asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the policy of the Government intended to be effected by the Order in Council of the 11th March, 1915, was to abrogate the Declaration of Paris, 1856, the Declaration of London of 1908, the fourteen Conventions determined upon at the Second Peace Conference, held at The Hague in 1907, and all juridical niceties relative to contraband and the right of capture at sea; and whether any and, if so, which of the above Conventions are now in force and are being adhered to by the Government?

The Order in Council of 11th March does not affect the validity or operation of any of the Conventions or instruments referred to.

Are we to understand that the Government is not using all the resources in its power to end this War?

I hope no such understanding will prevail anywhere. On the contrary, the Government will use all their resources, whatever they may be, whether under the Order in Council or under the law apart from the Order in Council.

Will not the Government consider that a clean slate should exist on this all important subject?

I am not quite sure that I understand what my hon. Friend means by "a clean slate."

Are any of these obligations still existing in face of the present crisis?

I should not like to say that the obligations we are under towards neutrals are not existing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can lay any Papers upon the Table dealing with the continued participation of Japan in the War, and the degree to which the Imperial Japanese Government is willing to send troops to wage war on the common enemy?

I do not think it would be desirable to lay Papers on this subject at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is intended to lay upon the Table Papers which show the negotiations with Bulgaria previous to the departure of the British Minister from Sofia?

It is difficult to separate the negotiations with Bulgaria from those with the other Balkan States, hut Papers will be laid as soon as this can be done without detriment to the public interest and in agreement with our Allies, with whom we were a party to these negotiations.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of evidence existing that the majority of the Bulgarian people are against taking up arms against Russia or Great Britain, it is intended to intern male alien enemies of Bulgarian nationality and to repatriate female Bulgarians now in this country?

It is not proposed at present to intern or repatriate Bulgarians unless in individual cases special reason is found for doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in which countries in Europe the Government compels its citizens to join the Army for foreign service, the classes of persons enrolled, and the conditions of enrolment; and whether he can state how the French Government procured soldiers for service in Tonkin and how the German Government procured soldiers for service in South Africa against the Herreros?

This question should, I think, more properly be addressed to the War Office, but the Foreign Office have certain information on the subject. I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it with the OFFICIAL REPORT, as it is rather long. [ See Written Answers this date. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Lord Reading or any other member of the Loan Commission was permitted or authorised to discuss with the United States Government either the question of appeals from British Prize Courts to an international tribunal or the general question of what is called the freedom of the seas?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, with regard to licences for the exportation of goods to the United States of America, the War Trade Department and the Customs authorities are acting in apparent opposition to one another; that in spite of licences for export having been obtained from the War Trade Department the goods so licensed have been refused shipment in innumerable cases, and are still refused by the Customs authority; and what steps he will take to co-ordinate these two authorities and so prevent grave interference with trade and legitimate exports?

I very much regret that any difficulties of the kind alluded to should have occurred, and if the hon. Member will give me the actual facts of one or more of the cases he has in mind, I shall be very glad to inquire into them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the statement made by the British Ambassador at Petrograd that the operations at the Dardanelles were initiated at the request of the Russian Government for the purpose of drawing Turkish forces from the Caucasus, he will state whether the Russian Government continues to attach the same importance to these operations which, up to 10th October, have resulted in 96,899 British casualties?

It would obviously be improper for me to make any statement regarding the importance attached to any special theatre of war by one of our Allies or even by ourselves. The operations at the Dardanelles are military and naval operations, and the statement of the British Ambassador at Petrograd, which is quite accurate when quoted accurately, must not be taken as a complete statement of all the considerations involved.

Would it be possible for us to have a similar statement here to what was made to the people of Petrograd?

I do not understand what the hon. Member wants.

Cannot the facts presented to the people of Petrograd as regards the initiation of the operations in the Dardanelles be presented to this House? Are we not entitled to as much information?

Every Member of the House has, I believe, through the ordinary channels, the public Press, the whole statement made by the Ambassador. I do not myself think there is any advantage in reprinting that statement separately from the other Papers which, sooner or later, we shall no doubt have in connection with Russia.

In future statements of this importance cannot they be given to this country as early as to Russia?

I would remind the hon. Member that we have over 100 questions on the Paper.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of casualties in the Dardanelles expedition?

I gave the figures for the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, including the Naval Division, up to the 9th October on the 14th October, in answer to the hon. Member for Hanley.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the interest in the Dardanelles operations both in this country and throughout Australia and New Zealand, he can hold out any hope that his promised statement on the subject will be made on an early date?

I am afraid that I cannot at present name a date.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the number of casualties, including officers and men, invalided in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force up to date?

I understand my right hon. Friend desires me to give figures distinguishing the sick from the wounded. For reasons stated in the answer given by the Prime Minister on the 24th June I regret I cannot give these figures at the present time.

Are we to assume that the figures given two or three days ago, in reference to the casualties in the Dardanelles, include all the sick? [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]

No, I do not think so.

May we not have the number?

Can the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that we shall have a statement as to the number of officers and men who have been invalided?

It is not for me to say. It is very difficult to give any such figures, because the figures vary, and vary enormously, from day to day.

Would it not be perfectly possible to give the total number of officers and men removed from the Dardanelles owing to sickness?

I will go so far as to say this: I will endeavour to get some figures as nearly accurate as I can make them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made to transmit clothing to British prisoners of war in Germany?

The arrangements are not yet quite complete, but I will undertake to make a statement on this matter on an early date. Perhaps my hon. Friend will repeat the question on Thursday.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of British prisoners of war in Germany?

The total number of British prisoners of war in the hands of the Germans in September, 1915, was approximately 25,000. This figure is the most precise that can be given on the information available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether prisoners of war are permitted to wear or possess any clothing except uniforms; and, if they are not so permitted, how it comes that when they escape they are generally dressed in mufti?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. and learned Member for York on the 12th October. In reply to the last part of his question, I can assure him that the matter is now under careful investigation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any man has been refused enlistment because he could not read or write; and, if so, whether any regulation, or rule, to this effect continues to exist to the prejudice of the realm in the present crisis?

The recruiting regulations require a man to be able to read and write before he can be enlisted, but this regulation has now been cancelled, so far as concerns enlistment for the duration of the War, in the Infantry of the Line, Remount and Labour Companies, and the Army Veterinary Corps.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if soldiers under age serving abroad with the Expeditionary Force will only be discharged in cases where the parents can show they were not aware of their son's enlistment prior to his departure for service in the field; and, if not, will he state why Private Patrick Connell, No. 10,128, 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment, who was sixteen years old on 2nd April, 1915, and who has been at the Front since 25th October, 1914, has not been discharged?

I gave a full statement of the Regulations in force on this matter in an answer I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford University on the 28th September. As regards the particular case mentioned— i.e., that of Private Connell—the claim was duly brought to the notice of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief in France, with whom, under the Regulations, discretion lies, and Connell's mother was informed on the 8th September that this had been done.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this youth,, who has spent over twelve months in the trenches, will be allowed a short furlough?

That, of course, is a totally different question from the one which the hon. Member has asked me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any register has been kept of men offering themselves for enlistment and rejected as unfit; if so, can he give the number of these men; and, if no register has been kept, will he explain the reason for the omission?

No centralised record of the number of men who have presented themselves for enlistment and who have been rejected as unfit is kept, but a register giving such details is kept in all recruiting offices. The task of bringing together all these separate records would be a heavy one.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it a very desirable thing?

I do not say that it would not, but whether it would justify the labour involved is another question.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the nature, functions, and duties of the office of Director of Recruiting, to which the Earl of Derby has been appointed; what staff has been placed at his disposal; and who will be responsible in the House of Commons?

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. At the request of the Secretary of State for War, Lord Derby has taken over the direction of recruiting. He will be responsible to the Secretary of State for all arrangements made in connection with the raising of recruits for the Army. In these duties he is assisted by a Director of Recruiting and the existing War Office recruiting staff, and any further staff he requires will be placed at his disposal. He is, at his own request, unpaid, and he has no military rank. As regards the last part of the question, Lord Derby has no ministerial responsibility, and it will be both my duty and my pleasure to answer for my Noble Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can state whether the regimental paymaster has informed Catherine Meehan, of Kilmore North, Maguiresbridge, county Fermanagh, that her son, Private Thomas Quinn, No. 2,592, C Company, 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, is missing, and that consequently the allotment of 3s. 6d. per week to her has been discontinued from 14th September ultimo; and will he direct that this payment to her be continued until it is ascertained whether her son has been killed or taken prisoner, or what has become of him?

Mrs. Meehan is not recorded as having been dependent on her son before enlistment or mobilisation, but he voluntarily remitted to her through the paymaster part of his pay. In accordance with regulation, pay ceased to be drawn from him four weeks after he was reported missing, and the weekly payment, therefore, ceased. I regret that I cannot continue the payment indefinitely as suggested.

Can the hon. Gentleman do nothing for this poor woman who has lost her son and is now in a hopeless condition of poverty?

I think the hon. Member knows quite well that the issue of separation allowances has to be made strictly in accordance with regulations. In the case of dependants the separation allowance is calculated in proportion to the degree of dependence on the soldier enlisting. Where there is no dependence there is no separation allowance, I am sorry to say.

asked whether the Government have accepted the Third Special Report from the Select Committee on Naval and Military Services (Pensions and Grants); whether it is intended to persevere in the distinction drawn between the manner in which officers meet their deaths in determining the amount of the pension to their widows; and why there is no such distinction in the case of men?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The Select Committee, after full deliberation, thought it unnecessary to introduce such a distinction for men, but gave a liberal rate of pension to all cases in which men met their death through the performance of military duty.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it mean, on the part of the Government, to give different pensions to women who become widows because of the death of husbands who have been officers?

It is an old distinction, and I am not aware that any complaint has been raised on behalf of the persons concerned. The Army has always recognised that there is a distinction.

Is it a distinction that can be justified?

Is it not an entirely new distinction?

No, the hon. Gentleman is mistaken on that point.

So far as the report of the Committee is concerned, is it not an entirely new distinction?

I am not sure that I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's question. Perhaps he will be kind enough to put it down.

Does not my right hon. Friend see that it is the widow's circumstances which matter? It does not matter how the officer is killed. The widow has to live, and if she has been the wife of an officer she is entitled to the same pension however he has been killed?

I agree that the widow has to live. The minimum pension is sufficient to enable her to do so. In accordance with long-established practice in our pension scheme, the minimum is raised where an officer has died in certain circumstances. My hon. Friend is asking that the maximum pensions should be given in every case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether veterinary surgeons in the Territorial Forces will be given the same privileges as regards promotion as veterinary surgeons holding commissions in the New Army; whether he is aware that veterinary surgeons holding temporary commissions have been promoted over the heads of more experienced veterinary surgeons holding commissions in the Territorial Forces; and whether he is aware that many veterinary surgeons in the Territorial Forces have perforce lost excellent practices through inability to attend to their business?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that careful attention is being given to the points raised in his question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any recommendation has yet been made to grant distinctions and honours in recognition of the gallantry and brilliant achievements of the officers and men of His Majesty's Forces now operating in Mesopotamia; and, if not, whether the matter will receive immediate attention?

The answer which I gave to this question on the 14th instant holds good. No time is being wasted. It is hoped that the list will be issued almost immediately.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can state how many Belgian refugees there are in this country of military age who have not joined the Belgian Army?

No, Sir, this information is not in the possession of the War Office, and, if I had the information, I am not sure that it would properly fall within my duty to give it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are great numbers of Belgian refugees of military age in this country, and does he not think that in view of what we do they should be compelled to join their own army?

That is entirely a matter for the Belgian Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he was aware that, in December, 1914, troops were billeted in the two neighbouring villages of Elham and Barham, in Kent, at the rate of 17s. 6d. per man per week, but that, in the case of Barham, the rate was subsequently raised to 23s. 4½d., and arrears paid to bring the payment as from the commencement of the billeting up to that figure, while no corresponding alteration was made in the rate paid in Elham; if he will say what was the reason for this inequality of treatment; and whether he will have payment made to the house holders in Elham on whom troops were billeted on the same terms as were given to Barham?

I have been unable to find that any troops were billeted at Barham in December, 1914. The rate paid at Elham was presumably settled by agreement, and in that event the higher rate would not be payable. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with definite particulars, showing that householders in Elham did not receive the rate of payment to which they were entitled, I will make further inquiries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there have lately been issued for the guidance of newspaper correspondents with our Armies in Flanders and France instructions to the effect that current events must not be mentioned in detail until after such events have been made public in the Commander-in-Chief's dispatches; only general mention of the fighting can be made, and nothing outside the official communiqués is to be touched upon; that matters of controversial or political interest must be excluded; that praise or censure is to be left to the Commander-in-Chief; that mention of any formation by name is prohibited, including such items as the New Army, Territorials, etc., also names of units or individuals; that the articles of war correspondents must be confined to topographical descriptions and gene ralities; and that detailed information obtained by war correspondents can be used only when permission is given, and the time of publication will vary according to circumstances; and, if so, will he say whether these instructions have been issued at the instance of the War Office or of the military authorities in the field; whether any protests against the instructions have been made by the newspapers concerned or their correspondents; and whether any, some, or all of them have in consequence withdrawn from the Front?

Reference to General Headquarters shows that no new instructions have lately been issued over and above those contained in the official regulations for Press correspondents, but further inquiry is being made into the matter. I should be surprised to learn that any newspaper correspondents have returned from the Front since I have been informed that they were given an exceptionally good opportunity of witnessing a battle only a week ago.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not know that Mr. Frederick Palmer, who is the only American correspondent at the Front, has gone back to America in disgust at these regulations?

He must have been under a misapprehension, because there have been no new regulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War for what reason temporary commissions are refused to men who enlisted at the beginning of the War for full engagement in the Regular Army when recommended by their commanding officer, while such commissions are given to men in the New Army under similar conditions; and if he will take steps to abolish a rule or practice which discriminates to the disadvantage of men who were the most prompt to answer the call to serve the country on the outbreak of War?

Warrant and non-commissioned officers who are serving in the Regular Army on ordinary peace attestations are, if recommended by their commanding officers and considered suitable, promoted to permanent commissions in the Regular Army, and are granted higher rates of pay and of outfit allowance than other officers. It is not considered desirable to promote such men to temporary commissions for the period of the War only, as their position for the remainder of their Army engagement would be an anomalous one.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that one battalion in this country has, by changing the usual system of catering and by economical and efficient management, not only saved the State over £1,000 per month, but has also fed the men better than before; and, if so, what steps are being taken by the War Office to induce other battalions to carry out their catering arrangements on similarly economical and satisfactory lines?

My hon. Friend is referring to a locally raised battalion of the Gloucestershire regiment, which in the earlier stages of its existence was catered for under arrangements made by the raisers of the battalion. The raisers were authorised to charge only the actual and necessary cost of messing up to a maximum of 1s. 9d. a man a day. The saving which my hon. Friend mentions is the difference between this 1s. 9d. and the figure to which this battalion worked. The arrangements made by the battalion were highly successful, and the results were brought to the notice of the various command authorities some time ago, but I ought to say that many locally raised battalions have kept well within the maximum of 1s. 9d. Therefore to speak of savings of so much a month is apt to mislead unless the fact that the 1s. 9d. is a maximum is borne in mind. These and similar arrangements are necessarily superseded by the ordinary system of supply through the Army Service Corps when the locally raised battalions are taken over by the Army Council, since it is of the greatest importance that the Army should be self-supporting and able to feed itself at all times independently.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether efforts will be made to utilise the services of retrenched temporary members of the Land Valuation Department in other civil departments or in the Royal Engineers and other special military corps; and whether their names will be registered for preferential consideration as vacancies in Government service occur after the War, in consideration of the fact that, though temporary servants, they had grounds for expecting that their employment would be long continued or permanent in character?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on the 14th instant to a similar question put by the hon. Member for Chippenham.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the net yield of the Land Valuation Department, which has recently averaged annually a minus quantity of about half a million sterling, will be increased by economies recently announced to a minus quantity of about £150,000 per annum or, if not, what is the estimated expense to the taxpayer of keeping this Department alive for the year now current?

I am unable to follow the calculations of the hon. Member. But, in so far as his question appears to be directed to the cost of the Valuation Office now that the original valuation has reached so advanced a stage, I understand from the Board of Inland Revenue that the diminution of the temporary staff is expected to result in a reduction of the Land Valuation Office Sub-heads AA to EE of the Inland Revenue Vote from approximately £675,000 for 1914–15 to approximately £507,900 for 1915–16 and to approximately £350,000 for 1916–17. The figures of £507,900 and £350,000 both include a provision of some £59,000 in respect of officers on military service.

Will the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to this opportunity for making economy?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the chief valuer recently issued a circular to superintending valuers of the Valuation Department instructing them to discourage enlistment in the Territorial Force by members of the staff, and earnestly requesting members of the staff to remain at their posts and proceed with their work; whether he is aware that members of the temporary staff have been officially warned that if they enlist it will involve the termination of their engage- ment in the Valuation Department; whether it is the policy of the Government to encourage employers to follow the example of the Government in refusing to promise re-employment to employés who join the Army; and whether he will discontinue the practice of discouraging recruiting in the Valuation Department?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Munitions on 20th April last in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Haggerston. I am causing a copy to be sent to him for convenience of reference.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what considerations govern the dismissal of land valuers under the recent decision to dismiss the whole of the temporary staff; and whether in Liverpool (1) district unmarried men eligible for the Army are being retained, while married men ineligible for the Army have received notice of dismissal?

I am informed by the Board of Inland Revenue that in reducing the valuation staff to a number equivalent to the authorised establishment the services of married men ineligible for the Army are being retained in preference to those of unmarried men eligible for the Army; exceptions to this general rule are occasionally inevitable where the utility of a younger man is markedly greater than that of an older man.

May I bring a case before the right hon. Gentleman?

If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the case to which he refers, I will have the matter investigated at once.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the necessity which exists for directors of companies to make provision for the future payment of Excess Profits Duty, it is intended that companies whose financial years ended during August, 1914, may take that year as one of the three pre-war years for the purpose of ascertaining the pre-war standard of profits?

No, Sir. In many instantcs the results of such a year would be largely influenced by appreciation or depreciation of stocks immediately on the outbreak of war, and would not be a fair criterion for computing the pre-war standard of profits.

asked whether, under Clause 35 of the Finance (No. 3) Bill, it is intended that directors, managers, travellers, or other individuals holding offices or employments partly remunerated by salary and partly by commissions and bonuses shall in respect of such commissions or bonuses be subject to the Excess Profits Duty?

The case of remuneration to directors is dealt with in Rule 5 of Part I. of the Fourth Schedule to the Bill. Commercial travellers are specially excepted. Persons engaged in the other capacities named would not normally be carrying on the business of a person taking commissions in respect of transactions or services rendered, and their vocations would thus not fall within the scope of the charge.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a person, firm, or company liable to Excess Profits Tax for any accounting period may deduct from such excess profits a loss sustained by such person, firm, or company in respect of another and distinct business in which he or they are engaged?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Exchange Division of Liverpool on the 14th instant. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked whether tea and jute manufacturing companies, registered in India and Ceylon, will only be liable for Income Tax on their dividends, or whether such companies will also be liable to Excess Profits Tax?

The place of registration is not a conclusive factor. The charge to Excess Profits Duty extends to all trades or businesses owned or carried on outside the United Kingdom by persons ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a number of firms owning vessels engaged in the mercantile trade at the outbreak of the War have made large profits out of the sale of these vessels at a greatly enhanced price consequent upon the conditions induced by the War; whether this profit, which is clearly a War profit, will, unless legislation is particularly directed towards it, escape taxation on the ground that it is a realisation of capital rather than a profit; if he is aware that vessels, and even whole fleets, have been sold at a profit of over 100 per cent.; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

Where profits from the sale of ships constitute profits arising from a trade or business within the meaning of the Bill, they would be within the scope of the Excess Profits Duty.

asked whether His Majesty's Government will consider the propriety of collecting duty on manufactured tobacco by stamps, to be affixed as cigars and cigarettes are sold, seeing that the adoption of this suggestion would enable smaller tradesmen interested to carry on their business without providing additional capital, and would obviate the employment of new officials for collecting duty?

The suggestion put forward is one which involves a fundamental change in the present method of assessing and collecting the Tobacco Duty on the raw material. It would require very careful and probably prolonged inquiry and consideration, and the present is not, I think, an opportune time for such inquiry. No new officials will be required in connection with the additional Tobacco Duty imposed by the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he could state without detriment to the public interest what is the amount of the excess of imports, less re-exports, over exports for the period 1st August, 1914, to 3st July, 1915; what is the amount expressed in sterling of orders placed abroad by Government Departments during the same period not included in the imports, distinguishing, if possible, between orders placed for the account of the British and for the account of the Allies; and whether he can give an estimate showing the same information for the period 1st August, 1915, to 31st July, 1916?

The excess of imports, less re-exports, over exports for the period 1st August, 1914, to 31st July, 1915, as given in the Board of Trade Returns, is £328,982,516. I am unable to give the hon. Member the information asked for in the second and third parts of the question. I hope to be in a position some time to give him the information for which he asks.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give even a rough estimate?

I do not think it would serve any useful purpose to give an estimate of that kind.

asked the Prime Minister whether Lord Haldane has been sent on a mission to Field-Marshal Sir John French; and, if so, whether he can state the nature of the mission?

Lord Haldane visited France as the guest of Sir John French. The latter part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the fact that owners of houses let to working-class families, of whom many of the fathers are in the Army and Navy now fighting for their country, are raising rents and giving as reasons the increase in wages and increased taxation in the Budget, steps will be taken to prevent evictions in the cases of refusal to pay such increase of rents by the promotion of a Bill setting up Courts that will assess fair rents?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to demonstrations and discontent in some of the working-class districts of Glasgow, Birmingham, and other centres against what are regarded as excessive and unwarrantable increases in rent; whether he is aware that among the families who are refusing to pay these extra charges and who are threatened with eviction are many whose husbands and sons are with the Colours; that the house famine in certain districts is largely due to the influx of munition workers; and that many property owners are believed to be taking advantage of this situation in order to pass on their share of additional Imperial taxation to their tenants; and whether, in view of this discontent, the Government will cause investigation to be made and consider the advisability of establishing Fair-Rent Courts in districts where they are most required?

The whole question is under the consideration of the Government.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can now state the terms of reference and composition of the Committee to inquire into the question of increased house rents in Scotland?

I have appointed the Hon. Lord Hunter and Dr. W. R. Scott (Professor of Economics in the University of Glasgow, and recently President of the Economic Section of the British Association) to be a Committee to make immediate inquiry into the circumstances connected with the alleged recent increase in the rental of small dwelling-houses in industrial districts in Scotland. Mr. P. B. Moodie, of the Scottish Office, will act as secretary to the Committee, and communications should be addressed to him, for the present, at 6, Parliament Square, Edinburgh.

Will this Committee deal with only munition areas, or with the whole of Scotland?

With the whole of Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that rents at Shirehampton, in the city of Bristol, have been twice raised by a total of 1s. weekly since January last, and that this has been done in spite of the fact that the rates have decreased by 4d. in the £, arrears of rents have decreased owing to increased employment, and the losses from voids have decreased owing to the greater demand for houses; and will he propose legislation to deal with cases of this kind?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the way in which the house property owners of Birmingham, Tooting, and many other parts of London are raising the weekly rents of their tenants; if he has seen a copy of a letter that the landlords of the Beckton Road estate, Canning Town, E., have sent round to their tenants demanding an increase of rent, and at the same time enclosing a formal notice to quit the house; if he is aware that the rates in the borough of West Ham, in which the property is situate, have been reduced by 1d. in the £; and if he intends setting up some Fair-Rent Courts, with a view to putting an end to this form of rent exploitation?

Perhaps I may be allowed to answer these questions at the same time. I am aware that there have been increases in rent in many parts of the country, and, in the Debate on Thursday last, it was stated that measures were being adopted to deal with this evil in certain munition areas. The question, however, is not confined to these areas, and the whole matter is receiving the anxious consideration of the Government.

May I ask whether the Government are going to make up their minds at once to stop the bleeding of tenants not only in munition areas, but in other areas where the workers are worse paid?

It is quite obvious that the question is one of extreme difficulty, and I think it would be utterly wrong to announce a decision at a moment when we are giving to the matter our careful attention and consideration.

In coming to a conclusion, will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that the owners of these houses have very much more to pay in the way of increased taxes and in the price of materials for repairs?

All these facts are before us.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the question is being considered of setting up a Fair-Rent Court, and whether inquiry is being made into the precedents?

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the increased charges which are due to the increased taxation on buildings owing to the finance of the late Chancellor of the Exchequer?

asked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been drawn to the unrest among munition workers owing to the increase of rents; whether he has made the promised inquiry into this increase; and whether the Government proposes to take any action in the matter?

I am not at present able to add to the reply given to a question addressed to me on Wednesday last by my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow. Every effort, however, is being made to expedite the inquiries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries in various other areas of England similar to those which the Secretary for Scotland announced for that country?

I will make practically the same kind of inquiry. I will look into that matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the evidence as to England as well?

Certainly; I am inquiring into England.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that Her late Majesty Queen Victoria's Proclamation of 17th September, 1900, was in force at the beginning of this War, on 4th August, 1914, and was not cancelled until the Order in Council of 28th August, 1914, he will state why the prize money arising from prizes made between the 4th and the 28th August has not been distributed in accordance with the Proclamation then in force; and whether he is in a position to say when it will be so distributed?

I am advised that the Proclamation of 17th September, 1900, merely governed the distribution of prize money which might be granted, the actual grant of prize money being dealt with in accordance with precedent by a Proclamation to be issued at the beginning of and for the purpose of each particular war. In any event a captor acquires no right to the proceeds of prize until the prize has been duly adjudicated upon, and the Proclamation of 17th September, 1900, was recalled, so far as regards prize money, on the 28th August, 1914. So far as I am aware, no prize was condemned before the 28th August, 1914. The first sitting of the Prize Court in London was held on the 4th September, 1914.

Were there not several prizes captured between 4th August and 28th August, 1914, and would not the captors of those prizes be entitled, by virtue of the Proclamation, to prize money?

No. As I understand the law on the subject, which my hon. and learned Friend knows better than I, captors acquire no right to the proceeds of a prize, except the prize has been adjudicated upon. There was no adjudication before 28th August.

asked if the returns collected under the National Registration Act have been examined and tabulated; and, if so, whether any use has been or is intended to be made of such information as the figures afford with a view to enlistment or other national requirements?

The Prime Minister desires me to reply to this question. The answer to the first part is, Yes. In answer to the second part of the question, I may perhaps be allowed to state that the National Register forms the basis and supplies the information upon which the new recruiting movement rests. It has assisted largely in the provision of munition workers, and has also provided the Government with reliable information as to what resources of labour are available for the various industries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman cause tabulated statistics to be circulated to the House?

I should like notice of that question.

I will give notice.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether a number of registration forms have been filled up without a declaration of nationality?

Nationality was, under the terms of the Act, only required to be stated by persons born abroad whose nationality was not British.

My question originally was whether persons of German nationality did not fill up the nationality, and persons of German name?

The hon. Gentleman will see that I have answered the question on the Paper, and what he has put now is totally different and one I could not answer now without notice.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer it if I put it down?

I will answer it if I can. I do not know whether the information will be available.

asked the Prime Minister whether Italian forces are to co-operate with the British and French forces in Serbia?

The method in which Italy can most effectively co-operate in helping Serbia or in the common cause is under discussion between the Allies.

asked whether the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Serbia will be French or British?

I regret that I am not in a position to make an announcement on this matter.

asked if it is the policy of the Government not only to discourage imports but also to encourage exports, in order to stabilise the rate of foreign exchange; and, if so, what encouragement or assistance does the Government propose to offer to British exporters?

His Majesty's Government are anxious that the export trade of the country should be maintained so far as is compatible with the prosecution of the War. As regards the second part of the question, I should be glad to receive any suggestions which the hon. Member may have to make.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Excess Profits Tax will, in any event, be charged on any pre-war profits which form part of the estate of any member of His Majesty's Forces who has either been killed or incapacitated on duty, and who has relied upon such pre-war profits either for the maintenance of his dependants or for his own future subsistence?

Without following my hon. Friend into hypothetical cases, I may explain that over the lifetime of the tax there will be equalisation of the charge, so that an excess over the standard in one accounting period can be cancelled by an equivalent deficiency below the standard in another accounting period. If the first accounting period includes pre-war months, the last accounting period may include post-war months.

Has the right hon. Gentleman noticed that the question relates to pre-war profits which form part of the estate of an officer or soldier who has been killed, and, in these circumstances, how can another accounting period occur?

The beneficiary of a deceased person will get the benefit, only he would have to pay the percentage upon it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to collect from the tea merchants the 1s. 1d. per lb. which they charge to the public on the weight of paper used for tea packets sold as gross weight instead of net; and if he will ask the Government to issue an Order that all dutiable articles should be sold at net weight?

I do not know on what information my hon. Friend bases his statement that the paper in which tea is wrapped is sold to the public at 1s. 1d. per lb. I do not think it follows that if the Government took the action suggested in the last part of the question the consumer would necessarily benefit.

The question is as to tea sold in packets and as to merchants charging full value including paper. That is what I want to get at.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now furnish a statement showing the financial position after the first twelve months' working of the Government war risks insurance scheme?

I do not think it would be desirable to publish any figures at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether considerable profits have accrued to the Government from their war risks insurance scheme of merchant ships; and, if so, whether, in view of the increase in the cost of living, he will consider the desirability of increasing the weekly allowance of £1 or less to the dependants in this country of our merchant seafarers who are at present interned in Germany?

The hon. Member can safely disregard any reports he may have heard as to large profits made by the insurance scheme. I am afraid it would not be possible to increase the scale of allowances granted in connection with that scheme to the dependants of seamen interned in Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the prosecution at Goole, on the 29th September last, of Captain Henry Arnold and Mr. F. Chapman, mate of the Goole steamer "Knowl Grove," on a charge of ignoring signals made from one of His Majesty's armed trawlers, the case against the master being dismissed, whilst the mate, Mr. Chapman, who pleaded that he did not understand the Morse code signals and had disobeyed the regulations in ignorance, was fined £30 and costs; and whether he can state if the "Knowl Grove" at the time was fitted with adequate and efficient signalling apparatus for signalling both by day and by night?

I am aware of the circumstances of the conviction of the mate of the steamship "Knowl Grove" for failure to obey orders given by one of His Majesty's armed trawlers. I cannot say whether the "Knowl Grove" was provided with efficient signalling apparatus, but the question of signalling apparatus does not arise in this case as the mate failed to stop when ordered to do so by siren signals, by megaphone hailing from a distance of under fifty yards, and by the firing of a rocket across the vessel's bows from a short distance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state any results from the inquiry instituted by the Board last July with reference to avoidable breakage of Irish eggs in transit to Great Britain?

I stated, in reply to the questions which were asked by the hon. Member and the hon. Member for West Clare, on the 22nd July, that I should be happy to look into any specific cases of breakage or delay in transit of Irish eggs, if furnished with particulars. Since that date I have been in communication with the London and North-Western Railway Company, in regard to a case of delay, and I am assured by them that the general question of the transit of Irish eggs viâ Holyhead, is receiving very close attention. No specific cases of recent breakages in transit have been brought to my notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to a dispute which has been in progress since the beginning of October at the works of Messrs. G. J. Mason and Company, Glasgow, caused by the dismissal of twenty-five girls who objected to a reduction in rates on solidiers' tunics; and what action it is proposed to take?

The Chief Industrial Commissioner's Department have made inquiry of Messrs. Mason and Company, who state that there is no dispute, the girls in question having been discharged for bad behaviour. The firm state that there has been no reduction in prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the effect on freight markets of shipments of American wheat to this country from United States of America Atlantic ports; whether he is aware that on a load of wheat (214 tons) the freight alone is £660 and will soon be £700 as compared with £60 before the War; whether he is aware that freights from the Argentine now stand at 72s. 6d. per ton, being 5s. more than the heavy freights of last winter and an advance of nearly 500 per cent, on prewar freightage; whether he was approached on the occasion of his recent visit to Liverpool by members of the Corn Exchange, who urged the fixing of maximum freights; and, in view of the certainty of further increases, what action, if any, the Government intend to take?

This subject, amongst others, was mentioned to me by one or two corn merchants when I visited the Liverpool Corn Exchange on the 8th of October, but I was unable to discover any support there for the fixing of maximum prices for wheat sold by these gentlemen. The whole question of ocean freights is closely engaging the attention of the Government. There are grave difficulties in the way of State interference with the freight market, for which the Government is anxiously endeavouring to find solutions which will not do more harm than good.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the increase in freights is mainly due to the large number of ships requisitioned by the Transport Department of the Admiralty, and that many of them have been kept lying idle for lengthy periods; and will he make representations to the Admiralty to release ships that are not urgently wanted? Further—

The hon. Member will have to give notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that most of his agents arrive on the market about 10 or 11 o'clock in the day, so that hind-quarters sold on 16th September could not be for that day's trade, but could, at the earliest, not be marketed before the following day; whether he is aware that good chilled hind-quarters and fore-quarters were freely obtainable from Friday, 17th, to Wednesday, 22nd September, at 4s. 2d. and 3s. 4d. per stone, respectively; will he explain how, in view of these figures, it could be said that the Government were selling their surplus meat at the current daily market price;

(2) Whether, on Wednesday, 22nd September, any of his agents indicated to him that in consequence of the non-availability of the Argentine boat the market would be faced with an extreme shortage of beef for two or three days; whether he is aware that on the 23rd, 24th and 27th September an advance of price obtained, and that in consequence the working classes had to pay 2d. to 3d. per pound extra for their week-end meat supply; whether, in view of what was bound to arise, any of his agents suggested that 2,00 or 3,000 good, bright, frozen quarters should be released to relieve the temporary Argentine shortage; if so, why was this course not adopted; if not so, whether he will advertise for and appoint a capable butcher, who would promptly report to him the indications of the market and thereby prevent, as far as possible, this meat trust from exploiting the working classes;

(3) Whether he is aware that the indications of the meat trade point to higher prices ruling in the meat markets after Christmas; whether he has observed that a firm named Rough and Company, of Smithfield, have lately displayed great energy in discovering new sources of meat supply in Southern Brazil and Colombo, Central America; whether he has noted that much of this beef is of good quality, and that with development of the sources of supply could be greatly improved; whether, in view of what is likely to arise, he will confer with this firm as to the facilities required to increase and improve the supplies from those quarters so that the producers, in order to market their beef, will not be driven to throw themselves into the arms of the Chicago Beef Trust; whether he will adopt the same course with the field of supply in Venezuela;

(4) Whether he is aware that the failure of his Department to cope with the rise in meat prices which took place between Wednesday, 22nd September, and Monday, 27th September, in consequence of the non-arrival of the Argentine boat, caused a rise of prices which fell upon the working classes; and, seeing that his Advisory Committee is now limited to the vested interests of the meat trade, together with two Colonial representatives, both interested in securing high prices of meat for Colonial producers, whether he will state the grounds on which he refuses to include a working-class representative from the meat trade on that controlling or Advisory Committee?

My hon. Friend appears to me to be under some misapprehension as to the nature of the action which the Board of Trade are taking in connection with the purchase, transport and distribution of frozen meat. Their primary object, as I have explained to this House, is to secure an adequate supply of such meat at reasonable prices for the use of the British, French and Italian Armies, and it is the surplus supplies which are sold through the usual agents at the market rates on the day of sale, for civilian consumption. It is not practicable for me to go into all the details which my hon. Friend asks for. The mode of conducting the business has, I understand, given general satisfaction, and has certainly tended to keep down prices, but it is impossible to prevent altogether the fluctuation of market prices from time to time due to various causes of a temporary nature. While most of this meat comes from Australasia and the Plate, I have been able to allocate some refrigerated tonnage for the transport of meat from other sources, and I am prepared to continue this policy so far as insulated space is available, the necessities of the Armies being always the first consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to complaints made in America that some business cablegrams are intercepted and the charges made for their transmission appropriated here, while others are altered to the detriment of American trade; and whether he is willing that the facts of all such cases should be investigated by a neutral tribunal?

No telegrams to or from America have been intercepted except by the Censorship Authorities and in accordance with Article 8 of the International Telegraph Convention. With respect to the refundment of charges levied, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a question on the 28th July last. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the possibility of allowing, in the case of weekly trade newspapers, a higher weight than 6 ozs. for a halfpenny, in view of the fact that such journals are primarily intended to promote the trade of the country?

I should be obliged if the hon. and gallant Member would furnish me with particulars of the papers he has in mind, including their weight.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the direct mail service between Aberdeen and Lerwick is practically suspended, and that passengers from Aberdeen to Lerwick are taken round by Orkney, special care being taken that they shall not land there for any purpose; and if, in view of the delay and loss caused by this arrangement, he will endeavour to restore the direct service as soon as possible?

I regret that I cannot at present add anything to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on the 14th October.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, at any rate, give the Lerwick County Council, who are very much interested in the matter, full particulars of any arrangements he makes?

I will take into consideration the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that employers engaged on munitions work have discharged workmen, and by withholding their leaving certificates have attempted to prevent the men getting work elsewhere; and whether, in the interests of industrial peace, he will introduce legislation to limit this power and to make it possible for the workman to bring an action for loss of time and wages in the event of the Munitions Court deciding that his certificate was unreasonably withheld?

One or two cases such as that referred to by my hon. Friend have been brought to my notice. The view which my Department has consistently expressed is that in general any employer discharging a workman should give him a certificate enabling him to obtain employment elsewhere, and I have no reason for doubting that this view is acted on as a rule. It would not, however, be possible or desirable to enact that in every case without exception an employer must give a certificate if he discharges a workman, because this would enable a workman to compel his discharge and obtain a certificate merely by misbehaviour. I have, however, noted the suggestion of my hon. Friend for consideration in the event of any amending legislation being introduced.