asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of typewriters imported into this country from Canada for the year 1931 and for the period January to September, 1932?

The number of complete typewriters imported into the United Kingdom and registered as consigned from Canada was 20 during 1931 and 8,754 during the period January to September, 1932.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of cider imported during 1931 and the amount imported this year, giving the countries of origin?

The following statement shows the total imports into the United Kingdom of cider or perry, not including added spirit, registered during

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much foreign eider has been imported during the last six months?

The total imports into the United Kingdom of cider or perry, not containing added spirit registered as consigned from foreign countries during the six months April to September, 1932, amounted to 1,892,363 gallons, of a de-Oared value of £69,686.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware that the Danish Government have increased the duties on British hats over 100 per cent., and that this increase came into operation a few days ago; and will he make representations to the Danish Government regarding this increase;(2) if he is aware that orders for British hats booked at the exhibition at Copenhagen are excepted from the general rule that orders booked at that exhibition if shipped during this year are free from the new duties; and if he will make representations that these orders may be imported into Denmark free of duty?

I am aware of the facts referred to, and if my hon. and gallant Friend will let me have a statement of the industry's case, together with details of the transactions referred to, I shall be ready to consider what action can be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Representations on this subject have been made to the French Government, but no reply has yet been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what, under the arrangements made at Ottawa, is the estimated increase (in cwts.) of the importation from Empire sources of frozen mutton and lamb, frozen beef, and frozen veal for the year 1933 and for the first six months of 1934, as compared with the standard year 1931–32?

The Australian and New Zealand Governments have agreed that the exports from those Dominions of frozen mutton and lamb to the United Kingdom during the calendar year 1933 shall not exceed the exports during the year ended 30th June, 1932. The maximum increase of 10 per cent. contemplated under the Agreements in the case of frozen beef would give an additional quantity of about 105,000 cwts. from Australia in 1933, and of about 40,000 cwts. from New Zealand in the season October, 1932—September, 1933. The corresponding figures for veal would be 565 cwts. from Australia and about 10,000 cwts. from New Zealand. The agreed limitation of exports from the Dominions does not extend into 1934.

asked the President of the Board. of Trade whether under the Ottawa Agreements it is open to the British Government to impose a greater restriction on imports of foreign meat than that set forth in the agreed programme without first obtaining the consent of the Dominions, and without enabling the Dominions to vary their agreed regulation of Dominion imports of meat as set forth in the Agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia and in the letter, dated 19th August, addressed by the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, M.P., to the Lord President of the Council?

The Ottawa Agreements prescribe the maximum quantities of meat which may be imported into the United Kingdom. I do not think that a further reduction would be in any sense a departure from the spirit of these Agreements.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether a copy of the Appendix referred to on page 8, first paragraph (Annex), of the recommendations of the Import Duties Advisory Committee [Cmd. 4181], is available to Members; whether, in any schemes of reorganisation in the iron and steel industry, consideration is being given to the scheme submitted to this and previous Governments by the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation as regards the part labour will take, including the protection of the interests of the workpeople; and, if so, what is the nature of it?

My right hon. Friend agrees with the Import Duties Advisory Committee that for the reasons stated in the sixth paragraph of their report of 13th October it would not be in the public interest to publish the document referred to. With regard to the remainder of the question, the National Committee of the Iron and Steel Industry will no doubt take this and other relevant matters into account in framing their scheme of reorganisation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will investigate the restrictions which have been placed on public landing on the foreshore on Shell Bay in Poole Harbour?

The foreshore at Shell Bay, Poole Harbour, is not the property of the Crown, and I am not aware that any restrictions have been placed on the exercise by the public thereover of any rights lawfully existing as incidental to navigation and fishing. These are the only public rights over foreshore in private ownership with which the Board of Trade is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can make a statement on the present position of the Irish annuities and other matters in dispute between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the Irish Free State?

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made to the House on 18th October, except that the White Paper containing the documents mentioned in that statement will be published on Saturday.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether there are any further developments in the Irish situation; and whether he will take steps to meet the shortage in the receipts from the special import duties on Irish goods by including other articles, such as beer and biscuits, in the Schedule?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer to the reply which I have given to-day to the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks). As regards the second part of the question, the duties under the Import Duties Act will, as I informed the House yesterday, come into operation in respect to Irish Free State goods on 15th November. The effect will be that on and after 15th November Irish Free State goods will be subject (1) to the special duties under the Special Duties Act; (2) to the 10 per cent. general ad valorem duties under the Import Duties Act; (3) to all existing additional duties imposed under the Import Duties Act; (4) to all additional duties which may in future be imposed under the Import Duties Act. They will not, however, be liable to the duties imposed under the Ottawa Agreements Bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether the committee which the committee on Methods of Economic Cooperation at the Ottawa Conference recommended should be appointed has yet been set up; and, if so, if he will state the names of the two United Kingdom representatives

Arrangements have not yet been completed for the appointment of this committee, and I am not, so far, in a position to announce the names of the United Kingdom representatives upon it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the figures for employment in agriculture, distinguishing between farmers, relatives, horse-men, cattlemen, shepherds, foremen, bailiffs, and labourers?

The information desired by the hon. Member can only be obtained from the returns published by the Registrar-General in connection with the Decennial Census of Population. The results of the 1931 Census are not yet ready, the last available figures being in respect of 1921, which I shall be pleased to send to the hon. Member if desired.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any statistics to show what will be the approximate payments to wheat growers in each county of England on account of the deficiency payments to be made by the Wheat Commission under the quota scheme; and, if so, whether he will make the figures public at as early a date as possible in order to encourage arable cultivation?

The amount of the deciency payment will depend upon the average price actually obtained by regis- tered growers during the cereal year ending on 31st July next for millable wheat of their own growing, not harvested before 1032, and my hon. Friend will appreciate that this price cannot be ascertained until after the close of the cereal year. It has been estimated, however, that the total payments to farmers under the Wheat Act are likely to amount in the aggregate to about £4,000,000 for the current cereal year. My hon. Friend will probably be aware that the chairman of the Wheat Commission announced last night that the Commission hope to make an advance to farmers on account of deficiency payments not later than the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government propose to take any action to prevent the words "New Laid" being used in respect of imported eggs which have been cold-stored in this country when these eggs are exposed for sale?

The conditions under which imported eggs may be exposed for sale in this country are at present under review, and the question of differentiating between cold-stored eggs and others is one of the matters which is being considered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the depression in agriculture and of the fall in the wholesale price of meat, he will now arrange for the supply of home-grown meat to the Forces?

While the depression in agriculture and particularly the fall in wholesale prices of meat are matters which are receiving my very close attention, I regret I am not in a position to hold out hopes that it will be possible to adopt the proposal to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information as to the amount of tithe which is being withheld, or is overdue, during the current year; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Minister of Agriculture has no jurisdiction as regards the collection or recovery of tithe rentcharge, and I am accordingly not in a position to state what amount is being withheld or is overdue during the current year. As regards the second part of the question, the position remains as stated by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council in reply to a question put to him on 22nd June last, regarding tithe, namely that the Government can hold out no prospect of legislation on this question.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the evidence that the urgent need for building additional family houses has passed, and that the need of the moment is for more cheap accommodation consisting of one or two rooms for individual or married and childless workers, he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation at an early date with a view to giving special encouragement to the provision of such accommodation in communal buildings?

Local authorities have already extensive powers for the provision of such housing accommodation as will best meet the needs of their several districts, and further legislation is not necessary to enable them to take the action suggested by my hon. Friend in the areas in which they think it desirable to do so.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have taken action in accordance with Circular No. 1238, January, 1932, urging the provision of houses within the means of the poorest workers; how many have refused; what number of such houses has been built or started since the issue of the circular; and what is the average price per house?

The total number of local authorities authorised to erect houses since the issue of the circular mentioned is approximately 390, and the houses approved have generally conformed to the principle laid down in that circular. I am not aware that any local authority has refused to take action since its issue. The number of houses completed since 1st January last is 48,885. The construction of 36,260 houses has been commenced. The average price of non-parlour houses, excluding flats and small houses for aged persons, included in contracts let and in direct labour schemes commenced by local authorities (other than the London County Council) during the same period was £307. This figure excludes the cost of land, roads, sewers and architect's fees. The cost, I am glad to say, is falling and the figure for the three months ended 30th September was no more than £205.

asked the Prime Minister if he can make any statement as to the intentions of the Government with regard to the promised legislation on the Rent Restrictions Acts; and whether this will follow the main lines of the report of the departmental committee?

I have been asked to reply. I am not yet in a position to add anything to the statement on this subject which was made by the Lord President of the Council on 2nd June last.

asked the Minister of Health whether, with a view to enabling local authorities who have made advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act to reduce the rate of interest charged by them on money so lent, he will consider the advisability of reducing the rate of interest charged by his Department to such local authorities?

My hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. Local authorities who make advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act obtain their money either from the Public Works Loan Board or from other sources open to them and not from my Department. The rates of interest chargeable on advances made by local authorities under this Act have been fixed from time to time by my Department with the approval of the Treasury. The interest rates charged on advances which have already been made by local authorities cannot, therefore, be reduced as they were related to the rates at which the authorities themselves were then able to borrow. The rate chargeable for future advances, however, is now under consideration in view of the general fall in rates of interest

asked the hon. Member for Central Leeds, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether, with a view to protecting amenities, any future sales of glebe or ecclesiastical property in the immediate neighbourhood of churches will, in districts where a plan under the Town and Country Planning Act is in operation, only be sanctioned by the Commissioners after they have satisfied themselves that such sale will not be detrimental to the plan and after they have given due public notice to enable the objections of those interested to be entered?

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners are concerned with sales of glebe under the Ecclesiastical Leasing Acts for the purpose of protecting the interest of benefices. No sanction given by them to a sale could override any provision of a town planning scheme affecting the area. There is no provision under the Acts for public notice to be given of any proposed sale.

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the fact that the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance in 1926 stated that the reserve values credited to approved societies would be converted into actual and invested assets by about the year 1955, thus extending the original date of redemption from 15½ years to 43 years, he will state what is the anticipated date of redemption if such is now altered from the year 1955, the present amount of unredeemed reserve values, and the annual amount now being redeemed?

The operations of the provisions of Section 67 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1924, in recent years, and in particular the effect thereon of the abnormal unemployment which has been experienced, are examined in paragraph 55 of the report of the Government Actuary (Cmd. 3978). The reserve values standing to the credit of approved societies at the valuation dates (generally 31st December, 1928) amounted to £49,636,000 in the aggregate, and it is thought that owing to the continuance of the special factors tending to arrest the normal process of redemption the present amount is not substantially different from this sum.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statistics to show the number of villages of under 100 and 5,000 inhabitants, respectively, in England, Scotland or Wales which possess no sewage system or laid-on water supplies?

I regret that I have not this information.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the tonnage and the average annual maintenance costs of each of the five largest capital ships now forming part of the Royal Navy?

The information desired is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health whether any deaths occurred amongst the small-pox cases quoted in columns A, B, C, and D of the Report of the Chief Medical Officer for 1931; and, if so, what was the number, also the ages, in each case, respectively?

There were four deaths among the small-pox cases tabulated on page 45 of the Report of the Chief Medical Officer of my Department for the year 1931. These deaths, following the classification adopted in the tabular statement, were distributed as follows:Column A: (Successfully vaccinated). —Two deaths, of persons aged 55 and 63 years respectively.Column B: (Successfully revaccinated).—No deaths.Column C: (Unvaccinated).—Two deaths, of persons aged one week and seven years respectively.Column D: (Vaccinal condition doubtful)—No deaths.

asked the Minister of Labour from how many local authorities he has received complaints with regard to the operation of the means test during the past six months?

Since April last I have received some 30 resolutions from local authorities on the subject of the means test. Ten of these only were from public assistance authorities.

asked the Minister has received from local authorities in of Labour if, in view of the requests he

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants for transitional benefit under the means test in the city of Birmingham for the three months ending 30th September, the number granted benefit, and the number turn down; and how these figures compare with those for the three months ended 30th June?

The following statement gives the information for which the hon. Member asks:

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed in the South Staffordshire industrial area who are receiving transitional payments at the latest convenient date, and the total weekly amounts disbursed, giving the separate figures for men and women, respectively?

The following table gives the information desired:has received from local authorities in Scotland uring that the administration of the means test should be taken over cases dealt with by the public assistance by the Government and in view of the committees in Lancashire under the general dissatisfaction with the present Unemployment Insurance Acts, stating system, he will undertake to relieve local the number of cases where no reduction authorities of this responsibility go as to in benefit has been made, where partial abolish the means test entirely?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement on this subject made on Tuesday by the Prime Minister.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of transitional

The following table gives the information for which the hon. Member asks:

asked the Minister of Labour if he has any information to show what expenditure is being incurred at the present time by the Governments of France, Belgium, Germany, and the United States in the encouragement of public works?

I regret that the information in my possession does not enable me to state what expenditure of this kind is being incurred by the countries named.

asked the Minister of Labour how the number of

asked the Minister of Labour whether, to avoid misunderstanding, he will see that a copy of the new regulations regarding the issue of green cards is supplied' to such applicants who may think themselves aggrieved by the refusal of such a card by their local Employment Exchange?

No new regulations have been made or are necessary. I have arranged for a notice to be exhibited at the Exchanges and for the position to be specially explained to any applicant whose request, for a green card is refused. A full explanatory note has been prepared, of which the Noble Lord has a copy and which I shall be happy to give to any Member interested.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the unemployment prevalent among ex- persons employed and unemployed, respectively, in the building trade, on public works, and in trades ancillary to the building trade compare with such numbers at a similar period in 1931?

The following table gives the estimated numbers of insured persons in the building, public works contracting and allied industries at July, 1931, the latest date for which such figures are at present available, and the numbers recorded as unemployed in September, 1931, and September, 1932. Statistics are not available as to the numbers in employment in these industries at the latter dates.service men, arrangements can be made for them to be employed as inspectors checking National Health Insurance cards in place of women?

The enforcement of compliance with the National Health Insurance Acts is only one of many duties assigned to the Insurance inspectorate. These duties can only be performed by a trained and experienced staff, and I regret that it would not be possible to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion. I may add that there are 2,826 ex-service men serving in my Department, the majority of whom were recruited because they were ex-service men.

asked the Minister of Labour for what period unemployment insurance benefit could he given at existing rates so as to enable expenditure to balance income from contributions made by employers and em- ployés, only assuming the present number of unemployed for purposes of calculation?

The annual rate of expenditure on insurance benefit at present is £57,500,000. Administrative expenses and interest on debt amount to a further £9,500,000 making a total of £67,000,000. The contributions of employers and employed persons are about £38,500,000. It is not possible, without a detailed and expensive investigation, to estimate the precise extent by which the present maximum of 26 weeks of insurance benefit in a benefit year would have to be reduced, if the last mentioned sum were the whole revenue. It is obvious, however, that this reduction would have to be in a much greater ratio than in the proportion of 57½ or 67 to 38½. This is because many more spells of unemployment are for short periods than for long periods. Thus, for example, to reduce the maximum weeks of benefit by one-half, would reduce the amount of benefit payable not by one-half, but by a much smaller proportion.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons registered in Edmonton, Middlesex, at the latest date available?

There is no Employment Exchange in Edmonton, which is served mainly by the Tottenham Exchange. The number of unemployed persons on the registers of the latter Employment Exchange at 26th September, 1932, was 7,795.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what number of tanks are in the possession of His Majesty's Government; and how many of these tanks are over 20 tons, between 20 and 15 tons, between 15 and 10 tons, and under 10 tons?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question on 13th July, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the estimated value of all apparatus, material and completed products intended or likely to be available for chemical or bacteriological warfare now possessed by His Majesty's Government; whether these supplies have been added to or renewed during the past year and at what cost; and what is the annual expenditure of the Government on research and training for the purposes of such warfare?

The Army possesses a certain amount of anti-gas equipment in the shape of gas masks, but I am not prepared to state the value of the stocks. The money provision made currently in Army Estimates for purchase of this equipment for all three Services amounts to £35,000. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to pages 171–172 and to page 100 of Army Estimates for the current provision for the Chemical Defence Research Department and the Anti-Gas Wing of the Small Arms School.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the quantity of medal ribbons sold for general trading for the year 1931 and for the period January to September, 1932, and the amounts realised thereby, respectively?

No medal ribbon was sold as surplus during 1931. Approximately 9,500 yards have been disposed of during the period January to September, 1932. It would be contrary to established practice to disclose the terms of sale.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the increases and decreases, respectively, in the different education rates hitherto levied this year by the various education authorities in Scotland?

Since 16th May, 1930, when the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, came into operation, the deficit in the education account of each area, which corresponds to the deficit formerly charged to the separate education rate, falls to he met from the consolidated rate and from the grants under Part III of the Act. I am sending to my hon. Friend a statement showing the amounts of these deficits in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made inquiries into the question of the director of public assistance in Glasgow and the public assistance committee continuing to defy the law relating to health insurance in the taking into account of the first 7s. 6d. of health insurance benefit for Poor Law purposes; and if he intends to take any action to have the law carried out?

The Department of Health for Scotland have made representations to the Poor Law authority of Glasgow in cases where it appeared that the statutory provision referred to was not being observed. The amount of relief to be afforded in an individual case is, however, A matter for the Poor Law authority subject to the individual recipient's right of appeal on the ground of inadequate relief.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what States have given parliamentary sanction for the ratification of the Lausanne Convention?

So far as I am aware, no State has yet ratified the Lausanne Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take steps to garnishee the favourable trade balance of the Russian Soviet Government in this country for the purpose of liquidating the arbitral award of 22nd September, 1930, amounting to approximately £13,000,000, in favour of Lena Goldfields, Limited?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply returned by the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 11th April last. As the hon. Member will realise from the terms of that reply, His Majesty's Government do not think it practicable to connect in this way the two questions of trade with the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics and British claims against the Soviet Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement as to the relations existing between His Majesty's Government and the present Government of Egypt; and whether the latter Government is one with which these relations may be developed in the direction of a settlement of outstanding questions?

I am happy to say that our relations with the Egyptian Government are entirely friendly. We make no reservation in regarding the present Egyptian administration as one with which Anglo-Egyptian relations both have been, and may continue to be, developed at the time and in the manner which appear most suitable for the purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who are the members of the committee for the regulation of the trade in, and private and State manufacture of, arms and implements of war appointed by the bureau of the Disarmament Conference?

The committee is composed of delegates of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, Italy, Japan, the Union of South Africa, Belgium, China, Denmark, Spain, Persia, Poland and Turkey. The Delegations of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics and Mexico were also invited by the bureau of the Conference to be represented on the committee, but did not send delegates.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make arrangements whereby the League of Nations document known as the Lytton Report on Manchuria could be made available to Members of this House through the Vote Office or Stationery Office?

No, Sir. The report is a League document and it has never been regarded as a proper charge on the taxpayer to supply free of charge to Members of this House individually documents not issued by His Majesty's Government. But if the hon. Member will refer to the answer given on 25th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander) he will see what arrangements are proposed.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the complete cost of the Severn barrage investigation since its inception?

The cost of this investigation from its inception to the present date is approximately £50,000, of which about £27,000 represents an appropriation in aid of Admiralty Votes.

asked the Home Secretary if he will arrange to hold a public inquiry into the conduct of the police in North Shields in breaking up the demonstration of the unemployed in that town?

I see no occasion for any action on my part. Any complaint regarding the conduct of the local police should in the first instance be addressed to the watch committee in whom the control of the force is vested by law.

asked the Home Secretary if he will take powers to deal with owners of property who erect so-called burglar alarms which ring often accidentally; and whether, to minimise inconvenience to the neighbourhood, he will require that owners of property fitted with such devices should, when leaving the property unattended, deposit keys at the local police station?

The nuisance referred to can be dealt with by means of a by-law under the Municipal Corporations Act and Local Government Act, 1888, and a by-law for this purpose is already in force in the County of London. The proposal in the second paragraph would require legislation, and I could not undertake to introduce legislation for this purpose.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can give an estimate of the number of children attending secondary schools whose parents' incomes are below £200, £300 and £900 per year, respectively?

I regret that I have not at present sufficient information to enable me to frame an estimate of the kind suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what action he is prepared to take following upon the representations made to him as to the desirability of separating the matriculation and school certificate examinations?

I am not yet in a position to make any statement on this point. I take it that my hon. Friend has principally in mind the recent report of the panel of investigators appointed by the Secondary School Examinations Council, and I may explain that the Board desire in the first instance to give the various interests concerned an opportunity of considering the suggestions there made and of expressing their views on them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the rapid fall of the pound; and what he is doing to prevent its downward trend?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made last Tuesday in reply to a question by the hon. Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the yield to date of the duties levied under the Import Duties Act, the Horticultural Duties Order, and the Abnormal Duties Order?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Lewis) on 25th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of clubs in England and Wales and Scotland, respectively, paying Club Duty for the year ended 31st March, 1932; and the amount of duty received for each country?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of brewers' licences (for sale and private, respectively) taken out in the year ended 31st March, 1932, in England and Wales and Scotland, respectively?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the latest figure of the number of officials who have been transferred from other Departments to the Department of Customs and Excise and elsewhere as a result of the passage of the Import Duties Act, and the number newly engaged?

The number of officials transferred from other Departments to the Customs and Excise Department since 1st October, 1931, is 864, and the number newly engaged during the same period is 653. I would point out, however, that these numbers represent recruitment for the work of the Department as a whole and include making good normal wastage. The number transferred to the staff of the Import Duties Advisory. Committee is 76, and the number newly engaged for that staff is one.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the number of Irish nationals in the Civil Service and the anti-British sentiment that prevails amongst members of the Irish Free State, he will consider the advisability of making it a condition of permanent appointment in the Civil Service that all applicants shall first take the Oath of Allegiance?

Action on the lines suggested is not in contemplation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many persons are employed in the various Government Departments specially to deal with matters relating to the League of Nations; and what is the annual cost to the country of this labour?

In general, the duties in question are not organised separately from others. It is not possible, therefore, to give an estimate of the numbers involved or of the cost of dealing with matters relating to the League of Nations.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he can now state what arrangements have been made to establish the P-class salaried officers of the Ministry of Pensions?

In accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service and the report of the negotiating Committee (including representatives of the staff concerned) appointed to consider the application of the Royal Commission's findings, the P-crass salaried officers will be appointed to the basic grade of the General Clerical Class of the Established Civil Service as from the 1st instant. These appointments will, of course, be subject to the usual requirements, e.g., as regards age, health and character, and, as the Commission recommended, there will be a system of temporary allowances which will preserve existing emoluments commensurate with the duties performed by these officers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the hardship encountered by natural-born British subjects claiming old ago pensions who, owing to residence in British possessions other than those specified under the Act, are unable to fulfil the statutory conditions which require that a claimant must since attaining the age of 50 have resided in the United Kingdom, the Channel Isles or the Isle of Man for at least 12 years; and if he will consider introducing legislation with the object of removing the statutory condition above referred to in the case of natural-born British subjects?

Under Section 2 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919, a claimant for a non-contributory old age pension must satisfy the pension authorities, if he is a natural-horn British subject, that he has since attaining the age of 50 had his residence in the United Kingdom for an aggregate period of not less than 12 years. Any periods spent in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man by a person born in the United Kingdom count for this purpose. It must be remembered that this residence qualification only applies to claimants for noncontributory old age pensions. No proposal for amending legislation is at present under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the extra cost which would be incurred by supplying home-grown meat to the Forces for the next six months, taking into consideration the drop in wholesale prices?

It is estimated that the extra cost incurred in supplying home-killed meat, which is not necessarily the same as home-raised meat, to the Navy, Army and Air Force for six months would be approximately £275,000.