asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been directed to the certainty, until an adequate safeguard is provided, of large numbers of aliens being attracted to this country by the old age pensions at 65 and upwards, and the other pensions and allowances granted by the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1926, and to the consequent danger of correspondingly large numbers of British workers being thrown out of employment by such aliens; and whether he will give an undertaking that at the earliest possible date adequate safeguards will be provided and publicly announced, as, for example, the application to aliens of a residential qualification of 20 years in the aggregate in respect of any alien, including any alien naturalised in this country after 29th April, 1925, the date of the introduction of the Act, that term of years being the residential qualification already enacted in the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, in respect of the pensions of not aliens but persons of British nationality other than natural-born British subjects?

The situation contemplated in this question cannot arise. I am assured by ray right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department that adequate safeguards are already provided in the Aliens Restriction Order. The machinery set up by that Order makes it impossible for aliens to come to this country for the purpose of drawing old age pensions or for the purpose of taking work which could be done by British workers. The cases in which aliens are now allowed to come to this country to settle here are quite exceptional and in every such case most careful inquiries are made to make sure that the alien will not become a burden on public funds. In these circumstances it is unnecessary to impose a more stringent residential qualification' on aliens, for the purpose of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, than that applicable to British subjects, but, should the necessity at any time arise, adequate powers are given by the Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether arrangements can be made in the case of widows claiming pensions under the new Act for the investigating officer to collect from the Employment Exchanges the necessary information as to the insurable status of the deceased husband instead of laying this duty upon the widow herself?

The hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. Applicants for widows' pensions are not required to obtain from Employment Exchanges information as to the insurable status of the deceased husbands.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the possibility of extension of the provisions of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act so as to include at once in benefit widows with invalid children over the age of 14?

No, Sir. The proposal would affect existing widows only, and would increase materially the charge falling on the Exchequer, which already bears the entire cost of the' provision made for these widows. The hon. and gallant Member is, of course, aware that the widows of men who die after the commencement of the Act will be entitled to pension even if there are no children.

asked the Minister of Health whether any efforts were made by his Department to utilise the services of trained ex-temporary women civil servants, some of whom had actual experience on pensions administration, to cope with the extra work involved in connection with the administration of the new pensions scheme.

I regret that I have not been able to utilise the services of any ex-temporary women clerks. Having regard to the large number of temporary ex-service men clerks whose services in other Departments have become redundant, I have thought it right to recruit the additional temporary staff required for pensions work from this source.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the increase of new work arising out of the administration of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act is causing considerable overtime to be worked by members of his permanent staff; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of re-engaging fully-trained temporary assistants from among those previously in the employ of the Ministry but now on State unemployment benefit?

Yes, Sir; my right hon. Friend is aware of and regrets the fact that his Department is at present working under conditions of such pressure that considerable overtime is now necessary. He hopes, however, that this will shortly terminate. My right hon. Friend has already engaged 192 temporary ex-service clerks whose services have been terminated in other Departments, and further temporary additions to the staff are now being made. But the hon. Member will, I am sure, realise that the services of the existing trained and permanent staff must be utilised to the fullest possible extent, and my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the necessity for calling upon the permanent staff to work overtime during this period of pressure could not be avoided by the employment of further temporary staff.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated loss to local rates during 1926–27 caused by the deduction of 75 per cent. of the net annual value of agricultural land, as set forth in Part II of the Second Schedule of the Rating and Valuation Bill; and how much of this deficit will be paid by the National Exchequer?

The 75 per cent. deduction from the net annual value of agricultural land will not operate until the first new valuation lists under the Rating and Valuation Bill come into force, nor will the amount of the loss to local rates arising under the provisions of the Agricultural Rates Acts be affected thereby. The Rating and Valuation Bill does not deal with any question of grants in respect of such loss, which will continue to be governed by the provisions of the Agricultural Rates Acts.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of his proposals to abolish boards of guardians in his Poor Law Reform Bill, he will substitute some other body for them in the Rating and Valuation Bill now before this House so as to avoid confusion in future?

No, Sir. That is a question which in my right hon. Friend's view must be left to be dealt with when it arises.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of people per 10,000 of the population in receipt of indoor and also of outdoor relief in the 10 towns where relief is the greatest and in the 10 towns where relief is the smallest, outside London; and the average number in receipt of relief for the populous areas outside London?

Statistics of pauperism are generally available only for Union areas. The particulars desired by the hon. Member, as far as they are available, are stated on the table following:

asked the Minister of Health if he can state the number of persons receiving outdoor relief in each of the Metropolitan Unions at the end of October this year, and the figures for the corresponding period of last year?

The particulars desired by the hon. Member are stated in the table following:STATEMENT showing for each London Union the number of persons in receipt of domiciliary relief on the last Saturday in October, 1925, and on the corresponding day in the year 1924 (excluding persons in receipt of medical relief only).

asked the Minister of Health whether any further evidence from former inmates of asylums is to be taken by the Royal Commission on Lunacy; and whether requests for permission to give such further evidence have been received by that Commission during the last few months and refused?

I understand that the Royal Commission, having heard oral evidence from 13 former inmates of asylums and considered a large number of written statements, do not propose to take further evidence of this nature. During the last six months, eight applications have been received from former inmates desiring to give oral evidence; but the Commission have been unable to comply with these requests.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state reasons why his Department cannot issue the requisite Ministry of Health blue form to the port authority at Newport regarding the fumigation of vessels proceeding to United States of America ports; and is he award that these blue forms are issued to adjoining Bristol Channel ports, and that the omission of Newport has already caused inconvenience and unnecessary additional expense to ships loading at Newport for the United States of America?

As regards the first part of the question, I may say that the application for the medical officer of health of the port sanitary authority at Newport to be authorised to grant certificates as to the fumigation of ships, which would be accepted by the public health authorities in the United States of America, was only received by my Department on the 19th instant. My right hon. Friend hopes there will be no undue delay in coming to a decision, but it will be necessary to communicate with the United States authorities. As regards the second part, it is the fact that the medical officers of health of some ports in the Bristol Channel have already been authorised to grant these certificates, but my right hon. Friend has received no representations that inconvenience or additional expense are caused to ships loading at Newport for the United States until the last few days.

asked the Minister of Health whether the London County Council has yet come to any decision upon the question of letting the post-War houses upon their White Hart Lane estate at rentals inclusive of rates?

I am in communication with the County Council on the subject and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

:asked the Minister of Health the number of illegitimate births per 1,000 of the population for each of the Metropolitan Poor Law Unions for the last five years?

Birth statistics are not available for Poor Law Union areas as such. But the following table for Metropolitan Boroughs gives the desired information in the case of 22 Metropolitan Poor Law Unions which are conterminous with one or more Metropolitan Boroughs:

asked the Secretary of State for War for what reason the two minutes' silence on Armistice Day was not observed in the royal gunpowder factory at Waltham Abbey?

Through a local misunderstanding, which is greatly regretted, the men at Waltham Abbey waited for the signal to be given by the factory siren as in previous years, whereas it had been decided, in response to suggestions in the Press, that the siren should not be sounded this year and that the maroons should give the signal to the factory. Steps will be taken to ensure that a misunderstanding of this kind shall not occur again.

asked the Secretary of State for War if there have been any claims made by stock breeders and farmers in respect of damage done during the recent Army manœuvres: and, if so, whether all claims made have been settled?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second that all claims submitted have been settled with a few exceptions which were either submitted at a late date or are still in course of being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the daily average of prisoners in prisons and detention barracks, and the number of staff, respectively, in the years 1912–13, 1913–14, 1922–23 and 1923–24?

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, while the Army Act is amended yearly and is reprinted with full corrections, the Rules of Procedure, equally essential for courts martial, are not so reprinted with amendments; that the current issue of Rules of Procedure is over 10 years old and the Army Orders which amend Rules of Procedure are out of print, so that no means are available of correcting the obsolete Rules of Procedure; and if he will have this matter put right without delay?

The amendments of the Rules of Procedure are not so numerous as to justify the expense of reprinting them annually. It is recognised, however, that a new edition is now due and also that the Rules require to be simplified and clarified; the work is now well advanced and I hope that the new edition will be ready in the near future. In the meantime, there is a stock of the amending Army Orders issued since the last edition which is sufficient for official purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what was the rental paid to the owners of the land on which the Old Sarum Aerodrome at Salisbury was erected in the War period; whether he is aware that the whole of the buildings and other materials were handed over to the owners as compensation for any expense that they might have to incur in removing these buildings and restoring the land to its condition when taken over; and whether the buildings were subsequently repurchased from the owners and at what price?

The Old Sarum Aerodrome has been continuously occupied by the Air Force since the end of the War, and I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the neighbouring aerodrome at Boscombe Down. The facts in regard to Boscombe Down are these: The land was occupied by the Department before relinquishment at a compensatory rental of £100 16s. 5d. per annum, assessed on an actual loss basis and not in relation to freehold value. When the aerodrome was given up after the War, the buildings were sold to the owners of the land for £1,100, the owners waiving the very considerable claim in respect of re-instatement which otherwise they would have had. When last year it became necessary, as a result of the new Air Force programme, to re-acquire the aerodrome, the land (283 acres) and the buildings were purchased for £15,000, which included claims in respect of severance, tenant right and injurious affection to the the farm generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what would be the greatest weight of bombs which could be carried by the largest bombing machine known to be in the possession of any European Power to-day, on the assumption in one case that the return journey was one of 1,000 miles, and in another case that the return journey was one of 300 miles?

So far as I am aware, other European Powers do not publish this information as regards their bombing aircraft, and I regret that it would not be in the public interest to give the data desired by the hon. and gallant Member in respect of British bombing aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if arrangements have yet been completed for the manufacture in the United Kingdom of any of the parachutes ordered in America; and, if so, what proportion of the total under order will be so manufactured?

Under the contract for the supply of parachutes, about one-third of the initial order and all future supplies are to be manufactured in this country. It is anticipated that delivery from this source will commence by July next.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that certain North London undertakers on the Ministry's list are making a charge of 7s. 6d. to widows of deceased disabled men for the use of a Union Jack to cover the coffins of same at funerals; that this charge is extra to the amount granted by the Ministry for the expenses of such funerals; and whether he will take steps to get this payment refunded to the widows and omit the names of such undertakers from the official list in future?

No complaint on this matter has been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend. While it is of course open to the relatives to make any arrangements for special funeral furnishings, in addition to those ordinarily provided, it would not be proper for an undertaker who is under contract with the Ministry to make the provision of any extras a condition of his contract service. If any such case be brought to notice, my right hon. Friend would take suitable action.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the information available in his Department regarding the Spahlinger treatment is yet sufficient to justify him in arranging for the provision of this form of treatment for pensioners suffering from tuberculosis?

No Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 28th July last to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Hey-wood and Radcliffe (Colonel England). The matter is one primarily for the Ministry of Health. My right hon. Friend understands that the case must still for the present be considered "non-proven."

asked the Minister of Pensions what will be the effect when the basis of the cost-of-living index number is altered with reference to the provision made under the recent official announcement as to pension variation when the index figure is above 115 per cent. or below 60 per cent.?

The effect of the cost-of-living figure on the rates of pension is determined by comparison with the cost-of-living figure for the year 1919. In the event of any change in the present basis of calculation, adequate means will, I understand, be adopted to ensure any necessary comparison with figures prior to the change.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether a claim for a dependency pension made by the dependants of a deceased soldier can be considered in exceptional circumstances?

A pension to the parent of a deceased soldier (which is, I presume, the case the hon. and gallant Member has in mind) can only be awarded on the basis laid down in the Royal Warrant, namely, on the ground of pecuniary need and incapacity for self-support.

asked the Minister of Labour how many claims for statutory and also extended benefit have been refused by the Kettering Employment Exchange during the period 1st January to 31st October, 1925?

During the period 13th January, 1925, to 12th October, the number of applications for extended benefit rejected by the local employment committee at Kettering was 92. I am unable to state the number of claims for standard benefit lodged at the Kettering Employment Exchange which have been disallowed.

asked the Minister of Health how many boards of guardians have at present loans for purposes of relief from the Ministry; and what is the total amount to date of such advances?

The number of boards of guardians is eight; the total amount of the advances to date is £3,624,500.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received the Report of the Central Unemployed Body for London regarding the Hollesley Bay Colony; and whether, in view of the success of the colony in training urban unemployed workers in land occupations, he will consider the introduction of legislation in the next Session to enable other authorities to organise similar colonies?

My right hon. Friend has not received any recent report from the body. The second part of the question should, I think, now be addressed to the Minister of Labour.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the request of the Walthamstow Urban District Council for a grant-in-aid of reconstructing Fulbourne Road and Winchester Road; whether he is aware that the utmost grant offered by the Department is 25 per cent. of the cost; that the local authority regard this offer as inadequate, being unable, in view of the present heavy rate in the district (24s. 4d. in the £), to find 75 per cent. of the cost; and whether, in view of the fact that the bad condition of these roads is due mainly to heavy motor omnibus traffic and that consequently these roads should not be classified as Class II roads, further consideration will be given to the possibility of making a more substantial grant?

I regret that I am not in a position to hold out any hope of being able to give a more substantial grant than 25 per cent., which is the normal percentage in respect of all approved works on Class II roads.

asked the Minister of Transport if the London and North Eastern Railway Company is constructing the fly-over at Stratford for which Parliament allowed the company to raise money against this expenditure?

I am informed by the railway company that their examination of the matter is not yet complete. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, a period of five years was allowed by the company's Act of 1924 for the completion of the widenings and alterations in question.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the great amount of vehicular traffic in the Old Kent Road, Southwark, he will consider the recommendation of the Southwark coroner, Dr. F. J. Waldo, asking that more policemen be provided for traffic duty in this thoroughfare?

Dr. Waldo's recommendation has already received the careful consideration of the Commissioner of Police, but he has not seen his way to allocate more policemen for traffic duty in the thoroughfare in question.

asked the Home Secretary if he will give instructions that Regulations forbidding passengers to stand inside omnibuses or other vehicles plying for hire shall be relaxed at all hours of the day during wet weather?

This point has been carefully considered, but I have not seen my way to adopt the arrangement suggested.

asked the Postmaster-General on what basis of pay the temporary employés of the Post Office will be engaged this Christmas; and, particularly, whether they will be. granted additional pay for overtime on the same basis as regular employés?

The Christmas staff of the Post Office will be paid at flat hourly rates fixed to cover all week-day attendance, including night duty. Attendance on Sundays, Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be paid for at rate and a half.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone exchanges, call offices, party lines, and individual telephones have been installed in the county of Wiltshire during the last 12 months; and how many have been given up?

I regret I am not in a position to give my hon. and gallant Friend the precise information he requires, as no telephone area coincides exactly with the county of Wiltshire. The following particulars, however, show the net addition to the number of telephone exchanges, call offices, and stations in Wiltshire during the 12 months ended 30th September last:

asked the Postmaster-General whether the experiment as to the dictation of telegrams and urgent Letters to post offices, through public telephone call boxes, was successful; and whether he contemplates an extension, so as to allow telegraphic messages to be dictated from public telephone call boxes?

The number of telegrams dictated from unattended public telephone call offices during the period of the experiment has not been very large, but the additional service appeals to meet a. public need, and I am arranging for the system to be introduced generally. It should perhaps be mentioned that facilities for dictating telegrams and letters have been available for many years at call offices where an attendant is on duty.

asked the First Secretary to the Treasury the amount of debts due to Government Departments, exclusive of international debts, which have had to be written off in 1924 and the post-War years?

The published annual appropriation accounts for the Civil Service, Navy, Army, and Air Force contain particulars of the debts which it has been found impossible to recover. But to give a complete answer to the question would involve an amount of work which I fear it would be impossible to justify.

asked the First Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the amount paid by a trader for Income Tax under Schedule A on the annual value of business premises owned by him is added to the taxable profit on his trading and thus rendered liable to further taxation; and whether he will consider revision of this arrangement?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension in referring to any addition to taxable profit. In computing the amount of a trader's profits for the purpose of Income Tax assessment, no deduction is, or ever has been, admissible in respect of the Income Tax which the trader is called upon to bear, whether under Schedule A on premises owned or under Schedule D on his profits. I see no reason for any alteration of this position, inasmuch as Income Tax is not an expense incurred in acquiring income, but a liability which arises after income has been received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends appropriating the whole or part of the surplus of the Road Fund for purposes other than those originally intended; and whether he will apply the surplus to the making of new roads and widening and repairing existing roads, and thereby give employment to thousands who at present cannot find employment?

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Government propose that the money allocated to the Road Fund is to be used for other purposes; and, if so, under what authority is this being done?

I am not prepared to disclose at the present stage any plans for next year's finance which it may be my duty to submit for the consideration of the Cabinet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to a recent report of a special investigation into the slaughtering of horses at Vaugirard, Paris, where our British horses are sometimes sent, which differs entirely from the finding of the Departmental Committee that it would not be correct or just to say that Vaugirard is conducted in anything but a humane manner; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Yes, Sir. The Ministry, however, has no reason to doubt the conclusion of the Departmental Committee which reported that the conditions of slaughter at Vaugirard were reasonably good, and probably better than obtain in many slaughter-houses in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, during epidemics of foot-and-mouth disease, animals awaiting slaughter in abattoirs or lairages have been condemned on account of the disease: and whether, in such cases, the Ministry have paid, or intend to pay, to the owners of such animals the same rates of compensation as are paid to owners of live stock condemned on farms?

The Diseases of Animals Acts empower the Ministry to pay compensation only for such animals as are slaughtered in order to stop the spread of the disease. Animals awaiting slaughter in an abattoir do not give rise to such a danger and it is not incumbent on the Ministry to order their slaughter whereby they would become subjects for compensation.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether the recommendations of the Lee Commission with regard to the substitution of the Indian Medical Service by the Civil Medical Service has been given effect to?

As my Noble Friend has announced, the recommendations of the Lee Report as to the constitution of Provincial Civil Medical Services have been accepted in principle, subject to the need for maintaining for Army requirements a reserve of medical officers in civil employ, and for providing medical attendance by British doctors for British members of the Services. It has been decided to maintain the Indian Medical Service in substantially its present form to meet Army requirements, and the Government of India are now considering how best to adapt the civil branch of the Service to the general scheme of medical reorganisation.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India if any action has been taken by the Government of India on the amendment to the Government's Resolution on the Reforms Inquiry Committee's Report passed by the Legislative Assembly in September, 1925; whether any amendment to the Government of India Act is contemplated to give effect to the majority recommendation of that committee; and when is that legislation likely to come before the House?

The resolution referred to, which was accepted by the Council of State, is being considered by the Government of India, together with the amendment carried by the Legislative Assembly. Legislation will probably be necessary to give effect to some of the recommendations of the Majority Report of the Reforms Enquiry Committee, but I cannot say when such legislation is likely to come before the House.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the amount of the overdraft at the Imperial Bank of India of the Army Canteen Board, India; and whether this overdraft is guaranteed by the Government of India?

I am unable to state at the moment the exact amount of the Army Canteen Board's indebtedness to the Imperial Bank of India. The Government of India have, on review of the Board's present and contingent liabilities, guaranteed an overdraft up to a limit of 45 lakhs of rupees.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether recent conferences at Simla regarding the management of the Army Canteen Board (India) showed a general desire on the part of the troops in India for the winding up of this institution; and whether he is aware that this is the opinion of the great majority of commanding officers?

I am aware that there have been recent manifestations of dissatisfaction, but not, so far as my present information goes, to the extent which the hon. Member suggests. My Noble Friend is awaiting the results of a thorough examination of the whole question which is being carried out by the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what action has been taken by the Government of Bombay to bring about a settlement of the Bombay mill strike?

Sir Leslie Wilson, the Governor of Bombay, has, since the commencement of the strike, done everything in his power to bring about a settlement. The hon. Member may have seen the reply made by him to a deputation of workers last month, but, if not, I shall be glad to furnish him with a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many persons are detained in Indian prisons under the provisions of the Bengal Ordinance; whether any such prisoners are subject to rigorous imprisonment; and whether any are allowed to have visitors.

The Ordinance is no longer in force. Its provisions were continued by an Act of the Bengal Legislative Council. There are at present 110 persons detained under that Act, of whom 52 are in jails. They are not subject to rigorous imprisonment, and, like all other prisoners, may receive visits under Regulations in force in jails.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether there is any intention on the part of the Government to have an official inquiry into opium conditions generally in India; and, if so, whether he can give this House any information as to the nature and scope of the inquiry?

About the beginning of this year the Government of India addressed local governments, drawing attention to some prima facie evidence of abuses of opium in various directions, and asked them to examine the question and to consider with the Government of India by what kind of special inquiry or committee the problem should be dealt with if the local governments come to the conclusion that the evidence made it desirable to review the conclusions of the Royal Commission of 1893. In September last the Government of India stated that they were still awaiting the replies of local governments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the names of the Indian revolutionaries to whom the German Government recently decided to deny further German hospitality; whether they have been deported from Germany to India; and, if so, what treatment it has been decided to accord them in India?

I am aware of the statement made in India upon which this question is based, but, so far as I am aware, no deportations have been ordered by the German Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the complaints made by settlers from this country in Western Australia under the group settlement scheme; whether any representative of the Colonial Office or the Mother Country visits the settlement and satisfies himself that the conditions correspond with the promises held out to the settlers; and, if no such visit is made, whether he will arrange for one to take place at regular intervals?

Difficulties, which, naturally, give occasion for some complaints, are inherent in the work of developing and settling new countries, but I have no reason to think that the majority of the settlers are dissatisfied or are not making good progress. My representative in Australia, under the new Migration Agreement, is at present in Western Australia. He will, of course, visit the various settlements and keep in close touch with the progress of the settlers. I might add that my Noble Friend the Member for Southampton has himself recently been working as a settler on one of the groups, and would no doubt be willing to place his experience at the hon. Member's disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the actual number of persons who have emigrated to Canada between 1st October, 1924, and 1st November, 1925, under various emigration schemes, and the total cost to Great Britain?

The approximate number of emigrants assisted to proceed to Canada during the thirteen months in question was 10,800, and the approximate cost to British Government funds £80,000. This does not include charges for aftercare or settlement, particulars of which are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that deserters from the French Foreign Legion who fled to Transjordania were captured by the British authorities there, handed over to the French and subsequently shot; on what grounds these men were handed over; and whether there is any precedent for such action?

The hon. Member is misinformed. No deserters from the French Foreign Legion have been handed over by the British authorities in Palestine and Transjordania to the French authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will ask for a Return of any land alienated in Tanganyika territory to white settlers, and the conditions upon which such alienations have taken place?

On 31st December last, British subjects, including missions, but excluding Indians, held 1,106,994 acres; British Indians held 266,154 acres; and foreigners held 396,142 acres. With regard to the conditions of tenure, I would refer the hon. Member to the section on land in the Report on Tanganyika Territory for 1924, published by the Stationery Office as Colonial No. 11. As pointed out in the answer to the hon. Member for East Woolwich (Mr. Snell) on the 27th of July, land is no longer alienated in freehold title.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any portion of the East African Loan is to be spent in Great Britain; and, if so, in what directions?

It is anticipated that a great part of the loan will be expended on railway extensions and improvements, and that of this approximately one half will be spent in the United Kingdom on material and freight. The proportion spent in this country will be less in the case of expenditure on such services as harbours and roads.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the establishment in Queensland of rural schools at which part-time scholars from neighbouring schools meet for lessons in agriculture and the allied industries; and whether, in view of the shortage of land workers, he will recommend to the committee of inquiry recently appointed to inquire into the public system of education in England and Wales in relation to the requirements of industry that they should consider the desirability of establishing such schools in this country?

My attention has been called to the experiment referred to. As my hon. and gallant Friend may be aware, arrangements are made in a number of rural areas in this country for collecting the older children from elementary schools into suitable schools where special instruction suited to the needs of the locality can be given, and I hope shortly to issue a memorandum for general information in regard to those experiments. I will, however, gladly bring my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion to the notice of the Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that at a prize distribution held during school hours at Stepgate's Boys' Council School, Chertsey, Surrey, on Monday, 26th October. Sir Edward Stern, Bart., addressed the scholars and, in the course of his speech, made an attack upon Socialism; and if he will make representations to prevent the use of public elementary schools during school hours for the delivery of political addresses of this nature?

I have no information on this subject, and in any case it is for the local authorities to deal with matters of this kind.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the lack of school accommodation in the county of Essex; and whether any action is being taken to deal with the position now existing?

I am not aware of the particular district or districts which the hon. Member has in mind, but I have no reason to believe that the local education authority are not dealing properly with any demands for school accommodation that they may have to meet.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Crittal Manufacturing Company, Braintree, Essex, have been obliged to vote money out of their own funds for the purpose of educating employés; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made as to the present methods of the education committee of the Essex County Council?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has anything to report in regard to the Egyptian Government and the Tribute Loan?

Yes, Sir. The hearing of the appeal lodged by the Egyptian Government against the decision given in the Mixed Court of First Instance in the Tribute Loans case has been adjourned by the Mixed Court of Appeal until the 31st of December next.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what demands advanced in Part III of Annexed of the Collective Notes to the German Government remained outstanding after 15th November?

I would refer the hon. Member to Paper No. 5 of the White Paper (Command Paper 2527) presented to Parliament last week respecting German disarmament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can see his way to reduce the fee charged for passports; and whether he will consider if further reductions could be made in favour of parties going to visit France and Belgium for educational purposes?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The charge for a passport valid for five years is 7s. 6d., and 1s. per year for renewal up to a further period of five years, making a total of 12s. 6d. for 10 years, which cannot be regarded as excessive. With regard to the second part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that arrangements have been in force for a considerable time past whereby collective certificates, in place of separate passports, are issued to parties of students, scouts and girl guides proceeding abroad for educational purposes at an inclusive fee of 5s. for each party of 40 persons or less under the age of 18, and 10s. for each party of 25 persons or less over that age.

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that during the year 1924 there were 169,723 industrial accidents, including 956 fatal, an increase of 44,172 over the previous year, and that the number of fatal accidents increased during the same period by 89, his Department is exercising a closer inspection, particularly in the use of wire ropes?

I think the long account which the Chief Inspector gives in his Annual Report for 1924, of accidents due to failure of wire ropes, shows the close attention which is being given to this question by my Department. In addition to what is said there, I may state that special provisions for the prevention of such accidents have been inserted in the revised Docks Regulations which came into force last Spring, and similar provisions have also been included in the draft Regulations for Shipbuilding which are now under discussion. The matter will continue to be closely watched.

asked the Homo Secretary whether, having regard to the high total of deaths due to transmission machinery, it is proposed to introduce fresh legislation rendering owners or persons responsible for the machinery liable to imprisonment in the case of avoidable accidents?

In cases where an accidnet is due to neglect of the occupier to comply with the requirements of the law, the occupier is liable to a maximum penalty of £100, but I find that this maximum is not often imposed, and I doubt whether a power to sentence to imprisonment would be of much practical use. Successful proceedings for failure to fence transmission machinery have been recently taken in a number of cases and important decisions as to the liability of occupiers have been obtained from the High Court. Special steps have also been taken to instruct occupiers by the issue of a Safety Pamphlet on the subject, and I am hopeful that these measures may have the desired effect.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the number of accidents that have occurred with wire ropes where the ratio of pulley to rope diameter and pulley to wire diameter was too low, it is proposed to issue regulations stipulating that ratios below 20 shall not be used?

I am advised that there is at present considerable variation in engineering practice, and no definite standards have been laid down as to the correct ratios between rope or wire diameters and pulley diameters. This question is at present being examined by a Committee of the British Engineering Standards Association, on which the Factory Department is represented, and the matter will be further considered when the Report of that Committee has been received.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Peoples' Dispensary for Sick Animals of the Poor treat over 200,000 animals yearly, and that not one of the persons who administer medicine and perform operations is a qualified veterinary surgeon; and what steps does he propose to take to prevent avoidable pain to these animals at the hands of unskilled persons?

My attention has not previously been called to this matter. Treatment of animals by a person not having a veterinary qualification is not an offence against the law. The Protection of Animals Act forbids, inter alia, any wanton or unreasonable act causing unnecessary suffering and any operation "performed without due care and humanity." But I have no reason to suppose that the work of this society, the object of which appears to be the relief of animal suffering, is carried on otherwise than with care and humanity.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can make any statement as to the circumstances surrounding the cancellation by the proprietors of the hall of a meeting to be held at St. James's Club, Soho, on 14th June, under the auspices of the Friends of Italian Freedom; whether the police took any and, if so, what action in connection with this meeting; and whether he is aware that a member of the police went to an employé of St. James's Club and stated that disturbances might be expected by the British Fascisti, that the police could not accept any responsibility for the con- sequences, and that the club would be well advised to cancel the letting?

As I stated in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Colonel Day) on the 25th June last, the Metropolitan Police did not in any way interfere with the holding of this meeting. I have no knowledge of the reasons for its cancellation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has completed his investigations into the bogus night clubs in London and other cities; whether he is preparing legislation for next Session; and, in the mean-lime, what steps has he taken, and is taking, to deal with the evil by administrative action?

This matter is still under investigation, and i am not in a position to make any statement as to the prospects of legislation. The police have taken action in a number of instances. They will continue to maintain the closest watch on night clubs' and all practicable steps will be taken to secure that these clubs comply with the existing law.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the circumstances surrounding the confinement of Wilfred Tiplady, a certified lunatic, to Broadmoor criminal asylum, he having been found guilty, but insane, at Leeds Assizes on a charge of manslaughter committed on 29th June, 1925; that Tiplady, a dumb epileptic, has been a certified lunatic since January, 1916; that he was originally confined in the Derby County Asylum at the age of 14 years, and subsequently transferred to the Menston Mental Hospital, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, although his relatives made strong protests against such transfer on the grounds that they would be unable to visit him and by their ministrations mitigate his tendency to violence; that on the occasion on which he committed the offence he was one of a party of 112 patients in charge of only two attend- ants; that he was not allowed legal representation at his trial, nor were his relatives allowed to be present; and whether, in view of the fact that the constitutional violence of Tiplady was doubtless aggravated by reason of his isolation from the attention of his relatives, he will take immediate steps to have him removed from his present place of criminal detention?

Tiplady is detained in Broadmoor in his own interests and in the interests of the public. After most careful consideration I should not feel justified, in view of all the circumstances, in authorising his transfer to a local mental hospital.

asked the Home Secretary what answer he returned to the deputation from the Association of Conservative Clubs which waited upon him recently; and whether it is proposed to introduce a Bill embodying the desires of this association?

I informed the deputation that their proposals for the modification of the restrictions upon the supply of intoxicating liquor in registered clubs would be carefully considered, and that I proposed to consult my colleagues in the Cabinet on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether any representation has been made by his Department to the Ministry of Health calling attention to the primitive sanitary conveniences in factories in the West Riding of Yorkshire and parts of the textile manufacturing area in Lancashire, more especially in regard to the absence of intervening ventilating space between the workrooms and dry closets, due in the main to the failure of local authorities to insist on adequate sanitary arrangements; and whether it is proposed to take any legislative action to ensure that the sanitary arrangements of factories employing large numbers of workpeople shall be put in a satisfactory condition?

Yes, Sir. The position was discussed with the Ministry of Health some time ago with special reference to the areas in question, and in a number of cases the Ministry have given valuable assistance by stimulating the local authorities to insist on better arrangements. As, however, the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector shows, the position is by no means satisfactory, and the question of making better provision in regard to this matter has been receiving my consideration.

asked the Home Secretary what instructions were given to Mr. Williams, who attended the International Labour Conference at Geneva on the question of night baking and weekly rest in glassworks; and when it is proposed to introduce legislation dealing with these subjects?

On the question of night baking, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on Thursday last to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Maclean). As regards the weekly rest in glassworks, I would refer him to the Report of the British Delegates, which is mentioned in that reply. The proposed Convention was not adopted by the Conference, the necessary two-thirds majority required by the Treaty not having been obtained. It is not proposed to introduce legislation on either subject.