asked whether it is intended to apply the Import Tax to component parts of motor and other tyres, such as steel non-skidding studs and valves?

It is not intended to apply the Import Tax to component parts of motor and other tyres in any case where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that the articles are not otherwise accessories or component parts of motor cars.

also asked whether it is intended that duty shall be levied on timber imports in the form of partly finished wooden spokes for motor wheels?

If the partly-finished wooden spokes are for use on taxable motor cars they are liable to duty as component parts of a motor car.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many of our merchant ships have been destroyed by submarines up to date; and whether he can state how many of them have been destroyed by mobile torpedoes and how many by other means, such as gunfire, explosive charges placed on board, or opening sea-valves, etc.?

The number of British merchant ships, exclusive of fishing vessels, reported sunk by submarines up to the 14th instant is 183. Of these ninety-three were reported destroyed by torpedoes. The number of British fishing vessels reported sunk up to the same date is 175, but the exact means by which they were sunk cannot be stated accurately.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that Private G. Jones, No. 18731, 11th Devonshire Regiment, sailed for France on 6th October on his fourteenth birthday; will he say what steps the Secretary of State for War proposes taking, if any, to prevent boys of thirteen years of age enlisting against the wishes of their parents; and (2) whether, seeing that the War Office have no knowledge that recruits under the prescribed age are being widely enlisted, he is aware that at the Mortlake Police Court, on 13th October, John Meakin (fifteen), Alexander Guntripp (sixteen), and William Haslewood (seventeen) were charged with being deserters from the 13th East Surrey Regiment; that these boys enlisted last July; that they deserted a few days ago, and were found playing in a field by a policeman; that Mr. J. Kelsall, deputy-chairman of the Surrey Quarter Sessions, before whom these boys were charged, described them as children and that no one in his senses could possibly have believed they were nineteen; and whether it is proposed to discharge these boys?

I shall be happy to give my hon. Friend particulars of these two cases as soon as I have received the official report, which has been called for in each case. As my hon. Friend has announced to me his intention of asking two questions a day on cases of this sort, I will ask him to be so good as to give me a week's notice in each he will realise that they will throw a good deal of additional labour on the recruiting offices, especially at the present time when special efforts are being made to obtain a largely increased number of recruits.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, under the present regulations, men of the Home Hospital Reserve are liable to serve either at Malta, Gibraltar, or elsewhere outside the United Kingdom?

No, Sir, but they may volunteer for general service.

asked the Under-Secretary for War what is the present strength of the Volunteer Training Corps; and whether any arrangements have yet been made by the War Office for the employment of members of this force on less important military duties that are now being discharged by soldiers of the Regular and Territorial Armies?

I understand that the membership of the corps affiliated to the Central Association amounts to 183,415, but it is believed that this is not by any means the complete return. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the tenth Australian general hospital arrived here fully equipped with twenty medical officers and seventy-one sisters, and that so far it has been found impossible to utilise their services; if he will state who is responsible for such a state of affairs; and if, out of respect for Australian sentiment, he will see that this specially equipped unit will not be split up, but be employed as a unit?

I have communicated with the High Commissioner for Australia and I am informed that the medical officers and nurses referred to do not constitute the complete staff of a general hospital; that they arrived without equipment; and that they were sent to this country in view of contemplated extensions of accommodation for Australians in the third general hospital and to provide the staff for that purpose. Arrangements are in progress for such extensions, and it is proposed that the services of this staff shall be used in this connection.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether ships conveying wounded from the Dardanelles have no Catholic chaplains on board; and, if so, whether he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

My hon. Friend is misinformed in thinking that the hospital ships have no Roman Catholic chaplains. It is the practice to place one Church of England and one Roman Catholic chaplain on each such ship serving the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. I cannot say that there have been no cases in which, owing to sudden and unforeseen changes in the arrangements regarding the departure of the ships, there has been no Roman Catholic chaplain, but I have seen no complaints to this effect, and no cases of failure to carry out the rule have been reported to the Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has any information that the tinned beef supplied to the troops abroad by Morris and Company (Supreme) and Libby, McNeil, Chicago, is of indifferent quality, whereas the other tinned beef supplied is of excellent quality; whether the unused tinned food issued to the troops abroad is collected weekly; will he say why the men are not given any additional vegetable ration in lieu of this tinned beef returned; and whether, in order to avoid waste of food at the front, he will credit every regiment with the value of the food returned?

No complaints have been received with regard to the tinned beef supplied by the firms mentioned by the hon. Member, which is packed under the same supervision as the other brands supplied to the troops. The general rule at home and abroad is that supplies not actually required for consumption are not to be drawn. A certain proportion of vegetables enters into the field rations, and where local conditions permit, fresh vegetables are also obtained. Various suggestions for encouraging the return of unused rations are being considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether he has any information that certain rifle ammunition supplied by American firms, and known to be defective, was notwithstanding this sent to the troops in France, with instructions that this ammunition was to be sent to the points on the line where the least danger was apprehended; will he say what were the instructions given to the general commanding the transport in France relating to the disposal of this particular ammunition; whether instructions were given that the boxes were to be specially marked; will he say who gave these instructions to the transport officers; (2) whether types B and U rifle ammunition have been called in and replaced with type K; whether inferior ammunition supplied by certain American firms was inspected in America; if so, whether the inspectors were representatives of the Ordnance Department; whether he is aware that some of the American cartridge bullets were dummies and incapable of doing any damage even at short ranges; whether this ammunition was tried in machine guns and found quite useless; and will he state the names of the American firms who supplied this ammunition?

No small-arm ammunition known to be defective has been sent to the troops in France. Certain defects in the ammunition supplied by two manufacturers developed, but steps were immediately taken to withdraw all the ammunition of these makes from the troops. We are not aware that any dummy bullets were found in any of the American ammunition supplied. It is undesirable to give details regarding the various firms making war material, the methods of inspection, or the orders issued in the field.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that soldiers who have died in home hospitals from wounds received in action have been considered non-parishioners, and that certain local authorities have charged their relatives double fees for burial or memorial; and whether cases of such hardship will be prevented in future?

No information to that effect has reached the War Office, but if my hon. Friend will give me any specific cases he may know of I will make inquiries.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why railway tickets supplied to soldiers returning home invalided or on furlough are issued for certain lines respectively, and are not so made out that the journey may be taken upon any line which connects the point of departure with the destination; whether he is aware that recently a soldier, who had been wounded, was handed a ticket made out over the Midland Railway, but was advised at St. Pancras Station to travel by the 2.20 p.m. train from King's Cross Station, as no Midland train was to leave for Scotland earlier than 9.30 p.m.; that travel on the Great Northern line was refused to him, however; and that other cases of the kind have occurred; and will he consider methods whereby such delay and anxiety to soldiers recently wounded, or with but brief furloughs, can be avoided?

I am informed that the suggestion of my right hon. Friend has already been considered by the railway authorities, but has been found impracticable. Perhaps, however, he would be good enough to put his question to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the dependants of merchant seamen who lose their lives when engaged in transport service for the Government are entitled to-pensions or other allowances; and, if so, to what Department of the Admiralty application should be made?

The dependants of merchant seamen who lose their lives when engaged in transport service for the Government are eligible for pensions or other Grants under the Injuries in War Compensation Act, 1914, provided the death be due to injury on duty, or to sickness specifically attributable to the nature and conditions of their employment during service afloat. The awards are made either by the War Risks Associations acting under the Board of Trade on behalf of the Admiralty or War Office, or by the War Office or Admiralty according to circumstances. Applications should be addressed to the Accountant-General of the Navy, who will take such action as may be necessary in such instance to ensure their consideration by the proper authority.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that several Indians, who are British subjects, are now in the employ of Germans in China; and, considering that it is not consistent with existing conditions for British subjects to accept service with enemy subjects, whether there are any means by which this service can be put a stop to?

His Majesty's Minister at Peking is being asked by telegraph to report on the subject, and when his reply has been received, a further communication (or reply) will be made to the hon. Member.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if he will supply, for the use of the Midland Peat Industries Committee, newly formed, large scale ordnance maps of the bogs accessible by sidings or spurs from the Midland Great Western Railway between Ballywillan and Inny Junction and between Killucan and Hill of Down stations, with all the information on the maps of the bog survey of the early nineteenth century transferred to them, showing all the borings then made with their depths, the railway line, and the county and estate boundaries, and giving the names and addresses of the present owners?

The Department cannot undertake the supplying of large-scale Ordnance Survey maps giving the information referred to. They are, however, arranging to furnish the hon. Member with tracings of maps (covering the districts in question), contained in the Second Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the nature and extent of the Bogs of Ireland, 1810–11. together with a key map to same.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will ascertain through the Estates Commissioners, for the use of the Midland Peat Industries Committee, what owners of the bogs adjacent to the Midland Great Western Railway between Ballywillan and Inny Junction and between Killucan and Hill of Down stations are willing to sell the portions of the bogs not required by themselves or their tenants, the approximate area in each case, the price asked, and the address of the owner or agent?

The Estates Commissioners have no power to conduct negotiations for the purchase of bog lands except for the purposes of the Land Purchase Acts, and they are accordingly not in a position to furnish the information asked for in the question.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he will give the names and addresses of what is stated to be a representative body of prominent agriculturists called together by the Department to fix the price of hay requisitioned for military purposes in consultation with the Army purchasing officer?

The military authorities, having intimated to the Department that they desired an opportunity of conferring with representative farmers and others, as to the purchase of hay in Ireland for Army purposes, the Department invited the following to a conference at their offices:—Mr. Hugh T. Barrie, M.P Coleraine; Mr. John Bolger, Ferns; Colonel Sir N. T. Everard, H.M.L., Navan; Mr. William McDonald, Carrigaline, county Cork; Mr. J. Willington, Birr; Sir Josslyn Gore Booth, Bart., D.L., Sligo; Mr. W R. Ronaldson, Leixlip, county Dublin; Mr. Richard O'Malley, Woodlawn, Santry, county Dublin. Of these the three last-mentioned were unable to attend. The following attended on the invitation of the military authorities: Mr. Edward O'Malley, Woodlands, Santry, county Dublin; Mr. P. Fitzgerald, Blackhall Street, Dublin. The members of the conference did not, as stated in the question, fix a price at which hay would be requisitioned for military purposes. They merely advised as to the prices at which they believed that hay could be obtained voluntarily in their respective districts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state 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?

The only countries in Europe in which compulsory service abroad is demanded from citizens are France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, and in all cases the conditions of such service are strictly limited. In France, for instance, the Colonial Army is recruited from voluntary enlistment, but any shortage is made up by compulsory enlistment. The classes of persons enrolled and the conditions of enrolment of men compelled to serve in the Colonial Army are the same as in the Home Service Army, namely, for three years; but, as a general rule, the maximum term of foreign service in such cases is one year. In Germany, marines are liable to serve in any part of the world. As regards other conscripts, the oath of enlistment permits of their being sent to serve on land or sea, in war or peace, in any locality. Heretofore, however, it has never been the custom for Germany to send any except volunteers to foreign possessions. In Italy, only volunteers are sent on foreign service; but, if the necessary number of volunteers are not forthcoming, the Government can detach men to make up the deficit. There is, however, no direct evidence that this has been done, although it is likely that whole regiments were detached in this manner for service in Libya. Foreign service in Portugal is voluntary, but failing volunteers officers and non-commissioned officers at the bottom of the list of seniority are selected. Volunteers are also taken as privates, and, failing sufficient supplies, men are forced to serve who failed to present themselves punctually for enlistment. In Spain men who fail to present themselves at the right time are sent to the Balearic Islands and Canaries if enough recruits cannot be obtained locally. For service in North Africa men are recruited in Spain voluntarily; deficiencies are made good compulsorily from men who have received imprisonment. As regards the second part of the question, the French Expeditionary Force to Tonkin in 1884 was composed of Home Service Troops, Marine Infantry, Foreign Legion Troops, African Infantry, and Native Troops from Cochin China. I have no information as to the conditions under which the Home Service Troops were sent. The Marine Infantry and Foreign Legion were liable for service abroad. They were both recruited partly from voluntary and partly from compulsory enlistment. Against the Hereros the Germans employed the Schutztruppen of the Colony of German South-West Africa, recruited by volunteers from the Home Service Army.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state why wholesale merchants in Kerry and Cork have been refused a supply of British manufactured sugar, although they have made numerous requests for the same?

The Royal Commission on Sugar Supplies does not itself distribute British refined sugar. But presumably Kerry and Cork have been disappointed for the same reason that similar requests have not been complied with elsewhere, namely, that the supply is not sufficient to satisfy all demands, and has to be apportioned by refiners amongst the several applicants as equitably as possible. Doubtless Kerry and Cork will receive their due share in the long run.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the tenants of unpurchased farm holdings in Ireland, the extent of whose valuation may render them liable for Income Tax as proposed in the Finance Bill, will be entitled to deduct the amount from the rent, judicial or otherwise, payable to their landlord; and (2) whether, to encourage the sale and purchase of land in Ireland, as agreed to by all parties in the House, he will in the Finance (No. 3) Bill render liable for all war taxes upon land, including Income Tax, that may be levied in consequence of the War, the landlord who receives the rent, and empower the occupying tenant who may have to pay in the first instance to deduct it from his rent?

The hon. Member is apparently suggesting that Income Tax, Schedule B, or any other tax which relates to the profits not of ownership but of occupation, should be borne by the landlord rather than the occupier. I regret that I am not able to accede to this suggestion.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is intended to revise the valuations, collection, and expenditure of the Dublin Metropolitan Police Tax; whether he is aware that the Citizens' Association has been in communication with the Chief Commissioner of Police on the subject; and whether he can state what measures will be taken to relieve this complaint?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given to-day to the hon. Member for the College Green Division of Dublin. Copies of the correspondence which has passed between the Dublin Citizens' Association and the Chief Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Police accompanied the representations which I have received from the association on the subject of the police rate.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, owing to the increased valuation of the city of Dublin, the Dublin Metropolitan Police rate of 8d. in the £ will entail an increased burden on the ratepayers of some £4,800 per annum; and whether, in view of the comparatively crimeless condition of Dublin and of the general economic pressure due to the War, he will consider some means of relieving the citizens of Dublin of this additional drain upon their municipal funds?

I understand that the estimate given by the hon. Member of the increased yield of the police rate in Dublin consequent on the revaluation of the city is substantially correct. I am sure that it would be useless at the present juncture to request the Treasury to forego an automatic increase of the local contribution to the cost of the police force which tends to relieve the burden on the Imperial Exchequer. It must be borne in mind in this connection that the annual cost of the increase in the scale of pay and allowances recently granted to the force is much in excess of the additional contribution which will be derived from the rates as a result of the revaluation.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state at what date purchase agreements were lodged on behalf of tenants on the Nicholson estate, Balrath, Bury, Kells, county Meath; whether it was simultaneously or subsequently communicated to the Commissioners that the vendor was willing to sell some of his untenanted land to enlarge their holdings; what has been the cause of the delay in carrying out the arrangement between the vendor and purchasing tenant; if at any time the vendor sought to retreat from his part of the agreement or whether the delay resulted from the Commissioners seeking to acquire more land than was sufficient to meet the requirements of the occupants of the estate; and, if so, having regard to the hardship inflicted on the tenants on the estate by delaying their vesting orders and not increasing their holdings, the Commissioners will deal with their agreements as originally presented without further delay?

The estate referred to is the subject of a sale by the owner direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and purchase agreements at prices agreed upon between the parties were lodged with the Estates Commissioners in April, 1909. In 1910 the Commissioners received a communication on behalf of the tenants alleging that one of the conditions of the sale was that the vendor should provide additional lands for the tenants of certain holdings. No such condition appears in the purchase agreements signed by the parties, and the vendor's solicitors on being furnished with a copy of the communication in question replied that no such agreement was made by him; that what the vendor did state was that, if after inspection of the estate, the Commissioners considered that certain holdings should be enlarged, he would be willing to give untenanted land to provide such enlargements if an arrangement as to price is arrived at. The Commissioners have requested the vendor to sell to them certain untenanted land in his occupation for the purpose of enlarging holdings on this and on neighbouring estates. The vendor is not prepared to sell all these lands, and the Commissioners have intimated to him that as he is not willing to sell them the land which they consider necessary for the purpose of improving the estate, they are not prepared to declare this property an "estate" for the purposes of the Irish Land Acts. On the vendor's application, the case will be listed for hearing before the Commissioners at an early date. There has been no delay on the part of the Commissioners in dealing with this property, but the negotiations regarding the sale of the untenanted land have been protracted.

asked whether any purchasing tenants, on whose behalf purchase agreements were lodged at the same time, or since the agreements were lodged, on the Nicholson estate, county Meath, have had their lands vested in them; and, if so, on how many estates?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Much labour would be involved in obtaining the information asked for in the second part and no useful deduction could be drawn from it as the date of vesting depends on many other things than the date of lodging purchase agreements, including the declaration by the Estates Commissioners as an "estate" of the lands proposed to be sold; whether the sale is under the Act of 1903 or 1909, and if under the Act of 1903 whether it is on the register of all cash sales or on the registers of sales to be paid either wholly or partly in stock.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether the Department have an Advisory Committee on Horse. Breeding; and, if so, will he state the names of the Committee; whether the Department have any official paid expert on horse breeding; and, if so, will he state the name of this expert?

The Department's Advisory Committee on Horse Breeding consists of the following members:—Ex-officio members.—The Vice-President of the Department, the Secretary, The Assistant Secretary in respect of Agriculture, the Deputy-Assistant Secretary in respect of Agriculture. Members.—Mr. E. De M. Archdale, D.L., Major Balfe, D.L., Mr. T. M. Carew, Mr. James Daly, Captain C. H. E. Featherstonhaugh, D.L., Mr. P. Fitzgerald, Mr. T. Huston, V.S., Mr. N. B. King, J.P., Mr. R. Percy La Touche, J.P., Mr. P. J. O'Neill, J.P., Mr. Joseph R. O'Reilly, D.L., Mr. Charles McDonnell, J.P., Mr. Arthur McMahon, J.P., The Right Hon. Lord Rathdonnell, H.M.L., Mr. H. P. Ryan, The Right Hon. Frederick S. Wrench.

The following (with the ex-officio members) act as a working administrative sub-committee:—Mr. James Daly, Captain C. Featherstonhaugh, D.L., Mr. R. T. Huston, V.S., Mr. P. J O'Neill, The Right Hon. Frederick S. Wrench. The Department have no official paid expert on horse breeding. They employ several members of their staff as well as temporary officers. The veterinary inspector in connection with live stock schemes, Mr. M. J. Cleary, M.R.C.V.S., is the only officer who devotes his whole time to this work.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that certain constables are doing duty in the Houses of Parliament on four days in the week and are only receiving plain clothes allowance for three days; and, if so, will he see that in future plain clothes allowance is paid to the men who do this work on Saturdays?

It is usual to employ in the Houses of Parliament on Saturdays two constables in plain clothes on what is known as "line of route" duty, and in accordance with long established extra sessional custom these men have been allowed to do a short day of six hours without allowance in lieu of doing a full day's duty and getting the 5d. daily allowance for plain clothes. This arrangement, though popular with the men concerned, was irregular, and will be abandoned.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the number of persons killed and injured by horse vehicles, motor omnibuses, tram cars, motor cars, and cabs in the Metropolitan Police area and the City between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. during the months of August and September, 1914, and 1915?

The figures are not available in the form specified in the question, and to collect them would involve much time and labour. The following are the figures which the Metropolitan and City Police are able to furnish, and I hope

RETURN showing the Number of Persons Killed and Injured in the Streets of the Metropolitan Police District during the months of August and September, 1914 and 1915— Class of Vehicle. August, 1914. August, 1915. Personal* Injuries. Fatalities. Personal Injuries. Fatalities. Before Dark. After Dark. Before Dark. After Dark. Before Dark. After Dark. Motor cabs … 157 1 4 95 85 4 3 Electric trams … 295 — 1 278 134 5 1 Motor omnibuses … 228 5 3 149 79 4 2 Private cars … 295 11 2 277 72 15 2 Trade and commercial cars … 102 9 3 137 19 15 3 Motor cycles … 197 1 1 163 37 — 2 Horse drawn … 454 10 1 455 65 10 1 Totals … 1,728 87 15 1,554 491 53 14 Class of Vehicle. September, 1914. September, 1915. Personal* Injuries. Fatalities. Personal Injuries. Fatalities. Before Dark. After Dark. Before Dark. After Dark. Before Dark. After Dark. Motor cabs … 156 2 5 92 118 2 5 Electric trams … 262 3 1 207 157 5 1 Motor omnibuses … 221 8 7 123 82 7 7 Private cars … 304 8 2 324 75 10 8 Trade and commercial cars … 103 13 5 136 35 11 2 Motor cycles … 159 3 — 154 55 3 2 Horse drawn … 353 11 2 352 82 16 4 Totals … 1,558 48 22 1,388 604 54 29 *The personal injuries in 1914 before and after dark are not recorded.

RETURN showing the Number of Persons Killed and Injured in the Streets of the City of London Police District during the months of August and September, 1914 and 1915. Class of Vehicle. August, 1914. August, 1915. Personal Injuries. Fatalities. Personal Injuries. Fatalities. Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Motor cabs … … 11 — — 15 — — Electric trams … … 2 — — 8 — — Motor omnibuses … … 16 1 1 26 — — Motor cars (light) … … 5 — — 17 — 1 Motor cars (heavy) … … 1 — — 4 — — Motor cycles … … 2 — — 5 — — Horse drawn … … 44 — — 39 1 — Totals … … 81 1 1 114 1 1

that they may serve my hon. Friend's purpose:—

Class of Vehicle. September, 1914. September, 1915. Personal Injuries. Fatalities. Personal Injuries. Fatalities. Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Motor cabs … … 13 — — 12 — — Electric trams … … 4 — — — — — Motor omnibuses … … 23 — — 32 — — Motor cars (light) … … 6 — — 11 — — Motor cars (heavy) … … 3 — — 1 — — Motor cycles … … 1 — — 3 — — Horse drawn … … 34 1 — 50 — 1 Totals … … 84 1 — 109 — 1

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can state the grounds on which the Department have declined to place Shire and Clydesdale stallions on an equal basis with other breeds already eligible for registration in Queen's County under the Department's horse-breeding scheme?

The grounds referred to are that in the Department's opinion there is danger to the reputation of the general horse-breeding industry of Ireland if Shire and Clydesdale stallions are registered without limitation in districts noted for the breeding of Irish horses.