asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will cause an inquiry to be instituted into the prices of comparable safeguarded articles to-day and before they were safeguarded?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 11th December to the hon. Member for Peckham (Mr. Dalton), a copy of which I am sending him.

Would the right hon. Gentleman also include a statement from the Minister of Agriculture with regard to the increase of prices of goods affecting his Department?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount of the duties now imposed by the Swiss Government upon handkerchiefs, household goods of linen, coarse and fine cotton goods and articles for domestic use manufactured from jute or hemp imported into Switzerland from Great Britain; and whether, as articles of a similar nature are imported from Switzerland into this country free of duty, he proposes to take appropriate retaliatory measures?

I understand that a full answer to my hon. Friend's question would occupy from three to four pages of the OFFICIAL REPORT, and I hardly think it justifiable to take up so much space. If, however, my hon. Friend will specify any particular class of goods in which he is specially interested I shall endeavour to send him the particulars he desires. I ought at the same time to point out that, except in one case, the duties in question have been in force since 1921, that the general level of the Swiss tariff is lower than that of most European countries, and that I have received no serious complaints from British manufacturers as to the incidence of these duties. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Is it not a fact, notwithstanding that the duties are low, that there is difficulty in getting British goods into Switzerland where an article of the same kind is produced in Switzerland?

As a matter of fact, the level of Swiss duties is very low, and I wish that other European countries had duties equally low.

Is it not a fact that in the case of some of the goods mentioned—handkerchiefs and linen goods—there was an inquiry, and that the application for a duty was unanimously turned down?

I do not understand the question. The question I was asked was, what was the tariff in Switzerland upon goods going into Switzerland?

The question was whether the right hon. Gentleman was prepared to take retaliatory measures?

I have answered that question.

Is it not a fact that in the report of the inquiry already mentioned it was stated that these goods were not imported into this country at prices lower than those with which our manufacturers could compete?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the total exports to Russia from Britain, Germany, United States of America, and France, respectively, for the years 1927 and 1928?

The answer takes the form of a table of figures with notes; and the hon. Member will perhaps allow me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the difficulty of interpreting, on a comparative basis, the statistics relating to the imports of sugar since refining in bond ceased on 25th April, 1928, he can state the retained imports of refined and unrefined sugar, respectively, since the date on which the Sugar Duties were revised and, for comparison, the corresponding figures for a period of similar length commencing a year previously?

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table containing the information he asks for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is his intention to appoint another clerk at the Grimsby mercantile marine office to re- place the clerk recently transferred to another district; and if, before coming to a decision, he will take into account the fact that there are between 18,000 and 19,000 arrivals of fishing vessels annually at this port, that log-books for vessels have to be issued each half-year, and that Royal Naval Reserve and other service work has to be dealt with by this office?

After full investigation of the volume of work at, the Grimsby mercantile marine office, it has been decided that it is not necessary to make a permanent appointment to replace the clerk recently transferred. Arrangements have, however, been made to provide additional staff to meet the pressure involved in the receipt and examination of fishing vessels' agreements at the end of each half-year, and the requirements of the work generally will continue to be carefully watched.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Report of the investigation into the Enemy Debts Department has been considered; and, if so, will the decision arrived at be communicated to Members of this House?

The Report of the investigation into the accounting procedure of the Enemy Debts Department shows that the system adopted is satisfactorily performing its function, but that the completion of the work on existing lines must necessarily take a considerable time. It makes a number of suggestions, which are being carefully examined, but I am not at present in a position to make any statement upon them.

Is there a possibility of the result of the right hon. Gentleman's consideration being made known to the House?

Yes, Sir, I think so. But that is a very difficult question to answer. When dealing with a number of small Departmental points, or some slight matter of administration here or there, one cannot take an obscure case and make a speech about it. If the matter is referred to on the Vote for my Department, I shall be glad to give an explanation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can see his way to authorise an increase in the scale of salaries of blinded soldiers engaged as telephonists in Government Departments?

The remuneration of blinded ex-service men employed as telephone operators in Government Departments is at present under review by a Committee of the National Whitley Council. I shall be happy to inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result in due course.

In the event of an agreed report which is satisfactory to these men being received by the Treasury, will my hon. Friend deal sympathetically with it?

Yes, Sir, certainly; if an agreement is reached on the National Whitley Council, it certainly will be accepted by us.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the hardship to the men and inconvenience to the staff resulting from the inadequacy of the present Employment Exchange buildings in Darlington; and whether he will therefore consider making temporary arrangements to alleviate the existing conditions, pending the building of the new exchange?

I understand there is some congestion on the weekly pay-day. Arrangements are therefore being made for payment on two days during the week instead of one.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that representations on this matter have been made for eight years? Could not some special arrangements be made to obviate the hardships both to the men and the staff?

No sir, I am not aware that representations have been made for eight years, but I have made most careful arrangements in order to alleviate the grievance to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a soldier having completed 12 years' Army service and discharged, on attaining the age of 65, is entitled to a special campaign pension of 1s. a day if without means, and that those men who are in receipt of small incomes, the result of their thrift in saving money, are denied this special campaign pension to which they would have been entitled had they saved no money; and whether he is prepared to take steps to remove this hardship on old soldiers?

Special campaign pensions are purely compassionate awards. As such they are only given to old Regular soldiers who are in necessitous circumstances, and the amount of pension granted is fixed in relation to, and varies with, the recipients' other means. To award these pensions without reference to such means would be contrary to the intention of the grant, and I am therefore unable to accept the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of these ex-soldiers, though possessed of small means, are very hard put to it in these times, owing to the increased cost of living, and in these cases would the right hon. Gentleman make a grant?

If I had special funds available, yes, but I have not. I have to make the best use of what funds are available.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has yet obtained any information as to whether any application was made to the commanding officer of the Guards for their services in the production at a London theatre; if such an application is necessary when an engagement of some duration is sought; and, if as application was made, did it state the conditions and number of hours in which the men would be employed?

As regards fie first part of the question, I am informed that no such application was made. The answer to the second part is in the negative, provided that military duties are not interfered with. The third part does not arise.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made any inquiry whatever as to the accuracy of the statement that men are away for a week or two on end and all day long? If that is so, does it not seem strange, after the appeals of the Government and of the Prince of Wales to employ ex-service men, that these men should occupy positions that could be filled by unemployed ex-service men?

I have made inquiry, and what I said the other day is substantially accurate. I gather that about 50 Guardsmen have been employed, and that is about one per cent. of those in London. They are not duty men in barracks. They are chiefly those employed in the Pay and Record Office, or married men living out of barracks, and I cannot and do not wish to prevent their occupying their spare time as they may think best.

Does not their employment at matinees in these theatres, interfere with their work?

I am satisfied that this employment does not interfere with their military duties.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that, even if it is only one per cent., it means that work might be found for 50 ex-service men who are out of work now?

I cannot prevent, and I ought not to prevent, soldiers employing their leisure time as they wish, even if they are earning money at it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman send copies of the Prime Minister's letter to these people?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any statement to make about the results of his investigations into the recent depredations of trawlers in the North Coast of Scotland and the losses of gear suffered by the inshore fishermen; whether his attention has been drawn to similar complaints made by the Buckie and District Fishermen's Association with regard to the ravages of the trawlers in the Moray Firth and the loss of upwards of £400 worth of fishing nets by the inshore fishermen; and whether he will undertake to give more effective protection to the inshore fishermen on these coasts?

Further inquiries have been made as to the alleged illegal trawling on the North Coast of Scotland, but no definite evidence of illegal trawling or illegal seining has been forthcoming. Only three specific cases of damage to gear have been reported to the Fishery Board from this district and of these two at least were outside the area in which trawling is prohibited. The investigation of these cases with respect to compensation is being pursued in the usual way. Cases of damage to anchored cod nets in the Moray Firth have been reported to the Fishery Board, but I regret to find that despite warnings issued the fishermen continue to leave their nets unlighted and unattended and so long as this is the practice damage is unavoidable although a constant patrol of the area is maintained and every effort is made by the fishery cruisers to warn foreign trawlers as to the presence of the nets. It is very desirable in the fishermen's own interests that they should observe the regulations issued for the lighting and marking of the nets drawn up by the Fishery Board and should stand by the nets at night. A meeting of fishermen held recently at Buckie recommended the boats concerned to mark and light their nets and if this recommendation is observed the situation should be improved. The Fishery Board have suggested to the fishermen co-operative action to secure attendance on the nets at night under a rota system.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that two trawlers have been caught in Sandside Bay, by the fishery patrol cruiser, since I last questioned him on the subject; and that another trawler has been caught by the local fishermen on the west side of Dunnet Head with its trawl working within the three-mile limit; and in view of this, how can he say that there is no evidence of any illegal trawling on this coast?

No, Sir. This statement was furnished to me by the Fishery Board. I saw the head of the Fishery Board this morning and, as far as I understand, the position is as I have stated it.

Are the trawlers complained of foreign or British?

I do not know.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether there has been any alteration in the Government's land drainage policy, which was announced in the Government's White Paper on Agricultural Policy [Command Paper 2581], both as regards the amount of money to be made available during the five-year period therein contemplated and the free choice of labour under grant-aided schemes; and whether he will make a statement explaining the present intentions of the Government?

There is no change except as regards the period over which the grants are to be made. I explained the position in this respect in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member on 24th July last. In his reference to the free choice of labour the hon. Member is perhaps thinking of the additional drainage scheme to alleviate unemployment, which was announced last month. It provides for grants being made at a higher rate for the assistance of agricultural drainage and other works carried out by means of labour obtained through the Employment Exchanges and composed in part of unemployed persons transferred from depressed areas. This scheme is referred to in the reply given by the Minister of Labour on 24th ultimo to the question by the hon. Member for Leith (Mr. E. Brown).

Cannot the higher rates available for this scheme be made available also for schemes on which the unemployed in Wick—where one man in seven is out of work—could be employed?

No, Sir, not under the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of occupied houses in Broxburn which have been condemned as unfit for habitation; how many houses have been built by the county council in the district; and whether he is satisfied that the needs of the population are being met?

I am informed that three occupied houses in Broxburn have been condemned and that 138 houses have been built by the local authority in the Bathgate district, in which the village of Broxburn is situated. As regards the last part of the question, my information is that several habitable houses in the village are unoccupied.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the village of Broxburn is eight miles from Bathgate, and that not a single new house has been constructed in the vicinity of Broxburn for the last 15 years?

All my information goes to show that, in the district of the local authority to which the hon. Member refers, these houses have been built.

Does the right hon. Gentleman understand the geographical position of these districts? Is he not aware that Broxburn is remote from Bathgate; and is he not responsible to the people in Broxburn who are living in houses declared to be uninhabitable?

That is the responsibility of the local authority. In so far as the village of Broxburn is concerned, I understand that there are uninhabited houses which are habitable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to state whether any steps can be taken to acquire surplus catches of fish at the Scottish fishing ports, which would otherwise be destroyed, for distribution in the distressed areas, and especially in the mining districts?

I communicated with the Scottish Central Advisory Committee, and am informed that they are considering this question in consultation with the Fishery Board for Scotland.

Will the right hon. Gentleman let me know when a decision is reached?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether premises used by agricultural blacksmiths, where the tenant is the sole workman, will come within the scope of the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act?

As the hon. Member will be aware, the matter is not one upon which I can give a binding decision as it falls to be decided by the assessor subject to appeal in each instance. In the circumstances, I feel that it would be inexpedient for me to express an opinion on the case mentioned in the question.

Are we to understand from that reply that the right hon. Gentleman cannot state specifically what consequences are likely to arise from the provisions of the Local Government Bill and the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act? Are all these matters to be referred ultimately to the assessors and dealt with by the courts in Scotland?

Not necessarily by the courts. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, these subjects fall to be dealt with by the rating and valuation committee.

When the right hon. Gentleman drafted the Bill, did he intend these people to be covered or not?

This is a matter subject to the rating and valuation committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what the yield of a penny rate will be in Orkney and Shetland, respectively, and in each small burgh in these counties after the Local Government (Scotland) Bill has come into operation, and the de-rating of agricultural, freight, transport, and industrial lands and heritages has taken place in accordance with the provisions of the Bill?

As the answer involves a table of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

What is the result of a penny rate in Lerwick and a penny rate in Shetland?

In Lerwick burgh, £111; in Shetland, landward, £68.

asked the Secretary for Mines in what year the payment of reparation coal was first made by Germany; what is the total quantity of such reparation coal that has been delivered in each year since to the latest available dale; what is the quantity delivered or credited to each of the recipient Allied Powers in each of these years; and what was the average selling price fixed in each year for the quantity delivered each year to each recipient Allied Power?

Coal was first delivered on reparation account by Germany in September, 1919, in anticipation of the coming into force of the Treaty of Versailles. I have not yet completed the inquiries which would enable me to answer the rest of the question, but if the hon. Member would be good enough to put it down again in a fortnight's time, I hope to be in a position to give him a full reply.

Are the Government taking any immediate steps to reduce the damaging effect of this reparation coal on British coal exports; and are our experts in Paris considering this matter?

I suppose it is always under review by the Reparations Commission.

In the table which he is going to prepare, how will the Saar Valley coal be treated? Is that treated as reparation coal?

I should have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can state the figures for the output of smokeless fuel in England and Wales for any convenient recent week; and, in view of the importance of popularising the use of smokeless fuel as a substitute for raw coal in domestic grates, whether he will undertake, through the Empire Marketing Board, an advertising campaign on behalf of this fuel?

I presume the hon. Baronet refers to the residual fuel of low-temperature carbonisation processes. If so, I am not in possession of the figures asked for and do not think that the size of the industry yet justifies me in calling for them. The advertising campaign suggested is neither necessary nor advisable, as I understand that the companies producing such fuel have had no difficulty in disposing of it. I am advised that, in any case, such a campaign would be outside the scope of the Empire Marketing Board.

Is it not a fact that the best smokeless fuel in the world is Welsh anthracite?

Is it not a fact that the demand for this coal is overwhelmingly in excess of the supply, and would not the Government spend their time better by encouraging its production?

asked the Minister of Transport how many toll gates and bridge tolls he proposes to abolish or reduce during 1929; and where they are situated?

Various schemes are before me for the acquisition and freeing of toll bridges by local authorities, with whom it rests to initiate proposals of this sort. I hope to be able to assist some such cases from the Road Fund during the coming year, but having regard to the uncertainty as to the result of the negotiations with the owners of the bridges I am not in a position to give fuller particulars.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that the Circular issued by his Department in June, 1925, to local authorities on the subject of slippery road surfaces referred exclusively to accidents to mechanically-propelled vehicles and made no reference to the safety of horse or pedestrian traffic, and suggested steps to be taken only with a view to the improvement of the surface of roads for mechanically-propelled traffic, he will see that in the Circular about to be issued some attention is given to the fact that main roads generally are unsafe for and, in some parts of the country, unusable by persons riding or driving horses, or driving cattle, or walking on them?

The circular letter to which my lion. Friend refers stated that the first aim must be "to protect the travelling public from injury," and I think that the local authorities realise how many and varied are the modes of travel. The new Circular will draw special attention to the interests of owners of horses and others, besides those of mechanical transport.

May I infer that it does not contravene the principle that all persons required to pay rates for the upkeep of the roads have an equal right to the user of the roads?

On a general principle like that, it is rather difficult to give a definite answer, but, when my hon. Friend sees the Circular, he will see that the equestrian and the user of horse-drawn traffic will be specially mentioned.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of letters carried by air mail for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

During the year 1928 about 160,000 letters originating in the United Kingdom were carried abroad by air mail. In addition, about 350,000 were sent abroad by ordinary mail for subsequent conveyance by air mail.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this figure shows an increase on the previous year?

Speaking without reference to the exact figures, certainly.

asked the Postmaster-General the total number of wireless licences at present in existence in Great Britain?

The total number of wireless receiving licences in force on the 31st January, 1929, in Great Britain (including Northern Ireland) was 2,684,941.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these licences are for portable receiving sets, or if there is any method of checking the licences for those sets?

No.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the approximate number of people who are not paying for licences, but who are using these receiving sets?

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the number of wireless receiving sets which are only fitted with earphones or two valves and a small loud speaker, he will consider the reduction of the wireless licence fee paid on these small sets?

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Colonel Howard-Bury) on the 7th February.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think some consideration should be given to the poor people who use the very small sets?

I think it is extremely difficult in practice to differentiate according to the total value of the set, and, in addition, I agree with the view that the present charge of a penny for three days' programme is very low.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in order to encourage the use of the telegraph service, he will consider remitting the charge for a local call, which is at present made in addition to the cost of the telegram, when a telegram is sent by the telephone service?

The provision of wires, equipment and operating force for the acceptance of telegrams by telephone involves the Post Office in considerable expense; and I regret that I do not see my way to saddle the telegraph service with the cost of the concession suggested by my hon. Friend.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that to charge 2d. for a local call when a person wishes to send a telegram is a direct discouragement to the use of the telephone for this purpose, and, if it is desirable to increase the number of telegrams sent by this method, does this system not directly stand in the way of doing it?

I would remind my hon. Friend that the balance on the telephone account is being run low, because I am doing my best to develop the telephone service in the rural areas. If I have to keep a larger balance on the telephone account, to meet this particular demand, we shall have less development in the rural areas.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a telephone subscriber who requires an extra foot of flexible wire beyond the regulation eight feet is charged an annual rental of 6s. for the same; and whether, as this charge is five or six times the actual cost of the extra wire, he will examine this regulation with a view to supplying a reasonable length of flexible wire above eight feet where such is necessary to enable a subscriber to use his telephone in comfort?

Experience shows that cords of abnormal length, which are frequently allowed to trail on the floor, are a source of damage to the instrument and are responsible for considerably increased cost of maintenance. A special charge is therefor justifiable and necessary, but I am considering the possibility of making some reduction in the present fee.

is my right hon. Friend aware that this charge is considerably over 1,000 per cent. profit on a foot of wire, over its lifetime?

It is not a question of profit per foot of wire. The charge is intended to be a deterrent to the use of an extraordinarily long cord.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is able to give the House the estimated profit of the Post Office for the year 1928–29?

In round figures, eight and a half million pounds, subject to variation in case of abnormal weather conditions.

Can my right hon. Friend give any indication of the expected profits for 1929–30?

I think my hon. Friend must wait till the opening of the Budget.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bring that answer to the notice of the Prime Minister before he delivers his next lecture on the failure of nationalization?

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total capital expenditure of the Post Office on buildings, telegraphs, and telephones since the War; and whether, in estimating the annual profit made by his Department, any provision is made for the replacement of such capital?

Ninety-two millions sterling. In ascertaining the annual profit of the Post Office, provision is made both for interest and for capital replacement, as to which I would refer my hon. Friend to the Commercial Accounts.

Is it not the case that the right hon. Gentleman charges 25½per cent. depreciation upon the telephone service, and that if he did not charge that extraordinarily large depreciation, the profits would be very much bigger?

No, it is nothing like that; but I do not think I can give any round figure. The depreciation is charged on the straight line method and is based on the anticipated life of each item of plant. I think the average length of the telephone annuities, speaking as a whole, is something like 19¾years.

Can my right hon. Friend let the House have some comparison of the profits made on the telegraphs and telephones in this country as against the amazing profits made in Canada and the United States under private enterprise?

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the cash-on-delivery system is being used for sending unsolicited articles for which, payment is demanded from householders; and if he proposes to take any steps to stop this practice, for which the cash-on-delivery system was never intended?

Very few cases of the kind have been brought to my notice. I do not think that there are any special steps which I could take in the matter and I doubt whether such are really necessary since the public can readily safeguard themselves, as no doubt most people do, by refusing goods which they have not ordered. In any case of attempted fraud the police authorities should be informed by the householder.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the great inconvenience that is caused by this practice, and, if this is going to be a growing practice, can he take some steps to stop it?

I hope it will not be a growing practice. Very few cases have come to my notice —less than half-a-dozen altogether—but in any event, if a case of attempted fraud is observed, the householder should inform the police at once.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is proposed to pull down and re-erect the post office buildings in Queen Victoria Street; what is the estimated cost involved; and whether inquiry has been made as to the possibility of obtaining a less expensive site outside the City and one capable of greater expansion than is possible within the City?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to ray hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle). As regards the second part, every effort has been made to find a solution on these lines, but it has been found that the cost of diverting the cables would be so enormous as to be quite prohibitive.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Hull City police, the Doncaster Borough police, and the West Riding County constabulary have been invited to co-operate with the Post Office detectives respecting the disappearance of the mail bag between Hull and London on the morning of 10th February?

The Hull City police and the Doncaster Borough police are co-operating with my officers respecting the disappearance of the Hull to London mail bag on the night of the 9th-10th February. It has, so far, not been necessary to invite the co-operation of the West Riding County constabulary, or any of the other numerous police authorities through whose areas of jurisdiction the train conveying the bag would have passed.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the fact that businesses situated in the North-East of Scotland are hampered by the lack of adequate and speedy postal communication with London and other industrial centres in England and the South of Scotland; whether this is in many cases due to the withdrawal of the sorting car between Aberdeen and Elgin; and if and when he hopes to be able to restore the running of this car?

I have no evidence that the postal arrangements in the North-East of Scotland are regarded as inadequate by the business community. The number of letters which would benefit by the restoration of sorting on the railway between Aberdeen and Elgin is quite insufficient to justify the expense which would be involved.

Is it not a fact that I brough, to the notice of my right hon. Friend some time ago the inadequacy of this postal service?

Yes, it is quite true, and I am very anxious to do everything that I can to meet my hon. Friend's desires, but these are all matters of relation between the amount of correspondence involved in a particular case and the general amount of correspondence.

Is it not a fact that the Post Office is run at a loss in certain parts of the country, and at a very great profit in others, and that it is not meant to pay all over, but is meant to be run at a loss in some parts

That is so.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are other parts of the North-East of Scotland, and particularly of Kincardineshire, where the postal facilities leave much to be desired.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the newly-appointed postmaster at Llanfairpwl1g-wyngillgogerchwyrndrobialllandysiliogogo-goch, Anglesey, is in receipt of a service pension; and whether it is on account of his own ignorance of the Welsh language that Mr. Cripps has retained the services of a Wash-speaking assistant?

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies. I want to draw his attention to the fact that the name is wrongly spelt in an important particular.

There are two syllables out of order.

I am aware that there is some doubt as to the precise spelling.

Pronounce it.

It begins with "Llanfair" and ends with "gogogoch." Perhaps with all this influenza about, I had better not attempt to pronounce it. Mr. Cripps has now given notice of his resignation from the position of sub-postmaster at the place named in the question in order to continue his service in the Navy. In making a fresh appointment full consideration will be given to the qualifications of Welsh-speaking candidates.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, when he considers the appointment in future of a postmaster—[HON. MEMBERS: "Where for?"]—for LIanfairpwllgwyngillgogerchwyrndrobullllandysiliogogogoch—that he will at least appoint someone who can pronounce the name of the village in which he is occupied as postmaster?

That, with other relative matters, will be taken into consideration.

Does this word count one in a telegram?

indicated assent.

asked the Postmaster-General whether consideration has been given to the absence of postal facilities on the council housing estate at Aldershot, in view of the necessity for the people living on this estate to travel a mile in order to post a letter?

asked the Postmaster-General what was the average number of days of sick leave per head taken during each year of the last three years by women clerical officers, writing assistants, and members of the established typing grades, respectively; and what was the average number of days of sick leave per head taken on account of gastric and nervous trouble, respectively, in the case of each of the above grades during the same period in each of the main sub-departments of his department?

The answer contains many figures and with the hon. Member's consent, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is in a position to indicate what are the difficulties with the railway company which prevent the opening of a post office and/or the installation of automatic stamp-vending machines at King's Cross: and what is the date of the most recent negotiations on the subject?

The Railway Company have stated in the past that they could not possibly spare the necessary accommodation for a Post Office, and I have had no sufficient evidence of a general desire for additional postal facilities to lead me to re-open the matter. The question of installing automatic stamp-vending machines at King's Cross and other London Termini was considered in 1927, but the proposal was abandoned as the Companies concerned insisted on the payment of rentals to which I could not see my way to agree.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the interests of the travelling public, he will open negotiations with all the railway companies at whose chief London and provincial stations there are neither post offices nor stamp-selling machines and endeavour to secure these facilities for travellers?

Telegrams can already be sent from the principal railway stations and stamps can be obtained at many bookstalls. There is no evidence of any such demand for additional postal facilities as would justify the heavy cost of opening Post Offices at the chief London and provincial stations, and in many cases the railway company have no space available. As indicated in my reply to another question by my hon. and gallant Friend, the difficulty in the way of installing stamp-selling machines lies in the fact that the railway companies are unwilling to agree to their installation except on payment of a rental.

Is it not the policy of the Post Office to anticipate public demands?

I have tried to arrange for the installing of these machines, but I am not prepared to accept the position that in order to secure this particular measure of benefit for the public the Post Office ought to be asked to pay an exorbitant rent.

Is the rent demanded by the railway company a nominal rent or a real rent?

I should require notice of that question. The rent varies in different cases.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that there are men undergoing treatment at the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Maghull, Liverpool, who are receiving only the flat-rate pension for themselves, their wives and families, in lieu of treatment allowances as set out in Article 6 of the Royal Warrant of 1919, and what is the reason for the change; arid what provision, if any, is made for children born more than 280 days after the termination of active service, who are not eligible for pension allowances, and the wives and families of men married after the origin of the disability or after the termination of active service?

There are in this Institution, I understand, a very few cases in the position stated. The special allowances referred to are, as my right hon. Friend has frequently stated, payable where, but only where, the patient has suffered loss by reason of his being prevented by the treatment from continuing to carry on a remunerative occupation. Each case is now, as it has been in the past, considered on its merits. In the few cases in question there has been no loss of earnings by reason of the men undergoing treatment at Maghull. On the contrary, they are definitely better off by the fact that their own maintenance during treatment is provided at public cost. There is in the circumstances no occasion for further special provision for their non-pensionable dependants.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases the pensioner's family have only the flat rate pension as income while the pensioner is undergoing institutional treatment, and are therefore unable to obtain the necessities of life, and does not this fact Adversely affect the pensioner and retard his recovery; and will not the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of granting treatment allowances to all pensioners undergoing in-patient treatment?

That does not apply 'at all. My information is that all are on a high pension, and the man is kept free at the public cost, while his pension goes to his family.

As some of them are in receipt of 8s. and 10s. a week, does the right hon. Gentleman consider that a high pension?

If the hon. Member will give me the information I shall be glad to have it.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Form M.P.A.O. 45a is being sent to men in receipt of an award for 12 months and until further notice, and that the pensioner is asked to supply his unemployment insurance classification number, his book number, and the address of office where unemployment benefit is paid; the purpose of these inquiries; whether the Ministry of Pensions has altered the practice that pensions were granted on the degree of disablement as found by the medical board, irrespective of any question of employment; and if he will have these forms withdrawn and issue instructions that questions as to employment shall not be made?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the nature of the form referred to, which is used only in cases where treatment allowances in lieu of pension are to be issued. As these allowances are issued only in cases where the man is found to be unable to work in consequence of a course of treatment, it is necessary to acquaint the Employment Exchange in order that the man's position in relation to the unemployment insurance scheme may be established during the period of his treatment. The form has no relevance to the assessment of disablement pension, and the latter part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

Is it not a fact that these forms are issued with the object of assessing a life pension, and that employment should not be taken into consideration, but merely the effect of the injury which a man has suffered?

No, Sir, it has nothing whatever to do with it. This is merely a case where a man is undergoing treatment and is entitled to treatment allowance, and it is for the benefit of the man that he shall not lapse from the insurance benefits by reason of his not having paid in.

The case I have in mind is directly opposed to the case mentioned by the Minister. May I see him in his room?

Certainly.