asked the Minister of Pensions if he can state the number of ex-soldiers who are permanently disabled mentally as a result of the War; what provision, if any, is made for them by the State; and is any State assistance given to voluntary organisations which provide them with care and treatment?

I am unable to give the figures asked for in the first part of the question, as many of the officers and men who are at present mentally disabled in greater or lesser degree as a result of their war service will, I hope, improve or even recover. In addition to the mental hospitals approved under the general lunacy laws, which I have been enabled to supplement by two special institutions for certain types of case, the Ministry provides treatment in a number of institutions for the various types of mental trouble short of certifiable insanity, or for cases discharged from certificate who may need further institutional care. The provision thus made has been found to be adequate for this class of case and the answer to the last part of the question is, therefore, in the negative.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether a widow in receipt of a need pension in respect of a son killed in the War would have her pension reduced on being granted a pension under the Blind Persons Act?

The need pension being fixed with reference to the financial circumstances of the beneficiary, is necessarily subject to review and adjustment on the occasion of any increase in the regular income of the beneficiary from whatever source derived.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that since the warrant was first drawn up the Blind Persons Act has been passed, and is it to be supposed that it was the intention of the warrant to act to the detriment of a blind person in such circumstances?

Payments under the Blind Persons Act begin at the age of 50, and it is necessary to take them into account as in dealing with old age pensions and similar pensions.

In view of the fact that a woman who has gone blind requires more care than a person with sight, would the standard of income be different in the case of a blind person as compared with a person who is not so incapacitated?

The need pension is dependent on incapacity in all cases.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate the fact that there is a difference between incapacity due to age and incapacity due to blindness?

The point is that the need pension is fixed by taking into account all the sources of income, and the maximum amount is the same in all cases.

In the event of there being 'a need pension as well as a pension for blindness, would the recipient keep the need pension?

Nobody would be placed at a disadvantage.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that at the outset of the pension scheme it was intimated to this House that nothing would be taken from the pension because of income?

On the contrary, in fixing need pensions it has been the invariable practice of all Governments to take all sources of income into account.

Is it not a fact that the maximum need pension is £1, and is not the point of this question that it should be increased in the case of blind persons?

The need pension clearly could not be increased beyond the maximum.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will state the Regulations governing the issue of pensions to the widows of men in receipt of pension issued under special sanction following a recurrence of the war disability, and who have died as the result of the war disability?

Cases of the type referred to, like other cases of exceptional character, are not governed by Regulations, but are dealt with individually on their merits and in accordance with the evidence available in each case.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in all cases under Regulation 17a, when a widow who is in receipt of pension for herself 'and children remarries the pension on behalf of the children is withdrawn as well as that for herself?

It is a condition of the modified pension which may under certain conditions be granted under Article 17A that all grants payable under it cease on re-marriage of the beneficiary.

Will the Minister of Pensions reconsider this arrangement in view of the fact that hardship often occurs to the children of ex-service men?

This particular Article provides for grants under very exceptional conditions, and I am not prepared to suggest any alteration.

Why should the children be penalised if the mother remarries?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the appeal of Mr. A. D. Hamilton, late No. 316,576, corporal, Black Watch, 36, Greendykes Road, Craigiebank, Dundee, backed by the Angus War Pensions Committee for increase of pension from 60 to 70 per cent., on account of the measurement of the stump of his amputated thigh, has been turned down; that the Committee are still being refused particulars of the latest measurement; and why resistance has been made to the application for review of the original award?

This case has been fully considered. The award made to Mr. Hamilton in 1919 is fully established to be in accordance with the prescribed rates. No error has occurred in the assessment, nor do the latest measurements of the stump indicate any more than such fractional shrinkage of the stump as is liable to occur in these cases. No increase of disablement has occurred such as would justify an increase of the rate of pension awarded, and, in these circumstances, I am unable to take the course suggested in the last part of the question.

Seeing that the Committee were unanimous, the chairman himself snaking an appeal in this case, and seeing that the time which elapsed is really the explanation of the difference which he admits is slight, is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman now prepared to meet the Committee and have the case reviewed, and give the benefit of any difference in favour of the man?

Of course, I shall be happy to consider any representations made by the Committee, but it is quite clear that there has been no increase in the disablement.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman prepared to meet them under those conditions?

I am prepared to consider any additional points which the Committee wish to raise.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has made the promised inquiry into the case of Michael McCluskey, 33, Cessnock Street, Ibrox, Glasgow, identity number 1 /M.M./ 27,918; whether he has found the facts to have been as stated; and what action he has taken, or is taking, to have this man's condition attended to and to assure him- self that the confusion and delay which have been exhibited in this case are exceptional and not customary?

I have inquired into the facts of this case and am communicating the results in detail to the hon. Member, from which he will see that he has been misinformed as to certain material points. The case is one in which a complete operation was, in the opinion of all medical officers concerned in it, undesirable having regard to other factors affecting the man's condition. I am satisfied that no delay or confusion occurred in the treatment of this case.

Is it not the case that at the very time when the right hon. and gallant Gentleman replied to my question dealing with this individual on the last occasion the statement the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has just made was being sent to the man in question granting him the whole of his treatment allowance; and is it not a fact that he has now been told that he has to go into the Western Infirmary to undergo his operation by the surgeon there, and that the surgeon in the Ministry's Bellahouston Hospital cannot perform the operation that it is necessary for this man to undergo owing to his wounds?

I cannot, of course, reply at the moment to the allegations made in the supplementary question. I can only say that the charges against the doctors, as the hon. Member will see from the letter I am sending him, are unfounded.

As the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has denied the statement in my previous question, is he now prepared to have an inquiry into this matter with the man in question present and also the doctor and myself?

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman has already told the hon. Member that he is sending him the information.

If the reply of the Minister had ended there I should not have taken the matter any further, but the right hon. and gallant Gentleman intimated that the facts stated in my previous question were not correct. I have here a document from the Ministry of Pensions which shows that the statements contained in my question were correct. I ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman if he is prepared to have an inquiry into this case and examine the doctors at the Bellahouston Hospital? I await the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's reply.

There are a large number of other questions on the Paper.

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman cannot meet that charge.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider obtaining the necessary powers to enable him to grant pensions to ex-service men in cases where it can be proved to his satisfaction that an injury or ailment arises directly or indirectly out of war service although seven years have elapsed since the termination of war service?

Arrangements already exist, as I have on several occasions informed the House, which enable exceptional cases of serious incapacity caused by war service now manifesting itself for the first time to be suitably dealt with.

If such powers exist, why does the Minister frequently exclude pensions on the ground that the War Pensions Act of 1921 laid down the seven years' limit?

It is clear that the provision in the Act of 1921 applied after seven years, but we are considering exceptional cases over that limit, and we are dealing with them, as we believe, satisfactorily.

If the Minister has the discretionary power which he now states that he possesses, will he on future occasions not use the War Pensions Act as a means of refusing to go into the merits of a case?

I certainly could not use the War Pensions Act in a sense contrary to its legal meaning, but we are dealing with cases which are exceptional.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Department are turning men down simply and solely because seven years have elapsed?

As I recently stated in the House, applicants are entitled to put forward their claims and submit evidence. What the Government are doing is almost identical with the suggestion tardily made in an indirect manner in this question.

asked the Home Secretary what measures are now taken to ensure that all opium imported from India, in whatever form, is used for strictly medical and scientific purposes?

The same measures are taken in the case of Indian opium as in the case of other kinds of opium. I cannot expound the whole system of control in force in this country within the limits of a reply to a question, but the hon. Member will find them in the Dangerous Drugs Acts of 1920, 1923 and 1925, and the Regulations and Orders made under them.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is now the policy of the Home Office to import opium from India in the form of manufactured alkaloids; whether such alkaloids are instead of, or are in addition to, the medical opium habitually imported from India; and whether he can give an assurance that there has not been and will not be an increase in the amount of opium imported, whether as medical opium or as alkaloids?

During the past four years, both raw opium and crude morphine have been imported into this country from India for the purpose of manufacturing drugs. They have taken the place to a considerable extent of opium imported from other countries. It is not possible for me to give such an assurance as is asked for in the last part of the question, as the amount of opium required for medical and scientific purposes, whether for use in this country or for export, necessarily fluctuates to some extent from year to year, but the hon. Member may rest assured that the trade is very carefully supervised, and, in fact, there has been a progressive decrease in the amounts imported in recent years.

asked the Minister of Health the percentage of children vaccinated during the last five years in the counties of Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire and Leicestershire, and the percentage for the country as a whole; and what has been the aggregate number of cases of small-pox, and deaths arising therefrom, per 10,000 of the population in these three counties during the same period, and the corresponding number for the country as a whole?

Complete information with regard to the number of children vaccinated during 1927 is not yet available. As regards the five years 1922–26 inclusive, the information desired can best be shown by means of a tabular statement which has been compiled from the Registrar-General's returns and which, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health whether local authorities have had their attention called to their powers under the Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Act, 1926, and what these instructions or recommendations, if any, are; and whether any prosecutions have taken place in furtherance of the objects of the Act?

A Circular on the Act was issued to local authorities. I will send the hon. Member a copy. Prosecutions have taken place, but to what extent under the Act I cannot say, as they have not to be reported to me. I may add that the best results are likely to be obtained by close co-operation-between the local authorities and those responsible, for boiler plant, and this practice is being increasingly adopted.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the public demand for information as to the purity of certain preserved foods; and whether he will issue statements giving guidance on the question of the comparative hygienic value of chilled or frozen meat and fresh meat and tinned and fresh fruit, respectively?

I am glad to observe a growing public interest in the purity of food, and I will consider whether there is any information in regard to the points mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman which it would be of advantage to publish.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Trust have not as yet erected any cottages for ex-service men in the Coleraine urban district, in the county of Londonderry, although soon after the constitution of the trust six years ago 10 cottages were allocated to that district; and whether he will hasten the erection of these 10 cottages and, in view of the fact that more than 1,200 volunteers from Coleraine served in the War and cottages for ex-service men are urgently needed there, he will take steps to secure that a fair proportion of additional cottages are allocated to and erected in that district without undue delay?

I am informed that a contract has now been placed for the erection of the cottages referred to, and that they should be completed by April next.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the difficulties some owners, when making application under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, are encountering at the hands of county councils, he can take any steps to see that more generous consideration is given to all applications of this nature?

The merits of individual applications for assistance under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, are, of course, matters for the local authorities; but I have indicated in a circular letter the lines which local authorities should follow in dealing with applications for assistance, and I will furnish the hon. and gallant Member with a copy of this circular. I might add that I take every opportunity of urging local authorities to give sympathetic consideration to applications under the Act in cases in which assistance may properly be granted.

In view of the fact that the only activity under this Act has been shown by the district councils, would it not be possible now to extend the powers?

My hon. and learned Friend is mistaken in saying that the only activity has been shown by district councils. I am glad to say that there is a good deal more activity now being shown by county councils all over the country.

Is it not a fact, as shown by the statistics which my right hon. Friend was good enough to give me last week, that the proportion of acceptances to applications in the case of rural district councils is very much higher than in the case of county councils?

Yes, I think that is so.

Will my right hon. Friend take powers to compel county councils to take action, as there are some that have not framed schemes under this Act at all?

If that is the condition of housing under the county councils, is it safe to hand over further powers to them?

We are getting too many supplementary questions.

asked the Minister of Health the number of condemned rural workers' dwellings in Cornwall?

I regret that the information desired by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take further action both in regard to individual landlords and also district councils where either of these have refused to use the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, to improve and make habitable condemned dwellings?

I have no power to compel landlords to take advantage of the facilities afforded by this Act if they do not wish to do so. The number of districts in which no scheme is in force is very small, and in these cases I am pressing the local authorities concerned to exercise their powers under the Act and to take steps to put schemes into operation.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that many local authorities are holding back decisions on house building until they know whether the present subsidy is to be continued after March next; and if he can now make a pronouncement upon this question?

I hope to be in a position to make a statement very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of elementary school children who are attending school between the ages of 14 and 15; and if he can indicate the school authorities concerned?

On 31st March, 1923, there were 159,052 pupils between the ages of 14 and 15 on the registers of public elementary schools in England and Wales. Particulars of the number on 31st March, 1927, in the area of each Authority were published by the Board in List 45, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

Is the proportion greater in rural or in town areas?

The hon. Member has only to look at list No. 46, and he will see for each area.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, in many of the schools in the poorest and overcrowded areas, children suffering with defective eyesight are not supplied with eyeglasses for many months; and will he consider communicating with various local authorities instructing them to give the headmasters or headmistresses the power to immediately purchase eyeglasses for these children, pending settlement of the question whether the councils or the guardians shall eventually be made responsible for payment?

No, Sir. The need for the prompt provision of spectacles has been frequently brought to the attention of the local education authorities and I believe that, generally speaking, they appreciate the importance of this point.

Is the noble Lord aware that in many cases these children are very greatly handicapped, and, if I send him cases where children have been kept without glasses for many months, will he give the matter his immediate attention?

I will give my immediate attention to anything the hon. Member sends me. I know there are, for many reasons, though not mainly for the reason suggested in the question, delays of various kinds, and we are constantly trying to minimise them.

I will send the Noble Lord instances. Has he not some fund out of which he can authorise headmasters and mistresses to purchase spectacles for children in the poorer schools?

I have no fund, and I do not think that suggestion would, as a matter of fact, meet the difficulties that arise.

asked the Minister of Health with regard to the preservation of the London squares, whether, if time cannot be allotted during this Session for a detailed Bill to protect them, he will introduce a brief Measure enacting that no more of these open spaces shall be sold until such time as the matter can be dealt with in detail?

I fear that it is impracticable to introduce such a Measure this Session in view of other claims on Parliamentary time.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Royal Commission on London Squares recommended early legislation, and that since that report was issued Trinity Square, Brixton, has already been sold?

I am afraid that does not give us any more Parliamentary time.

asked the Minister of Health whether any approach has been made to any or all of the Dominions over- seas for reciprocal legislation in respect of widows and old age pensions; and if it is anticipated that at an early date migrants may carry their pension rights from one part of the Empire to another?

I have been asked to reply. Following the report of the Oversea Settlement Special Sub-Committee of the Imperial Conference, 1926, communications on this subject were addressed to the Dominion Governments, but the replies so far received do not suggest that any early adoption of a general scheme of reciprocal arrangements between this country and the oversea Dominions can be anticipated.

Will the right hon. Gentleman press the Dominions on the matter?

We desire to see such arrangements brought about. I will see whether they can be reminded.