asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men are employed in the construction of the oil fuel storage depot at Devonport; when it is anticipated that this depot will be completed; and how many men will be employed regularly when it is completed?

Three men are at present engaged upon the construction of the depot, but about thirty additional men will shortly be employed on further work which has been approved. It is anticipated that everything will be completed in October, 1925, after which date about 15 men will be required for working the depot.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the recent reductions in the pay of British Army officers are made in respect of pay only or upon allowances as well?

The reduction of 5½ per cent. announced in Army Orders 204 of 1924 and 8 of 1925 applies only to the rates of pay specified in those Orders, and not to allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to advertisements on behalf of the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough for an assistant engineer, technically trained B.Sc., with works and drawing office experience, at a total salary of 94s. 11d. a week, and for a test assistant for the experimental department, with technical training equal to a degree in natural science or engineering, at a salary of 95s. a week; and whether, seeing that the police now receive, in many cases, 85s. a week, with Its a week rent allowance, free uniform, and a pension, and that various unskilled branches of industry are even better paid, he will consider the desirability of paying better salaries to men with high technical experience?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply, circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 10th February, to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Mr. H. Williams). As stated in that reply, the terms offered to the test assistants are a commencing salary only, and the suggested comparison with the emoluments of the police and unskilled industrial workers is not, I think, exact.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the impending removal of the Wales regional head quarters of the Ministry from Cardiff to London is strongly deprecated by the ex-service men residing in the Principality and if, in view of this resentment, he will defer taking action and allow the Wales regional headquarters to remain at Cardiff?

I am aware that objections have been taken to the impending removal of the Wales regional headquarters, but I am satisfied that these objections are baked either on a misunderstanding of the effect of the change. or on grounds other than those, concerned with the position of ex-service men in relation to the Ministry of Pensions. Experience of similar changes already carried out in other areas enables me to give the fullest assurance that the change, will in no way impair local facilities for the transaction of pensions business, and I regret that I see no grounds for deferring a transfer which is solely in the interest of economical and efficient administration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary -to the Overseas Trade Department whether his Department has any information available as to the possibility of encouraging the production of wheat in Asia Minor, with a view to increasing the (Supply and reducing the present price of bread; and, if not, whether inquiries will be made?

In reply to the first part of the hon. and Gallant Member's question, the information in the possession of the Department of Overseas Trade tends to show that last year's wheat harvest in Asia Minor was insufficient for the needs of that country, and that imports are consequently taking place. Even had the crop been better, it would have been difficult to find sufficient transport to move it from Central Anatolia to the coast towns which are the principal consumers. The second part of the question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he can state the composition of the rota committee before whom an unemployed man or woman is summoned;

(2) whether he is aware that a large number of claimants for unemployment benefit a-re summoned to appear before committees which are composed of only one member of the committee and an official of the local exchange; whether, in view of the fact that such a committee is invalid, he will issue a notice to the exchanges to stop this practice; and to give a rehearing to all claimants who have appeared before committees which have been so composed?

Rota Committees are composed of members of the Local Employment Committee (which itself consists of representatives of employers and workers in equal numbers, together with a small number of representatives of other interests) and other persons specially co-opted by the Committee for the purpose of dealing with claims to benefit. In no case is any official of the Ministry a member of a Committee or Rota. Committee. The rules provide that as far as possible employers' and workpeople's representatives shall be summoned in equal numbers and that wherever possible a Committee dealing with claims from ex-service men or from women should contain at least one ex- service member or woman member respectively. It is further provided that two shall form a quorum, but that if two persons are unable to be present at the hearing of a case, the case should not be postponed but should be dealt with by the remaining member and the recommendation should be submitted for confirmation to a properly constituted subcommittee. It would not be in the interests of applicants themselves to forbid the hearing of applications by a single member of the Committee, but the practice is confined within the narrowest possible limits.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the publication of an abridged edition of the Post Office Guide, to be sold at a nominal price?

A publication of this kind is in course of preparation.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the profit or loss on the postal, telegraph and telephone services for each year between 1900–01 and 1913–14?

The profit or loss (after charging interest on capital) for the years 1912–13 and 1913–14 was as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the difference in treatment regarding the retrospective war bonus payment to postal workers who served in His Majesty's forces as compared with those men who were promoted on the field to commission rank; and whether this treatment of men who have rendered special service will receive his consideration?

The hon. Member would seem to have been misinformed. Post Office servants who held commissioned rank during their service with the forces will not be treated differently in respect of retrospective war bonus payment from those who did not hold such rank. In both cases the balance of pay due to them will be reassessed on the basis of their civil pay, including war bonus, instead of on the basis of civil pay without war bonus, where the war bonus has not already be-en taken into account in this connection.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the numerous complaints made by the residents in North Kensington of the working of the Park Telephone Exchange and whether he can arrange for the employment of a more adequate and efficient staff at that exchange?

The telephone exchange in question is adequately staffed and the records show that the working does not compare unfavourably with that of London exchanges generally. There has been no noticeable increase in the number of complaints and no reason to think that the service was giving dissatisfaction. If, however, the hon. Member will let me know if he has any special circuits in mind, I will arrange to have them tested in case faults in the apparatus may be causing difficulties.

asked the Minister of Health how many appeals he received against the decisions of local authorities under Section 6, Sub-section (2) of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919, and in how many cases was the decision of the local authority upheld?

The number of appeals received was three. In one case the decision of the local authority was not upheld, and in the other two cases the appeals were withdrawn on terms.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has approved of the terms of an advertisement issued by the council of the borough of Abingdon for an official to be surveyor, waterworks engineer, and sanitary inspector for the district; and whether, having regard to the health of the inhabitants, he will refuse to sanction the duties of the sanitary inspector being discharged by an official who cannot possibly have time to carry them out?

I have approved this proposal, which constitutes a considerable advance on the previous arrangements, whereby the borough was served by an officer, who, in addition to performing all the duties mentioned, was allowed to engage in private practice, and was unqualified as a sanitary inspector.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the average rent per acre in Berkshire of small holdings publicly administered; and what is the average rent per acre of small holdings administered by private owners?

The average rent per acre of small holdings let by the Berkshire County Council is 31s. 10d., including houses and buildings forming parts of holdings. I have no information as to the rents paid for small holdings let by private owners.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the average cost per acre in 1923 of the management expenses of land and equipment administered by county councils and county agricultural committees under the authority of the Ministry, and including Ministry's expenses for same, i.e. , officials' salaries, office and travelling expenses, administration, and legal charges, and other incidental outgoings, and the same for 1924 if figures are available?

I am not in a position to give exact figures, but detailed and reliable estimates furnished to the Ministry each year by the authorities concerned indicate that the expenditure incurred by county councils in administering their small holdings' estates was on the average 8s. per acre in 1923–24, and 7s. 2d. per acre during the current financial year. The Ministry's expenses can only be estimated, as the staff concerned are engaged on other duties, but the expenditure by the Ministry does not exceed 2s. per acre. It should be observed that all the figures mentioned are in respect of work which includes not merely "management," but also work of a capital nature.