asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, having regard to the comparative absence of crime in Ireland, culminating in the blank or trivial calendars disclosed at the Assizes just held there, and to the fact that policemen, thus left without duties, are still seven times as numerous in Ireland as in this country in proportion to population, if he will say on what grounds he keeps that armed and drilled force idle in Ireland while offering inducements to peasants engaged in food production to abandon that occupation and enlist; and whether, on the grounds of economy and utility, he will first offer equal inducements to the Royal Irish Constabulary to the extent of half that force, and subsequently to the extent of the other half if required for the War?

The circumstances in Ireland, incorrectly appreciated in the hon. Member's question, are not such as to justify the reduction in the Royal Irish Constabulary suggested by him. A considerable number of the Royal Irish Constabulary have enlisted in the Army.

Will the right hon. Gentleman offer facilities to encourage them to enlist, instead of tempting young peasants who are producing food?

We give every assistance for the enlistment of these gallant men, who display every desire to go, and, if more have not gone, I am afraid that it is not they but I who must bear the burden of it.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether His Majesty's Government intend to proceed with the construction of a Labour Exchange at Cardiff, at a cost of £70,000, during the War?

It is hoped to postpone the erection of the building referred to, and negotiations to this end are now being entered into.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the e amount of raw cotton and manufactured cotton, respectively, exported from the country to neutral countries during the last two months?

During the months of May and June, 1915, the quantity of raw cotton re-exported from the United Kingdom to neutral countries amounted to 59,426,000 lbs., valued at £1,677,215. In the same period the value of all kinds of manufactured cotton goods exported and re-exported from the United Kingdom to neutral countries amounted to £5,335,955.

For two months?

For the months of May and June, 1915.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the service of steamers on the Firth of Clyde has been considerably restricted by the requirements of the Admiralty; and whether he proposes to take any extra precautions to prevent dangerous overcrowding on those steamers now plying on the Firth?

The steamer service on the Clyde is limited to the minimum necessary, pleasure and excursion sailing being restricted as at all other ports. No reports have been received of overcrowding on the steamers, but the Board of Trade are being communicated with in case any special precautions are necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether the town council of Glasgow has brought to his notice the increases in the rents of working-class houses in Glasgow since the outbreak of war; whether his attention has been called to the fact that the French Government has introduced a Bill for the pur- pose of regulating and reducing rents; and whether he proposes to take any action; and (2) whether he is aware that there has been an increase in the rent of working-class houses in Glasgow since the outbreak of the War, and that there are instances in which tenants have twice had their rents raised since August last; and whether he proposes to set up Fair-rent Courts in munitions areas?

There has been some, increase in working-class rents in certain districts of Glasgow, but no general upward movement throughout the country, such increases as have occurred being mainly owing, I am informed, to the rise in local rates. I am not aware of any French Bill on the subject, but a decree was promulgated in January last dealing with extension of time for payment of rent in certain cases—a point which in this country is sufficiently covered by the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act. As at present advised I doubt the need for fresh legislation setting up Fair-rent Courts, but should such necessity arise the Government will not fail to seek fresh powers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are cases in which the rents have been raised twice since the War commenced?

I have had a good many individual cases brought to my notice, but I had none in which they have been raised twice. If the hon. Gentleman will let me know what they are I will certainly inquire.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any expression of opinion that the increase of rental is not due to increase in rates but is sometimes due to the increased allowance to the dependants of soldiers, so that they could pay more?

Yes, I have heard that opinion expressed, but in the cases in which I have inquired the reason given in each case has been the increase in local rates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the information concerning piece rates of wages paid to women for weaving khaki which was recently obtained by the War Office has been supplied to him; and if the information referred to includes the piece rates of wages paid to women who were then weaving khaki for sub-contractors as well as the piece rates of wages paid by persons and firms holding their contracts direct from the Government?

The information obtained by the War Office as to the piece rates of wages paid to women for weaving khaki has been submitted by the War Office to the Board of Trade for examination. The information relates solely to weavers employed by firms holding their contracts direct from the Government.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether costly requirements as to size of classes and class-rooms, cubic contents of air, new buildings and equipments, and the like conditions, are being relaxed during the War in order to effect the necessary economies in expenditure?

I may refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Newbury yesterday, and to the Board's Circular 903 of the 8th April last, a copy of which I am sending to him. On general grounds I am disposed to think that it is better that the erection of buildings should be postponed than that the standard of convenience, comfort, and suitability should be lowered during the War.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is intended to open the new county school at Berriew, in view of the fact that there is no lack of school accommodation in the district and that the opening of the school would involve a large increase in the cost of education?

The necessity of a council school at Berriew was determined by the Board on the 18th July, 1913, after a public inquiry into all the circumstances of the case. The school has since been erected, and the arrangements in regard to the opening are a matter within the jurisdiction of the local education authority, and not of the Board of Education.

asked the President of the Board of Education if there is any intention to close the Church school at Cemmaes and, if so, on what grounds; and if, having regard to the feeling of the parents of children attending this school, he will refuse to sanction any proposal to close it?

The case of this little school is at present under the consideration of the Board.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very great costliness of small schools, where often the individual cost per head is £6, £7, or £8, against £3 in large schools?

The Board is aware of that, and those are the things we have to take into consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman try to close the small schools so as to save money?

We are going to take each case on its merits.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these schools are often situated in sparsely populated districts?

That is one of the factors we could not lose sight of.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also consider the reasonable demands of the religious beliefs of the parents of the children attending those schools?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that at the last meeting of the Port Talbot group of school managers a resolution was passed providing that no male teachers should be appointed during the War; whether this was done at the suggestion of the Glamorgan education authority; and whether such a policy has the sanction or approval of the Board of Education?

The Board of Education have no information with reference to the matters referred to in the hen Member's question, but I am making inquiries of the local education authority.

asked the Postmaster-General, having regard to the fact that Mrs. Weedon, of 68, Bermondsey Street, S.E., was at a loss of £5 sent to her in a letter registered by her husband in France, who is serving there -with the Colours, and which loss the postal authorities in England refuse to make good, if he will cause notices to be posted in the post offices in the British Isles and, where possible, in France stating that any money or notes posted in France for relations in England will be sent at the owner's risk, even though registered and will not be made good if stolen or lost?

My right hon. Friend is asking the authorities abroad whether they can arrange to give greater publicity to the fact that compensation is not payable in respect of losses of registered letters due to causes beyond control, and to suggest to the troops that remittances should be made by means of the money order system.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if resolutions have been received from the university courts of the Scottish universities desiring that powers should be given to modify the application of particular ordinances to the case of students engaged in military or other war service; and if he is prepared to further that object?

The answer to both parts of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. To give effect to the wishes of the universities legislation is necessary, and a Bill is being prepared which, I hope, will be introduced very shortly. I think it is very likely to be introduced in another place this afternoon.

asked if Private John J. Anderson, 1,126, of the Cameron Highlanders, is still in the county hospital, Bedford; whether he has been there six months; whether he is convalescent and fit to travel; and, if so, when will he be sent to his home to recuperate or to a convalescent hospital at or near his home at Nairn?

I am informed that Private Anderson was admitted to the county hospital at Bedford on 11th January and that he is still there. He is fit to travel, and instructions were issued several days ago for his transfer to the Scottish General Hospital, Aberdeen.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, as the relatives of many Highland soldiers cannot afford the journey to the South, he will endeavour to arrange that convalescent soldiers belonging to the North of Scotland shall, as far as practicable, be sent to convalescent hospitals in the North in the place of convalescent Belgians, whose relatives would prefer them to be in the South?

Endeavours are being made to find a suitable place in the North for the establishment of a convalescent hospital.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are three hospitals in Morayshire chiefly occupied by Belgian soldiers? Is it not more suitable to send Scottish soldiers there?

I think that probably it would be if the accommodation were sufficient. It ought to be a fairly large establishment to be taken over by the Government.

Does the right hon. Gentleman take into account that these Scottish soldiers did not do well in the South?

I am aware of the peculiarities of my countrymen, but I was not aware that that was one.

asked the Prime Minister if arrangements can be made by which free insurance can be allowed to all men serving either in the Army or Navy for any sums remitted by them to relations in Great Britain, in order to prevent a recurrence of cases similar to that of Mrs. Weedon, of 68, Bermondsey Street, S.E., whose husband sent her £5 in a registered letter which was lost, and which the British postal authorities refuse to make good?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I regret that I could not recommend a system of free insurance, which might impose in certain circumstances a very considerable liability on the State. Money can be remitted from the Front without any such risk by the money orders obtainable at French post offices.

asked the Prime Minister whether any and, if so, what steps can and will be taken to suppress the organs of the Independent Labour Party and the Union of Democratic Control?

The action of these and other organs is being carefully watched, and the question of increasing the powers conferred by the Defence of the Realm Regulations is being considered.

Was not a member of the council of the Union of Democratic Control appointed a member of the Coalition Government?

I am not aware of that.

A Cabinet Minister.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lncaster recently gave an interview to a correspondent of a Dutch newspaper; and if he will say if the views expressed in that interview, and published in Holland, may be taken as expressing the views of His Majesty's Government?

I am aware that my right hon. Friend gave an interview to a correspondent of a Dutch newspaper. The interview was unofficial, but nothing that my right hon. Friend is reported to have said appears to be inconsistent with the policy of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether, under existing arrangements, any of the American cotton crop due for shipment in September can be shipped to Germany; and will he say when cotton will be made absolute contraband of war?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I have nothing to add to what was said by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs this week.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of recent statements by the President of the Board of Agriculture as to the possibility of the risk of food shortage, he will con-eider the appointment of a Minister of Food Supplies, who could co-ordinate all information and deal with the problem of our food supplies as a whole, whether produced in this country or abroad?

These matters are being carefully investigated by two Committees, and I am satisfied that the present arrangements are working satisfactorily.

asked what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take with regard to the Welsh Church (Postponement) Bill?

I must refer to the answer I gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Kingston, which was circulated with the Votes yesterday.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Suspensory Act only postpones the Welsh Church Act until the 18th September next, unless an Order in Council is promulgated? Does he therefore contemplate advising the issue of an Order in Council?

The question on the Paper is with regard to the Postponement Bill.

The question of the Suspensory Act was raised yesterday, and no answer was given.

If the right hon. Gentleman will be good enough to refer to the answer which I circulated, he will see that the Government propose to put themselves into communication with all the parties interested.

Are they taking steps to call that conference now?

I have no doubt they are.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that seven non-Welsh Members have given notice to move the rejection of this Bill, while only five Welsh Members have done so? Will he give due weight to the English and Irish Members who are strongly opposed to the Bill?

I have not counted the names. I think it is a case in which the old maxim applies—ponderanda sunt testimonia, non numeranda.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of taking steps to find out the terms of peace which the enemy Governments will entertain; and whether such terms will include the evacuation of Belgium and North-Eastern France?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part, therefore, does not arise.

May I ask whether questions of this nature are not detrimental to the public interest?

That is a matter of opinion, upon which every Member must form his own judgment.

Has not the Prime Minister made a declaration that terms of peace will be given to the enemy when we get to Berlin?

Is it not the fact that both the Belgian people and the Belgian Government desire to see the Germans negotiated out of their country— [HON. MEMBERS: "Driven out!"]—and their country not blown to pieces?

I must really appeal to the House not to sanction in the form either of questions on the Paper or, still less, of supplementary questions, inquiries of this nature.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the damages will be paid which have been assessed and agreed by the Government surveyors as the result of the bombs dropped by Zeppelins in the air raid at Great Yarmouth, and which are not affected by the insurance scheme of the Government against such damage?

Before payment it is necessary to obtain from each claimant a declaration that he has not been repaid the damage under an insurance policy. Forms of declaration for this purpose have now been posted, and when the declarations are satisfactory payments will be made as they return.

It will not in any case be longer than the thirty days, which is stated as the time within which it will be paid under the insurance?

I hope not.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that until recently local boatmen at Deal found employment in conveying pilots afloat and ashore, and that they have now been deprived of such employment through the use of cutters to do this work; and whether, in view of the fact that Deal and other coast resorts are suffering severely through the dearth of visitors, he will restore to the boatmen the opportunity of earning a livelihood by the conveyance of pilots?

The circumstances were represented to the Admiralty last April, and Trinity House was communicated with. As a result of the consideration given to the matter, the boatmen were informed that it was regretted that the exigencies of the public service in the district under existing circumstances did not permit of the reversion to the practice followed in peace time. The Admiralty regret that they are unable to modify this decision.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that there are many per- sons who have served the Empire in various capacities who are now anxious and willing to do something towards the effective prosecution of the War; and whether he will give directions that offices shall be opened somewhat on the lines of Labour Exchanges, where the names and capabilities of applicants can be taken in the various localities?

:I understand that the Board of Trade have made special arrangements to deal with offers of the nature referred to in the question, and I do not think it is necessary to open new local offices throughout the country for the purpose indicated. The Board of Trade will be glad to give to the hon. Gentleman particulars of the arrangements which they have made.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say of how many of these people he is going to use the services?

I could not say without notice.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case in which a clerk in the War Office, named Octave William Trend, was convicted at Bow Street with having received bribes in connected with the grant of commissions, and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment in the second division; and whether he will take steps with the view of effectually stopping in his Department a crime so dangerous to the public interest?

As soon as this matter came to notice, some time before the prosecution at Bow Street, steps were taken to prevent the recurrence of the irregularities referred to.

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it would not be possible to have such cases as this dealt with under the Defence of the Realm Act, where drastic and adequate punishment could be administered?

lam not aware that the ordinary law is inadequately provided with penalties.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that this was sufficient punishment for a crime so heinous?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether, on 20th May, a request was made to the Secretary of State for War asking for permission to take photographs limited to a prescribed area illustrating the domestic camp life and amusements of the Army in France, and taken behind the actual area of operations; will he say why this letter was not acknowledged; what are the reasons, if any, why information should be kept from the public; and (2) whether he is aware that regimental records of the gallant deeds of our men at the front that have been obtained since the War by desire of the commanding officers for historical purposes, to be published after the War, have been entirely stopped by recent regulations under which each commanding officer has had to send in a signed statement declaring that there are no cameras in his command; and whether, seeing the value attached to these regimental records, some modification of these regulations can be made to enable commanding officers to authorise such records being taken to be published after the War?

Perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to give me the name of the writer of the letter he refers to, or procure me a copy, as applications to photograph at the front have been numerous, and without further information I cannot trace the particular one he quotes. The use of cameras within the zone of operations is strictly forbidden for essential military reasons which are well known to the general staffs of all armies. It is not proposed to interfere with the discretion given to every Commander-in-Chief in such matters.

Does my right hon. Friend know that the Brigade of Guards have had these photographs, to illustrate the gallant deeds of the regiments, taken from the beginning of the War up to the present time, and it has never been stopped till quite recently?

Again I have to say that I was not aware of the fact that the Brigade of Guarde had taken photographs. If they did so, it must have been unknown to the authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give the names of the British war correspondents who have been permitted to accompany the Army in France and of the newspapers which they represent?

As I have already informed the hon. Member on the 6th instant, five correspondents are at present allowed to be with the Army in France. They represent various groups of newspapers comprising the whole of the London and provincial Press. The correspondents are changed from time to time as may be desired by the groups they represent.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the names of those who are at present authorised?

I think to give the names would be rather an invidious thing; perhaps my hon. Friend will not press for them.

Will my hon. Friend give me the names if I do press for them?

That shall receive my careful consideration.

I will put the question down again next week.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that on 28th June the H battery, Royal Horse Artillery, mobile section, 2nd Cavalry Brigade, who have been serving at the front for eleven months, were paraded and addressed by Colonel Bud-worth, who called the men who had exercised their legal right to refuse inoculation cowards, said he would like to hand them over to the Germans, threatened refusal of leave, and in some cases sent them to the trenches as punishment; whether the War Office sanction the calling men cowards and refusing leave after eleven months' fighting without a complaint; and whether he will reprimand this officer and protect from such treatment soldiers who have acted on the faith, of his word?

I have no information about this case, but if my hon. Friend's information be correct I feel sure that the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, in whose hands the discipline of the Expeditionary Force rests, would have taken proper notice of the matter.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman himself take some steps to secure that soldiers who have been fighting for nearly twelve months are protected from an outrage of this kind?

I had contemplated bringing the matter to the notice of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, but on reflection and the recollection of the fact that we had promised to bring as few cases as possible to his notice, in order, so far as possible, not to interfere with the operations in the field, I forbore to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the reason for the presence of a major and lieutenant at a trade union organising meeting held in the Labour Club, Town Street, Batley, on Tuesday, 29th June, at 7.30 p.m.?

I am having inquiry made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state for what reason the news of the re-capture by the Germans of Hill 60 on the 5th May was officially concealed for more than two months; whether permission to publish the news was refused to the Press by the Censor; if so, for what reason; and whether it is proposed to discontinue the system of deceiving the public with regard to events well known to the enemy, in view of the fact that such a system undermines public confidence and encourages the growth of disquieting suspicion and rumours?

No notification of the final position reached at Hill 60 as the result of the continued fighting at the beginning of May was received earlier than that in Sir J. French's dispatch of 15th June. Doubtless, the Commander-in-Chief had reasons for not making it the subject of an earlier report and it is not proposed to interfere with his discretion in such a matter. I may add that the German wireless message of the 7th May, which claimed a failure on the part of the British to wrest the hill from them, was passed for publication in the usual manner. The actual fact appears to be that since about the 5th of May the hill has not been held by either side. The House will thus see that the public has in nowise been misled by reports issued or not issued by the War Office, and I would ask the hon. Member to avoid the use of the word deception in all cases, and more particularly where there is, as in the present instance, no justification for it.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say why permission was refused to the Press to publish this information?

I have already said that the German Wireless message was given to the Press in the usual manner. The only messages which we have had have been published without any censoring at all.

Has not this Hill 60 practically disappeared owing to battering and undermining?

Yes, Sir, I think that is so; and it shows the character of the hill.

asked whether Sir Ian Hamilton's dispatch on the Dardanelles operations was published in the original form in which it was received without any alterations or omissions?

Yes, Sir; with the exception of a passage which Sir Ian Hamilton agreed was of a nature to give valuable information to the enemy and was made into a separate dispatch.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the policy of amalgamation of service units of the Territorial Force having now been definitely abandoned, it is intended also to abandon it in regard to the composite battalions, now in course of formation throughout the country, to 'which the Home-service officers, non-commissioned officers, and men from different units have been and are being constantly transferred without their consent, in contravention of the express provision of the Territorial Forces Act, 1907, Section 7, Sub-section (4) (b), and to the injury of the esprit de corps of the battalions from which they have been transferred against their will?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Middleton Division on the 21st June. He will see that there has been no contravention of the Section of the Act referred to.

Does the right lion. Gentleman appreciate the fact that the formation of these composite battalions, which are not for foreign service, but for Home defence, completely destroys the Territorial idea on which the force is based?

As I have already informed the House, these amalgamations of several units are purely temporary, and it has been made manifest to these Territorial soldiers that they will not thereby be merged for any indefinite period of time and so as to lose their identity.

Is it proposed to increase these composite battalions by recruiting?

Of course, it is proposed by recruiting to do away with the necessity of forming them.

The question I asked was: Is it proposed to increase those composite battalions, to add to them, by new recruiting?

I do not know that I can quite follow what my hon. Friend means. If we had sufficient numbers of drafts it would not be necessary to group these battalions at all. Therefore if recruiting should improve, or go on in such a way as to render it possible, we shall certainly do away with the whole of these mergings or amalgamations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give favourable consideration to requests for re-transfer back to the Royal Army Medical Corps, if made by men who enlisted before the passing of the Army Act Amendment (No. 3) Act, who have been transferred against their will from, this non-combatant branch of the Service to a combatant branch of the Service, having regard to the fact that the men in question enlisted in the belief and on the distinct understanding that their services would be utilised for the purpose for which they volunteered?

Under instructions already issued men may be re-transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps provided it is clearly established that they have conscientious scruples as regards taking life.

asked the Prime Minister whether before or since the formation of the Coalition Ministry any arrangement was come to between the parties as to the nature or character of magisterial appointments in England; can he state upon what principle appointments will be made in Ireland during the political truce; is he aware that those who claim to have prevented the proposed change in the Irish Lord Chancellorship are actively trying to have magistrates created; and can he intervene to prevent the appointment of the president and secretary of the Hibernians, one of whom holds several spirit licences, to the magisterial bench in Mitchelstown, North-East Cork?

The answer to the first part of the question is, I am informed by the Prime Minister, in the negative. As the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, in the difficult task of selecting persons for appointment to the commission of the peace, always does his best to have regard to the claims of all parties, there can be no occasion to alter this principle of selection. I do not know of any particular activity at this time to have magistrates created—the desire appears unceasing. So far as the commission for county Cork is concerned, it was settled by the Lord Chancellor in consultation with Lord Bandon, lieutenant of the county, so long ago as the 16th of May last, and the Lord Chancellor tells me he does not know whether the persons referred to in the last part of the question are amongst those who are included in the list. The rule as to the possession of a spirit licence being an objection to the licensee holding a seat on the bench is an excellent one and ought, in my opinion, never to be overlooked, but sometimes it is impossible to apply the rule with absolute strictness.

How soon after that question and answer shall we know the facts?

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether an offer has been received from the London Teachers' Association of the services of 1,000 teachers for work in any capacity during the forthcoming holidays; and whether any use can be made of this offer?

I cannot trace the particular offer referred to, but the War Office has received many offers of service during the forthcoming school holidays from individual teachers and from bodies of teachers. The difficulty of making use of them in the War Office lies in the fact that the period of service would be so short that the requisite experience and knowledge to make the service useful could hardly be obtained before the end of the holidays arrived. The spirit which prompted those offers is, however, fully appreciated.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of a corporal in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry who, on being charged at West Ham Court with being drunk and discharging a service rifle, was proved to have brought back with him 155 rounds of ammunition during five days' leave from the front; whether it is a common thing for soldiers returning to Canning Town to bring quantities of ammunition with them; whether it is with the knowledge and consent of the War Office that such quantities of ammunition are brought home by individual soldiers; and whether he has considered the objections to this practice?

No information as to this case has reached the War Office, but orders have already been issued by the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief that no ammunition is to be brought to this country by soldiers returning on leave or otherwise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the medical officers of Rochester, Chatham, and Gillingham are performing any services for the War Office; and, if so, will he state the amount of remuneration being paid to them?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In the case of Chatham the remuneration is 24s. a day and in the others 15s.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he now has any information he can communicate to the House regarding the treatment of Indian wounded and prisoners of war by the Germans upon the field of battle and subsequently in confinement in Germany?

I regret to say that I have no information beyond that contained in the two reports already laid before the House, except that I understand that Indian prisoners of war in Germany are given full opportunity to perform their religious duties. Efforts are being made through diplomatic channels to obtain a special report on the case of Indian prisoners of war interned in Germany.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether two assistant clerks who recently joined the Army have been informed that their positions in the Board of Inland Revenue will not be kept open for them until after the War; and, if so, what reason is assigned for such a course having been taken?

I understand my hon. Friend to refer to two gentlemen who, without the Board's permission, left their civil posts in order to enlist. Their action in so doing involved the resignation of their appointments and they were informed to that effect.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the advisability of providing that, in the case of Civil servants appointed to temporary commissions in the Army for the period of the War, the balance of civil pay should not be reduced below 2s. 6d a day in the case of a second lieutenant and 1s. 6d. in the case of a lieutenant or captain, having in view the fact that the pay of an officer promoted from the ranks to a permanent commission exceeds the ordinary pay of other officers by these amounts, thereby showing that it is recognised as necessary that an officer should possess outside income to that extent?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for St. Albans on the 14th ultimo.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the communication issued by the War Office to the Press on 11th July, in which it was stated that the Allies had not resorted to the use of gas against the enemy, is to be regarded as an indication that there is any change of policy in this matter from that already previously announced by the Secretary of State for War; and further can he state why, up to the present time, gas has not been used by our Forces in any part of the War area?

The communiqué issued on the 11th July referred to the operations in the Gallipoli Peninsula, and was a denial of statements made by the Turks that gases had been used by the British Forces. There is no change of the policy announced by the Secretary of State in the House of Lords. It is not desirable to answer the last part of the question.

May I ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Price of Coal (Limitation) Bill is retrospective or not, as there is a good deal of misconception in trade circles on the point?

If my hon. Friend means does it apply to existing contracts, it does not propose to tear up existing contracts.

Then it ought to.