asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, a proposal was made by any Department or responsible official to use the entire staff of the Valuation Department as an organisation for war purposes; and, if so, whether any attempt was made to carry the proposal into effect?

A proposal of the kind was put forward immediately after the outbreak of war, but it was not found that practical effect could be given to it, and permission was given to a large number of the staff to join His Majesty's Forces.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed to continue the publication of the Reports of the Historical Manuscripts Commission during the War?

It was decided last year to finish the printing of the following Reports:—

(1) Cecil Papers, Vol. XIII. (since issued).

Stuart Papers at Windsor Castle, Vol. VI.

Stuart Papers at Windsor Castle, Vol. VII.

Exeter Corporation.

Polwarth, Vol. II.

Grenville MSS. at Dropmore, Vol. IX.

Finch MSS. Vol. II.

Buccleugh, Vol. III.

These Reports were then nearly complete at Press and it was considered more economical to finish them than to keep them standing in type.

(2) Ormonde MSS., Vol. VIII.

The Marquis of Downshire's Trumball MSS.

Percival's Diary in the Egmont MSS.

The printing of these Reports was not so far advanced, but their respective editors offered to see them through the Press gratuitously, provided that they were proceeded with without delay. Nothing more is being printed except the periodical Report of the Commission, and no new work is being commenced.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that there is a shortage of houses at Westhoughton where the Admiralty has started works; and will he state whether the Admiralty proposes to erect houses there to accommodate the men employed at these works?

The number of persons employed at these works is at present very small, and, so far as I am aware, there should be little or no difficulty in regard to the housing accommodation at the present time at Westhoughton and in the neighbourhood; but I take note of what my hon. Friend says, and the gradual entry of men will be watched with a view to avoiding difficulties with regard to housing. I may remind him, of course, that Westhoughton is within easy reach of Bolton.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if an Admiralty Order was issued on 8th October to the effect that all Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve men in the coastguard, afloat, etc., promoted to ratings above able seamen after the Royal Naval Division had been formed, are to relinquish their ratings and to be paid accordingly; if so, will he state the reason for the Order; and will he consider the advisability of revoking it in view of the sense of injustice which it arouses among men who find themselves reduced in rank without any apparent cause?

As I stated in reply to the Noble Lord, the Member for Portsmouth, on 16th November, all naval ratings, whether Active Service, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Royal Fleet Reserve, or Royal Naval Reserve, relinquish the acting ranks given in the Royal Naval Division on leaving the Division for the Naval Service proper. These acting ranks are given for purposes of discipline and command in a Military Force. They are purely local to meet the temporary requirements of the Royal Naval Division, and although, for convenience, naval titles were used, their holders do not necessarily possess the professional qualifications or experience which would be required for the particular ratings under naval conditions.

asked the Under Secretary of State for War, in view of the anxiety felt by relatives as to the fate of the 400 or so British officers officially reported as missing as a result of the Dardanelles operations, if he will say what steps the Government are now taking to ensure the production by the Turkish Government of complete lists of British prisoners of war in their hands; whether he can state what is the total number of British officers who have been officially reported as prisoners of war in Turkey up to date; and whether the names of such officer prisoners as have been reported have been supplied officially by the Turkish Government, or whether the names have been received as the result of private inquiry conducted by the American Ambassador at Constantinople or private inquiry by the Red Cross?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to address the first part of this question to the Foreign Office. The total number of British and Colonial officers officially reported by the Turkish Government as prisoners of war up to date is twelve, but the names of some others beyond these twelve have been received through the Red Crescent, or as the result of private inquiry by the American Ambassador.

asked the Undersecretary for War whether he will consider the desirability of providing more efficient protection for the soldiers quartered at High Beech, Essex, who are composed mostly of clerks from banks and City offices who have never roughed it; and, in order to limit sickness, if some opportunity will be given them for changing and drying their clothes during inclement weather?

Of the 1,100 men on the strength of this battalion, 1,000 are in billets. The remainder, with the approval of the medical authorities, are in tents. Up to date sickness in this unit does not exceed 4 per cent. The battalion will shortly go to Aldershot.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the annual salaries and emoluments that the hon. and gallant Members for Central Finsbury, Wilton, West St. Pancras, Southport, Rutlandshire, Altrincham, Christchurch, Newport, Salop, Newark, Watford, Horncastle, Faversham, and Ripon are now receiving as members of His Majesty's Forces?

The hon. and gallant Members referred to, like all the other hon. and gallant Members of the House who are serving in the Army, draw the pay and allowances of their respective rank and appointments. The hon. Member for Newport is not a member of His Majesty's Forces, but is acting temporarily as secretary of the Shropshire Territorial Force Association without salary or emolument.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that there are many soldiers who have been wounded or invalided now-serving in provisional battalions who are unfit for Army service and are willing to be discharged or to be temporarily released from the Colours, and thus to return to civil and industrial life; whether such soldiers have the right to apply for medical examination with a view to discharge or temporary release; and, if so, what is the correct procedure to be adopted?

The question of temporary work for soldiers without discharge from the Army is not being lost sight of.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the necessity for economy and of the restrictions placed by the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (War Restrictions) Bill upon landlords, who are to pay more without getting more, he will make further efforts to force local authorities to practise economy and to reduce the rates?

I am unable to accept my hon. Friend's description of the effect of the Bill. If he will suggest to me any further practicable steps which are open to me in the direction indicated I can only say that I shall be most happy to consider them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of alien enemies have been procured employment by the departmental Labour Exchanges since the outbreak of War; what proportion of these persons have been previously interned and what number were of military age in the country of which they were subjects; have any rules been made with regard to differentiation between enemy aliens and British subjects in relation to their applications for or conditions of employment; and does the supply of such labour through an Exchange involve any express or implied warranty that the men for whom employment is procured have, if enemy aliens, complied with the provisions of the Aliens Restriction Act, are persons of good character, and are competent workmen to perform the work for which they are passed on to an employer?

I have every reason to believe that the number of alien enemies placed in employment by the Labour Exchanges since the outbreak of war is very small, but I fear that the precise number and the other particulars desired in respect of them could not be ascertained without laborious inquiry which would not be justified in view of the great pressure of other work.

Shortly after the outbreak of war, instructions were issued to the Labour Exchanges that they were not in any circumstances to place in employment any person whom they had any reason to suppose to be an alien enemy, and, further, that particulars with regard to any such person who registered at the Exchange should be submitted to the head constable of the district. These instructions were subsequently modified to the extent that alien enemies might only be submitted for employment if it had been ascertained that no British workman was available in any part of the country and willing to take the job.

As regards the last part of the question, I would point out that, as stated in the reply given to the hon. Member on the 2nd December, the Labour Exchanges do not give any guarantee with regard to workpeople submitted by them to employers, although every effort is made to submit applicants whose qualifications would appear to render them suitable for the work to be undertaken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the shortage of trucks on the railway lines, which is causing congestion of traffic at nearly all important points, thereby dislocating business; and, if so, will he arrange for an absolute interchange of trucks between the various railway companies, thus saving much waste of labour and energy in dragging empty trucks backwards and forwards to the depots of the companies to which they belong?

I am aware that there has been congestion of traffic and difficulty in supplying wagons in some districts. The matter raised in the latter part of my hon. Friend's question is receiving the consideration of the Railway Executive Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, having regard to the supply of fat cattle and sheep now offering for slaughter in the public markets, he will consider the desirability of holding back any surplus supply of imported meat until February, when a scarcity will occur, through the summer supply being exhausted and winter-fed stock being not yet available?

I am not disposed to withhold from British markets during the next two months all the surplus supply of imported meat, as the immediate effect of such withdrawal of competition would be to raise the prices of all meat. I may assure my hon. Friend, however, that in placing meat on the market regard is had to the home supplies coming forward, to the prospective imported supplies, and to the available storage space. I should add that while home-killed meat and imported meat are in part competitive they are in part consumed by different sections of the population.

also asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the quantity of surplus imported meat placed by the Government on the market in Great Britain during each of the last twelve months, and the amount of money obtained for the same?

The Board of Trade began to place surplus meat on the market about the end of last May. Between that date and the end of October about 70,000 tons, mainly mutton and lamb, have been so disposed of. I am not in a position to state at present the quantities sold monthly or the amount of money obtained.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Glasgow and Southwestern Railway Company is refusing to carry sheep on their steamer from Arran to Ardrossan unless an attendant accompanies the stock; and whether, in view of the effect of this restriction upon the farmers and crofters of Arran, he will take steps to ensure that the railway company will not persist with it?

I have sent my hon. Friend a copy of a letter from the railway company explaining why they consider this arrangement necessary. The matter is not one in which I could interfere with the company's discretion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the terms of the Bill introduced in the Commonwealth of Australia to curtail the liberty enjoyed by Germans and other enemies who are trading under the shelter of limited companies either with or without British shareholders; and if he will introduce similar legislation in this country?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to the Commonwealth of Australia Enemy Contracts Annulment Act, 1915. On this point I fear that I can add nothing to the reply given by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for the Mansfield Division of Nottinghamshire on the 15th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give to the House a Return showing the imports of copra from Ceylon for 1913, 1914, and 1915; and, seeing that a large amount of copra goes from Ceylon to Holland, whether he has any official information showing that this copra goes through Holland into Germany?

One hundred and seventy-two tons of copra were imported into this country from Ceylon in 1913, 14,460 tons in 1914, and 37,004 tons in January to November inclusive this year. There were no re-exports of such copra to Holland in 1913, but in 1914 and during the first eleven months of 1915 re-exports amounted to 3,892 tons and 27,580 tons respectively. At present direct exports of copra from Ceylon to Holland are prohibited, and the re-exports from this country to which I have referred are all consigned under licence to the Netherlands Oversea Trust, which guarantees that they will not be re-exported to the enemy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the pit at New Silksworth has been laid idle one day in the week ending 20th November, two days in the week ending 27th November, and also on 3rd December; has such stoppage arisen from the commandeering of the ships usually carrying the coal of the above-named pit; and has any partiality been shown in commandeering a number of ships usually trading from this pit and no commandeering of ships serving other pits in the county of Durham?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. So far as I am aware, the recent stoppages of the pit in question are not directly due to the requisitioning of any specific ships, but to the general shortage of tonnage. No partiality to any pit has been shown in requisitioning ships for Admiralty purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether several clerks in the Great Central Railway offices at Marylebone have been subjected to attempted intimidation on account of their connection with the Railway Clerks' Association; and, if so, will he ask for guarantees that no member of the clerical staff will be interfered with or penalised in any way on account of his membership of the Railway Clerks' Association?

I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to previous questions on this subject on the 2nd, 6th, and 7th instant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total quantity and value of sulphate of ammonia imported into the United Kingdom in 1913?

The imports of sulphate of ammonia into the United Kingdom are not separately distinguished in the official Returns, but I am informed that in 1913 they did not exceed 100 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, in addition to newspaper advertisements on the part of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company, the Board of Trade Labour Exchange at Dumfries has been issuing periodically a printed leaflet asking for men, aged from nineteen to twenty-five, to be employed as platform porters by the above railway company at from 18s. to 21s. per week; and whether, in the interests of recruiting, the Board proposes to stop this practice?

I am making inquiry, and will inform the hon. and gallant Member of the result.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total numbers of officers in the Customs and Excise Departments, respectively, prior to the amalgamation with a minimum or fixed salary in excess of £450 per annum, that is, offices in the Customs Department of chief surveyor-general surveyor-general, inspecting surveyor, collector, assistant collector, principal clerk and surveyor, and offices in the Excise Department of chief inspector, assistant chief inspector, superintending inspector, inspector, and collector, which were normally filled from those grades of the Customs and Excise services, respectively, which now compose the new surveyor grade on a scale £320 — 15 — 450 in the amalgamated Customs and Excise service; and what were the total values of such offices in the Customs and Excise Departments, respectively?

The numbers of offices, prior to amalgamation, with a minimum or fixed salary in excess of £450, were fifty-seven in the Customs and ninety-two in the Excise. The aggregate values of these offices, at mean salaries, were £36,300 and £59,700 respectively.

further asked whether special reports are made on the qualifications for promotion to the controlling grade within the amalgamated Customs and Excise service of selected surveyors in the various sections of surveyors eligible for promotion; and, if so, who are the reporting officers for surveyors formerly Customs first-class clerks, and surveyors formerly Excise supervisors, respectively; are those reports considered by the committee appointed by the Board of Customs and Excise to interview eligible candidates; and has this committee so far been composed of seven members, namely, the two secretaries, the chief inspector, a deputy chief inspector (all four of whom were Excise officials prior to the amalgamation), and three members of the secretaries' office?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second, the collectors under whom the men are serving; and to the third and fourth, in the affirmative.

also asked how many, respectively, of the fifty-one surveyors of Customs and Excise, formerly first-class clerks of Customs, and of the 144 surveyors of Customs and Excise, formerly supervisors of Excise, eligible for promotion to the controlling grade in the amalgamated Customs and Excise service when the first promotions by selection were made, who have been favourably reported on by their superiors for promotion, have so far been invited to appear before the Selection Committee appointed to interview eligible candidates?

Eleven and seventy-nine respectively.

next asked what is the total number of surveyors up to date that has been selected for promotion to the controlling grade within the amalgamated Customs and Excise service since the first promotions by selection were made; and what are the separate totals of the surveyors in each section from which selections have been made that compose this number?

The total number, including those promoted on the first occasion, is thirty-four, made up as follows: Ex-principal clerks, 1; ex-first class clerks, 1; ex-collector-surveyors, 6; ex-surveyors, 2; ex-supervisors, 24; total, 34.

likewise asked what other sections of surveyors besides the fifty-one surveyors formerly first-class clerks and the 144 surveyors formerly Excise supervisors were eligible for promotion to the controlling grade within the amalgamated Customs and Excise service when the first promotions by selection were made; and how many of each section were eligible?

All members of the surveyor grade not over fifty-five years of age are eligible to be considered for promotion in due course as occasion arises. The approximate numbers of such men in the other sections included in the surveyor grade on the occasion referred to were: Ex-Customs principal clerks, 6; ex-Customs surveyors, 20; ex-Customs collector-surveyors, 26; ex-Customs first-class examining officers, 76; ex-Customs upper section clerks, 7; ex-Customs chief officers, 6; ex-Excise assistant supervisors, 53.

asked what was the total number of surveyors eligible for promotion to the controlling grade within the amalgamated Customs and Excise service when the last promotions by selection were made; what are the separate totals in each section of eligible surveyors which compose this number; and how many of each section were promoted?

All members of the surveyor grade not over fifty-five years of age are eligible to be considered for promotion in due course as occasion arises. The approximate numbers of such men included in the surveyor grade on the occasion referred to were: Ex-Customs principal clerks, 4; ex-Customs surveyors, 20; ex-Customs collector-surveyors, 20; ex-Customs first-class clerks, 40; ex-Customs first-class examining officers, 63; ex-Customs upper section clerks, 42; ex-Customs chief officers, 5; ex-Excise supervisors, 96; ex-Excise assistant supervisors, 53; men promoted from the officer grade under the new system, 59; and the number promoted were: ex-Customs collector-surveyors, 2; ex-Customs surveyors, 2; ex-Excise supervisors, 10.

asked whether the fifty-one surveyors, formerly Customs first-class clerks, who were eligible for promotion to the controlling grade in the amalgamated Customs and Excise service when the first promotions by selection were made, and of whom one only has so far been promoted, were placed on the new grade of surveyors in the amalgamated service on a scale of £320 — 15 — 450 at an earlier date than the 144 surveyors, formerly Excise supervisors, who were also eligible for promotion to the controlling grade when the first promotions by selection were made, and of whom twenty-four have been promoted; and, if so, what was the scale of salary of the latter class when the former were placed on the new grade?

All the fifty-one Customs men were placed on the new surveyor scale (£325—£450) when amalgamation took effect in August, 1911. A number of the 144 Excise men were similarly treated, the remainder continuing on their old scale of £280—£320, and passing into the new scale on reaching £320, until nine months later, when they were all advanced to the new scale.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ire- land) if he will state, under general heads, the total expenditure of public money, total receipts, and balance, to the latest date for which accounts are available in respect of Ballyhaise farm; how the loss is accounted for under the management of experts paid public money for giving instruction in agriculture; the chief causes to which they attribute the loss, and by whose authority the farm, or portion of it, has been sold?

The expenditure on Ballyhaise for the last financial year was £5,018 and the receipts £3,795. The chief items of expenditure are:—

Receipts:—

The net expenditure, namely, £l,223, is an educational outlay, and is not regarded as a loss. It represents the cost of the education and maintenance of the students and the utilisation of the school farm for educational and demonstration purposes. The lands recently sold were disposed of on the authority of the Department' and with the concurrence of the Agricultural Board.