asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will issue orders to stop work on the construction of the new barracks now being built for the accommodation of the Royal Air Force in the Isle of Grain, in view of the fact that there are empty naval barracks within easy reach?

No new barracks are being constructed for the Royal Air Force in the Isle of Grain. The Royal Air Force personnel at present stationed there are accommodated for the most part in temporary wood and corrugated iron buildings erected during the War. These are supplemented by a few cottages which at one time were occupied by coast-guards. I know of no naval barracks in the near neighbourhood except at Sheerness, which is situated on the other side of the Med-way to Grain. The river at this point is more than a mile wide and it would, therefore, not be economical to accommodate Royal Air Force personnel on that side of the river.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Air Force maintain their own torpedo factory at Portsmouth for the manufacture and production of their own torpedoes: and if so, whether this work could be done more economically at the naval torpedo factory?

It is not a fact that, as has appeared in the Press, the Air Force maintain a separate torpedo factory. The Royal Air Force use naval torpedoes designed and manufactured under Admiralty supervision. There' are workshops at the aerodrome from which the torpedo ship-planes are operated, but these shops are concerned only with the maintenance and adjustment of the torpedoes in use.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether he consulted the Admiralty as to whether this testing work, of which he has told us, could not be better on the "Vernon" where the Admiralty work?

No, Sir. I think my right hon. Friend misapprehends a little as to the functions of the Royal Air Force in connection with torpedo work and the naval side of the work. This work must be done at the aerodrome, because the planes operate from the aerodrome.

Is there not at Gosport a Royal Air Force establishment for testing torpedoes, and is there not attached to it an officer of the Royal Navy, of lieutenant's rank, and a flying officer also attached to it?

There are so many points involved in that supplementary question that it would perhaps be more satisfactory if my hon. and gallant Friend would put it on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will state what provision has been made in the Air Estimates for pure aeronautical research; and what percentage of the total Estimates is devoted to this Department?

The total provision made in the Air Estimates for carrying out research work is £1,147,000. This figure represents the sum which is devoted to all forms of experimental and research work carried out under the direction of the Air Ministry, and into this work enters a very substantial element of pure research, the cost of which it is not possible to extricate from the remainder of the Vote. It also includes a sum of £47,000, which is specifically confined to pure research work carried out at the National Physical Laboratory, at the Air Ministry Laboratory, and by the Aeronautical Research Committee, the Ordnance Committee and Research Department at Woolwich, and other joint establishments, and also by special consultants.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state if there have been any arrests for political reasons in the Sudan lately of officers or civilians, and, if so, how many, and on what charges?

As far as I am aware, the only person lately arrested in the Sudan for reasons which might be described as political is Lieutenant AH Abdel Latif, who was tried in the circumstances which I described in my reply to the hon. Member on 6th July.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are five lieutenants—three in the Fourteenth Regiment and one lieutenant of the 10th Sudanese Regiment—who to-day are having their cases inquired into by the authorities for supposed political offences?

Yes. I am aware of that.

Are these men being tried for military or political offences?

As I understand it, they are under detention for offences against military authority.

Will my hon. Friend make inquiry and see whether there is any validity in my statement?

I have given an answer to the hon. Member, and I do not know that there is any necessity for further inquiry.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is His Majesty's Government or the Egyptian Government which is responsible for the continuance of martial law in Egypt?

The declaration of His Majesty's Government to Egypt of 21st February, 1922, which has been laid before this House, clearly defines the circumstances which govern the continuance of martial law in Egypt.

Is it the people who are in Egypt who are responsible for the continuance of martial law, or who is it? Cannot we have inquiry made as to who is responsible?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down the further question

May I ask the reason, seeing we are still ambiguous as to who is responsible—

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman had better put a question on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction and uncertainty existing amongst pensioners; and whether, so as to place Members of Parliament in a position to explain the real situation to pensioners, he will give instructions that each Member shall be supplied, on application, with all warrants, copies of all regulations, instructions to pension committees, medical boards, investigation officers and assessors, and all others having authority to deal with pensions and allowances, including the pensions handbook, investigation officer's instructions, instructions to medical boards and assessors, and also a copy of any instructions sent to anybody in authority dealing with pensions by which they are bound to secrecy under the Official Secrets Act?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on the 12th July. In view of the Official Secrets Act, and the normal practice of all Government Departments, my right hon. Friend is not prepared to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. It has been erroneously stated that we are issuing secret instructions militating against the interests of the pensioner. I would remind him that, after a most searching inquiry, the Departmental Committee, comprising Members of this House, representatives of the ex-service organisations, and members of local war pensions' committees, placed on record their unanimous finding that no instructions, secret or otherwise, had been given or issued by the Ministry which would have the effect of inducing medical boards to depart from the established and well-known standard of assessment.

Are no instructions whatever sent out to any authorities under the Official Secrets Act at the present time?

It is perfectly obvious that there are instructions—and I should have thought my hon. Friend would have understood it—instructions issued in regard to the cases of pensioners, which cannot be published broadcast.

May I further ask whether the provisions of Royal Warrants are not being continually altered without any change in the Regulations?

The Royal Warrant stands as it is; any change that is made is made in public.

Does my hon. and gallant Friend say that no alterations have taken place outside the Regulations within the past fortnight without the Regulations being altered at all?

My hon. Friend is getting on to a different point. If the Royal Warrants are altered the matter is published so that anyone can see it.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that grants made by the Special Grants Committee for the education of the children of men who lost their lives during the War are being terminated on the ground that on a strict interpretation of the Regulations such grants are now considered to be outside the scope of the Ministry; whether this policy is the result of a representation from the Board of Education that there is a great shortage of secondary school accommodation; and whether some arrangement can be reached between the Ministry and the Board of Education to prevent an injustice being done to these children?

Grants have, in some cases, been withdrawn because they were found to be outside the terms of the Regulations. The withdrawals were not the result of representations from the Board of Education, and the last part of the question does not therefore arise.

Have Regulations ever been laid down dealing with cases where grants have been withdrawn?

I do not quite understand the point of my hon. Friend. New educational grants are still being made, and some existing grants which have been found to be outside the terms of the Regulations have been withdrawn.

Does what my hon. and gallant Friend say mean that some people are without a pension at all?

No. That is obviously not the case in this country, as the hon. Member knows well.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell the House what he means by being outside the terms of the Regulations? To what Regulations does he refer?

The Regulations governing the issue of these grants.

asked the Minister of Pensions the lowest sum paid to any institution in respect of an officer confined in a lunatic asylum?

The lowest rate paid for the maintenance of an officer whose admission to an asylum has been arranged by the Ministry is £2 2s. a week. There are, in addition, seven officers in county and borough asylums at rates ranging from 28s. 10d. to 37s. a week. None of these cases has been placed in the asylum by arrangement with the Ministry, but they have been allowed to remain there, either because the patient's relatives do not wish him removed to another and more distant institution, or because' he is too ill to be removed without danger to himself.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will state the average sum now paid to county and borough lunatic asylums in respect of ox-soldiers who owe their condition entirely to war service; and what steps are taken to ensure that they receive treatment commensurate with sums paid on their behalf?

The average cost of maintenance of a service patient in asylums in England and Wales is about 36s. a week. The Ministry have whole-time medical inspectors, who visit the asylums in the interests of the service patients and report upon the conditions of treatment. These inspectors have reported on each individual service patient, and they are at present engaged on a second review.

May I ask my hon. and gallant Friend if any of the inspectors have yet reported that some of these institutions are places of positive horror, and that in some cases a man would not receive fair play or anything approaching fair play?

I have seen no reports of that kind. None, whatever! If my hon. and gallant Friend has any such reports, I shall be glad to have my attention called to them.

I only wanted to know whether my hon. and gallant Friend has yet realised the situation]

No, Sir, I have not, because reports have not come in to that effect

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst nursing sisters, who have been invalided owing to their. war service, with the treatment they are receiving from his Department; that some who are afflicted with incurable diseases have been refused treatment unless they submit to two monthly examinations by Ministry of Pension medical officers, in spite of the fact that they have sent in medical certificates from eminent specialists to say that, in their opinion, these examinations are unnecessary and harmful; that many of these nursing sisters refuse treatment rather than submit to these examinations; and that, owing to the fact that during the War their salary was in many cases only £40 and £50 per annum, they cannot afford to pay for treatment themselves; and whether he will have this matter investigated?

The information in the possession of my right hon. Friend does not at all support the suggestions made by the hon. Member. Examinations, in connection with medical treatment, are not made oftener than, in the opinion of the medical advisers to the Ministry, the circumstances require. It is obviously the duty of my right hon. Friend, in the direct interests of the patient, no less than of the State, to secure effective supervision over treatment provided by his Department, and. for this purpose, he does not consider that an examination once in two months is unreasonable or excessive.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mr. R. C. Bathway, Canal House, Ash-well Thorpe, Norfolk, received medical treatment when in France, and that he also applied for a pension and medical treatment in April, 1919, and that six months elapsed before a pension was given or medical treatment granted, and that during that time he was ordered into a home in Norwich by Dr. Day and underwent five serious operations, which involved him in heavy expense; and whether he will make him a grant towards this expense?

My right hon. Friend recently considered this case very care fully, but found no reason that would justify him in accepting liability for the treatment, which was arranged by the man on his own responsibility. If my hon. Friend has since received any additional information on the matter, perhaps he will communicate further with me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Committee appointed to consider the question of the education of Chinese on British lines in all its aspects has yet considered the possibility of commuting the remainder of the Boxer indemnity and applying it to the education of Chinese students in Great Britain; and whether any decision has been reached?

The Committee is expected to present its Report very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what Regulation, Order in Council, or other legislative enactment, British subjects resident in Great Britain, against whom no criminal proceedings are pending, are prohibited by a Government Department from entering or leaving the realm or from travelling to countries with which His Majesty is at peace; and how many persons have suffered under this prohibition during the last 12 months?

I am not aware of any Regulation or other enactment such as is suggested in the first part of the question. If, however, the hon. and gallant Member is thinking of cases in which for good cause the Foreign Office have declined to issue a. British passport, I can only say that the grant of a passport is a matter of discretion. I am not in a position to give exact figures, but cases of refusal are rare.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Article 44 of Magna Charta it is expressly stated that the subject may liceat unicuique de cetero exire de, regno nostro, et redire salvo et secure and by what right does the right hon. Gentleman's bureaucrats go against Article 44 of the Charter? May I press for an answer to my question as to whether express permission has to be given under Magna Charta?

It may require some reference.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed to disband the Wellesley Nautical School band; and, if so, what are the reasons for such action?

No, Sir, there is no such proposal.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this statement was made in all the papers on the North East coast and has been repeated on several occasions?

I believe that something of the sort has been published, but it has been denied, and at any rate there is no truth in it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that for many years past open-air meetings of a local character have been held without interference in Flat Iron Square, Mill-bank, in the City of Westminster; and whether, seeing that these meetings are not demonstrations and are of an ordinary character, they can be allowed to continue without interference on the part of the police?

It is not the practice of the police to interfere with orderly meetings in Regent's Place (or Flat Iron Square), except at times when Parliament is actually sitting; but at those times, by virtue of the Sessional Order of this House requiring the approaches to be kept free, they have no alternative but to see that no meeting of any kind is held there.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that meetings have been held in Flat Iron Square for the past 25 years without any interference at all?

I must have notice of that question.

I spoke there myself 20 years ago.

asked the Home Secretary why John Syme, who was taken back to prison last week, has again been released?

The prisoner was released at the special request of His Majesty, who is anxious that this man should not be allowed to starve himself to death in prison. Syme is imprisoned in consequence of repeated threats of violence towards His Majesty and members of the Royal Family.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, arising out of a trade dispute at certain collieries in the South Shields district, miners were picketing outside the St. Hilda colliery on the night of Sunday, 9th July, when quiet and order were maintained; that on the Monday the chief constable was informed that the pickets would be there again on the Monday night, and he replied to the effect that the police would be ready for them; that in the early hours of Tuesday morning the police charged and batoned the crowd which had assembled; that on Friday, 14th July, a demonstration of unemployed outside the guardians' offices was similarly treated; and whether he will institute inquiries into these actions of the South Shields police towards assemblies of people who had neither threatened nor shown any violence?

From the reports which I have received regarding the incidents to which the hon. Member refers, it would appear that on neither occasion did the police charge until the crowd had resorted to violent measures; and I see no ground for any action on my part. I should add that the primary responsibility for investigating any complaint as to the conduct of the police rests with the Borough Watch Committee, in whom the control of the force is vested by law.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the other side that statement is absolutely denied, and will he have inquiries made into the matter?

My information is very complete and in detail, and I really do not see any good in making further inquiries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the real discontent which has been created by these people being called upon to suffer these pains and penalties, and will he have an inquiry made?

I am afraid that I cannot hold an inquiry, and the hon. Member must apply to the local watch committee if he wants an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to arrange for wireless communication within the Empire beyond the chain station in Egypt; how it is proposed to work to the station in Australia which the Commonwealth Government is about to construct for direct communication to Great Britain; and what steps are being taken to reserve for the Empire the necessary wireless wave lengths for long-distance working?

I have been asked to answer this question. As regards [...] first part of the question, I would [...] the hon. and gallant Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made in the House last Thursday on the subject of the Imperial Wireless Chain in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Frome. Steps have been taken to reserve the right to the use of wavelengths necessary for long-distance working.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether. under Article 3 of the draft constitution of the Irish Free State, an American citizen with an Irish father or mother may become immediately, and without any term of probation, a citizen of the Irish Free State: and whether, on the other hand, an Englishman, Scotsman, or Welshman must undergo a domiciliary period of seven years before acquiring Irish citizenship?

An American citizen whose father or mother was born in Ireland will, at the date when the Constitution comes into operation, be entitled to Free State citizenship if he is then domiciled in the Free State. The Article contains no provision as to any term of probation. An Englishman or Scotsman or Welshman who has at that date been domiciled for seven years in the area of the Irish Free State will similarly be entitled to Free State citizenship. If the hon. Member has in mind the future acquisition of Free State citizenship after the Constitution comes into operation, I must refer him to the answer given to the hon. Member for Rotherham on Tuesday, the 18th July.

Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Free State Government, and ask whether they will see, when considering the Constitution, that they place British subjects upon the same basis of equality as far as the privileges of citizenship are concerned as American citizens on the ground that British subjects have had to bear taxation for the trouble taking place in Ireland at the present moment?

I do not think that would be very convenient. I should like to see Englishmen well treated. I think it is quite possible that Englishmen, Welshmen and Scotsmen who happen to be temporarily resident in Ireland at the moment when the Constitution comes into force would not wish to take up Irish Free State citizenship. I can also quite understand that there are numbers of Irishmen who emigrated to America who would be glad to come home to their native land now that conditions are being established which they will welcome.

In the meantime, are men like myself British citizens, Colonials, or what?

I think my hon. Friend's rights and prerogatives will be, absolutely unimpaired.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the amount of public money involved, and of the fact that, in the opinion of Lord Shaw's Commission, its decisions will, when it is able to resume its work, be largely based on the decisions already arrived at in the 10 cases it has been able to hear, he is able to say that the first two interim Reports of the Commission will be made available for the House and the public?

I have as yet only received one Report from the Commission. This Report consists of two parts: the first raises certain questions of procedure, and one question of principle, which is not yet determined; the second consists of a Schedule setting out the names of the claimants in the cases decided, the amounts awarded by the Courts under the Malicions Injury Acts, and the amounts awarded by the Commission. It will be seen that the Report does not, as is suggested by the hon. and gallant Member, throw any light upon the principles which have actuated the Commission in reaching their decisions, and there would not appear to be any reason of public interest to justify the expense of publishing it.

The right hon. Gentleman has referred to the First Interim Report. Can he, say what has become of the Second Report?

I have only received one Report, and until I obtain the second, I am unable to answer the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question.

Does the Schedule of the Report allocate liability for the damage done?

We have not yet reached the point on which the hon. and gallant Member can make his score.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask for the publication of the Second Report, and if I put another question down on this point will he answer it?

I must first of all receive the Second Report. After that, I will consider whether it should be published or not, and then, if the hon. and gallant Member will ask me a further question, I shall be able to tell him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that Lord Shaw's Commission has suspended its sittings for a period of at least two months, he will say if the work of the Commission is to be continued in some other shape during the interval; and is he aware of the added difficulty, and, in many cases of distress, which the total suspension of the work of the Commission will mean to those who hold decrees all granted in respect of damage done more than a year ago.

In reply to the first part of the question I would refer the; hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to a question which he addressed to me on the 13th instant, in which I stated that during the absence of the Chairman of the Commission the Commission will, of course, continue in existence with undiminished powers. There is no foundation for the suggestion that the work of the Commission will be suspended.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman ask me to put this question down again? Is he aware that Lord Shaw has gone away, that the other Commissioners have gone away, that the Commission's house is shut up, and that nothing will be done for the next two months unless someone is appointed to carry on the work?

I am informed that the investigators have full powers to arrive at settlements, and they will arrive at settlements, and, those settlements having been ratified by the Commission on their return, the decrees will be complete. I understand that there will be no loss of time.

Is it a fact that investigators have been appointed, and, if so, who are they, who appointed them, how are they being paid, and how many are there?

They were op-pointed by the Commission. As to their names and remuneration, when I know them myself I shall, if I am asked a question, be very glad to give an answer.

Is it not the case that the Lord Chancellor, in another place a few days ago, stated that two or even three Commissions would be set up, if necessary, in order to deal with these cases, and, further, that Sub-commissions were to be set up; and is the policy of the Government stated in this House or in another place?

I happened to have the opportunity of hearing what the Lord Chancellor said. He stated that if the machinery should be inadequate more Sub-commissions would be set up to deal with the outstanding volume of cases.

Have these investigators full power to decide what the awards shall be?

That question has been answered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the names and offices held at present by members composing the executive of the third Dail, or who constitute the chief officers of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State, have been communicated to the Government of Great Britain; and, if so, will he give their names, in view of the difficulty in which persons domiciled in Ireland, but resident in Great Britain, are placed when it is necessary for them to communicate with a member of the Government of the Irish Free State or his office?

As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, the new Parliament of Southern Ireland, resulting from the recent elections, has not yet met, and I am unable to say whether any changes in the personnel of the Provisional Government are in contemplation, but any such changes will, of course, be made in public in the usual way.

If I want to com municate with the Minister of Defence, or the Minister of Finance, to whom should I write?

I should write to the Secretary of the Provisional Government in Dublin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a report from West Donegal, stating that parties of irregulars from Glenveagh Castle in motor cars visited a number of farmhouses in the Churchill and Termon districts and conscripted about 11 young women, whom they brought with them to the castle to act as domestic servants for those who are in occupation there; that the mother of one of the girls, who vigorously protested against the taking away of her daughter, was placed in a motor car and driven away for a few miles, after which she was put out on the roadside, and the car resumed its journey to the castle; and whether, in view of recent outrages on women in Ireland, any steps have been taken, or will be taken, to secure the release of these young women?

My attention has been drawn to a newspaper report of this outrage, but I am unable to vouch for its accuracy. In any case, the matter would appear to be one for the Provisional Government to deal with, and I am glad to observe that, according to the latest reports, their troops have now compelled the evacuation of Glenveagh Castle, and are steadily extending their control over County Donegal.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman take further steps in this case, in view of the fact that the outrages occurred in the Churchill district?

That is a joke, I suppose.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made no inquiry and taken no steps to secure the arrest of these people and the release of those who have been kidnapped?

This happened in one of the 26 counties, and, if Irish girls are kidnapped and carried off under such atrocious conditions by violent persons, in my opinion it is for the Irish men to see that they are released; and that is what is being done.

Is the right hon. Gentleman now quite satisfied with his policy?

I am increasingly satisfied.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider it to be his duty to make inquiries?

I consider that this is an exceptional incident, which should be left to the Irish people to deal with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information regarding a newspaper report that members of the Ulster Special Constabulary who were kidnapped have been released by Free State troops at Dundalk?

Yes, Sir. I have just been informed by the Provisional Government that, when the military barracks at Dundalk were captured by the National Free State troops, 17 members of the Ulster Special Constabulary were rescued and liberated. They were escorted by the Free State troops to the railway station the night before last, and given free railway warrants to their homes

Further, I am informed that the Provisional Government procured the release, yesterday, from the interior of 10 additional members of the Ulster Special Constabulary, who had been taken from the Belcoo Barracks, County Fermanagh, and that they are proceeding to their homes.

Are the men in the latter case the men who were imprisoned in Athlone?

I think that must be so.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that over 14,000,000 lbs. of yarn trade is being lost annually by the Lancashire cotton spinners owing to the dumping of motor tyres at below cost price into this country; and if he purposes taking any action?

I have been asked to reply. I am not aware of the basis on which my hon. Friend has arrived at the figure which he quotes, but it seems, in any case, to be exaggerated. Action can be taken to apply Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act to any class of goods only on complaint made to the Board of Trade, and after full investigation by a committee as provided for by the Act.

Is the hon Gentleman aware that the imports are almost double those of January this year?

I cannot say I am aware of that fact. I cannot give the figures. I cannot get anywhere near the 14,000,000 lbs. mentioned in the question.

IS the hon. Gentleman aware that: there are between 9,000 and 10,000 people unemployed in the tyre-making industry at the present time?

I cannot state accurately the number of men unemployed, but with regard to any action suggested, the Safeguarding of Industries Act provides the proper remedy.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Council of the League of Nations is meeting in London this week; where the meetings are being held; who are the British delegates; whether he himself intends to assist at any of the sessions of the Council; and what are the subjects to be discussed?

The Council of the League of Nations is in session at St. James's Palace. My Noble Friend the Lord President of the Council and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education are acting as the British delegates. The answer to the fourth part of the question is in the negative A copy of the agenda can be seen in the Library of the House.

May I ask why only one copy of the agenda is placed in the Library, and hon. Members are not allowed to take it away? Why is it it cannot be published? The present arrangement is very inconvenient.

Is Lord Esher a delegate? Does he represent anybody?

Why is there all this secrecy about the meetings of the Council of the League of Nations?

I am not aware that there is any secrecy

asked the Prime Minister whether it has been customary in the past that one of the Lords of the Treasury should be a Scottish Member; and whether there is at present any Lordship of the Treasury vacant?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second part of the question in the affirmative.

Can the Prime Minister say why the Scottish Whip is not allowed to be a Member of the Government?

He is.

Oh, no.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state in detail what duties are at present being discharged by the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; and whether their nature and extent is such as to occupy the whole time of a Minister of Cabinet rank?

The Chief Secretary is responsible to Parliament for the administration or liquidation of all Imperial services in Southern Ireland which have not been transferred to the Provisional Government and of such reserved or excepted services in Northern Ireland as were formerly within his jurisdiction. He is also responsible for dealing with any questions relating to matters which arose prior to the establishment of the Provisional Government. The total estimated expenditure in the current year in respect of these services exceeds nine million pounds, and some of them, in particular the liquidation of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the settlement of claims for malicious injuries, involve questions of very considerable magnitude, and require very careful and detailed administration. In addition to these administrative duties, my right hon. Friend is a member of the Cabinet Committee which deals with Irish affairs.

Can the Prime Minister fix any time limit for the discontinuance of this office?

As soon as these matters are liquidated.

Why does it require a Minister at £5,000 a year to wind up about half the work he used to do? Cannot my right hon. Friend, as an economist, get the work done very much cheaper?

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman put the Secretary of State for Air in the Cabinet and deprive the Irish Secretary of Cabinet rank, thereby mitigating a double grievance?

asked the Prime Minister (1) of how many persons the Royal Commission on the recommendation of honours will consist;

(2) when he proposes to consult the various parties in the House in respect of the personnel of the Royal Commission on the recommendation of honours?

asked the Prime Minister what steps, if any, have been taken to punish or reprimand the official responsible for the blunder which caused the offer of a peerage to Sir J. B. Robinson?

asked the Prime Minister if he will afford facilities for the Debate on the bestowal of honours to be resumed; whether the composition of the promised Royal Commission has yet been decided upon; and when it will be appointed?

Immediate steps are being taken with a view to the appointment of the Royal Commission, but I am not yet in a position to make any definite statement as to its composition. The consultations in regard to the personnel will take place with the least possible delay. In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Barks-ton Ash (Mr. Lane-Fox), the circumstances which led to this offer were fully explained in another place, and I can add nothing further. It is not the intention of the Government to give facilities for the Debate to be resumed.

Why should the responsibility be put solely on the Prime Minister? Would it not be far wiser to throw it on the proper person?

I accept the responsibility. It must be mine. I am responsible to the Houses of Parliament whenever any mistake of this kind is made.

Would it not be better, before arriving at a settlement of the personnel of this Commission and other questions, that Members of the House of Lords, as well as Members of the House of Commons, should meet the right hon. Gentleman together? If he could give us something rather more adequate than a notice across the Floor of the House, no doubt a meeting could be arranged at a very early date.

I should have done so, but I only arrived here this morning. I am quite prepared to meet them at any time, and I could give any hour to-morrow afternoon, or at any rate I could do it on Monday after Question Time in my room in the House.

We will arrange it.

May I take it the right hon. Gentleman has not already selected the Members beforehand?

That would have been a breach of faith. I promised I would confer with those more or less in charge of this matter in both Houses before any selection was made. That is exactly what I want to see them upon. I propose to submit certain names to them for discussion.

Is it proposed to put the hon. Member for Wood Green (Mr. G. Locker-Lampson) on the Commission?

I think I had bettor say nothing about names.

Does the statement of the right hon. Gentleman apply equally to the Chairman?

I shall put the whole proposal before the meeting.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government has received official confirmation to the effect that the Japanese Government has decided to withdraw its troops from the northern half of the island of Saghalien?

The Japanese Government has stated officially that Japanese troops will be withdrawn from Northern Saghalien as soon as a satisfactory settlement of the Nicolaievsk massacre can be obtained.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government has received official information that the Japanese Government has decided to withdraw its troops from the mainland of Siberia, opposite the island of Saghalien, by the 30th September; and does the decision include evacuation of the whole of the maritime province by 30th September?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Nottingham on 29th June last.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government are still pursuing their inquiries with regard to the extent and operation of trusts and combines; and whether it is intended to introduce legislation on this subject next Session, having regard to the promise officially given on behalf of the Government early in 1921?

I have been asked to reply. The whole subject is still under consideration, but I cannot give any undertaking as to the introduction of legislation.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this matter has been under consideration for 18 months? When will the Government come to a decision on this question, particularly in view of the fact that the combines' strength in the country is such that they are forcing goods on the community at enhanced prices?

The hon. Gentleman is well aware; that the question is under consideration.

Did not the Government give a definite pledge 18 months ago that a Bill of this kind would be introduced?

On the contrary, a statement was made early in this Session that there was no chance of legislation this year.

When that part of the Profiteering Bill which deals with trusts was repealed was there not a definite undertaking that it should be re-enacted?

The matter is a very difficult one. It is under consideration, as I have said.

I want to put it very plainly. Are we to understand that the apathy of the Government towards this matter is really acquiescence with the continuation of trusts and combines which are fleecing the people?

Certainly not.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government will favourably consider the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the anomalies which exist under the present Old Age Pensions Act, with a view to promoting legislation to remove the same?

The Government are not at present prepared to re-open the settlement embodied in the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919.

Would it not be only in keeping with the rest of the Government's policy in reversing legislation to repeal this Act?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the conditions for the receipt of old age pensions are the same in the Isle of Man as in this country: that the Government of the Isle of Man have been paying the pension to Isle of Man residents in this country, and for the last two years have been paying the pension to British residents in the Isle of Man, on the assumption that the British Government would arrange for reciprocity in this matter: and whether, seeing that the effort of the Isle of Man Government to secure this reciprocity has failed, and in consequence the British residents in the Isle of Man are now being denied their pensions, he will explain the reason for the failure to enter into an arrangement?

The conditions for the receipt of old age pensions in the Isle of Man and this country were formerly nearly (though not exactly) the same, but since the Tynwald Resolution of 22nd November last, authorising the grant of old age pensions to persons in the Isle of Man of 50 years and upwards in certain cases, the conditions are no longer the same. The Isle of Man Government was informed on 1st December, 1920, that the adoption of reciprocal arrangements involved special legislation, which could not be contemplated having regard to the small number of persons affected (namely, 19 Manxmen and 29 Englishmen). In view of the different conditions for the receipt of old age pensions in the two countries at the present time, there is no longer any question of introducing the reciprocal arrangements proposed in 1920.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the statements contained in Command Paper 1717, War Service Canteens, that the Navy and Army Canteen Board have, since 1st May, 1919, lost in trading the sum of £2,469,370 out of the profits and assets of the Expeditionary Force Canteens, which Lord Kitchener in 1915 had promised should be entirely devoted to the benefit of ex-service men and their dependants, he will order a public investigation to be made into the circumstances under which this property was handed over to the Navy and Army Canteen Board, and into the conduct and administration of the Navy and Army Canteen Board?

I have been asked to answer this question. I would ask my Noble Friend to await the Debate to-morrow on the War Service Canteens (Disposal of Surplus) Bill.

Is the hon. Baronet aware of the very grave allegations that are made in this week's "Truth" as to the embezzlement of a large portion of this money, and can we obtain an undertaking from the Government that there will not be an attempt to rush this Bill through before the facts have been sifted?

That is a very different question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware that Income Tax in the Isle of Man does not exceed Is. 5½d. in the £;and whether he has approached the authorities in the isle with a view to their increasing their annual contribution toward the Imperial Exchequer, as suggested in the Geddes Report;

(2) whether he is aware that in Guernsey the Income Tax is 7d. in the £, and in Jersey there is no Income Tax; and whether he has taken any steps, as suggested in the Geddes Report, to invite both islands to make a contribution towards the Imperial Exchequer, especially in view of the fact that the cost to Army Votes of the regular garrison and militia amounts to £365,000?

I am aware of the conditions in the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, and I propose to raise with the Island authorities in both cases the question of increased contributions to the Imperial Exchequer. It has been necessary, however, to collect information as to the financial position, and this has necessarily taken time. In the case of the Isle of Man any addition to the statutory contribution of £10,000 per annum will require legislation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman in favour of taxation without representation? In the second place, is he aware that the Islands do not want regular troops in their barracks, and that the troops are sent there because there are no barracks on this side? Finally, is he aware that the Militia only costs these large sums because the Imperial Government insist on a large permanent regular staff?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend will recognise that it is not a matter of taxation, but of contribution for services which are rendered in the protection of these Islands along with all the other parts of His Majesty's Dominions. The considerations to which my hon. and gallant Friend has referred will be regarded, along with the other relevant matters.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this matter was considered during the War in connection with the very inadequate contribution that the Isle of Man was making during the War, and will he take all these relevant matters into consideration?

Undoubtedly, all these matters will be taken into consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Germany has reduced the Income Tax in the last four months?

No, Sir; but I understand that fresh legislation has just been introduced and is now before the Reichstag to adjust the scale on which the tax is graduated to the depreciation of the mark.

Is that a reduction of Income Tax?

In some cases, I suppose, it may be. In others it will be a large increase in the Income Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much, if any, of the £938,000,000 now owing to the United States is due to unpaid interest to date; and what sum will be required yearly in future to pay interest if the debt is not reduced?

The principal of the debt owing to the United States Government amounts to-day to ․4,135,818,358, having been reduced from ․4,166,318,358 since 31st March last. The amount of interest accrued unpaid to the 31st March, 1922, was ․598,373,000, as stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon) on the 9th May last. The figure of £938,000,000 quoted from my speech on Friday last represents the sterling equivalent, at an exchange of ․4.44 to the £, of the principal outstanding on 31st March last. The answer to the last part of the question depends on the arrangements made for funding.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the Government are not paying their way, instead of running into debt?

I am very glad to answer that question. The amount with which I have been dealing is an amount which we owe to the United States of America. It was borrowed in the course of the War in order to help our Allies. I think I am right in saying that not a single pound of it went in any way to British services. It was necessary, in order to aid our Allies, that we should provide them with the munitions necessary to fight their battles.

But why has the interest not been paid from time to time, instead of its being allowed to run on?

That question cannot be argued now.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increasing strain caused on certain local authorities by the prolonged period of unemployment, he can now state the result of the investigations of his committee inquiring into the possibility of securing a definition of a necessitous area upon which the Government can act for the purpose of granting temporary financial assistance?

My right hon. Friend presumes that the hon. Member refers to the scheme recently submitted on behalf of certain Poor Law authorities. He has come to the conclusion, after full consideration, that this scheme is one which he cannot recommend the Government to accept. The hon. Member will no doubt be aware that a Measure is now in progress which will give material financial assistance to Poor Law authorities, and indirectly to other local authorities, by reducing the "gaps" in unemployment insurance benefit.