asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that serious damage is caused to the roads by the use of heavy motor vehicles which are badly sprung and in a state of bad repair; and whether he will seek powers to enable him to test all such vehicles?

Vehicles which are badly sprung undoubtedly cause unnecessary damage to roads. The question of the regular examination and testing of motor vehciles has been considered by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, and in paragraph 65 of their Second Interim Report they gave it as their opinion that the work involved, and the heavy expense entailed, would render any such proposal impracticable, at any rate at the present time. I am disposed to concur with the views expressed by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the death of Mr. Alfred Thomas Jenkins, who was crushed by a defective motor lorry laden with four tons of bricks; whether he is aware that the vehicle had been purchased for £21; and whether, in the general interests of the community, he will seek powers to enable him to test private commercial vehicles?

My attention has not been drawn to the accident referred to by the hon. Member, but if he will furnish me with further details, I will consider whether I can usefully make any inquiries into the matter. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer already given to him in reply to an earlier question.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to criticism which has been levelled against the proposed arterial road across West Wickham and Hayes Commons; and whether he will undertake to review the whole plan so as to safeguard the amenities of these commons?

I am in consultation with the local authorities, with a view to meeting the criticisms to which the hon. Member refers by some modification of the plans.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the resolution recently passed by the Woolwich branch of the National Union of General Workers, calling upon the Government to stop immediately the discharges at Woolwich Arsenal; what action, if any, he is taking in the matter?

I have been asked to reply, as the discharges referred to are understood to be those which have been made from the labour staff of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance at Woolwich. I have seen a copy of the resolution mentioned by the hon. Member, but, as has been stated on previous occassions, it is unfortunately impossible for the Admiralty to provide work for the men discharged or under notice of discharge.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the three men under notice to leave the Chatham Naval Hospital have long years of service at the hospital; if he is aware that the three men in question have got a medical certificate about their fitness for the work; and if he will suspend their notices pending a full inquiry about their health?

The discharge of these three men has been suspended whilst their cases are being reconsidered.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state whether it is his intention to appoint a commission or committee to hold a public inquiry into the case of Lieutenant C. H. Glendinning?

My right hon. Friend intended to discuss the whole case with the Army Council last month, but he has unfortunately been prevented from doing so by his indisposition and consequent compulsory absence from London. He will, no doubt, deal with the matter as soon as he is well enough to attend the War Office, but pending his return I am not in a position to make any further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War why some secondary schools are provided with public money for the purchase of ammunition for their cadet corps while other secondary schools are refused this grant and have to purchase the ammunition themselves; and will he take steps to ensure that all are treated alike?

Schools which maintain a contingent of the Officers Training Corps receive a small capitation grant out of which they can purchase ammunition, but schools which maintain cadet corps only do not.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the gun-station buildings and enclosures in connection therewith on Little Warley Common, Essex, still remain; and what steps it is proposed to take to give effect to the promises of the War Department to cause the removal of the buildings and the restoration of the land to the common, in accordance with the requirements of the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Act, 1916?

I regret that these buildings still remain, and I have already consulted the legal advisers of the Department regarding the action which must now be taken to secure their early removal.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of civilians employed at the Ordnance Stores at Didcot; and how many are housed in buildings erected by, or built with, funds provided by the War Department?

Excluding 20 members of the Berkshire Constabulary who are provided with quarters, the figures at present are 775 and 12. Certain further quarters are being provided. Particulars are given on pages 202 and 203 of the current Army Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is dissatisfaction among civilian bandsmen with respect to the alleged unfair competition of military bands; and whether, in view of the fact that military bands are largely maintained out of public funds and that civilian bands are solely dependent upon their public engagements, he is in a position to deal with this grievance?

I am aware of the circumstances, but as my right hon. Friend indicated on 14th February, it is not proposed to vary the present rules as to employment of military bands. Such employment is in response to a public need, and the bands are not permitted to accept any engagements at less than the fair current rates charged by civilian bands in the same locality.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what facilities are given to prisoners in India for appealing against any decision of the gaol authorities concerning them?

Prisoners in gaols in India have no right of appeal, but there is a system of frequent visits to gaols by duly appointed official and unofficial visitors to whom the Indian Gaols Committee recommended that the power should be given of inspecting the gaol records (which would include the punishment book), of putting any questions to prisoners out of the hearing of any gaol officer, and of communicating their observations to the Inspector-General. The Government of India commended this system to the Local Governments, but I cannot say what are the precise arrangements in force in each province.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether prisoners in Indian gaols are permitted to see the written orders, rules, and provisions of the gaol code?

Gaols in India are a provincial subject and Manuals of gaol administration are published by various Provincial Governments. I have no information as to the practice in the several provinces with regard to the grant of permission to individual prisoners to consult the Manuals.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that certain Indians carrying on business in England, and who had reserved stalls at the British Empire Exhibition, were refused passports when they desired to return to England; and the reasons for this refusal?

My Noble Friend has no information as to any such refusal of passports.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what are the inquiries addressed by the police authorities to Indian travellers from India to Ceylon; and whether the same questions are addressed to non-Indian travellers?

I have no information on the subject. Perhaps my hon. Friend will communicate to me the material on which his question is based.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the supply of trained teachers of the deaf is equal to the demand?

The Board have no reason to believe that the authorities responsible for schools for the deaf are embarrassed by a shortage of competent teachers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of civilians employed at the Milton (Berks) depot of the Royal Air Force; and how many are housed in buildings erected by, or built with funds provided by, the Air Ministry?

The answer to the first part of the question is 430; to the second, 55.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the number of occasions on which vessels flying the British flag have been searched by the American customs authorities under the new Treaty with the United States extending the zone of right of search to 12 miles?

As far as His Majesty's Government know, no vessels flying the British flag have been seized under the Liquor Treaty with the United States. I might add that this Treaty does not extend the zone of right of search to 12 miles. It provides that vessels suspected of smuggling may not be boarded at a greater distance from the coast than can be traversed in one hour by the vessel suspected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the people of the Sudan have been consulted or will be consulted as to their future allegiance?

Conditions make it impracticable to ascertain the wishes of the inhabitants of the Sudan individually by the usual methods adopted in such countries as our own, but the frequently expressed views of the leading men and the petitions which have been and are being constantly received from all classes and all parts of the country leave no room for doubt as to what effective opinion in the Sudan wishes and His Majesty's Government will respect these wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Treaty of October, 1920, between certain of the great Powers and Rumania in regard to the transfer of Bessarabia to Rumania has been ratified by the British Government; if so, when; whether, before such ratification took place, any communications passed between His Majesty's Government and the other great Powers concerned to ascertain their views as to the ratification; and whether any, and which, of them have ratified or have expressed any views as to ratification?

With regard to the first and fourth parts of this question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut. - Commander Kenworthy) on the 2nd of June. The British ratification was deposited on the 14th of April, 1922, prior to which date the question of ratification by the signatories to the Treaty had been considered by the Conference of Ambassadors which recommended ratification.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that British-Indian subjects on arrival at Hong Kong are required to report for inquiry at the police headquarters; and whether other British subjects have to comply with a similar order?

The law of Hong Kong requires that all persons of non-Asiatic race or nationality and all Indians must report at a police station within 12 hours of their arrival in the Colony unless they have been examined by a police officer or examination officer at the time of their arrival.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet able to announce the terms of reference and names of the committee of experts to be appointed upon the question of the maisons tolerées of Hong Kong, Singapore and the Straits Settlements?

The Committee which I am setting up is a general advisory body to deal with any questions of social hygiene which may be referred to it from time to time. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies will act as Chairman, and the Committee will consist of two Members of this House, the hon. Member for North Hackney (Mr. J. Harris) and the Noble Lady the Member for Plymouth (Viscountess Astor), with two representatives of the National Council for Combating Venereal Diseases, and representatives of the War Office, Admiralty, Ministry of Health and Colonial Office.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of dissatisfaction amongst a large number of residents of Irish nationality in this country at the detention in prison in this country of a number of Irish political prisoners; and whether he can see his way to release these prisoners at an early date?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Ronald E. Dean, summoned to appear before the magistrates at Woburn, in the county of Bedford, charged with having carried a passenger on an unlicensed vehicle; whether he is aware that Mr. Dean was driving a car which was unregistered and carrying limited trade numbers, together with an official docket which bore the name of himself and Mr. Dalton; that while driving along the road they picked up a poor man who was stranded and gave him a lift for about 20 miles on his way to Manchester; that for committing this offence Mr. Dean was fined a total of £7; that he appealed to the magistrates to allow him a remand in order to be legally represented, but this was refused; and that the evidence of the police officer as to the names on the docket was untrue, Mr. Dean not being given time to produce the necessary evidence to refute the constable's statements; and whether he will order an inquiry into the facts of this case with a view to the remission of the fine?

My right hon. Friend is making inquiry, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any recent changes have taken place in the directorate of the British Broadcasting Company; what are the qualifications for the position of director; and whether he will state the names of the gentlemen who are assisting Lord Gainford?

No recent change has been made in the directorate of the British Broadcasting Company. Under the company's articles of association, six directors are nominated by six guaranteeing firms and two by other firms who are members of the company. In addition there are a chairman and managing director who are unconnected with the guaranteeing or member firms. The non-guaranteeing firms may nominate an additional director if and when their total holding of shares reaches £15,000.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in the Aberdeen Post Office with regard to two recent promotions to the rank of overseer postal; whether he is aware that the officers promoted were numbers 16 and 21, respectively, on the seniority list; whether he was informed that among the officers passed over were four who were on the acting list, two of whom had covered vacancies continuously for nearly three years and were still acting and rotating on the ordinary duties of supervising officers when the promotions were made; and whether he will inquire into the whole circumstances of this case?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. There were two promotions at Aberdeen in March last; but the officers promoted were numbers 4 and 9 respectively on the seniority list. I have already inquired fully into these promotions in connection with appeals made to me by officers on the acting list who were passed over. Employment as "acting" overseer gives no claim to promotion, which is dependent upon an officer being not only fully qualified but the best qualified officer on his class. I am quite satisfied that the best qualified officers were promoted on this occasion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Mr. Cecil G. Rayner, of 72, Albany Mansions, Battersea, S.W.11, who was for nearly four years a prisoner in Germany, and whose health suffered severely in consequence, claimed the sum of £2,000 from the Reparations Claims Department, and that only £201 was awarded; whether he is aware that Mr. Rayner's medical report stated that he was entitled to 40 per cent. incapacity allowance as a direct result of injury received during his imprisonment due to malnutrition, dysentery, and solitary confinement, and that the duration of his incapacity was stated to be indefinite; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Rayner is still incapacitated from obtaining employment through ill-health consequent upon his imprisonment and is suffering great hardship, his case will receive further consideration and an amount in accordance with that recommended in his medical report be awarded to him?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second part of the question, I am afraid that the recommendations of the. Royal Commission are final and cannot be reviewed.

asked the Minister of Health whether the increased subsidy for agricultural areas under the Housing Bill will be available in respect of outlying detached rural areas which are within the boundary of a Parliamentary borough or of an urban district?

It is proposed that the additional subsidy for agricultural parishes shall be available for all civil parishes which come within the definition laid down in Clause 2 (2) of the Bill whether they are situated in an urban or rural area.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any information as to the number of persons who become entitled to benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts whilst inmates of Poor Law Institutions; and whether he has considered amending the Act to enable guardians to claim an equitable share of such benefits in respect of the maintenance of the said inmates to whom the benefits become due?

No statistics are available as to the number of cases of the kind referred to. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 20th February to the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle).

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of cases of anthrax in cattle during each of the last three years, and also the number of outbreaks of swine fever during the same period?

The total numbers of cases of anthrax in Great Britain in each of the years 1921, 1922 and 1923 were 603, 550 and 772 respectively. The outbreaks of swine fever for the same periods were 1,285, 1,390 and 1,968.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the very serious coast erosion now going on at Selsey; what steps have been taken to deal with the situation; and if he can make any statement?

Yes, Sir; but my Department has no power to deal directly with a situation of this kind. I am, however, considering whether any remedy can be found by means of one of the unemployment relief schemes organised by the Ministry, and with that end in view I am in communication with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, who own adjacent property.

asked the Prime Minister when the Government intend to take the Report stage and Third Reading of the Couty Courts Bill?

The. Report stage and Third Reading of the County Courts Bill were completed on Tuesday last.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the promise of the Allies to provide a national home for the Armenian nation, and that appropriate territory has been found in Russian Armenia and approved by the League of Nations, the Government will reconsider its first refusal to subscribe to a fund to transport the refugees and will follow the Governments of Italy, France, and Greece in making a donation to this end?

I regret that I cannot add anything to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. G. White) on 2nd July and to the last part of the reply given to the hon. Member for North Hackney (Mr. J. Harris) on 25th February. The proposal is not as described in the question and is of very doubtful practicability.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Irish Free State have now decided to ratify the Treaty of Lausanne; and whether there is now any obstacle to its ratification by this country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The ratification of the settlement by this country will now be proceeded with.

asked the first Commissioner of Works if he is aware that two of the hitherto unknown statues in Westminster Hall have been identified as those of Pym and Sir John Eliot; and whether he will give the necessary orders for the two statues to be taken down and re-erected in more suitable surroundings, with proper inscriptions?

I am informed that there are no statues of Pym and Eliot in Westminster Hall.