asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on a railwayman presenting himself at a recruiting depôt for enlistment he informed the officer in charge that he would have to wait for permission from his employers, the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, before he could take the oath, but that the officer informed him that he may as well take the oath and if the company refused permission his papers would be cancelled; that he took the oath under these circumstances and was afterwards arrested by an armed escort, notwithstanding the fact that the railway company had refused permission for him to enlist, and that afterwards the railway company informed him he was dismissed the service of the company and would not therefore be entitled to privileges granted to other employés who have enlisted; and whether, having regard to the fact that cases of this kind must necessarily interfere with recruiting, he will have inquiries made immediately into the matter?

The War Office have no information about this case, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with the particulars of place, date and name I will have inquiry made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that shortly after the outbreak of war the North British Railway Company issued a circular to their staff inviting members to enlist in His Majesty's Army and offering to make certain allowances to them, with the result that a large number of men responded; that, owing to military requirements, a further circular was issued at a later date notifying the staff that employés must obtain permission from the officials of the company before enlisting; that, notwithstanding this circular, a number of men anxious to serve His Majesty had enlisted without permission and have since made application for the same allowances as are granted to those who enlisted prior to the second circular being issued, and that their application has been refused; and whether, having regard to the fact that since then a large number of the staff have been released by the company to enlist, the Secretary of State for War will take steps to urge the railway company not to further prejudice those men who actuated by a genuine desire to serve their King and country?

This is a matter which primarily concerns the North British Railway Company. It appears, however, that the employés of this company who have enlisted enjoyed liberal terms, and that special provision has been made to meet any hardship arising in the case of those men who enlisted without the consent of the head of their department between the 7th September and 31st October.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the anxiety of the soldiers for Bibles, the Secretary of State will direct commanding officers, whether at home or abroad, to inform the men under their command that they are entitled under the King's Regulations to be supplied therewith; and to ascertain whether there is any deficiency in the supply thereof, and to report such deficiency, if any?

The rules as to the issue of Bibles are clearly set out in the King's Regulations, and there does not appear to be any reason to draw special attention to these rules. Any applications forwarded by officers commanding—on whom the responsibility rests—are dealt with at once.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office would approve, and give encouragement to, the raising of a company of first-class shots of men over the maximum age to be attached to a battalion at the front; and whether, if the experiment proved satisfactory, they would authorise the raising of such companies generally in the country?

The standard of age is now being raised as high as experience gained during the War allows. It is found that men whose age is above the standard cannot successfully stand the strain of active service in the ranks. All first-class shots fulfilling military requirements are welcomed in the ranks, and steps will be taken to keep these together as far as possible if they wish.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he would state the number of medical men in the Civil Service in England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, respectively, who have volunteered for service in the present War; the number of them serving; and the treatment of them in regard to Civil Service pay, provision of substitute, and keeping their positions vacant for them?

I am afraid that the information asked for by the hon. Member could only be produced by a process of laborious compilation, and in the present pressure of work I could not undertake to impose the additional burden on the Department. The last part of the question is a matter for the Treasury, which lays down the rules governing such cases.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, whilst allowances to the families of married men date back from the time of allotment, the allowances of the dependants of unmarried men are only made after a lapse of several weeks for inquiries, and are not dated back, although the soldier has been contributing his proportion in the meantime; and, if so, whether the authorities will remove this inequality of treatment?

The allowances to the dependants of unmarried soldiers are not delayed in the manner suggested. They commence as from the date of enlistment if application is made within ten days. Otherwise they commence as from the date of application.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, seeing that it was announced last November that the Government had decided to amend and increase the pensions and allowances payable to disabled soldiers, and a new rate of payment was then published, he will say whether this altered rate has yet been put into operation; and, if not, what is the reason for the delay?

The rates published in November were not operative. They were reconsidered and increased by the Select Committee, and various details had to be worked out after that Committee reported. The new regulations will now appear immediately.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the hardship, that is frequently caused by the present method of calculating the allotment payable to the parents of soldiers on active service in those cases where the soldier at the time of his enlistment was either working as an apprentice or was receiving a wage which was very shortly to be increased if the man had remained in civil employment; and whether, in such cases, the Government could provide that the allotment should be calculated upon a different basis, so that the parents of the soldier should be entitled to receive the same payment as they would now receive if he had enlisted at a slightly later date?

This matter was fully considered by the Select Committee, and their decision was that the allowance should be based strictly upon the actual degree of dependence before enlistment. That decision is one which I cannot undertake to alter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if there are a large number of men of military age in the Army Record and Pay offices whose work could be adequately performed by women or by older men?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Devonport last Wednesday, of which I will send him a copy.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether any inquiry has been received from the Minister of Defence in New Zealand; whether the services of mechanics who are prepared to come to Great Britain to relieve the pressure of work caused by the War would be acceptable; and, if so, what reply His Majesty's Government have sent?

I have informed the Governor of New Zealand that His Majesty's Government highly appreciate the offer of mechanics to come to this country from the Dominions to assist in the manufacture of munitions of war, and are most grateful for the spirit which dictated the offer, but that in view of the great distance to be travelled, the uncertainty as to the numbers who would be prepared to come to England on terms of British standard wages, and the probable difficulties of ascertaining the exact degree of skill possessed by them, it is not possible to make special arrangements in regard to the transport of such workmen to this country. It has, however, been pointed out that there is at present an unsatisfied demand for labour in all highly skilled classes of engineering and shipyard labour, and that if qualified workmen of this type were to come to this country and were prepared to accept British standard wages they could no doubt readily be placed in employment on the production of armaments, and arrangements would be made for this purpose.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will print, in answer to this question, the letter of instructions issued by him to the reporters upon the causes of lost time in munitions, shipbuilding, and transport areas?

The following points were suggested for the consideration of the investigators in the inquiry into the alleged loss of time in the shipbuilding trades:—It is alleged that the output is insufficient and might be considerably increased. To what may the deficiency of output be attributed? Is it due wholly or in part to:—1. (

asked the President of the Local Government Board the number of medical officers of local administrative

The number of medical officers of health serving with the naval or military forces, so far as the Local Government Board know, is 171, and the number of tuberculosis officers and assistant tuberculosis officers so serving is fifty-two. I have no information as to the number of officers who have volunteered but are not serving. A large number of assistant medical officers of health, superintendents of isolation hospitals, Poor Law medical officers, and school medical officers are also serving, but I have not the precise figures as to these classes of officers. In the Local Government Board's memorandum of the21st August, 1914, it was intimated to local authorities that they might properly grant leave of absence to officers in their employ who were already in His Majesty's Forces, or who joined them with their permission, and might properly make such allowances in respect of salary as they thought reasonable in the particular circumstances. Generally speaking, local authorities pay such officers during their absence the difference between their Civil pay and their Navy or Army pay, keep their positions vacant for them, and appoint temporary substitutes where necessary.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of medical officers of local administrative bodies in Ireland who have volunteered for service in the present War; the number of them serving; and the treatment of them by those bodies generally in regard to continuance of salary, payment of substitute, and keeping their positions vacant for them?

About twenty-six or twenty-seven Poor Law medical officers have been granted leave of absence to join the Army Medical Service. Their positions will be kept open for them. In some cases the guardians are paying the medical officer his salary and also paying the substitute; in others the salary is paid to the temporary substitute only.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of medical officers of local administrative bodies in Scotland who have volunteered for service in the present War; the number of them serving; and the treatment of them by those bodies generally in regard to continuance of salary, payment of substitute, and keeping their positions vacant for them?

I have no information as to the total number of medical officers of local authorities in Scotland who have volunteered for service. There are, so far as I am aware, 17 public health medical officers, 32 poor law medical officers, and 26 school medical officers (of whom some may also be health officers) who are or have been serving. I am informed that their posts are as a rule kept open for them. Health officers either receive full pay and nominate their own substitutes, or, if the local authority makes arrangements for carrying on their work, receive full pay less military pay (or a part thereof). In the case of the school medical officers, the local authorities have made arrangements to secure them against any financial loss. I have no information as to the financial arrangements in the case of Poor Law medical officers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the approximate loss which falls on the War Risks Insurance Fund through the sinking of the "Lusitania" and her cargo.

The "Lusitania" was insured under the Government Scheme. The amount of the insurance is, of course, large, but it is not thought desirable to publish the amounts for which particular ships are insured under the War Risks Scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any circular has been issued by the Labour Exchange Department in any parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire to employers of labour asking for a list of the men of military age in the employ of each firm; whether any other particulars are asked for; and whether any suggestion is made in the circular that the places of such men should be filled by men above military age or by women?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question, which is understood to refer to a form issued recently to shopkeepers throughout England and Wales at the instance of the Disributing Trades Committee, of which I am chairman. I am sending a copy of the form to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will draw the attention of the new Committee dealing with interned aliens to the fact that there are numbers of Czechs and Poles fighting on the side of Russia and of France; that there are very marked distinctions, both in their sympathies and in the treatment given to our prisoners by their country of origin, between Hungarians and our other enemies; and whether he will ask for the cases of Czechs, Poles, and Hungarians to be considered first?

I have no doubt that the points to which the hon. and gallant Member draws attention will be duly taken into consideration by the new Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to publish the retaliation decree of the German Government amending the Prize Ordinance of 30th September, 1909; and whether he can state in general terms what it claim to ordain?

A translation of the decree in question was published in the "London Gazette" of the 11th instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that it will be impossible within the period of one year to build up supplies of rum sufficient for the needs of the country; and that, if the three years' restriction was imposed after one year, it would gravely prejudice the sale of rum from His Majesty's rum-producing Colonies; and whether he will be prepared to amend the Immature Spirits (Restriction) Bill by taking powers further to extend the period of one year so as to safeguard these interests?

I have received representations in the sense suggested in the first two parts of the question. As regard the last part, I fear I cannot undertake to introduce an Amendment to the Bill on the lines indicated, but if at the end of a year it is found that the stocks will not allow of full compliance with the law, the matter will be further considered.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, according to the practice of the Irish Court of Chancery, a relator in a Chancery action is entitled to get the fiat of the Attorney-General without lodging any money as security for the defendant's costs; whether the present Master of the Rolls in Ireland has so held when a practising counsel; whether Lord Chief Justice Cherry, when Attorney-General for Ireland, gave his fiat to a labourer without requiring him to give any security for costs in the case of Attorney-General (Cahill) v. Allman and others; and if he will ascertain and state the grounds upon which Mr. Attorney-General Cherry required, as a condition of giving his fiat in the case of the Erasmus Smith Endowment, £400 to be lodged as security for the defendant's costs, thereby occasioning a further subsequent outlay of £21 to release that money?

The Attorney-General tells me that if he has a doubt whether a relator in a Chancery action is competent to answer the costs of the action, the Attorney-General is entitled, before giving his fiat, to require that security should be given. I am not aware what were the views of the present Master of the Rolls when he was a practising counsel. The answer to the third part of the question is, I understand, in the affirmative, but in that case the Master of the Rolls ordered the relator to give security, and the order was upheld by the Court of Appeal. In the case of the Erasmus Smith Endowment it must be assumed that the Attorney-General, in the exercise of his discretion, thought that the relator should be called upon to give security for costs.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Irvine estate, situate in the county Wexford, is not yet finally purchased, will he direct the Estates Commissioners to send down a valuer to value the property to see if it is sufficient guarantee for the amount of the purchase money, as in several instances arrears of rent are stated to be added to the purchase money at the time of signing for purchase, and in many cases no Land Commissioner ever settled a fair rent on the land; and if, considering the present state of prices of living, he will direct a a valuation of the property before the advance is made?

The purchase agreements signed by the tenants on the Irvine estate are at prices which, in the great majority of the holdings, come within the zone provisions of Section 1 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and in these cases the holdings are under the Statute deemed to be security for the advances applied for by the tenants. The Estates Commissioners inform me that the holdings which do not come within the zones will be inspected at an early date for the purpose of ascertaining whether they are adequate security for the advances for which application has been made.

also asked the amount of land purchase arrears paid in county Wexford by the purchasers since the last statement of deficiency supplied to the county council; if previous arrears paid have been credited to the county council; and if payments made in abatement of the last deficiency will be similarly credited?

The amount of land purchase arrears recovered from defaulting annuitants in county Wexford since the last draft was made on the Guarantee Fund in the early part of the present year is £2,907. The answer to the last two parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state in how many cases since 1903 the Land Commission has failed to make defaulting purchase annuitants in county Limerick pay up, giving each year separately, and the total, if any, of such irrecoverable annuities?

There has so far been no case of ultimate failure to recover arrears of Land Purchase Annuities under the Irish Land Act, 1903, in county Limerick, none of which have accordingly been written off as irrecoverable.

asked on what grounds the application of John Goulding, Carhoora, Tarbert, North Kerry, for an old age pension was rejected; and whether he can state by what means or method the pension officer estimates the living of an applicant exceeds £31 10s. per year.

John Goulding's claim was disallowed on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. The estimate is based on the value of the benefits and privileges enjoyed by the claimant on a farm carrying seventeen cows which he had assigned to his son. Such benefits would appear to be worth more than £31 10s. per annum, even if the assignment of the farm was not made for the purpose of qualifying for a pension.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the total number of male children charged by the police during the years 1913 and 1914, giving the number charged by their own parents for being beyond control and thieving from parents, respectively; and the number of children charged during each quarter of 1914 and up to 31st March, 1915?

During the year 1913 about 19,400 boys under fourteen were charged with offences, but the numbers charged by the police, by their parents or by other persons cannot be distinguished; 210 boys, not charged with particular offences, were found by the Courts to be beyond parental control and sent to industrial schools. The figures for 1914 are not yet available, and there are no quarterly returns.

asked the Home Secretary the number of children for whom accommodation has been provided at the Pontin Road, Harrow Road, and Pentonville Road places of detention, respectively; whether any alteration has been made in the number accommodated at the latter remand home; and, if so, will he give the date when such alteration was made?

I am informed by the London County Council that the accommodation at present provided in places, of detention under their control is as follows:—Harrow Road: Forty boys between thirteen and sixteen years of age.Pentonville Road: Fifty-one boys between seven and thirteen years of age.Pontin Road: Forty infants under seven years of age; thirty girls between seven and sixteen years of age.The accommodation at Pentonville Road was fixed as above on 2nd July, 1914. Previously it accommodated fifty-one boys between seven and twelve years of age, and thirty-three girls between seven and eleven years of age.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he will state the net Excise Revenue of India for the years 1900–1, 1905–6, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1912–13, and 1913–14, respectively; and what was the amount of country spirits consumed in each of these years in Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Behar, the United Provinces, the Punjab, and the Central Provinces, respectively?

Tables showing the net Excise Revenue and the total issues of country spirit for consumption in distillery areas are appended. There is no record of the quantity of country spirits consumed in areas under the outstill system. In the period covered by the tables there has been a considerable extension of the area under the distillery system.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the staff employed at the India Store Depot are paid on the same scale as the staffs at other Government depots are paid?

Apart from the special increases of two shillings and three shillings

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Post and Telegraph (Northampton) Society, formed under official auspices, was, on the passing of the National Insurance Act, in such a condition that the death benefits payable to the old members were reduced by 75 per cent.; and whether he can cause an inquiry to be held into the position of the society?

I understand that in March, 1914, the Actuary reported that the benefits payable by the NorthamptonBenevolent Society were on too generous a scale, and that at the annual meeting of the society in June last it was decided to adopt the measures, including in some cases reduction of death benefits, which the Actuary regarded as essential to the financial soundness of the society. In these circumstances I see no reason to intervene in the matter.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether, with a view to restrict the use of morphia to medical and legitimate purposes, it is the intention of the British Government to sign the special protocol prepared as the result of the third Hague Opium Conference in June, 1914, which has already been signed by China, the United States, and the Netherlands?

A protocol has been opened at The Hague to receive the signatures of those Powers who intend to put the Opium Convention into force without waiting for the ratification by all the Signatory Powers. I do not, however, consider it practicable in the existing circum- stances to take any action at present beyond depositing the ratification of the signature of the British delegates, which has already been done. It has been the guiding principle of His Majesty's Government throughout the protracted negotiations that, though fully prepared to make all useful sacrifices in the interests of humanity, they could only secure the objects of the Convention, namely, the suppression of the illicit trade not only in morphia but also in opium, cocaine, and other noxious drugs, by practically universal international co-operation. The attainment of those objects is not, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, likely to be hastened by action on their part in the sense indicated by the hon. Member.