asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the overlapping which now exists between Government Departments and the delays, losses, and inconveniences to the public which are occasioned thereby, he will consider the desirability of appointing a Minister of Co-ordination having full powers in cases of overlapping in regard to the allotment of work?

I do not think that my hon. Friend's proposal is practicable.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why the British and Allies Merchants' and Brokers' Association, Limited, have been refused sanction to proceed to raise capital?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for the Westhoughton Division of Lancashire on the 21st March last.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is with the knowledge or consent of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster that a writ for arrears of rent and possession has been issued by the Attorney-General of the Duchy on behalf of His Majesty against trustees who have advanced £19,000 upon the security of a Duchy lease of the Savoy Mansions, which lease is now vested in them; whether he is aware that the trustees have stated that they were unable to pay the arrears of rent by reason of the premises having been commandeered since September, 1917, by His Majesty's Office of Works under the Defence of the Realm Act without any payment for rent or compensation; whether these facts were well known to the advisers of the Duchy before the issue of the writ; whether the advisers of the Duchy have stated in Court that they will claim that no relief against forfeiture of the lease or by way of giving time can or should be granted; and whether, in view of the hardship occasioned to the trustees by this action of the Office of Works and of the Attorney-General of the Duchy, a full inquiry will be made into the circumstances and these proceedings will be terminated?

The Chancellor of the Duchy is aware that an action was brought by the Attorney-General of the Duchy against the assignees of a lease of the Savoy Mansions for the payment of ground rent which is in arrear from the 25th March, 1917, and for possession of the premises, and that the premises have been commandeered by His Majesty's Office of Works since September, 1917. He has been informed by the tenants that they have received no compensation. The granting of relief is entirely a matter for the discretion of the Court, and I under stand the question of such relief is now Milder the consideration of the Court.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that numbers of grocers, owing to the increase of customers since the datum period, are still unable to obtain sufficient tea to supply the regulation amount to those registering with them; and will he give an assurance that the necessary quantity will be distributed to them through the usual channels of the datum period?

In locally-rationed areas tea retailers receive sufficient supplies to enable them to provide the amount of the ration to each registered customer. Any deficiency should be brought to the attention of the executive officer of the food control committee in order that steps may be taken to correct it. In other areas registration of customers is at present proceeding for the new scheme of distribution under which, from the 14th July, tea will be distributed to retailers in accordance with the number of their registered customers. In the meantime a liberal distribution has been made through the usual channels of the datum period.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the notices announcing that a new scheme of distribution of tea supplies will take effect on 14th July, and that every person in Great Britain not already registered shall, not later than 10th June, register with a tea retailer; if he will say whether steps are being taken to prevent consumers registering with more than one retailer; and whether a tea-rationing or registration card will be immediately issued?

Yes, Sir; steps have been taken to prevent consumers registering with more than one retailer. In districts where customers are not already registered for tea, registration is being effected on existing cards.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food which Department was responsible for the issuing of the Tea Distribution Order Form, 1918, T1; whether that form was withdrawn on account of its incorrectness; what was the number of forms issued and wasted; whether the Director of Tea Supplies was consulted before that form was compiled and printed; whether any other similar form referring to tea distribution has been issued and afterwards cancelled; and what was the quantity destroyed or rendered useless owing to the instructions given being inaccurate?

Two alternative schemes for the redistribution of tea on the basis of registered customers were recently prepared by the Director of Tea Supplies and two forms T 1 and T 2 had been prepared in alternative shape accordingly. By a clerical error in the Printing Department of the Ministry of Food two forms appropriate to the scheme which was not accepted were sent to the printers. 178,500 copies of the form T 1 and 300,000 copies of the form T 2 were in consequence printed and subsequently withdrawn, the correct version of each form being substituted as soon as the mistake was discovered.

asked the Under - Secretary of State for War whether there is any probability of men between forty-one and fifty-one who are now conscripted for Army service in Grades 2 and 3 obtaining commissions?

As far as can be seen at present, it is unlikely that there will be any call for men in medical categories below Grade 1 to be trained in order to fit them for commissions.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he will explain the use of Form 203; what names are selected to be sent in on this form; and whether it is to the advantage or disadvantage of recruits for their names to be entered on it?

M.N.S. Form R203, to which I presume the hon. Member refers, is submitted by Assistant Directors of National Service throughout the country to the War Office requesting special authority for a man's posting to a corps or regiment where such posting requires the special sanction of the War Office. The question as to whether this form is submitted or not rests with the Assistant Director of National Service, who uses his discretion as to whether there is a likelihood of special authority being granted by the War Office or not. The form is returned by the War Office to the Assistant Director of National Service, stating whether the man can be accepted for the corps or regiment mentioned, and the form is attached to his documents when he is sent forward to the Army reception depots for posting. This form is also used in a precisely similar manner for a man who desires to join the Royal Air Force where such posting needs special sanction. In this case the form is submitted to the Headquarters of the Ministry of National Service, who, after consultation with the Air Ministry, decide whether the man may be accepted or not.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that young lads and men are in prison as conscientious objectors for doctrines which they have received in filial or religious dependence from fathers, mothers, teachers, and religious ministers, and that the latter in many cases feel that they should more properly bear the punishment of prison and hard labour and its results in disease, suffering, impoverishment, insanity, and death which their sons or pupils have to undergo; and whether, realising that these elder persons are in many cases quite ready to suffer for their doctrines and relieve their young friends, he will allow any person to undergo vicariously for a longer or shorter period the punishment being inflicted on a conscientious objector?

I cannot accept the allegations in the first part of this question, and the suggestion in the second part is one that cannot be adopted.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that William Stanton, a conscientious objector, was sentenced in September last to a term of imprisonment in Wormwood Scrubs, and that he was sent home from Princetown settlement in March last on grounds of ill-health; whether he is aware that Stanton died on 25th March last; and in what measure his treatment in prison and the Home Office camp was conducive to his early demise?

This man was sentenced in September, 1916, was released a few-weeks later for employment under the Home Office Committee, and after more than a year's service left Princetown Work Centre in March last, having been authorised by the Committee to take up individual employment. He was not released on grounds of ill-health, and there was nothing in his treatment, either in prison or at Princetown, to conduce to his death.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his Department accepts responsibility for the control of the Navy and Army Canteen Board; and whether any subsidy is paid to it by the War Office or from public funds?

The general control of the Navy and Army Canteen Board is vested in the Admiralty and the Army and Air Councils. No subsidy is paid by the War Office or from public funds.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what methods are adopted by the Navy and Army Canteen Board to procure contracts for the supply of produce required?

The purchases of the Navy and Army Canteen Board are made by the skilled officials of the organisation who buy commodities in the various branches of trade in accordance with the usual commercial practice.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is able to give the information with regard to certain workmen employed by Messrs. Hulton and Company in the Shorncliffe area?

Inquiries have been made into this matter, and instructions issued to the contractor that he must pay to his employesé the prevailing local rates, with arrears. In the case of painters the rate is l0d. per hour, plus 12½ per cent. bonus. This rate and bonus apply equally to Army Reserve munition workers as to the other employé s of the contractor. The sanction of the Department is not required for this purpose by the contractor, the wages of whose employesé are regulated by the Fair Wages Clause in his contract.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he has seen a copy of the secret character note that has been issued by the Birmingham District Engineering Employers' Association; and if he intends putting an end to this system with a view to bringing about better relationship between employesé and employers?

The note to which my hon. Friend refers has been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend, and the matter is being dealt with urgently. A further communication will be made to my hon. Friend at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Pensions Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to bring the pensions of men discharged from the Army prior to this War, through disability or wounds attributable to or aggravated by military service, up to the same level of pensions of men discharged through these causes in the present War?

As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, men who were discharged disabled in former wars and are now completely incapable of work as a result of their original disabilities are having their pensions raised to the level of the pensions of the present war. The Government have not formulated any further intentions in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the total number of children and of young persons, respectively, charged with offences in the juvenile Courts during 1917?

Owing to the shortage of clerical staff the figures are not yet ready, but they should be available in a few days. If the Noble Lord will repeat his question in a fortnight's time, I hope to be able to give him the information he desires.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give figures showing the number of journeys taken on the railways by season ticket holders in the year following the date upon which ordinary fares were raised 50 per cent., and the number of such journeys in the year preceding that date?

A record of the number of journeys taken on the railways by season ticket holders is not kept, and it would be practically impossible to secure an exact record. I may mention that the total number of season tickets issued by ten of the principal railway companies in October, 1917, was greater by over 65,000 than the number for October, 1916, an increase of 36 per cent., and that on the figures for five months of 1917, as compared with the same, five months in 1916, there was an increase of over 30 per cent. in the number of season tickets issued by the companies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why delay is being caused in the issue of a season ticket to Charles Jarman, of May Villa, Sutton Court Road, Surrey, who is a freeholder of this house and engaged in business in the City of London; if he is aware that when application was made for a ticket he was requested to show the deeds of his property to the superintendent of the London, Brighton, and South Coast line at London Bridge, which he complied with, but was then asked to leave the conveyance of his property at the superintendent's office, which he declined to do, but left the original agreement to purchase with the railway company; and, if so, whether he will state when proper machinery will be devised for the issue of season tickets to bonâ-fide British men of business, so that inconvenience, waste of time, and unnecessary expense may be saved?

I am informed by the railway company that they authorised the issue of a season ticket to Mr. Jarman a few days after the receipt of his application.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the estimated percentage of 5,000,000 tons of dirt at present included in the exported and coastwise coal is proposed to be dealt with by the Government; whether any official action has been taken to exclude the dirt; and whether his attention has been called to the meeting of the Southern District Association of Gas Engineers and Managers held recently, when they came to the conclusion that the coal could be properly cleaned and 5,000,000 tons of wasted tonnage due to the extra dirt contained in the coals might be saved?

The Controller of Coal Mines is fully alive to the significance of the increased percentage of separable dirt in coal and is sparing no effect to decrease it. The importance of the matter has been impressed both upon the miners and the management of collieries by letter, and in some cases by addressing mass meetings. An officer of special experience has been appointed to make investigations at collieries with regard to specific complaints and to consult both with the management and workmen regarding the steps to be taken to remedy the trouble. In so far as the percentage of separable dirt is affected by the cleaning and picking of the coal on the surface the increase is partly due to the shortage of labour and machinery necessary for that purpose. I am not prepared to accept the figure of 5,000,000 tons as applicable either to the amount of dirt in exported coal or to wasted tonnage, and I am not aware of any reliable data upon which such an estimate could be based.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, bearing in mind the fact that the by-products obtained in the production of coal-gas are necessary to the munition industries and as fertilisers, he will take steps to encourage the consumption of gas in the place of raw coal by householders, in order that the gasworks may have first call upon all available coal supplies?

The Board of Trade recognise the wisdom of this policy, and the Board's action is only limited by the amount of coal which can be got into gasworks by the transport facilities at present available.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the firm of Endemann and Company, Limited, of Glasgow, was really the business of one Walther Hugo Endemann, a German resident in Switzerland; whether, though the business was ordered to be wound up in April, 1916, it has only just been liquidated; whether his two assistants, Koch and Peters, both naturalised Germans, have been allowed to carry on the same business at the same address ever since; and what is the benefit of liquidating Endemann's business if two naturalised Germans, his previous assistants, are allowed to carry it on and continue to export coal from this country?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Almost all the capital of Endemann and Company, Limited, was held by W. H. Endemann, a German subject resident in Switzerland, and his wife. The business was ordered to be wound up on the 25th July, 1916, and was brought to an end within a week of that date. Owing to the impossibility of realising debts due to the company by persons in enemy countries, the liquidation cannot be finally completed during the War, and on the 22nd May the Court made an order, on the petition of the Board of Trade, for the winding-up of the company. No part of the business has been sold to Messrs. Koch and Peters, and licences to export coal are not granted to them.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether H. Lindeman, Glasgow, is a naturalised Prussian trading as a coal exporter; whether he is a brother of the burgomaster at Kiel; and why licences are granted to a man who has such relationships to export coal from this country?

(War Trade Department): The Secretary for Scotland has asked me to reply to this question. H. Lindeman is of Prussian or German origin, and the answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. He has been a member of the firm of Burns and Lindeman since 1893, when it was established, and was naturalised as a British subject in 1897. The firm carries on in Glasgow the business of a coal exporter, and after a full inquiry made in 1915, no reason was found for refusing to this firm licences for export which are only granted where the consignees are approved, and guarantees are given precluding the possibility of consignments reaching an enemy destination.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Fishery Board has taken the necessary steps to ascertain the extent of the financial loss to the fishermen of county Down caused by the sinking of several fishing boats by a German submarine; and whether adequate compensation will be paid?

The answer to the first portion of the question is in the affirmative. The Department of Agriculture have no funds out of which compensation can be paid to owners of fishing vessels and gear destroyed by enemy action, but fishing vessels and gear can be ensured against war risks with the Irish Fishing Vessels War Risks Insurance Committee.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the total population living in districts in Ireland which have not yet adopted compulsory elementary education; what is the total number of children of school age in those districts; what is the total number on the school registers in those districts; and what is the number in average attendance in the latest year for which statistics are available.

It is estimated that about one-third of the population of Ireland, or some 1,460,000 persons, live in districts in which the compulsory attend- ance provisions of the Irish Education Act, 1892, are not enforced. About 348,000 of these persons are between the ages of three and fifteen years. For the year ended 31st December, 1914, the latest year for which the statistics are available, the average number of children on the rolls of the national schools in such districts was 251,302, and the average daily attendance 175,874.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that 19th June is Alexandra Flag Day; if he is aware that in places like the borough of West Ham it is almost impossible to obtain sufficient flag sellers on account of the age limit being restricted to prohibit sellers under the age of 18 years; and whether he is prepared to have the age limit reduced to sixteen years?

The rule in question was made by the Home Secretary because he was satisfied that it was not in the interest of young persons under eighteen that they should be allowed to act as collectors in the London streets, and he has no power to make exceptions in special cases, however excellent the objects of the collections may be.

asked the Minister of Labour whether Clause 5, Sub-section (4), of the Trade Boards Bill will have the effect of prohibiting an employer from deducting from an employé's wages the amount of the employé's pension fund contribution and the employé's works friendly society contribution, even though such funds exist entirely for the employé's benefit and the deductions are made at his request and can be terminated by him at any time; and whether it is intended that such deductions shall be computed as an integral part of the wage for the purposes of minimum wage legislation?

The joint effect of Clause 5, Sub-section (4), of the Trade Boards Bill, and of Sub-section (1) of Section 6 of the principal Act, is to render it illegal for an employer to make any deduction from an employé's wages of the kind referred to in the first part of my hon. Friend's question, if the deduction would cause the actual sum paid to the worker as wages to be less than that to which he is entitled at the minimum rate fixed by the Trade Board. It would, however, be open to a worker to pay any contribution he desired to a pension fund or a work's friendly society.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will state the terms upon which a part of the estate of Craigmyle is to be planted by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, the extent of arable land and number of houses included in the scheme, the amount of rent to be paid for them by the Board, the terms upon which the landowner can resume the whole or part of the planted and arable land, and upon whom the loss will fall in the event of the plantations being destroyed by fire or other calamity; and whether the owner or the Board will be responsible for the care and management of the plantations?

The terms and conditions under which the Board of Agriculture for Scotland propose to constitute a planting scheme on a proceeds-sharing basis on a part of the estate of Craigmyle have not yet been finally adjusted. I am consequently not in a position, at the moment, to supply the information requested by my hon. and gallant Friend, but I will furnish him with particulars of the scheme so soon as an agreement is completed.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is prepared to accept free gifts of land suitable for afforestation purposes; and whether any such gift has recently been offered?

Yes, Sir; the Board have recently accepted a free grant of 916 acres of land in the parishes of Apethorpe, Southwick, and Glapthorn in the county of Northampton from the hon. and gallant Member for the Northern Division of that county for use as a State forest. The Board take this opportunity of making public acknowledgment of this generous gift and of stating that they will be glad to receive similar grants of suitable land for the same purpose from other landowners who may be desirous of thus assisting in the work of re-afforesting the country.