asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can give a Return of the villages in the administrative county of Dumfries that will be eligible for the subsidy of £12 10s. under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill?

:Some investigation is necessary before the answer to the question can be framed, and this is now in progress. I shall communicate the result to the hon. Member in a day or two.

asked the Minister of Health how many villages in the administrative county of Lancaster will be eligible to obtain the subsidy of £12 10s. under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill?

asked the Minister of Health how many villages in the administrative county of Huntingdon will be eligible to obtain the subsidy of £12 10s. under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill?

asked the Minister of Health the number of villages in the administrative county of Leicestershire which will be eligible for the subsidy of £12 10s. per house under the new Housing Bill?

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

Statements giving the required information will be prepared and sent to the hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the terms of the agreement signed by the brick manufacturers in relation to the price of bricks in connection with the Government housing scheme?

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the statement I made on the occasions of the Debate on the Financial Resolution on the Housing Bill. The following is a copy of correspondence with the Committee of Building Materials Manufacturers and Suppliers on this subject:

asked the Minister of Health if he is prepared to circularise the chairmen of housing committees of all local authorities in Great Britain in order to ascertain their views on the proposed limitation in size of houses in respect of which contribution may be paid under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health why the Bedwas and Machan Urban District Council have rejected plans for the building of 160 workmen's houses on freehold land purchased by the Bedwas Navigation Colliery adjacent to their pits, notwithstanding that the said plans are precisely the same as accepted and passed for building in other colliery districts?

I am not aware of the circumstances in which approval has been withheld by the local authority in the case to which the hon. Member refers, but I am making inquiries, and will send the hon. Member a further reply as soon as possible.

asked the Home Secretary of what material the houses at Dornoch, Gretna, are built; and whether adequate fire-prevention facilities exist in this neighbourhood?

The two townships of Gretna and Eastriggs (which will be offered for sale by auction on the 22nd and 23rd July) contain 335 brick houses, 30 brick hostels, and 600 wooden bungalows. A motor fire engine, with crew, is stationed at Gretna, and is also available for calls from Eastriggs.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average price per superficial foot of non-parlour houses approved by his Department in July, 1919, 1920, 1922 and 1923, respectively; and what increase in the average price has taken place during the last five months in tenders received by his Department?

, in pursuance of his answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd July, 1924; col. 1351], supplied the following information:The average prices per superficial foot of non-parlour houses with three bedrooms included in tenders obtained lay local authorities and approved by the Ministry of Health during the month of July in each of the year 1919, 1920, 1922 and 1923 were:

	s.	d.
1919	16	5¼
1920	20	2¾
1922	9	4
1923	8	7½

The average price per superficial foot fro non-parlour house in January, 1924, was 9s. 10d., and for May, 1924, 10s 8d.

asked the Minister of Health what were the ages of the persons registered as having died from small-pox in the year 1923, and in what towns or villages they occurred?

The particulars of the deaths from small-pox in England and Wales during 1923 are as follow:

Age of deceased.	Deceased's place of Death.	Deceased's place of Residence.
1 month	Smallpox Hospitals, Brockworth, Gloucester.	Gloucester.
10 months	Smallpox Hospitals, Brockworth, Gloucester.	Gloucester.
5 years	Smallpox Hospitals, Brockworth, Gloucester.	Gloucester.
63 years	Smallpox Hospitals, Brockworth Gloucester.	Gloucester.
28 years	Joyce Green Hospital Dartford.	Neasden, Willesden.
55 years	Joyce Green Hospital, Dartford.	Battersea.
17 years	Chester	Chester.

asked the Minister of Health the number of hospitals in agricultural parishes, and where they are situated?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave yesterday to his questions on the subject of the proposed additional subsidy for houses built in agricultural parishes.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, in the discharges of inspectors of naval ordnance that are taking place in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, the recognised principle of retaining men with the longest service is not being adhered to; that ex-service men with six years' service and a 20 per cent. disability pension are being discharged, while men with less than 12 months' service are being retained; and whether, other things being equal, he will adhere to the principle that the men with the longest service shall be retained.?

The recognised rule is not that retention is invariably to be determined by length of service, but that service is to be taken into account. That the rule has been observed is shown by the following figures giving the length of service of the men who have been, or are being, discharged from the Naval Ordnance Inspection Department:

• Length of Service.
• 100 under six months' service.
• 47 six months to one year.
• 6 one year to two years.
• 1 two years to three years.
• 1 three years to four years.
• 4 four years to five years.
• 1 five years to six years.
• 2 over six years.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that Admiralty Fleet Order No. 13, of 1922, contains the scales of disability pensions, gratuities, etc., for seamen and marines, with no distinction between seamen and marines; whether he is aware that nevertheless service pensions are denied to Royal Marines unless they have 14 years' service, although the Fleet Order provides for pensions after 10 years' service; and if he will investigate the matter and, if necessary, remedy it?

As indicated by the note against the 10 years service rate, the Fleet Order only conserves the right to be considered for life pensions if invalided after 10 and before 14 years' service in the case of seamen entered on the Continuous Service system before 1st October, 1921, under Regulations which conferred such a right. A minimum of 14 years' Service has always been the normal qualifying period in the cases of other ratings and Royal Marines.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what arrangements and appliances at present exist in the various workshops of His Majesty's dockyards for rendering first aid to men injured?

At the dockyards there are fully equipped surgeries, and resident medical officers are in attendance either at the surgeries or within call at their homes. Cases of injury are promptly attended to by the medical officers and the staffs at the surgeries. Large numbers of first-aid cabinets are distributed in the various workshops, etc., for use in minor injuries or where attention is necessary before fully qualified aid can be rendered, but any tendency to substitute first aid for qualified attention is discouraged.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the scale of service laid down in paragraphs 7 and 11 of Admiralty Fleet Order No. 13, of 1922, for naval invalided ratings includes boys' time?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the general messing system in the Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth, embraces all messes; whether some messes are victualled on the general messing system whilst other messes are not; and whether it is intended to maintain the general messing system on a voluntary basis?

The answer to the first part of the question is no, Sir; to the second part, yes—in the case of chief petty officers' and petty officers' messes only; and to the third part, only so far as chief petty officers' and petty officers' messes are concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the numbers of the advance party that will be sent to prepare H.M.S. "Enchantress" for commissioning; when they will be sent on board; and if the expense so incurred will be included in the amount approved for this temporary commission?

A commissioned gunner and two warrant officers were appointed, and 35 ratings were sent on board in June. No expense was incurred by these orders.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will publish the correspondence relative to the incident where the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institute were definitely informed that buildings erected on Admiralty land would become the property of the Admiralty?

I do not think this is correspondence which can conveniently be published, but I shall be happy to supply a copy of the letter conveying the Admiralty decision on the subject to the hon. Member for his personal information.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of men established in Devon-port Dockyard in each of the years from 1906 to the present date, together with the average number of years of service, showing those who have served their apprenticeship in the yard and those who have served it outside, respectively?

The number of workmen established in Devon port Dockyard in each of the years from 1906 to the present date is as follows:

Year.	Numbers Established.
1906	60
1907	29
1908	1
1909	6
1910	120
1911	105
1912	93
1913	257
1914	495
1915	451
1916	242
1917	337
1918	934
1919	174
1920	209
1921	101
1922	43
1923	12
1924	21
Total	3,690

The further information asked for the second part of the question could not be supplied without an examination of the case of every man placed on the established list, and this would entail considerable labour and necessitate the working of overtime.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will undertake to reject any proposal made to replace the Metropolitan police in His Majesty's dockyards by naval or marine pensioners; and, if the pensions of the latter are inadequate to maintain them without additional earnings, whether he will take steps to increase them?

The reply is "No, Sir," to both parts of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what decision has been reached with respect to the erection of aerodromes in Oxfordshire?

It has been decided to establish aerodromes at Upper Heyford and Bicester, and sites for other aerodromes in Oxfordshire are under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his Department refuses to advise contractors of the result of tenders submitted; and whether, seeing that it is in the interest 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?

In reply to the first part of the question, it is the practice to inform contractors whether their tenders have been successful or not; to the second, that it is not considered to be in the public interest to make public the prices quoted, and it is therefore not proposed to make any change in the present practice of the Department.

asked the Home Secretary how many prosecutions have taken place annually under Section 12 of the Children's Act, 1908, against parents for neglecting to provide adequate medical aid for their children?

I regret that the figures are not available.

asked the Home Secretary the reasons why he refuses to permit Miss Lillian Scott Troy permission to enter this country for the purpose of investigating the business in which her money is invested, and of which she is the largest shareholder?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to his question of the 26th May last in this case. I regret I can add nothing to that answer.

asked the Home Secretary if he is prepared to enrol partially disabled unemployed ex-service men in the police force for special point duty purposes?

I understand that a few temporary appointments have been made for traffic duty of one kind or another in some forces, but that it would not be possible to employ partially disabled men in the Metropolitan police. I would point out that point duty is arduous work, and I am afraid the scope for ex-service men in this direction is very limited.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, with reference to the promotion of a second-class valuer, as notified in the Inland Revenue Weekly Notes of the 9th February last, if there was no ex-service official whose record merited an interview with regard to this promotion; if the non-ser rice official selected was specially qualified for the appointment in question; and, if so, why he did not take up his new duties at Camberwell on appointment?

As I explained, in the reply which I gave to the hon. and gal- lant Member on the 3rd July, the interviews required to enable superintending valuers to decide finally upon their recommendations are comparatively few in number, and in this case did not include any ex-service valuers. As regards the latter parts of the question, the machinery for selecting for promotion has been designed to secure the advancement of the most meritorious officers within the field of selection; the disposition of staff in a grade by reference to the requirements of particular offices is a distinct matter to which other considerations apply.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any and, if so, how many disabled ex-service men have been discharged from his Department since 1st January last; and whether it is the practice of the Department to discharge disabled men whose pensions have not been made permanent in favour of those who are not disabled?

No disabled ex-service men have been discharged from the Treasury since 1st January last. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have been trained in building crafts with financial assistance from public funds since 1919; what was the total cost; how many of the men so trained are known to have received employment; and whether he has in his Department a scheme to enable ex-service unemployed, whether disabled or not, to be trained as bricklayers, plasterers and slaters?

Since 1919, 8,976 disabled ex-service men have received training in the building trades; (5,294 completed the whole course and 3,682 did not). Of this total the number registered as unemployed at the end of March, 1924, was 621. Four hundred and thirty-seven fit ex-service men received a partial or complete course of training in 1921–2 under the scheme for training fit ex-service men in the building trades. The total cost of these two schemes of training in the build- ing trade was about £1,600,000. In addition, 7,184 young ex-service men were helped to complete apprenticeships in the building trades under the interrupted apprenticeship scheme at a cost of approximately £575,000. Two hundred and six disabled ex-service men are at present in training as bricklayers or plasterers under the industrial training scheme. Under the interrupted apprenticeship scheme separate figures for bricklayers, plasterers and slaters are not available, but there are 156 men completing their apprenticeships in all building trades. There is no other scheme in operation for training ex-service men in the building trades.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the names of 2,550 ex-officers and ex-service men still remain on the list of unemployed in connection with the Appointments Department of the Associated Chamber of Commerce alone; whether any full record of unemployed ex-officers and ex-service men of similar education is kept by the Ministry of Labour or any Government Department; whether any special efforts are being extended beyond periodical appeals in order to place these gallant men; and what is the nature of such plans?

The Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour maintains a register of unemployed ex-officers and ex-service men of similar education whose unemployment can directly be attributed to their War service. No record of unemployed ex-officers and ex-service men of similar education whose unemployment is attributable to other causes is maintained by the Ministry of Labour. The number 2,550 to which my hon. Friend refers relates to those registered with the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour, though the number has now fallen to 2,524. The corresponding figure at the end of June last year was 6,306, and at the beginning of January this year 4,532. My right hon. Friend recently made an appeal through the Press to employers to find openings for these ex-officers and men, and has also appealed to the Association of Chambers of Commerce and to the Federation of British Industries, both of which organisations have promised to bring the appeal to the notice of their members. In addition, there is a large number of voluntary boards throughout the country who interview applicants of this type and endeavour to find openings for them by their own personal efforts. Individual applicants are also advertised in the Press free of charge.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of women who are known at the Employment Exchanges to have entered domestic service during the last six months, and the number for the same period last year?

The only figures I have are those for the number of women placed in situations in domestic service by the Employment Exchanges. These were, for the six months ended 2nd June, 62,497, and for the corresponding period of 1923 56,993.

asked the Minister of Labour what average wages an unskilled able-bodied labourer can earn per week to-day as a bricklayer's labourer, as a railway porter, as a trench-digger under an electric company, as a road-sweeper under a borough council, and as an agricultural labourer in a specified county?

The rates of wages of these workpeople vary in different localities, and the information available as to the number of men paid at various rates is not sufficient to enable the average wages to be calculated. The following table summarises the particulars in the possession of the Ministry of Labour as to the usual range of full-time rates of wages in each case:

asked the Minister of Labour the causes of the strike at the Nuneaton, Warwickshire, co-operative stores; and whether the employés have returned to work?

I understand that this dispute is now settled and that work has been resumed. In the circumstances I do not think that it is desirable to make any further statement on the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Auxiliary Force and the Indian Territorial Force Committee have yet reported; and, if not, when is it expected that the Report will be issued?

The Report of the committee has not yet been received. The Government of India anticipate that the deliberations of the committee will occupy some time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether cantonment magistrates who performed military duties during the War are under the same conditions as to pay and pensions as military officers on the active list?

Generally speaking, cantonment magistrates reverted to military employment during the War received treatment similar to that of ordinary military officers. But if the hon. Member has in mind a case in which there appears to have been differentiation, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, seeing that a large access of children under five years of age has occurred during recent years in London elementary schools owing to the greater necessity for mothers to leave such children in the care of teachers while they themselves seek employment or are engaged in paid work, some extra provision can be made so as to avoid the present congestion?

On my present information, it does not appear that existing accommodation is insufficient, but I shall, of course, be ready to draw the attention of the local education authority to any cases of overcrowding which the hon. Member may bring to my notice.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is his intention to make any and, if so, what arrangements for the care and education of children who are so mentally defective that they cannot be received in any of the existing special or M.D. schools?

A Circular is already in draft, and will, I hope, be issued shortly, urging local education authorities to improve their arrangements for the ascertainment of and notification to the local authority, under the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, of those mentally defective children who are not suitable for admission to special schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that certain teachers who were interned at Ruhleben camp during the War were engaged in teaching duties while interned there; and whether he proposes to take into account the years of teaching service given to fellow-British internees at the camp school for the purposes of the grant to local authorities in connection with the increments of such teachers' salaries?

The decision not to recognise periods of internment in calculating teachers' salaries was only arrived at after careful consideration, and I am unable to re-open the question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, before giving his consent to proposals made to him by local education authorities for raising the school age to 15 and 16, he will insist that schemes for the payment of maintenance grants as a matter of right and without question shall form part of the proposals for raising the school age?

I am anxious to receive well-considered proposals for rais- ing the age of compulsory school attendance, and these, no doubt, will be accompanied by proposals for maintenance allowances. I should welcome a liberal exercise of the local education authorities' discretion in the award of such allowances, subject to compliance with the conditions laid down in Schedule VII of the Code; but I am not disposed to embark on so extensive an interference with the discretion of local education authorities as is suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among teachers in the work of training the blind owing to the latitude granted for a class to be over 15 in number; and, in the view of those persons engaged in the work that such numbers lead to inefficiency, whether he will be prepared to meet a small but representative deputation of these teachers on the matter?

I have been making careful inquiry into the present efficiency of schools for blind children. In view of the reports which I have received, I do not think it necessary to receive a deputation on the subject; but I shall be willing to investigate any further instances which are submitted to me in which it is alleged that the size of a class is militating against its efficiency.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that for many years Miss Margaret McMillan has carried on successful experiments in connection with the provision of nursery schools at Deptford and elsewhere; and whether, in view of the very small cost of these schools and the great success which has resulted from them, and the alleged shortage of school places for children over 14 years of age, he will suggest to local education authorities the advisability of establishing similar nursery open-air schools in order that school places now occupied by young children may be released and, consequently, accommodation provided for those boys and girls who are able to remain at school after 14 years of age?

I am well aware of the good work which is being carried on at the Deptford nursery schools, and, as I have already said in reply to questions in this House, I am prepared to consider sympathetically any proposals which may be made to me for the establishment of nursery schools in suitable localities; though I doubt whether an extension of the system would lead to the results anticipated by my hon. Friend, as accommodation provided for younger children is by no means always suitable for older ones.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the feeling of allotment holders on the subject of the power of local authorities to dispose of land purchased for allotments, especially in cases where allotment holders themselves have contributed to the capital charge for the land; that the recent national congress of allotment holders at Sunderland passed a resolution calling for amendment of the law to provide for a public inquiry and sanction by a Government Department before such land can be surrendered from use as allotments; and what action he proposes to take?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which the Parliamentary Secretary gave him on the 27th May last. A further meeting of the Allotments Advisory Committee will be arranged for the consideration of the matter as soon as a decision has been reached as to an agreed recommendation on the part of the representatives on that committee of the local authorities and the allotment holders.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the counties in England in which there are restrictions in force owing to the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease; the number of outbreaks still under restrictions; and whether the causes of the outbreaks have been in each case satisfactorily traced?

The following counties, or parts of counties, in England (27 in all) are still subject to restrictions owing to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease:

• Berkshire.
• Buckinghamshire.
• Cambridgeshire.
• Cheshire.
• Derby.
• Essex.
• Hampshire.
• Hertfordshire.
• Huntingdonshire.
• Isle of Ely.
• Kent.
• Leicestershire.
• Lincolnshire (Holland, Lindsey and Kesteven Divisions).
• London.
• Middlesex.
• Norfolk.
• Northamptonshire.
• Nottinghamshire.
• Oxfordshire.
• Soke of Peterborough.
• Surrey.
• Warwickshire.
• Wiltshire.
• Yorkshire (East Riding).

103 outbreaks are still subject to restrictions applicable to foot-and-mouth disease, infected places. Seven of these are in Scotland and two in Wales.At the present time there are seven active centres of infection (all in England), namely:

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the letter of the Minister of Agriculture to the clerks of the county councils with respect to the duties of the county agricultural committees, he will state if it is the policy of the Cabinet to control agricultural husbandry?

The Government do not propose to introduce a Measure for the control of agricultural husbandry. I am sending to the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the letter referred to, and he will see that it contains suggestions as to the useful work which county agricultural committees can do.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the numbers of applications and total amounts for loans under Section 1 and Section 2, respectively, of the Agricultural Credits Act, which have been made and granted since the 1st January last?

Between the 1st January and the 30th June, 1924, 547 applications for loans under Section 1 of the Agricultural Credits Act, 1923, have been made to the Public Works Loan Board, and 481 loans have been granted, amounting in the aggregate to £1,790,222. Loans under Section 2 are made by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, to whom questions relating to them should be addressed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has communicated proposals to the New Zealand and other overseas Dominion Governments for a non-party round-table conference; when and where is it proposed to meet; who will be the representatives of the several overseas Dominions; and what is the nature of the agenda of the proposed business?

If, as I gather, the hon. Member is referring to the Press telegram from New Zealand which appeared in the "Times" of 5th July, the answer is that, following on the statement made by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on 6th June, communications are proceeding between His Majesty's Government and the Dominion Governments as to the possibility of improving the present system of consultation on matters of foreign policy and general Imperial interest. The correspondence, however, has not reached a stage where any detailed statement could usefully be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, upon the transfer of British territory in East Africa, in the Jubaland district of Kenya Colony, to Italy, pursuant to the Pact of London of 1915, compensation will be paid to those settlers whose plantations will be transferred, against their wishes, from the British to the Italian flag, particularly in the case of those who obtained their grants of land before the War and have spent large sums of money in developing them?

No title to compensation is recognised. The retention of existing grants of land is provided for in the Convention and the holders will be able to continue under the Italian flag. The only claim for compensation which so far as I know is likely to be made is by a company in regard to which a winding-up order has already been made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Electricity Commissioners were represented or took part in the recent Word Power Conference at Wembley; if so, by whose authority; under whose auspices the Conference was convened; and whether municipal electricity undertakings were invited to take part?

All the Government Departments concerned, including the Ministry of Transport and the Board of Trade were officially represented at the World Power Conference, and the Chairman of the Electricity Commissioners with the concurrence of my predecessors and myself represented the Institution of Electrical Engineers on the Council. The Conference was organised by the British and Allied Electrical Manufacturers' Association in conjunction with scientific and technical institutions in this country. I am informed that municipal engineers were officially invited and that many were present during the proceedings.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish a White Paper giving information gathered from countries across the Channel dealing with roadside trees; and, in view of the public interest in this matter, whether he will consider the planting of trees along the new arterial roads?

I am strongly in favour of road-side tree planting, which is generally desired, and I do not consider it necessary to quote foreign countries in support. I am assured that the House generally will regard such a measure as non-controversial, and I propose to introduce a Bill at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the awards made to officers and seamen of the Mercantile Marine in respect of claims made by or on account of those captured by the enemy during the late War have only been met to the extent of about two-fifths of the sums claimed; whether these awards are final; and, if so, whether he will agree to reconsider these claims?

As to the first part of the question, the proportion of the assessed damage recommended to be paid by the Royal Commission depended on the nature and amount of the damage sustained, the assessment being scaled down in the manner described in paragraph 26 of the First Report of the Commission. As to the second and last parts of the question, the awards of the Commission are final and claims cannot be reconsidered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will inform the House how many claims made by persons resident in the United Kingdom, for compensation for damage caused by enemy action in the late War have been rejected; how many of such claims have been rejected on the ground that the owners of damaged property had failed to take out an insurance on the property against damage by enemy aircraft; and whether the Government are now willing to ensure reasonable compensation to all persons whose property suffered damage in the United Kingdom by enemy aircraft action in the late War?

As to the first part of the question, claims are registered in accordance with the enemy action complained of and the nature of the injury suffered and not in accordance with the geographical areas, and I am consequently unable to give the information desired. The total number of claims from all parts of the world rejected by the Royal Commission was 9,410. As to the second part of the question, the number is 518. As to the last part of the question, I would refer to the answer given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 5th May to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Millar).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount which has been paid as compensation for suffering and damage owing to enemy action during the War; and what is the amount received to date from Germany to meet the total British claims under that heading?

The amount which has been allocated by the Government to ex gratin grants to individuals in respect of compensation for suffering and damage by enemy action is £5,300,000, including £300,000 for belated claims; of this amount £4,318,385 has been paid to date. As regards the second part of the question, I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Individual British subjects have not, and never have had, any claim against Germany under the Reparation Clauses of the Treaty, and it is impossible to relate items of private damages to the total reparation payments made by Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the imports and exports, respectively, of Germany are for the first five or six months of 1924?

According to the monthly trade returns published by the German Government, the total value of the imports into Germany, for home consumption, during the period from 1st January to 31st May, 1924, amounted to 2,660,518,000 gold marks, and the total value of domestic exports during the same period amounted to 2,252,078,000 gold marks.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will inquire into the case of Mr. G. H. Roach, of 44, Tower Hamlets Road, Forest Gate, who on 3rd July received from the local area office, M.R.A.O. 15A, advising consultation with the National Health Insurance doctor; whether he is aware that, although the doctor concerned certified that his treatment of the pensioner necessitated absence from work, the local pensions office stated such evidence cannot be accepted as sufficient to warrant placing the man on treatment allowances; end whether such practice is with his consent?

I am having inquiry made into the facts of this case and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions, in view of the fact that Richard A. Tuson, of 2, Havelock Road, Tottenham, received a pension for five years on account of chronic rheumatism, that the pension was stopped by the decision of the appeal tribunal that the disability of rheumatism had passed away, and that three doctors have recently certified Tuson to be still suffering from chronic rheumatism and unable to work, whether, under the special arrangements recently announced enabling certain cases dealt with by the tribunal to be re-opened, Tuson's claim upon the disability of chronic rheumatism can now be reconsidered?

As I have previously explained to the hon. Member, Mr. Tuson received a pension for 70 weeks for his rheumatism. The medical beard which examined him in 1918 found no disablement from rheumatism, and this was confirmed by the board which examined him a year later, and by a medical appeal board which examined him in 1921. It was therefore considered by the Ministry that any aggravation by service had passed away, and on appeal the Ministry's decision was upheld by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. Even if the ailment from which the man is now suffering were chronic rheumatism, this would not in itself indicate that the aggravation of his condition by military service still persists, and I am bound to give due weight from this point of view to the fact that he suffered from rheumatism before enlistment and that his service of 58 days did not subject him to conditions which were likely to produce any material degree even of temporary aggravation. The case is not, therefore, one in which there is any evidence that the Ministry's decision was incorrect.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that an ex-service man, Mr. J. H. Mossop, 23, North View, Meadowfield, County Durham, was examined by medical tribunals in January and March 1924, both decisions being in his favour; and can he explain why this man, who is unable to work and has a wife and family to maintain, has only been granted a pension for a limited period of less than 12 months and is not to be paid any arrears for the period his pension was stopped?

The circumstances of this case were fully explained in the letter sent to my hon. Friend on the 26th ultimo. The compensation, of which Mr. Mossop is at present in receipt, is in accordance with the findings of the two medical boards referred to in regard to the degree of disablement sustained by the pensioner in consequence of the minor injury to the knee which he sustained. With regard to the last point in the question, I would point out that compensation under the Pension Warrants is only payable where disablement actually results from the specific injury or illness, and could not, therefore, be paid for any period prior to the date on which it was ascertained that disablement was present

asked the Minister of Pensions if he can make inquiries into the accommodation at the Roehampton Hospital; and can steps be taken to speed up the fitting of artificial legs so that ex-service men do not lose their day's work?

The accommodation at Roehampton Hospital is ample, and I do not think that any avoidable delay occurs in fitting or repairing artificial legs. Moreover, every pensioner has been supplied with a duplicate leg, to be used while the first limb is under repair, and the necessity for personal attendance at the hospital is thus, for the most part, avoided after a first fitment.

asked the right hon. Member for Tiverton, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what deer stocks were taken over by purchase since 1919 upon lands acquired for afforestation, and what were the average prices paid per stag, per hind, and per calf; if compensation has been paid in any case for disturbance to deer or sheep and, if so, how much; and what other forms of compensation, if any, have been paid?

The Forestry Commissioners have not taken over any deer stocks by purchase; they have not paid compensation in any case for disturbance to deer; they have paid £400 for sheep disturbance on two farms; they have paid £92 for manurial and crop values on two nursery areas.

asked the right hon. Member for Tiverton, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how much money has been spent since 1919 in purchasing land for afforestation; if he can give the value of the sheep stocks, if any, taken over on each estate purchased; and if these stock purchases were bought at a valuation or at market value?

The Forestry Commissioners have spent since 1919 £93,856 in purchasing land for afforestation, the price being inclusive of cottages and other buildings thereon, but exclusive of standing timber. They have taken over sheep stocks on two estates purchased, in one case at market value, £1,300, and in the other at acclimatisation value, £6,613.

asked the hon. Member for Carlisle, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, what is the total annual value of the tithe rent-charge payable in England?

I have been asked to reply to this question. There are no available statistics showing exactly how much tithe rent-charge is payable in England, but it is estimated that the amount is approximately £3,000,000 (par value).

asked the hon. Member for Carlisle, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, what is the total annual value of the tithe rent-charge payable in the County of Berkshire?

I have been asked to reply to this question. There are no available statistics showing exactly how much tithe rent-charge is payable In Berkshire, but it is estimated that the amount is approximately £72,000 (par value).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to profiteering on the part of well-known dealers in tea who, since the reduction in the duty on tea by 4d. in the lb., are selling tea which was previously priced at 2s. 6d. per lb. at 2s. 4d. per lb. without any explanation except that the price has been reduced since the Budget, thus giving their customers the impression that they are still receiving 2s. 8d. tea; whether he will supply the names of such dealers; and if he will take such action as is necessary to prevent extra profits being made by tea trusts as a result of legislative changes specially designed to relieve the consumer?

Allegations of the nature indicated have been received. There is no power in law to compel traders to reduce retail prices to correspond with reductions in duty, but in general the effect of competition has been sufficient to ensure that the full benefit of the Budget reduction in the Tea Duty has been passed on to consumers. I would remind my hon. Friend that the reduction in duty on the bulk of the tea imported is not 4d. per lb., as suggested, but 3⅓d. per lb.

asked the Chancellor of t he Exchequer what is the estimated loss of revenue for the current financial year due to the abolition of duties on foreign goods, and including the reduction of duties on German goods; what is the estimated expenditure that will be entailed by the increase in unemployment benefit and other social legislation already introduced by the Government; and to what extent it is expected that the adverse balance will be met by additional revenue arising from improved export trade?

In answer to the first and third parts of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Financial Statement, 1924–25, House of Commons Paper 60, Tables X and XII. As regards the second part, the particulars are fully set out in the White Papers, explaining the respective Financial Resolutions on which the legislation referred to has been introduced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the principal headings under stamp duties under which the revenue has shown a decline during the first quarter of the present financial year as compared with last year?

The principal headings of stamp duties under which the revenue has shown a decline during the quarter ended 30th June, 1924, as compared with the corresponding period last year, are Bonds to Bearer, Companies' Capital Duty, Foreign Bills, Transfers of Stocks and Shares, and Conveyances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of the buildings, machinery and plant of the Royal Mint; at what value these stand in the books of the Mint; what is the cost of upkeep per annum; and are the expenses, namely, upkeep, interest and depreciation, taken into account when fixing the price of medals and other work executed by the Mint for private parties, such as Nobels and the Royal Academy, in competition with private firms already handicapped by the heavy burden of rates and taxes?

According to the latest valuation made last year, the total present value of buildings, plant and machinery at the Mint is £200,000. This figure is included in the costing accounts kept by the Department, and depreciation at a fixed rate per annum is assigned to general oncosts, which are in turn allocated over costs of production. As with every public Department, a sum representing an annual contribution in lieu of rates is also included in the general on costs. The cost of upkeep varies every year according to the amount of work to be done, the total expenditure each year being included in the accounts published with the annual report. The Mint exists primarily for the manufacture of gold and token coins, and official medals and seals, but when work of the nature referred to by the hon. Member is undertaken, this is conducted on ordinary commercial lines, and due regard is had in fixing prices to the costs referred to in the earlier part of the question.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he proposes to make any proposals to the House arising out of his investigations into retail prices of coal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for the Attercliffe Division (Mr. C. Wilson).

asked the Secretary for Mines what is the average cost of a ton of coal at the pit head in England and Wales; and what is the average amount of wages per tan raised paid in England and Wales?

The average cost of raising a ton of coal at the pit head in England and Wales during January and February of this year was 16s. 5d., of which 11s. 6d, represents the wages cost.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take into consideration the present position of those Government employés and the public that such sub-offices, formerly head offices, being now reduced to sub-offices have suffered financially and in prestige; and if he will consider the desire expressed by the employés and the public that such sub-offices should be restored to their former status, and again hold the privileges which they formerly enjoyed?

It has been the policy for many years, in the interest of efficient and economical administration, to regrade small head offices as opportunity offers, and I see no sufficient reason to reverse this policy, which has no effect on the facilities given to the public. I am not sure to which section of the staff the hon. Member refers, but if he has any particular case of hardship in mind I will inquire into it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the serious inconvenience caused to the residents of Tutnalls, Lydney, Gloucestershire, through the want of a sub-post office at Tutnalls; is he aware that during recent years the population of this district has increased and is likely to continue doing so for some considerable time; and, since the post and telegraph office are more than a mile away, will he take steps so that a sub-post office with telegraph facilities is established in the area?

I regret that the volume of postal and telegraph business likely to be transacted would not justify the establishment of a sub-post office at Tutnalls. There is an existing sub-office within a distance of half a mile and the telegraph requirements of the district seem to be adequately met by the Lydney head post office.