asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the treatment of a young Irish soldier who joined the Army voluntarily; if he is aware that Private M. M'Carthy, No. 8475, A Company, 5th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who was severely wounded and subsequently recommended by a board of medical doctors for discharge, has, instead of receiving his discharge, been. called before the military officials and sentenced to six months' imprisonment for having outstayed his leave two years ago; and if, having regard to the fact that the offence was committed two years ago, and that the soldier immediately afterwards was sent to the trenches, while his offence was paid for in blood, and that he is now a convalescent case, he will immediately order his release from prison, grant him the discharge which the medical board recommended, so as to allow his friends in Ireland to nurse him back to health and strength, which lie enjoyed previous to offering his life for the protection of the weaker nations?

I am inquiring into this case, and will communicate later with the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that soldiers on the Western Front who may be punished for minor offences are also further punished by having their home leave stopped for some months; and whether, in view of the unfairness of punishing a man twice over for the same offence, he can prevent this double punishment in the future?

I am making inquiries into this matter, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether Mr. P. M'Dougall, Commissioner, and the six Sub-Commissioners for Live Stock in Scotland, who are with one exception of military age, are or are not performing the duties of Commissioner and Sub-Commissioner, respectively, at the present time; if they are, from what date have they been so engaged; whether the local agricultural committees concerned have been consulted as to the continuance of the exemptions they have obtained; whether such exemptions were given on the ground that their presence on their farms was essential; and will he say why such exemptions are continued now that they have found time to accept paid official appointments under Government?

With regard to first part of the question, the hon. Member would appear to be under a misapprehension. Of the six Deputy Live Stock Commissioners for Scotland three, not five, are of military age. Mr. M'Dougall was appointed in September, and the Deputy Live Stock Commissioners in November and December, 1917. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative, and to the fourth part in the affirmative. In regard to the last part of the question, it is considered by the Ministry of Food that in view of the importance and responsibility of the work done by Mr. M'Dougall and his Deputy-Commissioners, it is in the national interest that their exemptions should be continued, and Lord Rhondda is in communication with the Minister of National Service on the subject.

Do I understand that Lord Rhondda, the Minister of Food, has decided that no other persons can be found in Scotland who are not of military age to perform these functions?

My reply states that he is in communication with the Minister of National Service on the subject.

Will that answer be communicated to the Amalgamated Society of Engineers?

I see no reason for that.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the Board of Agriculture in Scotland was originally charged with the duty of dealing with all questions affecting live stock and has on its staff men of experience in this behalf at least equal to that possessed by the Live Stock Commissioner and Sub-Commissioners of military age; and, if so, whether the last-named officers will now he released for military duty?

The Food Controller is not aware that the Scottish Board of Agriculture has at any time been charged with the duty of exercising control over the supply, distribution, and prices of live cattle arid dead meat; nor is he aware that any person on its staff has had previous experience of the special problems arising out of the necessity for fixing prices and controlling distribution. The second and third parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.

For what purpose does this body exist if it cannot deal with primary agricultural needs like this?

There are many other purposes than those stated in the question of my hon. Friend.?

Why are these exempted from their purview?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether Mr. James Picken, Sub-Commissioner for Live Stock, South-West Area, in Scotland, was recently refused exemption by the Appeal Tribunal sitting at Dumfries; whether he has now been released for military duty or is still occu- pied as Sub-Commissioner of Live Stock; and, in the latter event, whether the Food Controller will now cancel his appointment as Sub-Commissioner?

Since Mr. Picken accepted an appointment as Deputy Live Stock Commissioner for the South-West of Scotland his exemption as a farmer has been cancelled by the local tribunal. The question of his further exemption on the ground that he is necessarily engaged on work of national importance is now under discussion with the Ministry of National Service.

Is it a fact that this gentleman, having been refused exemption by those who are aware of himself and his circumstances, is being held back from the Army by a Government Department?

No doubt those circumstances were taken into account in determining this case, and have been laid before the Ministry of National Service.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his answers to-day have not given the impression of a satisfactory decision in that respect?

We can form our own judgment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if lie is aware that an official representing the Builders' Labourers' Union was invited by Messrs. Lovell, builders, who are erecting buildings at Denham, to pay a visit to the works owing to a dispute there; if he is aware that while the delegates were discussing the matter with the general foreman two officials representing the United Builders' Labourers' Union and the National Union of General Workers, respectively, were arrested by the military authorities and escorted off the works between two soldiers; if he is aware that the firm in question are Government contractors and are doing Government work; and if he intends taking any action with the military authorities for exceeding their duty by arresting the two officials in question after being invited by the firm to meet the management?

I am making inquiries into this matter, and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the figures relating to the first draft for the American Army made public by Provost-Marshal General Crowder, which show that the total number registered was 9,586,508, of which 1,057,363 were certified for military service; that claims for exemption totalled 1,560,570, of which 1,057,363 or 78 per cent. were granted; and, in view of these figures, will he state how the estimate of an American Army of 11,000,000 which is presented to the public on War Office films has been arrived at?

I am informed that no War Office films have appeared with this estimate, but perhaps my hon. Friend can give me further information on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can now state what London regiments were represented at the State entry of General Allenby into Jerusalem?

I am afraid I can add nothing to the information contained in the answers already given to my hon. Friend and in the dispatch from General Allenby, which has recently been published.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a certain number of regiments are very anxious to know if they were included in the State entry into Jerusalem?

I think it would be extremely ill-advised to add anything to the official statement which has been given by General Allenby.