asked the Secretary of State for War why secondary schools which maintain a contingent of the Officers' Training Corps receive a capitation grant for ammunition, while those schools which maintain a cadet corps do not receive any grant?

The reason is that a contingent of the Officers' Training Corps is, generally speaking, of greater potential military value than a cadet corps. Also the conditions applicable to the two organisations differ and are, generally speaking, more exigent in the case of the Officers' Training Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state what course has been taken with reference to the request of the semi-skilled and unskilled men of the Woolwich Arsenal for an increase in their wages equivalent to the recent increase granted to skilled workers by an arbitration court?

Arrangements for referring the matter to arbitration are now under discussion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his Department refuses to advise contractors of the result of tenders submitted; and whether, seeing that it is in the interests of the public that the information, so far as it affects the amounts of the tenders and not the names of the tenderers, should be made public, and that, by this practice of publicity, firms would be able to judge as to how their prices compared, he will consider a change of policy in this respect?

Firms tendering are always informed whether their tenders are accepted or refused. As regards publication of quotations and contract prices, long experience has shown that it is in the interests of the public to regard tender prices as confidential, and we propose to adhere to this practice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether there is any fund available to pay the expenses of widows of sailors who lost their lives during the War to attend the unveiling of the war memorial at Portsmouth?

I regret that there is no Admiralty fund from which these expenses could be defrayed. I understand that the Imperial War Graves Commission will endeavour to obtain a concession from the railway companies for return tickets to be issued at the single fare to relatives attending the unveiling of the Plymouth war memorial, which will take place on the 29th July, and also for the Portsmouth ceremony, which, it is expected, will take place on the 20th September.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of naval officers who have volunteered for service in the naval air arm in accordance with Admiralty Fleet Order 1058/24; the number who have been rejected for medical and other reasons; and if difficulty is being experienced to obtain suitable candidates because of the conditions of service?

The number who have volunteered for service is 86, of whom 19 have been rejected, all for medical defects which, while not rendering the officers unfit for general naval service, debar them from being accepted under the scheme. The full number of officers required for the first course, which commenced on the 16th June, has been obtained, but it is yet too early to say whether the total number of volunteers required for the later courses, the first of which commences probably in January, will be forthcoming.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give a list of the ranks and ratings of officers and men who now receive automatic promotion at the expiration of a certain number of years of service in a particular rank or rating, provided they have passed the necessary qualifying examinations; and if the Admiralty intend at an early date to abolish this system or make it effective only in certain particular cases, and, if so, will he state the ranks or ratings that will be so affected and give the reasons which justify such a course?

The only case in which the promotion of an officer is entirely automatic is that of a lieutenant to the rank of lieutenant-commander, this being due to the fact that the latter rank replaces the old lieutenant of eight years seniority, to whom higher relative rank was given. The same rule applies to the corresponding ranks in the various warrant officer branches. Promotion in the following cases, however, is automatic, subject to certain conditions being fulfilled:Engineer lieutenant to engineer lieutenant-commander: at, eight years, subject to satisfactory record.Surgeon lieutenant to surgeon lieutenant-commander: at six years, subject to service qualification and recommendation.Surgeon lieutenant-commander to surgeon commander: at six years, subject to service qualification, recommendation and passing necessary examination.Surgeon lieutenant (D) to surgeon lieutenant-commander: at six years, subject to recommendation.Instructor lieutenant to instructor lieutenant-commander: at six years, subject to satisfactory record and recommendation.Instructor lieutenant-commander to instructor-commander: at eight years, subject to recommendation.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, in respect to comparable periods of the respective years 1923 and 1924, how many cases have been reported to his Department of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit refusing proffered employment; and in how many of such cases in each respective period has payment of further unemployment benefit been discontinued after investigation?

The following are the figures for the first six months of 1923 and 1924, respectively, with regard to the number of cases referred to the Chief Insurance Officer for a decision whether benefit should be disallowed on account of refusal of apparently suitable employment, together with figures showing the results of appeals to the courts of referees and the umpire:

Decisions by Chief Insurance Officer:
	January to June,
	1923.	1924.
Benefit allowed	1,588	4,748
Benefit disallowed	26,151	25,405
Recommendations by Court of Referees:
Benefit allowed	3,055	3,489
Benefit disallowed	7,243	6,407
Decisions by Umpire:
Benefit allowed	122	Not available.
Benefit disallowed	421

The figures refer to the number of cases and not necessarily to separate individuals. Disallowance of benefit on the ground of refusal of suitable employment operates, in accordance with the statutory provision for a period not exceeding six weeks and not less than one week.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if, with a view to diminishing unemployment, he is willing to circularise the local authorities in Scotland who possess water catchment areas, inviting them to prepare such areas for afforestation; and what inducements he is prepared to offer, whether by loans of money at a low rate of interest or otherwise?

I have been asked to reply. I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to him on the 24th ult. as to local authorities having been notified in the past of the State grants available for afforestation work in relief of unemployment. The Forestry Commissioners believe that free grants are a greater inducement that loans, and as soon as they are authorised to incur expenditure on such grants next season they will circularise the local authorities referred to in the question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Dudley Board of Guardians refuse to assist persons who have failed to qualify for unemployment benefit; whether any other boards have adopted this policy; and will he cause inquiry to be made with a view to some adjustment being made?

I am communicating with the guardians on the subject of this question, and will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that an unemployed man, sent by the Birkenhead Employment Exchange to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board for employment on an unemployment grants committee scheme, was refused on the ground that he had only one eye, he will make the removal of such an objection to men who may have lost an eye, especially if in the service of the country, a condition before granting financial aid to unemployment assisted schemes?

I am not aware of the facts of this case, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with the particulars in his possession I will gladly have inquiry made. While the Government naturally expect those carrying out relief works with State assistance to pay regard to the object with which these works are assisted. I do not think it would be practicable to lay down an express condition such as that suggested.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications for employment received at the Employment Exchanges from boys and girls; and the number of vacancies for juveniles notified and filled during the six months ending 30th June, or the latest convenient period?

As the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with the consent of the hon. Member, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the figures for unemployment have increased during the last four weeks; and, if so, by what amount?

There were increases of 24,600 and 25,126 in the weeks ending 9th June and 16th June, followed by a decrease of 38,859 in the week ending 23rd June, and a further decrease estimated at about 4,300 in the week ending 30th June.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that domestic service, to which a large number of girls is being directed, is not covered by the national scheme of insurance against unemployment, he will consider such prospects, in view of the fact that the present-day domestic service is fast becoming a day-time occupation, similar to ordinary industrial pursuits, and the employed persons just as much in need of the protection afforded by such insurance?

I have considered this question, in conjunction with other similar inquiries which have been made from time to time, and have reached the conclusion that the considerations which led to the exception of private domestic servants from the Act of 1920 are still valid to-day, and I am not prepared, therefore, to propose any amendment of the existing law.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the growing desire on the part of working girls to remain with their own parents, he will issue the necessary instructions to local Employment Exchanges that, in cases where mistresses apply for domestic servants, efforts will be made by the Exchange staff to impress the necessity for such domestic service being day-time, with a maximum of eight hours working day, and the cessation of work at such a reasonable hour that the girls will not be compelled to live in, but be able to return to their own homes; and whether, therefore, his Department will ensure that any such situations offered to girls signing the unemployment register will be within reasonable reach of their homes; and can he state the total number of girls who have refused acceptance of domestic service on the grounds that they did not desire to live in?

The duty of the Employment Exchanges is to bring available employment to the notice of suitable persons on their registers. I am not satisfied that it is either practicable or desirable that they should attempt to lay down conditions of employment in the manner suggested. I regret that I am unable to give the figure asked for in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether negotiations are still proceeding with the object of improving the condition of employment of boy scalers at the Liverpool docks?

Negotiations are still proceeding with the object of improving the method of engagement of boy scalers at the Liverpool Docks. As regard working conditions, proposals are contained in the Factory Bill introduced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, before the introduction of the Eight-Hours Day Bill, special consideration will be given to the possible effects of this legislation on conditions of work on the railways in this country?

The Bill which I propose to introduce will deal with the provisions of the Washington Hours Convention, during the discussion of which the conditions on railways and in other industries were considered. It is desirable, I think, to leave further consideration to the House in the Debate on the Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to a recent attempt by a bank to reaffirm and reimpose an old rule forbidding the staff of the bank to take any part in party politics and instructing them to confine their political activities solely to registering their vote in the ballot box; and whether he is prepared to consider the advisability of dealing with this matter by legislation, so as to make any attempt to prohibit the expression of political opinion by employés unenforceable as a term of contract and invalid as a ground for dismissal?

My attention has not been called to the action referred to by the hon. Member, and I do not think it necessary to take any action in the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there are numerous cases of boys entering workshops in the engineering trade who do not now serve anything in the nature of an apprenticeship, and that at about 16 years of age they are put upon repetition work which continues until they are 21, when they are discharged; and whether, if he has no information to this effect, he will inquire into the matter?

I am aware that a considerable number of boys employed in the engineering trades do not serve an apprenticeship, and that many of these are employed on repetition work, but there is no information to indicate that these boys are discharged at the age of 21. If, however, my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the class of case he has in mind, I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether facilities will be granted for the placing of a bust of the late James Keir Hardie in a prominent position within the Palace of Westminster, presented by subscribers in recognition of his distinguished services in Parliament over many years?

Much as I personally desire to honour Keir Hardie, with whom I was closely associated for many years, I cannot take advantage of the opportunity which my office in a minority Government gives me to accede to this request, especially in view of the limited accommodation for busts and statues within the precincts of the House. It is a request which could more appropriately be made if and when in the course of time it should become clear that the desire for such a memorial is general, and does not come wholly or mainly from Members of the House belonging to one party.

asked the right hon. Member for Cheltenham, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, the number of members of the staff under his control who are in regular employment, and for whom provision is made during the long recess; the number of those who constitute the remainder to whom notice is given, and for whom no provision is made; and whether he will make suitable provision to provide against their unemployment?

In reply to the question of the hon. Member, the number of the staff regarded as being on regular employment, and whose services are retained, is 30. Those who are engaged under different conditions number at present 78. We do our best to make suitable provision for all our employés, but it is obviously impossible for us to guarantee constant employment in any walk of life.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he has received any particulars of the murder of Mr. Whitten by coolies, on a tea estate in Assam, owing to his having reported their work to be of indifferent quality?

The fact of this murder has been reported, and a further report on it, after investigation, has been promised.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, considering the largely increased number of passes in the arts and science examinations of the Calcutta University reported in the quinquennial report on educational progress in Bengal, and the conclusion drawn there-from that there has been a steady lowering of standard, the question of levelling up the standard of examinations in Indian universities to that of British universities, so as to secure the recognition of Indian examinations in the United Kingdom, has been put before the conference of delegates from the various universities in India at its meeting at Simla for consideration; and, if not, what steps it is proposed to take in the matter?

No report of the proceedings of the conference in question has yet been received, but it is understood that the equivalence of Indian degrees and diplomas and their recognition in the United Kingdom was among the subjects for discussion.

asked the Minister of Health whether any records have been kept showing the pedigree of the lymph used at the Hendon Institute?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths have been registered this year from smallpox, measles, pneumonia, scarlet fever, diphtheria, influenza, and encephalitis lethargica?

According to the provisional figures received by the Registrar-General, the deaths registered in England and Wales in the quarter ended 31st March last included:—Smallpox 3; Measles 1,741; Scarlet Fever 263; Diphtheria 742; Encephalitis Lethargica 229. No separate figures are at present available of deaths from pneumonia or deaths from influenza. The returns for the second quarter ended 30th June are only now being received, and the corresponding figures for that quarter cannot yet be given, but I will furnish the hon. Member with these figures as soon as they are available.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the reduction of the price of insulin, he can now say whether it is supplied free by all Poor Law authorities on the recommendation of their respective medical officers?

I have no reason to suppose that Poor Law authorities are not supplying insulin in all proper cases in which application is made to them and supported by their medical officers.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to a new method of building, which is now being demonstrated at Tonbridge, under which it is claimed that an unskilled man can lay 3,000 bricks a day; whether he has taken steps to test the claims made for this invention and with what results?

I am aware that a new method of laying bricks in cottage construction, in regard to which I have had inquiries made, is being tried at Tonbridge, but the work is not sufficiently advanced to enable any opinion to be expressed upon it.

asked the Minister of Health whether any estimate has been formed, and in that case what it is, of the number of semi-skilled builders' labourers who, if permitted, could act as bricklayers on plain work?

No information is available on which such an estimate could be based.

asked the Minister of Health whether, inasmuch as Section 5 of the Housing Act of 1919 does not enable him to deal with the case of the Alnwick Rural District Council's refusal of financial assistance despite the recommendation from the council's housing committee that this should be granted, he proposes to use his powers under any other Section or Clause of the existing Acts to deal with such cases, in view of the fact that the 60 houses in question are urgently required for occupation by colliery workers, or, failing such powers, will he consider taking powers in the present Bill to enable him to handle such cases in the future?

I am making further inquiry into this case, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as to it.

asked the Minister of Health why he has refused sanction to the rehousing scheme submitted by the corporation of Kingston-upon-Hull?

The scheme referred to has not been rejected, but the question whether the proposals of the council are the best that can be adopted for facilitating the carrying out of the approved scheme for the clearance of the New George Street unhealthy area has formed the subject of discussions between the Department and the council. I hope to be in a position to give a decision at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is still receiving applications for subsidies under the Government housing proposals of 1923; and how many such proposals have been approved since the beginning of the year?

Applications are still being received for authority to proceed with the erection of houses under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923. Since the beginning of this year authority has been given for the erection of 62,743 houses—20,421 by local authorities and 42,322 by private enterprise.

asked the Minister of Health how many villages in the administrative county of Lincoln will be eligible to obtain the subsidy of £12 10s. per house under the new Housing Bill?

A statement giving this information will be prepared and sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health how many villages in the administrative county of Somerset will be eligible for the subsidy of £3 10s. under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill and how many will not?

A statement giving this information will be prepared and sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to grant any extension of time to Mr. W. E. Dudley, of Woolwich, an ex-soldier who is unable to find suitable housing accommodation for himself, his wife, and five children, and against whom he recently obtained an eviction order?

Mr. Dudley, who is in irregular occupation of a quarter urgently required for a serving soldier, was first warned to vacate it on 31st January last, so that he has already had more than five months in which to find other accommodation. I regret that in justice to the rightful occupant of the quarter I cannot grant Mr. Dudley an extension, but I understand he is employed by a provincial football club and I am communicating with the secretary of that organisation to inquire whether they can do anything for him in the matter of accommodation.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received the auditors' Report relating to the Bebbington and Brombrough Urban Council, which shows that the part-time clerk to the council was retired on a salary of £500 yearly, to be suspended as long as he holds his present position of law clerk, while his salary was only £400 yearly; what would have been the salary under the Civil Service scale; and why the Civil Service scale of compensation was not applied in this case?

I have received the district auditors' report. I understand that the clerk received certain emoluments in addition to the salary and that these were taken into account in determining the compensation. The order of the county council constituting the new urban district applied the Civil Service scale, with a power to the district council to add years to the actual service in consideration of special circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health whether the district auditor has called his attention to the difficulties in which the Sheffield and Eccleshall overseers find themselves in regard to arrears of rates, which is due in part to the markedly depressed state of the city's trade and in part to the abandonment in 1921 of the rating of owners; whether he is aware that under the provisions of the Rent Restrictions Act, and as a result of the case of Nicholson v. Jackson in the Court of Appeal, it was decided that any advantage accorded to the owner as a result of compounding should be enjoyed by the tenant; and, seeing that it is not possible to revert to compounding without an amendment of the Rent Restrictions Act and that, in the opinion of the overseers, compounding provides the only means whereby tenants in smaller properties can pay their rates, if he will consider whether a short Bill can be introduced in order to relieve a very serious situation in many parts of the country?

I am aware of the Report which has been made by the auditor as to the arrears of rates in the parishes referred to, and I am considering what action can best be taken in the matter, but I am not prepared to introduce legislation which would have the effect of increasing the tenant's rent.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the financial position of the Birmingham Municipal Bank for the year ending 31st March, 1924; and whether, in view of the continued success of this bank in encouraging thrift, he will consider favourably applications from other local authorities for permission to establish similar banks in their areas;(2) the number of depositors of the Birmingham Municipal Bank that have been able to buy their own houses through the instrumentality of the bank during the past three years; and whether, in order to give the 1923 Housing Act a better chance of succeeding in its aims, he will encourage the establishment of municipal banks by other local authorities?

I have been asked to answer these questions I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the report and statement of accounts of the bank for the year ended 31st March last, which give the particulars which he desires. Municipalities would require statutory authority to conduct savings banks; and I doubt if such authority would be the best way to finance long term capital expenditure such as housing.

asked the Prime Minister if at the next meeting of the League of Nations which he has promised to attend he will make representations and insist that Germany shall be admitted into the League?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on the 16th June last in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Henley (Captain Terrell).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state what Government grants or remissions of taxation operate in regard to the beet-sugar industry in this country; and what is the total national cost to the Exchequer?

The only Government grant or remission of taxation operating in regard to sugar made in this country from home-grown beet is the exemption from Excise Duty. The estimated output of the beet-sugar factories during the last working season was 13,000 tons, but as the rate of duty on sugar is governed by its polarisation, and the polarisation of this home-produced sugar is unknown, the amount of Excise Duty involved cannot be stated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the nature of the preference now granted with regard to sugar produced in the British West Indies; and whether it is intended to continue this arrangement?

In common with sugar produced in and consigned from other parts of the Empire, British West Indian sugar is granted a preferential rebate of one-sixth of the full Customs Duty levied on similar non-Empire sugar. As regards the second part of the question, I regret that I can add nothing to the statements that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has already made on this subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the position of ex-ranker officers and soldiers employed in a temporary capacity in the Civil Service who are in possession of the pre-War first class certificate, which is the highest obtainable; and what is the reason that they should not be placed on the permanent establishment of the Civil Service without a further education test?

The claims of ex-service men temporarily employed in the Civil Service to be placed on the permanent establishment have been considered by the Southborough Committee, whose Report the Government has adopted. The Committee find that the number of ex-service men who will be candidates for establishment will probably be at least three or four times that of the vacancies to be filled, and they recommend that a test, consisting in part of a written examination and in part of a Departmental Report, should be applied to candidates. I fear that I could not agree to the establishment without educational test of any particular class of candidates, as such a proposal is contrary to the Report of the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the presence in London of numbers of old soldiers who served in the late War from Overseas Dominions, the practicability of a march combined with old soldiers of the home regiments on the 4th August will be considered?

I do not think that it would be practicable, even if it were desirable, to make arrangements on the lines suggested.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is proposed to take any legislative or administrative action to deal with retail coal prices and the distribution of coal before the winter months?

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on 17th June, the whole question is receiving careful consideration. I hope to make proposals in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that preferential treatment by the railway companies in the carrying of goods and produce still continues; and if he can state the cost of bacon freightage from Denmark to London by sea and rail as compared with the cost of carrying one-sixth of the distance on British railways?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. W. Thorne) on the 26th May, copy of which I am sending him. With respect to the second part, I have no particulars of the freights charged for carriage of goods by sea.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the rejection by the Committee in another place of the West Thurrock Wharf and Railways Bill, he will press the Port of London Authority to proceed forthwith with their original scheme of deep-water dock extension at Tilbury?

I am not prepared to dispute with the Port of London Authority the propriety of their decision not to proceed at present with their original scheme for the construction of a deep water dock at Tilbury. Their decision was arrived at after prolonged consideration of all the circumstances of the case, and, according to my information, was not based on the assumption that the Bill to which my hon. Friend refers would be approved by Parliament.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the number of merchant seamen, widows and children dependent on assistance from voluntary organisations connected with the mercantile marine; and whether he has any statistics to show how many of these men have sent in to the Reparation Claims Department claims which have either not been settled as yet or which have not been acceded to?

My attention has not been specially drawn to the subject referred to in the first part of the question. As to the second part, I regret that I have not got the statistics desired by the hon. Member, and I fear they could not be obtained except at a cost which could hardly be justified.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that it is the custom of local education authorities when filling up vacancies in their secondary schools to do so by examination, and that free placers and fee-paying students are examined at one and the same time, and that the children doing best are selected for the free places and the remaining places are filled up by asking the parents of children not securing free places in rotation; that many parents because of lack of means are compelled to refuse fee-paying places, and that by such a method the last name on the list may secure entry; and will he, in the light of securing the best pupils, enable local education authorities to adopt free secondary education?

Circumstances differ, but I believe that in Durham County the position is as stated. As I announced in reply to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Cove) on the 31st February last, I am prepared to consider on their merits applications from local education authorities for the Board's sanction to the abolition of fees.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the widespread desire for increased secondary school facilities in different parts of the country, he will favourably consider any applications he may receive from education authorities for loans for new buildings, or for additions to, or adaptation of, existing buildings, with a view to the provisions of such money as may be needed on easy and favourable terms?

As I have already announced to the House, I am prepared to consider very sympathetically proposals for the development of secondary education, and where necessary to recommend the Ministry of Health to sanction loans for the purpose.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what orders have been placed during the years 1923 and 1924, respectively, for experimental aeroplanes, seaplanes and engines included under the term civil type in Appendix 2 of the Air Estimates of the current year?

During the year 1923 one contract was placed for a purely civil type of aircraft amounting to £12,400. In addition, contracts amounting to a considerable sum were placed for new types of experimental aircraft embracing points of special interest to both civil and service aviation. The winner of the Aerial Derby was purchased at a cost of £3,000. One contract for a civil type of aircraft has been placed to date during the year 1924 amounting to £9,800. Contracts are, however, about to be placed for five civil machines of two new types which will involve some £40,000. Again, money is being spent on experimental types of interest from the point of view of both civil and service aviation, and, in particular, I may mention a contract of £26,000 for three special machines for experiments connected with control at low speeds which have been ordered at the request of the Aeronautical Research Committee. It will be appreciated that during both years money was spent on the completion of contracts placed in earlier years. It is not possible to separate engines as between civil and service types, and I regret, therefore, that I am not in a position to give figures for civil engines.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the recent reduction in the wages of women working in hospitals run by the Ministry of Pensions has been general; and, if so, on whose instructions?

No general reduction has been made in the rates of pay of women employed in Ministry institutions; but in view of the fall in the cost of living since these rates were originally fixed it has been necessary to pass them under review, and where it has been found that the rate paid is in excess of the local rate for similar work or of the rates paid in other comparable institutions, a small reduction has been made. The staff affected is under 20 per cent. of the total number whose wages have been reconsidered. I am sending the hon. Member a comparative statement of the old and the new rates