asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that no progress whatever has been made with reconstruction with regard to Ireland; whether several Committees have reported on matters affecting reconstruction in Great Britain without taking into consideration the case of Ireland; and whether he will without delay appoint a Committee consisting of Irishmen to examine every branch of Irish requirements in connection with recontion after the War?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to answer this question. I cannot admit the accuracy of the suggestion contained in the first part of the question; in reply to the second part, the hon. Member must be aware that Ireland stands in a different category from other portions of the United Kingdom in regard to many of the problems of reconstruction, and it may, therefore, happen from time to time that recommendations are made which are required for England, Scotland, and Wales, but which are not applicable to Ireland. In reply to the last paragraph, I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will direct a Return to be made, as asked for by the hon. Member for Carmarthen Boroughs, as to the Members of this House who have been paid for speaking at war aims meetings, and the amounts so paid?

It is impossible to give the return asked for as no Member of Parliament has been paid for speaking at war aims meetings. Members have only received their travelling expenses.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the Department has any power to require a minimum standard of size of eggs placed on sale; and, if so, whether Regulations will be issued that retailers shall grade eggs and sell at a reduced price those which average less than 24 oz. a dozen?

I understand that the only eggs which average less than 24 oz. a dozen in weight are Egyptian eggs, which are already sold at lower prices than other eggs. It is not, therefore, considered necessary to issue Regulations to the effect indicated in the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the inadequacy of the present system of supplies of fat and to the hardship that is thus caused not only to bakers and confectioners, whose businesses are threatened, but to the workers who depend upon them; and whether the Government are proposing to take any steps in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Blackburn on the 11th March.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the great shortage in the supply of beasts to Derby Market; and whether he will consider the desirability of restoring access to those outside areas from which Derby butchers have for forty years drawn supplies?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In view of the approaching introduction of a general scheme of rationing for Great Britain, it has been found advisable to define the areas from which the requirements of each local food control committee shall be supplied, in order that all unnecessary transport may be avoided. It is, therefore, impossible to make the concession asked for in the second part of the question, but the hon. Member may rest assured that all possible steps are being taken by the Ministry of Food to maintain adequate supplies of meat for Derby.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why soldiers in Voluntary Aid Detachment hospitals are rationed so much below those in military hospitals?

My hon. Friend is misinformed. The scale of food is the same for military patients in all hospitals. It is obvious, of course, that a fixed scale cannot be laid down, as the diet in individual cases must be varied in accordance with medical advice.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulties in transit of fresh fish from Downings, county Donegal; and whether the Government are prepared either to promote the construction of a light railway between this port and Creeslough Railway Station or to make other provision for the conveyance of the fish?

Downings Bay is 10 miles from Creeslough Station, and the transit of fish is by carts belonging to farmers. The quantity of fish carted varies according to the catch, and has been from 1,100 to 3,000 tons a year. No difficulty appears to have occurred in providing carts, and I am advised that the quantity of fish sent from Downings Bay would not justify the construction of a light railway to Creeslough Station.

asked the Secretary for Scotland why the Board of Agriculture, after agreeing with the Food Committee of Zetland that 30 acres of land on the farm of Guenale should be cultivated, withdrew from the agreement and sanctioned the cultivation of less than half the quantity?

At the request of the district agricultural committee the Board of Agriculture for Scotland requested the occupier of this farm of Quendale, which is no doubt the farm referred to my my hon. Friend, to cultivate 30 acres additional. They have been assured by the occupier that this will be done. The original proposal was that the 30 acres in question should be permanent pasture, but, after correspondence with the occupier, it was agreed that 18 acres of rotation grass and 12 of permanent pasture should be ploughed.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if the Board of Agriculture have agreed that 20 acres of land should be cul- tivated on the farm of Scatsta Dolling; and if they have made any arrangements for fencing and necessary building in connection with this cultivation?

The Board of Agriculture for Scotland have agreed that 20 acres on the farm of Scatsta should be cultivated; they are in communication with the district agricultural committee on the subject of fencing, but are not advised that any building is necessary in connection with the proposed cultivation.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the gross tonnage of mercantile shipping completed in the United Kingdom in the month of January and the month of February, 1917?

The gross tonnage of mercantile shipping completed in January, 1917, was 48,089, and in February, 1917, 79,451 gross tons.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the official statement of shortage of merchant tonnage, he is prepared to give official sanction to the establishment of a national shipyard in Dublin, or any other part of Ireland, on the lines of the Chepstow (Wales) yard; if he is aware that accommodation for such a yard is in existence where there is sufficient water at all times; and if he is aware that labour, skilled and unskilled, can be found?

As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member on the 28th November last, there is no intention of establishing a national shipyard in Dublin, or in any other part of Ireland. I am aware of the site referred to by the hon. Member, and as I stated in reply to the Member for the St. Patrick's Division on the 14th January, it has been suggested to the Dublin Dockyard Company that this site should be utilised as an extension of their existing yard, but up to the present the Dublin Dockyard Company have not pursued the matter further. With regard to the last part of the question, I would point out that although labour, both skilled and unskilled, may be available for the working of a yard in Dublin, great difficulty would be experienced in providing the necessary material and plant for the equipment of such a yard, and it is considered that the output of merchant tonnage can be more rapidly increased by extending the facilities of yards already in existence, than by the establishment of any yards which would be unproductive for some considerable period.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can arrange for copies of the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) form of application for special assistance to be placed in all Young Men's Christian Association or other huts of the like character, in view of the number of men who know nothing about the scheme and because of their want of knowledge suffer hardship and loss to their families?

My hon. Friend's suggestion will be considered.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether any English women have been allowed to go to Holland in connection with canteen or other work since the arrival there of British prisoners; if so, in what numbers; whether it is now possible to allow wives and near relatives of the prisoners to visit them in small parties and for short periods; and, if not, why this cannot be done?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer which I gave on the 26th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Orkney and Shetland. I regret that the suggestion in the latter part of the question is impracticable.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) how many prisoners of war, British and Indian, have been taken by the Turks since the War commenced; and how many of these are now known to be alive?

I will give the figures separately for the British and Indian native prisoners. Of the British prisoners, including the Royal Navy, 438 officers and 3,870 other ranks are known to have been captured by the Turks. Of these, thirty-two officers and 274 other ranks have been repatriated or escaped. Fourteen officers and 1,413 other ranks have died, and 392 officers and 2,183 other ranks are still in prison camps according to the latest returns. These figures are exclusive of one officer and 635 other ranks of the Kut garrison who have never been traced. Of the Indian native prisoners, 221 officers and 7,169 other ranks are known to have been captured. Of these, six officers and 1,146 other ranks have been repatriated or escaped. Four officers and 1,298 other ranks are known to have died, and 211 officers and 4,725 other ranks are still in prison camps according to the latest returns. Two thousand six hundred of the rank and file of the Kut garrison have never been heard of.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether there is any limit to the numbers of prisoners of war agreed to be interned in Holland; and, if so, whether any arrangements have been made for the reception of additional prisoners by another neutral country?

It is laid down in paragraph 13 of The Hague Convention that 16,000 British and German combatant and civilian prisoners of war are to be interned in Holland. The question of the transfer of further prisoners to other neutral countries has been carefully considered. Owing to the shortage of transport the only other country to which prisoners under existing conditions can be transferred is Switzerland, and the Swiss Government have stated that they are not able to increase the number of prisoners of war already interned there.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether there are temporary employés working under the Munitions Department for a forty-eight-hour week for £3 while there are men giving voluntary service who are paid £l per day subsistence money; and, if so, will he state how many persons who are supposed to be rendering voluntary service are paid £l per day subsistence allowance?

The answer to the first part of the question is, Yes, Sir. There are forty-three persons who receive a subsistence allowance of £1 per day in respect of the voluntary service rendered by them. They are professional and technical assistants holding positions of considerable responsibility, for which the Ministry would normally have to pay salaries much in excess of the allowance named. The temporary employés referred to in the first part of the question are engaged upon purely clerical duties.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been drawn to the eviction of several munition workers in the Selby district; whether he is aware that an official of his Department made inquiries into the housing difficulties, was satisfied that there was a shortage of houses, and promised to report accordingly; and what action, if any, it is proposed to take in the direction either of preventing any further evictions or cooperating in the building of more houses?

Representations have been received calling attention to the eviction of munition workers in Selby, and urging that, in view of the shortage of houses, the district should be declared a special area for the purposes of Regulation 2 a (2) of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. A local investigation has been made, and a decision as to the application of the Regulation will shortly be given.

asked the Pensions Minister when the pensions to dependants of soldiers and sailors will be increased?

I am not yet in a position to answer the hon. Member's question.

asked the Home Secretary if, in view of the inconvenience caused to the general public by the prevailing scarcity of the light French wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, arising from the Order of the Liquor Control Board, he will obtain a relaxation of that Order?

I have no jurisdiction in regard to the Orders of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), but I may say that the limitations of the amount of in- toxicating liquor (including wines) now available for consumption are not consequent on any Order of that Board.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of instructing registration officers to differentiate between married and unmarried woman in the next electoral register, in order to lessen the labours of returning officers and polling clerks?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The Instructions which are in preparation will, I think, go a long way to meet the object which the hon. Member has in view.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether the Government propose to make any distinction between indentured and unindentured apprentices in skilled trades; and if he will see that in making grants, awards, or bonuses all the Government Departments will give full and equal recognition to unindentured apprentices?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him to his question on 14th February. There is nothing that I can add.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why no minimum has been fixed for the payment of war bonus to the departmental managers and clerical staff employed by the controlled canal companies; why these officials receive considerably less than the 21s. a week minimum war bonus paid to railway officials in similar grades; and whether he will instruct the controlled canal companies to exhibit in a prominent place details of war bonuses due, so that their employés may know to what they are entitled?

No minimum war bonus has been fixed for the managerial and clerical staff employed on controlled canals, and the amount of the bonus, if any, is a matter for arrangement between. the staff and the authority owning the particular canal. It is not considered necessary to exhibit details of the war bonus payable on the controlled canals.

asked the Assistant-Director to the War Trade Department whether he will state the reason why manufactured paper is admitted into this country from Sweden, but the raw material of manufactured paper, wood-pulp, is prohibited, seeing that the shipping space of the latter is but little more than that of paper; whether it is permissible to import wood-pulp from Norway; and, if so, what is the reason for a distinction between the two countries?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Exchange and other reasons have interfered with this trade.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour when the proposed wages boards for the settlement of wages and conditions of labour in the building trade for works of national importance will be set up?

The Ministry of Labour are in consultation with the other Government Departments concerned with a view to the early settlement of procedure for dealing with rates of wages and working conditions in the building trade.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if his Department is responsible for the erection of the six cottages provided for the fishermen evicted in connection with the Beachley clearance; and, if so, can he state the width, length, and height of the living rooms, scullery, and the three bed rooms and bath rooms, and the size of the garden plot attached to each cottage?

I have been asked to answer this question, and would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the Noble Lord the Member for South Nottingham on the 14th instant. I am sending my right hon. Friend a statement showing the comparison between the new and the old buildings, and also the garden plots attached to each.

asked the Secretary for Ireland how many first and second class candidates for the Royal Irish Constabulary were on the register, the total number of vacancies in the force, and the total number of resignations on the 31st December in the years 1901, 1913, and 1917; how many first and second class candidates were called up in 1917, and how many were rejected by the surgeon of the force; if he will state the sources from which recruits are drawn and if there is a falling-off in any particular class of candidates; if he will state when the standard height, 5 ft. 9 ins., had been lowered to 5 ft. 8 ins.; what is the weekly pay,. exclusive of war bonus, of a recruit for the first six months; whether he has to pay for his messing out of his salary, and if there are any deductions made for equipment; and if it is intended to maintain the traditions of the constabulary force by raising the standard height for recruits to 5 ft. 9 ins., calling only first class candidates and by raising the pay of a recruit to the same level as the minimum wage paid to agricultural labourers in Ireland?

The number of recruits coming forward at present for the Royal Irish Constabulary is more than sufficient to meet the wastage of the force, although owing to the increased agricultural activity in Ireland and other causes connected with the War, there has been strong competition by other opportunities of employment. The minimum standard height for candidates was reduced from 5 ft. 9 in. to 5 ft. 8 in. in August, 1914. The weekly pay of a recruit, exclusive of war bonus, is 20s. per week for the first six months of service, when he is receiving professional training. The war bonusis 8s. a week. The total pay of 28s. a week is therefore greater than the minimum rates of wages for agricultural workmen in Ireland fixed by the Agricultural Wages Board. In addition to pay the recruit gets free uniform, barrack accommodation and medical attendance, and when he has completed six months' training his pay is automatically increased to 25s. a week, together with the war bonus previously mentioned. All recruits are charged for their messing out of their pay, and a deduction of £4 each is made for kit necessaries. There is no intention of raising the present standard height for recruits or of increasing their present rate of pay.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland to what extent the War has affected the ability of the Local Taxation Account to meet the charges on it with regard to the capitation Grant of 4s. per week for the maintenance of pauper lunatics; and what proportion of this Grant this account will be capable of discharging in the years ending 31st March, 1918, and 19191

I would refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to a question by the hon. and gallant Baronet the Member for East Down in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 11th March.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution adopted by the Rathdown Board of Guardians, county Dublin, to the effect that the Government be requested to introduce, during the present Session of Parliament, a Bill to amend Section 7 of the Irish Poor Law Amendment Act, 1862, so as to enable a board of guardians, on the recommendation of a medical officer, to send any poor person, whether an inmate of the workhouse or not, to an extern hospital for special treatment; whether he is aware that, by a recent legal decision in Ireland, the exercise of the power mentioned has been restricted to the case of inmates of a workhouse and excludes from the benefit of the Statute poor persons from outside who maybe admitted to the workhouse hospital and who ordinarily would be entitled to free medical attendance; and whether, in view of the fact that such a restriction can hardly have been contemplated at the time of the passing of the Act of 1862, the request of the Rathdown guardians will be complied with?

As I informed the hon. Member for the Leix Division of Queen's County last Thursday, the representations which have been received as to the necessity for such an amendment of the law are being considered.