asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, under the terms of squadron order No. 336, of 2nd July, 1924, issued by the director. Royal Indian Marine, instructing officers of the Royal Indian Marine to go through the various Admiralty courses in navigation, gunnery, etc., therein referred to, it is intended that the period of these courses is to be counted as part of the officer's leave or whether the period of each course is to count as duty and outside the period of leave; and if he can state what provision is to be made for the payment of the officers' passages to and from the United Kingdom, as was granted for the Greenwich course under the old scheme?

The orders to which the hon. and gallant Member refers are subject to the Secretary of State's approval. In considering them my Noble Friend will give attention to the points raised.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if, before making any reduction of the pensions of officers of the Indian Army with retrospective effect from 1st July, 1924" he will take into consideration the hardship that may be inflicted upon these retired officers by mulcting them of accumulated arrears in one lump sum?

A provisional deduction of approximately 5 per cent. is already being made with effect from 1st July, in order to avoid any hardship through the recovery of accumulated arrears.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in the matter of Knockintoran - Paiblesgarry march fence in North Uist, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland have called upon the neighbouring estate to agree to the repair of the boundary fence; and when is the work likely to be completed?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am unable to assign a definite date to the completion of the work.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether financial aid is available to small landholders in the Western Isles who desire to improve their holdings by land drainage; and, having regard to the saturated condition of some of these holdings owing to heavy rainfall, is he prepared to consider any individual applications?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to his question on this subject on the 17th July. I explained in that answer that the land drainage scheme for the relief of unemployment is not considered suitable for application to the Western Isles because of the expense and difficulty of supervising a large number of small and isolated operations and the difficulty of securing the necessary administrative and financial control. I further stated that it has been found that the construction and improvement of roads is the most suitable useful work in these areas both from the point of view of relieving distress and of administration, and that relatively larger sums have been expended on the road works for the relief of distress in the Western Isles than on the land drainage scheme elsewhere. In view of these reasons financial aid from the funds provided for relief of unemployment is not available to small landholders in the Western Isles for the purpose mentioned in the first part of the question, and individual applications cannot therefore be considered.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health the total amount paid from the Exchequer during the year ended the 15th May last in respect of tuberculosis schemes in Scotland, and the total amount expended by authorities of Scotland during the same period?

The total amount paid from Exchequer during the year ended 31st March, 1924, was £306,157. The total amount expended by local authorities in Scotland during their financial year ending May, 1924, is not yet known, but the Local Authorities' Estimates, on which Exchequer payments were made, amounted to £534,283.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what measures have been taken to put into force the second, third, fourth, and fifth recommendations of the Scottish Departmental Committee on Trawling and Policing of Scottish Sea Fisheries with regard to the closing of Moray Firth, the prohibition of injurious methods of sea-fishing, the destruction of immature fish, and the carrying of otter boards on small vessels incapable of trawling in any but closed waters; whether it is proposed to strengthen the present police patrol by the addition of the five fast auxiliary cruisers recommended by the Committee; whether the additional two, which have been sanctioned, are now operating; whether the wireless experiments on one of the cruisers have been successful; if so, what other cruisers are to be similarly equipped; what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations 7 ( c ), ( d ), ( e ), and ( f ) of the Committee; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to carry into effect Recommendations 6, 8, and 9, with regard to powers to compel trawlers in territorial or closed waters to have their gear stowed away, to the increase of the penalties for illegal depreciations, and to the codification and simplification of the Acts relating to Scottish fisheries?

Recommendations 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Departmental Committee are at present under consideration. As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, Recommendations Nos. 2, 3 and 4 involve international agreements. The present fishery patrol fleet is being strengthened by the addition of two fast auxiliary cruisers, and experience of the effect of these additions will be obtained before any further additions are considered. One of the cruisers has been delivered and the vessel is now on passage to her station. Delivery of the second vessel is expected within the next few weeks. Sufficient experience has not yet been obtained of the wireless installation placed on board one of the cruisers in accordance with Recommendation No. 7 ( c ) to enable a definite conclusion to be drawn as to its value, and the question of equipping other cruisers with wireless will be considered thereafter. The Committee's Recommendation 7 ( d ) is under consideration. With regard to 7 ( e ), the Fishery Board for Scotland are in close touch with the Board of Trade as to reporting by coastwatchers of any illegal operations observed; and as regards 7 ( f ), it is intended that the Admiralty vessel at present engaged in fishery protection

New Holdings and Enlargements. Year ending Caithness. Sutherland. New Holdings. Enlargements. New Holdings. Enlargements. 30th June, 1921:— ( a ) Civilian … 6 4 — — ( b ) Ex-Service … 53 2 — — Total for year … 59 6 — — 30th June, 1922:— ( a ) Civilian … 6 4 3 42 ( b ) Ex-Service … 13 22 9 4 Total for year … 19 26 12 46 30th June, 1923:— ( a ) Civilian … — — — 5 ( b ) Ex-Service … — — 3 2 Total for year … — — 3 7 30th June, 1924:— ( a ) Civilian … — — 2 14 ( b ) Ex-Service … — — 6 21 Total for year … — — 8 35

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much cotton has been duties in Scottish waters should be replaced by a faster and more efficient vessel within the next few months. Recommendations 6, 8 and 9 are under consideration.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many small holdings have been constituted and enlargements granted to smallholders during the past 12 months in the counties of Caithness and Sutherland, respectively; and how these figures compare with those of each of the previous three years?

The following statement shows the number of new holdings constituted and enlargements of holdings granted to smallholders during the year ending 30th June, 1924, with the corresponding numbers for the three previous years:

exported from Iraq during each of the last three years; and what area in Iraq is now under cultivation for cotton raising?

The value of exports of raw cotton of Iraq origin during the last three years was as follows:—

Rupees. 1921 … … … … 112 1922 … … … … 890 1923 … … … … 8,674

As regards the area under cotton cultivation, the figures were as follows: Acres. 1921 … … … … 400 1923 … … … … 5,000 1924 … (approximately) 15,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make any statement with regard to the representations which have recently been made to him on certain matters affecting Indians in Kenya by the India Committee under the chairmanship of the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. J. Hope Simpson)?

I will take the subject in the order raised by the Committee: (1) Immigration: My position is that if the danger ever arises of such an influx of immigrants of whatever class, race, nationality or character as may be likely to be prejudicial to the economic interests of the natives, I hold myself entirely free to take any action which may be necessary. The conflicting statistics which have been laid before me have not enabled me to reach a definite conclusion as to the extent of the net Indian immigration. Accordingly, steps will be taken to create a statistical department to obtain accurate information with regard to persons of all races arriving in or departing from Kenya. Meanwhile the Kenya Immigration Ordnance will not be enacted. (2) Franchise: I have given careful consideration to the representations in favour of a common roll, but I am not prepared to resist the conclusion arrived at in Cmd. 1,922 of July, 1923, that in the special circumstances of Kenya, with four diverse communities each of which will ultimately require electoral representation, the communal system is the best way to secure the fair representation of each and all of these communities. 3112 (3) Highlands: I consider that the Secretary of State for the Colonies has no alternative but to continue the pledges expressed or implied which have been given in the past, and I can hold out no hope of the policy in regard to agricultural land in the highlands being reconsidered. (4) Lowlands: It was proposed to reserve an area in the lowlands for agricultural immigrants from India. The Committee made it plain that it is averse from any reservation of land for any immigrant race. Subject to that it suggested that before applications for land in the lowland areas are invited the opportunity should be taken of sending an officer, experienced in Indian settlement and agricultural methods, to report on the areas. At present any consideration of the matter is in suspense, pending the receipt from the Colony of reports from the native and agricultural points of view on the areas in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of claims not yet settled in respect of damage to property in Ireland sustained by persons owing to their attachment to the British Crown; and whether he can take any steps to expedite the settlement of outstanding claims?

I regret that I have not the information which would enable me to reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question. As regards the second part, I understand that claims are being dealt with as rapidly as possible.

asked (1) the Under-Secretary of State for Air if steps are now being taken to ensure that accommodation on troopships during the coming trooping season shall be adequate for the rank and file;

(2) the Secretary of State for War if steps are now being taken to ensure that troopships shall not be overcrowded during the coming trooping season; and

(3) what is the method adopted to ensure that each member of the rank and file on board troopships has sufficient feeding and sleeping accommodation, and on what basis is the cubic space per man calculated; what is the cubic space per man; and what is the cubic space per woman allowed on Government transports?

Accommodation for troops and families on board transports is not worked out on a cubic foot basis. Each man is allowed a seat of 20 inches space at a mess table, and hammock billets spaced at 27 inches apart are fitted for 80 per cent of the number. The 20 per cent. not provided with hammock billets is covered by men on duty as guards, etc. In the case of families, the accommodation is governed by the number of berths in cabins. In addition, each woman is allowed a seat of 20 inches at a mess table and the space outside the cabins is fitted as a sitting-room. On the above basis, the cubic space per person on five of the six ships to be used during the forthcoming season (figures for the sixth ship are not yet available) works out on the average as follows: Per man, 96 cubic feet. Per family berth, 348 cubic feet.

In addition, there are the spaces occupied by hospitals, lavatories and latrines, which are not included in the above figures. The accommodation provided for troops has been considerably improved since the end of the War, and on an average the troops are now given 25 per cent. more space than before When a ship is about to be engaged as a troop transport, she is inspected by technical officers of the Sea Transport Department, accompanied by a combatant officer of the War Office or Air Ministry and by a military or Air Force medical officer, to ensure that the ship is suitable for the purpose. After the ship has been fitted up, she is again inspected by a joint Board of Trade, War Office or Air Ministry and Medical Board to ensure that the accommodation is satisfactory and that the ship is not overcrowded.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if His Majesty's ships "Carlisle," "Ambrose," "Foxglove," and certain submarines, in addition to the "Tamar," were together in Hong Kong during the month of June last; and will he state the approximate number of men who were then in the port and the number of ratings who were accommodated at the sanatorium at the Peak during June, 1924?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The total complement of the vessels would be, approximately, 1,320. The sanatorium was not employed during June, as the hot weather had not set in, and, in fact, the sanatorium is generally shrouded in mist during that month.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the Australian Government has yet taken any steps to place the building of a cruiser in this country; and, seeing that there is no slip in any of His Majesty's dockyards large enough to take a cruiser of the intended size, he will take steps to enlarge the slip in Devonport Dockyard?

I have no information as regards the first part of the question. With reference to the second part, the slip at Devonport Dockyard is detailed for the cruiser to be constructed at that yard.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the restrictions imposed by the military authorities at Lulworth Cove have been increased since the War; whether the by-laws, which were drafted so as to include the whole of the Cove, but have now been modified, have yet been ratified; and whether, seeing that notice boards are erected on the edge of the Cove itself forbidding the public to advance beyond them, and that restrictions are still being enforced against fishermen, limiting them in earning their livelihood, he will reconsider his decision in this matter?

There has been no increase in the restrictions. On the contrary, under the proposed bye-laws the restrictions will be lessened. The bye-laws have not yet been ratified, but I may add that there is not, and never has been, any intention of including Lulworth Cove itself in the danger area. The notice boards are exhibited for the safety of the public to warn them against entering the danger area whilst firing is in progress. At other times the public can have access as hitherto along existing public rights of way. The interests of the fishermen have been considered, and the Department is prepared to restrict the firing to certain days, and to limit the hours on those days. As regards the last part of the question, I cannot add anything to the answers which I gave earlier in the week.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the cost of maintenance of the British Army in Egypt; whether there has been any decision as the result of the negotiations which were entered upon when the Egyptian Parliament refused to include their share of the cost in the budget; and the amount of this share?

The estimated total cost of the British forces in Egypt (including the Sudan) in 1924–25 is £2,747,200, as shown on page 37 of Army Estimates. The Estimates also allowed for a contribution of £150,000 from the Egyptian Government (see page 214 of the Estimates). No decision has yet been arrived at regarding the refusal of the Egyptian Parliament to make provision for this contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present strength of the Militia?

As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, the Militia is in abeyance at present. Recruiting has not been re-opened since the War Certain officers remain in the Army List to the number at present of 509, but the other ranks were discharged in October, 1923.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number and total emoluments of higher division staff employed at the War Office in the secretarial, finance, accounting and contract departments, respectively?

The number of the staff in question is 47, and their total emoluments £51,350.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury with reference to the curtailment and variation of Civil Service pensions enforced in pursuance of the executive order known as the Treasury Minute of the 20th March, 1922, upon what authority, statutory or otherwise, the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury base their claim to enforce that order; and, if such claim is based upon their general powers under the Superannuation Acts, whether he will state in which sections of these Acts those general powers are embodied?

The Treasury Minute was issued in consequence of undertakings given to the House of Commons as the result of a strong desire expressed on both sides of the House upon a Motion for the reduction of a Supplementary Estimate for superannuation services, and was in accordance with an Agreement on the National Whitley Council. The discretionary powers of the Treasury on superannuation questions generally are contained in Section 30 of the Superannuation Act, 1634, Section 2 of the Superannuation Act, 1559, Section 9 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, and Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1909.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men in the burghs of Tranent, Cockenzie and Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland?

There are no offices of the Department at these places, but at the nearest local office at Musselburgh there were 346 men on the registers at 28th July including 200 on short time. Informal notification of suspension from work had also been given in respect of 4,000 persons, but at 28th July these persons had not made formal claims to benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men at the age of 65 years and over, and how many youths between the ages of 16 and 21 years, are receiving unemployment benefit?

Statistics are not normally compiled respecting the ages of claimants to unemployment benefit. In November last, however, a special investigation was made of the personal circumstances and industrial history of 10,000 claimants to benefit, selected in such a way as to form a representative sample of the whole body of claimants, which showed that, at that date, 11˙3 per cent. of the male claimants to benefit were aged 60 years and over, and 7˙7 per cent. were between the ages of 16 and 20 years. If these proportions still apply, the approximate number of claimants to benefit at 21st July, 1924, aged 60 and, over would be 89,000 and those between the ages of 16 and 20 years 61,000. I am unable to give figures relating to claimants of the age of 65 and over.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that between September, 1922, and September, 1931, the ratepayers of the Union of West Ham will be called upon to pay £286,075 by way of interest on loans for unemployment relief amounting to £1,400,000; whether, in view of the great burden which is being borne locally, the Government could lend money for this purpose at a lower rate of interest than 4¾ per cent., and whether this rate of interest represents a profit or a loss to the Government?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 28th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Plaistow (Mr. W. Thorne). As then stated, these loans were made at the current market rate of interest for loans of similar currency, and could certainly not have been obtained by the guardians at a less rate.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Miss Nichol, clerk-typist, 1, Alexandria Terrace, Govan, was refused unemployment benefit by the Govan Employment Exchange because she refused to go to Dumfries as a clerk-typist for the same salary as she had had in Glasgow; that during that week, ending 24th May, 1924, there were registered at the Exployment Exchanges in Carlisle, Dumfries, Annan and Kilmarnock 36 unemployed lady clerks and typists; that no application was made by any local employer for such a class of worker; whether he can state on whose authority Miss Nichol was told to go to Dumfries, where no local employer had applied for a typist; and whether, in view of these facts, he will reconsider this girl's case and have unemployment benefit paid to her, together with the back money to which she is entitled?

A vacancy for a shorthand-typist was notified to the Dumfries Employment Exchange on the 15th May. Local applicants having been submitted to and rejected by the employer, the vacancy was circulated to other Exchanges in accordance with the usual practice, and on the 23rd May it was offered by the Kinning Park Exchange to Miss Nichol. She refused it. Her claim for benefit was, therefore, disallowed by the insurance officer, and his decision was upheld on appeal by the Court of Referees. It appears, however, that, unknown to the Kinning Park Exchange, the vacancy had, in fact, been cancelled by the employer before it was offered by the Exchange to the applicant. The Court of Referees were not aware of this fact, and they are consequently being asked to re-hear the case.

asked the Minister of Labour the grounds upon which unemployment benefit is being withheld from Alfred Mellon, of 6, Nelson Street, Millom, who has a widowed mother entirely dependent upon him and has been unemployed for 17 weeks?

This applicant has received the full amount of benefit to which he was entitled in respect of the contributions to his credit. He was refused uncovenanted benefit, on the recommendation of the local employment committee, on the statutory ground that he had not paid twenty contributions, and had not been employed, since the 31st December, 1919, for a reasonable length of time in an insurable occupation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give, for each of the first six months of 1924, the average number of men, women, and young persons upon the unemployment registers for the five areas in the county of Somerset; and the amount paid each month in unemployment benefit?

The information is given in the following Table:

Average Numbers on Registers of Employment Exchanges in the County of Somerset and Amount of Unemployment Benefit paid to claimants in the same area.

Period. Average Number on Registers. Amount of Benefit paid. 1924. £ January … 7,614 15,656 February … 7,107 17,990 March … 6,414 13,570 April … 5,645 12,130 May … 5,577 14,637 June … 5,010 10,248

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that in consequence of there being no Employment Exchange for Barking a large number of members of the various trades unions are put to great inconvenience in having to sign on at other Employment Exchanges; if he can state whether he has received any communication from the town clerk to the Barking Town Urban District Council concerning the matter; and whether the Government has any intention of providing a Labour Exchange for Barking, which has a population of many thousands?

Representations on this subject have been made by the Barking Town Urban District Council, but having regard to the smaller numbers on the registers at present and to the fact that there are two Exchanges within a 2½-mile radius of Barking, I am afraid that the opening of an Employment Exchange at Barking cannot be justified at the present time. I can assure my hon. Friend, however, that the claims of Barking to separate Exchange facilities shall receive further consideration if and when any change in the position arises.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any information regarding the health of the unemployed men and women who have been out of employment for a lengthy period; and whether the percentage of illness of such men and women is higher than those persons regularly employed?

The expenditure by approved societies on sickness benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts affords some indication of the amount of sickness of all kinds amongst the insured population of the country, but the material in their possession does not make it possible to state whether the percentage of sickness is higher in the case of persons who have been out of employment for a lengthy period than in the case of persons regularly employed. Taking the insured population as a whole, there is no evidence that the prevalence of unemployment has adversely affected the claims for benefit under the Acts.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of men employed in road-relief work at Loch Erisort, in the Island of Lewis; the number of hours worked by each man per week; the amount of wages paid for such work; and the standard piece-work rate for casual labour on the island?

At present approximately 80 men are employed on this work. The number of hours worked per week is normally 48. The average earnings of the men engaged are 32s. per week. The piece-work rates applicable to works of this character in Lewis are embodied in a tabular schedule, which is too elaborate for inclusion in the answer to a Parliamentary question, but I shall be glad to let my hon. Friend see the schedule of rates if he desires.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will submit a Return to the House showing the average percentage per 1,000 of unemployed persons refused uncovenanted benefit in London and Greater London, on the ground that they are not genuinely seeking employment; and whether he will also state the names of the districts which exceed the average of persons refused, together with the total number of persons on the register, the total number refused, and the percentage per 1,000?

supplies the following information pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 30th July, 1924; Col, 2046, Vol. 176]:

The average percentage of refusals of uncovenanted benefit by Local Employment Committees in London (including Greater London) during the period 18th October, 1923, to 14th July, 1924, on the ground that the applicants were not genuinely seeking whole-time employment was 7˙2. The districts which exceeded this average were: Borough. Camberwell. Great Marlborough Street. Hackney. Holloway. King's Cross. Shepherd's Bush. Walham Green. Westminster. Brentford. Canning Town. East Ham. Enfield. Hendon. Ilford. Penge. Southall. Willesden. Wimbledon.

The total number of cases in which benefit was refused between 18th October, 1923, and 14th July, 1924, was 46,815, being 16 per cent. of the number referred to these Committees. The total number of persons on the register at these Exchanges at the end of July was 64,957.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the firm of Messrs. Hick- man, Bilston, Staffs, are on the list of Government contractors; what rate of wages are paid; whether he is aware that there is a strike at present against the rate of wages paid to the maintenance staff by this firm at the Bilston works; and whether he is taking any steps in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part I am not in a position to state the wages paid by the firm. I am aware that a dispute is in progress; the good offices of my Department are at the disposal of the parties, should they desire to avail themselves of them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of issuing, in the form of a White Paper, a Report from the British delegation to the conference of the international Labour Organisation upon the work done during that conference, similar in character to the Reports issued by the British representative to the Council of the League of Nations?

As I stated in reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Oswestry (Mr. Bridgeman) on the 16th July, the July issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, contains a short article on the discussion at the recent International Labour Conference. I am considering whether any useful purpose would be served by supplementing this with a somewhat fuller report.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any embargo and, if so, what, is placed on British actors, music hall artists, musicians and film artists in any foreign countries; and how in each case our own policy in respect to these artists from abroad compares with those applied to our own artists?

I regret that I have no exact information as to the restrictions imposed on British threatrical and music hall artists in foreign countries. The policy of my Department in administering the Aliens Restriction Order is dictated by the state of employment in the particular industry in this country. Permits are, however, not usually refused to foreign artists of established reputation for short visits.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consider the advisabiliy of making nursery school teachers eligible for pensions under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act?

This matter is at present under my consideration, and I hope to make an announcement upon it at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether it is proposed this year to bring in legislation with the object of putting into effect the recommendations of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Superannuation of School Teachers, and, in particular, the recommendation in paragraph 102 (13) with regard to non-grant-aided schools other than proprietary schools;

(2) whether the applications of certain schools under Section 18 (vii) of the School Teachers' (Superannuation) Act, 1918, and Rule 22 (3) of the School Teachers' (Superannuation) Rules, 1919, which have been held up solely on the ground that the whole question of the admission of such schools to benefit under the Acts of 1918 and 1922 was being reconsidered, can now be dealt with, or whether such applications must wait for further legislation?

I hope to be in a position to introduce legislation relating to the superannuation of teachers next year. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I shall not overlook the recommendations of the Departmental Committee relating to the position of non-grant-aided schools; but I can give no undertaking that it will be possible to deal with the case of those schools in advance of the general question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has receievd any representations from the Ross and Cromarty Education Authority regarding road facilities for the children who attend Crulivig School, Uig, in the Western Isles; and, in view of the hardship experienced by the children attending this school and the fact that parents have expressed their concern for the safety of their children in the winter months, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. I have already informed the hon. Member in the course of correspondence that from the reports which I have received it does not appear that the children experience hardship or danger in attending the public school at Crulivig, and this is confirmed by the further information which I have since received. I can hold out no prospect that a grant can be made by the Board of Agriculture towards the cost of constructing a road or footpath.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the Government, in considering claims for damage during the late War, took into account the facilities which existed for insurance, recognise that, as no distinction was made in the treatment accorded to claimants for damage incurred outside this country, great hardship was thereby inflicted upon British claimants in Northern France and Belgium who had no opportunity of insuring, His Majesty's Government will, in the settlement of outstanding questions between the Allies, use every endeavour to come to an arrangement with France and Belgium for the award of compensation to these British subjects, as was done in the case of Belgian and French subjects by arrangement between those two Governments?

While His Majesty's Government sympathise with the position of British claimants in Northern France and Belgium, they fear it would be useless to reopen the question with the French and Belgian Governments. At the same time they do not feel justified in asking the British taxpayer to meet such claims in anticipation of reparation payments by the German Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many foreign Powers have, since the War, suggested the raising of the status of their respective Ministers in this country to that of ambassadors; what answer has been returned in each case; and what have been the reasons actuating each decision?

With the exception of the Chinese Government no foreign Government has, since the War, made a suggestion of the nature indicated by the hon. and gallant Member. The proposal that the legations at Rio de Janeiro, Brussels and Lisbon should be raised to embassies emanated in the first instance from His Majesty's Government. As stated in the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member on the 4th of August, considerations of size, population and trade relations were all taken into account by His Majesty's Government in these three cases, as well as the part played by Brazil, Belgium and Portugal during the War. As regards Peking, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Epping (Sir L. Lyle) on the 4th of August.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that, in consequence of the new Ministerial instructions stating that pensioners who have through valid causes passed the period during which their appeal should normally be made, many pensioners are now appearing before the appeal tribunal, and that in the majority of these cases their appeals are not even considered, and they are told to go home; whether he is aware that these men can ill-afford the loss of time and money; and whether, to save them disappointment in the future, he can make their position with regard to their appeals very much clearer than it now is?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor's attention has been called to the matter mentioned in this question. It is not free from difficulty, but steps are being taken which will, it is hoped, in a large measure obviate the inconvenience referred to.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the great inconvenience caused to the residents of Fowey, Cornwall, by the alteration of the time of the collection of the London mail from 6.15 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and whether, having regard to the urgent request made by the Borough Council of Fowey, he will take steps to restore the former hour of collection?

The alteration is due to an alteration in the local train service, and I fear that it will not be possible to restore the former time of collection while the existing train service remains in force. I should add that the latest time of posting for the supplementary night mail from Fowey, which connects with the second morning delivery in Central London, has been put back from 6.15 to 6.45 p.m. in connection with the same train alteration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish tables of maternal and infantile mortality for the years 1919 to 1922 or 1919 to 1923, similar to those contained in Dr. Janet Campbell's Report on Maternal Mortality, for the great towns not included in her list of county boroughs, the 157 smaller towns, and the other urban districts, respectively, indicating by figures in brackets, as in her report, the position (as to the amount of mortality) of the particular area; and will he publish these figures in a form easily accessible to the public?

I am informed by the Registrar-General that certain particulars regarding the causes of maternal mortality in all municipal boroughs and urban districts are already published in his reports, and I will consider whether the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman is practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what have been the increases since May last in the price of

Commodity and locality where sold. Average price in May. Excess (+) or deficiency (-) of average price in July compared with average price in May. Amount. Per cent. Per cwt. Beef:— s. s. Scotch short sides (London) 114.3 +14 +12.2 English (Leeds) 96.8 -2.5 -2.6 Cow and Bull (Birmingham) 74.7 -2.8 -3.7 North American, port killed (London) 95.7 None None Argentine chilled (London) 55.1 -14.5 -26.4 Argentine frozen (average Leeds and Birmingham). 51.5 -14.4 -27.9 Mutton:— Scotch (London) 152.5 -0.3 -0.5 English (London) 143.2 +4.4 +3.1 Bacon:— Wilts smoked (Bristol) 127.5 +0.1 +0.7 Irish green (London) 117.3 +3.7 +3.2 American green sides (Liverpool) 66.6 +11.0 +16.5 Danish green sides (London) 99.5 +12.9 +13.0 Butter:— Irish creamery (London) 177.5 +20.9 +11.8 Danish (London) 202.3 -1.9 -0.9 New Zealand (London) 178.5 +12.7 +7.1 Per 280 lbs. Flour:— s. *Straight run (London) 36.8 +5.5 +14.9 Households (Norwich) 37.8 +5.2 +13.8 Imported (Glasgow) 36.8 +5.8 +15.8 Per gallon. d. Milk, average of contract prices at two London hospitals. 13.5 No change No change *"Taking" price: this has been usually 1s. below the Official price during the period covered. The changes in prices shown in the foregoing table appear to be due, in the main, to local and temporary or seasonal fluctuations in supply.

asked the Prime Minister if he has recently received a letter from the Central Chamber of Agriculture referring to the recent abnormal increase in the price of wheat and the food supply of the nation; and whether he will give it his personal attention?

I have asked my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to consider the suggestions

beef, mutton, bacon, flour, milk, and butter; and whether there is any economic reason for the advances in price?

The following statement shows the wholesale prices of the commodities specified in May, 1924, and the actual and relative differences between the average prices in May and in July:

contained in the letter referred to by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amounts of coal and coke exported from the Ruhr Valley during the month of June in the years 1920 to 1924, inclusive?

I regret that I am unable to furnish the particulars asked for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is able to report any progress with reference to any proposals made to him for the establishment of a pension or superannuation scheme for masters and officers of the mercantile marine; whether he has received any proposals from the representative organisations of seamen; if so, will he state from whom they are and their nature; whether the Board of Trade is prepared to accept any of the proposals as a basis of negotiation; and, if not, whether the Board is in a position to suggest any alternative proposals?

The only proposals which I have received recently relating to the establishment of a pension or superannuation scheme for masters and officers of the mercantile marine were proposals for a compulsory scheme to which shipowners, officers and the State should contribute in equal proportions. It would not be possible for the State to contribute to a pension scheme for any one industry unless it were prepared to contribute to similar schemes in all other industries, and for this reason I do not consider that the proposals in question are practicable. As the hon. and gallant Member was informed on the 6th May, the matter is primarily one for the industry itself, and is not one in which a Government Department can usefully take the initiative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that if he grants a subsidy to the British sugar-beet growers for refining sugar, a number of employés will be thrown out of work in Silvertown and other parts of the country where there are sugar-refining factories; and whether he will take this fact into consideration before any such subsidy is granted?

It is difficult to see how the comparatively small amount of sugar produced (or likely to be produced during the proposed subsidy period) from homegrown sugar-beet can affect the sugar-refining trae. At no time has the British refiner manufactured all the sugar consumed in the United Kingdom, and consumption will continue to increase. In 1922, 1,908,970 tons were imported, of which 523,539 tons came into this country already refined. To replace this quantity of refined sugar at least 50 factories dealing with four million tons of beets would be required, and this would still leave the refiners in the same position as to-day. The question was fully considered before the Government announcement on the subject was made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the sum of 5s. charged for striking the gold medal for the Royal Academy was allocated respectively to labour, wastage, upkeep, interest, and depreciation?

It is not possible to analyse in the way desired the charge of 5s. for this single medal. Wastage, however, was not included, as this was covered by the metal charged for.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to introduce legislation, or to give facilities for the same, with a view to further protecting tenants of the Crown against eviction proceedings and to ensure that on estates administered by Departments there shall be further facilities for the letting of houses?

I do not think that the circumstances are such as to call for further legislation. Tenants of the Crown have exactly the same legal protection as the tenants of any other landlord, and Government Departments acting as landlords give the fullest and most sympathetic consideration to the conditions of each case.