asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, to remove misunderstanding as to the method of assessing the 50 per cent. of profits to be taken by the Government, he will explain the application of his proposals in the representative case of a manufacturing concern whose profits, for the purpose of assessment for the year 1914–15, were as follows: Year to 31st December, 1911, £15,000; year to 31st December, 1912, £20,000; year to 31st December, 1913, £30,000; and whose average profit for assessment for the year 1914–15 was therefore £21,600, and whose earned profits for the year to 31st December, 1914, were £35,000, such profits coming within the period of 1st September, 1914, and 1st July, 1915, mentioned; will he say whether the company would be assessed for 50 per cent. of the profits made in the year 1914 over the average profits for assessment in the year 1914–15, making the sum payable to the Government £6,700, whereas the increase in the profit for the year was only £5,000, and only five months of the year came within the War period; will he say whether the company also have to include for the purpose of average in the following year the whole of the profits for 1914, of which the Government will have taken £6,700 by way of surplus tax; and, to avoid an apparent injustice to a growing business, will he give favourable consideration to the principle of taking as the datum line the assessment for the year 1914–15, or the highest year's profits included in the average, whichever may be the greater?

I do not think the details of the proposed Excess Profits Tax can be usefully discussed by way of question and answer. I may, however, say that in the hypothetical case put the taxable amount would be £13,400 less £100, 50 per cent. of which would be £6,650. This amount shown as an expenditure in the subsequent accounts would be allowed as a deduction, with the result that no Income Tax or Super-tax would be payable upon it, though Income Tax and Super-tax would be payable in respect of the balance of excess profits received by the taxpayer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the proposal that bankers are to deduct tax from interest due to customers, they ought also to be instructed to make a similar deduction from interest payable by customers, thus avoiding numerous claims or repayment of tax on such latter interest, which at present involve a great amount of unproductive work on Inland Revenue officials and bankers?

I regret that I am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will explain why Income Tax is charged upon dividends received from Colonial investments received in 1914 before the War at 1s. 8d. in the £, whereas the rate upon dividends earned in foreign countries by companies registered in England and paid to the shareholders in August, 1915, one year after the declaration of War, is only charged 1s. 6½d. in the £; and whether it is possible to so collect the tax that investments outside the British Empire shall contribute in taxation at least as much as investments within the Empire?

Companies controlled from the United Kingdom are in any year chargeable in respect of their profits at precisely the same rate in the pound of Income Tax as dividends from foreign and Colonial investments received in the United Kingdom during that year. The fact that, on distributing its profits in the form of dividends, a British controlled company, wherever operating, is entitled to deduct Income Tax at the rate or rates in force during the period in which the profits were earned, involves no question of preferential treatment.

asked whether the allowance for depreciation on machinery under Income Tax assessment will be increased, in view of the addition to the tax on the manufacturing community, among whom there is a consensus of opinion that the present 5 per cent. allowance is inadequate, in view of the rapidity with which modern machinery calls for replacement?

The rates of allowance for depreciation upon machinery, even in trades where a standard rate has been fixed by agreement with representative trade associations, are not rigidly fixed as suggested by the hon. Member. The Commissioners of Taxes are empowered to make such deduction as they may think just and reasonable according to the circumstances of each case.

asked whether the proposed duties on motor cars and parts thereof are to include all industrial motor vehicles, public service motor vehicles, and agricultural motors; whether tyres and all accessories and components are included within the sphere of the proposed duties; if so, whether the term components is to be taken to include castings and forgings reaching this country in an unfinished state; and whether the proposed Petrol Tax of 3d. per gallon applies in full to trade and public service motors, or whether a rebate of 50 per cent. is to be granted to these latter in accordance with the precedent established when the Petrol Tax was first imposed in 1909?

The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the third that castings and forgings in an unfinished state, but intended when finished to be used as parts of motor cars, will be liable to the new duty. I am considering the other points raised in the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the War Issues Committee has received a request for leave to issue capital by the British Jute Company, composed of persons of unimpeachable position both financially and commercially; whether the issue is for munition work and has the support of the Ministry for Munitions; and what is the cause of delay in replying?

I understand that no such application has been received by the Treasury.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government will consider the advisability of introducing a Bill to establish fair rents and security of tenure courts for the safeguarding of short-period and tenement tenants as an emergency war measure; and whether any fund can be ear-marked to enable free Grants to be given for the prosecution of certain housing schemes urgently required?

I must refer to my previous answers on this subject. With regard to the latter part of the question, I can hold out no prospects of Grants for housing purposes at the present time.

Where housing is required for munitions workers special efforts are being made by the Government to secure its provision in one form or another. In these efforts, the Ministry for Munitions, the Local Government Board and the Office of Works are co-operating, and in the result additional housing accommodation has been or is being provided in Woolwich, Crayford, Erith, Weymouth, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and elsewhere. But, unfortunately, housing in general, like other schemes of important social reform, has had to be held up on account of the difficulty of obtaining labour, the high prices of material, and the necessity for reducing capital expenditure within the narrowest possible limits.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he has received a representation from the Cork United Trades and Labour Council requesting that a fair share of the work of manufacturing war munitions in Ireland should be allocated to Cork; and whether, in view of the recent announcement of the Lord Lieutenant that 28 per cent. of the population of Cork of military age are serving with the Colours, the claim of the manufacturers and workers of Cork in this respect will receive due recognition?

I am informed by the representative of the Ministry for Munitions in Ireland that considerable orders have been placed in Cork and district.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that a plumber applied through the Labour Exchange at Northallerton for employment on munition work, being anxious to serve his country, and that he received a reply, dated 14th August, 1915, informing him that applications for war munitions work must be made by workmen who are in employment and that unemployment was a disqualification; and, having regard to the effect that such a decision must have upon those anxious to register for war work, will he state what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I understand that the Labour Exchange manager was under the erroneous impression that the man in question was an applicant for enrolment as a war munition volunteer, and I am informed that the manager's letter was intended merely to convey the information that only employed persons are eligible for enrolment. The reply, however, was unfortunately worded, and the attention of the officer is being called to the matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Order in Council affecting Marine officers gives the brevet lieutenant-colonelcy after seven years' service in the substantive rank of major; whether this is being applied to majors who return to full pay in the Navy and Army; and, if not, whether, in view of the Order in Council saying nothing about a break due to half-pay or illness, the Board will give the brevet rank to those who make up seven years in the substantive rank in the Navy during the War, and will use their influence to procure the same concession for Royal Marine officers serving with the Army?

The Order in Council referred to provides for majors to be eligible for promotion to the rank of lieutenant-colonel by brevet after twenty-eight years' service on full pay, or after the completion of seven years' service as regimental-major. No officers serving in the Reserve of Officers, Royal Marines, have as yet completed the period of service referred to.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Messrs. Henry R. Merton and Company, Limited, are still employed by the Admiralty as metal brokers, having regard to the facts alleged by the Solicitor-General on the 17th instant in the case of the steamship "Bilbister" in the Admiralty Prize Court; and, if so, whether such employment will cease and when?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state whether Private M. Lee, No. 8,948, 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, made an allowance of 6d. a day to his mother, Mrs. L. Lee, Mill Rock, Cavan, in December, 1914, being then the only support of his mother; and, if so, will be state why the dependant allowance is not paid to the mother?

Inquiries have been made and it appears that her claim was refused on the ground that she was found in fact not to have been dependent on her son prior to his enlistment. As the hon. Member has been privately informed, Mrs. Lee can appeal against this finding if she contests it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will inquire into the case of No. 7,081, Private F. Chappell, now residing at 4, Hatchard Road, Upper Holloway, N., a Reservist called up at the outbreak of war, who was twice wounded in France whilst serving with the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, his wound necessitating on the first occasion fifteen weeks' hospital treatment and six weeks' convalescence, and consisting on the second occasion of a gun-shot wound in the head, and who was discharged on 18th August as time-expired, the separation allowance ceasing on 6th September, thus leaving him without resources; and, having regard to the period of thirteen years' service rendered by Chappell, to the fact that his wounds received in the discharge of that service will incapacitate him from following his ordinary employment for some time, and thus make it impossible to provide the maintenance of his wife and four children, and to his exemplary record of service, will he consider the question of granting a pension, or at least an allowance, until such time as Chappell's state of health places him in a position to become self-supporting?

This case, I have ascertained, is already under the consideration of the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital. I will inform the hon. Member of their decision.

asked whether any claims made for dependants of those killed or who died in the present War in county Longford have yet been settled; and, if not, when a definite policy on this question will be announced?

The claims of widows and children are being dealt with under the Royal Warrant of last May. The claims of other dependants await the settlement of the new scheme, which has not yet been finally approved. Those who are eligible are still drawing separation allowances, so that they are suffering no loss.

asked whether the total figure of 87,630 British casualties at the Dardanelles for the period up to 21st August included the casualties of the Australian, New Zealand, and Indian Forces which took part in those operations; and, if not, what are the total casualties, including those Forces, for the period in question?

The figure given included the casualties of the Australian, New Zealand, and Indian Forces.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the circumstances connected with the death of Private Michael O'Connell, C Company, 6th Middlesex Regiment, on the 1st August last at the Woodlands Camp, Gillingham, and the expression of opinion by the coroner's jury at the inquest; whether the deceased had been ill for a week before his death, and during that time did no duty and was lying down all the time except when he went to the dining hall, but was not seen by the doctor and died without medical attendance; whether it is regular to have soldiers lying ill and exempted from duty without the order of the medical officer; and will he say why the examination of the deceased's body by the doctor was delayed till the day after deceased died?

My attention had not been previously called to this case, but I have asked for a report.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that the honorary secretary of the Bradford Soldiers' and Sailors' Dependants Relief Committee applied to the War Office for a pension for the widow of the late Gunner John Martin Fallon, who died at St. Luke's Hospital, Bradford, on 29th November, 1914, from pneumonia following inoculation, and that, beyond formal acknowledgment of receipt of the application referred to, and formal acknowledgments of two letters written by the honorary secretary of the society, and dated 4th August and 1st September, respectively, pressing for a decision in the matter, no further communication had been received from the War Office relating to the application up to 18th September; and whether, having regard to the fact that Mrs. Fallon's separation allowance was stopped months ago, he will take action in the matter to avoid further delay?

Pension has been awarded in this case, with effect from the date of cessation of separation allowance in June last. I greatly regret the delay, which was owing to the accidental loss of the records necessary for the purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has been approached by any of the Oversea Dominions or by Colonial railway companies with the offer of land for settlement by approved wounded soldiers unfit for further war service and anxious to emigrate; and whether he would be prepared to set up a Committee charged with the duty of ascertaining whether the drafts made by Britain on the manhood of the Dominions for munition factories and war service could in any way be compensated for by the emigration of approved wounded soldiers anxious to settle in the Colonies?

Various suggestions have been brought to my notice dealing with the general question of the emigration of ex-Service men after the War, and some of these are, I understand, engaging the attention of the Dominion Governments. No proposals, however, for the settlement of wounded soldiers have been submitted to me by the Governments of any of the Oversea Dominions or by other bodies therein. At present I see no reason for the appointment of such a Committee as is suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will receive a deputation from the county council of Cavan, numerous other councils, and representative public men, to discuss the propriety of withdrawing dairy instructors at this particular time?

The reasons which made it necessary for the Department to dispense with the services of the instructors referred to were explained to the hon. Member in the reply given him on 16th instant. Under the circumstances there would, in the Department's opinion, be nothing gained by the proposed deputation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether very large profits are being made under the insurance scheme against air risks; and whether he can see his way to bring about a downward revision of these rates?

The Government aircraft insurance scheme has not been in operation sufficiently long to enable any estimate whatever to be formed as to whether a profit will or will not be made. It is not proposed to reduce the rates.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the delay in providing a labourer's cottage for Robert Smith, of Ballylunnin, Ahoghill, county Antrim; and whether he will have inquiries made into the matter with a view to accelerating the erection of the cottage referred to?

I am informed that a cottage was proposed for Robert Smith in the last improvement scheme made by the Ballymena Rural District Council under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, and authorised by the Local Government Board's inspector, but the occupier of the land lodged an appeal to the County Court against the inspector's order. Subsequently another occupier of land in the neighbourhood agreed to give an alternative site, and the inspector's order, with this modification, was confirmed by the County Court on 20th April last. No doubt influenced by the largely increased cost of building materials occasioned by the War, the council have not so far taken any steps to carry into effect any portion of the scheme; and in view of the importance of curtailing capital expenditure at the present juncture, the Local Government Board are not prepared to move in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state when the Congested Districts Board will be in a position to enter into possession of the estate of the Marquess of Clanricarde, in the county of Galway; and when they hope to be able to distribute the grazing farms amongst the tenants of uneconomic holdings or to let the lands to trustees on behalf of the tenants temporarily pending the permanent settlement?

I understand that it is expected that the purchase prices fixed by the Judicial Commissioner for the Clanricarde estates will be paid to the credit of the estates in the next few days, and the Congested Districts Board will be in a position to enter into possession of the untenanted lands as soon as payment has been made. Most of the grazing farms on the estates are, however, held under tenancies of varying duration, and a considerable time may therefore elapse before the Board obtain possession of these. The work of distribution will be proceeded with as rapidly as circumstances permit, and, pending the allocation of the lands, the Board propose to manage them themselves in accordance with their ordinary procedure.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the election of a Petty Sessions clerk by the Omagh magistrates, when the Lord Lieutenant upset an election and ordered a new election on the ground that certain justices were not qualified to vote; will he say under which Statute the Lord Lieutenant acted in upsetting the election and ordering a new one; and whether, in view of decisions given in the King's Bench Division, he will explain why the Law Officers did not advise against the Lord Lieutenant's action in this case?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. A fresh election was ordered by the Lord Lieutenant on the advice of the Irish Law Officers, who were of opinion that five of the votes given for one candidate were invalid and that the question of their validity was not affected by the decision referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, in accordance with the terms of agreement entered into as between Viscount Gough and his tenants in the year 1906, 550 acres of turbary was to be distributed amongst the tenants; can he say if the 550 acres has been distributed; is he aware that a number of tenants are still unprovided with turbary; is he aware that according to the terms of agreement all the holdings were to be made economic; can he state how many tenants under £10 valuation received no increment of land; and is it proposed to provide them with land elsewhere?

The Estates Commissioners are not aware of any agreement to the effect indicated in the question. All the turbary acquired on this estate which was purchased by the Commissioners in March last has been distributed, but it has not been possible to supply all the tenants with turbary. The area of untenanted land acquired by the Commissioners is some 444 acres, the whole of which has been allotted amongst the tenants. I understand that there are forty-eight tenants on the estate, the Poor Law valuation of whose holdings is under £10, who have not received enlargements, but the Commissioners have at present no lands on hand available for distribution amongst them.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state the amount spent by the Land Purchase Department, Irish Land Commission, in publishing advertisements in each of the five years prior to the 1st of April, 1915?

The figures asked for are set out in the following table:— 1910–11 … … £1,706 17 1 1911–12 … … £2,246 11 8 1912–13 … … £2,786 0 0 1913–14 … … £2,812 3 6 1914–15 … … £2,481 18 0

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can give the quantity of hops imported into this country from each importing country in each month of the year ending 31st August, 1915, and similar figures for the year ending 31st August, 1914.

The following are the figures asked for by the hon. Member:— Countries whence consigned. September. October. November. December. January. February. March. 1913. 1914. 1913. 1914. 1913. 1914. 1913. 1914. 1914. 1915. 1914. 1915. 1914. 1915. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Russia — — 200 — — — 36 — — — — — — 100 Sweden — — 1 — — 2 3 — — — — — — — Norway 2 — — — — — — — — — — 280 — — Germany 841 — 6,229 — 7,308 — 5,257 — 3,738 — 1,786 — 1,182 — Netherlands 7 — 1,145 — 28 — 8 21 — — — 9 — — Belgium 3,029 782 12,841 2,650 3,382 — 1,006 — 472 — 132 220 319 — France 52 75 399 — 350 165 338 716 32 648 — 3,360 46 9,435 Austria-Hungary 65 — 634 — 234 — 63 — 38 — — — 13 — U.S.A 4,458 1,919 15,325 3,571 85,231 12,305 35,020 18,610 17,078 15,863 2,559 9,970 2,012 10,530 Mexico — — — — 162 — 514 — — — — — — — Victoria — — 11 — — — 10 — 38 — — — — — New South Wales — — — — 83 — — — — — — — — — Tasmania — — — — — — — — — — — — 18 — Canada 12 — 642 — 2,250 — 395 450 — 140 — — — — New Zealand — 57 783 — 98 — 65 — — — — — — — Total 8,466 2,833 38,210 6,221 99,126 12,472 42,715 19,797 21,396 16,651 4,477 13,839 3,590 20,065 Countries whence consigned. April. May. June. July. August. Total. 1914. 1915. 1914. 1915. 1914. 1915. 1914. 1915. 1914. 1915. 1913 to 1914. 1914 to 1915. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Russia — — — — — 84 — — — — 236 134 Sweden — — — — — — — — — — 4 2 Norway — — — — — — — — — — 2 280 Germany 868 — 808 68* 468 — 630 — 5 — 29,120 68* Netherlands — — — 74 15 100 — — — 54 1,203 258 Belgium 46 2,747 333 2,197 179 3,565 269 6,918 910 8,322 22,918 27,401 France 20 3,718 — 133 — 1,952 — 2,104 — 2,844 1,237 25,150 Austria-Hungary 20 — — — — — — — — — 1,067 — U.S.A 13,780 2,678 1,785 21,180 3,081 9,270 2,929 21,512 231 7,019 183,489 134,427 Mexico — — — — — — — — — — 676 — Victoria — — — — — — — — — — 59 — New South Wales — — — — — — — — — — 83 — Tasmania — — — — 52 — — — — — 70 — Canada — 208 184 — 3 — — — — — 3,486 798 New Zealand — — — — 276 — 26 — — — 1,248 57 Total 14,734 9,351 3,110 23,652 4,074 14,921 3,854 30,534 1,146 18,239 244,898 188,575 * Imported under Licence.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if he will state the gross total revenue of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland from all sources, giving in detail the sources for the years 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1914?

The information asked for is contained in the Annual Appropriation Accounts, and in the Annual Reports of the Department.

asked how many of the eight creamery instructors hold the Department's certificate in creamery management, and is this certificate held by the two instructors whose services are about to be discontinued; and how many county councils, district councils, county committees of agriculture, etc., have sent resolutions to the Department protesting against their action in dispensing with the services of these instructors?

Of the eight dairying instructors at present employed by the Department five hold the Department's certificate in creamery management. This certificate is held by one of the instructors whose services are about to be dispensed with. Resolutions regarding the termination of the employment of these instructors have been received from five county councils, two committees of agriculture, two boards of guardians, and twenty-two creameries and creamery associations.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the financial provisions as to the ecclesiastical establishment which are now consolidated in Part X. of the Government of India Act, 1915, he will give a detailed statement showing what were the payments out of the revenues of India during the last financial year for which figures are available in respect of the salary and allowances to each bishop and archdeacon mentioned in Section 118 (1); of the expenses of episcopal visitations in Section 118 (3); of payments of representatives of bishops in Section 119; of the pensions to bishops in Section 120; of the salaries to chaplains of the Church of Scotland in Section 122; and of the Grants to any other sect, persuasion, or community of Christians, under Section 123; and if he will state the aggregate for that year of these ecclesiastical endowments out of the revenues of India?

The figures asked for by the hon. Member are as follow:— Rupees. I. Stipend of Bishop of Calcutta 45,977 Stipend of Bishop of Madras 26,013 Stipend of Bishop of Bombay 25,600 *Allowance of Archdeacons of Calcutta 2,200 Allowance of Archdeacons of Madras 3,200 Allowance of Archdeacons of Bombay 2,553 105,543 *Those allowances are in addition to the Archdeacons' salaries as Senior Chaplains on the Ecclesiastical Establishments. Rupees. II. Expenses of Episcopal Visitations-Bishop of Calcutta 1,188 Expenses of Episcopal Visitations—Bishop of Madras 7,520 Expenses of Episcopal Visitations—Bishop of Bombay 6,923 15,611 III. Payments to representatives of Bishops Nil. IV. Payment of pensions to Bishops— £ (1) Bishop Copleston (late of Calcutta) 1,000 (2) Bishop Milne (late of Bombay) 800 £1,800 Rupees. V. Salaries of Chaplains of Church of Scotland (exclusive of payments to Presbyterian Chaplains attached to regiments which are treated as Army expenditure) 94,404 VI. Grants to religious bodies other than Church of England and Church of Scotland— Allowances to Bishops and Priests of Church of Rome and for upkeep of churches (exclusive of payments to Priests attached to regiments which are treated as Army expenditure) 20,122 Summary of Expenditure. I. Rupees 1,05,543 equals £7,036 4 0 II. Rupees 15,611. equals 1,040 14 8 III. Nil. Nil. IV. 1,800 0 0 V. Rupees 94,404 equals 6,293 12 0 VI. Rupees 20,122 equals 1,341 9 4 Total £17,512 0 0

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether a paid servant of any local medical and panel committee can act as chairman of a medical service sub-committee; and whether it is also open for the secretary of an approved society, who is appointed a member of an insurance committee by a town or county council, to be elected the chairman of a medical service sub-committee?

The Medical Benefit Regulations provide that the chairman of the medical service sub-committee of an insurance committee shall be selected by the members of the sub-committee from those members of the insurance committee appointed by the county (or borough) council, and by the Commissioners, who are neither insured persons, practitioners, nor registered pharmacists. If the hon. Member has in mind any specific case in which it appears that the regulations are not being complied with, and will furnish me with particulars, I shall be glad to inquire into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state in comparative form last year's prices and this year's prices, made up to the latest available dates, of food-stuffs in Germany and England, for bread, butter, lard, beef, sugar, bacon, mutton, pork, potatoes, peas, and haricot beans?

The following table shows the prices of these articles of food in London and Berlin for July, 1914, and 1915. In the case of bread the London price refers to bread made of wheaten flour, whereas in Berlin rye flour is used of a quality which has been reduced since the War. As regards meat also the statistical methods used are so different as to make any comparison of actual prices very difficult. It should also be noted that the London prices refer to the 1st of July in each year, whereas the Berlin prices are the average of several ascertainments during July:— Article. London. Berlin. 1914. 1915. 1914. 1915. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Rye Bread per 4 lbs. — — 6 8½ Wheaten Bread per 4 lbs. 5½ 8¼ 10* 1 0¾ Butter Fresh per lb. 1 1¾ 1 4 1 2 1 8¼ Salt 1 1¼ 1 3¾ Lard per lb. 8¼ 8¾ 8¼ 8¼ Beef (average of several cuts) per lb. — — 9 l 1¼ Beef (English, Ribs) per lb. 10¾ 1 2½ — — Beef (English, Thin Flank) per lb. 5¾ 9 — — Beef (Chilled or Frozen, Ribs) per lb. 71/4 11 — — Beef (Chilled or Frozen, Thin Flank) per lb. 3¾ 7½ — — Mutton (average of several cuts) per lb. — — 11 1 3¾ Mutton (English, Legs) per lb. 10¼ 1 1 — — Mutton (English, Breast) per lb. 5¼ 8½ — — Mutton (Frozen, Legs) per lb. 6½ 9½ — — Mutton (Frozen, Breast) per lb. 3½ 6¼ — — Pork per lb. 8¾ 11½ 8¾ 1 6¼ Bacon per lb. 11¼ 1 1¼ 9 1 8½ Sugar (Granulated) per lb. 2 3¼ 2¾ 3¼ Potatoes per 7 lbs. 4½ 4¾ 3 5½ Peas (split) per lb. 2 3¼ 2¼ 7 Haricot Beans per lb. 2½ 2¾ 2¾ 7½ *Fancy Bread.

asked the Postmaster-General when the Report of the Smaller Classes Committee will be issued?

The claims of those classes whose case was not dealt with by the Select Committee of 1912–13 have been receiving consideration, and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the subject before long.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many persons in England and Wales committed to prison in default of payment of fines during the first six months of this year; and how many persons were so committed during the corresponding period in 1914?

There is no information available covering the periods mentioned in the question, and to obtain it would entail a search through the records of each prison. The number committed in default of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1915, was 53,988, and in the previous year 74,461.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many persons were in Ireland committed to prison in default of payment of fines during the first six months of this year; and how many persons were so committed during the corresponding period in 1914?

The number of persons committed to prisons in Ireland in default of payment of fines during the first six months of this year was 3,833; the number for the corresponding period of 1914 being 6,905.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many persons were in Scotland committed to prison in default of payment of fines during the first six months of this year; and how many persons were so committed during the corresponding period in 1914?

The figures are are follows:— 1914. 1915. 1st January to 30th June 17,491 8,933