asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of barrels of beer at the standard gravity charged with duty in England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, in the months of February and March, 1914, and February and March, 1915, giving the months separately?

submitted the following figures:—

—		February, 1914.	March, 1914.	February, 1915.	March, 1915.
England	…	2,107,657	2,453,605	1,613,116	2,011,547
Scotland	…	142,875	159,559	96,899	125,281
Ireland	…	281,187	325,063	265,184	312,977
United Kingdom	…	2,531,719	2,938,227	1,975,199	2,449,805

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 1,100 men from the Land Valuation Department of the Inland Revenue who are serving in the Army enlisted without permission; whether the salaries of those who enlisted without permission are paid by the Department; and whether they will be restored to their former employment after the War.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave this afternoon in answer to a question on the same subject by the hon. Member for Haggerston, and of which I enclose a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the staff

The strength of the temporary valuation staff is necessarily related to the stage that has been reached in the work for which that staff was engaged. The Board of Inland Revenue anticipate that the valuations for the purpose of the original valuation under Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, will be made by the end of June next, subject to the considerations mentioned in my answer of the 4th ultimo to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hanley. It follows that the continuedmaintenance, at anything like the present level, of the number of temporary valuers and clerks employed on a monthly engagement for the purpose of assisting in the original valuation will not be necessary, and during the year ended 31st March, 1916, upwards of 1,700 discharges fall to be made. The number of officers of the Valuation Office who could be permitted to join His Majesty's Forces has had to be fixed with due regard to the progress of the original valuation, the concluding stages of which would have been indefinitely postponed if unlimited depletion of the staff had been authorised. There is, of course, and can be, no restriction upon the liberty of any member of the temporary staff to anticipate the date when his services will no longer be needed by the Board of Inland Revenue and to enlist, if he so desires, in His Majesty's Forces; and the Board would not, in such circumstances, require in individual cases the full month's notice which under his contract the valuer or clerk would strictly be bound to give. The number of gentlemen formerly in the Valuation Office who have left the service of the Board by joining without permission His Majesty's Forces is 171, of whom all except one were at the time employed on a monthly basis; these gentlemen fall outside the scope of the Treasury Regulations, which apply only in cases where permission has been given. The Board, however, under the authority of the Treasury Regulations have on their books the salaries of the members of the Valuation Office who have joined His Majesty's Forces with the concurrence of the Board, which carries with it the prospect of re-engagement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to provide for the return to the representatives of any articled clerk who, before the termination of his articles, has lost his life while serving with His Majesty's Forces of the £80 stamp duty paid in respect of such articles?

I have authorised the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to refund the equivalent of the duty in these cases on the application of the representatives of the parties concerned.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is yet in a position to intimate his decison in regard to increase of wages for pensioner messengers; is he aware that his predecessor committed himself to an increase in November last, and, in view of that fact, will the increase be made retrospective; and if he is in a position to state whether the position of the lowest-paid Government workers, such as lower division clerks, port watchers, etc., has been considered with a view to increasing their pay corresponding to increases given recently to the workers in the Government factories or to giving bonuses during the War?

It has been decided that as from the 1st instant the pay of pensioner messengers employed in the public service shall be raised for the class as a whole from £1 1s. a week to £1 4s. a week, and for the higher grade, to be limited in number to 25 per cent. of the total number employed in a single department, from £1 4s. a week to a scale of £1 4s. a week rising by annual increments of 1s. a week to £1 7s. 6d. a week. The Government are not prepared to grant a war increase of pay to clerical classes and Government servants in general. If heads of Departments desire to make any representations in favour of any of the lowest paid classes of workmen in their employ based on comparison with outside rates of wages for similar work, the Treasury is ready to consider such representations on their merits.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the number of proof gallons of British and foreign spirits cleared from bond from 1st August, 1914, to 1st March, 1915, and from 1st August, 1913, to 1st March, 1914; and whether he can also give the number of barrels of beer for the same period?

The number of proof gallons of spirits has increased in the second period named from 19,997,000 to 20,049,000, or by 53,000 proof gallons. The number of barrels of beer has decreased from 20,702,000 to 17,859,000, or by 2,843,000 barrels. I will circulate rather fuller figures with the Votes.

—		1st August, 1914 to 1st March, 1915.	1st August, 1913 to 1st March, 1914.
Spirits:		Pf. Gallons.	Pf. Gallons.
Home-made	…	*15,978,000	16,282,000
Imported	…	4,071,000	3,715,000
Total	…	20,049,000	19,997,000
Beer:		Barrels.	Barrels.
Home-made	…	17,844,000	20,862,000
Imported	…	15,000	40,000
Total	…	17,859,000	20,702,000
*Approximate.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of vessels of the Allies and neutral Powers which have been sunk, chased, or stopped by German submarines off Beachy Head since 1st February?

No, Sir; it is not desirable to give information on this subject. All the results of the submarine attacks on British and neutral merchant ships are carefully examined, and the necessary directions to the mercantile marine are given by the Admiralty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the fact that a number of honours have already been distributed, whether he can state what honours or promotions have been awarded up to 15th April to the engineer officers who were mentioned in dispatches for the three naval battles which have been fought in the War?

Engineer - Lieutenant-Commander Edward H. T. Meeson, of the "Laurel," was awarded the D.S.O. for service in the action of the 28th August, 1914. Engineer-Commander D. P. Green was promoted to Engineer-Captain for services in the "Lion" in the action of the 24th January, 1915. The following officers have been noted for early promotion:—Engineer - Lieutenant-Commanders A. Hill, His Majesty's ship "Laertes"; F. A. Butler, His Majesty's ship "Liberty"; G. Preece, His Majesty's ship "Lion"; J. F. Shaw, His Majesty's ship "Invincible"; E. H. T. Meeson, His Majesty's ship "Laurel."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that a man who has been legally judged the father of an illegitimate child and condemned to pay aliment, has escaped his liability by joining the Navy; whether, in view of the fact that the War Office in like cases have power to deduct and do deduct monthly a certain amount from a soldier's pay and remit to the mother, he will ascertain whether the power of the Admiralty is equal to that of the War Office in the administration of justice and upholding the decisions of Courts of law; and, if not, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I am not aware of any specific case similar to that to which the hon. Member alludes. As regards the power of making compulsory stoppages from the pay of sailors for the purpose suggested, the Admiralty can only obtain powers similar to those of the War Office by means of legislation, and as in the majority of cases which occur in the Navy it is found possible to persuade men to accept their liabilities voluntarily, I am not at present prepared to ask for legislative powers.

asked whether the Admiralty will make a statement with regard to the distribution of prize money; and whether it is proposed to treat men who served through the whole of the War on the same terms as those who may join within a few weeks of its close?

The question continues to receive the close attention of the Government, but I am afraid that I am not yet in a position to add to the statement which I made to the House on the subject on 16th February last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether medical officers who have withdrawn from the Service previous to the War and had received a gratuity on the scale laid down in the regulations now have deductions made on their pay as representing interest on the amount of such gratuity; and whether, in the absence of any authority for the making of such deductions, he will give instructions that all such officers are to receive their pay in full?

It is a long established rule in the Navy that an officer in receipt of an annual retiring allowance should cease to draw that allowance on becoming entitled to full pay, etc., during re-employment, whether in peace or war. The same principle is applied to officers who received their retiring or withdrawing allowance in a lump sum, and an amount representing the annual value of this gratuity is accordingly abated from their active service emoluments.

asked whether the shipowners whose vessels are in the employ of the Transport Department have succeeded in obtaining an advance in the price paid for their ships beyond the original determination; whether the first award was given by Lord Inchcape on the understanding that it should not be regarded as a minimum on which to build further claims; whether the Arbitration Committee appointed to adjust prices paid to shipowners consists almost entirely of shipowners; whether there is anything to justify these fresh demands other than the freightage ruling in the open market; and whether all the facts in regard to these negotiations will be supplied to the House?

As indicated in reply to my hon. Friend's question of the 18th February last, shipowners have not obtained an advance in the price paid for their ships beyond the original determination, except owners of oil tankers and tramp steamers, who have asked for higher rates to meet altered circumstances since 1st January. These requests have received the careful consideration of the Board of Admiralty, and a fresh agreement has been arrived at with the general body of these owners for moderate increases in rate, to date from 1st January; but it has also been stipulated that these rates shall obtain for all requistioned steamers during the period of the War. These agreements were made with representative committees of the shipowners concerned, and have since been confirmed individually by the large majority of the owners. A certain section of the Glasgow-shipowners have up to the present not signified their concurrence. Rates for certain smaller steamers not covered by these agreements are now under discussion. The increases granted may be summarised roughly as follows:—In the case of tramp steamers, the increase asked for was 33 per cent.; the increase granted, 16 per cent. Tank steamers asked for from 11 per cent. to 39 per cent. according to size; granted, from 8 per cent to 22 per cent. These settlements are very favourable to the Government when compared with the rates ruling in the market. After the expiry of a short period certain, the Admiralty will have in all cases the right to discharge the vessels on giving notice varying from a fortnight to six weeks, according to the type of steamer; whereas, in the market, time charters are readily obtainable for six, eight, or nine months at rates varying from 50 to 70 per cent. higher than the Admiralty rate. I should say that shipowners in general have throughout these negotiations approached the matter in a reasonable spirit and with real regard to the special conditions created by the present emergency.Lord Inchcape was Chairman of certain Sub-Committees of the Arbitration Board which, on 22nd October last, reported to Lord Mersey, President of the Admiralty Transport Board of Arbitration, for his information and advice, the basis, general scale or rate at which payment to owners of ships requisitioned for Government service should be assessed. In forwarding these, recommendations to the President, Lord Inchcape stated that he trusted that the shipwoners would not look upon the rates as a minimum on which increases might be built. The Board of Arbitration consists of seventeen panels, namely, Government nominees, shipowners (four panels representing different types of steamers), cargo owners, bankers, underwriters, marine insurance companies, insurance brokers, average adjusters, and five panels representative of officers, engineers, seamen, firemen, and stewards of the mercantile marine. The Sub-Committees alluded to above were drawn from these panels, including in each case a Government representative. The increases lately granted are, it is considered, justified on the ground of the very much increased running expenses, especially the enhanced cost of stores, repairs (including the abnormal delay in effecting them), and, in the majority of vessels, of provisions. It is not considered desirable in the public interest to publish the detailed proceedings of the meetings between the representative committees and the Admiralty. With this exception, the course of the negotiations has been fully reported in the public Press.

asked if any naval action has taken place recently in the neighbourhood of the Norwegian coasts?

No, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can make any statement as to the position of affairs at the Dardanelles?

I have no further statement to make at present.

asked what was the consumption of rum in the Navy in 1914, and the average age of such rum?

The figures for the year 1914 are not complete, but during the year ending 1st July, 1914, the quantity of rum issued in the Navy was 421,230 gallons. The average age of the rum on issue is, so far as can be calculated, about eighteen months.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can grant to those dockyard employés who had three months' service at Invergordon previous to Christmas, 1914, the same privileges as to railway passes as was granted to the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Naval Division—that is to say, free passes?

Instructions have been issued to the dockyards and to the senior naval officers of the distant places at which dockyard men are employed away from their homes, to the effect that men who have served away from their homes for three months may be given railway passes when it is convenient to grant them leave for the purpose of visiting their homes.

asked if it has been decided to accede to the petition of the established and hired blockmakers, Portsmouth Dockyard, as regards increase of wages and the increase of establishment from six to nine?

The wages of the blockmakers employed at Portsmouth Dockyard have been increased by the amount of the war increase awarded by the Committee on Production in Engineering and Shipbuilding Establishments as from 28th March. No further advance to this class is in immediate contemplation. The numbers to be allowed on the established list are being considered in connection with the general question of distribution of established numbers for all classes employed in the dockyard.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can give the probable date at which the reply to the annual petition of the employés of the Director of Works Department, Portsmouth Dockyard, presented last May, may be expected?

The replies to these petitions, excepting a few minor questions which still remain to be settled, were issued to Portsmouth and other yards on the 5th instant.

asked if the recent increase in wages to joiners employed under the Director of Works will also be given to bricklayers employed in the same department?

The case of the bricklayers employed in the Director of Works Department was considered with those of the other classes of dockyard employés, but having regard to all the circumstances, it is not considered that any increase in the rates for this class is warranted at present. These bricklayers are, however, participating in the recent general emergency advance of 3s. a week to mechanics.

asked whether the Admiralty are going to review the subsistence allowance allowed to workmen who are called upon temporarily to work outside the Home yards, in order that the allowance should be the same to skilled and ordinary labourers as that allowed to mechanics?

The rate of subsistence allowance payable in such cases is dependent upon the rate of pay, all men whose day pay exceeds £100 a year being granted 7s. 6d. for the first fourteen nights and 5s. a night thereafter, and those on a lower scale of pay corresponding payments of 5s. and 3s. 4d. a night. This rate is payable for seven days a week, and is considered to be sufficient to cover all the necessary expenses for board and lodging which it is intended to meet.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he will state who are the members of Mr. Booth's Committee and what are their individual qualifications for dealing with matters relating to skilled labour and munitions of war?

The members are:—Field-Marshal the Earl Kitchener, Secretary of State for War.Major-General Sir Stanley B. von Donop, Master-General of the Ordnance.Sir Herbert A. Walker, Chairman of the Railways Executive Committee.Sir Algernon Firth, President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce.George M. Booth, Esq.Allan M. Smith, Esq., M.A., LL.B., Secretary of the Engineering Employers' Federation.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he can state the number of recruits who have enlisted from England and Scotland, respectively, since the beginning of the War?

The policy with regard to giving information of this kind has not been changed, and I am unable to give the figures for which my hon. Friend asks.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Committee appointed by the War Office and the Admiralty to consider the petitions presented by the crews of War Department vessels in September, 1911, have issued their Report; and, if so, will the men concerned be informed of the results of the committee's deliberations in the same manner as that adopted by the Admiralty?

The Committee referred to duly reported, but other questions arose which involved a further inquiry by the Admiralty. The proposals resulting from this inquiry have only recently come into force. In the meantime steps were taken to give a considerable temporary increase to the wages of War Department crews. Now that the Admiralty inquiry is complete the question of its application to War Department employés is under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what were the numbers of directing staff and subordinate staff serving on 1st August, 1914, and 1st March, 1915, at Dover, Hamilton, and Hounslow, respectively.

The numbers serving in the pay offices referred to by the hon. Member on the 1st August, 1914, and 1st March, 1915, are as follows:—

—		Directing Stuff.	Sub-ordinate Staff.
Dover	1st August, 1914.	4	35
	1st March, 1915.	8	231
Hamilton	1st August, 1914.	4	26
	1st March, 1915.	19	254
Hounslow	1st August, 1914.	6	38
	1st March, 1915.	31	521

All pay offices are now in course of inspection by the Inspector of Pay Offices, and any undue disproportion of staff will be remedied. Dover and Hamilton have not yet been visited.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will state, in regard to the three vessels employed in the examination service of the River Tyne, the "Southern Prince," the "Ben Arthur," and the "Great Emperor." what was the original cost of each of these vessels; what, is the present monthly rate of hire paid by the War Office; what is the total amount of hire earned by each vessel up to date and the name of the owner of each vessel; and whether he can say if any modification has yet been made in the terms upon which these vessels are hired by the War Office so as to reduce the disparity of cost as compared with similar vessels requisitioned by the Admiralty?

The information asked for by the hon. Member may be summarised as follows:—

—		Original Cost.	Present Monthly Rate of Hire.	Total Amount earned by each Vessel.	Name of Owner.
		£	£	£
"Southern Prince"	…	7,200	500	2,568	The Prince Fishing Co., Ltd., Union Road, North Shields.
"Ben Arthur"	…	7,000	500	2,568	Richard Irwin and Sons, Ltd., Union Road, North Shields.
"Great Emperor"	…	8,000	510	6,422	The John Dry Steam Tugs, Ltd., Mill Dam, South Shields.

The rate of hire of the "Great Emperor" is being reduced to £450 per month from the 22nd instant, and that of the other two vessels has been reduced considerably since they were first hired. As the hon. Member has recently been informed by letter, it is impossible, with any degree of accuracy, to compare the cost of hiring these trawlers with the cost of similar vessels requisitioned by the Admiralty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to the case of Colonel C. W. Hemans, who is 66 years of age and crippled with gout, and is kept a prisoner at Nauheim; and if he will consider the possibility of arranging for his exchange?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I would refer the hon. Member to White Paper, Miscellaneous, No. 8, which shows what action has been taken to endeavour to secure the release of Colonel Hemans and the other invalid British retired officers now in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any official information showing that the repairs to the "Prinz Eitel Fried-rich" included the use of the port for

Article 17, of the 13th Hague Convention of 1907, reads:—

"In neutral ports and roadsteads belligerent warships may only carry out such repairs as are absolutely necessary to render them seaworthy, and may not add in any manner whatever to their fighting force. The local authorities of the neutral Power shall decide what repairs are necessary, and these must be carried out with the least possible delay."

The German auxiliary cruiser "Prinz Eitel Friedrich" before her internment, had her bottom cleaned and coated with non-fouling composition while in dry dock at Newport News, thus considerably increasing her speed. His Majesty's Government protested on the ground that the increase to her speed (or radius of action, as the case might be) was an increase to her fighting force such as the above quoted article forbids. The United States Government refuse to admit this, considering that any damage sustained from the action of the sea and not inflicted by the enemy may be made good. They also called attention to the provision that the local authorities of the neutral Power shall decide what repairs are necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the exact steps which have been taken to prevent the importation of cotton into Germany and Austria?

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Ealing to-day, every effort is being made, in accordance with the terms of the Order in Council of 11th March, to prevent any seaborne commodities of all kinds from reaching the enemy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will state the method in his Department for the purchase of timber for the use of the Indian Government; whether the purchases are made through a broker and, if so, on what terms, or whether by a permanent officer of the Department and, if so, on what basis of remuneration; and what has been the amount of such purchases since the War compared with previous years?

Timber obtained in this country for the use of the Government of India is purchased by inviting tenders from the trade. Contracts are arranged on behalf of the Secretary of State in Council by the Director-General of the Stores Department of the India Office as part of his ordinary duties. He is a permanent official on a fixed salary. Since the beginning of the War the amount of such purchases is £5,851 16s. In the corresponding period of the year 1913–14 it was £5,512 17s. 11d., and of 1912–13 £6,068 3s. 4d.

asked whether the Government of India has to some and, if so, to what extent prohibited the export of wheat; whether such action has had the result of reducing the price at which the poor can purchase that product in India; and what are the arrangements made for financing exports by the Government of India of this commodity?

The Government of India have prohibited the export of wheat from India on private account up to 31st March next, and has arranged to buy and ship wheat on Government account for sale in this country. Their action has been followed by a fall in the price of wheat in India. The arrangements for financing the scheme are under consideration.

asked whether the Indian Government are using a number of detained German steamers in commercial trading and, at the same time, requisitioning in India for Government service cargo liners usually employed in the trade between India and this country, thereby causing delay to cargo and increased charges to merchants, who have to rearrange their freight engagements which result in an increased cost of goods to the consumers in this country; and whether the Indian Government can see its way to use detained steamers for Government work and allow cargo liners as far as possible to do their usual business?

The Secretary of State is without precise information on the matter, but understands that the Indian Government has on occasions used detained enemy ships for military work and on other occasions has allowed them to be chartered for the conveyance of Indian merchandise to this country. In thus disposing of the vessels the Indian Government would seem to have been guided partly by the relative urgency at the moment of military requirements and of the requirements of Indian commerce—partly by the greater suitability of a vessel for one purpose than for the other. Some of these ships may in the near future be used for the carriage of Indian wheat under the Indian Government purchase scheme.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether a charge of 3d. or 6d., according to the weight, is made by the Indian postal authorities for readdressing parcels from the General Post Office, Bombay, to Territorial troops stationed in India; and, if so, whether he can arrange for such parcels to be readdressed free of extra charge?

The Secretary of State is making inquiries of the Government of India on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary when the Committee appointed to deal with the question of the output of coal and the organisation of the coal industry during the War will issue its Report; and whether the Committee has taken evidence in regard to the coal industry in Scotland?

I am informed that the Committee, which is holding constant meetings, hopes to present its Report in a few weeks' time. It has taken and is taking evidence in regard to the industry in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the particulars regarding the output of coal contained in the returns received by the Board of Trade from the colliery owners and coal merchants throughout the country; and if he can state what was the output of coal during each month since the outbreak of war as compared with the output for the corresponding month of the previous year, or, if the figures cannot be given for each month, for the period since the outbreak of war as compared I with the corresponding period during the previous year?

It is proposed to include in the forthcoming volume of evidence taken by the Committee on Retail Coal Prices a general summary of the particulars ascertained by the Board of Trade with regard to the output of coal in February, and similar summaries will be prepared and published for later months. For February and March the approximate total output was as follows:—

—			1915.	1914.	Decrease in 1915.
			Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Per cent.
February	…	…	20,700,000	28,500,000	2,800,000	11.9
March	…	…	23,000,000	25,800,000	2,800,000	10.8

These figures include estimates in respect of the output at a few collieries for which returns have not come to hand.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Committee appointed to advise on the evidence collected on behalf of the Government as to outrages by German troops, cases of maltreatment of civilians and breaches of the laws of war, has yet made its Report; and, if so, when it will be available to Members of this House?

I understand that the Committee will be able to report in a day or two. The Report will be published as soon as possible, but I am not in a position to name a date on which it will be available.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give a Return to the House of Commons of the number of naturalised Germans and Austrians on the voting registers for Parliament throughout the country and who are at present entitled to vote at the General Election, in view of the fact that their names are put on the registers by the overseers without any inquiry?

I regret that it is not possible to give such a Return.

asked the Postmaster-General how many postal sorters in London have temporarily left the postal service for naval and military work; and how many temporary sorters have been engaged to take their places?

1,648 sorters have been withdrawn for military and naval service, and 1,446 temporary sorters have been engaged to take their places.

asked the Postmaster General whether he is now in a position to make a statement concerning the War bonus for postal employés?

The Government I have given very careful consideration to the request of the National Joint Committee of Postal and Telegraph Associations that a war bonus should be granted to postal employés with salaries below £210 per annum in order to meet the abnormal cost of living produced by the War. The Government have decided that the rise in the cost of living is not by itself a sufficient reason, at the present time, for increasing the wages of their employés. They regard this rise as a burden which must be shared in common by all classes in the country. Compliance with this request from postal servants would entail corresponding grants to all Civil servants of a similar status and would therefore impose, at a time of great financial pressure, a charge so great upon the Exchequer that the Government do not consider they would be justified in doing it.

asked the Solicitor-General why the French official communiqué issued on Friday, the 9th April, was censored and several words eliminated; and what is the object of depriving the British public of information which is open to the whole of the rest of the world?

asked the Solicitor-General if the French official reports of the fighting in France are subjected to censorship in this country, and if portions of these reports have been struck out by the Censor; and, if so, on what grounds this has been done, seeing that they have already been published in extenso in France and the information contained in them is common property?

Every document describing the movement of the British Forces is liable to censorship. On Friday, 9th April, the following four words, "Between Kemmel and Wulverg-hen," were excised from the French official communiqué of that date. Upon the information then received, which information has been subsequently confirmed, it was believed that the reference to this area was due to a mistake, and the words were therefore omitted. It is not safe to assume that information published in France reaches German headquarters as quickly as information published here. Consequently, there may be rare occasions when it is in the public interest to omit a statement relating to British troops contained in a French official document.

asked the Solicitor-General whether he has forbidden the publication of the Dutch protest in connection with the British Order in Council of 15th March which has appeared in the Dutch and German papers; and whether he will now permit it to appear?

I have only found two cables dealing with this matter: they were both passed.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade which trades, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, can be rightly placed in the category of trades directly supplying war demands?

In view of the immense variety of articles required for war purposes, nearly every important trade must be regarded as supplying war demands to a greater or a less extent.

asked the hon. Member for the Saffron Walden Division, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, how many of the staff of the Department have enlisted in the Anti-Aircraft Force; how many of these men have been withdrawn from their departmental work during official hours by reason of their duties in the Aircraft Force, and for what periods; and whether a sum of 7s. weekly or what sum has been deducted by the Department from the salaries of these persons, whether or not any official time has been lost by them?

One hundred and thirty-four members of the Office of Works staff are serving in the Anti-aircraft Corps. They are regarded as being primarily at the disposal of the Admiralty, but, as their duties have to be performed almost entirely at night, there has, in fact, been little interference with their civil duties. The sum of 7s. weekly has been deducted from their civil salaries, but the question what the deduction should be in future is receiving further consideration in view of changes recently made in the duties of the force.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, as regards insurance under the National Health Insurance Act, any distinction is drawn between criers of the Supreme Court and criers or tipstaves of the judges of the High Court; if the latter officials are insured, and if the Treasury pays the employer's contribution in these cases; and, if there be any distinction between criers or tipstaves of the judges of the High Court and the crier of the Recorder's Court in Belfast, will he state the grounds for such distinction and why the Treasury pays in the one case and seeks to make the Recorder of Belfast personally liable in the other case?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Criers of the Supreme Court and criers of the High Court in Ireland are pensionable officers paid out of public funds and not liable to be insured under the National Health Insurance Acts. Tipstaves, on the other hand, and criers of County Courts, including the Recorder's Court at Belfast, are not pensionable officers and are insurable persons; and the employer is responsible for the employer's contribution in respect of them. In the case of the tipstaves, whose salaries are paid out of public funds, the employer's contribution is properly borne on the Vote for the Supreme Court of Judicature and other legal departments in Ireland In the case of County Court criers, however, who are not paid from public funds, the Irish Insurance Commissioners are of opinion that the County Court judge is the employer and accordingly liable for the contribution. This view is disputed by the Recorder at Belfast, but as he has taken no steps to submit the matter formally to the Commissioners, from whose decision it would be open to him to appeal to the County Court and ultimately to the High Court, the Commissioners must press for compliance with their interpretation of the provisions of the Acts.