asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Captain P. R. Brining, master of the Liverpool steamer "Ninian," was arrested at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, on 8th April, in connection with an accident which occurred, and has since been incarcerated in a foreign prison without trial; and whether he will take some immediate steps either for the trial or for the release of the master?

The ease has been engaging the close attention of His Majesty's Government for some time past. His Majesty's Minister at Caracas is taking all such action as he properly can to ensure an early trial, and to secure the release of Captain Brining pending the trial.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now make any further statement as to the progress of the negotiations to secure the release of Captain Brining, who has been imprisoned at Puerto Cabello?

His Majesty's Minister at Caracas is continuing his efforts to secure the release of Captain Brining, but at present I have no definite results to report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Venezuelan authorities have incarcerated the master of the Liverpool steamer "Ninian" at Puerto Cabello since 8th April, without trial; and what steps are being taken to secure his trial or release?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Everton (Colonel Woodcock) to-day.

asked the Secretary of State for war if he can explain why the staff at the War Office has increased by 215 as on the date of 1st April, 1927, in comparison with the same date of the previous year; and what was the increase, if any, for the same period of the outlying branches of the War Office?

Between 1st April, 1926, and 1st April, 1927, there has been a decrease in the figures for the War Office of, approximately, 25. I presume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the figures quoted in Command Paper 2863, but since April, 1926, the returns have been compiled on a slightly different basis, and the figures are not therefore precisely comparable. The change in the basis was explained in a footnote to the July return published in Command Paper 2722. As regards the last part of the question, a comparison between 1st April, 1927, and 1st July, 1926, when the figures wore first compiled in the present form, shows a decrease of 86.

asked the Secretary of State for War the numbers of each of the different medals and decorations in connection with the Great War which still remain unclaimed; and whether all these medals have been stamped with the names and particulars of the owners?

As regards medals, precise information as to the numbers unclaimed is not available. Up to 1923 it was the practice to stamp all medals in anticipation of their issue. In that year, stamped medals then unclaimed were melted down, and since that date medals for which claims have not yet been received have not been stamped. As regards the Distinguished Service Order, the Royal Red Cross and the Military Cross, the number of decorations not yet claimed is 21, 73 and 120 respectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether having regard to the recommendation for operation at Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton, recently made in the case of Mr. E. M. Maton, of 9, Monkton Place, High Street, Ramsgate, he is still satisfied with the decision of the Ministry in November last year that the degree of disablement arising from Mr. Maton's pensionable disability had been reduced from 30 per cent. to 20 per cent.; and whether the present degree of disablement is still at the latter figure?

I find that this man has refused to undergo the operation recommended and has, therefore, been discharged from hospital as no other treatment is likely to be of benefit to him. In these circumstances, I am not in a position to re-consider the assessment of the case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statistics to show the number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit, both contributed and extended, who lost their employment for reasons derogatory to themselves, either as to character or ability and whether he has any means of securing such information from employers in a way that will preserve them from prosecution for defamation, in order to safeguard the interests of the Unemployment Insurance Fund?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Inquiry as to the reason for loss of employment is made of the last employer, and statements made by the employer in reply to such inquiries have been held by the Courts to be made on an occasion of qualified privilege. I have no reason to think that the unemployment fund is not adequately protected under the existing arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the statistics of native employment in Kenya recently issued by the Chief Registrar of Natives in that Colony, which show an average of 40 pet cent. of the able-bodied adult male population to be working outside the reserves, the proportion being as high as 72 per cent. of the Lumbwa and 55 per cent. of the Kikuya; and whether, before any further encouragement is given to the native population to go outside the reserves in such large numbers to work for Europeans, an impartial scientific estimate of the numbers of natives required for their own productive purposes in the reserves will be made?

The figures I have seen in the local Press differ in some respects from those given in the question, and as they are figures for a particular date, it is not certain that they have any relation to native cultivation and production, which may continue side by side with the temporary absence of men from the reserves. But while I do not admit that these figures give any cause for dissatisfaction, I may point out that this is the kind of question which will come within the scope of the research into native welfare which, I hope, will shortly be inaugurated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases have been brought under review of the Special Commissioners for Income Tax under Section 21 of the Finance Act, 1922, in each year since the Section came into operation; and the amounts which have have accrued to the Revenue in each respective year as a result of the decision of the Special Commissioners under the powers vested in them by that Section?

The information desired by my hon. Friend is not available. The total duty recovered to date by application of the provisions of the Section is in the region of £350,000: in addition account must be taken of the indirect effects of the legislation in preventing the adoption of measures of tax avoidance which, but for its existence, would have been attempted.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a letter packet containing a pair of spectacles, the property of Mr. M. Loyd Dexter, of The Hall, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham, has been detained by His Majesty's Customs since the 9th May last; and that much correspondence has taken place between His Majesty's Customs officers and Mr. Loyd Dexter with no result?

The importation of articles liable to Customs duty by means of the letter post is prohibited, and dutiable articles so imported are liable to forfeiture. The spectacles in question came within these provisions, and were therefore liable to forfeiture; but, on the statement of the addressee that they had been taken out of this country and left abroad for replacement of a broken lens, delivery was allowed on the 24th May on payment of the duty chargeable and a fine. The delay which arose was due to the non-receipt by the Customs of a letter said to have been addressed to them on the 12th May.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the new chairman of the Forestry Commission receives a salary; and if his appointment is upon the same conditions as that of his predecessor?

The matters referred to by my hon. Friend are under consideration, but I am not at present in a position to make any statement upon them.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the reason the expenses of the police as to road prosecutions have not the first call over the Road Fund on fines inflicted in such cases?

Fines for offences under the Motor Car Acts, 1896 and 1903, are paid into the Road Fund in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2 and 7 of the Roads Act, 1920.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what reductions are proposed in naval and marine officers' pay; and whether these can be postponed, as the fall in the official figures of the cost of living does not affect naval and marine officers?

The rates of pay of naval and marine officers, which are at present approximately 5½ per cent. below the rates fixed in 1919, will, in common with those of Army and Air Force officers, be reduced to approximately 6 per cent. below the 1919 rates, as from the 1st July next. Details are contained in Admiralty Fleet Order No. 1400 of the 27th May. As regards the second part of the question, the basis on which the rates of pay of naval officers were settled by His Majesty's Government in 1919 necessitates their adjustment in accordance with the official figures of the cost of living every three years after the adjustment made in July, 1924, and I see no reason for departing from the arrangement made in the former year.