asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the Regulations which govern the retention of text-books by fourth-year apprentices in the Royal Dockyards; whether, up to and including the year 1922, all fourth-year apprentices who passed the Civil Service examination and obtained 50 per cent, of the text-books; whether he is aware that a total marks were allowed to retain their new Regulation was made raising the percentage from 50 per cent. to 66⅔ per cent. before these books could be retained; and whether, seeing that the latter Regulation places an obstacle in the way of education and the furtherance of the study of the fourth-year apprentices, as they are not always in a position to buy the books in question, he will restore the previous practice?

Textbooks are provided free of charge to all apprentices while attending the dockyard schools. Apprentices who obtain not less than two-thirds the maximum mark at the end of the fourth year in the upper school, or third year in the lower school, are allowed to retain their text-books on leaving school. The proportion of marks entitling the apprentices to retain the textbooks was raised in 1922. The present arrangement is considered not ungenerous, and I regret that the former percentage cannot be reverted to.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. F. M. Sweett, late schoolmaster, Royal Navy; whether he is aware that this man, who is young and had a promising career before him, is now bedridden owing to the contraction of tuberculosis while serving in His Majesty's Navy, being entirely dependent upon his parents for maintenance and medical relief which they can ill afford; and whether, in view of these facts, and that Sweett holds medical certificates showing he was perfectly healthy before his service, and that there has been no tuberculosis in his family on either side, he can see his way to give this man some kind of pension or compensation?

I am aware of the circumstances of this case. The regulations require that an officer, to be eligible for retired pay or gratuity in respect of disability, must be suffering from a disability which is attributable to the conditions of Naval service. In the present case, the medical advisers of the Admiralty certify that the disability was not so attributable, and I regret, therefore, that Mr. Sweett is not eligible for any payment from Naval funds.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the possibility of arranging to pay before Christmas all the increases of pension which are due to pre-War pensioners under his Department in order that the time may be more happily spent by the persons entitled?

Every effort is being made to complete the payment of the increases due to pre-War pensioners under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1924, before Christmas, and it is anticipated that the great majority of cases will be settled.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in fixing the amount of an ex-soldier's special campaign pension, or other Army pension, the fact of his receiving an old age pension is taken into consideration; whether in fixing the amount of an ex-soldier's old age pension the fact of his receiving a special campaign pension or other Army pension is taken into consideration; and, if so, in either case, whether such occasions for awarding a smaller amount of either pension will be removed, with a view to the deserving ex-soldier receiving the maximum of both pensions should his circumstances render this course desirable?

I have been asked to reply. Special campaign pensions are purely compassionate awards, which may be granted only to old ex-regular soldiers who are in necessitous circumstances. Income from all sources, including old age pension, is, therefore, necessarily taken into account in assessing these awards. In view of the nature of special campaign pensions, I am unable to agree to any modification of the existing means limit. Income from old age pension is not taken into account in assessing the rate of other types of Army pensions, i.e., service and disability pensions, but such income must be taken into account, with all other means, in assessing cost of living increases on such pensions under the warrants framed under the Pensions Increase Acts. The administration of old age pension is not within the province of the War Office, but I understand that Army pensions, whether service disability or special campaign, are required by Statute to be taken into account in arriving at the pensioner's means of livelihood.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the General Purposes Committee of the Monmouth-shire War Pensions Committee, having considered the report of the Southborough Committee, strongly protest against any attempt to supersede the staff of officials who are ex-service men by permanent officials of the Civil Service, and urge that the ex-service staff be retained for so long as the work of the Pensions Ministry continues; and will he give this matter his favourable consideration?

I have no record of the receipt of the protest referred to by the bon. Member, but I may state that a circular was issued in August last to all War Pensions Committees, explaining the effect of the recommendations of the Southborough Committee on the position of ex-service men employed in the Ministry of Pensions, about which there appeared to be a general misconception. The question is one which is not peculiar to the Ministry of Pensions, and is now engaging the attention of the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are at present employed under the D.O.R.E., Devonport, three boiler attendants at the military hospital, Devonport, working on a steam central-heating plant, which is in service night and day, including Sundays; that these three men work on eight-hour shifts for six days a week, relieving each other, each one being in sole charge during his period of duty, thus working 48 hours a week; and that these men suffered a reduction of pay from the 1st of September, 1924, whereas the stokers who do similar work in other Government establishments have had an increase of pay since July last, and also get the 4s. bonus awarded from August last; whether he will take steps to improve the conditions of these men's work, it being usual in other Government establishments to pay double the ordinary rates for Sunday work, while these men get only the ordinary pay: and whether, in the circumstances stated, he will take immediate steps to place the men employed under his Department on the same level as those employed at more satisfactory rates of pay in other Government establishments?

I am making inquiries regarding this case, and I will communicate further with the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the 5½ per cent. deduction from the re- tired pay of Army officers was made when the price of food had risen; and why this was done, in view of the terms of Army Order 324 of 1919, which provided that the new rates of retired pay were subject to revision, either upwards or downwards, according to the rise or fall in the cost of living?

The determination of rise or fall in the cost of living for the purposes of the Army Order quoted depends upon the Ministry of Labour index figure of comparative retail prices, which I would remind the hon. and gallant Member is used in dealing with the bonus of all grades of the Civil Service, and is also extensively used by municipal bodies, railway companies, banks, etc., for dealing with their salaried staffs. The relevant index figures indicate, not a rise, but a fall, in the cost of living in 1924 as compared with 1919, and a due reduction in pay has been made accordingly, under the conditions laid down in the Army Order.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the pilot concerned in the flying accidents at Wembley and at Lympne last summer was medically examined and passed fit for flying duty in the period between the two accidents; and whether he was similarly examined and passed after the accident at Lympne and before undertaking further flying?

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

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the regulations governing the resumption of flying duties after accident in the case of the Royal Air Force and civil pilots, respectively?

As regards Royal Air Force pilots, the regulations are contained in paragraphs 1444 and 639 of the King's Regulations and Air Council Instructions, 1924. Broadly, their effect is that when a flying accident has occurred, the personnel involved are medically examined either if apparently injured or if (although the personnel are apparently uninjured) any damage occurs to the machine. If found unfit as a result of this examination, they are not allowed to resume flying duty until found medically fit as a result of a further examination. As regards civil pilots, the holder of a licence to fly aircraft carrying passengers or goods for hire or reward is required by paragraph 53A of the Air Navigation Directions, 1922 (A.N.D.3) as amended by the Air Navigation Directions, 1924 (A.N.D.3.D), to be medically reexamined and pronounced fit before resuming air duties.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, whether he is now in a position to publish a full Report of the evidence given during the trials of certain persons at Cawnpore during the past summer who were charged with and found guilty of conspiracy and sedition?

The oral evidence was merely directed to the proof of the documents. The documentary proof has not been forwarded to this country. My Noble Friend has, however, decided to publish in full the judgment of the High Court in Appeal, which states in a clear form the substance of the evidence and the reasons for the conviction.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many persons are at present detained in prison in India under Regulation 3, 1818, and the length of time such persons have been imprisoned; whether it is intended to detain any of them for the whole period of their lives; and whether under Regulation 3 citizens in India may be arrested without warrant and detained in prison without any charge being preferred against them for indeterminate periods?

In Bengal there are 46 State prisoners, the earliest arrest being in September, 1923. There are, according to the latest available return, one each in Assam, Rajputana, the Frontier Province, and the Punjab, two dating from 1923, one from 1919, and one from 1903. The last-named lives in his own house under supervision. In Bombay, under the corresponding Bombay Regula- tion, there are two, both of 1914. In Madras there were at the end of last year, under the corresponding Madras Regulation, 239 Moplahs, and 12 have been added duing this year. Thirty-six of these are at large under surveillance. Of those in gaol, the earliest dates from May, 1922. Under all three of the Regulations it is incumbent on the Government to review the case of each prisoner every six months and to consider every representation which he may from time to time, desire to make. In no case is any arrest made under the Regulation without the isssue of a warrant.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state the result of his inquiries regarding the arms produced in England and shipped to British Honduras for use against the Mexican Government; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

No, Sir. As I informed the hon. Member on Monday last, inquiries are being made, and the officer administering the Government of British Honduras has been asked to reply by telegraph as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister the number of posts in the Civil Services to which the Crown has the right to direct appointment, and the names of the offices in question?

A list of appointments held direct from the Crown, nomination to which is made by the Prime Minister, is given in Appendix IV (6) to the First Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service published in 1912 (Cmd. 6210). If the hon. Member desires a complete list of Civil Service appointments held direct from the Crown, and will move for a Return, I will have it prepared.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost in salaries of the Board of Inland Revenue in 1914; what is the present cost; and what was the cost in salaries of their secretariat at the same respective dates?

The estimated cost in salaries of the Board and of the Secretaries' Office during 1914–15 and 1924–25 is as follows:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he would state for each Department affected how many assistant principals or administrative cadets had been promoted to the rank of principal since 1st May, 1924, and the total number of principals, administrative class, who had been promoted, transferred to other appointments, retired, or struck off the establishment since 1st May, 1924?

It is not now necessary for Departments to inform the Treasury of vacancies in their authorised establishments in the grade of principal if they propose to fill such vacancies by the promotion of assistant principals, or to leave them unfilled. I regret, therefore, that I am not in a position to give the information? requested by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give the taxation per head of the population for this country, Germany, France, Italy, and the United States of America?

For reasons indicated in a reply by the right hon. Gentleman my predecessor to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Fareham Division, on the 8th May last, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, statistical comparisons of the kind requested in the question are apt to be misleading. I may add, however, that very full facts are to' be found in the League of Nations publication "Public Finance, 1922," a copy of which is to be found in the Library, and that a new edition of that publication is on the point of appearing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will direct the withdrawal of the Government informative leaflet A, which misleads claimants for an old age pension whose yearly means exceed £26 5s.?

The sole object of the leaflet in question was to furnish information as to the new provisions contained in the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924. It will be superseded at an early date by a leaflet giving information as to the old age pension scheme as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Education, if his attention has been drawn to the bad condition of the Darfield Infants Church of England Schools; and, if not, will he cause an inspection to be made and state what action he proposes to take?

I understand that the local education authority have been surveying the condition of the school premises in their area, and have had the premises of this school under consideration. I will make further inquiry into the case.

asked the Minister of Health when the Royal Commission appointed to go into the question of local government is likely to issue its Report, as the amalgamation of the area of the Sowerby Bridge Urban District with the areas of the Sowerby Urban District and the parish of Norland, which has been approved by the two councils and the ratepayers of the said parish, has now been held up by the West Riding, County Council for a period of nine months, pending the receipt of the above-mentioned Report?

I understand that the Commissioners are not yet able to indicate when they will be in a position to make any report.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the issue of a regulation extending power to local authorities to inspect and supervise all maternity homes within their area?

Legislation would be necessary to give effect to this proposal. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on the 17th instant on this subject to the hon. Member for the Attercliffe Division (Mr. C. Wilson).

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in the town of Dallas, Texas, in the year 1919, 10 children were killed and over 60 others injured by toxin-antitoxin, administered in connection with the Schick test for diphtheria; whether a similar disaster which occurred in Vienna recently, when several infants were killed by an injection of toxin-antitoxin, has been brought to his notice; and whether, in view of the possibility of serious injury, and even death, resulting from the use of toxin-antitoxin, he will discontinue the issue of circulars by his Department in favour of the extension of the Schick system to workhouse children?

The answer to the first two questions is in the affirmative. As regards the third, I am advised that these regrettable occurrences appear to have been due to unskilled technique or the use of unstandardised matter. The necessity of great care in these respects is emphasised on page 54 of the Report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health for 1923. In all the circumstances I do not think it necessary to take any action as to the Memorandum (68/Med.) issued on this subject by the Ministry in 1922, which the hon. Member will see is not confined to Poor Law institutions but has general reference to residential schools and institutions.

asked the Minister of Health whether the 15 children who were attacked by diphtheria, five of them fatally, at the Southmead Infirmary of the Bristol Union in January, 1921, as mentioned on page 9 of the Report on Diphtheria issued by the Department in 1921, were treated with antitoxin; and, if so, how soon after the onset of the disease was the treatment given?

This information is not in the possession of my Department, but I will communicate with the guardians and supply the hon. Member with such information as they are able to furnish.

asked the Minister of Health what are the scales of out-relief, including rent, which are in operation now in the areas covered by the Leeds, Wakefield, and Hunslet Boards of Guardians?

I will obtain the information which the hon. Member desires and will forward it to him as soon as practicable.

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the searching inquiries made into the characters of prison officers, he can see his way to cancel the instruction under which, at Parkhurst Prison, the practice is growing of searching officers reporting for duty?

It is a rare occurrence for any prison officer to be searched, but such a measure occasionally becomes necessary for the purpose of detecting or preventing malpractices in prison, and I do not think the governors of prisons could safely be deprived of the power to order such a search when there is occasion for one.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that the secretary of the Wolf Cubs (Plymouth and District) Local Association of Boy Scouts has on several occasions been compelled to pay a surcharge on matter sent out by him duplicated on gelatine and handed over the post office counter in the prescribed way; and whether he will make it clear to his officials in this district that such matter should not be surcharged, in order to avoid inconvenience and expense to the association above referred to, and also to other bodies who desire to take advantage of the special rates for printed matter?

The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative. Circular notices of the kind referred to would be transmissible in the inland service at the reduced rate applicable to printed papers; and, if the hon. Member will forward me the surcharged packets, I will have the matter investigated.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, with reference to the new trunk telephone cable which was laid across the Severn at New Passage to link London with South Wales, and which has been recently disconnected, he will state whether expert advice was taken on the route chosen; if so, with what result; and whether he will make the question of the new point at which the cable shall cross the river a matter for his personal decision?

Expert advice was taken as to the best route for the cable, but owing to difficulties encountered during the laying operations, the course originally charted was departed from. This may have contributed to the failure of the cable in February, 1923. The cable has now been recovered and replaced by another through the Severn Tunnel.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the part-time auxiliary postmen in the Motherwell district are being paid at the rate of about 18s. 5d. a week, or, with deductions, 17s. 5d., thus receiving a smaller sum than they might have had if they had been wholly unemployed; that these men have been employed for one or two years in some cases at these rates; that some of them are ex-professional soldiers and ex-service men; whether the scale of wages can be increased in the case of auxiliary postmen; and whether anything further can be done to hasten the appointment of such men to permanent Post Office employment, whether in their own district or otherwise?

The wages of auxiliary postmen are fixed on an hourly basis, and vary according to the number of hours for which they are employed. The present rates of pay were settled in agreement with the Staff Association concerned, and I see no grounds on which a departure from these rates could be justified. It is recognised that the wages of auxiliary postmen may in some cases be less than the amounts which could be received as unemployment benefit, but as the work only lasts a few hours a day such cases are unavoidable. Service as auxiliary postman carries with it no claim to an established appointment; but if an auxiliary postman is an ex-service man, and desires a full-time appointment as postman, he should register his name with the Employment Exchange or the National Association for the Employment of ex-Regular Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen. He is then considered in his turn with other ex-service men. I regret that I should not be justified in appointing an auxiliary postman out of his turn.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make arrangements for the granting of telephone facilities for the general public in country districts where post offices exist without the necessity of individuals entering into personal guarantees that the total receipts shall reach a fixed yearly sum?

Call offices are opened without guarantee where the estimated receipts are likely to meet the additional costs involved. To open call offices without regard to financial results would inevitably result in heavy losses, and I regret that I cannot undertake to dispense with some guarantee where a call office is likely to be unremunerative.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the times of delivery and despatch, respectively, of mails in the South-East 11 postal district which are principally available for business firms in that district; and what are the corresponding times in the adjoining South-East 1 district?

The general times of collections and deliveries in the S.E.1 and S.E.ll districts of the London postal area are as follow:

S.E.1.

General Collections.

8.30 a.m.; every hour from 10.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. (except at 1.30 p.m.); 9.0 p.m. and 11.0 p.m. Collections are made from the head office box (239, Boro' High Street) every half-hour from 9.0 a.m. to 8.0 p.m., then at 9.30 p.m. and midnight.

Deliveries.

First delivery 7.0 a.m.

Then every two hours, commencing at 10.0 a.m. until 8.0 p.m.

S.E.11.

Collections.

8.30 a.m., 10.30 a.m., 12.15 p.m., 2.0 p.m., 4.45 p.m., 6.30 p.m., 7.30 p.m., and 10.0 p.m.

Deliveries.

7.0 a.m., 10.30 a.m., 3.15 p.m., 8.30 p.m.

The general night mail collection at S.E.1 is made at 5.30 p.m. (6.0 p.m. at the head district office at 239, Boro' High Street) and at 4.45 p.m. in the Kenning-ton (S.E.ll) sub-district area. Broadly speaking, the earlier collections in S.E.ll connect with the same despatches as the general collections made at the same time in S.E.1.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is intended to reduce the number of officials of the Soviet delegation in this country; and whether, in any case, no increase in their number will be made during the Parliamentary Recess?

The number of Soviet officials enjoying diplomatic privileges in this country is four. His Majesty's Government have so far received no proposals for an increase of the number, and no ground is seen on which a demand on the part of His Majesty's Government for a reduction could be based.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the frontiers of Albania, a member of the League of Nations, have been violated from the territory of Jugo-Slavia, another member of the League of Nations, the Government will take steps to refer this matter to the Council of the League of Nations?

It is always open to the Albanian Government, should they consider that an act of aggression has been committed, to submit the matter to inquiry by the Council. It is not for His Majesty's Government to take in this matter an initiative which belongs properly to Albania herself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government, in view of the repeated pledges to safeguard the interests of the British officials in Iraq, intend to offer them immediately permanent pensionable service or a long-term contract?

I am not aware of the specific pledges to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. The officials in question are in the employment not of His Majesty's Government but of the Iraq Government. Their conditions of service are governed by the British Officials' Agreement made under Article II of the Treaty of Alliance with Iraq. The text of this agreement was presented to Parliament in April, 1924, in Command Paper 2120.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to stabilise the price of home-grown barley, he will consider the desirability of imposing a duty on foreign malt and malting barley?

The Agricultural Conference which I have recently convened is being invited to make suggestions to the Government on agricultural policy, and I am unable to anticipate their deliberations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that about 1,000 acres of land, part of the site used as a gas school at Porton, on Salisbury Plain, suitable for wheat growing, is now out of cultivation; and whether, in accordance with the declared policy of the Government, he will consider the desirability of putting this land under cultivation?

I am aware that wheat was grown on part of this site as an emergency measure during the War, but I am advised that the experiments for which the ground is now required are incompatible with ordinary farming operations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, with a view to reducing the unnecessary pain caused by the present methods of slaughtering animals, he will give consideration to the methods enforced by law in Switzerland and Holland, and promote a Bill at an early date with the object of enforcing mechanical humane methods of slaughter?

The subject of the use of humane methods of slaughter is under consideration, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make any statement upon it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has confirmed the recommendation of the Rochester Unemployment Committee, requesting the appointment of Mr. French as chairman of the Committee; and, if not, if he will do so?

This matter is still under consideration, and I cannot say anything more at present.

asked the Minister of Labour if in future he will arrange for the weekly unemployment statistics published in the Press every Wednesday to include the comparative figures for the corresponding date of the previous year, as the present practice of comparing them always with the figure at the end of the previous year tends to be misleading owing to the seasonal fluctuations in employment?

I will consider this suggestion.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that hardship is being caused by the refusal to repay Unemployment Insurance contributions to the personal representatives of deceased insured contributors, unless such contributors had reached the of 50 on or before the 6th July, 1924, and had died after that date; and whether he will consider the modification of the Regulations to ensure the repayment to such personal representatives of some portion of the contributions paid over a long period by their relatives?

Section 9 of the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Act, 1924, expressly limits these repayments to insured contributors who had reached the age of 50 years before 7th July, 1924, or their personal representatives. The Noble Lord will see, therefore, that the matter is not governed by Departmental Regulations, and I do not think I should be justified in proposing the legislation which would be necessary for extending these repayments beyond their present scope.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that 70 per cent, of lorries on the roads are uninsured; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation for the compulsory insurance of all motor-driven vehicles?

I assume that my hon and gallant Friend refers to insur- ance against third party risks, and on this assumption I should be glad to receive the information on which he bases the statement in the first part of his question. As regards the second part I would repeat the answer which I gave on the 17th December to the hon. Member for the Skipton Division (Mr. Bird), to the effect that the question of compelling motorists to insure against accidents is under consideration in connection with contemplated legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the total annual expenditure on roads, including new roads, repairs, and maintenance, is borne by the taxation imposed on motor and other vehicles?

The latest figures available for the total expenditure on the construction, maintenance, improvement and cleansing of roads and bridges (excluding current expenditure charged to loans), are as follow:

The grants, and payments under grants (including grants to works for which the local authorities will provide by loans) from the Road Fund during 1921–22, were as follows:

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the handicap imposed upon economic development in the Highlands of Scotland by high transport rates by sea and rail; whether he will institute an inquiry in order to ascertain how far the present level of freight charges and fares is justified by the cost of transport; and what steps should be taken to reduce these charges to a level consistent with the economic needs of the Highlands?

I have received a representation respecting the rates which are now charged for passengers and goods by the steamship companies which serve the Western Highlands and Islands, and I am considering that representation. As regards rail charges it is open to any representative body of traders or any trader interested in any particular charge to make application to the Railway Rates Tribunal.

( on Wednesday, 17th December ) asked the President of the Board of Trade how much war material, and of what description, has been shipped from Great Britain to Poland, Latvia, Esthonia, and Lithuania from May, 1923, up to the present date?

furnished the following reply;

The following statement shows the quantities of war material, the manufacture of the United Kingdom, registered as exported from the United Kingdom during the period from 1st May, 1923, to 31st October, 1924, consigned to Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland (including Danzig):