asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is able to give the House any information concerning the state of affairs in Persia?

I am unable to add anything at present to the reply returned to the hon. Member for Stirling Burghs on the 16th instant.

Can the Noble Lord tell us whether the Shah is still at Teheran?

So far as our information is concerned, he is still at Teheran.

Has the Noble Lord any word that the Shah is going towards Ispahan with the German, Austrian, and Turkish Ministers?

Our information is that he is at Teheran. It is impossible for me to say what he may or may not do.

Did the Russian Government allow them to leave Teheran?

Can the Noble Lord say where the German, Austrian, and Turkish Ministers have gone, after leaving Teheran?

I am afraid they did not tell us.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can lay upon the Table of the House Papers dealing with the attitude of Greece during the War and in the course of the recent negotiations; and if he can state whether the Foreign Office has official knowledge of the Greco-Bulgarian Treaty announced to have been signed on 15th October?

Papers will be laid eventually, but I am afraid that I cannot undertake to do so now. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that several cases containing rifles and bayonets, consigned from Birmingham and addressed to a Member of this House, care of the National Volunteers, have been delivered in Dublin within the last few months; whether these cases were, in the first instance, detained by the civil authorities but were afterwards released and delivered to the consignees by order of the military authority; whether the Law Officers of the Crown were consulted as to the legality of these shipments; and if he will state why the makers of these arms have not been exclusively employed in producing munitions for His Majesty's Forces?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the third in the negative. I have no information as to whether the makers of the arms referred to by the hon. Member have or have not been exclusively employed in producing munitions for His Majesty's Forces since the outbreak of war. I have been told that these rifles are not the service rifle supplied to the Army, and that they have been obtained in large numbers by the Volunteer Corps in England. They were probably—I do not know—manufactured before the War.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware of complaints of the difficulty experienced in many rural districts in Ireland to obtain an adequate supply of milk; and whether, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and the local authorities, he will consider the advisability of immediately adopting remedial measures to meet this want of the workers in agricultural places?

I am aware of the difficulty referred to, which was disclosed in evidence before the Viceregal Commission on the milk supply. I am informed that Governmental remedial measures are not at present practicable, but it is hoped that creameries, as well as farmers having milk at their disposal, will realise their duty to make a portion of their supply available to meet the needs of dwellers in agricultural places.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to have this recommendation brought into effect in order that remedial measures may be adopted?

I will do what I can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has had his attention called to the fact that there are more than 300 German interned prisoners in Hong Kong, and that their presence in this Colony is a source of danger to the peace and contentment of the inhabitants, and interferes with their control over the natives employed in trade; and whether he will arrange to remove these Germans to an internment camp in Australia or elsewhere?

I have received from the Governor of Hong Kong a copy of a letter from the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, making the representations stated in the first part of the question. The Governor has replied that the chamber's fear as to the danger of the presence of the camp is not shared by the responsible authorities, and after considering the matter in consultation with the War Office I do not at present propose to take any action.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say who are the inhabitants who have control over the natives employed in trade?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will ask my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the delay in the liquidation proceedings in the case of various German firms who are doing business in Hong Kong prior to the outbreak of war and to the antecedents of some persons who claim to carry on business as a British or American firm at the present time; and whether he proposes to take any action to clear German influence out of this British Colony?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; the whole matter is now under the consideration of His Majesty's Government, with the view of securing the object desired by my hon. Friend, namely, the elimination of German influence from the Colony.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the temporary draughtsman who was recently dismissed from his post had for the past twelve months been in receipt of the balance of his civil pay, i.e., civil pay less naval pay; whether he has in this case treated a man under a certain regulation for twelve months and on his dismissal acted as if the said regulation was inapplicable to him; and whether he is aware that there exists dissatisfaction in his Department in view of the fact that this interpretation of the Prime Minister's promise may ultimately affect over fifty other employés?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative. The answer to the second is that this draughtsman, with others, was by a special arrangement allowed to serve in the Antiaircraft Corps while continuing his office work during the day. Owing to reduction of work there was nothing for him to do, and he was properly dispensed with under his agreement. When he is not in the Service, I obviously cannot treat him as if he were in it. The answer to the third question is that I cannot say how many men will be affected. It depends on the amount of work in my Department..

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will state the total number of temporary employés of his Department who have enlisted in all branches of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces and, since their enlistment, have been paid the balance of their civil pay; and in how many cases has the civil employment of such men been terminated by the Board?

Temporary employés to the number of 501 in my Department have joined for whole-time service in His Majesty's Forces and been paid balance of civil pay. Fifty-six temporary employés have joined the Anti-aircraft Corps under the same conditions as to pay, but under an arrangement whereby they continued during the day to work in the Department. The employment has been determined in three cases coming under the second class because there was no work for the men to do.

Is it not really rather a serious matter that 500 employés are doubtful as to their position under the promise of the Prime Minister made in August of last year?

No, Sir; those 500 employés are not in any doubt at all. They have joined for whole-time service—a quite different matter. If the hon. Member cares to see me I will explain the whole matter to him.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the promise given by him on 10th August, 1914, respecting Civil servants joining the Forces for the War has been held not to apply to un-established draughtsmen in the Office of Works, though up till recently these men have understood that this promise included their case and have been treated accordingly by the Office of Works; and whether, to prevent ambiguities and. any sense of injustice, he can, by a Treasury Minute or otherwise, so define the promise given on 10th August, 1914, to Civil servants that their rights and privileges may be clearly established?

No, Sir. Unestablished draughtsmen in the Office of Works are held to be entitled to Treasury "circular terms," as they are called, when they leave their work with the permission of the Department to join the Army or Navy. The heads of all Government Departments are well aware of these terms.

Even if the heads of Government Departments are aware, are the employés—which is much more important —themselves aware?

So far as I know they are certainly aware. In the two offices with which I have been concerned since the beginning of the War they have all been aware of it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of women convicted of drunkenness in the Metropolitan Police District for the years ending 31st October, 1913, 1914, and 1915; and the number of those convicted in 1915 who were in receipt of war separation allowances?

The figures for the three years mentioned are 16,609, 18,538, and 16,526. So far as is shown by the records which have been referred to for the purpose of getting out these figures, sixty-two of the women convicted in 1914–1915 were in receipt of war allowances, but the true figure may be larger.

asked how many alien enemies, or persons of hostile origin or association, remain uninterned or un-repatriated in Bradford?

There are in Bradford 139 persons of various enemy nationalities, of whom seventy-three are females.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any assurance that those people will be interned before long?

No, I could not do that. There are some of them old Turks, and some are children and some are old men. Every one of them, I believe, has been recommended for exemption by the Judicial Advisory Committee.

asked the Home Secretary whether Woolwich is a prohibited area; how many alien enemies or persons of hostile origin or association are still at large in Woolwich and the neighbouring village of Charlton; whether he is aware that a German, who was a postmaster at Woolwich until after the outbreak of war, is now residing at Shooter's Hill, where his behaviour on the occasion of Zeppelin raids excited local indignation; and if he will say why this man has not yet been interned?

Woolwich is not a prohibited area. I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that in Woolwich borough and the neighbouring village of Charlton there are 131 men and 124 women of enemy nationality. Nothing is known to the police with regard to the German referred to in the latter part of the question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman suggest any part of England which should be a prohibited area more than Woolwich?

It is no part of the duty of the Home Office to select prohibited areas, but if the hon. Gentleman has got good reasons why it should be done I will see that they are communicated to the proper authority.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not recognise the state of the case himself and use his influence to have it made a prohibited area?

asked whether enemy aliens and naturalised enemy aliens are allowed to own and run motor cars or to run motor garages; and, if so, what are the numbers so allowed in each case?

The possession of a motor car by an alien enemy, except with the written permission of the police, has been prohibited under the Aliens Restriction Order since the beginning of the War. I have no precise information as to the number of cases in which permission has been granted, but such cases must be very rare, and I have reason to believe that the general prohibition is strictly enforced.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of John Bennets Bailey, a labourer, who was sentenced to three months' imprisonment under the Defence of the Realm Act because, under the influence of Tolstoi's writings, he has written an article strongly opposed to militarism, which he kept in his pocket with no apparent intention of publishing; and whether he will examine the facts of the case in order to see whether they warrant the sentence imposed?

Such notice of the evidence as I have seen appear to indicate that there was an intention to publish documents which clearly contravened the Defence of the Realm Regulations, buff that was a question for the judge and jury at the trial, and if the prisoner were dissatisfied with the verdict or sentence it was open to him to apply to the Court of Criminal Appeal. I have nothing before me which would justify my intervention in the case.

asked the Attorney-General whether, having regard to the assurance given by his predecessor that it was not the intention of the Government to use the powers of the Defence of the Realm (Amendment) Act against persons giving publicity to statements of opinions, however foolish and however far from wise in judgment, which were not wilful and dangerous misstatements of fact, and that the Regulations which the Government would make under the Act would be framed to deal only with such misstatements of fact as he then in that Debate described, and seeing that the Regulations since made under the Act in question have been used sometimes after an open trial, and at other times after a secret trial, to punish persons for giving publicity to statements of opinion, notwithstanding his predecessor's assurance, he will take steps to amend the Regulations in question and make good his predecessor's assurance?

(Mr. Cave, received with general cheers ): So far from intending to depart from the assurance given by my predecessor, I desire to renew it. As far as I know, no proceedings have been instituted in any Criminal Court under the Regulations for the Defence of the Realm which have been inconsistent with the assurance in question, and it seems to me to be unnecessary to take steps to amend the Regulations in the direction indicated.

I desire to give notice that I shall to-day, if I get the opportunity on the Appropriation Bill, bring this matter before the right hon. Gentleman and the House.

asked what will be the position in regard to enlistment of friendly aliens resident in this country after 30th November?

The question of the enlistment of friendly aliens is under Consideration, but I cannot give any indication of the decision likely to be arrived at.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there is already quite a number of friendly aliens in the Army?

No, Sir.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider one or two cases, without any detriment to these patriotic and public-spirited gentlemen, if I furnish him with the names?

I shall be very glad.

asked the Attorney-General if it is intended to take proceedings against the Archbishop of Canterbury and certain bishops of the Anglican Church, under the Defence of the Realm Act, for issuing instructions to clergymen of military age who have received Lord Derby's invitation to enlist in the Army, not to respond to this invitation; whether he is aware that those instructions are calculated to hinder recruiting; and, if it is not proposed to prosecute these prelates, will he say if it is the settled policy of the Government to act under the Defence of the Realm Act only when the alleged offender is in humble circumstances and uneducated?

My right hon. Friend has asked me, in his absence, to reply to this question. To each and every part of this question the answer is in the negative.

Are we to assume that the policy of the Government is to let men like the Archbishop of Canterbury say and do what they like, and that less educated persons in a less exalted, spiritual, and social sphere are to be sentenced to six months' imprisonment for a non-deliberate expression in a railway train?

No, Sir; my hon. Friend is too much a master of logic to infer anything of the sort.

Will equal respect be paid to men who have religious convictions of the same kind as those of the Archbishop of Canterbury, but who belong to other denominations?

If my hon. Friend will read the answer of the Director-General of Recruiting in the matter he will see that ministers of all denominations are on the same footing?

I would like to ask whether most has been done to encourage the nation in its task by the Archbishop of Canterbury or by the hon. Member for Blackburn?

asked whether application has been made by the mayor and borough council of Bethnal Green for permission to enrol a battalion to be called the Bethnal Green battalion; and, if so, whether the application can be acceded to?

I understand that an application to raise a Territorial Force unit was made to the Territorial Association, but was not endorsed by that body. No trace of any such application as that mentioned in the question is to be found at the War Office.

Would it be acceded to if the application were made to the War Office in addition to being made to the Territorial Association?

I shall have to consider that.

asked whether it is proposed to employ the assistance of the Volunteer Training Corps, who have attained considerable experience in drill, to give preliminary training in drill and musketry to men who may enlist under Lord Derby's scheme?

Yes, Sir. Arrangements of the kind suggested are being made. I may state that the authorities of the various Volunteer Training Corps have kindly offered to give the War Office every assistance in their power.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware of the strictures passed in many parts of the Kingdom upon the clerical employment of active young soldiers in the Army Pay Department, for instance, whom it is thought should be in the combatant ranks; that this practice is believed to have a deterrent effect upon recruiting; has he considered the suggestion that many young men rejected by Army doctors by reason of defective eyesight and for similar partial physical disabilities might do this clerical work and thereby free other men who are both able and anxious to undertake the active duties of the soldier; and (2) whether he is aware of the case of a young solicitor in busy practice in a great northern city who has tried several times to enlist in the Army, but was rejected invariably because he was obliged to wear spectacles; that lately once again this gentleman when asking for employment, this time in the Army Pay Corps, was repulsed by the officer to whom he had' offered himself, with a question as to what he meant by applying if he could not pass the Army sight test; and whether office work employment cannot be found for such highly-trained and patriotic young gentlemen?

I am afraid I have no information as to the particular case. For a considerable time past only men not eligible for active service have been enlisted for the Army Pay Corps and all present vacancies in pay offices are being filled by women. We have been encouraging all the eligible clerks whose services can be spared to join the combatant ranks.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the annoyance felt by certain employers in Bradford, and doubtless in many other places also, when they find that valuable clerks of their already depleted staffs whom they have felt it their duty to encourage to enlist, and whom they have promised to supply with part of their salaries, are not soldiering at all but are employed close at hand on military clerical duties, typewriting, shorthand writing, and routine office work, which it is maintained do not require the services of athletic young men, but might be done equally well by men not of military age, by skilful women and girls, or by candidates rejected by the Royal Army Medical Corps officers for partial physical disabilities; and whether he will find some remedy for a state of things which is said to be straining the sympathy of ardent employer recruiters of the Army?

The dissatisfaction referred to has not been brought to the notice of the War Office. As far as possible only those unfit for more active duties are employed upon clerical work-Perhaps my hon. Friend would send me particulars so that I may make inquiry.

asked why, and by what authority, Lord Derby's letter has been sent to boys under seventeen years of age; why such boys are being canvassed and threatened with being summoned before the local tribunal; and if this is done with the knowledge and sanction of the War Office?

If Lord Derby's letter has been sent to boys under seventeen years of age, this has been due either to a mistake on the part of those sending out the letters, or to the fact that the boy gave his age as eighteen or older when signing his registration paper. Boys of eighteen can attest under the group system, but they will not be called upon for service until they reach the age of nineteen.

Can the right hon. Gentleman regard that answer as satisfactory, seeing that there are hundreds and probably thousands of boys on the registration forms under seventeen who have received this letter from Lord Derby?

I am amazed to learn it, but if it has been done it is entirely an error and mistake owing to the hurry in which the letters were sent out.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is not a fact that Lord Derby's letter was sent to Lord Kitchener?

Yes, and I have another right hon. Colleague in the Cabinet who has received a similar missive.

asked whether, in connection with Lord Derby's recruiting scheme, his attention has been called to the fact that the classification as single of all men married after registration day, 15th August, 1915, is unfair for the reason that no previous notice of this classification had been given when the scheme was made known in October, 1916; whether, as one of the essential features of the scheme professes to be that single men will be called first, he will consider the desirability of arranging that men marrying between 15th August, 1915, and the date of the publication of the scheme should be allowed to enlist under the scheme on the same terms as to being called up as other married men of their own ages, so long as reasonable proof can be adduced that the marriage was not contracted with the object of evading military service; and whether, in such cases, instructions will be given to the various tribunals to deal favourably with applications for transfers from the single groups to the corresponding married groups?

No, Sir, I fear I cannot encourage the hope that that proposal will be adopted.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that nothing of this kind was referred to in the National Registration forms?

I did not hear what the hon. Member said.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War, whether he is aware that the recruiting under Lord Derby's scheme in the borough of St. Pancras has been impeded by the unprecedented rush of recruits, and that loss of time and money is being caused to the recruits by reason of the lack of facilities afforded by the War Office for enlisting recruits; whether the War Office have been asked to reduce this congestion by using the offices of the Territorial regiment in St. Pancras, and of the 17th Rifle Brigade, St. Pancras, for general recruiting and have not acceded to this proposal; and, if so, what are their reasons for so doing?

I have made myself acquainted with the average number of recruits presenting themselves in the Borough of St. Pancras during the last nine days, and I do not find that there has been any congestion. No request such as that mentioned in the last part of the question has been received.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases it takes as much as seven hours for this formality to be gone through and that men have to wait all that time?

My information is not in accordance with that statement. It is that there are not more than twenty standing at a time, and therefore there was no undue strain upon the officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that recruiting under the Derby scheme is greatly hindered among the less wealthy of the middle-class people by the fact that they are tied to the lease of and liability to rates for houses which their relatives would be unable to maintain were they to enlist; and, if so, will he say whether anything is being done or is about to be done to remove this obstacle, either in dealing with the landlords, or with the local rating authorities, or with both?

I am aware that the difficulty referred to does exist, but I fear I can add nothing to what was stated on this matter by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 4th November.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether he is aware of the increase of population in certain munition areas like Coventry; and what provisions are being made for the education of the increased population; and (2) asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware of the number of children of school age who have crowded with their parents into munition areas; and whether, where extra housing accommodation is being provided in such areas, school accommodation, either by temporary buildings, engaging halls, or otherwise, is being provided for the children of munition workers?

I am aware that in some places the increase of population due to munitions work has caused difficulties in the schools, but I have reason to believe that all that is possible is being done by the local education authorities to provide accommodation by one means or another for all the children in the areas affected. The present restrictions upon school building, of course, tend to increase the difficulty.

Have inspectors of the Board of Education this matter in hand, to see that the children are properly provided for?

Yes, I have no doubt they have.

asked the Minister of Munitions on what principle Worcester has been scheduled by the Board of Control; whether the military authorities had asked that this should be done; and if he will explain why the Board of Control is exercising in this case the powers which Parliament understood that it was conferring on them for exceptional use?

The Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), after holding a local inquiry, recommended the inclusion of Worcester in the Midlands area on the ground of its geographical relation to Birmingham and other important munition centres, lest the object of the Order should be defeated on account of the proximity of non-regulated centres.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is only one controlled factory at Worcester, and very little munition work done there; and that official reports for the city report as to the prevalence of temperance there for several years past; and, as these powers were conferred for the successful prosecution of the War—

That is in the nature of argument.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman will he reconsider the question of including Worcester?

The decision was based not on Worcester: on proximity to a large munition area.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the variation in the scales of wages paid to women on munitions work and the neglect of many firms to adopt the wages recommendations already issued by the Ministry, it is proposed in any Amendment to the Munitions of War Act to include provisions taking power to prescribe standard rates of wages and conditions for all establishments engaged on munitions work?

The matter shall be considered, but the hon. Member will see that if his suggestion were adopted it would place a large additional burden of work on the Ministry of Munitions.

Does the hon. Gentleman not think that if these women are debarred by Act of Parliament from going from one establishment where they are getting less wages to another where they can get more that it is the duty of the Department to see that the wages which the women are paid are fair?

Yes; the hon. Member will see by this circular that we are endeavouring to secure uniformity.

Is the circular not merely a recommendation, and not an enforcement at all?

We have no power to make enforcement.

Take power.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether day nurseries receiving Grants are limited to provide for children not over three years of age; whether any provision is made for the care or education of children over three but under the age at which they are in their different localities admitted to school; and, if so, whether such provision is made by local authorities or by the Board directly without relying on local control and aid?

Under the Board's Regulations day nurseries are intended primarily for young children under three years of age, but children over three may be admitted if proper provision can be made for them. A number of nursery schools, specially intended for the care of children over three years of age, have been established by voluntary agencies in different parts of the country, but no Grant is paid in respect of them. No provision is made by local authorities for children between three and five except in public elementary schools.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great feeling in some quarters against these Grants? I suggest they are made frequently in some cases to sectarian bodies totally devoid of local control.

I am not aware that any such feeling exists.

Would the right hon. Gentleman like to know if I told him?

was understood to indicate assent.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to reply to the representations made by the deputation received by him at the Admiralty on the 13th October regarding the position of engineers of the mercantile marine holding temporary commissions in the Royal Naval Reserve?

The Admiralty has approved of the following, as affecting engineers of the mercantile marine holding temporary commissions in the Royal Naval Reserve:—The titles chief engineer, senior engineer, engineer, and assistant engineer, Royal Naval Reserve, will be altered to engineer-commander, engineer lieutenant-commander, engineer lieutenant, engineer sub-lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, respectively. This change will also apply to engineer officers on the Active List of the permanent Royal Naval Reserve. The necessary authority will be immediately sought. On a ship paying off, the commissions of temporary engineer officers will not be automatically terminated, but officers will be allowed to retain them for a period of twenty-eight days with a view to possible further employment in the Naval Service. During this period they will not, however, receive pay from the Admiralty. So far as possible, vacancies in the higher ranks of engineer officers, Royal Naval Reserve, occurring in a ship will be filled by the promotion of officers of junior rank serving in that ship. I may further say that it is proposed to extend the grant of commissions to all engineer officers below the second engineer serving in mercantile fleet auxiliaries who hold first class Board of Trade certificates. Instructions to the above effect will be promulgated shortly.

Will the holding of a first class certificate or of a first class engineer's position be a qualifying consideration; and will the granting of a commission carry pay with it?

The granting of commissions will obviously carry pay; and they will be granted, as I have said, to all engineer officers below second engineer serving in the mercantile fleet auxiliaries who hold first class Board of Trade certificates.

And, inferentially, second and first engineers?

Yes; they already hold commissions if in those ships.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, whether the Committee appointed to inquire into the circumstances connected with rent raising and capricious evictions have made a Report; whether the Report will be issued to the Members of the House; whether it is proposed to bring in a remedial measure; and when it may be introduced?

The Committee referred to is presumably the one which was appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland, and the first part of the question is therefore for him. As regards the last part of the question I am not yet in a position to add to what I stated last week in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Poplar.

Have any inquiries on this subject been made in England and Ireland? We are equally interested with Scotland, perhaps more so.

I am not responsible for the government of Ireland, or for any inquiries made there. I have already made inquiries in England, but I do not propose to present the conclusions to the House in the form of a report. I shall deal with them as they arise in connection with any further steps which the Government may take.

Are not the Government going to deal with this question before we adjourn?

I have stated more than once that the Government were going to deal with the question. There are many difficulties connected with it, to which I have referred before, and which must inevitably be considered. I cannot imagine anything worse than that a Bill should be introduced before those particular difficulties have been carefully examined. I regret that there should be any suggestion that the statement which I have made on behalf of the Government is not a, bonâ fide statement.

Is it not the duty of the Government to meet these difficulties?

It is, and they are not likely to shirk it. This question has arisen suddenly—[HON. MEMBERS: "NO!"] —Oh yes it has, and information of a reliable nature upon it is difficult at first to obtain. There has been and there, will be no avoidable delay.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have been putting questions on this matter for nearly a year?

Is there any difficulty in the way of establishing Fair Rent Courts?

That is obviously a question that will be answered when the Government make their proposals.

I see the Secretary for Scotland present. As the first part of the question ought to have been addressed to him, can he add anything to the reply?

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is yet in a position to introduce a Bill to deal with the question of increased rents in Scotland; and if he. can give a date for its Second Reading?

In the temporary absence of the Leader of the House, I am not able to fix a date, but I hope an early date may be arranged for the Second Reading.

Is it not possible to-give some idea of the date? I want to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he has considered the state of feeling now prevailing on the Clyde; whether he has read what has appeared on the subject in the ' "Manchester Guardian," to the effect that 4,000 or 5,000 people, many of whom had left work for the purpose, went to the Court to protest against this state of affairs; and whether he does not consider that this state of feeling on the Clyde will become dangerous unless the matter is speedily dealt with?

Yes, Sir, I think the hon. Member is justified in referring to the agitation on the Clyde. I made an investigation into the subject some weeks ago when I was in Glasgow, and as a result set up a Committee—the results of whose labours the hon. Member is acquainted with—to investigate the question. The Report of that Committee has now been published, and has been carefully considered.

When will the Leader of the House be here, so that we can put questions to him?

Oh, at the latest, on Monday!

May I ask if the Government has really decided on a policy?

CORNWALL asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the system of recording removals under the National Registration Act is proceeding satisfactorily, and whether the Board has as yet had to take any action for not complying with the Regulations?

The Registrar-General is issuing a Circular to Local Registration Authorities with a view to ascertaining how the work referred to is proceeding. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters and parcels addressed to officers and soldiers serving in the Dardanelles constantly fail to reach their destinations; and whether he will take steps to rectify this?

I would refer the hon. Member to the very full reply on this subject which I gave on the 3rd instant to the hon. Member for Poplar, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the fact that the Court of Appeal did not give an unanimous decision in the case of the Continental Tyre and Rubber Company (Great Britain), Limited, v. Daimler and Company, Limited, and that the majority decided that a company incorporated in this country in which all the shares except one were held by German subjects residing in Germany was an entity created by Statute and had the rights of action in our Law Courts, which are reserved in respect of individuals to British subjects and alien friends, and that Lord Lindley and Lord Wrenbury have publicly expressed the opinion that this decision is opposed to the principle of public policy which underlies the law and ought to be reconsidered by the House of Lords and, if not reversed, altered by Act of Parliament, he will advise the Government to promote an appeal in this case to the House of Lords, or legislation to prevent subjects of the countries with which this country is at war having the right as an incorporated company of maintaining actions in our Law Courts?

The important matters raised in my hon. Friend's question cannot be conveniently dealt with by question and answer. They are, however, being carefully considered.

Arising out of that reply, I desire to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Adjournment on Tuesday evening.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that, if the principle of the decision of the majority of the Appeal Court in the case of the Continental Tyre and Rubber Company (Great Britain), Limited, v. Daimler and Company, Limited, is sound, enemy aliens can, if incorporated in a company registered under British Company Law, own and sail ships entitled to fly the British flag, he intends to take any steps to prevent enemy aliens, under the protection of our Company Law, from acquiring and enjoying privileges from which as individuals they are debarred?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him to a similar question on 4th November, and to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Brentford on 15th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the delays consequent on the necessity of corresponding with the London office in regard to licences for the export of cotton goods and the necessity for an alteration in the method of procedure at present in force, he will establish a branch office in Manchester for the issue of licences, and include in the staff local experts in the cotton goods export business?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 2nd November to the hon. Member for South-West Manchester, in which it is stated that in order to do justice to all parties concerned, it is essential to keep the issue of licences in one place. It is, however, under consideration in what manner local collaboration could be utilised to diminish or obviate any delays that may now occur.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the statement issued by his Department that the recent crop of barley is below the average as a consequence of the greatly decreased acreage and a poor average yield per acre; and, this being so, whether he will explain why, in the interests of the country, 1,222,089 cwts. have been permitted to be exported during 1914–15, as compared with 260,603 cwts. in 1913–14?

The increased exports were for the cereal year 1914–15, and were largely the results of a good crop and reduced demand. During the current cereal year no export of barley has been allowed, and exports of malt are severely restricted.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he will consider the desirability of appointing some kind of committee to search the units of the Territorial battalions as well as those of the New Armies for promising young officers who have attained already some proficiency in the handling of soldiers, and who can be spared for practical technical training in staff work; (2) whether he is aware that the New Armies, collectively, contain all that is characteristic of the virility and of the intellectual and educated power of the country; that the old Regular Army, by its glorious losses in the field, has ceased to be a sufficiently ample reservoir for staff officers; whether he will take into consideration the advisability of seeking amongst all our Forces, old and new, for officers specially adapted to be trained for staff work; and (3) whether he can see his way to invite Lord Haldane to undertake the organisation of a great national general staff service, suitable for the needs of the moment, from amongst all the combatant officers of all the Services, including the highly educated and scientifically trained young officers to be found in the Territorial Forces and in the New Armies?

I understand that names of officers serving in the New Armies who are considered suitable for staff employment have been called on from time to time, both at home and in the field, and that there is no need for any special committee to be appointed, as the existing machinery whereby commanding officers can recommend their officers for employment on the Staff is sufficient. The names of officers so recommended are noted, and they are employed as opportunity offers.

An arrangement has also been in force for some months whereby eligible officers recovering from wounds or sickness are trained for the Staff in the field by being placed in home appointments, and they are reported on from time to time by their commanders and by independent inspectors. These officers are, when fit for general service, drafted to the Expeditionary Forces, where they are attached to the Staff on probation, and, if found suitable, are given appointments. A considerable number of officers of the New Armies and Territorial Force are now employed on the Staff both in the field and at home.

An arrangement is also being made in France to train regimental officers for the Staff. I may add that, as a rule, regimental officers are not taken for the Staff unless they have had experience of the present War. In view of the arrangements which I have described, there would appear to be no grounds for the adoption of the specific suggestions contained in the questions.

Has any arrangement been made for an interchange of staff officers between the French and our own Armies?

That does not arise on this question

Are we to understand that the Territorial officers are in precisely the same position in regard to opportunities for staff service as officers of the New Army?

The answer which I have read says they are in precisely the same position.

Are we to understand that no preference is given to officers of the Regular Army in the selection of staff appointments?

In my opinion there ought to be none, and I think there is none. I think ability alone ought to be the test.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take the opportunity, on the Appropriation Bill, to give some further information as to the reconstitution of the great General Staff to which the Prime Minister drew attention in his recent statement?

I think that that ought to be done by the Prime Minister, who for the moment is filling the office of Secretary of State for War.

I shall take the opportunity to-night, if called upon, to bring this matter before the House.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the position of the "Eye-witness" at the Western front now being vacant, whether he will consider the desirability of appointing the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Dundee?

I stated the other day, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green, that the duties originally carried out by "Eye-witness" are now provided for adequately in other ways. I understand the desire of my right hon. Friend the Member for Dundee is to wield the sword rather than the pen, and it is not proposed to attempt to interfere with the unfettered exercise of his wishes in this respect.

asked the Prime Minister whether, with a view to effectively securing immediate economy in the great spending Departments of the Government, and more particularly the War Office, he can now see his way to agree to the setting up of a Committee composed mainly of business men of the House of Commons, with powers to inquire into and advise upon all contracts entered into on behalf of the State?

Measures for securing the objects which the hon. Member has in view are under the consideration of a Committee of the Cabinet; and I hope it may be possible very shortly to acquaint the House with the steps which it is proposed to take in the matter.

Will the Government do anything in the direction of my question, and is it the intention of the right hon. Gentleman that the only function of Members of Parliament is to vote hundreds of millions of the country's money, but when it comes to the spending of it they are to have nothing to say with regard to reckless or extravagant expenditure until after the War? And whether he is aware that—

The hon. Member had better give notice of the question.

I hope the hon. Member will find that practical men are employed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman now of opinion that lawyers are the best men to manage large business concerns?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the exports of malt from this country for May, June, and July, 579,479 cwts. as against 50,216 cwts. for the same period of 1914; whether malt is still being exported at the same rate; and whether, in view of the price of barley of all qualities in this country and the demand for barley for feeding purposes, he intends to prohibit the export of barley, particularly to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Holland?

The ample supplies of barley in the country enabled exportation to be allowed somewhat freely during the last cereal year, but much more severe restriction of exports has been latterly adopted. Licences for the export of barley have for some time past been refused

Does the hon. Gentleman's answer apply to malt as well as barley?

Licences for the export of malt are very severely restricted now owing to shortness of supplies. Hardly any is being allowed to be exported.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds the Treasury refuse to permit dealings in the shares of the Culloden Consolidated Company, Limited, seeing that this company is simply an amalgamation of the Rubber Share Trust and Finance Company, Limited, and the Culloden Tea and Rubber Investment Company, Limited, such amalgamation having been carried out by the exchange of fully-paid shares in the Culloden Consolidated Company, Limited, no cash having been asked for; and will he see that the matter is reconsidered and the restriction withdrawn?

An application by the Culloden Consolidated Company, Limited, to issue fully-paid shares to carry out an amalgamation on the lines indicated in the question was refused by the Capital Issues Committee as not being in the public interest, but I have no information as to whether in fact the issue was proceeded with or whether any application has been made to the Stock Exchange Committee to allow dealings in the shares under No. 4 (3) of the Temporary Regulations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the increased price of corn arising from a state of war and the consequent increase in the value of tithes, he proposes to levy a tax on any excess profits which may accrue to the recipients of tithes?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave on the 28th October to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Hanley.

Seeing that the clergy of the Anglican Church are not to give military service and are not to render financial assistance, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what is expected of them in this time of national crisis?

I think if the hon. Member looks at the reply given he will see that the tithes are not likely to come under the terms of the Excess Profits Duty. I understand the increase of tithe for 1915, as compared with 1914, is only 1½ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the question of taking further powers to prevent the introduction of luxuries into this country from foreign countries during the War, so that he may be able to schedule any particular article of this nature which is taking any considerable sum of money out of the country at any time in the same way as articles are proclaimed under the Defence of the Realm Act?

I am considering whether further steps can be taken to restrict consumption of luxuries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the frequent changes in the rate offered by the Bank of England for Treasury Bills has the approval of the bankers and brokers of the City of London, and if the continual rise in the rate of interest offered has had the effect of unsettling the market and the supply of money, as the buyers of the bills at the lower rates feel they have not been well treated in the matter?

The rates at which Treasury Bills are offered to the public are notified daily by the Bank of England and are subject to variation from day to day, according to the requirements of the Exchequer for the time being and the amounts of bills taken up, due regard being had to considerations of general financial policy and to all representations received from persons and institutions whose interests are concerned. All variations in the rates are the subject of consultation beforehand between the Treasury and the Bank of England.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is some dissatisfaction with the rapid changes that have been made in the rate of interest?

I am afraid that whatever happened would give dissatisfaction in some quarters. It is quite obvious that a rise or fall in the rate of bills must adversely affect particular interests.

asked how many second-lieutenants were gazetted during the three months ending 31st October, 1915; and how many of these were promoted from the Armies serving abroad?

During the period in question nearly 7,000 second-lieutenants were gazetted to the Regular Forces. Of these over 650 were promoted from the Armies serving abroad, and in addition 159 from the ranks otherwise than of units of the Expeditionary Force. In the Territorial Force 6,085 second-lieutenants were gazetted in the period mentioned, but I cannot say how many of these came from units serving abroad.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why more men who joined in the early months of the War do not get commissions in preference to men who are only joining at the present time because they are compelled to join? They are being penalised for their patriotism.

It is not for me to give instructions, but it is for me to make suggestions, and I will certainly see that the point raised by my hon. Friend is not overlooked.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what was the age on appointment of Colonel J. H. Fergusson, commanding the Home Counties depots at Purfleet, and on whose recommendation was he appointed, and when; what are the special qualifications of this officer to justify his employment, having regard to the age limit in the Service; and what is the distance between his place of residence at the Tilbury Hotel and the troops commanded by him?

I understand that the age of the officer referred to was seventy years, and that he was recommended by the military authorities of the Eastern Command. I do not think it is desirable to discuss by way of question and answer in this House the merits or demerits of particular officers. All appointments to third-line Territorial Force depots were of a temporary character.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the very moment when this gentleman of seventy years was appointed one of sixty, a most energetic and capable officer, was objected to on the ground of age limit?

I do not think that the age of anybody is a proper criterion by which to measure one's activities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman allow me to give him particulars?

Of course, I shall be proud to receive particulars.

But will the right hon. Gentleman investigate them?

Oh, yes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a practice has arisen among censors at the front or other military officers dealing with letters from officers and men to their relatives at home whereby these letters are destroyed if enclosed in an envelope which is now regarded as obsolete, and such envelope (marked as passed by the Censor) alone forwarded to an address with the following notice: "Letter destroyed; this pattern is obsolete and its use is forbidden"; will he state when and by what amended or other Regulation these envelopes were declared obsolete, and why; and have any and what steps been taken to call them in or to give notice to the Forces in the field that the contents of any such envelopes, if used, will be destroyed?

Notice was given early in October that after the 10th October no green envelope of the old pattern was to be issued or used. This Regulation has, I understand, been infringed in numerous instances, and in consequence correspondence sent in the obsolete pattern of envelope has been held up. The privilege of exemption from regimental censorship which the use of the green envelope, Army Form W 3078, confers is one which must not be abused, or it will become liable, as has been notified to the troops, to be suspended.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that a better and more humane way would have been to have sent on the enclosure by the Censor in a censored envelope, instead of putting in a memorandum that the enclosure had been destroyed; and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the last letter of a son to a widowed mother was destroyed in that way without any explanation?

I regret that incident more than I can say. I was not aware that this particular course had been adopted, but I will see if any alteration can be made, although I am afraid it is too late in nearly all cases as there are no more of the old pattern envelopes left.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that a special attempt is being made to enlist medical students of the first, second, and third years at Cambridge; that the supply of medical students has already been very seriously depleted; and that if this policy is continued the entire supply from Cambridge is liable to be cut off for three or four years; and whether, seeing that it is in the national interest during the War to have a large supply of young doctors in training and essential after the War to have no reduction of the medical profes- sion in the country to hope with epidemics which are frequently consequent on war, the Government will not only suggest to Lord Derby to cease this recruitment but take steps to increase the supply of students for the medical profession?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Blackburn on 2nd November. I may add that since that date Lord Derby has seen the presidents of the Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians and others, and the present view is that first, second, and third-year students should enlist or qualify for commissions.