asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will impose a tax of 6d. per ton on the dead weight of any German ship entering a port in any of His Majesty's Dominions at Home or abroad after the War, the proceeds of such a tax to cover the losses caused by German mines and torpedoes to British shipping; and whether he is aware that in due time such a fund would recoup the cost to His Majesty's Government, indemnify the relatives of victims, and might reasonably be extended to reimburse war premiums and loss of profits?

I cannot help feeling that the Noble and gallant Lord's question is somewhat premature.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the accounts of the livery companies of the City of London are regularly published; whether they are subject to any form of public audit; and whether there is any public control over their expenditure?

I am informed that the accounts of charities administered by the livery companies of the City of London are submitted to the Charity Commission, or, in the case of educational charities, to the Board of Education, and are open to the general public for inspection. As regards the other funds of these companies, the answer to the second and third parts of the question, so far as I am aware, is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the possibility of adding to the Committee recently appointed to consider questions relating to the contribution of the working classes to the War Loans a representative of the private and retail traders of the country, such as a representative of the National Chamber of Trade or of the grocers' or other associations of retail traders?

In view of the large size of the Committee as at present constituted, I fear I could not see my way to add to its numbers. The Committee will, however, be very glad to receive a statement of the views of retail traders and all other persons or associations interested in this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any further communication from the Local Government Board (Ireland) since 17th November, 1914; whether the Local Government Board then wrote urging the Treasury to place no barrier in the way of advancing money for urgent schemes amounting to £369,505, and pointing out that during the financial year ended last March only a small proportion would be required if the Treasury would make those loans; and whether, having regard to the urgency of Dublin housing schemes, he will consider the advisability of advancing sufficient funds to enable the actual commitments to be paid and to commence work in the most congested areas?

My hon. Friend is, I think under some misapprehension as to the conditions on which public loans can be issued during the War. The Local Government Board for Ireland wrote to the Treasury on the 17th November, 1914, as he states, recommending the provision of funds for Dublin housing schemes, and, as a result, loans to the extent of over £75,000 were sanctioned by the Treasury between that date and the following April. The Treasury then felt it necessary, in view of the financial position, to extend to Ireland the restrictions already imposed on the issue of loans from the Public Works Loans Fund in Great Britain, and it was arranged that the Local Government Board should exercise, on behalf of the Treasury, the duty of carrying out these restrictions in Ireland. From that date all previous recommendations made by the Board were cancelled, and a fresh recommendation was required for any case which the Board felt able to recommend for exceptional treatment. The restrictions would not, as a general rule, permit of the issue of funds for any new building scheme, and no further recommendation has, therefore, been made for such purposes. The Treasury has, however, promised to consider the provision of the necessary funds to meet commitments entered into, before the date of restriction, for the purchase of land in the McCaffrey and Spitalfield cases, if the Board are able to certify that these purchases cannot be postponed.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that Mr. Harvey B. Speller, of the London Stock Exchange and of Ealing, applied immediately upon the outbreak of War for a commission in the Army Service Corps and has made several subsequent applications, with the result that on 5th November last he was promised the commission provided he went to the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps for a month's training, and that as a condition of entry to the last-named corps he was required to obtain and produce the written promise that he would be awarded a commission in the Army Service Corps, and that subsequently, namely, 8th November, on applying to the Department he has been unable to obtain the promise in writing or any explanation for it being withheld; and whether he will explain how this treatment will assist in the raising of the military forces required by His Majesty and why the services of Mr. Speller have not been recognised, seeing that he has jointly organised and carried on a volunteer band of munition workers since April last and also served since the outbreak of War as a special constable?

The gentleman referred to in the question is, I think, Mr. Spiller, not Mr. Speller. He was one amongst many thousands of applicants for a commission in the Army Service Corps. He was interviewed at the War Office on the 8th November, but he was not promised that he would receive a commission in the Army Service Corps if he joined the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps. No promise is ever given in such circumstances. On the 9th November he was informed that it would not be possible to utilise his services with the Army Service Corps.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if ho is aware that men belonging to the 10th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, and other units in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, have not received for over three months letters and parcels addressed to them weekly by their parents and mends in England, and that in some cases undelivered parcels so sent three months ago have just been received back by the senders; and whether steps will be taken to provide or improve facilities for intercommunication between soldiers in the Near East and their families at home?

I was not aware that this battalion had had particular difficulties regarding their letters and parcels, but, as the hon. and gallant Member will be aware, this battalion has not been stationary in one place, and this may afford some explanation. My right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General made a detailed statement on the general question in a reply given to the hon. Member for Poplar on the 3rd November, and I may add that since that date measures for accelerating the arrival of both letters and parcels have been instituted.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what pay and allowances of their respective rank and appointments the hon. and gallant Members for Eddisbury and Whit by are now drawing as members of His Majesty's Forces?

Captain H. Barnston, Cheshire Yeomanry, is paid at the rate of £246 7s. 6d. per annum regimental pay, with free billet and ration allowance. Captain the Hon. W. G. Beckett, Yorkshire Hussars, is paid £450 per annum consolidated pay as A.M.S. Northern Command, with ration allowance.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the responsible duties of senior field cashiers of the Army Pay Department and to the dangerous nature of their work; and whether he will see his way to allow them, in proper cases, promotion to the rank of captain and to grant them honorary rank and a place on the Reserve of Officers at the end of their term of service after the War?

Field cashiers are responsible for cash, and are in some cases exposed to danger, though I am glad to say no casualties have been reported. Having regard to the work of the Pay Department generally, their rank is adequate. I am not now in a position to make any statement as to status after the War. The cases of many officers in many Departments will have to be considered in that connection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether naturalised enemy aliens are allowed to own and run motor cars or to-run motor garages?

There is no general prohibition against naturalised British subjects owning motor cars or garages. It is possible in cases of individuals of enemy origin to impose special restrictions, but this can be done only when there is some ground for doubting their loyalty.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to a dispute at the Wansbrough Paper Mill, Watchet, in which 300 workpeople, including 100 women, have been involved for the past fortnight; whether he is aware that this firm have refused to grant any increase in wages to compensate for the increased cost of living, although many of the women and girls are employed at rates ranging from 8s. to 12s. per week; whether the firm is engaged on Government work; and if his Department will intervene with a view to securing an equitable settlement?

My attention has been drawn to the dispute referred to, and some inquiries have been made by the Chief Industrial Commissioner. I am informed that an advance of wages by way of "war bonus" was given in March last. The firm say that they have been working for many years without making a profit and that they are not in a position to pay the increased wages demanded. I understand that the firm have seen representatives of the unions on the matter and have discussed the position with them, but that it was not found practicable to effect a settlement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any figures already compiled which will serve to show the extent of the sale of American securities in the United States on orders emanating from Germany, Holland, and the Scandinavian countries?

I regret that I have no information on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he will explain why, if further work on the Post Office railway was postponed until after the War, there would be an increase in the ultimate cost; and whether he will approach the contractor and inquire on what terms he would postpone the work?

The suspension of work on the railway for an indefinite period would involve considerable expenditure for cancellation of contracts, storage of material, removal of plant and certain engineering works in the tunnel, which will be necessary if the tunnelling were discontinued. I am advised also that when new contracts came to be entered into for the completion of the work a substantial increase in prices would be asked. From inquiries which I have made, I am satisfied that it would not be economical to close down the work at the present stage.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General, whether he can state why vacancies which have existed for the past six months in the ranks of overseers and assistant superintendents in the Telegraph Department, Dublin, have not been filled; and whether, if in the interest of the pubic service they should be filled, he will state why promotion is withheld from good officials with long service?

Vacancies have occurred in the classes of assistant superintendents and overseers in the Telegraph Office, Dublin; but under the conditions existing at present it is not necessary to fill them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state, under general heads, as already requested, the. total expenditure of public money, total receipts, and balance to the latest date for which accounts are available in respect of Ballyhaise farm, not for one year, but for the entire period?

The total gross expenditure and gross receipts in respect of Ballyhaise Agricultural Station during the eleven years since 1904–5, when the property was acquired, were as follows:—