asked the Minister of Pensions whether full pension is paid in every case to a widow if the certificate of death of her husband shows that he died of a disability resulting from his war service or the recognised sequel of such a disability.

The conditions under which full pensions may be granted to widows of pensioners are set out in the relevant articles of the Royal Warrant. The death certificate, while important as evidence, is necessarily not the sole factor in determining whether in fact, and to what extent, death was the direct results of war service.

Can the Minister tell me whether the certificate to which I refer would be taken into account?

The certificate would certainly be regarded as very important evidence.

asked the Minister of Pensions what remedy an ex-service man has when he is recommended by the Ministry for treatment at home by his panel doctor and the panel doctor cer- tifies that treatment by the Ministry is necessary.

Where it had been decided that a case was either not eligible for or did not require such a course of treatment as is provided by the Ministry of Pensions, the case would fall to be dealt with under the ordinary arrangements available to insured persons under the National Health Insurance Acts.

If the Minister decides that treatment is not possible and the man's panel doctor considers that treatment by the Ministry is necessary, what step has the man then to take? What has he to do in view of the conflict of evidence?

It is quite clear that the Ministry cannot accept the doctrine that a panel doctor can decide for them. If the man has a grievance against the panel doctor, the normal course would be for him to make an application to the insurance committee.

But supposing the man has no grievance against his panel doctor, supposing he considers that the advice of his panel doctor is right, is there not a medical referee whose opinion the Ministry and the panel doctor can be asked to accept? If there is not, will the Minister set up such a referee?

No, Sir. The ordinary course must be followed. The case would be considered by the doctors of the Ministry of Pensions, whose opinions must necessarily decide the action to be taken by the Ministry.

Does the Minister say that the doctors of the Ministry must be the final arbiters in spite of the fact that equally eminent or more eminent medical men may say that the man ought to have treatment?

No, Sir; the point is that the Ministry of Pensions must decide its own policy, and not the panel doctor.

When doctors disagree, would it not be possible to have an independent opinion from a specialist, because it is notorious that doctors often differ on medical points?

asked the Minister of Pensions why treatment allowances have been refused to Mr. J. McGuire, of 20, Morley Road, Barking, and his wife and child; and whether he is aware that Mr. McGuire has been in receipt of treatment allowances for the past seven years, and is at present undergoing treatment, and is in an advanced stage of tuberculosis, and that the reduction of his weekly income from £2 17s. 6d. a week to £2 a week will necessitate his going without the nourishing food that he requires?

In the case referred to, which, in accordance with the usual practice, was dealt with in consultation with the local tuberculosis officer, it was found that the pensioner was no longer in receipt of any course of treatment which admitted of the payment of allowances under the Warrant. The assessment of the case was, however, reviewed and the man's pension was raised to the rate or 100 per cent.

Will my right hon. Friend make a few further inquiries into this case to see whether the treatment ought not to be continued?

I shall be very happy to inquire into the case.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, owing to the reduction of the number of area war pensions offices and the difficulty pensioners have in obtaining treatment, sometimes waiting six days, he will arrange that, in cases where treatment allowances are payable, they shall be paid from the date of application for treatment and not from the day that the pensioner is seen by a medical officer of the Ministry of Pensions?

I know of no grounds for the suggestion in the first part of the question. Indeed, the waiting period for admission to hospital has actually been reduced. In any case, however, where exceptional delay should occur and it is desirable in the interests of the course of treatment to be given that the man should abstain from work pending admission to hospital, it has always been the practice to pay such allowances as from the first pay day following the man's medical examination. In these circumstances, I am unable to accept the suggestion of the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of claims for pension that were rejected last year owing to the operation of the seven years' limit?

The information is not available, as no separate record is kept of applications of this or any other class which, for various reasons, are not proceeded with.

Is it the fact that in the Ministry they have no statistics at all on this matter? Is there not a record of the number of claims for each district and each town?

The information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.

Is there not information approximating to it so that we may have some idea of the number of claims rejected through the operation of the seven years' limit?

No, Sir, we have no record of cases which are decided to be outside the scope of the terms laid down by Parliament.

asked the Minister of Pensions what areas will be included in the East Metropolitan war pension area; whether it is proposed to close the war pension office at Stepney; where the new area office will be situated; what whole-or part-time offices will be closed or have the hours of opening reduced; and whether he will make provision for the payment of travelling expenses for pensioners living more than three miles from the area war pension office when they have to attend that office?

Arrangements are contemplated for the transaction of business of the Stepney, Chelmsford and Hackney areas at a new central office in the City Road. The Stepney War Pensions Committee has already been consulted and has approved the arrangement, and the other committees concerned have the master under consideration. The sub-offices necessary will be settled after consultation with the War Pensions Committees concerned. The circumstances do not call for any change in the existing arrangements for the payment of travelling expenses.

Did the Minister say there was to be a new office in the City Road?

I must have notice of that question.

In view of the expenses of travelling from some remote parts of Hackney to the City Road, will not some allowance be made?

Reasonable travelling expenses are paid, and there is no minimum distance. I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion that no allowance should be paid unless the distance is over three miles.

If the two other local committees do not agree to this change, will the Minister confirm it?

I will take into consideration any representations made to me, but I cannot undertake to maintain offices if they are found to be unnecessary after consideration.

If the local committees feel the step is not necessary, will you then pay some regard to their decision?

I cannot admit that the local committee can decide; they may make representations, which I shall be happy to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Lieutenant-Colonel G. M. McLoughlin, T.D., is in receipt of a pension based on the rank of a captain, in spite of the fact that he holds a commission appointing him to the rank of lieutenant-colonel dated 17th September, 1926; that Lieutenant-Colonel McLoughlin was officer-commanding the 20th battalion Cheshire Regiment from I7th September, 1926, to 12th July, 1927, and from 17th August, 1919, holding the position of area commandant in various places, holding the rank of lieutenant-colonel all the time; and if he will state the grounds on which it was decided to award a lieutenant-colonel holding a commission for that rank the pension of a lower rank?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply. The facts in this case, which are not quite correctly stated in the question, are as follows. Lieutenant-Colonel McLoughlin held the substantive rank of captain. The temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel conferred on him with effect from the 17th September, 1916, whilst commanding a battalion, was relinquished on the 13th July, 1917, and was so notified in the "London Gazette." The officer was demobilised on the 2nd August, 1919. The temporary commission referred to, which was issued to this officer on the 30th October, 1916, was, I am informed by the War Office, issued in error and was in the circumstances neither necessary nor admissible. The officer has been pensioned in the rank appropriate to the information supplied to me by the War Office and the position has been fully explained to him both by that Department and by the Ministry.

Is it not a fact, nevertheless, that this officer does hold a commission of the rank of lieutenant-colonel and if the War Office has made a mistake should not the War Office abide by it?

I do not think that a pension can be justly founded on what is admittedly a mistake.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the pensions issue office at Bromyard Avenue, Acton, isued a letter, dated 4th July, 1928, in reference to William H. Jacobs, 113, Stanley Road, Stratford, E.15, late No. 11/M 351,135, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, who is at present an inmate of the Whipps Cross Hospital; that the man is in receipt of a war pension of 35s. per week; that the letter to the wife of this man stated that 26s. 3d. a week is being stopped from the husband's pension to meet the cost of his maintenance in the hospital; and that his department issued to the wife only 8s. 9d. for the week ended 4th July; and, as the rent payable is 5s. 1d. per week, leaving only 3s. 8d. per week for the wife's maintenance, will he reconsider this case?

I find that in the case referred to the pensioner is receiving treatment for a disability unconnected with his war service and that the guardians have, as they are entitled to do, claimed that the cost of his maintenance should be repaid to them out of his pension. It is within the power of the guardians to reduce the charge so made if the circumstances of the case justify it, and, if the hon. Member will furnish me with full particulars such as will enable me to represent the case to the guardians, I shall be glad to do so.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the conditions in respect to the payment of pensions laid down that any person entering such an institution for medical or surgical treatment shall not have his pension touched for twelve weeks, that that is a Treasury regulation, and will he kindly take the steps indicated—and I will let him have what particulars I can?

I shall be very happy to take the steps which I have promised after the hon. Member has communicated with me.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman acquaint the Minister of Health, whose Department is doing this with the facts of this case?

asked the Minister of Pensions if it is proposed to repeal Article 24a of the Royal Warrant of 1919 and stabilise pensions at the present rates, seeing that the fall of the cost-of-living figures below 60 is unlikely?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hexham (Colonel Clifton Brown) on the 23rd May, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state, in view of the increasing importance of the study of foreign languages, what facilities, for which his Department is responsible, at present exist whereby British students may take language courses abroad at small expense; how many educational institutions have arrangements with foreign institutions for the interchange of students; and will he state to what extent these various facilities were made use of during the last educational year?

As the reply to this question is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many training colleges for teachers have been closed during recent years, and what are their names; whether the closure of other trailing colleges is pending; if so, whether it is possible to give the names of the colleges; what is the present accommodation of the training colleges; what is the accommodation for residential and day students, respectively; and whether, having regard to the increasing number of students in training for three and four years instead of two years, there has been during recent years any substantial reduction in the number of teachers annually completing their training?

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether His Majesty's Inspectors of Schools have recognised as educational visits the attendance of parties of school children at the Naval and Military Tournament, London, and the Royal Air Force Display, Hendon; whether such visits have taken place this year or last year; and whether the Board have received any representations on the subject?

The approval of educational visits by public elementary school children during school hours is given by His Majesty's Inspectors under Article 21 (a) of the Code and no record of such visits is kept in my Department. As regards the last part of the question, I have received representations on the subject of attendance at the Royal Air Force Display.

Was the representation for or against the teachers?

The representation which I received from one set of people was against.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board of Education are consulted when Officers' Training Corps are instituted in connection with schools on the Board's grant list; whether the Board have any information as to the number of Officers' Training Corps or Cadet Corps, respec- tively, attached to schools on the Board's grant list; whether any instructions have been issued by the Board as to the relations between an Officers' Training Corps or Cadet Corps and the school organisation; and, particularly, whether activities in connection with such bodies should be arranged outside the ordinary school hours?

The answer to the first and third parts of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I understand that 69 grant-aided secondery schools in England and Wales have contingents of the Junior Division of the Officers' Training Corps, and 106 have Cadet Corps. As regards the last part, I have no reason to suppose that it is the practice to carry on the work of these corps at times which involve any material interference with the ordinary school instruction.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of boys who left school in Durham County on reaching the age of 14 years or upwards during the years 1925, 1926, and 1927?

As the reply to this question is statistical in character, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he proposes to adopt the recommendation contained in the Report of the Com- mittee on Education in Industry that a short handbook should be published descriptive of the educational system in England and Wales?

Yes, Sir, a short descriptive pamphlet is being prepared.

asked the Minister

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a report regarding casual vagrants at Shifnal, Salop, having been refused exercise in the yard of the institution on of Health how many able-bodied men were in receipt of either domiciliary or institutional relief in each of the metropolitan unions on 30th June and 7th July of this year and the number of persons dependent on such men?

I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a Table in the OFFICIAL REPORT giving the best information available for the latest dates for which Returns have been received.

I am aware of the difficulties which the guardians of the Shifnal Union experience in providing exercise for the casuals on Sundays. I understand that the guardians, after discussion with the General Inspector, are considering means to deal with the difficulty, but I am not at present aware of their actual proposals in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of houses completed, and the number authorised but not completed, by local authorities and by private enterprise under the 1923 and 1924 Housing Acts, respectively, in each of the 12 months prior to the reduction of the subsidy and in each month since; and the average price of parlour and non-parlour houses, together with the average superficial area, for each of these months?

As the answer involves a tabular statement I will, with the permission of the hon. Member, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make inquiries of the local authority as to the prices received by private builders for houses built under the scheme of the local authority in Torquay, and as to whether the builders received the subsidy granted both by the Exchequer and the local authority in addition to the agreed prices?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in Torquay contracts were entered into between builders and house purchasers, in accordance with a scheme of the local authority, for the building of houses at a price of £550 each, and that the subsidy under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, and the subsidy paid by the local authority, amounting in all to £120, was retained by the builders who thereby received £670 per house; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that the assistance given from public funds is reflected in the price of houses to the purchasers?

I am not aware of the exact selling price in individual cases, but I understand that the scheme adopted by the local authority in December, 1923, prescribed a maximum figure of £600 inclusive of land but on the basis that the builder would, in addition, be entitled to receive the subsidy of £120. As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Torquay in reply to a question in December last, I communicated with the local authority in regard to the operation of their scheme for assisting private enterprise; steps were taken to improve the administration and the scheme was brought to an end more than two years ago.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to a public meeting held at Abersychan by citizens of the district on 4th July to discuss the position of the men and women who are in distressed circumstances as a result of the closing down of the Varteg, Llanerch, and other collieries; whether he is aware that the representatives of the mine-owners and men had given an intimation to the conveners of the meeting that unless immediate relief was given to these areas more of the collieries would close down; and whether he will consider the reply to a deputation representative of the collieries of this district which recently waited on him?

I am not yet in a position to give any further information; but I hope to do so before the end of the Session.

Is the Minister aware that since he kindly consented to receive a deputation nearly 6,000 men employed in those collieries have been thrown out of employment; and is he also aware that those collieries used to export all their production to Spain, and that, as a result of the Spanish Government giving a subvention to the mine-owners and railways, all this production of coal previously exported to Spain has been cut out of the market? If the Chancellor of the Exchequer could expedite his Budget proposals by giving relief on coal, and especially the coal consumed in the iron and steel trade, it would enable those collieries to be started.

I am well aware that the situation is distressing and has got worse since we last discussed the question with the deputation. The question is entirely whether the remedy that it is in our power to use would be effective.

Has the right hon. Gentleman noticed the extraordinary desire in certain quarters of the House that the Budget proposals should be expedited, while in other quarters those proposals are opposed?

I am very much concerned with this particular problem affecting South Wales and the North-East Coast.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the coalowners' intention to apply on a national scale the pooling arrangements at present operating in certain districts, and that the closing of many alleged unprofitable pits is in contemplation; and whether, in view of the consequences to the mining community, he proposes to take steps to deal with the matter?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. and gallant Friend understands that the coalowners are discussing the possibility of applying voluntarily, on a national scale, one or other of the district schemes now in operation. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Are we to understand that the intention of the Government is to take no cognisance whatever of this new pooling arrangement, despite the fact that many thousands of miners will be thrown out of work and many pits closed down, which will cause irreparable disaster to the mining industry and to the prospects of the workers in this country? Is that the hon. Gentleman's reply?

The hon. Member is to understand exactly what I have read out.

May I ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman to be a little more informative and a little less arrogant?

The hon. Member is not entitled to use expressions of that kind.

I have put a question to the hon. and gallant Gentleman and I have asked for an answer. When he tells me I am misinformed myself about the reply, I am entitled to say to him what I think, and I shall say it in spite of anyone in this House, including yourself.

Withdraw.

I will withdraw nothing.

I am bound to take notice of that kind of remark. I will not have them made in the House of Commons.

Tell the Front Bench to do that sort of thing before you address remarks to me.

I have said before that hon. Members cannot expect always to get an answer that satisfies them.

asked the Secretary for Minus if he is aware that the gas holder an Abertillery Gas Works has been seriously damaged by mining subsidence and has to be reconstructed before it can be used; that this damage is due to subsidence caused by mining; and will he expedite the Report of the Commission dealing with this question, in view of the damage done to public and private property by unscientific mining operations?

I have been asked to reply. The Report of the Royal Commission on Mining Subsidence was presented to Parliament last year, and specifically stated that no case had been made out for the grant of a special right to compensation for damage caused by mining subsidence in the case of property owned by local authorities or by statutory gas companies.

The answer does not deal with the damage to the gas holder at Abertillery.

The question put down has been answered.

The question on the Paper is with regard to a specific case where damage has been clone by subsidence, and what action is the Government going to take with a view to compensating local authorities? What is the answer?

The Royal Commission on Mining Subsidence specifically stated that no case has been made out for a special right to compensation for damage caused by mining subsidence in the case of property owned by local authorities or by statutory gas companies.