asked the Prime Minister whether he can see his way to cause Regulations to be issued under the provisions of the Defence of the Realm Consolidation Act, 1914, relieving any person or firm of legal proceedings when, having both Government and civil contracts, preference is given to Government, contracts at the risk of breaking the civil contracts?

Regulations would not be effective for the purpose suggested. The Defence of the Realm (Amendment) No. 2 Act, which was passed on the 16th March last, already gives effect to the proposal of my hon. Friend to some extent. Any extension of the relief thereby granted would be difficult to refuse and could only be given by a further Act of Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government, in conjunction with the Government of India, is organising industry in India so as to assist in the production of munitions of war and other supplies required by our naval and military forces; and, if so, to what extent.

So far as I am aware, no special measures of organisation have been found necessary; but the Government of India are co-operating to the best of their ability in the production of munitions of war and other supplies.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the county Down teachers have adopted a resolution to the effect that, in the event of the Commissioners of National Education giving to the teachers full civil rights, the teachers are prepared to give during the War greater moral and material support to the Empire than they are at present in a position to give; and can he state what decision has been come to by the Commissioners with reference to this offer?

I am aware that such a resolution was adopted, and I am informed that no action has been taken on it. The few restrictions at present affecting teachers relate only to attendance at party political meetings or taking an active part in elections, and I cannot understand how such restrictions can hamper teachers in giving their full moral and material support to the Empire during the War.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the civil clerical staffs in His Majesty's dockyards and other naval establishments have been excluded from participation in the war bonus recently granted to the civil employés under the Admiralty; and whether it is the intention to remove this inequality by granting the clerks and writers a bonus?

The question is now under consideration. I hope that an announcement of the decision in the matter will be made shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if Mr. Dyson was detained from the 27th to the 31st March without being brought before a justice of the peace; and if he will explain the reason for the abrogation of the ordinary protection to the liberty of the British subject?

Mr. Dyson was arrested on the 27th March and was detained until the 29th March by the competent military authority to enable the formalities prescribed in such cases by Regulations 56 of the Defence of the Realm Consolidated Regulations to be fulfilled. The case was reported on the 30th March to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who, on the 31st March, caused Mr. Dyson to be taken before the Portland magistrates. I am advised that the existing law having been complied with, there has been no improper abrogation of the safeguards applicable in such a case.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that officers of reserve Territorial battalions holding temporary commissions recently granted, especially captains and first lieutenants, are being drafted abroad to join their first-line battalions who have been in the fighting line for months, and are there retaining their temporary rank and pay, to the obvious prejudice and loss of those officers of permanent but lower rank already abroad; and whether he will take steps to prevent the continuation of this practice?

The rule is that officers drafted from the battalions at home to join the battalion abroad assume the order of precedence which their date of joining entitles them to, reverting if necessary to a lower rank. Reversions are carried out on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief and are of frequent occurrence. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind perhaps he will furnish me with the details.

asked the Under-Secretary for War what has been the result of the experiment in allowing Scottish herrings as an optional article in the dietary of German prisoners; to what camps this option has been given; and whether steps are to be taken with a view to extending the option?

The experiment in the issue of Scottish-cured herrings as an article of dietary for German prisoners of war was carried out at Dorchester Camp in March last. The commandant reported that the fish was not liked and that a large percentage of it was thrown into the refuse tubs. Experiments were made with cooking the fish and serving it with mustard sauce, but while the sauce was appreciated the fish was not consumed. The English method of cooking was not liked. In the circumstances, and for disciplinary reasons represented by the commandant, it was decided to discontinue the issue of these herrings.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that requests have been made by soldiers at the front for a supply of Irish twist tobacco; and whether he will arrange that it shall be supplied?

I am not aware that requests have been made by solders at the front for a supply of Irish twist tobacco. On the recommendations of a committee of experienced officers, it was decided that only medium strength tobacco should be provided for the troops. Irish twist tobacco does not, I understand, comply with this requirement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state when he will be able to give further information as to the intentions of the War Office with regard to the Officers' Training Corps?

The present policy is to make full use of the existing personnel of the Officers' Training Corps and the facilities it affords for military training for the instruction of suitable candidates who are likely to become available for service as officers during the present War. It is not proposed to form new contingents, nor to disband nor amend the establishments of existing ones, until a general review of the situation as regards the Officers' Training Corps as a whole can be made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that camps offer a conspicuous target for Zeppelins raiding the East Coast, he will consider the advisability of keeping the troops in billets in certain localities where these raids are more frequent, in preference to placing them under canvas?

Defence and training requirements must be met, but the danger in question has not been overlooked.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether recruits in the New Army were attested in August and September last on the condition that they allotted one-third of their pay (i.e., 4d. a day) to their wives and families; whether any of these men are being stopped 6d. a day (i.e., one-half of their pay); and, if so, will instructions be given at once that 4d. a day only is to be stopped and the full allotment allowed by the Army Order paid to the wives of the men?

I am having inquiry made into this.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that proficiency pay is only intended to be paid to those non-commissioned officers and men of the Territorial Force who have attended at least two camps of fifteen days each; whether the non-commissioned officers and men who have attended several eight-day camps have been receiving such pay since mobilisation and are now informed that they will receive it no longer and that they must refund what they have received and spent, amounting in some cases to over £3; and whether, seeing that many such non-commissioned officers and men have completed twelve eight-day camps and upwards, he will see that the pay is continued or at least that the claim to a refund is abandoned?

If the hon. Member will give me particulars of the cases which he has in mind, steps will be taken to see that no undue hardship is caused by the recovery of these over issues.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether medical officers attached to Territorial units are paid at a lower rate than those attached to Regulars, including the new service battalions; if so, whether the difference amounts to £100 per annum in the lowest rank, that of lieutenant; and whether he will take steps to raise the pay of suhc officers, seeing that many such have already been on active service abroad with their Territorial units for several months?

As I have stated in answer to recent questions, the position of Territorial Force Royal Army Medical Corps officers is now under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the nature of the inquiry promised into the alleged scandals at the horse camp at Romsey?

Communications are being made through the local military authorities to ensure more adequate supervision of the workmen by those in charge of the work.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that officers billeted in a victualling house can only draw an allowance of 2s. per day as against 3s. allowed to those billeted in private houses; whether he will give any reason for the difference; and whether, in view of the difficulty and impossibility of finding sufficient private billets for all officers in some towns where many troops are now quartered, he will recommend that the rate of 3s. a day be allowed in all cases?

The rates to which the hon. Member refers are not allowances drawn by officers, but payments made to occupiers under the provisions of the Army Act. The reason for the difference is that it is the licensed victualler's ordinary business to lodge and feed strangers, and the obligation to take troops at the lower rate is a known condition of his licence.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he will say the amount of patent royalty paid by His Majesty's Government on each fuse manufactured in this country since the present War; whether, on all orders given to manufacturers, a royalty is reserved; and to whom is this money payable?

Krupp's British patent, to which I assume that the hon. Member refers, expired in July last, and no royalties are payable as from that date. I understand, however, that private arrangements existed between the patentees and two firms in this country, under which payments might continue. Inquiry is being made into the terms and legal effect of these arrangements under present conditions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will state the amount of the allowance made to soldiers who are wholly incapacitated by wounds or otherwise in the course of the War; whether his attention has been called to the fact that such allowance is inadequate for reasonable sub- sistence; and whether the Government will, at the earliest date, take steps to remedy this state of things?

The amounts hitherto authorised are those shown in the Royal Warrant for Pay. New rates in accordance with the recommendations of the Select Committee will be published and applied at a very early date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will say what is now the weekly rate of separation allowance, including the usual allotment of pay for the wife, the wife with one child, two children, and three or more children, respectively, and for the motherless child of a corporal or private in the Army; up to what age the separation allowance is payable in respect of children; what is the additional allowance on account of rent; and whether any further assistance has been given in that respect in Glasgow, in view of the fact that the rents there are high and have been increasing?

The rates are 12s. 6d., 17s. 6d., 21s., 23s., etc. The rate for each motherless child is 5s., without allotment from the soldier. The allowances for children are payable up to sixteen, and beyond that age in certain cases. Full information is contained in pamphlets which are to be had at any post office. The allowances include provision for rent, and there is no additional allowance from Army Funds on this account in Glasgow.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that the wages paid to the men employed at the Field Stores, Aldershot, are lower than the wages paid by the Aldershot Council to the labourers employed by them; and whether he will take steps with the object of raising these men's wages to at least as high as those paid by the council?

The wages paid to labourers at the Field Stores are, so far as I am aware, in conformity with the Fair-Wages Resolution. A temporary increase of 2s. a week has been recently given to these men.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that a number of officers of Customs and Excise are desirous of being allowed the opportunity of joining His Majesty's naval or military forces; whether he will state if the reason for refusing permission for eligible officers of Customs and Excise to join His Majesty's naval or military forces is that the Treasury would be responsible for the full payment of the present salary of officers of Customs and Excise if they were allowed and did become members of His Majesty's naval or military forces; and whether he will say if officers of Customs and Excise who are now eligible to join His Majesty's naval or military forces, and who are refused permission to join by the Board of Customs and Excise, will be allowed to do so if they agree to join as ordinary citizens and do not claim any salary or payment beyond that given to every man who enlists and who is not a member of the Civil Service?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative. A large number of members of the Department, including men of the officer grade, have already joined the Colours with permission, and the sole reason for refusing permission in other cases is the impossibility of releasing more men owing to pressure of work, largely special war work done for the War Office or Admiralty, as explained in the answers given to the hon. and gallant Member for Melton on the 3rd March and the hon. Member for the College Division of Glasgow on the 9th March. The third part of the question does not therefore, arise. I may add that, even with the present numbers, it has been found impossible to afford the naval and military authorities the whole of the assistance for which they have asked.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the deliberate and avowed violation by the Germans of cardinal provisions of The Hague Conventions by the use of asphyxiating gases and the poisoning of wells, and that in The Hague Conventions there is no reference to punishment except a state- ment that the offending party shall be, if the case demands, liable to make compensation, the Government with a view to the preservation of our soldiers and sailors from assassination will consider the propriety of taking such steps in self-defence by way of reprisals, sanctioned by international law or otherwise, as will act as deterrents against such barbarous methods of warfare?

This question is receiving the careful consideration of the Government and the military authorities.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the sums paid in home and foreign spirits and the barrels of beer cleared from bond in April, 1914, and April, 1915?

The particulars are as follows:—

—	April, 1914.	April, 1915.
	£	£
Spirits, Home-made	2,280,000	3,801,000
Spirits, Foreign	432,000	787,000
Total	2,712,000	4,588,000
	Barrels at standard gravity of 1055°.
Beer, Home and Foreign	3,007,000	Not available.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the reason for not holding the usual summer examination for junior appointments in the Civil Service, and whether, considering the notice which has been given of the cessation and the narrow limits of age for the competition, candidates who would have been eligible for such examination will be admitted to the next examination to be held for these appointments in the same manner as candidates who would have been eligible for an examination for appointment in the Indian Medical Service if held in January last are to be admitted to the forthcoming examination for such appointments?

The reason for not holding the usual summer examination for junior appointments this year is that the Departments concerned are able to make provision for carrying out the work of this class of clerks without the service of new entrants. The point raised in the latter part of the question is receiving consideration.

also asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the desirability of allowing young men who join His Majesty's forces a further period of one year on the conclusion of service before being compelled to present themselves for competition for Civil Service appointments, seeing that they will have lost ground during their absence; whether the age limit for such candidates will be extended accordingly or, alternatively, whether they will be given suitable service marks; and will he say if there is any suggestion of general change in the normal course of Civil Service competitions, or is the present cessation governed solely by departmental requirements?

As regards the first and second parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh on the 4th February last. As regards the third part, any cessation of competitions has been and will be governed solely by the conditions of the present time.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state whether the maps and documents of the property known as the Curragh farm, of Mrs. Caroline Blake, of Renoyle, Connemara, have yet been lodged with the Congested Districts Board with a view to sale?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state on whose authority the hour for holding the Petty Sessions at Ferbane, King's County, has been altered from twelve o'clock noon to eleven a.m.; and whether he is aware that the holding of this Petty Sessions at an earlier hour than twelve o'clock noon prevents solicitors from Tullamore taking advantage of the train service to Ferbane, and that, if this change of hour is presisted on, it will be necessary for these gentlemen to travel eighteen miles by car or motor to attend to their cases there, thereby entailing considerable extra expense?

The power to make a change of the nature indicated in the question is vested solely in the magistrates under Section 1 (3) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851. I understand that one result of the change is that stated in the second part of the question, but I am advised that the Lord Lieutenant cannot interfere.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state, as the result of the new scheme of training naval officers published in 1902, under which Osborne was established as a naval training school for the executive, Marine, and engineering branches, how many engineering officers have been produced after twelve years who were trained under this scheme at Osborne?

The answer is thirty-eight. It should, however, be mentioned that the first officers of the common entry scheme only became eligible to specialise in engineering in October, 1913.

also asked the First Lord of the Admiralty for what space of time there were no entries of officers directly as Royal Marine officers as was the case prior to the new scheme of training published in 1902; and, in view of the abandonment of the Osborne scheme so far as the Royal Marines are concerned and the reversion to the old method, whether he can state how many, if any, of the officers of the Royal Marines were trained at Osborne?

Direct entries in the Royal Marines ceased after 1907 and were not resumed until 1912. Two officers entered under the common entry system are now serving in the Royal Marines. As regards the suggestion that the common entry system has been abandoned so far as the Royal Marines are concerned, I would point out that officers are still eligible to transfer from sub-lieutenant to the Royal Marines.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state what was the amount of money expended by local authorities in England and Wales in the maintenance of main roads during each of the last ten years; and what portion of such money was raised from the rates, Imperial taxes, and the Road Board, respectively?

The latest year for which complete figures are available is the year ended 31st March, 1913. The following table shows, for the ten years ended on that date, the amounts expended on the maintenance, repair, improvement, and enlargement of main roads (exclusive of expenditure out of loans) by county councils, who are the local authorities liable:—

Financial Year.			Expenditure on maintenance, repair, improvement, and enlargement of main roads.	Loan Charges.	Total.
			£	£	£
1903–4	…	…	2,406,754	7,759*	2,414,513
1904–5	…	…	2,478,481	8,766*	2,487,247
1905–6	…	…	2,529,106	8,536*	2,537,642
1906–7	…	…	2,535,399	10,394*	2,545,793
1907–8	…	…	2,614,025	10,367	2,624,392
1908–9	…	…	2,739,591	16,146	2,755,737
1909–10	…	…	2,835,822	16,966	2,852,788
1910–11	…	…	3,046,337	22,233	3,068,560
1911–12	…	…	3,323,458	33,081	3,356,539
1912–13	…	…	3,619,751	38,811	3,658,562
* Loan charges for main roads and other highways, but mostly for main roads.

No portion of the proceeds of the local taxation licences, of the Grant under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, or of the other Exchequer Grants is specifically allocated to main road expenditure; but the published Local Taxation Returns for the last few years give estimates of the amounts of that expenditure calculated to have fallen on Grants and rates, respectively, these estimates being based on the assumption that the benefit of unallocated Exchequer Grants is spread evenly over all the branches of expenditure concerned. In regard to the year 1912–13, it was accordingly calculated that, of the above-mentioned sum of £3,658,000, £2,298,000 was defrayed out of rates and £748,000 out of Grants other than Grants from the Road Board. The county councils received in the years 1910–11, 1911–12, and 1912–3 £8,000, £178,000 and £266,000 respectively from the Road Board, but these sums were not entirely limited to Grants in respect of main roads.

asked the Under-Secretary for India (1) whether the education authorities of the provincial Governments have taken any action in regard to temperance teaching in schools, as suggested in paragraph 8 of the dispatch of the Secretary of State for India dated 29th May, 1914; and, if so, what; and (2) whether the provincial Governments have considered the feasibility of taking any action in reference to the provision of counter attractions to intemperance, as suggested in paragraph 6 of Circular Letter, No. 1766–1783–81 (Excise), of the Secretary to the Government of India, dated Simla, 18th March, 1914; andwhether he can give particulars of any measures which have been taken in this connection?

I have at present no information as to the action taken by local Governments in India on the subjects mentioned in this and the following question. I will inform my right hon. Friend if I receive particulars.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the convictions for drunkenness for men and for women, respectively, in the city of Birmingham for the first quarter of each of the years 1914 and 1915?

The figures desired are: For 1914, 911 males and 121 females; for 1915, 373 males and 78 males. It is necessary, however, to exercise extreme caution in drawing any deduction from these figures. Convictions are never by themselves a safe indication of the amount of drunkenness, and would be specially misleading in the present circumstances. To take another offence as an illustration, it could not be suggested that motor cars are habitually driven at a slower speed than last year because there are less prosecutions for exceeding the speed limit.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the salary of a county organiser of agricultural instruction will be included in Class 1 of the expenditure on agricultural education under the regulations for Grants in aid of agricultural education and research recently issued?

The reply is in the affirmative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will state, for each of the administrative counties, the share of the residue Grant which has been estimated as attributable to agricultural education in each county under paragraph 22 of the regulations for Grants in aid of agricultural education and research?

I regret that I am unable to state the estimated shares of the residue Grant attributable to agricultural education in each county. The actual share for each county has not yet been fixed. In the Board's circular letter A.244/C forwarding the regulations referred to by the hon. Member, county education authorities have been asked to submit an estimate of their receipts and payments in respect of agricultural education for the current year. When these estimates have been received and considered, each county will be notified by the Board of the share of the residue Grant which it is expected to provide for agricultural education under paragraph 22 of the regulations.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether those who collect the seaweeds which are cast on the beach by storms in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, in order to use them for the making of kelp and tangle-ash, have to pay rents and royalties for collecting them; what is the approximate quantity of such seaweeds required to produce a ton of kelp or of tangle-ash, respectively; on what are those rents or royalties, if any, based; what do they include in various cases; what are the usual amounts of them, particularly in the Outer Hebrides and the Orkney Islands; what was the estimated annual output of kelp and tangle-ash in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland for the last few years for which figures are available; and what were the average prices per ton?

The payment of royalties is usual in the Hebrides, and the factor on one or two estates organises the industry on behalf of the crofters; but in Orkney the proprietor usually carries on the business and employs the crofters and pays them wages on a piece-work basis. From twelve to twenty tons of weed are required on the average to make a ton of kelp. The royalty, where collected, is a charge per ton of manufactured kelp. The royalty covers the weed and the use of the land for drying it, stacking it when dried and turning it. On the only Hebridean estate of which the Board has any information the royalty is 1s. 6d. on a ton of kelp and 5s. on a ton of tangle-ash; while in Orkney, on the other hand, the proprietor's gross profit is understood to amount to about half of the price of the kelp. In Orkney the annual output for some years prior to 1912 was 1,700 to 1,800 tons, in the last three years it was 1,533, 1,822 and 1,131 tons respectively; while in South Uist, the other district where most kelp is made, the output in recent years has usually been about 1,000 tons. The price per ton ranged from £4 to £5 in the period immediately preceding the War.