asked the Secretary of State for War the reason for the discharge from the Army of Private William Ross, S/52436, clerk, Royal Army Service Corps, British Army of the Rhine; is he aware that he was transferred to England because he joined a class for the study of Esperanto and for the purpose of learning the German language; and has any reason been given for his discharge, seeing he has not been accused or reprimanded for any neglect of duty as a soldier?

The cause of discharge is shown on the certificate of discharge which was given to Private Ross at the time of his discharge from the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that T. Hore, of Birkenhead, late Royal Irish Fusiliers, served 18 years in the Army and that he was discharged for blindness as a result of service; that he received a special Army campaign pension of 10s. a week; that on the Corporation of Birkenhead paying their allowance of 17s. 6d. to him as a blind person his campaign pension was reduced by 4s. per week, and when the corporation made good this reduction his pension was reduced by a further 4s. per week; and, if so, will he explain why such allowance from the corporation should reduce his Army pension from 7th September, 1928?

Mr. Hore was discharged from the Army on the termination of his engagement and not on account of blindness. He served with the Colours for eight years only, and has no claim to a service or disability pension. The special campaign pension which he receives is subject to certain means limits, and falls to be reduced as his total income exceeds those limits.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department has further considered the advisability of establishing a welfare organisation for the Army on the same lines as that existing in the Navy?

No, Sir. I know of no ground for altering the present system under which the superintendence of the welfare of the rank and file is one of the duties performed by all officers. This I regard as most suitable to the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that James Wilson, 9, Elder Park Street, Govan, and John Campbell, 2, Green-haugh Street, Govan, were stewards on the "Tuscania," on 4th April, when the health authorities at Glasgow suspected an outbreak of small-pox; that after two weeks they were stated to be fit for work, were vaccinated, and signed on, on 18th April, with the "Athenia," and passed the doctor; that the second steward of the "Athenia" scored their names off the list, and that they can get no satisfactory reason why they are being treated in this manner; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made, and action taken, to protect the interests of these men?

I am aware that two men, who were being signed on for the "Athenia" on 18th April, were refused employment when it was learned that they had been stewards on the "Tuscania." I have not been able, in the time at my disposal, to ascertain the names of the two men or the details of their history. I have, however, learned that the Medical Officer of Health of Glasgow, by the issue of certificates to all members of the crew of the "Tuscania" within his area stating that they had been under observation for the quarantine period of the disease, and that they were now free from infection so far as that source was concerned, has done all in his power to protect the interests of the men and to assist them in securing employment. As the hon. Member no doubt realises, I cannot interfere with the discretion of an employer who is engaging men, but I am advised that there is no reason why members of the crew of the "Tuscania" who are in possession of the certificate referred to should be refused employment because of any risk of infection.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the figures will be available showing, for the standard year, the loss of rates and grants which will form the basis for calculations under the Local Government (Scotland) Act?

It is hoped that the figures referred to will be available towards the close of the present year.

asked the Minister of Transport what action, if any, he proposes to take in the interests of the petition from users of electricity in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, requesting his intervention under Section 55 of the Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act, 1899, and Section 39 of the Electricity Supply Act, 1919, to determine what fee should be charged for hire of electric meters in the Burgh of Bonnyrigg; and if he is aware that the fee charged is 8s. per year for light meters and 12s. per year for power meters?

The Electricity Commissioners inform me that they are in communication with the electricity undertakers concerned, and hope shortly to be in a position to determine the matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the petition presented to this House in August last and the memorial sent to him by Mr. J. W. Gordon requesting the appointment by the Treasury of an arbitrator to inquire into his case, he will now accede to his request?

I regret I am unable to add anything to the offer conveyed by the Treasury Solicitor in this matter to Messrs. William Stages and Company, Mr. Gordon's solicitors.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any representations have been made to him by leading men in the Civil Engineer-in-Chief's Department, Devonport Dockyard, requesting that higher rates of pay be substituted; that increased sick leave with pay be granted; that successful candidates on appointment be immediately placed on the establishment of the Department; that they be represented on the administrative side of the Whitley Council; that the title inspector of works be substituted for their present title of leading men; and whether be can see his way to grant these requests?

Representations as stated have been received and are under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in order to mitigate unemployment in dockyard towns, he will consider renewing the concession to allow established men, who choose to do so, to retire and take their accrued pensions to date?

It is not possible under the Superannuation Acts to do as the hon. Member suggests, unless actual reductions are being made in the establishment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the grievance felt among certain petty officers of the seamen's and telegraphist branches of 1917 seniority regarding the present system of promotion from petty officer to chief petty officer; and whether he will look into the position of petty officers of 1917 seniority and see whether something can be done to remedy their grievance?

The answer is in the negative. I shall be glad to have specific details.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how much money has been paid for whatever purpose to private contractors for work done for and on behalf of his Department during the years 1927 and 1928, respectively?

To supply the information required would involve an expenditure of time and of labour which I am not prepared to incur.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is intended to sot up a committee of inquiry into the mate scheme to investigate the necessity for changes long overdue?

The Admiralty are naturally fully cognisant of the working of the Mate scheme, and keep the matter under review, but they are not aware of any changes in respect of the scheme which can be said to be long overdue. Certain points in connection with it were brought to notice during the Debates on the Navy Estimates, and such of these as were not dealt with at the time are being duly considered. I cannot, however, as at present advised, see the necessity for the appointment of a special committee of inquiry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, with reference to the Naval Savings Bank account entitled N.R. No. 28,966, in the name of Leslie Kitchen, Royal Naval Reserve, 10,194 D.A., at present living at Unity Road, Porthleven, Cornwall, showing deposits under dates 31st January to 10th May, 1919, of £51 0s. 11d., and withdrawals under dates 5th April and 3rd May, 1919, respectively, of £38 10s. 11d. and £18 10s., to whom these withdrawals were made and where, as Mr. Kitchen states these moneys were not withdrawn by him or by his authority?

I have been asked to answer this question. The account was closed and the deposit book given up on 23rd May, 1919, and I regret that after this lapse of time it is impossible to ascertain at what office or to what signature payments were made, as the documents have been destroyed in accordance with authorised procedure.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India the composition of the Committee appointed by the Government of the Presidency in accordance with the request of the provincial legislature to investigate the causes of the disturbances in Bombay City in February last?

The Committee is composed as follows:

• Mr. P. E. Percival, C.I.E., Judicial Commissioner in Sind (Chairman),
• Mirza Ali Muhamed Khan, Vice-Chancellor of Bombay University,
• Mr. Krishnalal Mohanlal Jhaveri, retired Chief Judge of the Small Cause Court,
• with Mr. E. W. Trotman, I.C.S., as Secretary.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India what steps have been taken by the Government of India towards the initiation of legislation to establish labour conciliation machinery in British India?

A Bill for this purpose was introduced by Government in the Indian Legislative Assembly last September, and, according to a Press report, was passed by the legislature on 11th April.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any representations have been received by the Government of India asking for the commutation of the death sentence passed by the district and sessions Judge at Jammu, on 26th March, on a young woman for murdering her husband; and whether an action is being taken in the matter?

My Noble Friend has not received any information regarding the case referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is his intention to follow up the American suggestion for a reduction of naval armaments with immediate negotiations to place the subject on a practical basis?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that J. McKee, 131, Elder Street, Govan, was sent out to Canada as one of the harvesters on 12th August, 1928; that he was sent to Biaster, near Winnipeg, but could get no work and had to lie in the station all night; was given work by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company on the railway at Kioma, which lasted three weeks, and was paid three dollars per day, of which sum one dollar was deducted for food; went back to Winnipeg and was then sent home to Govan; that McKee has now received a demand from the Govan Employment Exchange for the repayment of £21 16s. as the cost of his transportation to and from Canada; whether he can state the reason for such demand; and whether he will have this demand withdrawn?

Mr. McKee applied for and received a loan of £10 to enable him to go to Canada (where he stayed about six weeks) and a loan of £11 16s. to enable him to return home. His indebtedness is therefore £21 16s. This is apart altogether from free grants amounting to about £8 which were made to him. I have no information as to his reasons for returning; but his records contain a statement that he was not prepared to accept winter employment in Canada. My position, as a custodian of public moneys in this matter, is perfectly clear. It would not be consistent with my responsibility not to ask Mr. McKee whether he is in a position to repay the loans. There is no intention to press for repayment at a rate, or under conditions, which would inflict undue hardship. The question of how much is repaid and by what instalments must depend on the merits of each case, and it is open to Mr. McKee to discuss the position and his circumstances with the manager of the local Employment Exchange as he has been invited to do. While, therefore, I cannot agree that his undertakings to repay the loans should be waived without his making any effort to fulfil them and without his giving any explanation of why he should be unable to do so, I am quite prepared to make reasonable allowance for circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his Department has further considered the advisability of establishing a welfare organisation for the Air Force on the same lines as that existing in the Navy?

I am fully satisfied with the existing arrangements for the welfare of Royal Air Force personnel, and the answer is, therefore, in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many miles of commercial air-routes are now held by the following countries: Germany, France, and Great Britain?

The route mileage at present operated by British commercial air lines throughout the Empire, including the Dominions, is approximately 13,000. The corresponding figure in 1928 for France and French Colonies was 12,500 miles, whilst the figure in the case of Germany was approximately 18,000 miles. I should add that, according to recent information, the German route mileage is likely to be reduced in the near future, whilst the British figure should in due course rise to nearly 24,000, when the England-South Africa route and certain additional services projected by the Australian Government are brought into operation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that since the Tea Duty has been removed, the price of bacon has been increased by 2d. per pound in Hull and other towns; that the price of currants and sultanas has also been increased by 2d. per pound; and if he will refer the matter for inquiry to the Food Council?

Both wholesale and retail prices of bacon began to rise long before the removal of the Tea Duty, and, as stated in answer to a question in the House on 24th April, this rise was attributable to decreased supplies consequent on low prices obtained by producers last year. Since the date of that answer there appears to have been a check in the rise in price. I understand that the Food Council are watching the matter, and they will no doubt make a more detailed inquiry if they consider it desirable. I am not aware of any general increase in the price of currants and sultanas.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the amount realised during the year 1928–29 for each of the various safeguarding duties and by the McKenna duties?

The information for which my hon. Friend asks may be found in Table XII (pages 16 and 17) of the White Paper—Financial Statement (1929–30).

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his Department is stabilising the need allowances to elderly dependants of fallen soldiers who cannot anticipate any favourable change in their economic position; and, if not, whether he will consider doing so?

I am glad to be able to assure the hon. Member that the policy which he suggests has in fact for some time now been in practice in the Ministry. Already over 60 per cent. of the pensions of this class in issue to the aged parents and dependants of deceased ex-service officers and men have been stabilised.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated capital value of Class I and II roads; and what is the average annual expenditure on repair and maintenance of these roads?

The information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. An estimate of the annual expenditure on the maintenance and repair of Class I and Class II roads and bridges will be found in Appendix 14 of the Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for 1927–28.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons who have committed suicide by gas poisoning for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

I have been asked to reply. The provisional number of deaths registered during the calendar year 1928 in England and Wales which have been classified to suicide from

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of small-pox that have been reported during the previous four weeks?

I would refer the hon. Member to the weekly Returns of Births, Deaths and Infectious Diseases issued by the Registrar-General, in which these particulars will be found.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has had any report from his inspectors recently as to the conditions under which men live and work at the Belmont Colony, Surrey; and, if not, whether he will have an inquiry made into the conditions prevailing there?

One of my inspectors recently visited this institution, which, as the hon. Member is aware, is being reorganised—and the report is being printed. I shall be pleased to send the hon. Member a copy when available. A further inspection is to be made to ascertain what progress is being achieved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many small-holdings there are in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, respectively; what number of these are administered by small-holding associations, and how many directly by the county councils; and what is the average rental per acre charged?

The following statement gives the required information, so far as it is available:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if any claim has been presented to the Treasury recently on behalf of the P-class of Civil Servants; the amount that the concessions requested would have cost; what action, if any, was taken by the Treasury; and, if such action was a refusal of the claim, the reasons for such refusal?

Claims for an improvement of the position of the class referred to are at the present time the subject of discussion between the Treasury and representatives of the men concerned. In these circumstances, I must ask to be allowed to defer any statement on the matter until a conclusion has been reached.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the privilege of payment of salary, &c, on the last instead of the first day of the month, which was granted by the Treasury several years ago, is being withheld in the case of superannuated officials of the Customs and Excise Department; and whether he will extend the privilege to these officials, in view of the fact that it has all along been granted to superannuated officials of other Departments, including the Post Office?

I am informed that it is not the practice of the Customs and Excise Department to pay pensions to superannuated officials until the first day following the period for which the pension is due. I am having inquiries made as to the possibility of altering this practice in the manner suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend, and will communicate the result to him in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the amounts that were paid in rent for the occupation of land by British troops in France and damage for disturbance cannot be given under their respective headings; and why in this case the Treasury accept accounts lumped together which ought to be under separate headings?

I am informed that the reason why more detailed information is not available is that most of the detailed records, having been retained for the prescribed period, have now been destroyed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has addressed any recent communication to the French Government on the subject of that country's debt to this country and, in particular, requesting the French Government to bring up the provisional settlement for ratification?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to him by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on my behalf on Monday. I think it would not be desirable for me to give more detailed information at present, and accordingly I can add nothing to the answer already given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of excise licences granted to publicans and other on-licence holders, respectively, in England and Wales during the most recent financial year available, and arranged in each class under each grade of annual value and duty?

The most recent information available on this subject will be found on pages 110 to 112 of the Annual Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for the year ended 31st March, 1928. (Command Paper 3172.)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that widows of 65 years and not in receipt of pensions and widows whose late husbands had been in receipt of pensions are unable to continue their husband's pensions on his decease, he will state what steps he is prepared to take in these cases?

I am not clear to what class of persons my hon. Friend refers, and I would remind him that con siderable provision has already been made for widows of 65 years and upwards by the Contributory Pensions Scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a committee to inquire into the whole matter of unclaimed and dormant bank balances?

The answer is in the negative.