asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the rights, respectively, of the shareholders and the Government in the profits and assets of the Bank of England?

His Majesty's Government have no share in the profits of the Bank of England beyond the amount payable by the Bank to the Exchequer out of the profits of issue under the provisions of 7 and 8 Viet., cap. 32, Sec. 9, and 24 Viet., cap 3, Sec. 4, which amount for the year 1914–15 was £186,731. The Government has no rights in the assets of the Bank except as a customer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will state the total amount of loans made or promised to other countries since the War began, distinguishing, if the public interest permits, those to Allies, neutrals, and our Colonies?

The total amount of loans made from public funds in the year 1914–15 was £51,825,000, and the estimated total amount of loans to be made during the current financial year is £423,000,000. I do not think it would be in the public interest to give further details.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if the Government will, for the discouragement of luxury and the encouragement of voluntary enlistment in the Army, consider the desirability of quadrupling the existing establishment Licence Duty in respect of all male domestic servants, including gamekeepers, eligible for military service; (2) whether, in view of the increasing export of gold to pay for cereal grain coming from, abroad and of the almost certain reduction in the area and amount of that raised at home in 1916, the Government will consider the advisability of levying a tax of 5s. per head in respect of all hand-reared pheasants and other preserved game hatched out in the spring of next year or, alternatively, of £100 upon every game-preserver penning birds or buying eggs for this purpose; (3) if, in view of the rising price of milk and its growing inaccessibility to the very poor, the Government will consider the advisability of imposing during the War an establishment Licence Duty of £l per head on all cats other than one per household retained for the destruction of rats or mice; and (4) if, in view of the amount of food suitable for human consumption which is nowadays consumed annually by dogs which are used neither as sheep-dogs nor as truffle-dogs nor for purposes of sport, the Government will consider the desirability of doubling the establishment Licence Duty on all dogs beyond the number of two kept by any one person solely as domestic pets?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to these questions. Without expressing any opinion upon the practicability of the hon. and gallant Member's proposals, I shall be very glad to consider them if and when it becomes necessary for the Government to lay further proposals for taxation before the House.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Irish Executive, through the Inspector of Reformatories, have made representations to the Dublin Metropolitan magistrates and brought pressure to bear upon them with a view to inducing them not to commit children to industrial schools whilst the present crisis continues; whether special stress was laid on cases in which the parent was living, that under no circumstances should children in such cases whilst the present crisis continues; whether the object of the Executive is to relieve the State and to throw the cost of maintenance of such children on the ratepayers; whether the Executive have considered the effect its action is likely to have on industrial schools whose managers have entered into a contract with the Government to provide specified accommodation, which have expended capital on the provision of such accommodation, and have obtained certificates accordingly; and whether, seeing that the Government contribution to these institutions at present is 5s. weekly per child, the county councils contributing 2s. weekly and the Dublin County Council 2s. 6d. weekly per child, and in view of the effect of such action of the Executive upon the children, the industrial schools, and the ratepayers, and of the comparatively small amount of the Government contribution, he will advise that the matter be reconsidered by the Irish Executive with a view to the continuance of the old system, or, if this be found inadvisable, he will endeavour to secure that the industrial schools shall be safeguarded as far as possible against the loss which the new system is certain to involve?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the negative. The other parts do not therefore arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether there are large numbers of soldiers who have not yet gone to the front who are unfit for active service; and, if so, will he take steps to have them released on the same terms as those unfit who have been to the front?

The number of soldiers unfit for active service who have not yet gone to the front is not large. In any scheme for releasing unfit men no distinction would be made between those who have and those who have not been to the front.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War how many officers and men of the Dardanelles Forces died of sickness in the Dardanelles and since they left there, respectively?

Up to date about fifty-five officers and 1,700 other ranks have died with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from causes other than wounds. These figures include the Royal Naval Division. The figures I give, though not precise, are substantially accurate. I am unable at present to state the number of those who have died since leaving the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if Mrs. Saville, formerly of Beverley and of German nationality, is employed in the Censor's Department?

No, Sir. There is no one of this name, spelt either with one or with two l's, in the Postal Censor's Branch.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that the men of the Lancashire Hussars, having been stationed a long way from Lancashire since mobilisation, have been given very few facilities for leave; and whether he will consider the possibility of granting increased facilities for leave to them during the next few weeks?

As far as is known the Lancashire Hussars have been granted leave under the same conditions as other troops in the United Kingdom, i.e., so as to give four clear days at home.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if the sugar used by the troops stationed in England is supplied direct by the Sugar Commission or purchased from contractors?

The sugar forming part of the ration is supplied by contractors on the basis of prices fixed by the Sugar Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many day nurseries have established rights to grants under the regulations which came in force as from 1st April last; how many children have come under the influence of these day nurseries, and how much money is expected to be required for the service of these grants?

Grants were first paid to day nurseries in the financial year ending on 31st March, 1915. For that year eighty day nurseries were recognised, and received grants amounting to over £5,000. They provided accommodation for about 2,500 children. During the current year the number of day nurseries recognised will show a substantial increase, and there will be a corresponding increase in the grants paid.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, with regard to the intimation made that the usual education statistics will not be published next year, the usual figures will be compiled and available; and, if not, whether their compilation has been relinquished purely on the ground of public economy?

The figures will not be collected or compiled. The reason is mainly that of public economy in the wide sense, including the saving of labour, both local and central, as well as the saving of expense; but the Board also consider that in some areas and parts of areas and in some branches of education the disturbance in the normal processes of education has been such that the value of the usual figures, if collected, would be seriously impaired.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Telephone Directory, issued in August last, invites private persons, professional men, and business firms to become subscribers; can he state why this has been done, in view of the fact that general instructions were given to the district managers some months before the date mentioned that no applications for new connections or extensions of existing connections would be entertained until further notice; and will he state when orders for new connections and extensions will be accepted?

I am aware that spaces in the Telephone Directory which would otherwise be blank are filled with advertisements of the telephone system. Orders for new telephone circuits and extensions are now accepted, provided that the cost of construction is not great, and subject to the payment of a surcharge.