asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether there are sufficient continuous service officers' stewards and cooks allowed and borne in the Portsmouth port division to meet the manning requirements of the port; whether he is aware that a number of supernumerary higher ratings of this branch are at present in depot unemployed; and if he will take steps, in the interests of economy, to see that they are drafted to sea-going ships to replace non-continuous service Maltese officers' stewards and cooks who have already replaced English ratings in the Mediterranean Fleet?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Board of Admiralty that an English continuous service petty officer is to serve in a subordinate capacity to a non-continuous service Maltese chief petty officer and in the same department?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my replies of the 16th and 27th July (OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th July, Column, 1560, and 27th July, Column 61) to which I have nothing to add.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many officers' stewards and cooks are borne supernumerary to the complements in the three Royal naval depots; and how many Maltese officers' stewards and cooks are borne in ships and establishments on Home service, in ships in the Atlantic Fleet, and in ships on Foreign stations, respectively?

I will forward the desired information to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as it is available.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by the sons of officers promoted from the lower deck in obtaining permission to sit for naval cadetship examinations; and whether he will issue instructions that the boys' ability and aptitude, regardless of social considerations, shall be taken into account?

The duty of the Interview Committee for Naval Cadets is to classify candidates in accordance with their general suitability for commissioned rank in the Royal Navy, and in these circumstances I should not feel justified in issuing instructions on any specific point bearing on the suitability or otherwise of candidates.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that item 5 of the 1924 welfare requests has been definitely rejected, he will consider a reduction in the commissions of His Majesty's destroyers and other small craft, seeing that there is little or no comfort in these vessels, and that the present period of two and a half to three years is considered by the men to be most monotonous and trying?

To reduce the length of commissions, as suggested by the hon. Member, would involve increased expenditure and loss of efficiency, and in present circumstances the Admiralty see no reason to entertain any such proposal. Commissions in small craft on stations where the conditions are particularly trying are already shorter than two and a half to three years.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether He has received from the Commander-in-Chief, Devonport, a recommendation that certain proposals drawn up by the King's Harbour Master, with a view to improving the lighting and buoyage of the port of Plymouth, be accepted; whether he is aware that these proposals are strongly advocated by the trading community in Devonport and Plymouth; and what action ho is taking with regard to them?

The proposals are being discussed with Trinity House.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether complete rosters for the promotion of chief petty officers and petty officers of warrant rank are maintained at the Admiralty?

The rosters for promotion to warrant rank are not in all cases kept at the Admiralty, those for some of the branches being kept at the appropriate naval schools. Where rosters are kept at the Admiralty, complete rosters of qualified candidates are kept in all cases except three, in which owing to promotion being mainly by seniority and in view of the number of qualified chief petty officers on the roster, it is not thought necessary to include the names of petty officers or below. The latter are, however, placed on the roster on promotion to chief petty officer.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether a memorial has been received from Royal Irish Constabulary pre-War pensioners asking that their case should be considered; and whether the Government propose to take any steps to improve the position of these men?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to previous declarations of the Government that they are not prepared to introduce further legislation to amend the Pensions (Increase) Acts.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of persons, men and women separately, who were in receipt of the old age pension for 1923 and 1924, giving the various rates separately; the number of applications made for March, 1924, and March, 1925; and the number of rejections, giving the various causes of rejection?

1. The total number of old age pensions in payment in England, Wales and Scotland on 31st December, 1923, and 31st December, 1924, respectively was as follows:— 1923 1924 Men … 327,312 364,432 Women … 593,815 632,728 Total … 921,127 997,160

It is not possible to give figures showing the pensions payable to men and women separately at the different rates, but the total number of pensions in payment at the various rates was as follows: — 1923 1924 10s. … 858,123 975,577 8s. … 25,047 6,612 6s. … 16.810 5,795 5s. … 156 31 4s. … 13,030 5,203 3s. … 19 8 2s. … 6,439 3,109 1s. … 1,503 775 Total … 921,127 997,160

2. No information is available as to the number of applications for old age pensions made during the months of March, 1924, and March, 1925, but the figures for the quarter ended 31st March in each year are:— 1924 1925 51,435 60,004

3. As regards the number of claims rejected in the quarters ended 31st March, 1924, and 31st March, 1925, figures are only available giving the combined numbers of claims rejected and pensions revoked, which are as follows: Nature of disqualification. 1924. 1925. Age … 1,788 2,198 Poor relief … 3,116 3,433 Means … 2,972 4,478 Other causes … 483 527 Total … 8,359 10,636

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been called to cases of evasion of the Industrial Insurance Acts by the connivance of certain industrial assurance companies who insure children's lives for sums beyond the legal limit appropriate to the age of the children and safeguarding themselves against an open breach of the law by returning the premiums instead of paying the benefits insured for; and whether he will take steps to make this practice illegal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him on the 14th July and the 18th May last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in the first Civil Service dispute referred to the Industrial Court, that in which improved scales were claimed for the writing assistants' grade, the President exercised for the first time in the history of the court the powers of an umpire owing to the panel hearing the case being unable to agree upon an award; and whether he will consider asking the court to go further into the claims for an improved scale and, if necessary, calling for further evidence from both parties to the dispute, with a view to reaching an agreed award?

I have been asked to reply. The facts are as stated in the-first part of the question. The President's decision was given under Section 3 (4) of the Industrial Courts Act, 1919. The award has been made, and it is not possible to adopt the course suggested in the second part of the question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the vacancy existing for Class I clerkship in the Customs and Excise Department is being reserved to be filled from the recent examination list, seeing that there is already in the Department a candidate, an honours graduate of the University of London, who qualified with a high place at the last examination, and who has been offered no advancement nor afforded any opportunity for advancement; and whether this candidate, whose very special circumstances are now before the Lords of the Treasury, could be afforded a measure of consideration, such as opportunity to sit at a subsequent examination, if he cannot be appointed for the existing vacancy?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether one of the vacant Class I posts can be given to the permanent civil servant whose appeal has lately been before the Treasury, and who in the 1921 open com-petition obtained a higher proportion of marks than was on the average sufficient to secure an appointment at the last four pre-War competitions; whether he is aware that this civil servant has been allowed only one opportunity to compete instead of the five additional opportunities hitherto allowed; and whether he can be offered some special consideration in view of the fact that he has had no opportunity of advancement?

Hon. Members will appreciate that it would not be proper for me in reply to a Parliamentary question to discuss the claims of individual civil servants to advancement. The Board of Customs and Excise decided after careful survey of all the circumstances that the vacancy in the junior administrative class in that Department should be filled by recourse to the open competition and not by special promotion. It is not possible for me to modify the normal rules governing the admission of established civil servants to open competitions to permit the special entry of a particular officer to a competition.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many women have been appointed to the clerical class of the Civil Service by competition and by the promotion of writing assistants and typists, respectively, during the years 1923 and 1924 and the first half of 1925, respectively, in the various Departments of State?

The numbers of women appointed to the clerical class in the periods 1923, 1924, and the first six months of 1925 by competition and by the promotion of writing assistants and members of the typing grades are as follows:— — 1923. 1924. 1925 to 30th June. By Competition 232 13 31 By promotion of Writing Assistants. 39 97 66 By promotion of members of the Typing Grades. 30 14 1

The figures for promotions refer to promotions notified to the Civil Service Commissioners. It is possible that in some Departments all promotions have not as yet been notified to the Commissioners.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if Re will state, in respect of each Government Department affected by the reorganisation of staff into administrative and executive classes, the average total number of established employés in receipt of salaries, exclusive of the cost-of-living bonus, of £500 and upwards in the 12 months preceding such reorganisation and in the 12 months ending 31st March last, respectively, and the total sum paid in respect of such salaries in each Department in each of those periods?

I regret that I am not in possession of the information desired by the hon. and gallant Member and I do not consider that the expenditure of time and money which would be involved in obtaining it from the Departments would be justifiable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many civil servants, apart from the Cabinet Secretariat, receive allowances as private secretaries to Ministers and to heads and assistant heads of Depart-ments; what is the annual total of such allowances; whether they are in all cases additional to the rates of pay appropriate to the rank and seniority of the recipients; and whether in view of the need for economy, he will consider the abolition of all these allowances from the beginning of the next financial year?

The allowances paid to private secretaries to Ministers and heads and assistant heads of Departments are estimated to amount in the aggregate to about £17,600 per annum exclusive of bonus. I am unable to state, without reference to all the Departments concerned, what is the total number of private secretaries or what proportion are civil servants holding the allowance in addition to the rate of pay appropriate to their grading. The abolition of all these allowances would not in my opinion be justifiable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the staff side of the Departmental Whitley Council in the Air Ministry, the Board of Customs and Excise, and the Department of Inland Revenue, in refusing representation to the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants on the staff side of the Depart- mental Whitley Council in each of these Departments; and whether, seeing that this Association has been accepted by His Majesty's Government as representing large numbers of ex-service men in the Civil Service, and especially in view of the fact that their exclusion from representation at present disfranchises large numbers of ex-service men, he will give instructions that representation is extended to that association without further delay?

Representation on the staff sides of Departmental Whitley bodies is a matter for the staff concerned to settle among themselves, and I am unable to intervene in the matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will arrange that no examination is imposed on ex-service men employed as temporary draughtsmen in the Hydrographic Department of the Admiralty for established posts, since the complement provided for that Department is in excess of the number of existing ex-service temporary draughtsmen employed in that Department?

I have been asked to reply. The examination which is about to be held should be well within the capacity of any candidate with the standard of qualifications which is considered to be requisite for draughtsmen in the Hydrographic Department, and it would not be in the interests of the Service, to waive this examination, as suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of motor cars of foreign manufacture in use by Government Departments in this country; and why such foreign motor cars are used instead of cars of British manufacture?

in pursuance of hit reply, [OFFICIAL REPORT, 23rd July, 1925, col. 2408] supplies the following information as now available.

Following are particulars of foreign-manufactured cars in use by Government Departments.

The figures do not include Ford cars. Such cars recently purhased are known to have been manufactured in England: as regards such cars purchased several years ago it is not practicable to give full particulars as to the source of labour and material. In the latter cases, however, the cars will in all probability be replaced when necessary by similar cars manufactured in England.

Admiralty. —38 foreign cars are in use in this country. They were bought nine or ten years ago for war service and handed over by the Ministry of Munitions. All of them will be replaced by cars of British manufacture as they are worn out.

Air Ministry. —4 foreign cars are in use and are old war stock which it is economical to use up. They will be replaced by cars of British manufacture as they are worn out.

Ministry of Labour. —9 foreign cars are in use and are pre-war or war stock purchased through the Disposals Board. They will be replaced by British cars as and when they are worn out.

State Management Districts. —One foreign motor car is in use which was purchased second hand in 1917. It will shortly be replaced by a car of British manufacture.

War Office. —There are in use 19 Citroen Kegresse cars (semi-tracked vehicles) which were obtained for experimental purposes when British firms could not supply them. Machines are now being supplied by British firms, and it is anticipated that the Department will be able in future to obtain them from British firms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of barley, maize, oats, rice, rye, and wheat used in. brewing and distilling, respectively, during the year ending 30th September, 1924?

I regret that the official records do not contain the information sought by the hon. Member. For such information as is available, I would refer him to the answer to a similar ques- tion put by the hon. Member for Stratford (Mr. Groves) on the 26th February-last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the delay at the ports in handling dutiable silk goods and the consequent loss and inconvenience to traders; and whether steps are being taken, particularly with regard to the definition and classification of dutiable silks, to remedy this state of things?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware of the delay in getting delivery from the ports of goods affected by the silk duties; and whether, in the circumstances, he will instruct the customs authorities to issue a definite explanation of the duties.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for the West Leicester Division (Mr. Pethwick-Lawrence). Printed notices explaining the duties have already been circulated to the public and I am sending the hon. Members copies of them. If they will let me know the points on which they think further explanation is necessary the matter will be considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now considered the representations made to him by the British film industry; and, if so, what decision in respect to the request of assistance specified has been arrived at?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 28th July to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy), to which I may add that I have now had the advantage of discussing the subject with representatives of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, if he can give the price of raw cotton and raw rubber in the United States in 1913, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1925?

The average prices quoted in New York for raw cotton and raw rubber in the years 1913 and 1920 to 1924 and in the month of June, 1925, were as follow: Period. Raw Cotton, Middling Upland. Raw Rubber, Para Island Fine. Cents per lb. Cents per lb. 1913 … 12.8 80.7 1920 … 33.9 33.3 1921 … 15.2 18.2 1922 … 21.3 18.3 1923 … 29.4 24.9 1924 … 28.7 21.1 1925 (June) … 23.4 61.9

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any information concerning the settlement of claims against the City Life Assurance Company, which went into liquidation on the 2nd July, 1923, when an official receiver was appointed?

It was foreseen at the commencement that the liquidation of this company would be a protracted one, and the official receiver reports that, owing partly to the necessity of valuing more than 60,000 claims in accordance with the provisions of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, and partly to the fact that application had to be made to the Court regarding certain important questions which are at present awaiting the decision of the Court of Appeal, some months must still elapse before any dividend can be paid.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of duty collected at the full and preferential rate in respect of the commodities to which Imperial Preference applies for the years 1921–22, 1922–23, 1923–24 and 1924–5?

The information desired by the hon. Member is given in the following table:

THE AMOUNT of duty collected at the full and preferential rate in respect of the commodities in which Imperial preference applies for the years 1921–22, 1922–23, 1923–24 and 1924–25 was as follows:— Articles. United Kingdom. Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 1921–22. 1922–23. 1923–24. 1924–25. At Full Rate of Duty. At Preferential Rate of Duty. Total. At Full Rate of Duty. At Preferential Rate of Duty. Total. At Full Rate of Duty. At Preferential Rate of Duty. Total. At Full Rate of Duty. At Preferential Rate of Duty. Total. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Chicory 86,000 — 80,000 67,000 — 67,000 88,000 — 88,000 37,000 — 37,000 Cocoa 526,000 1,339,000 1,865,000 309,000 981,000 1,290,000 331,000 927,000 1,258,000 219,000 450,000 669,000 Coffee 359,000 238,000 597,000 285,000 131,000 416,000 227,000 174,000 401,000 126,000 86,000 212,000 Dried Fruits 725,000 48,000 773,000 766,000 75,000 841,000 826,000 102,000 928,000 607,000 124,000 731,000 Spirits 5,112,000 6,441,000 11,553,000 3,872,000 4,715,000 8,587,000 3,858,000 5,035,000 8,893,000 3,575,000 4,654,000 8,229,000 Sugar 25,175,000 7,870,000 33,045,000 29,527,000 7,179,000 36,706,000 26,862,000 7,519,000 34,381,000 16,996,000 1,570,000 18,566,000 Molasses 681,000 56,000 737,000 711,000 34,000 745,000 724,000 26,000 750,000 336,000 13,000 349,000 Glucose 757,000 1,000 758,000 553,000 5,000 558,000 490,000 — 490,000 228,000 — 228,000 Saccharin 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000 2,000 — 2,000 1,000 — 1,000 Sugar Composite Articles. 1,337,000 69,000 1,406,000 1,320,000 46,000 1,366,000 1,461,000 43,000 1,504,000 875,000 16,000 891,000 Tea 2,096,000 15,485,000 17,581,000 1,557,000 9,998,000 11,555,000 1,488,000 9,243,000 10,731,000 1,092,000 4,879,000 5,971,000 Tobacco 53,024,000 2,174,000 55,198,000 50,604,000 2,787,000 53,391,000 48,688,000 3,193,000 51,881,000 48,149,000 3,760,000 51,909,000 Wine 2,704,000 47,000 2,751,000 2,999,000 53,000 3,052,000 3,314,000 55,000 3,369,000 3,694,000 58,000 3,752,000 Cinematograph Films 253,000 1,000 254,000 269,000 2,000 271,000 288,000 1,000 289,000 42,000 — 42,000 Clocks, Watches and Parts. 449,000 1,000 450,000 538,000 — 538,000 541,000 1,000 542,000 Deduct*48,000 — Deduct*48,000 Motor Cars, Motor Cycles and Parts 673,000 91,000 764,000 960,000 311,000 1,271,000 1,039,000 397,000 1,436,000 Deduct*37,000 144,000 107,000 Musical Instruments and Parts. 228,000 2,000 230,000 346,000 1,000 347,000 322,000 1,000 323,000 9,000 — 9,000 *Excess of repayments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the promised inquiry into the case of the alleged flogging of a boy in the Southern Sudan has yet been held; and, if so, whether he will state the result?

Yes, Sir. The youth in question had been convicted of theft from shops in Rejaf on four previous occasions during the preceding 12 months and had been award 3, 5, 7 and 10 strokes respectively with a cane by the British District Commissioner. When the culprit was caught perpetrating a fifth theft, the Egyptian mamour, in the absence of the District Commissioner, who alone could award a sentence of whipping, decided in order to get the boy away from Rejaf to hand him over to the head man of his village who was, at the time, sitting on a Chief's court. In order to prevent the culprit's escape the mamour ordered him to be fastened to the flagstaff where he was under the eye of the sentry and where he remained from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., until the head man was able to take him away. The boy was not beaten, and the responsibility of the mamour began and ended with this order which in the circumstances was fully justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the exact nature of the representations of the United State government on the subject of rubber restriction?

The United States Ambassador left with me on the 22nd of July an aide-mémoire stating that a critical situation had arisen in the United States rubber industry owing to the high price of crude rubber and the smallness of the stocks in London and the United States, due, it was said, to the working of the Stevenson scheme. Certain proposals made by the Rubber Association of America for improving the situation were quoted in the aide-mémoire as being likely to stabilise the price of rubber at a reasonable figure. Such stabilisation was stated to be essential for the continuance of normal operations by United States manu- facturers, and consequently for the encouragement of the rubber-growing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs whether steps are being taken to expedite the railway construction in hand in Nigeria with a view to facilitating the transport of cotton?

The railway construction in hand in Nigeria is being carried on with all proper despatch. As regards the building of further lines, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies returned on the 17th and 22nd of June to the hon. Member for Middleton and Prestwick.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if ha can now state the result of his investigation into the representations of the Civil Service in British Honduras, expressing dissatisfaction at the Government's failure to put into operation the salaries scheme proposed by Sir Eyre Hutson, in. 1923, and by the substitution of proposals since adopted.

In submitting his scheme for increased salaries in 1923. Sir Eyre Hutson recognised that its permanent adoption could not be brought about until the financial position of British Honduras was such as to justify the heavy additional expenditure involved. An alternative scheme was adopted in April, 1925, and the present Governor has advised me that, in his view, any increase over the salaries therein provided would involve an additional expenditure which the finances of the Colony cannot at present meat. The possibility of further concessions during the next financial year must clearly depend upon the position disclosed when the. Estimates for 1926–27 are under review.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his department has received a memorial from the stores and clothing inspection department, Viewers' Association, with regard to the payment of subsistence allowance to viewers temporarily loaned to Didcot; whether he is aware that this allowance has been reduced from 35s. per week to 22s. 6d. per week, and of the absence of available accommodation in the district; and what answer he is giving to the memorialists?

The Memorial has been received, but it has not been possible to reply to it pending submission on the part of the viewers of particulars of extra expenditure incurred. The existing allowances are under the regulations subject to review after the period of three months. Pending the receipt and examination of the information required from the viewers to which I have referred, a provisional allowance of 22s. 6d. a week has been authorised. The Memorial will be further considered in the light of the particulars which have only just been received.

asked the Minister of Health the sum devoted by the State this year to the promotion of medical research; and what amount has been similarly applied in each year since the War?

The provision made in the Scientific Investigation Vote, 1925–26 in aid of the expenses of the Medical Research Council is £135,000. The grants in previous years have been as follows: 1924–25 … … 140,000 1923–24 … … 130,000 1922–23 … … 130,000 1921–22 … … 130,000 1920–21 … … 125,000 1919–20 … … 148,500

In addition certain inquiries are from time to time carried out by or on behalf of the Ministry of Health, the Scottish Board of Health and the Service Departments. It is not practicable to give the whole cost of these inquiries, but it is relatively small.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the desira- bility of issuing a circular to local authorities at seaside resorts calling attention to the inadequacy of arrangements to protect bathers?

I have no information to show that the arrangements are generally inadequate or that there would be advantage in issuing a circular as suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any particular case in mind I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a communication from the mother of Miss1 K. Everett, now detained in West Park mental hospital, requesting the Home Office to discharge her daughter into her care; is he aware that Dr. Connolly has stated that Miss Everett is not dangerous or suicidal; and whether, under all the circumstances, he will institute inquiries with a view to the request of the mother being granted?

I have not received a communication in regard to this case, but I find that the patient in question is a criminal lunatic, and the power of discharge in this case is, therefore, vested in the Home Secretary, to whom I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether a civil servant with remuneration not exceeding £250 per year, who is compulsorily insured in respect of widows' and orphans pensions but not for old age pension, will be entitled to become also a voluntary contributor in respect of health insurance, and, if so, what voluntary contribution will he pay?

Such a civil servant will be in the same position as the civil servants referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member on the 29th July, except that the voluntary contribution will be increased by 2d. a week (or 1d. a week in the case of a woman), representing the difference between the ordinary rate of contributions payable under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill and the reduced rate payable in respect of persons who are compulsorily insured for widows' and orphans' pensions only. The payment of the increased contribution will, however, confer rights in respect of an old age pension under or by virtue of the Bill in such circumstances and subject to such modifications as may be prescribed under Clause 15 (7) of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Health if ex-employés of the Poet Office in receipt of a pension are in a position to become voluntary contributors under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill in order to receive the old age pension at 65?

Such persons, other than married women, will be entitled to become voluntary contributors under the combined schemes of health insurance and pensions, if they have been engaged for at least two years in insurable employment or employment which would have been insurable but for the issue of a certificate of exception under the National Health Insurance Acts. Their title to old age pensions at 65 will, however, be subject to special conditions to be prescribed under Clause 15 (7) of the Contributory Pensions Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether a man who is now 62, who is not at present insured under the national health insurance but who was at one time insured for more than 104 weeks, can become a voluntary contributor, in view of the fact that on attaining 65 he will not be able to fulfil the condition of having been continuously insured for five years; and whether, if he is able to become a voluntary contributor, he will be eligible to receive the old age pension at 67 when the five years' condition will have been fulfilled?

In the circumstances mentioned in the question it is open to the man to become a voluntary contributor, but as, under the Bill, contributions are not payable by a voluntary contributor after he reaches the age of 65, the man in question would obviously be unable to satisfy the statutory condition in Clause 8, which requires that for the three contribution years immediately prior to the date on which he completed five years of insurance the number of contributions paid by him represented, on the average, not less than 39 contributions in respect of each of these three years. Unless, therefore, the question of a widow's pension also arises it could not be to his advantage to become a voluntary contributor.

asked the Minister of Health if the pensioned widow of a police officer will be eligible to receive the old age pension at 65 under the Widows, Orphans, and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill, in view of the fact that she has been paying national health insurance for some years, and is thus qualified to become a voluntary contributor?

The widow of a police officer who is in the position indicated by the hon. Member will be eligible to receive an old age pension at 65 on the same conditions as any other insured woman.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the overtures made by certain Members of Parliament to the Goschen Committee in respect to the loan for which application has been made by the West Ham Board of Guardians have been unsuccessful; whether he is aware of the unrest existing in the area consequent upon the people thinking that they may be suddenly left destitute; and whether he is now prepared to concede the loan or state what assistance he proposes to give the West Ham Guardians to ensure continuity of relief?

My right hon. Friend has offered the West Ham Guardians on conditions recommended to him by the Goschen Committee a further loan to cover their excess expenditure for the current half-year. He is not prepared to amend the offer which he has made and which is still open to the guardians, if they choose to accept it. My right hon. Friend appreciates the efforts made by the local members to arrive at a settlement in this matter. He trusts that those efforts may still be continued and that the guardians may be induced to adopt a reasonable attitude.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the. Sheffield Board of Guardians have adopted a recommendation of their reconstruction committee to appoint ex-Police, Superintendent Morton as prosecution officer at a salary of £220 per annum; and whether, seeing that Mr. Morton is already in receipt of a pension of £400 per annum for his police service and that it is contrary to public policy for an officer who is drawing a pension from one public authority to be employed by another, he will refuse his sanction to the appointment?

I understand that the officer in question, though formerly nominally a member of the police force has been in the employment of the guardians for more than 20 years being seconded from the local police force for service with them by an arrangement under which the guardians became responsible for his police pay and superannuation. He retired from the police service some five years ago, but has continued his service with the Poor Law authority, and I understand that the guardians of the new union propose to retain him in office. I do not think this is a case for refusing sanction to the appointment proposed.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the large surpluses being declared as the result of the second valuation of approved societies under the National Health Insurance Act, he is prepared to promote legislation with a view to the existing statutory contributions being reduced consistent with the present actuarial cost of the benefits provided by the societies under the provisions of those Acts?

The whole question of the contributions and benefits of the National Health Insurance scheme is now being considered by the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance and I must await their Report before forming any judgment on such questions as that asked by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health the amounts of the unclaimed balances in the National Health Insurance stamps' sales account at the end of the years 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924, or for such of those years in which the information is available; the several purposes for which the said balances or parts thereof were used and expended in each of the said years and the respective amounts so expended; and whether it is proposed to allocate any part of the said balances in relief of the present statutory contributions paid by employers and employés, respectively, under the National Health Insurance Acts?

The total balance in the Stamps Sales Account in the National Health Insurance Fund Accounts for the first three of the years mentioned were as follows: £ 1921 … … … 4,475,750 1922 … … … 5,591,639 1923 … … … 5,431,474

It is estimated that about £4,000,000 of the balance at 31st December, 1923, represented unclaimed contributions available for disposal.

Under Section 3 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1922, and Section 3 of the National Health Insurance (Cost of Medical Benefit) Act, 1924, part of the sums unclaimed are to be credited to approved societies, under schemes made by the National Health Insurance Joint Committee with the approval of the Treasury, to be applied in preventing members in arrears from being suspended from benefit. Particulars of the exact amounts to be so credited are not at present available.

The National Health Insurance (Cost of Medical Benefit) Act, 1924, also provides that for the purpose of providing part of the additional cost of medical benefit for the years 1924, 1925 and 1926, certain sums are to be paid in those three years out of moneys in the Central Fund representing sums carried to that Fund in respect of unclaimed contributions. The financial provision thus made involved the application of the whole of the estimated balance of unclaimed contributions at the 31st December, 1923, after allowing for the amounts estimated to be required for the arrears grants above mentioned. There is, therefore, no balance available to be allocated as suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland with regard to the findings of the Scottish Departmental Committee on Trawling and Policing of Scottish Sea Fisheries, whether energetic measures, as recommended by the committee, are being taken to secure the necessary international agreement to put into force their second, third, and fourth recommendations with regard to the closing of the Moray Firth and the prevention of the destruction of immature fish; if so, what is the present position of the negotiations; whether the fifth and sixth recommendations of the above committee, prohibiting the carrying of otter boards on small vessels and requiring trawlers when in closed waters to have their trawling gear stowed away, have been adopted or rejected by the Government; whether Reports have been received by the Government on the experience gained by the fast auxiliary cruisers which were added to the fishery patrol last year; whether it is now proposed to increase the number of fast auxiliary vessels to five, as recommended by the above committee; whether sufficient experience has yet been obtaind of the wireless installation placed on board one of the cruisers to enable a definite conclusion to be drawn as to its value, and, if so, whether it is proposed to equip other cruisers with wireless; whether it has been decided to institute a superannuation scheme for the officers and crews of the cruisers, in accordance with the recommendation of the above committee; whether the Admiralty vessel engaged throughout most of last year in fishery protection duties in Scottish waters has yet been replaced by a faster and more efficient vessel; and whether it is proposed to institute legis- lation to give effect to recommendations 8 and 9 of the above committee with regard to increased penalties for illegal depredations by trawlers and the codification and simplification of the Acts relating to Scottish fisheries; and, if so, when it is proposed to introduce this legislation?

As regards the first part of the question, it is proposed that the question of the closure of the Moray Firth to trawling should be raised at the approaching meeting of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. The question of the destruction of immature fish is also one for the consideration primarily of the International Council, the British representatives on which are alive to the importance of the matter. The fifth and sixth recommendations involve legislation and are under consideration. The operations of the two auxiliary cruisers are being closely watched, but further experience is necessary before the question of increasing the number can be considered. Sufficient experience has not yet been obtained of the wireless installation placed on board one of the cruisers to enable a definite conclusion to be drawn as to its value. The question of instituting a superannuation scheme is being carefully examined. The Admiralty vessel previously engaged on fishery protection duties in Scottish waters has been replaced by a faster and more efficient vessel. The eighth and ninth recommendations are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions, if he can give a Return showing the number of appeals where the assessment tribunals have accepted, decreased, or increased the decision arrived at by the Ministry's final award since their creation in 1924 and in the first six months of 1925; and, in the cases of increases, the numbers, separately, under each percentage of increase of disability; and the number of reversals by entitlement appeals of the Ministry's decision compared with number of confirmations?

Statutory Appeal Tribunals for the hearing of appeals against decisions of the Ministry as to entitlement to pension were instituted in 1919. Appeal Tribunals for the hearing of appeals against final awards made by the Ministry were instituted in 1922. Records of the earlier working of the Entitlement Appeal Tribunals are defec-

Description. Number. Percentage. I.— Appeals to Entitlement Appeal Tribunals. ( a ) Total number (approximate) of Ministry decisions appealable (by officers, men, widows and dependant). 718,000 — ( b ) Total number of appeals against such decisions determined by tribunals. 165,000 23% of ( a ) ( c ) Number of appeals determined: — (i) in favour of appellant 49,000 30% of ( b ) (ii) appeals disallowed 116,000 70% of ( b ) II.— Appeals to Assessment Appeals Tribunals. ( a ) Total number of Final Awards notified by Ministry since August, 1921. 489,000 — ( b ) Total number of appeals against such Final Awards determined by Appeal Tribunals. 94,000 19% of ( a ) ( c ) Number of appeals disallowed by Tribunal 43,000 45.8% of ( b ) ( d ) Number of appeals in which Tribunal confirmed the finality of award but increased the rate of award:— (i) Final Awards of 20% and upwards 3,000 3% of ( b ) (ii) Final Awards of less than 20% increased by Tribunal to pension rate (i.e. to 20%disablement or over). 4,600 5% of ( b ) (iii) Final Awards of less than 20% increased by Tribunal as regards the period of allowance, but confirmed as final at under 20%. 20,000 21.3% of ( b ) ( e ) Number of appeals in which Tribunal con finned finality of award but decreased the rate of award. 300 .3% of ( b ) ( f ) Number of appeals in which Tribunal temporarily set aside the Final Award for further consideration by the Ministry. 23,100 24.6% of ( b )

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider an alteration in the present system of procedure with respect to officer patients in Pensions Ministry hospitals, so that when an officer is certified by a specialist medical officer to be incurable he should be boarded at once and not be compelled to apply for a medical board, which causes several weeks' delay in the consideration of his case?

I am glad to inform my hon. and gallant Friend that the procedure suggested by him has recently been authorised. In any case where an officer

tive, but the following figures give approximately the results up to date. As regards appeals against final awards it has not been found possible to give the detailed information asked for in the second part of the question, but the results as regards cases of assessments of 20 per cent. and upwards and of less than 20 per cent. are shown.

in receipt of conditional award is considered by the Medical Officer in charge of the hospital to be likely at the conclusion of his treatment to be in a materially more disabled condition than is represented by his current award, the patient is Boarded before discharge and a provisional award suitable to his condition is made.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the number of men employed in the coal mines in this country for the years 1912, 1913, 1914, 1923, and 1964, with the number of shifts worked in each of those years?

The information so far as it is available is as follows:— — Persons employed (including clerks and salaried persons) Average number of shifts worked per wage-earner. 1912 … 1,068,000 Not available. 1913 … 1,104,400 1914 … 1,049,000 1923 … 1,203,300 266 1924 … 1,213,600 260

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the total output of coal in this country for the years 1912, 1913, 1914, 1923, and 1924, with the output per man per shift in each year?

The information so far as it is available is as follows:— — Tonnage of coal raised at mines in Great Britain Output per Wage-earner Per shift. Tons. Cwts. 1912 … 200,309,000 Not available. 1913 … 287,329,000 1914 … 205,551,000 20.32 (June only). 1923 … 275,960,000 17.83 1924 … 267,061,000 17.59

asked the Secretary for Mines if ho can give the tonnage, quality, and value of the coal supplied to colliery owners, directors, agents, managers, and enginewrights, without payment, during the year for residential purposes added to colliery consumption from 1st January to 30th June, 1925; and, if not already in his possession, will he obtain this information, having regard to the possibility of the Government subsidy being increased by such supply?

As I am informed the hon. Member on 4th August, T have no information about coal supplied to colliery owners, etc. The answer to the second part is that in matters of this kind the same rules will apply as between the Government and the colliery owners as have been in operation as between the miners and the colliery owners under their national wages agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the new airships and the reconditioned airship are to be filled with hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen and helium; and whether experience shows that it would be unsafe to discharge hydrogen in a thunderstorm?

As regards the first part of the question, it is proposed, for the reasons given in my reply to the hon. Member for West Willesden (Mr. Viant) on 9th July, to use hydrogen for the experimental flights contemplated in the present programme. As regards the second part, I understand that it is the practice among airship pilots to avoid discharging hydrogen in the neighbourhood of thunderstorms, but no actual evidence of the dangerous results of such discharge is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the great prevalence of thunderstorms in the neighbourhood of Java; to what extent R.33 deviated in her journey to America in order to avoid thunderstorms; and whether the tenders for the new airship, and the design of the Government airship, make specific provision for safety against lightning?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second, that the R.34 (the airship concerned) deviated a distance of approximately 50 miles to skirt a thunderstorm in her outward journey; to the third, that the position in regard to the contract airship was explained in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend on 17th March last, and, as regards the Government airship, that the question of safety precautions against lightning is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will have the decision not to give unemployment benefit reviewed in the case of Mr. A. J. Apple-gate, of 6, Albion Place, Ramsgate, a disabled ex-service man, who is unable to obtain employment owing to disablement due to War service?

I am having inquiries made in the case referred to by the hon. Member, and will communicate with him further as early as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that at an Employment Exchange in the North of England recently the staff were working for 36 hours at a stretch to cope with the local situation; and whether, in view of the number of ex-service clerks that have been discharged from his Department and are still unemployed, he will seek Treasury sanction for such increase of the staff as will enable the work to be done efficiently and without overtime?

I think the hon. and gallant Member is referring to an incident which took place a year ago. Owing to the sudden closing of several collieries, some 5,000 claims to benefit were lodged at a local office which normally dealt with less than 100. Staff was immediately transferred, but it was not practicable in the circumstances to avoid considerable overtime, which the staff concerned undertook voluntarily in order to avoid delay in dealing with claims to benefit. This was an exceptional case; as I have already indicated in reply to several questions recently, I am satisfied that the exchange staff is not working excessive overtime or that the arrangements which exist for providing additional assistance when required are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the cramped conditions in which the staff of the Devonport Employment Exchange have to work, and that there is only one lavatory for 12 of them; and whether he will cause this accommodation to be improved?

Yes, Sir An extension to the building—including additional lavatory accommodation—has been approved and work will be started at an early date.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the defects of the Employment Exchange building at Greenock; whether proper lavatory accommodation can be provided; and whether he will make investigations to see if the necessary alterations can be carried out for the benefit of the staff?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the present Employment Exchange premises are part of the Custom House. The accommodation, though not unsuitable in itself, is inadequate, and negotiations for securing new premises are in hand. No specific complaint as to lavatory accommodation has been received at Headquarters, but the matter is being inquired into.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the limits of age for admission to the new training centres for the unemployed which he is setting up?

For the present the selection will be made from unemployed single men between the ages of 19 and 25. In the case of suitable ex-service applicants, the limit will be raised to 29.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Regulations made by the London Traffic Committee dealing with parking places in London will be laid before Parliament?

I gave notice on 9th July of my intention to make Regulations on this subject. Under the Rules Publication Act, 1893, the Regulations cannot be made till the expiration of 40 days from that date. They will therefore come into operation in about a fortnight's time, and they will be laid before the House when it re-assembles.