asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received complaint from the Dartford and District Trades Council in regard to the following cases: Mr. J. A. Fraser on 19th May and Mr. W. T. M. Trust on 20th May, who, on applying to the Gravesend Labour Exchange, were refused information as to the names of the firms to which they were referred for employment, and on account of their declining to go because no information was given their society were informed that their unemployed benefit was suspended from the above dates, and subsequently Fraser, again being unemployed, applied to the Exchange on 12th June, when a similar case arose; whether he will have the facts of these cases thoroughly inquired into; whether information will in future be given to applicants so that they know whether, as trade union men, it is any use their applying; and whether he will see that in future refusal to go on trade union grounds will not mean suspension from benefit?

I received a letter on Tuesday from the Dartford and District Trades Council on this subject. I understand that the workmen in question declined to consider any employment in the district in which it was offered them, and that, therefore, no useful purpose would have been served by furnishing them with the names of particular employers in that district. A workman is, of course, always informed of an employer's name and of the conditions of employment offered before he is sent to a distance. The workmen referred to are members of an association with which the Board of Trade have made an arrangement under Section 105 of the National Insurance Act, and ample machinery is provided for deciding any differences that may arise under that arrangement as to the qualification of any member of the association to receive unemployment benefit under the Act. Up to the present the association have not taken any steps to put this machinery in motion in the present case, but I will see that their attention is again called to the matter. As regards the last part of my hon. Friend's question, the workman is protected by the proviso to Section 86 of the Act, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

Is not the statement of the men and their charge against the Department that they did not receive this information, and therefore they could not judge at once whether the houses come within the trade union rule, and that is what they want the inquiry about?

There is a clear conflict of statement. I will go carefully into the matter.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been called to the case of the employés of the Leadenhall Press, Limited, who, under the National Insurance Act, 1911, have received between 18th June, 1912, and 31st March, 1913, benefits of a total value of £9 10s. 4d. in return for contributions made by and on their behalf of £147 8s. 9d., or a proportion of about ½d. to 9d.; and whether, in this and similar cases, the employed contributors affected will be noted with a view to their receiving additional benefits to correspond more adequately with the payments made by them?

I have no information as to the payments made to employés of particular companies. As the National Insurance Act did not come into operation till 15th July, 1912, and payments only commenced on 13th January, the period mentioned is obviously incorrect, and it is not stated how the "total value" of the benefits has been estimated. In any case payments to, and in respect of, less than 200 persons (the majority probably of such an age that the full demands of sickness and sick pay have not yet appeared) over a period of about nine months, which includes the non-recurring six months waiting periods for benefits, obviously offer no general inferences of importance; and certainly do not require to be seriously considered as against the actuarial estimates, and the actual experience, for the whole country. With regard to the latter part of the question I would point out that the Act already provides that societies whose members draw less than the estimated sums in benefit shall devote the saving to giving additional benefits to their members or reducing their contributions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the actual premiums which have been paid are very much more than the payments received in benefits?

If you take persons through the whole of their lives, the premiums charged from sixteen to seventy years of age might in many cases be greater than the amount received in benefits, and, of course, you might find a person who had had no sickness at all.

Is there anything in the amending Bill for doing away with what to all intents and purposes is an anomaly, seeing that some people have to pay more in premiums than they receive in benefits?

People should be happy if they have been lucky enough to be well.

rose——

The hon. Member cannot argue this matter out by question and answer.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a number of chemists in certain counties have not yet been paid for the first quarter's working of the National Insurance Act, and that many of these men are unable to give credit for long periods owing to the fact that they themselves have to pay cash to the wholesale druggists; and whether, under the circumstances, he will arrange that these accounts shall be paid as speedily as possible?

No, Sir. As I have previously pointed out, the regulations which are incorporated in the agreements entered into by the chemists provide for periodical advances, although a final settlement can only be made at the end of the medical year. Advances have already been made, in some cases up to 75 per cent. of the accounts rendered up to the end of last quarter, and I am not aware of any case in which payments have not been made where accounts have been rendered.

asked if it is proposed in the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill to make provision for the inclusion in medical benefit of the nursing of insured persons, or otherwise to take steps to provide such persons with efficient nursing and prevent the threatened extinction through lack of financial support of county and district nursing associations?

No, Sir. Provision is already made under Section 21 of the principal Act whereby approved societies and insurance committees may subscribe for the support of district nurses for the purpose of visiting and nursing insured persons, but there has not yet been sufficent experience of the working of the Act to show the full effect of this provision or whether any amendment is needed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in pursuance of the recent Report of the Departmental Committee appointed to consider the conditions imposed by Section 15 (5) (3) of the National Insurance Act, there has been introduced into the amending Bill of the present Session a provision authorising a person, firm, or body corporate who or which has entered into arrangements with an insurance committee for the dispensing of medicines for insured persons to employ in such dispensing, not necessarily under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, any person who shall have satisfied such conditions as may be prescribed by the Privy Council for that purpose; and, if not, whether he will accept an Amendment to that effect?

The answer to the first part of the the question is in the negative. The Report of the Committee is at present under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to state what action will be taken upon it.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the case of a deposit contributor who was over sixty-five when he entered insurance and who is therefore not entitled to claim medical benefit, the Commissioners propose to make any arrangement with regard to the balance, if any, standing to his credit when he reaches the age of seventy; whether they will make any contribution towards the cost of medical attendance; or whether they will allow him to draw out four-sevenths of the balance, as he might do if he had emigrated or as his nominee might do on his death?

A deposit contributor who was over sixty-five on 15th July, 1912, is entitled to such benefits as the insurance committee may determine. Any balance standing to a contributor's credit when he reaches the age of seventy will in the ordinary course remain in the Post Office Fund until his death, but committees are in most cases allowing contributors who enter insurance at the age of sixty-nine and upwards to draw sickness benefit after they reach the age of seventy.

Does the gross amount stand to the man's credit, or are deductions made for management?

I am not quite sure, but I think the new Bill deals with that.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the case of an insured English woman who is married to an alien, the full Government Grant is made towards maternity benefit if her husband is not also insured and she is entitled to receive the full maternity benefit, but if her husband is also insured no Government Grant is made towards maternity benefit and her husband is only entitled to receive a, reduced maternity benefit in respect of her confinement; and, if this be so, whether he will consider the propriety of amending this in the forthcoming Bill?

The woman referred to would, under the Naturalisation Act, 1870, be an alien, so that there would be no difference as to the payment of the Government Grant in the two cases referred to by my hon. Friend.

Is it proposed to deal with this subject in the new Bill?

I do not think so.

Is it not the case that provision has been made in the Act that these women should not be treated as aliens, and is not a similar provision made in the Old Age Pensions Act?

I do not think that is the case.

Is it the case in the Old Age Pensions Act?

I cannot say.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if the arbitration in a somewhat similar case to certain maintenance contracts made by the Board of Works with contractors in Glasgow has yet been concluded; and if he can now say whether the Treasury has considered the effect of the National Insurance Act upon such contracts and the question of sanctioning such variation of the terms of the contract as the equities of the case may demand?

I fear I cannot at present add anything to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 1st April last. The arbitration is not yet concluded.

asked the Prime Minister to which Colonial Governments he has given an invitation to appoint a permanent representative on the Committee of Imperial Defence; how many of the Colonies have agreed to do this; and what will be the ultimate proportion of Colonial to British Members of the Committee when the arrangement for Colonial representation is completed?

Full information with regard to the invitation is given in the Parliamentary Paper, Cd. 6560, and I cannot add anything to my reply to a question on the subject on 1st April last, except that Colonel Allen has now returned to New Zealand. As regards the last part of the question, it is impossible to arrive at any proportion, as the number of Members invited to attend meetings of the Committee of Imperial Defence varies according to the nature of the subjects to be discussed.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have under consideration a scheme to provide adequate housing in rural districts, and to provide assistance from national funds to small holders; whether their policy is based on any recommendations made by the secret and unofficial Committee that, since July of last year, has been investigating rural problems; and whether and when any Report of this Committee will be made available for study by Members?

The Government, are considering the housing question in all its aspects, and any proposals they may make will be made on their own responsibility. As I have already stated, 1 understand a Report will be published by the Committee referred to, but I am unable to say when.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now in a position to state when the Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the question of allowances for the Customs waterguard will be published?

The Board of Customs and Excise hope to issue the new Regulations dealing with overtime and Sunday pay for the waterguard staff in the course of a week.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the commander of His Majesty's ship "Dwarf" has within the last two years called the attention of His Majesty's Government to slave-trading practices in West Africa; and, if so, will he lay such Papers before the House of Commons at an early date?

The commander of His Majesty's ship "Dwarf" has called attention to some suspicious cases, which have been brought, to the notice of the Foreign Office. We are inquiring into the matter, and it would be premature to lay Papers at present.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to a report submitted to the Foreign Office alleging slave trade of grave proportions between a port south of Benguella and San Thom6; and, if so, whether he will give instructions to the commander of His Majesty's ship "Dwarf," or other suitable vessel, to pay more frequent visits to those regions?

The only definite allegations in the report to which the hon. Member presumably refers relate to a period before recruiting in Angola, and export of labourers thence was stopped. It is known that at the time abuses did occur. The efforts of His Majesty's Government were directed to getting the Portuguese Government to put a stop to these in Angola. This we believe has been done, and statements as to what went on previously are irrelevant to the state of things that now exist, and it is most unfair to quote them as evidence that these particular abuses continue. If recent evidence to the contrary is produced it would of course be considered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Frederick George Leatham, seaman, of His Majesty's Ship "Philomel," who was killed in action up the Persian Gulf, left a widow, or father, or mother who were dependent upon him; if so, what pensions have been granted; and whether he has received satisfactory accounts of the wounded men?

So far as my information goes, the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. No reports have been received as to the condition of the wounded.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, although the pay circular of December, 1912, made the pay of 6s. a day to ships' stewards attainable after twelve years, and benefited fifty-seven ships' stewards between twelve and fifteen years' seniority, the twelve senior ships' stewards who have served fifteen years in that rating, and were already in the possession of 6s. a day pay, received no increase; and whether the Board of Admiralty can see their way to grant these twelve senior ships' stewards an increase of 1s. a day in their pay?

The facts are as stated with regard to any ships' stewards who were already drawing the 6s. rate when the pay of the class was revised last December. As stated in my reply to the Noble Lord on the 2nd instant, it is not proposed to make any further change. I may add that a ship's steward entered before 1st January, 1911, is entitled to the rate of 7s. a day on completion of twenty years' service in that rating.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that at the Gourock Torpedo Works engineers, instrument makers, coppersmiths, braziers, and sheet-metal workers are being started at a wage below the district rate of 38s. 3d. per week; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter and see that the proper rate is paid?

The following changes will take place, dating as from 1st June: The starting rate of mechanics will be raised from 37s. to 38s. a week. The mean rate for skilled labourers will be raised from 25s. to 26s. The labourers' rate will be raised from 22s. to 23s.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether can now see his way to make regulations which would enable blacksmiths, coopers, plumbers, and painters with the necessary qualifications to attain the rank of chief petty officer?

As stated in reply to the Noble Lord the Member for Portsmouth on 2nd June, the conditions of service of the ratings mentioned were carefully considered at the recent revision, and it is not proposed to introduce further changes in them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been called to the accidents which have taken place with aeroplanes which have met with accidents and have been repaired and which are afterwards unsound; if the Admiralty scrap aeroplanes which have been badly damaged or repair them; and, if so, if care is taken that absolutely new material is put into them?

The Board of Admiralty are, through their advisers, in the closest touch with all the information that can be obtained in connection with accidents that have taken place with aeroplanes. If a machine is so badly damaged that it is beyond repair, it is scrapped. If it is so damaged that complete rebuilding is necessary, care is taken that the machine is turned out almost as good as new. A good supply of spare parts is provided for making small repairs. As far as possible new material is always used.

In view of the statement that where a machine has to be rebuilt care is taken that it is turned out almost as good as new, does the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is safe to go up in?

I should say that it would be absolutely as safe as a new machine.

asked the President of the Local Government Board to state the latest figures as regards infant mortality in England and Wales; and also the highest and lowest infant mortality rates for towns of over 50,000; and whether he is able to furnish the House with figures showing the effect of recent legislation and administration upon the rate of infant mortality?

The infant mortality rate in England and Wales in 1912 was 95 per 1,000 births. As regards the second part of the question, I will send my hon. Friend the figures as regards a number of towns. I am afraid it is not practicable to apportion in any exact manner the effect of recent changes in legislation or adminstration on the infant mortality rate, but as my hon. Friend is aware, this rate has exhibited a marked tendency to fall during the last eight years. I may add that a Report on the subject of infant mortality in now being prepared by the medical officer of the Local Government Board, and that I hope shortly to present this.

Does my right hon. Friend think that this reduction in mortality is due to inspectors or to a change in public opinion?

I believe it is due to a variety of causes.

Is it not a fact that infant mortality is determined by the wage conditions in particular localities, and has there been any legislation to meet that?

I think the remarkable diminution in infant mortality during the last ten years is due to the fact that the attention of local authorities, doctors, and public opinion generally, has concentrated upon many causes which previously were ignored with regard to infant feeding after birth, and the condition of the mother before the child was born.

had the following question on the Notice Paper: To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the demand notes for a voluntary rate of 8d. in the pound now being sent out by the collector of rates from the overseers' office of the township of Ashton-in-Makerfield; whether he is aware that demand notes so sent out are calculated to mislead ratepayers to believe that the amounts demanded therein have been officially levied; and whether he will take immediate action to have the demand notes issued at Ashton-in-Makerfield withdrawn and the amounts already collected returned to the ratepayers?

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, at a parish meeting held at Aldbourne in connection with the recent parish council elections, the chairman ruled that the nomination of Mrs. Bartrum was invalid on the ground that she was not an occupier or resident in the parish; and, seeing that the ruling of the chairman for the disqualification of Mrs. Bartrum is not in accordance with the rules laid down by the Local Government Board, will he say what action he proposes to take?

My attention has been called to this case, but I am not empowered to take any action with respect to it. I am advised that, in the circumstances, the decision of the chairman could only be questioned by means of an election petition, and that the time within which such a petition could be presented has now passed.

asked the President to the Board of Education whether the Buttocks Heath school dispute is now settled, and, if not, whether he will now have an inquiry made into the case with a view to a satisfactory settlement; whether any compensation has been made to Miss Watts, and, if so, what; and whether she has obtained another post as schoolmistress?

I am at present in communication with the local education authority and am not yet in a position to make any statement on the matter, but on the facts at present before me I am doubtful whether I have any power to intervene. I have no information on the subject of compensation, and this is not a matter with which the Board are concerned. I have received no notice of Miss Watts' appointment to a post in any other public elementary school.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether Miss Watts has obtained another place, and whether the headmaster who was responsible for the dispute is still in Buttocks Heath school?

I understand that Miss Watts is teaching in a private school, and so far as I know efficient education is being given in that school. I do not know anything with regard to the other question of the hon. Member.

Is it a fact that the school in which this teacher is teaching is one provided by private persons independently of the education authority, and can the right hon. Gentleman not see his way to take up this case in which the future of this young lady is concerned?

I am not concerned with a private venture school of the character which I understand is adopted in this particular case, and I only got the intimation from the same source probably as the hon. Member that this is a private venture school which is being run by the parents of the children who were formerly at the provided schools.

At their expense or at the expense of the local authority?

I have no information as to who pays the expense, but it certainly is not at the expense of the public authorities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman let me know when he has any information?

Yes. I will either publicly or privately communicate with the hon. Member.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not communicate with the House, and not privately with the hon. Member?

Yes, if a settlement can be arrived at publicly I shall not hesitate, but I must use my own discretion if I think that a more satisfactory arrangement can be made by a private communication.

asked the President of the Board of Education what amount of money taken from the charities of Ewell, Surrey, has been permitted to be devoted for providing premises for a Church of England school; whether the charities from which such moneys have been taken are ecclesiastical charities devoted to the special use of the Church of England; whether he is aware that a previous application was made that the money from these charities should be used for providing a council school and that the request was refused; whether, before deciding to authorise further expenditure from Ewell charity funds, he will consider the public authorities of the parish, especially as to the benefits which the proposed expenditure would bring to the parishioners as a whole; and whether he will explain why educational charities for the whole parish may be used for erecting denominational schools but not for publicly erected, owned, and managed schools?

The Board have advised the trustees that they may properly apply to this purpose the accumulated income of Brumfield's Educational Foundation and one-half of the accumulated income of Calverley's Educational Foundation. They have also offered to allow one-half of the capital of Calverley's Foundation (consisting of £205 Consols) to be applied to the same purpose. I am advised that Calverley's Foundation is the only one of the charities which is an ecclesiastical charity. The answer to the third part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. As I have already informed him, in my answer to a previous question, I am advised that no part of the funds of the charities could properly be allocated towards meeting the cost of the new council school, but I shall be prepared to consider any proposals which are not inconsistent with the existing trusts. The fact that the charities may be used for the purposes of the Church of England school to the extent which I have indicated is due to the terms of the trusts.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many meetings there have been of inter-departmental committees to consider the territorial limit and other fishery matters; and whether he can make any statement as to the progress made up to date?

The number of public meetings held is twelve. The Committee are awaiting further evidence on the question of the extent of territorial limits.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication as to when the Report of the Committee may be expected?

The witnesses who have to appear before the Committee are mostly seafaring men. It is very difficult to get them before the Committee, and it is quite impossible to say when the Committee's proceedings are likely to terminate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Revenue Bill will be printed which was introduced on 7th May of this year?

I am afraid that for the moment I cannot add to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Baronet the Member for Ayr Burghs on 17th June.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the average price paid by the Government for beef from abroad supplied to the Regular and Auxiliary Forces?

The average price of frozen beef on last year's contracts may be taken at slightly under 4d. per pound.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Major T. B. Sellar, late King's Own Scottish Borderers, who retired in May, 1913, with the rank of major, was only granted a pension of £200 a year, although the rate of retired pay for majors when this officer joined the Service was £300 a year; and whether, in view of the fact that the retrospective action of recent amendments of the Royal Warrant has been cancelled by Army Order 38 of 1913, he will now appoint a Committee to consider the cases of injustice caused by the alteration of the Warrant in 1909, under which the pensions of officers were reduced from £300 to £200 a year whilst they were serving?

I am reconsidering this case, but I must not be taken to admit the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

asked how many employes of the messenger class are employed under the War Office; and how many of these are paid at the rate of 21s. a week or less?

There are 132 established and temporary messengers and labourers. Of these fifty-three receive wages of over 21s. a week and seventy-nine of 21s. a week. Of the latter sixteen are in receipt of additional wages for special duties. There are also seventy-two boy messengers who receive wages of less than 21s. a week.

Does the hon. Gentleman consider 21s. a reasonable wage for an adult, and does this state of affairs represent the attitude of the Government as a model employer of labour?

It depends on the duties that these men perform. I rather think that a good many of them are in receipt of pensions, too.

Would the hon. Gentleman answer the first part of my question: Does he consider 21s. a reasonable wage?

I have answered every question which the hon. Member put on the Paper.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the age and number of years' service of each of the following district inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary: Messrs. Peter Leonard, Loughrea; Patrick Culhone, Armagh; Hugh Shier, Ballina; Patrick M'Hugh, Derry; James M'Mahon, Lisnaskea; Joseph Smyth, Rathoe; T. O'Neill, Gorey; and Thomas Keaveney, Belfast; is the statutory period of service of a district inspector forty years; and why have these officers not been retired in accordance with the Act of Parliament?

The Constabulary (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1882, provides that a district inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary shall be retired when he attains the age of sixty and has become qualified to receive the maximum pension of the rank and class in which he is serving. Only one of the officers mentioned has attained the age of sixty, and under the terms of the Statute the retirement of none of them is obligatory at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there was any other and, if so, what consideration for which Liebig's Extract of Meat Company acquired from the British South Africa Company the right to select 1,200,000 acres of ranching land in Southern Rhodesia at a quit rent tenure at a price of 1s. an acre; was the price paid for this vast area of ranching land credited to the shareholders or to the administration in the accounts which should be presented to the Colonial Office under Section 17 of the Royal Charter; whether he is aware that the purchasers are Germans engaged in the meat trade who give the natives any price for their cattle they think fit, and prohibit them from driving the cattle to the neighbouring markets; whether any steps will be taken to protect the rights of the natives to trade their cattle freely with any other purchaser than the Liebig's Extract of Meat Company; how many natives were living on this area before this purchase, and, what steps, if any, have been taken to enforce the obligation of the British South Africa Company, under Order in Council of 1898, to protect the occupation rights of the natives who have now been reduced to a condition bordering on slavery; and, if the money obtained from the sale of these ranching lands has been taken by the shareholders of the Chartered Company, will any moans be taken to secure that the proceeds of the sale should be for the benefit of the community at large?

I am informed by the British South Africa Company as follows: 1. In addition to the purchase price of 1s. per acre, the right to select the land was granted to the Liebig Company in consideration of its undertaking to spend a considerable amount of capital in developing the land and stocking it with cattle. 2. The purchase money was credited to the British South Africa Company's commercial account. 3. The Liebig Company is a British company, incorporated in London in the year 1865. Natives are under m obligation to sell any cattle to the Liebig Company, and all cattle bought from natives by the company have been paid for at currenst market rates. Native owners are perfectly free to sell to other purchasers, and it is therefore unnecessary to take special steps to protect the rights of natives in this matter. 4. There is no precise information available as to the number of natives living on this area before purchase. They are, however, believed to have been few in number, and many of them are able to obtain remunerative employment at current rates of wages from the Liebig Company. It appears from this information that further details with regard to the position of the natives are required, and I have asked the High Commissioner for a report. I may, however, at once say that I am confident that whatever the exact facts may be with regard to the natives there is no reason to apprehend that they are in a condition bordering on slavery. With regard to the company's right to the land I cannot usefully add anything to my reply to a question on the subject on 8th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the intention of the Government again to arrest Mrs. Emmeline Parkhurst?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle under-Lyme on Monday last.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the other circumstances to which he alluded in connection with the rearrest of Mrs. Parkhurst apply also to the other suffragist prisoners?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Mrs. Pankhurst is in a serious state of health owing to the treatment that she has received; and is the Government prepared to face her death should this treatment be continued?

I have no exact information as to Mrs. Pankhurst's present state of health; but, if it be serious, this is certainly not owing to her treatment in prison by the officials, from whom she received every possible care and consideration. The prison authorities supplied her with food, and did all they could to induce her to take it, and she alone is responsible for the consequences of her persistent refusal to take the food necessary for health.

asked (1) whether the suffragist prisoners, sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday last, are in Holloway Prison or whether they have been sent to other prisons; and (2) whether the suffragist prisoners, sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday last, are being accorded the same treatment as accorded to other prisoners in the third division?

These prisoners have all been released under the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act

They will be treated in exactly the same way as Mrs. Pankhurst?

Yes. When their licence expires, if they are in a fit state to go to prison, they will be brought back to prison.

No difference will be made between their treatment and that of Mrs. Pankhurst?

I have stated so over and over again—no difference at all.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is intended to release Heinrich Grosse; if so, when; and, if not, will he explain why this is not to be done?

His Majesty's Government appreciate the clemency shown by the Imperial German Government in the case of three British officers, and if any German officer were now under sentence in this country for espionage, it would give His Majesty's Government much pleasure to be able to reciprocate. Grosse is not an officer in the German Army, and his criminal record, including a sentence of penal servitude in Singapore, for uttering forged notes, is such that no parallel can be drawn between his case and that of the British officers.

Are we to conclude, then, that there is one law for gentlemen with high influences and another law for ordinary working men who have no influence?

I fail altogether to see the relevance of my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the action of magistrates in connection with charges under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1912, in declaring the proceedings a secret inquiry, and in admitting the Press as a concession, on their agreeing to suppress the names of the accused; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation to prevent white slave traffic cases being conducted as secret inquiries?

Magistrates are authorised by Section 19 of the Indictable Offences Act, 1848, to exclude the public from the preliminary hearing of indictable cases, and I understand that they avail themselves of this power in cases where the facts to be disclosed are of a grossly obscene character. In the case to which my hon. Friend refers the magistrate took this course, but, in his discretion, allowed representatives of the Press to be present and trusted to their honour not to publish the names of persons where it would have been contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The practice adopted by the magistrates in such cases appears to me justified by considerations of decency and morality, and I see no reason for interfering with it.

May I ask whether any further proceedings in this case will be in public?

It does not depend upon me.

Will my right hon. Friend consent to giving a Return of such cases so that we may know how far the administration of justice is being carried on in secret?

The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

asked the Home Secretary if he will have inquiry made into the case of Matthew Barrett, a constable in the Metropolitan police force, who was invalided from the force in 1894 after twelve years' service; if he is aware that previous to joining the police Barrett served for fourteen years with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, being discharged from that regiment in 1882 with a good conduct certificate; if he will state whether Barrett received any pension or gratuity on his retirement from either the Army or the police; and if he will consider the practicability of arranging in cases in which combined service in the Army or Navy and the Metropolitan police or some similar public service exceeds a certain period of granting a pension?

Matthew Barrett was invalided from the Metropolitan Police in 1894, after twelve years of service, and he was given the gratuity to which his service entitled him. He had served in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, but the police records do not show his length of service. I have no power to combine Army service with police service for the purposes of pension in the manner suggested by the hon. Member.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it would be good policy, both in regard to the Army and the Navy, if the time given in either Service could be counted in subsequent service?

The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

asked the Home Secretary if he will say when the Departmental Committee on van boy labour will present its Report?

The Report of the Committee has been received and was presented to Parliament yesterday. Copies will be available for Members shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on the 4th April Mr. John M'Meekin M'Caw, second mate on Messrs. J. P. Corry and Company's steamship "Star of India," failed in the eyesight test for colour-blindness, although he had passed the test in October, 1912; whether he is aware that this failure was due to the novel introduction of the lantern test; will he state why this is now, for the first time, made obligatory; and, seeing that had this man attended for examination a fortnight earlier, before the lantern test was introduced, he would have passed the eyesight test and been able to remain for years in the service which he will now be compelled to leave, whether he will look into this case and, if possible, take steps that this officer should not be deprived of his employment and career?

The facts of the case are as stated in the first part of the question. The lantern test has been made obligatory for candidates for certificates of competency in the mercantile marine on the advice of the Committee appointed in 1910 to consider the sight tests. I sympathise with such cases as that referred to, but when the Board of Trade have reason to believe, as the result of the local examination, and on the subsequent report of their special examiners, that an officer's colour vision is defective, it is the duty of the Board, in the interests of safety at sea, to ensure so far as possible that he shall not serve as a watch-keeping officer at sea.

Can anything be done in cases of this sort to find employment for the men?

I am not aware that anything can be done, but at any rate the suggestion is one deserving of careful consideration.

Is it not the fact, in regard to those who fail at the test, that the shades between green and blue are so fine that it is a difficult proposition to decide which is green and which is blue?

I can assure my hon. Friend that he is mistaken, and I should be very glad for him to make an examination of the whole system of colour tests, and he would then realise that there is no such confusion as he has stated.

Does not this very case seem to demonstrate that the lantern test is the sole reliable test, and the only one that can be used in the public interest?

Certainly, I think it a most important test, but it is most desirable to have several concurrent tests.

asked the Postmaster-General whether improved postal facilities can be arranged for Cullybackey, county Antrim, whereby letters posted there up to 6 p.m. should be delivered in Manchester early next morning and incoming letters from England which reach Belfast early enough should be dispatched in Cullybackey either by the 8 a.m. or 8.25 a.m. train?

I will have inquiry made, and will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member.