I beg to ask the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representative of the Insurance Commissioners, if he will inform the House what is the position as regards insurance contributions of a man who enlists or is called up for service? Will he also say who pays the employer's contributions?

The contributions during embodied service are at the reduced Army rate of 3d., 1½d. of which is payable by the War Office, and they will be paid on special Army (B) cards supplied by the military authorities. With regard to the ordinary contribution card for the current half-year, Reservists should fill in the name of the society and branch (if any) and deposit the cards at the military depot in the box provided for the purpose. Territorials should send their cards to their societies, writing across them the word "Territorial." Cards left in the custody of employers should be kept until further notice, unless claimed by the men. I may add that during embodied service any claim to maternity benefit should be made by the wife to the approved society, or, in the case of deposit contributors, to the Insurance Committee in the ordinary way.

Will the hon. Gentleman at the same time say something with regard to those who are now employed and who are recruited now, so that they may come in on full rates and not reduced rates?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would be good enough to put that in writing.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the serious incidents reported yesterday, he will consider the advisability of following the system at present adopted by France of having all Germans placed on the West Coast, and detaining them there in guarded localities until they can be otherwise disposed of?

I have had no notice of the question.

I gave notice of the question to the Home Secretary yesterday, and he asked me to postpone it until today.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is a fact that the Austrian and German school girls at Upper Chine College, Isle of Wight, have been ordered to leave the country; whether there are means for them to reach their homes: whether he can give an assurance that any order involving hardships to young students will not be persisted in?

The hon. Member gave me notice only a few minutes ago of this question. I made inquiries, where possible, and I think I may tell him there is no ground, so far as I know, for the suggestion he made. The German students, of course, will have to register. I think I can assure him the students of this college will not be interfered with.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for War whether as some doubt exists as to the position of those members of the National Reserve engaged in the Civil Service can the right hon. Gentleman say what are the conditions under which they would serve? Is it true that the men will lose the whole of their civil pay instead of being paid half in the case of the Army and Navy Services?

Notice of the hon. Gentleman's question only reached me when I came down to the House, and I have not been able to make all the inquiries I should like. The matter is still under the consideration of the authorities, and a full statement will be made by the Prime Minister in a few days dealing with this subject and all others germane to it.

I wish to ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Hoard of Trade if his attention has been called to the large number of Germans trading in the corn and produce markets of this country—there are twenty in Mark Lane alone—and the provinces, and if he will take steps to control their action if injurious to the nation?

Notice of the hon. Member's question only reached me a few minutes ago, after I had taken my place on this bench, and in such circumstances it is impossible to answer.