asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has reached any decision as to the proposal to set up in the North-West Province a form of government and administration similar to that obtaining in the other Provinces of India?

No, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can inform the House as to what percentage of official posts is held by Europeans and Anglo-Indians on the Bengal and North-Western Railway; and the numbers or percentage of European and Anglo-Indian subordinates drawing 250 rupees and over and 100 to 250 rupees per annum, respectively?

The information as far as available is contained on pages 63 and 65 and in Appendix G of Volume I of the Report by the Railway Board on Indian Railways for 1924–25, a copy of which is in the Library.

BRITTAIN asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any further information to give to the House with regard to the disturbances in Calcutta; what has been the number of casualties; and whether there have been any disturbances outside the limits of the city?

My Noble Friend has received information up to yesterday mid-day. Since the recurrence of trouble on the 22nd there have been 63 deaths and 391 cases of injury; and there have been reports of anxiety outside Calcutta, but only one case of any actual conflict. Beginning with the 27th April, there have been a definite improvement of the situation and indications of the resumption of business and growth of confidence. The forces available for the prevention of disorder are reported to be adequate, but the desire for reprisals has encouraged isolated assaults, which have been committed mainly by bad characters. Effective action has been taken against these, and seven newspapers which were inciting to communal hatred have been prosecuted. The telegram of the 1st May contains the following passage:

"Conditions are now rapidly returning to normal. Shops in part of the affected area still remain closed, due often to absence of proprietors who left Calcutta during riots; but markets are open, prices of foodstuffs have improved, traffic is better and carters are returning to work. Dock coolies are working."

Both the Government of Bengal and the Government of India are fully alive to the necessity for vigilance and effective action, and will take any further powers which consideration may prove to he necessary.

Who were the instigators of these disturbances?

My hon. Friend will, perhaps, give notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the cause for the riots in Calcutta which are lowering British prestige; and whether he can give an assurance that the old policy of not permitting religious violence to take place within British India will he restored?

The official reports so far received mention no other cause for these riots than the existence of aggravated ill-feeling between Hindus and Moslems. There never has been any policy as regards riots of any kind in the mind of the authorities in India, except that of preventing and suppressing them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the order of expulsion from the territories of the Jaipur State passed on Mr. Ramnarain Chaudhry on 11th February, 1925; and whether, in view of the special position of the Government of India in Jaipur during the minority of the ruler, he will cause an investigation to be made into all the circumstances, with a view to the termination of the externment;

(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the order published in the "Jaipur State Gazette" for April, 1925, announcing the prohibition of the entry of the newspaper the "Tarun Rajasthan of Ajmer" into the Jaipur State; and whether, in view of the special position of the Government of India in Jaipur during the minority of the ruler, he will cause an investigation to be made as to the necessity for the retention of this order?

Perhaps I may answer the, hon. Member's two questions together. My Noble Friend has not seen the text of the orders referred to, but he has seen reports on the subject. The Secretary of State sees no reason to suggest to the Government of India that they should take any action in these matters.

Am I to understand that the Secretary of State has not any knowledge of the facts at all?

He has seen reports, as stated in the answer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether h will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the request made to the French authorities at Pondicherry in connection with the visit paid to that district by Mr. Iyengar on the 12th March last; will he state the name of the refugee Mr. Iyengar visited; whether this person is a British subject; and has any warning been issued, either by the French or British authorities, that persons visiting the person concerned would be treated as suspected persons and liable to arrest and treatment as criminals?

I am not aware that any request was made to the French authorities. The refugee visited is named Arabinda Chose. So far as I know he has not changed his nationality. I do not know that any warning has been issued by either the French or the British authorities about visits to this rather notorious gentleman.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the terms of their letter dated 1st April, 1926, to Messrs. Meik and Buchanan, the original engineers to the Bombay reclamation scheme, the India Office had any responsibility for the contract between that firm and the Bombay Government, and was it consulted before the contract was entered into?

All contracts made by a Government in India are required by law to run in the name of the Secretary of State for India in Council. The particular contract referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend was negotiated, drawn up, and executed by the Government of Bombay, and the firm has been informed by my Noble Friend that the decision of any question relating to the determination of the contract rests with that Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether Russia has made proposals to any of the Dominion Governments to enter into direct trading agreements with the Soviet Republics; if so, whether any such agreements have been concluded and, if so, with which of the Dominions; and whether the Imperial Government have been consulted in regard to any such negotiations?

By an exchange of Notes in 1922, it was arranged that the provisions of the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement of 1921 should apply to Canada. I have seen recent statements in the Press as to the possibility of extending trade relations between other Dominions and the Soviet Union, but have no other information on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the attention of His Majesty's Government has been drawn to a speech made by M. Litvinoff, at the closing session of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union at Moscow on 25th April, in which the acting People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs expressed the willingness of his Government to enter into negotiations with His Majesty's Government with a view to finding a way out of the present deadlock in the relations of the two countries; and whether, in view of this statement by M. Litvinoff, His Majesty's Government intend taking any steps in the matter?

I have seen a very brief report of M. Litvinoff's speech. The attitude of His Majesty's Government has been indicated more than once. If the Soviet Government have any definite proposals to make us of a reasonable kind, we are prepared to consider them, provided we can be assured that the negotiations will not be used only as cover for continued propaganda against British interests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the number of store and fat cattle imported into this country in 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1925; and what was the average price per pound weight of home-killed beef in each of those years?

As the reply is rather long, and contains a number of figures, I propose, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the price has increased or decreased?

Speaking generally, it has decreased a little. The first quality, second quality and ribs have all gone down about ½d., whereas thin flank has fallen by Id. over the period of years which I have given.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the decline in the number of pigs in this country from the total of 1924 to that of 1925, and indicate the reasons assigned by the Department for it?

The number of pigs on agricultural holdings in England and Wales as returned on 4th June, 1925, was 2,644,356, as compared with 3,228,330 a year earlier, a reduction of 583,974. This reduction is attributed to the very low prices realised for fat pigs during 1924, as a result of the large numbers of pigs in that year, not only in this country but in Canada, Denmark and the United States. I may mention that the number of pigs in England and Wales in 1924 was by far the largest ever recorded, and that the number in 1925 was appreciably above the average of previous years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give figures showing the amount of land that is diverted from agricultural uses in order to be devoted to golf or other games and to the provision of private parks?

No statistics are available at present of the area of land devoted to the purposes mentioned, but some inquiries have recently been made on the subject, and it is hoped to publish the results of these inquiries in the Report on the Agricultural Census of Production which will probably be issued before the end of the year.

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to adapt the annual returns so as to get, if possible, full information in regard to this subject?

I will see how far that is practicable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that in a recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Brewood, Staffordshire, the owner moved 19 cattle on to the infected farm immediately after the disease had been confirmed, thus infringing the provisions of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Order; that these 19 cattle had in consequence to be slaughtered on account of their being brought into contact with infection on the farm; and whether compensation out of public funds will be paid to the owner for these cattle?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The value of the 19 cattle for the purpose of compensation was estimated at £268. Power is given to the Minister by Sub- section (7) of Section 20 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, to withhold either wholly or partially compensation in respect of an animal slaughtered by his direction under the Act where the owner or person having charge thereof has in the judgment of the Minister been guilty in relation to the animal of an offence against the Act. I have exercised my power in this case and payment of the whole of the sum of £268 has been withheld.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the condition of the Board of Fisheries research station at Bay of Nigg, Scotland, and whether it is intended to close this station?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware that certain parts of the research station of the Fishery Board of Scotland at Bay of Nigg require overhaul. The matter is receiving attention and There Is no intention of closing the station.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if any of the 51 small holdings in Scotland show a profit for the year ending 31st December, 1925?

The accounts of Small Holding Colonies in Scotland are struck at the end of the financial and not of the calendar year. I accordingly regret that I am not in a position to furnish particulars at the date mentioned by the hon. Member. The last available accounts are for the financial year which ended on 31st March, 1925.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the increasingly numerous complaints of the high rents at which single rooms and other parts of dwelling-houses in crowded centres are being farmed out, due to lack of housing accommodation; and will he introduce legislation to put a stop to this practice?

The. Rent, Acts already contain provisions for dealing with extortionate rents for furnished lettings and any sub-tenant who considers that, he is paying an excessive rent can apply to the Courts to have the proper rent determined. As my hon. Friend will realise, the only satisfactory remedy is the building of new houses, and such building is proceeding at an increasing rate throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that 1,000 applications were received for 35 flats being built in Wyford Street, Fulham; and whether any steps are being taken by the Fulham Metropolitan Borough Council for building more fiats or houses?

I understand that a large number of applications have been received for the flats referred to. As regards the second part of the question, no proposals for the provision of further flats or houses have been submitted to me by the Metropolitan Borough Council. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that provision for the housing needs of Fulham forms part of the general housing programme of the London County Council.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a further area in that district has been scheduled for demolition under the general scheme, and that this; will subsequently be available for housing?

I think that is so.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the many advantages in connection with rent and establishment charges enjoyed by the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes in Government establishments which are not available to civil traders, he will cancel paragraph 11 of Admiralty Fleet Order, No. 1070, of 1926, and substitute that 5 per cent. rebate will be paid into the ships or barracks fund on account of goods purchased for family use in addition to the 5 per cent. discount to the Customer?

The answer is in the negative. The full 10 per cent. rebate is only payable on the turnover of both wet and dry canteens. The purchases for family use to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers do not contribute to the profits of wet canteens, and the correct rebate on these purchases is, therefore, 5 per cent. only.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the furniture of naval ratings who exercise their option to have it removed at Government expense on being discharged to pension, is conveyed by van from the house and unpacked and stored in a railway goods van for conveyance to destination, with the result that considerable damage is caused; and whether he will consider the use of light vans or motor transport for future removals, observing that the additional charge, if any, would he small and be willingly paid by the rating?

Ratings already have the option of removing their furniture by private contractors, and in such cases are allowed the cost of conveyance of the furniture by rail under Admiralty arrangements. This is clearly set out on the form which is issued to each long-service rating on being invalided or discharged to pension. I may acid that more than 400 removals by rail have been effected since 1st January, 1925, and in 12 cases only have claims for damage been made by the ratings. The total amount paid in respect of such damage was £48.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the total weekly sum payable in allowances to men who have been transferred from Rosyth and Pembroke?

These allowances are paid locally, and the precise amount payable cannot be stated at short notice. It changes from week to week as men obtain unfurnished accommodation or vary their arrangements as regards furnished accommodation. The amount actually paid in the week ended 24th April waft approximately £400.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of licences current at the latest available date for commercial goods vehicles and motor hackney carriages, respectively, classified in each case according to horse power?

I have been asked to reply to this question. Commercial goods vehicles and hackney carriages are not taxed according to horse power, and the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available. I am, however, sending him a copy of the latest return, which shows the total number of licences current at the 28th of February last.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the danger to road users, owing to the lack of uniformity of automatic signalling and warning devices, he will consider legislation with a view to making the use of a standardised signalling device compulsory anon all blind vehicles, such as tramcars, motor omnibuses, motor coaches, hooded vans, and enclosed cars?

The question of signalling devices was considered by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, which recommended that the signals given by drivers should be as few as possible and from a uniform position, but came to the conclusion that signals by the human hand and arm were sufficient and satisfactory. Any attempt to prescribe a form of mechanical signalling device would, obviously, give rise to numerous difficulties.

May I ask whether the Departmental Committee has come to any decision yet as to rear lights on bicycles?

That is another matter, which does not arise out of this question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why all these people should be put to the expense of automatic signals?

I think my hon. Friend will see that I have come to the same conclusion.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the Murray signalling device as a method of denoting to motorists by means of reflected lights from their vehicles dangerous obstructions on the highway; and whether the device has been tested by his Department?

One of the technical officers of my Department attended a demonstration of the "Murray Signs," which, I presume, are those referred to in the hon. and gallant Member's question.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any action is contemplated in regard to dazzling headlights; and whether his attention has been drawn to the suitability of parabolite lenses in this connection?

I am considering the question of seeking additional powers to deal with the lighting of road vehicles in the Bill, which I hope to introduce as soon as Parliamentary time is available. My attention has been drawn to the tests that have been carried out upon a number of different types of lenses, including the parabolite lens

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if temporary civil servants who served during the War as pilots in the Royal Air Force and were engaged in action against invading enemy aircraft are classified as home-service men; whether they are included in the first category for dismissal on reduction of staff; and if he is now prepared to regard these men as being at least on an equal footing with men who served overseas in a non-combatant capacity?

Members of the Royal Air Force who, while attached to an operative unit, were engaged as pilots on defensive duties in this country during the War, are regarded by the Joint Substitution Board of the Treasury and Ministry of Labour as overseas ex-service men, for the purpose of the preference accorded to such men as regards appointment to, and retention in, temporary posts in the Civil Service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether, in the selection of male temporary clerks for dismissal, the main consideration of Government Departments is the former military rank of the individuals concerned; and, if so, whether this procedure can be modified, so that the relative efficiency of the individual clerks shall be the first consideration, allowance being made in cases of severe war disability;

(2) if he is aware that efficient ex-service temporary clerks with heavy domestic responsibilities are being dismissed from various Government Departments, while unmarried temporary clerks of lower efficiency, and with no dependants, are being retained by the same Departments; and if he is prepared to take steps to retain the services of efficient ex-service men with dependent relatives in preference to those who have no domestic responsibilities?

When it is necessary owing to reduction of work to discharge redundant temporary clerks, the order of discharge followed is that laid down in the First Report of the Lytton Committee on the Employment of Ex-Service Men in the Civil Service) that is to say, disabled ex-service men are retained in preference to those who are not disabled, and non-disabled men with service overseas in preference to non-disabled men with home service only, subject always to Considerations of efficiency, and to the discretion of the head of the Department to vary the order of discharge in cases of hardship. The question of military rank does not arise. The arrangements made in accordance with the recommendations of the Lytton Report provide for the representation of the views of the staff affected to the Department concerned, and I am not aware of any respect in which it is desirable that the existing procedure should be modified.

Is any consideration given to the matter of domestic responsibilities?

Yes, if the hon. Member will refer to what I have said about hardships, he will see that that matter conies in.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount that is paid in pensions annually to Post Office Officials?

I have been asked to reply. The total annual amount of pensions in course of payment to retired Post Office officials at a recent date—excluding those paid on behalf of the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland Government —is £1,945,207.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that prior to the operation of the Treasury Minute of March, 1922, alterations in pensions could only be made subject to Parliamentary authority, he will take steps to ensure that pensioners retiring on or after March, 1922, be granted their pension according to Act of Parliament, that is, one eightieth of their annual salary and emoluments at the time of their retirement multiplied by their years of service, provided that such pensions do not exceed £150 a year and £200 a year in the case of single and married men, respectively?

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member of the 25th February last, he is mistaken in thinking that the Treasury Minute of 20th March, 1922, is inconsistent with the provisions of the Superannuation Acts. Accordingly I see no reason for taking further steps in the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport the amount of the surplus standing to the credit of the Road Board on the 31st of March each year from 1920 to 1926; and why the surplus now credited has not been expended on, or at least earmarked for, definite schemes of road improvement, which in many counties are now held up for lack of money?

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it by means of the OFFICIAL REPORT.