in the country, and could not something be done?

No, I do not think that the results are disastrous. We have given an opportunity to the women to remain if they so desire. If the fine is paid we cannot prevent them from being released.

Why not?

As long as the fine is paid we cannot prevent their release. What we cannot do by compulsion, we try to do by a voluntary arrangement which works in the interests of the person concerned.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in West Ham we often "bind them over" for a certain period, which we find does them more good?

Is it the fact that if persons who are not known, to be related to a prisoner come and pay the fine, a note is taken of them, and investigations are made?

Yes; we exercise what care we can to prevent these poor and unfortunate prisoners getting into the hands of undesirable people, and if any hon. Member can suggest what we can do within our power to strengthen the present arrangement we shall be prepared to do it.

Is it still the practice—it was so last year—that if a person comes to pay the fine of a woman prisoner without apparently being connected with her directly, that person's name is taken and investigation is made?

The practice is exactly the same as when the right hon. Gentleman was Home Secretary.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will grant facilities to enable prisoners who are first offenders to send and receive one letter fortnightly from the time of sentence until discharge?

The frequency with which letters are now allowed to prisoners depends on their classification, as stated in the reply to the question on the subject on the 16th April last, and first offenders receive treatment according to the Division in which they have been placed by the Court. I would point out that first offences vary considerably in degree of gravity, and that all first offenders are not entitled to special privileges.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the minimum time at present is one month, and in the circumstances, in crimes of lesser gravity, will he arrange that the minimum time during which prisoners may receive and send letters is a fortnight instead of one month?

I will look into the point.

asked the Home Secretary what steps, if any, his Department takes to review sentences of children sentenced to industrial schools; and what steps, if any, he takes to separate those sentenced for criminal or moral offences from others?

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

asked the Home Secretary how many children have been born in prison during the six months ending 30th June last; and whether he will consider the provision of extra food and nourishment for expectant and nursing mothers whilst in prison?

I regret that I am not in possession of the information asked for, but inquiry is being made. Medical officers have full instructions to grant extra or special diet to all expectant and nursing mothers, and these instructions are observed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the possibility of arranging that expectant mothers shall be removed temporarily from the prison, so as to prevent the stigma of the prison resting on the children?

Sympathy, of course, would demand that that course should be followed. We have no power at present to release temporarily any expectant mother. Once a prisoner is released we have no power to replace that person in prison. When the question was before this House there was a Clause providing that prisoners be removed from prison temporarily for operations, but the House definitely refused to allow the Clause to be sufficiently wide to include cases of expectant mothers.

Can the right hon. Gentleman see his way to advise the Commissioners to relax the silence rule for women prisoners suffering in this way?

Will the right hon. Gentleman grant facilities to the House to discuss these matters? The Home Office Vote has been dealt with, and the discussion of prison matters was not reached.

I would welcome an opportunity to have the whole question raised, but that matter does not rest with myself. The question as to which subjects are to be discussed must be negotiated through the usual channels.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now in possession of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Training of Teachers; and whether he can relieve the uncertainty and anxiety of the uncertificated teachers in elementary schools by announcing the date of the next examination which will provide them with the opportunity of securing their final certificate?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As I have already announced in answer to questions in this House, it is impossible for me to make any statement as to the future of the acting teachers certificate examination until I have received the Report of the Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many non-provided schools have been transferred to the local education authorities since 1902; how many non-provided schools remain untransferred; and whether the Government have any policy with regard to the establishment of a single system for the whole country?

The number of non-provided schools that were transferred to local education authorities between the 1st August, 1902, and the 31st March, 1924, is 1,386; and the number of non-provided schools existing on the latter of these two dates was 11,785. Any modification of the dual system as established by the Act of 1902 would require legislation.

In the opinion of the Government, is not the cessation of this dual system important and demanded in the interests of education?

That is too big a question to discuss by question and answer.

How many of the 1,300 transferred schools belong to the British and Foreign Schools Society?

I cannot say without notice.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the policy of the Government with respect to remedying the position in many rural schools where one teacher is teaching standards 1 to 7, where such teachers state that it is physically impossible to impart satisfactory education, and where many of the older children leave school without getting beyond the fifth standard?

I am, of course, aware of the difficulty to which the hon. Member refers, which is due to intractable geographical conditions necessitating the provision of very small isolated schools. The Board are suggesting to local education authorities the desirability of concentrating as far as possible the older children of neighbouring villages in suitable centres with a view to improved classification and organisation.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the serious overcrowding, particularly in London, of infant classes in the schools because of the large number of "under-fives"?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the minimum and the maximum capitation grant per pupil made by local authorities for all requisites in the elementary school; whether he can provide that in future an adequate minimum capitation grant shall be given; and whether he can state, in the absence of such satisfactory grants, that the nation is able to secure a full Return for the sums expended on elementary education?

The estimated expenditure of local education authorities in the year 1923–24 on "other expenses of maintenance" of public elementary schools amounted on the average to 31s. 10d. per child, the range of expenditure being from 13s. 7d. to 57s. 9d. I may refer the hon. Member to Table 8 of the Return—"Cost per Child, Elementary Education (1923)"—a copy of which I am sending to him. I shall be able to give him further information when the audited accounts of the local education authorities have been received and collated. It is the duty of the local education authorities (and a condition of grant) to maintain and keep efficient all public elementary schools within their area, and to equip them adequately and suitably with apparatus, books, etc., required for the curriculum. Where it appears that there is a deficiency at any of these points, the Board will bring the matter to the notice of the authority.

In cases where only one halfpenny per week, per child, is available for these requisites, is it not impossible for the school to give proper facilities for education?

Wherever the supply appears to us to be insufficient we advise the local authority to remedy it.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has received any Report relating to his Department from Lord Meston's Committee of Inquiry into the system of percentage grants to local authorities?

I understand that the Committee have not yet issued a Report. As the Committee was set up by the Treasury any Report which they might issue would be addressed to that Department.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made any inquiries with regard to that Report, from the point of view of the Board of Education, with which it is largely concerned?

Is any change contemplated in the present arrangements?

No. As regards the other question, I am, of course, interested in the result of the Report.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has received any communication from local education authorities in opposition to the proposal to raise the school-leaving age?

asked the President of the Board of Education how many local authorities propose to exercise the powers of raising the school-leaving age to 15 years; and which authorities have so decided to act?

The Board have not received any communication from local education authorities in opposition to the proposal to raise the school-leaving age. They have now before them two specific proposals for the approval of bye-laws for raising the age to 15, namely, from the County Borough of Bath and the Education Committee of East Suffolk. These are now under consideration. Several other authorities are considering whether it is desirable or practicable to submit a bye-law for the purpose.

In view of the complete cutting out of any provision for children between 14 and 16 under the Insurance Acts, is the right hon. Gentleman now prepared to take steps to have the age limit raised?

If the age limit were raised to 15, would not that solve the problem of unemployment of children up to 16?

Has the Minister made any provision for these boys and girls who are to be kept at school until they are 15 years of age, so that they may receive wages, as if they were in employment. We promised when we were standing for Parliament that we would see that these children were paid as much wages for going to school up to 15 as if they were working, and is the Minister providing for that payment?

I am afraid the Minister cannot always read the hon. Member's speeches at election time.

May I just point out——

I would ask the hon. Member not to make speeches, but to ask questions.

Well, I wish to point out——

The hon. Member must not take up too much time, and must put his question through me to the Minister.

If I get a chance I will put my question, but I am not getting a chance. [HON. MEMBERS:"Order!"] I want to ask the Minister if what I put to my constituents was not the same as the Labour party put in their election address, and is he prepared to implement the promises that were made to our people that their children were to receive as much wages for going to school as if they were working in the workshops?

Mr. Speaker, I have not had a chance. I want to know if the right hon. Gentleman is in favour of them going to school until they are married and then giving them pensions after that?

I do not know what the law is in Scotland, but I have pointed out that in England local authorities have power to give maintenance grants if they wish. With regard to the larger question, I do not think it can be discussed in questions and answers.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Air whether negotiations with the French authorities are nearing completion with regard to a proposed seaplane service from Southampton to Cherbourg and various French seaside resorts; and if he is in a position to state when the service will be commenced?

The preliminary negotiations which had been opened with the French authorities in regard to the establishment of a seaplane service from Southampton to Cherbourg and other French ports were not brought to a conclusion because, in view of the experimental nature of the employment of this type of aircraft on regular air transport services, it was considered necessary to confine operations in the first instance to the Southampton-Guernsey service. Valuable experience is being gained on the latter route, but I am not in a position to state whether the services referred to in the Noble Lord's question will be commenced, the decision in regard to this resting primarily with the directors of Imperial Airways, Limited.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that experiments have been going on for over a year which have proved eminently satisfactory; and in view of the great demand on both sides of the Channel for a passenger and mails service between Cherbourg and Southampton and also to the French holiday resorts before the holiday season is over, will be take any steps to see that the matter is expedited as much as possible?

I can only hope that the Imperial Airways, Limited, will take notice of what the Noble Lord has said and carry out his suggestion.

If these services are instituted will a subsidy be given to the company?

The subsidy scheme has already been arranged, and would certainly not be interfered with.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what additional employment has been created at Cardington due to the decision of the Government to re-open the aerodrome; and does he pro- pose to give, as far as possible, preference for work to those unemployed living in the district?

In answer to the first part of the question the number of workmen for whom employment will be created is unlikely to exceed 50 in the first six months, or 150 in the first year; the answer to the second part is in the affirmative.

Will a preference be given to unemployed ex-service men?

Yes, if they are competent.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, with a view to impressing upon the people the probable results of any future aerial warfare, he will arrange that in the next aerial pageant organised by his Department at Hendon there shall be depicted, not only the bombing of warships and tanks, but also the bombing of the houses of non-combatants?

On a point of Order. Is not this question sarcastic; and, if so, should it appear on the Order Paper?

I do not read it that way.

Is not the reference to the bombing of the houses of non-combatants intended in that way?

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been noted for appropriate consideration.

May we take it that my hon. Friend, whose pacific convictions are so well known, is aware of the desirability of making people realise the horrible side of war?

Cannot the ordinary citizen——

I think the supplementary question has shown that the original question was ironical.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he can give the House the total number of casualties suffered by the British Air Force during bombing operations carried on in Iraq or elsewhere during the past five months, and the total casualties suffered by the people living in the various places against which these operations have taken place;

(2) on how many occasions during the past five months has the Air Force been engaged in Iraq or other places bombing undefended villages or townships; and whether any notice, and, if any, what length of notice, is given to the civilian population—women, children, and men—to withdraw before the bombing commences?

Bombs have been dropped on five occasions in Iraq during the period referred to, and in all cases except one not less than two days' warning was given to enable the inhabitants to withdraw. The objectives selected were the encampments and grazing grounds of the offending tribes. The case where no warning was given was one of an attack by tribes on native police, in which one police officer and three police were killed. In this period there have been no casualties to the Royal Air Force in Iraq during bombing operations. As regards casualties inflicted by the operations, none have been reported to Air Headquarters. My hon. Friend will realise that in areas where violence is habitual, Air action, however regrettable the necessity for it, in many cases checks at an early stage disturbances which would otherwise cause great loss of life. In this connection, I may mention that a frontier tribe, of the same type as those which the hon. Member has, apparently, in mind, recently killed 146 men and 127 women and children during a single raid into Iraq territory, in the course of which all the male prisoners and wounded, both men and boys, were put to death.

Is it not a fact that the particulars of the case last mentioned by the hon. Gentleman happened hundreds of miles away from any district that has been bombarded during the last five months?

What has that to do with the question?

What has it to do with the bombing of other villages?

The offending tribe escaped back over the borders before operations could be taken by us against them, but it is also the fact that this kind of raid, with its consequent loss of life, has been almost entirely abolished by the measures taken by the Air Force.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that that is no answer to my question, namely, whether the outrages he has mentioned did not take place hundreds of miles away from any district that has been bombarded during the past five months, and will his Department print a White Paper giving the full particulars of why and where bombing has taken place, together with the fact—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]—together with the fact that no one but the airman concerned is ever present to know whether any of the inhabitants have been killed? [HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"] You behave. [Interruption.] You are not going to shout me down!

What did the late Secretary of State for the Home Department—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"].

Hon. Members should leave it to me to keep order. Perhaps the fact that the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury) remained standing drew attention away from the Chair. Mr. Lansbury, the next question.

I understand that the hon. Gentleman purported to answer them both at the same time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the position of the negotiations between His Majesty's Government and the German Government with regard to passenger-carrying air services over German territory; and whether arrangements have yet been come to for the putting into operation of the British air service to Prague?

As regards the first part of the question, in view of certain conversations now proceeding with the German Government, a statement at the moment is to be deprecated. With regard to the second part of the question, no arrangements can be made for a British air service to Prague until a settlement has been reached with the German Government in regard to flight over German territory.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that for some months now he has put off this matter with this sort of answer about these conversations, and can he give any indication when a settlement will be arrived at?

The hon. and gallant Member is in error in suggesting that I have put off dealing with this question; the Department has done all that is humanly possible to achieve what the hon. and gallant Member wants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the position as at 30th June, 1924, of the. Unemployment Insurance Fund, showing the total indebtedness to the Treasury at that date?

I have been asked to reply. The total indebtedness of the Unemployment Fund to the Treasury on the 30th June, 1924, was £7,130,000.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of unemployment benefit which has not been claimed by applicants at the Employment Exchanges during the last six months?

I regret that the information desired is not available, but the amount in question is certainly negligible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of gold and bullion is held respectively by the banks in Great Britain and the United States of America, and what proportions these bear to the world supply?

As the answer contains many figures, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the German gold discount bank began its operations?

I understand that the bank started operations on the 16th April, 1924.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if they carry on on a rentenimark basis, or a sterling basis, or a dollar basis?

I am afraid I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there are many thousands of houses in London let out in flats and tenements where the owner or his agent pays the Inhabited House Duty direct to the collector of taxes, charging the same as a portion of the rent; and whether he will take steps, during the Committee stage of the Finance Bill, to ensure that tenants in such circumstances shall have, the full advantage of the abolition of this tax?

My attention had not previously been called specially to this matter, which should correct itself in the passage of time. I fear that in any event it would not be relevant to a Finance Bill.

Can the right hon. Gentleman not take some steps to ensure that the tenant secures the advantage of the tax being abolished, in view of the experience under the Rent Acts, when rate reductions were not passed on to the tenants?

I stated, in reply to the original question, that it could not be dealt with in the Finance Bill, and it does not fall within the province of the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to revise the Regulations respecting old age pensioners which makes provision for assessing the interest on their savings at 5 per cent. even when their money is deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank and only receiving 2½ per cent.?

My attention has been called in the course of debate to this and many other details of the present scheme of old age pensions. But, as the Financial Secretary has already explained, it has been necessary to confine the proposals now before the House strictly to a simple amendment of the law on general lines in order that the Bill may pass into law at an early date.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that any amount of capital over £400, in the case of an old age pensioner, is assessed as bringing in 10 per cent. and not 5 per cent.; and as 10 per cent. cannot possibly be realised on that capital, cannot steps be taken to remedy this injustice?

I am perfectly aware of the fact mentioned by the hon. Member. It is a highly technical matter, but briefly I may say that it is calculated upon an annuity basis, and that it gives terms more favourable to the old age pensioner than an ordinary annuity would.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government have yet come to a decision upon the Report of the Disposal and Liquidation Commission regarding Richborough?

I regret that I am still unable to make any statement in the matter. But, no effort will be spared to enable me to make it in the next week or two.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has completed his inquiries with regard to the alleged failure of houses of entertainment to pass on to their patrons the reductions in Entertainments Duty; whether his inquiries have included the Berridge Road Picture House, Nottingham; whether he is aware that, when the proprietor was interrogated on the 27th June as to his intention to conform with the undertaking given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he replied that he was proposing to maintain his prices at the old level; and whether, seeing that the prices charged for admission to this house are the same as they were before the Budget was introduced, he will take steps to deal with this situation?

The particular case mentioned by my hon. Friend has not previously been brought to my notice. On the general question involved, I would refer him to the full statement which I made in Committee on the Finance Bill on the 30th June.

Has the right hon. Gentleman asked for reports from the country on this subject, or is he merely relying on the reports which are sent to him?

The hon. and gallant Member was evidently not in the House when this matter was debated a few days ago. I then stated that I had made inquiries in every part of the country, not merely into one branch of the entertainment industry, but into all, including sports.

Having regard to the fact that the right hon. Gentleman stated on that occasion that one branch of the entertainment industry was not fulfilling the obligations which he desired them to do, is he going to take any further steps in the matter?

The hon. Member had an opportunity, of which he took advantage, of replying to my statement, and then, I think, he confessed to the difficulties of dealing with the matter, and I think he went so far as to admit that I appeared to be doing everything I possibly could.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Mexico has failed to pay the half-yearly interest on the external debt due this present week; and whether any explanation has been advanced with regard to this delay?

The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part, as my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs informed the hon. Member for West Fulham (Sir C. Cobb) on the 18th June, the failure of the Mexican Government to deposit the necessary sum for the service of the debt under the agreement reached with the International Bankers' Committee is understood to be largely due to the revolutionary movement in Mexico.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before consenting to the appointment of additional Judges, he will consider whether it would be possible to reduce the periods of the legal vacations at Christmas and Easter and the Long Vacation?

I have been asked to reply. The Long Vacation has been shortened in recent years. The question of its further shortening has been considered from time to time. My right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor is satisfied that the disadvantages which would accrue from any further cutting down of the Long Vacation, not only to the Bench but to both branches of the profession and the general public, far outweigh any advantages which could possibly accrue. By rules made in recent years, arrangements have been made whereby a speedy trial can be secured during the Long Vacation of any case which needs such treatment. As regards the other vacations, the conduct of litigation both by the Bar and by the solicitors' profession would be greatly hampered if they were deprived of the opportunity which these vacations give both for a necessary holiday and for preparing that mass of work which has to be dealt with before the case comes into Court. It should be remembered that Judges are always available during the vacations to deal with applications which require to be immediately or promptly heard.

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I am sorry to see, has gone, may I ask the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the financial stringency and the need for economy, he will bring pressure to bear on the Lord Chancellor to alter his view and allow these gentlemen to work a little longer for their £5,000 or £6,000 a year and who get away with a three months' holiday?

May I ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is contemplated by His Majesty's Government to appoint two additional Judges?

Will the right hon. Gentleman acquaint the House as to how many holidays in the year these Judges get, because they are always so anxious to see that the working class do not get any holidays, and they are not working for the money the Judges get?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that His Majesty's Judges, both in the arduousness of their work and the quality of it, are rendering very much greater service than some of their critics?

They do not work eight hours a day. [An HON. MEMBER: "Nor do you."]

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the number of cases awaiting trial in the King's Bench Division; and whether any steps are to be taken whereby litigants may obtain an early trial of their causes?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the latter part of the question, the Government have decided to take the necessary steps for the appointment of two additional Judges to deal with the congestion of work in the King's Bench Division.

Will the appointment of the two additional Judges come before the House before it is ratified?

It is necessary that it should come before the House.

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to put a Resolution down immediately, or before the House adjourns?

That is a matter of the Business of the House, for which I am not authorised to reply.

asked the Prime Minister whether any decision has been reached with regard to the abolition of fees for cadets under training for the Royal Navy, His Majesty's Army, and the Royal Air Force, as in the case of the forces of Japan and the United States of America?

I cannot at present add anything to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. and gallant Member on 16th June last.

I will repeat the question.

asked the Prime Minister if there are any immediate prospects of France or a third Power ratifying the Treaty of Lausanne?

I regret that I cannot give a definite forecast regarding legislative decisions in other countries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say if there are any other signatories who have not ratified the Treaty besides ourselves and France?

A statement has already been made in this House on that question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the amount received from the German Government for April and May by the Reparation Commission; and how much went to the credit of Britain?

The Reparation Commission have published full accounts up to 31st December, 1922, and have issued to the Press figures bringing the accounts (as regards the most important items) up to 31st December, 1923, but I regret that the information as regards later months is not available at present. It will no doubt be published by the Reparation Commission in due course.

Does the Financial Secretary to the Treasury then not know how much money has been placed to the Credit of the British Government during these months?

Yes. We do know, for example, that there was a sum of about £300,000 under the Reparation (Recovery) Act., and a round sum of, perhaps, £100,000 in paper marks due for the Army, but the difficulty about making statements of that kind is that they are subject to deduction and qualification, and I think they are apt to be misleading.

If we are not kept in touch, anyhow monthly, with the amount which comes to our credit, and if an amount does come to the credit of the British Government, does it go to our credit in Paris or in London?

Does some of it go to the credit of the British Clearing House for Enemy Debts? If so, will the hon. Gentleman arrange for the issue of a White Paper to show what we have received?

I cannot reply to the last two points without further investigation. We do know, roughly, of course, what is credited, but that is subject to the difficulty which I indicated in reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ladywood (Mr. N. Chamberlain) that it is subject to deductions in what, I think, every hon. Member will agree is a very complicated situation on the Continent. I will consider the point the hon. Member has put in regard to a, White Paper.

Does that amount lie to our credit in Paris, or does it come to London?

I would like to know how much of this money is to go to raise the standard of living of the working people in this country.

asked the Prime Minister the terms of the international agreement by which he is committed to giving facilities for the Summer Time Bill, and also the date on which the agreement was reached?

This agreement was reached on the 10th March last, and full details were given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on the 13th March in answer to questions by the hon. Member for Croydon South (Sir W. Mitchell-Thomson) and the Noble Lord the Member for Battersea South (Viscount Curzon), and also in his speech on the Second Reading of the Bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to state the composition of the British delegation to the next Assembly of the League of Nations?

I regret that it is not possible at the moment to make a statement on this subject; but an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister what steps are being taken to give effect to a Resolution passed in the House of Commons on 5th August, 1921, especially in reference to the paragraph stating that, while not committing itself to the increase in the Civil Service salaries involved in the payment of women in all cases at the same rate as men, the House was of the opinion that the question of the remuneration of women as compared with men should be reviewed within a period not exceeding three years?

The Government endorse without qualification the principles embodied in the Resolutions referred to in the Noble Lady's question. With regard to pay, I would remind the Noble Lady that under those Resolutions the House of Commons, in view of the then financial position of the country, declined to commit itself to the increase of Civil Service salaries involved in the payment of women at the same rates as men, but resolved that the question of the remuneration of women as compared with men should be reveiwed within a period not exceeding three years. The Government, after full consideration, have decided that the state of the country's finances is still such as to make it impossible to justify the enormous increase in expenditure that would be involved.

But are not the Government a little ashamed of this decision, after all the promises they made before the Election?

I am not aware of any promise that either I or any other Member of the Government has made which is in conflict with the decision I have just given.

Is it not true that the Members of the present Government were always holding up the other parties as not being willing to give equal payment for equal work?

The Noble Lady appears to me to be a very much closer student than I am of the past doings and statements of the Labour party.

I have had to fight against them, and I know.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why, when a non-service official was promoted to the rank of first-class valuer over the heads of ex-service officials of equal and higher seniority, as notified in the Inland Revenue Weekly Notes of the 9th February last, those ex-service officials who, from their records, might reasonably have looked for promotion, were not even interviewed by the chief valuer's conference with regard to this appointment; and what are the principles upon which promotions are made in the Valuation Office?

Promotions in the Valuation Office, as in other branches of the Revenue, are made by the head of the Department, on recommendations submitted by a Departmental Promotions Committee. Promotion is by merit. Where, as in the case in question, selection is to be made from amongst second-class valuers, evidence as to comparative merit is furnished by first-class valuers and considered by superintending valuers in conference in the light of their own knowledge of the staff. Candidates are interviewed by the conference in cases where it may be necessary to supplement the evidence, more particularly in the delicate task of making the final comparison of the most meritorious officers. The number of interviews thus required is comparatively small. The recommendations of the conference are in due course laid before the Departmental Promotions Committee. On the position of ex-service staff, I would refer to the reply given on the 26th February last to the hon. and gallant Member, of which I am sending him a copy.

Has the hon. Gentleman gone into the facts of the case in question, and has he satisfied himself, personally, that there has been no such victimisation of an official, who, apart from doing good service, is an active defender of the rights of ex-civil servants?

I can certainly say to the hon. and gallant Gentleman that there is no foundation whatever for that suggestion. The problem, as he will see from the long reply I have given, is entirely one of merit, and the decision in this case must rest with the Departmental chief.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the official to whom I have referred had 15 years' excellent service, and was passed over without any examination whatever, and that he had taken an active part on behalf of ex-civil servants?

I think the short reply is that these promotions are really regulated by committees, who take the whole facts into account, and I have not discovered any case that could be described in any way as victimisation.

asked the right hon. Member for Cheltenham, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether, seeing that the waiters and other members of the domestic staff employed by the Kitchen Committee of the House of Commons are not insured under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, he will consider the necessity to make other and special arrangements to provide for the period of the long Recess during which they will be unemployed?

In reply to the question of the hon. Member, special arangements are always made by the Kitchen Committee to provide, during the long Recess, for those members of the staff who are in regular employment. The remainder receive suitable notice, and recommendations for other work.