asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is now in a position to state the actual or approximate number of officers of the provincial services who have been officially recognised as of non-Asiatic domicile?

The Government of India have reported that the approximate total number of officers in the regular provincial services whose claims to non-Asiatic domicile have been officially recognised is 112. It is possible that this number may be slightly increased in the future, but it is not anticipated that any increase will be substantial.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the latest Report of the Civil Justice Committee of the Government of India on the Administration of Civil Justice in Burma, especially the reference therein to numerous irregularities and mistakes and the appointment of junior magistrates to posts for which they have acquired practically no experience or training; whether these junior magistrates are empowered to pass sentence of death; why the proposals of the Islington Committee of 1912, that junior magistrates should undergo training under a subordinate Judge, are stated in the above Report to be still under the consideration of the Secretary of State and awaiting his orders; and will he inform the House what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs?

I have not been able to understand the reference made in the hon. Member's question and shall be obliged if he will let me know the particular Report which he has in mind and the passages to which he refers. I will then endeavour to reply to the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that at the last examination for the Indian Civil Service in England 36 candidates, mostly British, were selected, while in the previous examination in India only five candidates were selected; and whether, as this result is inconsistent with the recommendation of the Lee Commission that a proportion of 50 to 50 in the cadre should be attained in the Indian Civil Service without undue delay, and that the present rate of Indian recruitment should be accelerated with this object, will he say what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The total number of officers appointed to the Indian Civil Service since 1st January, 1925, by open competition in the United Kingdom and India is 43. Of these 36 (21 Europeans and 15 Indians) were appointed on the open competition held in London in August, and seven (Indians) on the Allahabad examination of last January. The numbers of Europeans and Indians recruited by examination are thus approximately equal. In addition, a certain number of posts is filled yearly by the promotion of Indians from the provincial services. The recommendation of the Lee Commission as regards Indianisation was that approximate equality in the numbers of Europeans and Indians in the Indian Civil Service should be reached at the end of 15 years, and recruitment, whether by promotion or examination, is at present being regulated to this end.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of children attending the elementary schools under the Ebbw Vale Education Authority; whether he considers the accommodation provided is satisfactory; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to compel the authority to provide suitable accommodation?

As regards the first part of the question the total average-attendance for the year 1924–25 was 5,971. I am aware of the position as regards elementary school accommodation in this area, but in view of the exceptional conditions prevailing there, I do not consider that the local authority would be assisted in dealing with the very difficult problems which confront them by any attempt at coercion upon my part.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) if he is aware of the dissatisfaction expressed by 800 Essex elementary school teachers at a recent meeting following the failure of the Essex Education Committee to accept the Burnham salary award; and whether steps are being taken with a view to bringing this authority into line;(2), if he is aware of the deadlock existing in the County of Essex, and the consequent ill-effects in the elementary schools in that county, owing to the failure of the local education committee to adopt the Burnham scale of salaries; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by me on 7th December to. the right hon. Member for Newcastle Central (Mr. Trevelyan), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the prevailing tendency to confine the appointment to headships of secondary schools to members of the older universities, to the prejudice of many who have had to go to other universities more within their means; and whether he will obtain a return showing the number of persons from each of the universities who hold headships of secondary schools?

On the information before me I do not think that any such tendency exists, or that any useful purpose would be served by a return such as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the nature and extent of the administrative economies which the Board are understaking in their own administration as stated in Circular 1371; and whether those economies include any con- sideration reduction of the inspectorate of the Board?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave the right hon. Member on the 3rd December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has recently received a request for a loan of up to £3,000,000 from the Government of Hong Kong; for what purposes the loan is required; whether he has any information as to the likelihood of this application being followed by others of a similar character; what reply he has given to the request; and whether any steps have been taken on behalf of His Majesty's Government towards bringing the boycott of British trade at Hong Kong to an end?

Yes, Sir; the Governor applied in September last for a loan up to the amount mentioned for the purpose of restoring confidence and increasing the supply of money available for financing trade. Arrangements were made to give effect to the Governor's wishes and the making available of the sum in question saved the Colony at a serious moment. It is possible that if the boycott continues and trade conditions get worse further assistance may have to be considered next year. In reply to the last, part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Yarmouth (Sir F. Meyer) by my hon. Friend the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs last Wednesday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Imam Yehya of Sana, is anxious to have a treaty of goodwill concluded between His Britannic Majesty and himself so that his territories may be opened up to commerce; and whether negotiations for this treaty can be accelerated so that this country can, at an early date, have the benefit of increased trade with the Yemen?

Negotiations with the ruler referred to have been in progress for some time past. It has now been decided to depute a British officer, Sir Gilbert Clayton, to visit the Imam's capital in order to bring the negotiations to a conclusion. Sir G. Clayton is proceeding on his mission at once. He expects to reach Aden on the 23rd December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the British Government continues to collect sums from the Cypriote people; if so, what is the amount collected this year; and does this amount go against the grant from the British Government?

The net charge on Cyprus in respect of the Ottoman Guaranteed Loan of 1855 this year, and for many years past, is £42,800, namely, £92,800, the average amount paid to the Turkish Government before the occupation, less £50,000, the amount of the grant-in-aid annually voted by Parliament. If Cyprus had not been subject to this special charge she would doubtless have been compelled to contribute to the charge of the general Ottoman Debt, like other countries detached from the Turkish Empire, under the Treaty of Lausanne.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the disquietude caused in the Navy by the wording of paragraph 2, of A.F.O. 2859, 3rd October, 1925, he can see his way clear to give a definite promise on behalf of His Majesty's Government that, in the event of any further reduction in naval pay, those serving on and before 4th October, 1926, will not be affected by it?

So far as the present Parliament is concerned, no reduction in the pay of these naval ratings is intended.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how much money has been spent on private firms out of the Navy Estimates for each of the years since the conclusion of the War?

This information could only be furnished at a cost of time and labour which we do not feel justified in expending at the present time when the staff is particularly engaged in connection with the Estimates and other important work.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will do his best to find other employment for the 250 women who are under notice of dismissal from his Department at the end of December?

There are at the moment 201 women in this Department who have received two months' notice of the impending termination of their services at the end of December. Unfortunately, it is not possible to transfer these women to other Government Departments. The Ministry is, however, . in touch with a number of private employers, and is doing its best to enable these officers to secure employment outside by affording them facilities, during office hours, for interviewing prospective employers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to employ additional staff on the extra work now being undertaken in his Department in connection with the new pensions scheme rather than employ the permanent staff on continuous overtime; and whether he has considered this question from the standpoint of economy?

My right hon. Friend has already engaged a very large number of temporary ex-service clerks, and he is satisfied that the necessity for employing the existing trained and experienced permanent staff on overtime could not be obviated by the employment of further additional temporary staff. While considerations of economy are always present with my right hon. Friend, the overriding factor in the staffing arrangements must be the interests of the work itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the cost of couriers in 1913–14 and the cost in 1925–26?

The figures are as follow:

—		1913–14.	1925–26.
Foreign Office Vote.		£	£
1.	Salaries of King's Messengers travelling from London	1,680	11,948
2.	Travelling Expenses	3,535	13,615
Vote for Diplomatic and Consular Services.
3.	Amount provided for Local Couriers, resident abroad and connecting various Missions not visited by King's Messengers	4,000	16,500
		£9,215	£42,063

It should be observed with regard to the first item that whereas in 1913–14 there were six King's Messengers there are now 25, of whom 10 are temporary. In 1913 the messengers were employed solely in carrying Foreign Office bags, but at the present time the staff of messengers when not actually engaged on journeys is employed at the Foreign Office on the work of cyphering and decyphering telegrams and duties connected therewith.As regards the second item, it may be noted that in 1913 there were only two regular

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that under previous Governments efforts have been made to reduce overtime to a minimum when girls were being demobilised from the Service; and whether he is now prepared to give an assurance that efforts will be made by Departments to employ experienced extemporary Government women clerks rather than to employ the permanent staff on overtime?

I am aware that the facts are as stated. It is the policy of the present Government to reduce overtime to a minimum, but the hon. Member will realise that at times of special pressure the services of existing trained staff may be essential and that it is not always possible to avoid overtime by employing further temporary staff. With reference to the last part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that it is the declared policy of the Government to give preference for such vacancies as exist to ex-service men.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what efforts he is making to alleviate the problem of unemployment amongst those temporary men and women with many years Government service; whether he is aware that under the previous administration hours were reduced and overtime was abolished; and whether he is prepared to make the same efforts himself, so that the Government service does not add to the numbers claiming unemployment benefit at this juncture?

I am not aware that under any administration it has been possible to abolish overtime. For the rest, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question to-day asked by the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Bromley).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that throughout the taxes service writing assistants are employed in ones and twos contrary to the decisions of the National Whitley Council for Civil Service, which laid down that members of this grade could only be employed where large blocks of writing assistant work existed?

The nature of the duties which are appropriate in the Inland Revenue to the grade of writing assistants is at present a subject of inquiry by the Departmental Whitley Council.

asked the Home Secretary whether there are any Regulations forbidding ex-police officers in receipt of pensions from publishing matter based on information gained by them in the course of their occupation as police officers?

The provisions on this subject are statutory: they are contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1911 and 1920, and the Police Pensions Act, 1921. Section 15 (1) (e) of the latter Act provides for the forfeiture and withdrawal, at the discretion of the police authority, of the pension of any police pensioner who publishes in a manner which the police authority consider to be discreditable or improper any information which the pensioner may have obtained in the course of his employment in the police.

asked the Home Secretary whether the representations made to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the matter of rent-aid allowances to officers who reside in their own houses have been finally considered; and, if so, with what result?

The representations have been considered and it has been decided to modify the basis of assessment, with effect from October last, by adopting the revised assessment for Income Tax (Schedule A) where this is higher than the existing assessment.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Commissioner of Police has withheld permis- sion for the use on public motor vehicles of a patent automatic coupling, and has refused to state the grounds upon which such permission is withheld; whether he will have the application reconsidered; and, if permission cannot be granted, will he state the reason?

Permission to use the automatic coupling on public carriages has been refused, because the trials have not satisfied the Commissioner. It is open to the inventor to continue his experiments on vehicles not licensed by the police.

asked the Home Secretary the number of accidents duo to motor tractors which have occurred in London during the past 12 months; and whether he will issue instructions that special records should be kept of accidents due to this type of vehicle, in which the driver has no clear view of the road ahead?

If by "motor tractors" steam wagons are meant, the fatalities caused by these in the 12 months ended the 31st October last were 20, in addition to 11 due to trailers drawn by such wagons.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the number of motor accidents; whether he is aware that last year they reached nearly 56,000, of which 2,500 were fatal and of the former it was estimated that 6,600 were incidental to night riding; and whether, therefore, he will consider the advisability of imposing restrictions on the use of high-powered headlights or make it an obligation upon all motorists to use headlights which do not glare and dazzle oncoming drivers, but impinge on to the roadway?

My right hon. Friend is unable to check the estimate given by the hon. Member of the number of accidents incidental to night driving. As my right hon. Friend has stated on previous occasions, he is considering the question of asking for additional powers to deal with dazzling headlights in the Road Vehicles Bill which he hopes to introduce.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to amend the Road Vehicles (Part Year Licensing) Order, 1924, dated 1st November, 1924 (Statutory Rules and Orders, 1924, No. 1245), so as to authorise the grant of shorter period licences at pro rata rates to owners of chars-a-banc, etc., in order that vehicles now laid up during slack seasons may be brought into occasional use?

The Road Vehicles (Part Year Licensing) Order, 1924, taken in conjunction with Section 18 (1) of the Finance Act, 1924, enables the owner of a motor vehicle to obtain what is in effect a monthly licence for any month of the year. My right hon. Friend is not disposed to recommend the issue of licences for any shorter period.

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements are being made by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to ensure the efficient working of the gyratory system of dealing with traffic in Parliament Square this month; and whether any action will be taken with regard to pedestrian traffic?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the detailed arrangements are not yet completed, but everything possible will be done to ensure the efficient working of the experimental scheme, and the interests of pedestrians will be taken into due account.

asked the Minister of Transport the amounts of the reserve funds of the British railway companies for 1924, and if he. can give the same information for 1913?

The amount of the reserves and depreciation funds of the railway companies in Great Britain, as shown in the published balance sheets, was £114,287,534 at 31st December, 1924, and £20,725,848 at the same date in 1913.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has had any representation made to him from the Poplar Borough Council for the widening of Garford Street, Poplar; and, if so, what his view of the proposition is?

My right hon. Friend is aware that the Poplar Borough Council are contemplating an improvement of this road, but as no formal application has yet reached him it is not possible at this stage to express an opinion upon the scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value per month of the articles covered by the Safeguarding of Lace and Embroidery Act that were imported during the three months immediately preceding the passing of that Act, and those imported for the same three months of the previous year?

The following statement shows the value of the aggregate imports, re-exports and net imports, registered during the months specified, of the following descriptions of goods: Cotton lace and plain net, and articles thereof (except embroidery); lace made wholly or partly of silk and articles thereof (except embroidery); embroidery and needlework (except linen embroidery) made by machinery on net and dissoluble fabrics:

Period.		Imports	Re-exports.	Net Imports.
1924—		£	£	£
April	…	178,680	139,268	39,412
May	…	215,817	178,692	37,125
June	…	176,812	164,401	12,411
1925—
April	…	133,359	94,078	39,281
May	…	153,962	99,419	54,543
June	…	167,491	82,698	84,793
These figures do not include lace or embroidery forming part of made-up articles of apparel, or included in postal parcels.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the production of iron and steel per person employed in the industry in Great Britain, Belgium, Germany and France, respectively, for the current year;(2) the amount of capital, the number of establishments, the number of persons employed, and the total output for the iron and steel trades in Great Britain, Belgium, Germany and France, respectively, for the first nine months of this year?

I regret that I am unable to give any of the specified particulars for the four countries named, except those of the production of pig-iron and crude steel, which are as follows, in respect of the period January-September, 1925:

Country.		Production in January—September, 1925.
		Pig-iron.	Steel ingots and castings.
		Tons.	Tons.
United Kingdom	…	4,765,000	5,484,300
Belgium	…	2,004,000	1,895,000
Germany	…	7,831,000	9,479,000
France	…	6,144,000	5,354,000

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that it has been proposed to admit the general public to the British Industries Fair in 1926 and to permit the manufacturer exhibitors to sell their merchandise direct to the consumer, he is aware that traders view this proposition with alarm, as being contrary to the principles of trade and also to the legitimate interests of retail traders; and whether, considering that this fair is an institution promoted for the purpose of bringing manufacturers and trade buyers together, he will forthwith give an assurance that no manufacturer exhibitor at the fair will be allowed to sell goods to the public by retail sale?

As I have already stated, I have been in consultation with representatives of important retailers' associations in regard to the desire of certain exhibitors at; the British Industries Fair to be allowed to sell sample articles at retail prices to members of the general public from 5 to 8 p.m. and on the afternoon of the one Saturday which falls within the fair period. In view of the representations made to me I have now arranged that direct sales to the general public shall not be permitted except that in the food section and Empire section exhibitors who may desire to do 60, will be allowed to sell bona fide tasting samples at retail prices. The retailers' representatives whom I have consulted have expressed their full agreement with this arrangement, and I am assured that I can now count upon their co-operation for a successful fair.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the objection of the retail traders to the proposal to permit manufacturers to sell goods to the general public at the British Industries Fair, 1926; and if he will take steps to stop this proposal?

As I have already stated, I have been in consultation with representatives of important retailers' associations in regard to the desire of certain exhibitors at the British Industries Fair to be allowed to sell sample articles at retail prices to members of the general public from 5 to 8 p.m. and on the afternoon of the one Saturday which falls within the Fair period. In view of the representations made to me I have now arranged that direct sales to the general public shall not be permitted except that in the Food Section and Empire Section exhibitors who may desire to do so, will be allowed to sell bona fide tasting samples at retail prices. The retailors' representatives whom I have consulted have expressed their full agreement with this arrangement, and I am assured that I can now count upon their co-operation for a successful Fair.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes are taking any steps to encourage the sale of British and Dominion goods?

Yes, Sir: I am informed that the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes are making a special display this month of British made goods and Empire products.

asked the. President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the dissatisfaction caused by the statement of accounts of the British Empire Exhibition he will consider the advisability of settling up a Committee of Inquiry?

For the reasons which I gave last week in the Debate on the Supplementary Estimate for the British Empire Exhibition, I do not consider that the setting up of a Committee of Inquiry is desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any steps are in contemplation to counteract the rising price of bread, due largely to the serious advance in the price of Canadian wheat; and is he in a position to state the cause of this position?

The Food Council will hold a public meeting to-morrow at which they will examine witnesses on the recent rise in the price of wheat, including Canadian wheat. Their examination of the question should disclose the causes of the rise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total cash amount the Government has invested in the Kelham Sugar Factory; and what is the estimated value of the investment to-day?

The total cash invested by the Government in the company, Home-Grown Sugar, Limited, who own the Kelham Beet Sugar Factory and the Kelham Estate, is as follows:

(a) £250,000 in ordinary shares of £l each, fully paid. These shares, together with ordinary shares of a similar amount held by the general public, were reduced in 1923 to 250,000 shares of 5s. each, which sum, namely, £62,500, may be taken as their present value.

(b) £124,950 on mortgage ranking after prior mortgages of £l26,538, and secured upon the factory and estate, valued at £397,463. Having regard to the fact that the company is now working at a profit and all mortgage interest has been paid in full to the last due dates, the sum of £124,950 may be taken as the present value of this investment.

(c) £32,231 has been advanced to meet the Government's guarantee of dividend upon the ordinary shares in the company held by the general public. Since the financial year ended 31st March, 1923, no further call upon the Government's guarantee has been made. This sum, with interest at 5 per cent. per annum, is repayable by the company out of future profits, after paying dividend limited to 5 per cent. upon the public shares and after the necessary provision for depreciation and reserve. This may be taken also at the value stated in the footnote to the balance sheet of the company contained in White Paper No. 163 of 5th August, 1925, namely, £36,568. The reduction of the share capital held by the general public (see (a) above) relieves the Government of its guarantee of dividend until 31st March, 1930, upon £187,500 being three fourths of the original subscribed value of the public shares.

The total cash amount the Government has invested in the Kelham Beet Sugar Factory is therefore £407,181, and the estimated value of the investment to-day £224,018.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the municipality of Constantinople is still seizing the revenues from the Galata bridge tolls, which form the security for the Constantinople loan of 1909?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister what is the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to a continuance of our mandate in Mesopotamia?

Perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to await the statement of Government policy which, as at present arranged, is to be made this week.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that it is the practice of the three services to stop or reduce to a minimum the allotments payable to a man's dependants within a week of his death; that this course was taken after the loss of M 1; and whether the present arrangements can be put on a more humane footing?

I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the nature and object of the practice to which he refers. A payment equivalent to the compulsory allotment with its accompanying marriage allowance is issuable at public expense for four weeks from the date of notification of death to the man's family, pension when admissible beginning from the termination of four weeks. The practice is expressly designed to mitigate the hardship to the man's family which I gather the hon. Member has in mind. The allotment is paid by the State and not charged against the man's account. Voluntary allotments naturally cease from date of death.

asked the Minister of Health whether a large number of specific charges have been brought to his notice with regard to the breach of Poor Law Regulations which have been repeated publicly, and have not been challenged or denied by those concerned; whether he will cause an inquiry to be made in the matter; and what will be the nature of such inquiry?

It is impossible to investigate charges of this kind, however specific they may be unless they are made in relation to specified institutions or individuals. Any charges which are capable of investigation are made the subject of inquiry through my right hon. Friend's Department. The exact nature of the inquiry would depend in each case upon the particulars of the charge and the circumstances surrounding it.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that it is the habit of many Poor Law guardians to hand on the belongings of one asylum inmate to another on discharge, and to break up the effects of any inmate who has been more than three years under detention; and will he issue instructions to discontinue such a practice which bears very hardly upon the poor?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of the existence of such a practice as is suggested and, as he has already informed the hon. Member, he will be glad to inquire into any particular case which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated cost in the first instance of the transfer of the duties of the administration of the Poor Law from the guardians to the county council, including the cost of adjusting boundaries; and what is the estimated cost of the annual increase of the cost of administration in subsequent years?

It is not practicable to make such an estimate as my hon. and learned friend suggests, and I may say that my right hon. Friend is not aware of any foundation for certain figures which have recently been published in this connection. As regards the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend would anticipate that an important result of the reform would be a considerable saving in administration as a consequence of similar services at present in the hands of two sets of authorities being transferred to one class of authority.

asked the Minister of Health if he will cause inquiry to be made into the case of T. J. Hard-wick, at present detained as an ex-service patient in Chatham Asylum, Kent; is he aware that his mother is anxious to have him out on trial for a month under Section 55 of the Lunacy Act; that her own doctor has signified to the medical superintendent his willingness to look after the son, and that a suitable male nurse is available to take care of him while on trial, a course recommended by a member of the board of control: and will he take steps to see that no impediment is placed in the way of his temporary release on trial?

My right hon. Friend has made inquiries in this case. The power to grant leave on trial is vested by law in the visitors of the hospital on the written advice of the medical superintendent. The superintendent is, however, unable to advise the visitors that they should permit Mr. Hardwick to be absent on trial. A report made within the last few days shows that this is a dangerous patient who is not fit at present to be discharged from institutional care. I would like to add that last year this patient was allowed out on leave in the care of his mother, but had to be brought back on the following day to the institution.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the poisonous spraying of foreign applies imported into this country; what brands of applies are affected; and what steps he is taking to safeguard British consumers of applies?

Yes, Sir. As the bon. and gallant Member for Southwark (Colonel Day) was informed on the 25th June last, the matter has been under the observation of my Department for a number of years. My right hon. Friend is sorry to say that recent analyses have shown the presence of increased quantities of arsenic on certain brands of imported Jonathans. The safeguarding of consumers is in the hands of the Port Sanitary and other local authorities whom my right hon. Friend is reminding of the necessity for strict supervision. He is, however, trying to arrange that measures shall be taken to effect the removal of the contamination before the apples are packed for export to this country.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the high infant mortality of Market Drayton still persists and has persisted for 10 years or more; will he now publish the recommendations for its diminution made by the Report of his Medical Inspector, omitting those which he considers confidential, if there are any such; and, if not, will he send another medical inspector to inspect and report?

I am aware that the infant mortality rate in Market Drayton has generally been in excess of the average rate for the whole country, although this has not always been the case in the past 10 years. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my previous answers on this subject. The county council are taking steps to provide a new infant welfare centre in this district, and the further inspection suggested in the-last part of the question does not, therefore, seem to be necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the profits or losses of the Post Office as a whole for each year since and including 1912–13, together with the net profit during the period; and whether all such profits went to the National Exchequer?

The profits and losses, as shown by the Commercial Accounts of the Post Office, after providing for depreciation and interest on capital, were as follow:

Profit.
				£
1912–13	…	…	…	4,681,321
1913–14	…	…	…	5,200,132
1914–15	…	…	…	3,544,254
1915–16	…	…	…	5,366,424
1916–17	…	…	…	6,191,501
1917–18	…	…	…	6,647,423
1918–19	…	…	…	7,447,556
Loss.
1919–20	…	…	…	1,128,065
1920–21	…	…	…	6,736,511
1921–22	…	…	…	1,260,752
Profit (Approximate).
1922–23	…	…	…	4,450,245
1923–24	…	…	…	5,291,022
1924–25	…	…	…	5,294,000

All profits of the Post Office accrue to the Exchequer, which also boars the losses.

asked the Postmaster-General the various alterations in postal rates and weights since August, 1914?

The rates, and the alterations made from time to time, are

—		1914	June, 1918.	June, 1920.	June, 1921.	May, 1922.
Initial letter rate (inland and imperial)	…	1d.	1½d.	2d.	2d.	1½d.
Initial letter rate (foreign)	…	2½d.	2½d.	2½d.	3d.	2½d.
						(May, 1923.)
Postcard rate (inland)	…	½d.	1d.	1d.	l½d.	1d.
Initial printed paper rate	…	½d.	½d.	½d.	1d.	½d.
Inland parcel rate (up to 2 lb.)	…	4d.	6d.	9d.	9d.	6d.
						(May. 1923.)
Inland parcel rate (up to 11 lb.)	…	l1d.	1s.	1s. 6d.	1s. 6d.	1s. 3d.
						(May. 1923.)

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the case of established night telephonists with previous unestablished service, any of the latter service was paid under allowance; and, if so, in what form, through what officers, and for what period?

I am making inquiry and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War the cost of moving the Army of Occupation from Cologne to Wiesbaden?

I regret that it is not yet possible to say what the cost will be, pending the receipt of detailed information from the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated cost to the Exchequer for the coming financial year of the Tithe Kill, the Criminal Justice Bill, and the Rating and Valuation Bill, respectively?

The estimated cost of the Tithe Bill to the Exchequer in 1926–27 is £292,500. As far as I am aware, the Criminal Justice Bill and the Rating and Valuation Bill do not involve any appreciable additional cost.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total number of men employed in the coal mines of Durham County on the following dates. 31st October, 1923, 1924, and 1925?

The numbers of wage earners on colliery books in the County of Durham on 51st October, 1923, 1924, and 1925 were 172,600, 158,700, and 142,400, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of carpenters, bricklayers, masons, slaters, plasterers, painters, plumbers, and labourers that were unemployed on the last date for which the number is available?

The latest information available is that relating to 26th October, when the number of insured workpeople in the building trade of Great Britain recorded as unemployed was as under:

Carpenters	…	2,864
Bricklayers	…	911
Masons	…	781
Slaters	…	193
Plasterers	…	202
Painters	…	18,230
Plumbers	…	1,521
Labourers	…	24,377
Other workers in the Building Trade	…	20,313
		69,392