asked the Secretary of State for War when it is proposed to revive the Territorial Army Reserve?

The Territorial Army Reserve of Officers is already in existence, having been re-constituted by Army Order 126 of 1921. There is no immediate intention of reviving the reserve of other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War the nature of the work of the Chemical Warfare Research Department; and the number of experiments on live animals undertaken during 1924?

The function of the Experimental Station, Porton, is to carry out on behalf of the three Services all applied research and experiments of a Service nature relating to defence against chemical warfare; in addition, anti-gas courses of instruction are given. The number of experiments on live animals undertaken during 1924 was 241, in which 1,001 animals were used.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the present practice of paying pensions awarded by the appeal tribunal as from the date of award instead of from the date of application operates to cause delay in the award of pensions and consequent loss to the person in whose favour the award is made; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter':

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any delay of the nature suggested. Once the question of entitlement is decided in the applicant's favour, the award and issue of pension normally follows within a few days.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the central advisory committee has met this year; if so, whether it has considered resolutions submitted by advisory councils that pensions awarded through the Appeal Tribunal should date from the date of the first application or, in the case of widows, from the date of the decease of her husband; and, if so, what decision was arrived at by the central advisory committee?

The central advisory committee met on the 17th February. The matters considered by them did not include the point mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that his Department has refused a request, made through the British Legion, for certain information contained in the medical history sheets of John Edward Tite, late private, No. 5,875,694, Northants Regiment, of 41, Upper Harding Street, Northampton; and, having regard to the fact that this information would have a material bearing on the man's claim for disability pension, will he issue instructions for the information to be supplied?

The Army medical history sheets of discharged soldiers claiming disability pensions are made available for use by the authorities charged with the administration of the pensions Regulations. In this case the authorities concerned are the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, who have had before them all the records relating to Mr. Tite's Army history. It is contrary to the practice of the War Office to furnish copies of Army medical history sheets to the men concerned or to other individuals.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) the total number of prisoners in Scottish prisons who have been sent by the Northern Government of Ireland; and whether any representation has been made to that Government as to the removal to Ireland or the release of those prisoners;(2) the number of prisoners in Scottish prisons which has been transferred there by the Government of Northern Ireland; who bears the cost of maintaining them; and upon which Vote the sum involved will appear?

71 persons sentenced to penal servitude by Courts of Northern Ireland have been detained in Scottish prisons on behalf of the Government of Northern Ireland. Of this number 36 remain under detention in Scotland at present, the others having been liberated on licence in the ordinary course by the Government of Northern Ireland. I have no information about any representations having been made to the Government of Northern Ireland on the subject of the removal to Ireland or release of these prisoners. The cost of maintaining these prisoners is met out of the Prisons (Scotland) Vote, and the whole cost is recovered from the Government of Northern Ireland as an appropriation-in-aid of the Vote.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that the Secretary for Scotland, on 16th September, 1920, authorised a communication to the governors of the Glasgow Veterinary College to the effect that the Board were authorised to give an assurance that the college would be maintained as a teaching institution, but that it must be understood that no contribution towards capital expenditure would be made; whether he is prepared to adhere to this statement; and, if riot, will he give the reasons for his action?

The answer to the first part is in the affirmative. With regard to the remainder, I propose, as I indicated on 4th instant in the course of the debate on this subject, to adhere to the decision come to by my predecessor in 1923, rather than to that intimated in 1920. The decision to discontinue grants to the Glasgow Veterinary College as from 31st March, 1925, which was intimated to the college in 1923, was based on a careful consideration of all the circumstances of the case as affecting veterinary education in Scotland. This decision is supported by the Departmental Committee on Agricultural Education and Research in Scotland, whose Report was issued in September last.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a licence has been granted to a private company for a new wireless station at Dorchester: and the nature of the licence and the purpose of the station?

Permission has been given to the Marconi Company for the erection of a group of "beam" stations near Dorchester for communication with the United States and with South America, but the terms of the licence to be granted for the stations are still under discussion with the company.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present position with regard to the Empire wireless chain; and whether any approximate date can be given when any workable scheme may be in operation?

The high-power station which is in course of erection at Rugby is expected to be completed in about eight months' time, A smaller station for communication on the "beam" system with a similar station in Canada, is expected to be completed in September or October next. Orders will be given for the erection of additional beam stations for communication with India, South Africa and Australia as soon as definite arrangements have been made by the Indian and Dominion Governments for the erection of corresponding stations in those countries, and search is now being made for a suitable site for this purpose.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a parcel containing cake, toffee, and chocolate was sent by Harold Evans, 10, Dailais House, Seven Sisters, to Private J. Llewellyn, No. 3953442, D company, 1st battalion, Welsh Regiment, Baireilly, Northern Province, India, on 26th November, 1924. and that a charge of 5s. 4d. was made at the post office and, before the parcel was delivered, he had to pay 3s. in Indian money; and will he inquire into this matter and have the delivery money refunded?

The charge collected on delivery was no doubt raised by the Indian Customs and if it is questioned by the sender, he should communicate with the Customs authorities in India.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, having regard to the provisions of the Railways Act, 1921, he can state what contracts for electrification have been placed by the four railway company groups since grouping was completed; and what proportion of the amount of such contracts has been placed in foreign countries?

I am not in possession of the information required by my hon. Friend. I may add, however, that I am informed by the Trade Facilities Act Advisory Committee that, in connection with the electrification of the South-Eastern and Chatham Section of the Southern Railway, contracts for rather more than £2,500,000 have been placed up to the present time, and that none of these contracts has been placed abroad.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, having regard to the. provisions of the Railways Act, 1921, he can state the total number of new locomotives, passenger coaches, and wagons manufactured by the four railway groups at their own shops and ordered from outside firms since grouping was completed

The total number of locomotives, passenger coaches, and wagons built and purchased by the four railway groups during the years 1923 and 1924 were as follow:

—	Year.	Built in the Companies Shops.	Purchased.
Steam Locomotives	1923	232	28
	1924	231	241
Passenger Coaches	1923	543	29
	1924	784	71
Goods Wagons	1923	17,200	4,521
	1924	26,797	6,777

The figures include a certain number of units purchased from other companies, etc., and in particular 125 locomotives purchased from the Government in 1924.

asked the Minister of Transport the tonnage and value of orders for rails, bridgework, steelwork of all description, rolling stock other than locomotives, placed with British firms by the British railway companies since the completion of grouping under the Railways Act, P921; and the total value of all orders placed abroad during the same period?

I am not in possession of the information for which my hon. Friend asks.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will submit a return to the House showing the number of omnibuses owned by the London General Omnibus Company and associated companies, and the number of omnibuses privately owned, operating in the London traffic area for 1923, 1924 and 1925?

It is not possible to obtain a return of the total number of omnibuses operating in the London traffic area during any given year. The figures given below show the number of licences issued by the Commissioner of Police of the metropolis during 1923, 1924 and the two months ended 28th February, 1925:

—	1923.	1924	For the two months ended 28th Feb., 1925.
London General Omnibus Company.	4,472	4,272	779
South Metropolitan Electric Tramways and Lighting Company, Limited.
Tramways (M.E.T.) Omnibus Company, Limited.
Other Omnibus Proprietors.	645	1,105	222

asked the Minister of Transport whether satisfactory progress is being made on the new road between Birmingham and Wolverhampton; and what is the percentage of local men employed on the scheme?

Regard being had to the difficulties encountered, I consider the rate of progress satisfactory. Work is actively proceeding along nearly two-thirds of the length of the road. The total number of men engaged is about 470, of whom 400 have been engaged through the local Employment Exchanges. The remaining 70 are engaged upon skilled work, although many of them were originally also engaged through the local Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total annual sum paid as licence duties on motor cars in the County of London; and what sum has been paid or authorised by the Minister for road improvements in the county during each of the last three years?

As I have already explained on previous occasions, the Road Fund is a national fund, and I am reluctant to make any statement regarding the amount collected in motor vehicle licence duties by any individual licensing authority. I trust, therefore, that my hon. Friend will not press for a reply to the first part of the question. With regard to the second part, the total grants made from the Road Fund during the financial year 1921–24 to the London County Council and to the Metropolitan Borough Councils in respect of road works within the County of London (including new construction as well as ordinary maintenance and improvement) were as follow:

1921–22	£713,434
1922–23	£579,700
1923–24	£466,628

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the question of regrouping the railway systems so as to give the Southern Railway access to the industrial and freight producing midlands, and give the Midland, North Western and North Eastern railways access to the south coast harbours?

It is not my intention to introduce legislation with a view to altering the railway grouping that was fixed by the Railways Act of 1921.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the great dislocation to traffic caused by the complete closing of main thoroughfares in London, such as Sloane Street, at the present time; and whether he will consider the desirability of making it compulsory for contractors to arrange for repair work to be carried out continuously day and night by a system of shifts?

Steps are being taken, under Section 4 of the London Traffic Act, to regulate street works on the more important thoroughfares in London and on streets which provide alternative routes to them. With regard to the particular instance quoted by the hon. and gallant Member, I am informed that the completion of the work in Sloane Street has been delayed by wet weather, coupled with the fact that the residents in the street objected to the work being carried out except in the ordinary working hours. Alternative routes to Sloane Street are available both on the east and west sides of that street.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the allocation of further grants from the Road Fund towards the maintenance of roads in rural areas other than first and second-class roads?

The allocation of further grants during the next financial year is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport the total number of men employed on the British railways, both salaried officials and weekly wage earners, on 31st December, 1924, and the corresponding figures for 1913?

The latest information in my possession as to the number of persons employed by the railway companies in Great Britain refers to the week ended 29th March, 1924, at which date the total number of persons so employed was 700,573, or, excluding ancillary businesses, 658,897. The number of staff at the 31st December, 1913, returned by the companies was 614,496, but this figure is not strictly comparable with either of the figures for 1924 because the method of compilation in 1913 was not uniform so far as staff employed in connection with ancillary businesses were concerned. The figures for 1924 were published in detail in a Return issued by my Department on the 15th of September last, and a further census will be taken for a week in the current month.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the provisions of the Railways Act, 1921, he can state the gross and the net earnings of the British railways now grouped for the years 1913–14 and 1923–24, respectively?

The information in respect of the years 1913 and 1923, which my hon. Friend presumably desires, will he found in the Annual Railway Returns for the year 1923. I hope to issue a preliminary return about the end of this month which will show the information sought for the year 1924.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, having regard to the provisions of the Railways Act, 1921, he can state the total amount of debenture and share capital issued by each of the tour railway companies; and the total market value at the present time?

The hon. Member will find the amount of issued debenture and share capital of each of the four amalgamated railways in the Annual Railway Return for 1923. The figures contained in the annual accounts of the companies for the year 1924 have not yet been tabulated. I will send these to the hon. Member shortly and he will then be in a position to make a calculation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to make advances to county councils and other highway authorities towards the cost of the erection and maintenance of cottages reserved for the use of roadmen engaged by the said authorities for the maintenance and improvement of highways?

Much as I sympathise with the desire of local authorities to provide for the housing of roadmen, I am advised that expenditure so incurred would not fall within the purposes to which grants can be made from the Road Fund.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that where a British ship is transferred or disposed of, or the services of a seaman terminated otherwise, at a port out of His Majesty's Dominions, adequate provision must be made for his maintenance and for his return home to a proper return port, and that in the case of a seaman whose service terminates similarly at a port abroad but within His Majesty's Dominions he is entitled to no provision of this kind, he will consider, in conjunction with any legislation he has in view, the desirability of provision being made that seamen whose service terminates abroad, whether within or without His Majesty's Dominions, in the manner stated shall be entitled to maintenance, passage home, and wages until arrival home at a proper return port; and whether, masters not being seamen within the terms of the Merchant Shipping Acts, he will make similar provision in their case also

If my hon. and gallant Friend cares to send me in detail his reasons for proposing these changes in the law, I will consider them, but he will realise that there are objections which would require very careful consideration before any decision to legislate could be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Tracie whether any official inquiry has been instituted into the circumstances in which the ex-naval hulk "Marlborough," foundered in the English Channel on the night of 28th November, whilst in tow of the tugs "Vanquisher" and "Warrior," with a resulting loss of four lives; whether evidence of the vessel's structural condition on leaving Portmouth has been obtained; and whether he will take steps to assure the survivors and relatives of the deceased that responsibility for this disaster has been, or will be, officially investigated?

As I announced in the House on 10th February a formal investigation has been ordered in this case. All the evidence material to the purposes of the inquiry will he laid before the Court.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the values of the United Kingdom's imports from, exports to, and re-exports to Germany in 1913, 1923, and 1924, respectively?

	1913.	1923.	1924.
	£	£	£
Total Imports consigned from Germany	80,411,057	34,994,041	36,896,740
Exports consigned to Germany:
(i) United Kingdom produce and manufacture	40,677,379	42,624,167	42,644,683
(ii) Foreign and Colonial merchandise	19,822,314	18,271,803	28,912,175
NOTE.—For the years 1923 and 1924 the figures relate to Germany, exclusive of Alsace-Lorraine, Memel Dantzig. part of Poland, part of Slesvig, and Luxemburg. The figures for 1913 relate to Germany, inclusive of the above-mentioned countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of officers in the Mercantile Marine, including deck and engine departments, who are at present unemployed; and whether, in view of the disability of these men with regard to unemployment benefit, any steps will be taken to assist cases of distress?

I have no exact information as to the number of officers of the Mercantile Marine who are at present unemployed, but I am aware that it is considerable. The Board of Trade have no funds at their disposal for the relief of cases of distress, and I am afraid that the unemployment of persons outside the scope of the Unemployment Insurance Acts is not confined to officers of the Mercantile Marine.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Industrial Court in an arbitration award, dated 15th September last, fixed the rates of wages on the Annisland-Duntocher Road Relief Scheme for men taken on through the Employment Exchange at 1s ld. per hour; that the Duntocher Bowling road is an extension of this relief scheme, and the contractors, Messrs.Shanks and McEwan, are paying the men

According to particulars published in the Annual Statements of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions, and the Monthly Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom, the declared values of the trade with Germany during the years specified were as follow:1½d. per hour under the wage fixed by the Industrial Court; what action he proposes to take to see that the wage fixed by the Industrial Court is carried out; or whether he is prepared to set up a committee of inquiry into the conditions of labour and rates of wages paid by this firm on the various relief schemes in Glasgow and district?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware that the Industrial Court in an award of 15th September last determined a rate of wages of 1s. 1d. per hour for certain schemes in and around Glasgow for men taken on through the Employment Exchanges. The Duntocher-Bowling Road Scheme, as pointed out in the award, did not come within the terms of the remit of the Court, and the rate of wages to be paid on this scheme is a matter for negotiation between the contractor and the workpeople concerned, subject to any conditions contained in the contract.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the number of cases of alcoholic liquor consigned to St. John's, Newfoundland, in ships leaving British ports during the months of October, November, and December, 1924, and January, 1925, respectively?

The numbers of cases of alcoholic liquor consigned to St. Johns, Newfoundland, in the four months in question, were as follow:

October, 1924	1,552
November, 1924	13,500
December, 1924	46,359
January, 1925	13,539

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of new schools provided in England and Wales since the War; the total amount expended upon them; if any Reports have been made between his Department and the various local education authorities regarding the present condition of many of the schools in the country; and whether, in view of the need for new buildings, he will submit to the Minister of Labour proposals involving financial assistance to local authorities whereby the need for schools shall be satisfied?

I assume that the question relates to elementary schools. The number of new public elementary schools provided in England and Wales between the 1st April, 1919, and the 31st. March, 1921, is 310 (England, 239: Wales, 71); I am unable to state at short notice the amount of expenditure incurred in their provision. With regard to the third part of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to the reply given by me on 26th February last to the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. R. Young), a copy of which I am sending him. As regards the

—	1913.		1923.		1924 (provisional).
	Million Tons.	Percentage proportion of Total Output.	Million Tons.	Percentage proportion of Total Output.	Million Tons.	Percentage proportion of Total Output.
*Exports (including coal equivalent of coke and manufactured fuel exported).	82·0	28·5	88·8	32·2	68·9	25·8
Coal shipped for the use of steamers engaged in the Foreign Trade.	21·5	7·5	18·4	6·6	17·9	6·7
Home Consumption (including coal shipped for the use of vessels engaged in the Coastwise Trade).	183·8	64·0	168·8	61·2	180·2	67·5
Total output	287·3	101·0	276·0	100·0	267·0	100·0
*includes coal shipped as cargo to Ireland.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department., as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he can state the number of kiosks which have been erected in public parks; what is the system of granting permission; and what is the resultant annual revenue?

There are 10 kiosks in the Royal Parks for the sale of refreshments, and four for the sale of newspapers, tobacco, sweets, etc.; for the privilege of using these kiosks tenders are invited from time to time, as a result of which licences are granted; the total revenue from all the licences during the last completed year amounted to £5,218.

asked the Secretary for Mines the output of British coal mines for the years 1913, 1923 and 1924; and in what proportion this coal was exported and disposed of for home consumption as well as for bunker purposes?

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of mines producing coal in 1913 and 1923, with the figures of output and of persons employed for those two years?

In 1913 the number of mines in Great Britain producing coal was 3,099, the output of coal was 287,329,000 tons, and the number of persons employed, 1,104,400. The corresponding figures for 1923 were 2,747 mines, 275,966,000 tons and 1,203,200 persons.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of coal mines which were abandoned in the decennial periods 1903–13 and 1913–23, respectively?

The approximate number of coal mines at which one or more seams were abandoned was 1,325 during the 10 years 1904 to 1913, and 1,415 during the 10 years 1914 to 1923. Both these figures include a considerable number of small workings.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of profit derived by the owners from the operations of the coal-mining industry as a whole, with the profit per ton of output for the year 1913; and if he can give the amount of profit derived by the owners of the eastern division, with the profit per ton of output for the year 1924?

The total profits of the coal-mining industry for the country as a whole in 1913 are estimated at £21,000,000, representing 1s. 5½d. per ton of coal raised. The total profits for the eastern division in 1924 are estimated at £9,000,000, approximately representing 1s. 11½d. per ton of coal raised. These figures represent profits before deduction of such items as loan interest and taxation.

asked the Secretary for Mines to whom the royalty rents for minerals underlying the public highways and common lands in Yorkshire are payable; and what is their estimated value?

The royalty rents for minerals underlying highways and common lands in Yorkshire are, of course, payable to the various persons to whom those minerals belong. But I have no means of giving the hon. Member a list of the people who own minerals in Yorkshire that may be thus situated, or of estimating the value of the rental from them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the register of British goats has yet been completed; and whether it is the intention of the Ministry to permit the importation of more animals of Nubian or Tottenberg pedigree stock to strengthen the stock in this country?

I have been asked to reply. It is not intended that a register of British goats should be made, but a return of the number of these animals kept in England and Wales is being obtained and will he published as soon as it is available. In view of the present position of foot-and-mouth disease on the Continent, the answer to the second part of my Noble Friend's question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government to revert to the pre-War practice of limiting expenditure under the Government Hospitality Fund to entertainments of a public character held outside of Ministers' residences?

I do not think there was any very definite pre-War practice. Expenditure from the Government Hospitality Fund is restricted to entertainments on behalf of the State; and I think occasions may well arise when it is both appropriate and economical, for instance, for distinguished strangers to be officially entertained at the Prime Minister's official residence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate amount of the outstanding loans respectively granted to the Crown Colonies and Protectorates?

My hon. Friend will find the information he requires in the statement of Unrepaid Advances made to or for Colonial and other Governments on pages 96 and 97 of the Finance Accounts, House of Commons Paper 103 of 1924.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider an amendment to the Colonial Stock Act of 1900, which allows trustees to invest in the funds, to insist that on a floatation being made the prospectus contains the total debt of the state in question, the national revenue and expenditure for the three preceding years, and a definite sinking fund attached to the loan

I understand that in the case of at least one Dominion information as to the existing debt, the Budget position and generally as to sinking fund arrangements is given in each new prospectus, and I agree that it would be an advantage if this practice became general. I am not, however, contemplating legislation on this subject at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the aggregate Annual value and the aggregate area of all lands in the United Kingdom that are assessed at one-third of their annual value under Schedule B of the Income Tax (Finance Act, 1922, Section 23), on the ground that the persons occupying such lands are not occupying them for the purpose of husbandry only or mainly for those purposes; what is the aggregate annual value and the aggregate area of lands so assessed that are occupied by the proprietors; what lands, apart from parks and woodlands, are comprised in the category of lands not occupied for the purpose of husbandry only or mainly for those purposes; whether the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have, since the passing of The Income Tax Act, 1918, certified in any case that the use of any lands by the occupier thereof for a purpose other than the purpose o husbandry was unreasonable; and whet the distinction began to be made, for assessments under Schedule B, between lands occupied for husbandry and lands not so occupied?

Many of this particulars for which the hon. Member asks are not available. It is roughly estimated that. the aggregate annual value of lands assessed under Schedule B on the basis of one-third of their annual value is in the region of 22,000,000. These lands include, in addition to parks and woodlands, lands used for a variety of purposes, for example, sports grounds and lands occupied for trade other than husbandry. The differentiation for Schedule B purposes between lands occupied for husbandry and lands not so occupied was first introduced in the year 1918–19. Provision for a certificate by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in certain cases was made at the same time, but the Armistice having shortly followed, no case has yet arisen in which it has been necessary to invoke this procedure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, owing to the protection of the Courts Emergency Powers Act with regard to industrial insurance policies of £25 value and less coming to an end, many of these policies will lapse unless notice is given by June next: and what steps he proposes to take to make known to policyholders their position in this matter to avoid the loss of large sums of money by the poorest policy-holders in the country?

This matter was dealt with by Section 28 of the Industrial Assurance Act, 1923, whereby applications for payment of the sum assured under policies formerly protected by the Courts Emergency Powers Act, 1914, less arrears, m cases where the life assured died before 7th March, 1924, must be made before 7th June, 1925. Notice of this right to apply was duly published in the manner required by the section. I see no necessity to publish any further notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a table of estimated national expenditure for 1924–25 is printed on Income Tax Application Form D.N.I.; whether he is aware that the estimated expenditure of the Post Office is included in the table; whether he is aware that the inclusion of the Post Office is misleading, as the Post Office is a Revenue Department with an income greater than its expenditure; and whether he will take steps to have the Post Office and the other Revenue Services deleted from the table in future?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. I am unable to agree that the inclusion of Post Office expenditure is misleading. Any estimate of national expenditure which excluded the expenditure of the Post Office and other Revenue Departments would be inconsistent with the classification which has long been followed in all our public accounts.