asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of lascars sailing on British vessels and in what capacity; and whether he can state the wages paid to lascars in British currency?

The latest available information as to the numbers of lascar seamen employed in the British Mercantile Marine was given in an answer to the hon. Member for Southampton, a copy of which I sent to the hon. and gallant Member on the 24th March. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table containing information as to the wages paid to lascars and the approximate equivalents in English currency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to give more exact information regarding death rates in the Mercantile Marine service, he is able to base his calculations of the death rates on the average number of seamen daily employed through the year for 1920, 1921 and 1922?

No, Sir; I fear it would be impossible to ascertain the average number of seamen daily employed throughout the year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether it is proposed to take action against the Black Sea Shipping and Mercantile Company, of 20, Eastcheap, London, owners of the steamship "Torontonian," under Section 5 (4) of the Alien Restriction Act; whether he is aware that, since 11th November, 1923, until the present time, the crews of the "Torontonian" have been signed on at Constantinople, Alexandria and Salonica; whether the Consuls at Galatz and Constantinople have stated in the official log that the crews who were engaged and signed fully understood the agreement; and, if so, as they were all aliens, if he will explain in what way the seamen were made to understand the agreement;

(2) whether he can furnish any particulars of the mutiny in the Rumanian port of Constanza of sailors on the British ship "Torontonian," managing owners, the Black Sea Shipping and Mercantile Company, Limited, of 20, Eastcheap, London; whether he has any official information showing that the crew, composed mainly of Russian refugees, threatened to murder the captain, take possession of the ship, and escape to Russia; and whether the crew were arrested at the instance of the British Consul, Mr. Tottenham Smith, and a new crew signed on;

(3) whether the steamship "Torontonian," port of register Newcastle, has a passenger licence; whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the ship is engaged regularly in transporting passengers from Constantinople to Russian ports and vice versa, who are rated on the articles at 1s. a month; what was the actual sum paid as passenger rates; whether, seeing that Section 5 (2) of the Aliens Restriction Act provides that no alien shall be employed on board a British ship registered in the United Kingdom at a rate of pay less than the standard rate of pay for the time being current on British ships for his rating, and that the average rate of pay for the crew of the "Torontonian" is only equal to £5 a month, he will state what action it is proposed to take to ensure that the correct standard of wages is paid?

The answer to these questions is rather long, and the hon. Member will, perhaps, agree to my circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of the imports of lace and embroidery from France during the year 1914 and the last completed year?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantity of lace imported into this country during 1924 from France; and if he can give figures for the corresponding period of cotton threads exported from this country to France?

As the answer contains some figures I will have it circulated, if the hon. Members do not object, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is supplying to the Committees set up under the terms of the recent White Paper any official information as to taxation in foreign countries and conditions of manufacture there?

No, Sir; but should I receive a request from a Committee for any official information that may be available I should naturally endeavour to supply it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if articles which enter into the cost of production of food or drink will be exempted from the operation of the safeguarding of industries proposals of the Government in the same way as articles of food and drink themselves?

No, Sir; but full consideration will be given in every case to the effect which a duty upon goods to which the application relates might have upon the using industry.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that if the articles which enter into the cost of production of food and drink are given these facilities, it must make nonsense of the Prime Minister's pledge?

In the first place that is a hypothetical suggestion; in the second place, the conclusions drawn from it are inaccurate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the loss of trade now arising in the re-export of foreign commodities owing to the imposition of duties under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and is he prepared to take action for securing that rebate can be obtained, especially in cases of split consignments, or the establishment of free ports?

I have no information as to the first part of the question. I would point out that Subsection (1) of Section 12 of the Safeguarding of Industries Act already provides that on the exportation of goods on which Key Industry duty has been paid drawback equal to the amount of duty paid shall be allowed and, subject to compliance with Customs regulations, drawback is paid in respect of split consignments exported. If the hon. Member has in mind any particular case of difficulty and will communicate particulars to me, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether before coming to any further decision on the matter of appointing a committee to consider the imposing of a duty on imported fancy glassware, he would be prepared to receive a deputation from the silversmiths and electro-plate manufacturers of Birmingham, whose interests might be vitally affected by the imposition of any such tariffs?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a requisition, signed by a number of the leading home trade warehouses, asking that a deputation should be received from them in connection with the application that has been made by the British glove industry for safeguarding of their industry; and, if so, whether he has acceded to such request for an interview?

In the event of any application being referred to a Committee for inquiry, importers and users will have the opportunity to be heard so far as their evidence is relevant to the particular matters on which the Committee has to report; but I do not think it is necessary that they should be heard in order to decide if a prima facie case for inquiry has been established.

Would it not be more fair to let them know when an application is being made and considered?

No, I think the balance of convenience is all the other way.

Would that apply to these manufacturers in places other than Birmingham or to the silversmiths and electro-plate manufacturers of Birmingham only?

My answer relates to the procedure generally.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to announce his decision with regard to the appointing of a committee to consider the advisability of placing a tariff upon imported silk, whether pure or artificial; and, if so, whether the terms of reference to the committee will embrace silk when interwoven with cotton or used for the lining of wearing apparel?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for West Middlesbrough (Mr. T. Thomson) and others on the 17th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount and value of sisal hemp imported into this country from all sources for the years 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924?

Importers of hemp are not required to distinguish in their entries between sisal hemp and other varieties of hemp, and I regret that, consequently, I am unable to furnish the desired particulars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that the minimum freight rate for steel, wire and tools from Germany is 10s., whereas from England it is 21s., that with a small trial order of the value of four or five pounds English manufacturers have to pay about 25 per cent. of the value to the shippers; and whether he can undertake that this matter shall be investigated in order to relieve this handicap on English manufacturers:

(2) whether he is aware that the rate for certain goods direct from Liverpool to Bilbao/Santander was 40s. per ton, whilst the rate from Hull via Antwerp was only 30s. per ton; that the rate to Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante direct from Liverpool was 50s. per ton, whilst the rate via Hull and Antwerp was only 32s. 6d., and that, in this case, the goods were shipped on to the same British Conference steamers that they would have been loaded on to at Hull, so that the same shipping companies were obtaining 50s. per ton from Liverpool to Barcelona and only 16s. per ton from Antwerp to Barcelona; can he state what the reason is for this difference; and, if not, whether he will set up a committee of inquiry to investigate the reason why there is such a severe handicap on British exports

The attention of the Board of Trade has frequently been drawn to the differences between the freights charged from Continental ports and those from British ports to the same destination. The examples given in the questions are, I am informed, substantially correct. The reason given is that Continental lines are able from various causes to carry at a lower cost than their British competitors, and British lines have to carry at the Continental rates if they are to secure any of the business from Continental ports. The matter is watched carefully by the Department, and chambers of commerce have been in consultation with shipping lines; and there are indications that the disparity between United Kingdom rates and Continental rates is being reduced. In these circumstances, I do not think that it would be advisable to appoint a Committee of Inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government is aware that, during the year 1913, nearly 6,000,000 tons of coal were exported from Great Britain to Russia, whereas in 1924 only 37,630 tons were exported to that country; and whether, in view of the present widespread unemployment in the coalfields of this country, His Majesty's Government will now extend on a commercial basis the provisions of the Trade Facilities Acts to British-Russian trade?

I am aware that the exports of coal from this country to pre-War Russia in 1913, and to post-War Russia in 1924, were as stated by the hon. Member. In reply to the second part of the question, I would refer to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for the Western Isles on the 1st April.

In view of the terrible condition of the coal trade to-day is it not high time the Government approached the Russian Government in reference to this matter?

No, Sir. As a matter of fact the Russian Government sold last year a great deal more produce in this country than they bought produce of this country, and if the Russian Government wish to use some part of that balance for the purpose of buying British coal or British goods, there is nothing to stop them from doing so.

Is it not the case that we are doing a very substantial coal trade with all those countries which belonged to pre-War Russia, but which have now seceded from Russia?

I think that is so. I have not the particulars of the trade here, but undoubtedly the hon. and gallant Member is quite right in saying that trade is going on with the parts which were in pre-War Russia, but are now outside Russia, whereas, owing to circumstances which are within the know- ledge of the House and the competence of the Russian Government, it is not going on with Russia.

Arising out of the right hon. Gentleman's first answer, are we to understand the Government do not intend to encourage the export of coal to Russia or to anywhere else?

The Government are anxious to encourage the export of coal, wherever they can, on sound lines.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the price of synthetic indigo in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and India in terms of pounds sterling per pound weight?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle West (Mr. Palin) on the 10th March. The quotations which I then gave were recent ones for ordinary quantities, but the prices in foreign countries are so diverse, and the sterling equivalents are so affected by variations in rates of exchange, that comparisons on the basis suggested would, I think, be misleading.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has given further consideration to the case of the firm of printers who were refused permission to import a French printing ink necessary for their business; and what decision has been arrived at?

In view of the representations made by the hon. and gallant Member, I considered the case carefully, but failed to find any grounds for overruling the decision of the Licensing Committee, who had given the case full and careful consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in consequence of this decision a large order was lost to this British firm?

No, I am not. I went very fully into the case, and I am quite satisfied that the Licensing Committee have followed their regular and proper practice.

asked the Secretary of State for War the cost, respectively, of a Regular soldier and a Territorial soldier for the last completed year prior to the War, and also for the year 1924?

The cost of a soldier varies with many factors, such as the rank and the arm of the Service. The cost (with numbers) of each of several types of Regular unit is given on page 26 and following pages of Estimates 1924–25, and similar information as regards the Territorial Army will be nd at the bottom of page 44. The Estimates for 1913–14 were not compiled on the same basis, and corresponding figures are consequently not available, but Appendix 18 of the Estimates for that year gives certain relevant figures.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of troops now stationed in Northern Ireland, and the purposes for which they are stationed there; whether it is proposed to withdraw any of the troops; and, if so, at what date?

The number of troops stationed in Northern Ireland on 1st March last was 4,676 all ranks. Troops are stationed in Northern Ireland, as elsewhere, to discharge appropriate military functions. There is no intention at present of withdrawing them.

the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great and very efficient body of special constabulary kept in Northern Ireland, and paid for by this House, and could we not withdraw some of the troops there., in view of the existence of this body?

No. It is not proposed to withdraw anything at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War by what authority, and for what purpose, members of the military forces of the Crown are riding on the footplate of engines on London and North Eastern Railway Company's trains?

The Army personnel in question belong to the Transportation Branch of the Royal Engineers and are receiving instruction under arrangements with the railway companies which existed before the War and have since been renewed. The object of the arrangements is to give the officers and men valuable experience in certain branches of railway work which cannot be given on the military camp railways.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men may ride on the footplate for 50 years and not have any knowledge, and that the only way to gain it is to take the work of the driver and fireman, when they immediately become a danger?

No. I think the hon. Member is too pessimistic. The Army will learn more quickly than that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, after allowing for Income Tax and the increased cost of living, the pay and pensions of medical officers, and particularly those in India, are smaller in purchasing power than in 1914; whether he is aware that this is the cause of the falling off in the number of entrants to the Royal Army Medical Corps; and whether he proposes to recommend adequate increases?

The falling off in the number of candidates for the Royal Army Medical Corps is due to several causes, with which I could not deal within the limits of a Parliamentary answer. I hope that it will be possible to find a remedy without undue delay.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a school for British officers' children in Cologne is to be closed on 8th April; and, if so, what is the reason for this?

I understand that a private school for officers' children at Cologne will be closed at the end of the present term, owing to the withdrawal of certain services which it has hitherto enjoyed free of cost. Schools for officers' children are not provided at the expense of Army funds, and it has been decided that the privileges in question could not properly be continued to this school.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the 188 soldiers subjected to poison gas experiments at the Chemical Warfare Research Department since 1918 includes officers; and what were the number of officers and men, respectively, subjected to such experiments?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The total number of officers and men of the Navy and Army subjected to the tests during the period, in question is:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the decision to pay corps pay from 1st January, 1925, to those officers of the Royal Army Service Corps who have passed the junior officers' course at the Royal Army Service Corps' Training College, he will make this corps pay date back to the date on which it was stopped to those officers who have held the necessary qualifications; and what is the reason for deducting the 5½ per cent. from corps pay which has not been increased, but which as a matter of fact is some 40 per cent. less than pre-War?

The grant of corps pay to Royal Army Service Corps officers generally was not contemplated when in 1919 new rates of pay were fixed. The recent decision to grant corps pay to all Royal Army Service Corps officers who have passed the junior officers' course is a new departure. I regret that I cannot fix an earlier date for its introduction than the 1st January, 1925. The rate for the new qualification has been fixed at two-thirds of the rate for the higher (engineering) qualification in the Royal Army Service Corps, and is subject to reduction for fall in the cost of living on the same basis as the latter rate.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has examined the question of new fortifications for the neighbourhood of Singapore, in view of the dockyard extensions taking place in that area; whether new fortifications will be required; if so, what will be the cost, and when they will be commenced?

I am unable to add anything at present to the reply which I gave the hon. and gallant Member on the 17th March.

Are we to understand that these extensive alterations and enlargements of the dockyard are going on, and that fortifications are not being commenced at the same time?

No. They are under consideration.

But is not that a very curious form of strategy?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the owner of Lochboisdale Pier, in South Uist, is not fulfilling the conditions laid down in the Schedule to the Pier and Harbour Orders Confirmation (No. 1) Act, 1878, as to exhibiting lights from sunset to sunrise; and what steps does he propose to take in the matter, in view of the danger to shipping caused thereby?

The light in question was an "occasional" one, only exhibited when a vessel was expected. A Notice to Mariners regarding its discontinuance was issued by the Hydrographer to the Navy in April, 1024, consequent on the closing of the pier. As regards the last part of the question, I am informed by the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, with whom rests the decision, under Section 24 of the South Uist Pier Order of 1878, whether a light should be exhibited on this pier, that they consider such a light to be unnecessary and do not propose to direct one to be exhibited. They add that, in view of the condition of the pier, a light, if exhibited, might tempt vessels to go alongside the pier at considerable risk to themselves.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that the appendices to the Land Court Report for 1923 have not yet been published; and will he arrange to have them printed or cyclostyled as soon as possible?

These appendices were published on Saturday.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that there is now in existence a statute forbidding the shooting of drift or ring nets from one hour after sunset on Saturday until one hour before sunrise on Monday between the Mull of Galloway and Ardnamurchan Point; and whether, in view of the prevalence of Sunday fishing by fishermen from other parts in the waters off the coast between Ardnamurchan Point and Cape Wrath, he will extend the operation of the existing statute so as to cover these waters also, and so abolish a practice which is at once obnoxious to the feelings of the fishing communities there and damaging their interests?

I am aware that the Herring Fishery (Scotland) Act, 1889, forbids the setting or shooting of any herring net between sunrise on Saturday morning and one hour before sunset on Monday evening on the West Coasts of Scotland between the points mentioned. I have no power to extend the operation of the existing statute to cover the waters between Ardnamurchan Point and Cape Wrath.

If I introduce a Bill as a private Member's Bill, will the right hon. Gentleman see that it is given facilities?

I would like to see the Bill first.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what will be the amount of money available for distribution to Scottish education authorities out of the Scottish Education Fund for the year 1925–26; and how much of reduction or increase this will be as compared with the year 1924–25?

I anticipate that the amount available for the payment of grants to education authorities in Scotland from the Education (Scotland) Fund will be substantially the same in the year 1925–26 as in 1924–25, and will be in the neighbourhood of £6,000,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines the quantity of anthracite coal produced in the United States of America and Great Britain, respectively, during 1924; and what percentage of the total output was produced by machinery in each country?

About 80,000,000 tons were produced in the United States and about 5,455,000 tons in Great Britain. The proportion cut by machines was about 1 per cent. in the United States and under 1 per cent. in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of non-fatal accidents in mines during 1924?

The number of persons disabled for more than three days by accidents in all mines (including mines under the Metalliferous Mines Acts) in 1924 was 197,111.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say why, and under what authority, the returns for 1924 relate to accidents involving more than three days' disablement?

It was on the authority of my predecessor.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of undertakings in the mining industry worked at a loss and the number which made profits during the year 1924.

Particulars of the kind asked for by the right hon. Member are not ordinarily supplied to my Depart- ment, but I think that in the present circumstances their publication would be interesting and useful, and I will see what I can do to get them.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the closing down of the pits at Blaenavon; and whether he will inquire what rates were levied in respect of these pits during the year previous to the suspension?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am unable to supply the information asked for in the latter part, but I have, communicated with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who will make inquiries and inform the right hon. and gallant Member of the result.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can now give any information on the subject of trading in coal by the City of Sheffield during the period of coal control?

Yes, Sir. I find that during 1919 and 1920 about 14,500 tons of coal were delivered to the Sheffield Corporation by direction of the Coal Controller under a scheme for laying down reserve stocks in all districts. When coal became scarce in Sheffield, the corporation sold coal from their reserve stock to the merchants at a price which was fixed to cover the expenses of the corporation and to give a profit to the merchants whose retail price was also fixed. At that time prices were controlled and the episode obviously cannot be quoted as an instance of successful retailing of coal by a local authority.

Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to set up a Court of Inquiry to inquire into the whole matter of what took place in Sheffield?

I do not think there is any need for a Court, the facts are so obvious and plain.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that during the period of control the margin between the actual cost and price at the sidings, and what the merchants were selling it at, was 7s., altogether apart from the cost of cartage? The 7s. included 1s. compensation to the merchants because they were not selling the larger quantity of coal that they were before, and for no other reason. In addition to the profit to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has referred there was 10s. per ton paid by the Corporation to the merchants—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]—for the losses they were supposed to have incurred.

The hon. Gentleman is now giving information.

asked the Prime Minister if he has considered the position of the mining industry in regard to the termination of the present agreement between the Mining Association and the Miners' Federation; and, if so, will he indicate what he proposes to do?

I have been asked to reply. The position is that the present wages agreement continues indefinitely unless, on or after the 1st July, a month's notice is given by either side to end it. I am aware that the question of giving notice is being actively canvassed, but I am not going to assume at present either that notice will be given, or that, if it is given, it will be beyond the power of the coalowners and miners to negotiate a new agreement in the ordinary way.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall call attention to this question on the Adjournment Motion on Thursday.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he, is aware that some of the smaller concerns which employ men underground are not connected with the Post Office telephones; and if, in order that expert medical assistance and additional life-saving appliances could be more rapidly obtained, he will consider the advisability of making the installation of telephones in all mines compulsory?

I am entirely in sympathy with the object of this proposal, and, for the most part, effect has already been given to it under existing regulations; but it is hardly practicable to make it a rule without exception. There are small mines so isolated that the installation of the public telephone is impracticable, and, at others, a standing arrangement for the use of a neighbouring telephone in ease of need, meets the situation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women in the Civil Service with professional qualifications are employed in grades open to men; whether they receive the same rates of pay; and, if not, what would be the cost of placing them on the same scale?

I am unable to say how many women there may be in the various grades in the Civil Service who possess professional qualifications, In a few posts in which medical qualifications are required, women receive the same scales as men.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know how many of these women maintain husbands and families?

I am afraid I do not know.

Why is it, if the women receive the same wages as men in this particular case, the rule is not applied to the other women employed?

We have to pay the necessary market rate to secure satisfactory candidates. It is notorious that we do secure such candidates in the Civil Service, without giving equal pay to men and women.

Has not this House explained itself quite definitely as to equal pay?

Are we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman takes these females into the Department without any idea or knowledge of their qualifications, as he is unable to give them?

Certainly not. This question asked about professional qualifications and no definition was given as to what professional qualifications meant. The only class where professional qualifications are required of women is the case of the lady doctors to whom I have referred.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of women in the manipulative grades in the Civil Service employed on the same work as men; how many of these women are receiving equal pay with men; how many are remunerated at a lower rate; and what would be the cost per annum of placing all those women on the men's scale?

The number of women in the manipulative grades in the Civil Service employed on the same work as men is approximately 25,000. As regards their rate of remuneration and the cost of placing them on the scales appropriate to men, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 24th March to the hon. and learned Member for Moss Side (Mr. Hurst), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the difference made to the annual expenditure owing to the War bonus through a rise or fall in the average cost of living of one point?

The bonus is subject to variation in March and September of each year for every full five points rise or fall in the increased cost of living index figure on the average of the six months preceding. A rise or fall of one point only would not, therefore, affect the amount of bonus. A rise or fall of five points would make a difference in the expenditure on the bonus of permanent staff and salaries of temporary staff equal to approximately £1,370,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Transport the amounts of money credited to the Road Fund for the financial years 1922–23, 1923–24 and 1924–25; the amounts expended on first-class, second-class and unclassified roads each year; and the other principal items of expenditure of this Fund?

The financial statements of the Road Fund are not kept in a form that would permit of a ready answer to my hon. and gallant Friend's question. The accounts for the past three years are being analysed under the headings asked for, and I hope to be able to forward a statement to my hon. and gallant Friend very shortly.

Can Members generally have that statement?