asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give figures for the last three years showing the frequency of homicide in British India per 1,000,000 of the population?

I will ask the Government of India if they can supply these figures.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that indigent Indian patients proceeding to Shillong for anti-rabic treatment are allowed by the Government only the equivalent of 7d. per day, whereas indigent Europeans and Anglo-Indians proceeding to Shillong are allowed the equivalent of 3s. 9d. per day, nearly seven times as much; whether he will state the grounds on which this discrimination as between Indians and Europeans and Anglo-Indians is made; and how the above allowance made to Indian patients compares with the cost of maintenance of criminals in Indian gaols?

My Noble friend has no information regarding the first two parts of the question. The matter is within the discretion of the local authorities. The average daily cost of maintaining a prisoner in India is about 7d.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to report to the House the facts with regard to the arrest of Sirdar Diwan Singh, editor and proprietor of the weekly paper "Riyasat," at the instance of the Patiala Durbar on 27th July, 1927, at Delhi?

I have nothing to add to the reply already given to the hon. Member's question on 19th March on the same subject.

asked the Prime Minister in which Departments of the Government one or more permanent officials rank above the subordinate political secretary; what is the purpose and implication of having this system of seniority in these Departments and yet not in the others; whether any steps will be taken to put them all on a uniform basis; and, if so, in which direction?

Officers of His Majesty's Civil Service, like those of the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force, rank inter se; and there is and can be no question of instituting a comparison in rank between them and the holders of political office.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the anxiety felt by ex-service men holding temporary appointments in the Civil Service at the dismissal of many such men from the Ministry of Labour and other Government Departments; and how many new vacancies for new appointees are at present available in the Ministry of Labour?

I can appreciate the anxiety of the temporary staff in this connection, but, so far as the Ministry of Labour as a whole is concerned, there has, during the last few weeks, been an increase rather than a decrease in the number of temporary staff employed—consequent upon the increase in the number of unemployed registered at Employment Exchanges. The number of temporary staff required in the Ministry is necessarily dependent to a large degree on the state of employment in industry, and with regard to the question of new vacancies arising for temporary staff, I can only say that this must necessarily be governed by the fluctuations in the volume of work.

asked the Minister of Health how many temporary clerks in his Department have received warning notices within the last three months, and what is the period of notice?

170 ex-service temporary clerks have received warning notices during the last three months, the period of notice being in no case less than two months.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury details of the number of "P" Class clerks recommended for established posts in the various Government Departments, and for the total number of "P" Class clerks serving in those Departments?

The following promotions of "P" Class clerks to established clerical grades have been authorised:—

Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of	4
Air Ministry	4
Colonial Office	2
Control, Board of	1
County Courts	12
Crown Lands Department	1
Education, Board o	25
Home Office	3
Health, Ministry of	47
Inland Revenue	43
Labour Ministry	75
Mines Department	4
National Savings Committee	3
Paymaster General	1
Pensions, Ministry of	25
Privy Council	1
Public Works Loan Board	1
Registrar General (Eng.)	2
Scientific and Industrial Research, Department of	1
Trade, Board of	6
Transport Ministry	5
Treasury	1
War Office	39
Welsh Board of Health	2
	308

The total number of "P" Class clerks serving in all Government Departments (including P.U. Class clerks serving in War Department outstations) on the 1st April, 1928, was 8,534.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the customs at Dover (Reference No. L D9 35,950) have detained a small consignment of fancy goods and boxes containing a musical device on the grounds that they are musical instruments, in spite of the fact that declaration has been filed to the effect that the cost of the musical device is 2s. 2d.; and whether, in view of the Treasury Order which, states that musical instruments and devices not exceeding 2s. 6d. in value are exempt from duty, he can say why this consignment of goods is so held up.

The hon. Member appears to he misinformed. The invoice accompanying these articles does not declare the value of the musical device to be 2s. 2d., as stated by the hon. Member in his question, but 19fr. 30c., which is just over 3s. each. The consignment was detained for payment of the proper duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the issue of the existing Treasury notes is transferred to the Bank of England, what will be done with the Government securities which have so long figured in the weekly returns Is security for the bulk of the Treasury notes; and of what these securities consist.

I would refer the hon. Member to Clause 5 of the Currency and Bank Notes Bill which deals with this point. As to the second part of the question, I cannot add anything to the information in the published returns.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many proof gallons of home-made spirits were, during the year ending 31st March, 1928, distilled in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, re-warehoused on re-importation, retained for consumption in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, exported, exported as medical preparations, used for ships' stores, fortifying wines, &c., used in arts and manufactures, methylated, and allowed as deficiencies, respectively; the number of home-made spirits remaining in bond on 1st April, 1928; the number of proof gallons of imported spirits duty paid and retained for consumption during the year ending 31st March, 1928, namely, brandy, rum, geneva, and other unenumerated spirits, tested, not tested, and perfumed; and the number of proof gallons of imported spirits used during the year ended 31st March, 1928, for methylation and for arts and manufactures, respectively?

The figures asked for are as follow:

Home-made Spirits	Proof gallons.
Distilled in England and Northern Ireland	12,391,868
Distilled in Scotland	18,988,437
Re-warehoused on re-importation, etc.	28,698
Retained for consumption in Great Britain and Northern Ireland	11,678,189
Exported	7,362,132
Exported as medical preparations	190,193
Used for ships' stores, fortifying wines, etc.	358,840
Used in arts and manufactures	756,852
Methylated	9,135,515
Allowed as deficiencies, etc.	3,184,893
Remaining in bond on 31st March, 1928	149,923,563

Imported Spirits.	Proof gallons.
Duty-paid and retained for consumption:
Brandy	582,201
Rum	895,288
Geneva	88,801
Other unenumerated spirits, tested	234,796*
Not tested	1,072†
Perfumed	20,120†
Used for methylation	597,801
Used for arts and manufactures	884,628
* Includes the quantity contained in perfumery, soap and varnish.
†Liquid gallons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net amounts he derived from duties at 72s. 6d., 73s. 6d., and 74s. per proof gallon, respectively, on spirits manufactured in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the year ended 31st March, 1928?

The approximate net amounts of revenue derived from the undermentioned rates of duty on spirits manufactured in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the year ended 31st March, 1928, were as follow:

Rates of Duty.			Net Amounts of Revenue.
Proof gallon.
£	s.	d.	£
3	12	6	34,790,000
3	13	6	4,000
3	14	0	5,363,000

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has now come to a decision on the proposal that communications forwarded by his Department to insured persons shall be sent under cover instead of by postcard?

The postcards in use for this purpose are, for the most part, printed acknowledgments of the receipt of letters or otherwise contain matter which is suitable for a postcard. The only communication sent by postcard which might possibly be regarded as confidential is that on the card numbered E.D. 11B containing an invitation to call at the Exchange, and arrangements are being made to have a folder substituted for this postcard.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Thomas Bull, of Wesley Buildings, Nantyglo, Monmouthshire, has been refused relief by the Bedwellty Guardians unless he goes into the workhouse; that this man served in the South African War and in the Great War; that he is unemployed and has no income whatever; and that the Nantyglo Branch of the British Legion desired to see the guardians on this case by deputation and were refused: and will he have inquiries made with a view to relief being granted in this case?

I have made inquiries into this ease, and have communicated with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health the average time taken in deciding upon applications for old age pensions tinder the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act?

According to tests made in a certain number of current cases, the average time taken to complete all inquiries and arrive at a decision is about 65 days. The tested cases included a considerable number where applicants were over 65 on 2nd January, 1928, and where very protracted inquiries were made in the interest of the claimant. The average in cases where title has arisen since 2nd January, 1928, is about 50 days. The hon. Member is, no doubt, aware that it is open to claimants to apply four months before reaching the pensionable age.

asked the Minister of Health whether the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Lunacy and Mental Disorder, 1926, for the control of the use of Croton oil, whether for medicinal or punitive purposes, in mental institutions, are receiving his attention; and whether he proposes to take any administrative or other action to deal with this matter?

The recommendation of the Royal Commission has received consideration, but the Report does not support the suggestion made in the question that the drug is used for punitive purposes. The administration of drugs of this character is the subjet of frequent consultation between the Medical Commissioners of the Board of Control and the medical officers of mental hospitals, and I am advised that no further action is at present necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he can give the total number of boy messengers who have qualified for, and been deprived of, appointments as sorting clerks and telegraphists in Northern Ireland as a result of the retention of established officers who have reached the age of 60 years; and is lie aware that such retentions deprive a large number of senior and highly efficient officers of clue promotion in the service;

(2) how many boy messenger general examinations have been held in Northern Ireland since January, 1923; the number of boys who competed at each of such examinations; how many of the competitors qualified for appointments as sorting clerks and telegraphists in Northern Ireland; and how many have in fact received appointments to vacancies for sorting clerks and telegraphist; in Northern Ireland;

(3) whether he is aware that 40 established officers in the Post Office in Northern Ireland who have passed the normal Civil Service retirement age of 60 are at present serving periods of extension of service; that all officials on the telegraph side of Belfast who have attained 55 years of age have recently been offered terms of retirement under the Superannuation Act of 1859, whilst a number of salaried officials in the same Department have been retained beyond the age of 60; and will he say why some officials have been asked to retire at 55 years of age whilst others have been retained beyond 60?

I will answer these questions together. The boy messengers' general examination, which is a qualifying test imposed as a condition of the boys' permanent retention in the Post Office service, is held half-yearly and 11 examinations have been held in Northern Ireland since January, 1923. The number of boys who sat for these examinations has varied from 10 to 23, and the number who qualified for appointment as sorting clerk and telegraphist varied from two to nine. From the exam nations held in 1923 and 1924, four boys have been appointed sorting clerk and telegraphist (postal) in Northern Ireland and two outside; and a certain number which I cannot specify without detailed inquiry will be considered for appointment at offices where telegraph qualifications are required. The examinations held subsequently to May, 1925, have yet to be drawn upon in their tarn for a proportion of the vacancies for sorting clerks and telegraphists (postal). It is not possible to state precisely to what extent individual candidates have been affected by the retention of certain officers beyond 60 years of age. My information is that there are only 25 established officers in the Post Office in Northern Ireland who have passed the age of 60. In view of the present redundancy of telegraph staff, officers at certain of the larger telegraph offices in Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including Belfast) who have attained the age of 55 have been approached on the subject of retirement. There are at present no officers on the telegraph side at Belfast who have passed the age of 60.

asked the Postmaster-General the reason for the delay in the reinstatement of the telephone line Bishopsgate 3635?

The line in question was completed on the 12th instant. The agreement was accepted on the 30th May, and was dealt with in the order of receipt with other applications for service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the automatic stamp machines at the new Post Office, Tottenham, are frequently out of order, with the result that persons placing money in the slots neither get stamps nor their money returned; and will he take steps to see that these machines are kept in regular working order?

I am making inquiry into the matter, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of statistics showing that the number of deaths through homicide is less in the non-capital punishment states of America than those states where capital punishment is inflicted and in view of other available data, he will consider the advisability of instituting an inquiry to ascertain the value or otherwise of capital punishment as a deterrent to murder in this country?

No, Sir. I do not think this country would wisely be guided in criminal jurisprudence by the law or practice in America.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is considering the enlargement of the Metropolitan police force, in view of the increasing demands made on it?

A full review of the police requirements of the Metropolitan Police district was conducted by a Committee which I appointed for the purpose, and as the result of their recommendations the establishment of the force was augmented a year ago, and the divisional establishments were adjusted to meet existing needs. The whole situation will be considered periodically, and further augmentations made if and when occasion requires.

asked the Home Secretary the number of police officers and men specially drafted for duty at the Wembley and Harringay greyhound racing tracks; the approximate cost to the ratepayers; and the proportionate amount paid by the promoters of the races?

On 4th June, 144 officers and men were employed at or in connection with the racing at the tracks mentioned. Of these 144 men, 65 were engaged inside the grounds and were paid for by the promoters of the races. The other 79 were engaged outside the grounds in the regulation of traffic, etc., and their employment in that way involved no extra charge to the Police Fund, apart from a few shillings for travelling expenses. The number of men employed will vary slightly from day to day, but the above figures may be regarded as typical.