asked the President of the Board of Trade whether recent decisions which have excluded workmen insured under Part II of the National Insurance Act in Rochdale, Oldham, and other towns, from receiving unemployment benefit for periods classed as holiday weeks are contrary to previous practice: are the decisions authorised by any terms in the Act or by regulation; and in cases where, owing to trade depression, workshop holidays are extended beyond the usual time, is there any intention to disqualify men for the time lost beyond the customary holiday period?

It has been the practice since the end of July, 1913, to regard recognised holidays as not being periods of unemployment in the case of the workmen on holiday, and this practice has been confirmed by decisions of the Umpire, with whom the final determination rests. Where the recognised holidays are extended owing to trade depression the additional days thus lost are treated as days of unemployment. I should also explain that where a workman is discharged, as distinct from being suspended, at or before the commencement of a recognised holiday, he is treated as being unemployed.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether there has been any increase recently in the number of cases of criminal assaults on children in Ireland; and whether he will state for a period of the last six months the number of such cases reported to the authorities, the number of prosecutions, the number of convictions, and the maximum and minimum amount of punishment?

The police authorities inform me that there has been a decrease in this class of offence in Ireland recently. During the six months ended 31st July thirty-eight cases of criminal assaults on children were reported. Thirty-three persons were proceeded against, of whom twenty-four were convicted, five were acquitted or discharged, and four are awaiting trial. The sentences in these convictions ranged from one month's imprisonment to three years penal servitude. One youth was sent to a Borstal Institution, and there was also a case in which three boys were released on their parents' bail for their good behaviour and for their appearance for judgment if called on.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, as a result of the communications which passed between the Local Government Board and the Macroom Rural District Council, any steps have been taken to proceed with the building of cottages sanctioned years ago for the labourers of the locality; and will he detail what provisions are being made by the district council in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 30th ultimo. The Macroom Rural District Council have not acted on the suggestions of the Local Government Board, and have merely asked them whether they would grant a supplemental loan if the council accept tenders higher than the estimate of £130 per cottage. The Board are replying to the effect that they will be prepared to sanction such supplemental loan as may be found necessary, but that, as has been done in other districts similarly circumstanced, the money must be borrowed in the open market, the loan already sanctioned being at the maximum rate allowable out of the funds available on land purchase terms.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a considerable time ago the visiting justices of His Majesty's prison, Mountjoy, Dublin, forwarded a recommendation to His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant asking for an increase of salary for the Irish prison service; if so, what consideration did this recommendation receive; whether it is the intention of the Government now to grant the Irish prison warders a salary to enable them to live upon, the present rate of pay being inadequate owing to the increased cost of living; and will the Government advance the pay of the Irish prison warders to the same rate as the English prison warders?

A memorial signed by—amongst others—a number of the visiting justices of Mountjoy Prison has been received by the Government to the effect stated in the question and recommendations on the subject have been made to the Treasury which are still under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Central Railway Company of Canada, having a London office and London advisory complied with the requirements of the Companies Consolidation Act, 1908; and, if not, what steps it is proposed to take to enforce the penalties imposed by the Act upon defaulting companies?

I am still in communication with the company on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General when the last Return of the units of work for Aberdeen were taken; whether the Returns include the units of work of those sub-offices recently added to Aberdeen; and whether he will state the present units of work for Aberdeen to date?

I am having inquiry made, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether extra men have been given work by his Department in consequence of Post Office employés being called up for military service; and whether he intends to take on any more extra men?

A large number of temporary substitutes for men called up for military service have already been taken on, and others will be engaged, if necessary, as occasion requires. This matter is having my constant attention, but I cannot tell yet what steps may be required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether ho can now give a decision or announce his intention of acting on the subject of a clearing-house system for dealing with debts owed both ways between this country, Germany, and Austria-Hungary; whether he is aware of the increase of embarrassment caused to traders in this country, in addition to their other difficulties, by the locking up of large amounts of capital in German and Austrian debts, and of the benefit to employment in this country which would follow on the release, wholly or partially, of this capital; and whether he will consider favourably the setting up of a special inquiry into practicable means of balancing British creditors' against British debtors' accounts?

I fear for the moment I can add nothing to the reply which I gave yesterday on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for East Finsbury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the names of the banks, other than the Bank of England, which are authorised to issue bank notes in England and Wales, and, as regards each such bank, what was the permissible amount of its fiduciary issue; and what was the actual amount of its fiduciary issue on the average of the last week of July, 1914?

The reply is as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the names of the Scottish banks which are authorised, under the Bank Notes (Scotland) Act, 1854, to issue bank notes in Scotland, and as regards each, what was the permissible amount of its fiduciary issue, what was the actual amount of its fiduciary issue, and what was the actual amount of its issue against coin held by it on the average of the last four weeks of July, 1914?

I am unable to supply the hon. Member with the information for the particular period he names, inasmuch as the statutory returns do not provide it for that period. For the four weeks ending 18th July, 1914, the figures were as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the present crisis, he would consider the advisability of permitting the amount of spirit grocers' licences in Ireland to be paid in two instalments instead of in a single sum as at present?

I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion. It would not, I think, be possible to treat the particular class of licences referred to exceptionally. I may remind the hon. Member that they are not payable until 1st October next, and that they are already payable in two instalments where the total amount payable amounts to £20.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of the new £1 and 10s. notes, distinguishing between the amounts of each class, which have been issued up to date; and on what day the issue of each class began?

The issue of £1 notes commenced on the 6th August, and of 10s. notes on the 13th August. As regards the rest of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Treasury Return which is appearing in to-day's "Gazette."

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is prepared to finance proposals for the cultivation of vacant lots in towns and cities, to find employment for the workless, where these have been approved of by the Board of Agriculture or the Development Commissioners?

The Government is at present considering the whole problem of unemployment arising out of the War, and I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to meet general convenience, he is now in a position to say when the Prorogation may be expected and when the next Session will be opened?

I hope on Monday to move a short adjournment for about ten days, after which we shall ask the House to wind up the business of the Session. I will make a further statement on Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that no abuse of the facilities for naturalisation is at present taking place by the enemies of the country?

The Naturalisation Act, 870, confers on the Secretary of State for he Home Department power to give or withhold a certificate as he thinks most conducive to the public good, and the strictest possible scrutiny is exercised before any certificate of naturalisation is granted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether those officers of the Yeomanry who bring their own chargers at their own risk may have them borne on the horse establishment of their regiments as long as they are mobilised?

Horses brought by officers are purchased and taken over by the Government, and the officers bringing them are allowed to continue to use them as their chargers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether recruits who join now may only enlist for the period during which the War lasts; and, if so, whether he has received information to show that recruiting has been hindered on that account, and that more would join if they were allowed to enlist permanently?

Recruits may enlist either for the duration of the War or for the usual period of engagement, namely, twelve years.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, in view of the importance of maintaining the stock of pigs and increasing the stock of food in this country during the War, whether the Commissioners of Woods and Forests will this autumn extend the right of pannage in the New Forest to every resident pig-keeper, irrespective of his registration as a commoner?

The proposal is receiving the consideration of the Commissioners, and I shall be glad to communicate with the hon. Member on the-subject.