asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Board of Health's survey of all sources of pollution of streams in Scotland, distinguishing between the various kinds of pollution, has been completed, and, if so, what steps have been taken or are in contemplation to prevent or minimise the pollution of rivers and streams in Scotland by the discharge of sewage from populous towns and urban districts?

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that the Mussel-burgh town council has frequently complained to the Midlothian county council that the River Esk is allowed to be polluted in its upper reaches, and that no effective steps are taken to prevent this, and if the Board of Health have now come to a decision as to how to deal with river pollution in Scotland?

The returns made to the Scottish Board of Health as to sources of pollution of streams in Scotland have been completed, and the Board, in consultation with the Fishery Board are considering whether any action is desirable to improve the machinery for dealing with river pollution. With reference to the particular case of the River Esk, I am aware of the communications made by the Musselburgh town council to the Midlothian county council, and also of a complaint recently lodged by the town council with the Board of Health. I may point out that it is competent for the town council themselves to institute proceedings against the alleged pollution, even although the source of pollution is outwith their district, and that the Board have so advised the town council. The Board's consent to such proceedings is necessary, but so far it has not been sought. The Board themselves have no power to institute proceedings.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the sums paid out in relief of persons in each of the parishes in the middle ward of Lanark in the year 1913–14, compared with payments made for the same purpose in each of the years 1922–23, 1923,24 and 1924–25?

As the answer involves a long tabular statement, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to forward a copy to him.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of persons at present in receipt of relief in each of the various parishes of the middle ward of Lanarkshire who were at any time, since the termination of the Great War, drawing pension or treatment allowances from the Ministry of Pensions?

The information desired is not shown in the parish council records. To obtain the figures asked for it would be necessary to call for a special return, the compilation of which would involve an inquiry into the past history of the persons at present in receipt of relief. It is doubtful whether the value of this return would be commensurate with the labour and expense involved.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the bonus to members of the Glasgow Police Force approved by him has been paid to all police officers serving during the period for which the bonus was payable, namely, 1st July, 1920, to 31st March, 1921; and, if not, what are the reasons for withholding the same?

The bonus in question has been paid to all police officers serving during the period mentioned, with the exception of certain officers who left the force before the Resolution to pay the bonus was passed, and whose addresses could not be ascertained; and with the further exception of seven men, who were not included on the ground that they were temporary constables whom it was not intended to appoint to the permanent force.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of staff in the Foreign Office employed to-day and its cost; and whether he can see his way to reduce the same in the coming year?

The total number of the staff of the Foreign Office, as provided for in the Estimates (Class II, Vote 5) for the current year, is 880 and the cost £275,512. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 16th instant to the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Morris).

asked the Under-secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, as the Office of Works has discharged about 200 painters during the past few months, any consideration is being given to the advisability of finding these men useful employment?

The discharges which have taken place are due to the fact that the painting programme for which provision was made in the Estimates for the current year is gradually reaching completion. Owing to the urgent necessity of limiting public expenditure, it is not practicable to initiate a supplementary programme for the purpose of providing employment for the men recently discharged.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works whether immediate steps will be taken to provide more suitable office accommodation for the staff of His Majesty's inspector of taxes, Accrington, at the post office buildings in Abbey Street, where they are in close proximity to the automatic telephone exchange where three large dynamos are working directly opposite the door of the general office, the intermittent hum of which is irritating and distracting, particularly to those members of the staff who at this period of the year are engaged on the duty of summarising assessments, calling for the closest possible concentration?

The answer is in the negative. The First Commissioner is advised that this complaint is quite unjustified, and the offices in question are suitable for their purpose and the noise from the dynamos is almost imperceptible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether it has been brought to his notice that the accommodation provided for the Newark tax district was made the subject of special representations by the deputation from the Trades Union Congress General Council last June; and if he will explain the reason why, in these circumstances, the retention of the lease until 1928 was sanctioned?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; arrangements had, however, been made in 1924 to retain these premises, which are considered to be reasonably satisfactory, until 1928.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department as representing the First Commissioner of Works whether steps will be taken to improve the conditions in the office of His Majesty's inspector of taxes, first district, Peterborough, where four members of the staff are working in a room containing a very small fireplace, five doors, and three windows looking out into a well, and where the amount of natural light thrown into the room, even with the aid of reflectors, is so poor that electric light is burned all day during the winter months; whether he is aware that the fumes given off by the gas radiator are so bad that the staff are frequently obliged to work without any heating whatever; and whether some provision will be made for the storage of cycles, which are used by seven members of the staff and which are at present entirely unprotected from theft?

Investigation is being made into the conditions obtaining in this building, and I will communicate further with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether it is proposed to take early steps to ensure that more suitable accommodation is found for the Grimsby first and second tax offices than the present premises in Cleethorpe Road, where discomfort is caused by the smells arising from the close proximity of the office to the fish docks and certain curing houses, and which immediately adjoin the sidings of the London and North Eastern Railway, where shunting is always in progress?

The First Commissioner is advised that the conditions as regards the smell of fish prevailing at this office, which has been occupied by Government staffs since 1889, are not worse than at any centrally situated building in Grimsby. The premises are considered suitable for retention, but owing to recent increases in the staff it is proposed to rehouse one of the districts elsewhere.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that the heating arrangements for the public office in the Blackpool first tax district are inadequate and that the furnace is damped down at 3 o'clock each day and entirely during the week-end, with the result that during the early part of the week and after 4 o'clock each afternoon the office is bitterly cold; that temperature readings taken at 9 a.m., 12 noon, and 5 p.m. on each of the last seven working days vary from 46 degrees to 56 degrees; that a complaint was forwarded to the Office of Works on the 8th instant, but no steps appear to have been taken to remedy the existing conditions; and whether, as local representations have failed to produce any result, he will give instructions for adequate heating arrangements to be installed without delay?

The complaints made about the heating arrangements at this office are at present the subject of investigation. The landlords who are responsible for the provision of adequate heating to the portion of the building occupied by the tax office have called in their engineers with a view to improving the conditions. They state, however, that the furnace is fully charged between 5 and 6 p.m. each evening and damped down on Saturdays and re-lighted on Sunday evenings.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether early steps can be taken to improve the accommodation provided for the staff of the Norwood tax district, as it is at present overcrowded, badly ventilated, ill-lighted, and insanitary; whether he is aware that the house is very old and in such a bad state of repair that any movement of furniture occasions a fall of plaster in the room below; and whether, in view of the fact that a similar house in the same road having recently collapsed the staff feel a sense of insecurity, he will take action forthwith in the matter?

Negotiations are in progress with a view to the provision of additional accommodation for this office, including additional sanitary facilities. The First Commissioner is advised that there is no danger of the collapse of the structure.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason, for the delay in the fixing of the civilian clerical complements for the assistant director, Ordnance Services Provision, Pimlico; and whether he is in a position to state how soon the figures will be available?

This office is being reorganised in accordance with a scheme which is being applied to all War Department out-station offices throughout the United Kingdom. The scheme involves an investigation of the duties of each office and the regrading of every individual clerk therein. The work is well advanced in the case of the office of the assistant director, Ordnance Services (Provision), Pimlico, and it is not anticipated that the fixing of the clerical complements will be long delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the fact that the terms of Treasury Circular No. 14/20 relative to privilege holiday at Christmas are not being applied to the civilian clerical staffs in the War Office out-stations offices; and what action he proposes to take to give immediate effect to this authority of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury?

I understand that the Treasury Circular referred to was primarily designed to regulate the privilege holidays allowed in Headquarter Offices of the Civil Service and that it is not an authority for the extension of the holidays of civilian clerical staffs in War Department out-station offices. I see no sufficient ground for any increase in the holidays already allowed to the War Department clerks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in connection with the rates of remuneration and general conditions of service of the civilian clerical employés in the War. Office out-stations, charges arising out of the failure to apply the terms of a National Whitley Council agreement are being made against the War Office; and whether he will take action in the direction of an investigation of the charges made?

I am not aware that there has been a failure on the part of the War Office to apply the terms of a National Whitley Council agreement of this description. But I am aware that the application of the scheme of reorganisation of clerical grades in War Departmental out-station offices is giving rise to some dissatisfaction, and my right hon. Friend has consented to receive a deputation on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the present estimated annual cost of headquarters staff engaged on each of the following duties: education, medical, chaplains, administration of food, clothing and general stores, administration of technical stores, transport, staff duties, military personnel administration, martial law, civil personnel administration, legal services, contracts, finance, accounting and audit, inspection, recruiting, lands, buildings, and works, secretarial, and messengers, porters, and cleaners?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the very full details given in the published Army Estimates for 1925–26.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the effect of the alteration in the duties of messengers employed at the Record Office, Deptford, on these men owing to the fact that the new duties, although not of a considerable character, take the men from their homes for long periods of time on what should be holiday days; and if he will inquire into the matter and take the necessary steps to consider the position of these men, seeing that their wages, exclusive of insurance, are only £2 6s. 7d. per week, and that out of this the new duties, for which they will be paid nothing at all, will cost them sums ranging from 3s. to 6s. a week?

My attention had not been previously called to this matter. I am having inquiries made and will communicate the result to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether, as the whole of the work being undertaken in connection with the widows' and old age pensions scheme is new as far as the permanent staff are concerned, he can see his way to put on this work some of those with experience of pensions administration who are now unemployed or about to be unemployed?

I assume that this refers to the temporary women clerks now under notice of discharge from the Ministry of Pensions, and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wandsworth (Colonel Day) on the 23rd ultimo.

asked the Minister of Health how far, in making appointments in connection with the new work arising out of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, he has been able to adjust the previous inequality of opportunity between the men and women officers in his Department?

I would refer my Noble Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Lambeth (Mr. Briant) on the 15th instant.

asked the Minister of Health whether any allowances have been made to officers dealing with the new work arising from the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act; and, if so, what is the rank and sex of the officers to whom they have, been awarded?

Gratuities have been awarded to junior executive officers, higher clerical officers, and clerical officers of both sexes for increased work and responsibilities arising under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst the writing assistants and typist employed by his Department owing to the number of senior and suitable members of these grades for whom no avenue of promotion has been provided; and whether he will give sympathetic consideration to the filling of further clerical officer vacancies by promotion from such staff?

Avenues of promotion both for writing assistants and typists exist in the Ministry of Labour, and steps are being taken at the present time to make a number of promotions of officers in the grades in question.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he will give instructions to the effect that every effort should be made to come to a settlement on outstanding points of detail in connection with a recent agreement in principle reached between his Department and the appropriate association on the starting-pay of ex-temporary writing assistants in district managers' offices, so that the girls concerned, whose claims, now admitted, have been outstanding since March, 1924, should be able to receive any arreas due before Christmas;(2) whether he is aware that benefits due under the awards of the industrial court, dated 31st July, 1925; 24th July, 1925; and the 29th September, 1925, respectively, have not yet been paid out in his Department to those writing assistants, shorthand typists, and women clerical officers affected by the awards; that hardship exists amongst certain of his staff as a result, and that discontent exists amongst those concerned, owing to the fact that other Departments found it possible to pay out a few months ago; and whether, in the circumstances, he will give instruction for payment to be expedited in order that the girls may receive arrears before Christmas?

I understand that the benefits due to shorthand typists and women clerical officers under the industrial court awards have been, or are about to be, paid except in a few cases involving points of doubt. In the case of the writing assistants a difficulty of interpretation has arisen which is still under discussion with the staff association concerned, and this has delayed the issue of instructions. I am now arranging for the arrears due to be calculated and chocked as soon as possible, so far as the position is clear, but it will not, I fear, be practicable to make the payments before Christmas.

asked the Minister of Pensions who was responsible for altering the Departmental marks originally recommended in connection with the recent writing assistant examination for temporary women staff in the case of certain temporary women employed at the Pensions Issue Office and upon what grounds these alterations were made; whether he is aware that certain women staff employed in his Department have been demobilised or are under notice on account of their efficiency classification, although many of these were awarded much higher departmental marks in the recent examination for temporary women staff to enter the writing assistant grade than were awarded to other women placed in a higher efficiency category for the purpose of retention as temporary employés; and whether he can explain how this anomaly has arisen, in view of the fact that much discontent exists amongst the staff concerned?

The Civil Service Commissioners are responsible for the final assessment of departmental marks in examinations for entry to established service. The efficiency classifications which I have decided to adopt for determining the order of demobilisation of temporary women staff are not necessarily in every case identical with the award of departmental marks, which are based upon specific questions addressed to the Department by the Civil Service Commissioners.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can explain the anomalies existing in Departmental marking awarded to temporary women staff employed in Portsmouth dockyard in connection with the recent writing assistant examination for temporary women clerks, under which women employed on better work than others, on account of their efficiency, have received lower Departmental marks than their colleagues?

I have been asked to reply. The Departmental marks awarded to candidates at the recent examination, restricted to temporary women clerks, for writing assistant posts, were allotted by the Civil Service Commissioners on the basis of the replies of Departments to detailed questions framed by the Commissioners and directed to ascertain the. capacity and conduct of the candidates. I am not prepared to interfere with the discretion of the Civil Service Commissioners in the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of persons in each of the various Departments in receipt of salaries of over £400 per year, and the number who are receiving wages of less than £3 per week?

The information desired by the hon. Member is not immediately available, and the extensive detailed investigation which would be necessary in order to obtain it would not, I think, be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants there are whose total wage per week is £2 or under?

As indicated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Blackpool (Sir W. de Frece) on the 26th November, I regret that the material for answer to this question is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give further consideration to the desirability of offering writing assistantships to temporary women civil servants who obtained 450 marks or over in the writing assistant examination of January, 1925; and whether he will give some assurance that these women who have had many years in the Government service will not be prejudiced by the introduction of young girls from outside the service with no Government experience?

As regards the first part of the question, as I informed the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury) on the 15th December, the question of the number of marks necessary for qualification in examinations for entry to the Civil Service is one for the decision of the Civil Service Commissioners, and I should not feel justified in interfering with their decision. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on the 18th December to the hon. Member for North Lambeth (Mr. Briant), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many vacancies in the clerical class, general and departmental, of His Majesty's Civil Service were reported to the Civil Service Commission between, the 24th February, 1920, and 1st May, 1921; and what number of such vacancies were extant on the 31st December, 1920?

The vacancies in the clerical classes (general and departmental) notified to the Civil Service Commissioners in the period indicated numbered approximately 5,000. I have no information as to the number of vacancies which were unfilled on the 31st December, 1920.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the present estimated annual cost of headquarters staff engaged on each of the following duties: educational, medical, chaplains, administration of food, clothing and general stores, administration of technical stores, transport, staff duties, naval personnel administration, martial law, civil personnel administration, legal services, contracts, finance, accounting and audit, inspection, recruiting, lands, buildings and works, secretarial, messengers, porters, and cleaners?

A statement on these lines is being prepared, and I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the increased housing accommodation that will be needed by the employés of his Department who are transferred to the southern yards, he will investigate the possibility of building steel houses in Devonport dockyard?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 8th July last (OFFICIAL REPORT, Col. 404).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty precisely what arrangements he is making with regard to the men transferred, and to be transferred, from Rosyth and Pembroke to Devonport; and whether, in view of the housing situation in Devonport, he will refrain from sending any men until it is certain they can be properly accommodated?

I am sending to the hon. and gallant Member a statement showing in detail the answers to various questions which have arisen, including those which have been raised by the workmen's trade union representatives. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 16th December (OFFICIAL REPORT, Columns 1395/6). So far as is possible, men will be sent in batches, and I do not doubt that, with the financial assistance which is being given, they will be able to make temporary arrangements for accommodation.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can arrange for the publication in future Estimates of a statement, similar to that published in Army Estimates, showing the annual cost of maintenance of the Navy as distinct from annual cash expenditure thereon?

I regret that it would not be possible to furnish the statement without a considerable alteration of present accounting arrangements, involving increased expenditure for staff; but I would draw my hon. and gallant Friend's attention to the supplemental information which is given on pages 1 and 2 of the Navy Estimates and in the footnotes on pages 46 and 100.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether ho is in a position to estimate and state the numbers employed and/or the expenditure of salaries, wages and pay in the fighting units of the Navy and in other naval services, respectively?

The maximum number of the naval personnel for the service of the Flett, for whom provision was made in the Estimates, is shown in Vote A. The actual average number borne during the present financial year is estimated at 99,500. The provision for pay (excluding emoluments in kind, i.e., victualling, clothing and accommodation) amounts to £14,436,000. The estimated number of persons employed on other naval services, including officers at headquarters and at dockyards, etc., workmen at dockyards and other industrial establishment, staffs of educational and medical establishments, civilians on Fleet services, police, etc., is 83,750. The provision for salaries, wages ov pay is approximately £13,770,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the promise that the Corps of Military Accountants should not be disbanded unless the consent of the Committee of Public Accounts was obtained, he has received such consent; and, if not, whether he will cancel the notices terminating the employment of officers and other ranks in the corps?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state the circumstances in which the preparation of cost accounts of combatant units was discontinued and notices of dismissal issued to the staff engaged upon them in advance of the approval of the Committee of Public Accounts; and whether, in view of his assurance that the change in question was only to be made subject to their approval, he will arrange to suspend these notices of dismissal pending the Report of the Committee?

The decision of the Public Accounts Committee is now available to hon. Members. It in effect recognises that the full scheme of unit accounting proposed by the Lawrence Committee is not possible. I felt that, in the present circumstances of financial stringency, the Government could not forego the saving of some £17,000 a. month which the postponement of the change would have cost. So I gave directions for certain action to be taken in anticipation of the published decision. The services of about half the officers of the Corps of Military Accountants will be retained as officers of the Royal Army Pay Corps, the majority of whom will be employed on cast accounting, together with a considerable number of other ranks of the Corps of Military Accountants. It-is intended that the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee regarding cost accounting shall be carried out as fat-as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the hardship inflicted upon members of the Corps of Military Accountants who served overseas during the Great War and who are now being disbanded; and whether ha will consider increasing the gratuity now being paid to those being thrown out of employment?

The gratuity provided by Army Order 377 of 1925 for members of the Corps of Military Accountants discharged on reduction of establishment is based on exactly the same principles as the gratuity provided in Army Order 180 of 1922 in connection with the large reductions of establishment which took place in that year. I could not justify giving preferential treatment to men discharged on reduction of the Corps of Military Accountants. In respect of their services during the Great War, they have received the war gratuities to which they were entitled, in common with the rest of the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War the numbers of power-driven marine surface craft carried on the establishment of the Army for employment in conjunction with military operations other than transport; to what extent naval staff and facilities are employed on their current and special maintenance; whether they are commanded and manned by acting, attached, seconded, or ex-naval personnel; and, if the latter, what arrangements exist for maintaining supply of personnel with recent naval experience?

There are 22 vessels used for towing targets for coast battery artillery practice at; home and abroad, but these are also used for transport of troops and stores when not required for target towing. Naval dockyards and establishments are used for repair and maintenance where it is possible to have work performed there more economically than by contract. As this condition has not been found to exist in the United Kingdom, in practice the only work performed for the War Department vessels by naval dockyards is at Bermuda, Gibraltar and Malta.No acting, attached, seconded or ex-naval personnel are employed to command or man these vessels, with the exception of a few stokers who belong to the Royal Naval Reserve. The personnel of the War Department vessels, with very few exceptions, are enrolled as boys, and subsequently promoted.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state in respect of hospitals under his administration in this country and elsewhere, respectively, the estimated capital value of lands and of buildings occupied; the annual building maintenance cost, the annual cost of medical stores, the annual cost of provisioning; the annual cost of and the numbers of staff employed on, medical services; the annual cost of, and the numbers of staff employed on, services other than medical and building maintenance; the annual cost of any additional staff or services; the maximum patient accommodation; and the maximum and average number of patients in residence in any one day in the last 12 months?

So far as they are available, the figures are as follow:

—	Home.	Abroad.
Estimated—	£	£
Capital value of lands and buildings.	1,000,000*	500,000*
Annual building maintenance cost.	35,000	17,500
Annual cost of Medical Stores.	24,000	11,000
Annual cost of provisioning patients.	63,000	38,000
Annual cost of staff	375,000†	198,000†
Numbers cost of staff	1,800	950
Average daily number of equipped beds during year ended 30tb November, 1925.	4,340	2,418
Maximum number of beds occupied during same period on any one day.	3,717	1,877
Average number of beds occupied during same period on any one day.	2,394	1,139
* These are very rough estimates and are given with reserve.
† The numbers and cost of those engaged on (a) medical and (b) other services cannot be given separately. Personnel engaged on building maintenance are not included.

The hon. and gallant Member may like to refer to the very full information on pages 60 and 61 of the Army Accounts for 1923–1924.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of pharmacists employed at Netley Hospital; and what is the rank and pharmaceutical qualification of the senior soldier in charge of this dispensary?

There are no pharmacists employed at Netley Hospital. The soldier in subordinate charge of the dispensary there is a staff sergeant, Royal Army Medical Corps, who holds a dispenser's qualification.

asked the Secretary of State for War what distinction is drawn in the Royal Army Medical Corps between a dispenser, Class I, and a pharmacist, Class I; and what advantages, if any, are enjoyed by the latter over the former as regards pay, status, and promotion?

A pharmacist Class I (Private) who is in trade Group A draws 3d. a, day more pay than & dispenser Class I (Private) who is in trade Group B. For the purposes of promotion to warrant and non-commissioned rank no preference is given to the former over the latter. Subject to certain educational and technical qualifications, promotion is awarded on account of merit and competency in the general duties of the corps, and not for skill at a particular trade.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware of the unrest among the troops of the British Army at the premature discharge, without pension, of soldiers serving on a 21 years' engagement; and whether he will give an undertaking that such discharges will cease and that modified pensions will be paid to those who have already been discharged;(2) whether, in view of the hardship to certain soldiers serving on a 21 years' pensionable engagement in that these men of exemplar,' character have been discharged forthwith without pension, he will issue instructions to recruiting officers to warn intending recruits that no career in the British Army or pension can be guaranteed to them, even after their being permitted to re-engage to complete 21 years' service?

I presume my hon Friend is referring to the discharges consequent on the reduction of the Corps of Military Accountants. The contingency of men serving on a 21 years' engagement being discharged on reduction of establishment is provided for in the Pay Warrant; they can be granted modified pensions only if they have 14 years' service of which 10 years must be qualifying service. I regret that modified pensions cannot be given to those who are not so qualified, but they will receive the same special compensation terms which were granted in connection with the reductions in the Army in 1922. It is with great reluctance and only under pressure of public necessity that a soldier's service is curtailed; but neither the Army nor any other public service can guarantee absolute security of tenure, and it is for this reason that it is stated on every soldier's attestation form and on the form of agreement to reengage that he will be allowed to serve the full period only provided that his services shall so long be required.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a soldier who enlisted in December, 1882, was discharged on termination of engagement in December, 1894, re-enlisted in April, 1900, and serves during the Boer War, and was discharged with a life pension in April, 1909, with a qualifying pensionable service of over 19 years, who volunteered, re-enlisted, and served during the Great War from August, 1914, until February, 1919, and who gave satisfactory paid military service during the Great War, will have his pension re-assessed on the improved scale of pension laid down in Army Order 325/1919 according to his service on original discharge to pension?

A soldier whose service was as stated in this question would not be entitled to pension on the scale laid down in Army Order 325/1919. Owing to the interval of more than five years between his first and second periods of service, none of the service given prior to hiss discharge in 1894 reckons for pension under post-War rules, and his remaining service is not sufficient to entitle him to any award.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether ha will consider the possibility of giving an officer in receipt of a wounds pension the right to appeal when his disablement has been assessed as not equivalent to the loss of a limb?

Wound pensions are outside the scheme of final awards and the statutory Final Awards Regulations. They are in the nature of exceptional provision for a particular type of disability not determined by the general scale of assessment for disablement. Wound pensions, like wound gratuities, are administered, not under Ministry Warrants, but under Regulations common to the Service Departments and the Ministry of Pensions, and appeals are most carefully considered by a Central Board, which includes eminent surgeons.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the feeling that exists in the Ministry of Pensions hospital, Saltash, against the wearing of blue uniforms; and whether he can give permission that civilian clothing may be worn by the men when they go out into the streets or elsewhere?

I cannot, I regret, in the interests of the patients, adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. It has always been the recognised policy for Ministry institutions, in accordance with medical advice, that patients should wear the distinctive clothing, which, when out of the grounds of the hospital, secures for the patient such protection and assistance as would naturally be afforded to a hospital patient in case of need.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that ex-service man T. Filby, No. 10121, of 46, Eve Road, E.15, is certified by his local medical man, to whom he was sent by the Pensions Department, as being totally unfit for any work as a result of his invaliding disability, and that his medical advisers at Bulinga Street certify that an escort is necessary for this man; and whether he will inquire into the circumstances of the refusal of treatment allowances?

Filby joined the Army Veterinary Corps on the 28th June, 1915. Three weeks later he was admitted to hospital at Woolwich for old-standing otitis media on both sides. Further treat- ment was given for this disability in military hospital during the short period of his home service; but Filby was eventually found unfit for military service and consequently discharged in February, 1916. There was grave reason to doubt whether this short period of home service affected his disability in any way, but he was given the benefit of any doubt there might have been and aggravation by military service was admitted. He was granted pension at varying rates until the end of 1919 when the disablement fell to less than 20 per cent., and Filby then reverted to his permanent pension under Article 1163 of the Pay Warrant. The award in his case is now final. He has had long periods of treatment at Ministry expense with full allowances. I am advised that so far as his invaliding disability (otitis media) is concerned the treatment now being provided does not necessitate abstention from work. The necessity for providing an escort does not arise in consequence of the ear condition, but in consequence of his marked neurasthenic symptoms which are not in any way connected with service. Reviewing the case as a whole I can only add that, in my view, Filby has been generously compensated for any possible consequences of his short period of home service.

asked the Minister of Pensions if, in order to avoid misconception, he will make a specific statement as to the absorption of the King's Fund and the present employment of the money?

The balance of the King's Fund was handed over by resolution of the trustees, to the Minister of Pensions in 1920 and, pending the making of a scheme which is now being prepared by the Charity Commissioners, the fund is being administered by the Minister of Pensions in accordance with the terms of the constitution of the fund. The balance of the voluntary fund not already earmarked for specific distribution is approximately £48,000.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if, in view of the decision not to set up a, Select Committee, he will state what steps are to be taken to rectify the claims of the retired Regular Army ranker (permanent commission) officers, or whether the question will be considered by the co-ordinating committee;(2) whether he will consider the question of granting a special rate of service retired pay to officers promoted from the ranks to permanent commissions, in addition to Article 572A, Royal Warrant, 1914, and who were retired on account of wounds, etc., in the same mariner as an officer who has been retired under the scheme of economy was compensated for loss of career?

I have been asked to reply. The proposal for the grant of a higher rate of service retired pay in the case of retirements for disability has been carefully considered with other proposals put forward on behalf of the ex-Regular Army ranker officers for an alteration of the Regulations under which they retired. I regret that I cannot see my way to give them what they ask. Consideration of the claims of these retired officers does not fall within the scope of the co-ordinating committee. I would also refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to his question on this subject on the 6th April last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the case of the retired disabled officers of the Regular Army who, through wounds, were retired in the permanent rank and were therefore unable to serve again, thereby losing all chance of receiving a temporary higher rank, with a view to their now being given one higher rank on retirement?

In Army Order 376 of: 918, which laid down the rules for the retention of acting cr temporary rank or, cessation of employment during the War, special treatment was accorded to officers who were disabled by wounds or sickness due to the Service. I regret that I cannot entertain any proposal for making further concessions, particularly in view of the time that has elapsed since the rules were made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether, in accordance with War Office practice, he will arrange for publication in future Air Estimates of details of officers borne on staff establishments; and whether he will include in such publication details of classification of duties under flying, engineering, and non-technical ground duties;(2) whether, in accordance with War Office practice, he will arrange for publication in future Air Estimates of details of personnel establishment of units; and whether he will include in such publication details of classification of duties under flight, technical and non-technical ground duties?

The number of officers borne on all staff and unit establishments of the Royal Air Force can be ascertained by reference to the monthly Air Force List, which also contains a considerable amount of information as to the distribution of duties. The classification of duties suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend does not correspond to the basis on which the duties are in fact allocated. Royal Air Force establishments depend on many varying factors, such as nature of work, types of aircraft, and geographical situation. It is consequently impossible to classify them under a limited number of heads; moreover, apart from their multiplicity, frequent revisions are necessary. They are, therefore, not at all suitable for publication in annual Estimates. For these and other reasons I am afraid that the adoption of his suggestions is not practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can arrange for the publication in future Estimates of a statement, similar to that published in Army Estimates, showing the annual cost of maintenance of the Royal Air Force as distinct from annual cash expenditure thereon?

A complete costing statement for the Air Force as a whole would be almost valueless unless based on data which could only be compiled if a large additional staff were employed for the purpose, and, in the circumstances, I do not think that the expense involved would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will state in respect of hospitals under his administration in this country and elsewhere, respectively, the estimated capital values of lands and of buildings occupied; the annual building maintenance cost; the annual cost of medical stores; the annual cost of provisioning; the annual cost of and the numbers of staff employed on medical services; the annual cost and the numbers of staff employed on services other than medical and building maintenance; the annual cost of any additional staff or services; the maximum patient accommodation; and the maximum and the average number of patients in residence on any one day in the last 12 months?

The following statement gives the information requested by my hon. and gallant Friend:

		Home.	Abroad.
		£	£
(1)	Capital cost of lands and buildings	102,455	700,000
(2)	Annual building maintenance cost	3,000	10,000
(3)	Annual cost of medical stores	7,000	9,000
(4)	Annual cost of provisions	7,770	24,000
(5)	Annual cost of staff employed on medical services	49,000	98,000
	Numbers of such staff	239	337
(6)	Annual cost of staff employed on other than medical and building maintenance	2,000	14,000
(7)	Numbers of such staff	17	399
(8)	Annual cost of any additional staff or services	6,000	25,000
(9)	Maximum patient accommodation	447	900
(10)	Maximum number of patients in residence on any one day in last 12 months	437	544
(11)	Average number of patients in residence during last 12 months	199	329

As regards (1) above, £650,000 of the Figure in the second column represents the capital cost of hospitals in Iraq which were largely built under Army administration before the reduction of the garrison to its present size. A re-assessment of the present value has not been undertaken.As regards (8) above, the figures of £6,000 and £25,000 represent cost of water, heating, lighting and conservancy services.As regards (9), the 900 beds abroad do not include a, possible expansion of 239 beds at Basrah Hospitals (British and Indian). The hospitals at Hinaidi are also capable of a very large expansion within the existing buildings.As regards (9), (10), and (11), the hospitals in Iraq cater for the whole of the garrisons,

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is in a position to estimate and state the numbers employed, and/or the expenditure of salaries, wages, and pay in the fighting units of the Royal Air Force, and in other Air Services, respectively?

The figures for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks will be found in some detail as regards the medical and educational services under Votes 5 and 6 of the annual Air Estimates, and as regards the headquarters staff at the Air Ministry under Vote 10. The organisation of the Air Force makes it difficult to segregate into fighting and other units the remainder of the personnel who are shown under Vote 1, but the particulars given under that vote 6how the number of officers of the general duties, stores, accountant staff and chaplains respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of Royal Air Force stations at home to which distribution of foodstuffs is made by the Navy, the Army, and by the Royal Air Force transport respectively; in how many instances, if any, collection and distribution by the Royal Air Force transport involves a greater mileage than would be expended if collection and distribution were carried out by the nearest Army or Navy station; what extra annual mileage is thereby involved; and what considerations justify continuance, of Royal Air Force collection and distribution in such cases?

As regards the first part of the question, the Royal Air Force draw foodstuffs from the Royal Army Service Corps, and therefore no deliveries are made from naval stations. Six Air Force stations receive either the whole or part of their supplies from Army depots, using Army transport, and 12 others also draw their supplies from Army depots, but use Air Force transport for the purpose; a further 12 use Air Force transport to fetch supplies from the nearest railway station, where they are delivered by the contractor; in the remaining cases delivery is made by the contractor directly to the Air Force station. As regards the remaining parts of the question, I am not aware of any case in which the employment of Air Force transport involves a greater mileage than that which would be covered if Army transport were utilished.

asked the. Secretary of State for Air if he will state the numbers of power-driven marine surface craft-carried on the establishment of the Royal Air Force for employment in conjunction with air operations other than transport; to what extent naval staff and facilities are employed on the if current and special maintenance; whether they are commanded and manned by acting, attached, seconded, or ex-naval personnel; and, if the latter, what arrangements exist for maintaining supply of personnel with recent naval experience?

in answer to the first part of the question, the only power-driven surface craft carried on the establishment of the Royal Air Force for employment in conjunction with air operations other than transport are three vessels which were taken over from the War Office for police and defence work on the rivers in Iraq: in answer to the second part, these vessels are maintained at Basrah dockyard, where no naval maintenance facilities are available, principally by Indian and local native labour assisted by Air Force personnel; in answer to the third part, they are commanded by officers with suitable experience, the remaining deck and engine room complement consisting of natives recruited locally or in India, while the gun crews are Air Force personnel who have been trained at Whale Island. As regards the last part of the question, no difficulty is anticipated in maintaining suitable personnel with adequate knowledge for handling these river craft.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been drawn to the lack of any means for obtaining refreshments by the public in Hyde Park who are admitted within the enclosures at the band stands during the summer months; and whether he will consider some means of supplying light refreshments, such as ices, lemonade, and tea, as is done on the Continent and elsewhere?

The First Commissioner has had this matter under consideration, but to enable such refreshments to be served in an adequate way, it would be necessary to erect a large building near the band stand. The First Commissioner regrets that he cannot at present contemplate the erection of a building of the kind.

asked the Undertary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will consider the installation in the Central Hall, for the information and convenience of the public, of an annunciator?

I regret that I am unable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion, on account of the expenditure involved for installation and maintenance.

asked the Home Secretary if the Government does not intend to improve the rates of pension to pre-war police pensioners, he will give special instructions that these men, who are living on less than the recognised weekly subsistence allowance, shall be given some opportunity of obtaining employment in the Government services, public museums, or elsewhere?

So far as regards their employment as police station cleaners, etc., pre-war pensioners are given preference wherever possible. I have no authority to give special instructions as to their employment in the other posts to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to a resolution by the St. Alban's City Council urging that candidates at municipal elections be required to deposit with the returning officer during the time appointed for the election the sum of £5, such deposit to be forfeited where the candidate receives not more than one-eighth of the total number of votes polled; and whether he is prepared to introduce or support legislation to amend the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, accordingly?

I have not received a copy of the resolution. Any proposal of the kind would require very careful consideration.

asked the Home Secretary the number of. accidents during building operations which occurred during the last year for which statistics are available and during each of the five preceding years, respectively; and whether he has considered the advisability of seeking further powers in order to reduce these numbers?

I can give only the number of accidents reported on those building operations to which the provisions of the Factory Acts as to notification of accidents apply (see Section 105 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901). The numbers for 1924 (which is the last year for which statistics are available) and for the four preceding years are as follows: 1,089 in 1920, 1,104 in 1921, 1,120 in 1922, 1,437 in 1923, and 2,374 in 1924. The figure for the year 1919 is not available.Draft Regulations securing greater safety were issued some considerable time ago, and have been the subject of prolonged discussion with representatives of the employers and workers concerned with a view to arriving at an agreed code. I am now advised that practically all the outstanding points have been settled, and I trust that these Regulations will be brought into force very shortly.The extension of the Acts to such building operations as are not now included will foe considered in connection with the Factories Bill.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether there are published in this country returns of limited companies in India similar to the returns available at Somerset House; and, if so, where are they available?

An official return of joint stock companies in India is published in India. I am sending a copy of the latest issue to the hon. Member. Detailed information of the kind available at Somerset House in respect of companies registered here is not available in this country in respect of companies registered in India, but it is available at registration offices in the various provinces of India.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he is yet in a position to give a definite decision in regard to the claims of the subordinate officers of the Indian Army Department (Commissaries, Assistant and Deputy-Commissaries).

My Noble Friend has sanctioned a revised system of pensions for this class of officer. The new system provides for an element in respect of Indian service being added to the pension admissible under British rules. All officers who retire on or after 1st October, 1925, will be eligible for pension under the new rules. The details are about to be announced in India, and a copy of the announcement will be supplied to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the Report on the Administration of Criminal Justice for Burma for the year 1924, which contains references 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; and whether, seeing that 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, he will state what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs?

My attention has been called to the Report to which the hon. Member refers. Only Sessions Judges or Additional Sessions Judges are empowered to pass sentence of death, and I have no reason to suppose that any Sessions Judge who was lacking in experience passed such a sentence in Burma in 1924; in any case, all death sentences are subject to confirmation by a High Court. As regards the third part of the question, I can find no reference in the Report to the Islington Commission. The Report was made to the Government of Burma and is no doubt receiving their consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the report of the coroner's inquest into the loss of life occasioned by the wreck of the Liverpool coasting steamer "Sutton" off the Cardiganshire coast on the 4th instant, and to the rider of the Court that the coast was insufficiently watched and that there had been no response to the distress flares sent up from the ship; and what action the Board of Trade propose taking in the interests of safety of life and property at sea?

A formal investigation into the circumstances attending the loss of the s.s. "Sutton" has been ordered, and all the circumstances of the case, including those to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, will then be thoroughly investigated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the resident of a cottage adjoining the fort at Languard suffered considerable damage, including the destruction of his furniture, by the explosion at that fort on 4th April last; and whether adequate compensation will be given in this case?

I have been in communication with the Trinity House, who inform me that the cottage adjoining Languard Lighthouse was destroyed with its contents as a result of the explosion at that lighthouse on the 4th April last. This cottage is rented from Trinity House by the Harwich Harbour Conservancy Board, who sub-let it. The tenant, whose furniture was destroyed, applied to the Trinity House for compensation, but the Elder Brethren were advised that as the fire was purely accidental they were under no legal liability in the matter. In the circumstances, the Elder Brethren are of opinion that they are not justified in recommending any payment to the tenant from the General Lighthouse Fund.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has formed any estimate as to the balance of payments of the United Kingdom during the year 1925; and, if so, will he state the figure?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ilford (Sir F. Wise) on 17th November, a copy of which I am. sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of new companies that have been formed; the number of new factories built or under construction; and the new capital involved in the development in the silk industry at home since the introduction of the silk duties?

Since the 1st July, 1925, some 46 companies proposing to engage in the silk or artificial silk industry have been registered in England and Wales, with a nominal capital approximating to £4,000,000. Information as to the progress of the companies is not available in the majority of cases, but such information as I have is to the effect that three factories are under construction, and that four existing factories, not previously used for silk manufacture, have been taken over.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the importance of the matter to trade, he will specifically instruct all consular authorities to report upon the spread and popularity or the reverse of British manufactures either of artificial silk or of a mixture of artificial silk and cotton?

My Department has already requested its overseas representatives to supply information which may assist the sale of British manufacturer of artificial silk and artificial silk mixtures. I shall be glad to communicate with them again in the sense suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the large and continuing increase in the installation of petrol pumps throughout the country the Government will introduce legislation next Session conferring upon local authorities the neces- sary powers for testing such petrol pumps in their areas?

I would refer to the answer given by the President of the Board of Trade on this matter on the 15th December, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Home Secretary the number of new taxicabs licensed by the Commissioner of Police during 1925?

The number of new motor cabs licensed by the Commissioner of Police from 1st January to 30th November, 1925, was 631.

asked the Home Secretary the number of new applicants who have applied to the Commissioner of Police for a licence to become taxicab drivers; and the number of new licences issued in 1925?

The number of new applicants for motor cab driver's licences from 1st January to 30th November, 1925, was 1,737, and the number of new motor cab driver's licence? issued during the same period was 630.

asked the Home Secretary the total number of taxicabs licensed during 1925; and the number of taxicab drivers licensed by the Commissioner of Police during the same period?

The number of motor cabs licensed from 1st January to 30th November, 1925, was 7,556, and the number of motor cab drivers licensed during the same period was 9,476.

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the increase in the number of deaths and injuries sustained to passengers from accidents due to licensed passenger-carrying motor vehicles, and that there at present exists no means whereby the daily, monthly, and annual number of such accidents and their causes can be considered by the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health, or any other Government Department, he will impose the duty on all county and borough police authorities of submitting from their districts statistics similar to those sent to the Home Office in regard to street and other accidents with the Metropolitan Police area?

There are at present a variety of returns on the subject of street accidents—

(a) A monthly return for the Metropolitan police district submitted by the Commissioner.

(b) A quarterly return for the City of London submitted by the City Commissioner.

(c) The annual return for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, prepared by the Home Office from information supplied by chief constables and presented to Parliament.

(d) The Registrar-General's annual return based on the. information of certificates of death supplied by coroners under Sections 16 and 20 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1874.

(e) The annual statement (based on information obtained by Ministry of Transport officers at road accident inquiries) published by the Ministry of Transport with their Road Fund Report.

I am afraid that in addition to the above I could not press for daily or weekly returns, and any proposal for even a monthly return would add very considerable extra work to my Department which without additional staff could not be undertaken.I would point out that the annual return made to Parliament contains considerable information on the subject of street accidents caused by vehicles, and I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of this return.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that serious difficulty is being experienced by the manufacturers of motor omnibuses, char-a-bancs, and goods vehicles owing to the delay in giving legislative effect to the recommendations made in the year 1922 by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles in regard to revised weights and speeds of heavy motor cars and to the recommendations made in May, 1925, by the Departmental Committee on the Licensing and Regulation of Public Service Vehicles in regard to the specification of such vehicles, and that the absence of a compulsory order on the subject encourages the building of unsuitable vehicles and puts at a disadvantage manufacturers, who have already altered the designs of their vehicles voluntarily to conform to the recommendations; and whether he is prepared to make and issue orders giving effect to those recommendations so far as his existing statutory powers will allow?

I am well aware of the difficulty to which my hon. Friend refers, and I hope to remedy it by the introduction of legislation. As regards the last part of the question, I would remind my hon. Friend that the recommendations of the two Departmental Committees are to be regarded as a whole, and I have always been reluctant to try to give effect to isolated recommendations under my existing powers. Should it unfortunately prove impossible to find Parliamentary time during next Session for a comprehensive Road Vehicles Bill, I will carefully consider to what extent I should be prepared, and able, to give effect to those of the Committee's recommendations which do not require legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been called to the resolution passed by the Barnsley Education Authority on the 14th December, 1920, protesting against the terms of Circular 1371, which, if carried out, would have a disastrous effect upon the future development of elementary, secondary and technical education in that town, and calling for the withdrawal of the Circular; and whether he is prepared to reconsider the policy of the Circular?

I am aware of the resolution referred to by the hon. Member. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer him to my statement in the House on Thursday last.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what was the amount paid for education in Scotland by the State in each of the years from 1919 to 1925?

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the amounts paid from the Vote for Public Education, Scotland. With his permission, I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the former Crown property in Palestine, known as the Berzan, lands, is completely under cultivation by Arab settlers; how much money has actually been paid in rent or purchase money by these Arab settlers; whether there is room for Jewish settlers on this land; and whether any steps are being taken to make it available for Jewish settlers?

I regret that the information asked for is not available, but I am asking the High Commissioner for a report on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement in reference to incursions by the Druses into Palestine, and as to whether any armed conflict has taken place between the Palestine forces and the Druses?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut. Commander Ken-worthy) on the 14th instant As I then stated, no armed conflict has taken place between the Palestine forces and the Druses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that 453 natives of Nigeria have been tried and executed during the years 1920–24 without, in any single instance, being allowed to employ counsel in defence in the Courts, he will consult the Government of Nigeria, as to the advisability of restoring to the people of that Colony the right to employ such legal assistance in defence when charged with a capital offence?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies returned by the late Secretary of State for the Colonies on 31st March and 14th April, 1924, on this subject. The whole question was fully considered in 1924 in consultation with the Nigerian Government, and it was decided by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Derby (Mr. J. H. Thomas) that the rule that counsel should not be allowed to appear in the Provincial Courts of the Protectorate should be maintained. I see no reason to reopen the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government is considering any scheme for the establishment of group settlements within the Dominions?

For the moment, I can only answer my hon. and gallant Friend's question in the negative. The Western Australian scheme is at present in abeyance, but His Majesty's Government see no reason to depart from the view accepted by the Imperial Economic Conference of 1923 as to the possibilities of such schemes, and will be prepared to co-operate with Dominion Governments in any suitable scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the publicity given by his Department to the increased facilities offered to those desiring to emigrate to Canada, he will consider the advisability of giving equal publicity to the scheme known as the Big Brother Movement to assist those desirous of emigrating to Australia?

The Big Brother Movement has already attracted much attention as a matter of Imperial interest both in the public Press and otherwise. My hon. Friend may, I think, rest assured that it will continue to do so as it develops in Australia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Government of Uganda has notified all the cotton producers that the responsibility for housing their cotton prior to its acceptance by the railway must rest on the. producers; and whether, seeing that these producers are not in a position to provide such needed shelter for their cotton during the long period of waiting, what steps are being taken to avoid any repetition of the breakdown in the arrangements for transporting the last cotton crop?

On the 15th of October the Governor of Uganda was authorised to issue a statement in the following terms:While the Secretary of State is confident that the railway administration is doing everything in its power to provide transit accommodation on a scale proportionate to the increased facilities for handling the traffic which it expects to have in operation next season, the responsibility of the Government for receiving traffic must be limited to the capacity of these facilities, and neither the railway nor the Government of Uganda is prepared to provide storage accommodation. Ginners must therefore themselves make arrangements for the, protection of their cotton before its acceptance by the railway, whether by constructing sheds or by effective dunnage and covering. Further, it is incumbent on all consignees of inward traffic into Uganda to assist the railway to the utmost extent by removing their goods from the wharves and transit sheds as quickly as possible and so relieve the pressure of the transmit accommodation.

asked the Minister of Transport the approximate cost of research work at the National Physical Laboratory upon testing road-surfacing material; and whether any experiments on concrete-surfaced roads have been carried out and with what result?

The total cost of tests on road-surfacing materials carried out by the National Physical Laboratory during the last 12 months amounted to approximately £100. This cost is covered by the fees charged. No experiments on concrete-surfaced roads have been carried out by the laboratory.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received any protest from representative agricultural bodies in Northumberland as to the manner in which roads are being constructed; and whether, in view of the fact that cruelty and harm is inflicted on live stock by the slippery surface, he will arrange that a certain area of each road shall be so constructed that live stock can be driven along in safety?

I received on the 9th instant the communication to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers and I am sending him a copy of the reply which I caused to be sent on the 14th instant.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that. a scheme for the improvement of the approaches to the docks was under the consideration of the Road Board before the War, that the scheme known as the Victoria Dock Road Scheme had been referred by him to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advsory Committee, that the committee had reported that in their opinion it was one of the most urgently required improvements in the area of Greater London, and that negotiations as to the allocation of the cost of this work had been suspended, he will state the reason for the delay in the carrying out of this improvement?

The position has not changed since 24th November, when I answered somewhat similar questions by the hon. Members for North Tottenham (Mr. E. Morrison) and for the Stratford Division (Mr. Groves). I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply which I gave on that occasion.

Financial Year	1918–1919.	1919–1920.	1920–1921.	1921–1922.	1922–1923.	1923–1924.	1924–1925.	1925–1926(up to 10.12.25).
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Staffordshire County Council.	5,614	211,933	93,130	218,935	215,176	277,447	452,201	300,666
Wednesbury Town Council (included above).	—	7,900	—	5,076	9,200	6,662	8,063	2,985

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to introduce a Bill during next Session to secure that any road in an administrative county in England and Wales which has not been designated a main road, but which he has declared to be a Class 1 road, shall ipso facto become a main road?

This is a point which needs to be considered in its relation to other aspects of local government, and I do not think that it would be desirable to legislate on it separately. I would remind my hon. Friend that it is open to any highway authority to apply to the county council for an Order, under Section 15 of the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act, 1878, declaring any suitable highway within their district to be a main road. Under these provisions considerable lengths of roads which have been included in Class 1 have already been declared to be main roads, and proposals for similar action in further cases are, I understand, under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister what action he proposes to take with

asked the Minister of Transport the total amount of the Road Fund at the disposal of the Staffordshire County Council; and what grants, if any, have been made to the Wednesbury Town Council since 1918?

No portion of the moneys accruing to the Road Fund can be said to be at the disposal of any particular authority. The grants to the administrative county of Stafford as a whole and to the Wednesbury Town Council as part of the administrative county, since 1918 have been as follow:regard to the memorial sent to him in May last, signed by 90 Members of Parliament, with reference to the Royal Commission on Lunacy and Mental Disorder now sitting?

On the 30th May I wrote to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Sir R. Newman), who had forwarded this memorial to me, and informed him that the Royal Commission have a complete discretion regarding the procedure they adopt in the conduct of their inquiry, and that I am not, therefore, in a position to give any directions in the matter. At the same time I informed my hon. Friend of some of the consideration which had weighed with the Royal Commission in determining their procedure, and which appeared to me fully to justify the course which they have adopted in their inquiry.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the setting up of a committee to consider and advise the Government in regard to the formation and powers that could be advantageously exercised by a unified policy staff for the three fighting forces?

The question of the co-ordination of the staffs of the three fighting services was exhaustively examined in 1923 by a sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, whose recommendations have since been put into operation and are working satisfactorily. I cannot see any advantage in reopening the question at the present time.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will set up a committee to consider the present possibilities of reorganising the three chaplains' services in the fighting forces into a unified service?

This matter has been carefully considered by His Majesty's Government. It has been found that no economy in personnel or expenditure would be effected by the amalgamation of the Chaplains' Departments of the Navy, Army and Air Force into one Department common to all three services; but that some economy could be effected by close co-operation between the services. Permanent machinery, consisting of a Joint Committee on which the three Chaplains' Departments are represented, and a Joint Board for Nonconformist chaplains, was set up two or three years ago to carry out this policy; and considerable economies have been effected.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will set up a committee to consider the present possibilities of reorganising the three medical services in the fighting forces into a unified service?

The question of the amalgamation of the medical branches of the three fighting services was carefully considered by His Majesty's Government some We or three years ago, when it was decided that this step was undesirable. A Standing Joint Committee, on which the Ministry of Pensions Medical Department is also represented, has been set up to discuss matters affecting the medical services of the four departments. The question of the pay of officers of the medical branches of the three fighting services, and all matters ancillary thereto, is at present being considered by a Committee set up for the purpose, as indicated in the reply given on 16th November to theh hon. Member for Southwark Central.

asked the Prime Minister how soon the Report of the Meston Committee will be published?

I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave on this matter on the 26th November to the hon. Members for York (Sir J. Marriott and Devizes (Mr. Hurd).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet received any interim, preliminary, or other Report from Lord Meston's Committee on Parliamentary Grants?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary for Mines the present number of coal pits at work in the county of Staffordshire and the number closed since the year ending 31st December, 1918?

The number of pits at work in Staffordshire is 157, employing about 65,000 wage earners. 130 mines, employing about 5,900 wage earners, which were working in 1918 are now closed.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received a report of the findings by a London County Council Committee on the subject of the practices of London coal merchants in the household coal trade; and what steps he proposes to take?

I have seen in the Press a Report by a committee of the London County Council in which legislation is recommended to prevent the sale of incombustible matter mixed with coal. I understand that the report has been adopted by the London County Council who propose to seek Parliamentary powers, and in these circum stances I do not think that any action by my Department is required.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit in each of the six Employment Exchanges within the county of Lanark at the end of November, 1925, with a comparison of the numbers drawing benefit at the same Exchanges at the end of November, 1924; and whether he can classify them according to their various occupations?

The available figures classified by industries are being extracted from the official records, and as soon as this has been completed I will send them to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will have special inquiry made in regard to the position of sub-postmasters, of whom some 4,000 are concerned, and unemployment insurance before Parliamentary sanction is given to the Order now lying upon the Table of the House, which is designed to bring these sub-postmasters within the scope of the Unemployment Insurance Act, whereas it is claimed by them that they can obtain little or no benefit therefrom?

This matter has been fully considered, and I do not think further inquiry is necessary. The Order referred to by my hon. Friend expresses in legal terms, for the purpose of unemployment insurance, the practice which has always been followed both under the health and under the unemployment insurance schemes, i.e., that Sub-postmasters who render service for not less than 18 hours a week and are mainly dependent upon the earnings derived from their Post Office employment, cannot properly be excepted from the Acts on the ground that their employment as 6ub-postmaster is subsidiary. On the other hand, sub-postmasters whose employment as such is subsidiary to some other occupation are so excepted in respect of their employment as sub-postmasters.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. L. Thomas, of 12, Railway Terrace, Kings-land Road, St. Philips, Bristol, signed on during July, 1925. for service at sea, but owing to the serious illness of his wife and family he was unable to reach the ship until within half-an-hour of sailing; that another man was signed on in his place, and that, although one member of Mr. Thomas's family died two days later, he was deprived of unemployment benefit from 20th July until 8th September; that Mr. Thomas was compelled to appear before the court of referees three times during successive weeks despite; the fact that the court decided in his favour on each occasion; whether it has now been ascertained that the unnecessary suffering to which this man has been subjected was due to official errors and confusion; whether he will state what disciplinary notice he has taken of the mistakes made by his officials; and whether ho will give an assurance that a repetition of such errors will not occur?

So far as my inquiries have gone I have already communicated the facts to the hon. Member in my letter of 15th December, I will let him have the result of my further inquiries as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries have made reciprocal exemption of shipping profits from taxation: and if any negotiations are taking place with any other countries?

Arrangements under Section 18 of the Finance Act, 1923, for the reciprocal exemption from Income Tax in certain cases; of the profits taken from shipping have been made with the United States, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland and negotiations are proceeding with other countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount spent by the State on housing for each year since 1919–20; the sums spent on the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force; the interest on the National Debt; and the cost of our mandates, respectively, for the same years?

I am having the figures collected and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to facilitating examination and criticism of service expenditure, he will appoint a qualified committee to advise as to a form of estimates and accounts which will show the objects of expenditure and, where possible, will be standardised for the three services?

Complete standardisation of the Estimates of the fighting Services is impracticable, but proposals are under consideration for securing a framework of Votes similar for all three Departments so far as Service conditions permit. The classification of expenditure by objects has been repeatedly and exhaustively considered in connection with Army Accounts, and I am not prepared to add to the number of committees which have explored the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to ensure that holders' investments In the National Debt shall bear a share of the hardships involved in the policies for economies in the various Departments at the present time?

The Government proposes, by the maintenance of sound finance, including economies in public expenditure, to render possible the continuance of the policy of redemption and conversion of debt, the result of which will be to reduce the interest payable to the holders of the loans so treated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give the various post-War Departments which were not in existence in 1914, with the cost of each Department and the numbers of the staff, respectively?

The following Departments did not exist in 1914: Air Ministry, Forestry Commission, Department of Overseas Trade, Ministry of Pensions, National Savings Committee, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, State Management Districts, and Imperial War Museum. The Estimates for 1925–26 for these Departments provide for a total net expenditure of £82,866,711. The total non-industrial staff of these Departments at 1st October, 1925, numbered 19,180. The hon. Member will find details of expenditure and certain particulars of staff in the Estimates and in the Quarterly Statement of Staffs employed in Government Departments. The figures shown above do not include the Ministry of Labour, the Mines Department of the Board of Trade, and the Ministry of Transport, which existed in nucleus in 1914 as parts of other Departments.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give instructions to the Stationery Office to place on sale the Reports, that now lie upon the Table of the House, giving the names of the purchasers of the ex-enemy ships allotted to this country in reparation and the prices paid?