asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a number of metal trade firms in Birmingham, including Messrs. Wilkes, Mapple-back and Company. Limited, Messrs. Elliotts, Limited, Selly Oak, and the Birmingham Battery Company, Limited, Selly Oak, are engaged on contracts for the War Department, and that they refuse to pay to all workmen the overtime rates of wages in accordance with an agreement made between the Metal Trades Employers' Federation and the Workmen's Allied Trades Federation; and if he will have inquiry made into the matter and take action?

The firms mentioned hold War Department contracts. I am not aware of the fact stated in the second part of the question, but I will have inquiry made into the matter.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that a number of metal trade firms in Birmingham, including Messrs. Wilkes, Mapple-back and Company, Limited, Messrs. Elliotts, Limited, Selly Oak, and the Birmingham Battery Company, Limited, Selly Oak, are engaged on contracts for the Admiralty, and that they refuse to pay to all workmen the overtime rates of wages in accordance with an agreement made between the Metal Trades Employers' Federation and the Workmen's Allied Trades Federation; and if he will have inquiry made into the matter and take action?

The firms mentioned hold Admiralty contracts. We have no information to the effect stated in the second part of the question. I understand that the War Office will investigate the matter, and the Admiralty will keep in touch with that Department.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is able to utilise the inexhaustible supply of labour in India for the purpose of manufacturing munitions of war?

I am in consultation with the Munitions Committee and the Government of India on the subject, and can assure my hon. Friend that it is receiving the fullest consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the urgency of the matter, he will forthwith publish the promised scheme of Government insurance against injury from air raids and other attacks by the enemy?

I am not in a position to add anything to the answer which I gave on Thursday last to the hon. Member for Mid-Kent and to the hon. Member for Limehouse to-day.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board of Agriculture have any official information showing, as stated by the chairman of the Associated Chambers of Agriculture, that there is likely to be a shortage of wheat during the coming autumn; and, if so, what steps do they propose to take to meet the difficulty?

The Board see no reason at present to anticipate a shortage of wheat during the coming autumn, but the whole subject of future supplies continues to receive their close attention.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has received information showing that the smaller farmers are forced to sell immature or breeding stock by reason of the rate of interest demanded by the banks for temporary accommodation being seldom not less than 1 per cent. above bank rate; and whether he has considered the feasibility of giving relief to agricultural credit, and thus obviating the depletion of our live stock, by establishing institutions for giving credit somewhat on the lines followed by the Danish agricultural and land banks?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The establishment of a wholly satisfactory system of agricultural credit has proved very difficult in this country, and it is not easy to follow any foreign model or method. The Board of Agriculture has been in close touch with the Agricultural Organisation Society for some time on the subject, and that society is working on lines which seem to be most likely to achieve good results, and considering the present rate of national expenditure I am afraid that it would not be possible to expect that the Chancellor of the Exchequer could supply the funds for any large scheme of State assistance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state what steps he is taking to enable men of non-military age and women willing to work to assist in getting in the approaching harvest of hay and cereals?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The farmers have been invited by the Board of Agriculture to supply to the Labour Exchanges particulars of any shortage of labour which they may experience. A large number of offers by men of non-military age and women to work at the hay and corn harvest have been made to the Labour Exchanges and these will be used as they are required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can now issue instructions to the public on the best means of obviating the effect of asphyxiating incendiary and explosive shells?

The instructions prepared by the Commissioner of Police and approved by the Admiralty appeared in the Press on the 18th of June.

asked the I Secretary to the Treasury whether retired military officers receive their full pay as well as their pensions on resuming military service; whether retired naval officers receive their full pay plus 25 per cent., but no pension money, on resuming naval service; whether the additional 25 per cent. represents the equivalent of the withdrawn pension money; and, if not, what is the reason for this difference of treatment in the pay of the retired officers of the two Services, respectively?

The facts are substantially as stated in the first two parts of the question. In this matter, as in many others, the regulations of the Army and Navy are on different lines; there is no reasons to suppose that on the whole the Navy is under any disadvantages.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mr. Sheehy Skeffington is wearing prison clothes and doing hard labour; whether he is being forcibly fed; and what is his present physical condition?

Sheehy Skeffington was discharged temporarily on the 15th instant, on account of health. The answers to the first two parts of the question are accordingly in the negative, and with regard to the last part I have no information.