asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will say how many passports have been issued to women to cross the Atlantic westward by the Inter-Departmental Passport Committee during the months of March, April, and May of this year; whether any such passports have been issued without the Inter-Departmental Committee being consulted; if so, how many; whether and, it so, how the case of Miss E. Humphreys, of Stoke-on-Trent, was so considered; and can it be reconsidered?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Irrespective of the wives and dependants of Canadian soldiers, whose repatriation is arranged by the Canadian authorities by special vessels, the number of cases of urgent necessity in which passports have been granted to women to cross the Atlantic from this country is as follows: Sixteen in March, sixteen in April, and twenty-two in May. The Inter-Departmental Committee is consulted before any such passports are granted. It has not been found possible to trace the case of Miss Humphreys, but if the hon. Member will supply fuller particulars it will be looked into.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state who is the admiral in command of the Allied Naval Forces in the Mediterranean; whether he is in supreme command of the French, British, Greek, Italian, and Japanese war vessels in those waters; and whether, in view of recent naval successes, he can make a statement as to the naval position in the Mediterranean?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to similar questions put by him on previous occasions. There has been no material alteration recently in the general organisation of Allied Commands in the Mediterranean. My right hon. Friend the First Lord does not propose at the present time to make any statement on the naval position in those waters.

Has the right hon. Gentleman noticed the general desire expressed on all sides of the House yesterday for more and fuller information?

I heard one speech, or part of it, that of my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Holt).

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind the desire for unity of command afloat as well as ashore?

I will represent that view to my right hon. Friend.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a recent Admiralty Order, stating that in the future no temporary clerks engaged for work in Admiralty offices are to be paid the increase of 5s. a week hitherto paid after six months' satisfactory work, applies to the male clerks temporarily engaged who are discharged sailors or soldiers?

Until recently 50 per cent. of the members of the temporary office staffs at outport establishments were paid a rate 5s. a week in excess of the minimum. By Treasury decision this practice has been discontinued, and the decision applies also to those temporary male clerks who are discharged soldiers or sailors.

Are we to understand from my right hon. Friend's reply that men who have served their country and are doing the same work are not to receive the same pay as people who have not served at all?

No; what it comes to is this: From the 30th May we cannot pay more than the minimum 51s. Up to the 30th May we were entitled to pay 50 per cent., at a rate 5s., in excess of the minimum.

Is not what I say quite correct, that men who have been discharged from the forces and are now doing this work for the Admiralty are not to get the war bonus that other people are getting who have never been in the forces?

I do not think so, but I will certainly make further representations to the Treasury about their decision.

Is this for the future or is it retrospective?

The date of the Order is the 30th May, and we have not been able to pay any 5s. since that.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any changes have been recently effected in the Board of Admiralty; and, if so, will he state their nature?

Yes, Sir; the changes were announced in the "London Gazette" published last night. As a sequence to the appointment of Lord Pirrie as Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding and the separation of the work between the merchant and warship side, it was found that as far as the work of the Admiralty Controller is concerned, the production Departments for warships, auxiliary craft, and naval munitions and armament generally were sufficiently strong and sufficiently completely organised to enable the distinguished civilians who have undertaken the control of them to deal direct with the naval member of the Board responsible for requisitioning what they produce. It has, therefore, been decided to eliminate a separate controller, whose original appointment was necessary in order to organise production; and to place these Departments with their existing civilian heads in direct touch with the Third Sea Lord, who will resume as well the title of Controller.

The question of co-ordination of labour supply as between the Admiralty Controller's Department and the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding, as also of the priority of materials, has assumed great importance, and Sir Robert Horne, who is in charge of these matters has therefore been placed upon the Board, with the title of Third Civil Lord. The composition of the Board as between naval and civilian members therefore remains unaltered.

On behalf of my right hon. Friend, I would like to make public acknowledgment of the debt of gratitude which the Admiralty owes to Sir Alan Anderson for the very valuable and efficient service which he has performed, and for the great development of production during his period of office as Controller. Sir Alan Anderson has had the invaluable technical advice and co-operation of Rear-Admiral Lionel Halsey, who is leaving the Admiralty to take up an important command at sea, and to whose services as Third Sea Lord my right hon. Friend, the First Lord, wishes to pay a warm tribute.

Captain Bartolomé, lately with the Grand Fleet, takes up the duties of Third Sea Lord and Controller under the new arrangement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what are the precise duties of Sir Robert Home?

Yes. He has been and will continue to be in charge of labour and material, but I will give my right hon. Friend the detailed distribution of business with which he is familiar.

Is Sir Robert Horne responsible for the construction of naval ships, and has he any experience of shipbuilding?

I do not think Sir Robert Home is responsible for the design of naval ships. That will be a matter for the Third Sea Lord. He is and will remain responsible for labour and material.

Will he be responsible for the out-turn of work?

He will not be responsible For design. He will be responsible for labour and material, but he will, of course, affect the output, but not the programme or design of ships.

Is it a fact that he is a Scottish barrister, and what use is a Scottish barrister at the Admiralty?

I have only known Sir Robert Horne since he has been responsible for priority of labour and materials, but, if his ability is questioned. I should say he is of great help, and that the highest opinion is held of his capacity.

Is it not the case that Sir Robert Horne gave up for the public service a very lucrative practice as a barrister?

I was not aware of that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what is the particular command to which Admiral Halsey, to whom he has paid such a just tribute, has been appointed?

There is no harm in saying that he goes back to the Grand Fleet, but I will tell the right hon. Gentleman later the precise command.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether his attention has been called to the fact that when the Admiralty took over and requisitioned the steamers trading in the Thames the licensed Trinity House river pilots for exempted ships were deprived of their means of livelihood and are, in many cases, now on the verge of starvation; what steps he proposes to take to compensate these sufferers for the losses they have sustained; (2) whether, in view of the fact that the exempted Thames pilots, who are all over military age, have been deprived of their livelihood, he will take steps, in conjunction with the Trinity House authorities, to place all pilots on the River Thames on an equality under one body in order that they may share the work with other Thames pilots?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to these questions. The matters referred to had not previously been brought to my attention, but I am communicating with the Trinity House regarding them, and will let my hon. and gallant Friend know the result in due course.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the declared intention of Germany to sink hospital ships at sight which are homeward bound from the Mediterranean, the Government will arm such ships or bring them home under escort, and will, in any case, carry on them captured German officers of the highest rank available?

The statement as to the declared intention of Germany to sink hospital ships at sight which are homeward bound from the Mediterranean, is not understood. No notification has been received of any intention on the part of the enemy to sink hospital ships which keep west of a line from Lands End to Ushant.

As regards the suggestion that captured German officers should be carried on board hospital ships, I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Leader of the House, to the hon. Member for the Ludlow Division, on the 18th March last.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Spanish Commissioners are sent with ships after they leave Gibraltar on account of the risks run?

Homeward bound?

Yes.

I was not aware of that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries? I am informed that is so.

asked (1) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the officers of his Department who are in control of shipping at our ports have power to arrest enemy aliens who are suspected of spying; whether any representations have been made by such officers that it is desirable that they should have this power; (2) the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet made inquiry into the statement by Commander Sir Edward Nicholl, Royal Navy, to the effect that our sea-ports are infested with alien enemies; whether any statement can be made on the subject; what action, if any, has been taken; what was Commander Nicholl's position at the time he made the statement; and what position does he hold at the present time?

I have been asked to answer question 85. I think my hon. Friend must have failed to notice the reply which I gave on the 16th May to a question on this subject by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ludlow. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of that reply.

As regards question No. 13, under Regulation 55 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, any person authorised for the purpose by the competent naval or military authority or any police constable or officer of Customs and Excise or aliens officer may arrest without warrant any person whose behaviour is of such a nature as to give reasonable grounds for suspecting that he has acted or is acting or is about to act in a manner prejudicial to the public safety or to the Defence of the Realm. These powers are available for the purpose of arresting enemy aliens who are suspected of spying. I am not aware of any representation from the officers in control of shipping at our ports that such powers are insufficient for the purpose mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Helwig Retburg, an unnaturalised German, is still retained as matron at the cottage hospital at Devizes; whether he is aware that the retention of this person causes dissatisfaction amongst the patients in the hospital and the inhabitants of the district; and whether he will take steps to have this individual removed?

This woman has resided in this country for twenty-one years, and has been matron at the hospital in question since 1911. The chief constable of the county reports that he has no reason to think that her presence causes dissatisfaction to patients or to inhabitants generally. On the contrary, I gather that patients speak very highly of the manner in which they have been treated by her. She is retained in her position by the committee of the hospital, and my information shows that both the committee and the local medical practitioners have expressed complete confidence in her.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether shipments of jute through England or directly from India are being consigned to the National Ropeworks, a German-owned factory in Italy; whether such consignments are reaching Germany as hemp viâSwitzerland; and whether jute has been declared contraband of war, so that vessels found by our patrol ships to be carrying this product are brought before our Prize Courts for adjudication?

I will ask the hon. Member to accept my regret for the delay which has occurred in replying to his question, and which is due to the fact that inquiries have had to be made in India. In reply to the first part of the question, I am informed that five consignments of jute were shipped to the Corderia Nazionale, of Genoa, which is an Italian company, under licence from India prior to April, 1917, the Italian Government having prohibited the export of jute from Italy. Since April, 1917, no further shipments have taken place. With regard to the second part of the question, proceedings were taken against the company by the Italian Government on the grounds that they had exported jute to enemy-countries under the designation of hemp, and contrary to the prohibition of export in force. The president and general manager were arrested upon a charge of trading with the enemy, but have since been released on the ground of insufficient evidence. The reply to the third part of the question is in the negative, but, as the hon. Member will be aware, jute is a natural monopoly of British India and His Majesty's Government have a complete control over its export and distribution.

Is it quite certain now that none of this jute is reaching Germany through Switzerland?

Yes; so far as we are aware, none is reaching Germany. I believe the Italian Government are taking every precaution.

asked the Home Secretary whether the French Minister of Foreign Affairs some time ago appointed an expert commission to investigate the various proposals which have been made For the creation of an association of nations after the War; whether he will ascertain whether the Commission has reported; if so, whether the Report will be submitted to the Allied Governments; and whether any similar inquiry has been set on foot by His Majesty's Government?

I will certainly inquire what, if any, steps the French Government intend to take in the matter. As regards the last part of the question, the hon. Member is no doubt aware that in this country an expert Committee has been considering the question for some time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British civilians now interned in Germany and in Holland, respectively, are naturalised British subjects of German birth; and whether the Government will take steps to prevent these men from being sent back to England during the War under any treaty for repatriation of British civilians?

Exact statistics are not at present available, but the number is known to be considerable. The question of distinguishing between different classes of British subjects in this connection is a difficult one, but I am referring the point to the Home Secretary.

Have any of these men of German birth been brought back to this country?

I think so, but I should have to have notice. I know one case of such a gentleman being brought back, but he was subsequently interned in England.

Will you intern them all? All Germans are potential spies.

I am afraid my hon. Friend must wait for the Home Secretary's return.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the transfer of British civilians from Germany to Holland for internment under The Hague agreement has been suspended owing to lack of accommodation in Holland; and whether the Government will make arrangements for this accommodation to be increased?

The number of places which the Netherland Government undertook to provide for British invalid civilians has been filled. The question of further accommodation is one of many with which the British delegates at The Hague are concerned. The matter is complicated by the food situation in Holland, and it is possible that it will prove easier to proceed by direct repatriation than by any extension of the internment system.

Will my hon. Friend consider whether he cannot send food from this country to our prisoners interned in Holland in the same way as to our prisoners of war in Germany?

I will consider that, but I do not know how to do it. It is one of the questions that my right hon. Friend and his colleagues have before them during their stay at The Hague.

We should like to know whether the objections to sending food to our prisoners interned in Holland are raised by the Dutch Government or by our Government?

I do not think that I can answer that question straight off. It is quite obvious that it must require the consent of the Dutch Government.

Has it been asked?

I do not know whether any formal demand has been made by my right hon. Friend, but I know that he and his colleagues were fully seised of the matter when they went there.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office are now satisfied that many of our men taken prisoners by the Germans have never been reported by Germany as having been so taken, and that such men have been used by the Germans in close proximity to their firing line and have sustained heavy casualties from our shell-fire; and what steps the Government propose to take by way of reprisals to prevent the repetition of these outrages upon the rules of civilised warfare?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to similar questions on the 30th May last. Perhaps my hon. and learned Friend would await the result of the Conference now sitting at The Hague.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received reports from America of Mrs. Pankhurst's speeches in favour of Japanese intervention in Siberia; and whether, as Mrs. Pankhurst was allowed to go to America in Allied interests, these speeches indicate that the Allies have now decided that Japanese forces will enter and occupy the Eastern territory of Russia?

I have received no reports on Mrs. Pankhurst's speeches in America, and know nothing beyond what has appeared in the Press. No inferences as to Allied intentions can properly be drawn from her statements.

May we conclude, therefore, that she did not go in the Allied interests in order to advocate any policy or propaganda?

On whose recommendation was Mrs. Pankhurst sent to America?

The Prime Ministers.

I do not think she was sent on anybody's recommendation, but, if my hon. and gallant Friend is anxious to have particulars, I will make inquiries.

By whom was the passport granted, seeing that so many of these passports are at present being refused?

The giving of a passport is a quite different matter from giving it on a recommendation. As to the comparative claims of Mrs. Pankhurst and other ladies who wish to go to America, I am afraid I cannot answer that question. These matters are dealt with by a Committee to which I have referred more than once in this House. I do not know what is the basis on which my right hon. Friend (Sir H. Craik) would desire a comparison to be made.

To what Department is this Committee responsible? I myself have been sent to no less than three Departments—the Foreign Office, the Admiralty, and the Colonial Office—who have all said that they have no power ever this Committee.

If my right hon. Friend wishes to put a question about the Committee—which has nothing whatever to do with the question on the Paper—I shall be pleased to do my best to answer it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that Mrs. Pankhurst's expenses are not paid out of public funds?

I can give that assurance with perfect confidence.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his Department refused a passport to a woman to take her husband's place who is coming from Canada to fight for this country, on the ground that there was no shipping accommodation, and yet they gave permission to Mrs. Pankhurst to go?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government propose to provide for soldiers and sailors, including the mercantile marine, domiciled in the United Kingdom, and their dependants, who desire to settle in the Dominions after the War, financial assistance to pay their passages; whether they will be given the same financial assistance beyond their passage money as Colonial soldiers on returning home; and whether the decision as to their suitability for settlement in the Dominions will be made in this country or on arrival in the Dominion?

It is impossible to make a statement on the subject at present. It raises very important questions of policy on which both Parliament and the oversea Dominions will have to be fully consulted.

Can my hon. Friend say if this matter is at present under consideration by his Department?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he will make arrangements for supplying men who have been discharged from the Army as unfit for military service and who are employed in recruiting offices with a distinctive badge to show that they have served in the Array or Navy, and thus prevent them being subjected to objectionable remarks from persons who visit these offices?

I think the case of these men is already met by the silver war badge, which is awarded to all individuals who have been discharged from the Army during the War and are permanently unfit for further military service. No other badge is available for issue.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the number of admissions to hospitals for venereal disease in the British Army for the years 1915, 1916, 1917, and the first four months of 1918; and how many cases of venereal disease were being treated in hospital on the latest date for which figures are available?

I am afraid that complete figures are not available, and in any case it is not desirable to publish such information.

Can my right hon. Friend give us an assurance that the figures, so far as he is aware, are of a reassuring and not an alarming character?

No; I cannot add anything to the answer which I have given.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if the land taken near Slough for a repairing factory on which the growing crops have been destroyed had been manured and prepared for a rotation for the production of food for the next two years, but that the valuer has informed the tenant that this outlay will be disregarded in assessing compensation; and whether it is the policy of the Government to requisition property on the principle of confiscation?

A very small area of growing crops has been destroyed, and it is hoped that at the outside not more than 50 acres will be used before the crops over the whole area have been harvested. Of the 50 acres, a considerable portion is clover, which will have been cleared before the Department enters. As regards the second part of the question, no such suggestion has been made by any valuer attached to the Directorate of Lands, nor is the basis suggested that on which the Government requisitions property.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these tenants have been told to send in their claims for compensation on the basis of seed and labour only, and will he see that some further compensation is accorded them?

I understand that in all these cases any claim for compensation would go straight to the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that if instructions have been given to the tenants to make out their claims on a certain basis, excluding unexhausted improvements, that is the same thing as a notice that they will not receive compensation for them?

No; I do not think so. It does not matter what instructions have been given to the tenants, the whole of the relevant facts connected with the case will be considered by a judicial tribunal—that is, the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how long it is since the officials of the Lands Directorate began negotiations for the acquisition of the site at Cippenham, near Slough, for military purposes?

A representative of the Directorate of Lands, acting under instructions, personally served notice on some of the tenants on the 24th May, and notice was sent to the remainder of the owners and tenants on the following day, of the intention of the Department to occupy the lands in question.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what steps he is taking to remove the impression among farmers and allotment holders that the destraction of growing crops in Buckinghamshire by the Government indicates that there is no need for exceptional effort to produce a maximum cultivation of the land?

The necessity for all possible efforts to produce the maximum amount of food is accentuated rather than diminished by the proceedings referred to in the hon. Member's question. The Board hope that farmers and allotment-holders will realise that those proceedings could only be justified on grounds of such military urgency as, in tile opinion of the Government, outweigh all other considerations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Lieutenant D. E. charles, late Army Pay Department, has been deprived of his commission without any form of trial or inquiry; and, if so, for what reasons?

Mr. Charles was an acting paymaster serving on a contract terminable at a month's notice, but holding a commission pro forma while so employed. His contract of service was terminated after due notice because after full experience he was found unsuitable for pay office duties, and his commission then lapsed. The case was fully inquired into at the War Office in the ordinary course.

Arising out of that absolutely unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this question to-day.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether every married officer in this country is entitled to, or at least allowed, one soldier servant; if he can give the number of such soldiers so employed; and, if so, will he consider the advisability of finding better employment for such men?

No difference is made in the allowance of servants, whether an officer is married or single. A mounted officer is allowed one servant, who also acts as groom; dismounted officers are allowed one servant between five officers, except where there are less than ten officers together, when one servant is allowed between three officers. Certain exceptions are made in the case of disabled officers. I am afraid I cannot state the number of soldiers so employed, and it would necessitate a large amount of clerical labour to obtain the figures. The number varies with the number of officers serving at home, and any return would be obsolete before it could be finally compiled. A system of special inspection ensures that the scale of soldier servants authorised is not exceeded.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) how many threshing-machine or engine owners-signed the agreement with the Forage Committee for the hire of engines or balers in the years 1915, 1910, and 1917, respectively, and how many of such agreements are now in existence; whether, having regard to the rise in the cost of wages, repairs, etc., the Army Council would be prepared to reconsider the rental paid under such agreements; (2) whether his attention has been called to the number of sales of threshing tackle by men who feel they can no longer continue in the business owing to the treatment they have received by the Forage Committee working under the War Office; and whether he can take any steps in the interests of agriculture to restore confidence to the trade?

The facts are as follows Seventy-four owners signed agreements with the Forage Department in 1915, 276 in 1916, and 309 in 1917. Of the 659 agreements, 491 still exist. Of the 491 now in existence, only thirty-eight involve provision of labour and full maintenance of plant by the contractor, the balance of engines being hired at a flat rate per week, whereby the War Department is responsible for all repairs and upkeep other than fair wear and tear. These contracts were specifically made for "the duration of the War." As regards question No. 42, I am not aware of the existence of any complaints.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether his Department propose to take over another large hotel near Hyde Park; if so, for what purpose it is to be used, what rent it is proposed to pay for it annually, and if it is proposed to spend any money on alterations, and, if so, how much; and can he state what staff it is proposed to house in this building?

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works to a similar question asked by my hon. Friend on Monday last.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if the Defence of the Realm Losses Royal Commission have now assessed the compensation to be paid to the 122 firms in Kingsway dispossessed by the Government in order to house the Aircraft Production Department of the Ministry of Munitions; and, if so, will he say what is the total amount?

I am informed that the Commission have received two applications. One of these has been determined without a hearing, a lump sum of £64 1s. 9d. and a recurrent payment of £954 per annum having been awarded. It is proposed to appoint an early date for the hearing of the other. The Commission have also sanctioned payments on account amounting to £7,707 10s. to five other applicants whose applications have not yet come forward to them for final hearing.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he will state the number of persons in the Navy and Army that have been awarded the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Service Order during the present War?

The totals for the Navy and Army are:

Victoria Cross	…	446
(Bars)	…	2
Distinguished Service Order	…	7,347
(1st Bar)	…	296
(2nd Bar)	…	9
(3rd Bar)	…	1

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the annual allowance for uniform made to nurses in military hospitals?

I presume my hon. Friend is referring to nurses of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service and the Territorial Force Nursing Service. The allowance to those serving at home is £8 per annum. In practice, the first year's grant includes an advance of £4 in respect of the second. A further allowance of £1 per annum is made when a nurse proceeds abroad.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the war bonus allowed to nurses in military hospitals; and whether, after the first completed year, the bonus is payable for any portion of a subsequent year during which nurses may leave one institution for another before its completion?

I am not quite clear what the hon. Member has in mind. Perhaps he could give me further particulars of the case.

I want to know whether a nurse who leaves before the completion of her second year for another appointment is entitled to the bonus for that portion of the year for which she has served?

There is no war bonus that I am aware of in the case of nurses. I think it would be much better if the hon. Member would give me particulars of the case and I will have inquiries made.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he can give the reason why the statue of King Charles in Trafalgar Square is being built up and over with timber, and the base protected by sandbags; and, if such quantities of timber are available, why temporary huts are being built of 9-inch brick instead of wood?

It is desired to afford some measure of protection to this beautiful and historic monument from the effects of lateral concussion of bombs and from falling pieces of shrapnel. The amount of timber being used is about five-eighths of a standard, which is much less than would be required for the construction of one typical hut.

Is the same procedure going to be followed with respect to the Nelson monument?

The hon. Member must be aware that that is impossible.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that no timber is expended on protecting statues of the German Royalties which disfigure the Metropolis?

It is not my present intention to protect any other monuments except that which is being protected.

Are you a Legitimist?

asked the Prime Minister whether any measures are being contemplated by the Government in order to abate the growing national expenditure, the increased dislocation of public business, and the lack of co-ordination between various Departments?

I would ask the hon. Member to await the Debate this afternoon.

asked the Prime Minister whether special consideration was given to the question of the remuneration of young women now in official positions who have received an academic training; and, if so, can he explain the reason for the scale of salaries paid to women in responsible positions in all the new Ministries?

Yes, Sir. Scales of remuneration have been fixed for women with academic or other good educational qualifications employed during the War on administrative work, comparable to those of the junior officers of the permanent classes whom they are replacing, and special salaries have been fixed for women with technical or administrative experience where necessary.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will be prepared to publish a list of all posts created since August, 1914, with the names and qualifications of the occupants of such posts and indicating in what way they secured their appointments?

The answer is in the negative. The value of such a return would not, in my opinion, be commensurate with the amount of work that its preparation would involve.

Is this request refused because of the shortage of paper?

It is refused on account of the work which it would involve.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public impression is that many of those posts are filled by persons who could not command their present salaries in the open market?

That may be the hon. Member's impression, but I should be very sorry if it were the general impression, and I believe it to be quite unjustified. There is great difficulty in getting suitable people, and many of them are working for nothing.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the closing down of a number of the gold mines on the Rand, owing to the increase in the cost of production and lack of labour, is now imminent; whether the price of gold should remain fixed while the cost of producing it has so enormously increased; and has he any means at his disposal to prevent the diminution of the output of gold due to the causes mentioned?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for East Nottingham on this subject on the 22nd April last.

Is it in the power of the Government to fix the price of gold?

Yes; to a certain extent it is—gold produced within the Empire.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the many thousands of decorations which are being conferred for public service, sometimes of an inconspicuous and temporary character, he will recommend to the proper authority that the French precedent be adopted and faithful and continuous service to the private individual or firm should entitle the giver of such service to decoration or other mark of recognition from the State?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation during the present Session for the purpose of making it illegal for our present enemies to open banks or to carry on the business of banking in the United Kingdom after the War?

It would be impossible to deal with the question of banking alone and the Government do not propose at present to deal with the general question.

Has the Government any intention of dealing with the matter?

The general question must certainly be dealt with, but obviously I should have thought at the present stage of the War it would be more important to find the money.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance on behalf of the Government that it is part of their policy to carry out legislation on these lines?

As I say, the matter has not been considered by the Government, and it is impossible, therefore, to give the opinion of the Government as a whole. It is obviously a subject which must be dealt with, but whether it will be dealt with by this Government or a later one, I cannot say.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make arrangements through the Foreign Office to obtain a Report with regard to the working of the Luxury Tax in France, showing, particularly, whether experience so far indicates that the yield of the tax is equal to what was anticipated; whether the system of collection is found to work easily; and whether any serious friction has been caused, either amongst the trading classes or the general population, by the attempt to carry the new law into effect?

The Foreign Office has already asked for a Report as to the working of the Luxury Tax in France and the results so far obtained.

Will the Report be laid before the House?

I cannot say until I have seen it. I have asked for it for my own information to guide me in our own Budget.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance, if it going to be available, that it may be available before the second Finance Bill comes on for discussion, so that we may be properly informed what the position is?

Certainly; and if the Report is of a nature which I think will be useful to the House, I shall certainly have it circulated.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that it would be desirable for the House to get as much information as possible?

Most certainly, it will be my desire that the House shall have all possible relevant information. It is very difficult to get in war-time, and the Report may be of such a nature that it may not be useful to circulate it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the fact that some 270 Members of this House of all parties have-given their names in support of the Motion on the Paper that pension administration should be kept free from the influence of political parties and have asked for a day for its discussion, he can now see his way, in accordance with his promise, to set aside a definite day for it?

I regret that I cannot yet name a day, but one will certainly be given,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Government, Labour, and expert pension authorities in the United States have concurred in supporting the passing through Congress, on 6th October, 1917, of the War Risk Insurance Act, with the Object of placing the whole question of pensions or insurance for men killed or disabled in the European War on an entirely different footing from the previous American pension laws; whether he is aware that, by Section 312 of this law, the then existing pension laws are made not to apply to American soldiers and sailors fighting in the European War; and, seeing that this change was expressly made in order to avoid the political and other difficulties which arose in the administration of the American pension laws applicable to those who fell or were injured in the Civil or Spanish Wars, will he consider the advisability of taking action with the object of preventing such difficulties in this country?

I am afraid I can add nothing to my reply of the 16th May last on this subject, to which I would refer my hon. Friend.

asked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that discharged soldiers who have to attend a medical board for the purpose of having their case reviewed and their pensions reassessed have, in many cases, to lose time and wages in so doing; whether under these circumstances he will, where time is lost, compensate these men for the wages they lose; and whether he will also allow them railway fares in cases where they have to travel over two miles to a medical board?

When a discharged soldier is called up for re-examination by a medical board he can now be given compensation for loss of remunerative time up to a limit of 1s. an hour or 10s. a day. Evidence must be furnished, by means of a certificate from the employer, as to the actual time lost and the rate of wages. Men called up for re-examination do not have to pay their own railway fares.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the proprietor of the Swan Hotel, Wotton-under-Edge, or one Faller, the unnaturalised German manager thereof, has a contract for carrying His Majesty's mails; and, if so, whether he will explain why the mails should be so carried?

Faller is not a mail contractor, and I am informed that he has nothing to do with the mans.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at all events the man drives the mails?

I am informed that his duties at the hotel are as caterer and waiter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that 80 per cent. of the whole output of soap in this country is produced by firms or companies either owned or controlled by Messrs. Lever Brothers, Limited, and Messrs. Brunner, Mond and Company, Limited; and, if so, will he take steps to see that the proposed executive committee of the new Soapmakers' Association, which is being formed in the national interest at the request of the Government, contains adequate representation of firms or companies having no connection, either direct or indirect, with these firms, and that every branch of the soap industry is represented?

I may refer to the Written Answer given last Monday to this question. I can only repeat that in any scheme which may be put forward for the control of the soap-making industry every possible precaution will be taken to safeguard the interests of the smaller manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether his attention has been drawn to the schemes for agricultural training and land settlement which are now being considered and developed by the Ministry of Pensions, the Department of Agriculture, and by the Irish Office and Colonial Office, respectively; whether this subject was intended to come within the province of the Ministry of Reconstruction; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

Yes, my attention has been drawn to the matters mentioned in my hon. Friend's question, and these questions have been and are being considered in the closest co-operation with the other Departments concerned.