asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that since the inquiry under the Profiteering Acts in 1919–20 into the prices and profits from tobacco, cigarettes, and matches, the wages and salaries of consumers have been reduced by several hundred million pounds per annum; that the profits from the manufacture of these articles are very high; that the cost of production has been considerably reduced; and will he say what steps, if any, the Government propose to take to see that the prices of these articles are reduced, at least in accordance with the decrease in the official cost-of-living figures since 1919–20?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him on the 10th November last. I know no means of securing that the prices of individual commodities shall vary in accordance with either the collective incomes of consumers or with the general cost-of-living figure. I do not think that either of those standards could reasonably be used to determine the proper price of individual commodities without regard to the particular conditions of production and distribution and, I may add, taxation in each case.

May I call the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the answer which I received a week or two ago, which related to an inquiry which had taken place in 1920? Does he agree that the conditions of the consumers to-day are similar, financially, to what they were in 1920?

I have looked very carefully at the answer given to the hon. Member, which addressed itself, not to the financial position of the consumer but to the rate of taxation charged in that particular industry. As the hon. Member knows, the great bulk of the cost of tobacco, unfortunately, goes into taxation, and that has not been reduced.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that last week one of the leading tobaccos was raised in price?

No. Perhaps the hon. Member will find an Empire tobacco, and support it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to introduce legislation giving further powers to the Food Council?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for guaranteed credits for the building of additional beet-sugar factories have been received this year; and whether, in view of the fact that the full sugar subsidy is now drawing to a close, it is proposed to grant under the Trade Facilities Act any such further guarantees?

Three applications have been received other than those referred to in my answer to the hon. Member on the 9th November. The answer to the second part of the question is that the point is, I understand, under consideration by the Trade Facilities Advisory Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will obtain figures from His Majesty's representatives abroad showing the output of blast furnaces in America, France, Belgium, Germany, and this country during 1925?

The information desired by the hon. Member will be found in the current issue of the Board of Trade Journal at page 555.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of ships which have changed from burning coal to oil since the War, together with the tonnage of such vessels; if he can give the number and tonnage of ships built since 1918, together with the number and tonnage, respectively, of those built to burn coal and oil; and can he give the same particulars for ships now under construction?

The answer is a rather long one, and the hon. Member will perhaps agree to its circulation in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us the number of men displaced by the turnover from coal to oil?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a question. I do not know, off-hand, whether there is any formula which can be applied. I very much doubt whether I can give him even an approximate figure. If he kill put down a question, I will see whether there are any figures.

Will the right hon. Gentleman include in the figures those vessels which have been reconverted to coal?

I should like notice of that. I am not sure whether the figures are available perhaps the hon. Member will look at the answer when it is circulated. There are a great many figures in the answer. If he wants any supplementary figures, I will see if I can get them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the attention of his Department has been called to the difficulties in connection with the chartering of ships for the Australian cargo trade; and whether, in that case, he can take any action to adjust matters with the object of avoiding loss of tonnage to British shipping?

I am aware of the differences which have arisen between shippers and shipowners in this trade. I understand that one matter, relating to the appointment of shipping agents, remains in dispute. I share the hon. Member's hope that this dispute may be speedily settled by mutual agreement; but I do not think the Board of Trade could usefully intervene.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the statistics show that foreign ships are getting into the Australian trade more than they did in the past?

That does not arise out of the question, but if notice is given, I will see what statistics there are.

asked the Secretary of State for War why pension has been refused in the case of Gertrude Phyllis Harrison, widow of the late John Percival Andrew Harrison, Sergeant, No. 1020803, Royal Tank Corps, and her three children under six years of age; whether he is aware that the late Sergeant Harrison enlisted as a boy on 3rd January, 1912, and died in the Military Hospital, Shorncliffe Camp, on 30th January, 1925, the cause of death being pneumonia; that Dr. John J. Proctor, late medical officer in charge of troops, Lydd Camp, certified that in his physical condition Harrison had no chance of recovery from the onset of the pneumonia and that his previous state was entirely due to his service and serious wounds incurred in the Great War; that Lieut.-Colonel W. Shannon, commanding officer, 3rd Battalion Royal Tank Corps, submitted to the court of inquiry a statement detailing the service of Sergeant Harrison overseas, noting that he had been wounded three times, once severely, and added that prior to his decease he was employed on company training at Lydd, during which period the weather was very cold, and it is possible that he contracted a chill, leading to pneumonia, through sudden exposure to the cold air whilst proceeding from one tank to another tank, the temperature in the tanks being very heated; and whether, having regard to all the circumstances, he will reconsider the decision to refuse pension?

The facts of this case have already been fully considered not only by the War Office, but also by the Ministry of Pensions and the Appeal Tribunal, and I regret that there are no grounds for reconsidering the decision that the grant of a pension is not admissible.

Is it not now the policy of the War Office to refuse to acknowledge any pensions in all cases of chest troubles?

No. Each case is considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for War what instructions have been issued to invaliding medical boards with regard to accepting tuberculosis of the lungs, pneumonia, and other chest complaints as due to service?

Instructions as to the circumstances in which disabilities will be regarded as attributable to military service, are contained in paragraph 220 of the Regulations for the Medical Services of the Army, 1923, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War if a man in receipt of pension for a post-War disability receives treatment allowances for himself and family when admitted into hospital for treatment of his disability; and, if not, whether any provision is made for the maintenance of the family while the man is undergoing treatment?

Treatment allowances are not paid when a post-War disability pensioner is admitted to hospital. But he continues to draw his pension during his treatment, and it is the custom of the Department to waive any claim against that pension in respect of the cost of his maintenance while in hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can make a statement as to the object of the recent action of his Department in sending a company of soldiers into the London postal tube and keeping them there for a number of hours?

The experiment was designed to furnish data regarding the ventilation required under certain conditions in underground shelters, such as dug-outs.

Was it undertaken with a view to finding out information for the provision of shelter for the civilian population in the event of air-raids?

Not exclusively. Both the military and the civil population will be subject to somewhat the same conditions. The experiments were intended to provide some information with respect to ventilation.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of lads under 18 recruited for the Army during the six months ended 31st October last?

962 were recruited as boys.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that these lads fully understand the nature of the calling?

Yes; the bulk of them were being trained at Chepstow for the tradesmen classes in the Army. Some were drummer boys, and I think every drummer boy knows what his calling is.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of recruits who have enlisted in the Territorial Army during November and December, 1925, and each month during 1926?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has given his approval to a by-law of the Kincardine-shire Education Authority permitting children of 10 years of age to be employed in farm work?

The answer is in the negative. The position is that the Kincardineshire Education Authority applied to my right hon. Friend for sanction to the deletion from their by-laws for the employment of children of the minimum age at present laid down therein for seasonal employment, namely, 12 years. Aster correspondence with the authority, he intimated that he would, in view of the considerations which they urged, be prepared, with reluctance, to sanction a by-law prescribing a minimum age of 10 years for seasonal employment subject to review in the event of advertisement of the proposed by-law revealing a. serious body of objection to it. The proposed amendment of the by-laws will now require to be advertised with an intimation that objections may be addressed to my right hon. Friend within 30 days by any person affected.

Am I to understand that the reply is not in the negative, but in the affirmative, and that the Secretary of State for Scotland is prepared to sanction the employment of children of 10 years of age, provided there is no local objection raised?

I do not think there is any quibble in it. The question is, whether he has given his authority, and the answer is that he has not given his authority. It is conditional on there being no objection to the proposed alteration.

If there is no objection raised locally, he will give it?

With respect to the last words in the answer, which say that objection will only be considered from people whose interests will be affected, will the Lord Advocate say exactly how far that limits the class of persons who may object?

It is clear that any person affected may object.

Can the Lord Advocate say whether the Government are agreeable that the same principle that is now laid down may be applied to the Government's signature to the Washington Convention?

That is another matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet received the Report of the arbiter for the sheep-stock valuations at Eriboll, and whether he will place in the Library, for the information of hon. Members interested, copies of the missives of sale under which the Board of Agriculture purchased the estate and farm of Eriboll and copies of the missives of sale under which the Board sold the estate and farm of Eriboll?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, my right hon. Friend does not consider it necessary to take the course suggested. He has already undertaken to give the hon. and gallant Member the result of the arbiter's award when it has been made.

Surely, if this House is responsible for the administration of this estate, we have a right to know the terms upon which the transaction has been concluded? Further, why has the arbiter not reported before now in view of the fact that he made his valuation on 14th October—more than six weeks ago? Why is there all this concealment and delay?

I am net aware that there has been any concealment at all. Of course my right hon. Friend would he answerable to this House for sanctioning the sale, and he has already stated that as soon as the transaction was completed, he would be prepared to answer any questions upon it. That was his answer to a supplementary question on 16th November last.

Yes, the right hon. Gentleman said he would answer any questions, but cannot we have the actual terms of the transaction upon which we can put questions? There is no use putting questions if nobody has the facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the present wages rate per hour of the labourers employed on the Sandy Hills housing scheme, Toll-cross, Glasgow, is the rate paid in the building trade or civil engineering; if the latter, which class or grade are they classified in; and whether he can state the classification or grade and rate of pay per hour for similar work in Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham?

The rate paid for unskilled surface work is 1s. 1d. per hour. Labourers engaged on the more skilled work of laying and jointing pipes are paid an additional 2½d. per hour. The civil engineering rate for Glasgow is 1s. ld. per hour, and for Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham, ls. 3½ per hour.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there are three firms operating on this particular scheme, and that one firm alone—Messrs. Weir's firm—is paying ls. ld. per hour, while the other two firms, namely, the Atholl firm and the Cowieson firm, are paying Is. 3½d. an hour for the same labour; and will he undertake to look into this question and see that the Fair Wages Clause is observed?

The answer is that I Personally am not aware of it, but I will certainly draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the question.

From what source has the Lord Advocate obtained his information that the civil engineering rate for Glasgow is the figure stated by him?

I got that information where I get all such information—from the Office. If the hon. Member desires any more details I shall ask him to give notice of a further question.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that no rates have been fixed by the civil engineering industry for any part of Scotland?

No, Sir, I am not Personally aware of it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consult the Traffic Advisory Committee with a view to arranging for the tramway and omnibus authorities in London adopting the Parisian system, which enables passengers in the order of their arrival at busy stopping places to hoard tramcars and omnibuses by the use of numbered tickets affixed to lamp standards?

Consideration has been given to the suggestion that the system in vogue in Paris whereby passengers boarding omnibuses and tramcars do so in the order of numbered tickets obtained from lamp standards at the various stopping places, but I am inclined to the conclusion that this system will not suit London conditions. As a practical objection, it would have the effect of slowing down both omnibuses and tramcars very considerably.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman and his Department have not made many observations in regard to this system. Is he aware that there is no slowing down where it is in operation, and that under the present system with the great congestion of passengers, the aged and the infirm have to go to the wall. What objection can there be, in view of the fact that the police will not permit queuing up at busy tram stopping places?

The conditions in London are not the same as the conditions in Paris. The lay-out of Paris is very different from that of London. In the case of London, generally, there are many instances IA here omnibuses and tramways of several routes have common stopping places, and there would be very considerable confusion and certainly delay.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make an experiment in some busy place?

I will consider that suggestion.

Several routes have a common stopping place in Paris.

My answer is that the lay-out in London is very different from that of Paris.

Is it not a fact that the traffic in Paris moves considerably quicker than the traffic in London?

Will the right hon. Gentleman make an experiment at Hammersmith Broadway, where people have to tight for omnibuses and trams on cold and wet nights?

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the permanent way, bridges and rolling stock of the Bishop's Castle (Salop) Railway; when this line was last examined; and is he satisfied that adequate public safety is assured to passengers travelling on this line?

I have been informed by the manager of this railway that fresh passenger and goods vehicles have recently been purchased; that a considerable section of the line has recently been inlaid, and that, in his opinion, the line is at present in a better condition than it has been for many years. I have no reason to suppose that public safety is not adequately secured.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the metalling of the line has worn away to half the normal gauge, and will he ask the manager to look into the matter?

The manager informs me that he considers the public safety is adequately safeguarded, but if the lion. Member desires it, I will draw his attention to the specific question he has raised.

asked the Minister of Transport how many new road construction schemes have been authorised by his Department during the current financial year, and, of these, how many involve grants of over £250,000 and £500,000, respectively?

59 new road and bridge construction schemes (mainly diversions of existing roads) have been authorised by this Department during the current financial year. None if these involves a grant of over £250,000.

asked the Minister of Transport how many bridges there are connecting up first or second class roads in England on which tolls are charged, and what are the maximum tolls charged on such bridges on motor cars and other classes of traffic?

According to returns made by highway authorities two years ago, there were then in England 24 toil bridges on Class I roads and 20 on Class II roads. The highest toll for private motor cars was 2s. 6d. and the lowest 2d. Owing to the complete want of uniformity in the classification of vehicles and traffic adopted on different toll bridges, it is not practicable to state the maximum tolls for every category of traffic. Some of the schedules include calashes, barouches and other unfamiliar forms of transport. The complete tabular returns, which are somewhat Voluminous, are deposited in my Department, and I will gladly give every facility to my hon. and gallant Friend to consult them.

If the local authority which has charge of these bridges puts forward a reasonable scheme, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of making a contribution from the Road Fund so that the bridge may be made free for vehicular and other traffic?

Certainly, that is one of the powers given me by the Act of 1925, but as far as I can remember no definite proposal has been put to me by a local authority. If they do, I will certainly consider them, and also the particular instance which the hon. and gallant Member has, I think, in mind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give a pledge that in fixing the price at which these toll bridges are to be acquired he will see that the purchase price is not fixed on unreasonable tolls, wherever they are charged, that they will not be used in such a way as to extort an unreasonable price for purchase from public funds?

I never give Parliamentary pledges; they are most undesirable things. But I will scrutinise any agreement arrived at between a local authority and the owners before I give a grant.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in one case a local authority submitted proposals for a bridge built 125 years ago at a cost of £12,000, which was to he acquired for £130,000?

No, Sir; the proposal has not yet come officially before me.

asked the Minister of Transport the present position of the scheme for the arterial road to Chertsey; and whether he is now able to justify the hope expressed to a delegation of local authorities which he received on 25th May, namely, that work on the road would probably he commenced by October. 1027?

A section of he new Chertsey Road in Chiswick is already completed, including the bridge over the railway—to all of which works assistance has been given from the Road Fund. Elsewhere land acquisition is in progress, but as far as actual works are concerned, I can take no decision until the Report of the Royal Commission on Cross-River Traffic in London has been presented and considered.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to re-introduce penny postage in this country and throughout the Empire?

I regret that I am not in a position to make any forecast on the subject.

Can the Postmaster-General say whether this question was considered at the Imperial Conference?

I must have notice of that.

The right hon. Gentleman throughout his speech was very ambiguous, because he said that. it was relegated to the dim background of the future.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any objection to saying whether this matter was the subject of discussion at the imperial Conference?

None whatever, but I must have notice.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received representations regarding the weight of parcels containing printed papers which are sent overseas; and whether he proposes to increase the maximum weight from 5 lbs. to 1bs?

The 5 lb. limit of weight fixed for packets of printed papers sent to other parts of the Empire is already greater than the limit of 2 kilogrammes prescribed for the International Service generally by the Postal Union Convention; and there are serious difficulties in any general extension of the limit. Arrangements are, however, in existence whereby newsagents can, under certain conditions, send bags of printed matter paid at bulk rates of postage direct from their premises to their agents in various parts of the Empire, and I have had these facilities brought to the notice of the firms possibly concerned in the representations to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of foreign countries which only accept parcels weighing a maximum of 11 lbs., and the names of the Dominions, Crown Colonies, and Protectorates a hick limit them to the same weight?

The limit of weight is still 17 lb. for postal parcels sent from Great Britain to 10 foreign countries and their colonies, and to certain colonial possessions and two other countries. The same limit is in force in the case of Australia, South Africa, Rhodesia and eleven other British possessions.

Would my right hon. Friend say whether efforts are being made to induce these countries to accept. parcels up to 22 lbs. weight?

The difficulty arises from the fact that certain of these countries are not able to deal with parcels of this size.

asked the Post-master-General the number of parcels carried to date under the cash-on-delivery system, and the number refused for nonpayment?

The number of inland cash-on-delivery parcels posted up to the 20th November is approximately 632,000. No later figures are available. About 14,000 have been undeliverable for various reasons, including that of non-payment. It is not possible to say how many were undeliverable for this reason alone.

asked the Postmaster-General if there is any diminution in the Volume of telegraphic and telephonic business dealing with betting matters since the introduction of the Betting Tax; arid, if so, whether he will state to what extent?

I have no data upon which to form any precise estimate as to the effect of the Betting Duty upon the Volume of telegraph or telephone traffic. There has been no noticeable effect upon the telegraph or telephone revenue.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one firm alone has discontinued over 80 telephones, and whether he will ascertain the loss of revenue and the increase of lawlessness and confer with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject?

The hon. Member did not catch the last sentence of my reply, which was "there has been no noticeable effect upon the telegraph or telephone revenue."

If I bring some evidence to the notice of the right hon. Gentleman, will he consider it?

Yes, but I must remind the hon. Member That this is only an infinitesimal fraction of the whole.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many meetings of the Special Grants Committee have been held since 1st April. 1926; what was the time spent on the work of the Committee by the permanent civil servants who are members of the Committee; and what arrangements are made to carry on their work in their respective departments?

The Special Grants Committee and its sub-committees have met on 42 occasions since 1st April last. I am unable to state the amount of time spent on the work by the two permanent civil servants who are members of the Committee, but it has nut necessitated any arrangements of a different kind from those which are usually made when civil servants are called upon to serve on Committees.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he has been informed that the West Riding County Council is prepared to reduce the charges made in respect of sanatorium treatment of children of War widows and disabled men if the Ministry of Pensons will re duce the deduction of 50 per cent. taken from the pensions of the children while under treatment in a sanatorium; and whether he will consider the desirability of entering into an arrangement with the local authorities, so that in every case the parent shall receive not less than 3s. a week of the child's allowance or pension, after the Ministry deduction and the contribution to local charges is paid, for the purchase of boots, clothing, etc., and the payment of fares and incidental expenses when visiting a child in a sanatorium?

I am aware that the suggestion referred to in the first part of the question has been made. The reduction by one-half of the child's allowance in such cases is, however, imposed under the terms of the Royal Warrant because more than one-half of the cost of the child's maintenance in the sanatorium is provided from State funds other than those administered by the Ministry of Pensions. I should have no authority to make such arrangements as are suggested by the hon. Member in the last part of the question.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state his intentions regarding any further legislation in connection with the dispute in the coal industry?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on Wednesday last in reply to a Private Notice Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Lewes Division.

Mar I ask whether any decision not to proceed with other legislation with regard to mining, has been reached because the legislation already passed this year has been of such a calamitous character?

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the long continued stoppage in the mining industry and the general state of trade, he will extend the period for the payment of arrears of contributions under the National Health Insurance Act from 30th November to 31st December or some later date?

In view of the coal dispute and consequent unemployment in various trades, my right hon. Friend has already decided that arrears may be accepted up to 31st January, 1927, in cases where a society is satisfied that the delay in discharging arrears is due to financial difficulty arising out of the industrial situation. This decision is being conveyed to all approved societies.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how the total number of persons now employed in Government Departments compares with the corresponding figure in November last year?

Particulars of the staffs of Government Departments are now published quarterly. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of Command Papers 2579 and 2759 containing the returns for the 1st October, 1925, and the 1st October, 1926, which will give him the latest comparison available.

In view of the reference to the October circular, will the right hon. Gentleman state whether, having regard to the increases which have taken place in the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Health, he is making efforts to get corresponding decreases in the other Ministries; and if not whether be is satisfied with the present position of affairs.

It does not follow that, because the work has increased in one Department it has correspondingly decreased in another.

I asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he is making efforts to reduce the staffs. I am not referring to the work.

We always endeavour to reduce the staffs to the minimum.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the state of the labour market at the present time, he is prepared to defer until after Christmas all notices of discharge on account of redundancy now being issued to ex-service temporary clerks in the Civil Service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 25th November to the hon. Member for Rotherhithe (Mr. B. Smith).

asked the Minister of Health the capitalised value of all the subsidies payable by the Exchequer on houses completed, under construction, or authorised under the Housing Acts of 1919, 1923, and 1924?

The Exchequer subsidy payable in respect of schemes under the Housing Act of 1919 depends on the rate of interest payable in future by local authorities in respect of their loans, and on other variable factors, and it is not, therefore, possible to state the capitalised value of the subsidies which will be payable. The amount paid by way of lump sum grants to private builders

asked the Minister of Health whether he can estimate the liability upon local rates for all houses built or authorised under the Housing Acts of 1919, 1923, and 1924, respectively?

I would refer my Noble Friend to the reply given to a similar question put by the hon. and gallant

asked the Minister of Health what is the accommodation and contract price of the municipal houses which he has approved to be built at Halifax that it is hoped to let at 5s. a week, exclusive of rates?

As the answer involves a tabular statement, T will, with my Noble Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

How much have the local authorities been receiving in rates for the houses?

That is another matter.