asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that there are many vacancies in deaf schools and institutions; and whether he will draw the attention of those local education authorities which have not yet made any provision for the education of deaf children to these vacancies?

I am aware that there are a certain number of vacant places in certified schools for deaf children. I should be glad to see them filled up, and am prepared to call the attention of local education authorities to the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education if arrangements have been made for an acting teachers' certificate examination to take place next year; and, if not, when such an examination is likely to be held?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave on 11th December to the hon. and gallant Members for Finchley (Major Cadogan), Ludlow (Lieut.-Colonel Windsor-Clive) and the Bosworth Division of Leicester (Captain Gee).

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he proposes to recommend that the pay and allowances of officers in India be readjusted to meet the greatly increased cost of living in India; and, if so, whether he will do so at an early date;

(2) whether he will recommend at an early date that military pay and allowances in India be based upon the actual value of the rupee instead of an assumed value of 10 rupees to the £1?

I have been asked to reply to these questions. I am not yet able to make an announcement, but can assure my hon. Friend that the question is receiving very careful consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes act as the distributing agents for any particular magazines, periodicals, papers or other publications; whether certain periodicals are purchased outright by the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes each month, and distribution charges to the Fleet borne by the institutes' funds; and whether the whole of these periodicals are sold monthly, and, if not, who bears the loss incurred by the purchase of a monthly standing order?

I find that periodicals, etc., are placed on sale by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute at the request of the Lower Deck Societies, and are dealt with on a "sale or return" basis.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will consider the possibility of issuing the necessary authority for the payment of two weeks' allotments and separation allowances in the week prior to Christmas week, in view of Christmas Day falling on a Thursday, which is the day on which naval allotments and separation allowances are due to be paid, and this will ensure naval men's wives having a little extra money for Christmas expenditure?

The Admiralty have already given directions for the payments due on Christmas Day to be paid on the previous day, and I regret I am not able to adopt the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the shortage of sick berth attendants in the Portsmouth port division is acute, and that as a result the present complements are overworked whilst leave is considerably curtailed; and whether, in order to remedy this shortage, the Admiralty will employ pensioned sick berth ratings as dental attendants, thereby releasing active service ratings for service in hospitals and sick bays?

With regard to the first part of the question, it has already been decided to increase the numbers of the sick berth branch. As regards the second part, the question of employing pensioner sick berth ratings as dental attendants in certain shore establishments is already under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the nature of the accident which happened to the destroyer "Columbine" (Campbell) on its way to the Baltic on or about the 30th September, 1919; whether any officers or men were injured in that accident; and whether claims for compensation, pensions, etc., arising therefrom have been fully met?

H.M.S. "Campbell" grounded in the Baltic and damaged a propellor on the night of 5th-6th August, 1919. I have no information that any officers or men were injured.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will take steps to allocate one of the fishery patrol vessels for service off the south and west coast of Ireland to assist Welsh and English trawlers in the many disputes that arise when charges of fishing in Irish territorial waters are brought against them?

The Admiralty have no information regarding disputes arising from charges against Welsh and English trawlers of fishing in Irish territorial waters. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any information on the subject, I suggest that he communicates it to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what basis broken periods of years' service are dealt with in the calculation of pension; and, if they are ignored, whether he would consider altering the practice so as to remove any injustice?

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member's question relates to pensions for seamen and Royal Marines. The pension scales, namely, the basic rate for "service" and the additions for rank, are so much for each complete year of service. The basic rate for long service pensions is 1½d. a day for each complete year, and in normal circumstances there is seldom a "broken period," since the majority of long service pensions are awarded immediately on completion of the qualifying periods of service (22 years for a seaman, 21 years for a Royal Marine). Broken periods happen, however, in invaliding cases. rank additions to pensions, and I am forwarding to the hon. and gallant Member a copy of a reply explaining the practice in full which was given to the late hon. Member for Central Portsmouth (Sir T. Bramsdon) on 2nd May last. The "rank additions" in the Naval Service are ¼d. a day (Inferior Petty Time), ½d a day (Superior Petty Time), and ½d. a day (Chief Petty Officer allowance additional to the Superior Petty Time for the rank) for each complete year of service in the respective grades. Broken periods are not entirely ignored, however, since such a period "remaining over' is doubled and allowed to count for the rank next below, e.g., six months Superior Petty Time would reckon as 12 months Inferior Petty Time and ¼d. a day would be added to the pension.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what basis broken periods of years' service are dealt with in the calculation of pension; and, if they are ignored, whether he would consider altering the practice so as to remove any injustice?

The general principle is that only complete years count. Broken periods which amount in the aggregate to less than a complete year are therefore ignored. Two or more broken periods, however, which aggregate to a complete year count as a year provided that no period of less than three months is counted, and that there is not more than five years between any two periods of service. I see no need to alter the Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Carlton Barracks in Leeds are to be leased for a rodeo in January; and whether, in response to local feeling, he can take steps to prevent War Office property from being used for this purpose?

Information is not available as regards the number of houses erected by private enterprise in particular parishes, and whether they are for sale or letting. The

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been

I understand that this exhibition will not now be held.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been erected or been sanctioned to be erected by public utility societies for which Government financial assistance is guaranteed in the following South Yorkshire districts: the parishes of Edlington, Rassington, Stainforth, Hatfield, and Askern; and the number of houses that have been erected by private enterprise for sale in the same districts during the last four years?

The following table shows the number of houses sanctioned and completed by public utility societies and similar bodies under the Housing Acts of 1919 and 1923 up to 1st December, 1924.

following particulars relate to the rural districts in which the parishes are situate:

erected during the last four years in the following districts, the proportion erected by private enterprise for letting purposes, the proportion for sale, and the proportion erected by the local authorities: Bolton-on-Dearne, Wath-on-Dearne, Mex-borough, Conisborough Urban District Councils, and Thorne Rural District Council area?

asked the Minister of Health how many houses are now in course of construction in the borough of Reading under the provisions of the Housing Act, 1923, and other Acts?

According to a return furnished by the local authority, 192 houses were under construction in the borough of Reading on 1st December under State-assisted schemes. On the 1st October last, in addition to the houses being built with State assistance, 29 houses were also under construction.

asked the Minister of Health if it is his intention to introduce in the near future legislation dealing with unoccupied houses on the lines of the Bill introduced in the last Session of Parliament by the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle)?

My right hon. Friend cannot undertake to introduce legislation on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is the intention of the

The number of houses which have been completed under the Housing Acts of 1919 and 1923 with State assistance, and during the two years ended 30th September, 1924, by private enterprise without State assistance, in each of the areas referred to was as follows:

Government to introduce legislation with the object of prohibiting the conversion of dwelling houses into factories and workshops?

The hon. Member will remember that under the Rent Restrictions Acts the conversion of dwelling houses is only possible when it can be clearly shown to be in the public interest. The question is not, therefore, of immediate urgency, as long as the Acts remain in force.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate output of bricks in 1908, 1914 and 1924, assuming the present rate of output is continued until the end of the year?

There are no reliable figures available for pre-War production of bricks, but it was estimated that the average production for the three years prior to the War was 2,805 millions per annum. It has been estimated that the production capacity of brickworks at the present time is about 5,000 millions and the actual output this year will probably approach this figure.

asked the Home Secretary which county councils have built houses specially for the occupation of superintendents and constables in rural areas under their administration; and whether this system has been proved to be more economical than the method of renting houses in villages regardless of suitability?

I regret I cannot give detailed particulars, but I may say that it is the general policy of county police authorities to build or, in special cases, to buy the houses they require rather than to rent them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Survey of Casual Wards just published shows that one-sixth of the casual wards in Wales, including Monmouthshire, were totally unheated; that the condition of one-fourth was bad generally; that in more than a half no night-clothes were provided for men and in the same number none were provided for women; that in three unions no mid-day meal or food-ticket was provided, notwithstanding the Casual Paupers Order, 1914; whether he will give the names of the unions in which these deficiencies occur; and whether he will see that they are remedied?

I am aware of the defects disclosed in the Survey. I would point out, however, that the published summaries do not necessarily represent the actual position at the present time, and, as stated in the Survey, it is known that in a number of instances steps have been taken to meet the points raised in the inspectors' reports. The inspectors will continue to press for such improvements as may be required in the administration of the casual wards. I am sending the hon. Member the names of the unions in Wales, including Monmouthshire, in which the deficiencies to which he refers were reported.

asked the Minister of Health the name of the union in Lancashire which is stated in the Survey of Casual Wards, page 6, to be the only one in the northern counties which has its casual ward entirely unheated; and whether, in view of the rigours of the winter in a northern county, he will require the guardians of that union to have a fire or supply some other method of heating in the ward?

I have made further inquiries in regard to this casual ward, which is in the Lunesdale Union, and I am informed that the day-room used by the casuals is heated, and that, though it is not considered safe to have fires burning in the sleeping rooms during the night, fires are, in exceptionally cold weather, lighted in the afternoon.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the statement in the recently published Survey of the Casual Wards outside London that one-fourth of the wards in Cornwall and Sussex were without any fire, stove or other heating arrangement; and will he give the names of the unions to which these wards belong and take prompt steps to induce or compel the guardians of those unions to provide some method of heating where they have not already done so?

I am sending the hon. Member the names of the Unions to which he refers. On the general question, I would refer him to the reply which I have given to-day to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. T. Griffiths).

asked the Minister of Health whether he has observed that the recent official survey of casual wards showed that in Staffordshire the condition of three wards was bad generally; that two were poor as to cleanliness; and that in two the guardians failed to comply with the Regulations of 1882 that the casual pauper's clothes should be removed in every case and dried or disinfected, if necessary, and a night garment supplied by the guardians; and whether he will give the names of the unions to which these wards belonged and take steps to ensure that the bad wards shall be improved, those poor in cleanliness brought up to the standard of the other Staffordshire wards, and the night garments provided?

I am sending the hon. Member the names of the unions to which he refers. On the general question, I would refer him to the answer which I am giving to-day to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. T. Griffiths).

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Board of Control discovered by careful inquiry and reported that during the one year 1922 at least 31 patients were deprived of their right of appeal to a magistrate through misdemanour on the part of medical superintendents; and, since this right conferred in Section 8 is the most important legal safeguard in the Lunacy Act, will he cause similar careful inquiry to be made in regard to the number of similar acts of negligence which have occurred in 1923?

It is now the practice of the Board of Control to make inquiry regarding each individual private patient admitted to an institution without having been seen by a judicial authority. No instance has come to their notice of a failure to comply with the requirements of Section 8 of the Lunacy Act, 1890, during the year 1923.

asked the Minister of Health if he will cause inquiry to be made by the Board of Control into the number of instances among the private patients' certificates sent up to them for scrutiny during the year 1923 in which the patients' own doctor did not certify and no reason was given for his not having been called in; and since, according to Section 31 of the Lunacy Act, this reason is to be deemed a part of the petition, will the Board undertake in future to refuse their endorsement to any document not containing this reason?

It is the practice of the Board of Control to return all reception documents which do not comply fully with the requirements of Section 31 of the Lunacy Act, 1890, in order that the necessary information may be inserted. There would, therefore, be no purpose in making an inquiry as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now prepared to make a pronouncement with regard to proceedings aimed at regulations for the better protection of the public against the adulteration and selling of impure food?

The matter is engaging my right hon. Friend's attention and he is considering, in the first instance, the steps necessary to give effect to the principal recommendations of the Departmental Committee which has recently reported.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the estimated number of letters, printed papers and newspapers, and postcards, respectively, conveyed by the Post Office during the year ended 31st March, 1924?

A rough estimate is as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the delay in settling the claims of Post Office servants under the judgments Rex v. Grimwood and Rex v. Waller; and whether immediate steps may be taken to expedite the fulfilment of Departmental obligations under these judgments?

The settlement of claims under the judgments in question depends upon confirmation of the evidence advanced by the individual claimants of offers of full civil pay alleged to have been made to them. This confirmation is a matter of considerable difficulty in view of the lapse of time since the offers are said to have been made; but the hon. Member may be assured that no unnecessary delay will occur.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the complaints of the female staff who work in the semi-basement room in the Savings Bank Department at Blythe Road; that the employés have to work mostly on the tops of ladders and handle bundles which overtax their physical strength, while, in addition, the work is made more trying by their being brought into close proximity to the overhead hot-water pipes on the ceiling; and whether, under these circumstances, he will investigate without delay the complaints thus made?

The complaints as represented to the ton. Member somewhat exaggerate the situation, but a rearrangement of the work is at present under consideration, and the matter, which has in the past engaged the attention of the local Whitley Committee, will be brought before it again.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the important towns of Hadleigh, Haverhill, and Long Melford, in West Suffolk, are entirely cut off from railway communication on Sundays, and that on week-days the rolling stock used on this section is out of date and lacking in heating facilities and sanitary accommodation; and whether he will cause representations to be made to the London and North Eastern Railway, the company concerned, with a view to remedying these defects?

I was not previously aware of the circumstances to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, but I will call the attention of the London and North Eastern Railway Company to his complaint.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he possesses any statistics to show whether and, if so, to what extent the marking of eggs would affect the cost; whether he is aware that to meet the British desire the Danish Agricultural Minister has introduced a Bill requiring that all eggs and egg packages exported shall be marked with their place of origin, condition, quality, and weight, and also limiting export; and whether the Government will introduce legislation on the lines of the Merchandise Marks Bill of 1924?

The Ministry has no statistics such as those referred to in the first part of my hon. Friend's question, but an inquiry made by the officers of my Department shows that the cost of actually applying marks to eggs would be inconsiderable. With regard to the second part of the question, I am aware that a Bill is being introduced, but I would not like to say that it is being introduced for the reasons ascribed. With regard to the last part of the question, it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Merchandise Marks Bill, but I am not at the moment in a position to indicate what precise form that Bill will take.

asked the Ministry of Agriculture whether he will give the total acreage in Great Britain of farms and small holdings held on tenancies of four years and upwards, and the total acreage of farms and small holdings held on tenancies of one year; and whether he can give the total of arable and pasture land in each case?

I regret that I have no information which would enable me to reply to this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to abolish the provision which prevents British subjects who have not lived in this country for 12 years after attaining the age of 50 from receiving the old age pension, in view of the hardships caused and of the fact that many of these people when abroad were residing in British territories?

A residential qualification has been a condition for the receipt of a pension ever since the original old age pension legislation was passed and, as at present advised, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is not prepared to propose its abolition.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for refund of Income Tax under Schedule B have been made in the years from 1921 to 1924, inclusive; and in how many cases such claims have been allowed, either wholly or in part?

I regret that I am unable to state the total number of claims for repayment of Income Tax under Schedule B, as these claims are made in the first instance to the several bodies of district commissioners of taxes, and no statistics are collected of those which are disposed of locally without giving rise to a repayment of tax. The approximate, number of claims arising in connection with relief from Income Tax under Schedule B, in respect of which a repayment of tax was made in the year 1923–24, was 13,200. Similar statistics were not collected in the years 1921–22 and 1922–23.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that there is no provision in the Finance Acts that depreciation items in accounts may be deducted in arriving at the assessable profits of a trading company; and whether he will consider the desirability of inserting such a provision?

I regret that I could not accept the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion. I would remind him that under Rule 6 of the Rules applicable to Cases I and II of Schedule D in the Income Tax Act, 1918, provision is made for a deduction for wear and tear of plant or machinery, and that under Rule 5 (2)

of the same set of Rules an allowance which is equal in amount to the ordinary deduction allowed for repairs, and which operates as a depreciation allowance, is granted in the case of mills, factories and other premises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as promised by his predecessor, the claim of the York Philosophical Society for the repayment of Income Tax has now been investigated; and, if so, what the decision is?

A final decision has not yet been reached on the matter to which the hon. Member refers, but I can assure him that every effort is being made to complete the consideration of the many difficult questions of legal construction raised by this and by a number of other claims under the same provisions of the Income Tax Acts. I hope a decision may be reached within a month from now.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of motor cars exported from this country during the four months of August, September, October and November of this year, and the figures for the corresponding months of last year?

The figures asked for are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the appointment of a committee to suggest revisions of the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1920?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer regrets that he is unable to accept this suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the officers of Customs and Excise who were, on 6th December, 1922, loaned for service with the Government of the Irish Free State for a period of two years will forthwith be returned to the Imperial service, seeing that the period for which these officers were loaned has now expired?

Under the agreement between the Treasury and the Free State Ministry of Finance, dated 4th December, 1922, certain officers of Customs and Excise were lent to the Irish Free State for a period of not less than two years from the 6th of that month. Arrangements have now been concluded for the return of these officers, numbering 51 in all, within the shortest period practicable, having regard to the convenience of the Imperial and Free State Departments concerned. The first batch was due for release immediately after the 6th December, and the last will have been released by the 30th September next.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give an assurance that the necessary steps will be taken to secure the release forthwith by the Government of the Irish Free State of those Customs and Excise officers who, on 6th December, 1922, were loaned to that Government from the British Civil Service?

I beg to refer the Noble Lord to the reply which I have given to-day to the hon. Member for the City of London (Sir V. Bowater) on the same point and of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the rights of permanent civil servants to pensions on retirement, based upon the salary and emoluments, including bonus, received by them at the time of retirement, have been varied by a Treasury Minute of 20th March, 1922; and what was the effect of such Minute and under what statutory power it was made?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the terms of the Treasury Minute laid before the House of Commons on the date mentioned (No. 55 of 1922), of which I am sending him a copy. The effect of the Minute, which was issued in pursuance of undertakings given to the House of Commons and in accordance with an agreement on the National Whitley Council, is to make that part of the pension which is calculated upon the variable cost of living bonus itself vary according to the cost of living. The discretionary powers of the Treasury on superannuation questions are contained in Section 30 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, Section 2 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, Section 9 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, and Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1909.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Paymaster-General, whether he is aware that since 1920 no promotions of writing assistants and typists to the clerical class have taken place in the Paymaster-General's office, although under a Whitley agreement such promotions should have taken place while appointments were being made from limited competitions, so that the women in the Department concerned have been at a disadvantage compared to similar staffs elsewhere; and whether he will sanction inquiry into the possibility of considering these women in connection with the resignation of a woman clerical officer employed, and a percentage of such vacancies as may arise?

Writing assistants and typists have only been employed in the Paymaster-General's office since July, 1921. The fact that none of those so employed has yet been promoted to the clerical class is not contrary to any agree- ment, and the women serving in this Department suffer no such consequential disadvantage as is represented. The question of the promotion of individual members of these staffs, as they become qualified, will receive sympathetic consideration, but I cannot agree that such promotions should depend on the sex of the officer who last held the vacant post.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that no writing assistants or typists in taxes offices, and no writing assistants in the headquarters offices of the Board of Inland Revenue, have been promoted during a period when a number of similar staffs have been promoted in other Departments; that in the taxes offices writing assistants and shorthand-typists have admittedly been doing work of a clerical type without allowances subsequent to their establishment: that, under similar circumstances, the Ministry of Pensions received Treasury sanction for both allowances and the promotion of a number of those concerned; and whether he will give authority for a full inquiry into the position of Inland Revenue writing assistants and typists, with a view to lessening the disadvantages from which they have suffered compared to similar staffs in other Departments?

The claims of writing assistants and typists in the Inland Revenue are reviewed from time to time. Any recommendations for their promotion will be carefully considered, but I am not prepared to institute any such special inquiry as is suggested.

asked the Prime Minister when the Report of the Blanesburgh Committee on Civil Rights for Civil Servants may be expected?

Resumption of the sittings of the Committee on the Parliamentary, etc., Candidature of Crown Servants, which were suspended during the summer holidays and over the election period, has been delayed owing to pressure of other work on members of the Committee but it is hoped that further meetings will be held at an early date.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will be able to make a statement before the House adjourns with regard to any action proposed to be taken by His Majesty's Government in connection with the Report of the Southborough Committee in respect of the following matters, the re-settlement of ex-service men in the Civil Service, provision for disabled men, and conditions of service for the messenger class?

The question referred to is now under consideration, and I hope it may be possible to make a statement about it before the House adjourns.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that arms produced in England are being, or have been, shipped to British Honduras for use against the Mexican Government; whether he will have inquiries made into the matter; and whether steps will be taken to prevent any further export of arms for use against a foreign Government?

I have no information on the subject, but inquiries are being made.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the pressing needs of the country and the large amount of public business contemplated in the forthcoming Session of Parliament, he will consider the advisability of curtailing the period of Adjournment so as to resume Parliamentary work at an earlier date than 10th February, 1925?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is any intention of remitting a portion of the head tax on the Kenya natives, in respect of all those who work for masters, in order to increase the supply of cheap labour; whether he is aware that this form of pressure was part of the Forced Labour Ordinance which was refused sanction by the Colonial Office; and whether he will see that no steps are taken in this direction pending the Report of Lord Southborough's Committee?

No suggestion of the kind has been submitted to me, and the latter parts of the right hon. and gallant Member's question do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Home Secretary how many destitute aliens landed in this country during the past 12 months; how many of those persons were over the age of 21; and how many were deported back to their own country?

Destitute aliens are not permitted to land in this country. A number of alien stowaways arrive at British ports, of whom it may be assumed that the majority are more or less destitute. Between 1st January and 31st October of this year 282 alien stowaways were refused leave to land by the Immigration Officers and removed in the ships which brought them. During the same period a few stowaways and other aliens succeeded in evading the control and landed irregularly, but it is believed that practically all of them were subsequently detected and were removed from the United Kingdom where necessary by means of Deportation Orders. During the present year some 89 Deportation Orders have been made against aliens who got ashore without leave, after arriving as stowaways or otherwise.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the Russians now in this country are obliged to report themselves regularly to the authorities; how many are refugees partly maintained from public and partly from private funds; and how many are known Communists or persons holding revolutionary opinions likely to cause them to commit illegal acts?

I am afraid I am not in a position to give the detailed analysis which the hon. Member desires.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give an early promise that fresh legislation will be intro- duced to control and limit alien immigration, and to reconsider the whole question of unemployment benefits being granted to aliens?

I do not think I can usefully add anything to the statements I have made on the subject of alien immigration in answer to various questions and in my speech on Friday last. Any question on the subject of unemployment benefit for aliens should be addressed to the Minister of Labour.

asked the Home Secretary if he is satisfied that the Aliens Act is being operated and enforced to its fullest extent?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the effect of answers which I gave on 11th instant to various oral questions bearing on this subject, showing that I am giving special attention to the matter, and am ready to take any fresh steps which may appear to me to be necessary.

asked the Home Secretary whether His Majesty's Government will take immediate steps to banish from our islands and Crown Colonies ail persons, especially those of foreign extraction, who are known to be fomenting rebellion and/or are spreading anti-British propaganda?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the oral question put by the hon. Member for the Basingstoke Division (Sir A. Holbrook) on 11th instant.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the existence of an association called the Performing Rights Society, which demands payment from public singers and performers for all music published by its members; whether he is aware that there is no intimation on music published by those publishers who are members of this society; and whether he is prepared to add an amending Clause to the Copyright Act, 1911, which will compel music publishers to state on each piece of music published by them whether they require a fee from anyone who plays or sings it in public.

I have been asked to reply to this question. The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part I am not prepared, as at present advised, to introduce an amending Bill on the lines suggested.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether any decision has yet been reached on the subject of pensions for men in the fishery cruisers; and when the other recommendations of the Trawling Committee, particularly that relating to a pension scheme for officers and men of the Scottish Fishery Board service, are to be brought up for discussion?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. I am examining the recommendation relating to a superannuation scheme for officers and men of the cruisers and the other recommendations of the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign

Affairs what action he proposes to take with regard to the general Treaty signed by his predecessor and by M. Rakovsky on behalf of the Russian Government; why it is not proposed to bring it before Parliament for ratification or otherwise; and whether it is proposed to negotiate a fresh Treaty?

I understand that this question is to be raised on the Opposition Amendment to-day, and it will be convenient to make my reply in the course of that Debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in the matter of the China Indemnity, 1901, he will give information concerning the several countries which originally shared in it, stating in each case what was the amount of the annual quota payable, whether the quota has been remitted, and, if so, what was the date of remission; and, in the case of remission, what was the operative instrument, what are the purposes on which, by operative instrument or otherwise, the sums remitted are to be expended; and what machinery, if any, has been set up to make such purposes effective?

The information required will be found in the following tables:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the decision to extend the validity of passports, at the option of the holder, up to a period of 10 years from the original date of issue, while the fee chargeable for the renewal of a passport remains at 1s. for each year for which the document is renewed instead of a flat rate charge of 1s., he will consider the possibility of making this concession?

The new arrangement was made after full consideration and cannot now be modified. It not only prolongs the initial validity of the passport from two to five years but reduces the total cost of the passport and its renewals over a period of 10 years by 3s.