asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that from April, 1923, to August, 1924, approximately 98,000,000 rounds of email-arms ammunition were classed as unserviceable and issued to the ordnance factories for breaking down; tow much of this unserviceable ammunition was manufactured in Government factories and how much in privately-owned factories; and if any repayment was claimed by the State from the private firms supplying this dangerous and useless ammunition?

I am aware of the facts of this case. Approximately one-third of the quantity mentioned was made in Government factories, the balance being obtained from private firms in England and the United States. As the ammunition in question was manufactured under war conditions for immediate use, and was at the time of purchase passed as fit for this purpose, no ground exists for making any claim against the manufacturers on account of defects which have revealed themselves after the lapse of years.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what purpose the two islands, Flatholme and Steepholme, in the Bristol Channel, which are the property of the War Office, are and have been used; whether the authorities will consider disposing of or letting these islands to a suitable tenant; and, if so, what price would be asked?

I am making inquiries of the local military authorities regarding these islands, and will communicate as soon as my inquiries have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for War what garrisons of British troops are maintained in Ireland; where they are situated; and what is the cost of each station borne by the Army Estimates?

As regards the first two parts of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to pages 37 and 51 of the current monthly Army List. As regards the last part, I regret that the figures for separate stations are not available, but the effective annual cost of the troops in Northern Ireland is approximately £900,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War if there is any intention to close the central tailors' shop in the field store, Aldershot; and, if so, will the 30 civilians now employed be transferred back to the regimental shops?

The central shops for the repair of clothing and boots, which were instituted by Army Order 361 of 1922 as an experimental measure, have not proved a success and are to be abolished. Units will in future make local arrangements for tailoring and shoemaking repairs; the regimental shops are not to be re-instituted and the answer to the second part of the question is therefore in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health the number of ex-service pensioners who have applied for Poor Law relief for the purpose of having their pensions supplemented during the year ended 31st December, 1924, and for the five months ended 31st May, 1925?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of candidates who had entered for the proposed examinations for the Indian Civil Service and the administrative class of the Home Civil Service, respectively; what proportion of these candidates were ex-service men; what was the estimated gross cost of the combined examination; how many of the first 14 candidates on the un-appointed list arising from the open examination of 1921 for the administrative class were ex-service men; and whether he is aware that these un appointed ex-service men obtained higher marks than several of the non-service men who have been appointed to the Indian Civil Service during the past four years?

139 candidates have entered for the forthcoming competition for the Indian Civil Service, and 154 for the concurrent examination for the administrative class of the home Civil Service. A considerable number of these candidates are entered for both Services alternatively. I am not aware how many of them may be ex-service men. The estimated gross cost of the competition (including the combined competitions for foreign and Colonial Services) is £2,000, of which a proportion is borne by Indian revenues. Eleven of the first 14 candidates on the list of unsuccessful candidates at the competition of 1921 were ex-service men. I do not think that any inference can be drawn from a comparison between the marks awarded to these candidates and those awarded to candidates at other competitions.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what sums are included in the Air Estimates for 1924–25 and for 1925–26, respectively, for purely experimental and research services in connection with the development of flight; what sums are included for stores of purely war interest; and what sums are included in the same Vote for inspection of material, standard and non-standard?

On the assumption that an allocation is required of the total provision shown in Appendix 2 of Air Estimates for expenditure on experimental and research services, the amounts are as follows:

It is not possible to distinguish between costs of inspection of standard and non-standard materials.

The foregoing figures do not include provision for development of airships.

The increase in expenditure for war purposes is in respect of increased expenditure on armament; increased contributions to War Office experimental and research establishments; and expenditure on kite balloons. The decreased provision for development of flight is due to an endeavour to secure closer estimates of probable expenditure, more particularly on experimental aircraft and engines, and does not in any way imply any diminution of effort with regard to this subject on the part of the Air Ministry.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why there does not exist, and if he will consider the advisability of instituting, a technical branch of the Royal Air Force corresponding to the corps of Royal Engineers in the Army and to the engineering departments of the Navy, inasmuch as it is desirable to attract University graduates and other highly-trained men to seek a career in the Air Force, and inasmuch as both in the Navy and in the Army capable officers can rise to higher rank than is possible in the Air Force, where promotion stops at a grade so low as to discourage able and ambitious men from joining that force?

I attach very great importance to attracting University graduates and especially those who have studied engineering to enter the Royal Air Force; special advantages in the shape of antedates of seniority are given to those who do so. Officers are not accepted for employment solely on engineering duties, but after they have gained flying experience they may volunteer for specialisation as engineers. They are then available either for engineering or for general service appointments and have the opportunity to rise to the highest ranks in the service. It is not considered desirable to divorce engineering from flying experience, since an officer cannot properly maintain aircraft and engines on the ground unless he has extensive personal experience of their behaviour in the air.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether advisory boards have yet been set up to deal with the technical and the broader aspects of airship development; and, if so, whether he will state the constitution of these boards, and the number of meetings held by each board?

An Airworthiness of Airships Panel of the Aeronautical Research Committee was constituted in April, 1924, to consider certain technical questions affecting the airworthiness of airships; this panel reported in October, 1924. The only advisory board on airship development at present in existence is the Airships Coordinating Sub-Committee of the Aeronautical Research Committee, the composition and functions of which were announced in the Press on the 30th March last. One of the chief duties of this Committee is to consider and report to the Air Council on any design, research, and experimental questions that may be referred to them, whether arising at the Royal Airships' Works or in connection with the Airship Guarantee Company's contract, as, for example, the company's proposals for a new design of mooring mast. This Sub-Committee has considered a large amount of documentary evidence, and has so far held three meetings.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the estimated number of men who would be employed, and the estimated time they would be employed, both in the shipbuilding yards and in those engineering and steel-making shops and factories concerned in the construction of a modern battleship, cruiser, destroyer and submarine, respectively?

Only a very approximate estimate can be given, and, on this understanding, the figures would be:

For a battleship, 12,000 men, time, three years.

For a cruiser, 3,500 men; time, three years.

For a destroyer, 1,000 men; time, 21 months.

For a submarine, 750 men; time, 33 months.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the estimated proportion of the total cost of a battleship, cruiser, destroyer or submarine that is paid out in wages to men directly and indirectly employed in private yards and in the Royal dockyards, respectively?

It may be taken that about 80 per cent. of the total cost of warship production is paid in wages, whether a ship is built in a private yard or in a Royal dockyard.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is advised that the present level of prices for steel and iron compared to the prices ruling in 1919 and 1922 would reduce the cost of constructing a battleship, cruiser, destroyer or submarine to-day compared with those dates; and what are the figures for those respective periods?

Taking the average cost of steel shipyard plates during the years in question the extra total cost of the steel required for building the classes of ships named in 1919 and 1922 over those paid in 1925 would be:

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that recent decisions given by the Ministry, after local inquiries, as to improvement schemes under Part I of the Housing Act, 1890, have caused astonishment and disappointment, resulting in hardship, he will give instructions that, before an order is made in future on any scheme, there shall be an appeal to an impartial tribunal, who shall decide whether any premises ought to be omitted from the scheme or deemed necessary only for the purpose of making the scheme efficient?

As the law stands, the determination of the question whether any land, included in a scheme made under Part I of the Housing Act, 1890, should be omitted from the scheme or be included only for the purpose of making the scheme efficient is vested in the Minister of Health, and the transference of this duty in the manner proposed by the hon. Member would require legislation. I would add that the decisions given by me are only given after a public inquiry and careful local investigation, and I cannot accept the suggestion that they are not impartial and in accordance with the evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when it is proposed to hold the elections in Egypt?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Brightside (Mr. Ponsonby) on the 27th of May last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the quantity and the value of British dyestuffs products of coal tar of United Kingdom exported during the year 1924, and the average value per cwt.?

The quantity and value of finished dyestuffs, obtained from coal tar, the produce of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, exported during 1924, amounted to 59,133 cwts., valued at £691,163. The average value per hundredweight was, accordingly, £11, 13s. 9d

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total amount of fish caught by foreign vessels and landed at British ports for the 12 months ended 31st December, 1924; and what was the amount of fish landed by foreign fishing vessels in foreign ports and subsequently imported into this country?

The imports of fish into the United Kingdom during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1924, were as follows:

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government has yet come to any decision with regard to the position of the iron and steel trades; and, if so, what action is proposed?

I have nothing to add to previous statements on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the average duty levied by France, Italy, and Switzerland on Nottingham lace is 3⅓ per cent.; and will he give consideration to this fact before deciding to adopt the recommendation of the Lace Committee, under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, to impose a duty of 33⅓ per cent, upon lace imported from these countries?

The duties levied on imported lace in the countries referred to are specific and I am not prepared to say that any reliable calculation of their average ad valorem incidence can be made. In the matter of the recommendations of the Lace Committee all relevant considerations have been taken into account, but, having regard to the purposes of the Safeguarding of Industries policy, I do not think that the rates of import duty levied in competitive countries are necessarily any criterion of the rates necessary in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the sterling value of the production per man of the workers in America, Germany, France, and Great Britain?

Information regarding the average value of the production of all workers is not available for any country. From information published by the United States Department of Commerce it appears that in the case of factories with output exceeding ․5,000 the value added by manufacture was ․18,316,666,000 or ․2,637 per head of 6,946,570 wage-earners employed in 1921. Similar information for the United Kingdom will not be available until the Census of Production for 1924, now in hand, is completed. No information is available for Germany and France.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to numerous recent cases in which accidents have occurred owing to the improper handling of so-called toy pistols; whether he is aware that large numbers of these pistols are offered for sale as a protection against burglars; and whether, in view of the fact that they are easily converted into lethal weapons, he is prepared to take steps to regulate and license their sale?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Southwark (Colonel Day) on 14th May. If these toys are converted into weapons which a court holds to be lethal and capable of discharging missiles, the person who buys, sells, uses or carries them in that condition comes under the provisions and penalties of the Firearms Act. I could not propose legislation imposing other restrictions.

asked the Home Secretary at what date the Factory Bill will be introduced; how soon the Second Reading and Committee stage may be expected; and will the Government undertake that the Factory Bill shall become law this year in accordance with the pledges already given?

I am afraid I cannot add anything at the moment to the reply on this subject which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for East Leicester (Captain Loder) on the 28th of last month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the East Africa Committee, set up by the late Government under Lord Southborough, will resume its sittings; and whether the Report of the East Africa Commission, presented by members drawn from that Committee, will be submitted to the East Africa Committee for its consideration and report?

In view of the complete and exhaustive manner in which the Report of the East Africa Commission deals with the matters included in the terms of reference to the East Africa Committee, and of the intention of His Majesty's Government to initiate an organisation, analogous to the Committee of Imperial Defence, for the consideration of the scientific problems of the Empire my right hon. Friend has come to the conclusion that he should not ask the East African Committee to resume its sittings. He has informed the chairman and the members of the Committee of this decision. I may add that their deliberations have been of great value in bringing into prominence the various matters requiring investigation, and that the evidence which they collected will be most useful for reference when the measures to be taken to carry out the recommendations in the Report are under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government have decided whether they can give relief in any form to those industries, or industrial areas, which are hit most severely by abnormal unemployment, in order to enable them to bear the additional charges which will be imposed upon them by the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer during the debate on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill, indicating the general lines on which the Government was considering some temporary relief of the burdens imposed by the new pensions scheme. I cannot at present add to that statement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the complaints of motorists using the new London-Folkestone road, the glassy surface of which is dangerous when brakes are applied, and which surface reflects the rays of the sun in such a manner as to be a source of added danger; and, if so, what steps, if any, are being taken to make this road safer for vehicular traffic?

On some sections of this road steps have already been successfully taken to remedy the occasional slipperiness of the surface, and arrangements are being made, in conjunction with the statutory highway authority, to apply the same process throughout. I am not aware of any special inconvenience! caused by reflections of light from the surface.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give the figures, actual or estimated, relating respectively to England and Scotland, of the aggregate valuations of property transferred by voluntary disposition for the purposes of Stamp Duty on gifts inter vivos in the year ended 31st March, 1925?

The valuations of property in which interests were transferred by voluntary disposition for the purposes of Stamp Duty on gifts inter vivos in the year ended 31st March, 1926, were as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that valuations in England of property transferred by voluntary disposition for the purposes, of stamp duty on gifts inter vivos increased from £5,364,264 in 1923 to £15,681,300 in 1924; whether he can indicate the reasons for this exceptionally large increase; and what effect the increase has had on the yield of estate, etc., duties?

The figures which the hon. Member quotes are the aggregate of the principal value of property in which some interest, often a reversionary interest, has been transferred by voluntary dispositions. The abnormal increase in the year 1923–24 over the year 1922–23 is mainly due to the inclusion of an exceptionally large case in which reversionary interests only were transferred, and it would, therefore, be erroneous to suppose that the figures imply a great growth in the value of property actually transferred by inter vivos gift.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reference to recent statements as to the extent of the true debt of the country, why a sum of about £90,000,000 for interest accrued on war savings certificates is omitted; and the total sum due next year on certificates which will have matured for full payment?

Interest on savings certificates is not paid annually but when, in most cases after many years, the holder claims repayment of his principal together with accumulated interest. Consequently, in estimating the amount to be provided annually in the Budget for debt interest, it is only necessary to provide for so much in respect of accumulated interest as experience has shown will actually be paid in respect of certificates cashed in the year. £7,000,000 was provided in this year's Budget for such interest payments. A statement of

NOTE.—The import figures include the values of exempted motor cars and parts.

the accrued but undrawn interest on savings certificates is always given in the Finance Accounts. As regards the last part of the question, I regret that no estimate can be given. The certificates issued prior to 31st March, 1917, were equivalent to a nominal value of £97,558,449, but the total has been greatly reduced by repayments and very many of the holders, e.g., everyone who bought a certificate of the first issue after March, 1917, have the privilege of extending the life of their holding. The actual payments on matured certificates next year are not likely to be in any way abnormal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the Income Tax collected on the three years' average was paid by businesses and companies engaged in production and in wholesale and retail trade, respectively, for the year 1924–25?

Under the present system of graduation of the Income Tax, I regret that I am unable to allocate the net produce of the tax for any year among the several sources of income which contribute to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of duty collected on motor cars; and the amount of motor parts imported during the years 1922 and 1923?

The information required is contained in the following table:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is proposed to include under the McKenna Duties; musical horns such as are used for toy motor cars and bicycles on the grounds that the same can be used for motor cars; and, if not, is he prepared to include words so as to ensure these goods being admitted free?

Horns will not be chargeable with the proposed new import duties on motor oars, etc., unless they are in fact suitable for use on motor cars or motor cycles. I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion contained in the second part of the question, but I may remind the hon. Member that the Finance Bill makes provision for the repayment of any duty paid on such goods where it is shown that they are being exclusively used for non-dutiable purposes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the evasion by farmers who refuse to comply with the conditions laid down in the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924; that his inspectors are ignored by delinquent farmers who refuse to pay arrears of wages where due; that immediately application is made by one of the inspectors the labourer is dismissed, turned out of his house, and no arrears of wages are paid; and why Clause 9 (4) of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act has not been enforced?

I am not aware of any widespread refusal to comply with the Orders fixing minimum rates of wages under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, nor of any grounds for assuming that the position is generally as suggested in the second part of the hon. Member's question. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, officers have been appointed for the purpose of investigating complaints and otherwise securing the proper observance of the Act. Up to the 31st May my Department had received less than 600 communications suggesting that workers were receiving wages at less than the minimum rates. In over 100 of these oases it appeared that the writer was simply under a misapprehension as to the precise rates applicable, and the Ministry was able to dispose of the matter by correspondence. Of the remaining cases, 207 have already been investigated by inspectors, as a result of which in a large proportion of them it was found either that a misunderstanding had occurred on the part of the employer or worker or that there was not sufficient evidence to prove that infringement of the rates had occurred. In a number of cases the employer has undertaken to pay arrears, and steps are being taken to see that this is done. In certain cases where circumstances seem to warrant such action, I am instructing the officers to take legal proceedings as contemplated by Section 9 (4) of the Act.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that letters bearing the late-fee stamp posted in the West Central district before six o'clock at night are not delivered in the Lancing district of Sussex until late in the afternoon of the day following postage; and will he consider the improvement of this service so as to enable letters bearing the late-fee stamp to be delivered by the first post?

Letters bearing a late-fee stamp, posted in the Western Central district before 6.30 p.m. in the special boxes provided for the purpose, should be delivered by first post next day at Lancing. If the hon. Member will forward me the covers of any such letters which appear to have sustained delay in the post, I will have immediate inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that persons handing in radiograms at the West Strand telegraph office to be sent to ships at sea via Louisburg, are informed that they must insert the word "Radio," for which they are charged the fee of 1s. 6d.; and will he take steps to remove this charge by his officials at that office?

I have had special inquiry made, but there is no record or recollection of any demand having been made by the staff at the West Strand Telegraph Office for the insertion of the word "Radio" in the address of a radio-telegram intended for transmission through the Louisburg (Nova Scotia) Wireless Station. The counter staff at that office are fully cognisant of the proper procedure in such cases.

asked the Postmaster-General if letters containing printed matter, delivered at the halfpenny rate, suffer any delay compared with letters delivered at the three halfpenny rate?

Any printed paper prepaid one half-penny only, which is posted later than 4.30 p.m. in London (or such hour as is announced at the local post office in the Provinces), is liable to be held over for despatch the next morning. Printed papers posted before the specified time do not ordinarily suffer any delay, but there is statutory power—exercised only in case of necessity—to detain printed papers in order to avoid delay to the despatch or delivery of packets prepaid at the letter rate.