asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution of the Stoke-on-Trent War Pensions Committee requesting the attention of the Government to the fact that widows are now being refused pension under Article 11 of the Royal Warrant because their husband died more than seven years after discharge, although death was directly attributable to the wound, injury, or disease admitted as due to service, and pressing the necessity of amending the Royal Warrant by extending the period for eligibility so as to prevent such eases of hardship; and whether he will consider the matter with a view to the amendment of the Royal Warrant as desired?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the full answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Wandsworth Central (Sir J. Norton-Griffiths) on the 13th June, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will give, in respect of widows receiving pensions, the total number; the number without children; the number with only one child; the number with two or more children; and the number married since 1914?

Approximately 167,500 widows are in receipt of pension from my Department, 37,000 being without children, 36,500 with one child, and 94,000 with two or more children. I regret that the number of widows who have married since 1914 cannot be stated.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Herbert Prior, late private, No. 16,099, Royal Army Medical Corps, has recently been deprived of the constant attendant's allowance granted him in 1917, although there is no improvement in his condition and he is still assessed at 100 per cent.; whether he is aware that the result of this deprivation is that the man is entirely confined to the house; and whether he will take steps to remedy the hardship inflicted by this reversal of policy?

I would remind my right hon. Friend that this allowance was designed for men who, in addition to being assessed at the 100 per cent. rate of disablement, are so helpless as to require another person to be constantly in attendance upon them. The case of Mr. Prior had been brought to my notice and a special medical inquiry was directed into his condition. It was found that Mr. Prior was not in a condition to justify the full allowance. It was recognised, however, that he needed occasional attendance, and a modified allowance of 7s. 6d. has been awarded as an addition to his alternative pension of £3 17s. 10d. a week.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will have inquiries made into the case of Private Hugh Burns, No. 701,669, Labour Corps, now residing at 26, M'Cormick Street, Wigan, whose pension has been stopped although he is unable to follow his employment, and consider granting him a service pension, seeing that he enlisted on 15th August, 1893, served in the Boer war and in the Sudan, his time expiring September, 1902; he re-enlisted on the 9th August, 1914, and served until the 12th February, 1916, rejoined again on the 24th May, 1918, was discharged on the 13th March, 1919, re-enlisted on the 5th June, 1919, in the Labour Corps (W.C.L.C.), and was discharged on the 15th November, 1919, with gastritis, when he was awarded a pension of 7s. 6d. which has since been stopped, although the man has now no income and cannot work?

A medical appeal board, which examined this man last January, found no remaining disablement from any of the disabilities for which he has from time to time claimed disablement pension. The nil assessment has been declared to be a final award, and the appeal which the man has lodged against this decision will be forwarded to the Assessment Appeal Tribunal as soon as he has submitted all the evidence he wishes to produce. I am informed that the man is not qualified by length of service for a service allowance or pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Ordinary-Seaman Thomas Rigby, J88,224, now residing at 84, Tunstall Lane, Pemberton, Wigan, served on H.M.S. "Cleopatra" in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and was demobilised on 16th July, 1919; that in May, 1921, he made application for a pension through suffering severely from rheumatism, which he contends he contracted while on service, and which prevents him from following his employment for periods ranging from one month to three months at a time; that he was examined by a medical board (W2 board) at Bolton on 19th June, 1921, by three medical men, who informed him that the result of the examination would be forwarded to him, which report he has not yet received; and whether he will have inquiries made into this delay, and a copy of the report sent to this man, or a fresh medical board authorised, so that his claim may be properly dealt with, and, if found suffering from the results of his service, a pension awarded to him?

A letter was sent to the man on the 25th June, 1921, informing him that the disability could not be accepted as either due to or aggravated by service, and intimating that he had a right of appeal against that decision to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. A further copy of the notification will be sent to him.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if any action has been taken with regard to the published Report of lower deck representatives attached to headquarters, Navy, Army and Air Force institutes, to the effect that prejudice exists in the Navy against the present system of canteen trading, and that, being a monopoly, it is difficult for that organisation to maintain a high standard of economy and efficiency among the employés; whether he will sanction an open inquiry into the management and trading activities of the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes, which is alleged to exist solely for the benefit of seamen, soldiers and airmen; and if the Lords of the Admiralty will take steps to have the canteens conducted in a manner which will satisfy the men of the services?

The Report referred to in the first part of the question has been circulated in Fleet Orders, and no further action is contemplated. As regards the second and third parts of the question, it is not considered that any useful purpose would be served by an inquiry such as that suggested, as the Admiralty is satisfied that the canteens as at present conducted in the naval service satisfy, generally, the needs of the men.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that, although the Admiralty promised in the early part of the year that the final distribution of prize money to ex-service men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines should be made concurrently with the final distribution to the active service ratings, there are still large numbers of ex-service men who have not yet received their share; whether he can explain this long delay, in view of the fact that the final distribution to the active service is practically complete; and will he make inquiries, with a view to the matter receiving immediate attention, bearing particularly in mind the large number of men affected and the consequent hardship to these men, many of whom are out of employment?

As stated in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Portsmouth on the 28th June, the final distribution of naval prize money is expected to extend over a period of at least nine months. Ex-service claimants largely outnumber those on active service, and there is no avoidable delay in dealing with them. Owing, however, to the fact that each ex-service application has to be dealt with separately, and requires to be supported by proofs of identity, these claims take much the longer time to deal with, but every effort is being made with the reduced staff available to accelerate the issue. Cases of distress have priority of treatment. It is not a fact that payment to the active service is practically complete.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can state the decision that has been made by the Japanese Government with regard to the reduction of the Army and Army expenditure; and if he can state the number of men by which the Army has been reduced, in view of the statement that the Army has been reduced by 56,000 men and the expenditure by over 20,000,000 yen annually?

I understand that although proposals are being considered, no decision has yet been reached by the Japanese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is intended to recruit a Territorial Air Force service; if so, whether the Territorial associations will be made use of in this connection; and what grants will be made to them for the expenditure which this extra duty will involve?

The answer to the first question is that it is the intention to form an Auxiliary (or Territorial) Air Force, but the date at which it will be possible to introduce the Bill, which is already drafted, is at present doubtful; it has not been decided whether it will be proceeded with this year, as the whole policy of Home Defence is still under the consideration of the C.L.D.; to the second, in the affirmative; to the third, that the scheme will provide for grants being made to the county associations concerned, proportionate to their responsibilities and services.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes legislation to carry out the recommendation of the Geddes Committee that the great industries of the country should each be responsible for making its own provision against unemployment, or whether he will call a national conference of employers' organisations and trade unions to discuss this proposal?

This is clearly a matter in which the success of any action taken depends upon obtaining a large measure of common agreement among those concerned. As a first step, in order to ascertain the views of industrial organisations, a circular letter of inquiry, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. and gallant Friend, was issued last February by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour. The replies so far received indicate a considerable diversity of opinion; but many important organisations have not yet replied, and my right hon. Friend is communicating again with them, in order to expedite a reply, as far as this may be practicable. As-, soon as a sufficient volume of opinion has-been expressed, my right hon. Friend will take such further action as may seem best fitted to promote the object in view.

asked the Minister of Labour if, taking into consideration the extending evil consequences, of the Government grant in regard to growing physical, mental, and moral deterioration to the recipients of both sexes, as well as loss of occupational skill and the will to work, he will introduce legislation authorising the commutation of the uncovenanted benefit into maintenance training grants for short periods to enable suitable potential migrants to practically, qualify in a preliminary manner in Britain for taking up agricultural and out-of-door occupations overseas with a view to the permanent maintenance of themselves and their dependants?

The deterioration to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers arises not so much from the grant of un-covenanted benefit as from the prolonged and unavoidable unemployment. The plan of providing a preliminary training for intending settlers in the Dominions is one which merits careful consideration; but I do not think it would be practicable to divert to this purpose any part of the financial resources of the Unemployment Fund. I may point out, however, that the Empire Settlement Act enables training schemes to be adopted for facilitating oversea settlement, and I understand that the question of preparing such scheme is being carefully considered.

—		Number registered as Wholly Unemployed.		Number registered as on Short-time.		Estimated Number in Receipt of Benefit.
		Men.	Women.	Men.	Women.	Men.	Women.
3rd April	…	1,292,914	256,090	114,219	64,602	1,123.000	190,000
1st May	…	1,293,575	231,724	101,731	53,881	l,115,000	174,000
6th June	…	1,182,080	180,443	72,705	28,294	589,000	64,000
19th June	…	1,194,778	168,098	73,751	23,677	707,000	80,000
26th June	…	1.173,276	160,985	79,479	21,377	821,000	88,000

The reduction in the numbers in receipt of benefit on 6th, 19th, and 26th June is mainly due to the operation of the rule laid down by the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1922, and after un-covenanted benefit has been drawn for five weeks there must be an interval of five weeks before benefit again becomes payable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to say whether pensioners of the Royal Irish Constabulary who take service in the Indian or Colonial police will be liable to have their pensions or any part thereof suspended?

The Constabulary (Ireland) Bill as passed by the House of Commons provides that, if any officer or constable to whom a compensation allowance has been awarded under the Bill takes service in any police force, the allowance may be suspended in whole or in part so long as he remains in such force. I have been in consultation on this subject

asked the Minister of Labour what were respectively, the totals of men and women unemployed and receiving unemployment relief on 1st April, 1st May, 1st June, and on 24th June, instant, respectively?

The following table shows the number of men and women registered at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain as wholly unemployed and on short-time respectively and the estimated number in receipt of benefit at the nearest available dates to those mentioned:with the Treasury, who inform me that, on the assumption that the Bill becomes law in its present form, they will be prepared to exercise their discretion under this provision in a favourable manner in cases in which ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary take service in police forces which are not paid in whole or part out of moneys provided by the Parliaments of Great Britain or Ireland or out of funds assisted by the Exchequer of Great Britain or of Northern or Southern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision is made in the Treaty with the Irish Free State for Irish professional civil servants who may desire to continue in office under the new regime: and whether any officer who continues service under the Provisional Government will do so at the risk of forfeiting his pension rights acquired in respect of service under the Imperial Government up to the 31st March, 1922?

The position and terms of employment of civil servants who elect to take service under the Free State Government will be a matter for that Government, and particulars of the conditions of service under the Free State will, it is anticipated, be formulated by the Provisional Government before the Constitution comes into force. All civil servants, however, will have an option of retiring instead of taking service under the Free State, and in that case their right to compensation is secured to them by Article 10 of the Treaty and the corresponding provisions of the Transfer of Functions Order and the Draft Constitution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the following inhabitants of Newry and district have been kidnapped and have been interned in Irish Free Stats territory for terms varying from two to five weeks: R. E. Ferris, Sandy's Street, Newry; Edward Smith, Erskine Street, Newry; James Murdock, Carrickestricken, Fork Hill, County Armagh; Joseph Murdock, of the same place; Richard Stokes, Silverbridge, County Armagh; John A. Bell, Killeavey Castle, Newry; George M'Alpine, Cowan Street, Newry; and John Irwin, Stream Street, Newry: what communications have been made to the Free State Government with reference to these men; and what steps are being taken to procure their release?

Representations have been made to the Provisional Government requesting them to trace and secure the release of the persons named, and I regret that release has been so long delayed. My hon. and gallant Friend will understand that the energies of the Provisional Government are concentrated at the moment upon suppressing armed rebellion in many part3 of the country, but I hope they will shortly be in a position to take the necessary steps to restore to their homes at an early date these and other persons similarly placed. Meanwhile, we continue to hold the 15 prisoners taken at Pettigo.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in many districts the lack of facilities for defective children is not due to the absence of room in the existing special schools but to the absence of special schools in certain areas altogether; and whether, in these cases where there is no school even in adjoining areas, he is prepared to consider the erection of new special schools?

I am aware that in certain areas there is an absence of special schools for defective children, in spite of the fact that it has been open to local, education authorities for many years to provide such schools with the assistance of the Board. Where the circumstances are exceptional I am prepared to consider, on their merits, proposals for the establishment of new special schools. I am now investigating the whole question of the cost and organisation of these schools, and their proper distribution in the country will certainly be one of the main factors to be considered when it becomes possible to resume their development.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the issue of Circular No 1,962, which cancels all future exemptions from attendance at school of children until the end of the term in which they attain the age of 14 years, is calculated to prove highly detrimental to the efficient training of children in agricultural processes: and will he take steps to suppress the effect of the circular so far as it affects children beneficially employed in agriculture?

I have no evidence of the statement contained in the first part of the question, and am not prepared to introduce the legislation which would be necessary to give effect to the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in consideration of the specific assurances given by prominent members of overseas delegations visiting London for the Imperial Conference of 1921 of readiness to co-operate throughout Britain in assisting with arrangements for giving practical rudimentary instruction and fitment to suitable prospective migrants in agriculture and out-of-door occupations, he will take steps to co-operate and, where necessary, increase facilities?

The question of co-operating with Overseas Governments in testing the suitability of prospective migrants by means of short courses of rudimentary instruction in agriculture is at present under consideration.

(A)
STATEMENT showing the number of outbreaks of Anthrax, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and Tuberculosis in cattle, together with the number of animals attacked and slaughtered during the 10 years, 1912–1921 (inclusive).
		Anthrax.		Foot-and-Mouth Disease.			Tuberculosis (certain forms only).
Year.		Number of outbreaks in cattle.	Number of cattle attacked.	Number of outbreaks in cattle.	Number of cattle attacked.	Number of cattle slaughtered.	Number of premises affected.	Number of cattle slaughtered.
1912	…	697	746	81	512	3,094	—	—
1913	…	568	610	2	73	138	4,346†	4,720†
1914	…	687	733	26	141	462	3,976‡	4,240‡
1915	…	555	607	56	557	1,267	—	—
1916	…	550	644	1	28	41	—	—
1917	…	412	454	—	—	—	—	—
1918	…	237	255	3	14	48	—	—
1919	…	222	268	74	870	1,597	—	—
1920	…	450	513	82	1,081	2,374	—	—
1921	…	500	603	34	349	778	—	—
1922*	…	153	164	901	13,856	22,155	—	—
* Up to 31st March, 1922.
† Tuberculosis Order commenced to operate 1st May, 1913.
‡Tuberculosis order was suspended on 6th August, 1914, and has not since been revived.

(B)
(1) Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
Statement of Expenditure during the 10 years ended 31st March. 1922.
Year.		Gross Compensation.	Receipts from Salvage.	Net Compensation.	Administrative and Miscellaneous Expenses.	Total Net Expenditure.
		£	£	£	£	£
1912–3	…	64,201	25,576	38,625	16,365	54,990
1913–4	…	5,624	1,128	4,496	1,386	5,882
1914–5	…	7,922	2,487	5,435	1,832	7,267
1915–6	…	28,107	6,247	21,860	4,269	26,129
1916–7	…	19	—	19	20	39
1917–8	…	—	—	—	—	—
1918–9	…	14,881	5,146	9,735	1,808	11,543
1919–20	…	86,868	21,928	64,940	17,388	82,328
1920–21	…	151,253	39,729	111,524	27,702	139,226
1921–22	…	710,599	106,901	603,698	64,365	668,063
Totals	…	1,609,474	209,142	860,332	135,135	995,467

NOTE.—The outbreaks to which the above expenditure relates involved, besides cattle, a number of sheep and pigs. The expenditure in connection with these latter animals cannot be separately stated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state for each of the last 10 years separately, the number of outbreaks of contagious disease among cattle, the numbers affected, and the cost of suppression, including payments for slaughter of animals, in Great Britain?

The information desired, as far as it is available, is set out in the following statements:

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give the latest figures of the increasing sale of cheap and low grade condensed milks imported into this country; whether representations have been made to him of the futility of the complicated dilution Clause issued by the Ministry of Health to be printed on the label of the tin; and whether he can take steps to make the authorised label read "Skimmed milk, unfit for infants"?

I am informed that the amount of condensed separated or skimmed milk imported during the first five months of this year was about 503,000 cwts. as compared with about 285,000 cwts. of condensed whole milk. Representations have been received on the question of issuing Regulations as to labelling. This matter is under my consideration, and I shall be happy to consider any suggestions on the point. I have no power to alter the present statutory requirement that condensed separated milk must be labelled as "Machine-skimmed milk."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in April of this year a communication was received from the Turkish Angora Government expressing willingness for an informal discussion on certain points in connection with the proposed Armistice; whether any reply has been made; if not,. for what reason; and what is the policy of His Majesty's Government?

In reply to the-first, second and third parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Members for the Wrekin (Sir C. Townshend) and for Yeovil (Mr. Aubrey Herbert) on 25th May, and to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 22nd June. In regard to the last part, I would refer him to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Clackmannan and Eastern (Major Glyn) on 21st June.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on what date the Scottish Estimates will be taken?

I must request my hon. and gallant Friend to address this question to the Prime Minister.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the gross income brought under review, showing reduction for exemptions and the actual income liable to tax before the deduction of personal or family allowances and reliefs for the years 1919, 1920, and 1921?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. Member for Barnard Castle (Mr. Swan) on the 9th February last. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that reply. No later statistics are available.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the seriousness of the recent case of cocaine smuggling from Hamburg, any additional precautions against such smuggling are being taken; whether there are adequate women searchers; and whether, since women are largely engaged in this traffic, the rewards for detection can be very largely increased?

As regards the steps taken to prevent the smuggling of cocaine and other dangerous drugs, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Home Secretary to the hon. Member for North Battersea (Mr. R. Norris) on the 27th March. In the case of women suspected of smuggling, the search is conducted by competent women searchers, of whom there is an adequate supply and who receive a fee for each case. Rewards are paid for detections made, and there appears no reason for increasing such rewards on account of the sex of the offender.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Thomas Victor Parry, who appealed against the conviction and sentence imposed on him by the Abergavenny justices; is he aware that the appellant as a condition of bail was compelled to enter into a bond of £50, and to further deposit a sum of £75 with the clerk to the justices; and, seeing that, if this practice now extensively employed by these justices is allowed to continue, it will result in preventing appeals being lodged, and thereby possibly in some cases bring about or continue a miscarriage of justice, what steps does he propose to take in this matter?

I am making inquiry in this case, and will give the hon. and gallant Member an answer when the inquiries have been completed.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether all managers of public houses under the State management scheme get the benefit of the Shops Early Closing Act, as required in the case of managers of public houses employed by private enterprise;

The practice is that the managers are allowed the weekly half-holiday under the Shops Act, and I am not aware that the State declines to pay health and unemployment insurance contributions in cases where such contributions are properly payable. If, however, the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with particulars of any case under either head which seems to him to indicate otherwise, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that the Regulations made by the Ministry of Health, with the approval of the Treasury, provide that financial assistance shall be extended to housing schemes if reasonable progress is made within 12 months of the passing of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919, and the scheme is carried out within three years or such later date as the Ministry may approve, and that the period of three years expires on the 31st July instant, he has considered or will consider the question of extending the time beyond the end of this month; whether he has received requests from local authorities concerned, and in particular from the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent, for an extension of the time, including financial assistance, to enable them to complete their housing schemes; and whether he can indicate his intentions respecting the same?

I have on numerous occasions given the quite definite assurance that where work is undertaken by local authorities in England and Wales with the approval of my Department and, for reasons outside the control of the authority, the work cannot be completed within the period fixed by the original Regulations, the time for com- pletion will be extended as may be necessary. A request has been received from the local authority referred to, and they are being given the above assurance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to deal with imports of domestic enamelled hollow-ware from Upper Silesian German factories, seeing that these factories are in an area which has now been conceded to Poland under the Treaty of Versailles?

The draft Order applies only to goods manufactured in Germany, and will not extend to the territories referred to in the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to unemployment caused in this country through the importation of opal glass shades for lighting purposes; whether these shades are manufactured in this country on a commercial scale; and, if not, whether he will consider exempting them from the duty proposed to be placed on lighting glassware imported from Germany?

I have no information as to the unemployment caused in this country by the importation of the special class of shades mentioned in the question. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative, and the third part, accordingly, does not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the proceedings before the Glass Bottle Committee appointed by him under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, Part II, at which, after the evidence for the opponents of the duty had been completed, the applicants put in a witness who stated that he supplied from his own factory at least 75 per cent. of the glass bottles used by the perfumery manufacturers of this country; whether he will, if necessary, arrange an opportunity for rebutting evidence on this point to be laid before him by the users of these bottles, seeing that the perfumery manufacturers' organisation states that the facts are quite contrary to what is alleged, and that there must be some misunderstanding?

My attention has been drawn to the evidence to which the hon. Member refers, but I see no reason to take any action of the kind suggested by him. The Committee are no doubt fully alive to the bearing of various statements made before them, and could call for further evidence on the subject if they thought it necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give an estimate of the number of Bolton operatives engaged in manufacturing yarn for export to Germany; the annual quantity of Bolton yarn exported to Germany; the proportion of such exports sent to Saxony; and the quantity of fabric gloves exported from Germany last year to this country and to all countries, respectively?

During the twelve months ended 30th April, 1922, the quantity of cotton gloves exported from Germany to all countries is shown by the official German Returns to have been 1,294,700 kilogrammes, of which 309,000 kilogrammes were recorded as exported to Great Britain. Corresponding particulars for the calendar year 1921 are not available. The figures relate to cotton gloves of all kinds, including cotton fabric gloves, which are not separately distinguished in the published statistics of German trade. No particulars are available showing the number of operatives engaged in manufacturing yarn for export to Germany, whether in Bolton or elsewhere, regarding the places of manufacture of yarns exported to Germany, or regarding the districts within Germany in which yarns exported from this country are used. Any estimates on these subjects would, at best, be of doubtful value.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the relative prices of gas and electric light in the Metropolitan area now and for the last five years; and whether he is satisfied that they now reflect the decreases in the cost of labour, coal, and materials?

The question of prices charged for electricity is a matter for the Minister of Transport. As regards gas prices, I am having the figures looked into and will furnish my hon. Friend with a statement in the course of a few days.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Special Advisory Committee which was appointed in November last to deal with doubtful cases which arise in the administration of war risks compensation scheme does not include any representative of the seafaring profession; and whether, in order to strengthen this Committee, he will take steps to place on it suitable representatives of that profession?

If the hon. and learned Member will refer again to the list of the Committee, he will see that it includes an eminent member of the seafaring profession in Sir Acton Blake, the Deputy Master of Trinity House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Greek Government is increasing the duties on certain of the goods exported to that country; and that the importation of high-grade cloths is being prohibited for six months and, in consequence, orders placed in this country and ready for delivery are being countermanded, entailing financial loss to British merchants; and whether he will take, steps to secure that representations are made to the Greek Government on this matter?

A Bill providing for increased duties, to take effect as from. 24th June, has been submitted to the Greek Chamber, but goods included in the Conventions in force between Greece and Great Britain or any other allied or neutral country are unaffected. A further Bill proposes to prohibit, for a period of six months, the importation of certain kinds of so-called luxury goods, but I have as yet no detailed information as to the classes of goods affected. The import prohibitions will not be enforced until the Bill has been enacted, and I will consult with the Acting Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with a view to representations being made 10 the Greek Government as to the effect of the proposed prohibitions on goods for which orders had been placed prior to the introduction of the Bill in the Greek Chamber.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what attitude the Government directors of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company will be instructed to adopt towards any applications by British colliery owners who may wish to have oil produced by the destructive distillation of their coal refined at Llandary refinery, two-thirds of which is owned by the British taxpayer?

This is a matter of commercial policy, and I am informed that as His Majesty's Government has undertaken not to interfere in the commercial management of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, no special instructions to the Government directors will be given in regard to it. I have no reason to believe that the company would be unwilling to consider any proposals that may be made to them by British collieries in regard to refining oils obtained from coal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the difficuty of dealers in home-grown timber competing with foreigners to the fact that foreigners can deliver timber at collieries at a cheaper rate than home dealers can, and that timber is now lying rotting in our woods owing to the railway rates; and can he take any steps to remedy this state of things?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The hon. Member will be aware that the Minister has now no jurisdiction over railway charges, and that provision was made in the Railways Act, 1921, whereby traders can appeal to the Rates Tribunal for a modification of the present charges.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is proposed to proceed further this Session with the Bill dealing with the importation of miners' lamp-glasses?

After discussion with the miners' representatives, I have, at their request, asked the Miners' Lamps Committee to make certain inquiries into the matter. I hope that the Committee will be able to report in time for the Bill to be proceeded with in this Session.