asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has official information to the effect that the Governor of the Straits Settlements has admitted in a public speech that the local authorities were aware for some time before the mutiny in February last that there was a feeling of unrest amongst the men of the 5th Native Light Infantry; whether it is stated in an Official Report that the first shots were fired at Alexander Barracks about three o'clock in the afternoon and, in view of the fact that the mutineers did not cut the telephone wires, will he say how it was that the officer in command of the German prisoners' camp was not notified by telephone and how long it was before the Governor and the Inspector-General of Police became aware of the outbreak; whether civilians were killed in the Sepoy lines and Keppel Harbour districts, within a short distance of two important police stations, more than an hour after the first shots had been fired owing to no warning having been issued; whether some Europeans received no notice of the outbreak until the following day, and in some cases were left to find out things for themselves; whether by a prompt and extensive use of the local telephone lines Europeans both in the city and suburbs could have been notified at once of the outbreak; and whether the finding of the Court of Inquiry can now be laid upon the Table?

I have no information that the Governor of the Straits Settlements has admitted in a public speech that the local authorities were aware some time before the mutiny in February that there was a feeling of unrest amongst the men of the 5th Light Infantry. The statement to which I presume that my hon. Friend refers was as follows:—Even before war broke out there had been something lacking in the discipline of the 5th Light Infantry. In all this there was nothing to suggest mutiny, but discipline was lax. The Governor has specifically denied that the authorities were warned beforehand that trouble was brewing, and his denial was published in the local newspapers on 21st July.

It is true that the first shots were fired about 3 p.m., that the officer in command of the German prisoners' camp was not warned in time by telephone, and that civilians were killed in the Sepoy lines and Keppel Harbour district after 4 p.m. On the other hand, it must be remembered that the military authorities were at this time fully engaged in transmitting information and instructions by telephone. Communication over telephone lines with a number of individuals cannot, as a rule, be rapidly established, so it would presumably have been impossible to warn all the European residents in time. No information is available as to the time at which the Governor and Inspector-General of Police were warned of the outbreak; the news reached the Police at 4.30, and the Colonial Secretary at 4.45. The answer to the last question is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what pay and allowances of their respective rank and appointments the honourable 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 the 20th December to the hon. Member for Aston Manor. The information therein referred to will shortly be given.

ESTIMATED CONTRIBUTION of Ireland to Inland Revenue. Estimated total yield in last pre-war Year (1913–14). Estimation total yield in a "Full Year" (including normal Increases and the increases under the Finance Act, 1914), the Finance Act, 1914 (Session 2), and the Finance (No.3) Bill, 1915. Estimated yield of additional taxation in a "Full Year" due to Finance (No.3) Bill, 1915. £ £ £ Income Tax and Super-tax 1,480,000 4,797,000 1,444,000 Excess Profits Duty — 690,000 690,000 Excess Mineral Rights Duty — — — £1,480,000 £5,487,000 £2,134,000 Total Inland Revenue £2,942,000 £6,822,000 £2,134,000

ESTIMATED CONTRIBUTION of Ireland to Customs and Excise Taxation. £ £ £ Spirits 2,338,000 2,160,000 — Beer 1,041,000 2,350,000 — Wine 81,000 60,000 — Tea 606,000 1,340,000 420,000 Cocoa 32,000 70,000 25,000 Coffee and Chicory 13,000 22,000 7,000 Sugar, etc 303,000 1,332,000 1,058,000 Dried Fruits 49,000 47,000 10,000 Tobacco 1,869,000 2,780,000 820,000 Motor Spirit 27,000 77,000 38,000 Licences and Club Duty 309,000 283,000 — Patent Medicines and Playing Cards 10,000 16,000 7,000 Imported Motor Cars, etc., Cinema Films, Clocks and Watches and Musical Instruments — 90,000 90,000 Other Items 7,000 8,000 — Total Customs and Excise £6,685,000 £10,635,000 £2,475,000 Aggregate Total £9,627,000 £17,457,000 £4,609,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now state the estimated annual increase under each head of taxation, with the total increase in the taxation of Ireland under the Finance (No. 3) Bill of this Session, compared with the taxation of Ireland under those heads, and the total, in the last completed pre-war financial year?

The following figures (which must be regarded as provisional only), will answer the hon. Member's question:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the percentage of taxes raised in Great Britain and in Ireland, respectively, off commodities in general use by the people and of direct and other taxes, respectively, in the last completed pre-war financial year and annually under the Finance (No. 3) Bill of this Session, supposing it to continue in operation unaltered?

The following figures must be regarded as provisional as regards the yield of taxation in a full year:— Total contributions of Great Britain and Ireland to taxation. Great Britain. Ireland. 1913–14. £ £ Inland Revenue 83,986,000 2,942,000 Customs and Excise 68,542,000 6,685,000 £152,528,000 £9,627,000

Estimated revenue from taxation in a full year after the passing of the Finance (No. 3) Bill, 1915. £ £ Inland Revenue 205,454,000 6,822,000 Customs and Excise 112,365,000 10,635,000 £317,819,000 £17,457,000

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the cost to the State of married men and their dependants is on the average higher than that of unmarried men and their dependants; and whether he will give an approximate estimate of 1,000 men and their dependants in each class?

The pay of the soldier is not affected by marriage, but an approximate estimate of the average cost of separation allowances is, for the dependants of 1,000 married men, £870 a week, and for the dependants of 1,000 unmarried men, £287 a week.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of granting weekly allowances to the bonâ fide dependants of unmarried men who have joined His Majesty's Forces on the same scale as those paid to the dependants of married men, that is to say, to grant 12s. 6d. per week for the mother, 5s. for the father, 3s. 6d. for one brother or sister, and 2s. per week for each additional brother or sister?

The principle of basing the allowances of dependants, other than wives of children, on the degree of their dependence before the War (or the soldier's enlistment, if later) was fully considered by the Select Committee, and I am afraid I can hold out no hope of departing from it.

asked the Minister of Munitions, whether, in taking steps to arrange for canteens on the dock estate at Liverpool, the same assistance and encouragement is given to the British Workmen Public House Company, Limited, who already have numerous premises on the docks, as is given to the Young Men's Christian Association; and whether he is aware that the objects and purpose of both concerns are the same, but that whereas the Young Men's Christian Association canteen is under exceptional, facilities, the British Workmen Public House Company, Limited, pay rents, city and poor rates, and have been doing good work for many years past?

The canteens in course of establishment on the dock estate at Liverpool are not being provided from funds supplied directly or indirectly by the Government. I am not aware of any special privileges enjoyed by the Young Men's Christian Association in connection with the management of these canteens, and the matter does not appear to be one in which I can properly interfere. I am informed that the canteens recently opened by the Dock Authority have been remarkably successful, and constitute an unqualified benefit to dock workers.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any Bills for the consolidation of the law in Ireland relating to perjury and to licensing are in preparation; and, if not, whether the preparation of such Bills will be entertained?

The answers to both parts of the question are in the negative.