asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the total amount received in respect of increased Estate Duties under the Finance Act, 1914; and (2) what is the total value of personalty which has passed and duties which have been actually paid thereon under the Death Duties (Killed in War) Act, 1914, since the beginning of the War?

I am afraid that, in accordance with the usual practice, I cannot give figures as regards the yield of particular taxes during the current financial year in anticipation of my next financial statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to prevent a lodger voter who, by reason of his joining the Colours would lose his vote, from being thus penalised?

So far as the existing register is concerned, this was provided for by the Electoral Disabilities (Naval and Military Service) Removal Act, 1914. With regard to the next register, the matter is at present receiving careful consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how the sum of £86,000, allotted for the maintenance of prisoners of war interned on ships, has been apportioned; how many ships have been employed; what rent is being paid for each ship; how many prisoners there are on each ship; what is the cost of fitting out each ship for the accommodation of the prisoners; what amount is allowed for the food supplied to each man; whether any clothing or boots are given to the men and, if so, the value; and what is the cost of administration on each ship, including the salaries of the staff employed?

Nine ships have been utilised for the internment of prisoners of war. The hire of these ships amounts to £86,000 per month, end varies from £7,000 to £12,500 per month according to the gross tonnage. Three of the ships have now been taken off this service. The number of prisoners on board the remainder are:—

"Ascania"	…	…	1,397
"Scotian"	…	…	1,132
"Lake Manitoba"	…	…	1,242
"Saxonia"	…	…	2,300
"Ivernia"	…	…	1,575
"Royal Edward"	…	…	1,200

The cost of fitting each ship was about £1,000—£1,500. The cost of victualling prisoners is under discussion with the owners of the vessels. Clothing and boots are supplied to the men as required. The salaries of the staff are as follows:—

1	Adjutant and Quartermaster—Regimental pay and allowances of rank, plus 3s. a day extra duty pay.
1	Interpreter—£3 a week.
1	Medical Officer—About 16s. a day.
1	Quartermaster-Sergeant—4s. 6d. a day.
1	Provost Sergeant—3s. 2d. a day.
4	Civilian Clerks—24s. to 30s. a week.

For every three ships, a Commandant, with regimental pay and allowances of rank, plus 5s. a day command pay. These ships were taken up by the Admiralty at the request of the War Office, to house prisoners for whom no accommodation was available ashore. But, as I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for the Kirkdale Division of Liverpool on Thursday last, it is expected that by the middle of April all the vessels now engaged in housing alien prisoners will have been vacated, and the ships will then be released unless required for other Government services.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information showing that the British steamer "Van Dyke," with a valuable cargo, captured by a German cruiser some months ago on the coast of South America, is now in Hamburg or other German North Sea port; and, if so, can he state how she arrived there?

I have no information as to the whereabouts of this vessel.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the total number of British merchant ships detained, captured, or destroyed by the enemy from the beginning of the present War up to date; is the official statement that during the war with France, 1793 to 1814, there were 10,871 British merchant ships captured or destroyed by the enemy, drawn from any Admiralty or other British official records, or is it founded upon unofficial records derived from French sources; and is there official information disproving the accuracy of Lloyd's Official Record, which gives the number of British merchant ships captured or sunk by the enemy during the period 1793 to 1814 as 7,353?

The answer to the first part of the question is 166 up to the 10th March. With regard to the remainder of the question, the number quoted in my statement in the House on the 15th February was based on information mainly derived from French official sources, from which it may be judged that Lloyd's figures are incomplete.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in selecting further sites for camping grounds for troops, he will, subject to the military requirements being satisfactory, give preference to those localities which hitherto have not had the advantages of having troops quartered in their neighbourhood?

This will be done, so far as is possible, it being understood that the selection of the areas and the actual sites of the camping grounds must be governed entirely by military requirements.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the War Office have given permission, at a time when soldiers are so much needed, to a bandmaster of the Scottish Fusiliers in Dublin to take up a position in civil life there?

I find that no bandmaster of the regiment named has been discharged from the Army since the beginning of the War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether 3155 Acting Company Quartermaster-Sergeant John Lambert, 4th Battalion Manchester Regiment, was, on or about 28th October, 1914, promoted to the rank of company sergeant-major; and, if so, what is the reason he is not holding the rank to which he was promoted?

This non-commissioned officer was appointed company sergeant-major at his depot. He was then sent to the 4th battalion. As this battalion had its full number of company sergeant-majors, he was unable to act as such. He has received the pay of a company sergeant-major.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the contracts being placed in Canada and the United States are being placed by special agents, and if so, what is their commercial experience; whether the remuneration is by salary or commission, and, if so, how much; and whether the co-operation of the Canadian Government has been invited?

Messrs. J. P. Morgan and Company, of New York, who are in close touch with all the American markets, have been appointed commercial agents to the Government for the purpose of placing orders in the United States. Their remuneration is by commission, but it is not considered to be in the public interest to give the details of the contract. No special agents have been appointed for purchasing in Canada. Close touch has been maintained with the Canadian Government in regard to orders placed in that country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if a contract for the supply of frozen beef to the Army from July to September, 1914, was entered into with the firm of Thomas Borthwick and Sons, Limited; if so, at what price, and was the contract determined by the outbreak of hostilities; what price approximately was paid by the Government for frozen and chilled beef and mutton commandeered or acquired otherwise than by contract from 1st August to 31st December, 1914; what quantities were so acquired; was any commission paid to any agents for the purchase or acquisition of the same; if so, who was the buyer and what was his total commission for the months in question; what method is at present adopted for obtaining the Army meat supplies, and what prices approximately are paid for the same; whether the total meat output of New Zealand, Queensland, and New South Wales is commandeered for the benefit of the Imperial Government; and if he will direct that such part of the total shipment from those Colonies as is not required for consumption by the troops shall be sold to the public at a rate to cover cost, insurance, and freight alone?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative; to the second part, contract prices are confidential and cannot be published; to the third part, the contract ran its full course to the 30th September, but a claim by the contractor for an increased price on supplies made since the War and in excess of normal requirements is under consideration; to the fourth part, the supplies commandeered were paid for at current rates; to the fifth part, the quantities so acquired were, approximately, frozen beef, 40,190,973 lbs., frozen mutton, 10,497,488 lbs., no chilled beef being taken; to the sixth part, no commission was paid to any agent, the supplies being acquired by an officer of the Army Service Corps; to the seventh part, special arrangements are now in force for obtaining the Army meat supplies, which are being paid for at current market rates; to the eighth part the answer is that by arrangement with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand control has been obtained over the whole of the refrigerated beef and mutton produced in these countries and available for export; to the ninth (concluding) part, the mariner in which any meat not required for the troops will be disposed of is at present under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why ex-sergeants, Royal Irish Constabulary, who have joined the Colours are held to be ineligible for proficiency pay of 6d. per day, which is allowed to Territorials, Yeomanry, Militia, and Marines, when in fact they are far more proficient and have greater experience than many who are getting it?

The grant of proficiency pay depends on two conditions: a certain length of Army service and a certain standard of military proficiency. The proficiency of these members of the Royal Irish Constabulary is not in question, but as they do not possess the requisite service I am afraid that they are not eligible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is causing the delay in the completion of the huts at Reed Hall Camp, Colchester, and Warren Heath Camp, Ipswich; and if he will call on the contractors, Messrs. Merricks and Crane, to carry out the terms of their contract without further delay?

Messrs. Merricks and Crane are acting as agents for the War Department for the erection of these huts. The delay in completing is, I am afraid, due to the same causes as in other cases—shortage of labour, bad weather, and difficulty in getting delivery of materials owing to congestion on the railways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state how many enemy steamers are interned on the West Coast of Africa; and whether, in view of the fears of a shortage of tonnage arising from the serious disorganisation of outward sailings to the West Coast of Africa from this country, he can see his way to employ for purposes of trade such enemy steamers which are at present interned?

There are only two small steamers interned on the West Coast and arrangements are being made for the employment of both of them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury will sanction during the War any advances of capital or loans for institutional treatment under the National Insurance Acts or the Mental Deficiency Act?

Capital Grants for sanatoria will continue to be made where necessary, and, subject to the same proviso, local authorities will not be prohibited from borrowing for the same purpose. As regards loans under the Mental Deficiency Act, I do not think that capital expenditure for this purpose is desirable at the present time in the absence of very special considerations.