asked the Prime Minister whether, in the event of a woman having a husband serving in the Army and a son serving in the Navy, she would be entitled to separation allowance for both husband and son?

Her claim to Army separation allowance in respect of her husband would not be affected by the fact that her son was serving in the Navy. Whether any further separation allowance should be issued in respect of a sailor son—seeing that none would be issued in respect of a soldier son—is a question under consideration.

asked what payment, grant, or other provision is made for a soldier wounded in the War upon his discharge from hospital totally disabled from farther duty in the Army for the period between the time of such discharge and obtaining his pension?

Under Article 1117 of the Pay Warrant a soldier so discharged receives a gratuity of £2 on discharge. His pension takes effect from the date of discharge.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what arrangements are made, if any, to continue the the issue of separation allowance to the wives of officers serving at Home who have been promoted from the ranks and who previously received separation allowances; if this allowance cannot be granted will he arrange for lodging allowance to be issued to these officers, having regard to the fact that they have to keep up two homes and pay heavy mess bills out of their pay; and if lodging allowance is already issued to all married officers serving abroad?

I explained to my hon. Friend on the 8th instant the arrangements made for issuing an equivalent of the separation allowance temporarily from the officer's pay. The proposal that the issue should be continued cannot be accepted, and I may point out that, in addition to the pay, there are special rates of pay attaching to such commissions as those referred to in the question. A special issue of lodging allowance has been approved for all officers serving at the front.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the rate of wages paid to labourers in Portsmouth town is 6½d. an hour, but that hired labourers in Portsmouth dockyard are only paid 5¾d. an hour; and, if so, whether the Admiralty will grant an increase of pay to these men?

The rate of wages for labourers in the Portsmouth yard is to be increased to 24s. for a 48-hour week; and this increase is to be paid back to 1st October last. The rate of 24s. a week will be the lowest rate paid to any adult workman in the dockyard, and it is believed that this minimum rate will compare not unfavourably with the general level of wages for unskilled labourers in the neighbourhood, particularly when the other advantages of employment in the dockyards are considered.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether, in view of the capacity of the wholesale clothing manufacturers of Scotland for the output of military clothing, he will consider the advisability of appointing a representative of these manufacturers as a member of the Committee formed to assist the War Office in the organising and placing of Army clothing contracts?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for the Bridgeton Division of Glasgow last Thursday, in which I explained that the functions of this Committee have no relation to contracts.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether the system by which recruits who wish to join the Sportsmen's Battalion are charged a deposit of £3 3s. on enlisting has the sanction of the War Office?

The sanction of the War Office has not been sought for this arrangement, nor is such sanction necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary for War what was the reason for sending Private J. F. Clements, No. 3440, 6tb Battalion, No. 1 Company, Royal Fusiliers,, upon active service in France without permitting him to have the usual leave to visit his family previous to his departure; whether he is aware that upon enlistment the man was informed that he could transfer to the Royal Engineers when he had become an efficient soldier, his trade qualifying him for that regiment, and that such transfer has subsequently been refused, and will he state the reason for such refusal; what is the reason for only allowing the man's mother 4s. 11d, per week including allotment, seeing that before enlistment he paid her never less than 9s. a week and provided his mid-day meals himself; what is the reason for declaring that the deficiency amounts to only 2s. weekly, thereby reducing the allowance to the mother to vanishing point; and whether he will take steps to have this valuation reconsidered?

It was impossible, owing to military exigencies, to grant this soldier leave before he proceeded to the front. There is no record that on enlistment any statement was made to him that he could transfer to the Royal Engineers on becoming an efficient soldier. The allowance of 4s. 11d. per week issued to his mother is correctly based on the assessment made and on the allotment offered by the soldier. The pension officer and the pension committee were in agreement in calculating the dependency at 2s. per week. The machinery for dealing with appeals will be announced very shortly and it will then be open to Mrs. Clements to have her case reconsidered.

asked how many members of the National Reserve in Class I. have joined the Colours, either in the Special Reserve or other corps, and have received the £10 allowance due to men in Class I.; how many members of the National Reserve in Class II. have joined the Colours and received the allowance of £5 due to them; how many members of the National Reserve have entered the Regular and Territorial Forces, either as instructors or members of National Reserve companies in Territorial units; how many members of the National Reserve have been called out for the purpose of guarding railway lines, vulnerable points such as powder factories, bridges, etc., and prisoners on ships or on land; how many members of the National Reserve have enlisted in the ordinary way, either in Regular or Territorial units; how many men were there on the county registers of the National Reserve on the 1st August, 1914; and how many men remain on the National Reserve registers in the various counties who are not engaged in military duties?

It would not be desirable to publish some of the information for which the hon. Member asks, and in any case great labour would be involved in preparing the figures. I would ask him not to press his request at a time of pressure like the present.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he has knowledge of any regulation or practice in Germany corresponding, however remotely, to the rule whereby German prisoners in the United Kingdom are allowed to write two letters a week to relatives and friends in Germany on purely private affairs; and can he say whether, owing to the difference between British and German practice, the absence of communications from British prisoners in Germany affords ground for anxiety as to their welfare?

I am not at present officially informed of the rules governing the correspondence of prisoners of war in Germany, which appears to vary in the different camps at the discretion of the Commandants, but I hope that the measures now being taken with the assistance of the American Embassy in Berlin will effect any necessary improvement in this matter.

asked whether a large mansion in the valley of the Trent is being, or has been, fitted up for the detention of German officers captured in the War; and, if so, what amount of money has been spent on it?

Donnington Hall, Leicestershire, has been acquired and fitted up for the confinement of German officer prisoners of war. The amount expended on this service is approximately £13,000, including some £4,000 for furniture.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Department have been carrying out experiments upon Irish sands at the Royal College of Science in order to ascertain their suitability for the manufacture of glass; and, if so, whether the Department are yet prepared to publish any results of these experiments?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. The Department will be glad to publish the information asked for by the hon. Member, as far as the experiments have gone.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is aware that many of the London chemists' accounts rendered for drugs supplied under the. National Health Insurance Act during November and December of last year have not yet been paid; will he state the reasons for this delay which is causing such inconvenience; and will he say when a settlement of these overdue payments may be expected?

The Regulations provide for an annual settlement only, and, pending a settlement in respect of the remuneration due to chemists for the whole year, any payments made are of the nature of advances only. The Commissioners are informed that the Committee have made advances to an amount equal to nearly 75 per cent. of the total accounts for the year, the checking of which has not as yet been completed.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if, in regard to the schemes of afforestation or instruction in forestry carried out by his Department, he will state the total area of land acquired by his Department since its inception; the total purchase price of same; the annual payments by way of rent, interest in lieu of rent, or annuity, in respect thereof; the annual payments in respect of rates, taxes, drainage, maintenance rates or charges, and so forth; the area of land so acquired which has been planted; the total sum expended, so far, on fencing, clearing, draining, reclaiming, and planting; the annual cost of supervising, cleaning, and so forth; the species of trees with which the lands have been planted; the total loans and grants obtained from the Treasury, the Development Commissioners, or other sources in aid of afforestation work and the conditions governing same; the annual sums paid to the staff of the afforestation branch or other officials, whether engaged as whole or part time offices on afforestation work or work arising under Section 2 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, by way of salaries, allowances, travelling, and incidental expenses, since 1st January, 1908; the annual payments made to defray the expenses of the Avondale School of Forestry, the cost of the Chair of Forestry at the Royal College of Science, and particulars of any other payments made directly or indirectly to further the work of afforestation; the net sum now available for afforestation work; and the total income received, so far, from the sale of timber, grazing, and shooting lettings, and so forth?

The total area of land acquired by the Department for forestry purposes to date is 14,858 acres and the total purchase price, including the timber on the lands acquired, amounts to £67,374, of which £36,507 is repayable by land purchase annuities. The payment in respect of these annuities or interest in lieu of rent at present amounts to £1,247 per annum. The lands in question are exempt from rating. A sum of about £570 per annum is paid as contribution to the local authorities in lieu of rates. Over 1,000 acres have been planted to date. The total amount expended by the Department from 1904 to the 31st December, 1914, on preliminary operations, planting and tending their forestry lands, including the cost of Avon-dale Forestry Station, is £39,318, being an average of £3,574 per annum. The lands have been planted with the species considered in each case to be the most suitable for the district. The greater part of the area has been planted with conifers, including a large proportion of larch, Douglas fir, and spruce.A sum of £25,268 has been granted by the Treasury up to the year 1913–14, inclusive, in respect of woodlands being remnants of estates dealt with by the Estates Commissioners acquired by the Department under the Land Purchase Acts; £19,267 has been advanced by way of loan from the Development Fund, for the purchase of land. An advance of £31,500 from the Development Fund, to be spread over fifty-two years, has been sanctioned for the planting and development of one of the areas acquired by means of the loan, and further advances amounting to £37,000 have been recommended by the Development Commissioners for planting the remaining areas, as well as Grants for certain central forestry staff.Conditions Governing Advances from Parliamentary Vote.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that several Irish breeders of pedigree bulls suitable for premiums have been disappointed owing to the absence of the usual February sale; whether it is intended to hold such a sale before April; and whether he is aware that Irish farmers may be obliged to import bulls whilst the market for Irish breeders is unavailable?

It is possible that some Irish breeders of pedigree bulls have been disappointed owing to the absence of the usual February sale, but so far no expressions of disappointment have been sent by them to the Department, nor have complaints been made by prospective purchasers on account of the arrangements that have been made. It is not intended to hold a sale in Dublin before the second week in April, although sales of pure bred bulls will be held at Belfast, Londonderry, Sligo, and Cork before that date. There is no reason to believe that there will be any larger number of bulls imported this year than in past seasons. The great majority of the premiums will be held by bulls purchased at Irish sales, as has been the case in past years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the figures showing the output of coal in Scotland and in England and Wales, respectively, for each of the months of August, September, October, November, and December, 1914, and January, 1915, and the figures of these months for the four preceding years?

No particulars of the output of coal in Great Britain for monthly periods have hitherto been available. I am endeavouring to secure particulars of the current production.