asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the large numbers of unemployed persons in the United Kingdom, it is intended to take precautions to prevent the arrival of Irish unskilled labour for the harvests in England and Scotland: and what is the approximate number of persons on the register of Employment Exchanges in the United Kingdom who have recently arrived from Ireland and can give no references as to previous employment in British works, etc.?

There is at present no power to restrict the how of labour between Great Britain and Ireland. I cannot give the figures asked for in the latter part of the question, which could not be obtained without detailed inquiry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men who were involved in the recent lock-out in the engineering trade and who, since the settlement of the dispute, have been unable to obtain employment, are being refused unemployment benefit on the ground that they must find employment at their own trade for at least a week before they can become eligible for benefit; and whether, in view of the provisions of Section 8 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, which provides that, in such circumstances, a person shall be disqualified for benefit so long as the stoppage of work continues, he will state the reason for refusing these men benefit?

In general, claims to benefit by men involved in the dispute, who were unable to obtain employment after the termination of the dispute, have been allowed from the date when work was resumed at the shops. So far as I am aware, no claims have been disallowed on the ground referred to by my hon. Friend, but if he will give me particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Southwark Board of Guardians are sending unemployed men to the Belmont Institution; that the men are compelled to wear the uniforms worn during the War by interned enemy aliens; that they are never allowed out to look for other employment; that they are kept at work 48 hours per week without pay; and that the food supplied is poor in quality and insufficient in quantity; and whether, in the interests of these men, many of whom served in the Forces during the War, he will make representations to the guardians and have inquiries made into the conditions prevailing at Belmont?

I am aware that the Southwark and other boards of guardians are sending a certain number of able- bodied men to Belmont, but I do not think that the hon. Member has been correctly informed as to the conditions prevailing at the institution. The clothing was originally provided for prisoners of war, in hospital in the institution, and is considered more suitable than corduroy. The inmates are given opportunities for seeking employment, and the master has a discretion to provide clothing and travelling facilities for any man who has a reasonable chance of obtaining work. I am advised that the dietary is satisfactory. As regards the question of pay, I would point out that there is no provision under which inmates of a Poor Law institution can receive payment for their work.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the uncertainty which at present exists, he will make a statement as to this intentions of the Government in reference to the renewal of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, on its expiry in 1923?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on this matter, but it is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health if he will submit a return from each county and county borough indicating the present position as regards housing schemes; and whether he can give a statement showing the total amount expended thereon by the Government and local authorities and the number of houses completed and under construction?

The preparation of such a return would involve much time and labour which I am reluctant to impose on my Department in present circumstances. Perhaps the object of the hon. and gallant Member will be sufficiently met by the following particulars:On the 1st June the number of houses completed under State-aided schemes was 149,207, including 115,899 provided by local authorities and public utility societies and 33,308 by private builders. On the game date, 40,970 houses were under construction by local authorities and public utility societies, while preliminary certificates had been issued to private builders in respect of 8,846 houses. The latter in order to qualify for subsidy had to be completed by 23rd June. In addition, there was a balance of 19,131 houses to be built by local authorities which had not been started. The total capital cost of the assisted housing scheme of local authorities and public utility societies is estimated at £190,000,000, of which approximately £160,000,000 had been expended by 1st June. Up to that date £7,800,000 had been paid in subsidy to private builders.

asked the Minister of Health whether before the close of the present Session, he will present to the House a return indicating the total amount expended since 1st January, 1918, upon housing schemes by the Government and local authorities respectively; the number of houses completed; and the number now under construction?

I have given the information asked for by the hon. Member in reply to a question already put by the hon. and gallant Member for the Basingstoke Division (Sir A. Holbrobk), a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any records showing the number of established cases of obtaining relief from boards of guardians under false pretences; in how many of such have prosecutions been instituted; and whether he can make representations to the magistrates that heavier penalties should be imposed?

No statistics are available, but I have no reason to suppose that there is any need for making representations to the magistrates in the sense suggested.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received correspondence from the Lowestoft branch of the National Citizens' Union concerning the dumping of refuse on the Denes; and whether he will give directions that the dumping of refuse on the Denes shall be permanently discontinued?

I am informed that dumping on the Denes has been discontinued for the summer months and that the refuse has been covered with sand. I propose to direct a visit by an inspector and to take such administrative action as may be practicable.

asked the Home Secretary what action has been taken to expedite the extradition of Bevan, formerly chairman of the City Equitable Fire Insurance Company, Limited; and what is the cause of the delay in his arrival in this country?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to-day to a question on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the restoration of part of Wimbledon Common to the public is being delayed by its continued occupation as a military camp, although it is now over three and-a-half years since the Armistice; that such occupation prevents the carrying out of the scheme of the conservators for replanting and laying out; and whether he can fix a date not later than October next when the camp will be completely evacuated?

I am aware of the objections which may be raised to the continued occupation of the camps on Wimbledon Common, but the whole question of the location of the troops in Great Britain is now under review, in connection with the reorganisation of garrisons at home and abroad, and until a decision be reached I regret that I am not in a position to indicate a date when these camps can be evacuated.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been directed to the recent Report of the Auditor-General on the 1920–21 Army Appropriation Account: whether he is aware that, in connection with the handing over to the Indian Government and the re-transfer to the War Office some months later of account balances, £140,000 and £400,000 were brought to account as loss on exchange: and who were the persons responsible for that act which casued such loss?

This matter will come before the Public Accounts Committee very shortly in the ordinary course, and it would not be convenient to discuss it by way of question and answer, in anticipation of the Committee's investigation and Report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has any official information that a German Naval Mission was sent, some weeks ago, to Kronstadt and has taken complete control of the arsenal there; whether there is reason to believe that German submarines are being built. or are intended to be built, at Kronstadt in violation or evasion of the Treaty of Versailles: whether certain Russian first-class battle cruisers and other vessels of war are being manned by German naval officers and crews; whether these Russian ships are engaged in, or are about to engage in, man œuvres in the Baltic; and whether the possible menace to the peace of Europe of these proceedings is being considered by the Admiralty?

The answers to the first four parts of the question are in the negative, though, as regards the fourth part, it is believed certain man œ uvres are intended or are taking place. The sending of a mission as suggested in the first part of the question would be in contravention of Article 179 of the Treaty of Versailles. As regards the last part of the question, the consideration, from the naval point of view, of every possible menace to the peace of Europe, is part of the normal duty of the Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to statements in the Press regarding the operations:in the North Sea on 20th, 21st, and 22nd August, 1916, when the German fleet attempted an attack on the English coast, and in which it is alleged that an opportunity was missed of bringing the High Sea Fleet to action; whether a full account of these operations will be published in the official history; and whether he will consider issuing an official statement in any case, in view of the importance of the operations and the loss of two British light cruisers during their progress?

The answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative. I may point out, however, that the main operations took place on the 19th August. As regards the last part, the Admiralty do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by the issue of a separate statement in advance of the publication of the official history.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any Allied troops remain in Upper Silesia; if so, how many, and of what nationality or nationalities; when they will be withdrawn; and what is the general situation in the portion of Upper Silesia handed over to Poland under the award of the League of Nations?

I have been asked to answer this question. The Allied troops in Upper Silesia consisted of eight British, eleven French, and eight Italian battalions of infantry, with ancillary units. It is anticipated that they will all be withdrawn at a very early date; some are now moving. As regards the last part of the question, no report as to the local conditions in the Upper Silesian territory handed over to Poland has reached His Majesty's Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that persons in the streets and private houses in Egypt are being constantly searched; that amongst the houses searched on 13th June was the house of Mohammed Sidky Pasha, ex-Adviser to the Cairo Court of Appeal; that in this instance, when no arms were found, those who carried out the search confiscated a photograph of Zaghloul Pasha; that photographs of Zaghloul Pasha sold in the streets are being confiscated by the authorities; whether these searches are made under martial law, for which His Majesty's Government are responsible; and, if so, what authority have the British military authorities in Egypt to order the Egyptian police, through the Egyptian Govomment, to effect such searches?

I am not aware of the precise steps being taken by the Egyptian Government, with the collaboration of the British military authorities, to trace those responsible for the recent dastardly murders of British subjects in Egypt. In the hope, however, of preventing the recurrence of such crimes, a Proclamation was issued under martial law on 22nd February authorising the military and police forces to search any persons or premises for firearms.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has received representations from the Deptford Borough Council with reference to the proposed abolition of the six o'clock delivery of letters and urging the continuance of such delivery in the interests of trade and to avoid the discharge of men; and whether he will give favourable consideration to the council's views upon the matter?

As I explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member for East Leyton (Mr. Malone) on the 3rd of July, about one-third of the letters affected by the change in the suburban deliveries will be accelerated and delivered within business hours and the remaining two-thirds will be delivered about two hours later than at present. I have considered the representations which I have received, but I do not think that the interests of the business community will on the whole be prejudiced. The deliveries in the London suburbs will be as frequent as in the largest provincial cities, and inasmuch as an economy of £50,000 per annum is attained, I regret I am unable to re- ! consider my decision.

asked the Postmaster-General the mean wage of each of the

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the instances of injustice referred to in the Interim Report of the Committee appointed by his Department to advise upon applications for the release of property of ex-enemy aliens in necessitous circumstances; whether certain of such instances are consequent upon difficulties presented by the uncertain and, in many cases, conflicting municipal laws of different countries for determining nationality; whether he is aware that the amendment of the law forms the subject of an inquiry now proceeding before a committee of the International Law Association appointed by that body at the Hague Congress of last year; and whether, having regard to the expediency of placing nationality upon a definite and uniform basis in all civilised countries, he will recommend the setting up of a Select Committee for the further and better examination of the question, to consider the expediency of proceeding with the Bill presented to this House by the Home Secretary to amend the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act,

The wages at the means of the adult scales of the principal manipulative classes of the Post Office are as follow:1914 and 1918, as regards the acquisition of British nationality by persons born out of His Majesty's Dominions, and submitting to Parliament a Bill commensurate with present day requirements comprehensively dealing with the subject?

My attention has been drawn to this Report. I am aware that the nationality laws of different countries are not all based on the same principles, and this circumstance, more particularly in the situation created by the War, has given rise to cases of hardship such as those referred to by the hon. and gallant Member. As regards the third point raised in the question. I understand that such a committee was appointed, but I have no information as to the scope of its deliberations. I am not, as at present advised, prepared to recommend the appointment of a Select Committee for the purpose indicated in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has received representations from trade councils in the Bolton area asking that they might be allowed to nominate direct representatives on the War Pensions Area Committee; and whether, in view of the desire of these councils to help in this work, he will provide those bodies with an opportunity of nominating suitable persons to serve?

I have received representations in this sense, but I would remind my hon. Friend that, while I am always prepared to give full consideration to the recommendations of local bodies concerned, the duty of appointing members of War Pensions Committees rests with me under the provisions of the War Pensions Act, 1921. Three representatives of workmen in industry have been appointed, after consultation with local trades councils, to serve as members on the War Pensions Committee for Bolton, Leigh, and district.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his Department has received information that great German stocks have been accumulated in Java in readiness for rapid transportation to Australia; what is the nature of those stocks; and whether any action in the matter is possible or under consideration?

I have no information other than that which has recently appeared in the public Press. It does not appear, in any case, that His Majesty's Government could take action in the matter.