asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the approximate total value of the various foodstuffs and other commodities which have been freely placed at the disposal of the Imperial Government by Colonial Governments and other governing authorities within the Empire since the outbreak of the War; and whether he can say how much of this total represents gifts from India?

Particulars of the various gifts which have been placed at the disposal of His Majesty's Government by His Majesty's Oversea Dominions for the period from the beginning of the War to the end of March last will be found in the three Blue Books Cd.7608, Cd.7646, and Cd.7875, which have been laid before Parliament. Particulars of gifts received since that date have been announced through the Press Bureau.

The value of the gifts of food-stuffs, clothing, and other commodities is very great; but it would be difficult and probably misleading to attempt to give any approximate estimate of their value.

As regards India, full information has been furnished to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the captain of the German trawler "Gudrun" was stopped by a British squadron in the North Sea; will he say whether, when the ship was examined by a British officer, he asked for time to get his crew into the boats, and was told he could take the whole ship as the British were not pirates; and, if so, will he say why this German trawler was not captured as a prize or sunk?

I have read a Press report to the effect stated in my hon. Friend's question, but we have no official information on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an undertaking was given that, in the case of vacancies caused by officers being wounded, prisoners, or missing, they would be temporarily filled for the first three months, and then the promotion would be made permanent; if so, whether this rule has been applied in the Cavalry; and, if not, whether the Army Council can see their way to carry it out?

The system of promotion referred to applies to vacancies caused by officers who are taken prisoners, or are missing, but not to vacancies in succession to wounded officers. It applies to the Cavalry, and no case is known in which it has not been fully put into effect.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in the canvassing for military service of those whose names appear on the pink forms, any exception will be made, as it is in Russia, in the case of the only son of a poor widow who is wholly dependent upon him for her maintenance?

The details of the scheme are now being worked out. The case of the only son of the poor widow was dealt with in a public statement made yesterday by the Director-General of Recruiting, and I have nothing at present to add to what was then said.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state the circumstances under which men serving in the Royal Field Artillery units of the 38th Division, raised in Wales under the Welsh Army Corps scheme sanctioned by the War Office, have been transferred, against their will, to the King's Liverpool Regiment, notwithstanding the fact that they joined the Army on the distinct understanding that they were enlisted for service with their fellow countrymen; whether such transfer is in accordance with the assurance given by the Under-Secretary of State in this House during the Debate on the Army Act (Amendment) Bill, by which such transfers are legalised; and whether he will undertake that these men shall be retransferred to a Welsh unit, many such units being considerably below their established strength owing to the demands recently made on them?

The transfer of the men in question was made under general instructions that Field Artillery gunners and drivers permanently unfit for service abroad, but physically fit for duty in garrison companies, were to be transferred to reserve battalions for employment in garrison companies. These men would not have been of use in making up the establishment of a unit which has to supply drafts; but there is, I believe, no reason why they should not be retransferred to the reserve battalion of a Welsh regiment for inclusion in garrison companies and I will see whether this cannot be done.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will say the approximate price His Majesty's Government have allowed to the armament firms in this country for fuses made under the Krupp patents which expired in July 1914; whether the makers of fuses have added, with the consent of the Ordnance Department, a royalty charge of approximately 9d. per fuse to the price they have charged the Government?

It would be contrary to the understanding with contractors to give these prices, but in this case they are inclusive prices, and no doubt cover all the cost of production, including royalties or similar payments. The consent of the Ordnance Department was neither asked nor given to any addition to the price such as is suggested. The whole question raised by the agreement between the firms named and Messrs. Krupp and the destination of the so-called royalty is before the Law Officers, but neither of the British firms could expect either to pay the money to Krupp's under the present circumstances, or to credit it to themselves by way of extra profit.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Law Officers of the Crown have yet arrived at any decision whether the arrangement made by the Coventry Ordnance Works and Messrs. Vickers to continue to make royalty payments to Messrs. Krupp's for fuses for His Majesty's Government, though the said Krupp patent has expired, is legal?

No, Sir; the question is still under the consideration of the Law Officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it has been the practice in many cases to issue new boots to the troops just before they sail for France?

No, Sir; the general practice is for soldiers to be supplied with boots some time before embarkation, with a view to the boots being taken into wear and fitted to the feet, so as to be in good condition and suitable for marching when the troops land. Instructions have from time to time been issued to the commands to ensure this being carried out. Where new boots have been issued to individuals just before leaving, it has been due to special or unforeseen circumstances.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state what number of persons, if any, are employed part time at Woolwich Arsenal in clerical work; whether any remuneration is paid or allowed in respect of such employment; if he can state what remuneration, if any, is paid to persons who have regular employment and who work at the Arsenal in the evenings and on Sundays; and whether he will arrange for any clerical work that may be required to be performed, where possible, by men over military age who are out of employment?

About forty, persons are employed part time at Woolwich Arsenal on clerical work. They are remunerated at the same rates as those assigned to persons ordinarily employed full time on similar work. They are employed to provide extra assistance during special times of pressure and to relieve the overworked permanent staff, and for this purpose I think it desirable to employ the most suitable applicants available, irrespective of whether or not they are in other employment.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs the date on which Sir Henry Bax-Ironsides left Sofia and the date on which Mr. O'Beirne presented his credentials as his successor?

Mr. O'Beirne was sent to Sofia on a special mission at the beginning of July to conduct the Legation during Sir H. Bax-Ironside's absence on leave. He was presented by Sir H. Bax-Ironside to the Bulgarian Prime Minister in that capacity on 8th July, and Sir H. Bax-Ironside left Sofia next day. Letters of credence as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary on special mission were issued to Mr. O'Beirne under date of 5th August, and he presented these letters to King' Ferdinand on 3rd September.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information to the effect that Mr. George M. Getschow, of Chicago, whose firm are supplying shell to the United States Government, has stated that Germany is being supplied by manufacturers with implements of war, that these German contracts are figured on the cost of manufacture plus 30 per cent., that one-fourth of the amount of the whole order is deposited in the banks, and that these shipments for the most part go to Germany by way of Norwegian and Danish steamships; and, if so, will he say what action he proposes to take?

I understand that this statement appeared in a Chicago evening paper, but inquiries have failed to elicit any confirmation of the report. The Navy use all the means in their power to stop all goods from reaching Germany, especially of this character.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the amount of salary and fees paid to Lord Buckmaster and the present Secretary of State for the Home Department, respectively, during the fiscal year 1914–15?

These particulars will in due course appear in the published accounts, and I regret that I cannot see my way to accelerate their publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Treasury is aware that considerable hardship is being experienced by British citizens on returning to this country on furlough or to join the Army, etc., after residing in India or the Colonies, by the physical possession provision in the Stock Exchange Temporary Regulations, whereby they are prevented from realising money by the sale of securities held by them while abroad; and, if so, will he consider the advisability of relaxing this provision in such cases without impairing its efficiency in regard to alien enemies?

The position of persons resident in British Possessions who have returned to this country has already received consideration, and the committees of the Stock Exchanges have been given a discretion in such cases to allow sales of securities which have been in physical possession within British Possessions since the outbreak of war where the amount is small and the committee is satisfied that hardship would result if the dispensation were not granted. I am afraid it would not be in the national interest to allow a relaxation, beyond these limits, of the rule requiring physical possession in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the fact that Mrs. Lovett, Kenmare, has put in a new claim for an old age pension, and that an undertaking was given that a fresh inquiry would be made, he can state whether such inquiry has been made; if not, on what grounds has the claim been again refused; and can he state whether consideration will again be given to this case?

The claimant was notified of the receipt of the appeal, and requested to forward any evidence she desired to submit in support of her claim, but none was sent. The claim was disallowed on the ground that her means exceeded £31 10s. a year. It is not open to the Local Government Board to reconsider their decision on the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the names of those licensed experimenters on living animals who have committed a breach of the law in the course of such experiments are suppressed in the Returns relating to such experiments?

If the offence were serious and a prosecution followed the name would, of course, become public; but it has never been the practice to publish the names of persons guilty of technical offences or the omission of formalities which can be adequately dealt with by reprimand, and I do not think any useful purpose would be served by altering the rule. The Royal Commission discussed the point in their Report (page 13), but made no recommendation in favour of publication.