asked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) whether British home rates of pay were given to Indian Army officers on leave because their previous rates were not conducive to making the Indian Army career at all attractive; whether, although Indian Army officers were granted home rates of pay, the same allowances as British officers received were withheld from them; and whether, in these circumstances, he can undertake to make no reductions in the pay of Indian Army officers whilst they are on leave;(2) what allowances are paid to Indian Army officers drawing British home rates of pay; how these allowances compare with those of British officers of similar rank; and, if the allowances are less in the case of Indian Army officers, whether he can see his way to make the recent reductions in the, pay of Indian Army officers on leave inoperative when they are in the United Kingdom?

The leave pay rules for the two services are essentially the same. Regimental officers of both services are eligible for two months' leave in each year on full pay, and after that for leave on reduced pay. In both cases this reduced pay, when the leave is taken in Europe, consists of British pay of rank and ration allowance. This rule was introduced in 1919 as affording a fair equivalent for the sterling leave rates previously in force for Indian Army officers which had become obsolete with the general raising of the scales of pay. Therefore, the question of remitting the cost of living reduction, which is applied to both services for the same reason, does not appear to arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether Indian Army officers coming home on leave have to pay in full for their passages to and from India; if so, whether he will say what is the average sum involved; whether he is aware that British Army officers get free passages for themselves and their families on relief; and whether, in these circumstances, he will undertake not to make any reductions in the pay of Indian Army officers on leave?

My noble Friend has recently sanctioned the grant of free passages for Indian Army officers coming home on leave with effect from 14th February last. The provision of passages for military officers will correspond in value to that now inforce for the Superior Civil Services. The details of the scheme are still under consideration.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that it is the custom of Indian railway companies owned or controlled by the Government of India frequently to delay paying wages for periods of two and three weeks, with the result that the workers are driven into the hands of moneylenders who charge extortionate rates of interest; whether these same railway authorities continue the practice of fining their employés for various offences and often dismiss servants without granting an inquiry or a certificate of character, and thus prevent the dismissed servants obtaining employment; and what steps the Government of India propose to take to remedy these grievances?

I have ascertained from the Indian railway companies referred to that while, owing to the distances to be travelled by the pay clerks, it is not possible to pay the wages of the whole of the staff on the first day of a month, payment is practically always made at regular monthly intervals, so that there should be no need on this account for any employé to have recourse to moneylenders. It is considered necessary in the interests of discipline and efficiency to continue the practice of fining employés for certain offences, but the fines are generally small, and they are set aside for expenditure on schemes for the benefit of the staff. Employés are not dismissed without proper inquiry; they always have the right of appeal to higher authority, and in no case is a request for a certificate of character refused.

asked the Under-Secretary- of State for India whether he is aware that the Indian railways under the control of, or owned by, the Government are so understaffed that men are often exhausted by the large amount of overtime they are compelled to work, and consequently suffer long periods of illness; that great dissatisfaction exists amongst the Indian workers owing to the fact that preferential treatment is given to young men from England, and that there is a general discrimination against Indians in favour of Europeans; that on occasion, as a means of punishment, grants from provident funds and earned gratuities are withheld; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy these grievances?

I have no reason to believe that Indian railway employés are required to work an undue amount of overtime, or that any preference is given to Europeans as such over Indians. It is the fact that in cases of serious misconduct or markedly unsatisfactory service the whole or part of a man's provident fund bonus and gratuity may be withheld; but I do not regard this as constituting a legitimate ground of grievance. I do not think any action is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has received the Interim Report of the Economic and Finance Committee, Kenya, on Native Labour; and if he can place a copy in the Library?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that ex-soldiers desirous of purchasing undeveloped land in Kenya for the purposes of farming are obliged to attend public auctions and bid against real estate syndicates, against whom they have very little chance of securing land at reasonable prices; and whether he will consider the desirability of giving ex-soldiers facilities to purchase such land direct from the Government, at a reasonable price?

In 1919 a special scheme was opened for a limited time, under which ex-soldiers were enabled, subject to certain conditions, to obtain leases of Crown lands on exceptionally favourable terms. It was not, however, possible to keep these terms open indefinitely, and the position in regard to the disposal of land in the areas open for European settlement is now goverened by the ordinary law under which lands have to be offered for sale at auction. The position of the ex-service men who applied for but did not obtain farms under the scheme of 1919 was very fully considered by the late Secretary of State and the late Governor of Kenya, and it was decided that to re-open the scheme on their amount would not be justified, a decision in which I concur.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that there was an annual average surplus of £50,000, being excess of revenue over expenditure in the working of the Iraq railways during the years 1923–24 and 1924–25, he will, in conformity with the agreement by the Government of Iraq to liquidate liabilities incurred, as expressed in Article XV of the Anglo-Iraq Treaty, impose some charge for interest on the capital value of the railway, and thereby ensure that some return on the capital accrues to the Imperial Exchequer?

The Article referred to does not apply to the railways, which remain the property of His Majesty's Government, the management and administration only having been transferred. The railways are specially dealt with in Article VIII of the Financial Agreement (Cmd. Paper 2120, 1924), in accordance with which any surplus receipts are being supplied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amounts expended by the Imperial Government on assisted migration and overseas settlements during the years 1922, 1923 and 1924; and the number of migrants who received assistance during those years?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given on the 17th February last to a question asked by the hon. Member for Cardiff East (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a petition from the inhabitants of the Island of Tristan da Cunha asking for a warship to visit the island annually; and whether he can, in view of the great hardships suffered by the population in consequence of the lack of communication with the outside world, see his way to favourably consider the request of the petitioners?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The question of the possibility of providing more regular and frequent communication with Tristan da Cunha has recently been under careful consideration, but it is feared that having regard to the considerable expense and other difficulties involved His Majesty's Government cannot undertake to arrange for a yearly visit of a warship to the island, though it is hoped that such a visit can be made every three or four years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amounts of the original estimates of costs and times for completion of the various sections of the Accra-Kumasi Railway; and the actual final costs and times occupied in the completion of each separately constructed section?

The estimate for the cost of the Accra-Mangoase section which was executed by contract was £165,614, and the estimated time two years. The actual cost of this section was £353,000, and the time 3¼ years. The remaining sections were constructed departmentally. The Mangoase-Koforidua section was estimated to cost £130,000, and the actual cost, was £102,164. No estimate of the time of construction was made, but the actual time was about 10 months. The Koforidua-Tafo extension, which was completed in the war, viz., on 1st January, 1917, cost £115,593, but owing to the war conditions no previous estimate was made. The remaining section to Kumasi constructed after the War at a time of great oscillation of prices was estimated to cost £1,668,000, and actually cost £2,142,000, and the time occupied was 3½ years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the source of supply of the second-hand rails, about 13,200 tons in all, provided for in the Estimates for the following lines: Thika Tana River, 68 miles, Kitale (Trans Nzoia), 43·7 miles, Solai Valley, 30·7 miles, Tana River-Nyeri, 33 miles; whether they are of British or foreign manufacture; whether the cost of the rails is included in the estimated cost of the lines; and whether the rails are transferred free of cost?

The lower sections of the Uganda Railway main line are being relaid with 80 lb. rails, of British manufacture and the second-hand rails referred to in the question are the Uganda Railway 50 lb. rails which are being replaced. The new lines are charged with the estimated value of the second-hand rails, and in the latest case of the kind the value is taken at £750 a mile, plus the cost of transport up country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the estimated cost of £1,320,000 for the Huni Valley-Kadi Railway, of 100 miles in length, is based on a complete specification and a priced detailed bill of quantities, which includes personal emoluments and all costs of other departmental assistance, as would be done if the work were carried out by a contractor; whether contractors were invited to, tender for this work; what is the estimated time for the completion of this railway line; and whether the estimate includes the cost of the land?

The estimate of £1,320,000 assumes a cost of £11,000 per mile for 120 miles, allowing for full equipment, locomotives and rolling stock. This figure is comprehensive and includes all the usual items both of direct and indirect expenditure and contingencies which would appear in contractors' estimates. The decision taken in the spring of 1923 that the railway should be constructed departmentally by the Colonial Government was arrived at after consultation in this country with the Governor, and I informed the hon. Member for Warrington (Captain Reid) of this decision in reply to a question by him on June 4th, 1923. It may be anticipated that if the present rate of progress is maintained the line may be completed early in 1927

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any research and experiments are being conducted to discover new poison gases and other forms of chemical warfare, either at the expense of or at the suggestion or instigation of his Department?

I would refer the hon. Member to ray reply to his question on the 20th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to develop defence against new poison gases and other forms of chemical warfare, and how such new poison gases and other forms of chemical warfare are known?

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member's question on the 20th instant.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Report of the Departmental Committee on the training of teachers is now ready for presentation and, if not, whether he can expedite it, in view of the anxiety felt among the acting teachers?

I may refer the hon. Member to the reply given by me on the 17th of this month to the hon. Member for London University (Dr. G. Little), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Education if, when framing the Substantive Grants Regulations for 1925–26, he will show greater regard than in recent years for the claims of highly-rated education areas and so reduce the prescribed amount and increase the prescribed proportion as to benefit a larger number of necessitous school areas than in the years 1923 to 1925?

The matter has been considered in connection with the Regulations which I hope to issue shortly; but, as at present advised, I do not propose to enlarge the scope of the grant in the manner suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether

STATEMENT showing the Quantities and Value of Sugar, Molasses, Glucose, Saccharin, and Articles containing Sugar registered as imparted into the *United Kingdom during each of the Years 1913–1924 inclusive.
Year.		Sugar.		Molasses.		Glucose.		Saccharin		†Articles containing Sugar.
		Quantity.	Value.	Quantity.	Value.	Quantity.	Value.	Quantity.	Value.	Quantity.	Value.
		Cwts.	£	Cwts.	£	Cwts.	£	Ounces.	£	Cwts.	£
1913	…	39,385,190	23,066,621	3,261,231	657,610	1,464,720	739,254	1,242,213	14,425	2,212,111	3,851,132
1914	…	39,860,809	32,118,170	3,377,046	650,491	1,210,501	600,792	1,656,714	22,438	2,198,333	3,848,894
1915	…	29,647,133	31,812,160	2,895,453	697,982	1,410,278	882,243	2,124,183	64,767	2,595,952	4,930,542
1916	…	30,667,171	37,367,675	2,415,994	948,712	1,248,620	1,149,606	356,354	25,251	2,158,883	5,506,555
1917	…	27,750,194	36,709,596	2,784,353	3,018,570	962,949	1,830,118	551,630	173,573	1,909,409	6,876,861
1918	…	26,113,009	34,411,277	1,311,931	2,027,420	377,621	1,255,237	2,321,937	877,560	2,108,645	11,265,185
1919	…	32,089,127	53,927,868	2,547,782	2,518,798	1,397,488	2,721,630	1,143,872	82,745	4,832,465	24,720,835
1920	…	27,427,116	73,140,456	1,491,143	1,614,645	1,148,224	2,542,514	366,387	20,719	3,261,765	19,070,146
1921	…	25,660,011	35,338,816	1,892,359	629,134	1,158,680	1,047,278	99,493	3,438	2,902,113	12,785,882
1922	…	38,179,387	33,425,427	2,455,420	621,217	1,153,035	775,860	85,684	1,262	3,978,725	13,382,717
1923	…	31,079,066	41,224,035	2,673,325	655,394	809,021	656,678	398,460	4,037	3,570,496	10,586,167
1924	…	35,217,795	44,121,148	3,411,359	891,954	1,032,457	984,295	158,852	1,390	4,441,060	12,724,060
* As from 1st April, 1923, the figures relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland only.
† The weight given in the total weight of the composite article. Particulars as to the amount of the separate sugar content are not available.

The question whether any, and, if so, what, amendment is desirable in the law in connection with the matter referred to by the hon. and gallant Member is one which will be considered by the Departmental Committee which is now sitting to consider the Companies Acts. I propose, accordingly, to await the Report of the Committee before considering this question further

asked the President of the Board of Trade the imports and re-exports of sugar, molasses, and other sweetening materials into and from Great Britain in each year from 1913 onwards.

in pursuance of his answer (OFFICIAL REPORT, 18th March, 1925, Col. 2292–3], supplied the following figures:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a very considerable amount of business is being lost by traders and manufacturers in this country owing to the exclusion of Russia from the Overseas Trade and Trade Facilities Acts; and will he take steps immediately to have the embargo removed?

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

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities of carbon black imported into this country from all foreign countries, including the Dominions, and the values of the same for the year ending December, 1924?

The total quantity of carbon blacks registered as imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland from all sources during 1924 amounted to 149,231 cwts., valued at £418,834.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total tonnage of iron-ore imported into England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, for the months of January, 1925, January, 1923, and January, 1921?

The following statement shows the quantities of iron-ore registered in the months of January, 1921, 1923 and 1925, as imported into ports in each division of Great Britain:

Month.		Ports in England.	Ports in Scotland.	Ports in Wales.
		Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
January, 1921	…	416,262	29,461	123,792
January, 1923	…	235,715	119,823	78,745
January, 1925	…	202,446	109,152	62,082

These particulars relate to ore first discharged in the ports in question. Particulars are not available regarding any ore which may have been afterwards shipped coastwise to a port in another part of the kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number of blast furnaces in England; Scotland and Wales; how many of the furnaces have been blown out; and how many are now in blast in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively?

The following particulars have been supplied to me by the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers:

Situation.	Total Number of Blast Furnaces.	Of which there were at the end of February, 1925
		In blast.	Blown out.
In England, except Monmouth.	347	135	212
In Scotland	102	21	81
In South Wales and Monmouth.	33	8	25
Total	482	164	318

Owing to the need from time to time of repairs to furnaces and blowing plant, and for other reasons, it is not possible to have the whole number of furnaces in blast at the same time, The maximum number in blast during 1913 was 338. The maximum number in blast at any one time since the War was 303 in September, 1920.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can form any estimate of the total annual cost likely to be imposed on local boards of guardians, etc., through having to maintain persons deprived of unemployment benefit as a result of the recent Circular issued by his Department?

The number of applicants for unemployment benefit in Great Britain whose claims have been disallowed because of failure to satisfy the new condition regarding contributions is, in round numbers, 11,000. I have no

—	November, 1923.				November, 1924.
	Number of Claims.	Percentage.			Number of Claims.	Percentage.
		Single.	Married.	Widowed		Single.	Married.	Widowed.
Men	798,100	37·7	56·7	5·6	868,300	36·3	57·6	6·1
Women	161,700	63·3	30·9	5·8	195,700	55·6	38·0	6·4
Boys (16 to 18 years).	25,200	100·0	—	—	16,700	100·0	—	—
Girls (16 to 18 years).	14,700	100·0	—	—	9,600	100·0	—	—

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the fact that women who give up their work in order to marry are entitled to receive unemployment benefit after marriage if they apply, on the plea that work is not available in their particular trade, and in view of the need for economy, he will state what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

Married women who apply for unemployment benefit must satisfy the statutory condition that they are genuinely seeking work but unable to obtain suitable employment. This condition applies to both standard and extended benefit, and the Insurance Officer, Court of Referees and the Umpire, when deciding whether the above condition is satisfied, require claimants to show that they are making active endeavours to obtain work. Further safeguards are provided as regards extended benefit by additional statutory conditions to ensure that all beneficiaries from the fund are genuine industrial units.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of married men, wives, and children receiving unemployment benefit during 1924, and the number of single men and women receiving benefit during the same period?

The only information available is that derived from sample analyses of current claims to benefit, made in November, 1923, and in November, 1924, as follows:

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the damage that has been done to the sea front of Sidmouth by the recent gales, necessitating expense to the ratepayers for emergency work before the main sea-wall question is tackled at all; and whether any grant can be made to the local authority towards meeting the heavy charge that is thrown upon the ratepayers, and assisting to employ men who are out of work in making good the damage?

A grant could be made by the Unemployment Grants Committee if a satisfactory scheme for the protection of public property were submitted, and if the conditions on which they may make grants are satisfied. Alternatively application might be made to the Ministry of Transport for a road grant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to have a footnote added to the table of national expenditure printed on Income Tax Application Form D.N. 1, showing the revenue received or estimated from the Post Office and the other revenue services, in order to counter the inaccurate impression at present given by the table?

As stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his reply of the 10th March, it is not considered that the table of estimated national expenditure gives an inaccurate impression.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total saving in interest by the conversion of Government loans from higher interest to lower interest rates since the Armistice?

The total saving in interest due to conversion of Government stock or bonds from higher to lower rates of interest since the Armistice amounts to £2,083,000 a year. This figure relates to actual conversions only and does not include the saving in interest on loans paid off and replaced by new stock or bonds issued for cash, which is estimated at approximately £1,500,000 a year. As the hon. Member is aware, the object of the conversions was not merely to save interest, but to avoid payment of the premiums which would have become due on the maturity of the National War Bond issues. The saving on premiums is estimated at £18,062,000.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what is the number of football pitches provided in Richmond and Regent's Parks; and whether, in view of the demand for more accommodation, he will consider increasing the number next winter?

The number of pitches in Regent's Park is 13 and in Richmond Park 45. One more will shortly be added in Richmond Park, but beyond this it is not considered that any more ground can be made available for this purpose without detriment to the public enjoyment of the parks.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of certain Raleigh cycles consigned to Mr. Twomey, of Macroom, in 1921, which were commandeered by the Royal Irish Constabulary; and what steps, if any, are being taken by his Department to compensate the rightful owner of the cycles in question?

By agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the Irish Free State, all such claims as this are to be referred to the Compensation (Ireland) Commission. Mr. Twomey's solicitors were informed in January last that if their client desired to proceed with the claim it should be sent to the Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the serious flooding of the low-lying areas in Somerset, he will consider the appointment of an engineer to examine the position with a view to the improvement of the drainage within the areas specified, and to advise as to the widening and grading of the rivers and rhynes?

The areas referred to are within the jurisdiction of the Somerset Drainage Commission or the Somerset Commission of Sewers. Each of these bodies has a permanent engineer, but the Somerset Commission of Sewers desire an independent survey of part of their area. I am unable to detail an engineer from my Department, but at the request of the Commission I have suggested the names of suitable engineers in private practice whom the Commission might wish to employ.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, for the information of farmers and wheat growers, the Ministry of Agriculture will cause to be published in the official reports in the leading daily papers the value of English wheat calculated on the parity of the market price of foreign wheat?

I am informed that it would not be practicable to calculate the value of English wheat in the exact manner which would be necessary to enable the suggestion of my hon. Friend to be adopted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many battleships, cruisers, destroyers and submarines are under construction by the Soviet Government?

I would refer way hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given him on the 11th March by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.