asked the Secretary of State for War the cost of the educational establishments under the control of the War Office, giving the number of the staff employed, military and civil, for the years 1914–15 and 1922–23, respectively?

The numbers of the staff of the Army educational establishments provided in the Estimates of 1914–15 and 1922–23 are as follow:

	1914–15.	1922–23.
Military:
Officers	234	384
Other ranks	807	1,744
Civilian:
Instructors	21	12
Others	742	1,358

The estimated cost in 1922–23 is shown on page 63 of the Army Estimates. I regret that the corresponding cost figures for 1914–15 are not available, as the Army Estimates and accounts were not then prepared in the present form.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether be will consider the advisability of improving the conditions whereby senior captains of the Royal Garrison Artillery may look forward to speedier promotion than is the case at present, and so bring about an improvement in the relative positions of senior captains of the Royal Garrison Artillery and junior majors of the Royal Field Artillery as far as length of service required is concerned?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the written reply which I gave on 23rd February last to my hon. Friend the Member for Edge Hill (Sir W. Ruther-ford). It is hoped that speedier promotion for senior captains of the Royal Harrison Artillery will ensue from the necessary reductions which are at present being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he is aware that temporary technical officers in the Air Ministry have recently received notices of reduction in pay, although previous rates of pay were fixed when the cost of living was raised and no bonus or increases were granted to compensate for such rates; whether, in view of this, he will reconsider making reductions in pay now;(2) on what authority the rates of pay of temporary technical officers have been recently reduced; whether a corresponding increase was granted when the cost of living was rising; whether the official side, on his instructions, had refused to discuss such reductions on the Departmental Whitley Council; what was the reason of this refusal; and, if such matters are not brought before the Departmental Council, what good purpose does such council serve?

The pay of these officers was reviewed in accordance with a Treasury decision to review specially the pay of the higher temporary staff paid on inclusive rates. From the fact that these officials were paid on inclusive rates, it followed that their pay was not adjusted at periodical intervals to successive changes in the cost of living, but it cannot be admitted that the public is precluded from reviewing salaries specially as a measure of general financial overhaul. In the revision, full consideration was given to the cost of living factor and the review, which was on an individual basis, also took account of any changes in the degree of responsibility which had occurred. The Departmental Council is competent to deal with many questions affecting the conditions of service of the staff, but under the terms of its constitution it is not competent to assess the value of individual members of the staff. I am satisfied that proper consideration was given to this question, and I can sec no reason to re-open it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air at what date the tests in regard to corrosion and vibration were actually commenced on the Short Brothers all-metal aeroplane exhibited at Olympia in 1920 and immediately purchased by the Air Ministry?

Investigation on the corrosion of metal alloys, which had been initiated during the War and then suspended, was resumed early in 1921 by a sub-committee of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, whose report is awaited. (The material used in the Short aeroplane was well known and is one of those under investigation by the Committee.) As regards the vibration tests, the aeroplane arrived at Farnborough on 1st February, 1921, and a detailed examination of the machine took place. Straight flights were authorised in May, 1921, static tests commenced in June, vibration tests in September, and both were completed in November, 1921.

asked the Minister of Health when he will introduce the Smoke Abatement Bill, in accordance with his promise made to the deputation which waited upon him on 24th March last?

I hope that it will be possible to introduce this Bill at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health whether it has been brought to his notice that boards of guardians are discussing whether single unemployed persons without dependants should continue to receive relief; and, seeing that there are lads of 16 and 17 in receipt of relief who will not seek work so long as they can receive unemployment pay, will he cause a detailed investigation to be made into the payments to these young men?

I think that most boards of guardians fully realise the difficulties of this question, but I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the stagnation of the lime industry, and if he is aware that the supply far exceeds the demand; if his attention has been drawn to the granting of a guarantee of £50,000 under the Trade Facilities Act to the Leckhampton Quarries, Limited, Cheltenham, for the purpose of erecting lime kilns; and whether, in view of the general conditions in the industry, he will reconsider this guarantee, which would tend further to aggravate the already serious position in the industry?

As has been repeatedly explained, guarantees under the Trade Facilities Act are given on the advice of an expert business committee, and I am not prepared to dispute their recommendations. The statements in the hon. Member's question are not borne out by the committee's inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of live cattle could be accommodated in the space available for chilled meat on an average vessel conveying chilled meat to this country?

An exact comparison as desired by the hon. Member is not practicable since dead meat can be carried in space which cannot be utilised for live animals. But I am informed that a vessel capable of carrying about 3,000 tons of dead meat, if properly fitted, could probably carry from 600 to 1,000 head of live cattle.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present freight cost per ton of chilled meat from Montreal to Liverpool and also the cost per ton for live cattle between the same ports?

There have been no shipments of chilled meat from Canada to Liverpool for some time, but I understand that the ocean freight rate at the present time would be equivalent, at present rates of exchange, to approximately £6 15s. per ton I am informed that the ocean freight rate for fat cattle together with cost of fodder and attendance on the voyage, is equivalent to approximately £14 per ton live weight.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs it he is aware that the French Government conferred, on 16th April.1921, the Legion of Honour on Lieut.-Colonel George R. Crosfield, Captain Ernest B. B. Towse, V.C., and Captain Frank Dudley Taylor: that these decorations were returned by the Foreign Office to the French Government; that the offers were repeated in November, 1921, and in February, 1922, and on each occasion refused on the ground that British subjects have not been allowed to accept foreign orders or decorations since 1921: and that notwithstanding these refusals, a list of allied decorations awarded to other British officers was published in March, 1922; and whether, in these circumstances, the decision can be reconsidered and permission given to the officers named to accept the decorations conferred upon them in recognition of their gallantry?

No intimation of the desire of the French Government to decorate the three officers named has been received at the Foreign Office. Last year the ordinary peace-time regulations governing the acceptance of foreign honours were restored, and the allied Governments were accordingly informed that no fresh nominations for the bestowal of decorations on British subjects for war services could be sanctioned. The list published last March was not issued by the Foreign Office, but I have no doubt that it recorded awards made on nominations which had been agreed to before the restoration of the peace-time regulations.

asked the Home Secretary how much cocaine is produced in this country: whether an accurate record of it is kept; how much is consumed here and how much is exported; and whether the traffic in cocaine is most in imported cocaine or home-produced cocaine?

The answer to the first part of the question is that no cocaine is produced in this country. The remaining parts therefore do not arise.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the licensing statistics newly issued by his Department, the latest figures as to convictions relate to the year 1920; and whether he will consider the possibility of giving earlier publication to the essential facts bearing upon the temperance question?

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The new volume is called Licensing Statistics, 1921, and contains the figures of the year 1921. In these circumstances the suggestion in the second paragraph scarcely arises. But I may say that the completed text of the volume was sent to the printers on the 26th May and the final revise was out of the hands of my Department by the 23rd June.

asked the Home Secretary if the House of Commons Committee on London Traffic, presided over by the late Mr. Kennedy Jones, M.P., reported in favour of an uniform rule for both the road and the footpath, and that the Ministry of Transport and national bodies representing the various types of local government have passed similar resolutions; and, in view of the danger of the walk-on-the-right practice, and the attention which is being directed in London and the provinces to the advisability of a change, is the Home Office prepared to agree with the views of the Ministry of Transport on this matter in the interests of public safety?

I am aware that the Committee referred to reported in favour of a uniform rule for both the road and the footpath, and this proposal has been supported by various bodies, but the attitude of the Ministry of Transport is not correctly represented in the question. The action taken by the Ministry has been to bring to the notice of the various associations representing local government authorities the recommendations in favour of a left-hand rule of the footpath, so that the views of these bodies may be ascertained. There is accordingly no disagreement between the Ministry and the Home Office such as is suggested.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, in view of the part taken by his Department in approving the increase of fares on the underground railways of London, he is investigating the desirability of reductions now being made in these charges, owing to the fall in the payment for labour and the prices of material; whether he is satisfied that such reductions should take place; and whether, in that ease, he will make representations to the railway companies?

I have the possibility of a reduction in fares on the underground railways of London under constant review, and in response to my request the companies have just supplied me with complete information as to the results of working during the six months ended the 30th of June last. The figures are being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British officials now being retrenched in the Government service in Palestine from motives of economy are entitled by their contracts to, or will be granted ex gratia, any compensation for disturbance and loss of employment; whether several of the officials concerned are ex-Army officers, who were specially asked to remain as civil officials on account of their special knowledge of the country; and whether anything can be done to find equal remunerative work for them elsewhere?

There is no contractual claim to compensation in the case of these officials, but it will be granted ex gratia on terms as generous as cir- eumstances permit. The number of officials to be retrenched will not exceed five or six. All of them served in the Army during the War, as did the majority of those who are being retained. I am glad to bear witness to the good work which their knowledge and experience have enabled them to do for Palestine. Advantage will be taken of any reasonable opportunity of finding them employment elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any representations from Canada on the desirability of remitting part of the Boxer indemnity from China so that Canada may benefit by its being devoted to educational purposes, including the despatch of Chinese students to Canada?

I am aware that the matter has been raised in Canada, but no direct representations have been addressed to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Irish Free State Constitution, as drafted, fails to provide that a British subject from Yorkshire, or elsewhere in England, becoming domiciled in Southern Ireland shall automatically enjoy full citizenship in the Free State; and whether he is prepared to intimate that, failing such recognition of common citizenship, all Irishmen coming to Yorkshire or elsewhere in England will have to register under the Aliens Act?

The Constitution of the Irish Free State, as drafted, does not purport to determine the future acquisition of citizenship in the Free State. It only defines who will be Irish Free State citizens at the date when the Constitution comes in operation. Any British subject from Yorkshire or elsewhere in England, if domiciled in the Free State at that date, will be entitled to Free State citizenship if he himself or either of his parents were born in Ireland, or if at that date he has been domiciled in the area of the Free State for seven years. The acquisition of citizenship after the Constitution comes into operation will depend upon further legislation by the Irish Free State. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative; but, of course, Parliament can at any time institute any discrimination it may think desirable, though such discrimination would not necessarily take the form of requiring Irishmen to register under the Aliens Act.