asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to adhere to the policy of refusing to discuss peace terms with any member of or nominee of the Hohenzollern House?

As I have repeatedly stated in the House, this is not a subject which can be dealt with by question and answer.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, as a result of the neglect of the Government to put forward and prepare a definite policy of land settlement for sailors and soldiers in the United Kingdom and in the Dominions, a general impression has been created amongst the sailors and soldiers that at the end of the War wholesale migration will be advocated by the Government; and can he say whether this plan is being advocated by speakers in Great Britain?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the increasing cost of living, he will state what arrangements have been made to enable the concessions under Cd. 8320 and other concessions to apply to applicants for old age pensions, seeing that at the present time war bonuses and additional help from sources and organisations granted to prospective applicants for old age pensions to enable them to live is being assessed as income and thus disentitles them to or reduces the old age pensions?

The receipt of war bonuses or voluntary assistance does not necessarily disentitle the recipient to the grant of an old age pension, or result in the grant of a pension at less than the full rate. The enjoyment of income of the kind referred to can only have the effect suggested when it raises the claimant's total means above the limits laid down in the Old Age Pensions Acts. I am afraid that I cannot undertake to initiate legislation with the object suggested by the hon. Member.

asked what arrangements have been made to ensure that the old age pension shall substitute the disablement benefit in all cases of insured persons, seeing that aged and frugal insured persons are not entitled to the advantages of Cd. 8320?

I understand the hon. Member's suggestion to be that a person who has been in receipt of disablement benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts up to the age of seventy shall, without regard to the amount of his other income, be entitled to claim an old age pension on his attaining that age. I am afraid I cannot agree to the proposal, which would involve legislation. As disablement benefit under the above Acts ceases on the recipient attaining the age of seventy, the benefit is excluded from the assessment of means for pension purposes, and if in any case the recipient is refused a pension on the ground of means, it can only be because he is in enjoyment of other income in excess of the statutory limit for a pension.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether every ship arriving at a British port now brings such food as it can whatever may be its chief cargo and whether every such ship can discharge its food cargo at the first port of call in the United Kingdom?

All ships controlled by the Ministry of Shipping are loaded under instructions carefully framed with the object of maintaining supplies of food and other commodities essential to the War. Every effort is made to ensure that ships are discharged, coaled and loaded at one and the same port, and that these operations are carried out at the first port of call. The extent to which this policy can be carried out in practice is, however, limited in the last resort by the facilities for the distribution of supplies overland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if, in the interest of food production, he will modify the Killing of Lamb Order, by, instead of a date limit, fixing a limit based on the minimum weight of the lambs to be. killed according to the breed?

The suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman would directly encourage the fattening for slaughter of lambs exceeding a certain weight, and thereby involve precisely such uneconomic use of feeding-stuffs as the Live Stock (Restriction of Slaughter) Order is designed to prevent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that dissatisfaction is felt by flock masters at the proposals contained in the recently issued Lamb Order; that it will be the means of withholding a quantity of lamb and mutton from the use of the public at the scarcest period of the year; if he is aware that the ewes from which fat lambs are bred are old draft ewes from standing flocks, and therefore too old to be kept more than one season and must be slaughtered; is he aware that, if these lambs have to be kept as tegs, as suggested by the Ministry, they will consume food required for store draft ewes and prevent their purchase, and thus prevent the production of fat lambs the following year and destroy the market for store draft ewes from standing flocks; and will he withdraw the Order?

The issue of the Live Stock (Restriction of Slaughter) Order is strictly in accordance with the policy outlined by the President of the Board of Agriculture in the early summer of 1917, when he warned the farmers that the production of early lamb for this season would not be in the national interest. The only complaint received from flock masters by the Food Controller has been brought forward by the owners of Dorset horn flocks, and is about to be met by an extension of time in respect of male lambs until 1st March. The other points referred to by the hon. Member have been fully considered in consultation with the Central Advisory Committee on Live Stock and Meat Supplies. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that large quantities of damaged grain in the hands of farmers are awaiting examination and release for feeding purposes; that such grain is deteriorating by being held up; if he is aware, as a consequence, that the scarcity of bacon, milk, and butter is increased; and will he take immediate steps to secure more prompt dealing with the matter by enabling inspectors to give permits without referring to London?

Every endeavour is made to deal promptly with applications for permits in respect of damaged grain, and replies are normally dispatched in course of post. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any case in which undue delay has occurred. I will see that the grievance is at once remedied.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he is aware of any reason for believing that the Board of Trade figures, showing a rise of 105 per cent. in the cost of living resulting from the War, are misleading; whether it is a fact that such cost has only increased by 50 per cent., and that there has been a decrease of actual cost of 10 per cent. in the last six months; and, if so, whether he will offer any explanations to the House?

I have been asked to reply. A comparison between the prices of food at different dates, without reference to changes in diet and fluctuations in the price of articles the price of which has not been fixed, is artificial and of little or no value for estimating the increased cost of living. In the "Labour Gazette" in which the figure of 105 per cent. occurs, it it pointed out that: "if eggs were omitted from the dietary, margarine substitued for batter, and the consumption of sugar and fish reduced to one-half of that prevailing before the War, the general percentage increase since July, 1914, instead of being 105, would be 59." Enough attention does not appear to have been given to this important qualification. Since July there has certainly been a decrease in the cost of food of the average family. But the whole question is one of such considerable complication that I am glad to think that it will be considered by a Special Committee, as suggested by the Select Committee on National Expenditure in their Second Report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can state the total amount of cubic feet of refrigerated space in the various cold storages throughout the United. Kingdom at the date of the outbreak of War and to what extent the cubic capacity of cold storage has been increased since, and what is the estimated amount of further increase expected to be realised during the first half of the current year; whether every port of call of shipping, fitted with refrigerated cargo space, will, in the near future, be provided with ample refrigerated warehouse accommodation, so as to prevent the necessity for such vessels leaving port after arrival from their foreign loading ports; whether he can state the reasons for the resignation of Mr. John Wardle, Director of Cold Storage and Inland Transport, and members of his staff; whether he can state if any resignations have been tendered by the officers immediately above the late Director and forming the official channel of communication between the Minister of Food and the Director; and whether the new Director will be compelled to approach the Minister through the same officials or whether an entire reorganisation of the Department will be made?

At the outbreak of War the approximate amount of refrigerated space and various cold air stores throughout the United Kingdom was estimated at 28,000,000 cubic feet nett. This has recently been increased by approximately 3,500,000 cubic feet. The estimated amount of further increase expected during the first half of the current year is 6,100,000 cubic feet. Cold storage accommodation, whether at port of arrival or inland, will, it is hoped, be thus provided for cargoes of vessels fitted with refrigerated space so as to obviate the necessity for such vessels again leaving port. The former Director of Cold Storage and Inland Transport resigned because he was unable to carry out the duties entrusted to him within the limits rendered necessary by proper Treasury control of public expenditure. Practically all the members of his staff are still in the service of the Ministry. The answer to the next part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative, and with regard to the last portion, the reorganisation of the Cold Storage and Inland Transport Department is at present under consideration, but no change is contemplated in existing methods of administration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received resolutions of the Irish national school teachers on the subject of the equivalent Grant for Irish national education demanding a Committee similar to that. provided for Scotland under the Scottish scheme, and that the money available for distribution, with certain exceptions, be at once divided among the teachers; whether he is aware that the Commissioners of National Education for Ireland have recommended that a new war bonus on Civil Service terms be granted and paid in January this year, that nine months of the Birrell Grant be paid on the same date, and that it is impracticable to convert the Duke scheme into a war bonus in good time owing to the Parliamentary Recess; and if he can now state what action, if any, he proposes to take under the circumstances?

I have received many communications to the effect stated. The matter is under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the possibility of increasing the compensation allowance of men engaged on examination service belonging to the Western Division, seeing that the present allowance of 1s. 7d. a day is insufficient to meet the present cost of food, and the men are compelled to purchase in the open market instead of having the privilege of obtaining certain provisions from their parent ship or depot?

This matter is under consideration, and it is hoped that a decision may he arrived at shortly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that advertisements are appearing in the Press stating that the latest editions of charts, plans, and sailing directions may be obtained by writing to Admiralty agents by appointment; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of preventing the issue of such advertisements at the present time?

The Admiralty charts and sailing directions are used by all mariners, and it is desirable in the interests of safe navigation that the latest editions should be used. There is, therefore, no objection to the advertisement of the same. Information which it is desirable should not be published is, of course, omitted from the published charts and communicated to His Majesty's ships only. Steps are also taken to secure as far as possible the supply of charts to foreigners for legitimate purposes of navigation only, all exports of the same being carefully reviewed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major C. E. Reed, W/2422, has been acting for upwards of one and a half years as regimental sergeant-major of a brigade of Royal Field Artillery that originally went out with the 38th Welsh Division in December, 1914; that since that date he has given unqualified satisfaction to his commanding officers and that Regimental Sergeant-Major Reed has now been reduced to battery sergeant-major and replaced by a temporary regimental sergeant-major who is a re-enlisted pensioner who has had only fourteen months' service in France and that as a battery quartermaster-sergeant; and whether the reduction in rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major Reed, who has been fighting in France for over two years, has been made with the consent and approval of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief in France or has been made by an officer in the records office at Woolwich who is unacquainted with the services rendered by this warrant officer in the field and the high esteem in which he is held by the officers under whom he has served and fought?

In order to prevent injustice in the system of promotion to warrant officer Class 1, Regulations have been drawn up to safeguard the rights of senior non-commissioned officers wounded and invalided from the front. Acting Regimental Serjeant-Major Reed would be on the roll for promotion, if he is recommended, and will receive promotion in his turn.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the gazetting of officers to the headquarters or the groups of the various Motor Volunteer Corps is delayed owing to the fact that no decision has been arrived at with regard to the interpretation of the Army Council Instruction dealing with the reorganisation of the Motor Volunteer Corps; and, having regard to the dissatisfaction occasioned by this, will the War Office take steps to accelerate the decision?

Yes, Sir; there has been some delay, owing to the rapid expansion of certain county corps, which has necessitated the rearrangement of the headquarter establishments. As soon as the matter is settled, the gazetting of the few officers concerned will be proceeded with without further delay.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at the time last year when the formation of Section A of the Volunteer Force was undertaken officers of Volunteer units in many cases encouraged men to join that section by assuring them that in the matter of the obligation to attend a fixed number of drills per month all reasonable elasticity would be maintained in the arrangements and alternative opportunities for drills provided, so that no man need be deterred from joining the section by apprehension that he would be unable to attend the requisite drills by reason of his business engagements; that in some instances commanders of Volunteer battalions and companies are now requiring the attendance of men of Section A and of all other sections of the Volunteer units concerned at each one of certain drills on specified days at a specified hour without offering any alternative, these drills being officially described in the company orders as obligatory, and notice being given that men can only absent themselves from a drill no described if they have obtained written leave of absence from an officer authorised to give it; that it is impossible for all members of Volunteer companies or of the various sections to assemble frequently at the same hour and at the same place without serious business and other inconvenience to members of the corps; whether the Army Council has prescribed or authorised the system of compulsory attendances described in the preceding clauses of the question; and whether the officer commanding a Volunteer battalion or company has power to inflict any penalty, and, if so, what, on a man under his command who fails to attend a particular drill specified as obligatory in the company orders issued orally or in writing?

The intention certainly was to introduce elasticity. I am not aware that in certain Volunteer battalions a compulsory character has been given to individual drills, and if my hon. Friend will give me particulars I will inquire. I would remind him, however, that in a scattered battalion the nature of the case precludes any wide range of alternatives, although the minimum required is not large. Failure to attend the drills for which he contracted renders a Volunteer liable to be dealt with, but I have no doubt that where good cause can be shown for failure to adhere strictly to the agreement the case would be sympathetically considered.

asked whether an Order has been issued by the Army Council that Volunteers enrolled in Section A may, after 1st January, 1918, substitute for their former obligation to attend ten drills a month the obligation to attend thirty drills in each quarter of the year?

It has been decided that Volunteers belonging to Sections A, B, and C will in future after being passed as "efficient" be regarded as having fulfilled the obligation entered into by their agreement to perform ten drills of certain kinds each month, if they perform a total of thirty drills of the prescribed kinds each quarter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the men employed at the Army Service Corps supply depot have received the recent increases in the rate of pay for soldiers; and, if not, will he state the reason?

So far as is known, men have received cash payments which approximately cover the increases to which they are entitled, but further inquiry will he made, if the hon. Member will let me know the particular depot he has in mind.

asked (1) the Secretary to the Admiralty what procedure it is necessary to adopt for the purpose of enrolling as a mechanic in the Royal Naval Air Service; and what procedure it is necessary to adopt to obtain a commission in the Royal Naval Air Service; (2) the Under-Secretary of State for War what procedure it is necessary to adopt for the purpose of enrolling as a mechanic in the Royal Flying Corps; and what procedure it is necessary to adopt to obtain a commission in the Royal Flying Corps; and (3) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Ministry what procedure it is necessary to adopt for the purpose of enrolling as a mechanic in the new Air Service; and what procedure it is necessary to adopt to obtain a commission in the new Air Service?

Until the Air Force has been formed, the existing procedure continues as regards entry into the two Air Services for both officers and men. Due notice will be given of any change.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Ministry whether, pending the constitution of the Air Force, the Board of Admiralty and the Army Council have transferred the control of the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps to the Minister of Air?

No, Sir. Pending the completion of the arrangements for the unification of the two Air Services, their control will remain with the Board of Admiralty and the Army Council.

asked when the Orders in Council will be issued constituting the Air Force; and what is the cause of the delay?

The Air Board will be constituted as soon as the necessary administrative, financial, and disciplinary arrangements have been completed. There has been and will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Home Secretary whether any list is kept of naturalised Germans residing in prohibited areas; and whether it is proposed that they should continue to so reside?

The power to remove British subjects who are suspect persons from any area is vested under Regulation 14 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations in the naval and military authorities. All the information which I have as to Germans who have been naturalised in this country is of course at the disposal of those authorities.

asked the Home Secretary on what date was George Tchitcherine interned; whether it was at the instance of, or with the expressed approval of, Constantine Dimitrivitch Nabokoff that the internment was made; and whether he will state the nature of the evidence and the names of the informants that he relied on in making this internment order?

Tchitcherine was interned on the 25th August, 1917. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, the evidence consisted chiefly of Tchitcherine's own statements and writings.

asked the Home Secretary whether the cases of Louis Ferdinand Kehrhahn and John Hodgson have recently been considered by the Advisory Committee, or whether it is his independent judgment that leads him to consider that neither Kehrhahn nor Hodgson can safely be released?

I refer to the Advisory Committee for reconsideration only those cases in which there appears to be some primâ facie ground for thinking that continued detention is no longer necessary. In the cases of the two men mentioned in the question I was satisfied, after consultation with the military authorities, that release was not desirable in the interest of public safety and the defence of the realm, and accordingly I did not ask the Committee to reconsider their previous decision.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, in response to a request made by Mrs. Thies, of 153, Cleveland Street, London, W., a British-born woman, married to a German civilian interned at the Isle of Man internment camp, for permission to visit her husband, whom she had not seen for sixteen months, for a week at Christmas, a permit was issued to her whereby, after making the long and expensive journey from London to the Isle of Man, she would be allowed to pay him only three visits of half an hour each; whether he is aware that when this woman applied for permission to visit her parents at Bournemouth, their home, in order that she might see her four brothers back from the front on leave and whom she had not seen for two and a half years, this was refused by the superintendent of police, Bournemouth; and whether he proposes to take any action in this matter?

As to the first part of the question, I have no information as to Mrs. Thies' proposed visit to the Isle of Man. As to the second part, I am informed that this woman, who gives frequent expression to pro-German and anti-British sentiments, was allowed to reside for some time at Bournemouth, but the chief constable felt himself unable to continue this permission owing to her conduct and the fact that her parents could not exercise any effective supervision over her. I am unable to take any action in the matter.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether his attention has been called to the Report made by a Departmental Committee on the Reconstruction of the Poor Law; whether he will give the names of the Committee and say how many of them had any practical knowledge of the Poor Law or its administration; whether the Committee took any evidence before proceeding to its Report; if so, what were the names of the witnesses; if not, what was the reason for this course; whether the Committee recommended the transfer of the functions of the boards of guardians to county and borough councils; and whether that recommendation was accompanied by any estimate of its financial consequences.?

I have received from the Committee referred to a Report on the transfer of the functions of Poor Law authorities in England and Wales. The membership of the Committee will be set out in a White Paper which will, I hope, be available to Members this week, and of which I will send the hon. Member a copy. As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Report of the Committee, for the publication of which I am hoping to arrange without delay.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the arrangement made by the Coal Controller whereby colliery owners are allowed 2s. 6d. per ton extra to meet the cost. of the special war wages of 1s. 6d. per day also benefits the royalty owners, in some cases as much as 21d. per ton extra; whether it was the intention of the Government that royalty owners, who run no risk, should receive this gratuity; whether some royalty owners can retain 20 per cent. above the standard pre-war profits, whereas colliery proprietors are only allowed to retain 5 per cent.; and, if on inquiry, he finds that royalty owners automatically benefit to this extent by the recent war-wage award through an oversight, will he take steps to divert these increased royalties into the Treasury rather than into the pockets of royalty owners?

There are cases in which the royalty is dependent on the selling price of coal, but the Board of Trade have no power to interfere with the terms of the leases or agreements under which such royalties are payable. The last part of the hon. Member's question should be addressed to the Treasury.

asked the Minister of Labour what preliminary steps have been taken to arrange wages boards for urban districts in Ireland; whether it is necessary that legislation should be passed on this subject; and, if so, will the Government introduce a Bill early next Session?

Inquiries are being made into the conditions prevailing in a number of trades that are carried on in various parts of Great Britain and Ireland, with a view to ascertaining whether it is advisable that they should be brought under the Trade Boards Act. Legislation will be required for any such extension of the scope of the Act, and a Bill has been prepared, which will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary exigencies permit, which will facilitate the application of the Act to trades that need its protection.

asked the Postmaster General if recently a circular has been sent out by his Department intimating that the Government have decided that. ccnscientious objectors awarded work of national importance, and allowed to remain on their Post Office duties, should. on and from the 1st January, 1918, be paid at the rate allowed a temporary substitute; if he is aware that in some cases this instruction has entailed a reduction of one-half of the pay of permanent Post Office servants; by what authority this instruction has been issued; if the reduction of pay represents a saving to the Post Office; and will he reconsider the whole matter?

The circular merely notified to the staff of the Post. Office a Government decision affecting the whole Civil Service. I am aware that the reduction of pay is in some eases substantial, and there is of course a corresponding saving in Post Office expenditure. The last part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any instructions have been issued in his Department to prevent the delivery to France, Australia, or South Africa of copies of the OFFICIAL. REPORT containing criticisms of the Government; and, if not, whether he will investigate any cases of non-delivery of the OFFICIAL REPORT posted in the usual manner?

No such instruction has been issued in my Department, and I shall be prepared to investigate any case of the non-delivery of copies of the OFFICIAL REPORT addressed to France, Australia, or South Africa, provided that the particulars furnished are sufficient for effective inquiry.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the present condition of affairs in Russia, he will now release from his duties as acting British vice-consul, Odo Wiskemann, the son of Herr Odo Wiskemann, an unnaturalised German, and give this British-born young fit man an opportunity to volunteer for military service under the British flag?

As already stated, Mr. Wiskemann is assisting in His Majesty's Consulate at Archangel, where the pressure of work does not admit of the release of Mr. Wiskemann from his present duties.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a number of prison officers who have completed twenty-five years' service and upwards have been passed over and junior officers appointed to higher places; and whether he will have this complaint inquired into with a view to rectification?

The officers who have been promoted in rank since the introduction of the new scheme for the Irish prisons service have been selected by the General Prisons Board after full inquiry. Length of service cannot be accepted by the Board as the sole qualification for promotion.

asked when the lodgings allowance granted to Irish prison officers in June, 1916, will be forthcoming; and whether the amount so paid will be retrospective from 1st April, 1916, when the new scheme came into operation?

This matter will, I believe, be decided in the course of a few days.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received a copy of a resolution stating that, in order that the fullest information may be available when questions arise in connection with the minutes of the education committee submitted to a town council for confirmation, it is desirable, in cases where councils have not delegated any of their powers to education committees under the Education Act of 1902, that the co-opted members of such education committees shall not only have the right to attend such meetings, but be able to take part in any discussions which might arise in connection with such minutes and to vote thereon in all respects as if they were members of the local education authority; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in relation thereto?

I have received a copy of such a resolution. The suggestion raises a general question of great importance, and I am not prepared to express an opinion on it at the present time. I may add that legislation would be required to give effect to the proposal.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that some time ago a charge of insubordination was made against a member of the Post Office staff at Kilkenny six days after the alleged occurrence; that this officer, as a result, has had a serious record made against him in his conduct report; whether Rule 41 of the rule book for sorting clerks and telegraphists and Rule 379A of the rules for head postmasters were ignored in this case; whether the charge of insubordination was only made as the result of three written applications by the officer concerned to the postmaster for an explanation of a verbal charge made against the former by the latter; whether an assistant surveyor who was sent to inquire into the matter informed the officer concerned that there was no foundation for the derogatory remarks addressed to him by the postmaster; and whether he will give instructions to have the adverse record removed?

The case to which it is presumed the hon. Member refers occurred in August, 1916. The circumstances have been fully considered, and I am satisfied that no injustice was done to the officer concerned, against whom no disciplinary action beyond a caution was taken. I am not prepared to reopen the matter.