asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what advances of money, if any, have been made or promised to Greece by the Allied Powers since the War started?

I regret that it is not desirable in the public interest at this moment, to give details of financial transactions between this country and allied and neutral countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to make a statement as to the present situation in regard to Greece and the Allies?

I am not in a position to make any statement at the present moment.

asked if the British Minister in Sofia informed the Foreign Office about the month of March last that Bulgaria would join the Central Powers and that further negotiations with Bulgaria would be abortive?

The answer is in the negative.

asked if the British. Minister Plenipotentiary in Sofia was recalled in the early part of this year; and, if so, what was the reason?

No, Sir, he was not recalled. He was granted leave of absence. The whole proceeding was described in my answer to the hon. Member for North Somerset on 20th October, and to that answer I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information respecting survivors of the London steamer "Woodford" having been captured by Arabs on the North African coast and held to ransom?

I am informed by His Majesty's Agent at Tangier that twelve survivors from the "Woodford" are in the hands of the Bocoya tribe. The Spanish authorities are in negotiation for their release.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the proposed international meeting at Zurich to discuss terms of peace; whether any French representatives can be found to attend; and will he say what steps will be taken to prevent any British participation in such a proceeding?

I have no information regarding a proposed international meeting at Zurich. There was a proposal to hold some such meeting at Berne in December, but this has, I understand, been postponed, at any rate, for some months.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the loss of more than £200,000 a year, which the Post Office suffered under the Statute of 1868 by the transmission of Press telegrams at exceptionally low prices, is in the future to be reduced by the new arrangement by only £60,000 per annum; whether this new arrangement is permanent or temporary; and whether, if the expenses of the War keep mounting up month by month, a reduction of the remaining loss to the country, namely, £140,000 per annum, will be reconsidered?

The new rates are expected to reduce the loss on Press telegrams by about £60,000 per annum. I do not anticipate an early revision of these rates, which have only recently been authorised by Parliament, and are not yet in operation.

asked whether arrangements have been made to expedite the delivery of letters and parcels from home to troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula; whether there have been large accumulations of several months' mails in Egypt destined for the troops in Gallipoli; whether the French troops on the Peninsula often receive their mails as much as a fortnight quicker than the British; and, if so, whether the greater proximity to Marseilles can be held to account solely for this difference?

As I explained in reply to the hon. Member for South Monmouthshire yesterday, an accelerated letter mail service to the Dardanelles was instituted on the 12th instant, and an accelerated parcel post service on the 19th instant. There has never been any accumulation of mails for the troops in Gallipoli in Egypt. I have no information as to the mail service given to the French troops in Gallipoli.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he has reconsidered paragraphs 3 and 8 of the White Paper on dependants' allowances; and if he is now prepared to modify the scheme so as to leave untouched the disablement benefit payable under the Insurance Act?

The matter is still under consideration, and I regret that I am not in a position to give a final answer. As I have already pointed out to my hon. Friend, the matter is one which concerns not only the Admiralty and the War Office, but also the Treasury.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that there is a great deal of anxiety amongst these poor women, who are the very poorest insured persons under the Act, many of them receiving sweated wages?

My hon. Friend stated the case weightily the other day.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when a decision will be arrived at?

I was going to suggest that the hon. Member might put a question down early next week.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland the charges, respectively, on which Alfred Monaghan was ordered to leave a certain area, then arrested, and is now in prison; why he was not tried in the county in which his offence was alleged to have been committed; whether he is aware that the magistrates accepted as evidence of his speech notes of a policeman not in the room in which the speech was said to have been delivered, and rejected the evidence of persons who were in the room at the time; and, having regard to these facts, whether the prisoner will be released or a new trial ordered?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply on his behalf. The person referred to was charged under Regulation No. 14 of the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulations, 1914, of acting, or of having acted, or being about to act in a manner prejudicial to the public safety or the Defence of the Realm. He was tried in the place in which he had his residence in accordance with the provisions of the Summary Jurisdiction Acts. The policeman who gave evidence of the speech which he made heard it distinctly through a window and proved it on oath. The magistrate heard the evidence of all witnesses produced by the prisoner before he gave his decision. There is no ground for ordering a new trial, and this will not be done. The exercise of the prerogative of mercy is one solely for the Lord Lieutenant.

Is it the usual practice to employ police in Ireland to listen at the window?

He was not listening at the window. He was under the window.

asked under what provision of the Defence of the Realm Act Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald was arrested for disobeying a banishment order, tried for an alleged speech, and sentenced to six, months' imprisonment for a quotation by the Crown Prosecutor, of which no evidence was given; and, having regard to these facts, whether the prisoner will be released or a new trial ordered?

Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald was arrested under Regulation 55 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations for having committed offences under these Regulations, and he was charged with offences under Regulations 14 and 27. He was convicted upon evidence of witnesses given upon oath substantiating the charges against him and not upon the statement of the prosecuting solicitor. There is no ground for having a new trial and this will not be done. As I have just stated, the exercise of the prerogative of mercy is one solely for the Lord Lieutenant.

Was this gentleman not arrested for disobeying a banishment order, tried for a speech and sentenced on the Crown Prosecutor's speech instead of his own?

I do not think the Crown Prosecutor's speech would lead to anybody being sent to prison who was convicted on the oath of witnesses and not upon the statement of the prosecuting solicitor.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that railway companies are constantly refusing to book seats in advance for passengers, thus compelling persons travelling on business or on public service either to risk failing to get a seat in the train or to waste valuable time loitering in a railway station; and whether he will give instructions to the Railway Executive Committee that seats must be reserved for persons travelling on business or on public service?

I do not think that this is a matter in which I can interfere with the discretion of the railway companies.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Railway Executive Committee pressed the railways to withdraw these facilities?

I will make representations to the Railway Executive Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many cotton mills cannot be carried on unless mule spinners are exempted from military service; and, if so, whether they will be treated as an exempted class?

This matter has been fully considered by the Reserved Occupations Committee in consultation with the representatives of the trade and, at present, they are of opinion that it does not appear necessary to place cotton spinners on the reserved list.

asked the Home Secretary to state the number of men of military age who have been enrolled in the Metropolitan Police since the outbreak of war and since the passing of the Police (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1915, respectively; how many men since the later date have been granted permission by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to enlist in His Majesty's Forces; is he aware that men of military age have recently been enrolled in this police force; is he aware that the men who have already enlisted in His Majesty's Forces consider it unfair that their places in the police force should be filled by less experienced men; and can he remedy this grievance?

From the outbreak of the War until 19th May, when the Act mentioned in the question came into force, 896 men were enrolled. Since that date the enrolment of constables has practically ceased, only 36 having been appointed, of whom 22 were men discharged from the Army. The number of constables who have enlisted in the Army under the conditions prescribed by the Act is 1,115. No men of military age have recently been enrolled, and the places of the men who have enilsted have not been filled. They will resume their places in the police when released from military duty.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the possibility of replacing officials released from his Department for war service by men dismissed from the Land Valuation Department who are ineligible for military service?

There is, I fear, little or no probability of vacancies occurring in my Department of a kind in which the professional qualifications of these gentlemen could with advantage be utilised.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many youths under eighteen of precocious physical development are constantly being canvassed for recruiting and, on stating their true age, are reproached as liars, slackers, and cowards, and that stung by such taunts youths have enlisted, giving false ages; and whether, to prevent a continuance of these evils, he will allow youths who produce evidence of their age being under eighteen to promise to offer themselves when required and meanwhile to be furnished with some distinctive badge?

There may be cases such as my hon. Friend describes, but there are also cases where youths of precocious physical development, desiring eagerly to enlist, stoutly represent that their age is greater than it really is. The rule at present is that recruits under eighteen cannot be taken, and if a youth who is under eighteen produces evidence to that effect to anyone who may chance to canvass him he will not be enlisted. Anyone known to be under eighteen should not be canvassed, but I think the burden lies with the individual of showing that he does not come within the conditions of eligibility.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can say why Ned Sheehy, of Newcastle West, county Limerick, No. 5817, B Company, 8th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, Down Camp, Farnborough, Hants, a boy under sixteen years of age, who joined the Army last August, has not got his discharge, although his father demanded it from the officer commanding his regiment and sent the boy £2 to bring him home; and whether it is still the intention of the War Office to detain him?

My hon. Friend will realise that details of each enlistment or discharge can hardly be kept at the War Office. I am obtaining information, and when I receive it I will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

Seeing that this boy is only fifteen years of age, would there be any great detriment in allowing him to go home?

I will consider it, but I must secure the details.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why, upon the Recruiting Central Appeal Tribunal, there is only one member associated with business and no labour representative; and whether, with a view to strengthening the public confidence in the tribunal, he will add representative business men and labour representatives?

I will consult with my Noble Friend Lord Lansdowne, who was responsible for the constitution of this body.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a case in which a man was fined £l 1s., with £l 1s. costs, for killing a rabbit belonging to the Mackintosh of Mackintosh; and, in view of the fact that two gamekeepers of military age appeared for the prosecution, can he state how many men are employed in the preservation of game in the United Kingdom, and whether any special efforts will be made to secure their services for more important work than that revealed in this case?

The circumstances mentioned in the first part of the question would not, as such, come before the attention of the Army Council. I am not quite clear on what evidence the hon. Gentleman has reached the conclusion that the two gamekeepers who were mixed up in the incident were of military age. I am unable to say how many men are employed in the preservation of game, but I can inform the hon. Gentleman that special efforts are being made to secure for the Army the services of all eligible men, including gamekeepers, who are not already employed in work that is essential to the public well-being.

Will the right hon. Gentleman confer with Lord Derby as to the advisability of suspending the Game Laws, so as to enable all these men to give their services?

No, Sir, I cannot do that, for this reason: that the article they are preserving is very useful for human food. Moreover, so far as my knowledge goes, almost the entire proportion of those who are eligible for Army service have already joined the Colours.

In view of his reply, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this rabbit was alleged to have been killed by this man in order to provide food for a sick child; therefore the abolition of the Game Laws would facilitate that provision?

Would the hon. Member make inquiries as to the eligibility or otherwise of the person who killed the rabbit?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that rabbits are not within the Game Laws at all?

asked if any British individuals or firms are allowed to do business in Germany under their own names or under the name of a German company in which they have incorporated themselves, in the same way in which German firms of pianoforte dealers and others are allowed to trade in business in London under colour of English companies?

I have no exact information, but I believe the general German practice is to place such firms under the charge of an official administrator.

Are the English firms in Germany treated with the same latitude and benevolence as the German firms in England?

I do not know exactly how to describe their treatment, but they are subject to very much the same sort of supervision as German firms in England.

Are all German firms so acting in this country under official supervision?

I cannot answer that question in the form in which the hon. Member has put it, and it would have to be put more precisely. The question I have answered refers to British firms in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any and, if so, how many aliens who have since the outbreak of war been sentenced to terms of imprisonment have been released from prison without being immediately interned?

Assuming that the question relates to alien enemies, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on this subject on the 9th June last, in which I stated the practice. I cannot give figures, but I may say that the rule has been strictly applied and that in the great majority of cases the alien has been interned.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many exceptions there are to that rule?

If the hon. Gentleman will refer to the earlier answer, he will see that information is in substance what was given. I cannot give him the number of exceptions because I do not not know the number of cases, but I am sure there has been no exceptions except such as were justified on some wholly special ground.

asked whether any and, if so, what measures are being taken in London to carry out the recommendations of the Clerical and Commercial Employments Committee in regard to the mobilisation and training of women as substitutes for men in those employments who are now offering themselves for service with the Colours?

I am informed that the London County Council has been in communication with employers and has established classes at Fulham Training College and is about to establish others. Already demands for women clerks are being received from employers and a considerable number of suitable women are being trained. The council are also consulting with the authorities in Greater London with a view to securing co-operation, and they are ready to arrange for special courses of instruction for particular classes of business when the demand is sufficient. The supply of applicants for training is as yet far from adequate, and it is important that women who are in a position to offer themselves as temporary substitutes for men who have enlisted, as well as employers who are anxious to engage such substitutes, should at once communicate with the London County Council's education officer at Victoria Embankment.

Is it not a fact that the London County Council have already commenced these classes?

:I believe that is so.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that Frenchmen from Alsace and Lorraine are interned along with Germans and subjected to ill-treatment from them, especially complaining of the German censorship of French letters; that an Alsatian, born before the German conquest and who left Alsace to escape German rule, has lived here for thirty-five years and has two sons fighting in the British Army, is now interned in a German camp and subjected to continual ill-treatment and vexation; and will he say what action he proposes to take in this and similar cases?

Steps are taken, in consultation with the French authorities, to exempt from internment aliens from Alsace or Lorraine who are of French origin and sympathies. If my hon. Friend will let me have the name of the Alsatian to whom he refers and say what camp he is in, I will make inquiry.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he has received any representations to the effect that the continued prevalence of Sunday labour is tending to lessen the physical efficiency of great numbers of munition workers; whether he has had any inquiries made into the effect of Sunday labour on output; and, if so, whether he will inform the House of the result of these inquiries?

The whole question of the effect of long hours upon the health of workers and upon production of munitions of war has been engaging close attention, and my right hon. Friend has appointed a Committee under the Chairmanship of Sir George Newman, M.D., to advise him about it. This Committee has presented an interim report on the question of Sunday labour and my right hon. Friend hopes shortly to be able to lay before the House this report and the recommendations of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been called to the appeal in the Press on the 22nd for the voluntary help of ladies to serve in canteens at munition factories; whether he is aware that, so far as Woolwich Arsenal is concerned, there is an ample number of volunteers, but that those who are poor are debarred from taking any part in this work owing to the refusal of the Board of Trade to grant facilities for obtaining railway tickets at workmen's rates; whether he still attaches sufficient importance to the provision of hot temperance drinks and wholesome food by night and day to munition workers to justify the provision of these facilities to volunteers; and, if so, whether he will take steps to see that the Departmental obstacles are overcome?

The points raised in the hon. Member's question have been the subject of careful consideration by the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Munitions, and I understand that the hon. Member was recently informed that the particular suggestion was not considered practicable. I may, however, add that the Ministry of Munitions have been consulting the Canteen Committee of the Central Control Board on the whole subject of the provision and management of canteens for munition workers, to which they attach great importance, and I am glad to say that steps are being taken; with a view to a large increase in the canteen facilities at Woolwich to meet the extensions now being made.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the steps he speaks of as being taken are likely to result in the workmen engaged at Woolwich on day and night shifts being able to get an adequate supply of wholesome food and temperance drinks in the middle of their working hours?

Yes, Sir.

Do these canteens sell intoxicating drink?

I think not, but I will inquire.

I hope not.

asked the Minister of Munitions the total amount of compensation paid or payable to all branches of the liquor trade in respect of the restrictions imposed upon the sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic)?

Provision is made in Clause 16 of the present Finance Bill for a remission of part of the Licence Duty in the case of licensed traders whose hours of sale of intoxicating liquor are restricted by the Board. I am unable to state what would be the amount of duty so remitted. The Defence of the Realm Losses Royal Commission has been established to deal with, cases of direct and substantial loss incurred by individuals by reason of interference with their property or business under the Defence of the Realm (Amendment) (No. 3) Act, 1915, but I am unable to say what view the Commission would take of an application for compensation in respect of the matters mentioned in the question.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a conference of trade unions convened to fight the new liquor trade closing Order for the London area; and whether, in view of the accumulating evidence of local dissatisfaction with the Regulations made from time to time by the Central Board of Control for the Liquor Traffic, he will now consider the desirability of taking steps by legislation or otherwise to impose uniform restrictions, subject to fair compensation, upon the sale and consumption of liquor throughout Great Britain?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I am informed that the Central Control Board, following their usual practice, are constantly conferring with the representatives of the principal trade unions particularly affected by the operations of the Board. I am not aware of any accumulating evidence of local dissatisfaction with the Regulations made by the Control Board, but, on the other hand, I have received information that these Orders have produced in the areas to which they have been applied a considerable reduction of drunkenness, improvements in the efficiency of labour, and better public order. I do not think the moment has arrived when it is profitable to consider whether these Orders should be made general by legislation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the President of the Board of Agriculture has urged farmers to break up pasture land, notwithstanding the covenants in their agreements undertaking that he would personally intervene in case of a dispute between the landowner and tenant; and whether, in view of the serious position in which tenants may find themselves with some landowners in case they commit a breach of covenant, the Government propose to introduce a Land Bill dealing with the question of restrictive covenants and the preservation of game, so as to facilitate the production of food?

As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the New Forest Division of Hampshire on the 15th October, landlords are showing every desire to further the scheme inaugurated by the President of the Board for increasing the production of food in this country, and there is no reason to suppose that they will decline to relax restrictive covenants in cases where it is shown that it would be to the interest of the State to do so. There does not, therefore, seem to be any present necessity for introducing such a Bill as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken by his Department during the last four months to promote the keeping down of foxes and so safeguard the food supply of the country and particularly the supplies of poultry and eggs?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 21st October to a somewhat similar question put to me by the hon. Member for the Attercliffe Division of Sheffield, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. I have now received the reports from the officers referred to in the last paragraph of that reply, and they only serve to confirm the information afforded in the first part of that reply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture how many persons applied for allotments during 1914, and how many were provided with the same; whether he will state the main obstacles to the provision of allotments to all persons who apply for them; and whether, in view of the general agreement that there should be in increase in the home production of food-stuffs, he will take steps to have these obstacles removed?

Twelve thousand seven hundred and thirty-one individuals and two co-operative associations applied to the local authorities for allotments during 1914, the land required amounting to 3,102 acres. Allotments were provided for 3,388 individuals and three associations, but in addition a large number of applicants were provided with allotments on land acquired prior to 1915; and I may remark that there was a smaller number of unsatisfied applicants at the end of 1914 than at the close of any previous year since the Act came into force. The chief obstacle in the way of providing allotments at the present time is the suspension of facilities for borrowing by local authorities for the purchase of land or for the adaptation of land leased or rented.

Might I ask the hon. Gentleman whether the gentlemen co-opted on the county council agricultural committees are almost invariably landowners and land agents in large towns, and whether it is not necessary that some steps should be taken in the interests of small holders?

There are a good many women also co-opted on these committees, and we are trying to do our best to see that the committees give very definite attention to the question of the increase of production by small people in the villages, which, indeed, is one of the most hopeful ways of increasing the production of the country.

Is there a single instance where an agricultural labourer has been co-opted on any one of these committees?

I am not aware of it.

Are the ladies who have been co-opted the wives either of small landowners or of labourers?

The best of them are not the wives of anybody.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has taken into account the danger to the gold reserve of this country in issuing £l bonds redeemable on demand unless he makes provision that the redemption should take place in curcency at par as ruling within the United Kingdom?

I see no danger to the gold reserve as suggested in the question.

Is it not a fact that these bonds, under the arrangements which we understand are to be made, would be liable to be paid in gold in alien countries, like the £5 notes of the Bank of England?

I am not sure that I appreciate the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any steps have been taken or are contemplated to arrange for the encashment of Bank of England notes by means of currency at par within the United Kingdom so as to protect our gold reserves from depletion through demands for encashment of notes from holders of the same in alien countries?

If, as I understand, the hon. Baronet suggests that Bank of England notes should cease to be encashable in gold coin, the answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Royal Commission on Food Supply have purchased and are still purchasing sugar from or through the instrumentality of the firm of Tolme and Runge, of Mincing Lane; whether Mr. J. J. Runge, the expert adviser on sugar to the Royal Commission, is still a member of that firm; and whether, even assuming that Mr. J. J. Runge does not participate in the profits of such purchases, he will give directions that purchases of sugar by the Royal Commission shall not in future be made from or through the firm of Tolme and Runge, but shall only be made from or through firms of British origin and association?

The Royal Commission on Sugar Supplies has from time to time made purchases abroad as the result of offers put forward on behalf of foreign principals by the firm in question, but has not made contracts of any kind with them. Mr. Runge is still a member of the firm, but during his employment by the Commission he has retired from all participation in the business. The Commission is not prepared to give the directions indicated in the last part of the question, and I will observe that the firm in question is a British firm.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the action of the Commission in purchasing through the instrumentality of this firm of Tolme and Runge is causing great dissatisfaction when the purchases might be made through purely British firms?

I am not aware of anything of the sort; on the contrary, the firm in question is highly respected in the whole trade, and I am quite certain that the hon. Member has been misinformed on the point.

I will give the right hon. Gentleman my information

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what grades of the Civil Service have made application for a war bonus since the date of his announcement that the Treasury would consider on their merits such applications; how soon a decision on the applications may be expected; whether a considerable number of the Civil servants concerned are in receipt of less than £2 a week; whether war bonuses have been granted to Civil servants receiving wages in excess of that amount; and whether it is the view of the Treasury that the payment of a war bonus is justified to the employés in some departments of the Civil Service and not to those in the others?

Applications for a war bonus have been received from the Association of Second Division Clerks and from the Civil Service Typists' Association, and a number of Departments have forwarded similar applications submitted by their employés. His Majesty's Government, after very careful consideration, decided that a case had not been made out for throwing such heavy additional charges, as would be involved, on the taxpayer at the present time, and a refusal has therefore been, or is being, sent to the applications received. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his questions on the 20th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether any Ally to whom a loan has been granted by this country has remitted taxation since the commencement of the War; (2) whether any Ally to whom a loan has been granted by this country has imposed increased taxation since the commencement of the War; and (3) whether the financial arrangements entered into between this country and the Russian Government have received, or require to receive, the confirmation of the Russian Duma?

I am not sufficiently familiar with the laws of Allied countries to enable me to reply to these questions.

Is there any Income Tax or tax on war profits in France?

I think that is a question which might be addressed to the Foreign Secretary. I am not familiar with the French law upon the subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the conferences being held in Vienna to consider the question of future economic relations between the Central Powers; and whether any steps are being taken by the Government to encourage and organise any movement in this country with the object of securing better preparedeness of the Entente Powers for after-war economic conditions?

These questions are engaging the careful consideration of His Majesty's Government, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he is aware that a commanding officer recommending one or more of his most promising officers to be taken from him to be trained in Staff duties does so at the risk of impairing the efficiency of the unit upon which his own military reputation and future advancement depend, and that it must in any case increase both his work and his anxieties; whether the War Office considers that all commanding officers have sufficient altruism and clear sighted patriotic feeling to embarrass and perhaps to injure themselves in this way; whether he will consider the desirability of adopting some better method to discover those young officers most suitable to train for Staff employment; and (2) whether the War Office considers that officers recovered from wounds or from sickness contracted on field service, or who are at home resting after strenuous duty at the front, should be given a preference for Staff training over other officers who have youth, unexhausted vitality, high ability, and scientific or specialised training in their favour; and, seeing that Staff appointments are better paid, less dangerous, and more comfortable than duty with a regiment, say, in the trenches, does the War Office look upon Staff posts in the field as prizes for meritorious officers generally or as work of a peculiarly specialised kind for which natural aptitude or very plastic intellectual ability is necessary?

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked me to answer these questions, and with my hon. Friend's permission I will answer them together, as far as I am able. A young officer must clearly be put forward for Staff work either by himself or by someone else. Both methods are in vogue, but obviously the superior officer has and must have the last word. There is no reason, however, to believe that the harmonious reconciliation of the points of view in this matter of the regimental officer and his commanding officer on the one hand, and, on the other hand, of the claims of the Staff and of the units to the services of the more promising officers is not secured under the existing system, subject of course to inevitable occasional exceptions due to the incursion of the human element. As regards the other question I think I can only say that the War Office view is that the men best suited for the Staff should be selected and trained for Staff work, irrespectively of any hard and fast theoretical criteria.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the present system gives us the best Staff officers?

I think I should like notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the propriety and the value by way of public example in the sphere of economy and self-denial of suggesting to Parliament that the public remuneration of all Ministers of the Crown and of all Members of Parliament who are in receipt of a private income of at least £l,000 per annum, or the balance of such remuneration beyond the amount required to make such annual income up to £1,000, shall henceforth, until the termination of the War, either be remitted to the Treasury or presented as a collective gift to the British Red Cross Society for the relief of the wounded, or form a national fund for the reinstatement of the partially disabled in suitable civilian employment?

I think that these are matters which should not be dealt with by law, but left to the discretion and conscience of the persons concerned.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can yet state the names of the Irish Members to be added to the Public Retrenchment Committee for their inquiry into what savings can be properly effected in the Civil Departments in Ireland in view of the necessities created by the War?

Yes, Sir. Sir John Lonsdale and Mr. Boland, Members of this House, and Mr. Walter Kavanagh have accepted my invitation to join the Retrenchment Committee during its inquiry into Irish Services, which has already been begun. Additional members may be added.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the estimate of the value of American securities in this country includes the amounts invested in land and on mortgages of land, and such like securities which are not readily saleable?

I do not know to what estimate the hon. Member refers.

Estimates have been mentioned several times in this House?

My attention has not been called to them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the grounds for estimating that £4,000,000,000 worth of foreign securities are held in this country; if that was the estimate of the value before the depreciation occasioned by the War took place and before the realisation of these securities; and whether he is aware that £3,000,000,000 would be the probable value of these securities at the present time?

As I explained, in answer to a question on the 26th July, no official information is available, and the estimate given was that which appeared in the "Statist" of 14th February, 1914. I am afraid that I could not hazard an opinion as to the present value of our investments outside this country.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that there must be a considerable reduction from the estimate made by the "Statist"?

If the estimate made in February, 1914, was accurate, then I have no doubt that the amount is less; but I cannot answer for the estimate made by the "Statist."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in connection with the proposed issue of £1 bonds, bearing 5 per cent. interest and cashable at par, it is contemplated that the amount which any one investor may put into these bonds shall be unlimited; if the bonds will be redeemable at any fixed date; and, if so, at what date?

The details of the scheme which I outlined generally on Monday last will be for the consideration of the proposed Committee.

Nothing has been decided?

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that, owing to the War taking men, material, and money from the building trades, builders have been left with the burden and liability of fulfilling pre-war contracts, and particularly with respect to agreements for building leases made just prior to war breaking out, and that, in a number of such cases, ground landlords are insisting upon large speculative building works proceeding under such contracts notwithstanding the state of war; and whether, in view of the necessity of conserving the nation's financial and other resources, and particularly the labour of men engaged in building industries, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation providing for an appeal to a war emergency or other Court whereby relief may be granted to the parties concerned in such contracts either by way of postponement or as the tribunal may determine?

So far as my information goes, cases such as those referred to in the question are of very rare occurrence. Legislation on the subject would not be in my Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to give the House some information regarding the food provided on board ship for officers and men invalided home from the Dardanelles suffering from dysentery and enteric, and also regarding the provision on board ship of medical necessaries for such cases?

I am still awaiting further information; but, if the hon. Gentleman refers to hospital ships, I may inform him that these are supplied with a regular hospital diet and with the necessary medical comforts. Transports, as he is probably aware, are not intended to carry serious cases, but these ships are also provided with hospital comforts.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great number of men have been carried home on transports which have not been provided with hospital comforts.

I am, of course, aware that a large number of wounded men have been carried home on transports, and although I agree with the hon. Gentleman as to the hospital comforts running short on the transports in the first instance, that danger has now been averted.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that many soldiers are invalided home from the front suffering from tuberculosis for whose care no proper provision is made; that numbers of these patients are being treated at Brompton Hospital, but that on their discharge from the hospital, no special sanatorium being provided for them, they are obliged to return to their own homes, thus endangering their families and others with the spread of the disease; and whether, seeing that these men are contributors under the National Insurance Act, he will request the Insurance Commissioners to place one or more of the sanatoria at present empty at the disposal of the War Office for the exclusive reception and treatment of soldiers suffering from tubercular disease?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The hon. Member will be aware that the military authorities are responsible for the treatment of tuberculous soldiers up to the date of their discharge from the Army. In cases where further residential treatment is necessary on re-entry into civil life, special arrangements, both administrative and financial, have been in operation for a considerable time which secure that the necessary accommodation is made available without delay. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular describing these arrangements, which I believe fully meet the case. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind in which difficulty has arisen, perhaps he will communicate with me.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are large numbers of men discharged from the Army long before they are cured of tuberculous disease, and that they are necessarily thrown upon their own resources?

No, Sir. We have a special fund to deal with those cases. I believe the arrangements are working very satisfactorily.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware of the fact that local authorities are prevented from making extra provision now on account of the restriction on borrowing?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of causing an up-to-date method of indexing and ready reference to be kept by each divisional and Army corps commander giving succinctly the previous occupation and the scientific, professional, university, or other particular attainments, if any, of all the young officers of the New Armies and of the Territorial Forces under his command, so that, should need arise, specialists can be discovered immediately and be reported upon without delay?

If my hon. Friend visited the Divisional and Army Corps Headquarters at the front he would, I think, realise the undesirability of creating and maintaining an elaborate clerical record such as he suggests. The point, however, is an important one, but it is already provided for. Unit commanders are not in command of a larger number of officers than they are able to know personally, and they know the personal attainments and characteristics of each officer. They are, consequently, always in a position to give their superior officers information on this matter. This is the system in force in Regular units, and it is equally efficacious and desirable in the case of Territorial and Service units.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the demand of the Army in France is for a superior staff and superior steel helmets?

Are not the things asked for kept in the records of the regiment at home?

I do not know that I appreciate the difference between keeping the records at home and keeping them abroad. If the unit happens to be in the field, of course it is desirable that records should be kept. There is no elaborate scheme of clerical labour in these matters. In reply to the hon. Member (Sir G. Scott Robertson), I am aware of what he says, but I do not see the relevance of the steel helmets.

Would not a clerk at 25s. or 30s. a week, using a card index, be able to give this information at any moment?

I do not think the matters to which the hon. Member has alluded are those that ought to be in the hands of clerks of that type; they ought to be reserved entirely for the high officers in command of the regiments.

I mean clerks only for the clerical work.

asked if it can be represented to His Majesty that many men who have done good service in the War are being discharged without any war medal being given to them and have nothing to show except their discharge papers, and that it would be desirable that such men should be entitled to wear a ribbon if, as yet, no medal is available?

I stated, in a written answer given on the 17th June to the hon. Member for Hammersmith, that the issue of a medal at the then stage of hostilities appeared premature. The same statement holds good now, and applies, I think, equally to a riband and to a medal. It is obvious that a riband would be easily procurable in an irregular manner, and would frequently be worn by unauthorised persons. I am very doubtful, therefore, whether the suggestion made by the hon. Gentleman is either feasible or desirable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why no meetings have been held during 1915 of the Advisory Board for Army Medical Services; by whom and under what authority have the paid members been constantly consulted; and has an unanimous written opinion of any six out of the eleven members been obtained during the present year on any question of policy?

I think my hon. Friend will agree that it is desirable to modify administrative machinery created in peace to meet the requirements of war, and from this point of view it has been preferable to use the services of the Army Medical Advisory Board in the manner I described in my answer of the 22nd November, rather than in the normal and more formal manner. The answer to the second part of the question is, of course, the Director-General of the Army Medical Service. As regards the last part of the question, I am not aware that there has been any want of unanimity amongst the members save that which is usual and a healthy symptom in mobile minds. The Board of which the members were always in agreement would not, I think, command great confidence.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the last meeting was held?

I gave the answer to that the other day. It is the fact that since the War there have been no formal meetings, but there have been constant references and conferences between the members.

What is the object of having this Advisory Board if they have never been called together to consider and advise upon such an important matter?

The hon. Baronet cannot have seen the answer to which I have alluded, which was given on 22nd November. It is to the effect that the duties performed by this Board have been absolutely invaluable and that the medical service, which has been so good and so much admired, could not have been performed without their help.

Is it the policy of the War Office not to hold meetings of the members who are available in this country?

It is the deliberate policy of the War Office not to hold merely formal meetings for no particular purpose. Conferences are very useful and absolutely essential, and they are constantly being held.

Is it not the case that medical advice is more effective if it is given by the medical members separately and not by the Board?

In conference, I believe that is so.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the case of a young soldier who, on being charged at Greenwich with being an absentee from his regiment, the 186th brigade, R.F.A., stated that he returned home because he could not see his mother starve; whether the mother, apart from her son's allotment of 3s. 6d., received no separation allowance, though the son had been enlisted for three months; whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the Police Court missionary that similar cases had come to his notice, and that these cases had a bad effect upon recruiting; and whether the War Office propose to take action in this matter?

I have just seen a newspaper report relating to this case. As no one has communicated to the War Office the soldier's name and number, I am at present unable to say more, but inquiries are being made. Meanwhile, I am rather surprised that in this case no recourse seems to have been made to the recognised machinery for meeting accidental delays of this kind—the Sailors' and Soldiers' Families Association.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War, having regard to the sacrifices already made by Territorials who are serving their country in Flanders, Gallipoli, India, the Persian Gulf, and on home service, whether it is the intention of the Government, in the event of its anticipation of the home service Territorials signing for general service not being materialised, to alter their conditions of service and apply compulsion to those of military age, notwithstanding the fact that they have been voluntarily serving their country since the outbreak of war?

I am aware, as the whole of the House is, of the sacrifices made by Territorial soldiers, in company with Regular soldiers, on behalf of their country. My anticipation is that home-service Territorials will give considerably increased numbers for general service, and I am no more prepared to contemplate the opposite than I am prepared to contemplate that the necessary numbers will not come forward, from the present Tin-enlisted elements in the population, under Lord Derby's scheme. The public references which have been made to other measures in the event of the efforts now being made not finding full fruition could not, I think, be taken to refer to one section of the population only. I make this statement, of course, subject to the general statements of policy on this matter which have frequently been made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and of which one of the latest is that made yesterday in reply to the hon. Baronet the Member for Mid-Armagh.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether paragraph 117 of the Recruiting Regulations applies to recruits for the Territorial Forces as well as the Regular Army; if so, under what authority that paragraph is enforced; and (2) whether paragraph 515 of the Regulations for Army Medical Services applies to recruits for the Territorial Forces; and, if so, under what authority that paragraph is enforced?

My hon. Friend apparently desires that I should restate what I have already stated more times than I can recollect. The Territorial Force attestation form does not contain the question, "Are you willing to be vaccinated or revaccinated?" but the question of its incorporation will receive my careful and sympathetic consideration if my hon. Friend so desires.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether wounded soldiers returned from the front are sometimes refused payment in full of arrears of pay; if so, whether such refusal is in accordance with instructions issued by the military authorities; if so, what is the justification for such instructions; and whether he will order that arrears of pay shall in all cases, if demanded, be paid in full?

No, Sir. A soldier who demands payment of his full balance receives it; but in accordance with instructions issued by the military authorities in the interests of the soldier himself, large sums are not issued at once unless demanded.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he has received representations concerning the management of the 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge; and if he will have inquiry made into the complaints set forth?

Yes, Sir, I have received a representation, and have caused it to be referred for an inquiry and report.

asked the Secretary of State for India why the Indian Government is sending to Germany Herr Schuyler, the manager of Messrs. Ernsthausen, instead of interning him?

I am not informed as to the facts of this individual case or as to the manner in which it has been dealt with in India. I expect to receive information regarding it shortly.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it was reported to the Westport constabulary recently that explosives had been placed maliciously on a motor yacht belonging to the Marquess of Sligo which was lying near Westport quay; whether the constabulary on investigation found that the explosives referred to were taken from a store in the demesne of the Marquess and to which only his servants and workmen had access; are the police now satisfied that the explosives were placed on the yacht not for the purpose of malicious injury to the owner, but to stigmatise the district as disturbed and lawless; are any legal proceedings or prosecutions contemplated; and, if not, in justice to the people of the district, will a copy of the constabulary report on the subject be furnished to the Westport Urban Council or to the hon. Member for West Mayo with a view to publication?

A report that a bomb had been placed on a motor yacht belonging to the Marquess of Sligo was recently received by the constabulary. The investigation of the facts has not yet been completed, and it would be undesirable to give information with regard to it.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will explain the information supplied by the Estates Commissioners on page 93 of their last Report, having regard to the rejected cases in columns 5 and 6; whether the case in columns 9, 10, and 11, amounting to 2,588 families, more than 12,500 persons still unprovided for, are open to consideration; at what rate per annum they are being provided for; whether many of them are neglected pending a condition not affecting the merits of their claims and over which they have no control; whether some are denied, on account of sex, the relief to which they are legally entitled; whether he will state the statutory authority for this particular discrimination; whether the Government will take any steps now to redeem their pledges to Irish evicted tenants; and seeing that Mrs. Riggs, of Collinstown, Westmeath, noted as entitled, her evicted farm being still vacant, has been left to die of exposure, will he say what is to be done for her daughter, and when?

The figures given in the last Report of the Estates Commissioners explain themselves to anybody who will read the Report carefully. Of the 2,588 cases referred to in the question as unprovided for, 2,240 are not within the statutory powers of the Estates Commissioners under the Evicted Tenants Act, having been received after the date fixed by that Act, and the Commissioners have no power under the Act to deal with these 2,240 persons. The remaining 348 applications have been noted for consideration, as stated in the Report. It is not a fact that any applicants are denied consideration on account of sex. As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Tuesday last.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the number in the last column have or have not been investigated and rejected?

No, Sir; they have not been considered except in this way: The Commissioners are quite willing, when they come to deal, under the Land Purchase Act, with those estates on which the farms of those persons were, to take their case into consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question on the Paper: at what rate per annum those people are being provided for?

The people who are not within the Act are not being provided for under the Act at all; nor can they be.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what he is going to do for this woman whose mother has died of exposure?

I have answered that question before. As the hon. Member knows, it is a very difficult case indeed to deal with, and it is not proposed to do anything.

Then you are not going to do anything!

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that inconvenience has been caused to Members of this House through the recent frequent delay in delivery of the daily Report of Parliamentary Debates, which is attributed by the printers to irregularities in the postal service; and whether he will take steps to ensure the regular delivery of the Report to Members in London by the first post in the morning?

I regret that it is not practicable to deliver the Parliamentary Reports in some districts of London with the first morning delivery of correspondence. The difficulty arises partly from late receipt from the printers, and has been increased by modifications in the delivery services which have been necessitated by the War. I am communicating further with the printers on the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that even in the immediate neighbourhood of the House of Commons these Reports are rarely now delivered by the first post in the morning?

Nearness to the House of Commons does not necessarily imply nearness to the source of the delivery.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether it may be taken for granted that the forthcoming valuations of approved societies will give full weight to the rise in interest rates and the accompanying fall in securities; whether he has received actuarial advice as to the probable effect of these factors upon estimated available benefits for the future; and, if so, will he communicate such advice to this House?

The hon. Member may be assured that no relevant considerations will be ignored in making Regulations under Section 36 (2) of the National Insurance Act, 1911.

Has the hon. Member received actuarial advice as to the probable effect of these factors? The second part of the question is unanswered.

Yesterday, apparently, I gave the hon. Member too long an answer—

Not at all.

To-day, apparently, I have given him too short an answer. Of course, I shall receive all actuarial advice on that matter.

The question is: Has the advice been received? It will be received, of course; but has it been?

I am going to make a statement on that matter later on, and I will deal with it then.

asked whether any actuary of repute has advised that those of the approved societies whose income is based on the average premium or contribution prescribed by the Act and accepted when the Act was passed as fairly corresponding to average lives, but whose expenditure and claims are based of necessity upon he under-average life of the classes from which their membership is drawn are, or ever were, likely to be in a satisfactory financial condition; if so, what is the name of the actuary who so advises and what are his professional qualifications?

I would refer the hon. Member to the actuarial reports laid upon the Table during the passage of the Bill of 1911, Cd. 5681, 5869, 5943, and 5983, from which he will see that his assumption as to the basis of the contribution is not in accordance with the facts.