asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the readiness with which this House has voted all the money asked for the purposes of the War and the evidence of wealth afforded by the continued consumption of luxuries, whether there is real necessity for withdrawing the annual Grants to public libraries which are for many the only available opening to culture; and, having regard to the unique circumstances of Ireland and the full and constant use being made of the National Library in Dublin, whether the Grant to that institution at least will be allowed to continue?

Provision is being made in the Estimates for the continuance of a portion of the normal Grant to the National Library in Dublin in order to provide for the purchase of new parts of books already ordered and for other urgent needs. As regards the general question referred to, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to a similar question by the hon. Member for South Donegal which is circulated with the Votes to-day.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the stoppage of all Grants towards libraries, art galleries, and museums for the coming year is in contemplation; whether the exact total of the Grants affected by such action is about £100,000; and whether, having regard to the fact that the War is costing these countries two millions sterling per diem, or more than £100,000 an hour, consideration will be given, before the stoppage of these Grants has been decided on, to the question as to whether it is in the public interest and consonant with the national dignity to effect a saving, comparatively so small, at the risk of the hindrance to the work of students whose means do not admit of full equipment of books and who must thus be deprived of the help afforded by the perusal in libraries of periodical literature and new books and new editions essential to keep them in touch with recent developments in the spheres of their studies despite the many assurances that, notwithstanding the War, all things would go on as usual?

A reduction of approximately £60,000 has been made in the provision for the financial year 1915–16 in respect of the usual purchase Grants to the institutions referred to by the hon. and learned Member. These Grants are mainly expended on the acquisition of pictures and objects of artistic or antiquarian interest, and in the present crisis I think it reasonable to forgo expenditure of public money for such purposes. Under the provision of Section 15 of the Copyright Act of 1914 the chief libraries of the United Kingdom receive copies of new books, and there does not appear to be any reason for anticipating that inconvenience of the nature described in the last part of the question will arise.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether Donington Hall has been purchased or is it rented and, if the latter, what is the rent; and how many prisoners it will accommodate?

Donington Hall with adjoining lands, is rented at £500 per annum, inclusive of rates and taxes. For the latter part of my hon. Friend's question I would refer him to the answer which I gave last Thursday to the hon. Member for Nottingham East.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can give the names of British consultant surgeons and physicians engaged in medical work with the Expeditionary Force in France or in Belgium, indicating those whose services have been accepted on account of the present War, but who would not otherwise have been called upon in the way of routine service with the Army; whether there is a regular scale of payment of these consultants; and, if so, what is the rate?

The following is a list of the British consultant physicians and surgeons employed in France and Belgium:—

• Sir G. H. Makins, K.C.B., F.R.C.S.
• Sir A. A. Bowlby, Knt., C.M.G., F.R.C.S.
• Sir W. P. Herringham, Knt., M.D.
• Sir A. E. Wright, Knt., M.D., F.R.C.S.I., F.R.S.
• F. F. Burghard, Esq., M.D., F.R.C.S.
• Sir J. R. Bradford, K.C.M.G., M.D., F.R.S.
• W T. Lister, Esq., M.B., F.R.C.S.
• Sir B. E. Dawson, K.C.V.O., M.D.
• Sir B. G. A. Moyniham, Knt., M.B., F.R.C.S.
• H. M. W. Gray, Esq., M.B., F.E.C.S. Edin.

With the exception of Sir A. E. Wright and Mr. Lister, these gentlemen are officers of the Territorial Force and were commissioned before the War. They now hold the temporary rank of Colonel in the Army Medical Service, and receive the pay of that rank. They were all appointed consultants on account of the present War, and their services in that capacity have been most valuable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a wife's separation allowance is at present stopped whenever her husband is sentenced to imprisonment or detention of over twenty-eight days, whereby she becomes a charge on the Prince of Wales' National Relief Fund; and whether the War Office will arrange that separation allowance in such cases shall be met from some other source in order to avoid the undue depletion of the said fund?

It has been decided that separation allowances shall continue in these cases so long as the soldier remains in the Army.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether arrangements can be made by the Army Medical Service for the supply of artificial limbs for wounded Belgian soldiers in this country?

Surgical appliances will be supplied to wounded Belgian soldiers in this country in cases where such appliances are issuable under the Army Medical Regulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a record is kept of the condition as regards inoculation of every soldier; if not, how are the statistics compiled showing the condition as regards inoculation of men who contract typhoid fever; and if such record is kept why is not information concerning the condition of soldiers as regards inoculation available when they develop diseases which are certified as other than typhoid fever?

Instructions have been given for these records to be kept, but as the compilation of these statistics would entail a considerable amount of labour, I regret that in the present pressure of work I do not feel justified in placing this additional strain upon the medical officers of my Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any vaccine or other inoculatory process is employed with a view to protect the troops from typhus fever or cholera, or whether reliance is placed upon the ordinary sanitary precautions against those diseases?

Nothing is known at the War Office of inoculation against typhus, but as regards cholera vaccine treatment is regularly carried out in India in face of epidemics, and in the event of an outbreak of cholera the War Office has ample supplies of the vaccine ready for immediate use.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many of the sixty-two cases of, and twenty-six deaths from, cerebro-meningitis amongst the British troops in the United Kingdom from 1st August, 1914, to 31st January, 1915, had been inoculated with antityphoid vaccine, and the length of time that elapsed from the last inoculation to the development of spotted fever?

To obtain the information asked for by the hon. Member would entail a very considerable amount of work to the hospital staffs, who are already working at high pressure, and I trust that in the circumstances the hon. Member will not press the question.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether regimental sergeant-majors of the Territorial Force who prior to mobilisation ranked as acting warrant officers will now be promoted to warrant rank; and whether, if so, they will be provided at the public expense with Sam Browne belt and other necessary clothing and equipment, to enable them to comply with Army Order 68 of 1915, which lays down that warrant officers are to be armed and equipped in the same way as officers of their corps?

The question of the status of acting sergeant-majors of the Territorial Force is at present receiving consideration, and I hope that a decision will be reached shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of two men in the Royal Fusiliers, who have been applied for by name by a responsible authority commanding a unit, and have been hindered from receiving promotion by circumstances which prevent their commanding officer recommending them for commissions as he otherwise would do; and whether it is the policy of the War Office to prevent such promotion of men who since enlistment by energy and ability have specially Qualified themselves to receive commissions?

If the hon. Member will give me the names, regimental numbers and battalions of the two men to whom he refers, I will cause inquiries to be made. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can state the latest prices agreed to be paid by the War Office for dungaree and for khaki drill; whether these goods are being bought direct or through an agent; and, if through an agent, what commission is being paid?

All orders for dungaree and khaki have been placed direct after competitive tendering, and no question of commission arises. The prices paid under War Office contracts are treated as confidential.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will ascertain what amount is due in respect of back pay and allowance to the family of Private E. Forest, No. 2732, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action at Le Touquet, on the 21st October; and why no payment has yet been made?

I find on inquiry that the amount due was £6 13s. 9d., and that it was issued a day or two ago.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what is the number of Belgian refugees now in this country, giving the separate figures for men, women, and children, respectively; what proportion of the men are of military age and capable of military service; and can any information be given as to what number have, since the commencement of the War, returned for military duty?

The Registrar-General estimates the number of Belgian refugees (not including soldiers) in this country at the present time at 180,000. This total consists of:—

• 65,000 men,
• 69,000 women, and
• 46,000 children (under sixteen).

There are, in addition, about 18,000 wounded and convalescent soldiers. The information at my disposal is not sufficient to enable me to reply to the second part of the question. With respect to the last part of the question, it would not be in the public interest to state the numbers.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the desirability of instructing a Return to be prepared showing a list of the committees and other bodies to whom grants from the National Relief Fund have been made and the amounts and dates of such grants?

I will convey the hon. Member's suggestion to the Executive Committee of the Fund with whom the matter rests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state approximately how much, or what proportion, of the public money devoted to the promotion of dye industries has been allocated to Ireland, or is to be spent there; and whether the specific application of it will be determined here or left to the judgment of the Irish Technical Department?

As the House has already been informed, the Grant to which the hon. Member apparently refers will be made to the New Dyes Company, to be expended on research and laboratory work in such manner as the directors, who are to have the advice of a technical committee, may deem to be most expedient.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade compensate officers and men of the mercantile marine for the loss of their effects if the ship in which they are serving is destroyed or sunk by the enemy; whether he is aware that the second and third mates and two apprentices of the ss. "Dulwich" have received no compensation, although they have lost all their effects; and whether he will inquire into the case?

As I informed the Noble Lord on 11th February, the Board of Trade are prepared to give special facilities for insuring at a reasonable rate of premium the effects of masters, officers and seamen for moderate amounts against war risks, and a scheme of insurance of this kind is about to be put into operation immediately. An insurance scheme could not, I am afraid, be made retrospective, and therefore could not apply to the case of the "Dulwich."

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he has made any and, if so, what representations to the War Office for a return to Ireland from the Continent of Irish-bred mares rendered useless for war purposes; and whether any policy of selection has been decided upon whereby a fair proportion of the class most suitable for brood mares will be brought back?

The Department have been in consultation with the military authorities on the subject of the importation of brood mares returned from the seat of War. In view of the risk of introducing equine disease and the serious injury which would be thereby inflicted on the Irish horse-breeding industry generally, the Department cannot see their way to agree to the importation to Ireland of any of the animals in question.

asked the hon. Member for Saffron Walden, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what the total cost is expected to be of the work in progress on Westminster Hall roof; and whether the amounts estimated for scaffolding, ironwork, timber work, labour, and all other expenses can be separately given?

The total cost is expected to be slightly over £60,000. The estimates for the various parts of the work are as follows:—

	£
Steel scaffold, erection, demolition, etc.	3,750
Steel reinforcement	10,530
Steel reinforcement labour	12,285
Timber and treatment with preservative and slating	13,950
Timber and treatment with preservative and slating labour	14,500
Clerk of Works' salary (6 years) and contingencies	5,000
Total	£60,015

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the losses sustained by many poor people through one-man moneyless institutions called banks, the Board will, in the public interest, ascertain the available assets and liabilities of all institutions assuming that name; and whether he will now give this information regarding such an institution called the John Bull Bank?

The Board of Trade have no jurisdiction to require the disclosure of the assets and liabilities of businesses carried on by individuals as in the case of the John Bull Bank. As I informed the hon. Member for North Islington on the 11th February, the question of whether some legislation is desirable with regard to the use of the word "bank" shall be carefully considered when a suitable opportunity arises.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state how many times the afternoon mail train has been late in its arrival at Thurso-and Wick, respectively, since the 1st of January last, and the average extent of such lateness?

The afternoon mail train has not arrived punctually at Thurso or Wick on any occasion during this period. The average lateness was two hours and twenty-seven minutes at Wick and two hours and twenty-nine minutes at Thurso. No material improvement can be looked for in present circumstances.

asked the Postmaster-General what number of complaints have been received as to undelivered letters and postal packets or parcels during the last six months, and how the figures compare with the corresponding period of 1913–14; and whether the withdrawal of postal servants for service in the War and the filling of their places by temporary labour have been responsible to any appreciable extent for these losses?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his previous question of the 23rd February, in the same terms, which was circulated with the Proceedings of 25th February.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what arrangements the Department have made for an adequate supply of good agricultural seed in Ireland this season in view of the increase in tillage; and whether the arrangements include the obtaining of Treasury Grants-in-Aid, as is done in certain cases in England?

The supplies of agricultural seed in Ireland for sowing in the coming spring appear to be ample, and the quality, on the whole, satisfactory. There is no reason to anticipate that farmers will have difficulty in obtaining sufficient seed for the increased area of tillage contemplated The agricultural instructors throughout the country are in a position to advise farmers where seed may be obtained. No special arrangements

County.		Female Agricultural Labourers, etc.			Grand Total of male and female agricultural labourers.	Percentage of females to Grand Total.
		In charge of cattle.	Not otherwise distinguished.	Total.
England.
Bedford	…	14	33	47	9,431	·49
Berkshire	…	51	65	116	10,512	1·10
Buckinghamshire	…	46	46	92	11,178	·82
Cambridge	…	28	440	468	19,487	2·40
Chester	…	277	156	433	14,813	2·94
Cornwall	…	99	59	158	10,524	1·50
Cumberland	…	77	114	191	6,593	2·89
Derby	…	73	34	107	7,811	1·37
Devon	…	246	80	326	21,501	1·52
Dorset	…	156	18	174	10,784	1·62
Durham	…	148	542	690	6,312	10·93
Essex	…	45	357	402	32,336	1·24
Gloucester	…	75	70	145	14,052	1·03
Hants and Isle of Wight	…	125	77	202	18,528	1·09
Hereford	…	44	108	152	8,810	1·73
Hertford	…	47	79	126	11,127	1·13
Huntingdon	…	9	87	96	6,335	1·51
Kent	…	76	1,281	1,357	32,948	4·12
Lancaster	…	313	181	494	20,446	2·42
Leicester	…	44	12	56	8,137	0·69
Lincoln	…	72	535	607	38,332	1·59
London	…	2	34	36	1,011	3·51
Middlesex	…	18	224	242	4,323	5·59
Monmouth	…	20	11	31	3,229	·96
Norfolk	…	103	248	351	35,857	·99
Northampton	…	34	34	68	12,986	·52
Northumberland	…	225	1,639	1,864	8,084	22·07
Nottinghamshire	…	35	41	76	9,429	·80
Oxford	…	30	32	62	11,663	·53
Rutland	…	5	4	9	1,525	·59
Salop	…	182	65	247	13,497	1·83
Somerset	…	287	68	355	17,944	1·99
Stafford	…	102	57	159	12,460	1·28
Suffolk	…	98	68	166	29,668	·56
Surrey	…	73	115	188	10,212	1·84
Sussex	…	121	35	156	20,538	·76
Warwick	…	41	42	83	10,744	·77
Westmorland	…	40	12	52	2,178	2·39
Wiltshire	…	89	70	159	16,833	·95
Worcester	…	56	160	216	11,452	1·89
York—East Riding	…	62	118	180	13,256	1·36
North Riding	…	111	62	173	11,707	1·48
West Riding	…	107	427	534	19,977	2·67
Total	…	3,906	7,940	11,848	598,670	1·98

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has any particulars as to the number of women employed in agriculture in Great Britain?

The figures in the following tables are taken from the Census Returns collected in 1911:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury at what date the export allowance on Home-grown tobacco promised by his predecessor will become operative?

The matter has not been lost sight of. My right hon. Friend is awaiting a suitable opportunity for legislation.