asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether the recent requisitioning of 10 acres of land in the parish of Barnes for the purpose of erecting workshops for the Glendower Aircraft Company was done by the Air Minister or with his sanction; whether he is aware that the land requisitioned was highly cultivated and produced three crops per annum, and that the spring crops were destroyed, and an orchard of plum trees in their prime was cut down; whether another 5 acres of similar land in the same locality have now been requisitioned for the same purpose; whether he is aware that, although the workshops on this land have been completed for a considerable time, no machinery has yet been erected; and if he will say whether this transaction was carried out after consultation with the Board of Agriculture?

I have been asked to reply to this question, and am obliged to my hon. Friend for having postponed it. The 10 acres of land in question was not requisitioned, but was purchased by the company for the purpose of erecting workshops. Owing to the extreme urgency, new facilities were required at that time for the building of complete aeroplanes. The firm was doing extremely good work with very limited facilities, and the extension was strongly recommended by the then Director of Aircraft Production. The land contained some very old plum trees, some of which were cut down; others are still standing. On the rest of the land that has been disturbed were some spring onions and cabbages, none of which were destroyed, the tenant being able to remove the whole of the crop in April and May for transplantation. The tenant removed everything of any value, and the total compensation paid under the Agricultural Holdings Act was £260.

The company bought another 5 acres of similar land in the same locality. This land is under cultivation, and will not be interfered with until after the War. The workshops were completed two months ago. Machinery is in the workshops, but production has not begun owing to the difficulty of obtaining material to put the machinery into running. This difficulty has now been overcome, and the factory will soon be producing. The Board of Agriculture was not consulted by the Aircraft Production Department.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction that exists amongst traders, especially in view of the extension of the military age, at the number of aliens, both enemy and neutral, who are still at large and who are seizing the opportunity to increase their business at the expense of British traders who are being called up; and, seeing that the Government have stated that steps should be taken to see that neutral alien traders of military age should be required to take up work of national importance, will he say what steps, if any, have been taken to carry out this undertaking?

I have observed that the question of the status of aliens in this country has been the subject of criticism from various points of view. With regard to enemy alien traders, I cannot do better than refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 13th May last.

With regard to neutral traders, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Ludlow on 2nd May and to that given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department to the hon. Member for South Manchester on Tuesday last; and I might remind him that my Department has recently been enabled, by means of the Retail Business (Licensing) Order, 1918, to control the commencement of new businesses, and thus to afford considerable protection against any attempts to annex the businesses of men called up.

I am not aware of the statement referred to in the last part of the question, and the hon. Member will appreciate the obvious difficulties and risks which the course suggested would involve; but with regard to alien workmen, I would draw his attention to the provisions of Article 22C of the Aliens Restriction (Consolidation) Order, which enables the Minister of National Service to exercise control over the employment of aliens in the less essential industries and to the Schedule of which additions have recently been made. With regard to enemy aliens, arrangements have been put into operation under which, so far as possible, any who are physically capable of undertaking work of national importance, must cither undertake such work or be interned. It is, however, difficult to persuade employers to make use of these men's services for reasons which are obvious.

Have any of these aliens been put to national work, and, if not, how many have been interned?

I must have notice of that question. It is extremely difficult to obtain employment for aliens, as employers do not like them; and if we take any action which results in their being employed, then we are asked why do we employ aliens.

Is it the fact that the Department have done nothing whatever to tackle this subject?

The answer is very much in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if on the 6th December, 1917, a definite promise was given by his predecessor to the under-sheriffs of Ireland that an immediate inquiry should be held into the circumstances and conditions of their office, to be conducted by one of the Irish judges sitting with a representative of Dublin Castle and a third person to be named by the under-sheriffs; whether he is aware from the records in the Irish Office that the existing position of the sheriffs' office in Ireland is an unsatisfactory one; and whether, in the public interest, he will take immediate steps to redeem the promise given to the under-sheriffs?

I am aware of the promise given by my predecessor. There has been some delay in appointing a Committee, but steps are now being taken.