asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to increase the number of troops now stationed at Windsor in the near future?

I know of no proposal to increase the number of troops stationed at Windsor.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he will explain the delay in sending a detachment of the Leinster Regiment to Longford as promised; and if he will say when this detachment will be sent?

No promise to send troops to Longford was made, though it was stated that it was the intention to send a detachment before long, and the date must depend on the exigencies of the Service.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that a number of starred coal miners have attested under the impression that it was necessary for them to do so in order to obtain the benefit of Lord Derby's scheme; and whether he can give an assurance that the attestation of such men under these circumstances will not affect the conditions of their liability for military service?

A coal miner who has been attested for Army Reserve, Section B, will, if he belongs to any of the classes of colliery workers directed to be starred, whether he has in fact been starred or not, have a mark placed against his name in the Army Register and will not be called up for military service unless the Home Office are of opinion that it is no longer necessary to retain him in civil employment.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether, in view of the amount of work that will be thrown on members of the advisory committees under Lord Derby's scheme, the War Office propose to permit the employment of a clerical staff; and whether they are prepared to pay the cost of such clerical staff and the other expenses of the advisory committee?

It is not anticipated that any large amount of clerical work will be thrown upon the members of the advisory committees, and therefore the employment of a clerical staff by the committee will not be sanctioned by the War Office. Arrangements are in contemplation whereby clerical work in connection with an advisory committee shall be performed by the clerical staff attached to the recruiting officer or the military representative.

also asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that while farm hands are starred under Lord Derby's scheme fanners themselves are not starred; and whether he will take steps to place the farmers in the same position as their employés?

The War Office is not responsible for the classification of industries that have been starred. For some reason it is a fact that farmers as farmers have not been regarded as a starred occupation. The starring was long ago completed, and the War Office are not in a position to reopen the question of starring additional occupations.

further asked the Under-Secretary for War whether employers can appeal to the local tribunals in respect of men such as leading hosiery hands and colliery surface-workers who are vital to their industries but who are not on the reserved list; and whether such appeal can be made in respect of men who have not been attested under Lord Derby's scheme?

The employer of a man who is not in a reserved occupation or who is not starred or badged can, with the consent of the man, if he has been attested for Army Reserve, Section B, put forward a claim, on the ground that the man is indispensable for the maintenance of the business of the employer, before the local tribunal for the area in which the place of employment is situate. No such appeal can be made in respect of men who have not been attested under Lord Derby's scheme, as obviously no question of postponement to a later group can arise if a man has not been placed in any group.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many Red Cross men of military age are being retained in the London Ambulance Column, with the promise that certificates of indispensability will be granted them, which there is every reason to believe will be effective with the recruiting tribunals, notwithstanding that many men over military age are being thrown out of the London Ambulance Column solely because they are unable to give double the time they have been giving for many months past; and whether he will look into the matter?

I have no knowledge of any certificate of indispensability having been promised to men of military age in the London Ambulance Column, nor is there any reason to think that such certificates would have any influence with local tribunals in view of the fact that the Red Cross Society have arranged with Lord Derby to release every available man possible for military service. The London Ambulance Column is, I understand, a purely voluntary body, and any arrangements made for refusing the services of any man would not come before the War Office.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what expenses have been incurred in voluntary recruiting by way of payments to recruiting officers, rents of premises, public meetings, advertisements in the Press, posters, and otherwise?

While I have every wish to give the information for which my right hon. and learned Friend asks, I really am not in a position to do so. Army accounts are kept under the heads prescribed by the Estimates and do not distinguish expenditure on recruiting from that on other purposes under the same heads.

asked the Under Secretary for War whether an order has recently been issued abolishing bands of Territorial battalions; and, if so, will permission be granted to retain them if the bandsmen are efficient in their military duties and the expenses are paid out of private funds?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Mansfield Division on the 7th December.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, respecting the case of a machine-gun officer whose rank was that of a second-lieutenant, and who was recently killed in action, what will be the position of his dependant parents as it is affected by the Third Report of the Select Committee on Naval and Military Services (Pensions and Grants); and what procedure should the parents of the deceased soldier adopt in order to comply with the conditions under which pensions will be granted in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee referred to.

The position of officers' dependants other than widows and children has been reconsidered in accordance with the Third Report, and the new Regulations are contained in the Royal Warrant which was published in the newspapers on the 17th instant. Applications for grants under that Warrant should be addressed to the Secretary, War Office.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether wounded or invalided soldiers who are physically of no military value now serving with the Colours and who are quite willing to be discharged and to return to their civil employment have the right to apply for medical examination; and what is the procedure to be adopted?

Any soldier has a right to see the medical officer in charge of his unit, and to submit his case to him. If the medical officer considers that his case justifies discharge, he will take the necessary steps to have it brought before the proper authorities for decision.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether soldiers on active service are supplied with rations of tobacco and cigarettes?

Soldiers engaged in active operations in the field receive a ration of 2 ozs. of tobacco or cigarettes a week.

asked the Minister of Munitions (1) if, under the new Regulations, a brewer is permitted to deliver a 4½-gallon cask and over of ale at all times of the day to a private house; if he is permitted to deliver three dozen pints or five crates of one gallon each, all of which up to the present have constituted a wholesale order during any time of the day; and (2) whether, in view of the scarcity of labour owing to recruiting, a drayman will be permitted, having left licensed premises with a load before 2.30, to continue delivering his retail orders during the afternoon?

I am informed that the Orders do not regulate the hours for delivery of intoxicating liquor. They restrict the hours during which intoxicating liquor may be dispatched from licensed premises, but, provided that dispatch takes place within hours permitted by the Order, delivery may take place at any time.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the increasing price of Scottish hæmatite iron is due in great measure to the shortage of Scottish splint coal; whether he can state the amount of splint coal which is now being exported; and whether, in view of the importance of hæmatite iron production, he will consider the advisability of prohibiting the exportation of splint coal during the War until he is satisfied that the home requirements have been met?

I am not prepared to assent to the statement contained in the first part of this question. I regret I have no available data as to the amount of splint coal exported. As, however, the exportation of coal has already been prohibited, none can be exported without a licence. The shortage of splint coal in Scotland was recently brought to the notice of the Ministry of Munitions by the Scottish ironmasters, and was referred to the Coal Exports Committee early this month. I understand that the Exports Committee met a deputation from the Lanarkshire Coalmasters' Association on 9th December, when the Association undertook to arrange among themselves that the coal in question should not be exported unless and until home requirements were met fully. At the same time it was distinctly understood that should the action of the association not secure the desired object, licences to export the coal would not be allowed.

asked the Minister of Munitions if in the case of Chingford and Epping the local authorities were consulted before applying the last restrictions with regard to intoxicating drink sales imposed by the Liquor Control Board?

Only a part of the Epping Petty Sessional Division is included in the London area, namely, that part of it which lies within the Metropolitan Police District. This part of the division includes Chingford. The Metropolitan Police were consulted before the Order was made, and, in addition, the Epping licensing justices were invited to the conference, held by the Control Board on the 1st October, and a representative of their Bench attended the conference.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he is aware that public meetings have been held in all parts of London protesting against the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) new Regulations; if he is aware that a manifesto has been issued backed up by about fifty trade union branches and jailing for a modification of the Orders; if he is aware that a statement has been published and signed by about 200 employers of labour representing the printing, chemical, textile, building, and engineering trades in Lancashire in which many of them have stated that if further restrictions were imposed they might lead to discontent on the part of the workers, whilst others have stated that any further restrictions would be an interference with the liberty of the subject; if he is aware that one of the largest engineering firms have stated that they are of opinion that further restrictions would not be of any advantage to them; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

I am quite aware that there have been a certain number of protests against the Orders of the Central Control Board, but the suggestion apparently intended to be conveyed by my hon. Friend's question that there is widespread or considerable discontent in regard to these Orders is not in accordance with the information in my possession, which indicates that the Orders are working smoothly and are producing excellent results.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the War Office is empowered to appoint a solicitor to represent them before the local tribunals; whether the Minister of Munitions or the Home Office, as the case may be, have also power to appoint a representative who may be a skilled lawyer, while a man who appeals to the tribunal is not allowed a representative of any kind; and whether, in view of the difficulty that many men have in making out a case before a Court, he will so alter the Regulations so as to permit of skilled assistance being given to the man?

The instructions issued to local tribunals provide that the tribunals "shall not admit any person to be heard as an advocate." This provision applies to every party before the tribunal, including the recruiting officer, or the military representative appointed to act for him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that numbers of canal boats are laid up owing to insufficiency of crews, and, in view of the congestion on the railways, will he endeavour to arrange with the War Office to release boatmen temporarily from the Colours if they are willing to return to their former employment?

I am aware that there must naturally be some shortage of canal boatmen in consequence of enlistment, and if my Hon. Friend will furnish me with some particulars of the extent to which canal boats are in consequence being held up, I will consider whether I can usefully make any representations.

asked the Home Secretary whether children of alien parents born on British soil are now being treated as aliens; and, if so, under what legal authority this is being done?

I am not aware that persons who, though of alien parentage, are natural-born British subjects by reason of birth in His Majesty's Dominions, are being treated as aliens. If my hon. Friend can give me any specific instances of what he has in mind, I will make inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he has sanctioned the holding of race meetings in the future; and what are the conditions he requires to be observed?

The Board of Trade do not sanction the holding of race meetings, but I have informed the National Hunt Committee that no objection will be raised by the Government to the holding of a limited number of race meetings at certain specified places under National Hunt Rules subject to no demands being made upon the railways.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the anxiety which exists due to the continued large exports of food-stuffs to the Continent from the United States of America; and whether he can give an explanation of these increases?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and I may say that this anxiety is shared by His Majesty's Government. Every effort is being made, and will continue to be made, to restrain it within limits which can be reasonably thought to represent legitimate neutral demands

asked how many Royal Irish Contabulary district stations are now without a district inspector; if it is intended to fill the existing vacancies; and if he will say whether any Royal Irish Constabulary district inspectors' stations in Queen's County will be closed and amalgamated with other districts?

The answer to the first part of the question is twenty-eight, exclusive of five vacancies in the reserve and depot. So long as the policing of the various districts under present arrangements can be carried on efficiently, it is not intended to fill the existing vacancies during the continuance of the War. It is not at present proposed to close any district inspectors' stations in Queen's County and amalgamate them with other districts.

also asked the Chief Secretary how many Royal Irish Constabulary district inspectors have volunteered for service with the Colours, and how many have been accepted; if he will state why the applications of district inspectors who were eligible in every respect were rejected; whether the Inspector-General has the right to veto the application of any Royal Irish Constabulary officer who wishes to join the Colours; and if there has been dissatisfaction experienced and complaints made as to the manner in which this veto has been exercised?

Forty-seven district inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary have volunteered, and of these 32 have been permitted by the Government to join the Army. In the case of the remaining 15 officers, of whom 11 were more than 40 years of age, it was considered that no more district inspectors could be spared. The Inspector-General has in no case vetoed the application of any Royal Irish Constabulary officer to join the Army, but has in each instance referred the matter for the decision of the Government. I am not aware of any dissatisfaction or complaints as to the manner in which these applications have been dealt with.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any record is kept of the magistrates who attend Session; if so, will he state the names of the magistrates who attended the annual Licensing Sessions at Kells, county Meath, for each of the first ten years; and, if a record is not kept of names, will he state the number who attended on the occasions referred to?

Assuming that the hon. Member refers to Quarter Sessions, no such record as he mentions is available. I regret, therefore, that I cannot supply details for any period of ten years.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Local Government Board for Ireland has furnished the information required by the Chancellor of the Exchequer respecting the amount of commitments incurred by the Dublin Corporation for urgently required housing schemes; and whether he will hasten the matter and keep in view the number of schemes necessary to provide adequate accommodation?

The answer to this question is in the affirmative. The recommendation of the Local Government Board has already been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Great Southern and Western Railway Company of Ireland have raised the through rates from Liverpool to Mountmellick, Queen's County, per ton for the following articles: maize 5s. 7d., bran 4s. 4d., bacon 5s., grain 3s. 4d., hay 10d., meal 4s. 1d., flour 5s. 1d., pollard 4s. 10d., sacks 9s. 9d.; if he is aware that the actual increase in sea freight from Liverpool to Dublin is only 1s. to 1s. 9d. per ton; if so, whether, in view of the fact that the Great Southern and Western Railway Company have raised the through rates beyond the actual increase in sea freight on the old Water-ford and Central Ireland Railway system and of the terms of the amalgamation of that company with the Great Southern and Western Railway Company, he will say what action, if any, he intends to take in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to a reply given on the 21st September to a similar question put by the hon. Member for the Ossory Division of Queen's County.