asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will receive a deputation of the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants with a view to considering certain points on which they claim to have grievances?

If my hon. Friend is referring to the cases mentioned in the Debate on Air Estimates last Thursday, I have undertaken to take them up personally

asked the Minister of Health what has been the expenditure on housing from revenue and capital for each of the years from 1918–19 up to the latest period, respectively, for which figures are procurable, including loan expenditure, but distinguishing expenditure for the repayment of loans and omitting the small capital expenditure by rural district councils if not easily ascertained?

The following table gives the particulars desired:with my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North St. Pancras (Captain Fraser), and I am of opinion that this is the most satisfactory and expeditious way of dealing with them. I would suggest that my two hon. Friends should co-operate.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the long service of the members of the Ministry of Pensions' massage service, he will con- sider favourably their request for a gratuity on leaving the service, following the practice of the Ministry in regard to the members of its nursing service and the practice of the War Office in regard to the members of the military massage service?

The subject of granting a gratuity in the form of demobilisation pay to members of the Ministry of Pensions massage service was brought to my notice on 4th March by the United Services Massage League as a motion for discussion at the next meeting of the Sectional Committee of the Departmental Whitley Council. A meeting of the Committee is being arranged for an early date, pending which I am not prepared to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government adheres to the established practice in regard to filling posts in the permanent Civil Service that in general they should be filled either by the promotion of existing permanent civil servants or by recruitment by open competitive examination; and whether he will state, in relation to the year 1926 or, if that is not convenient, in relation to the year 1925, the number of permanent Civil Service posts not filled by promotion and filled by open competition and by methods other than open competition, giving an indication as to those methods?

The Government adheres to the principle that posts in the established Civil Service should in general be filled either by open competitive examination or by the promotion of an existing established civil servant. But since the War large numbers of appointments have been made in certain grades as a result of limited competitions which have been wholly or mainly confined to ex-service men and ex-service or temporary women staff, and in accordance with the recommendations of the Lytton Committee a general measure of preference has been accorded to ex-service men. The figures asked for in the second part of the question are not immediately available, but I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of champagne and other wines cleared from bond for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The quantities of champagne, other sparkling wines and still wines delivered for home consumption during the 12 months ended 28th February, 1927, were as follow:

	Gallons.
Champagne	783,000
Other sparkling wines	218,000
Still wines	16,740,000

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total consumption of sugar in the United Kingdom for the year 1926; the number of tons refined in British refineries; the number of tons of refined sugar received from the Continent, Canada and the United States of America; the amount of capital employed in the sugar-refining trade in this country; and if he is in a position to state when the subsidy of 26s. Mid per hundredweight is likely to terminate?

I have been asked to reply. The quantities of sugar entered for home consumption in the year 1926 were as follow:

Imported sugar.	Tons.
Refined prior to importation	696,000
Refined in bond in the United Kingdom	788,000
Unrefined sugar	144,000
Sugar manufactured from home-grown beet	118,000
Total of above	1,746,000

Some corrections in these figures may be necessary in respect of over-entries, and no account is taken in this statement of sugar contained in various manufactured articles such as confectionery, preserves, etc., imported or exported.The total of refined sugar imported in 1926 was 699,000 tons, of which 613,000 tons were consigned from countries in Europe, 66,000 tons from Canada and 12,000 tons from the United States of America.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government has considered the probable duration of the stay of the Shanghai Expeditionary Force and the probable cost of the same; and what these are calculated to be?

have been asked to reply. I regret that I cannot make any forecast.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to introduce

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average prices for this week and the corresponding week of last year of typical kinds of agricultural horses, cattle (including milch-cows), sheep, and pigs, and of cereals?

The average prices^* of livestock in the weeks ending 9th March, 1927, and 10th March, 1926, and of British cereals in the weeks ending 5th March, 1927, and 6th March, 1926, in England and Wales have been as follow:duce a Bill to amend the law regarding leasehold premises, promised in the King's Speech?

I am not yet in a position to name a precise day, but, as I have already announced, it is hoped to take the Second reading of this Bill before Easter.

asked the Home Secretary with reference to the administration of the Legitimacy Act, 1925, whether he is aware that the parents, on application to Somerset House, are notified that they must attend at the registrar's office where the birth was originally registered; that the registrar will not accept the mother's attendance but requires that of the father also; and that, when the birth is re-registered and a copy of the certificate is required, the new certificate is made out as at the date of the new registration, and that there is added the phrase, Issued on the instructions of the Registrar-General; and whether he will consider the possibility of ameliorating these conditions by arranging that a certificate on re-registration shall not be distinguishable from any ordinary birth certificate?

I have been asked to reply. In reply to the first and second parts of the question re-registration must be effected in the sub-district in which the birth occurred in accordance with the Births and Deaths Registration Acts, 1836–1901, but if it is not convenient for either parent to attend personally at the registrar's office, a declaration can he made before the registrar of the sub-district in which the parent is residing. Similar provision is made for persons resident outside England or Wales. As regards the remainder of the question I am afraid that it is not possible to arrange that a certificate of re-registration shall be identical with an ordinary birth certificate, but I am having further inquiries made into the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet received the report of the London County Council on the working of the Theatrical Managers Registration Bill, and, if not, whether he will secure and consider a copy of this document?

The report has been received, and is being considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the proposal of the Government of India to establish an Indian house in London has received the approval of the Indian Legislature; whether any part of the cost will fall on British funds; whether he will inform the House as to the estimated total cost of such a scheme; and whether any negotiations have been entered into with regard to a site for the proposed building?

So far as my Noble Friend is aware, the proposal though accepted by the Standing Finance Committee of the Legislative Assembly has not yet been placed before the Assembly itself, but this will be done this month. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and to the fourth part in the affirmative. The total estimated cost is about £300,000 initial and £15,600 recurring.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state the result of the communications made to the officers concerned in connection with the family pension scheme for all Indian services; and whether he can now give details of the same?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. It is not expected that the replies of local Governments, forwarding the views of the Services upon the provisional scheme submitted to them, will be received by the Government of India until next month. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the communication which has been sent to all officers affected who are now on leave in this country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any action has already been taken by the Government of India in the matter of the reconstruction of the Royal Indian Marine in contemplation of the formation of an Indian Navy?

The Government of India have made certain preliminary investigations and are preparing the necessary plans in advance, but no effective action can be taken to reconstruct the Royal Indian Marine until they are enabled, as a result of the Indian Navy Bill passing into law, to proceed with the inauguration of the Indian Navy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of officers and men employed in the Royal Indian Marine; and what proportion of these are European?

The numbers are: Commissioned officers, 131, all of whom are Europeans; warrant officers, 37, of whom 26 are Indians; ratings, about 1,050, all of whom are Indians. The proportion of Europeans is thus about 12 per cent.

also asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is yet in a position to inform the House of the personnel of the Indian delegation to the international Economic Conference at Geneva?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will inform the House as to the date on which the Report of the Indian tariff board cotton textile industry inquiry was received by the Government of India; and when the Report will be published?

The Report was received by the Government of India on the 24th January. I cannot say when it will be published.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what period of time was allowed to elapse between the warning given to the crowd at Khargpur to disperse before the order to fire on the crowd was given; whether more than one warning was issued; and is he now in a position to state the number of casualties which occurred due to the firing?

My Noble Friend has no information on the first two points raised in the hon. Member's question. As regards casualties, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Shoreditch on the 28th February, beyond which no further information has been received. The hon. Member will doubtless be glad to hear that report has been received that there was a general resumption of work on 9th instant.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how long Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose, chief executive officer of the corporation of Calcutta, has been interned; whether any specific charge has ever been made against him; whether any written reply was made by Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose to such charge; and whether he can state the terms of the charge made against him?

Mr. Bose was arrested in October, 1924. The substance of the allegations against him was communicated to him and he was invited to answer. He refused to do so in writing or otherwise. I must decline to state the precise nature of the activities alleged against Mr. Bose, beyond saying that they amount to participation in a conspiracy for the commission of revolutionary crime.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) the terms on which Indian gentlemen are permitted to hold commissioned rank in the Artillery in India; and how many Indians at present hold such commissions;(2) the terms on which Indians are allowed to hold commissioned rank in the Air Firce in India; and how many Indians at present hold such commissions?

Indians are not recruited for the commissioned ranks of the Royal Artillery or the Royal Air Force wherever serving.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the total contribution made annually by the Government of India towards the cost of the Imperial Navy, and whether it is proposed that the Government of India shall continue this contribution from Indian revenues in addition to the cost of the proposed Indian Navy?

The answer to the first part is £100,000. As indicated in paragraph 19 of the Departmental Committee's Report, the question of revising the contribution will arise when the Indian Navy is in a position to perform an appreciable portion of the services in respect of which it is paid. The cost of the Indian Navy will be borne by Indian revenues; but the total cost of the new organisation is not estimated to exceed the present cost of the Royal Indian Marine by more than a relatively small amount.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the 21 residential plots in the lighthouse area of Mombasa, which were advertised for sale by public auction early last year on terms which permitted only non-Asiatics to bid or to live on the plots so disposed of, have yet been sold; and, if not, whether, in view of the fact that it was laid down in the Government White Paper of 1923 that the Government would no longer approve of a policy of segregation of Asiatics in the Kenya townships, the Government will reconsider the matter with a view to the withdrawal of their consent to the above sale?

I have not been informed whether the plots have been sold. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and I would refer the hon. Member to the explanation of the legal difficulties given in the reply to the question of the right hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on the 10th June last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will consider the desirability of staffing the stores and accountant branches of the Royal Air Force with civilians; and what flying duties are done by the wing-commanders, squadron leaders, flight lieutenants, flying officers and pilot officers, numbering 358, employed in these branches?

As regards the first part of the question, stores and accountant officers form an integral part of Royal Air Force units in peace and war and any general replacement of them by civilians is impracticable. In a limited number of posts at home it has been found that civilians can be advantageously employed, and in these eases substitution has been effected. The question of possible further substitution is periodically reviewed. As regards the second part, the officers referred to are not required to undertake flying duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of independent stations occupied by the Royal Air Force and the number where they are in association with other troops; if members of the Royal Air Force attend religious services with troops of other arms when stationed in the same locality; and why it is considered necessary to have 25 chaplains for a total personnel of 33,000?

All Air Force stations are independent, and I assume the hon. Member has in mind rather the proximity of such stations to naval or military stations. Particulars of the Air Force stations are given in the Air Force List, and it will be seen that the very great majority are isolated and so situated that common religious ministration with the other arms is impracticable. Wherever it is practicable, arrangements are made for the chaplain of one of the three Services to minister to the personnel of the others. At small and remote stations not justifying the appointment of a chaplain, arrangements are made for local ministers of religion to perform the necessary duties. The 25 chaplains referred to are necessary to meet the requirements of stations to which the arrangements indicated above cannot be applied.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the duties of the recruiting staff of the Air Force during 1926, employed at a cost of £11,500, seeing that there has been a reduction in the number of aircraftsmen from 22,800 to 20,525, and that it is proposed that the maximum number of officers and other ranks in 1927 shall be 33,000 (including Army personnel attached to the Royal Air Force), as opposed to 35,500 in 1926 (exclusive of any personnel attached to the Royal Air Force); and what is the reason for the proposed expenditure of £8,000 on recruiting in the year 1927?

As regards the first part of the question, the figure of £11,500 should be considerably underspent as a result of savings already made. As regards the duties performed by the staff in question, recruiting duties have still to be performed for the Royal Air Force, notwithstanding the reduction in the number of aircraftsmen provided for in Vote A. Deficiencies have to be made good in particular trades, vacancies have to be filled even if the numbers are less, and the recruiting programme so far as it relates to entrants requiring training is framed necessarily with regard to the future; as the hon. Member will see from the explanation in my Memorandum accompanying the Air Estimates the reduction in Vote A is likely to be a temporary one.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that a concert party of the Royal Air Force took part in a public meeting and entertainment under the auspices of the local Conservative association at Hurst-bourne Tarrant on the 4th February; and whether their participation in such meetings is permissible?

I am informed that on the occasion in question three airmen from Andover by private arrangement gave one musical item at a concert in the village hall and left immediately afterwards. I do not think that this can be regarded as participation in a demonstration for party or political purposes within the sense of the prohibition in the King's Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many men were invalided from the Service in 1926, and how many of these were denied pensions on the ground of non-attributability; how many appealed to the Air Ministry against the original decision; and in how many cases the decision was modified?

The answer to the first part of the question is that 263 airmen were invalided in 1926, and of these 230 were refused pension on the ground of non-attributability. As regards the second and third parts, there were 35 appeals against the original decision, and in six of these cases the appeal was allowed, but as in three of the six cases the degree of disablement was under 20 per cent., the appellants became eligible only for increased gratuity and not for pension.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total expenditure during 1926 upon training centres for the unemployed?

The total amount expended during the year ended 31st December, 1926, on the scheme for training young unemployed men was £159,048.

asked the Postmaster-General how many amateurs have licences to broadcast music and speech?

No licences to broadcast music or speech have been issued to amateurs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the principal of the National Debt, the interest thereon, and the repayment thereof for each of the financial years ending 1912–13 up to and including 1925–26?

The hon. Member will find full particulars in the Dead Weight Debt return for 1925–26 (House of Commons Paper 107 of 1926).

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the expenditure on British forces and Indian forces, respectively, incurred in Iraq in the financial year 1926–27?

I have been asked to reply. The provision made in the Estimates, 1926, for the forces referred to is:

	£
Royal Air Force	2,594,900
British Army	268,000
Indian Forces	250,000

Figures of actual expenditure will not be available for several months, but will be less than the estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the military

—		British Forces.	Indian Forces.	Iraq Forces and Levies.
Infantry Battalions	…	1	2	10 (In addition, 3 Depot and 1 Machine Gun Company).
Armoured Car Companies	…	3	—	—
Signal Sections	…	1	—	—
Wireless Companies	…	1	—	1 Section.
Inland Water Transport Companies	…	1	—	—
Companies of Sappers and Miners	…	—	1	—
Cavalry Regiments	…	—	—	4
Cavalry Depots	…	—	—	1
Cavalry Schools	…	—	—	1
Batteries of Artillery	…	—	—	4
Frontier Companies	…	—	—	2
Transport Companies	…	—	1	4
Medical and Ambulance Corps	…	—	—	2
Ordnance Sections	…	—	—	1
Remounts and Veterinary Sections	…	—	—	1
Military Police Corps	…	—	—	1
I should add that the Inland Water Transport is in process of disbandment and the British Infantry Battalion is leaving this month without relief.

I have been asked to reply. The following table gives the information requested: