asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Dublin soldiers who are fighting in the trenches have recently been prosecuted and convicted in their absence as defaulters under the Vaccination (Ireland) Act; is he aware that if those soldiers had resided in Great Britain they would have been able to avoid the risk of such proceedings by making a declaration of conscientious objection to the vaccination of their children; and whether he will give instructions to boards of guardians in Ireland for the suspension of the issuing of summonses for non-vaccination until such opportune time as the law on this subject shall in Ireland be made similar to that which obtains in Great Britain, and thus conform to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Vaccination?

Legal proceedings have recently been instituted in Dublin against defaulters under the Vaccination Acts. The papers do not show whether the persons in default were civilians or whether any of them belonged to the Army. There are no exemptions from vaccination, and it would be most unfair if children were not protected from the danger of smallpox while their fathers were at the War. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for the Dublin Harbour Division on the 23rd of November.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the pay of midshipmen in His Majesty's Navy is only 1s. 9d. per diem; and if he will consult with the Treasury as to whether the pay of these officers may be raised to the same figure as that of second lieutenants in the Army?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am afraid I cannot give any undertaking in regard to the second part of the question, nor do I think that the case of midshipmen, in regard more particularly to mess expenses, is entirely comparable with that of second lieutenants in the Army I may remind my hon. Friend that where necessity exists the Board of Admiralty is prepared to give favourable consideration to applications for whole or partial relief in respect of the private allowance payable on behalf of midshipmen.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that certain members of the Jewish faith, The sons of Russian or Roumanian Jews, some of them born in this country, on presenting themselves for attestation under Lord Derby's scheme had been informed they were not eligible; and will he make it clear that their parentage is not a valid reason for their rejection?

I am sending the hon. Gentleman a Paper which will explain the position in this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state what arrangement were made by the Board with the authorities of the training colleges about the attestation of students; if it was with the knowledge and approval of the Board of Education that students were informed that training colleges for male students were likely to be closed for the period of the War and the college training of the students brought to a close; that those students who attested would be given full certificates after the War on a reduced period of training; and that those who did not attest would have to be classed as uncertificated teachers; if the facts are not exactly as stated, will be say what the precise nature of the agreement between the Board and the college authorities was; and what were the terms of the statement made to the students on the question of attestation?

The statement made by the Board to the authorities of training colleges on the question of the attestation of students is contained in Circular 928 of the 16th November last, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. Of the three statements which are alleged in the question to have been made by the college authorities, the only-one which is authorised by the terms of the circular is the statement that those students who attested would be given full certificates after the War on a reduced period of training. The Board do not know what other statements, if any, were made by the authorities of various training colleges to their students.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether a fee of 5s. has to be paid from private sources for every man attending the Army cookery courses; and, if so, seeing that is not desirable or fair that private money should be paid for public instruction necessary to the welfare of the troops, whether be will discontinue to make this levy upon private funds for public purposes?

The fee of 5s. referred to is not paid out of private sources but from regimental institute funds. The question of the discontinuance of this fee is under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if no commissions in the Infantry or Cavalry will in future be granted to any civilians who have had no previous military experience?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether recipients of the Military Cross are entitled to put M.C. after their names as in the case of other similar decorations; and, if not, why this is so?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the written reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Caithnessshire.

asked the Under-Secretary for War how many courts-martial have been held on officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, respectively, serving in the Middlesex brigade, second-line units, for the months of June, July, August, September, October, and November, 1915, respectively?

It is not desirable to make public particulars of this nature.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that there are at Colchester at least forty efficient and experienced officers who have served abroad now awaiting appointment to the New Armies or to fill vacancies caused by casualties; whether he is aware that these gentlemen were several months ago warned to hold themselves in readiness to leave for the front and have done so; and will he state upon what grounds is this expenditure of energy and waste of public funds attempted to be justified, and the usefulness of the officers impaired by the dispiriting effect of this treatment of their worth?

The officers in question form a portion of the reserve of experienced officers which the country may congratulate itself on possessing. Although I fully sympathise with the desire of these officers to be sent to the front, I am sure they would agree with me that the date of their being sent out must depend upon military requirements. It would not be economical from any point of view to send them out before their services are really required.

asked the Under-Secretary for War why captains of the general Reserve are not promoted to the rank of major and subalterns of the general Reserve to the rank of captain, when vacancies occur in their units?

They are promoted into vacancies when they become senior of their rank.

asked the Under-Secretary for War when the official dispatches from the Commander-in-Chief in France, which have not been published for about six months, as to operations in the West will be published; and if he will have them published more frequently in future?

The last official narrative dispatch received from the Commander-in-Chief in France has been published. This was dated 15th October, 1915. A dispatch containing a long list of officers and men mentioned for gallant and meritorious conduct in the field has been received and will be published at the beginning of the New Year.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he can arrange for woodmen who are serving with the forces at home to get a month's furlough for work in the woods on the same terms as men who were released for the harvest?

No recommendation in this sense has reached the War Office from the Board of Agriculture. No doubt if they consider the matter of sufficient importance they will make a proposal.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether furlough is being given to drivers in the Army Service Corps who have been continuously at the front since September, 1914?

I am not aware that furlough is being given to drivers of the Army Service Corps. The question of leave is, however, as I have frequently stated, entirely a question for the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in France.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether it is proposed to dispense with the services of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association and to substitute paid officials for the work?

I know of no such proposal.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what pay and allowances of their respective rank and appointments the hon. and gallant Members for Wigtonshire, North Hackney, and Uxbridge are now drawing as members of His Majesty's forces; and if he will state to what pay and emoluments they will be respectively entitled upon their retirement from active service?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 20th December to the hon. Member for Aston Manor.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether orders issued by the Central Control Board in November automatically override or annul Orders for the restriction of the sale of intoxicating liquor issued in July last by a competent military authority, but which have not been withdrawn; and, if not, which Order will be enforced?

I am informed by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) that, by arrangement with the Army Council, the Orders made by the competent military authority and now in force for the restriction of the sale of intoxicating liquor will lapse as regards the areas which are subject to the Orders of the Central Control Board.

asked the Minister of Munitions if his attention has been called to the conviction of a man at Bristol, on the 15th instant, for treating his wife to intoxicating liquor; if he is aware that the economic situation of a married woman of the working classes usually makes her dependent upon her husband for an endowment of worldly goods, including the provision of refreshment; that the effect of the conviction will be that a working class wife who desires refreshment at licensed premises in company with her husband will be restricted to the consumption of possibly unpalatable liquors; and if he will state to what extent the Realm is better safeguarded and the proper output of munitions assured by the conviction?

I have nothing to add to the answers which were given to the hon. Member on this subject on the 20th instant.

asked the Minister of Munitions if the Sheel Committee of Canada is awarding contracts for machining shells at Ş2.90 each, which can be profitably machined at Ş1; and will he state the approximate price paid in this country, Canada, and the United States for machining the 3-in. shell?

I have no particulars of the prices being paid, either in Canada or in the United States, for the machining of shells, since the prices paid in the contracts made by this Department are for finished shell. The price paid in this country are also for complete shells, but it is known that the prices paid for the various operations, including machining, very largely, owing to local conditions in regard to piecework and the suitability of the plant employed on the work.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what steps the Board has taken to bring about economies in municipal administration; and in how many London boroughs have the rates been reduced since the beginning of the War?

My Department takes every opportunity of impressing on Local Authorities the urgent need for economy. Practically no loans are being sanctioned except in connection with war work. Some boroughs contain several different rating areas, but I find that the rate was lower in twenty-three rating areas in the Metropolis for the year ending March, 1916, than for the previous year, and was lower in twenty-six areas for the half-year ending March, 1916, than for the half-year ended March, 1915. I will send the hon. Member a statement showing the amount of the rates.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if Sir Henry Bax-Ironside made a request to the Foreign Office in or about April last that he should be recalled from Sofia because the Foreign Office did not accept the information he tendered this Department with respect to Bulgaria?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if any list of the doctors and nurses who have left Serbia has been received by His Majesty's Government; and, if so, if such list will be published?

No list has been received. Our latest information is that Sir Ralph Paget arrived at Brindisi on 18th December with 120 members of the medical missions to Serbia.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what has been the total contribution of the United Kingdom to the Palace of Peace at The Hague; whether the palace is completed; and for what purpose it is being utilised?

The contribution made by the United Kingdom was in the form of a stained glass window, costing £2,500. The palace is understood to be completed. I am not aware what use is being made of it at present.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the total cost of producing the Colonial Import Duties Blue Book, 1914; the Assurance Companies Returns, Part A, 1914; the Assurance Companies Returns, Part B, 1914; the Statistical Tables, Part 37; and the Reports and Appendix to the Sixth Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service?

The total cost of printing the above-mentioned works (including the cost of paper) was, approximately, as follows:— £ s. d. Colonial Import Duties, 1914 320 0 0 Assurance Companies Returns, Part A, 1914 450 0 0 Assurance Companies Returns, Part B, 1914 310 0 0 Statistical Tables, Part 37 675 0 0 Reports (I.-VI.) and Appendices of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service 2,500 0 0

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the sums of money paid in each of the last ten financial years to Ministers holding the office of Attorney-General and Solicitor-General, respectively, the names of the Ministers who have received these sums of money and the amount paid to them, respectively; and the period for which each Minister held such office?

The reply is as follows:— Attorney-General. £ Solicitor-General. £ 1905–6—Right Hon. R. B. Finlay … 9,768 Sir E. H. Carson … 6,952 Sir J. L. Walton … 2,502 Sir W. S. Robson … 1,818 1906–7—Sir J. L. Walton … 11,595 Sir W. S. Robson … 7,460 1907–8—Sir J. L. Walton … 9,405 Sir W. S. Robson … 6,890 Sir W. S. Robson … 1,319 Sir S. T. Evans … 1,022 1908–9—Sir W. S. Robson … 14,984 Sir S. T. Evans … 10,137 1909–10—Sir W. S. Robson … 13,845 Sir S. T. Evans … 11,281 Right Hon. Sir R. D. Isaacs … 383 1910–10—Sir W. S. Robson … 11,098 Sir S. T. Evans … 258 Right Hon. Sir R. D. Isaacs … 6,826 Right Hon. Sir R. D. Isaacs … 5,027 Sir J. A. Simon … 4,576 1911–12—Right Hon. Sir R. D. Isaacs … 13,322 Sir J. A. Simon … 10,247 1912–13—Right Hon. Sir R. D. Isaacs … 16,762 Sir J. A. Simon … 12,415 1913–14—Right Hon. Sir R. D. Isaacs … 11,842 Sir J. A. Simon … 14,303 Sir J. A. Simon … 6,526 Sir S. O. Buckmaster … 4,735 1914–15—Sir J. A. Simon … 14,705 Sir S. O. Buckmaster … 9,725 PERIODS for which the Law Officers held the Offices of Attorney-General and Solicitor-General, respectively, between the financial years 1905–6—1914–15—

Attorneys-General. Right Hon. Sir R. B. Finlay, K.C., M.P. from 11th May, 1900 to 13ch December, 1905. Sir J. L. Walton, K.C., M.P. from 14th December, 1905 to 18th January, 1908. Sir William S. Robson, K.C., M.P. from 30th January, 1908 to 6th October, 1910. Right Hon. Sir R. D. Isaacs, K.C., M.P. from 7th October, 1910 to 19th October, 1913. Right Hon. Sir J. A. Simon, K.C., M.P. from 21st October, 1913 to 26th May, 1915. Solicitors-General. Right Hon. Sir E. H. Carson, K.C., M.P. from 11th May, 1900 to 13th December, 1905. Sir William S. Robson, K.C., M.P. from 14th December, 1905 to 29th January, 1908. Sir S. T. Evans, K.C., M.P. from 30th January, 1908 to 8th March, 1910. Right Hon. Sir R. D. Isaacs. K.C., M.P. from 9th March, 1910 to 6th October, 1910. Sir J. A. Simon, K.C., M.P. from 7th October, 1910 to 20th October, 1913. Sir S. O. Buckmaster, K.C., M.P. from 21st October, 1913 to 26th May, 1915.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that difficulty is experienced with old age pensioners in Irish-speaking districts in Ireland caused by the fact that the pension officers cannot speak Irish; is he aware that in one station in Galway there are upwards of 600 old age pensioners unable to speak English; and will he take steps to appoint Irish-speaking officers in Irish-speaking districts such as the one referred to?

I am not aware that the fact that a pension officer cannot speak Irish prejudices in any way the interests of claimants for old age pensions, and I do not know of any station in Galway answering the description in question. In selecting pension officers for Irish-speaking districts preference is given as far as passible to Irish-speaking officers, but it is not possible to ensure that all pension officers in these districts should know Irish.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that, though the extra police force in the county of Clare has been reduced from 56 to 42, yet, on account of increase in salaries, the reduction of the force does not carry any appreciable diminution in the charge to the rates; and whether, considering that the reduced force will cost the county £1,800, or l½d. in the £, he will advise a further reduction of the force, or, preferably, the entire withdrawal of the extra police force?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and as regards the second part I am unable, in view of the number of cases in which special protection has to be given in Clare at present, to advise a further reduction of the extra force there. The matter will, however, be reconsidered by the light of the state of affairs existing in the county in few months' time.

asked the Chief Secretary the number of evicted tenants, including representatives of evicted tenants, reinstated in their former holdings in Ire- land since the 1st August, 1914, and the number of new farms formed out of untenanted land vested in landless men in the same period?

During the period mentioned sixty-two evicted tenants or their representatives have been reinstated in their former holdings or have been provided by the Estates Commissioners with other holdings. During the same period 716 new holdings formed out of untenanted land have been actually vested by the Estates Commissioners in tenant purchasers. In most of these cases the holder was given possession at an earlier date, but the holding was not vested until after 1st August, 1914. Of these 716 new holdings 154 were vested in evicted tenants or their representatives. The Estates Commissioners are not in a position to state how many of the remainder were given to landless men.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it is intended to advance loans to the fishermen whose boats were wrecked on the Eastern coast during the recent storm?

In the event of applications for loans being received from any of the persons referred to in the question, they will be carefully considered by the Department of Agriculture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the most serious loss of life in recent railway accidents has been caused by rolling stock taking fire after collisions; and whether he is prepared to issue an Order making it obligatory that all new railway carriages shall be constructed of material which is naturally un- inflamable or has been rendered uninflammable by special treatment?

I presume that my hon. Friend has in mind the recent accident on the North Eastern Railway, and that on the Caledonian Railway in May at Quintinshill. The report on the accident on the former line has not been received, but from the report on the Caledonian accident it would not seem that the most serious loss of life was due to the fire. The inspecting officer who held the inquiry made a recommendation in his report that coaches should be constructed of steel as far as possible, and that any timber used should be rendered non-inflammable. Some of the principal companies are understood to be carrying out this recommendation, but the Board have no powers as regards ordinary railways to make such an order as that suggested by my hon. Friend. On underground electric railways on which the rolling stock must be of a type approved by the Board of Trade woodwork on the cars has to be non-inflammable.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether he will explain why the number of unclaimed insurance cards bearing stamps in the hands of the Commissioners for Wales is as high as 39,000?

I am informed that nearly half the cards referred to consist of cards recovered from insured persons who have enlisted and of emergency cards received from certain large employers who have now discontinued the use of such cards except in the appropriate circumstances.