asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the desirability of appointing a Committee of inquiry into the question of shipbuilding?

The Government are not prepared to adopt the suggestion contained in. this question.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the names of the officials who took over the Standard Shipbuilding Company's yard at Chepstow in August last; and if any loss of output has resulted from the transfer of the yard to the Government?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Standard Shipbuilding Company's yard at Chepstow was taken over by the Lands Branch of the War Office and Ministry of Munitions on Instructions from the Admiralty. No loss of output has been sustained by this action, but, on the contrary, a much larger output will be secured by the transfer.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government have commandeered the Chepstow shipbuilding yard from private owners who had raised £ 600,000 to equip the yard and were ready to begin shipbuilding at once; if so, whether any progress in building has been made since the Government have acquired the yard; and what compensation, if any, is to be given to the founders of the enterprise?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but the progress being made with the construction of the yard at the time it was taken over was not such as to enable any start to be made with the actual building of ships. Very good progress has been made with the construction of the yard since the Government acquired it, and the building of ships will be commenced at an early date. Two berths are already completed, and it is anticipated that eight berths will be completed by October next. It is proposed to commence actual ship construction during the present month. The question of compensation to the owners of the property taken over is still the subject of negotiation.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state to the House the number of part-time men of the Royal Navy Anti-Aircraft Corps employed in the defence of London who have been discharged or left the service during the last four months and the approximate number of whole-time men who have taken the place of the men so discharged or disbanded: and whether he can state the reasons why many highly trained men who have served for three years or more on the searchlight and anti-aircraft gun stations in the Metropolitan area are, at a time when there are so many demands being made on the man-power of the nation, being dismissed or discharged?

One hundred and twenty seven part-time men have been discharged during the last, four months, and forty full-time men have been taken on. With regard to the last part of my hon. and gallant Friends question, I have nothing to add to the answers which I have already given on this subject on the 23rd and 28th January and 5th February last.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why the war bonus recently granted of 4s. a week to females and 6s. a week for males to all employé s in Government Departments has not been extended to the temporary clerks in the Employment Exchanges; if he is aware that it was stated in an official circular letter three months ago that the claim of temporary employé s will be the subject of a later award; why nothing has since been done in the matter; and will he take steps to have the concession extended to this class of employés?

The claims of various classes of temporary employ és to the increased war bonus referred to in the first part of the question have been the subject of several further awards of the Conciliation and Arbitration Hoard, the claims being granted in some cases and rejected in others. The Treasury has extended the terms of these awards lo employ é s whose rates of remuneration and conditions of service are the same as those of the classes dealt with by the Board. There remain, however, a number of temporary classes engaged on a different basis, including the staff of the Employment Exchanges, and in these cases the Treasury has informed Departments that it is prepared to consider on their merits any proposals which may be necessary for granting such classes a proportionate increase of remuneration in so far as their present rates of pay, having regard to the circumstances of their employment, are not already equivalent to the rates of pay of the classes covered by the recent awards. The hon. Member will, I am sure, recognise the desirability of securing greater uniformity in the rates of remuneration paid by the different Departments.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he can make any further statement in regard to extra food rations for those engaged in heavy work; and, if so, whether such rations will be calculated proportionately to the exhausting nature of the occupation and the number of hours worked?

Full instructions were sent some weeks ago to food committees as to the grant of supplementary rations to persons engaged on bodily work, and supplementary ration cards have been, of are being, issued by committees accordingly. These authorise the holder to purchase a supplementary ration of 10 ozs. of bacon or an equivalent amount of other meat (excluding butcher's meat) per week. No distinction is being made in the amount of the ration as between different classes of men engaged on bodily work. In addition to the general supplementary ration, special arrangements have been made to allow the purchase of an additional meat meal in the case of men who, after completing a full day's work, continue to work during a substantial portion of the night.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, in regard to the supply of sugar, whether, in view of the hardship of the present arrangements to the small trader, it has been possible to make more liberal arrangements for the supply of sugar to the small trader; and whether these arrangements will commence from the 21st of April, when the present basis of rationing is stated to expire?

There is no intention of altering the present system of sugar rationing, and I am not aware of any hardship to small traders with the exception of confectioners, to whom some measure of relief will be afforded in another way.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps he took when appointing the Meat Commission to assure him self that no member of that Commission held any financial interest in the American Meat Trust?

It is not clear to what body the hon. Baronet refers, as there is no such body as the Meat Commission. I can, however, assure the hon. Baronet that no member of the staff of the Ministry of Food has any financial interest in the American Meat Trust.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if the price paid for cattle belonging to the Irish farmer is unrestricted and frequently exceeds 100s. a live cwt., whilst the price paid to the British farmer is restricted to 76s. a live cwt.; if so, on what grounds this financial advantage is accorded to Irish farmers if the British taxpayer pays the difference; and what is the estimated cost to the Treasury for 1018 of this privilege?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that half-fat and store cattle are being sold in Dublin and Belfast markets at prices exceeding the maximum fixed by Meat Orders for English producers; whether there is any control enforced in Ireland; whether English farmers are expected to buy stores in Ireland at prices higher than those at which they can sell in the English markets; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to prevent a shortage of meat on account of Irish stores not being purchased and brought to England?

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that, owing to the unlimited price allowed to be charged in Ireland for beef, whereas the English grazier is limited to 75s. a cwt., very few Irish store cattle are coming to England, and the Midland graziers are unable to properly stock their grass land; and will he fix the price of beef the same in Ireland as in England?

The Cattle (Sales) Order, 1917, which fixes maximum live-weight prices for cattle, did not apply to Ireland, as there were found to be many practical difficulties in the way of setting up a grading system in the markets of that country. It was accordingly open to British buyers of cattle in Ireland to buy at unrestricted prices — a course which has undoubtedly had the effect of forcing cattle prices in Ireland above the British maximum prices. Under Clause 1 of the Live-Stock (Restriction of Slaughter) Order, 1918, however, which became operative on the 18th March, no beast may be slaughtered in this country unless it has passed through a market in Great Britain within the fourteen days preceding slaughter. Irish cattle fit for slaughter imported into Great Britain will, therefore, have to pass through markets in this country, and be subject to grading and allocation. Steps are being taken to setup as rapidly as possible the necessary grading machinery at the ports, and when the system is fully operative Irish cattle prices should automatically fall to the British level. No loss falls upon the Treasury in connection with the prices paid by English buyers for cattle in Ireland. The prices of store cattle are not controlled either in Ireland or in Great Britain. It is hoped that the action already taken will have the effect of bringing the prices of Irish stores into proper relation with the controlled prices for fat cattle. The Meat (Maximum Prices) Order, 1917, applies to Ireland as well as to Great Britain.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of continued complaints as to the non-supply to Derby of livestock from the usual sources in Norfolk and Shropshire and the substitution of frozen meats of inferior quality; whether he will state the present destination of such livestock supplies; and whether he will consider the propriety of allocating some portions thereof to Derby?

It is necessary for the successful working of any scheme for the rationing of meat, that areas should be supplied with live stock from their own or from adjacent districts. Surplus supplies of cattle from the Norfolk area arc at present assigned to London and the Home Counties, while supplies from Shropshire pass to Birmingham. Derby is supplied from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutlandshire. In order to avoid the slaughter of immature cattle, it will be necessary until July to utilise to the fullest extent the available supplies of frozen meat, which are allocated equitably throughout the country.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the all-Ireland meeting of Irish stock-owners passed a resolution protesting against the continuance of the ten. hours detention as entailing unnecessary expenditure of food, time, money, and wastage of meat, more especially in respect to lambs; and whether it is the intention of the Board to remedy the complaints made by those experienced in the live stock trade on this point?

I am not aware of the resolution referred to, which does not yet appear to have reached the Department. On the general question of the continuance of the ten hours' detention of animals landed from Ireland, I fear that I cannot usefully add anything to -what has been said in previous replies to my hon. Friend on the subject, except, perhaps, that it may interest him to learn that lambs may be moved for slaughter within the landing place as soon as they have been examined by the veterinary inspector of the Board.

asked the Parliatary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) if he can state the quantity of bacon now warehoused in Liverpool and what portion of this is in cold storage; whether he can state the further quantity of bacon that is expected to arrive in the same port in the near future, and how far the cold storage space available in that port is likely to be blocked in regard to the reception of imported fresh meat; and whether the Ministry can, in view of the importations already made and further expected, increase to the workers engaged in heavy labour in agriculture and otherwise the ration of bacon, with the further advantage of releasing additional cold storage for the larger accumulation of fresh meat; and (2) whether his Department has promised extra rations of meat to men engaged in heavy industries; whether these extra rations will be a] lowed to agricultural labourers as men engaged hi a heavy industry; whether he is aware that the agricultural labourers in the Eastern Counties have frequently to work very heavy land which is especially suitable for the growth of wheat, and have been invited by the Prime Minister to work overtime; and whether the Food Controller will at the earliest possible date give instructions to the local committees to substantially increase the rations of such men above the present allowance of 1 lb. of meat and ¼ lb. of margarine each per week, such increases to affect also women who are engaged upon the land?

It is undesirable to state the quantity of bacon expected to arrive at Liverpool in the near future. The question of storage both at that port and elsewhere is receiving the constant attention of the Food Controller. As I have just informed the hon. Member for the Kirkdale Division of Liverpool, arrangements have been made to allow a supplementary, ration of bacon or other meat (excluding butcher's meat) to persons engaged on bodily labour, whether in agriculture or elsewhere.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can say what arrangements have been made in regard to making available a supply of maize for Ireland; whether he has considered that the supply of all feeding stuffs, including millers offals, is at present very much smaller than it has been in any recent year and that this accentuates the necessity for maintaining, as far as possible, the supply of maize; whether he is aware that in certain remote districts in Ireland maize meal is still used as an article of food for human consumption; and whether he will undertake that a fair supply of the maize which is being imported shall be allocated to Ireland?

The Food Controller is fully alive to the difficulties existing in Ireland and elsewhere caused by the shortage of maize and the scarcity of milling offals. Every effort is being made to maintain importation at its highest figure, but the supplies available have made it necessary to limit for breadstuffs the use of such maize as is suitable for admixture into the loaf. Whatever maize is unsuitable for this purpose is freely released for stock feeding subject to a small quantity which is needed for munition making.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the Food Controller proposes, in controlling slaughterhouses for the purpose of the rationing scheme, to be responsible for meat inspection of the slaughter-houses?

It is not proposed to interfere in any way with the discharge of the functions of the sanitary inspectors at present undertaken by the local authorities under the control of the Local Government Board.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to a petition, widely signed by persons interested in poultry keeping, protesting, for the reasons given in such petition, against the statement by the Under-Secretary to the Board of Agriculture that the Board proposes to set apart sufficient poultry food to maintain only 5 per cent. of normal stock; and whether he will give this matter further consideration?

Yes, Sir; my attention has been drawn to the position, which however, has been signed by poultry keepers under a misapprehension of the facts of the case. A full statement of the position is contained in my answer to a. question by the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil on the 19th of last month and in the previous questions and answers-referred to therein.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can make any statement upon the prospects of 1,000,000 acres of potatoes being planted or upon the necessity of further efforts being made in order to result in the planting of the desired acreage?

All possible efforts are being made by the Board, in conjunction with the Ministry of Food, to secure an increase in the area under potatoes, but it is not possible at present to say whether the total acreage in Great Britain will reach 1,000,000 acres.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether it is the intention of the Government to bring in any legislation with the object of giving allotment holders greater security of tenure; and, if so, can he make any statement on the subject?

Yes, Sir; the Government propose to bring in legislation which will give holders of war-time allotments greater security of tenure. A statement on the matter was made by the Prime Minister recently, and appeared in the Press on Tuesday last.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that eight residents of Reading cultivating 8 poles of land each, petitioned the parish council last November for another 8 poles each in the same field now unoccupied and advertised as building land; that the parish council ignored the petition; that his Department was appealed to; that a Commissioner paid a visit to the place and the matter was referred to the War Agricultural Committee; that up to the present the men's application has not been granted; and whether he will take steps to satisfy the desire of these allotment holders in view of the necessity for increased food production?

This matter was carefully considered by the Berkshire Agricultural Executive Committee, who came to the conclusion that they would not he justified in depriving the present occupier of the land in question, which is being utilised for grazng. The occupier has already given up 61 poles for allotments, and his present holding only amounts to 2¾ acres.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that many farmers are receiving notice to quit their farms; whether he has received any representations in favour of war agricultural committees being given powers to veto notices to quit where the land is being properly farmed: and whether he will favour a by consider the extension of the provisions of the Courts Emergency Powers) Bill to farms and small holdings?

Representations of the character referred to have boon received from several war agricultural committees and from other bodies, but as at present advised, and as I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Leominster on Tuesday last and the right hon. the Member for South Molton on the 18th February, T am not prepared to introduce legislation on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Controller of Pig Production, having regard to the surplus of household refuse to be obtained in London and other towns, and the fact that the pigs to consume the same will be largely kept in country districts, will arrange for the systematic transport from London of suitable pig-food; and whether he can state, as a guide to farmers and cottagers, the approximate date upon which supplies of food from household refuse in towns will be available?

The whole question of the disposal of waste materials for pig feeding is being dealt with by the National Salvage Council, with whom the Director of Pig Production is in frequent communication. When it is certain that there will be a surplus of such materials after the full pig-feeding requirements of the towns themselves have, been met, the, question of arranging for transport to country districts will at once be taken up with the proper authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the attention of the Controller of Pig Production has been called to a resolution recently passed by the. Braintree and District Branch of the National Farmers' Union to the effect that the farmers be permitted to use a portion of the barley crop grown in J918 for their live stock, and that the farmers are. unwilling to grow barley and be compelled to sell their whole crop at £ 16 per ton and buy inferior pig food at £ 23 per ton; and whether, in the interests of pig production, already so dangerously reduced, he will recommend through his Department a. modified Regulation as recommended by the National Farmers' Union?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second part, the Board are not prepared to accept the statement that the only alternative pig food is an inferior article at £ 23 per ton, nor to ask the Food Controller to make any further concession than the one he has already made in the matter, namely, that a farmer who complies with all the cultivation Orders served upon him by the Agricultural Executive Committee may grow any crop, except wheat, on any additional permanent grass land he ploughs up, and use it for feeding his own stock, provided he makes previous application to the Executive Committee for a special cultivation Order for the particular additional land.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) if he is aware that the present owner of Grinton Moor, situated on the south side of the River Swale, in Mid-swaledale, Yorkshire, a piece of moorland about 1,500 acres in extent, has prohibited the grazing there of more than 350 sheep and of all sheep not belonging to Ids private tenants, with a further prohibition against any sheep at all grazing on the moor during fourteen weeks in every year, although up to about two years ago under a previous owner Grin ton Moor grazed 800 sheep; and whether, having regard to the necessity of developing all the resources of our homeland to safeguard the people against continued shortage of food and raw materials, he will inform the present owner of Grinton Moor that ho must either arrange for the fullest possible use to be made of it for the production of food and raw materials or place it at the disposal of the Board of Agriculture for this purpose; (2) if he is aware that Whitaside Moor, situated on the south side of the River Swale, in Mid-Swaledale, Yorkshire, is stinted, and that in the year 1890 it grazed 1,500 sheep, whilst at present only 850 sheep must feed there; if he is aware that the owner of the game rights imposed the stints by arrangement with the farmers by paying prices so high for the stints that it became more profitable to the farmers to sell their right of keeping 650 sheep on this moor; and, if so, what steps lie intends to take to safeguard the interests of the public in this matter; and (3) if he is aware that Summerlodge Moor, which consists of 800 acres of moorland, situated on the south side of the River Swale, in Mid-Swaledale, Yorkshire, grazed 600 sheep in 1895, since which date the number of sheep permitted to be grazed there has been reduced in 1913 to 450, and more recently to 350; that the present occupier was forced to make the- last reduction, from 450 to 350, as a condition of his being accepted as tenant, the object of the reduction being to increase the number of grouse; and, if so, what steps he intends to take to safeguard the interests of the public in the matter?

I will reply to this and the two following questions together. The Board are not aware of the facts in any of the three cases mentioned, but they are making inquiries with regard to them through the Agricultural Executive Committee for the North Riding of Yorkshire with a view to ascertain whether any, and what, action ought to be taken. The hon. Member will be informed of the result of the inquiries in due course.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that, on the death of an individual, his sugar card must be returned to the registrar of deaths before registration can take place; is he aware of the dissatisfaction which exists regarding this Regulation; and will he take steps to-alter this Regulation?

I have been asked to answer this question. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for the Attercliffe Division on the 13th. March, in which I explained that new instructions had been issued to all registrars drawing special attention to the fact that they are under no circumstances to refuse to issue a death certificate owing to failure to produce the deceased's sugar card.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the qualifications necessary for the position; of an officer in the Women's Royal Naval. Service, and how the selection is made?

Officers in the Women's Royal Naval Service must be-women of good education, preferably with experience of social work amongst other women. They are called before an Officers' Selection Board, composed of the principal officers of the Women's Royal Naval Service Headquarters, and are either rejected by it or sent to a course of probationary training, lasting a few weeks. At the end of this time a final decision as to their appointment or rejection is made by the Board.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that a certain limited number of National Service shipyard volunteers are now working in shipyards on the Clyde; is he aware that many of these men are physically unfit, and many after a few days are sent back to their former employment; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Of necessity those men who are unskilled labourers are men unfit for military service. A certain number of the men who were sent to the shipyards for employment have been returned to their homes, as they have been found to be medically unfit for such labour. Arrangements have now been made, however, for all applicants to be medically examined before being enrolled, and should any man be found unfit for hard manual labour his services are not accepted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that skilled rivetters on the Clyde over thirty years of age have been ordered to report for Army medical examination at Stirling or Perth; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

So far as I know, there is no foundation for the suggestion in the question. But I will make further inquiry.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that National Service shipyard volunteers receive, in addition to their pay, a lodging allowance of 17s. 6d. per week; is he aware that this extra grant is causing unrest; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

The practice of paying a subsistence allowance of 17s. 6d. per week in the case of a volunteer worker having to keep two homes was initiated for the War Munition Volunteer and approved of by the Federation of Trades Unions. The payment of this allowance to volunteers who have to maintain two homes—and it is only paid in such cases— is, it is considered, not unreasonable.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in 1915 or 1916, any special directions were given by the Director of the Trade Division of the Admiralty, or by any subordinate member of the Trade Division of the Admiralty, instructing the Chief Censor to grant priority m cabling to any firms; and, if so, will he give a list of the firms to whom the priority was thus granted, and the date on which the instructions to the Censor were sent?

The decision as to expediting the delivery or transmission of business cables rests finally with the War Office, which considers requests from the various Government Departments. On very many occasions since the commencement of the War, Departments of the Admiralty, including the Trade Division, have asked that cables sent by and to certain firms in the Government interest should be expedited. But, of course, any request of this kind would in every case be made on behalf of and with the authority of the head of the Division or Department concerned. It is obviously undesirable to give any list of such firms.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that an application for an advance of wages on behalf of the boom defence men at Milford Haven has been before his Department since August last; that this delay is causing irritation: that the men in question are at present receiving much below the proper minimum rates; and whether he will take the necessary steps to expedite a settlement?

I should be glad if my hon. Friend would postpone this question till next week, so that inquiries may be made.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if firms constructing standard ships or ships of war are paid either by a percentage on the cost of labour or a fixed sum for management expenses and profit?

So far as standard ships are concerned, the contract is on the time and line system, that is to say, after material and labour are paid for, a certain amount is allowed for establishment charges, and in addition an overall profit is allowed; these last two items are fixed according to the type of vessel under construction. As regards ships for the Royal Navy; in some cases, namely, those of the smaller auxiliary vessels, a fixed price for the whole ship is as a rule the system of payment. For warships proper, the contracts are on the time and line system, the expenses of management and the profit being paid for as a rule by fixed sums.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that His Majesty's ship "Mimosa" left Plymouth two and a half years ago; that the crew have been engaged ever since in dangerous mine-sweeping work, and that they have had no leave to come home since their departure; and, in view of the fact that other ships which have been away for less time have had relief crews, whether steps can be taken in the same direction in the case of His Majesty's ship "Mimosa," with a view to the men obtaining leave of absence?

It is not usual in cases such as this for crews to be relieved until they have been three years abroad, though in certain cases this period may have been anticipated. My hon. Friend may rest assured that everything that can be done in the relief of crews that have been serving abroad is being done so far as the exigencies of the Service and the means of transport at our disposal permit.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether boys who have not yet attained the age of nineteen years are being sent over in drafts to France without their having volunteered to serve overseas under that age, in contravention of the pledges repeatedly given by the Government that none should be sent abroad until they should have attained the age of nineteen?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private George Peel, No. 19987, a soldier under nineteen years of age, has been sent to France, although his father had previously objected on the ground that the boy was too young to serve and had sent a copy of the soldier's birth certificate to the commanding officer; if he is further aware that the soldier's father has in his possession two written assurances which he received in reply to his communications to the commanding officer, the second of which is dated 11th March, 1918, both stating definitely that the soldier would not be sent overseas until he reached the age t f nineteen; and what action he intends to take to redeem the pledges of the Government in regard to this and other cases of boys under age who have recently been sent overseas against the known wishes of their parents and guardians?

I am afraid I can add nothing to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday last.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will have immediate inquiry made into the allegations that the medical officer of the 4th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, stationed at Park-hall Camp, Oswestry, is passing men for overseas drafts without any proper examination, and that in consequence many men are sent from this battalion who are quite unfit for foreign service; and will he take steps to see that the duty of passing men from this battalion to foreign drafts is discharged in an efficient and responsible way?

Inquiries are being made into this matter, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware of the practice of the military authorities in calling discharged men and others from work of urgent national importance during working hours, with the consequent loss of wages, for the purpose of medical examination; and whether, in view of the loss of work and wages, some other arrangement can be made?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply. Instructions have been issued to the effect that no man who has been discharged from the Army on the ground of ill-health and who is doing work of national importance is to be called up for medical examination; and I know of no case in which this instruction is being disregarded. With regard to cases of men who are not discharged men but who are called up for medical examination in the ordinary course, instructions have been issued to the effect that medical examinations are to be so regulated as to interfere as little as possible with the work of firms which are doing work of national importance.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why the discharge papers of Alfred Major, a conscientious objector discharged from Walton Prison on 11th February, have not been sent on to him as promised; and, in view of the fact that this man, who has a wife and three children, is not able to get employment without his discharge papers, will he see that they are sent on to him at once?

If my hon. Friend will furnish me with the name of Major's regiment and his regimental number, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Minister of National Service why the local recruiting officer called up Robert Glyn Owen, of Pantyeelyn Valley, Anglesey, for 23rd March, seeing that he had a certificate of exemption issued by the Central Tribunal under which he was not to be called up until the 1st April; seeing that the local recruiting officer was well aware of this fact, which he deliberately disregarded, what action he proposes to take in the matter; and whether, in view of the fact that both the local tribunal and the Appeal Tribunal granted this young man conditional exemption on account of being the only person working on his mother's farm, he can consider recalling this youth to his farm work?

Inquiries are being made into this case, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Minister of National Service whether the exemption granted to Mr. A. P. M'Dougall, Commissioner of Live Stock for Scotland, has been withdrawn on the ground that an exemption granted for the reason that the holder's services were needed on his farm could not hold good when he had accepted an appointment under Government; and, if so, whether Mr. M'Dougall will now be called to the Colours like others of his age and circumstances?

The exemption formerly held by Mr. M'Dougall in respect of his occupation as a farmer was withdrawn by the Dumbarton Tribunal. This exemption would, in any case, have lapsed, in view of the fact that Mr. M'Dougall had ceased to be wholly employed as a farmer. The exemption he now holds was granted under Section 2 (2) of the Military Service Act, 1916, with the concurrence of the Minister of National Service, in the circumstances stated in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 21st ultimo.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War when, as a result of court-martial proceedings at which a plea of shell-shock or other form of mental disorder is raised, a medical board is restricted to an inquiry as to whether what is known as the Macnaghten formula applied at the time of the commission of the alleged offence?

When a medical board is directed to be held, as a result of court-martial proceedings at which a plea of shell-shock or other form of mental disorder is raised, the instructions generally given to the board are that they are to report, firstly, as to the mental condition of the accused at the time of their examination; and secondly, whether, in their opinion, the accused was responsible, for his actions at the time of the commission of the offence of which he was convicted. The attention of the board is specifically directed to paragraph 9 of Chapter VII. of the Manual of Military Law, which deals with criminal charges against persons of unsound mind.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if many of the men serving in the forces in Palestine have had no home leave or two years; and, if so, will he take steps to grant them furlough as early as possible?

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 27th February last to my hon. And gallant Friend the Member for Torquay, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of soldiers now in Mesopotamia who have been serving continuously and without leave since August, 1914; and whether the War Office can institute some system of leave, which would enable men to return home temporarily after a maximum period of active service?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Somerset on the 5th March last, of which I am sending him a copy. I am sure he will appreciate "the very great difficulties at the present time in the way of providing transport facilities.

asked the Undersecretary of State, for War if he is aware that the Deputy-Director of Medical Service for the Eastern Command issued an instruction on the 18th February last to the effect that officers in medical charge of units should examine men joining to see if they required dental treatment, and that under no circumstances must such inspection be carried out by dental officers; and why this instruction was issued?

No, Sir; I am not aware of this, but I am making inquiries and will let my hon. Friend know the result in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that complaints are being made regarding the language used on parade by the officer commanding and the company officer of the 87th Training Battalion, stationed at Clipstone Camp, Mansfield; and whether he will draw the attention of these two officers to the fact that the use of indecent language and epithets towards the boys in this battalion is unnecessary and unwise?

No, Sir; I was not aware of this. Section 435 of the King's Regulations makes it clear that the Army Council enjoin officers of any rank to adopt methods and treatment which will ensure respect for authority and foster feelings of self-respect and per- sonal honour. Without further particulars, I am afraid that I cannot make special inquiries in this particular case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has taken the opinion of competent engineers and artillerists whether it is possible to. construct a gun capable of throwing a projectile eighty miles or over; and.if so, whether he has taken any steps in consequence?

Yes, Sir; it is possible to construct such a gun. The necessary steps have been taken.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether, in view of the success achieved by the ozone treatment in relieving suffering and saving life in the cases of men who have been gassed, any steps have been or will be taken to promote a general or more extended adoption of such treatment?

I am not aware of any ozone treatment for gassed cases, but perhaps my hon. Friend is alluding to oxygen treatment. This latter treatment is still on its trials, and although promising results have been obtained, it is not intended to promote a general adoption of the treatment until further information as to its efficacy has been acquired.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he can state what classes of men are subject to Conscription in America?

All classes of men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-one inclusive are subject to Conscription. Conscription is selective, and men are selected for any class of work for which they may be deemed most suitable.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he can state the number of men in America between the ages of eighteen and forty?

The. age of Conscription in the United States is twenty-one to thirty-one, and is estimated to produce 10,000,000 men. There are no statistics available here of the number of men in America between the ages of eighteen and forty.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War how many German prisoners there are at Margate College; how many German servants wait on them; how much the cork carpet for the house cost; and how many pianos have been sent in for their use?

I am afraid I cannot answer this question without making inquiries. This is being done, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether military police are stationed in Stepney, or in any other part of East London, to prevent soldiers coming in contact with cases of small-pox or with persons who may be developing the disease?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he can state the military service age in France and Italy?

The military service age in France is normally twenty to forty-eight years of age. On 29th March, 1918, Parliamentary sanction was obtained for calling up the 1919 class—i.e., those who attain the age of nineteen during this year. Men who were called up at the age of forty-eight in 1914 have not yet been released, so that some men of fifty-two are still serving. The military service age in Italy is normally twenty to thirty-nine years of age. It has now been extended, and covers the period between eighteen and forty-four years of age.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War at what age French soldiers become available for service at the front?

French soldiers who attain the age of nineteen during the present year may now be sent to the front, if required. The training of the 1919 class is, however, not yet completed.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he is aware that privates in Pioneer battalions were informed on enlistment that the rate of pay in Pioneer battalions was 2d. per day more than Infantry battalions, namely, Is. 2d. as compared with Is. per day; if he is aware that in October, 1916, all the men of Pioneer battalions were requested to sign a paper accepting this 2d. per day extra to cover all claims for working pay or reverting to the pay of Is. per day with the option of claiming working pay under Royal Warrant, and if the men accepted the pay of Is. 2d. per day, being an addition of 2d. per day more than the pay of Infantry units; if he is aware that regimental paymasters have interpreted the Royal Warrant, Increase of Pay for Soldiers, General Order, No. 5944, page 3, paragraph 5, Minimum Rates, 4th December, 1917, to mean that Pioneer battalion (not Royal Engineers) privates shall be increased thereby 4d. per day while the pay of Infantry battalions is increased by 6d. per day, and, if so, what action he proposes to take to keep faith with the men who enlisted in Pioneer battalions on the understanding that their pay should be 2d. per day additional to that received by Infantry units; if he is aware that the regimental paymasters interpret the above-mentioned General Order to mean that sergeants in Pioneer battalions may retain this 2d. per day additional to that paid to similar ranks in Infantry battalions while privates of Pioneer battalions arc, by the interpretation of the General Order by paymasters, paid at the same rates as Infantry battalions; and what action he proposes to take to remedy the dissatisfaction amongst the Privates of Pioneer battalions?

The increase of pay under the article of the Royal Warrant referred to did not take the form of a specific addition of 6d. to the Infantry rates, but a general levelling up of all rates to Is. 6d. The rate of pay to these pioneers has accordingly been raised to that level, but they are now allowed to earn working pay from which they were formerly debarred. This provision will be found on page 4 of the Instructions referred to. I am not aware of any differentiation having been made by paymasters between sergeants and privates, as suggested, and should be glad if my hon. and gallant Friend would bring any case of which he is aware to my notice.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War with regard to the Pendleton Co-operative Society, whether, towards the end of March, some 600 civilian suits were compulsorily purchased by the War Office at twenty-four hours' notice, being in fact the whole, or practically the whole, stock of the society; whether other traders found also possessing stocks of similar clothing had no such pressure put on them; and whether there is any reason for this unfair treatment of this society?

Purchase as stated had to be made to meet a very urgent requisition. It is regretted that any inconvenience was caused to the society, but similar purchases were made from no less than eighty-nine firms.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of men who voluntarily enlisted in the Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport) as mechanical storekeepers at the pay of 6s. per day; whether he is aware that on the 11th March, 1918, the whole of the mechanical storekeepers were paraded before the officer commanding and informed that from the 10th February this year the pay had been reduced, namely, privates 2s. 7d., lance-corporals 3s. 2d., corporals 4s., and a flat rate—that is, no allotment paid and no war service pay; and whether this reduction in the pay of men who have voluntarily enlisted at previously stipulated rates will be reconsidered and the pay restored to former rates?

These men were enlisted in error at an unauthorised rate of pay. No refund has been required of past over issues. Now that they are on ordinary rates they should, like any other soldier, be relieved of their compulsory allotments and should be eligible for war pay. As it would appear from the hon. Member s question that there is some doubt on this point, I am making inquiries.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a sergeant who has been transferred to an Infantry regiment to the Royal Defence Corps through no fault of his own and not at his own request is entitled to continue to draw proficiency pay for which he qualified in the Infantry?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that, in the case of nursing sisters called for service abroad, the present allowance of £29 for kit is insufficient, and that in many instances these ladies have to spend from £12 to £15 in addition to such allowance to complete their kit; and whether he can take any steps in the matter?

I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will communicate to me the figures on which his question is based. I do not recognise the allowance of £29 for kit.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is the practice to reduce the allowance in respect of a soldier's child when it reaches the age of fourteen years; if so, whether he is aware that in many cases the parents are desirous of the child remaining at school and completing its education, but the reduction of the allowance makes it still more difficult to do this; and whether the possibility of raising the age at which the allowance is reduced will be considered?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second, local war pensions committees have recently been empowered to issue a supplementary separation allowance for a child over the age of 14, who is suffering from mental or physical infirmity; or is a whole-time pupil or student at an elementary or other school; or is an apprentice receiving not more, than a nominal wage.

asked die Pensions Minister (1) whether a man whose pre-war earnings amounted to 35s. per week, who has a wife and two- children to support and who was receiving treatment in hospital, would receive 27s. 6d. (less 7s. cost of keep in hospital) plus 13s. 9d. for his wife and 9s. 2d, for children, equal to £2 3s. 5d., whereas if he was discharged from hospital and directed to complete his treatment at home the allowance would be reduced to £1 6s. 8d. for the maintenance of both husband, wife, and two children; will he say what is the reason for reducing an allowance when the burden is increased by the addition of the maintenance of the sick man, especially at a time when the prices of commodities are so high and the rationing system renders the difficulties of living so much greater; has he considered that under the scale a single man is in a better position than the married man; and will he remedy this inequality; and (2) whether he has received from the county of Middlesex War Pensions Committee a resolution pointing out the hardship involved by withholding an allowance to the wife of a man who is undergoing treatment in his own home, and urging the Ministry of Pensions to so amend the instructions and notes on treatment and training so as to allow the payment of 13s. 9d. per week to the wife of a man undergoing treatment or training; and, if so, whether he will give effect to the resolution and afford the relief asked for, or what is the reason for differentiating these cases from those in which the married man who is undergoing treatment in an institution to the prejudice of the former?

the facts are correctly stated by the hon. Member, except that in the instance given the amount payable to the man under treatment at home would be £l 16s. 8d., not £l 6s. 8d. The inequality to which he draws attention is due to the very generous dealing with the man in hospital instituted largely with a view to inducing him to go there for treatment. The man under treatment at home is not ungenerously treated by being placed financially on the same footing as the man whose total disablement is incurable. With regard to the hon. Member's other point, I fear it would not be possible to remove the financial inequality between the married and the single pensioner without a reduction of the latter's pension, which I am not prepared to consider.

asked the Pensions Minister how many inspectors he has recently appointed, and of these how many have served during the present War either in the ranks or as officers, how many were already in Government employ, and whether any are of military age?

Thirty-eight appointments have recently been made to the outdoor staff. Of the men so appointed twenty-eight have been discharged from the Army after service in the present War; one was previously a Civil servant who enlisted in 1914 and was severely wounded at the Battle of the Somme. The ten persons who have not seen active service were selected on account of exceptional qualifications. One of these is of military age, and he has recently been classified in Grade 3.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he is aware that priority certificates for the purchase of saw-mill machinery have been granted to creamery owners or a creamery owners' association in Ireland through the medium of the Irish Department of Agriculture; if he is aware that when these certificates were granted there was ample machinery in, Ireland for the manufacture of all available suitable timber in the country; and whether he has sanctioned the policy of manufacturing machinery for box-making when plenty of machinery for that purpose already exists?

The information supplied in my hon. Friend's question is insufficient to enable me to trace the transaction referred to. If he will supply me with further details I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the Middlesbrough Town Council have been in correspondence with his Department for several months in an attempt to secure a permit for the supply of sanitary pans; whether he is aware that there are many complaints regarding defective sanitary pans in the town; and whether he will expedite the issue of the necessary permit?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and as a result of the representations made by the Midlesbrough Town Council a special permit for a limited quantity of material has been granted to relieve the immediate local necessities. Future applications should be made through the recognised trade channel.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that Rule No. 74, of.1902, applicable in Royal Ordnance factories, to the effect that no person shall be employed therein who is the keeper of a public house or beerhouse, is now being used in regard to certain employés who cannot be said to come within the rule though they happen to live' on public house premises with their relatives, such relatives being the licence-holders; and whether, on the facts in any such case being brought to his notice and substantiated, he will undertake that the scope of the rule shall not be arbitrarily extended so as to apply to such relatives of licence-holders as are not keepers of public-houses or beerhouses?

The rule referred to in my hon. Friend's question was amended in 1907, so as to read:—

"No employéis permitted to keep, hold a licence for. or in any way assist in. the management of a public-house, pawn shop or marine store dealer's shop, and it must be understood that this rule will be considered to be infringed when the licenceis held by a member of the employé's family with whom he resides."

It has been found necessary in the public interest to enforce this rule, and I am not prepared to recommend any relaxation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether any plants have yet been established by the Government' or by the gas companies for the distillation of oil from cannel coal and shale; and how much oil has up to the present been produced?

The distillation of oil from cannel coal in gas retorts is proceeding, and a number of gas works are being fitted with the necessary subsidiary plant for extending the use of this process. It is not desirable in the public interest to state the quantity of oil produced, or likely to be produced, by this means.

asked the Minister of Munitions how many men employed in the Ministry are of military age?

The number of men of military age employed on the, headquarters staff of the Ministry is 2,664. Of these, only 372 are Class A men Of this number, 218 are entitled to exemption from military service under the existing Schedule of Protected Occupations, and of these

• 78 being engineers,
• 27 being mechanical draughtsmen,
• 96 being chartered or incorporated accountants,
• 17 being chemists.

Included in the 372 Class A men are 36 Civil servants, the majority of whom are heads of sections or higher officials. Their average age is thirty-six.

asked the Minister of National Service if he will state the number of male persons of military age on the indoor and outdoor headquarter staff of the National Health Insurance Commission; how many of "such are passed in Grades I. and II. or the equivalent A, B 1, B 2, C 1, and C 2, and how many in these grades or classifications are married; is it proposed to take immediate steps by the withdrawal of protection or exemption certificates, given on occupational grounds to these men or otherwise, so that they may be at once released for military service; and, if so, will he give the number of men who will be released?

I have arranged with my right hon. Friend to reply to this question, and in order to give what shall not be a misleading reply to it the following facts need to be mentioned. In consequence of the National Health Insurance Commission having been established only two and a-half years before the War, and of its having been started with an establishment of very young men from other Government Departments, the proportion of men over forty-one years of age was extremely low-as compared with all other Government offices. There were, in fact, at the outbreak of War, in the total indoor staff of 1,569 (883 men and 686 women) only twenty-four men over that age, where other offices would have had some hundreds. This extreme paucity of older men has necesarily occasioned, under war conditions, great difficulties as to administrative supervision; the Department has nevertheless made every endeavour to release as many men as possible, and has succeeded in sparing from the indoor staff a number equal to more than three-fourths of the total indoor male staff of all ages; 532 for service with the forces and 167 on loan or transference to other Departments for war work. This severe (it is believed, unique) depletion of the male staff has had to be met by the employment of large numbers of temporary and constantly changing women clerks, mostly without previous experience in clerical work; and it has been imperatively necessary, to avoid an otherwise certain breakdown of National Health Insurance throughout the country, to retain a bare sufficiency of experienced men for directing and supervising the work of this large mass (some 1,300) of inexperienced and constantly changing temporary employés. As a result, the male indoor staff, analysed to show the points asked for in the question, is now as follows: Under military age, 6; over military age, permanent 27, temporary 28, the latter being too old and inexperienced to be given responsible supervising duties: within military age, Grade I., thirty-nine, of whom all but one are over thirty-one years of age, and all but four are married: Grade II., fifty-nine, of whom thirty-four are over thirty-one years of age, all but six of these being married, and eight of the others are married; Grade III., nineteen; rejected, discharged, etc., thirty-eight. These figures exclude the messenger grades, in which no men eligible for military service are now employed.As regards the outdoor staff the numbers at the outbreak of war were 223 men (of whom only sixty-eight -were over forty- one years of age) and sixty women. Though the proportion of the men over military age to those within the age was higher here than in the case of the indoor staff, it was not large. The men, moreover, are only enabled to carry out their duties by reason of' the special qualifications on account of which they were appointed and by the unique experience they have gained of the working of the Insurance Acts; so that it is impossible for their duties to be carried out, except to a very limited extent, by substituting for them temporary officers without experience; for it is essential that intelligence officers, who have to carry on their work as isolated units away from the head office, should be thoroughly versed in the intricacies of the National Insurance Acts, if insured persons are to be assisted adequately in securing the benefits; due to them. By careful rearrangement, however, the Department has so far contrived to release men up to a quarter of the total male outdoor staff of all ages, forty-nine for service with the forces and six on loan or transference to other Departments for war work. As a result, the male outdoor staff, analysed to show the points asked for in the question, is now as follows; Over military age, seventy-two; within military age, Grade I., thirty-seven, of whom all but one are over thirty-one years of age, and all but four are married; Grade II., thirty-six, of whom all but one are over thirty-one, and all but three are married; Grade III., nineteen: rejected, discharged, etc., five.In reply to the concluding paragraph of the question it must be stated that the grave depletion of the staff above explained has already at times brought the Department's work perilously near to breaking point, and the work is now heavily increased by the direct consequences of the War upon the Navy and Army Insurance Fund and otherwise, and also by the heavy new duties occasioned by the new Insurance Act just passed by Parliament; hence the hon. Member's suggestion to release to the Army each of the remaining Grades I. and II. men (thus taking away nearly all of the few men now remaining in the administrative grades who are capable of supervisory responsibilities) would immediately imperil the distribution of benefits throughout the industrial population and other essential elements in the working of the Health Insurance Acts. The hon. Member may, however, rest assured that the position of the work in relation to the staff will again be most carefully reviewed in conjunction with the Ministry of National Service, in connection with the further demands, shortly to be made upon Government Departments generally.

asked the Undersecretary of State to the Air Ministry what are the respective wages and billeting allowances of men and women drivers in the transport section of the Royal Naval Air Service?

The practice in the Royal Naval Air Service was to enter men drivers as air mechanics, 2nd class, at 2s. a day, with the prospect of subsequent advancement up to leading mechanic at 5s. a day. Separation allowances were granted at the ordinary naval rates, together with lodging and provision allowances of 2s. 8d. a day if accommodation and victualling were not provided in kind. Earlier in the War a number of drivers were entered at special higher rates. Women drivers in the Women's Royal Naval Service-received 35s. or 40s. a week inclusive, but if accommodated under Government arrangements 14s. was deducted to cover board, lodging, service, and washing. In the Women's Royal Air Force the rates run 28s. (for probationer) in the first month, and after one month 38s. to 45s. a. week inclusive.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the statement that our aeroplanes have been bombing the tribal concentrations of the Maris of Baluchistan means that purely military posts have been attacked or places where women and children are liable to be present?

The telegram received by the Secretary of State for India speaks of "tribesmen "and "an enemy gathering" of Maris having been bombed by our aeroplanes. There is no reason to suppose that places were thus attacked where women and children were likely to be present.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the effect of Section 9, Sub-section (1), of the Representation of the People Act, 1918, upon Section 3, Sub-section (1, b), of the Alien Act, 1905; whether, in point of fact, the power given to expel an alien from the United Kingdom within twelve months of his entering the country if in receipt of parochial relief has been abrogated; and whether, if satisfied upon the point, he will introduce legislation reviving the power given under the 1905 Act, which is rendered all the more necessary by reason of the presence in this country of so many undesirable aliens?

The point suggested by the hon. and learned Member has been considered, and it is proposed to deal with it in the legislation which will be necessary for dealing with aliens after the War. During the War ample powers exist under the Aliens Restriction Order for the deportation of undesirable aliens.

asked the Home Secretary whether, under the provision of the Representation of the People Act, 1918, Section 33 (2), a Parliamentary candidate who upon the day of nomination is returned unopposed will be entitled to exercise the right of free postage conferred by the said provision to send each registered elector for the constituency a postal communication relating to the election and his unopposed return?

I have no authority to determine this question, but think the answer should be in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, considering the difficulties of carrying out the new Order, the extra clerical labour which will be imposed on the undertakings concerned, and the number of, persons who will inevitably become liable to prosecution and penalty, he will withdraw the Order and substitute a simple ration of coal on all gas and electric lighting undertakings; (2) whether he has realised that about two-thirds of the consumers of gas obtain their supply through automatic coin-meters; that these consumers of gas never have bills to show the quantity of gas consumed; that they never read their meters; that as they cannot get gas without putting a coin in the meter they are naturally economical; that the large majority of them use more gas than the limited quantity mentioned in the Order and therefore become liable under the Order; and that it will involve much labour with reduced staff of clerks to make the comparisons with the previous year, to assess the ration quantity for each consumer, and to advise the Board of Trade of the results; and whether, in view of these facts, he will exclude all consumers of gas through automatic meters from the operations of the new Order; and (3) whether he knows that under the Lighting, Heating, and Power Order, 1918, the effect of the rationing of gas is to encourage the use of more coal in order to save gas; and whether, for the advantages of munition purposes and economy, he will consider the advisability of the coal being converted into gas and used in that form rather than use the coal as a raw material in open fires?

I am aware that the operation of the Lighting, Heating, and Power Order will cause some difficulties, and will, no doubt, involve a good deal of additional labour on the part of the undertakings which supply gas and electricity. They have already given me valuable assistance in this matter, and will, I know, continue to do so. The supply of coal to these undertakings will, for reasons which I have already explained to the House, be considerably curtailed, and it has become necessary, therefore, to impose upon the individual consumers a corresponding obligation to limit their consumption, and unless this object is achieved I can only anticipate that the public will be still more seriously inconvenienced in the coming winter by a failure of undertakings to maintain their supplies. I realise that the position of prepayment consumers presents special difficulties, but their large number makes it impossible to except them from the operation of the Order if the necessary economy is to be effected. Many will come under the minimum provision in the schedule to the Order. I realise that the co-operation of everybody concerned is essential to success, and I hope that, that with this, the objects of the Order will be secured with the minimum amount of hardship to consumers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that during Easter railway companies suspended the issue of workmen's tickets although continuation at work during the holidays was very general throughout the country; whether the companies have power to suspend the issue of workmen's tickets during holiday periods; and whether he will make representations to the companies on the matter?

It is not the practice to issue workmen's tickets on statutory public holidays, and some of the railway companies are expressly excepted from such an obligation by their Acts of Parliament. I am, however, communicating with the railway executive committee in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the result of the arbitration proceedings on the claims of the mechanical staff of the Irish Lights Commissioners for the 12½per cent. award?

My right hon. Friend has been asked to reply to this. The case was referred to the Special Arbitration Tribunal on the 4th April, and it is understood that the Special Arbitration Tribunal are awaiting statements of the unions concerned, and that an award will be issued when these have been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the hardship being inflicted on the retail traders of boots and shoes by being obliged to sell war-time boots at Government fixed prices when co-operative societies are allowed to return to their customers from 10 to 15 per cent. on the sale of the same article; and what action he will take to remedy this grievance?

In view of the fact that war-time boots are sold at fixed prices by retailers and that the giving of discounts from these prices is prohibited by the Army Council Order of 10th November, 1917, no section of the retail trade can be considered to be placed in a position of comparative disadvantage by such fixing of prices. In reply to the second part of the question, co-operative societies are not permitted to return to their customers any portion of the sale price on individual transactions in selling war-time boots. The Department has not considered it desirable to interfere with the long-established practice whereby co-operative societies distribute among their members at the end of fixed trading periods a portion of their ascertained profits.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if he will state the result of his inquiries into the claims of the checking and watching staff of the City of Dublin Company's steamers for increase in wages?

As I promised my lion. Friend, the matter has had careful consideration. It has been decided to increase the war bonus of the stair referred to from 10s. to 15s. a week. The increase will take effect immediately.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Sunday war bulletins are now no longer issued to sub-post offices; whether this is in accordance with his instructions; if so, what is the reason for depriving village communities of this privilege and the date when such Order was issued; and whether he Will immediately give orders for the issue of Sunday war bulletins as heretofore?

Sunday morning war bulletins are and will continue to be exhibited at all telegraph sub-post offices and many other sub-post offices (not telegraph) whenever there is late news of more than ordinary interest. Special arrangements were made to distribute the war bulletins on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday, and they have been exhibited every Sunday since the present battle began. The exhibition of bulletins when there is no news of special interest was discontinued in December, 1916.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has sanctioned an arrangement by which the midland and western districts of Ireland will only have one mail train in the twenty-four hours after 15th April; whether this mail service is to be what was known as the limited mail day service and the night mail is to be cut off altogether, thereby utterly dislocating the cross - country deliveries; whether this has been done in consultation with the local authorities in Ireland; and, if not, will their opinion be asked before any further curtailment takes place?

asked the Postmaster-General if the night mail trains in Ireland are to be discontinued; and, if so, will he consider the possibility of having mails conveyed by goods trains when available?

Reductions of railway service in Ireland have become necessary in the national interest, and, much as I regret any dislocation of mail service occasioned thereby, I have had no alternative but to acquiesce in these reductions, which are expected to take effect, not, I believe, on the 15th, but on the 22nd instant. Night mail trains in Ireland are not to be discontinued altogether, if at all, and the questions asked upon that supposition do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the establishment of aeroplane postal services in America; and whether he can state if any experiments have been made with a view of establishing such an aeroplane postal service between large towns in this country?

I have seen statements in the Press with regard to the establishment of an aeroplane service for mails between Washington and New York, but I have no official information on the subject. It is not proposed to establish experimental aerial service in this country at present, as the whole resources of the aeroplane industry are required for military purposes.

asked the Postmaster-General whether representations have been made to him, or by him to the Admiralty, as to the necessity of extending a patrol-boat guard daily and nightly to the Irish mail boat; whether he is aware that on three recent occasions this boat had narrow escapes from being torpedoed; whether, owing to the practical closing of the North Wall service, this route is now the principal one used for military and civil traffic between England and Ireland; and, if so, will he now direct that in future at least one torpedo-destroyer do accompany the Irish mail boat in future on both day and night service?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I understand that certain representations received by him have been forwarded to the Admiralty. As regards the second part of the question, reports of being missed by torpedoes have been received from vessels belonging to the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company on three Occasions within the last month. I am not aware of the grounds for the assumption that the North Wall service is practically closed, and, as regards the last part of the question, it is not in the public interest to state what measure, of protection is being, or is going to be, afforded to this traffic; such information would be of the greatest value to the enemy, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that the best possible protection with the means at our disposal has been, and will continue to be, given to this and all other traffic.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government has yet considered the advisability of having none but daylight sailings to and from Ireland; and if he will cause instructions to be issued for every boat to carry at least six rafts, and that the lifeboats shall be unlashed the moment they leave the quayside?

For the answer to the first part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on Thursday, the 21st March. With regard to lifeboats, rafts, and other appliances on the Irish cross-Channel passenger steamers, I may say that the Board of Trade are in communication with the owners of these vessels with a view to effecting improvements in their life-saving arrangements generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Bolshevist Government in Russia has-issued a decree or decrees suppressing religious instruction, secularising the Churches, and confiscating the property of religious bodies; and, if so, whether these measures have been brought into operation against the Anglican and other foreign religious communities in so far as these possessed establishments in Russia?

A decree was issued on 2nd February by the Bolshevist Government suppressing religious instruction in the schools and confiscating the property of religious bodies, but not, so far as I am aware, secularising the Churches. I have no information to the effect that these measures have been put into operation against foreign religious communities in Russia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the Austrian military authorities are preventing parcels of foodstuffs being sent to our prisoners of war in Turkey; and if he will take action in the matter?

The transmission of parcels for prisoners of war to Turkey through Austria was stopped by the Austro-Hungarian Government for several periods last year, and has now been stopped since the beginning of March, the reason given being the congestion of traffic. Although His Majesty's Government are informed that the present stoppage is not likely to be of much longer duration, they propose to take action in order to put an end to it and to-prevent similar stoppages in future.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether Turkey has yet ratified the agreement as to an exchange of prisoners arrived at several months ago at Berne; and, if not, whether he can state the reason of the delay?

The Turkish Government has not yet ratified the Berne Agreement, but His Majesty's Government cannot believe they will not ratify it, seeing that it will be of no less benefit to Turkish than to British prisoners of war.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) when the camps in which British and Indian prisoners captured by the Turks are now interned were last inspected; and what is the most recent information received as to the numbers, health, and general condition of such prisoners?

The last inspection of internment camps in Turkey was that undertaken by the Swiss delegates of the International Red Cross Committee in December, 1916. As my hon. Friend is aware, the agreement concluded with the Turkish delegates at Berne provides for the inspection of prisoners of war camps. Since the report of the Swiss delegates no further formal reports. have been received, but a great deal of information reaches His Majesty's Government from various sources, and tends to show that the treatment of the British prisoners has, if anything, become somewhat better in recent times, but that they are suffering great hardships from the economic conditions prevailing in Turkey. In regard to the numbers of the British prisoners in Turkey I would refer my lion, and learned Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Dorset on 18th March.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether an agreement has been finally reached between the French and German Governments, to come into force immediately, by which non-commissioned officers and men of forty-eight years of age and over will be repatriated without delay and all officers of the age indicated will be interned in Switzerland; and what steps the Government are taking to secure similar privileges for officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the British Forces?

I am informed that an agreement substantially in the terms stated was come to between delegates of the French and German Governments, with the proviso that all who benefit shall have been in captivity for eighteen months. We have, however, received no notification that this agreement has been ratified by the two Governments.

asked the Undersecretary of State or War whether the Government has now obtained full details of the trial of Sergeant E. A. Boyd, Royal Naval Air Service; and, if not, or in the event of the reply not being satisfactory, the Government will give notice to the German Government of its intention to make reprisals unless Sergeant Boyd is forthwith released and properly treated as a prisoner of war?

Up to the present the military authorities have not seen their way to take action in this case pending a reply from the German Government, which has not hitherto been forthcoming. In the event of the reply being further delayed, or proving unsatisfactory, His Majesty's Government will be prepared to take measures of reprisals as indicated in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that of the fifty-five men of the Royal Irish Constabulary who were allowed to compete at the last P examination in November, twenty-two were members of the Belfast city force, and that of the ten successful candidates seven were stationed in Belfast; whether he is aware that owing to the educational facilities afforded in Belfast for such candidates members of the force in the rural districts are severely handicapped in competing at these examinations; whether, in view of these facts, he will recommend the constabulary authorities to hold a special examination for those men attached to the Belfast force as distinct from that held for the rest of Ireland; and whether, in view of the fact that promotion in the force has been considerably interfered with owing to men being compelled to serve beyond their time, he will recommend as a war measure that the vacancies at the coming P examination in November next should be extended from ten to twenty?

Fifty-three constables of the Royal Irish Constabulary were nominated to compete at the P examination in November last. Twenty-two were members of the Belfast City force. The number was the proper proportion allowed for the city force under the Regulations. The Inspector-General does not think it would be advisable to hold a special examination for members of the Royal Irish Constabulary serving in Belfast. The number of places to be given at the next examination will depend upon the estimate of the number of vacancies in the rank of sergeant likely to occur during the year, and will be fixed in due course.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the purposes for which the money known as the Greenwich Hospital Fund was raised; whether, at the time of raising the money, anything was said about allocating any portion of the money subscribed to pensions for officers; and will he further say how many seamen and Royal Marines eligible for the grant of fid. a day are still awaiting the award?

The objects of the foundation of Greenwich Hospital, as defined in the original Charter of 1694, were briefly: The relief and support of seamen of the Royal Navy, who by reason of age, wounds or other disabilities are unable to maintain themselves; the sustentation of the widows, and the maintenance and education of the children of seamen slain or disabled in the services of the Crown; the further relief and encouragement of seamen, and the improvement of navigation.Assistance to officers was not mentioned, but while Greenwich Hospital existed as an establishment for in pensioners, that is, from about 1700 to 1865, a considerable number of posts were assigned to officers of the Royal Navy. During the period from 1707 to 1827 officers also contributed out of their prize-money, etc., to the funds of Greenwich Hospital, and it was in consideration of these facts that Greenwich Hospital pensions to officers were established.The annual amount granted in pensions to officers is £7,700, or about 3½ per cent. of the income of the hospital.The number of eligible applicants to whom the age pension of 5d. a day has not been awarded is about 520. Of these about 140 are men who are not in need of assistance, and about 380 are men who entered the Service after the 29th June, 1878, to which class age pensions cannot yet be awarded because the available funds are at present required to grant pensions to those who entered the Service before that date, and who, therefore, in accordance with the finding of the Select Com- mittee of 1892 on Greenwich Hospital, are considered to have a strong claim to special consideration.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will give information as to ages of the small-pox patients now being treated in the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board and the vaccinal condition of each patient?

The condition as to vaccination of the thirty-four cases in question at the time of exposure to infection was as follows:

• Under 5 years of age, 4 cases; all unvaccinated.
• Under 5–15 years of age, 10 cases; all unvaccinated.
• Under 15–25 years of age, 4 cases; all unvaccinated.
• Under 25–35 years of age, 6 cases, all vaccinated, none revaccinated.

Over 35 years of age, 10 cases, all vaccinated, of which 2 are stated to have been revaccinated several (over twenty) years previously.Of the total 34 cases, 15 were vaccinated or revaccinated after exposure to infection.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount of the deserters' money, deceased seamen's money, and the portion of the Greenwich Fund allocated to the mercantile marine; and in whose hands these moneys are, and for what purpose they are used or intended to be used?

Wages of seamen deserters and unclaimed estates of deceased seamen are dealt with under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, and form part of the Appropriations-in-Aid of the Vote for mercantile marine services. The amounts so dealt with in the year 191–17 were £28,194 and £2,159 respectively. No payments have been received by the Board of Trade for some years past from the Greenwich Hospital Fund, which is administered by the Admiralty. Any surplus on the Vote, including the Appropriations-in-Aid, unexpended at the end of the financial year is surrendered to the Treasury, in accordance with the usual practice.