asked the Secretary of State for War whether any agreement has yet been reached with the British Medical Association in regard to their action affecting the enlistment of medical men into the Royal Army Medical Corps?

The pay and conditions of service of Medical Officers in the Navy, Army and Air Force are being examined by an Inter-Departmental Committee appointed by the Government. The Committee has authority to take evidence from outside the Government service, and will, I understand, obtain the views of the British Medical Association on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the claim of Mr. Arthur Samuel Hillcox, of 8, Chapel Street, Devonport, for a long service pension; whether he is aware that this soldier completed 20 years and 88 days of service, which only left him short of qualification by 277 days when he was demobilised, on 21st February, 1919: and whether, under these circumstances, the War Office will consider giving him the benefit of his long service in the shape of a pension, seeing that the man, through no fault of his own, having been wounded in action, could not complete his service and will otherwise be cast upon the unemployment roll?

Mr. Hillcox enlisted on 28th June, 1893, and was discharged free, at his own request, having served for 15 years and 276 days. He re-enlisted for the War and served for four years and 177 days, being demobilised at the end of the War in the ordinary course. It was not because of his wound that the failed to complete the period of service necessary to qualify for pension; he was not serving on a pensionable agreement at the time of his last discharge, and I regret that he is not eligible for any award.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of gold imported and exported since the 28th April, 1925, and the total amount with the Bank of England on 28th April, 1925, and to date?

The registered imports of gold into the United Kingdom between the 28th April and 13th November, 1925, was £28,885,138 and exports £29,410,933. The gold held in the issue department of the Bank of England on the 29th April last was £153,906,015 and on the 11th November £146,255,365. The Customs returns and that of the Bank of England for a given period relate to different figures. The Customs figures do not include gold sold by or withdrawn from the Bank of England unless that gold is actually exported, and the Bank of England figures do not include imports of gold unless the gold has been paid into or bought by the Bank of England.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the index numbers of wholesale prices in this country and the United States of America during each of the last 12 months?

The following table shows the index numbers of wholesale prices as calculated by the Board of Trade for the United Kingdom and by the Bureau of Labour Statistics for the United States of America in each of the last twelve months, expressed as percentages of the averages for the year 1913:

asked the Under Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a statement in the "Labour Gazette" of March, 1925, published by the Government of Bombay, to the effect that on 22nd February 100 workmen of the Edward ironworks of the Great Eastern Engineering Company struck work, demanding immediate payment of wages for January, whereupon they were paid these arrears of wages and were all dismissed except 22, who were taken on with a complement of new hands: and whether the Government of India is prepared to support legislation to prevent wages being withheld beyond a few days, and the dismissal of workmen for demanding payment of overdue wages?

I have seen the statement in the Bombay "Labour Gazette" which is referred to As re- gards the latter part of the question, the Government of India are considering whether it is possible to secure by legislation that wages should not be withheld for unreasonable periods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what schemes have been approved since January, 1925, for assisted migration to the Dominions and Colonies overseas, and what is the number of men, women and children who have left Britain for other parts of the Commonwealth during the eight months ending 31st October?

The most important development in connection with Empire Settlement since the 1st January 1925, is the comprehensive scheme of settlement and development arranged with the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia. Under that Agreement a sum of £34,000,000 (including a sum of £14,000,000 already provided for existing land settlement schemes) will be made available to the Australian State Governments on specially favourable terms for approved works of development directly connected with migration. A Land Settlement Scheme has also been arranged with the Government of Southern Rhodesia. The number of men, women and children who have been assisted to settle in other parts of the Empire during the eight months ending 31st October is as follows: Men, 8,338; Women, 6,888; Children, 10,935. Figures of the total migration during the period in question are not yet available, but the total number of men, women and children who left Great Britain to settle in other parts of the Empire during the period 1st January-30th June, 1925, was: Men, 24,973; Women, 19,551; Children, 9,422.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the position in the Lupa River Goldfield in Tanganyika; and whether any steps are being taken to develop it commercially and to secure means of transport?

The Governor of the Tanganyika Territory, who recently visited the Lupa Goldfields, has reported that there are at present about 120 European prospectors at work at the diggings. The mining is on a small scale, the output during the first eight months of the year amounting to 4,412 ounces of alluvial gold. The Governor discussed the situation with a committee of the miners, and has been able to assist them in various directions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what progress has been made with the new arrangements for ventilating the Chamber; when it is estimated that the work will be finished; and what will be the total cost?

During the Recess all the necessary measurements have been taken in the Chamber, and preliminary arrangements made for placing several contracts for material. Owing to the fact that the work can only be carried out during Parliamentary Recesses, it will take longer to complete. It is estimated that the new system will be in operation by March, 1927, and that the total cost will be £4,150.

asked the Home Secretary whether the International Prison Commission, held in London during August last, made any recommendation as to penal reform; and, if so, what recommendations are likely to be carried into effect?

The proceedings of the Congress and the resulting Resolutions will, it is hoped, be published shortly by the Secretary-General, Professor Dr. Simon van der Aa, K.B.E., of Holland, when they will receive my careful consideration.

asked the Home Secretary the number of proceedings insti- tuted, during the last 12 months, against cinema and theatre proprietors for not having sufficient attendants; and whether, with a view to securing public safety, he will consider the advisability of increasing the penalty in such case made and provided?

The information asked for in the first part of the hon. Member's question is not in the possession of the Home Office, but I have consulted the London County Council, and the licensing authorities in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield, and it appears that in only one case was it found necessary during the 12 months ending the 31st August to institute proceedings in respect of insufficient atendants being present at a place of entertainment. In this case, which occurred at Leeds, the proceedings were taken under Section 121 of the Children Act, 1908, and a £5 fine was imposed. The London County Council found it necessary during the same period to issue warnings in three cases where the staff present at cinematograph exhibitions was regarded as inadequate. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's question, I have received no representations that the penalty for this offence is inadequate.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that of 97 houses completed in Teignmouth since the War only 21 have been sold to local residents; that there is need for an extension of housing provisions; that the local authority has so far not built any assisted houses; and whether, in these circumstances, he is prepared to take any steps for the provision of houses sufficient to satisfy local needs?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the facts to which the hon. Member refers. He understands, however, from the local authority that they have appointed a housing committee with a view to the consideration of a scheme for the erection of houses toy the authority. That committee is at present going into the question of suitable and available sites.

asked the Minister of Health if he can make any statement as to the present position of necessitous areas and as to any special measures which the Government is taking for their assistance?

My hon. Friend is of course aware of the help given by the Government to local authorities in dis- tressed areas by way of loans and by grants in aid of schemes for the relief of unemployment. In addition my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has recently appointed a Committee to consider and report on schemes which may be submitted to them for special assistance from the Exchequer to local authorities in necessitous areas, and the question of giving further Government help to such authorities must await the findings of that Committee.