asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under existing war conditions, the balance of advantage to this country and to its Exchequer lies in the consumption or the non-consumption of large quantities of tobacco; and what directions on this matter, about which the smoking public are asking for reliable advice, are the Government giving to their economy missionaries?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to him on this subject in reply to his question of the 1st December.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the meaning of the term imprest as it is used in the Treasury Minute of the 22nd November relating to the Vote of Credit?

In its usual technical sense in relation to the public accounts, i.e., an advance out of voted moneys to a sub-accountant to be accounted for by him to the accounting officer of the Vote.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that certain officers in the Excise and Customs Department have been compulsorily retired at sixty and sixty-one years of age; and if arrangements will be made for the retention of such officers so as to relieve young men for the forces?

Before 1st October last the general rule was to retire officers of Customs and Excise at the age of sixty-one, but officers so retired were re-employed, if suitable and willing, to meet the increased pressure due to new work arising out of the War. Since 1st October the Board of Customs and Excise, in response to an invitation issued by the Treasury to heads of Departments, have refrained from retiring men compulsorily at an earlier age than sixty-five, except in the case of those whose health or efficiency is impaired, or where the retirement enables a distinct economy to be made, or is otherwise in the public interest. I understand that recent retirements have been made in conformity with these principles and that none of the men retired could with advantage be retained.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he can state the number of destroyers that Turkey possessed at the beginning of the War, the number since destroyed, and the number believed to be destroyed or permanently disabled?

Turkey possessed nine destroyers at the commencement of the War. The number since destroyed or permanently disabled cannot be stated. The loss of the "Yar Hissar" has been announced recently in the Press.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, if he can arrange for German guns captured by the faithful Durhams to be exhibited or apportioned in various centres in Durham county with printed particulars attached to show when captured and where, also by what unit of the Durhams, similar to the action of granting such favour to Sunderland?

As I have stated on previous occasions, applications for captured guns to be exhibited at particular places, should be made to the General Officer Commanding the command in which the place is situated. The captured guns have been distributed on loan to the commands for this purpose.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he has received any report from any members of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who have returned from interment camps in Germany, as to the treatment and feeding of British prisoners of war; and, if so, will he have the same published?

Yes, Sir; reports have been received, but it is not at present proposed to publish them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the commission conferring substantive rank on Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Murray, commanding the 20th (Service) Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, took effect from the 30th September, 1914, when his military service began, or whether in the interval he held any other commissions of lower rank in the Army?

The substantive rank, which dated from the 30th September, 1914, was that of lieutenant only. The rank of lieutenant-colonel dates from the 10th September, 1915. Intermediately he held the rank of captain, dating 24th February, 1915, and major, dating 10th May, 1915.

asked whether the effect of the commission of lieutenant-colonel held by Lieut.-Colonel Eric Murray, commanding the 20th (Service) Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, is to give that officer rank and precedence over all majors in the Indian Army and in the British Army, including brevet-majors?

The reply is in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the conditions under which soldiers and sailors going on and off leave have to travel; whether he is aware that they are packed into carriages, corridors, lavatories, and every available space and left in a standing position from six to eight hours at a time; whether he is aware that first-class carriages on the same trains are almost empty; and if he will take steps to prevent a repetition of this, especially with soldiers travelling at night?

I would gladly do anything in my power to improve the conditions mentioned, but with the heavy demands on the railways and the present shortage of railway staff, fuller accommodation could only be provided if the numbers of soldiers granted leave were decreased. The matter has been considered and it has been decided that the men would prefer going on leave in the present circumstances rather than that the numbers should be reduced considerably to ensure more comfortable travelling. It is impossible to give full satisfaction both to those Members of this House who urge a large increase in the numbers of those granted leave and also to those who, like my hon. Friend, desire considerable improvements in the accommodation afforded. The present position is a compromise between the two sets of considerations, and with the exception of filling up the first-class carriages I see no method by which the situation can be alleviated.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that a number of the 2nd Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, particularly in the machine - gun sections, who have been in France since the beginning of the War and through Mons and the other battles, have not had a single day's furlough although they have been promised it for several months back; and whether he will make arrangements so that the furlough is fairly distributed among all the men of this regiment?

I gave a full answer on this matter on the 30th November in reply to the hon. Member for the Black-friars Division. To this I would refer my hon. Friend. As I have already communicated with the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief and put him in possession of the views expressed in this House, I do not think any good purpose would be served by sending out the particular eases of units or individuals.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can now state what building has been secured in the neighbourhood of Victoria Station to afford bed, rest, and light refreshment for soldiers from the front compelled to remain for some hours in London before proceeding to their destinations?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any provision is made for the lodging of soldiers overnight in London who arrive on leave at Victoria Station too late to reach their homes in the country on the same night?

Negotiations are proceeding for the provision of a building in this neighbourhood for the purposes my hon. Friends have in view.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether soldiers returning home on leave from the Western front are provided with food on their journey from the trenches to Victoria Station or have the means or opportunity of obtaining food?

All men are instructed to take current day's rations with them. In addition, for men going by Havre, there are Young Men's Christian Association refreshment rooms at Abancourt and Bouches, and two coffee bars at Havre For men returning viâ Havre the rations are in the train waiting for them, and the refreshment rooms are always open. At Boulogne there is a coffee bar on the quay. Men detained either going or coming are marched to camp and fed; a Young Men's Christian Association refreshment room is also available.

asked whether our troops in the field are now wearing the steel helmets which he stated two months ago had been issued to them?

I know of no reason why the troops should not be wearing the steel helmets issued to them.

asked whether the decision to advance on Bagdad with only one division was taken on the initiative of the military authorities on the spot or on instructions or suggestions from home; and whether, if the instructions came from home, they met with the entire approval of the authorities on the spot?

This question, if it is right that it should be asked at all, should be addressed to the India Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he intends before summer comes to provide the troops in the field with buckskin boots to relieve soldiers suffering from tender feet?

No, Sir

also asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that one of the most important items of a soldier's equipment is the footgear; whether he is aware that there exist three characters of foot, the normal, the arched, and the rather flat; that in marching suffering has been caused by boots to suit these three characters of foot not having been provided; and whether expert advice on the subject has been, or will be, taken when further orders are being placed, with a view to securing satisfactory marching boots?

The first point mentioned in the question is, I should say, a matter universally known and appreciated; the second point is medical, and I am prepared to accept provisionally, until I have had time to consult medical authorities, my hon. Friend's classification of the various categories of feet, but I have had no reports in any way substantiating the statement in the third part of the question. In reply to the fourth, I can assure him most emphatically that both boot and feet experts were consulted before the present boot was introduced. It is, of course, the intention of the Department not to discontinue consulting experts when questions arise requiring the skilled advice which only experts can give.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what are the hours of duty on night shifts for Voluntary Aid Detachment members in military hospitals; the number of nights they are compelled to be on duty; and the pay received by them?

With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT these details, which are somewhat too lengthy for statement in an oral reply. The answer to the last part of the question is £20 a year, with allowances for board, washing, lodging, etc., as for members of the Q.A.I.M.N.S.

Times Off.

3 hours every day, from—

9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., or

2.0 p.m. to 5 p.m., or

5.0 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Half a day every week, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

A whole day every month, from 6 p.m. previous day to 10 p.m. following day.

Staff Nurses on Night Duty.

Hours—From 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

A night off once a month.

Two months' consecutive duty.

asked the Under-Secretary for War, if, in spite of the pressure on English military depóts, accommodation in the new huts at Moor Park, county Cork, has not been availed of since the recent departure of troops; and will he obtain an estimate of the capacity of the unused resources of Moor Park and see that they are fully taken advantage of?

The fact that there is considerable unoccupied accommodation at Moor Park has not been overlooked. It is expected that it will be utilised at an early date.

asked the Undersecretary for War whether he is aware that the uncertainty which arises owing to recruits not being thoroughly medically examined for eyesight and other defects upon attestation is putting the recruits and employers in difficulty as to what steps they should take to provide substitutes in public offices and private businesses, and involving employers and recruits in unnecessary expense and difficulty; and whether he can see his way to give directions that either a recruit or an employer should be entitled to demand a final medical examination at once, so that it may be finally determined whether the recruit is fit for military service or not?

When the present recruiting campaign is over, it will be possible to examine recruits properly. Notice will be given with regard to the arrangements.

asked the tinder-Secretary for War if he will state the hours fixed for friends to visit wounded soldiers in the General Military Hospital at Denmark Hill; and whether the hours for visitors to see officers and privates during the week are the same?

The regular visiting hours are—

In the event of relatives or friends coming from a considerable distance to visit patients, and under special circumstances, of which the medical officer in charge of the case is the judge, visitors are permitted to see patients at any time. There are no special visiting hours for officers.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether his Department will advise all recognised firms of Army agents and bankers that the Government has no objection to their doing always what they do occasionally, namely, waiving the requirement authorised but not demanded by the existing law as to the reseating in the English Probate Court of Scottish confirmations of the estates of deceased Scottish officers which include undrawn balances of pay, on the ground that such Army pay is distinctively English estate; and whether he will consider the desirability of receiving a small deputation of the signatories to the memorial recently submitted to him on this subject by the Faculty of Advocates and the various chambers of commerce, etc., in Scotland?

The War Office has no objection to this procedure being waived, and I have no reason to suppose that Army agents and bankers are under any misapprehension on the point, but to meet my hon. Friend's views I will advise them as he suggests. The memorialists have presented their case so clearly that I doubt if anything is to be gained by receiving a deputation on the subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware of the hardship on the Midland leather industry arising from the War Office placing contracts for Infantry equipment with firms who pay sweated wages; and will he arrange without delay that contracts for Infantry equipment will only be placed with firms who are pledged to pay the same prices for labour as those fixed by the Government's Chief Industrial Commissioner in October, 1914, for Midland firms?

I am not aware of any War Office contracts for Infantry equipment having been placed with firms who pay sweated wages. All such contracts contain the Fair-Wages Clause, which requires that contractors shall pay rates of wages not less favourable than those commonly recognised by employers and trade societies—or, in the absence of such recognised wages, those which in practice prevail among good employers—in the district where the work is carried out. As regards the second part of the question, the prices adopted in October, 1914—which were not fixed by the Chief Industrial Commissioner, but were arrived at by agreement between the employers and the workers' societies at a meeting at which he was chairman—apply only to the Birmingham and Walsall districts, and until similar agreements are made for other districts, or the rates in question do, in fact, prevail among good employers in other districts, it is not possible to regard the payment of those rates elsewhere than in the Midlands as required by the terms of the Fair-Wages Clause.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether free railway passes will be granted to soldiers of the Manchester provisional battalions whose homes are in Manchester and district on the occasion of leave during the Christmas and New Year holidays?

I am afraid that free passes can only be granted under the usual conditions.

asked the Undersecretary for War whether an order for handles for bearers for wounded soldiers was given by the War Office to Hepburn, Gale, Ross, and Company, of Grange Mills, Grange Road, Bermondsey; if so, whether the women leather stitchers complained to their foreman and Mr. Blott, the managing director, that they could not earn more than 1s. per day on them, and were ordered by the managing director to clear out; and whether any result has been arrived at by the War Office as to the complaints made by the Military Harness and Accoutrement Makers and the London Saddle and Harness Makers Trade Unions as to the prices paid for labour by Messrs. Hepburn, Gale, and Ross, Limited, and their disregard of the Fair-Wage Clause as Government contractors?

The order referred to is apparently one for cacolet straps, which was recently placed with the firm named. I am informed that some of these straps were given to female stitchers usually employed on softer work. These workers complained that the work was too hard, and refused to do it, and the firm therefore discharged them. The investigation of the complaints as to the inadequacy of the prices paid for labour by this firm has involved somewhat extensive enquiries, and is not yet completed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the Chamber of Commerce, the Dublin Mercantile Association, the Dublin Industrial Development Association, and other public bodies are anxious to know when the promised extension of the examining and receiving depot will be made in Dublin; and whether he is in a position to make a statement thereon?

I have had under consideration the question of the exhibition of samples in Dublin and the inspection of stores supplied to the Army by Irish manufacturers. Improved arrangements for the exhibition of samples of articles required by the Army have been made, and samples can now be seen at 32, Nassau Street, along with those of articles required by the Ministry of Munitions. The samples already on exhibition at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and at the Island Bridge Barracks have been removed to this address, so that all samples are now inspected under one roof. I gladly recognise the assistance which has been rendered hitherto by the Chamber of Commerce.

Any manufacturer who desires to tender should make application to the Director of Army contracts to be placed on the War Office list of contractors for the article or articles which he wishes to supply. He will, if placed on the list, be invited to tender according to the requirements of the War Office. The inspection of clothing manufactured in Ireland is already carried out at Dublin, but arrangements are being made for the provision of a testing machine to test cloth under manufacture in Ireland. As far as possible in other cases the inspection of the articles manufactured will be carried out by the War Office at the contractor's premises.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst prison officers over the refusal of their petition for a war bonus, and that at several prisons the staff has in a body appealed to His Majesty's Inspector of Prisons on his official visit thereto; will he say how many such appeals have been reported to the Prison Commissioners; and will he receive a deputation of prison officers and allow them to lay their views on the subject before him?

One written appeal has been forwarded to me, and at eight other prisons appeals to His Majesty's inspectors have been reported to the Commissioners. It is contrary to practice for the Secretary of State to receive deputations on matters relating to the pay or other conditions of service of the prison staff. The Prison Standing Orders furnish all reasonable and proper facilities for the presentation of grievances.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the present policy of introducing female nurses to take charge of male wards in lunatic asylums; if so, whether this policy has been sanctioned by the authorities; and whether, in view of the danger involved in bringing female nurses into contact with male lunatics, he will have steps taken to prohibit it?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given by me to a question by the hon. Member for the Devizes Division of Wiltshire on this subject on the 16th September last?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the amounts which have been paid as premiums in respect of bombardment and aircraft risk, up to the latest date for which it is available, in each of the six largest seaports on the East Coast of England and Wales and the corresponding amounts for the six largest seaports on the West Coast?

I am afraid that information as to the amount of premiums paid under the Government Aircraft Insurance Scheme in different districts is not at present available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to induce the Italian authorities in this country to secure the insertion of the Government's Fair-Wages Clause in Italian contracts carried out in this country?

A communication has already been made to the Delegates of the Italian Government on the Commission Internationale de Ravitaillement, which deals with Allied Government purchases in this country, and the Delegates have stated that they are prepared to include the Government Fair Wages Clause in future contracts to be carried out in this country on behalf of the Italian Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total imports into and exports from the United Kingdom for the years 1913 and 1914, and for the ten months ended October, 1915, showing the imports and exports from and to America separate from those of other countries?

The following statements, give the information desired by the hon. Member, so far as the particulars are available:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the name of the actual importer of the hops which were admitted into this country under licence this year; and why such a favour was granted?

The importers of the hops were the persons to whom the licences were granted. The names were given in reply to the question put by the hon. Member on 2nd November. The licences were granted exceptionally on the grounds stated in that reply, namely, that evidence was adduced to show that the hops had been paid for before the outbreak of War.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the considerable import of beer from Denmark, Holland, Sweden, and Norway; and whether he can state what steps are being taken to insure that such beer, or the materials composing it, does not come from enemy sources, in view, specially, of the fact that the hops must be imported.

Imports of beer from the countries named in the question have been smaller during the current year than they were previous to the War, and I have no reason to suspect that the beer is of enemy manufacture. Goods manufactured in neutral countries are not treated as enemy goods by reason of the fact that some small part of their constituents may have originated in enemy countries, and there is little likelihood that any considerable proportion of the materials from which this beer is brewed is of enemy origin.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what were the means adopted to encourage and assist the beet-sugar industry in Great Britain?

With a view to obtaining more precise information as to the best methods of growing sugar beet, experiments were instituted in 1911 at seven agricultural institutions. A report on the experiments was published in 1912, a study of which should enable a farmer to come to certain conclusions as to the methods best suited to his own farm. I am sending the hon. Member a copy. From time to time articles have appeared in the Board's journal describing the methods adopted on the Continent, and pointing to the increase in crop returns, which resulted from improved cultivation. The Board were convinced that the real question is an economic one, which is only capable of solution when beet growing on a commercial scale has been instituted. With a view to obtain some information in this direction, therefore, the Board asked Mr. Orwin, of the Economic Institution of Oxford, to examine the accounts of farmers who had been growing beet for the Cantley factory. Instalments of his report have appeared in the Board's journal. Of these I am sending the hon. Member copies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether claims for Increment Value Duty are still being made under the Lumsden judgment where there has been no increase in the value of the bare site; and whether, in view of the pledge given by his predecessor, the present Minister of Munitions, in 1910, that unless the value of the bare land as land had risen no Increment Value Duty would be chargeable, and in view of the renewed promise given by the Prime Minister on the 23rd July, 1914, that in fulfilment of this pledge no legal proceedings would be taken for the recovery of the duty in such cases, pending the introduction of amending legislation, he will take steps to secure that such claims shall not be made or, if made, shall not be pressed?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 21st of September last to the hon. Member for Hertford.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, if he will explain why the purchase money for the King's County estate of the Marquess of Downshire has not yet been advanced in order that the tenants' holdings may be vested in them, and that they may be in a position to pay the annuities which would be considerably less than the interest in lieu of rent which they are at present paying, seeing that the agreements were signed nearly ten years ago, the tenants paying the interest during this period, and that the purchase money of the other two estates of the Marquess of Downshire, situate in the counties of Down and Wicklow, has long been advanced though the agreements were signed at the same time?

I am informed that this estate is the subject of proceedings for sale by the owner direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and in the purchase agreements signed by the parties the tenants contracted to pay interest on their agreed prices until such time as the lands are vested in them. It was one of the terms of sale between the parties, that certain rights as to turbary on the bogs which are in the owners hands were to be vested in the purchasing tenants with their holdings under the Land Purchase Acts, and when the estate came to be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners in its order this condition gave rise to much difficulty. A resurvey had to be made which necessitated amendments in the sale maps, and additional inspections were also necessary. The requisitions of the Commissioners arising on the reports of their inspectors have been communicated to the solicitors for the vendor and when they have been complied with the Commissioners will proceed with the vesting of the lands as rapidly as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary if it is proposed to close up the Royal Irish Constabulary station in Ballyloan, Queen's County; and if he is aware that a police station is necessary there, in order to have proper supervision of the town and district?

There is no constabulary station at any place called Ballyloan. If the question has reference to Ballyroan station, Queen's County, it is not at present proposed to abolish that station.