asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the firm of Davidson and Company, Sirocco Works, Belfast, are contractors to the Admiralty; if so, whether he is aware that adult male labour is employed by the firm at the rate of 16s. per week, and that a boy doing important work is in receipt of 8s. a week; whether he is aware that each labourer is called upon to sign a form declaring that he is not a member of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union or any similar unskilled labourers' society or union, and that so long as he is employed by the firm he will not join or become a member of any such unskilled labourers' society; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter and secure strict conformity with the Fair-Wages Clause?

A complaint of the nature indicated in the question has been received. The matter is being investigated.

asked the result of the further inquiry into the alleged violation of the Fair-Wages Clause by the Portland Cement manufacturers?

The further inquiry into the alleged violation of the Fair-Wages Clause has been completed, with the following result: At the Wickham Cement Works, Strood, it is considered that the Fair-Wages Clause is being adhered to. With regard to White's Works, Swanscombe, and Bevan's Works, Northfleet, thirty-four and thirty-one men, respectively, between the ages of twenty and fifty, were found to be receiving less than the minimum rate of 5d. per hour, plus 5 per cent. These numbers include partially-disabled men, and only twenty-four men at White's Works and nineteen men at Bevan's Works were considered cases in which the Fair-Wages Clause was not being strictly adhered to. The whole of these cases have been brought to the notice of the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers, Limited.

asked whether the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty is aware that the firm of Morrison and Mason, who are carrying out a dock extension at Portsmouth for the Admiralty, insist upon the carpenters and other skilled workmen employed by them on this contract working 2½ hours per week more than the recognised hours of the district, and that they refuse to pay overtime rate for the extra hours worked; and whether he will instruct this firm to comply with the conditions that obtain in the district?

I am in communication with the Fair-Wages Advisory Committee in regard to the matter. Further, as I shall be in Portsmouth myself this week-end, I propose to go into the matter on the spot.

asked whether there is any prize money due to the men who served in the last commission of His Majesty's ship "Fox;" if so, when this money will be distributed; will he say if medals are under consideration; and, if so, when they will be given?

The question of a grant in lieu of prize money is under consideration. With regard to the question of a medal, I can add nothing to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on Monday last to the effect that a medal is being struck, except to say that it will shortly be available for distribution.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what he is prepared to do in lieu of prize money?

Oh, yes; the grants of prize money involve a considerable correspondence with two other Departments, and that is proceeding.

asked for the number of men in the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines who, on the 31st March, 1914, were eligible for a Greenwich age pension of 5d. a day and have not received it; will he give the number of men who, being eligible for the age pension, made application to the Admiralty during the year ended 31st March, 1914, but were, refused on the ground that the fund was insufficient; and will he give the same information as regards the additional age pension of 4d. a day?

The number of men who made application during the year ended 31st March, 1914, and to whom age pensions were not awarded owing to insufficient funds, was about 300. No eligible men who have applied for the additional age pension of 4d. a day granted at sixty-five years of age have been refused. The number of men eligible on the 31st March last for age pensions of 5d. a day who had not been awarded such pensions was approximately 2,900. As I have pointed out before, all these men are in receipt of naval life pensions, in many cases of comparatively substantial amounts; and it may be taken that men over fifty-seven years of age whose applications for the Greenwich Hospital age pension have so far been unsuccessful, are either men in receipt of naval life pensions of comparatively substantial amount, or, if their pensions are small, have some other means of subsistence. The circumstances of all applicants for the Greenwich Hospital age pension are carefully considered when selecting men for the award.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases these men have wives and old women dependent upon them, and some of them have children; and will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of the Government endeavouring to obtain a Grant from the Naval Fund to help these men, and to prevent their having to go to the workhouse?

We have done something in that direction, as the hon. Member knows.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, possibly unintentionally, he has conveyed to the House that men having pensions are not entitled to the extra 4d.?

There is nothing in my answer which conveyed that. I said that men who made application are in receipt of naval pensions; otherwise they would not be eligible.

The right hon. Gentleman does not wish it to go out that the men who have pensions are thereby debarred from having the extra 4d., though they are entitled to it? Is it that they have not the money at the Admiralty?

On the contrary, if the men had not life pensions they would not be eligible. What we do is to disburse the money to the oldest and most necessitous till it is gone.

asked when the relief for the chief engine-room artificers and engine-room artificers now serving on the submarines at Hong Kong will be carried out; and can he give the length of service in submarines expected of these men on this station?

These chief petty officers were sent out in March, 1913. The nomal period of service is two years.

asked whether orders have been given to make a reduction in the number of rounds of ammunition for officers and men which have up to now been fired during the various trainings in the gunnery schools; and, if so, will he state to the House how this is in the interests of economy or of efficiency?

Owing to the large numbers of men qualifying in the gunnery schools at the present time, some modification in the former scale of practices has been approved. This will not be detrimental to efficiency.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in regard to the 6-in. guns the seamen gunners have been reduced to half the supply, and will not their efficiency thereby be seriously affected?

We have made a modification in the scale of practice, but it will not be detrimental to efficiency. Efficiency is not inconsistent with economy.

Is it the fact that the firing allowance, taking it all round, has been reduced by one-half, and can that lead to efficiency?

I do not know the exact proportion, but the modifications are not detrimental to efficiency.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if it is proposed to compensate the pensioners on duty in the semaphore tower, Portsmouth, at the time of the fire for loss of clothing and other articles; and can he say if all the riggers employed have received compensation?

Compensation will be granted to the pensioners referred to. Payment of compensation in respect of all the claims received from riggers has already been authorised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is intended to pass the Provincial Courts Ordinance, 1914, of Nigeria, in its present form; and when it will come into force?

Yes, Sir. Its enactment has been delayed solely in consequence of a technical question as to the form of enactment of the closely related Supreme Court Ordinance, which will I hope be settled shortly.

asked whether by the Provincial Courts Ordinance, 1914, of Nigeria, the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, presided over by qualified and experienced barristers, is restricted to the town of Lagos and a few small districts, and is to be replaced by Provincial Courts presided over by executive officers?

The hon. Member's description of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under the contemplated Nigerian Supreme Court Ordinance is hardly accurate I would refer him to Sections 22 and 24 of the draft Ordinance. With regard to the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Haggerston of the 5th of March.

asked whether, by the Provincial Courts Ordinance, 1914, of Nigeria, natives tried before the Provincial Courts are not to be allowed to employ counsel to conduct their cases, although the great majority of the natives are ignorant of the English language and the English law?

Counsel will not be allowed to appear before the Provincial Courts either for the prosecution or for the defence. The system has been in force for years in Northern Nigeria and, I am advised, works quite satisfactorily. It should be understood that the jurisdiction of these Courts is confined to the Protectorate and does not extend to the Colony of Nigeria, nor to the more important centres within the Protectorate, which are under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court before which counsel may appear. The presence of counsel in the Courts of the more remote and backward districts is attended my many disadvantages; and the system of supervision of the sentences of the Provincial Courts which is provided by the Ordinance will, in the opinion of all those best qualified to judge, amply safeguard the interests of the natives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he has any information about the case of one Hamabini, of Nigeria, who was charged in June, 1913, with theft and sent by the resident to Naraguta, where, after some inquiry by the police officer, he was flogged and sent to gaol and, after being detained there for three weeks, was informed by the police officer's orderly that he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour, although he had never appeared in the Resident's Court, and is now serving his sentence in the gaol at Zungeru or Lokoja; and what he intends to do about it; and (2) whether he has any information regarding the case of John Chukana, who was arrested in the Naraguta district of Nigeria and, after being detained three weeks, was ordered to go to work with the gang of prisoners, and informed that he was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with hard labour, although he had never been tried, and is now serving his sentence either at Zungeru or Lokoja, in Nigeria; and what he intends to do about it?

I have no information with regard to these alleged cases. If the hon. Member can give me any evidence that such cases occurred I will ask the Nigerian Government for a report upon them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state what is being done about the question of higher pensions for commissaires of the Indian Departments; and whether those pensions are likely soon to be brought into line with recent increases in similar service at Home for corresponding work?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Holderness Division of Yorkshire on the 29th June.

Is it not the case that the men at Home have £34 more pension than those men have, in addition to the fact that those men are away from Home?

If the hon. Member will give me notice I will inquire and give him detailed facts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that, owing to the lack of drafts from Home, the Indian Government is being compelled to offer bounties to men to extend their term of service in Inda; and whether he can say what the approximate cost of such bounties will be to the Indian Empire for the present financial year?

The War Office are offering bounties through the Government of India as a temporary expedient. The apportionment of the cost between the Home and Indian Governments is still under consideration, and I am unable at present to answer the last part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has under contemplation any changes in the Finance Department whereby the head officials of that Department will not be liable, as heretofore, to removal at any moment by promotion to some other office where their specialised training and experience are less urgently required?

The Secretary of State is not aware that any such changes are in contemplation, except that it is hoped to make arrangements regarding the post of Comptroller and Auditor-General which will lead to greater continuity of tenure.

Is the hon. Member aware of the waste which is involved in carefully training financial experts in the Financial Department and then immediately allowing them to be transferred to some other Department?

I do not think I am aware of it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of the relief from Income Tax to persons in respect of the depreciation of machinery on the prime cost, instead of, as now, on the written-down value only?

I would point out to the hon. Member that if the basis on which the rate of allowance in respect of depreciation is to be calculated throughout is the prime cost, the percentage rate will be less than if this basis were the written-down value. In these circumstances, it does not appear that the depreciation allowance would cost more with one method than with the other.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the advisability of taking off some of the present taxes on food instead of reducing the Income Tax as proposed, in order to strike a balance between the established revenue and the expenditure for the year?

I can add nothing to the statements already made in this House by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and myself.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated amount of the income for each of the last three years arising from securities, stocks, shares, and rents in places out of the United Kingdom which would have been liable to Income Tax in Clause 5 of the Finance Bill had been enacted in 1909?

Owing to the very fact that income accumulating abroad has hitherto been outside the scope of the Income Tax, it is only possible to give a roughly approximate estimate of the income which would have been brought into charge if Clause 5 had been operative in former years. As I stated, however, in the course of my Financial Statement, it is expected that the additional yield will ultimately amount to £1,000,000, which at 1s. 4d. in the £ represents the tax on £16,000,000, while the estimates on the basis of a rate of 1s. 3d. in the £, of £250,000 for 1914–15 and £470,000 for 1915–16, given in White Paper No. 293, represent tax on £4,000,000 and £7,500,000, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in view of the fact that the cost of his concession to unearned incomes below £500 would be £370,000 in a full year, he has in his revised Budget only allowed £52,000, or less than one-sixth of this sum, in respect of this item?

The figure of £370,000 was my estimate of the cost of the concession in a full year with a normal rate of 1s. 4d. in the £. With a normal rate of 1s. 3d. this figure becomes £245,000, as shown in White Paper No. 293. The comparatively small cost of the concession in 1914–15 is due to the fact that the relief must be given in the current year by way of repayment, and that taxpayers will thus not be in a position to claim it until the last quarter.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that not one-fifth of the people entitled to relief get it during the year?

Most Income Tax is collected towards the end of the year, and cases of repayment are discharged in the first and second quarters of the following year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no provision for temporary Grants to Scotland for the period from 1st April, 1915, to 30th September, 1915, is made in the Fourth Schedule to the Finance Bill, corresponding to the Grants to England and Wales for the same period?

Under the general law the financial year of local authorities in Scotland begins on 16th May, and the rates for the year are struck in the autumn. On the assumption that the valuation and rating proposals contemplated in the Finance Bill would be sufficiently forward to enable the rates to be struck at or about the usual time it was thought unnecessary to provide for temporary Grants for Scotland beyond the end of the financial year. The extension of the period in England is due, I understand, to the practice of half-yearly rating which obtains there. It may, however, be necessary to make provision for temporary Grants in Scotland for the whole of the next financial year, and the matter is now under consideration.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the omission of six months' Grants to Scotland is rather an important matter?

There will not be any omission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, in view of the fact that temporary Grants are only to be withdrawn for four months, the temporary Grants to England and Wales for the period from 1st April, 1915, to 30th September, 1915, under the Fourth Schedule to the Finance Bill still stands?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The answer is in the affirmative.

Will those Grants for those six months be based on the total or the divided values?

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the event of Parliament not making provision for dividing the rateable value of land or of such division not being completed by the 30th September, 1915, he is, under the increased scheme of taxation in the Finance Bill, raising a sum of approximately £8,000,000, for which there is no definite scheme of allocation; and whether there is any precedent for such a course?

I can add nothing to the explanations of the financial proposals of the Government which have already been given.

Is it not the fact that the right hon. Gentleman is levying additional taxation in advance for objects and on conditions which have not been approved by Parliament?

I hope that they will be approved by Parliament before next year.

asked whether the Minority Report of the Departmental Committee on Local Taxation recommended the rating of site values as a tentative experiment, and stated that it should not be embarked on until the new basis of valuation had been completed, and an opportunity afforded of considering the effect of such an experiment in the light of the new valuation itself?

The hon. Member will find the answer to this question by reference to the Report which he quotes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the clerks to the old age pensions sub-committees in county Kilkenny have not as yet received payment for the quarter ended the 31st March last; if so, whether he will state the cause of such delay in making the payments of their fees; and whether he can see his way to having payments promptly made to those clerks who have not been in arrear with their work, or who have not been inaccurate in their returns, for the future?

The accounts for the fees payable to clerks of pension sub-committees in county Kilkenny were received by the Board of Customs and Excise on the 4th May, and orders for payment were issued to the clerk of the county committee for distribution on the 27th May. There was no unnecessary delay so far as the Board of Customs and Excise are concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Mid-Atholl branch of the Scottish Rural Workers' Friendly Society recently met at Pitlochry, and that a statement was made at the meeting that, with a membership of 324, there were only ten ordinary sickness claims, averaging about one week each, during the last six months, also three maternity benefit claims, while the total payments made amounted only to about £10; whether he is aware that the contributions made by employers and employés during this period amounted to over £400; and whether he can give the actuarial calculations upon which he estimated that the contributors would receive 9d. for 4d., in view of the fact that the employés' contributions alone amounted, in the above-mentioned period, to over £200?

I do not know whether these figures are correct, but I may point out that the cost of medical and sanatorium benefit appears to be omitted from the Noble Lord's calculation, and that the favourable experience of the insured persons referred to should result in their obtaining additional benefits on a surplus being shown on valuation.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if he can give actuarial figures to show that the people to whom I refer are getting 9d. for 4d.?

Those people having had an exceptionally favourable sickness experience are very fortunate.

If they are fortunate, why have they to pay for it?

The Noble Lord surely understands that he cannot base a general estimate on the experience of 323 members of the Scottish Rural Workers' Society!

May I ask whether it is the fact, with regard to this Scottish Rural Workers' Society, that the sickness experience all over Scotland of the members of this society has been exceptionally favourable, and, if that is so, whether they will receive the full benefit of that by way of additional benefits?

Of course what my hon. Friend says is perfectly correct. If their experience is favourable, there will be so much more money when the valuation takes place.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that an insured person who is dissatisfied with the action of his approved society in refusing or suspending benefit has no other remedy than applying whatever procedure the rules of the society may provide for the settlement of disputes with members, and that these rules differ widely in the different societies and in some cases cannot be brought into operation until the insured person has made a deposit quite beyond the means of poor persons, especially women workers; and, if so, will he take steps to provide some simple, cheap, and uniform procedure for the settlement of such cases by impartial tribunals?

Section 67 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, provides that all disputes arising under the Act between an approved society and an insured member shall be decided in accordance with the procedure provided by the rules of the society. The procedure differs considerably in the different types of societies, and in some cases a deposit is required. The Commissioners have no power to provide for the settlement of disputes as the Noble Lord suggests, without reference to the societies' own tribunals, nor to compel societies to change their present procedure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that general smiths in Glasgow are being offered work by the Labour Exchanges there at Inverness át 26s. a week, which is a much lower rate than prevails in Glasgow, and on the workmen's refusal to go such a distance and accept such a wage, for family and other reasons, they are being deprived of their unemployment benefit under Part II. of the Insurance Act; and, if so, will he say whether this action has the approval of his Department?

I have made enquiries in this matter and am unable to find any case in which unemployment benefit has been refused in the circumstances referred to. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars, I will have further enquiry made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the urgent need for making immediate additional provisions for the administration expenses of the smaller burgh and county insurance committees, the length of time the matter has now been under consideration, and the anxiety felt by many insurance committees as to their position, he is now prepared to make some statement as to the additional amounts to be paid over to these committees to enable them to meet their expenditure?

I fear that I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply given to the hon. Member for Midlothian, on the 25th May.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when a statement is likely to be made?

No. The matter is being considered, but I cannot say on what date a decision will be come to.

Are these gentlemen also getting ninepence for fourpence?

I am afraid that I cannot detect any meaning in the Noble Lord's question.

asked how many meetings of the Departmental Committee on Excessive Sickness have been held; and how many of them have taken place since the committee ceased taking evidence?

My right hon. Friend is informed that the Committee referred to have held sixty meetings and that no meeting has been held since the evidence was concluded.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether his attention has been called to the case of Miss Deborah Hart, of Belgrave Road, Abbey Road, N.W., whose transfer from one doctor to another has taken three months to complete; whether he will make inquiries into the matter and ascertain how the delay occurred; whether he is aware that information was given to the chief insurance commissioner on the 3rd June that the formalities of transferring the insured person, with the requisite consents, from the list of the one doctor to the other, had been completed and that the case was finally and satisfactorily disposed of, whereas a letter was received by the hon. Member for Devonport from the clerk of the insurance committee for the county of London on the 26th June stating that the transfer of this insured person had only that day been completed; can he explain how this incorrect information came to be supplied, and what was the reason of the delay?

My right hon. Friend has made inquiry into this case and he is informed that a full statement in regard to it has been furnished to the hon. Member by the London Insurance Committee. I may add that pending the completion of the transfer the insured person was able to obtain, and in fact obtained, the treatment which she required.

Will the hon. Gentleman allow me to say—

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put his statement in writing.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the letter from the Local Government Board to the Kirkintilloch town council, in reference to sanatorium treatment of persons in that town suffering from tuberculosis; does he admit the right of the Scottish Insurance Commissioners to repudiate responsibility for treatment of insured persons who have become a source of danger to those around them; if so, what right have they to accept contributions of such persons without fulfilment of promises made, or, if in terms of Section 16 (3) of the National Insurance Act the Commissioners had decided that the cases of insured persons who were refused treatment were unsuitable cases, will he see that reasons be given for such decision in each case to the local authority concerned?

Under Section 16 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, the duty of considering applications for sanatorium benefit rests not upon the Insurance Commissioners, but upon the insurance, committee in each area. I understand that in the case referred to the insurance committee have already been in communication with the local authority concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increasing rate of shrinkage of the arable area of Great Britain and the desirability of promoting greater home production of our people's food, he will consider the desirability, in the national interest, of differentiating between the taxation, whether national or local, imposed upon arable land and grass land, respectively?

I fear I am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give some reason for not adopting the suggestion, and does he not think it is a very convincing proposition?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any progress will be made in the next year with the valuation under Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, seeing that the Valuation Department, under the provisions of the Revenue Bill, will be engaged in adjusting full site values so as to make those values a basis for separately rating values attributable to houses, buildings, and other improvements on the one hand and land without such buildings and improvements on the other hand?

The duties laid upon the Commissioners of Inland Revenue under Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, will remain unaffected by the provisions to which the hon. Member refers. The service of provisional valuations in connection with the original valuation will be practically completed by the 31st March, 1915.

asked what is the revised estimated yield of the duties on spirits, ale, beer, etc., respectively, during the present financial year?

The figures are as follows:— £ Spirits 23,850,000 Beer 13,850,000

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the proportion of white deck-hands and stewards in proportion to lascars carried on the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's and Orient Company's passenger ships, respectively; and if he has information showing that this proportion of white hands is greater or less than in the case of other British and foreign passenger steamship lines?

I understand that the Orient Company do not employ lascars. As regards the vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, there appears to be no fixed proportion of white deck-hands and stewards to lascars, which varies according to the nature of the employment of each vessel. As regards the last part of the Noble Lord's question, I regret that the Board of Trade have not the figures available which would enable me to give the information desired. A detailed comparison with other British passenger steamships would involve an enormous amount of labour, while I doubt if it would be possible to secure a comparison with foreign passenger steamships.

Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to furnish me with figures in the case of the Norddeutscher-Lloyd, of Bremen, and other lines going to India?

I shall have to make inquiries.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it important, in the matter of the employment of white seamen, to ascertain what the true position is on English and German steamship lines, respectively?

I do not dispute the importance of the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that dissatisfaction prevails at Glasgow and in the Clyde district at the manner in which the Labour Exchange officials select men who have registered at a Labour Exchange for employment, in many instances men who have been unemployed for a considerable time having been passed over in favour of men who have been unemployed for a comparatively short period; if he is aware that there is a growing feeling of mistrust in the Labour Exchange officials and their methods; and whether, with the object of removing this feeling, he will give instructions that, so far as possible, men must be sent to jobs in the order their names appear on the unemployed register?

A complaint of the nature referred to in the question has been brought to my notice, but I have no reason to believe that any widespread feeling exists as is suggested by my hon. Friend. It is the guiding principle in the conduct of Labour Exchanges that vacancies should so far as possible be notified to workmen best suited to fill them. I am afraid that any general instruction that men must be sent to jobs in the order their names appear on the unemployed register would result in sending unsuitable workmen to employers, and thus impair the utility of the Labour Exchanges.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the complaint really is that the officials are not qualified?

I think the very nature of the complaint shows that it is exaggerated. In a particular case there might be mismanagement, and in that case I should be glad to receive information from the hon. Member. But to suggest that Labour Exchange officials are in general unqualified is to exaggerate.

Are the names first in order on the register considered first in order for filling up jobs which are available?

No. I have explained that for filling up jobs the names are selected in respect of their special suitability.

asked the Prime Minister whether additional wages granted to postal servants as the result of the proposed inquiry into outstanding grievances will be met by Supplementary Estimates?

The Government must await the results of the inquiry.

asked what will be the terms of reference to the Committee to be appointed to inquire into the outstanding grievances of postal servants, following on the Report of the Holt Committee of Inquiry?

I hope to be in a position to announce the terms of reference within a few days.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can yet state which of the recommendations of the Report of Mrs. Tennant to the War Office upon the conditions of non-com- missioned officers and men married off the strength will be adopted by the Government; and, if not, what is the cause of the delay?

As stated by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary on the 11th ultimo, steps are being taken to obtain fuller knowledge of the conditions prevailing in the different commands and the views of the Government of India on this question, of which the Government fully realise the importance. There will be no avoidable delay.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give some date when the recommendations will be adopted by the Government. They have been under consideration since last December.

I cannot give an exact date, but I can assure the hon. Member that we are fully alive to the urgency and importance of the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the desirability of giving a seat on the Army Council to the Inspector-General of the Forces, who has, by reason of his duties, greater opportunities of knowing the needs of the Army than the existing members, of the council?

I do not think it would be desirable to alter the constitution of the Council by adding the Inspector-General of the Forces to it. The occupants of the post have always been in close touch with the Army Council.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether recruiting for the Regular Forces is still unsatisfactory; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take?

This important question is receiving the close attention of the Government. Measures have been taken to stimulate recruiting by bringing the advantages of Army life into greater publicity, and the Adjutant-General and General Officers Commanding-in-Chief are carefully overhauling the machinery of recruiting. I am glad to say that since 1st January, 1914, the number of recruits taken weekly has risen consistently, and it is a justifiable anticipation that the total taken this year will be well up to the re- quirements of normal conditions, and better than that of the previous four years. The subject will be more fully dealt with when an opportunity arises in debate.

Is the standard the same?

Yes, as far as I am aware.

asked what were the reductions in small arm ammunition and general stores mentioned in the Army Estimates of this year; and whether any further reductions are contemplated?

The reductions in the sums provided in Estimates for the current year under these heads are reductions in the expenditure necessary to maintain the reserves of stores and to supply the troops on the authorised scales. No reductions in such scales are involved, and I am not aware that any are contemplated in future.

Have the reserves been reduced?

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us his personal assurance that the Mowatt reserve is being fully maintained?

Yes, Sir, I can.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the terms of employment of barrack wardens whose rate of pay was fixed in 1902, in view of the increase in the cost of living and the more responsible duties now entrusted to them?

This question is already under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the defects noticed in the new Army rifle have now been overcome; whether the rifle has been, or is about to be, issued to any further units with a view to testing its practical efficiency; and whether he himself has been able to visit the experimental range at the Royal Small Arms Factory and form his own judgment by use of the rifle as to the improvements that have been effected?

It is hoped that the defects referred to have been overcome, but further trials will be carried out very shortly. My right hon. Friend is advised that a visit to the experimental range at the Royal Small Arms Factory would provide inadequate opportunities for forming a first-hand judgment on the technical points involved.

Does the answer of the hon. Gentleman mean also that the ammunition which is fired with the rifle is effective with that rifle?

Perhaps the Noble Lord will give me notice of that.

When the hon. Gentleman speaks of further knowledge, does he mean that he has himself fired with this rifle?

asked whether this country has now in India and the Oversea Dominions a force of 117,000 fully mobilised men?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the full statements made on this matter in Debate on the 10th and 11th March by my right hon. Friend the Member for Ilkeston. The position has not changed.

Does the Army Council agree with the answer just given to me by the right hon. Gentleman?

Oh, yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the fact that the strength of the Regular Forces is much below that for which provision for pay and maintenance has been made in this year's Estimates, he will say whether he proposes to relinquish the amount so saved to the Chancellor of the Exchequer or to obtain the sanction of the House to devote the same to the strengthening and equipping of the National Reserve Force?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth on the 23rd ultimo.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if it is the intention of the Government to give an advance of wages to the labourers of the ammunition column at Bulford camp, seeing that these men now only receive £1 per week wages, are allowed no holiday, and get no wage when off work through sickness; whether these men are obliged to live from seven to ten miles away from the place where they work because the rent of houses near runs from 7s. to 10s. per week; and whether their case will be taken into immediate and favourable consideration?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question I would like to know whether the camp meant is Bulwell or Bulford, the latter of which is in my Constituency which the hon. Member is now seeking to represent?

I understand that my hon. Friend refers to Bulford. I may inform him that the labourers there will shortly receive an increase of wages, when the date for the overriding minimum is fixed. They are entitled to eight public holidays with pay annually. When sick they receive benefit under the National Insurance Act.

Is it not the fact that the housing difficulty in this district is entirely owing to the negligence of the Government in not providing accommodation for their own employés?

It is quite true that there is some slight difficulty but the hon. Member exaggerates, and the number of these men is comparatively few.

The number of houses is, too.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War from what date the Army Council intend to fulfill his promise that a minimum wage of 22s. a week shall be extended to labourers in the Army Ordnance Department and to barrack labourers?

The date is not yet fixed, but it will be the same as that applied to the Post Office.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that it will be dated back to some prior date?

I did not say what the date was; the matter will have to be arranged between the War Office and the Postmaster-General.

asked whether it is the intention of the Government to make provision for the payment of returning officers' expenses by the State before the next General Election; and, if so, by what means and when?

The Government do not propose to make any such provision during the present Session. I cannot indicate what may be the intentions of the Government with regard to next Session.

Is the Prime Minister aware that about eight years ago a Resolution in favour of this being done at once was passed unanimously by this House?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister when the Scottish Estimates will be taken, and how many days he proposes to give to them?

I cannot say at present; but I have no doubt ample time will be arranged through the usual channels.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the Royal Commission on the Civil Service have refused permission to Sir Charles Bruce, G.C.M.G., to give evidence on the question of the security of tenure for Civil servants on the ground that the evidence proffered would not come within the scope of the Commission's inquiry; and, if so, whether, in view of the experience possessed by Sir Charles Bruce of the conditions obtaining in the Civil Service, he will consider the desirability of extending the scope of the inquiry of the Commission?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I am informed that on 7th May last Sir Charles Bruce requested permission to tender certain evidence to the Royal Commission, after the publica- tion of the fourth Report of the Commission, and that permission was refused on the ground that the evidence in question did not appear to have any direct bearing upon the questions then under consideration. I see no ground for extending the scope of the Comission's inquiry.

If the Government are desirous of obtaining all the information which is to the advantage of the Civil Service, will not the right hon. Gentleman follow the suggestion contained in the last part of the question and enlarge the scope of the inquiry?

There is no relevancy between the two parts of the hon. Member's question.

Are the Government desirous of hushing up all these matters, by giving such replies as that which the right hon. Gentleman has just given?

No, I am not desirous of hushing up anything. The hon. Gentleman is mistaken in supposing that there is any desire to hush up anything in refusing to enlarge the scope of the inquiry.

May I ask the Prime Minister, seeing I can get no satisfaction from the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary, whether he will consider, in view of the statements made in the House of Commons yesterday, the desirability of increasing the scope of the inquiry as suggested in the last part of my question?

No, Sir.

Is it not a fact that Sir Charles Bruce made his recommendation to the Civil Service Commission after their inquiry upon that branch of the Civil Service had been completed and their Report issued, and therefore it was impossible to deal with it?

Yes, Sir, that is so.

Arising out of the last answer of the right hon. Gentleman, does he intend the House to believe that the correspondence to which his attention has been called is only the correspondence that has been placed before him?

Oh, no, Sir; for many years I have been familiar with correspondence with Sir Charles Bruce—

On this subject?

On this subject I do not think the hon. Gentleman is as familiar with the whole of the facts of the case as I am.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he will give his reason for refusing to accede to the request to add a Scottish Member of Parliament to the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland?

The reason is that the Board is expert in character.

Do I understand my hon. Friend to say by imputation that no Scottish Member has sufficient expert knowledge of ancient monuments to justify his appointment to the Board?

No, I do not venture to say that. What I say is that there are two Departments—one to advise, the other to exercise control. The one is the Board, the other Parliament.

Does the hon. Gentleman debar Members of Parliament from being on either of the Boards?

No; but in their capacity as Members of Parliament they have no place on them.

Will my hon. Friend explain the expert capacity of the hon. Member who represents English opinion on the English Board and is a Member of this House?

There is a Member of this House on the English Board, but he is there in his capacity of representative of the Board of Education, which controls certain museums.

asked why a special allowance of £100 is to be provided for future occupants of the post of principal architect for the Scottish Office of Works?

The allowance is given in respect of special responsibility attaching to the post, as stated by the Holmes Committee in paragraph 21 of their Report.

What are the special responsibilities apart from the special responsibilities that the present occupant has?