asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the House the text of any circular letter issued by, or with the authority of, the Treasury fixing the rates of pay to women doing men's work with men's efficiency considerably lower than the rates paid to their male predecessors?

The following extract from the circular referred to by the hon. Member gives the rates of pay in question:—

asked the Minister of Munitions if he proposes to take any and, if so, what steps to prevent the importation of cotton into Germany?

I have been asked to answer this question. His Majesty's Government are already taking the following steps to prevent the importation of cotton into Germany:—Its export from this country is prohibited to all foreign ports in Europe and on the Mediterranean and Black Seas other than those of France, Russia (except Baltic ports), Belgium, Spain and Portugal. No exports are, in fact, allowed to Belgium. All cotton from overseas suspected of possessing an enemy destination is brought in, and where it is found that these suspicions are justified the ship is required to discharge the cotton, and it is restored to the owner on such terms as the Prize Court may consider just.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether steps have been taken to recall from the Colours the 17,000 employés of the shipbuilding firms on the Clyde, Tyne, and Tees, also skilled engineers and fitters, for the employment of these men on military and naval work at home, following the course which has already been adopted by the French Government under similar circumstances?

Large numbers of specially skilled men have been already released from the Colours for naval and military work at home. Further steps are being taken in conjunction with the Ministry of Munitions of War.

asked the Under-Secretary whether he has any information to the effect of statements made in letters received from prisoners of war in Germany belonging to the Leinster Regiment that they are in urgent need of food and clothes?

No information has reached the War Office that prisoners of war of the Leinster Regiment are in want of food and clothes.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he has considered the practicability and desirability, during the hot weather, of cremating the dead on the field of battle?

The question of the disposal of the dead is entirely a matter for the discretion of the military authorities in the zone of operations.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he will give a list of the items of Government clothing, personal clothing, kits of accessories, and accoutrements now issued by the Army Ordnance Department or county territorial associations to men joining the Yeomanry; and what is the approximate cost of the complete outfit?

The clothing, necessaries, and accoutrements of the Yeomanry comprise:—Jacket, trousers, pantaloons, greatcoat, cardigan waistcoat, cap, drawers, boots, canvas shoes, spurs, puttees, shirts, socks, cap, comforter, comb and brush, clasp knife, table knife, spoon, fork, razor, housewife, towels, identity disc, braces, holdall, kitbag, waterbottle, haversack, mess-tin, and bandolier equipment. The cost fluctuates with contract prices, but may be taken as approaching £12 at present.

asked the Under-Secretary for War, in reference to the fact that since 1st June the average casualties per day have been over 2,500, whether he can state the probable number of widows and orphans which have been created every day through the enlistment of married men?

I regret that I am unable to give an answer to this question at the present time. If it were to be of any value, a great deal of research into soldiers' documents would be required, and the result would hardly justify the time and labour involved.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can hold out to auxiliary postmen enlisting in the Army the hope that at the conclusion of the War they will obtain, where possible, full-time appointments?

In view of the claims of soldiers with longer Army service, I fear that any such assurance would give rise to expectations which could seldom be fulfilled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst the Irish railway employés respecting the war bonus; and whether he will take measures to press the railway companies to grant the request of the men, as a bonus has been given generally by nearly all public bodies and very many private employers?

I understand that the Irish railway companies have already granted a war bonus to their employés.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, owing to the action of the Railway Executive Committee, the privilege of cheap fares for blind children who have to use railways to go to and from their schools has been discontinued; and if he can see his way to recommend that the privilege referred to may be renewed?

I understand that all the cheap booking facilities previously granted to children for the purpose of attending school have been withdrawn, and I fear that no modification of the existing arrangements in this respect can be looked for at present.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps with a view to the making of rules under the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1879, and the Children Act, 1908, by which in every case of proceedings for a sexual offence in respect of a girl under the age of sixteen the court of summary jurisdiction shall be cleared to the full extent allowed by law while the girl is giving evidence, subject to the right of the mother or some other female relative or friend of the girl to be present; and whether he will communicate with justices' clerks and the police authorities with a view to having the preliminary statements of such girls as regards such offences made privately to women?

There is no power to make formal rules for the purpose mentioned in the question, but Section 114 of the Children Act gives the justices power to hear such cases in private, and the Home Office, in a circular issued a few years ago, urged that "where a girl appears as a witness in a case of the nature now in question she should not be examined without the presence of a woman, either her mother or some relative or friend, and where she is not accompanied by her mother or anyone standing in the place of her mother, it will generally be advisable to utilise the services of a police matron. The Secretary of State considers that in the interests of justice as well as of humanity it is of great importance that every possible means should be taken to lessen the strain inevitably put upon modest girls in such circumstances." The same considerations apply to the taking of any preliminary statements by the police.