asked the Under-secretary of State for War (1) whether, on 17th January, 1918, seven men of the 1st Western Non-Combatant Corps refused at Inceville, near Dieppe, to handle shells, were court-martialled on the 31st January, and sentenced to six months' hard labour; whether these men are now serving their sentences in France; (2) whether eight men of the 1st Northern Non-Combatant Corps at Rouen were court-martialled on 4th December, 1917, sentenced to field punishment No. 1, and, after serving part of their sentences, released with a clean crime sheet; whether these men are now doing their usual work; (3) whether seven men of the 1st Northern Non-Combatant Corps were at Rouen on 1st February, 1918, sentenced by court-martial for refusing to handle rifles; whether they are serving the sentence of fifty-six days' field punishment No. 1; whether it is in accordance with Regulations that they are tied up three nights out of four; (4) whether seventeen men in the 2nd Northern Non-Combatant Corps were, on 10th December, 1917, sentenced at Abancourt for refusing to handle military supplies; whether their sentences of two years' hard labour has been com muted to eighty days' field punishment No. 1; whether, while undergoing punishment, they were, contrary to Regulations, dragged round the square and thrown on the ground, picked up, and again thrown down and kicked; whether soldiers who watched these, proceedings made their disgust apparent; where these men now are; (5) whether in December, 1917, four teen men, being Seventh Day Adventists, were court-martialled at Abancourt for refusing to do military work on the Sabbath; whether they received sentences of nine months' hard labour; and whether any of these men are now in Wormwood Scrubs Prison or at Knutsford Work Centre?

If my hon. Friend wishes me to inquire into these cases, I should be glad if he would furnish me with the names and regimental numbers of the individuals concerned, but I would remind him that men of the Non-Combatant Corps can be called upon to carry out any duties other than those of a combatant nature—i.e., other than the bearing of arms or instruction in their use.

asked the Under secretary of State for War if a medical student attached to the Non-Combatant Corps is entitled under the new Army Council Instruction relegating medical students to the Reserves with a view to resuming their medical studies would be required to conform to the condition imposed, namely, joining an Officers' Training Corps, or whether, seeing that such a person has received a certificate of exemption from combatant duties on conscientious grounds, he will be permitted to substitute some other voluntary work of national importance instead of joining the Officers' Training Corps?

This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the position of Russians under the Military Service (Conventions with Allied States) Act who do not wish to remain in the Army or who wish to return to Russia; and whether Russians in this country are still being regarded as subject to the above-named Act?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a similar question by the hon. Member for North Somerset.

asked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been called to the number of men of military age and fitness who have been for some time and are now crossing regularly between the West of Scotland and Ireland, living there some time, and recrossing to Scotland and England to conduct their business there for a limited time, thus having the advantage of being resident in Ireland while actually conducting a business in Scotland or England; and, if so, what steps does he propose to take to deal with this matter?

The position of men of military age who have proceeded to Ireland with the object of evading their obligations under the Military Service Acts is receiving urgent consideration of the Government Departments concerned, and in certain cases arrests have been made and proceedings are at present pending before the Irish Courts.

Are we to understand that the practice has been stopped by the hon. Member's Department

The whole question is being considered. It is not only one Department that is concerned; there are several Departments?

Can the hon. Gentleman give any indication of the numbers of those men who have gone over

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Minister of National Service what steps he is taking to acquaint the discharged men concerned with the information contained in No. 29, of 1918, of 25th February; and whether any popularly-expressed leaflet is to be issued for distribution?

The Ministry of Labour have circulated the National Service Instruction dealing with this matter to societies, associations, and trade unions specially concerned, together with an explanatory letter stating that further copies may be obtained by branch secretaries from the Ministry of National Service. In addition to this, a communiqué is being circulated to the Press indicating what classes, of men are entitled to the concession, and how they can obtain its benefits by applications through Employment Exchanges or other wise. The Exchanges have received copies of the National Service Instruction, and special directions to ensure that inquiries are properly dealt with. The subject is also dealt with in a leaflet entitled "Points for Discharged Men," which can be obtained from the Government information kiosks. Following the provisions of the National Service Instruction, the men affected will receive individual notifications, which will, as far as possible, be sent to them before the commencement of the month allowed to them for finding work of national importance.