asked the Secretary of State for Air if his attention has been drawn to the jury's rider as to the administration of Air Force accounts in the case of two officers of the Royal Air Force who were convicted at the Old Bailey for fraudulently converting a cheque for £3,000; and what action is being taken in this matter?

My attention has been drawn to the case to which, presumably, the hon. and gallant Member refers. The facts were not, however, as stated in his question; the jury's rider had no reference to the administration of Air Force accounts, which were in no way in question; the two officers concerned were not Royal Air Force officers but temporary officials serving the Air Ministry in a civil capacity, and they were neither charged with nor convicted of fraudulent conversion. The jury's rider censured them for conduct disclosed in the evidence which they gave as witnesses for the prosecution, and the action to be taken by my Department in the case is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the present numbers in each grade, men and women, employed in the pensions division in his Department, from the head of the division downwards to the lowest grade; how many, men and women, lower clerical, higher clerical, junior executive, and higher executive posts have been filled by promotion since the pensions divisions were inaugurated, and the grades from which such promotions were made; and how many acting allowances have been paid to officers in the pensions divisions 'for work of a temporary character above their respective grades, and the amount of such allowances in each case?

The present numbers in each grade employed

Grade.			Posts filled by Promotion.		Grade from which Promotions were made.
			Men.	Women.
Lower Clerical	…	…	—	18	Writing Assistant.
Higher Clerical	…	…	21	10	Lower Clerical.
Higher Clerical	…	…	4	—	Redundant Second Division Clerk.
Junior Executive	…	…	24	8	Lower Clerical.
Higher Executive	…	…	22	—	Junior Executive.
Higher Executive	…	…	—	2	Higher Clerical.
Total	…	…	71	38

Gratuities were paid to 31 officers in the pensions branches temporarily placed on duties in advance of their respective grades. The amount so paid varied from £5 14s. to £151 2s. 3d.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total amount for salaries being paid during the present financial year to the 491 new officials who have been appointed in his Department since 1st January, 1926; and what estimate has been made as to the value of the pension rights of these officials if capitalised?

The total annual cost of the salaries of the 491 officials newly appointed since 1st January, 1926

asked the Minister of Labour if officials at the Employment Exchanges are allowed to hold other appointments?

Officers serving in Employment Exchanges are not allowed to hold any appointment which might be regarded as incompatible with the proper performance of their official duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the names and the countries represented on the Preparatory Committee for the Disarmament Conference; and when the next meeting of the Preparatory Committee will take place?

The following countries are represented on the Preparatory Committee:

Belgium.	Poland.
British Empire.	Rumania.
Chile.	Salvador.
China.	Finland.
Colombia.	Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
Czechoslovakia.
France.
Germany.	Argentina.
Italy.	Bulgaria.
Japan.	United States of America.
Netherlands.

The next meeting of the committee will take place in March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any effort has been made since April, 1925, to introduce factory legislation in the British and foreign concessions in China; whether he is aware that at the meeting of the ratepayers on 25th April, 1925, held with the object of passing a by-law to give the Shanghai Municipal Council powers to introduce factory legislation, the meeting failed for lack of a quorum owing to the absence of the British voters, and that the British voters constitute a majority in the settlement; and whether, in view of this fact and the consequent absence of any factory legislation or labour protection regulation, he will use his powers under the China Order in Council in 1925, by which British laws are made applicable to British subjects in China, to see that British factory owners in China are not exempt from laws to which they are subject in this country?

The meeting of ratepayers of the International Settlement at Shanghai on the 15th April, 1925, failed, for lack of a quorum, to pass the Child Labour By-law. British voters constitute a majority of the settlement and a larger proportion of them attended the meeting than of any other nationality. A further attempt was made at the instance of the British Consul-General to secure a quorum for another special meeting on the 2nd of June, 1925, but serious rioting in the settlement on that day prevented a quorum from assembling and political conditions have since rendered it inadvisable to make any further attempt to introduce such legislation. It is unfortunately not practicable, for a variety of technical reasons, to apply British factory legislation to British subjects in China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the event of no questionnaire being submitted, it is intended to obtain the necessary information for the guidance of the Permanent Mandates Commission by some other means; and whether he can indicate the means to be employed?

In conformity with the obligation imposed by Article 22 of the Covenant, His Majesty's Government have always furnished detailed annual reports on the administration of the mandated territories and supplied any additional information required by the Mandates Commission. There is no question of discontinuing this practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many States have accepted Article 36 of the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice, providing for the compulsory submission of certain classes of cases to the Court; and if he will give the names of those States?

The following States have signed and ratified the optional Clause recognising the Court's jurisdiction as described in Article 36 of the Statute:

Signatures.	Ratifications.
Abyssinia	Abyssinia (July 16, 1926)
Austria(a)	Austria (March 14, 1922)
Belgium(c)	Belgium (March 10, 1926)
Brazil(a)	Braisil(b) (Nov. 1. 1921)
Bulgaria	Bulgaria (Aug. 12, 1921)
China(a)	China (May 13, 1922)
Costa Rica	—
Denmark(e)	Denmark (March 28, 1926)
Dominican Republic	—
—	Esthonia (May 2. 1923)
Finland(a)	Finland (April 6. 1922)
France(c)	—
Haiti	Haiti(d)
Latvia(a)	—
Liberia	—
Lithuania(a)	Lithuania (May 16, 1922)
Luxemburg(a)	—
The Netherlands(e)	The Netherlands(d)
Norway(a)	Norway (Oct. 3, 1921)
Panama	—
Portugal	Portugal (Oct. 8. 1921)
Salvador	—
Sweden(e)	Sweden(d)
Switzerland(e)	Switzerland (July 24, 1926)
Uruguay	Uruguay (Sept. 27, 1921)
(a) This indicates that the Optional Clause has been accepted for a period of five years.
(b) Subject to acceptance also by at least two of the Powers permanently represented on the Council.
(c) Members having accepted the Optional Clause for a period of 15 years subject to ratification.
(d) Members having signed the Optional Clause or having adhered thereto without any reservation regarding ratification.
(e) Members who have accepted the Optional Clause for a period of 10 years.

—			Outward Movement of British Migrants for 6 months ending 30th June, 1925 and 1926 (Board of Trade Return).		Assisted under Empire Settlement Act, 1922, for 6 months ending 30th June. 1926 and 1926.		Percentage of Total Outward Movement Assisted under Art.		Assisted under Empire Settlement Act, 1922, for 9 months ending 30th Sept., 1925 and 1926.
			1925.	1926.	1925.	1926.	1925.	1926.	1925.	1926.
Australia	…	…	17,979	21,630	11,987	16,422	67	76	17,621	25,362
Canada	…	…	22,346	29,460	5,898	13,487	26	46	7,880	18,943
New Zealand		…	5,912	7.207	4,384	5,354	74	74	6,523	8,388
			46,237	58,297	22,269	35,263	48	60	32,024	52,693

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what are the steps proposed to be taken which are referred to on page 43 of Cmd. 2768, in order to promote the settlement of families on undeveloped Crown lands and upon privately-owned unoccupied farm lands in Canada?

These matters are still under discussion between His Majesty's Governments in Great Britain and Canada.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what steps he proposes to take to carry out the recommendation of the Special Sub-Committee of the Imperial Conference in regard to facilities for assisting suitable settlers from Great Britain to acquire farms of their own overseas?

This recommendation of the Sub-Committee of the Imperial Conference on Oversea Settlement is receiving consideration. In the case of New Zealand, the outlines of a scheme to give effect to the recommendation have already been agreed upon.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can give figures illustrating the acceleration of the redistribution of population as between Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which the Imperial Conference noted with satisfaction as having resulted from the acceptance of the policy contained in the Resolution of the Conference of Prime Ministers in 1921?

I invite my hon. Friend's attention to the figures given in the appended statement:

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the agreement of the special sub-committee of the Imperial Conference as to the importance of extending the training centres in Great Britain as a preparation for farm life overseas, he proposes to take any steps; and, if so, can he make any statement on the subject?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies on the 22nd November to the hon. and gallant Member for Abingdon (Major Glyn), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War what fees, if any, are paid to members of a court-martial?

No fees are paid.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the deadlock which exists between his Department, the Weaver Navigation trustees, and the Cheshire County Council has led to the closing of a bridge at Northwich on the Manchester-Chester main road, and to excessive use being made of the only alternative bridge, so that inconvenience and loss are caused locally, and there is in prospect a serious dislocation of important through traffic; and whether he will take the whole of the circumstances under review?

I intimated to the Cheshire County Council more than three months ago that I was prepared to make a 50 per cent, grant towards the cost of strengthening this bridge, and I regret that, with this aid in view, the public bodies concerned have not yet arranged to carry out the urgently necessary works in question. I am informed that the matter is to be further considered by a committee of the county council on the 9th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General what income is derived by his Department from the margarine advertisement appearing on old age pensions hooks?

I regret that I can see no justification in this case for departing from the settled policy of the Government to treat contract prices as strictly confidential.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that. a telephone subscriber who makes 76 calls per quarter pays, on an average, 7d. for each such call made, he will consider a reduction of telephone rentals with a view to popularising telephones among private users?

It is necessary to provide, for a subscriber's exclusive use, a special circuit between his premises and the telephone exchange, together with certain apparatus at the exchange. The cost of providing and maintaining this plant is the same whether a subscriber uses his telephone much or little and is reimbursed by the rental. The cost of operating calls and of maintaining jointly-used plant is paid for separately by the message fees. The fact therefore that some subscribers make little use of their telephone affords no opportunity for making 'a reduction of telephone rentals. The figure quoted in the question takes no account of inward calls.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any requests from Lancashire organisations for an inquiry into the recapitalisation of cotton mills during 1919 and 1920, respectively; and, if so, whether he has now reached a decision on the subject?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. and gallant Member for the Hulme Division (Sir J. Nail) yesterday, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the number and issue a list of the places where police cells have been legalised as places of detention?

The following police cells are at present used as legal prisons for the detention of prisoners for short periods, in pursuance of Rules made under Section 30 of the Prisons (Scotland) Act, 1877:

Place	Single Cells.
	Male.	Female.	Total.
Alloa	2	2	4
Banff	7	4	11
CampbelDown	9	4	13
Dingwall	3	1	4
Dunfermline (County)	6	3	9
Do. (Burgh)	3	2	5
Dunoon	5	4	9
Duns	2	2	4
Elgin	15	4	19
Falkirk	12	*6	18
Forfar	12	5	17
Fort-William	4	1	5
Haddington	12	6	18
Hawick	8	2	10
Inveraray	10	2	12
Jedburgh	3	3	6
Kinross	2	2	4
Kirkcaldy	†21	*9	30
Lochgilphead	2	1	3
Lochmaddy	2	2	4
Montrose	5	2	7
Oban	9	1	10
Port Ellen	3	1	4
Portree	4	1	5
Stirling	5	5	10
Stonehaven	5	5	10
Stornoway	2	1	3
Thurso	3	1	4
Wigtown	3	1	4
Total	179	83	262
*Includes one Association Cell for Females.
†Includes two Association Cells for Males.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of machines that have been written off charge as a result of enemy action during the period of 1st January to 18th November, 1926; who were the enemies; and what were the circumstances and the nature of the service upon which the aeroplanes were at the time employed?

The answer to the first part of the question is one aeroplane. As regards the remaining parts of the question, the aeroplane was carrying out a reconnaissance in the Sulamanie district of Iraq on the 14th June to locate followers of the rebel Kurdish chieftain, Sheikh Mahmud. The aeroplane had a forced landing, and was seized, looted, and destroyed. The occupants were held in captivity for some months by Sheikh Mahmud, but were eventually released.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he proposes to make use of the airship R.33 for further experimental flights during next year

No decision has yet been reached in regard to any experimental flights of 11.3.3 next year. I may say, however, that no further flights are contemplated in connection with the present programme.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many naval ratings will be employed in the preparation and production of the film Falkland; and what extra remuneration, if any, will be received by the officers or men taking part in this film for their services?

In reply to the first part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply of 24th November (OFFICIAL REPORT, Cols. 383–4). As regards the second part, the present arrangement's do not provide that any extra remuneration will be received by anyone in the Naval service on account of the production of this film.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any general permits have been given to any cinematograph producing companies to make films of any incidents occurring in His Majesty's ships or on Admiralty property during the last two years; whether these permits have been granted to one or more companies, and what are the names of those companies; whether any payments, rents, or royalties are, or will be, paid for those permits and for privileges, and what is the amount of money involved; and if there has been, or will be, any interference with training, or any expense to the public incurred by the granting of such concessions?

The answer to the first part is in the negative. The remaining portions of the question, therefore, do not arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in the case of a prison officer who had been granted a disability pension in respect of military service, assuming that the pension was subsequently made permanent, the period of War service appropriate to the pension will be deducted from the period to count for his civil pension on retirement under Section 5 of the Superannuation Act, 1887?

The answer depends upon the manner in which the military pension has been determined. If a period of service has been reckoned for the calculation of the amount, that period cannot, in view of the provisions of Section 5 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, also be reckoned for the purposes of a superannuation allowance under the Superannuation Acts.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has caused inquiries to be made into the recent disturbances at Parkhurst Prison; what are the results of these inquiries; and whether he will state what measures have been taken to prevent the recurrence of such disturbances?

The reports that appeared of disburbances were unfounded. No special inquiries and no new measures were necessary.