asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action, has been taken by the Government with respect to each of the recommendations in the First Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure which were under consideration at the time of his statement on 11th December, 1917, and with respect to each of the recommendations in the Committee's Second. Report?

issued the following statement:—

PARLIAMENTARY ESTIMATES.
Recommendations.	Action taken.
Second Report—Paragraphs 5 and 68.—Suggesting the desirability of presenting Estimates to Parliament in all cases where secrecy is not essential.	The question of the presentation of Estimates for various Services now provided for out of Votes of Credit was raised by the Public Accounts Committee of 1917, and is fully discussed in the Treasury Minute on their Report. The Treasury note with satisfaction that the conclusions arrived at in that Minute are generally in accord with the recommendations of the National Expenditure Committee.
	Every endeavour will be made, in cases in which the expenditure in respect of any Service can be estimated with sufficient approximation and the details of it can be made public without detriment to the public interest, to make the statement presented with the Vote of Credit as complete as possible, and also to secure that all excesses upon such Estimates are brought to the immediate attention of the House of Commons.
	Whether it is desirable to go beyond this and make the provision for certain War Services the subject of separate Resolutions (apart from the general Vote of Credit Resolutions) in Committee of Supply appears to the Treasury to depend upon whether the Services which are capable of such treatment are sufficient in volume and importance to justify the technical, the statistical, inconveniences which, as pointed out in the Minute, would be involved in attempting to separate them from the general War Services still to be included in the Votes of Credit.
	As the Estimates for 1918–19 are already in a forward state of preparation on the basis laid down in the Minute, it is proposed to present them in the first instance, at any rate, on that basis, leaving open for further consideration the question whether any particular Services of which details are shown in the Statement accompanying the Vote of Credit can, with advantage, be made the subject of separate Resolutions.
TREASURY CONTROL.
First Report.—Paragraph 38.	In addition to obtaining further assistance for the Department generally from men with outside business experience, the Treasury have appointed two Special Committees to advise them on contract arrangements and to inquire into the temporary staffs of Departments respectively. They have also arranged that the Ministry of Munitions shall submit for Treasury authority all proposals for capital expenditure exceeding £50,000 on a new factory or an extension of a factory, and that all concessions to firms in respect of capital expenditure shall take the form of cash grants, to be subject to Treasury approval when in excess of £10,000 or £50,000, according to circumstances.
Second Report—Paragraphs 15, 5], and 64.
Extension of Treasury control over the Ministry of Munitions and other Departments as regards capital expenditure, financial concessions to firms in respect of capital expenditure, the principles on which contracts are settled, the amount of profit left to contractors, and the securing or co-ordination of purchases. Support by the Treasury to financial

branches generally. Strengthening of the Treasury staff with a view to action on the above lines and as regards securing co-ordination of Departments in obtaining labour and inquiring as to the numbers and organisation of temporary staffs already existing.	Steps are being taken for securing, as far as possible, the co-ordination of Departments in making purchases and obtaining labour.
	The Treasury have always given, and will continue to give, their full support to the finance branches of Departments generally.

WAR OFFICE
1. First Report.
	Reply already given.	Further reply.
Paragraph 13.—Re-issue of leaflet in regard to safe-guarding arms, ammunition and equipment.	Steps are being taken to draw attention again to the Circular relating to the care of arms, ammunition and equipment.	An Army Council Instruction No. 1872 was issued on the 26th December last enjoining the greatest care in the conservation of arms, ammunition and equipment. This Instruction was distributed to all formations, units and depots at home and abroad.
Paragraph 14.—The more general use of comparative returns enjoined.	It is agreed that statistical returns have been of very great value, and their use is being largely extended.	Action is still proceeding.
Paragraph 15.—The system of cost accounts should be considerably extended.	An accountant has been engaged to examine the possibilities of such extension and has already entered on his duties.
Paragraphs 16 and 17.—The heavy expenditure incurred in the maintenance of very large forces in the United Kingdom, including the Volunteers, should be reviewed by the War Cabinet.	The strength of the forces at home is constantly under the review of the General Staff and the Adjutant-General and the numbers allocated for Home Defence are reviewed from time to time by the War Cabinet.	These questions are dealt with in the Memorandum on the Committee's second Report.
A comprehensive review of Army establishments should be set on foot in the United Kingdom with a view to reduction when man-power could be economised without. loss of efficiency.	This question is under consideration.	These questions are dealt with in the Memorandum on Committee's second Report.
Paragraph 19.—A review of the organisation of the Armies at home with a view to lessened expenditure of staff should be made.	The organisation of the Armies at home is under review with a view to economy of personnel.
Paragraph 18.—The cost of guarding posts by the Royal Defence Corps, the number of such posts and the method of staffing them should be reconsidered.	The question of the cost and establishment of the Royal Defence Corps is being further reviewed.	Action is being taken with a view to the replacement of the Royal Defence Corps as far as possible.
Paragraph 20. — Whilst there is an accumulation of brass shell cases and wooden shell boxes in France and at	On a review twelve months ago when the actual cost of repairs and transport was compared with the cost of	The functions of the Salvage Board and the duties of the Salvage Directorate in the Department of

a British port the manufacture of new supplies proceeds.	new boxes and cases, it was decided to continue the practice which had been in force since the beginning of the War of returning the boxes and cases to this country. Difficulties arose in the summer of this year owing to the congestion at points where the empties were received, but these have now been largely over-come. Of necessity a number of new boxes and cases must be made by way of replacing unserviceable ones.	the Surveyor - General of Supply have been defined. A branch has been organised in England to deal with the inflow of waste materials. The field organisation in France has been revised, and a Salvage Commission appointed to deal with unserviceable materials in the East African theatre of war. Steps are being taken to co-operate in the collection and disposal of civil waste. The Board and the Directorate are working in co-operation with the Ministry of Reconstruction.
	A Salvage Board has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Quartermaster-General on which the Ministry of Munitions is represented, to deal with the utilisation and disposal of all waste stores, including those referred to by the Committee. This Board will review the existing salvage arrangements with a view to their revision if found necessary.	The Italian Government has been approached with a view to its utilising Army waste materials so as to relieve the demand for tonnage for new materials, and steps are being taken to develop arrangements in Italy on similar lines to those in France.
		The following are amongst the results achieved:—
	As an illustration of the extent to which salvage has already been carried out, it may be mentioned that 285,000 tons of salvage were shipped from France to England between 1st January and 31st October in the present year.	(1) From waste fats collected from Army camps alone have been produced:—
		(i.) Tallow sufficient to provide soap for the entire needs of the Army, Navy and Government Departments with a surplus for public use, producing an actual revenue of about £960,000 per annum in addition to saving valuable tonnage.
		(ii.) 1,800 tons of glycerine for ammunition—sufficient to provide the propellant for 18,000,004 —18-pr. shells. The glycerine costs the Government £59 10s. per ton as compared with £300 per ton, the price of imported. glycerine.
		(2) Well over £1,000,000 worth of military rags have been recovered and used in the manufacture of new cloth and blankets for the Army.
		(3) Many thousands of pounds worth of cuttings

		from cotton textiles have also been recovered and utilised in connection with munition and aeroplane requirements.
		(4) Some hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of condemned boots have, after the expenditure of some labour in sorting and minor repairs at very small cost, been sold for distribution amongst the labouring classes, agricultural and industrial.
Paragraph 21.—Allegations as to wastage of ammunition.	Inquiries have been made as to these allegations.	Replies to the inquiries which have been addressed to France, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Salonika have not yet been received, but all the information in the possession of the War Office leads to the supposition that every effort is being made in all the theatres of war to conserve material and prevent wastage. (See also reply on paragraph 13.)

II. Second Report.
Paragraph 34.—Inquiry into and review of the expenditure on the forces at home.	Such economies as are practicable are being introduced, but it is, of course, essential to maintain an adequate force for Home Defence.
Paragraph 35.—The Committee cannot find that any definite conclusion has been reached by the War Office as to the use to be made of the large force of Volunteers.	Arrangements are being made to replace certain Regular medical units by Volunteers, and to form special sections in Volunteer units for periodic whole-time service, with a view to extending the employment of Volunteers, as far as may be possible, in other ways.
Paragraph 36.—It should be considered whether a large proportion of the Home Service employment companies could not now be disbanded.	These have now been reduced considerably; but it must be remembered that if the time-table of troops under training is interfered with by diverting recruits to fatigue duties, the period of training would have to be extended.
Paragraphs 37 and 38.—Inquiries should be made from time to time as to a possible reduction of the Military Staff at the War Office.	A Committee has been appointed to consider possible reductions.
Paragraph 39.—Although mistakes have been, and are still being, made, the Army Pay Department is, on the whole, to be commended for the way in which it has met and overcome its difficulties.	The Council agree, and are glad to see this recognition of the unceasing and successful efforts of the Army Pay Department.
It is desirable that an investigation should be made with a view to simplification of system, but this should not be carried out during the War.

Paragraph 42.—Requisition of buildings for military purposes should be avoided unless there is real urgency on military grounds.	The urgency is sometimes extreme, and delay would involve extra cost, but every effort is being made to give effect to the recommendation.
Paragraph 43. — Commercial value of frontages on sites acquired for military purposes should be taken into account in the lay-out of land.	This recommendation is being acted upon.
Paragraph 44.—A small Committee should be appointed, including persons accustomed to the organisation of large bodies of civilian labour, to inquire into existing methods of remuneration of, and of ensuring reasonably good work from, German prisoners of war employed in the United Kingdom and in France.	The recommendation is being considered.
Paragraph 45 and Appendix III.— Arrangements for manufacture of briquettes.	The French scheme was adopted in preference to the Dumfries scheme on assurances that steel would be available and in order to relieve the serious tonnage situation. It was abandoned as soon as it became necessary to divert the steel to other more urgent Services.

MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS.
First Report.
	Reply already given.	Further reply.
Paragraph 31 (1).—Parliamentary Secretary should he charged with the Finance of the Ministry as in case of Financial Secretaries to Admiralty and War Office.	No statement can be made for the moment, but the proposal is receiving most careful consideration and it is hoped that it will be possible to arrive at a decision shortly.	This matter is still under consideration in connection with a rearrangement of the duties of the personnel of the Ministry. (See also paragraph at end of reply.)

EXPENDITURE AND PRICES.
Second Report.
Paragraph 33 (1).—Desirability of avoiding the creation of new credits in financing the War.	The Treasury are very fully alive to the importance of the matters dealt with in this and the succeeding portions of paragraph 33. With the general conclusions of the Committee they entirely concur, and as regards the recommendations numbered 2 to 5 in the paragraph action is being taken, in consultation with the Departments primarily concerned, upon the lines indicated (see separate notes below against each item).
	As regards the first recommendation, it has been the constant pre-occupation of the Treasury to secure that the War expenditure should be financed to the maximum extent. possible by taxation and that the necessary Loans should be raised in such a manner as to secure the transfer to Government of existing purchasing power rather than the creation of new purchasing power. These efforts have necessarily attained only partial success. The financing of war operations on the

	present scale has proved by experience to be impossible without a considerable measure of credit inflation, and the position of the United Kingdom compares not unfavourably in this respect with that of any of the belligerents.
Paragraph 33 (2).—Suggested inquiry into the actual increase in the cost of living and counterbalancing advantages due to War conditions.	A Committee is being appointed to consider the matter.
Paragraph 33 (3).—Continuance of measures for limitation of profits and publication of the fact.	The measures are being continued and the attention of the War Aims Committee has been drawn to the question of publication.
Paragraph 33 (4) and (5).—Suggesting general considerations to be borne in mind before conceding advances of wages, and proposing unification of machinery for deciding wage questions.	The War Cabinet have decided that all applications for an increase in War advances, and wages disputes arising in connection therewith, shall be referred for decision to the Minister of Labour.

ADMI RALTY.
Paragraph 47.—Certain improve-meats proposed in contract arrangements so as to encourage the contractor to economise, to limit the contractor's profit on sub-contracts, and to maintain an efficient Costings Department.	The plan now being adopted for dealing with profits under Net Cost Shipbuilding Contracts is to fix the total. amount of profit and establishment charges in advance. The further scheme for giving the contractors a bonus on cheaper production has not proved capable of application in practice.
	With regard to profits under sub-contracts, an arrangement is made with the contractors for repair contracts to accept half the profits ordinarily payable, and for shipbuilding contracts a reduced profit on sub-contracts is allowed for in fixing the whole lump sum profit on the whole contract.
	The Admiralty are in thorough accord with the desirability of maintaining an efficient Costing Department.
	See also reply above to paragraph 38 of First Report and paragraph 15 of Second Report.
Paragraph 48.—Absence of any estimate of the cost of National Shipyards before the scheme was started.	The estimates for the cost of the National Shipyards have mow been laid before the Treasury.
Paragraph 51.—Recommending that, as regards orders for shell, the utmost care should be taken to avoid competition in buying, either direct or indirect, between the Admiralty and the Ministry of Munitions.	The Admiralty note that the Committee appears to support their view that it is undesirable to transfer the work of contracting for Naval shell to the Ministry of Munitions. The Committee's desire that thee utmost care should be taken to avoid competitive buying is being complied with. Frequent meetings are held between the Directors of Contracts of the several Departments, and constant communication as to prices and orders is kept up. A Joint Committee sits frequently, on which the Admiralty, War Office, and Ministry of Munitions are represented, for the consideration of all common questions of policy, as well as for the prevention of competitive buying and other forms of overlapping.

FOOD PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT.
Paragraph 54.—Statement to be made to Parliament as to grants and expenditure in connection with work on the land.	A statement will be made to Parliament at an early date as to the probable expenditure on these and other Services from the Vote of Credit in 1918–19.
Paragraph 55.—Desirability of introducing uniform rates for homogeneous classes such such as shorthand-writers, etc., and of reducing the amount of overtime.	Uniform rates have normally been laid down in the past for lower grade homogeneous classes, including shorthand-writers, at Headquarters establishments; but higher pay has been allowed to some grades in certain Departments to cover all overtime, and this system is now being ex-tended as far as possible. The new Treasury Committee on Staffs will have an opportunity of considering, inter alia, the amount of overtime worked in Departments.
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION.
Paragraphs 56 and 72.—Unsatisfactory nature of the accommodation provided for the Food Production Department and the Employment Department.	In each case the premises were the only adequate premises obtainable near Whitehall at the time when the demand arose. At the Employment Department a number of partitions have in the past been removed, so as to provide larger rooms, and steps are now being taken to secure a more economical use of the premises. It is not true that the Employment staff generally are "accommodated in a number of small rooms holding from three to four persons": only one-fifth of the staff are so accommodated, and nearly half the staff are in rooms with twenty or more persons each.
BOARD 0F TRADE.
Paragraph 57.—Powers of the Board of Trade should be systematically used to secure the supply of petrol for the public at a price based on the ascertained costs.	The question of the limitation of the price of petrol to the consumer is under consideration.
Paragraphs 60–62. — Petroleum Administration should be concentrated in one organisation.	The question of the best means of securing the objects for which the Petroleum Executive was recently set up is being discussed between that body and the Board of Trade.
Paragraphs 63–64.—Operations of Timber Control Board. Arrangements for consolidated purchase should be framed in consultation with the Admiralty and Air Ministry.	The Department is actively engaged in considering arrangements which will, in effect, carry out the suggestions of the Committee.
Paragraph 65.—Closer co-operation appears desirable in the matter of afforestations between the Board of Agriculture and the Office of Woods.	The question is being discussed between the Ministry of Reconstruction and the other Departments concerned.
Paragraph 66.—Written accounts in respect of Office accommodation for the three years that have passed should now be formally presented through the proper channels to the various Governments represented on the Commission Internationale de Ravi-	The necessary steps are now being taken in order that the claims referred to by the Committee may be presented to the respective Governments.

taillement. A similar course should be followed in respect of the cost of telegrams from delegates in London to their own Governments.
Paragraph 68.—Estimates.	See under paragraph 5 above.
EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT.
Paragraph 71.—Questioning the need for continuing the salary of a certain official after the War.	The official referred to is concerned not only with the duties mentioned by the Committee, but also with the general supervision, under the Director, of the whole of the work of the Exchanges with regard to women. 1,000,000 women are now insured against unemployment, and 2,500 Vacancies for women are filled daily by the Exchanges; and the work is expected to increase after the War.
Paragraph 72.—Office accommodation.	See under paragraphs 56 and 72 above.
Paragraph 74.—Deprecating the practice of giving only the number of vacancies filled.	This is not the practice. The Department habitually quote also the number of individuals concerned.
Paragraph 77.—Questioning proposal to constitute a Central Exchange in London for the Building Trade, with rooms which can be used for meetings by persons engaged in the trade with to charge beyond a small sum to cover the cost of heating and lighting.	This proposal was adopted by the Department at the urgent request of the trade unions in the London building trades, who took the matter up on their own initiative.
Paragraph 80.—Principal Financial Officer to report to the Permanent Secretary, etc.	This proposal is being considered.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is of opinion that the most effective way of securing economies in the large spending Departments is to appoint in each an efficient head of Supply services with large powers. This policy has been carried out in the War Office by the appointment of Mr. Andrew Weir as Surveyor-General of Supply and in the Admiralty by the appointment of Sir H. Livesey, K.B.E., as Director of Contracts. The Ministry of Munitions stands in a different position, because it is almost exclusively a Supply Department on a very large scale, but arrangements for improving the machinery of financial control and the making of contracts are now under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the sale of enemy-owned busi nesses in this country has disclosed a system widely adopted by German firms whereby the Treasury has been defrauded of sums due on account of Income and Super-taxes by importing part of the goods required for a finished article at exorbitant prices; is he aware that under the taxation necessary after the War this fact imposes a serious disability on competing British goods; and if he will take steps that will ensure all foreign-owned businesses bearing the same financial responsibility after the War will be as required from all British-owned firms?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the provisions of Section 31 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1915, which was enacted to safeguard the revenue in cases of the type which he apparently has in mind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that every member in a house-hold that wishes to be supplied with sugar has, among other particulars asked for on the form they have to fill up, to give their ages, and that these forms pass through the hands of the proprietor of the shop and his assistants, down to the errand boy; if he is aware that this is causing dissatisfaction and annoyance to a number of people; and whether he will issue instructions that the particulars re age need not be given, or that it will be sufficient if each person over, say, thirty years of age may describe himself or herself as over that age?

As I have already stated, particulars of date of birth have been required under the Sugar Distribution Scheme, first, in cases of doubt to afford individuals a simpler and more expeditious method of proving their identity than would otherwise be possible, and, secondly, in order that the particulars of age thus given may be taken into account in connection with any general scheme which may hereafter be established for rationing essential foods for the purposes of determining the appropriate scale of allowances in each case. The forms on which these particulars are given pass through the hands of the retailer in a sealed envelope. I am not aware of any material dissatisfaction or annoyance at this requirement, the reasons for which are, I believe, well understood; and in the circumstances I am not prepared to issue the instructions proposed by the hon. Member in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why vacancies for women clerks in the Customs and Excise Department in Ireland should not be filled by an open competitive examination held by the Civil Service Commissioners; and will he explain who has at present the final selection of candidates for the vacancies?

As I informed the hon. Member on the 13th instant, the appointments in question are purely temporary. No prospect of permanent employment, or even of continuous temporary employment, is offered, and they are, therefore, not suitable for open competition. Candidates are selected by the local collectors of Customs and Excise from applicants sent to them by the local Employment Exchanges.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether in the fixing of the war bonus for the employés of the Grand Canal Company the fact was taken into consideration that the country agents are not provided with houses rent free like the agent in Dublin; whether he is aware that in connection with the increases granted to railway workers no differentiation was made as between those living in cities and those living in smaller towns; and whether, in these circumstances, he will make such representations as will secure that all the employés of the Grand Canal Company will be put on an equal footing as regards war bonus by increasing the war bonus of 6s. granted to country agents to the same sum as that granted to the staff in Dublin?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I understand that many of their country agents are provided with houses by the Grand Canal Company, and that in any case where a house is not provided the fact was taken into consideration in fixing the agent's salary. I have, however, referred the hon. Member's question to the Canal Control Committee, who will no doubt give it full consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether inspector of trades were granted a war bonus of £25 per annum; whether this was increased to £30 and then finally increased to £50 per annum; whether inspectors on overseeing duties have had the consolidated allowance advanced from £90 to £100 per annum; whether these inspectors receive their salaries plus the £100 and the war bonus; and, if so, why the inspectors and assistant inspectors of timber who have to reside in the London district are not allowed the war bonus or allowance?

The answer to the first four parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to his previous question on the 11th December on this subject, and would add that these officers, in common with other established Members of the Civil Service, are now entitled to receive a bonus of from 10 per cent. to 15 per cent. on their salaries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the recent replacement of British medical practitioners in our military hospitals by American practitioners has broken down; if the British practitioners have been requested to return temporarily to work in military hospitals; if he is aware of the disadvantage that has accrued to our wounded by the replacement of a fully experienced medical service by one which could have but little experience of disablement due to the peculiar conditions of war?

The facilities which we have given to the American Government to enable their officers to obtain experience of war injuries have not broken down. The number of practitioners employed in military hospitals varies with the number of patients in them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what are the facilities given to prisoners of war under the reciprocal arrangement to communicate their capture; whether such individual notification is subject to the delays of censorship; and what is the average time before such notification is received in England?

The experience of the War Office is that our prisoners captured by the Germans usually write either on the special first capture postcard provided by the Germans or on a field service card which they may happen to possess. These postcards are subject to censorship, but as few contain anything beyond the soldier's description, the delay is not likely to be great. The interval between the date on the card and the date of its receipt in this country varies from three weeks to two months. Special postcards are provided for German prisoners captured by us.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War by what authority a statement has been included in the syllabus issued by the Southern Army Command for the instruction of soldiers in probationary battalions to the effect that there has never been a greater need for national intelligence than which exists at present, but that it would seem as though the schools, with their intensely narrow outlook, have only produced a deadening of the imagination, an incapacity for reasoning, and a complete lack of that social and civic instinct or conscientiousness which is the basis of good citizenship; and if, in view of the services of men and officers educated in the schools, as a whole, displayed during the course of the War, instructions will be given that this passage is to be deleted from the syllabus in question and not to be repeated in any other?

I have written to my hon. Friend about this and explained the matter to him.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give approximately the annual cost to the country of a Regular or Territorial soldier, including separation and dependants' allowances, and a member of the Volunteer Force?

The average cost of a Regular or Territorial soldier in the United Kingdom under present conditions is about £112 a year. In the present state of the Volunteer Force it is difficult to arrive at any figure showing the average cost per head; but £5 a year would be the maximum as matters stand.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the only appointment at munition works offered to discharged soldiers and sailors are those of the lower rank and pay; whether he is aware that there are many discharged men who, by education and previous experience, are qualified to fill the more responsible and higher appointments, and that many of such more responsible and better-paid appointments are filled by men of military age and capacity who have, by reason of such employment, escaped the Military Service Acts; and whether he proposes to take steps to secure some of these posts for discharged men qualified to hold them?

The Minister has no reason to believe that the only appointments at munitions works offered to discharged sailors and soldiers are those of lower rank and pay. He understands that the Employment Department of the Ministry of Labour have issued instructions to the Employment Exchanges to use every effort to place discharged sailors and soldiers on any work which they are qualified to do. With regard to the latter parts of the question, if the hon. Member will give details of the cases he has in mind the Minister will inquire into them.

asked the Home Secretary what was the average remuneration of a Metropolitan police constable below the rank of sergeant before the War, including pay, accommodation or rent allowance, uniform, boot allowance, medical attendance, and the value of pension rights; what will be the corresponding figure after the grant of the additional war bonus recently announced by him; what was the average weekly pay received in money of a constable of that rank before the War; and what will be the average pay, with bonuses, of a constable with a wife and four children after the additional increases take effect?

supplied the following particulars:(1) The average weekly remuneration of a married Metropolitan police constable before the War:

asked the Home Secretary what is the estimated cost of each of the increases of pay and war bonuses received by the Metropolitan Police since the outbreak of war, including that recently announced by him; what is the total; and how much of that sum will be payable by the Treasury and by the ratepayers, respectively?

The following figures show the estimated cost of the several increases of pay and war bonuses received by the Metropolitan Police since the outbreak of war. They are based on the present strength of the Metropolitan Police Farce (17,277), which is less than its strength at the beginning of the War, and less than its strength will be when men serving in His Majesty's dockyards, etc., and with the forces are returned:

	£
General increase in pay of Force as from 31st August, 1914	128,000
War bonus of 3s. per week to all ranks as from 15th March, 1915	134,000
Children's allowance of 1s. a week per child, provided pay and bonus did not exceed £3 3s. a week as from 2nd October, 1916	56,000
Wife allowance of 1s. and increase of 6d. per week in children's allowance, provided pay and bonus did not exceed £3 3s. a week as from 5th March, 1917. The limit was raised to £5 a week as from 30th April, 1917. (Additional cost.)	62,000
Boot allowance to all ranks increased to is. a week in place of 8½d. to inspectors and 6d. to sergeants and constables as from 14th May, 1917	21,000
War bonus to all ranks increased from 3s. to 8s., to include all other war bonuses except 1s. 6d. per child as from 4th June, 1917. (Additional cost.)	190,000
War bonus increased from 8s. to 12s. and children's allowance from is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per week as from 17th December, 1917. (Additional cost.)	237,700
	£828,000

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any arrangements have yet been arrived at in this country to deal with the Australian concentrates and produce sulphuric acid and spelter which are necessary for the purposes of the War; and if anything has been settled as to ground for the purpose either in Avonmouth, Widnes, or Norway?

Arrangements have already been made for the treatment of a quantity of the Australian zinc concentrate. at works to be erected at Avon mouth, and negotiations for the treatment of further quantities at Widnes and possibly elsewhere are in progress; but no suggestion for this treatment in Norway has been made in any quarter so far as I have been able to ascertain.

asked the Secretary for Scotland of he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Scottish Departmental Committee on Food Production; how many sittings this Committee has held within the la-it six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cast to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, pasting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?

The Committee has made three Reports. It has held no sittings as a whole during the last six months, but a Sub-committee of its number, comprising two additional members specially appointed for the purpose, has met to advise the Scottish Board of Agriculture from time to time. The cost of the Committee has so far been £272, excluding the cost of printing and stationery. There is no intention of discontinuing the Committee.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Housing (Building Construction) Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether he considers the perpetuation of this Committee is necessary to the successful prosecution of the War?

I am informed that there have been nine meetings of the Committee since its appointment on the 26th July last and eighteen meetings of Sub-committees. No changes have been made in the personnel. The approximate expenditure to date is, I am told, £150. The Report of the Committee is expected in about three months' time, and I am satisfied that its work should not be delayed in any way as it may materially affect and simplify the problem of housing the working classes after the War, one of the most pressing problems in connection with reconstruction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Reserved Occupations Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. The Reserved Occupations Committee is an inter-departmental Committee, which was originally attached to the Board of Trade, as its functions are mainly concerned with so guiding recruit- ing as to do the least possible injury to general trade consistent with the military requirements of the country. Soon after the National Service Department was started the then Director of National Service invited the Committee to join his Department in an advisory capacity, and when the new Ministry of National Service was established this Committee was invited to act as advisers to the Trade Exemptions Department of the Ministry. At the same time the membership of the Committee was slightly changed, so as to exclude representatives of the man-power using Departments. The Committee as such costs nothing, its expenditure being merged in that of the Trade Exemptions Department of the Ministry, and its members being unpaid except in so far as they are Government officials, whose work on this Committee forms part of their departmental duties. The two chief officers of the Trade Exemptions Department, for example, are the chairman and deputy-chairman of the Committee, and deal with the business arising from day to day. The present list of certified occupations has been in operation since 23rd June last, but a general revision is about to be made, and in connection therewith meetings of the Committee will again be necessary.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Labour Advisory Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?

It is not clear to what Committee the hon. Member refers. If he will give me the necessary particulars I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Munitions Council; how many sittings this Council has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Council during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Council, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Council is to be continued?

The Munitions Council was established in August last by the Minister of Munitions to assist in coordinating and controlling the extended business of the Ministry. A full explanation of the reason leading to this departure was made public at the time. In the period of four months—from 18th August to 18th December of last year—175 meetings of the Council, or of the Committees of the Council, have been held. The only changes made in the personnel of the Council have been the inclusion of three additional new members. In nearly every case the members of the Munitions Council are serving and have been serving since the formation of the Ministry of Munitions, without salary. The creation of the Council has not imposed any new administrative charges upon the Exchequer. There is no intention of dispensing with the Munitions Council, which, with its Committees, has become the principal instrument through which the business of the Ministry of Munitions is discharged.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Official History of the War Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. One sitting has been held by the Committee within the last six months. No changes have been made in the personnel of the Committee during this period. The annual cost to the State of the Committee is nil. This Committee is to be continued.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the incon- venience arising from the rule that telegrams, even when the telephone number is used as a sufficient address, have to be addressed by name to some person in the house bearing that number, which exactly defeats the object of the sender when, as often happens, he desires to address anyone the house at the time of the arrival of the message to prevent its remaining unopened until his own return; and whether there is any objection to addressing a telegram simply to the telephone number of the house concerned

The surname of the subscriber as well as his exchange number is required in a telephonically addressed telegram in order to minimise the risk of misdelivery or failure. I do not know of any practical inconvenience arising from this rule. A telegram so addressed is delivered by telephone, and its contents therefore become known to the members of his household concerned, even though the subscriber may not be at home. If the hon. Member knows of any case in which difficulty has occurred I shall be happy to have inquiry made, if he will send me particulars.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Development Commissioners have sanctioned an advance of £50,000 for the provision of motor power in fishing boats in England and Wales, and that a sum of £3,000 has been advanced for the same purpose in Ireland; whether corresponding advances have been sanctioned in the case of Scotland; and, if not, whether the Scottish Fishery Board has made application for such advances?

The facts stated in the first part of the question are substantially correct; the answer to the second and third parts is in the negative. I would refer the hon. Baronet to the observations made by the Scottish Sea Fisheries Committee upon this subject in their Report, which was issued a few months ago.