asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government has any knowledge of Mr. Booth, a Seventh-Day Adventist missionary, whose influence among the natives of Nyasaland is believed to have played a large part in the recent rising; and whether any means can be adopted of preventing this person and his American negro supporters from propagating their doctrines in this British Protectorate?

The matter has come under notice, and attention is being paid to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will consider the advisability of publishing as a Parliamentary Paper the Report on the outbreak of the rebellion and the policy of the Government with reference to its suppression issued by the Government of the Union of South Africa?

The Report has already been presented as Command Paper 7874.

asked the hon. Member for the Saffron Walden Division, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if a contract has recently been given to the Union Cable Company, Limited; and, if so, will he state what are the names of the directors and who is the principal shareholder?

Yes, Sir. The principal holding is in German hands. The managing director is an Englishman, the other four directors are German. The action of the Office of Works in this matter is in accordance with the policy laid down for them, in common with other Departments, by His Majesty's Government in the Trading with the Enemy Act.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the directors are Bernard Hirsch-man, Siegfried Hirschman, Julius Hirschman, and Moritz Kreemar, and that the Deutsche Kabelwerke Allgemeine Gessellschaft of Berlin holds 48,218 shares out of a total of 50,000?

The hon. Member is asking for a number of details.

May I draw your attention, Sir, to the fact that in my question I asked for the names of the directors, but the hon. Member has declined to give them because they are German?

The hon. Member appears to know them.

I made a search in Somerset House and I want to know if the Office of Works are aware of this, and I think I am entitled to ask that?

In my reply I distinctly stated that the managing director is an Englishman, Mr. Blackwood, and the other four directors are Germans. I should have been very much surprised if they had English names, being Germans. The works are in Essex, a number of English people are employed, and not a penny of any kind goes to Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that for every year of war during which the price of the grains, upon which the value of tithe rent-charge depends, exceeds the normal by only 35 per cent. the Church of England will secure a profit, spread over a series of years, exceeding £1,000,000 in the aggregate; and whether he will introduce legislation which, while giving reasonable satisfaction to the expectations of the Church, will relieve her from the odium I of having a direct financial interest in the continuance of the War or in the sinking of grain vessels by pirates?

I am afraid I cannot add anything to the answer which I gave my hon. Friend on this subject last week. The information necessary to enable me to verify his estimate is not available. It is not proposed to introduce legislation on the subject.

May I ask, as a disinterested person, what the loss has been to the Church of England since tithe rent-charge was first established on its present basis?

I have no means of answering that question either.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a number of police constables, not being naval or military Reservists, have enlisted in His Majesty's naval or military forces as ordinary recruits; that the unmarried constables in the City of London police and other forces are being specially urged to enlist, and that many are willing to do so provided they are granted the rights accorded to other constables under the Police Reservists (Allowances) Act, 1914, and the Police Constables (Naval and Military Service) Act, 1914, and will he take steps to extend the provisions of these Acts to all constables who enlist with the approval of their respective police authority?

The answer to all the questions is in the affirmative. As my hon. Friend is aware, the Bill to extend the privileges conferred by the two Acts mentioned was given a Second Reading last Tuesday.

asked the Home Secretary whether a licence to drive a taxi-cab in London will be issued to a woman who passes the usual police examination; and, if not, will he state whether the refusal to issue such licence is based upon the statutory disqualification of a woman or upon a decision of the Home Office?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for Haggerston on the 1st of March.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply or the agents thereof have ceased purchasing sugar; and whether he will state the total quantity of sugar at present in the United Kingdom?

I do not think that it would be in the public interest to answer this question at the present time.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when sugar is really going to be made cheaper?

The price of sugar in this country is no greater than in any other country in the world, but I should have been extremely glad if the general prices of sugar dropped.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state when he will furnish the Report which he has so often promised to the House?

I am entirely in the hands of the House as to when a Debate takes place on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that steamers carrying sugar, purchased by the Royal Commission or the agents thereof, experienced delay in discharging their cargoes in ports of the United Kingdom; and will he state whether the owners of steamers have in any instances been paid demurrage either by the Royal Commission or the consignees for the detention their steamers experienced in discharging their cargoes of sugar?

The reply to the first portion of the question is in the affirmative. Claims for demurrage have in certain cases been made on the Commission; but in no case has a claim been admitted, unless the delay in discharge was attributable in a material and direct degree to the action of the Commission in respect of the particular cargo concerned.

Is the House to understand that the refusal of the right hon. Gentleman to give particulars and to make reports arises from a desire to shield the mistakes and blunders made by the Sugar Commission?

I answered the question entirely.

I am referring to the previous question.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, simultaneously with an advance in the price of bread in Cardiff, Messrs. Spillers and Bakers, the Cardiff milling firm, have issued a balance sheet showing a profit of £367,865, as against £89,352 for the previous year; whether he is aware that food prices are still rising; and whether, in the light of what is happening, the Government propose taking action in regard to food and coal prices?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer which will be given later to Question No. 60 addressed to the President of the Board of Trade by the hon. Member for Blackburn.

asked, having regard to the cost of living at the present time, and especially the price of bread charged to the poor people of this country, whether he can introduce legislation at an early date to give effect to the recommendations of the Select Committee of this House on short weight?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question on this subject asked on the 25th November last by my right hon. Friend the Member for West Islington, of which I am sending him a copy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that large numbers of local authorities in this country are most anxious that greater powers should be given to prosecute the exploiters of the poor on this question?

There is a considerable difference among local authorities on this point, as I pointed out in a recent answer.

Is it not a fact that the Board have had a large number of requisitions from local authorities on this matter, asking that something should be done?

I will send my hon. Friend a copy of an answer recently given to a similar question.

Does the Secretary to the Board of Trade realise that the 5th of November is five months ago?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, whether, in view of the high price of meat, he will consider the advisability of prohibiting the slaughter of calves and lambs?

I cannot at present say more than that the Board have for some time past been giving this question their close attention in consultation with the Scottish and Irish Departments.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the public statement made by the Board that purchases of wheat on behalf of the Government ceased some time ago, he will now state whether the individuals or firms employed by the Government as their agents or brokers to effect purchases of wheat either bought or sold wheat on their own account during the period that they were acting for the Government; whether he will state the scale of commissions and the total amount of commissions paid to these Government agents; and whether these Government agents also chartered tonnage for the conveyance of such Government purchases?

I can add nothing to recent reply which I gave to the hon. Member on this subject.

Am I to understand from the hon. Gentleman refusing to give particulars that the same objectionable features appertain to the purchase of wheat which characterised the purchase of timber?

No, certainly not.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the price of household bread in Liverpool on 22nd April was not 8d. for 4 lbs. but 9d., or a small fraction either under or over 9d.; and whether, in view of the fact that ocean freights from the Argentine to France are from 2s. 6d. to 5s. per ton higher than to this country, he can now explain why bread is cheaper in Paris, which is an inland city, than in Liverpool, which is a seaport?

The price quoted for bread in Liverpool is the predominant price, and this price on 22nd April was correctly stated as 8d. per 4 lbs. On the same date the predominant price in Paris was 7¾d. per 4 lbs. I cannot say how far—if at all—this difference corresponds to a difference of quality, or how far it is due to other causes, but I may point out that the cost of production of bread is affected by a variety of factors other than the price of Hour.

Will the hon. Gentleman state why the price of bread in Dublin is 8d. while the people in London are charged 10d.?

I shall have to make inquiry, and the hon. and learned Member had better put down a question.

Owing to the mystery surrounding Government purchase, and the uncertainty of their action, is it not a fact that merchants are ceasing to procure importations into this country, and that as a consequence there is a diminution in the supply and there is an increase in price; and can he say what action will be taken by the Government to reduce prices?

All those questions are under special consideration by the Board.

How long will they remain under special consideration?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that I the prices of corn and flour continue to rise, and that leading dealers in these commodities are declaring that prices will rise higher still; if he is aware that a firm of millers has just declared a profit of £367,865 for last year, compared with a profit of but £89,352 for the previous year; and, in view of the hardship inflicted on the poor by these profits, made by exploiting the necessities of the people, will he take immediate steps to deal with the problem?

I have seen the figures to which my hon. Friend refers, but I do not think that the high price of flour is really attributable to extravagant profits made by the firm in question. As my hon. Friend is aware, favourable forward contracts for the purchase of grain during a period of rising prices may yield large profits to a particular firm, even though the price at which they sell their flour is determined by the competition of other firms who meet their current requirements by purchases of wheat at current rates. The question of the best means of restraining the prices of necessaries without endangering their supply is receiving constant and anxious attention.

What we want to know is—this is a serious matter—how long this gang is to be allowed to sweat the faces of the poor, while the common people are giving their blood for the country. Why are the Government not taking any action in this matter?

When are the Government Departments going to cease apologising for this robbery?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to pressure brought to bear by wholesale milk dealers upon retail dealers in London, by which an attempt is being made to compel all retail dealers to sell milk at 4½d. per quart, even when they desire to sell it at 4d.; and whether he has taken any steps to prevent such an agreement amongst wholesale firms to force up prices from being imposed upon retailers?

I am not aware that retailers generally have been subjected to pressure of the character stated in the question, and I understand that the price of milk has not been raised to 4½d. per quart in all parts of London. Careful consideration is, however, being given to the matter, and the Board of Trade are in communication with representatives of the milk distributing trade.

Has not the hon. Gentleman received documents proving the statement I make?

The document to which the hon. Member refers, I presume, is one that indicates that a rise has taken place in some parts. As I have stated, the Board are in communication with the representatives of the milk distributing trade at this moment.

Will the Government consider, if these charges are true, whether they cannot take proceedings either under the Defence of the Realm Act or under the old Statutes?

Perhaps the Noble Lord will give me notice of that.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the present state of the law and in the absence of any additional grant from the Exchequer, the additional charge on the Metropolitan Police Fund necessitated by the War allowance of 3s. a week to the Metropolitan police will be borne wholly by the ratepayers in the Metropolitan police district, and thus alter to the advantage of the Exchequer and the disadvantage of the Metropolitan ratepayers the proportion of the cost of the police hitherto raised from those two sources?

In the case of police officers employed by the Government the Exchequer will pay the whole. The rest of the charge will fall on the Metropolitan Police Fund, but I am unable at present to say whether it will involve any additional charge on the Metropolitan ratepayer, as the expenditure will be balanced to a large extent by the savings on account of constables who have joined the military forces or have been lent to the War Office and Admiralty.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that municipal town halls, such as Caxton Hall, belonging to the Westminster City Council, are able to let their buildings for such functions as Jewish wedding dinners and dances to hosts who issue private invitations and provide food and drink, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, as they think fit, for their guests, whilst other halls and places of entertainment, simply because they have an Excise licence, cannot be used for strictly private functions after 11 p.m. if alcoholic drinks are desired; and whether he can see his way to either remove the restrictions for private parties from all responsible licensees of halls or withdraw the privilege from municipalities.

I understand that the facts are as stated. At the request of the military authorities no extensions of time to licensed premises involving the sale or consumption of alcoholic drink are permitted after 11 p.m. For the convenience of guests at Jewish wedding parties held on licensed premises, however, the Commissioner of Police grants extensions of time till the hour by custom established, on an undertaking being given that intoxicants will not be sold or consumed after 11 p.m. Obviously no such restrictions can apply to parties held in private houses or on premises which do not come under the restriction of the Licensing Acts.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman considers a municipal hall is a private residence?

No. I consider the premises are under the heading of premises which do not come under the restrictions of the Licensing Acts.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the circulation by some person or persons unknown of a leaflet suggesting that a Territorial died last November, at Lytham, as the result of anti-typhoid inoculation, and that the death certificate falsely alleged a different cause of death; and whether he will take steps, to prevent the dissemination of incitements to soldiers to endanger their own and their comrades' lives by refusing to undergo inoculation?

Reports have been received that this leaflet has been distributed both with and without the statement that the death was ascribed to a different cause on the death certificate. Such steps as were considered necessary have been taken.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman deal with this matter under the Defence of the Realm Act?

I am advised that proceedings could not be taken in this case: therefore I am afraid that the answer to the hon. Member is in the negative. But if he likes to repeat the question, I will give him a more definite reply.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what progress is being made with further provision for Belgian refugees; and what is the total number to date in this country?

The Registrar-General estimates that the number of Belgian Refugees (excluding soldiers) now in this country is about 180,000. Of these it may be roughly estimated that the number of employable men is about 29,000, of whom about 17,000 have already been placed in employment, and efforts are continually being made to find occupation for the others. Of 17,000 employable women about 3,000 are employed. Several thousands of refugees, not included in the figures of employment, have enlisted in the Belgian Army. The number of refugees awaiting hospitality has so far diminished as to allow of my being able to close the Alexandra Palace as a refuge and to arrange for the transfer of the buildings to the War Office. About 2,400 refugees remain in other refuges, and further offers of hospitality would be gladly received by the War Refugees' Committee at Aldwych.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether there are other refugees who could be brought over here if hospitality were arranged for?

No doubt, when traffic is resumed with Holland, it would be possible to bring over other refugees if hospitality were available; but of late the offers of hospitality have not been large.

Is it proposed to give employment to these, people in the manufacture of munitions of war?

There are a large number employed in armament factories.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any decision has been arrived at with regard to cases where the award of separation allowances on account of a son's enlistment appears to jeopardise the issue of old age pensions; and what is the intention of the Board with regard to such cases?

It has been decided that no steps are to be taken to reduce existing old age pensions in respect of increases of income due to the receipt of separation allowances.

asked the President of the Local Government Board when provision will be made for the expenses incurred by local pension committees, and the salaries of their officials, in performing the additional duties laid upon them by the Government of investigating claims to the new allowances granted to the dependants of those who fall in the War; and, if necessary, seeing that the matter has been before the Treasury for at least five months, will he urge the Treasury to expedite their decision?

asked when and how it is proposed to provide for the expenditure of local pension committees which has necessarily been incurred on behalf of the Government since 27th October last in dealing with claims for separation allowance (Navy and Army); and whether he is aware that inconvenience is being caused to such committees by the delay in issuing the necessary scheme for the provision of funds?

It has been decided as a provisional arrangement that the remuneration of the clerks of pension committees and sub-committees in connection with claims to Navy and Army separation allowances shall be by a fee for each claim dealt with. Charges for the hire of rooms for meetings of committees and sub-committees will also be payable within certain limits. The necessary financial instructions have been issued to pension committees.

asked whether the widows of Territorial officers killed in action have the same pension rights as those of Regular officers?

Yes, Sir.

asked if a dependant's allowance should be paid from the date on which the soldier makes an allotment of 6d. per day from his Army pay?

Dependant's allowance is payable from date of application, or from date of the soldier's enlistment if the application is received within ten days.

Can the Chancellor of the Exchequer say when the Government will introduce a Bill which will carry out the recommendation of the Special Committee on the Pensions and Allowances to Widows and Dependants, and especially as the twenty-six weeks' limit they were originally granted has now expired?

The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether motor-car drivers are wanted for the Royal Naval Air Section; whether he is aware that experienced drivers of excellent character are being rejected because they may have lost one or two fingers, which has never interfered with their efficiency; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Motor mechanics and transport drivers are required for the Royal Naval Air Service; but in view of the fact that such men, although chiefly employed on transport work, may at any time be required for other duties in connection with aircraft and are also required to handle a rifle when necessary, no exception as regards the requisite standard of medical fitness laid down can be made in their favour.

asked whether the Government are placing contracts for the supply of such articles as mattresses and mats with the institutions for the blind, which are capable of producing those articles; and, if not, whether the Government will consider the desirability of so doing and thereby releasing the labour of sighted workers, who are needed for, and are capable of the production of other war material?

Institutions for the blind already receive a considerable share of Admiralty orders for brushware and baskets and the question of extension of orders is, and will be, carefully borne in mind. I may say that orders for seamen's bedding are principally executed by women.

asked how many British vessels have been sunk by German submarines in waters outside the North Sea during the month of February, March, and April, respectively?

The number of British vessels sunk by German submarines in waters outside the North Sea is:—

• Eight during February,
• Seventeen during March, and
• Six during April, up to the 27th.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the last date in April on which a vessel was sunk?

I am afraid I cannot without notice.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that civilian pensioners employed at the Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport, and "Indus," unlike other dockyard employés called up for service, are not participating in the 2s. bonus?

If the hon. Member refers to pensioners in receipt of civilian rates of pay, they will receive the emergency increase announced in the award of the Committee on Production. The award is not applicable to the cases of men called up but retained in the establishments referred to on naval work at naval rates of pay.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether yard-craft men are required, under Clause 35 of Answers to Petitions (page 12), to surrender any special privileges; and, if so, will he explain what those privileges are and the cause of their sur- render; and (2) whether he can say when the yard-craft men will receive payment in respect to the concessions recently granted therein; and will he explain the cause of the delay that has occurred?

The improvements in wages and conditions of employment of yard-craft men set out in the answers to petitions were conditional upon the surrender of special privileges in certain cases. The privileges in question are certain advantages which were enjoyed by some of the yard-craft men in respect of sick leave with pay and medical attendance. I imagine that any delay which may have occurred in some cases is owing to the hesitation of some of the men to accept the conditions regarding the surrender of special privileges previously enjoyed by them. Payment of the increased rates has already been made to those men who have accepted the conditions.

Are we to understand, unless they agree to this, that that bonus of 2s. will be stopped?

I do not know what the hon. Member is thinking about in the matter of bonuses. It is not a question of bonus. We set out new conditions, and the receipt of the new conditions were contingent upon giving up certain privileges.

Is it not the fact that the advance of wages was given to these men because of the increase in the cost of living, and now, instead of giving them an advance, the advantages that they have been in receipt of are to be taken away from them; therefore, it will be no advance at all?

My hon. Friend, if I may respectfully say so, quite misunderstands. These are the replies of the officials; what he refers to is quite a different matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of his Department to close the Clyde and other estuaries of Scotland against yachting during the approaching summer; and, if so, whether he will publish the decision speedily in view of the number of interests involved?

The Admiralty have decided that definite limits should be drawn at each harbour or estuary outside of which no cruising of yachts or pleasure boats can be allowed. Before a regatta is held within the limits of the authorised port or waters, the permission of the senior naval officer should be obtained. Excursion steamer traffic can be permitted only so far as it serves for conveyance of necessaries to places off the mainland. All such sailings must be made under licence from the local naval authorities. These authorities are authorised to publish the limits within which pleasure cruising, etc., is allowed, and requests for information as regards particular areas should be addressed to them. In the case of Scottish waters, the authority concerned is the Admiral Commanding, Coast of Scotland, Rosyth.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of officers and men of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve, and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve killed from the commencement of the War to the 31st March, 1915, in view of the statement in the Navy List for April of officers and men killed in action up to the 18th March, 1915, giving names which amount to a total of 6,606–379 officers and 6,227 men?

The total number of officers killed down to 31st March is 417. The total number of men killed down to 31st March is 6,313.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he has yet come to a decision re wages at Gibraltar; if not, when such decision may be expected and if it will be made retrospective?

The matter is receiving very careful attention, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has told me that about three times within the last six months?

Well, I cannot say how many times; but what I have told the hon. Gentleman is perfectly true.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last paragraph?

My hon. Friend must know that the men, having set out their grievance, have received, or will receive, dating 28th September, such rises as are applicable to their case. The other aspects of the question are receiving very careful consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that since August last some 400 persons have been entered as assistant paymasters in the Naval Reserve, gentlemen without any previous service in the Navy, without knowledge of naval accounts or official duties, and who have to be instructed in their duties by the chief writers, who have their own responsible duties to perform, and that these gentlemen are receiving rewards and the best positions and passing over the heads of the chief writers; also that some of these latter have recently been officially recommended to the Admiralty for promotion to assistant paymaster Royal Naval Reserve, but have not been so promoted; and if he will look into the matter and remedy this state of affairs?

I do not think that I can usefully add anything to the replies which I gave yesterday to the Noble Lord the Member for Portsmouth on this subject. I may observe that Chief Writers of the Royal Navy are not eligible for appointment as Assistant Paymasters in the Royal Naval Reserve.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether candidates for the Civil Service examinations who offer themselves for military service will be entitled to deduct the period of military service from their age, if they return safely, for the purposes of the examination; whether they will be granted a further twelve months for preparation; and whether it is intended to fill vacancies in the Civil Service according to the lists of those who passed at the last examination?

As regards the first and second parts of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 4th February last to the Member for East Edinburgh. As regards the third part, some vacancies which it is indispensably necessary to fill are being filled by candidates from the last examination, but places will be reserved for successful candidates at open competitive examinations who are unable to take up their civil situations owing to absence on military duties.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether no intermediate Civil Service examinations for junior appointments are to be held this year; if so, whether he will give the reasons for this short notice, seeing that it was only given within ten weeks of the usual date of the examination, and that boys leaving public schools train for two years in order to sit for this examination; and whether the Civil Service Commissioners can see their way to hold the examination as usual in July, but to announce that no candidates passing it would be allowed to enter the service until the end of the War?

No examination for junior appointments (intermediate class) will be held this summer. The necessity of consulting Departments recruited from these examinations and the uncertain conditions caused by the War made it impracticable to give longer notice of the decision. The Civil Service Commissioners see no reason to advocate an alteration of this decision, and I am not prepared to modify it.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Civil Service Commissioners have announced that no further examinations for junior appointments (intermediate class) will be held; whether such appointments will now cease to be made; and, if this class of appointments be not abolished, how vacancies arising will be filled?

The Civil Service Commissioners have announced that no examination for junior appointments (intermediate class) will be held this summer. The period in which vacancies may be filled from the competition held in January last has not yet expired. The question of holding competitions of this class while the War continues will be considered as occasion may arise.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a number of candidates have been preparing for two years for this examination and now, a few weeks before it is to be held, they are told that no examination is to be held at all?

It is not considered desirable to hold examinations when there are no vacancies to be filled.

Then will fees that have been paid be returned?

asked the Prime Minister whether any emergency legislation is contemplated to deal with the question of increasing rents or whether the powers of the Emergency Courts are considered to be sufficient protection?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this and following questions. The information at the disposal of the Government leads them to the opinion that there would seem to be, at present, no case for further special legislation, as any hard cases could be dealt with under the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act of 1914.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make some inquiries from such places, for instance, as Glasgow, where several charitable funds are now being raised to pay rents?

Does my hon. Friend mean under new contracts or old ones?

Under the old contracts?

Then hard cases can be dealt with under the existing law.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Prize Claims Committee have made any awards in respect of claims against ships or cargo condemned in the Prize Court; and, if so, whether such awards will be made public?

The right hon. Gentleman will permit me to reply to this question. The Prize Claims Committee has investigated a number of claims and arrived at a provisional decision upon them, but no awards can be made until certain, outstanding questions connected with the Prize Funds have been settled.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of my question. Will the awards be made public? May I also ask him: will those sums which are paid as awards be taken out of the money otherwise given as prize money to the Navy?

The right hon. Gentleman puts two further questions. I understood the last part of his question to be governed by the words "if so"—if any awards have been made, whether they will be made public? My answer was: No awards have been made. As to whether the awards will be made public, there is no doubt that they will have to be made public as soon as they are finally determined upon. The second question as to the fund out of which the money would come is one of the matters which are now under consideration both in respect of the funds in this country and the corresponding funds throughout the Empire.

What is the position of the Prize Claims Committee? Is it a Committee of Appeal from the Prize Court?

No, it is not a Court of Appeal from the Prize Court. It is a Committee appointed in order to ascertain what charges British subjects may have over goods which may come into the Prize Court otherwise many British subjects would find themselves deprived of what is, in effect, their property, because that property is condemned in the Prize Court.

Those are the facts the Prize Court itself ascertains?

From a very long course of practice the Prize Court itself pays no attention to that, so that if a German ship worth £60,000 is mortgaged for £50,000 to an Englishman, the German ship is condemned, the Englishman would lose his £50,000, unless special provision is made.

Are there any rules laid down upon which this Committee is to adjudicate, or is it left entirely at large to do entirely what the members think proper?

The Committee is instructed to report to the Treasury, and when that report is made it has got to be considered from the financial point of view by the Treasury.

Are there any rules governing the ultimate destination of the money which otherwise would be prize money for the Navy?

I have told the right hon. Gentleman that that is one of the matters which is under consideration. It is not possible, of course, for the Prize Claims Committee to lay down what shall go to the Navy or not; that must be a matter of general policy. All the Committee has to do is to investigate the value of the claims made by British subjects and neutrals who have charges over cargoes and ships which come before the Prize Courts. They merely have to report upon the amounts.

Is that confined to British ships?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average increase in the price of aniline dyes sold by Messrs. Read, Holliday, and Company since the War commenced; and what is the maximum increase in any one of their products, stated in percentages?

I am not in a position to give the information for which my hon. Friend asks.

Is it not a fact that the Government are providing three-parts of the capital for this concern? Cannot the public know?

The Dyes Company is not being run by the Board of Trade or by a Government Department. Special inquiry will be made by the original company.

Is it not a fact that the government are finding three-fourths of the capital for this concern?

The hon. Gentleman is in a position to know all the facts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to state, on the authority of Messrs. Read, Holliday, and Company, that, in the selling of their business to the Government Dyes Company, no commission has been or will be paid to any member of the Committee which advocated the scheme or any other intermediary?

Yes, Sir. No commission has been or will be paid.

Do I understand that that statement is made on the authority of Messrs. Holliday?

Certainly; this is the second time the hon. Member has asked this question.

The first time it was evaded.

The first time it was implicit, and the next time it was explicit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total amount subscribed to British Dyes, Limited; what, on the basis of such subscription, are the unpaid liabilities of the Government in connection with that company; what amounts have the Government paid already in that connection; whether British Dyes, Limited, have yet decided to exercise either of the options on the concern of Read, Holliday, and Sons, Limited, mentioned in the prospectus; if so, which option; whether the services of either Mr. Holliday or Mr. Joseph Turner have been secured; and, if so, on what terms?

The number of shares allotted up to yesterday was, I am informed, 641,509. The consequent liability of His Majesty's Government is to advance £641,509 on debentures, together with a loan of £200,000 to Read, Holliday, and Sons, Limited, which will be treated as an advance to the new company on its acquisition of that undertaking. The only amount so far paid by His Majesty's Government is £56,011 15s. 1d. in respect of that loan. The Government have also undertaken to make a Grant to the new company not exceeding £100,000 altogether in respect of expenditure incurred by them on research within the next ten years. I understand that the directors of British Dyes, Limited, have decided to acquire Read, Holliday, and Sons, Limited, exercising for that purpose option (a) set out in the prospectus. I have seen it stated in the Press that Mr. Joseph Turner will continue to manage that business, but I have no information as to the terms made with him.

May I ask whether the Board of Trade could not make inquiries through the two Government directors of the company as to these terms and other matters, and inform the House?

It must be a matter as between the company and Mr. Turner. I will see if the information can be got, but if each transaction which takes place in connection with the company is to be made the subject of an inquiry in this House, it will involve a great deal of labour.

May I point out that this is a very important matter, involving a large sum of money?

asked the Prime Minister whether Sir John French has expressed to the Government his disapproval of the policy of secrecy enforced on the Press by the Censor?

No, Sir.

Will my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance that the Government will make no relaxation in the censorship except at the suggestion of Sir John French and Lord Kitchener?

I had better have notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether the operations by land of His Majesty's Forces now being conducted in Turkey are controlled by the Secretary of State for War or by the First Lord or the Board of Admiralty; and by whom or by which Department is their equipment, supply and transport provided; and (2) in view of the fact that we have eight wars on hand—in Flanders, in Egypt, in the Cameroons, in East Africa, in South-West Africa, in Central Africa, in Persia, and on the North-West Frontier of India—will he state generally the reasons for withdrawing troops and ships from these eight wars in order to commence a ninth war in European Turkey; and have the admirals commanding our Fleets at sea and the generals commanding our troops on land been consulted before such withdrawals were made and expressed agreement therewith?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 22nd April to the Noble Lord the Member for Portsmouth.