asked the Prime Minister if he can state for the Army and Navy, respectively, for the period of the War ended 31st May, the losses from death or invalidation through disease?

I regret that I cannot give these figures at the present time, as it would involve great labour on the Departments concerned.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state, with reference to the figures given as to casualties down to 31st May, whether the total of killed includes the deaths of those who have died of wounds?

The figures given include deaths from wounds.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to take special steps towards educating and influencing public opinion in habits of economy during the War?

Certain steps are being taken, and the whole subject is under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister if steps are being taken to prevent the waste of several tons of unconsumed human food now daily being destroyed by fire in the military camps in order to prevent injury to the health of the troops by its putrefaction?

Specially appointed inspectors are continuously employed in visiting the camps and advising on methods for the prevention of waste.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that the men engaged on electroplating and nickel-plating of surgical instruments made in Sheffield for Government work, though working long hours in the national service, find it impossible to obtain a war service badge; and whether he will take steps to see that the badge is given to these workers?

The issue of badges to men employed in the trades referred to has not hitherto been authorised. The whole question, however, is now being further considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state what are the rations which the men of the Army Veterinary Corps in Egypt receive?

The men of the Army Veterinary Corps receive similar rations to those provided for other soldiers of the Regular Army serving in Egypt. The precise details of the scale of rations fixed for the troops have not yet been reported to the War Office.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state what steps, if any, are being taken to prevent the destruction by fire in the neighbourhood of the military camps of hundreds of tons of stable manure at a time when all artificial fertilisers are expensive and some are unobtainable?

The Board are in communication with the War Office, at whose invitation one of the officers of the Board has recently visited the camps on Salisbury Plain, with a view to devise means for dealing with the problem to which the hon Member refers. The shortage of horses makes it difficult sometimes to make satisfactory arrangements for the removal of manure, but I feel sure that farmers and the responsible military authorities will do their best to arrange for the proper utilisation of all fertilising material.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether there is any special Department of the Irish Office corresponding to the Children Department of the Home Office; and, if not, whether he will consider the formation of such a special Department?

No Department of the Irish Government has been constituted exclusively for the purpose of the Children Act, 1908. The central administration of the Act is carried out in the office of the Chief Secretary, who replaces the Secretary of State in Ireland, and in the office of the Chief Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools. I do not consider that there is any case for the creation of a special Department.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether there is any special Department of the Scottish Office corresponding to the Children Department of the Home Office; and, if not, whether he will consider the formation of such a special Department?

The answer is in the negative. The number of the Scottish Office staff is not such as to permit of specialisation such as is possible in larger Departments.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of holidays due during the year 1914 to Michael J. Murphy, auxiliary postman, Bangor, Erris, county Mayo?

Before 1914 it was not the practice generally to grant annual leave to auxiliary postmen. Now, however, in accordance with the recommendation of the recent Select Committee, auxiliary postmen are granted twelve days' annual leave. Mr. Murphy benefits under this concession, but as he is only employed four days a week he is considered as entitled to eight working days' leave. The question whether auxiliary postmen employed for less than six days a week should get the full twelve working days' leave has been referred to the Gibb Committee.