asked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that in the case of Mr. Patrick Burke, of 13, Powrie Place, Dundee, there is an undisputed record of reserve and regular service from 1903 to 1914 with periodical examination and passed fit report every time, and that from 1914 to 1916 he saw service in France, with two discharges for nose bleeding, but no trace of epilepsy, he is prepared to acknowledge that the epilepsy which was the cause of Burke's discharge after his re-enlistment in March, 1916, after only one month in the Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport, was due to military service, and will award a pension on that basis?

As the hon. Member is aware, this case has been very fully considered on several occasions. The man was not invalided for epilepsy in 1916, having been discharged then on service grounds, and exhaustive inquiries have failed to establish any connection between epilepsy and service. The rejection of the claim to pension for that disability has been confirmed by the independent appeal tribunal. I may add that for the most part the soldier's pre-War service was in the Militia or in the Reserve, and that his service in France during the Great War was for a period of two months.

Is it not the case that he was dismissed as being unfit for service and that was the only reason?

He was invalided on service grounds, but not, as I have said, for epilepsy.

Unfit for service. Is that not so?

He was not invalided on account of epilepsy.

You are not answering the phraseology I am asking.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Gilroy Dunstan, of 134, Markfield Road, Tottenham, who lost both legs as a result of War service, and whose constant attendance allowance of £l per week was recently stopped for five weeks and has now been renewed at the rate of 5s. per week, on the ground that Dunstan has refused to undergo any further operations; whether he is aware that three surgeons, including the surgeon who amputated his legs, are not in agreement with the Ministry's medical officers; and whether, in these circumstances, he can see his way not to further penalise Dunstan for his refusal to have any more operations?

The rate of constant attendance allowance was not reduced in this case because the man refused to undergo an operation. The earlier grant was made because of a local inflammation of the knees which seriously increased the amount of personal assistance required. At a recent medical examination it was found that this complication had disappeared. The rate of allowance is necessarily dependent on the amount of personal attendance needed, and I am medically advised that the current award in this case is appropriate to the man's requirements. Instructions have been given for payment of the arrears of this allowance for the short period during which, I regret to find, it was not in issue. I have no knowledge of the views of the man's own doctor beyond that conveyed to me by the hon. Member, but I may say that my medical advisers are definitely of opinion that a course of in-patient treatment, quite apart from any question of operation, would be to the man's decided advantage.

Are we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman is now laying it down that 5s. a week is the constant attendance allowance for a man who has lost both legs? Is he aware that in the Parliament before last, when he was Minister of Pensions, he laid it down definitely that a man losing both legs in the service ought to receive the maximum constant attendance allowance?

The hon. Member is under a complete misapprehension. It is true £1 a week is the maximum allowance for a man who has lost the whole of both legs. I will explain the point if he will write to me.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman look further into this case when he realises that this man has been receiving, and was receiving under his predecessor, a constant attendance allowance of £1 a week because he lost both his legs? I have taken steps to confirm that within the last few hours. That amount is now reduced to 5s.

The hon. Member is under a complete misapprehension, This man, for whose condition everyone must feel sympathy, suffered, in addition, from severe inflammation of the knee. He has not lost the whole of his leg. During the serious inflammation he was very properly granted a higher amount. If he would go into hospital a bone that ought to be seen to could be put right. The only object of the medical profession is to do all they can to restore the man.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Joseph Brown, late private. No. 6878, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who was wounded in the battle of Mons, and invalided out of the Army on the 24th June, 1916, as no longer physically fit for war service: whether he is aware that this old soldier, who served in the South African War and in India, and who is in possession of five decorations, and hrs 15 years and 6 months qualifying service, is only in receipt of a pension of 8½ a day; why Mr. Brown has not been awarded a disability pension, in respective of the modified pension; and why, as the modified pension is on the basis of the pre-War warrant, Mr. Brown has not received the increase of the 8½ d. a day, as provided under the Pensions (Increase) Acts. 1920 and 1924?

The pension now in payment is in respect of both service and disability, and was awarded in 1916, when it became more to the advantage of the pensioner to receive that pension for life, instead of the lump sum compensation appropriate to the slight remaining disablement. The case is not one that comes within the scope of the Pensions (Increase) Acts.

Would the right hon. Gentleman get the ear of the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a view to removing this kind of disability, which affects thousands of men?

What we have done is this. We had two alternatives, and we have given him the form of award which gives him the higher payment.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of compensation pensions granted between April, 1919, and August, 1921, which were made final by the Act of 1921; and whether, seeing that the pensioners had no personal notification that they must appeal to the Courts established by the Lord Chancellor before specified dates in order that their cases might be reopened, the only notice given being advertisements in a limited number of newspapers and bills exhibited in post offices, and in view of the hardships that have resulted in a large number of cases, he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to remedy them?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the very full answers on this subject which were given on the 31st July and on the 18th December last, of which I am sending him copies.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Captain W. P. Boulton, chief area officer of the Great Yarmouth and district pensions area; whether he is aware that this officer has been given one month's notice to terminate his present employment and has been offered a position of a lower grade at a much reduced salary; that this officer is suffering from a 100 per cent. disability and is being superseded by an officer not suffering from disability; and that his dismissal is resented by the local pensions committee, who are of opinion that he has carried out his duties over a period of four years in a manner entirely satisfactory; and whether he will be prepared to reconsider the case?

I have had the case of Captain Boulton under my consideration. Recent amalgamation of areas, consequent on the reduction of the volume of work, has resulted in a redundancy of higher officers, and in selecting officers for retention in the higher ranks regard is had to their relative efficiency. After careful consideration of all the circumstances, including his War disability, it was felt that Captain Boulton had not such a strong claim to retention in his grade as other redundant officers. He has, however, been offered employment in the next lower grade.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the training of ex-service men is insufficient to allow them to take their place amongst skilled men, and that consequently they have to take their place amongst the unemployed, although a considerable sum has been spent upon this partial training; will he take steps to extend their training until properly equipped in the trade selected; and will he keep them in the training centres until suitable employment can be found and by that means ensure the continuance of their efficiency?

I have been asked to reply. The courses of training under the Industrial Training Scheme in the principal skilled trades are designed to fit trainees to take their places, not as fully skilled craftsmen, but as improvers in private workshops, where the training is completed. The periods of training have been approved by national trade advisory committees, representative of employers and workmen in the trades concerned. Men for whom an improver-ship to complete their training is not immediately available are retained in training centres during the winter months, when the difficulty of finding such vacancies is greatest, but I am satisfied that the indefinite retention of trainees in training centres is neither necessary nor desirable. I am glad to be able to inform the hon. Member that according to a census taken last year only about 7 per cent. of the men who have passed through a course of training were at that time unemployed.

What steps are taken to secure these improverships?

The hon. Member should put down another question.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the ex-service men temporarily employed as sorting clerks in the Post Office are not included in the agreement between the Treasury and the Association of Ex-Civil Servants, that this agreement was arrived at without any regard to their interests, and that many of these men have done almost continuous work, he will consider the fairness of giving them some chance of permanent establishment; and whether he will grant a day for the debate on the whole agreement, so that these and other matters can be raised?

The case of temporary sorting clerks in the Post Office is not parallel to that of the temporary clerks, etc., covered by the recent agreement with the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants inasmuch as I understand that they could only be granted permanent establishment at the expense of other Post Office classes. With reference to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on the 17th February to the hon. Member for Blackpool.

asked the Prime Minister whether the settlement recently arrived at with the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants will also apply to members of the Association of Temporary Male Tax Clerks?

I am happy to assure the hon. Member that the arrangements proposed to be made in regard to ex-service men employed in Government Departments as temporary clerks will apply to those so employed in tax offices under the Board of Inland Revenue.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will introduce legislation to amend the Act, 14 and 15 Geo. V., c. 32, to require police, local, and other public authorities to increase pensions granted by them, so that a remedy may be applicable in the case of police officers re-employed in Lancaster during the War who had been previously pensioned, and who were on re-employment remunerated on a basis that did not provide for their right to increase of pension on again retiring, and for their right to consider that a part of their remuneration was deferred salary returnable to them as pension?

I have been asked to reply to this question. Police, authorities are already required, by the Act of 1924, to increase pensions granted by them to the amounts provided by the Act, if the statutory conditions be satisfied. Apart from this there is no power to reassess police pensions in the circumstances referred to, and I could not introduce legislation for the purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give a yearly Return showing the number of complaints, if any, made to the Registrar of Friendly Societies by members of trade unions under Section 3 of the Trade Union Act, 1913, alleging that they have been aggrieved by a breach of a rule dealing with the political ballot or levy for the period covered by the operation of the Act?

The Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies has referred me to the preface to his Report to Parliament, Part A, for 1921, page xvi, where he stated that up to the 31st May. 1922, there had been in all 68 complaints, of which 26 turned out not to be complaints within the Act, leaving a net total of 42. He further states that from the 31st May, 1922, to the present date, there have been 27 complaints, three of which turned out not to be within the Act, leaving a net total of 24. Thus the net total number of complaints under the Section from the 7th March, 1913, the date of the commencement of the Act, to the present time has been 66.

In how many cases has the complaint been found to be justified?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put down a question to that effect, I will try to give him an answer.

I beg to give notice that I will ask the right hon. Gentleman.

How many members have been deterred from making any complaint for fear of intimidation?

asked the Homo. Secretary if he will consider the advisability of adding the word "bursitis" to miner's beat knee in the Schedule of Industrial Diseases?

I am not clear how or why the hon. Member proposes to amend the Schedule. If he will furnish me with a full statement, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the number of Metropolitan police employed in traffic regulation in 1913 and the number so employed to-day; whether there has been a commensurate increase in the total strength of the Metropolitan police; and whether he proposes to increase the number of police on night duty, in view of the frequency of burglaries in London and suburbs?

The number of men employed on various duties connected with traffic was approximately 440 in 1913 and 1,200 on 31st January last. There has not been a corresponding in crease in the strength of the Force. I am considering the whole question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the new hours of duty enforced in the Metropolitan police force cause a grave inconvenience to the officers, and are so arranged as to preclude them taking part in such sports as cricket and football during their lesiure time; and if he is prepared to re-arrange these hours of duty?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for the Edge Hill Division of Liverpool.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the Regulations governing the grant of rent aid for members of the Metropolitan police force; whether the authorities are now investigating the conditions under which various members have been in the habit of letting out unfurnished rooms; whether it is now intended to claim refunds, which in some cases will be heavy, from men who have in the past years let out unfurnished rooms; and whether he will see that any action under existing or new rules is not retrospective?

Under the Police Regulations and the General Orders of the Force married members of the Force are granted allowances based on the net amounts they pay by way of rent and rates for the accommodation they occupy, subject to maximum limits fixed for the several ranks and to the appropriate economy deductions. Every member of the Force claiming a rent allowance was required to state the amount paid by way of rent and rates for the rooms occupied by himself and his family. In a number of cases it appears that members of the Force claiming allowances have not disclosed the amounts they have received for accommodation they have sublet, and in such cases I think it is clearly right that the appropriate refunds should be made.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in the inquiries now proceeding, the authorities are actually informing landlords whose evidence has been called, that they are in collusion with the police, despite the fact that such rents can be obtained in the locality?

I was not aware of that. Perhaps the hon. Member will send me particulars.

asked the Home Secretary, seeing that the inquiries now proceeding throughout the Metropolitan police have disclosed a general misunderstanding as to the conditions under which rent aid may be claimed by men who rent or let rooms, unfurnished and furnished, and that this is due to the ambiguity of general orders or memoranda on the subject, whether disciplinary action will be suspended pending his consideration of the matter?

I am in communication with the Commissioner of Police in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary by how many officers the Metropolitan police force is short at the present time, and what is being done to encourage recruiting?

Last week the force was 1,006 below establishment. This reduction in strength is not due to difficulties in recruiting, but has been maintained since 1922 as part of the economy measures adopted on the recommendations of the Geddes Committee. As I have stated in reply to other questions, I am now reconsidering the whole position.

asked the Home; Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the jury's rider to the verdict at the inquest held on the late Police-constable Boddy, X division, Metropolitan Police; whether an official inquiry is to be held into the widow's allegations against her husband's superior officer; and whether the widow may be legally represented at the inquest?

At present I can only say that the case is under consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind, when inquiry is being made into this case, that the widow shall be legally represented?

I am consulting with the Commissioner on that very point.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will reconsider the decision that the cost of police employed at Parliamentary elections should be borne by the local police authority; and whether he will revert to the previous practice, whereby payment of the cost of police in polling stations was effected by the Treasury through the returning officer's account, in view of the fact that such expenses in connection with an election may properly be regarded as a national service?

The maintenance of order at the stations is part of the ordinary duties of the police, and it follows from this that the cost should be borne by the police funds. This has been recognised for many years; it was dealt with in a Home Office Circular in 1906, and the instructions issued in November, 1923, do not represent any change of policy in this matter. I may add that one-half the cost of the services in question falls ultimately on the Exchequer, through the Exchequer grant in aid of the local police funds.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the uncertainty of the law on the subject, he will state whether any specific advice is given to police authorities in respect to the holding of whist drives; whether he is aware that in some districts the police are prohibiting them and that in others they take no action; and whether he will state the attitude of the Home Office in the matter?

The question whether a whist drive is within the law or not appears from the decisions of the High Court to turn on the conditions under which it takes place. This is the advice given to any police authorities who ask for guidance from the Home Office, and I have no authority to say more on the subject.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say in how many cases recently the police have taken action?

I am afraid I cannot. If my hon. Friend wants details, I will get them.

Why should not so harmless a recreation be encouraged?

Where it is regarded as harmless, it is encouraged, but where it is detrimental it may come under the terms of the law.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to a case at the Croydon Police Court on 14th February in which a man was fined for sending a dog by rail from Balcombe, Sussex, to Wales in a box so small and so insufficiently ventilated that when the dog had reached Croydon it was already in a very exhausted state; and whether he is prepared to introduce further legislation to prevent cruelty to animals in such circumstances?

I have seen a newspaper report of this case. It appears that the cruelty was entirely due to the stupidity of the man who sent the dog in a box without proper ventilation. I am afraid that no legislation can prevent stupidity of this kind.

Would it be possible that regulations should be made to prevent railway companies from accepting for conveyance animals or birds improperly packed?

That would transfer the liability for cruelty from the packer to the railway company.

asked the Home Secretary what educational requirements are expected for candidates for entrance to the police force as police constables and candidates for promotion to higher ranks in the police force?

The requirements are set out in Regulations 7 and 29 of the Police Regulations, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that persons resident in Bromley and its neighbourhood, summoned to attend on juries at Maidstone assizes and petty sessions, are liable to pay railway fares amounting to between 8s, and 9s, return third-class; and whether, seeing that this is a heavy fine upon individuals of slender means, he is prepared to take steps to enable poor persons so summoned cither to recover this out-of-pocket expenditure or provide them with railway warrants?

I should be glad if the cost incurred by jurors in discharge of their public duty could be repaid them, but I am afraid I do not see my way to propose legislation for putting such a burden on either the ratepayers or the taxpayers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and see if any steps are possible?

I think it would not be a bad plan, knowing the Chancellor, if my hon. and gallant Friend would consult him.

asked the Home Secretary the total number of industrial accidents for 1924; and the number of fatal industrial accidents for the same period?

The total number of accidents reported under the Factory and Workshop Acts in 1924 was 169,726, of which 953 were fatal. These figures are provisional only and may be subject to slight correction. I regret that I am unable to give the figures of accidents in industries not covered by the Factory Acts.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce the Factory Bill this Session; and, if so, if he can give an approximate date?

As I stated in reply to similar questions last week, it is hoped to introduce this Bill this Session, but I am not able at present to name any date.

Will the Bill which is to be introduced by the Government cover the provisions included in the Bill introduced last year?

We must not discuss a Bill which is coming on.

asked the Home Secretary if he will introduce legislation with the object of providing remand homes for youthful offenders?

The answer to this question must wait till I have received the Report of the Committee recently appointed to consider the treatment of juvenile offenders generally.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the recent admission in the Liverpool Stipendiary Magistrate's Court that the lighting-up and extinguishing time-table adopted by the Liverpool police has been wrong for a number of years; how many convictions have been recorded during the past four years in which the margin of time has been small; and whether he will take such steps as will enable such convictions to be cancelled and the fine and costs refunded?

I find on inquiry that through a confusion between local Greenwich time the police at Liverpool have been reckoning lighting-up time as beginning some 13 minutes later in the evening and ending some 13 minutes later in the morning than it should. In the case which the hon. Member has in mind, the defendant was discharged without a conviction.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this has been going on for a number of years, and will he undertake to take steps to cancel the convictions that have been made in such circumstances and refund the fine and costs?

It so happens that I have received a telegram from Liverpool within the last hour:

"Within the last four years there have been two convictions—one fined 2s. 6d, and the other 1s."

In view of the fact that a conviction, however trivial the offence may be, often militates against the people concerned when applying subsequently for a public-house licence, or a driver's licence for a public vehicle, where, in connection with other convictions, it might be reported against him, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of removing the conviction, and clearing the man's record?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much the hon. Member's question has cost the Treasury?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will introduce a Bill, having for its purpose the repeal of all statutes which discriminate adversely against His Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects?

The Government cannot undertake to introduce legislation on this subject at present.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the disabilities which at present obtain against His Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects?

I believe there is a private Member's Bill coming on. Perhaps the hon. and learned Member will wait for that.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce legislation to deal with bogus night clubs in London and other cities; and, if so, when this legislation will be introduced?

Yes, Sir.

May I have an answer to the second part of my question, as to when legislation will be introduced?

Shortly.

May we have a definition of "shortly"?

Shall we have it before Easter?

Yes.

asked the Home Secretary the total number of persons committed to prison in default of a fine during the year ended 31st March, 1924?

The number was 15,261, as stated in Appendix No. 9 of the Commissioner's Annual Report.

asked the Home Secretary, seeing that in cases where use is made of Section 1 (3) of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, to place under supervision a young person who has been given time in which to pay a fine, the probation officer is entitled to bring the defendant before the Court again before he goes to prison if he fails to pay the fine, whether he will draw the attention of the magistrates to the utility of this form of procedure?

Attention has been drawn in the Second Report on the work of the Children's Branch of the Home Office to the valuable assistance which the probation officers might give if they were more freely appointed by the Courts to supervise young persons who have been given time to pay fines under Section 1 (3) of the Criminal Justice Administration Act of 1914. A copy of this Report has been sent to every Court and I will send a copy to the hon. Member. In the circumstances I do not think it necessary to issue any further circular to the Courts at present. We hope to introduce a Bill shortly dealing with probation matters.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Sergei Lastschenko, who has been refused permission to remain in this country after the 25th instant; whether he is aware that nothing has been alleged against this man: and whether, in view of the urgency of the case, he will grant an extension sufficient to enable the case to be carefully considered?

I have already had before me full reports on this case. Mr. Lastschenko obtained admission to this country on the 25th November last on the pretext of a visit. On the 5th instant his solicitors were informed that he could not be allowed to remain here, but that the period for which he had been admitted, namely, two months, would be extended until the 25th instant in order to enable him to make his preparations for departure., I have fully considered the case, but am not prepared to authorise the grant of any further extension.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this case comes well within the four corners of the position which he himself laid down in his speech in the House the other evening?

I have gone into it and I do not think that it does. He was given a temporary permit to come here on a visit, which he obtained by a misstatement, and the period of the visit for which permission was obtained by that misstatement has now expired.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to receive further information from me on this subject?

Of course I am. I am always glad to receive any communication from, or to see, any Member of this House.

asked the House Secretary whether, when a young woman is transferred from the Borstal institution to prison on account of exercising a bad influence on the other inmates of the institution, the form of transfer states that she is to serve the unexpired residue of her sentence as if she had been originally sentenced to imprisonment; and what period elapses, after transfer, before the case is reconsidered and the prisoner is informed of the result?

The practice is to commute the Borstal detention to imprisonment for the unexpired residue of the sentence. The case is further considered after a few months have been spent in prison, but the authorities of the prison would, at any time, bring to notice anything which might suggest an earlier review. The girl is informed as soon as a final decision has been reached.

In view of the uncertainty of mind of the prisoner and her relatives would it not be possible to postpone sending her to prison, except in extreme cases, until the actual term of imprisonment has been decided on?

That is a long question to answer as a Supplementary Question. We do not send them to prison from a Borstal institution unless we are in effect compelled to do so. We cannot award a shorter term in prison than the term would have been in the Borstal institution. Otherwise these inmates might make themselves nuisances in the Borstal institution in order to try to get a shorter term of imprisonment. But every possible care is taken of them in the Borstal institution, and, if they show signs of improvement, these cases are reconsidered by myself as soon as I possibly can. If the hon. Member would care to come see me about it we could have a full chat on the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether agreement has yet been reached between Great Britain, France, and Belgium for the date on which Summer Time will commence; and whether he intends to support legislation for making permanent any date when decided upon?

I am not aware of any negotiations on this subject since the informal conference which took place in Paris in March last and resulted in a recommendation which was embodied in the Bill introduced by the late Government. The later part of the question therefore does not arise, but I may say that H.M. Government consider that the matter is one which should be determined by the general wishes of this House.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why we should have the same time as Belgium, which is very much east of this country?

That is a matter for debate on the Bill which is on the Paper

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the number of mentally deficient and the number of physically defective children in public elementary schools and the number in each group for whom provision is made in special schools?

As the reply to this question contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL BEPORT.

Is it part of the Government policy to remove these children from ordinary public elementary schools?

Yes, as soon as provision is made for them.

The answer is as follows:

According to the returns from local education authorities for 1923 it would appear that there are, in England and Wales, about 30,000 educable mentally defective children and about 106,000 physically defective children, among whom are included about 49,000 classed as "delicate," and that of these children about 11,000 mentally defective and about 67,000 physically defective children (including about 36,500 children classified as "delicate") are attending public elementary schools. At the present time there is accommodation in special schools for 16,565 mentally defective children and for 16,608 physically defective children. For full details I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to Section VI of the Report of the Board's Chief Medical Officer for 1923.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that 1,400 retired elementary teachers, all over 71 years of age, are receiving only an average pension of £40 per annum, and have received no increase of pension whatever; and whether he is prepared to consider some increase of pension, as many of these teachers are feeling the pinch of poverty very severely?

Increases of pre-war pensions to teachers have been made on the same basis and under the same Acts as increases of pension to other classes of State penisoners. The amounts of increase that can be granted under those Acts depend upon the other means possessed by the pensioners. Notice has been sent by my Department to all teacher-pensioners whose pensions might he increased under the Acts, and increases have been awarded to all such pensioners who have applied and who satisfied the statutory conditions.

What would be the total amount required to bring up these pensions to the desired figure?

The highest and lowest individual amounts paid are:

Perhaps the hon. Member would put down a question?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the distinction between pre-War and post-War pensions, so far as teachers are concerned, is much more considerable than in most other cases, and, in view of the responsibility of teachers in educating the rising generation, will he take steps to secure more generous treatment?

asked the President of the Board of Education how many pensions were being paid under the School Teachers' Superannuation Acts of 1898 and 1912 on 31st March, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924, respectively; how many were in force on 31st December, 1924, with the average amount paid, including increases under the Pensions Increase Acts of 1922 and 1924; the highest and lowest individual amounts paid; and the number receiving no benefits from these increases on 31st December, 1924?

As the reply to this question contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The answer is as follows:

The number of teachers receiving superannuation or disablement allowances under the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Acts, 1898 and 1912, was:

The number of pensioners under these Acts receiving no benefits from the Pensions (Increase) Acts on the 31st December, 1924, was 1,092.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the approximate cost per head of elementary education in Great Britain, Franco and Germany, respectively?

As the answer to this question is rather long, and includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The answer, according to the information available, is as follows:

England and Wales. —The net cost per child in average attendance in public elementary schools in England and Wales in the financial year 1923–24 was £11 5s. 9d. For details I would refer the hon. Member to Table 2 of the Board's Memorandum on the Cost per Child of Elementary Education in England and Wales, a copy of which I am sending him.' Calculated on the average number of children on the registers, the above figure would be £10 2s. 5d. per head. Owing to the difference in the system on which grants are payable, similar figures are, I understand, not available for Scotland.

France. —The total expenditure on primary education in France, within the pre-War frontiers, proposed by the Budget of 1923 amounted to 1,003,273,200 francs. This does not include any local expenditure for which no statistics are available. The number of children on the registers of public primary schools for the year 1922 was 3,697,704. The average expenditure per child on the roll was therefore 2713 francs. In France the school medical service is not financed by the State.

Germany. —There is no central education authority for Germany, nor are there any financial statistics of education for the whole of the Reich. An educational census was taken in Prussia in November, 1921, of which the results were published at the end of last year. These do not contain any financial statistics, presumably because the fluctuation in the value of the mark made financial statements valueless. Consequently no figures of expenditure on elementary education are available for any recent year. According to the figures of the previous educational census of 1911, 63 per cent. of the cost of elementary education was borne locally, 30 per cent. by the State, and the remainder was provided out of endowments, school fees and other sources. The actual sum provided by the State in that year was 127,305,580 marks. The Prussian Budget of 1924 asks for 237,872,000 marks for the elementary schools, but no figures or other information are available to show what percentage this forms of the total expendion elementary education. The number of children on the roll of Prussian primary schools in 1921 was 6,213.344.

It will be readily understood that the figures quoted do not afford anything in the nature of a reliable basis for comparison.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will take steps to secure some agricultural training for teachers in rural schools, and introduce agricultural subjects into the curriculum for their pupils?

With regard to the first part of the question, I will certainly bear in mind the suggestion made by the hon. Member when I have before me for consideration the Report of the Departmental Committee which is investigating the question of the training of teachers. With regard to the second part of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to the reply (of which I am sending him a copy) which I gave on 18th December last to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. P. Kurd). In general, I should welcome definite proposals from local education authorities on this point, and I hope they will direct their attention to it in preparing the programmes which I am asking them to draw up.

asked the President of the Board of Education what action he is taking to ensure that classes in elementary schools shall not exceed more than 40 scholars?

As long ago as 1909 the policy of the Board was shown by Circular TOO to be moving in the direction of reducing classes to 40 children, and this policy was continued by my right hon. Friend the Member for the English Universities in the years immediately following the War. The policy was revived and stated more definitely in Circulars 1325 and 1334, issued by my predecessor in February and June, 1924, of which I am sending copies to the hon. and gallant Member. The size of classes is, in many cases conditioned by the accommodation, and the process of reducing their size must be a gradual one. I hope the local authorities will pay special attention to this matter in preparing the programmes that I am asking them to draw up, and I hope, too, that all connected with the building trade will realise how much any reduction in the size of classes depends upon the efficiency and expansion of their industry.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the question of varying the size of the classes according to the subject which is being taught at any particular moment?

Arising out of the right hon. Gentleman's lecture to the building trade, is there any case of any authority asking permission to build a school in which it has been found impossible to build owing to the lack of building labour?

I was not addressing myself particularly to the question of building labour, but more to the question of building materials. There are many cases all over the country in which schools have been held up in the same way as houses are.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that classes have been raised to 60 in many schools where there are class rooms empty, and teachers unemployed?

I know that there is a great deal of organisation which can be done without extra building.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether it is proposed to frame special Regulations for elementary schools educating only children above the age of 11; (2) if the Board intends to enforce the institution of definite industrial or commercial training in elementary schools which retain their pupils beyond the age of 14?

The Board's Consultative Committee are inquiring into the organisation, objective and curriculum of courses of full-time study up to the age of 15 plus, and I should prefer not to make any public statement of policy until I have received their Report.

also asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will grant a Return stating what local education authorities maintain elementary schools providing an organised course of instruction for children from the age of eleven to the age of 16, the number of such schools, and the number of pupils-attending them?

I should be very glad to make such a Return as the hon. Member desires, but before committing myself as to the precise form of the Return I should like to discuss the matter with the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider changing the official designation of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Colonial Department to the Secretary of State for Imperial Affairs and the Imperial Office]

The question of some change in these designations is under my consideration.

If that suggestion were adopted, would not it mean that the Secretary of State for the Colonies would be practically the Secretary of State for affairs in this country?

That shows the necessity for having the matter under consideration.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the alternative proposal of having a Secretary of State for Greater Britain?

Harry Brittain.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement with regard to the proposed international disarmament Conference, which was to have been held in June of this year; whether His Majesty's Government intend to try to hold or assist at this Conference; and, if not, whether the Conference has been abandoned or only postponed?

The hon. and gallant Member no doubt refers to the conference to be convened in pursuance of Article 17 of the Geneva Protocol. Under that Article the meeting of the conference is made to depend on the Protocol having, by the 1st May of this year, been ratified by at least a majority of the permanent members of the Council and 10 other members of the League, failing which it is left to the Council to advise either adjournment of the conference to a later date or the cancelling of the invitations. Whether in fact the above condition will be found by the 1st May to have been met I am necessarily not in a position to say at present, but I ought to add that at the Rome meeting of the Council it was decided to postpone until March all discussion of matters arising out of the Protocol and that the dates for consequential discussions should be similarly adjourned.

Therefore, there is a chance of getting this disarmament conference three months afterwards, in September?

At present the position is that each item on the programme is postponed for three months.

Does that mean that the date of the ratification of the Protocol is also postponed for three months?

asked the Prime Minister whether the evacuation of Cologne will take place as soon as the German Government has fulfilled the necessary conditions as to disarmament?

The position is fully explained in the correspondence between the Allied Governments and Germany which has been published in the Press. The Allied Note of the 26th January, that is the second note, concluded with the observation that it was for Germany to fulfil her treaty obligations and thus to put the Allied Governments in a position to bring into force the restriction of the area of occupation contemplated by Article 429, the provisions of which the Allied Governments on their side were determined scrupulously to observe.

In view of the fact that there has been some discussion as to what these provisions actually mean, will the right hon. Gentleman indicate whether in his opinion they mean that the five years period has begun, and that if the disarmament proposals are carried out by Germany the evacuation will then take place?

There are obvious inconveniences, and perhaps dangers, in my commenting more fully on an Allied note. I have read the terms of the note, which seems to me to be explicit.

Is it the intention of the Allies to specify to the German Government precisely in what matters they are in default?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will allow me to hold the necessary communications with the Allies on the receipt of the Report, which will shortly be presented to them, before making further statements on that subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether the German Government can, by meeting British views as to disarmament, count on the immediate evacuation of Cologne, or would His Majesty's Government hold that the provisions of the Versailles Peace Treaty justified a further postponement of the evacuation?

The matter is one for decision by the Allied Governments, not by His Majesty's Government alone. For the rest I would refer the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to the replies given by the Prime Minister to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull on the 16th February, and by me to the hon. Member for Keighley to-day.

The right hon. Gentleman has just referred to the Report which he expects shortly to receive. May I ask whether he is referring to the Report of the Inter-Allied Mission of Control presided over by General Walch, or the interpretation of that Report by the Inter-Allied Committee in Paris presided over by Marshall Foch.

I was referring at the moment to the Report that had been received from the Military Committee at Versailles, which will take into consideration at once the Report which they have received from the Inter-Allied Committee meeting in. Berlin.

I presume that the Government have already received the original Report of General Watch's Committee?

I am not quite certain whether it has yet reached London. It may have done. It is a matter of hours in any case. It has not yet reached my hands.

asked the Prime Minister whether the House will be given an early opportunity of discussing the British administration in Kenya?

I understand that the East African Commission, of which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Colonies was Chairman, is preparing a very full report on Kenya including land and native policies. It is hoped that this Report will shortly be in the hands of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and will then be laid as a Command Paper. It would be more convenient if any discussion could be deferred until this Report is available.

Can my right hon. Friend tell me whether that Report will take account of the charges which have been brought against the whole course of British administration in Kenya in a book published by Dr. Norman Lees, which is apparently an honest and well-informed contribution?

I would be much obliged if my right hon. Friend would put that down as another question. I am afraid that I cannot answer now.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the present maximum output of bricks in this country is about 4,000,000,000 per annum; and can he say what steps, if any, the Government are taking to assist those firms desirous of increasing the output of bricks, thereby contributing to the relief of unemployment and a reduction in the cost of the article?

I am aware that the output of bricks was estimated early last year to be at about the rate mentioned. There is reason to believe that since then the rate of production has been increased considerably. With the great demand which has been experienced during the last 12 months manufacturers have increased their production in the ordinary course of their business without any special assistance from the Government. There have, however, been a number of applications to the Trade Facilities Act Advisory Committee for guarantees of loans for capital expenditure in connection with brickworks, and I understand that guarantees have been given in a number of cases.

Can my right hon. Friend give the approximate output to-day?

I think it is about 5,000 millions.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be ready to consider applications from local authorities, where the need arises, to produce their own bricks for the State-aided cottages?

I have not received any such application up to the present.

If all the bricks produced are being used, how can the right hon. Gentleman justify the argument that there is ca' canny among bricklayers?

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to urge upon local authorities the desirability of adopting the Wheatley Housing Act?

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to carry out the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924?

With the permission of the hon. Members I will answer these questions together. As the hon. Member for Don Valley was informed in reply to a question on the 11th instant, the provisions of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, were fully explained to local authorities in a Circular issued to them, and the Act has also received very wide notice in the Press. The question of its adoption is a matter for the local authorities, and I am leaving it to their discretion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the local authorities that they can let the houses erected under the Wheatley scheme at 1s. 6d. per week less than the rent under the Chamberlain Act?

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of doing so?

No; I cannot say that the same reduction in rent would apply to every locality. It would obviously vary from locality to locality.

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to compel the local authorities to allow the removal of building material when house property is expropriated for public reasons, and to give an appeal to a court of law as to the price to be paid when there has existed on a property a mortgage to secure the portions of widows and children, or money not exceeding two-thirds of a valuation made previous to any notice of expropriation; and if cases of hardship in regard to expropriation for public purposes in Lancaster have been brought to the notice of his Department?

I have received some representations with regard to individual cases arising under the scheme to which the hon. Member refers. I will bear the suggestions of the hon. Member in mind, but I do not at present contemplate introducing legislation on this matter, as further experience of the working of the existing Act is in my opinion necessary before doing so.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if his attention has been directed to a circular issued by the members of the National Light Castings Association intimating an increase in the prices of baths and other materals necessary in the building of houses; and whether, in view of the already high costs of building materials, he proposes to take action;

(2) if he is aware that the members of the National Light Castings Association are offering for sale, castings used in house-building to countries outside of Great Britain at prices lower than those offered to purchasers in this country; whether he can supply a short comparative list; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that the National Light Castings Association shall sell to British house-builders on as favourable terms as to purchasers abroad?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the National Light Castings Association, which controls 90 per cent. of the British output of metal work, has increased prices on an average 11 per cent.; that these increases are unwarranted, as the increase in wages taking place from 10th March would only—justify 1¼ per cent. increase of prices; and, seeing that the competitors' prices will remain below those of the combine and that, under the latter's pooling arrangement, any member increasing output may be penalised, will he take action to protect the public interests in housing?

I will, with the hon. Members' permission, answer these three questions together, and would refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave on the 17th instant to a question on the subject by the hon. Member for Hackney Central.

Will the right hon. Gentleman deal with the special point in the latter part of Question 76, referring to the penalty which is imposed upon any Member of that trust who increases the output? Is that being specially investigated?

The whole of the relevant matters will be investigated, I hope, by the Committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that by a singular coincidence the Light Castings Association issued a circular increasing the price of their material to the builders while the price of foundry pig iron was dropping? Does he propose to take any action in the matter?

The cost of foundry pig iron is not the only factor in the cost of castings.

May I suggest to the right hon. Gentleman that it represents 05 per cent. of the total cost?

asked the Minister of Health whether any tenders have been accepted by local authorities for Weir, Atholl, Braithwaite, and Wild houses, respectively; and, if so, to what extent the cost of these houses is less than those of brick or concrete houses?

Apart from the Wild type of house, of which there are some hundreds in course of erection in the North of England, no sufficient number of tenders for houses of these types has yet been accepted by local authorities to enable any comparison of cost as against the cost of brick houses to be made. As regards the Wild type of house, in some cases the cost is below that of comparable brick houses in the same locality and in other cases above.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Atholl house will be allowed to rank for subsidy?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.