asked the Secretary of State for War the present position of the negotiations with the Corporation of the City of London in connection with the purchase of the Deptford cattle market area?

The question of the purchase of the Deptford Cattle Market is still awaiting reference to arbitration. I am afraid it may be some time before a date can be fixed for the arbitration to take place.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the desirability of issuing instructions for the new scales of pay of Grade IV clerks, as approved under the reorganisation scheme for War Office out-station departments, with effect from April, 1924, to be put into operation without further delay?

There are considerable difficulties in carrying out the suggestion, which is already under consideration. No such request has been received from the staff side of the Whitley Council, but before any decision is taken they will be consulted. Payment, whenever it is made, will be with effect from 1st April, 1924.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will inquire into the case of Mr. I. A. Sabido, of Golden Hill, near Pembroke, an ex-civil servant under the Honduras Government, who enlisted during the War and was sent to Salonika, where he was wounded, and as a result had his eye taken out; whether he is aware that Mr. Sabido has a wife and four children and only receives a pension of £6 per month from the Civil Service; and will he consider his claim to a pension in respect of his war injuries?

The Minister of Pensions has asked me to reply to this question. Mr. Sabido is already in receipt of pension of $144 in respect of his war injuries, in addition to the full pension to which he is entitled as a civil servant, amounting to $311.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the case of Private G. A. Bigwood, No. 77,939, Durham Light Infantry, who, being mentally afflicted through his war service and his having been a prisoner of war interned in Germany, made application for a pension, and whose claim at the appeals entitlement tribunal, heard at Newcastle-on-Tyne in January, 1924, was refused; and is he aware that Private Bigwood, having been an inmate of Sedgfield Asylum, county Durham, from May to September, 1923, lost his employment as a bank clerk upon his release, and is now still suffering from his war service and is without any means of subsistence?

If, as I gather, the hon. and gallant Member refers to Private G. A. Bidgood, the facts are that Mr. Bidgood was demobilised in May, 1919, and it was not until June, 1923, that he first claimed pension in respect of mental trouble, and the Ministry were unable at the time to find any connection between his military service and his mental disability, of whose existence there was no evidence prior to May, 1923. The claim had, therefore, to be rejected, and the Ministry's decision was confirmed by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal in January, 1924. I regret that I am not aware of any evidence which would justify me in reconsidering this case.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the total expenditure in respect of war pensions, excluding expenditure for administration, for the year ending 31st March, 1925; and what was the total administrative cost of expenditure for the same period?

The total expenditure of the Ministry, exclusive of the cost of administration (including medical administration), for the year ended 31st March, 1925, was, approximately, £66,138,000. The cost of administration (including medical administration) during the same period was, approximately. £2,984,000

asked the Minister of Health at what date stone-pounding, originally a task imposed on the inmates of prisons, but now discontinued for them, was first imposed as a task for destitute wayfarers?

The earliest approval of stone-pounding as a task for casuals which can be traced was given on the 5th March, 1883.

asked the Minister of Health what is the cost per house, the amount of subsidy given, and the rent charged for the houses being built by the Industrial Housing Association for Maltby Main, Rossington Main, Bullcroft Main, Yorkshire Main, Brodsworth Main, and Markham Main collieries, respectively?

The 1,656 non-parlour houses in these schemes are to be erected under various contracts, and the price varies from £375 to £430. The average cost for all non-parlour houses is £403. The average cost of the 22 parlour houses built for the Yorkshire Main Colliery is £445. The subsidy in each case is an annual payment of £6 per house under the Act of 1923. The rents under this Act do not require my approval, but I am informed that the rents do not in any case give an economic return on the capital expended, even after allowance is made for the Exchequer subsidy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the increases in the price of bricks since the beginning of April; whether he is aware that in some instances the price has risen from 71s. 9d. per 1,000 to 81s. per 1,000: whether there is any explanation of this serious advance; whether he has made inquiries into its effect on housing; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?

The information in my possession does not indicate that there has been any general increase in the price of bricks since the beginning of April, but if the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with particulars I will refer the matter to the Committee on the Prices of Building Materials for inquiry.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware that each tenant of Munro Buildings, Auchindinny, Milton Bridge, Midlothian, has received a notice from the Board of Health warning them of their liability to a penalty of £5 for putting their house refuse in the burn which runs past the building; that there are no drains or ashpits available for the houses; and that the owner refuses to have sanitary conveniences provided for tenants; and what action does he propose to have this property provided with proper sanitary conveniences?

No such notice as is referred to in the hon. Member's question has been issued by the Scottish Board of Health, but I understand that a notice was issued by the local authority in 1921. The local authority are obtaining a report from their sanitary inspector as to the need for proper sanitary conveniences at the property mentioned, and I understand this report will be considered by the authority at their next meeting.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will make inquiries as to a system known as Rit prevalent in the Simla Hill States, under which girls are sold for immoral purposes even outside the States in question; and, if he finds that such traffic takes place, will he recommend that the Political Department put an end to it?

I have at present no official information on this subject, but I will make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the serious effect upon the Lancashire cotton industry of the present disturbances in China; whether, as it has been found impossible to hold the customary auctions of Lancashire cotton goods in China, he will say what attitude His Majesty's Government proposes to take to safeguard the interests of British shippers of these commodities?

Although I have no specific information in regard to the second part of the question, the answer to the first part is in the affirmative. His Majesty's Government will of course take any steps in their power to safeguard these and other British interests.

asked the Prime Minister whether arrangements will be made to prevent the public pronouncements by service members of the Committee of Imperial Defence of personal views in regard to defence policy and strategy, and to limit any statements which it may be necessary to make to the considered opinions of the Committee as a whole?

It would be difficult to frame a general rule to cover all cases. I should prefer to trust to the discretion of the officers concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the facts that the United States of America is not a member of the International Labour Organisation and that the proposed amendment of the United States Constitution relating to child labour has been rejected, His Majesty's Government will, in the interests of friendly relations with the United States of America, recommend that the publications of the International Labour Office, which deal exhaustively with the conditions of such labour in the United States, should be modified by the exclusion of such references?

Information regarding labour conditions in countries which are not members of the International Labour Organisation may well be of great international interest and importance, and I cannot agree that it is in any way improper for the International Labour Office to publish such information.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total amount of money, provided out of public funds, that has been expended in England and Wales on unemployment benefit since the Armistice?

The amount of unemployment benefit paid in England and Wales from the 11th November, 1918, to the 31st May, 1925, was £173,540,000. In addition, out-of-work donation, amounting to £50,620,000, was paid to ex-service men and women, and to civilians.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is proposed to introduce the new Bankruptcy Bill?

I am not in a position to fix a date for the introduction of this Bill.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the value of £100 of tithe rent-charge on the basis of the endurance for 15 years of present-day prices?

Assuming the endurance for 15 years of the present-day prices of corn, the gross annual value of £100 of tithe rent-charge in perpetuity is estimated to be approximately £111.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the procedure contemplated in Sub-section (1) of Section 8 of the Tithe Act of 1891, for the remission of tithe payments in certain cases has been employed, and has resulted in any reduction of tithe?

I regret that I have no information as to the extent to which the procedure contemplated in the Subsection in question has been employed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has invited the London and Home Counties Traffic and Advisory Committee to report to him on the proposal of the London County Council to take down the present Waterloo bridge and build a new bridge with not more than five arches over the river, and of a width sufficient to take six lines of vehicular traffic, subject to the provision of a subway underneath the Strand; and, if so, whether he will lay the Report of the Committee upon the Table of the House?

I have asked the Committee to consider the question of Waterloo Bridge from a traffic point of view. They have been and still are in consultation with the London County Council upon this subject. I understand that the London County Council are awaiting further information from interests in favour of the preservation of the existing bridge before arriving at a decision, and it is accordingly premature for the Committee to report.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the death of Francis Joseph Thompson, a child of three years, in Manchester, owing to the steering-gear of a char-à-bane refusing to act, whereby the vehicle mounted the footpath and killed the child in its carriage; whether he is aware that expert engineers testified that the vehicle was old, the

— 1922–3. 1923–4. 1924–5. Total. Under Schemes with Overseas Governments: To Australia … … … 11,740 26,696 23,032 61,468 To New Zealand … … … 1,767 6,519 8,812 17,098 To Canada … … … 163 6,324 7,023 15,357 Totals … … … 13,670 39,539 38,867 92,076 Under Schemes with Societies: To Australia … … … 118 225 86 429 To New Zealand … … … — 1 1 2 To Canada … … … 311 1,202 1,468 2,981 To Other Dominions … … … — 13 23 36 Totals … … … 429 1,441 1,578 3,448 Grand Totals … … … 14,099 40,980 40,445 95,524

steering very loose and completely out of order, and that the Manchester coroner commented on the fact that such vehicles were not subjected to inspection in the same manner as those licensed to ply for hire; and if he intends to introduce legislation to give effect to the coroner's recommendation?

My attention had not been called to this unfortunate accident, but I am making inquiries. As I have already stated, I intend as soon as possible to introduce legislation for the better regulation of public service vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of persons who have settled in any of the Colonies, or Dominions, under the Empire Settlement Act of 1922, and the amount of money expended by the Imperial or by any of the Dominion Governments under this scheme; what portion of the same represented loans; how much of the same has been repaid; and what proportion of the amounts advanced includes schemes arranged between the Imperial Government and philanthropic societies, in which the Dominion Governments do not share?

1. The number of persons who, up to 31st March, 1925, sailed from the United Kingdom with assistance under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, is as follows:

2. The amount expended by His Majesty's Government under the Empire

— 1922–3. 1923–4. 1924–5. Total. Under Schemes with Overseas Governments: £ £ £ £ To Australia … … … 26,279 308,084 251,210 585,573 To New Zealand … … … 9,185 60,951 89,956 160,092 To Canada … … … — 36,093 65,270 101,363 Totals … … … 35,464 405,128 406,436 847,028 Under Schemes with Societies: To Australia … … … Nil 5,094 7,240 12,334 To New Zealand … … … Nil Nil 557 557 To Canada and other Dominions … … … Nil 13,772 24,818 38,590 Totals … … … Nil 18,866 32,615 51,481 Grand Totals … … … 35,464 423,994 439,051 898,509

3. Of this expenditure, the amount recoverable, and the recoveries up to 31st March, 1925, are as follows: — 1922–3. 1923–4. 1924–5. Totals. Loans. Recovered. Loans. Recovered. Loans. Recovered. Loans. Recovered. Under Schemes with Overseas Governments: £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ To Australia … 2,342 1,481 144,469 32,254 90,071 343 236,882 34,078 To New Zealand … 2,110 2,061 5,041 2,712 6,314 308 13,465 5,081 To Canada … — — 27,759 13,055 39,105 9,564 66,864 22,619 Totals … 4,452 3,542 177,269 48,021 135,490 10,215 317,211 61,778 Under Schemes with Societies: To Canada … Nil Nil 6,238 230 3,666 122 9,904 352 Grand Totals … 4,452 3,542 183,507 48,251 139,156 10,337 327,115 62,130

4. Detailed information regarding the expenditure incurred by the Dominion Governments is not available. The basis of the Empire Settlement Act is that His Majesty's Government cannot bear more than half the expenditure under agreed schemes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will agree to remit the State royalties in the Cumberland coalfield in order to improve the condition of the coal industry in Cumberland?

No, Sir.

Settlement Act, up to 31st March, 1925, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, as a result of medical research work and sanitary services in the Crown Colonies and Protectorates, he can state how the death rates in 1924 compare with those in 1901?

supplied the following figures in pursuance of his answer[Official Report, 22nd June, 1925, col. 1095]:

Colony. Death Rate per Thousand. 1901. 1923. Antigua … 31 … 27.56 Bahamas … 29.7 (15 months ending 31st March, 1902). … 24.7 Barbados … 31.6 … 27.11 Bermuda … 21.8 … 14.8 British Guiana … 23.6 … 28.3 British Honduras … 28.39 … 20.5 Ceylon … 27.5 … 30.6 Cyprus … 18.1 … 17.7 Dominica … 23.3 … 26.66 Falklands … 7.34 … 8 Federated Malay States … Not obtainable … 24.40 Fiji … 45.78 (Fijians) … 22.5 (Fijians). … 15 (Europeans) … 6.1 (Europeans). … 23.6 (Others, chiefly Indians) … 6.8 (Others, chiefly Indians). Gambia … 30 … 43.06 (Smallpox and Influenza epidemic). Gibraltar … 18.66 … 17.10 Gold Coast … 80 (Europeans only) … 10.34 Grenada … 22.47 … 16.6 Hong Kong … 23.5 (Chinese) … 23.27 (Chinese). … 20.5 (Non-Chinese) … 14.83 (Non-Chinese). Jamaica … 21.9 … 22.7 Kenya … Not obtainable … 6.6 (Europeans only). Malta … 24.86 … 23.74 (1922). Mauritius … 40.3 … 28.5. Montserrat … 17.4 … 15.5. Nigeria, North … 37.5 (Europeans only) … 23.8 Europeans only. (North and South.) Nigeria, South … 42.82 (Figures not reliable) … Nyasaland … Not available … 5.63 (Europeans only). St. Helena … 23.8 … 7.66. St. Kitts and Nevis … 31.9 … 32.84. St. Lucia … 25.58 … 22.5. St. Vincent … 19.2 … 22.21. Seychelles … 18.77 … 11.79. Sierra Leone … 23.46 (Colony only) … 25.7 (Colony and Prot.). Somaliland … No Europeans died during 1923. Native and European figures unobtainable for 1901. … — Straits Settlements … 39.85 … 27.80. Tanganyika Terry … No death statistics available … — Trinidad … 25 … 20.89. Turks and Caicos … 20 … 34.4. Uganda … No death statistics available … — Weihaiwei … Not obtainable … — Zanzibar … Not obtainable … 24.1. In the more undeveloped territories the compilation of exact returns is impracticable, and the figures given must be taken as approximate rates only.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the number of members of the Metropolitan Police who have been injured by vehicular traffic whilst engaged on point duty during the years 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924, respectively; the numbers of accidents of a fatal nature, if any, during the said periods; and whether any further steps are contemplated towards securing the safety of officers employed on such dangerous duty?

The numbers of members of the Metropolitan Police Force who have been injured while regulating traffic during the years 1919–1924 are as follow: 1919 7 1920 36 1921 35 1922 56 1923 56 1924 89

Two of these accidents were fatal. One occurred in November, 1923, and led to the death of the officer concerned 11 months later, and one occurred in 1924. I am not aware of any further steps that can be taken to secure greater security for officers engaged on traffic duty, but I should, of course, be happy to consider any suggestions the hon. Member may have to make.