asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Lord Chief Justice of England is engaged in the administration of the Treasury; and, if so, in what capacity?

As stated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in reply to a similar question on the 13th December, at his and my request the Lord Chief Justice has been good enough to render temporary assistance at the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the consumption of beer in the United Kingdom for the year after the imposition of the Beer War Duty and the consumption in the previous year before the imposition of the duty; and the consumption of spirits in the United Kingdom during the same periods, giving separate figures for gin, whisky, and rum?

The figures are as given below:— — 1st December, 1914 to 30th November, 1915. 1st November, 1913 to 31st October, 1914. Beer— Barrels. Barrels. Imported 20,100 68,600 Home-made 28,730,000 35,407,000 Spirits— Proof Galls. Proof Galls. Imported Geneva 382,800 400,800 Imported Rum 4,629,900 3,328,700 Imported Other Spirits 1,735,700 1,833,500 *Home-made 28,516,100 25,855,800 * No separate figures can be given for Whisky or Gin. The month of November, 1914, being that in which the change in Beer Duty took place, has been omitted in the periods given.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, with reference to the amended definition of beer contained in Section 8 of the Finance Act, 1914 (Session 2), if he will state what beer or substitute for beer, if any, formerly regarded as beer is excluded by the amended definition; whether a private brewer, liable to Beer Duty, who brewed beer of an original gravity of 1,017 degrees but containing only 2 per cent, of proof spirit, would be charged with Beer Duty in respect of the materials used in the production of such beer; whether a grocer who sold a substitute for beer, formerly regarded as beer if containing 3 per cent, of proof spirit, which, on analysis of a sample thereof at any time is found to be of an original gravity of 1,017 degrees but not to contain more than 2 per cent. of proof spirit, would be considered to be selling beer; and whether a grocer who sold a substitute for beer, found to be of an original gravity of 1,015 degrees but containing 3 per cent. of proof spirit, would be considered to be selling beer?

The answer to the first part of the question is that Section 8 of the Finance Act, 1914 (Session 2), excludes such beer as comes within the definition of "beer" in the Inland Revenue Act of 1880, if brewed elsewhere than on the licensed premises of a brewer for sale, and if of an orignal gravity not exceeding 1,016 degrees and containing not more than 2 per cent, of proof spirit. The Section does not exclude any substitute for beer which was formerly regarded as beer. The answer to the other parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what arrangements have been made by the militatry authorities with hay merchants in England and Ireland, respectively, re the purchasing, pressing, packing, and delivery of hay; and whether the Irish hay merchants have received the same terms as the English hay merchants?

I am informed that all hay required for the Army is purchased direct from the producer in both England and Ireland. The arrangements for pressing and packing are done either by the Forage Department themselves or by contract with owners of presses; all these contracts are at the same rates for the same services.

also asked the date on which the restrictions against farmers in England, Scotland, and Wales selling bay in the open market were put in force, and the date on which similar restrictions were put in force in Ireland; and why Irish farmers are not now allowed to sell their hay in the open market for the best possible price, in the same manner as English, Scotch, and Welsh farmers?

The restrictions were imposed in England, Wales, and Scotland on 16th July, and in Ireland about a month later. The reply to the latter part of the question is contained in answer to the hon. Member for Dublin North on the 16th instant.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the amount of money the Government subscribe from the revenue collected in Great Britain and Ireland to the English and Scottish railway companies to enable them to pay their workers a war bonus; if he can state the reasons why the same treatment is denied the Irish railway workers; and if he will take steps to treat them alike?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am afraid I cannot add to the reply given on the 22nd April last to the hon. Member for Cork, of which I am sending the hon. Gentleman a copy.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state 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 some 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 volunteers; and whether there has been dissatisfaction expressed and complaints made as to the manner in which this veto has been exercised?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question asked by him on the 20th instant.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, in view of his predecessor having asked for publicity in the matter, whether he will state, in reference to His Majesty's ship "Good Hope" and His Majesty's ship "Monmouth," whether these vessels were commissioned on the outbreak of war with men from the reserves who are not so efficient as active service ratings; and whether, since the vessels were lost at the battle of Coronel, he can, without detriment to the public interest, give the dates for retubing the inner A-tubes of the guns of both ships so that the House may be in a position to judge as to their fitness for action?

These vessels were not commissioned entirely with reserve ratings. Each of them had on board not less than the authorised proportion of active service ratings; and, in fact, His Majesty's ship "Monmouth" had a crew composed almost entirely of active service men. No guns in these ships had been retubed: they were all serviceable.

asked the Under-Secretary for War what are the duties of military representatives in connection with Lord Derby's scheme?

A booklet, containing compendious notes for the guidance of military representatives, will be issued by the War Office this week. Copies will be sent to all M.P.'s, to all military representatives, and to advisory committees.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if his attention has been drawn to the cases of Britons in the United States who are willing to serve in the Army if provision to bring them to this side be made; and if he can see his way to take steps to cause this to be done?

Arrangements were for some time in existence by which British subjects in the United States who desired to join the British Army were assisted to return to this country. It has been found necessary to suspend these arrangements, because the United States authorities instituted a prosecution against the British subjects concerned on the ground that their action constituted a breach of the neutrality laws of the United States. The prosecution resulted in the conviction of two of the accused, and an appeal has been entered. Pending the final decision of the Courts, no further action is possible.

also asked the Under-Secretary for War if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a party of forty Britons, willing to serve in the Army, were provided by the British authorities in New York with passages to this country, but that, owing to their inability to pay the cost of passports, they were not allowed to proceed beyond Brest and were compelled to return to America; and whether he will give instructions to enable these men to fulfil their desires and also to prevent a recurrence of such a happening?

Nothing is known of this occurrence at the War Office or at the Foreign Office, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with more precise details, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether any commissions in the Army Service Corps, especially for service in the supply, have been given to men whose applications were only received after 14th August last; whether these commissions have been given over the heads of men whose applications had been sent in considerably before that date, and in some instances as far back as the commencement of the War; and upon what grounds is selection made of candidates, otherwise fit, except on the basis of priority of application?

Commissions in the Army Service Corps have in certain cases been granted to candidates who have only recently applied; such candidates have been serving in the ranks or in an Officers' Training Corps, or have special qualifications, and therefore receive prior consideration. Priority of application must not be allowed to override superiority of qualification.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether Mr. H. B. Spiller was interviewed at the War Office on 5th November last; whether a letter summarising and inquiring what passed at the interview, and in particular setting out the promise which had been made to him, was received by the Army Service Corps Department from Mr. Spiller; and why, if it is now alleged that no promise was given, did not the reply of the Department, which was sent acknowledging the receipt of Mr. Spiller's letter, contain a denial of the accuracy of the statements contained in the first-mentioned communication?

The letter from Mr. Spiller to which the hon. and learned Gentleman refers was one addressed privately to an official at the War Office and received on the 19th November, after he had already been informed officially on the 9th November that it was not possible to utilise his services in the Army Service Corps. Mr. Spiller's letter contained statements which were inaccurate, but as his application had been declined it was not thought necessary to do more than acknowledge receipt of the letter. Such a bare acknowledgment cannot be held to confirm all the statements contained in the document received.

asked the Under-Secretary for War what were the losses of the Dublins, Leinsters, Connaughts, and Innis-killings in the recent retreat on the Serbian frontier?

I am afraid it is not practicable, even if it were desirable, to give figures for individual regiments of the nature asked for.

asked the Under-Secretary for War (1) how many applications for commissions have been received from members of the Public Schools Battalions since 1st November; and how many are still awaiting decision; (2) whether, in view of the inability of members of the Public Schools Battalions to obtain recommendations from their commanding officers, he will say what procedure must be adopted by candidates for commissions; and (3) whether all members of the Public Schools Battalions desirous of obtaining commissions had opportunities afforded them of placing applications before the special officer sent to inquire into these cases; whether the special officer has reported on all applications for commissions; and when will the decisions be made known to members of these battalions desirous of obtaining commissions?

Applications from members of the Public Schools Brigade are not sent to the War Office. They are submitted through their commanding officers to General Headquarters and are dealt with on the spot. The applicants, if selected, are then either sent to the Cadet School in France or sent home for training. As the commanding officer is the only judge as to the suitability of a non-commissioned officer or man for a commission, the recommendation must remain in his hands. The names of all men believed to be suitable candidates have been sent to France for such action as the Commander-in-Chief may consider desirable.

The officer sent to France went there with the object of explaining the whole situation as to the supply of officers for the future and of pointing out what units were believed to have men serving in the ranks who are suitable for commissions. He had no power of interviewing candidates, neither was it considered desirable that such power should be asked for from the Commander-in-Chief in the Field, as the officers concerned in France are perfectly capable of conducting this business.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that Michael Enright, who spent six years in the Minister Fusiliers, 3rd Battalion, and was through the battles of La Bassée and Ypres, was discharged from the Army after spending thirteen weeks in a military hospital; whether he is aware that Michael Enright caught a severe cold through getting wet in the trenches at the front, which has now developed into protracted bronchitis, which prevents him from doing any work; whether he is aware that Enright has been granted only 7s. a week for twelve months, although he has a wife and child depending on him; and whether he proposes to take any action in this case.?

I am having inquiries made into this case and will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether Mrs. Mary Bunce, Ballygolouge, Listowel, whose husband is dead, is wholly dependent on her son, who is in the Army, and who has made the usual allowance of 6d. per day to his mother; whether he is aware that Mary Bunce has three young children, all of whom depended on her son who joined the Colours; and whether he will say why this woman, a mother of three young children, is now only receiving 6s. 4d. a week, which amount is totally inadequate to support them?

I am having inquiry made into this case, and will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether Army contracts as at present drawn up prevent Irish manufacturers from sending out any portion of the goods to outworkers in country districts; whether he is aware that in certain districts a large number of women and girls are largely dependent on the earnings of home-work; and whether the rule may be relaxed, having regard to the protection against sweating given to such workers by the time and piece rates now fixed by the Shirt Trade Board (Ireland)?

This question has recently been under consideration, and it has been decided, in view of the special conditions prevailing in the shirt-making trade in the North of Ireland, not to prohibit the employment of outworkers in that district.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that the War Office has recently communicated with some of the Irish shirt manufacturers requesting tenders for collecting, laying, cutting out, stamping, rolling, and redelivering material for 500,000 flannel shirts; whether previous contracts have always been for the making of complete shirts; whether it has been represented to him that if the former practice is discontinued it may be necessary for many of the Irish manufacturers to dismiss a number of the women and girls employed or to close their factories altogether; and whether, in view of the fact that much suffering and distress is likely to follow from this, the old practice will be resumed and continued?

The work for which tenders have been invited is the cutting, etc., of the material for 500,000 flannel shirts which are to be made up by members of the Garrison Needlework Associations. Ordinarily, the work of cutting the material for shirts made up by these associations is carried out at the Royal Army Clothing Factory, but in the exceptional pressure at present prevailing it has been found necessary to ask contractors to undertake some of this work. The 500,000 shirts in question are not in diminution of the number to be placed with trade firms, so that the action taken, while giving additional work to trade cutters, will not decrease employment in the shirt-making industry.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can now state the amount of the pay and allowances drawn from Army funds in each case of hon. and gallant Members of this House who are serving in His Majesty's Forces?

If my hon. Friend will repeat his question when the House reassembles, I hope this information will then be ready.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that numerous complaints have been made as to the way in which the iron rations are packed and the manner in which the materials they contain get mixed together and become useless; and whether he will sec that the waste of such a number of rations will be prevented in future by either having them more securely made or the contents so altered that they will not run into each other and become valueless?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for the Tottenham Division of Middlesex on the 21st instant.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is prepared to make any further statement as to the progress made in providing the examining and receiving depôt in Dublin for supplies, stores, and articles produced or manufactured in Ireland for military purposes?

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to a similar question on the 9th December.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he is aware that the loss in the illuminating and heating power of gas caused by benzol, toluol, and xylol being extracted can be made good by the use of oil and cannel coal; and if he will require gas undertakings where the test is abolished to use artificial substances to maintain the quality of gas or otherwise reduce the price to consumers?

Consideration of cost and of difficulty in obtaining the materials required restrict the possibility of adopting the processes described, and, as my right hon. Friend has previously explained, the deterioration in quality of the gas supplied to consumers is hardly appreciable.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether a letter was addressed from his Department to the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) previous to the imposition of the new Closing Order in the Metropolitan area asking for the same to be enforced, which letter was signed by the Member for Hoxton; and whether he will disclose its exact terms to the House?

Various communications referring to the London area have passed between the Ministry and the Control Board, some of which have been signed by myself. It is contrary to the practice of the Government service to publish Departmental correspondence, and there appears to be no reason for departing from the practice in this case, but I may say that the impression which the first part of the question appears to convey is not in accordance with what took place.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether a circular letter was addressed by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) to the various borough councils in the Metropolitan area requesting their co-operation in carrying into effect the new Closing Order in the Metropolitan area; whether he will state how many councils have replied assuring the Board of their co-operation and, if so, which councils; and whether any councils have replied that they consider the Order unnecessary and uncalled for and, if so, which councils?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the Board's letter was not such as to require an answer. As regards the third point, out of the twenty-nine Metropolitan borough councils, three, namely, Bermondsey, Bethnal Green, and Deptford, have communicated their dissent.

asked the Minister of Munitions what persons were consulted with regard to the opening hours in the early morning for public houses in and around Smithfield Market; whether he is aware that these hours practically exclude a number of butchers who, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., come to market to buy meat and with whom it is a long established practice to take reasonable alcoholic refreshment; and whether he has any evidence in his possession showing that the hundreds of butchers who attend Smithfield suffer from drunkenness, alcoholism, or excess to such an extent that while public houses can be opened from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. for the convenience of men carting meat from docks and railways it is inadvisable to open them to the butchers who spend their money purchasing meat in the market?

It does not appear possible to deal with all these points within the limits of an answer, but my right hon. Friend is informed that detailed inquiries were made with regard to the labour conditions at Smithfield Market, and that the hours from 4 to 6 a.m. were fixed in relation to the special needs of the night workers. If the hon. Member will put forward a definite suggestion as to the facilities which he considers desirable in the public interest my right hon. Friend will have the matter gone into.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he will give the names of the various trade unions, branches of which have sent protests to the Board of Control against the imposition of the new closing order in the London area?

It would be misleading to give publicity to resolutions of protest received from: local branches of trade unions, in the absence of evidence that such resolutions reflect the attitude of the unions as a whole, which is by no means always the case. It would also be necessary to give equal publicity to resolutions of trades unionists and other citizens strongly endorsing the restrictions applied.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he will state how many witnesses were examined as representative of local governing bodies of the administrative county of London, at the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) inquiry, at the Middlesex Guildhall, on 1st October; what were the names of the witnesses; whom did they represent; and what was the general tenour of their evidence as to the drunkenness or otherwise of the various classes of munition and transport workers in the Metropolitan area?

More than thirty of the witnesses who gave evidence at the inquiry represented local authorities and licensing justices, and of these more than one-third represented areas within the administrative county. The general tenour of the evidence given was that restrictions on the sale of intoxicating liquor in the Metropolitan area were desirable in the interest of national efficiency and the successful conduct of the War. This view has been fully borne out by experience subsequent to the application of the Order.

asked the Minister of Munitions in what areas Orders of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) are in operation within the counties of London, Middlesex, Devon, and Lancaster, including the cities or boroughs of the two last-named counties; are these Orders identical in their terms and period of operation; if not, in what particulars do they materially differ; has any modification or relaxation of the terms been imposed in any and which areas in consequence of the Christmas season; and what is the effect of such modification or relaxation, respectively?

The particulars asked for cannot be given within the limits of an answer, but they can be readily ascertained from the Orders, copies of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he has received official information showing that the regulation forbidding the sale of spirits in bottles holding less than a reputed quart has increased instead of diminishing the danger to soldiers, who are now found to be buying whole bottles of whisky and drinking the alcohol undiluted; and whether he will address a letter to the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) and ask them to withdraw these regulations?

My right hon. Friend is informed that the period for which the regulation in question has been in force is insufficient to enable a decided opinion to be expressed. The matter is being carefully watched. So far as an opinion can be formed at present, the results obtained under the restrictions mentioned are distinctly beneficial.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that Police Court missionaries and magistrates have alleged that there is an increase in home drinking among the population of Liverpool, and referred to prejudicial results arising therefrom; and whether he will ask the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) to hold an inquiry into the working of the drink Closing Order in the Liverpool area and to take open evidence from all responsible persons wishing to tender the same?

My right hon. Friend is informed that allegations of an increase in home drinking have been made both in Liverpool and elsewhere, as against an admitted decrease of public-house drinking of far greater extent and importance. The Central Control Board have under consideration the extension to Liverpool of the restrictions on hawking, which have worked and are working with success elsewhere in largely reducing home drinking. There does not appear to be sufficient reason for adopting the suggestion made in the last paragraph.

asked the Minister of Munitions if Lord Murray is engaged in the administration of his Department; and, if so, in what capacity?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has appointed Lord Murray of Elibank to act temporarily and in an honorary capacity as Director-General of Recruiting for munitions work for the purpose of giving executive effect to the policy of the Ministry of Munitions with regard to organising the supply and securing the most effective and economic distribution of skilled and unskilled labour, both male and female, in munition factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that prior to August, 1914, the annual amount of sulphate of ammonia exported from Great Britain to Holland amounted to between 3,000 and 3,500 tons; and that in October, 1915, export licences were granted for Holland to the extent of 5,000 tons per month; whether he is aware that actual shipments for November to Holland totalled over 4,000 tons; and, seeing that the cost of sulphate of ammonia per ton to the British farmer has increased by 50s. since the beginning of November, whether it is proposed to restrict the export of this fertiliser so that it may be obtained more cheaply for the benefit of British agriculture?

The figures stated are approximately correct. In reply to the last part of the question, I ask permission to refer to the answer given to-day to Question 39, put to me by the hon. Member for East Nottingham. During the months of November and December an arrangement was made by which ample supplies were reserved for agricultural use in those months at a price which remained the same for the two months. The question of providing for future home supply is receiving attention, and I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of a letter to the Press, which appeared yesterday, which deals with the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether 259,000 quarters of wheat were imported into Holland during the week ending 13th December as against 73,000 quarters in the corresponding week of last year; whether, since the commencement of the cereal year on 1st August, 2,077,000 quarters have been imported into Holland as against 1,092,000 quarters in the corresponding period of last year; and, if so, whether the Board of Trade have any information as to the ultimate destination of the surplus; and, if these figures are inaccurate, what are the correct figures for the periods mentioned?

The actual quantity of wheat arrived in Netherlands ports in the week ended 13th December was 45,000 quarters, against a weekly average in December last of about 98,000 quarters. The corresponding figure for the entire period 1st August to 17th December (including the grain equivalent of imported flour) was 1,599,000 quarters as against a net importation in the last five months of 1914 of 1,058,000 quarters. Of the quantity imported since the beginning of August no less than 897,000 quarters were imported on account of the Belgian Belief Commission, leaving only 702,000 quarters for Dutch consumption.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the agreement between the five-Power group, formed for the purpose of issuing Chinese loans, has been dissolved; and will he state if there is now an opening for private British merchants and financial institutions to secure contracts direct from the Chinese Government with the support of the Foreign Office?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the inquiry contained in the second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give the number, names, and distances apart of all the military posts in Egypt which it was officially announced in Cairo, on 28th November, had been evacuated by British Forces; the strength of those posts; the estimated strength of the Bedouins by whom they were attacked, and whether the attacks continue?

It would not be in the public interest to give any information on the questions raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the extent and seriousness of the landslide which has destroyed the old South-Eastern main line between Folkestone and Dover, he will consider, with the Government authority now responsible for the efficiency of our railways, the present necessity for linking up the two separate main lines at Canterbury, where the Chatham and Dover system crosses the South-Eastern, so that the prolonged inconvenience with which both the military and the public are threatened may be minimised at the earliest possible moment?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I am asking the Managing Committee of the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway for their observations on the subject, and will inform the hon. Gentleman of the result.

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

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question asked by him on the 20th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the recent decision of the King's Bench Division in Ireland that it is obligatory on boards of guardians to enforce vaccination in their districts, he will take steps to confer on Irish parents the privileges enjoyed by English parents and amend the Irish Vaccination Acts by the insertion of the conscientious objector's clause; if he has received any resolutions on the subject from public bodies and societies in Ireland; whether he regards a demand from the various boards of guardians in Ireland as a general demand for legislation on the subject; and if he will introduce the necessary legislation in compliance with such general demand?

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 November.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has yet found any solution agreeable to the teachers and the Treasury re the payment of national teachers' salaries in equal monthly payments; if he is aware that the present system of payment presses hard on the teachers owing to the increased cost of living; and if he will press the Treasury to remove this grievance under which the individuals to a large extent responsible for education in Ireland labour by sanctioning the monthly payment of salaries the same as English teachers enjoy?

I am aware of the hardship which the present system of payment of teachers in Ireland entails, and have had the matter under consideration for some time, but so far I have failed to find a solution agreeable to the teachers and likely to be acceptable by the Treasury. I have not yet abandoned the hope of receiving a further communication from the teachers on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state by whose authority and on what grounds was Constable Daniel O'Driscoll, 39 B, Dublin Metropolitan Police, arrested on the 4th September, 1915, and charged before one of the divisional magistrates of Dublin with being a lunatic, and subsequently committed to the Richmond Lunatic Asylum; by what doctor's orders was the said Constable O'Driscoll examined on behalf of the authorities to ascertain his mental state before he was arrested as a lunatic; what steps, if any, have been taken to inquire into the action of his superior officers, having regard to the fact that Constable O'Driscoll was discharged from the asylum by the direction of one of the inspectors of the Lunacy Department of Dublin Castle as being perfectly sane; why was Constable O'Driscoll reinstated in the police, having regard to the fact stated in the last paragraph; whether and why Superintendent Dunne, of the B Division, used influence to try and get the said Constable O'Driscoll to leave Dublin; and what instructions, if any, did the said Superintendent Dunne give to have the offices of Messrs. Roger Greene and Sons, 11, Wellington Quay, Dublin, the solicitors for the said O'Driscoll, watched?

Constable O'Driscoll was detained in College Green Police Station on the 3rd September, 1915, for having violently assaulted Station-Sergeant Sands and threatened to take his life. The medical officer was at once sent for, and after examination he (Doctor Dallas Pratt) pronounced him to be insane. He was then arrested and formally charged with being a dangerous lunatic upon the authority of the Chief Commissioner, Dublin Metropolitan Police. He was subsequently examined by Doctor Walsh (dispensary doctor) and certified to be a dangerous lunatic and committed by the divisional magistrate to the Richmond Lunatic Asylum. He was discharged from the Dublin Metropolitan Police as medically unfit on the certificate of the principal medical officer to the Dublin Metropolitan Police. He was subsequently released from the asylum, but has not been reinstated in the Dublin Metropolitan Police. After his release from the asylum O'Driscoll repeated his threats against Station-Sergeant Sands. Chief Superintendent Dunne did not use any influence in the matter, and gave no instructions of the nature referred to in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the precise arrangement whereby the taxpayers of Dublin city and county residing in the Dublin Metropolitan Police area will be relieved by the new proposal; whether it is intended to have the proposed retrenchment benefit the Imperial Treasury or the local rates; and whether it is deemed advisable to reduce the number of the force, which in ratio to the population is the highest in the three Kingdoms, notwithstanding the absence of serious offences?

I regret that I do not completely understand the first two parts of the hon. Member's question, and so can only reply to them that the extent to which a locality profits from reduction of taxation resulting from reduced Votes of Parliament is proportionate to the burden of taxation on the locality. If the Dublin Metropolitan Police Force is referred to in the last part of the question, the answer is that I do not consider it advisable, in the present state of affairs in Dublin, that there should be any reduction in this force beyond that which has resulted, and may result, from not filling vacancies due to men joining the Colours or leaving the force for other reasons.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Lord Lieutenant has ordered another election of Petty Sessions clerk for the Omagh district of county Tyrone; whether he is aware that this is the third election that will have been held; will he say under what power or authority as the Lord Lieutenant taken this step; and how many mere elections he proposes shall take place before the vacancy, which has already lasted six months, is allowed to be filled up?

The Lord Lieutenant has ordered another election of Petty Sessions clerk for the Omagh district. This will be the third election. The Lord Lieutenant acts under the powers given by the Petty Sessions Clerks (Ireland) Act, 1858, Sections, which provides that a Petty Sessions clerk holds office during the pleasure of the justices of the district and of the Lord Lieutenant. When the coming election has taken place, assuming that there is no objection on personal grounds. His Excellency will not disapprove of the candidate whom he is advised has received the majority of the votes of the magistrates duly qualified to vote at the election.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Mrs. Dineen, widow of Patrick Dineen, of Glounalappa, Newtownsandes, made an application to the Estates Commissioners as an evicted tenant on the Finch estate; and whether the Estates Commissioners will inquire into the case with a view of an early grant and settlement to the tenant?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The application was not lodged within the period prescribed by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and Mrs. Dineen does not, therefore, come within the class of evicted tenants mentioned in that Act. Proceedings for the sale of the estate on which the holding is situate have since been instituted before the Estates Commissioners and Mrs. Dineen is returned by the owner as the tenant in occupation of the holding subject to a judicial rent fixed in July, 1912, but a purchase agreement has not been lodged in respect thereof. The circumstances of the case will be inquired into when the estate is being dealt with by the Commissioners in its order of priority.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) how many meetings of the Advisory Committee on Horse Breeding in Ireland have been held within the past three years; and whether some of the members of that Committee were not I summoned to the meetings; and, if so, for I what reason?

The large Committee on Horse Breeding has not met during the last three years. The small working administrative Sub-committee on Horse Breeding has held nine meetings during this period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any change, provisional or otherwise, has been made in the method of examination of motor-cab drivers, pending his consideration of the Report of the Departmental Committee; and, if so, what is the nature of that change?

Acting on the suggestion of the recent Departmental Committee, the Commissioner of Police as an experiment allowed candidates the option of a written examination instead of an oral examination. This experiment was tried for a month, and the results were not in favour of the new system.

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 per ton from Liverpool to Mountmeilick, Queen's County, for the after-mentioned articles, as follows: maize as. 7d., bran 4s. 4d., bacon 5s., grain 3s. 4d., meal 4s. 1d., flour 5s. 1d., pollard 4s. 10d., and sacks 9s. 9d.; if he is aware that the actual increase in sea freight for the sea portion of the journey, Liverpool to Dublin, is only 1s. or 1s. 9d. per ton; and if, having regard to the powers of the Great Southern and Western Railway Company with regard to the through rate from England to towns on the old Water-ford and Central Ireland Railway system under the terms of the amalgamation of that company with the Great Southern and Western Company, he will say what action he intends taking in the matter?

I am afraid I can only refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to previous similar questions. The railway company have stated that the increase in the through rate is for the sea portion of the journey, and there appear to be no provisions in the special Act to which the hon. Gentleman refers relating to through rates from places on what was the Waterford and Central Railway to Liverpool viâ Dublin.

asked the Postmaster-General why the recommendations of the Holt and Gibb Committees, that foremen of the post office electric light staff should be appointed inspectors, has not been carried out in the case of Mr. P. Juden, foreman of the electric light staff of the Dublin General Post Office; if he is aware that in May last this officer was nominated and passed the official medical officer for the appointment of inspector; can he state if Mr. Juden, by subsequently-entering with official permission the Royal Navy as an engineer, prejudiced his official prospects, and thus caused the suspension of his appointment and consequent retardation of his promotion; and whether he will, when Mr. Juden's appointment is again under consideration, take steps to ensure that Mr. Juden shall be given, should any question of age limit arise, the benefit of eleven years' Colour service to which he is entitled under the special extensions of the age limit applicable to ex-soldiers and ex-sailors?

Mr. Juden has returned to Civil duties. He is eligible in respect of age for an established appointment as inspector, and steps are being taken to nominate him for a Civil Service certificate.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, if he can state the amount contributed under the Act in respect of the treatment of tuberculosis cases in this country in the four years ending March, 1915?

Subject to some slight adjustment, the amount available under Section 16 (2) of the National Insurance Act, 1911, in respect of the period 15th July, 1912, to 31st December, 1914, for defraying the expenses of sanatorium benefit in the United Kingdom is £2,125,000. Further, a sanatorium benefit grant of £100,000 was voted in the Supplementary Estimates for 1914–15, £50,000 being paid into the special account for credit to the four National Health Insurance Funds, and the balance being revoted in the Estimates for 1915–16; and I may add that these figures do not include sums of £125,000, £180,000, £480,000 and £385,000 voted in the Estimates (Original and Supplementary) for 1913–14, and in the Estimates for 1914–15 and 1915–16, respectively, as provision for statutory grants under Section 17 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, and for special grants towards the cost of schemes undertaken by local authorities (or combinations of local authorities), with the approval of the Departments administering the grants, for the treatment of tuberculosis generally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is by the direction of the Treasury or on their own initiative that the Irish Insurance Commissioners refuse to print insurance cards in Irish or even refuse to recognise cards printed in Irish by approved societies for Irish-speaking insured persons; and if he will take steps to have cards printed in Irish recognised by the Insurance Commissioners?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I fear that I am unable to adopt the suggestion in the latter part of the question, on grounds both of economy and of general convenience.