asked the Prime Minister (1) whether His Majesty's Government are of opinion that every British subject, wherever he may be, and whether in British, allied, neutral, or hostile territory, is, by reason of his British allegiance, under a legal duty to abstain from all commercial intercourse with the enemy; if so, whether he will consider the desirability of stating such duty in express terms by proclamation; and (2) whether His Majesty's Government will provide by proclamation, and so far as necessary by legislation, firstly, that any act or transaction which, if done directly, would at common law or otherwise constitute the offence of trading with the enemy shall also be an offence if done indirectly through an agent, branch, or other intermediary, and, secondly, that trading with a non-enemy person shall be an offence if done with the intention of enabling such non-enemy person to trade, with an enemy or with the knowledge that such enemy-trading will result; and whether His Majesty's Government will consider the desirability of putting the burden of proof upon the defendant of disproving such intention or knowledge in cases where enemy trading has in fact resulted?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer these questions, and I will deal with them together. The hon. and learned Gentleman's suggestions shall be carefully considered, but it does not appear to the Government at present that changes in the existing law and proclamations are required on these points.

asked the Under-Secretary for India if complaints have been received as to the feeding of some of the Territorial regiments now in India; and whether he will take steps to see that there is no mismanagement and that the men get the full benefit of the Government rations?

The Secretary of State has received no general complaint, but will ask the Government of India for a Report.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he has received a request from the village of Eythorne, Kent, that troops may be billeted in that village; and, if so, whether he is prepared to accede to this request?

A request has just been received from the parish council, and the responsible military authorities have been instructed to make a note of it. The question of the localities in which troops should be billeted is, however, dependent on military requirements.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received a complaint pointing out the manner in which tenders for Irish bedding and furniture are handicapped owing to the absence of a War Office receiving depot in Dublin; and whether he is aware that the importation of this class of supplies involves a heavy expenditure in freight, which would be avoided by having a receiving depot in Dublin?

I have not received any such complaint. It is no doubt true that expenditure on freight is involved in the present system, but there are other con- siderations which at present outweigh the advantages of establishing a depot at Dublin on the lines proposed by the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that the extra cost of freight and carriage, and the delay and inconvenience of forwarding samples of goods to London, with the additional loss and frequently damage to samples on the return journey, is the main cause of paucity of Irish tenders; and whether, in view of this fact, the War Office will reconsider their attitude and grant equality of opportunity to Irish manufactures and commodities by establishing a receiving military stores depot in Dublin?

The circumstances to which the hon. Member draws attention may be regarded as one of the causes of paucity of Irish tenders, but for the reason already given, I regret that the War Office cannot at the present reconsider its decision in the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether any case has arisen of the release from internment of an enemy alien after a recommendation that he should not be released had been made by the chief constable in a prohibited area?

As I informed the hon. Member on the 11th instant in reply to a similar question, no alien enemy has been released when the police report gave reasonable ground for anticipating that he was likely to be dangerous in any way. Alien enemies released from internment are not permitted to return to prohibited areas unless they obtain the special permission of the chief constable and also of the local military authorities, which is rarely given.

asked whether, in the case of an officer or soldier being officially reported as missing but unofficially believed to have been killed, his pay continues to be credited to him; whether, in the event of no definite evidence of his death being forthcoming, the pay continues indefinitely; and, if not, for how long?

Full pay is credited to an officer reported missing and not afterwards heard of, for a period of three or two months according to circumstances. Thereafter any issue is provisionally limited to a rate equivalent to that of widow's pension. In the case of soldiers separation allowance continues for twenty-six weeks after the date on which they are provisionally presumed to be dead, i.e., four weeks after they have been notified to their families as missing.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he has any information regarding Private Percy Shorter, No. 7,175, D company, 1st battalion East Kent Regiment (the Buffs), who was reported as wounded and missing on 18th October last, and about whom nothing has further been reported to his wife?

This soldier was reported as missing on 18th October, and no further report has been received. I understand that his wife has heard that he was wounded from his Company Commander. On the 16th February an inquiry form was sent for completion to a representative of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association inquiring on behalf of the wife, with a view to an inquiry being made in Germany.

asked how much per ton is being paid for the hire of the old ships on which aliens are now being interned; and what is the approximate amount paid per month for the hire of these ships?

The vessels, which are not correctly described as old, were requisitioned, not hired. The rate of payment ranges from 15s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. per ton per month, with a reduction of 6d. per ton per month after two months. The approximate monthly payment for the first two months was £86,000, afterwards £83,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been drawn to the case of Lance-sergeant Sneath, 7th Service Battalion Duke-of Cornwall's Light Infantry; whether he is aware that Sneath returned to the Army on the outbreak of war and through exposure developed bronchitis and consumption, and that he is unable to get assistance from the Army or the Prince of Wales's Fund; if his family are dependent on 10s. weekly from his insurance approved society; and, seeing that this man has been refused help because he has a relative who drinks, whether he will now consider the grant of some additional assistance to this invalid soldier?

I have no knowledge of this case, but will make inquiry.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether officers who were granted seven days' leave at Christ mas have had their field and ration allowances withdrawn for that period?

Field allowance is not issuable during leave. I am not aware of any case where ration allowance has been withheld.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether officers who were granted leave at Christmas are-now being pressed to pay for the railway-warrants issued to them, and whether it is intended to differentiate in this respect between officers in the Army and Navy?

No warrants for this purpose should have been issued free to Army officers, and any recoveries made are only in correction of errors. The conditions and regulations under which Army and Navy officers serve are different in many respects, and it is not practicable to secure uniformity in such matters.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the increased rates of pay of certain grades of junior officers in the Navy will apply to officers of the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and to other officers at present in the Admiralty service not entered on the regular staff of the Navy; and whether he will consider the desirability of improving the financial position of midshipmen serving in the Navy?

The increased rates of pay of certain grades of junior officers recently introduced apply to officers of the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, whether permanent or entered temporarily for the War. I am afraid that I can give no undertaking as regards the second part of the question, but I may remind the hon. Member that, as I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Cambridge on the 15th instant, where real necessity exists the Board of Admiralty is prepared to give favourable consideration to applications for whole or partial relief in respect of the private allowance payable on behalf of midshipmen.

asked the Chief Secretary if representations have been made to him that a revision of the rates of pay of warders and others in the service of the General Prisons Board in Ireland is necessary, having regard to the increase in the cost of living; what steps it is proposed to take in the matter; and will he say when the pay of these officials was last revised?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for North Westmeath on the 15th instant. The pay of Irish prison officials was last revised in 1908, when a series of substantial increases was effected.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the particulars of the Dublin Metropolitan Police charges and disbursements for the year 1913, or whether he can state where the definite information can be afforded; and whether he can state the amount of the demand made for extra police upon the county of Dublin on districts outside the Dublin Metropolitan Police area?

My hon. Friend will find the particulars asked for under Class III. of the Appropriation Accounts for 1913–14, which were presented to the House during the Adjournment and have now been ordered to be printed. The demand made for extra police in the county of Dublin outside the Dublin Metropolitan Police area in the year 1913–14 amounted to £1,868 18s. 3d.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that an old age pension was refused to Mary Brady, of Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, on the grounds that she was not seventy years of age; whether he will state what evidence there was of her age; and whether any inspection was made of the Census, or whether any inquiries were made as to the statements put forward by her in support of her contention that she had attained the statutory age?

This woman's claim was disallowed on the ground that she failed to show she was seventy years of age. The Census Returns were examined for a record of her age without any result and full inquiries made into the statements put forward by her.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the export of the golden and crimson sulphides of antimony from the United Kingdom is prohibited; whether these sulphides are capable of reduction to the metallic state; whether the golden and crimson sulphides are at the present time being exported from Germany; and, if so, whether there is any reason for prohibiting their export from the United Kingdom?

The export of golden and crimson sulphides of antimony from the United Kingdom is prohibited except to British Possessions. These sulphides are capable of reduction to the metallic state, but such reduction is not commercially profitable. It is not known whether the sulphides are at the present time being exported from Germany, but in view of the high price in Germany of antimony, is is considered improbable.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the action of the school attendance sub-committee for the Petty Sessional division of Guildford in deciding to exempt boys over twelve from school attendance, in order that farmers may obtain child labour for agricultural work; whether he is aware that the subcommittee considers it unnecessary to inform the Surrey education committee of its decision; whether he will communicate with the education authority of Surrey; and whether any general relaxation of bylaws for the purpose of employment in agriculture is approved by the Board of Education?

I have seen, a statement in the Press on this subject, and am communicating with the Surrey local education authority. As regards the last question, the answer is in the negative, and I may refer the hon. Member to the correspondence which has recently been laid upon the Table and printed as a White Paper [Cd. 7803].

asked whether the Secretary of State will obtain information from the Government of Madras regarding the results of a conference held in November, 1914, between it and a deputation of Assam planters regarding coolie emigration from the Northern Cirears?

The Secretary of State will inquire.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the accidents to the mounted police of the Metropolitan force caused by the horses slipping up on the pavement while on duty, he will extend the system of shoeing recently introduced experimentally by Mr. Lynwood Palmer to the whole of the horses used by the Metropolitan Police?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that the relative value of various means of preventing horses from slipping upon wood pavement or asphalt is being experimentally tested in the mounted branch of the Metropolitan Police. No conclusion has been arrived at up to the present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state what is the cost per horse of the Metropolitan Police horses, first as to provender and secondly as to shoeing, for the year 1014?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that the only figures available are those for the financial year 1913–14. The average per horse was then for forage, £25 1s. 10d.; for farriering, £5 9s. 6d.

asked whether the Local Government Board has yet considered the appeal, dated 21st day of April, 1914, against the decision of the district auditor allowing the costs of the action. Phillimore and another a Watford Rural District Council as special expenses chargeable against the parish of Alden-ham, a contributory place of the Watford rural district in the county of Hertford?

The appeal against the author's decision has been under consideration, and I hope that it will shortly be determined. The Board are, at present, in communication with the district auditor on the subject.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state what is the amount of the weekly wage paid by the Department to the ship inspection staff at Belfast; what is the rate of wage paid to men performing similar duties in Dublin; have the Belfast staff submitted three memorials for increased pay during the last three years; and if the Department proposes to reconsider the present wages-having regard to the increase in the cost of living?

The pay of ship inspectors, who are usually police pensioners, is governed by a fixed Treasury scale, graded according to ports. The maximum rate of this scale is £1 a week, allowed at Belfast and also at Dublin. One ship inspector in Belfast receives in addition £3 yearly for certain clerical duties, and three ship inspectors at Dublin who are non-pensioners get 30s. (instead of £1 a week). Memorials as mentioned in the question have been received from the Belfast staff. The Department do not feel, however, that there are grounds for singling out the case of the inspectors at this port for special treatment, nor do they think that the present is an opportune time for the reconsideration of ship inspection salaries generally, on account of the cost of living.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what measures the Department are taking to ensure an adequate supply of livestock, cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs for breeding purposes; and whether any regulations are under consideration or will be issued with regard to corn, potatoes, green crops, and flax, so as to preclude a shortage of food or manufacturing products?

On the outbreak of the War, the Department immediately issued a notice to farmers warning them strongly against disposing of breeding animals or immature stock. They advised that there should be no diminution in the number of livestock kept, and that, where circumstances permitted, the total head of stock, particularly pigs, should be increased. All the agricultural instructors and overseers employed throughout the country were specially instructed to urge this policy on farmers. The Department have taken every opportunity, through the agency of the Press and otherwise, of pressing on the agricultural community the advisability of this course. The Council of Agriculture, the county committees of agriculture, and the clergy, have co-operated vigorously with the Department to the same end. The necessity of sowing catch crops for the feeding of cattle, and for sowing a larger area with wheat, and increasing tillage generally, has also been strongly emphasised by the Department, with the result that there has been a large extension of catch cropping, while the area under wheat appears to have been increased in every county Farmers have also been strongly advised to extend the area under oats. Early purchase of seed was recommended, and those who had oats suitable for seed were urged to retain it for that purpose. The question of the supply of flax seed for a largely increased sowing for the coming season has been engaging the constant attention of the Department, who are are present in communication with the Foreign Office regarding the importation of supplies of this seed from Russia. The Department do not consider that special Governmental regulations in the matter are necessary. It is not anticipated that there will be any unusual shortage of home-grown foods or feeding-stuffs before next harvest. I am forwarding to the hon. Member some documents issued by the Department in regard to the matters referred to in his question.

asked the Vice-President of the Department Of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can arrange with the President of the Board of Trade that the officials and inspectors of the Department shall examine and report upon the livestock loading banks on the different railway lines in Ireland; whether he is aware that, owing to their unprotected condition, most of those loading-banks are inconvenient and dangerous to public safety?

The Department are not at present aware that grounds exist for general procedure of the character proposed in this question. If specific instances can be adduced, however, in which the condition of loading banks is faulty in the way suggested, inquiries will be instituted on behalf of the Department, and, if necessary, representations, with a view to remedy, will be made to the company concerned. There have been within recent years considerable improvements effected in the arrangements for loading livestock at Irish railway stations, but at many stations where the loading bank is used, both for livestock and general goods traffic, protective fixtures would constitute an obstruction and could not reasonably be insisted on.