asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he has been able to do anything to ensure prisoners of war and interned prisoners in Germany receiving treatment more nearly approximately to that accorded to German prisoners in this country, and to get the prohibition, placed upon many necessary articles of food and clothing, as well as tobacco, sent in parcels from this country to prisoners in various camps in Germany, removed?

I would refer the hon. Member to White Paper, Miscellaneous No. 7 (1915), and to the letter from the United States Ambassador at Berlin to the United States Ambassador in London of 27th March, which appeared in the Press on 7th April.

I desire to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a question, of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether the Government have taken or intend to take any action in regard to the declared intention of the German Government to treat British officers as ordinary prisoners in reprisal for our treatment of submarine murderers?

On seeing a paragraph on this subject yesterday, we requested Mr. Page to telegraph to Mr. Gerard to find out what truth there was in this report. We have not yet had a reply. If this report is true we can only hope that these prisoners are being treated as well as the captured crews of submarines are in this country.

I desire to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a question of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether there are still any English doctors, Military or Civil, held as prisoners by the Germans, if so, how many, and what steps the Government propose to take to secure their release?

It is believed that there are only three British subjects who claim to be entitled to release as doctors now detained in Germany. Representations on their behalf have been made through the United States Ambassador. According to the latest available information, the number of military doctors still detained in Germany is fifty. Of these, thirty-five have been officially reported as prisoners through the United States Ambassador, and fifteen unofficially. The White Paper which has been laid upon the Table of the House shows what steps have been taken to secure the release of these prisoners.

I desire to ask the same hon. Gentleman a further question, namely, whether it is the fact that prisoners in hospital in Germany as patients or doctors are not allowed to write to their relatives freely, and, if so, what are the alleged reasons for this regulation?

I have no information to show that prisoners in hospital are treated differently than other prisoners of war in the matter of correspondence, but inquiries have been made through the United States Ambassador on this point.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a particular doctor who is detained to attend British prisoners has, through the commandant of the hospital, informed his wife that he is not allowed to write?

I will make inquiries on that point. I have not heard of it.

I sent the letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that in Articles 27 and 28 of the Declaration of London raw cotton wool and yarns of the same are placed upon the free list as not susceptible of use in War, and in view of the. Government having, by proclamation published in the London Gazette of 12th March, placed wool and woollen and worsted yarns on the list of absolute contraband, they intend to extend the list of absolute contraband to raw cotton and yarns of the same; and, if not, whether he can state the reason for this distinction between wool and woollen yarns and cotton and cotton yarns?

After careful consideration it was found that the military advantage to be gained from declaring cotton to be contraband were insufficient to render such a step expedient. The reasons were explained in the reply given to the hon. Member for Nottingham on the 4th February.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will grant the Return standing in the name of the hon. Member for North Somerset. [Return of all Elementary Schools in England and Wales under the various local authorities, which have been before the 1st day of March in this year commandeered by the Military Authorities, showing whether those schools are provided or non-provided, the accommodation and average attendance, the number of days closed to scholars, the estimated loss of grant sustained, and the provisions, if any, made for temporary teaching facilities, in each case.]?

I do not think that I should be justified in granting this Return, which would involve an amount of labour, both for the seriously depleted staff of my Department, and for the Local Education Authorities, out of proportion to its public utility or interest.

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether he is aware that the French Minister of Education has issued a circular to French local authorities urging that the attendance of children at school should be more rigorously observed at the present time than ever; and whether he will inquire, or has already inquired, the grounds upon which our French allies have adopted a policy with regard to education directly the reverse of the policy of His Majesty's Government?

I have seen the circular referred to, dated 5th January, and also a later circular, dated 4th March, which appears to facilitate the exemption of children under twelve from school attendance for agricultural work. The inquiry suggested in the second part of the question would, therefore, be inappropriate.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether local bodies have been warned of the necessary for dealing with overcrowding, want of ventilation, and uncleanliness in areas surrounding London, in view of the existence and possible spread of spotted fever and of the recent Report thereon, of Dr. Newsholme, medical officer to the Local Government Board; and, if not, whether he will now issue a warning letter?

Dr. Newsholme's recent memorandum on cerebro-spinal fever was sent on the 22nd February to the sanitary authorities of all districts in England and Wales, with a circular in which the Local Government Board state that they trust that the council and the medical officer of health will take such steps as may be necessary, on the lines indicated in the memorandum, should any cases of the disease occur in their district. The memorandum states that, in view of the well known association of cerebro-spinal fever with overcrowding, insufficient ventilation and uncleanliness, the avoidance of these conditions becomes a matter of prime importance. A copy of the circular and memorandum were also sent to each medical officer of health.

Has there been any case of spotted fever in the north of London within a radius of ten miles?

Perhaps the hon. Member will give me notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the number of non-commissioned officers or men from the ranks who have received commissions since the beginning of the war; whether these promotions have proved satisfactory; and, if so, whether encouragement will be given to soldiers who have distinguished themelves by increasing the proportion of these promotions?

The total number of combatant commissions given from the ranks since the beginning of the War is 1,546. As far as our information goes, these promotions have proved fairly satisfactory. The Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief has full authority to grant commissions to any serving men.

asked if the authorities at the War Office will carry out the spirit and intention of Lord Kitchener's letter to the soldiers urging upon them strict sobriety and abstinence from intoxicating liquors, by the War Office authorities prohibiting the sale of intoxicants in the Army canteens at home and at the base abroad?

The only intoxicant, of which the sale is permitted in canteens at home, is beer; and it is not the present intention to prohibit its sale. The only beverage sold in the base canteen, which might come under the category of intoxicants, is the light French beer, and I am advised that the intoxicating power of this is very slight.

asked if the authorities at the War Office will treat the conscientious convictions of total abstainers from intoxicating liquors by issuing instructions that abstainers shall not be billeted at public houses, or in some way grant abstainers means or methods of exemption?

In view of military exigencies I regret that no general order can be issued in the sense suggested by the hon. Member. Nearly all troops will shortly be going under canvas, and the question will therefore cease to have significance.

asked the number of Wiltshire recruits transferred to the Leinster Regiment, the 5th Dublin Fusiliers, the 6th Dublin Fusiliers, and the Munster Regiment, respectively?

The number of recruits transferred from Wiltshire to Irish regiments is 1,100.

asked the Under-Secretary for War, precisely what course his Department have decided to take with reference to the inoculation against typhoid fever of the officers and men of His Majesty's land forces?

I have nothing to add to the answers which I gave the hon. Member on the 15th and 22nd of February.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, if House, George, Limited, have a clothing contract with the Government; what is the extent of the same; whether the firm has substantial machinery; and if its premises bear the inscription "George House, 1875"?

This firm has two comparatively small contracts for Army clothing. It has an excellent, though small, clothing factory, with an adequate number of power-driven machines. I am informed that the premises bear the inscription stated in the question.

asked if any firms purporting to be manufacturers of clothing have taken contracts for Army clothing and then passed on the work to other firms connected with the Government by other contracts?

All tenderers for Service dress clothing contracts are now required to give an undertaking that the work will be carried out on their own premises. I am not aware of any cases of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers. The position of Messrs. Glan-field and Son is explained in my answer to the next question.

asked whether a clothing contract has been given to Glanfield and Company; if this firm is a new organisation without machinery; what is the size of this contract; and whether the firm has any connection with Glanfield and Son?

In September last a contract to provide uniforms of an emergency pattern was made with Messrs. G. Glanfield and Son, who have long been important contractors for Army clothing. The intention was that they should create and organise new sources of supply from firms with which the War Office was not then in a position to deal directly. Subsequently, in order to avoid confusion in correspondence and simplify the task of organisation, a new firm, Robert Glanfield and Company, was formed for the purposes of this arrangement, but the constituent partners of both firms are the same. The order in question covered the supply of 1,000,000 suits of uniform and 1,000,000 greatcoats.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what date the normal financial provision ceased to be made for land purchase in Ireland; if not now wholly stopped, what provision is available; whether cash or stock; at what rate of progress and to what amount land purchase may continue; and whether he has ascertained the amount required to finance existing purchase agreements which await only the advance to the vendor and the vesting in the purchaser?

The financial provision for Irish Land Purchase has not yet been curtailed, and advances are being made both in cash and in stock as required.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the year in which the purchase agreements were signed in the case of the latest estate dealt with this year by advance of price and vesting of holdings in each of the three categories into which the Estates Commissioners have divided for the purposes of priority estates before them for sale?

The years are 1907 in the case of Estates on the Principal Register of Direct Sales (all cash), and 1908 in respect of cases on the Subsidiary Registers (part money, part stock) and (all stock).

asked how many purchase agreements, including consents to purchase on estates for sale to the Estates Commissioners, awaited completion in the hands of the Commissioners on 31st March, 1915, and the approximate amount of cash and stock that would be required to complete them all; and what those quasi-purchasers and tenants who have got no offer of sale, respectively, are to understand is the prospect for completion of land purchase?

On the 31st March last there were 77,441 agreements in direct sales lodged, in which the purchase money thereof had not yet been advanced under the Land Purchase Acts, made up as follows:—

All cash	£17,750,183
Half stock, half cash	1,844,425
All stock (2¾ per cent.)	286,143
All Stock (3 per cent.)	1,947,621

and proceedings were pending on that date for sale to the Estates Commissioners of lands representing approximately 3,120 holdings, and an estimated purchase money of £875,652, of which £369,463 would be payable in cash and the balance in 3 per cent. stock. With regard to the last part of the question, I cannot give the hon. Member further information than that sales pending under the Land Purchase Acts are dealt with in accordance with the Priority Regulations made under Section 23 (8) of the Act of 1903 and Section 4 of the Act of 1909.

Is Land Purchase being financed as required by the Estates Commissioners?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has answered that. Up to the present no difference whatsoever has been made in the financial arrangements of the Land Purchase Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, in regard to the Reeves estate, West Clare, the Congested Districts Board has for some years suspended operations, although but little has remained to dispose of the whole business; and whether steps will be taken to deal with this property without further delay?

The Congested Districts Board are proceeding with the sale of this estate to the tenants, and some sale agreements have recently been signed. All delay will be avoided as far as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in West Clare discontent is general with regard to the operations of the Congested Districts Board, and what land is with held from cultivation which, if handed over to the tenants, might produce cereals sufficient to alleviate the distress which is being felt among the agricultural classes there; and whether he will bring to a conclusion the negotiations with regard to the Treanmana farm of the estate of the late General Kelly-Kenny, and settle the tenants on the land?

As was stated by my right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, in answer to my hon. Friend's question of the 18th February last, we are aware that there is in West Clare and elsewhere a strong desire that the work of the Congested Districts Board should proceed at a quicker pace than present financial conditions allow, but in the face of those conditions I am satisfied that there is no avoidable delay in the Board's operations. The estate, to which my hon. Friend calls special attention is not yet vested in the Board and they cannot, therefore, proceed with the work of rearrangement and redistribution.

When will it be vested?

I cannot answer that.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that at St. George's secondary school, Bristol, parents are required to sign an undertaking to pay £3 if their children are withdrawn before the completion of three years' instruction; that these fines are often arbitrarily imposed and sometimes preferentially remitted, and that thereby discontent and lack of confidence in the managers arise; whether this system of fines is sanctioned by the Board of Education; and whether an inspector of the Board will be instructed to inquire and report on this matter?

I am aware of the requirement referred to, which is for four years, and not for three, as stated. The matter is within the discretion of the local education authority and, in so far as the practice tends to increase the duration of school life and to prevent capricious withdrawals, the Board have no objection to it in principle. The Board's inspector has recently reported on the working of the system and it appears from his report that the payment is rarely enforced. I have no reason to think that the administration of the authority in this respect is arbitrary or unfair, or that any occasion has arisen for my intervention.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the proposal to erect a new non-provided school at Westfield, Somerset, and that 90 per cent. of the householders have petitioned against it and desire a school to be provided by the local education authority; whether a public inquiry is to be held; and whether, before sanctioning the proposed non-provided school, he will receive a deputation on the subject?

An appeal has been received against the proposed school and has been forwarded to the promoters for their observations. There is also a proposal by the local education authority for a new council school. Both proposals will in due course receive careful consideration. It would not be in accordance with the Board's practice to receive deputations in cases of this kind; a public inquiry will be held if it appears desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will grant the Return standing in the name of the hon. Member for East Aberdeenshire? [Address for Return of all Counties and County Boroughs with a population of over 100,000, showing, respectively, the number of cases in which, during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1914, under the compensation provisions of the Licensing Act of 1904, charges on the maximum scale of not less than half of the maximum scale, and of not less than one quarter of the maximum scale, have been imposed, and showing the number of cases in which it has been certified to the Secretary of State, as provided by the Act, that it was unnecessary to impose any charge for the purposes of compensation under the Act.]

I do not think I should be justified in issuing the special Return asked for by my hon. Friend. The information asked for is contained in the annual volumes of licensing statistics. The volume for 1914 is in preparation, and will be issued as soon as possible.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in determining the value of the annual income derived from tithe rent-charge under The Welsh Church Act, 1914, Schedule IV. (4), the septennial average will be taken as the average operating on 1st January, 1913, or as the average operating at some later date; and, if as at a later date, what date will be applicable?

By Schedule IV. the value of the tithe rent-charge will be based on the septennial average in force at the date of disestablishment.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has noted the varying interpretations, given officially, of the effect of Schedue IV. of The Welsh Church Act, 1914, in calculating the value of the existing interest of the holder of an ecclesiastical office affected by the said Act; and whether he can state on behalf of the Government upon what principle the calculation of the value of life interest will proceed?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I assume my hon. Friend refers to a question which he put to me on the 15th of March and which was misinterpreted by the Welsh Chuch Commissioners. The first answer I gave to this question was based on this misinterpretation and was inaccurate. I qualified my answer on the same day. The Act provides that the interests to be commuted shall be the interests as on the 1st of January, 1913, but that the value of tithe shall be taken to be the value on the date of disestablishment.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the total amount of grass land now held and used by the Congested Districts Board, with the number of cattle and sheep fed upon it; when the Board began this kind of farming; whether they have withheld from the congested people during all that time land which Parliament created the Board to distribute; by what method the Board secure the public interest in the buying and selling of stock; and, seeing that relatives of certain members of the Board are engaged in this traffic, and that there is no known purpose but their benefit for retaining the land for years, whether he will have the Board's accounts submitted, to a competent and impartial committee of inquiry?

On 1st November, 1914, the Congested Districts Board had Jon hand about 130,000 acres of untenanted grass lands, and during the year ended on that date the Board had grazing on those lands 26,099 cattle, 8,692 sheep, and 2,484 horses, which were nearly all owned by small landholders in their neighbourhood. The Board have been thus using untenanted lands from the date of their first purchases, finding this the most advantageous employment of these lands pending their distribution which is arranged for as quickly as the Board's resources allow, but which can only be satisfactorily carried out when large areas are available to which tenants from congested estates can be gradually migrated. The Board's own stock (which in November last consisted of 379 cattle and 9,573 sheep) are bought and sold at public fairs. So far as the Board are aware, no relatives of any of their members are engaged in buying or selling their stock or in any way in connection with the rearrangement of grass land in hand. Careful accounts are kept for all farms and are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

I beg, in accordance with private notice, to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to give the House any further information as to the postponement of the Imperial Conference?

If the House will permit me, I will state exactly what has happened in relation to this matter. After war had broken out His Majesty's Government assumed that it would not be for the convenience of any of the parties that the normal Conference should meet on its due date, which was May of this year; but no communications on the matter passed between us and the Dominion Governments. Early in December last I was made aware privately that Mr. Fisher, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, was in favour of the meeting of the Imperial Conference during and in spite of the War. I communicated this fact, also privately, by telegraph to the Prime Ministers of all the other Dominions, and they unanimously agreed with us that the holding of a normal Conference this year during hostilities would be difficult, if not impossible. In two cases at least it was said that the attendance of Ministers was impracticable. I then informed the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth that in view of the practical unanimity of opinion, we hoped he would recognise its force, and he replied that he had no wish to press the matter.

A few days ago Mr. Fisher was reported in the Press as saying with reference to the Imperial Conference:—

"What the British Government considers to be the correct thing is good enough for my Government. That is all I have to say."

And in a private letter to me, dated 15th February, he wrote:—

"I cheerfully fall in with the decision not to hold the Imperial Conference this year, though I have not been able to convince myself that the reasons given for postponement were sufficient. However, we have a policy for this trouble that gets over all difficulties. When the King's business will not tit in with our ideas, we do not press them."—

An admirable example of the spirit in which the Dominions deal with Imperial affairs during the War.

In all these communications I have referred only to what I have carefully called the normal Conference, by which I mean a full Conference with all the paraphernalia of miscellaneous resolutions, protracted sittings, shorthand reports and resulting Blue Books. This is the sort of Conference which we thought unsuited to present conditions, but in January, when intimating its postponement to the various Dominions, I telegraphed to each of the Governors-General:—

"Will you at the same time inform your Prime Minister that it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to consult him most fully and, if possible, personally, when the time arrives to discuss possible terms of peace."

I need hardly add that His Majesty's Government intend to observe the spirit as well as the letter of this declaration, which I believe has given complete satisfaction to the Governments of the Dominions, and I have exceeded the ordinary limits of an answer to a question in order that the position as regards the Imperial Conference may be as plain to the public as it is to those Governments.

I beg to ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty a question of which I have given private notice, namely, whether he has received any account of the explosion at Lerwick, and the lamentable loss of life which is reported?

I have seen a newspaper statement. Beyond that I have no information, but I will at once inquire.

May I repeat the question to-morrow.

Yes.

I have to inform the House that I have received a letter from the Serjeant-at-Arms attending this House, which I propose to read. It is dated 13th April, 1915:—

I am sure the House has heard with general and sincere regret, the letter which you, Sir, have just read, and on Tuesday next I will move a Resolution.