asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement with regard to recent events at Wuhu, when one of His Majesty's ships had to intervene; what is the number of British nationals and other foreigners, respectively, normally resident at Wuhu; how many of these British and other foreigners, respectively, have been evacuated; and whether the position of foreigners at Wuhu is under negotiation with the Cantonese Government?

Serious rioting and looting broke out at Wuhu at 5.0 p.m. on 8th March. The native Customs and tie Customs Club were looted, and the Maritime Custom House was surrounded and some Europeans locked in by soldiers. The rioting was the work of a mob incited by agitators; the police and troops endeavoured to afford protection, but the latter were tardy in their action. The local authorities subsequently took steps to deal with the looters, and business, Chinese and foreign, was resumed on 10th March.

The Customs have also resumed normal working, except for the native Customs, whose building is completely wrecked. Most of the foreign men have returned to their residences, though some still sleep on board ship. All British women and children have been evacuated. There were large demonstrations on 9th and 12th March, but these passed off without incident. I have no exact statistics as to the foreign population of Wuhu, but, according to estimates based on available information, there are normally about 140 foreigners residing there, including about 60 British. I have no information regarding the evacuation of non-British foreigners. These disturbances have been brought to Mr. Chen's notice by Mr. Teichman, who has asked him to telegraph instructions for the protection of British life and property and the suppression of anti-British agitation.

In regard to the last part of the question, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied as to the position of these foreigners in Wuhu, including our own people, or is the matter still under negotiation?

Mr. Teichman has asked Mr. Chen to telegraph instructions for the protection of British life and property. It must depend upon the way in which the Chinese authorities discharge their responsibilities.

Are we to understand that these nationals of ours depend really upon the good behaviour of the Chinese authorities at Wuhu and their troops?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government are most loath to interfere, and have dealt with the authorities of Southern China and the Nationalist Government on the basis that they, having assumed responsibility, would discharge their duties. I hope they will.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give a list of treaty ports in China and a list of areas, not treaty ports, conceded by the Chinese Government for trading purposes in China?

As the list is a long one, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply will be returned by His Majesty's Government to the Chinese Commissioner for Foreign Affairs at Shanghai who sent a letter to the senior Consul at Shanghai protesting against British troops being stationed outside the boundaries of the international settlement at Shanghai, and asking for their immediate withdrawal; whether a similar protest has been received from the Nationalist Government of China; and what reply will he returned to it?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies returned to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme, on 9th March, and to the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley, on 10th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can inform the House as to whether on the arrival of troops sent from this country to China in January and February, 1927, forces belonging to the Chinese northern armies on duty outside the international settlement at Shanghai at the time of such arrival were released for duty elsewhere?

I am not in a position to know the plans and detailed military dispositions of either the Northern or Southern commanders, but I have no reason to believe that the landing of British troops at Shanghai has had any such consequence as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the United States of America is now taking part with the British, French, Italian and Spanish troops in the defences around the international settlement at Shanghai, or are they still acting independently?

I believe that, American forces have not been landed at Shanghai, but are held in reserve on board ship.

Does it mean that they are only there for the purpose of protecting their own nationals, and take no part in the general defence of the settlement?

If the hon. and gallant Member wants to know the exact position of the American Government, I really would prefer that he should address his question to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the cost of the evacuation of the British community from the British concession in Hankow last January; by whose authority the expenditure was incurred; whether the return of the persons evacuated to Hankow will involve an equal expenditure; and, if not, how much it will cost and whether these expenses will be charged to public funds?

I have no information on the points raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the numbers of Chinese foremen and workmen in Shanghai who have been killed by extremists; and whether he is taking any steps to protect the lives of these workmen?

My latest information from Shanghai is to the effect that assassinations of loyal foremen and workmen by agitators, in preparation for a renewal of the strike, are increasing. The protection of these men is primarily the responsibility of the municipal authorities through the machinery normally under their control.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this is not a Russian form of peaceful picketing?

Have these incidents taken place in the international settlement or in the native settlement?

I am dealing with the international settlement, and not with what happens in the Chinese city It is the duty of the municipal authority primarily to deal with these matters, and I think it is very undesirable that British troops who happen to be there for another object should be used for that purpose.

is it not a fact that the Chinese people, about 800,000 of them, prefer to live in the international settlement in Shanghai, instead of in the Chinese portion?

Yes, Sir. There is a very large Chinese population in this and other international or national settlements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether further papers with regard to labour conditions in China will be published; and, if so, when?

The question is under consideration. I will give my hon. Friend definite information as soon as possible.

When this report is being prepared, can we have a clear distinction shown of the labour conditions prevailing in the British-owned factories and the Japanese and Chines factories? It would be very useful to know the facts?

The whole question is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War why supplies of potatoes, onions and other vegetables for the British Defence Force at Shanghai and Hongkong are being bought from Chinese in British Columbia and not from Canadian and British settlers, many of whom are ex-service men?

Shipments of potatoes and onions have been arranged by the Canadian Government, at the request of the War Office. I have no information as to the source from which these vegetables were obtained, this having been left to the discretion of the Canadian Government.

Seeing that the money is ours arid the responsibility is ours, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman see that in regard to future contracts, care will be taken to ensure that adequate means of tendering are given to British and Canadian settlers?

I think when we ask the Canadian Government to act as our agents, we must allow that discretion to them.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman convey to the Canadian Government his desire that British and Canadian settlers should have first chance?

I am afraid that I cannot add anything to my answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has taken any objection in the League Council to the proposal of M. Vandervelde that it would be desirable for the Bulgarian Government to amnesty its political prisoners; and whether he has instructed His Majesty's Minister at Sofia at any time during the last two years to secure just treatment for these political prisoners?

I expressed no opinion for or against a, further amnesty of prisoners by the Bulgarian Government. But in the interests of the League, and from respect for the sovereign rights of its member States, I took exception to any discussion of the purely domestic affairs of a State at the Council table. As regard the second part of the question, His Majesty's Minister at Sofia, under instructions from me, did from time to time offer to the previous Bulgarian Government such advice regarding their political prisoners and opponents as was compatible with respect for the sovereign rights of Bulgaria, and I would remind the right hon. and gallant Gentleman that the present Bulgarian Government, on assuming office in December, 1925, passed a wide amnesty measure whereby no fewer than 7,000 persons benefited.

Seeing that there are over one thousand political prisoners still in prison in Bulgaria or in internment camps, could the right hon. Gentleman not have avoided putting Great Britain in the uncomfortable position of being the Power to object on this occasion?

Yes, Sir. I could easily have shirked my duty by leaving it to someone else. As a matter of fact, had I been silent, one or other of several members of the Council would have spoken. It is really vital to the success of the League and to its authority that it should not interfere in the internal affairs of different member countries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the present moment Great Britain is always being charged with backing up these terrorist Governments?

I beg that I may be allowed, at least, to protest against the right hon. and gallant Member's suggestion that the Bulgarian Government is a terrorist Government. He forgets what has passed in Bulgaria, and overlooks the immense measure of amnesty which the present Government has granted.

rose—

We must not discuss other Governments. We have enough to do with our own.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform this House of the precise nature of the agreement reached by the Council of the League of Nations with regard to the international railway police force for the Saar?

I shall be obliged if the hon. Member will repeat this question in a few days time, as I find that I did not bring back with me a copy of the text of the Council's resolution.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will circulate the information compiled by the International Labour Office upon the question of hours, and which was considered by the conference held at Geneva in January, 1927?

I am not sure how far this document ought to be treated as confidential, and I will communicate with the. International Labour Office on this point. I may add that I understand that the International Labour Office is revising and supplementing the information contained in the Report, and it may be better to wait until the fuller information is available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman circulate it if he find it possible, to do so?

Yes. I will do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of His Majesty's ships of war are now in Nicaraguan waters; how many British subjects have taken refuge in His Majesty's ship or ships or have been assisted or defended in other ways; and how long it is intended to maintain His Majesty's ship or ships in those waters?

Only His Majesty's Ship "Colombo" was despatched to Nicaraguan waters. She left them on 5th March, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires, having reported her presence no longer necessary, since sufficient American forces had been landed for the protection of foreign life and property. No British subject took refuge on His Majesty's ship. As to the number of British subjects in Nicaragua, I would refer my hon. and gallant friend to the reply to the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley on 2nd March. It is not anticipated that, in the present circumstances, it will be necessary again to despatch one of His Majesty's ships to Nicaraguan waters.

I have not asked how many British subjects there are in Nicaragua?

No, but you have been told.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the danger to ships entering and leaving Dover Harbour on account of the block ship "Gantry"; and what action has been taken with a view to the removal of this danger to navigation?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statements made in answer to questions on this subject OH 21st April last (OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 1194–5). Parliament has now given the Dover Harbour Board the powers they asked for, and I understand they are about to exercise them.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when this work will be commenced?

No, Sir; it is a matter for the Dover Harbour Board.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the short- wave wireless used by the Admiralty for long-distance communications is of such a nature that the messages cannot be intercepted by private individuals or operators in the service of other nations?

There is no secrecy in the methods of short-wave wireless telegraphy communication used by the Admiralty, except in so far as codes and cyphers are used. Messages as coded, or those in plain language, can be intercepted by anyone.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty under what Vote payments made to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service appear in the Navy Estimates; and Where the terms of engagement and duties of this service are laid down?

The payments referred to mainly appear under Vote 8, Section II, K, of the Navy Estimates. Certain other payments are provided for under Vote 8, Section I, and Vote 3. The terms of engagement and duties of this service are those ordinarily prevailing in the Mercantile Marine.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty has now decided or will decide that any pensionable dockyardsman who chooses to retire may do so and take his accrued pension to date and, similarly, allow dockyardsmen to take their gratuities to date if they retire of their own volition?

The matter is under consideration, as I informed the hon. Member during the course of the Debate on Navy Estimates (OFFICIAL REPORT, 14th March, cols. 1771–2.)

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men were invalided from the service in 1926; how many of these were denied pensions on the ground of non-attributability; how many appealed to the Admiralty against the original decision; and in how many cases the decision was modified?

I would refer the bon, Member to the reply given on the 7th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Buteshire and North Ayrshire—(OFFICIAL REPORT, col. 864)—as to the numbers of men invalided and granted pensions. Particulars as to the number who appeal are not recorded.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of vacancies notified to the Employment Exchanges by employers and the number of persons placed in employment through the Employment Exchanges in England and Wales for the years 1924, 1925 and 1926?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will instruct managers of Employment Exchanges and rota

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are at present receiving extended unemployment benefit; how many of these are ex-service men; and how many, if any, are persons who have had no employment since the War?

I regret that statistics are not available giving the information desired.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give information as to the number of applications for extended benefit that were received, and the number rejected, during 1925 and 1926, at the Stourbridge, Cradley Heath and Oldbury Exchanges, respectively; and how these figures compare with those for the country as a whole?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

These lump-sum settlements are, generally speaking, only material in cases where the family income is a factor. I think that in such cases usually it is only right to have regard to these lump-sum payments, but I shall be happy to consider any individual case of hardship if the hon. Member will give me particulars.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the position having regard to the principle underlying the answer he has now given?

No, Sir. It has been considered quite carefully, and I think it is fair.

is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases employers refuse to reinstate their injured workmen unless they accept a lump sum settlement, and in that case is it not merely a question of taking from a man, or refusing to give to a man, that portion which he would have been given if he had continued to take his weekly compensation?

If the hon. Member will put any additional cases before me I will consider them, but I cannot give an answer on the spur of the moment to a rather complicated question like that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman note that this is not income, as such, but is the result of payment for an accident?

And will the right hon. Gentleman take note of this fact: that a man's wages in the future are permanently reduced as a result of his accident?

If hon. Members will put these points to me, I will undertake to give them careful consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour how many schemes are now in operation for the training of farm workers; and whether the establishment of further schemes has been decided upon?

Two centres have been established by the Ministry of Labour where men are given training in farm work, with a view to employment overseas. The Army Vocational Centre at Catterick includes a similar course for serving soldiers, and there are one or two training centres conducted by voluntary organisations. I cannot say whether it will be possible to increase the Government training facilities.

Are there any consultations going on between the Ministry of Labour and the Army?

I think they are in touch generally with one another.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons have been trained under his farm-training schemes; how many are now under instruction; and how many have been placed on the land in this country or in the Dominions?

The scheme of training in farm work is conducted with a view to fitting men for employment on the land in an oversea Dominion. 346 men have completed a course of training in farm work; of this number 335 have been placed on farms overseas, five are awaiting embarkation, and six failed to embark after completing training. 255 men are now in training; of this number 114 are due to sail for Canada on 18th March.

Are we to understand that men intended for settlement on the land in this country have no opportunity under these schemes of receiving training?

They are primarily intended for land settlement in the Dominions.

Does the right hon. Gentleman keep in touch with the Minister of Agriculture, so that men intended for land settlement in this country may have preliminary training?

That is another question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman considering an extension of this very successful system?

That is a question of finance—what it will cost.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the progress of these schemes?

Yes; I think they have justified themselves completely.

asked the Minister of Labour when the Unemployment Insurance Bill will be introduced?

I hope that it may be possible to introduce this Bill before Easter, but I cannot yet give the precise date.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to secure the transfer of unemployed miners from one district to another, and for giving such miners the first chance of obtaining colliery employment either in their own district or elsewhere in preference to the recruiting of outside labour?

I would refer by Noble Friend to the reply given on Monday last to a, similar question by the hon. Member for North-East Derbyshire, of which I am sending him a copy.

May I ask when the right hon. Gentleman is going to place these proposals on the Table of the House; as he promised to do in the recent Debate?

I am expecting to have these proposals within a very few days—either at the end of this week or the beginning of next.

Will these proposals cover the point raised in the question? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the larger collieries are refusing to employ their own miners since the stoppage and are victimising them?

The proposals I have to make are those which I intimated to the House. I hope to lay and probably confer with the miners' organisations with regard to them. That is the procedure I propose to carry out. I have no doubt that those who are com- petent to represent the different parties will bring before me any considerations which they may have to urge.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that G. T. Crisp, of 16, Hyde Place, Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire, was allowed unemployment benefit, dated 16th August, 1926, by the Court of Referees; that the decision was appealed against by the local insurance officer and referred to the umpire, who disallowed benefit; that Crisp was never notified to attend before the umpire, and the case was heard and decided in his absence; and will he have the case re-opened so that Crisp can defend the claim to benefit as awarded to him by the Court of Referees?

As I told the hon. Member a fortnight ago, the umpire has power to reconsider his decision on receipt of new facts. He has considered the correspondence which the hon. Member was good enough to forward to me, and has decided that he would not be justified in re-opening the case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the numbers of foreigners who are employed in this country and the numbers who are on the unemployment register?

I regret that there are no statistics available giving the information desired.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of bricklayers employed in 1913; the number employed at the present time; the output of bricks in this country in 1913; and the rate of annual output at the present time?

It is estimated that in 1913 there were in Great Britain 69,000 bricklayers in the building industry within the scheme of unemployment insurance, of whom 5,760 were recorded as unemployed at 21st February, 1913; as compared with 71,090 insured at July, 1926, of whom 3,145 were recorded as unemployed at 21st February, 1927. It is estimated that the output of bricks in Great Britain during the last 12 months was about 6,000 millions as compared with something in the neighbourhood of 3,500 millions in 1913.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state what proportion of the bricklayers are now engaged on new construction and what proportion on repairs, and give the comparable figures?

No, Sir.

Why is it that with this huge production of bricks, the price has not gone down?

I cannot say that, any more than can I say why with the increased production of houses prices have not gone down.

Is it not because of the big demand that the price has not gone down?

Every Member is a good enough economist to put his own construction on the figures.

The law of supply and demand, always.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what, action has been taken by his Department following the Report of the Select Committee of this House on Estimates relative to the testing of uniform cloths?

The recommendations contained in the Select Commitee's Report are still under consideration.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when these recommendations will be acted upon, as the matter is very important?

There has been a correspondence between the various Departments concerned, since the Report of the Estimates Committee, and I understand that the Estimates Committee itself wishes to go into the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is ensuring the entry of a British machine or machines for the next race for the Schneider Cup?

I am informed by the Royal Aero Club that the full number of British entries, namely, three, have been made for the next Schneider Cup race.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that these machines will actually take part in the race?

I have every hope that they will take part in the race, and I have every hope that one of them will win the race.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the civil aviation authorities have tested any other type of light aeroplane than the de Havi-land Moth; and, if so, with what result?

Yes, Sir; 20 other types of light aeroplanes have been tested at various times and have received certificates of airworthiness.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of the other makers consider that they are not getting a fair chance?

I cannot imagine what is the reason for that, if they think so. If my hon. Friend will draw my attention to any specific case, I will certainly look into it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, following his announcement of the gift of 56,000 Dutch tulip bulbs for Hyde Park, his attention has been called to the fact that there is considerable dissatisfaction among British horticulturists at the acceptance of the gift; and whether he has received any offers from British bulb growers to make a showing of the home-grown article in the royal parks?

The First Commissioner is aware that some criticism has been made of the acceptance of the gift, but, as the effect of such displays in the royal parks is to increase the interest in horticulture generally, he believes that British horticulturists also benefit. There have been occasions in the last few years when similar gifts of home-grown bulbs have been accepted, and the First Commissioner would always welcome any such offers. I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that no funds were available for the purchase of such a quantity of bulbs, and the refusal of this gift would have deprived the public of the enjoyment of a splendid display of tulips in Hyde Park and St. James's Park.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend do what he can to persuade the Dutch to reciprocate, and have a showing of British bulbs in the parks of Amsterdam?

Would it not be possible to arrange for foreign motor companies to put up advertisements in Hyde Park?

There were estimates for motor cars for the various Government Departments in the last Estimates, hilt not for bulbs.

Would it not have been possible for the First Commissioner, first of all, to have consulted with the British growers before accepting this gift, and to have given them an opportunity, not only of making a display but of encouraging the industry in this country, and giving employment to working men?

There is plenty of room in St. James's Park and Hyde Park for other gifts.

Has this gift in Hyde Park anything to do with the "Hands off Britain" propaganda?

Will any money payments be made for this wonderful advertisement?

No money payments whatever, and no conditions are laid down.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he has had complaints of the inadequacy of the heating arrangements in the Government buildings at Acton and at the Savings Bank Department at West Kensington; whether he will consider the desirability of having thermometers fixed in all the north rooms in both these buildings, so that a reasonable temperature can be maintained and any necessary steps taken to ensure that it is not allowed in any room to fall below 55 degrees at any time while the staff is actually working?

The heating arrangements at the Savings Bank Department at West Kensington are under the control of the Postmaster-General, to whom any question on the subject should be addressed. As regards the Government building at Acton, the First Commissioner is advised that the heating installation is satisfactory and capable of maintaining a temperature of 60 degrees on the coldest days; temperature readings are recorded in certain of the coldest rooms, and it is not considered necessary to supply additional thermometers; excessive ventilation is, no doubt, responsible in most cases for temperatures lower than 55 degrees, but complaints are invariably investigated and additional radiators supplied when found to be necessary.

Is the hon. and gallant Member aware that, if a private firm carried on work with their rooms in exactly the same condition as this, they would be prosecuted?

If a private firm opened its windows because of a desire for ventilation it would let in the cold air. That is exactly what happened in this case. They can get the higher temperature up if they close the windows.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that repeated complaints have been made about this, and that these girls have not been treated as the Government compel private employers to treat theirs?

I am not aware that repeated complaints have been made, but I am having the matter further investigated, and if there be any justification for the complaints in this case, they will be attended to.

Is it not a fact, that complaints are practically unknown in Acton?

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman have some responsible person to go with him to see that these complaints are thoroughly aired?

All inspectors of the Office of Works are competent.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of boys who were irregularly enlisted under the age of 18 years during the last three years for which figures are available; and whether he will take energetic measures to minimise their recruiting?

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman not think it is the duty of the War Office to keep a complete return of all such irregular enlistments?

Unless they are brought to light, we cannot make a list of them. I have given the hon. Member the number of cases which have come to light and have been discharged.

Is there any difficulty in the way of the War Office acquainting the parents of individuals, so as to ensure that the parent's consent, in the case of a boy under 18, has been obtained?

These are not cases of the enlistment of boys. We are not knowingly taking these boys under 18. These are eases, as I have already said, of boys who over-state their age in order to get enlistment as men.

There are cases to which I myself have drawn the attention of the War Office, where a boy has given a false age, and the parents have known nothing about it, and where the parents desired the boy to come out of the Army. Is there any difficulty in the way of the War Office acquainting parents in these doubtful cases?

In any doubtful case, as I have just stated, we make very strict inquiries.

Is it not the fact that every case which comes to light is dealt with by the release of the boy in question; and if not, is it not possible to give more complete figures than have been given?

I am not in a position to give more complete figures than I have given.

Could not all this trouble be avoided if instructions were given to the recruiting authorities to insist upon seeing the birth certificates in these cases?

That has been considered, but it is not thought to be a practical suggestion.

Why not?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that the headquarters staff at the War Office is 2,451 for the administration of a total of 463,636 troops, while the respective figures in 1913 were 1,878 personnel at the War Office and 713,236 troops, he will say what are the reasons for the increased personnel at the War Office?

As I explained in the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Everton Division of Liverpool (Colonel Woodcock) on 2nd March, the principal causes of the permanent increases of the work at the War Office are fully set out in Appendix 32 of the First and Second Reports of the Select Committee on Public Accounts, 1926.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the relatively small military garrison at Malta and the need for economy, he is prepared to consider the reduction, either in grade or in numbers, of the military administrative and departmental staffs, which according to the Army List includes seven full colonels for a garrison of only one battalion of infantry, one company of Royal Army Service Corps, one company of Royal Engineers, one signal section, and seven batteries of artillery?

Although only one infantry battalion is stationed in Malta at the moment, the normal infantry garrison is at least three battalions, and having regard to this fact and to the importance of the station, it is not considered that any general alteration in the number or grading of the administrative and departmental staff is justified.

May I ask whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman considers that, even with a garrison of three battalions, it is right that there should be a paymaster of the same rank as the paymaster at Aldershot?

That is what is inferred in the answer which I have just given.

asked the Minister of Transport if the Railway Rates Tribunal have fixed the scale of charges under the Railway Act, 1921; if so, what are the mileage rates for ordinary passengers; the rates for season ticket holders; the rates for traders' season tickets; and the scale of charges for workmen's tickets?

The Railway Rates Tribunal have provisionally approved scales of charges for ordinary passengers, for workmen's tickets, and for ordinary and traders' season tickets. It is not possible within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question to give details of the charges so approved, but they will be found in the schedules deposited by the railway companies with the Tribunal and in the Judgment of the Tribunal dated 30th December, 1926.

Can representations be made on the question of workmen's fares?

I think the decision has been arrived at.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, subsequent to the passage of the Finance Act, 1926, special instructions were sent to motor taxation authorities to rate mechanically-and electrically-propelled vehicles owned by local authorities and used in non-trading services at the commercial rate; and will he state his reasons for such a change in policy?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The change in classification referred to in the question was effected by the Finance Act, 1926, arid the reasons for it were fully explained by me in the House on 21st June last, in dealing with an Amendment put down in Committee on the Finance Bill by my hon. Friend the Member for Grimsby (Mr. Wornersley).

Can the right hon. Gentleman state why there should be this change in classification of vehicles owned by local authorities, if those vehicles seldom or never go beyond the bounds of the local authority in question?

I cannot go over the whole Debate which took place on this subject in connection with the Budget last year.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, previously to the last Finance Act, a special classification was provided for vehicles owned by local authorities working inside their own areas; and will he consider a re-arrangement of this taxation?

No, Sir; this decision was arrived at by the wisdom of Parliament which discussed the matter only last year.

asked the Postmaster-General why there is no telephone service between this country and Pacific centres within the Empire, like Vancouver, seeing that a service with San Francisco is in operation?

My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that there is no high power station in Canada capable of conducting a direct telephone service with this country. The use of the beam system for telephonic transmission is still in the experimental stage. The possibility of an extension of the existing trans-Atlantic service via New York to Canada is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can give a General estimate of the increased cost that would be entailed by a restoration of the daily delivery of letters in the County of Orkney?

The latest estimate was about £2,000 a year.

Has any county in England only a delivery every other day?

The hon. Gentleman must give me notice of that question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give the House any information with regard to the tests of the Australian beam station, and any approximate date as to when it will be available for public service?

The Beam wireless stations which have been erected at Grimsby and Skegness for the Australian service have passed the seven-day test required by the contract, and will be taken over by the Post Office at an early date. Many detailed arrangements have to be made before the beam service with Australia is opened to the public, and I cannot yet give an approximate date of opening.

Will these successful results be followed up by tests in regard to South Africa as soon as possible?

Yes; I understand it is the intention of the Marconi Company to proceed with further developments as soon as possible.