asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what are the pay and allowances now granted to the Shipping Master of Bombay; whether these have recently been raised; and whether this officer is entitled to any benefits under the recommendations of the Lee Commission?

The Shipping Master, Bombay, is on a scale of pay rising by annual increments from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,250 a month. In addition to his pay, he receives an allowance of Rs. 200 a month in respect of house rent and also fees for overtime work on Sundays and holidays averaging Rs. 350 a month. I am not aware of any recent increase in either pay or allowances. The recommendations of the Lee Commission do not extend to officers in his position.

Will my noble Friend bring to the notice of the Government of India the question of the status and emoluments of this officer, because it is very inadvisable that he should he inadequately paid?

No doubt the attention of the Government of India will be called to the question in the ordinary course of events. I cannot agree, however, that he is inadequately paid, or that his status demands any special consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the number of British and Indian officers holding the King's corn-mission in the Indian Army.

3,300 British officers, 81 Indian officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give any statistics showing the state of unemployment in India?

:Statistics of industrial unemployment are not recorded in India, as it is not a, serious problem there. In bad seasons agricultural employment has to be dealt with, and reports of the numbers on relief works and in receipt of gratuitous relief are then sent home. No such reports have been received since last October.

:Is it a fact that it is proposed to establish labour exchanges in some industrial centres?

:Labour matters are largely dealt with by the Provincial Governments. I have not heard of any proposal to establish labour exchanges, though I think, speaking without reference to the facts, that one or two have been established in certain localities recently.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government have given instructions that the recommendations of the Lee Commission Report are to he extended to European members of the Superior Central Services recruited in India and who have an Asiatic domicile?

I would refer the hon. Member to Statutory Rules and Orders No. 1395 of 1924. The pay and passage recommendations of the Lee Commission Report have been extended to members of the 15 Central Services, which it has been decided to regard as superior in precisely the same way as they have been given to members of the All India Services (other than the Indian Civil Service), that is to say, eligibility for these concessions depends upon an officer having a non-Asiatic domicile. The pension concessions have also been given to the 13 of these 15 services, which are pensionable on a rupee basis, and for these an officer of Asiatic domicile is eligible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government officials in India are allowed to act as chairmen and directors of private companies in India?

:The Indian Government Servants Conduct Rules—of the relevant portion of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy—prohibit officers of Government on the active list, with certain relatively unimportant exceptions, from taking part in the promotion, registration or management of any hank or other company, save with the special sanction of the Secretary of State.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that there are still 29 persons detained under Bengal Regulation III of 1818, and that 28 of them are in gaol; and whether it is the intention of the Government to bring them under the provisions of the Bengal Ordinance?

The correct number is 27. All of these persons were placed under control a considerable time —in some cases more than a year—before the Ordinance was made, and I am not aware that the Government of Bengal intend to apply it to them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that notices are put in the carriages of the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway stating that they are to carry 13 British soldiers, about 20 Indian soldiers, and about 43 passengers; and whether the Government proposes to take steps to remove this racial discrimination?

The numbers of British and Indian soldiers respectively which carriages on the Indian railways are to be regarded as capable of accommodating are prescribed in Army Instructions issued by the Government of India, which have to be observed by the different railway administrations. Allowance is made in them for lying down accommodation, whereas for ordinary passengers the carriage capacity is reckoned on seating accommodation only. My Noble Friend sees no reason for taking any action.

:Why is it that space that is sufficient for 20 Indian soldiers is not considered sufficient for 13 British soldiers?

I should imagine that the reason would be very simple. It is that British soldiers serving in a climate and under conditions which are entirely unfamiliar to them require more accommodation than do persons born and bred in the country.

:Is the Noble Lord aware of the acute discomfort suffered by British soldiers under these conditions, and cannot he see his way to reconsider both the number of British and Indian soldiers carried?

That is an altogether different point. If it is a fact—I do not admit that it is—that the accommodation is insufficient, it would require looking into, but there would have to be a difference made, as is the case to-day, between Indian and European soldiers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, what is the reason that the scales of pay for British engineers of United Kingdom parentage but born in India are lower than for British engineers horn in the United Kingdom?

I presume my hon. Friend refers to officers who were appointed to the Indian Service of Engineers from the Indian Engineering Colleges. These officers obtained their appointments by claiming to be of Indian domicile and are, therefore, not entitled to the "overseas pay" which is given to officers of European domicile. Otherwise the scales of pay are equal.

Will not my Noble Friend consider the fact that although these engineers are recruited in India their standard of living is precisely the same as that of Europeans?

I most emphatically disagree from my hon. Friend. I do not think he is familiar with the reason why overseas pay is given. It has nothing to do with the standard of living. It is given because in the case of those who are domiciled in this country it is considered necessary that they should have some extra emoluments.

Is my Noble Friend not aware that the same officers have the same expenses, because they in turn send their children to this country to be educated?

These officers obtain their appointments by virtue of the fact that they are statutory. They are not, therefore, entitled to the same concessions that are granted to a native of this country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to a Report issued some months ago on the police administration of the Punjab for 1923 to the effect that large numbers of police have been disbanded, whereby crime has increased and the security of life and property has been jeopardised; and whether he will make representations to the Government of India on the matter?

If the hon. Member will refer to paragraph 32 of the Report which he mentions, he will see that the reduction in the force which had been made earlier in 1923 was restored in November of that year.

Do we understand that the 832 police who were disbanded in April, 1923, have since been replaced, because I did not think that was plain from the Report.

:There were extra police who were formed in the bad year 1922. Those extra police were afterwards withdrawn, but in addition there was a reduction made in the ordinary police, and the numbers were restored in the year in question.

But not the extra 832. They are still disbanded?

:I cannot carry the actual figures in my head. There were some extra police. They might be regarded in almost the position of special constables in this country. They have been disbanded, and the ordinary police force has been restored to its ordinary duties.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the special allowances recently withdrawn owing to the conversion of Razmak, in Waziristan, into a peace station have now been restored to the European troops garrisoned there; and, is so, in what form?

A scale of concessions is now being introduced for all troops serving beyond the administrative border in Waziristan, where the present conditions are comparable with those of service in the field. They include (1) free rations for all classes; (2) double rate of messing allowance for British other ranks; (3) a special boot allowance for certain classes; (4) active service leave concessions for officers wounded. Officers will also receive, under the revised pay rules, compensation for inferior quarters and allowances for separation from their wives. I am not yet in possession of the final terms of the concessions, but will arrange to supply my hon. Friend with a copy when available.

Will the concessions be retrospective?

They are very wide. Whether they will be retrospective or not I do not know.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has received any complaints as to the treatment of the peasants and labourers in the sub-state of Sikar; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have seen an article in the Press regarding the alleged illtreatment of the inhabitants of the Sikar estate. In the absence of any authentic statement of the facts, my Noble Friend does not propose to move in the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of persons in prison for political offences in India; and the number of persons in prison who have not been brought to trial and against whom no charge will be made in that country?

:There are 634 prisoners at present in Indian prisons convicted under the ordinary law for offences of a political nature, and there are 324 in prison, including 212 Moplahs, who have not been brought to trial and against whom no charge will be made in a court. A paper giving the details will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the price of coke per ton made in India and what is its volatile content; and whether any of this coke is sent from India and, if so, to what countries?

Prices of coke vary greatly according to quality and locality. Prices at Maria, an important centre of production, were recently reported as varying from Rs. 5½ per ton for second-class soft coke to RS. 22 for the best hard coke. The volatile content varies greatly, and the information avail- able does not enable any useful statement to be made about it. The average amount exported annually during the three years ending 31st March, 1923, was 1,244 tons, which practically all went to Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, Mesopotamia, Persia and Java.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what wages are paid to coal getters in India; what number of hours are worked per day; and what are the

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether there is any legislation in India to protect workmen against the power of inflicting fines vested in the hands of the employers of labour; and, if not, whether the Government of India propose to introduce any such legislation?

:There is no legislation in India which forbids the fining of workmen by their employers and the Government of India do not propose to introduce any such legislation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether there is any legislation in India corresponding to the Truck Acts in this country?

No legislation corresponding to the Truck Acts exists in India; so far as my Noble Friend is aware there has been no necessity for such legislation in the conditions prevailing in India.

The wages and hours worked vary in the different coalfields. Neither complete figures for India nor separate figures for those engaged in coking ovens are available. A statement in tabular form showing weekly hours and wages in a large representative mine in each of six coalfields in different provinces will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state how many cotton mills are at present closed down in Bombay; the reason for same; and how many workmen are locked out or on strike in the Bombay cotton industry?

:According to information available two mills have closed down owing to unfavourable profit and loss account on the year's working and a third as the result of a strike of 300 weavers. I do not know how many workmen are affected. All other recent strikes and lockouts have been terminated by the workers resuming work or fresh hands being engaged.

:Is it true that the President of the Millowners' Association in Bombay bears the name of Saklatvala?

Perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough in his courtesy to give notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give figures showing the approximate number of men, women, and young persons employed in both the jute and the cotton

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can yet give any information to the House as to any action upon the Reports of the Muddiman Committee; and whether, in particular, the possibilities for co-operation with the Nationalist leaders are developing along satisfactory lines?

I cannot add anything to the answers which I gave on the 30th March and 9th April to questions by the hon. Members for Mile End (Mr. Scurr) and Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will have prepared, for the information of Members of Parliament, a detailed schedule of the prices it is proposed to charge for food and drink, including separately the prices for children and staff, and for other services or goods sold at the British Empire Exhibition?

:I am informed by the British Empire Exhibition authorities that, the compilation of the schedule for which the hon. Member asks would involve a burden upon their staff besides additional expense greater than I feel justified in asking them to undertake. In any case the information can be obtained by all visitors to the exhibition at the various establishments at which the goods and services are supplied.

:Is it not a fact that the British Empire guarantee conditions expressly laid upon the authorities of the exhibition the duty of collecting this and other information and bringing it to the notice of the Minister, who in turn would be responsible to the House? Why cannot the hon. Member fulfil his duties in this respect?

:Would it not be better for those who are likely to purchase these things to get the information, rather than Members of Parliament, who do not patronise them?

:Can I have a reply to my supplementary question?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the number of eating houses in the British Empire Exhibition at which alcoholic liquor may be served and the number at which alcoholic liquor may not be served?

:I am informed by the British Empire Exhibition authorities that, out of the total number of 46 restaurants and refreshment places, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be obtainable in 43, and non-alcoholic beverages only in the remaining three.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the fellowship, which was established in connection with the British Empire Exhibition, has published its accounts for 1924; and, if so, can he give any information whether or not the scholarship scheme has materialised and to what extent?

:I am informed by the British Empire Exhibition that an audited statement of accounts of the Fellowship of the British Empire Exhibition to the 1st November, 1924, has been circulated to members of the Fellowship. The statement shows that out of a total revenue of £50,216, the sum of £8,964 has already been paid into the Scholarship Trust Fund Account, and that there are further sums to come to the credit of the Fund, the bulk of which is to be used in giving agricultural training to young people and settling them overseas.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what part is being taken by this country in the Paris Exhibition of the current year and in the International Book Fair at Florence?

:His Majesty's Government are participating officially in the Paris Exhibition of Decorative and Industrial Art. A British pavilion has been erected and space has also been placed at the disposal of this country in the Grand Palais and in other exhibition buildings. Every endeavour has been made to secure that the British display shall be fully representative of industrial art in the United Kingdom. As regards the Book Fair at Florence, His Majesty's Government have co-operated with the Publishers' Association in order to secure an exhibit illustrative of book production in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he expects to receive the Report of the Committee on the Export of Horses for Butchery Purposes?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he expects the Report of the Committee on the Export of Horses for Butchery Purposes will be received in time to allow of the introduction of legislation on this subject during the present Session?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Committee upon the exportation of worn-out horses to the Continent has presented its Report; and whether the evidence given will be published, together with the Committee's recommendations, and when?

:With the permission of the House, I will answer these questions together. I understand that the Committee anticipate that their Report will be presented in about six weeks' time. The evidence will be published with the Committee's recommendations, but until I receive the Report I am afraid I can make no announcement as to legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will endeavour to induce the promoters of the new beet-sugar factories to place their orders for fire-brick linings for the lime kilns in sugar-beet factories with British manufacturers?

:The attention of the beet-sugar factory companies has been drawn to the desirability of using British material, and I am informed that they are using British materials for fire-brick linings.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he can devise some means whereby the names of Members addressing the House may become known to people in the Strangers and other galleries??

:This question has been considered on several occasions. An annunciator is precluded on account of the noise involved, and I regret that it has not been possible to devise any other practicable means.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether lie can arrange for a clock to be hung somewhere in the House in order that all strangers can know the time?

:I regret that it is not possible to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. I am not aware that there is any general demand for another clock in the Chamber.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he would be prepared to consider the suggestion of keep-ping open the London Museum for at least another hour in the afternoon?

:I understand that the museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the winter months, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer. These hours correspond generally with those kept by the other museums and galleries, and I have no reason to suppose that they do not give adequate facilities to the public, or that there is a general demand for any extension. In any case there would be considerable expense involved for extra staff, lighting, etc., if the hours were prolonged, and I do not think I should be justified in considering this suggestion.

As this particular museum is of outstanding interest to London, being London's only museum of the kind, would it not be possible for those who have a long working day to have an opportunity of visiting it?

:I am told that it is not unduly crowded towards the closing hour, which has been extended to six o'clock. I think the hon. Member would agree that, if we made this concession for the London Museum, we should inevitably be driven to heavy expense in extending it to other museums.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the support in this House in favour of discussion of the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Bill, His Majesty's Government can see their way to give facilities for its further progress; and, if so, what facilities they would propose?

:I think, if time can be found, a Debate would do good, but I doubt if time is available this Session. In the meanwhile, the Government are receiving information as to the position and possible effects of the Bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the results which follow the withholding of the marriage allowance from ratings under the age of 25 years and from noncommissioned ranks in the Army and Air Force under the age of 26 years; and whether he will refer this matter to the co-ordinating Committee which is investigating questions affecting the three Services, with a view to granting marriage allowance to all those who are debarred at the present time either from getting married or from sustaining their wives and families if they do get married?

:The conditions governing the issue of marriage allowance to men of the Navy, Army and Air Force were decided after full consideration of the requirements of the three Services. The Government are not prepared to reduce the age limits for eligibility.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that broken periods of service are not counted in the Navy and Army towards pensions, but are counted in the Air Force, he will refer this matter to the co-ordinating Committee which is investigating questions affecting the three Services, with a view to allowing the pensioners concerned to receive the full benefit of their service with the Navy or Army, rather than that this should revert to the Treasury?

:No, Sir. The position was fully explained to the hon. and gallant Member by the Secretary of State for War and the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty in their answers to his questions on this subject of the 15th December last, to which I have nothing to add.

Can the right hon. Gentleman devise any means of dealing with the matter?

:I am afraid not. With a little ingenuity it is always possible to find discrepancies as between one service and another, and if we wished to level up an expensive discrepancy we should be involved in very heavy expenditure.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a Resolution passed by the Bermondsey and Southwark Area War Pensions Committee asking for a Select Committee of the House of Commons to inquire into the whole question of War pensions, and especially final awards, eligibility for treatment and treatment allowances, the 7 years' limit on claims for pension, the assessment of pensions in the cases of epileptics and chronic neurasthenics, the education, training, and after care of motherless children, and pension appeal tribunals and whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a Select Committee on these subjects?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Shoreditch on the 26th March last.

asked the Minister of Pensions by what article or regulation a pensioner is paid his pension from the date of his award, and not from the date of his disability?

:I assume the hon. Member has in mind cases in which the man was invalided from the Service with a disability accepted at the time by the Ministry as due to or aggravated by service. In such cases payment of any award of pension made by the Ministry takes effect, under Article 1of the Royal Warrant, from the date of discharge. Under Article 1 (2), however, pensions ordinarily are temporary at the outset, and arc awarded for a definite period. If the man fail to attend for a medical re-examination when summoned, the Minister has no power to make a fresh grant of pension, and any pension subsequently awarded as a result of a later medical examination would be based on the extent of the disablement then found, and would take effect from the date of the man's new application.

:Is the hon. and gallant Member aware that cases occur from time to time where a soldier appeals before the tribunal, and the appeal is given in his favour, we will say, but the decision is given not as from the date of the application but as from the date of the appeal?

:That is not the case which is mentioned under the particular question which has been asked.

asked the Prime Minister what number of persons repre- senting the Russian Soviet Government or any Department of the same have special diplomatic privileges in this country; whether such privileges include the admission of correspondence and other literature in sealed bags; and whether he is satisfied that these privileges are not used for the issue of propaganda hostile to this country, as was found to be the case in Germany by the President of the State Court of Leipsic at a recent trial?

:The answer to the first part of the question is four; and to the second part, in the affirmative. As regards the third part, His Majesty's Government have no reason to suppose that Soviet diplomatic bags are being used for propaganda purposes.

:Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the finding of the Court at Leipsic to the effect that the Russian Embassy at Berlin was a source from which money was directly distributed for Communistic propaganda?

:I have answered the question on the Paper.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the terms of a resolution recently moved by Zinovieff, at a session of the executive of the Third International, demanding that an independent democratic republic should be set up in India as soon as the Indian people have thrown off the British yoke, and pledging support for these revolutionary activities on behalf of the Russian Soviet Government to the leaders of the Indian revolutionary movement directed towards the overthrow of the British Empire; and what action the Government propose to take in the matter?

:My present information is confined to Press references, and until I have official confirmation and have had an opportunity of considering the full text I should prefer to make no statement upon it.

:Is it not very desirable that the Foreign Office should exercise themselves in obtaining information on this subject about which everyone knows, especially having regard to the express clause in the trade agreement?

:I quite agree. Press references can be got through much more quickly than the original documents.

:Is not this one of the subjects which can be discussed advantageously if we reopen negotiations with the Soviet Government?

asked the Prime Minister what legislative steps, if any, he proposes to take in pursuance of his policy to achieve peace in industry?

:I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on the 9th April in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Shoreditch.

asked the Prime Minister how much Parliamentary time he proposes to ask the House to allot to the consideration of the Budget Resolutions?

:The Government have allocated Thursday next for further consideration of the Budget Resolutions.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken into account that this Is the first time since the War that a Budget imposes novel taxes, and does he think that one day is sufficient to consider four or five important topics?

:We have consider the time of the House, as also, of course, recent precedents, and we shall suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule. If there be any feeling on the part of the Leaders of the Opposition, no doubt they will communicate with us through the usual channel.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that in 1913-14 the amount of taxation averaged £4 6s. 2¾d. per head of the population of this country as compared to £18 3s. 6¾d. as at present, he is able to state what proportion of these two averages for the periods in question was represented by direct and indirect taxation, respectively; and will he state the approximate amount of tax paid per head of the potential taxpayers for the year ended 31st December, 1924?

:With the hon. and gallant Member's permission, I will circulate the answer to this question in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

:Are the facts as stated in the question correct?

:If the hon. Member will look at the answer he will see that the figure given in the question is quite accurate, but it includes more than taxation.

asked the Secretary of State fur Foreign Affairs(1) whether it is proposed to submit the Five-Power Pact for examination to the Council of the League of Nations before its final adoption and whether the pact will be registered and published in accordance with Article 18 of the Covenant;

(2) whether the Five-Power Pact will provide that the guarantee obligations involved in it will only come into force when there has been a decision by the Council of the League, or by some other impartial League of Nations body, as to which party to any hostilities that might occur had been guilty of aggression?

:I t is, of course, the intention of His Majesty's Government in this case as in other cases to abide strictly by the provisions of Article 18 of the Covenant of the League of Nations. To the other points which he raises, however, it would clearly be premature for me to attempt to reply at present, for reasons similar to those which I gave in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Keighley on the 1st April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether steps will be taken to safeguard the provisions in the Treaty of Versailles which forbid preferential railway rates being utilised to give German inland coal a subsidised preference against seaborne Cardiff coal at Hamburg and other German seaports?

:I am not aware of any provisions in the Treaty of Versailles which could be invoked to prevent the granting by the German railways of specially low rates for the conveyance of coal from German mines to German seaports.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the arrest of the Sheikh of Muhammerah by the Persian Government; and whether any undertaking as to his personal security had previously been given to the Sheikh by the British Government?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but I am informed that the Sheikh is being treated considerately by the Persian Government which professes friendly sentiments towards him; as regards the second part of the question, no undertaking such as is suggested was given by the British Government, nor was any required, since a settlement of differences between the Sheikh and the Persian Prime Minister was agreed upon in December, 1924.

asked the Minister of Pensions what steps have been taken in his Ministry to carry into effect the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Reorganisation of the Civil Service in so far as they relate to the employment of women, with special reference to the injunction that women should be given full and liberal opportunities of proving their fitness for the higher work of the Civil Service, and that it should be the duty of Departments to see that this is done?

:In connection with the regrading of the staff of the Ministry, following on the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Reorganisation cf the Civil Service, one post for a woman assistant principal, seven additional posts for women staff officers or higher executive officers and four posts for women executive officers were created. Since then an additional post for a woman staff officer has been authorised and filled.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether recommendations have been made to the Treasury for the establishment as intelligence officers of two temporary officials; and whether, since this procedure violates the Regulations laid down for recruitment to the intelligence officer grade, in so far as no public invitation has been made for applications for these posts, he will give particulars of the qualifications of these two officials for the two posts in question?

A recommendation has been made to the Treasury with a view to the establishment of one temporary official. The Regulations referred to were not intended to prejudice temporary officials. The action taken in this case was in accordance with the provisions of the memorandum attached to the Departmental reorganisation agreement, which expressly contemplates that special arrangements may be necessary, during the transitional period, to deal with existing temporary personnel. The officer in question has been given an acting, but not an established, appointment in the intelligence officer grade. For the last five years he has been discharging satisfactorily duties identical with those of intelligence officers.

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the fact that a councillor serving on a borough council and desirous Of building houses for his tenants, servants, or workpeople, is debarred from receiving the subsidy owing to the fact that he would thus become disqualified for being a councillor under the Municipal Corporations Act., 1882, he will now take steps to remove this disability by undertaking to introduce legislation at any early date.

:My right hon. Friend is aware of the fact stated by my hon. Friend, and he has been informed that the disqualification referred to has in some cases prevented the building of houses which would otherwise have been erected with the aid of the subsidy. Fresh legislation would be required to effect the purpose my hon. Friend has in mind, and my right hon. Friend is afraid that, in the present condition of the Government programme, it would be impossible to find time for it at an early date.

Would not very simple legislation deal with the question?

:It is by no means certain that it would be received with universal agreement. My right hon. Friend is anxious to give the matter every consideration, but the difficulty is to find time.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of houses at present under construction under the provisions of the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924, respectively; and how many have been authorised under these two Acts but not yet commenced?

The position on the 1st April last, the latest date for which complete figures are available, was as follows: The total numbers of houses authorised at that date were 193,421 under the Housing Act of 1923 and 45,933 under the Act of 1924. Of these 70,421 and 2,486, respectively, had been completed; 43,314 and 10,817 were under construction; 31,317 and 12,643 were in contracts or definitely arranged for but not started; and 48,369 and 19,987 had not been contracted or arranged for on the 1st April.

asked the Minister of Health what is the amount of the increase in the price of building materials, particularly timber and hardware castings, since November, 1924, to date?

:There has been no appreciable change in the cost of building materials since November last. Timber as used for cottage purposes has slightly decreased in price since November, 1924—by less than 1 per cent. Light castings have increased in price by various percentages, representing a total increase of approximately 24s. per non-parlour house.

Can the hon. Member say whether the Committee that was specially instructed to go into the recent increases by the National Light Castings Association has yet made its report?

The Committee, I understand, has had three meetings, and has investigated the matter on each occasion, and is now in communication with the Light Castings Association on the matter.

asked he Minister of Health whether he is aware that in certain Poor Law unions wages earned by workers on full time are supplemented from the rates by the grant of out-relief; and whether he has received any report from his inspectors upon this practice?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of the unions which my hon. Friend has in mind, lout if he will furnish my right hon. Friend with their names he will be glad to make inquiries.

I will do so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether a naval rating invalided during the War after 21 years' service and who is in receipt of a service and disability pension, paid by the Ministry of Pensions, and who has reached the age of 55 years, is eligible for the award of the Greenwich Hospital pension under Article 1,961 of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions?

:Such a rating would be eligible for the age pension or part thereof, provided the total pnesion were not increased beyond the amount which he might receive under naval post-War scales including the age addition.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will take steps to see that the trade certificates of all naval ratings are properly completed during their last 12 months' service by the officers competent to judge, in order that these certificates may be of real value to the men on return to civil life?

:I have no reason to think that the existing orders on the subject are not properly carried out, but if my hon. and gallant Friend can quote any instances to the contrary I will have inquiries made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that in several L Class submarine boats stoker petty officers are borne in lieu of the chief stokers allowed in the complement, and are paid the difference of pay; whether this is due to a shortage of chief stokers; and whether he will authorise the advancement of these stoker petty officers to the rating of acting chief stokers whilst they are so employed?

:My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that the numbers of ratings borne in the various branches and grades must continually fluctuate to some extent above and below the numbers authorised. When a lower rating is temporarily performing the duties of a higher rating allowed in complement, the Regulations provide for the payment of difference of pay subject to certain conditions. This arrangement meets all reasonable requirements, and it is not considered necessary to authorise advancement to the acting higher rating.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that at the Burslem Employment Exchange there has been posted up, at the instance of Messrs. Brunner, Mond and Company, an application for bricklayers between the ages of 26 and 40, who must be willing to be vaccinated or must have been recently vaccinated; whether it is in accordance with regular practice for applications of this nature to be posted at Employment Exchanges; and whether, in the event of an unemployed bricklayer refusing an offer of employment under such conditions, he would be disqualified for benefit?

:I have not yet completed my inquiries into this particular case. I may say, however, that it is the ordinary practice to post up in the Exchanges notices of vacancies which cannot be immediately filled from the registers. The question whether benefit would be disallowed on refusal of vacancies of this kind depends on circumstances, and would be determined by means of the usual statutory machinery.

>asked the Minister of Labour whether the Albert Factory, Cathcart, is being closed as a training centre for disabled ex-service men; and, if so, whether some other centre will be started in Scotland for this purpose?

:It is necessary to close the Government Instructional Fac- tory at Cathcart this summer, because the site and buildings, which was only held temporarily under the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Act, have to be surrendered. About eight of the trainees will be transferred to an instructional factory near Newcastle, but I hope to make arrangements for the majoriy to complete their training elsewhere in Scotland.

the hon. Gentleman aware that, with the closing down of the Newtown Training Centre for ex-service men in Montgomeryshire, there will be no training centre at all in Wales, and will he be good enough, when he is considering further training centres for Scotland, also to remember that we want a training centre in Wales?

:That question, clearly, does not arise out of the question on the Paper.