asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the concession of granting a period of Home service to officers from overseas in need of a rest is limited to officers serving on the French Front; and, if so, will the concession be extended to officers serving in other theatres of the War?

The concession applies to officers in all theatres of war.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the consideration which is being given to the question of getting rid of unfit officers is restricted to those officers who have become unfit owing to active service at the fronts; and, if so, whether consideration will be given to getting rid of officers who have been unfit for service in the field since the commencement of hostilities, and have in consequence remained on Home service?

The consideration which is being given to this matter is not restricted to officers who have become unfit owing to active service in the various theatres of war. The answer to the last part of the question is, therefore, in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government that a soldier in a battalion of the East Surreys in India, who is granted a temporary Regular commission in a unit, should not receive the extra messing allowance of Rs.2 per day granted to all Territorial, New Army, and Special Reserve officers serving in India, and drawn by Territorial Force officers serving with the same battalion; whether it is in order that such an officer, when posted on commissioning to the 1st Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment at Rawal Pindi, should be entitled to the additional £20 special Indian kit allowance; and, if so, whether, after the officer had been notified while with the cadet unit that this allowance would be granted, and after it had actually been drawn, it is in order that the grant should be cancelled?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with the officer's name, I shall be glad to make inquiries into the case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether soldiers of the Non-Combatant Corps are now being employed according to their civilian occupations; if so, whether those possessed of technical qualifications and doing skilled work are paid according to the rates for ordinary soldiers on such work or at the Non-Combatant Corps rate of pay; and whether the professional ability, technical skill, and previous experience of all soldiers employed on special work demanding such qualifications are fairly and equally remunerated in all cases?

Endeavour is made, in allotting to men of this corps their work in the Army, to employ them according to their civilian occupations, but this does not affect their rate of pay.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the hardships of childless wives of soldiers and sailors; if he is aware that their separation allowance of 12s. 6d. per week is now only equal to 6s. in pre-war days; if he is aware that in thousands of cases if their husbands had remained at home they would be now earning £3 to £6 a week; and if he will see that all separation allowances are increased so as to enable soldiers' dependants to purchase the ordinary necessaries of life?

The allowance of 12s. 6d. a week is not intended to cover complete maintenance in all cases of childless wives. If owing to sickness or other causes they are unable to add to their incomes, they are eligible to receive supplementary allowances from local War Pension Committees and in appropriate cases from the Civil Liabilities Committee.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the price of wool grown in Great Britain has been settled at 60 per cent. over the 1914 prices; and, if so, why wool from the Colonies is to be 65 per cent. over 1914?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, no negotiations have yet been entered into with regard to the purchase of the 1918–19 Colonial clips.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether arrangements can now be made to issue the full amount of war bonus to principal foremen and foremen and other employés in these categories in the Army Ordnance Department and Army Service Corps Departments at Dublin and The Curragh in accordance with Treasury letter, dated 24th December last, No. 12,828/17; and whether he is aware that some of the employés referred to are in receipt of 3s. a week only as war bonus instead of 13s. or 14s., as the ease may be, in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of the letter quoted?

The bonus referred to in the Treasury letter quoted is not applicable to the classes specified. The rates of wages and war advances granted to workmen and foremen are determined by the rates of wages current in the district. The question of war bonus to foremen at The Curragh is still under consideration. An announcement is about to be made as to the bonus for principal foremen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that deductions are made from the wages of the workers employed in the National Projectile Factory, Carndonald, in aid of the support of, amongst other institutions, the Dr. Barnardo and Quarrier's Homes; whether he is aware that the institutions named are purely Protestant, and that if Catholic children are admitted to them they have to engage in Protestant worship; that a number of Catholics are employed in this factory; that money deducted from them is applied without their consent to the upkeep of these institutions; and that no money so deducted is applied to the upkeep of purely Catholic institutions; if, in view of the provisions of the Truck Act, he will explain why money is deducted from the wages of workers in this way and a printed statement published that concurrence in the deduction will be assumed unless written dissent is entered by a given date, thus leaving those who protest open to victimisation; and whether he will take steps to see that the rights of the Catholic workers are protected, and that they will not be forced in this way to subscribe to institutions which are exclusively Protestant?

The Ministry of Munitions has no information regarding this complaint. Inquiries are being made, and I will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.