Mr. asked the Secretary of State for War the total cost of the maintenance of the Army forces in Iraq during 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925, respectively?

figures are as follow: Expenditure from Army Funds on Forces in Iraq. £ 1919–20 … … 45,312,975 ( a ) ( b ) ( c ) 1920–21 … … 37,089,829 ( b ) ( c ) 1921–22 … … 19,251,139 ( c ) 1922–23 … … 2,919,043 ( c ) 1923–24 … … 497,633 ( d ) 1924–25 … … 285,967 ( d )* 1925–26 … … 274,500 ( d )† (*Subject to audit.) (†Estimated.)

( a ) Head I (Maintenance of the standing Army), figure only.

( b ) Includes expenditure in Persia.

( c ) Includes expenditure on Indian native troops (for six months only in 1922–1923).

( d ) Excludes Indian native troops which have been administered by the Air Ministry since 1st October, 1922.

Sir F. asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the approximate value of clothes and stores, separately, that were in hand at the date of the last stocktaking?

I regret that I am not in a position to give these figures. The possibility of an annual valuation of Army stores, as recommended by the Public Accounts Committee, is being actively investigated, but there are many difficulties and no conclusion has yet been arrived at.

Sir F. asked the Postmaster-General whether the Federation of Postal Workers is represented on the Whitley Council for the Post Office service; and, if not, the reason for this?

I understand my hon. and gallant Friend to refer to the National Federation of Postal and Telegraph Clerks. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Representation on the Post Office Whitley Council is confined to certain associations specified in the constitution, of which this body is not one. The constitution can only be modified by agreement between the two sides of the Council.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to overcome the telephonic congestion at the Hop Exchange, covering Southwark subscribers, and when it is expected that such congestion will be overcome?

There is no restriction on the acceptance of applications for telephone service in the area served by the Hop Exchange. Additional exchanges to serve parts of this area will be opened in the near future, as required.

Mr. asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what action he proposes to take with respect to the claims of Spain and Poland to a permanent seat on the Council of the League of Nations;

(2) whether he will support the view that Germany alone shall be admitted to a permanent seat on the Council of the League at the forthcoming meeting of the League on 8th March, and that no further changes shall be made, if any, until a subsequent meeting of the League?

I must ask the hon. Member to await the statement on the subjects promised yesterday by the Prime Minister.

Mr. asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the House any information as to whether a Treaty has been made, since the British Treaty with Iraq, between France and Turkey; and, if so, can he state its terms?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply returned to the Noble Lord the Member for Shrewsbury (Viscount Sandon) on the let of March.

Mr. asked the Minister of Health what is the total amount of the loans granted for the purpose of Poor Law relief to boards of guardians and parish councils in Great Britain from 1920 to the latest ascertainable figures; what is the average rate of interest on such loans; and the total amount of such interest repaid each year?

The sums advanced on loan to Poor Law authorities in Great Britain on the recommendation of the Goschen Committee since 1920 amount to £4,982,942; the average rate of interest works out at 4.93 per cent.; interest has been paid in each year as follows: £ 1922–23 … 14,734 1923–24 … 56,511 1924–25 … 161,499 1925–26 to date … 104,859

Mr. asked the Minister of Health whether the Government is inclined to view favourably the offer received from Dr. Damoglou to place at

— Number of Houses Amount. ( a ) Advances by London County Council direct: £ 1923 37 25,050 1924 263 163,250 1925 235 146,070 ( b ) Loans sanctioned by London County Council for purposes of advances by Metropolitan Borough Councils: 1923—Woolwich 2 465 1924—Hackney 15 8,925 Hammersmith 8 4,100 Islington 25 13,745 Woolwich 187 86,910 1925—Hackney 37 23,370 Hammersmith 7 4,525 Islington 47 30,605 Stoke Newington 13 5,230 Woolwich 181 90,755

the disposal of his Ministry a method of treatment of cases of encephalitis lethargica?

The answer is in the negative.

Mr. asked the Minister of Health whether the application forms for old age pensions payable in July next under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, are yet available to the public?

The forms in question will be available in the course of this month.

asked the Minister of Health the number and amount of advances made under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act by the respective local authorities in the county of London during the years 1923, 1924 and 1925, respectively?

The following table shows the number of houses and ( a ) the amounts of advances agreed to be made direct by the London County Council, and ( b ) loans sanctioned by the London County Council for the purposes of advances by Metropolitan borough councils, under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, during the three years in question:

The London County Council have also made the following advances under

— Number of Houses. Amount. £ 1923 … … … … … … 6 4,880 1924 … … … … … … 494 310,650 1925 … … … … … … 1,228 769,360

asked the Minister of Labour when he will have inspection made of the works of Messrs. Stevens Brothers and Martins, of Bristol, in order to ascertain the rates of wages paid under the Flax and Hemp Trade Board to the girls employed by that firm?

Action was taken in respect of this firm as a result of an inspection made in the early part of last year. Some points are, however, still outstanding, and these are being followed up.

Census. Females returned as gainfully occupied. Number. Per cent, of the total female population aged 16 and under 60. 1911 … … Aged 10 years and upwards 4,830,734 43.3 Aged 16 and under 60 Not available. Not available 1921 … … Aged 12 years and upwards 5,065,332 41.4 Aged 16 and under 60 4,456,061 36.4

asked the Minister of Labour if it has been decided to increase the staff and the accommodation of the Employment Exchange at Slough; if so, what will be the expenditure involved, and how many workers found employment through this exchange in the past year?

So long as the work remains at its present level, it is not proposed to increase the staff at the Slough Exchange. The question of rehousing is under consideration, but no decision has yet been made. The number of persons placed in Employment by the Slough Employment Exchange during the year 1925 was 1,216.

Section 92 of the Housing Act, 1925, to persons erecting houses:

asked the Minister of Labour the number, actual or estimated, of women employed in occupations in 1913 and at the present time respectively, and the proportion of the numbers so occupied to the female population between the ages of 16 and 60?

I have been asked to reply. The particulars asked for are not available for the years specified in the question, but the following tabular statement gives the best information available for the Census years 1911 and 1921:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why foreign manufacturers of typewriters are allowed to advertise the fact that they are contractors to His Majesty's Government; and whether official sanction has been given for this statement?

No such sanction has been given, nor is it necessary before a Government contractor can advertise the fact.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that the Treasury staff numbered, approximately, 270 in 1914 and 800 in 1925 and their salaries in these respective years were, approximately, £92,000 and £320,000, he will give reasons for the trebling of the staff and for the salary total having been more than doubled?

The figures quoted by my hon. Friend cover, in addition to the Treasury, various other Departments or sub-Departments which in themselves account for more than half of the total staff of 800 referred to in the question. It is not possible within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question to deal with each of these separate entities, which are specified in Vote 3, Class II of the Estimates. As regards the Treasury itself, the increase is due, as the Geddes Committee on National Expenditure recognised, to the great increase in volume and complexity of the financial and administrative business of Government. I might add that the Geddes Committee, in Chapter IV of Part XI of their Report, deliberately refrained from recommending any reduction in the Treasury establishment, on the ground that nothing should be done to detract from the efficiency of the Treasury machine for controlling expenditure and effecting economies.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will explain the delay which has taken place in connection with the introduction of the scheme of clerical reorganisation, approved by the Treasury in April, 1925, for application to War Office out-station offices, in the offices of the Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services, Stirling, Scotland; and whether he will issue instructions for the necessary action to be taken immediately?

The new scheme of organisation has now been applied to this office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the clerical complements for the Army Ordnance depots, command and central, have yet been fixed; and, if so, will he state the number of Grades 1, 2, and 3 posts, respectively, allotted to each depot office?

The details are as follow:

Central Ordnance Depots. Depot or Office Grade I. Grade II. Grade III. Headquarters, Directing Ordnance Officer. 1 1 3 Chief Ordnance Officer, Woolwich. 2 6 23 Royal Army Clothing Department, Store. 1 3 20 Purfleet — — 1 Didcot 1 4 19 Bramley 1 2 13 Hereford — — 2 Weedon — 1 6 Total 6 17 87 Command Depots and Offices. Depot or Office. Grade II. Grade III. Northern Command: Headquarters … — 1 York … 1 3 Selby … — — Catterick … — 1 Tynemouth … — — Southern Command: Headquarters … — 1 Tidworth … 1 3 Hilsea … — 5 Tipnor … — — Devonport … — 4 Bull Point … — 1 Eastern Command: Headquarters … — 1 London … — 1 Tower … — 1 Chatham … — 3 Home Counties … — 1 Dover … — 2 Shorocliffe … — — Colchester … — 5 Warley … — 1 Western Command: Headquarters … — 1 Burscough … — 2 Pembroke … — — Aldershot Command: Headquarters … — 1 Depot … — 2 Scottish Command: Headquarters … — 1 Stirling … — 3 Montrose … — — Northern Ireland: Carrickfergus … — 3 Total … 2 47

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can, on the information supplied by the industrial insurance companies, state the reasons for the difference not only in benefits but in the proportion of surpluses given to the policy holders, and the reasons for the difference in the percentage of premiums absorbed in management and collection by the various companies concerned?

The reasons doubtless are that some companies are more prosperous and more economically managed than others.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Royal Mint still carries on competition with private enterprise in the manufacture of medals and products of like nature; and, if so, whether there is a profit on such trading?

This matter was very fully considered twelve months ago when my right hon. Friend, who was then Financial Secretary, received a representative deputation from the trade associations concerned, and I will send the hon. Member a copy of the letter stating the decisions arrived at. The Mint undertakes the manufacture of medals when actually asked to do so by private individuals. No kind of advertising is employed. Quotations for such work include the full cost under all heads and a reasonable margin for profit.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give the amount of subsidy, direct or indirect, paid to the sugar-beet growers and sugar-beet refiners of each of the chief European countries which produce beet-sugar?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Grocery Proprietary Articles Association issue price mainten ance lists, and that such lists comprise various articles of foodstuffs; and whether he will cause the said lists to be investigated by the Food Council?

I am aware that these lists are issued, as stated, and that they comprise certain foodstuffs; I am asking the Food Council to consider the question in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the value of fish of all sorts landed in Great Britain for the years 1923, 1924, and 1925, and the number of boats and men engaged in the fishing industry during 1925?

The value of fish of all sorts landed in Great Britain by British and foreign vessels direct from fishing grounds was as follows: £ 1923 … … … 18,931,564 1924 … … … 21,321,352 1925 … … … 20,286,402 In England and Wales the total numbers of boats and men engaged in the fishing industry in 1924 (the last year for which figures are available) were 8,646 vessels and 37,027 men. In Scotland in 1925 the corresponding numbers were 6,681 vessels and 27,141 fishermen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the comparative average cost of herring nets for the years 1913, 1923, 1924 and 1925, respectively?

The current prices in England during the autumn herring seasons were: £ s. d. 1913 … … 3 6 0 1923 … … 5 17 0 1924 … … 5 17 0 1925 … … 5 10 0

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the amount of duty charged by Germany, Russia, and the various Baltic States on cured herring imported from Great Britain, and the total value of cured herring exported to Germany and Russia, and to Germany, Russia, and the new Baltic States in the years 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1923, 1924, 1925?

The following statements give the desired information:

STATEMENT showing the Custom Duties at present Leviable on Cured Herrings of United Kingdom origin on Importation into various countries. Country. Tariff Classification. Import Duty. English Equivalent (at present rates of exchange). Soviet Union Herrings cooked, salted or smoked. 3 roubles per 100 kilogs (gross). 3s. 2d. per cwt. (gross). Finland Herrings cooked, salted or dried. 1 Fm. per kilog 5s. 3d. per cwt. Herrings, cured or smoked 3 Fm. per kilog 15s. 9d. per cwt Poland Salted herrings 15 zloty per 100 kilogs(not including weight 4s per cwt. of external packing). Smoked and slightly cooked (red herrings). 20 zloty per 100 kilogs (gross). 5s. 4d. per cwt. (gross). Esthonia Herrings, smoked and salted 3 gold francs per 100 kilogs (gross). 1s. 2½d. per cwt. Latvia Herrings 5 gold francs per barrel 4s. per barrel. Lithuania Salted herrings in barrels weighing up to 164 kilogs. 8 lits per barrel 3s. 3d per barrel. Salted herrings in half barrels weighing up to 82 kilogs. 5 lits per ½ barrel 2s. 0½d. per ½ barrel. Salted herrings otherwise packed 10 lits per 100 kilogs (gross). 2s. 0½d. per cwt. (gross). Smoked herrings 10 lits per 100 kilogs (gross). 2s. 0½d. per cwt. (gross). Germany Salted herrings, not cut open: In whole, half, quarter or half-quarter barrels. 3 Reichsmarks per barrel. 2s. 11½d. per barrel. In other packing 2 Reichmarks per 100 kilogs (gross). 1s. per cwt. (gross). Herrings (other than salted herrings not cut open), dried, salted or otherwise simply prepared without vinegar, oil or spices. 3 Reichmarks per 100 kilogs (gross). 1s. 6d. per cwt. (gross). STATEMENT showing the quantity and value of the Exports from the United Kingdom of "Herrings, Cured or Salted, not Canned," registered as consigned to the undermentioned Countries during the years specified. Country to which Consigned. 1911.* 1912.* 1913.* Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Cwts. £ Cwts. £ Cwts. £ Russia (pre-war) 2,977,173 1,379,518 3,310,073 1,619,294 3,566,155 1,988,177 Germany (pre-war) 3,898,064 1,888,564 3,851,284 1,933,109 3,996,892 2,267,108 1923.† 1924. 1925. Russia (post-war) 13,545 9,030 806,841 729,032 195,284 164,060 Finland 144,352 70,025 165,075 121,763 156,162 126,570 Esthonia 241,259 122,241 182,678 130,608 131,003 103,006 Latvia 674,949 356,237 754,228 605,825 488,898 336,564 Lithuania 29,527 18,044 — — 8,575 6,354 Poland (including Dantzig) 888,123 472,478 1,009,287 804,711 658,306 501,408 Germany (post-war) 1,476,607 803,678 2,400,429 1,853,784 2,040,676 1,715,155 * The particulars for these years include small quantities of "canned" herrings. † Prior to 1st April, 1923,exports from Southern Ireland are included.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation making provision, in respect of trenches opened up on pavements by others than local authorities, that the final reinstatement of the trenches shall be executed by the local authority, the cost of which to be borne by the person or persons who opened the trenches?

The obligations and liabilities of statutory undertakings are in my opinion sufficiently defined by statutes now in force. Voluntary arrangements for the final reinstatement to foe carried out by the local authority are in fact in operation in many parts of the country, and I do not think that any legislation on the subject is called for.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the annual expenditure incurred by licensing authorities in the collection of licence duties on road vehicles; and what percentage it represents of the gross revenue collected by them?

The expenses of licensing authorities, the repayment of which was claimed out of the Road Fund under Section 3 (4) (a) of the Roads Act, 1920, in respect of the financial year 1924–25, amounted to £314,510, representing only fivepence out of every £1 of the duties collected, which amounted to £14,733,247. These expenses include not only the costs of collection, but also the costs of registration and of maintaining the register of motor vehicles. The expenditure under the latter head forms a substantial proportion of the total expenditure incurred by licensing authorities in the administration of the Act.

asked the Minister of Transport if any action is likely to be taken before the commencement of the motor-coach season with a view to dealing with vehicles on the road that are unsafe and unsuitable for passenger traffic?

I am not yet in a position to indicate when it will be possible to introduce the Road Vehicles Bill, which will deal, among other matters, with the better regulation and control of public service vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport the number and places where motor speed limits of five miles, or less, per hour are in operation?

A complete record of such speed limits is not available as, in addition to the powers now vested in the Minister of Transport and formerly vested in the Local Government Board and the Secretary for Scotland, the councils of counties and county boroughs have powers under the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896, to impose such speed limits with respect to bridges. The exercise of the last-mentioned powers is not subject to the consent of any Government Department.