asked the Secretary to the Treasury for what purposes loans are now being made by the Public Works Loan Board; what is the total amount loaned by the Board since the beginning of the current financial year; and what were the corresponding figures for the same period last year?

At the present time loans are only granted by the Public Works Loan Commissioners where it can be shown that their purpose is urgently necessary, in the national interests, for the furtherance of the War, or is of urgent necessity for reasons of public health. This arrangement has been made in pursuance of the Government's general policy of postponing or avoiding all new capital expenditure wherever possible, in view of the paramount necessity of conserving the capital resources of the country in the national interests. New loans are therefore only granted in respect of works for which a local authority is able to produce evidence of Treasury or Local Government Board approval, granted since the special restrictions arising out of the needs of the War have been effective. In cases where loans have already been granted, but either have not yet been advanced or have been only partially advanced, the Public Works Loan Commissioners require that all possible efforts must be made by the local authority concerned to postpone or delay expenditure in connection with the loan, and advances are not made out of the loan unless it can be shown that these efforts have-been made. The total amount of new loans granted from 1st April, 1915, to 7th June, 1915, was £27,454, as compared with £809,649 during the corresponding period of 1914. The total amount advanced was £419,271, as compared with £710,445 for the corresponding period of 1914. This amount represents, for the most part, advances in respect of loans which had been granted prior to the new restrictions.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any person's in His Majesty's naval forces have since the commencement of the War suffered death upon conviction by court-martial; and for what offences such persons have so suffered?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether any persons in His Majesty's military forces have since the commencement of the War suffered death upon conviction by court-martial; and for what offences such persons have so suffered?

Yes, Sir, it may be seen by reference to the Army Act for what offences the penalty of death may be awarded by a court-martial.

asked the Under-Secretary for War the number of recruits obtained for the Regular Army in each county, city, and county borough in England and Wales from the 1st August, 1914, to the latest date for which figures are available?

I would refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chippenham on the 7th instant.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that of the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance, Sherwood Foresters' Brigade, now with the Expeditionary Force in France, each company man has been called upon to contribute a half-franc and each transport man one franc towards a claim made by Mr. J. B. Joel, in whose stables at Bushwood, near St. Albans, were quartered for some weeks towards the end of last year the transport section of this corps; that pressure has been exercised to compel the men to pay, although some of them were billeted as far as two miles front the stables; and whether he will take steps to ensure these men not being called on to pay for damage done by horses?

I have no information with regard to this case, but I am having inquiries made, and will let the hon. Member know the result in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether anything can be done to expedite the payment of compensation to owners and occupiers of premises whose property has been damaged as the result of being used by troops; whether he can see his way to institute some simple method of local arbitration for the assessment of the amount to be paid; and whether he will cause a short general notice to be issued with reference to the ascertainment and payment of such compensation for the guidance of individuals concerned?

The assessment of these claims is the duty for which the Royal Commission, presided over by the right hon. and learned Member for Exeter was appointed, and every effort is being made to accelerate the work and the payment of compensation. The form of claim approved by the Commission is issued to-all claimants in due course, and explains fully the procedure to be followed.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that James Barry, of Mullingar, dependant of Private Barry, though now receiving a weekly instalment; from his son's pay, has not yet received the arrears of the money allotted to him by his son from when he joined last September till the end of April; and, those arrears being urgently needed, will he say when they will be paid?

There appears to have been an oversight in notifying the allotment to the paymaster. Payment of arrears has now been made from 11th January (when the allotment began), but there is no evidence of any allotment from September to January.

asked the Home Secretary the number of men within the age for military service, excluding the Army and Navy, at the date of the last Census, and the estimated number on the 1st August, 1914, in each county, city, and county borough in England and Wales, and the number in each of those areas; who have since joined the Regular Army,, including all ranks?

In so far as the information asked for is available in the published Census Returns it is already accessible to the hon. Member; in so far as it is not, I am afraid I can only refer him to the many answers which have already been given on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is able to state the quantities of raw cotton and cotton yarn imported during the month of April by the Scandinavian countries and Holland from Great Britain and other countries, respectively; and if he can give the corresponding figures for the month of April, 1914?

submitted the following statement, showing, for the month of April, 1914 and 1915 (1) the imports of raw cotton and cotton yarns into the Netherlands, and (2) the exports of raw cotton and cotton yarns from the United Kingdom to the Scandinavian countries and to the Netherlands:—

(1) Imports into the Netherlands. (Compiled from Dutch Official Returns).
—	April, 1911.	April, 1915.
	Tons.	Tons.
Raw Cotton—
From United Kingdom	546	2,886
From Other Countries	5,366	8,067
Cotton Yarns (returned by quantity)—
From United Kingdom	2,185	2,175
From Other Countries	1,060	40
Cotton Yarns (returned by value)—	Gulden.	Gulden.
From United Kingdom	107,000	614,000
From Other Countries	136,000	62,000

(2) Exports from the United Kingdom to Scandinavian Countries and to the Netherlands. (Complied by the Statistical Office of the Customs).

—	April, 1914	April, 1915.
	Centals.*	Centals.*
Raw Cotton—
To Sweden	2,411	30,239
To Norway	736	26,472
To Denmark	Nil.	13,949
To Netherlands	4,204	108,099
Cotton Yarns—	Lbs.	Lbs.
To Sweden	103,300	266,800
To Norway	245,900	397,600
To Denmark	89,700	211,900
To Netherlands	3,606,100	4,667,800
* Of 100 lbs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the quantity of raw cotton imported into, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland for the period from 1st January to 31st March, 1914 and 1915, respectively, and for the months of April, 1914 and 1915, respectively?

The following statement gives the information desired by the hon. Member so far as the particulars are available:—

QUANTITY OF RAW COTTON IMPORTED.
—	1914.	1915.
Into Norway—	Metric tons	Metric tons.
January	501	2,014
February	267	1,801
March	301	Information not available.
April	321
Into Sweden—
January	3,173	5,400
February	2,023	21,467
March	2,452	29,126
April	2,427	Information not available.
Into Denmark—
January	545	Information not available.
February	513
March	554
April	515
Into Netherlands—
January	7,999	9,267
February	9,966	12,453
March	13,632	20,252
April	12,859	17,204

Note.—Quantities are shown in metric tons of 2,204 lbs.

asked the quantity of raw cotton exported from Great Britain to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Holland, respectively, for the months of March and April, 1914 and 1915?

The following statement gives the particulars desired by the hon. Member:—

EXPORTS OF RAW COTTON FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM.
—	In March, 1914.	In March, 1915.
	Centals of 100 lbs.	Centals of 100 lbs.
Sweden	959	15,407
Norway	569	29,228
Denmark	—	4,182
Netherlands	1,038	45,939
	In April, 1914.	In April, 1915.
	Centals of 100 lbs.	Centals of 100 lbs.
Sweden	2,411	30,239
Norway	736	26,472
Denmark	—	13,949
Netherlands	4,204	108,009

asked the Postmaster-General if it would be possible to reduce the rate of postage on parcels for troops at the front to the rate prevalent in Great Britain, and to extend the same reduction to illustrated papers?

As my predecessor stated in answer to previous questions, a reduction of postage charges on parcels for the Army is not practicable on account of the large increase in the number and weight of the parcels which might be expected to follow, and the excessive burden that would be thrown upon the military authorities to provide the additional transport required. As it is, the number of parcels sent daily to the Expeditionary Force in France has increased from 12,000 in November and 18,000 in February, when previous answers on the subject were given in the House, to between 60,000 and 70,000 at the present time. In addition, about half a million letters and newspapers are sent daily, and the total weight of mail matter is about 100 tons a day. I greatly regret that in these circumstances I cannot adopt the suggestion in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any German and Austrian vessels in Argentine ports have been provisionally sold; and if His Majesty's Government in any way recognise such transfers?

The information in the possession of His Majesty's Government is shown in the following table:—

Name of Ship.	Nationality.	Neutral Port of Refuge.	Observations.
"Libuse"	Austrian	Buenos Aires	Austrian interest bought out by British mortgagee, who was former owner Vessel retransferred to British flag.
"Frigida"	Austrian	Buenos Aires	Purchased and transferred to Argentine flag. Renamed "Moinho Fluminense."
"Eugenia"	Austrian	Buenos Aires	Purchased with a view to transfer to Italianflag. Renamed "Stella Polare."
"Atlanta"	Austrian	Buenos Aires	Purchased with a view to transfer to Italian flag. Renamed "Lombarda."
"Hieronymus Ipland"	German	Buenos Aires	Purchased and transferred to Argentine flag. Renamed "Paz."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that many patriotic persons would be willing to lodge their spare cash in the Post Office Savings Bank, thereby lending the money to the Government at a low rate of interest, but are hampered by the restriction to £50 in one year and £200 in all; and, with a view to taking full advantage of this desire to help, and keeping in view that many of the working classes are in a position to save more money than for many years past, will he consider whether the special circumstances of the times would justify the Government in taking powers to alter the present limitation for the period of the War?

I am giving careful attention to this suggestion and also to the general question of facilitating investment in Government loans through the Post Office Savings Banks.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that many public baths and washhouses are conducted at a yearly loss to the ratepayers; that in order to minimise this loss borough councils have endeavoured, with success, to turn swimming baths to other uses during the winter months; that a recent case has revealed unforeseen legal limitations on the power of local authorities to do this; and, with a view to reducing the burdens on ratepayers, will he consider the desirability of introducing a short measure amending the law relating to public baths and washhouses, so as to permit local authorities to let public baths for continuous use during the winter season for such things as cinematograph shows, which were not contemplated when the principal Baths and Washhouses Acts were enacted, and other similar entertainments, and to allow money to be taken at the door?

I am aware of the practice of local authorities in this matter and of the decision in the case referred to. I could not, however, undertake to propose legislation on the subject at the present time.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many young persons within the meaning of the Children Act, 1908, were received into prisons in Scotland in 1914?

The number is eleven.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the practice with respect to the supply of Bibles to persons in Scotland undergoing penal servitude or imprisonment, or detained as habitual criminals, or in institutions corresponding the Borstal institutions?

A prison rule provides that each prisoner shall be furnished with a Bible and Prayer-book, such as is approved for the denomination to which he belongs. This rule applies to all the classes referred to in the question.

likewise asked whether the Local Government Board for Scotland will require parish councils to supply copies of the Bible to all the older children in Poor Law schools, not being either Roman Catholics or Jews, as their own personal property?

The Scottish practice is not to send pauper children to Poor Law schools, but to keep them in institutions for the shortest period possible, and while there to send them to the local board schools, in which case they will have a Bible as one of their school books.

next asked whether the Local Government Board for Scotland have power to require parish councils to supply to all inmates of poor houses or Poor Law infirmaries copies of the Bible if such inmates so desire; and, if so, whether the Board will exercise that power?

I am not aware that the Board have any such power, but there are chaplains in connection with all such institutions, and I am advised that there is no reason to doubt that any requests they put forward for supplies of Bibles are complied with.