asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any Report has been received from India as to giving effect to the recommendations of the British Station Hospital Committee of 1918; and when he expects to take action to improve the standard of comfort and accommodation in hospitals for British troops in India?

I am sending the hon. Member a detailed statement supplied by the Government of India. Progress is being made as fast as financial conditions permit.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if his attention has been drawn to the case of Major E. C. It. Kempson and the circumstances in which he was compelled to retire from the Indian Army in December, 1922; whether he is aware that all Major Kempson's attempts to get an inquiry into his case have been met by the statement that he retired voluntarily; and whether, seeing that Major Kempson maintains, on the contrary, that his retirement was compulsory, he will consider the possibility of holding an inquiry into the facts, in order that Major Kemp-son may have an opportunity of stating his case, particularly in view of the sense of grievance under which this officer labours and the financial loss he has sustained?

My attention has been drawn to the case of Major Kemp son. I find that the matter has been very thoroughly investigated, and my Noble Friend shares the opinion of his predecessor that there are no grounds for any further inquiry.

Would the right hon. Gentleman be willing to look into this case, if further facts are submitted?

I have gone very fully into the case myself. I am convinced that this officer has no grievance of any sort, and that the statement with which he has supplied the hon. and gallant Member, as contained in the question, is without foundation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is proposed to accept the recommendation of the Lee Commission that in the case of officers of the superior Civil Services the commutable proportion of their pensions should in future be one-half instead of, as at present, one-third only?

The increase in question has now been approved by my Noble Friend. The necessary steps arc twins taken to give effect to this decision.

Does this increase apply only to officers who have retired since 1st April, 1924?

No, Sir; it will apply to all officers of the service in question, irrespective of the date of their retirement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to hardships with respect to pay, food and quarters under which British and Indian officers and men are serving in Waziristan; and whether he is in a position to make any statement as to the chance of improvement in these conditions?

Yes, Sir. I hope to be able to make a statement very shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that Lord Meston and other lecturers are delivering lectures in Dublin, Aberdeen, and other university centres with the object of obtaining recruits for the Indian Civil Service; whether these lectures are organised on behalf of the Indian Government or the Secretary of State for India; and, if so, if he will state the estimated cost of such lectures and on what Estimate the expense is met?

The Lee Com mission recommended that "efforts should be made to stimulate recruitment by well-considered propaganda," In pursuance of this recommendation, my Noble Friend has invited certain gentlemen with distinguished Indian records to visit universities on his behalf, and has

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any children under the age of 13 years arc employed underground in the coal mines of Bengal, Central India, and Southern India; and, if so, how many?

The employment of children under 13 in mines has been prohibited, with effect from the 1st July, 1924?

Is the Noble Lord aware that children are still kept in the mines, if not working there, with their mothers?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the total number of persons employed in underground work in the coal mines of Bengal, Central India, and Southern India; and how many of these are women?

As the reply to this question is in the form of a statistical table, I propose with the hon. Member's permission to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

No, Sir. The answer which I gave is in answer to a question as to whether children under the age of 13 are employed underground, and my answer is that they are not.

But do they pass the time underground?

No, the meaning of being employed underground is working underground.

But do they go and sleep underground with their mothers?

I should imagine it is very unlikely, but if the hon. Member wants information on the point I will inquire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what are the number of hours worked per day by persons employed underground in the coal mines of Bengal, Central India and Southern India?

The maximum number of hours is now fixed by law at 54 per week. The average number actually worked is considerably less.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention bas been drawn to a Bill introduced into the Transvaal Assembly, and gazetted on 23rd February, which prohibits the issue or renewal of trading or business licences to any Asiatic within six miles of any Transvaal township or municipality wherein he is not a fixed property owner; and what action, if any, the Government of India propose to take in the matter?

My Noble Friend has seen 'the Bill, which is a Private Member's Bill. He has not received any communication from the Government of India on the subject.

Does the Government of India know about this Bill? Has it been communicated to them?

I should imagine they would know about it. The Government of India, as I have mentioned in reply to a question on another matter last week, are in direct communication with the Union Government on these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what area of land has been alienated on lease, or purchased or exchanged, in the Colony of Kenya since the present Government took office and what further area of alienation is now under consideration?

As the answer is a long one, involving a number of details and figures, I am circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that an area of approximately 30,000 acres of land adjoining the Lumbwa Reserve in Kenya Colony has been alienated to a Mr. Tucker; and whether this alienation has been carried out with the sanction of His Majesty's Government?

No, Sir. The hon. and gallant Member's information may, however, arise out of the arrangement by which my predecessor permitted the East African Estates, Limited, whose local representative is Colonel Tucker, to surrender 230,576 acres of land at the coast or in the Lowlands in return for 19,843 acres further west. Of this 5,193 acres is Crown land near the Lumbwa Reserve, from which it is separated by the Uganda Railway.

With regard to the land that: is being given up in the highlands, are the rights of the native inhabitants of that land being safeguarded

This exchange was approved last year. I understand that the land given in lieu of the land given up is not occupied by anybody.

But is it possible for the Lumbwas to go and live in the coast belt?

There is no question of disturbing any Lumbwas. It is outside the Lumbwa reserve, from which it is separated by the Uganda railway.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will issue an official paper giving the number of armed raids into Kenya Colony during the last 10 years, with the casualties on both sides, the arms captured, and the estimated number of British subjects captured and carried out of the Colony?

I will ask the Acting Governor of Kenya for a Return, which can be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT or issued as a separate Paper, according to the importance which the Return, when available, appears to possess. The hon. and learned Member will no doubt agree that raids by armed German forces during the War may be omitted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the arms captured from raiders into Kenya Colony bear the official stamp of a certain foreign Power; and whether he proposes to draw the attention of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to this feature of the raids?

Such a case was reported by the Governor in 1923. Four rifles of foreign manufacture were captured, dated respectively 1875, 1882, 1886 and 1892. The marks were those of three different countries. The matter was brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can yet announce the decision come to in regard to the proposed eviction of about 600 natives, other than the Masai, from the Lol-Daika Hills in Kenya Colony?

No, Sir, but I will inquire of the Acting Governor.

; Will the Acting Governor hold his hand in the eviction of these 600 natives?

So far as we can understand from the Papers, no action has been taken, and I think I can say that nothing will he done until we have received full information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has information of recent fighting between section, of the Jubaland Somalis whether the disorders have occurred in any part of the territory about to be handed over to Italy under the recent Treaty; whether any of His Majesty's forces have been engaged; and what is the cause of the disturbances?

The answer to the first two parts is in the affirmative, and to third in the negative. I have no information as to the cause of the disturbances. Reinforcements of King's African Rifles have been ordered to Kismayu as a precautionary measure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the natives in Tanganyika Territory have been encouraged to grow coffee; what the results of this policy have been; and whether he can publish any Report dealing with it?

More than half the quantity of coffee exported from Tanganyika Territory is native-grown coffee of the Robitsta type from the Eukoba district. This coffee has recently reached a record price for its grade, namely, 112s. per cwt. Its production is increasing. The native cultivation of Arabica coffee has been encouraged in the past few years on Mount Kilimanjaro, but as yet the export is small. This experiment is being watched with interest. Some information on the matter is contained in the Report of the Tanganyika Department of Agriculture for the 15 months ending 31st March, 1924, a copy of which I am placing in the Library. The Report of the East African Commission will deal further with this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the request of Sir Hugh Clifford, the Governor of Nigeria, to publish the correspondence which recently took place between Lord Leverhulme and himself has been refused; and whether, in view of the fact that the whole correspondence is available in this country, he will reconsider his decision?

When Sir Hugh Clifford asked permission to publish his correspondence with Lord Leverhulme, my right hon. Friend informed him that he deprecated prolongation of the controversy by such a publication. No further vindication of his position appeared to the Secretary of State to be necessary. To that opinion my right hon. Friend adheres. The correspondence, which he has now seen published in full in "West Africa," was not communicated to him, and his only previous knowledge of its contents was contained in a brief summary in a telegram from the Governor.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he has any explanation of the incident? How is it, for example, that it is right for the Governor to entertain a distinguished lord who visits the Port of Lagos, and it is wrong for the Governor to accept hospitality in return?

I really do not think it is a matter for me or the House to settle points of social procedure between a visitor and a local Governor.

On the other hand, is not this a Crown Colony, and does not the Governor entertain out of an entertainment allowance voted by this House?

No, certainly not. Not one penny is voted by this House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that preliminary arrangements have been entered into between the Union of South Africa and Holland for a commercial treaty on the basis of the most-favoured-nation treatment; and whether such a treaty involves granting to goods imported into South Africa from Holland the same preferences as are at present accorded to goods from Great Britain?

I am not aware that any such arrangements as those referred to have been made. A Most-Favoured-Nation Treaty as such does of course, entitle foreign countries to claim the benefits of inter-Imperial preferences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any communication from the South African Government asking for particulars as to the extent to which the German Government has fulfilled the disarmament requirements of the Treaty of Versailles?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he has communicated the text of the German proposals for European security to the Dominion Governments; and, if so, whether he has yet received the observations of any Dominion on the proposals?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to a question on somewhat similar lines asked by the hon. Member for the Consett Division (Mr. H. Dunnico) on the 4th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much, if any, of the 200,000 tons of new shipping which, under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany had to hand over to the Allies in the subsequent five years, has been received by us or by any of the Allies?

The requirement of the Treaty, to which the hon. Member refers, was an option, to become effective in so far as the Reparation Commission might order. It has now lapsed. In fact, orders were given for only three ships on account of France and one ship on account of Italy, and these orders were subsequently cancelled, at the request of the interested Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the normal length of time it would take by the quickest available means to obtain the views of all the Dominions on an urgent question of foreign politics, assuming that each of the Dominion Premiers was able to reply immediately on receipt of his communication?

On the assumptions made by the hon. Member, the time would be limited to that needed for any necessary coding and decoding and for transmission of the message and the replies; and that, in turn, would depend on the length of each message.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the normal length of time taken to transmit messages to the most remote of the Dominions?

It varies a great deal in accordance with the pressure of work along the particular line, and it really would be impossible to give even average figures for the various Dominions established throughout both hemispheres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to conclude a convention between the British Government and the Irish Free State Government, in accordance with Clause 2 of the Annex to the Treaty, and especially with regard to the maintenance by the Irish Free State Government of lighthouses, buoys, beacons, and navigational marks or aids; whether, in the interests of our Mercantile Marine and the British Fleet, such convention will provide for adequate facilities for the British Government to inspect the condition of these lighthouses, buoys, beacons and navigational marks and aids from time to time, and to insist on their efficient maintenance; and whether he will state by whom the cost of such maintenance has been defrayed from the date of the treaty up to the present time?

His Majesty's Government have for some time been in correspondence with the Government of the Irish Free State in this matter, and meanwhile the administration of lights in Irish Free State waters remains on the same footing as prior to the establishment of the Irish Free State. In reply to the last part of the question, the cost of maintenance continues to be defrayed from the General Lighthouse Fund and all dues collected in Free State ports continue to be paid into that fund.

Can the Under-Secretary give any indication when these negotiations are likely to be concluded, as it is now a long time since the Treaty was signed?

I observe that a similar question was put in the Dail at a recent meeting in Ireland and I have no means of ascertaining when the negotiations will be concluded.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has any information regarding the Customs Duties which will now be applied to British goods by the Japanese Government?

The "Conventional" duties fixed by the Japanese Treaty of 1911 have presumably already been superseded by the "Statutory" rates as from the 10th instant, but it is understood that a new Tariff Bill is in contemplation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if the amount of credit granted to Portugal under the Export Credits for £3,000,000 has been extended from 1927; and if the technical difficulties of repayment have been got over?

The question of a possible extension of the Portuguese credit has been raised, but no decision has yet been taken. As regards the second part of the question, all sums due to the Export Credits Department have been paid punctually, but I am informed that there has been some delay over the: payments due to British exporters in connection with the same transactions. I understand, however, that these payments have now been duly discharged.

Can the hon. Member state whether any further security will be given in regard to that £3,000,000 if the extension takes place?

I cannot say that for the moment, because we have not yet considered the question of the extension at any length.

It is very important that full security should be given.

Most certainly. That point will be taken into consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will define exactly his power of control over the management of the British Empire Exhibition?

The powers of the Board of Trade in connection with the British Empire Exhibition are laid down in the British Empire Exhibition (Guarantee) Act, 1920, to which I would refer the hon. Member.

Can the hon. Gentleman say to what extent he has control, in view of the fact that the Board of Trade has to approve of the appointment of the general manager? Is it for a long or a short period?

The hon. and gallant Member will find it all set out in full detail in the Act of 1920, and I will send him a copy of it.

Would it not be almost impossible for any Government Department to manage an exhibition of this kind?

I think it would.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the need, particularly in Wales, of grants, as formerly made, to agricultural districts or societies for shire entires in order to prevent deterioration of this class of stock which is now in danger of reverting to ill-bred type; and will he authorise such grants as and when applied for?

My right hon. Friend is well aware of the desirability of encouraging heavy horse societies in Wales and elsewhere, and direct grants will be made this season to a number of such societies in Wales. Arrangements have also been made for the restoration this year of the grants for assisted nominations which were discontinued after 1921. These grants should prove of special value to small farmers in Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received any recent intimation from the Agricultural Workers' Unions that they desire to come into the Unemployment Insurance Act; and, if not, whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to the attitude of the unions on this question?

Representations on this subject have been made to my right hon. Friend from various quarters, and after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland, it is proposed to appoint a Departmental Committee with the following terms of reference:

"To consider and report whether it is desirable that workers in agriculture should be compulsorily insured against the risk of unemployment, and, if so, on what terms and conditions and in what manner the Insurance of agricultural workers can be most effectively provided either by the inclusion of agriculture within the scope of existing legislation or by means of new legislation."

asked the Minister of Agriculture what firms in this country are manufacturing sulphate of ammonia from Chili saltpetre and their total product; and what firms import Chili saltpetre into this country?

My right hon. Friend is informed that sulphate of ammonia is not manufactured from Chili saltpetre, and any process of the kind would be commercially impracticable. Chili saltpetre, better known as nitrate of soda, is largely imported for agricultural and other purposes, but my right hon. Friend regrets that he is not in a position to give the names of the firms by whom it is handled.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, following upon the visit of his scientific advisers to North America, he proposes to adopt in this country such administrative measures for the elimination of bovine tuberculosis as have proved successful in the United States and Canada?

My right hon. Friend has at present under consideration means for the elimination of bovine tuberculosis, and he is proposing to introduce shortly a measure on the lines of the Tuberculosis Order of 1914 which is a necessary first step in any procedure of the kind.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman answer that part of my question relating to the recent visit of his scientific advisers to North America?

I am afraid that I cannot answer that part of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to make a statement on the Government's policy with regard to agriculture?

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to make a. statement on his agricultural policy?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he can add nothing to the answer given on the 2nd March to the hon. Member for the Western Isles, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Members.

also asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of county agricultural committees at present functioning and the number of Labour members acting on each committee?

As a result a the recent county council elections, the county agricultural committees are now undergoing reconstitution. The number of such committees is 62, and, according to my right hon. Friend's latest information, the total number of representatives of Labour serving upon them is 208, thus giving an average of three for each committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the serious floods in the Hersham, Esher and Molesey districts of Surrey, and elsewhere, he will introduce legislation to make it obligatory upon all mills to draw up all floodgates to their full extent as soon as a heavy rainfall renders flooding imminent?

My right hon. Friend fully recognises the importance of dealing with floods caused by mills, but the matter is so complicated that he can give no promise to introduce legislation on the lines sugested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the committee appointed to consider the export of horses for butchery purposes will hold any of its sittings in public?

No, Sir; the committee have themselves considered the point, and have decided to hold their meetings in private.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the consumption of fish per head of population has fallen considerably during the past 10 to 15 years; and whether he proposes to take any steps to encourage a greater consumption of this form of food?

The actual decline of the consumption of fish per head of the population which has been recently reported by my Department is not very marked, especially when regard is had to the increase of the population. The point emphasised by the recent Report is rather the absence of any tendency towards a greater and more general use of fish as a staple article of food My right hon. Friend is now considering the various directions in which it may be possible to foster the fishing industry, and will bear in mind the importance of developing the home market.

Has anything been done to encourage research in the direction of the scientific preservation of fish'?

I am afraid I must have notice of that question.

Will the Minister of Agriculture take into consideration the cost of fish and the question of profiteering?

I am sure that my right hon. Friend will take everything into consideration.

Will the Minister consider the advisability of taking over the control of the fish markets, thus eliminating the scorpions there who are forcing up the price of fish?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that William Robert Brand, 11/M/215,247, of Tottenham, who is permanently lame by gun-shot wound in the right heel, and is suffering from fibrosis of the lung through gas, and partial disablement of the right hand, is receiving a pension of 14s. per week; is he aware that Brand cannot obtain employment and is unable to get lodgings for this amount; that he is not eligible for unemployment benefit: that he has been refused admission to the workhouse on the ground that he is not destitute; that he is at present sleeping in a hay-barn; and whether he will take this case into immediate consideration, with a view to increasing the amount of Brand's pension?

The life pension awarded in the case referred to corresponds to the degree of disablement by war service as determined by the Ministry and confirmed on appeal by the Assessment Appeal Tribunal. The Royal Pension Warrants provide for compensation in respect of disablement due to war service only, and they do not admit of being applied to make up for the inability of a pensioner to obtain either unemployment relief or Poor Law relief.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of test letters circulated by the investigation branch during the past year?

No record is kept of the number of such letters.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that shipbuilding costs in this country have risen within a, fraction of treble those of the year 1913, whilst the wages of operatives have increased only about 25 per cent. and materials about 80 per cent.; and will he inquire into this rise in costs?

I have been asked to reply. The President of the Board of Trade is aware that the costs of shipbuilding, as of manufacture generally, have increased since 1913, but he is not at present prepared to make any statement as to the precise amount of that increase, nor as to the extent to which the various factors of cost have contributed in it. He is advised, however, that the average increase in hourly and piecework rates of wages is considerably greater than that suggested in the question. The matter is one which is, of course, engaging our anxious thought. In view of the fact, however, that it is being investigated by the Balfour Committee on Trade and Industry, it is not proposed to make a separate inquiry. In this connection reference should he made to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Members for Mary-hill and Stockton-on-Tees on the 11th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will receive a deputation to place before him evidence in support of the official Soviet statement that the accusation against Mrs. Stan Harding, on which the latter was condemned, was made by a self-confessed agent of the United States military intelligence, and has been repeated by that agent over her own signature in leading American newspapers?

No, Sir. I have already received a deputation for the purpose mentioned, and I am fully aware of the evidence referred to. It has been explained by three successive Govern- ments that the facts of the case do not warrant representations on the subject to the Government of the United States.

Has Mrs. Stan Harding been offered, or has she received, any compensation

She has already received £3,000 compensation for the injuries she suffered in Russia, but not, so far as I know, for her present alleged grievance.

Is it not a fact that the late American Ambassador said that it would be desirable that official representations should be made to the American Government and not unofficial representations to him as Ambassador?

I think it is possible that he may have objected to the latter, but I do not think he recommended the former.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that statements are being repeated at the present time in the American newspapers reflecting upon the character of Mrs. Harding, who is a perfectly innocent victim of these attacks?

No, Sir; I am not a student of the American Press.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Ruffians have made any approach to the British Legation at Tangier for intervention by the League of Nations in the war with Spain?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as the result of the discussions-at Geneva, any changes were agreed in the methods of administration hitherto followed in the Saar?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to reply to this question, as I have not yet received a full official report of the proceedings at Geneva.

Was not the agreement to re-elect M. Rault as President of the Saar Commission come to before Geneva?

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, there were negotiations on the subject, but the actual decision, I suppose, was taken at Geneva.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information to give the House with regard to the debate upon the Geneva Protocol by the Council of the League?

asked the Prime Minister whether, and, if so, when, it is intended to lay a Parliamentary Paper giving a full account of the proceedings of the League of Nations Council at Geneva and of the negotiations between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the other Governments?

I am not in a position to reply to these questions until I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on his return.

LIVINGSTONE asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement regarding the result of the Government's inquiries into a scheme of extended insurance?

As I have already stated, inquiries are proceeding, but I am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Prime Minister if it is intended to introduce a Measure of House of Lords reform in accordance with the declared policy of the Unionist party?

I am not in a position to make any statement on this subject at present.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the West Ham Board of Guardians have borrowed from the Ministry £350,000 during the current half-year; that they have had to make arrangements with their bankers for an overdraft of £300,000; that, if the present Bank rate is maintained, the guardians will be called upon to pay to their hankers an extra £2,000 because of the rate being increased from 4 to 5 per cent.; that the guardians will have to make arrangements with the Ministry to borrow for the half-year ending December £300,000; whether they will be called upon to pay the extra 1 per cent.; and if he intends taking action in the matter?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the facts stated in the earlier part of the question. The rate of interest payable on loans already advanced by his Department has not been fixed by reference to the Bank rate, and will not be affected by the present increase in that rate. The rate of interest of any further loan which it may be necessary to advance to the guardians will be determined in the light of the circumstances existing at the time when the advance is made.

Has the hon. Gentleman's Department considered the very damaging effect that this increase will have upon all local authorities in regard to future borrowing?

No, Sir, the hon. Member must not assume that.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that it will cost the country millions?

No, Sir, I am not.

Then you ought to be.

Is the hon. Gentleman's Department now prepared to consider the waiving of interest which has accrued to date on these loans?

I must ask for notice of that question.

also asked the Minister of Health what effect the new Bank rate will have upon the rent that will have to be paid for the new Louses now being built?

My right hon. Friend does not apprehend that the recent in- crease in the Bank rate will have any effect On the rent of new working-class houses, as there is no reason to believe that either the cost of building or the cost of the long-period loans raised by local authorities in connection with their housing schemes will be adversely affected

Has the hon. Gentleman noticed in the paper the oteer day a statement made by a man who knows—[HON. MEMBERS: "Name!"]—it. was Major Barnes, formerly a Member of this House—declaring that the extra cost of the Bank rate would increase the rent of a non-parlour house by ls. 6d. a week, and the rent of a parlour house by 1s. 9d.

No, Sir; the suggestion is entirely unfounded.

All right—wait and see

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that builders, merchants, and everybody engaged in the building, trade, frequently require overdrafts from their banks? Will they not, in consequence, have to pay an increased sum to their hanks, and will not that require to be put on to the cost of these houses?

No, Sir. We have given Very careful consideration to this matter, especially having regard to the suggestion made by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Shettleston (Mr. Wheatley) in the Debate last week, and there is no reason to believe that there will he any increase in the rent of working-class houses on account of the matters mentioned in the question.

Has the hon. Gentleman not declared—well, you have declared—

The hon. Member has answered his own question.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of his decision to allow the Milk and Dairies Act, 1915, to become operative from 1st September next, he will state if those provisions of the Act which will be administered by order of the Minister will all be enforced from that date; and, if so, whether he will publish drafts of the Orders at an early date and arrange for consultation with the interests concerned before sub miffing the draft Orders to Parliament?

My right hon. Friend is unable at present to say on what dare the Orders to be made in pursuance of the Milk and Dairies Act, 1915, will come into operation, but, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, until the new Orders are made the existing Orders will continue in force. It is certainly the intention If my right hon. Friend to consult the interests concerned before any new Orders are laid before Parliament.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware of the inconvenience that will be caused to firms up and down the country unless he states very early any new obligations that are likely to arise from the coming of this Act into force?

Yes, Sir; we will bear that in mind; and, as I have said, we will consult the interests concerned before any Order is made.

Is there really much further need for consulting the interests concerned? We have been consulting the interests concerned for nine years, since 1915. [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Merchandise Marks Bill?

It is not at present possible to add anything to the answer given by the President of the Board o': Trade to the hon. Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon) on the 12th February, a copy of which is being sent to the hon. Member.

May I ask what is being done about eggs in the meantime?

asked the President of the Board of Education the estimated number of children between 14 and 16 years of age in England and Wales who are receiving full-time education, and the estimated number who are not?

From information supplied to me by the Registrar-General it appears that, according to the figures of the Census held in June, 1921, out of a total population of 1,446,573 between the ages of 14 and 16, 348,805 were receiving full-time instruction at schools and institutions in England and Wales; presumably the remainder (1,097,768) were not receiving full-time instruction. These figures include, of course, a large number of private and other schools and institutions not falling within the purview of the Board. It is important to bear in mind that of the 348,805 children referred to above, rather less than half were in public elementary schools, and of these children a considerable proportion would not stay beyond the statutory period of school attendance.

Does the Noble Lord contemplate in the near future a transference of the medical services from the education authorities to the public health authorities?

That is an entirely new question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the scheme drawn up in the year 1919 by the Central Committee for the Care of Cripples, and which has since been

As the hon. and gallant Member will see from the terms of Circular 1349 (of which I am sending him a copy), the Board emphatically desire that every local authority should adopt an adequate orthopaedic scheme. There are already a number of such schemes in operation, for instance, in Oxfordshire and Shropshire. The Board have not actually adopted, nor required local authorities to adopt any particular scheme, but the general principles of treatment laid down by the Central Committee for the Care of Cripples have been and will continue to be of much assistance to the Board and to local education authorities in dealing with this question.

asked the Secretary of State for War the strength of our forces in Egypt; and the strength for the same period in 1924?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I ask whether there is an increase or a decrease?

A slight increase; but the hon. Member shall have the figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a medical referee under the Workmen's Compensation Acts who is also on the staff of a voluntary hospital is not permitted to give a report on a case under his care at that hospital and, if so, whether, seeing that this might involve injustice to the patient examined, as no other doctor can know as much of the case, he will consider the advisability of withdrawing the instruction or Regulation?

There is no specific Home Office instruction or regulation which prevents the doctor in such a case giving the workman or the employer a report on the condition r f the workman, but if a referee is employed in any case by or on behalf of either party, he is precluded by the Statute from acting subsequently as referee in that case. It is also generally undesirable that referees should act for either party in compensation cases, especially cases which are the subject of dispute. My right hon. Friend will, however, consider the matter further in the light of the hon. Member's representation, and if he has any particular cases in mind, the Home Secretary would be glad to be furnished with the details.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is in a position to state the present position regarding the reinstatement of Ruskin Park, Camberwell?

The claim in respect of the reinstatement of Ruskin Park is being dealt with by the War Office in conjunction with other claims of the London County Council, and it is hoped that a submission will be made to the War Compensation Court within the next week.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what gifts of flora and fauna have been made by private donors to the Royal parks during the past 12 months: and whether his Department is prepared at all times to consider gifts of a similar nature?

The following gifts have been received during the past 12 months:—1,000 Japanese Iris from the Orpington Nursery Company; 50 Golden Orfe from Mr. A. L. Allen; 12 Deer from Sir H. Dering; Wildfowl from Lord Ilchester, Lord Somerleyton, Mr. J. McKelvie, Captain Pretyman and Lord Rothschild. Various exchanges are also made from time to time with the London County Council. The Department is always prepared to consider gifts of flora and fauna which are suitable for the Royal parks.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will consider the proposal of removing the Duke of York's statue and steps and making a road from Carlton House Terrace to the Mall, as this would relieve a great amount of the present congestion of the traffic in Trafalgar Square and the bottom of St. James's Street?

No such proposal is before the Department. It will, of course, receive careful consideration if put forward by the authorities responsible for regulating traffic in the Metropolis.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it would go a long way towards obviating the congestion in Trafalgar Square if this road could be made?

That is really a matter for the Ministry of Transport.

Would it not be possible to move the steps without the statue?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he will consider fixing rails on the steps leading from the Central Hall to St. Stephen's Hall, in view of the accidents which have occurred owing to the absence of rails.

The First Commissioner will consider this proposal, but I am informed that on some days during the summer as many as 24,000 visitors pass down these steps, and that there have only been four accidents in the past three years.

Was any of the accidents fatal

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the Attorney-General if he can see his way to make a recommendation to the Lord Chancellor that for the appointment of Justices of the Peace a name suggested to him by a local council may be brought forward with some prospect of favourable consideration?

Persons are selected for appointment as Justices of the Peace by local advisory committees appointed in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Selection of Justices of the Peace, 1910. All names which are suggested to the Lord Chancellor by local councils or from other sources are put before the advisory committee for consideration.

Should not those who are elected by the general body of electors have preference over those who are only accepted as a matter of patronage?

So far as I know, no one is, or can be, elected to be a Justice of the Peace.

That is not my question. Should not those who are elected as public representatives on public authorities have a preference when Justices of the Peace are appointed?

No. I should have thought the best course was that laid down by the Royal Commission, namely, that all names should go before the Advisory Committee, and the most suitable ones put by the committee to the Lord Chancellor.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in relation to the appointment of justices of the peace, the various advisory committees are appointed by the Lord Lieutenant of the county or by the Lord Chancellor; whether these committees are asked to supply the names of those considered suitable when vacancies occur or merely advise on the suitability of the names submitted to them by the Lord Lieutenant; if the latter is competent to recommend names to the Lord Chancellor for appointment as justices of the peace without reference to his Advisory Committee; and if there is any practice, convention, or rule whereby either the Lord Chancellor, the various Lord Lieutenants, and the advisory committees are precluded from receiving suggestions as to suitable appointments from residents of the district?

Justices' Advisory Committees in the counties are appointed by the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor consults the Lord Lieutenant regarding the appointments to be made to the Committee, but the decision is with the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Lieutenant is, in most cases, Chairman of the Committee. The committees select the persons whom they consider suitable for appointment, when appointments are needed. All names which are suggested to the Lord Chancellor, from whatever source, are sent to the Lord Lieutenant for consideration by the Committee, but the Committee are also at liberty to consider names suggested either by the Lord Lieutenant or by members of the Committee. The Lord Chancellor has power to appoint justices of the peace without consulting the Committee, whether upon the recommendation of the Lord Lieutenant or any other person, but it is not his practice to do so. There is no practice, convention, or rule whereby Lord Lieutenants and advisory committees are precluded from receiving suggestions as to suitable appointments from residents of the district.

How are the advisory committees selected?

They are selected by the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Lieutenant, as I stated.

Have women been appointed on every advisory committee?

The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the practice prevailing in a section of the Press of photographing persons concerned in prominent lawsuits, and in view of the misery caused to many such persons and of the bad effect on public morals of this practice, he will introduce legislation to prohibit the taking or publishing of photographs of persons engaged in litigation, unless the consent of such litigants be first obtained, for a period of one month before, during, and one month after such litigation?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to Clause 39 of the Criminal Justice Bill dealing with this matter.