asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any further information as to the quantity of flax seed available for import to the United Kingdom from Russia, and when consignments are likely to be received?

I shall be happy to give the information privately to my hon. Friend or to any other Member who asks for it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an adequate supply of Russian flax seed is of the greatest importance to Irish flax growers, and will he take all requisite steps to expedite its delivery?

His Majesty's Government are very well aware of that, and they are doing their utmost, but I am sure the hon. Member will recognise the great difficulties there are.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements, economic and material, have been made by the Entente Powers for the maintenance in the field of the reconstituted Serbian Army; where the Serbian Government has established its headquarters; and whether adequate provision now exists for its organisation and operations?

No, Sir. I regret that I cannot make any statement on military matters of this kind. It is obvious that information of this sort would be very useful to the enemy, and I would deprecate its being pressed for in this House in a way that must make it known to the enemy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any statement as to the present position of Albania, and more especially with regard to its relationship with the Allies?

I regret that it is impossible to speak of Albania as an entity at the present moment. In the central area over which Essad Pasha's authority extends, the relations between the population and the Serbian troops have been friendly, and Essad Pasha has rendered valuable assistance to them. The northern tribes among whom the enemy have conducted considerable propaganda have shown hostility towards the Serbians and Montenegrins but none towards this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any communications with regard to the situation in Montenegro arising out of the recent military operations in the Balkans; and whether he is in a position to give the House any information?

As the hon. Member is aware from Press reports, the Government in Montenegro has changed within the last few days. I have no reason to suppose that this implies a change in policy or in sentiments of the Montenegrin people.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Turkish military authorities early in 1915 sent to Gallipoli fifty British and French non-combatants for the purpose of exposing them to the Allies' fire; whether he informed the Turkish Government that if this were done Enver Pasha, His High ness Said Halim Pasha, and the Ottoman authorities would be held personally responsible for their lives; whether, as a result of this announcement, the prisoners were immediately released; and whether he will, in conjunction with our Allies, make an analogous announcement with regard to all future atrocities?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, any explanation of the subsequent release of these British subjects would be incomplete which did not take into account the efforts made by Mr. Morgenthau, the United States Ambassador at Constantinople and the members of his staff for the protection of those whose interests had been committed to his charge. As regards the last part, I am not in a position to make any general statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will lay upon the Table of the House a list of businesses established in this country known to be owned principally or wholly by alien enemies, and which are being officially supervised by the Board?

I would refer the hon. Baronet to my answer to the hon. Member for Ealing on the 6th January.

Is the right hon. gentleman aware that it is the practice of these firms to disguise their enemy character, and is not the public entitled to the protection which publicity would give them?

So far as the administration of the Trading With the Enemy Act is concerned there is nothing to prevent our taking action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if inquiries have been made into the complaints of excessive prices by consumers of coal in Belfast; and if he proposes to take any action in the matter.

I have been in further communication with the Belfast Corporation on the subject since the hon. Baronet's question on the 22nd December last. Their reasons for not accepting the report of their first committee, to which reference was made in the answer to the hon. Baronet's previous question, are not altogether clear to me, and I do not at present see my way to intervene in the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that unless the Government control freights Ireland cannot obtain advantage from the Price of Coal Limitation Act?

I quite recognise that Ireland is in a position of disadvantage with regard to the supply of coal, and what is intended is to prevent coal prices rising to abnormal figures. With regard to the cross-Channel traffic I will have to make inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that two Scottish railway companies urged as an excuse to a body of traders in Scotland for delays in transport that 10,000 wagons were out of commission; whether he is aware that the same state of affairs obtains on many English rail ways; and whether nothing can be done to devise even a temporary expedient to secure their repair and placing in com mission again?

My attention has not previously been called to this statement by Scottish railway companies, and I am afraid I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to his questions on the 9th and 23rd December and to my remarks on the Motion for Adjournment on the latter date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries of the Caledonian and North British Railway Companies, who offered as an excuse for the non-delivery of goods that 10,000 wagons were out of commission, and will he make some effort to put these wagons into commission in order that the traders of Scotland may get on with their work?

I am afraid that I cannot say whether the figure is correct or not, but I am in communication with the executive committee of the railways on the subject of rolling stock. They labour under considerable difficulties owing to a considerable proportion of their works being taken for munition purposes, and for the moment they cannot part with the skilled workers employed in the making of munitions.

As the Government are in control of the railways, and if the figures supplied are therefore in their control, must not those figures be accurate?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether Lord Brassey has presented the yacht "Sunbeam" to the Indian Government?

I understand that Lord Brassey is in India, and I have no information on this subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether any steps are being taken to revive the industry of kelp-burning in this country, with a view to rendering agriculture more independent of the importation of potash salts from Germany and assisting to find employment for discharged soldiers and others?

Careful inquiries were made during last winter by the local officers of the Board as to the supplies of the different kinds of seaweed on the coasts of England and Wales. The result showed that there was no sufficient supply of seaweed suitable for kelp-making to encourage the Department then to proceed further in the matter.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware of the impression among workmen that workmen employed on munitions are entitled to a special war bonus paid by the Government; and if he will say whether such a bonus is in fact being paid?

Several cases have been brought to my right hon. Friend's notice in which workmen have apparently thought themselves entitled to a special bonus from the Government in respect of work on munitions. There is no foundation for such an impression.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that the Prime Minister received a resolution of protest from the Licensed Victuallers National Defence League, No. 2 Yorkshire District, against the orders of the Central Control (Liquor) Board applying to the West Riding of Yorkshire, and also requesting that such orders should be submitted to arbitration by an impartial body; whether he is aware that an acknowledgment of such protest and request was written to Mr. T. W. Hesketh, Batley; and whether, in view of the fact stated, the request for arbitration will now be granted?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend does not think it desirable to take the course suggested. The merits of the case were dealt with in my reply to my hon. Friend on 22nd December, and I understand that the Order in question continues to have a beneficial effect.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will say why men selected for munitions work from the ranks of the Army are retained with their units for long periods; and whether he will consider the advisability of discharging them immediately after they are selected so that they may go to the work for which they are required or, if not wanted at once, to their civilian occupations until such time as they are needed?

It is only desired to release soldiers for work in munition factories who are skilled in occupations in which there is a shortage of labour. It was, therefore, necessary to examine carefully the qualifications of soldiers who had represented themselves to be skilled workers and had volunteered to return to work in munition factories, both as regards the skill possessed by them and the particular occupation for which they were suitable. This examination necessarily occupied some time. Of the total numbers of soldiers examined, nearly 60 per cent, were found not to possess the necessary skill, and the War Office have been informed that their release from the Colours will not be required. A very large number have been released and sent to the firms who were considered to need their services most urgently, and the outstanding balance are being dealt with as rapidly as possible. The arrangements between the Ministry and the War Office are that soldiers are not discharged from the Army, but are temporarily released for service in the production of munitions of war. Under the present arrangements they cannot be released for other purposes, and they do not leave their units until their prospective employers have signified their readiness to absorb them.

My question referred to those men who have been actually selected for work as munition makers owing to their skill or qualifications in that trade. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men continue to be kept as soldiers, although, it has been decided that they are not to be soldiers, and have sometimes even been disarmed, and will he try to accelerate their discharge after they have actually been selected?

The hon. Member will be aware that we have to take the whole of the British Army in this country at the same time with a view to future requirements, and we must of necessity keep a considerable number of men in reserve as the national factories are becoming completed. It is for that reason that many of them have not yet been called up. The other part of the hon. Member's question is dealt with in our arrangements with the War Office, with which no doubt he is familiar.

In the event of skilled artisans being brought from the ranks and put in munition works, are they under military law or under the ordinary civil law?

The men themselves volunteer to go and work in munition works. They are sent to munition works, in which they work as ordinary citizens, and they return to the Colours when they are not wanted for the work on munitions.

The point I wish to emphasise is whether, when working in the factories or workshops, they are under military law or under the ordinary civil law?

That is not so. [An HON. MEMBER: "What is not so?"] But if the hon. Member will put a question on the Paper, I will give a specific reply.

Is it not the case that these men remain soldiers, draw separation allowances, and are under the orders of military officers even to the extent of drawing their clothes as their old ones wear out?

They remain soldiers—that is to say, they are on the strength of their units; but they are not under military law when working in munition factories.

May I ask—

None of these questions really arise out of the hon. Member's reply.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a Select Committee of the House to inquire into and report as to the causes of the shortage of munitions prior to the establishment of the Ministry of Munitions?

No, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the inconvenience caused by the long periods of delay in the delivery of the Canadian mails in this country, owing to the fact that they are often not put on shore at the first port reached in home waters but are kept on board until a certain port is reached and the ship emptied of her cargo: and whether he can see his way to expedite delivery by having the mails sent on shore at the first port reached?

The mails conveyed to this country by Canadian packets are, whenever possible, landed at the first port of call. In a few instances only has it proved necessary, in view of the requirements of the naval authorities, to carry the mails on to the port of destination?

Will the hon. Gentleman see that, wherever possible, they are landed at the first port reached?

I will refer to my right hon. Friend on the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to the public on account of want of space and facilities for postal business at the general post office at Houghton-le-Spring; and what steps are being taken to remedy this state of affairs?

This matter has been under consideration, but it has not been practicable so far to frame any scheme for a new office which, in the present financial position, could be recommended. My right hon. Friend will see whether anything can be done to improve the facilities at the present office. Through the courtesy of the urban district council arrangements have been made for the transaction of separation allowance business at the council's offices

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the men serving on the mine-sweepers at the Dardanelles, who left Grimsby on 10th August, 1914, have not been allowed leave to visit their wives and families; and if he can arrange for leave to be given and arrangements made for their doing so?

Many of the men referred to have been sent home, and arrangements are being made, subject to the requirements of the Service, to relieve those remaining of the crews who have been out the whole time.

I will postpone the question until a new Home Secretary is appointed. May I ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Bonar Law) as Leader of the House, if he can state when the new Home Secretary will be appointed?

was understood to reply in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Lords of the Treasury, before determining to withdraw the annual Grant of £300 to the Royal Irish Academy of Music, were made aware of the fact that in compliance with the repeated suggestions of His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant's inspectors the governor's this year, in dependence on the continuance of the vote, incurred considerable liabilities in providing additional accommodation to prevent overcrowding among the students; and whether, in view of this expenditure, this small Grant will be restored?

The fact that the governors have assumed during war time further liabilities will not in my opinion justify a reversal of the Treasury decision to discontinue the Grants next financial year. I may add that in the corresponding English bodies the same policy has been carried out.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman respectfully to answer the question on the Paper, namely, whether representations were made by his Excellency's inspector to the governors of the Royal Irish Academy to increase the accommodation, and that in compliance with those representations the accommodation has been increased, and, if so, whether it is a fair thing to withdraw this small sum of £300?

I do not think that is the question asked me at all, but I shall be very glad to confer with the hon. Member on the subject.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state what is the estimated number of the aliens who were included in the National Register but, because they are aliens, are not eligible for the Army?

I would hesitate to give an estimate, but I think it may be assumed that the number is comparatively small.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an approximate estimate?

I have no information which would enable me from the Register to estimate what the figures are.

Is it the fact that sons of friendly aliens are excluded from joining His Majesty's Forces when they are resident in this country?

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the £160,000 gift from the Canadian Government allocated to the East Coast was ear-marked by them for that purpose; and whether it was confined to the East Coast of England?

The gift was not earmarked in any way by the Canadian Government. Its allocation was left to, and effected by, the Government Committee on the Prevention and Relief of Distress. The general lines of the scheme proposed by the Committee were approved by the Canadian authorities. It was confined to the East Coast of England on account of the exceptional conditions of the particular places in that area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the number of soldiers that the Governments of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have publicly announced their intention to provide?

The mobilisation of 250,000 Canadian troops, including those already under arms, was authorised by the Dominion Government in October, and the Canadian Prime Minister has recently announced that the number is to be increased to half a million men. The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth estimates that by June Australia will have supplied some 300,000 men under arms. The Defence Minister of New Zealand has estimated that New Zealand will have sent about 36,000 men by the end of January, and reinforcements will be sent regularly.

May I ask if it is perfectly clear that these three-quarters of a million of men are entirely outside any of the figures we have already had in this House, and that they are in addition to the four million men we are now raising?

They are in addition to the men being raised by Vote of this House, but my hon. Friends will see that the three-quarters of a million are by no means in existence yet.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give the cost of recruiting since the commencement of the War; and how much of this amount has been paid as bonus to recruiting officers?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Anglesey on the 20th December last.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state, for each of the provinces of Ireland, the number of men between the ages of 19 and 40 and the number of new recruits enlisted since the outbreak of the War?

The numbers of men between the ages of 19 and 41 in each of the provinces of Ireland on the 15th August last were as I can best estimate them—but my estimate may be subject to correction:— Leinster 174,597 Ulster 169,489 Munster 136,637 Connaught 81,392 Up to the 15th December there had enlisted in the Army and Navy, according to periodical returns compiled by the police, which, however, can only be looked upon as approximately accurate, the following numbers in the several provinces:— Leinster 27,458 Ulster 49,760 Munster 14,190 Connaught 3,589

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to state the number of recruits obtained in each of the four provinces during the month of November last under Lord Wimborne's scheme?

I cannot do that without notice.

asked whether the War Office has been advertising to enlist at 5s. a day; if, in response to the adver- tisement, Saddler S. Beale, 121301, No. 4 depot, Royal Field Artillery, enlisted, was examined, and his certificate given him as a skilled workman, and was then attached to the 21st battery, Royal Field Artillery; whether the serjeant-major told him he would only be paid 2s. a day, the unskilled rate of pay, which Beale declined to accept and he was then discharged; and is it with the authority of the War Office that faith is not kept with this man?

The man referred to by my hon. Friend enlisted as a specially enlisted saddler on the 17th November last at 5s. a day, and failing to pass the trade test was discharged on 15th December, services no longer required. He was never finally approved.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the man was examined and given his certificate as a skilled workman, that before he enlisted he had been employed in some of the largest West End firms on the best work for officers' saddles, and that other men who have enlisted are getting the full pay as advertised?

It depends where the man works. But if my hon. Friend will communicate any information that he has bearing on the case, I will inquire into it.

I shall be glad to show my hon. Friend the certificate which I have here.

asked how many males of military age who ought to have been canvassed under Lord Derby's scheme were not canvassed, distinguishing between married and single; and whether the figures are actual or estimated?

I fear it would be quite impossible to give figures on this point, many men, married and single, who were canvassed did not enlist, and, on the other hand, many men, married and single, attested in the last weeks of the Group System without waiting to be canvassed.

Are we to understand from that answer that the Government is not in possession of information showing how complete or incomplete the canvass has been?

I do not think that is quite a fair interpretation of what I said What I said was that very many men attested without being canvassed, and that, therefore, the figures for the canvass must necessarily be incomplete.

How is it impossible for the Government to get this information when we all know the figures for our own constituencies?

I am very glad to think that my hon. Friend is so well informed.

If it is known how many men there were to be canvassed and how many were canvassed, cannot it be arrived at as to how many men were not canvassed?

I do not think it is possible to get all the information. A man may say, "In what does canvassing consist?"

Are not the valuable figures those who attested, and not those who were canvassed?

asked the Prime Minister whether men with the Colours or who have already attested under Lord Derby's scheme who have conscientious objections but who enlisted to prevent any form of Conscription will be treated in the same way as those who have not attested?

I think that this is a case which ought to be met.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us a definition of what is a conscientious objector?

I tried to do so last week. I will try again.

You will have a job!

asked whether the tribunals are prepared to consider any suggestions for dealing with only sons, such as using them for home service, etc.?

The local tribunals have no power to allocate a man to any particular branch of service in the Army.

Has my right hon. Friend noticed that the question is whether in the case of only sons making a suggestion to the tribunal that they should be postponed or exempted under the Bill that that will be considered by the tribunal?

The existing practice is to relegate such cases to a later group. Then, I think, my hon. Friend is aware that there are provisions in the Bill by which men who can prove that there are persons dependent upon them who would otherwise be unable to live in decency and comfort can claim exemption.

Would my right hon. Friend make this clear? Is he aware that the Prime Minister has already stated to the House that when one man is left, having brothers serving at the front, he may possibly be exempted by the tribunals; will an only son be placed in the same position?

It is rather undesirable to make a pledge at the moment upon that matter.

I will put a question down.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any substantial number of the single men of military age who have applied for attestation under Lord Derby's scheme had previously applied for enlistment in the Army and been rejected as medically unfit; and what is the estimated number of these?

I am afraid it is impossible to give an estimate of the number of men in question.

asked whether the continued enlistment under the Derby scheme announced by the Prime Minister will be under the same conditions as before, and will give volunteers the option of joining the Territorial or Regular Forces and as far as possible of choosing their regiments?

The answer to this question, taken as a whole, is "Yes, as far as possible," but I would point out that men hereafter entering groups already called up may not be in as favourable a position as regards admission to such arms as the Royal Army Medical Corps or Army Service Corps as men who have already been called up for those groups, the reason being that the number of enlistments in those arms allotted to each group is and must be limited.

Will Territorial forms be provided at the recruiting offices, or only blue forms?

I will consider that; I do not know what the exact definition.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that no less than twenty-four pages out of seventy-one of the booklet, entitled "Notes on the Administration of the Group System," comprise lists of occupations and sub-occupations which entitle an individual to put forward a claim for exemption from military service; and if he will say what Minister, if any, of the Cabinet is to be held responsible, apart from the Minister of Munitions, for the issue of the lists in the above booklet?

The list of occupations referred to has been arranged by the various Departments concerned in consultation with the War Office.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for War if the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as the chief recruiting officer, has reported to the War Office the results of his recent recruiting campaign; if the results of that campaign meet the requirements of the military authorities; and if he will consider the desirability of applying the group system of attestation to Ireland?

The Lord Lieutenant, as Director-General of Recruiting in Ireland, is in close touch with the War Office on the subject of the recruiting campaign inaugurated by His Excellency, which is still in progress. At this stage I. am not in a position to say more than that the measure of success so far achieved gives good reason for the expectation that His Excellency's hopes will not be disappointed. I believe a Report will shortly be issued. As has already been publicly announced, the introduction of the system of deferred enlistment obtaining in Great Britain is not at present contemplated.

asked, as regards those who have enlisted in the Army from the commencement of the War to the end of the year 1915, what percentage were single and. what percentage were married men?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Haggerston Division on the 6th January.

asked what percentage of the population has enlisted in the Army from the commencement of the War to the end of the year 1915 in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, respectively?

I am afraid I must not yield to the temptation of satisfying my hon. Friend's thirst for information.

asked how many applicants for enlistment in the Army were rejected as medically unfit from the commencement of the War to the beginning of the attestations under Lord Derby's scheme, distinguishing the single from the married?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Medway Division on the 6th January, and I would add that the War Office have no means of differentiating between married and single men who were rejected before Lord Derby's scheme came into operation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give a rough estimate of the revenue that would be obtained by a tax of 2d. in the 1s on the admission to all places of entertainment, indoor or outdoor, such 2d. to be collected by making it obligatory on the management to affix a postage-stamp of the requisite value to the admission ticket, and charging it to the purchaser of the ticket; and whether he has considered the desirability of introducing this form of taxation?

My right hon. Friend fears that he cannot undertake to give estimates of the yield of possible taxation apart from actual fiscal proposals submitted to the House by the Government. As regards the last part of the question, all relevant suggestions will receive very careful attention if and when it should become necessary to consider the imposition of fresh taxation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Petrograd for many years the total expense of the hospitals has been borne by a tax of this kind?

I was not aware.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a stoppage or curtailment of the Grants for any department of Irish education is contem- plated? If so, what are the departments affected; by whom the change was suggested and by what authority it is to be carried out; and if it is proposed to ask for the consent of Parliament?

As regards stoppage or curtailment of Grants on the Vote for Science and Art in Ireland, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies of the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction to the questions of the hon. Member for North Westmeath on the 21st December and the hon. Member for the Leix Division of Queen's County on the 6th instant. A suggestion has been made by the Treasury that without any loss of efficiency an arrangement might be come to between the Intermediate Education Board and the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction with regard to the supervision of science teaching which might reduce the charge of the Exchequer, and they have asked for proposals which would enable the provision on the Vote for Public Education (Ireland) at least to remain at the present figure, if it is not possible to effect a reduction such as has been proposed, both in England and Scotland. The Votes for Education in Ireland will in due course be presented to, and their amounts determined by, Parliament.

Can the right hon. Gentleman publish the proposals of the Intermediate Board in reference to those science Grants?

I will see if they can be got and if they can be published.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of desertions from the Army at Home reported from 4th August, 1914, to the latest date available; and whether any men have during that period been imprisoned for desertion?

I do not consider that it is in the public interest to give this information, but I will ask my hon. Friend not to run away with the idea that the number of desertions during the period in question causes concern.

asked the Prime Minister if, before deciding not to apply the Military Service Bill to Ireland, the Government had before them a Report from the Lord Lieutenant as chief recruiting officer for Ireland upon the results of his recent recruiting campaign; and, if so, will he lay the Report upon the Table of the House?

The Government, when considering the terms of the Bill in question, were acquainted with the monthly returns of recruiting in Ireland, but no formal report by the Lord Lieutenant was before them. Such a Report is now being prepared by His Excellency, and the figures it contains will be communicated to the House.

asked whether the case of men who have conscientious objections to vaccination has been considered with reference to the Military Service (No. 2) Bill; and whether it is intended to vaccinate men who, having conscientious objections, may be compulsorily attested?

This is a point which may properly be raised on the Committee stage of the Bill.

asked in what way will defaulters and offenders under Military Service (No. 2) Bill be treated; and whether they will be dealt with by courts martial and liable; under the Army Act, to be shot as deserters?

My hon. Friend will be aware that the Military Service (No. 2) Bill gives to those who are under it deemed to have been enlisted the same rights and privileges in regard to the Group System as those who have presented themselves for enlistment before the Bill becomes law. I think I may state that the general intention is that the treatment of both categories shall be as uniform as possible in all respects, and not only as regards privileges. That is the reasonable and desirable position to adopt, and that is the position which should, I think, be adopted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men who are known to be medically unfit are often retained with their units for a considerable length of time before receiving their discharge, and whether he will take steps to accelerate their discharge, with the object of saving the country the expense of their upkeep and at the same time increasing the productive power of the country by returning them to their civil occupations; and whether, in the case of groups shortly to be called up, orders will be given to the doctors concerned to reject without delay, after a most thorough examination, those whose fitness is doubtful?

I have already stated that the Army Council are doing all they can to expedite the discharge from the Army of any men who are permanently unfit; the desirability of this is obvious. As regards the second part of the question, arrangements have been made for men of groups called up to be examined without delay as to their fitness by special recruiting medical boards, and the hon. Gentleman may rest assured that these boards will certainly not pass or reject any man without a most thorough examination.

How long does it take, when a man is to be discharged and his discharge is admitted, before he is released to go to the munition works?

I cannot give a specific time.

More than two or three months?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can give the mortality and the cases of sick ness among the troops in the Salisbury Plain district since the beginning of September to date; and whether, in view of the reports as to the condition of the camps, he will appoint a small Committee of the House composed of men with experience of housing matters to visit the camps and report if improvements are possible?

The annual ratio per 1,000 are for the Salisbury Plain district during the period 1st September to 31st December:— Admissions 325.4 Deaths 1.88 Both these ratios are lower than those for peace time, and in those circumstances I cannot see any necessity for the appointment of a Committee.

asked whether the number of divisions contributed by this country to the land forces of the Allies has reached or has exceeded the limit laid down by the Secretary of State for War on 25th August, 1914; what definite undertakings, if any, have been given by this country to maintain a definite number of fightiog men in the field; and what is the number of battalions which have to be in training or in reserve in order to make good losses or wastage in the field abroad?

My hon. Friend must be aware that it cannot be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can now give the figures showing the number of cases of, and deaths from, typhoid fever, showing separately inoculated and uninoculated, among officers and men of the British Army in the United Kingdom and in France and Belgium since the 1st of August, 1914, and the date to which the figures are compiled?

The figures I have cover the period from the commencement of hostilities to the 10th November. During this period 1,365 cases of enteric fever were reported as having occurred amongst the British troops in France and Belgium; of these 1,150 cases have been definitely diagnosed after bacteriological examination. In 579 cases where there had been inoculation there were 35 deaths, and in 571 cases where there had not been inoculation there were 115 deaths. In the United Kingdom from the 1st August, 1914, to the 30th October, 1915, 540 cases of enteric fever were reported and 87 deaths; 39 per cent of these cases occurred in men who had not been inoculated, but I cannot say how the deaths were distributed amongst the inoculated and uninoculated respectively. For paratyphoid no system of inoculation has yet been adopted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why it has been decided to allow all Home-service non-commissioned officers and men of the Territorial Force who now undertake the liability for foreign service a month's furlough, while those who undertook the same liability at the beginning of the War receive no such privilege; and whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction caused by the advantages in pay and conditions that have been repeatedly given to those men who have been least ready to respond to their country's call?

The explanation of any apparent inconsistency is simple. Under the voluntary system it is necessary to give inducements to men to undertake obligations to serve abroad, and, if men hold back whose services are definitely required abroad, a species of undesirable though inevitable bargaining tends to become established, which gives occasion for such comparison as the hon. and gallant Member institutes in his question. I would add that every attempt has always been made to give soldiers leave before proceeding overseas and to give them leave home, at all events from France and Flanders. The hon. and gallant Member will be aware that the First Schedule of the Military Service Bill (No. 2) has a bearing on this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if, in the appointment of temporary quartermasters, a preference is given to re-engaged ex-warrant and non-commissioned officers of the Royal Engineers over regimental sergeant-majors serving with divisions overseas; and if he will take steps to ensure that, as far as possible, men serving at the front shall have equal opportunities of promotion to those on Home service?

Temporary commissions are not given to soldiers serving on regular attestations. The hon. Baronet will see that a non-commissioned officer or warrant officer who had been commissioned could not revert to the ranks.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for War if he is aware that officers and men who are brought over on leave from Boulogne to Folkestone by the afternoon boat frequently arrive in London too late to proceed to their homes the same night; and if, in order to mitigate this hardship, he will give instructions that, as far as possible, the morning boat shall be available for others besides colonels and officers of the Staff?

The hon. Baronet is, I think, to some extent misinformed. There is no "morning" boat or "afternoon" boat. The times of arrival of trains in London are entirely dependent on Admiralty orders. In the interests of the safety of our officers and men, it is necessary to refrain from discussing in public the details of this question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the second-line units of Territorial Royal Horse Artillery are now organised as depots for providing drafts; and whether, in view of their desire to serve as foreign service units, he will allow third-line units to be formed in order to relieve them from the duty of finding drafts?

I cannot make any statement on this point at present. The matter is under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister whether any Cabinet Minister other than the right hon. Member for Walthamstow has tendered his resignation since 20th December, 1915?

If and when any Cabinet Minister resigns and his resignation is accepted, prompt information is given to the House.

Does the Prime Minister not observe that my question was not whether any other resignation has been accepted, but whether any has been tendered? Will he be kind enough to answer that question?

No, Sir, I shall not. I have never felt it any part of my duty to disclose confidential communications between my colleagues and myself.

Will, then, the Prime Minister discourage these rumours, which evidently emanate from very high quarters, that certain persons are constantly tendering their resignations?

The hon. Member himself is giving rise to them.

asked the Prime Minister how many separate military operations are now being conducted in which British or Dominion troops are engaged; and who is in supreme command in each case?

It is not considered that the public interest would be served by disclosing to the enemy the higher organisation of our Forces.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government will consider the desirability of publishing a complete detailed list of acts of inhumanity committed by the Germans at sea during the present War, in addition to the three cases mentioned in the British Note of 14th December, 1915, to the Government of the United States?

I will consult the Admiralty with a view to ascertaining whether it is possible or desirable to publish a list of the kind suggested.

asked the Prime Minister whether, to further coordinate and equalise the concerted effort which has been lately resolved on by the Allies. Powers for the future prosecution of the War, he will cause immediate inquiry to be made as to the trades and industries among our several Allies occupation in which exempts the individual from military service; and if he will deal especially with the exemptions in the case of the industry of agriculture and compare any such exemptions with those set out in List C in "Notes on the Administration of the Group System" and dealing with the exemptions allowed to persons engaged in British agriculture?

I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether the Government proposes to take steps to organise a proper and national system for training wounded and discharged soldiers and sailors for such trades or occupations as may be suitable to their condition, and providing employment for them; and whether he is aware that local recruiting committees are prepared to give all the assistance in their power to carry out any such proposal?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman in the first place to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Attercliffe Division on the 2nd December. It will rest with the Statutory Committee to be set up under the Naval and Military War Pensions Act to lay proposals before the Government, and in formulating these they will, I am sure, consult all persons or bodies who could render any effective assistance.

asked whether, in the case of officers commissioned from the ranks, half their previous service, as laid down in Articles 44 and 45 (c), Royal Warrant, is counted towards the promotion which now occurs on the completion of six or fifteen years' service, to captain or major, respectively?

The answer is in the affirmative provided that the officer in each case is the senior of his rank.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been called to the delay in the payment of rent of houses and buildings taken over by the War Office in towns on the East Coast; and, seeing that the rent of such houses is in many cases in arrear from June in last year, whether arrangements will be made to pay the rents monthly as they fall due?

I am not aware of any general delay in the payment of rent, such as my hon. Friend suggests, but if he will furnish me with details of any-specific cases I shall be pleased to have the matter inquired into.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what payment is made to dependants after the expiry of twenty-six weeks from the date of the soldier's death; whether a payment is made of dependancy allowance only; whether all arrears are paid in cases where there has been any interval between the end of the twenty-six weeks and the payment of dependancy allowance; and whether these arrangements have been necessary owing to the failure of the Government to set up the new Statutory Committee expeditiously?

After the expiry of the twenty-six weeks the dependant is entitled to such gratuity or pension as the scheme recently laid before the House provides. The instructions are that gratuities are paid as soon as possible after cessation of separation allowance and pension is issued in continuation of separation allowance, without interval. Where there is doubt as to the amount of pension, depending upon health and other circumstances, the maximum rate issuable under the scheme is paid pending final assessment

Can my right hon. Friend say by whose authority the War Office does not pay the full allowance up to the period that the dependant began to claim; can he also say when the House of Commons determined that that should be so[...]

I do not quite see my hon. Friend's point.

I will put a question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Renter's Telegraphic Agency is in any degree under the control of the Government, or whether any subsidy is paid to the agency in respect to telegrams transmitted to Australia, or whether by favour of the Government this agency enjoys any facilities or privileges; and, if so, whether he will take steps to ensure that the telegrams sent correspond to the truth and are not coloured for party purposes?

Reuter's Telegraphic Agency is not under the control of, and receives no subsidy from, His Majesty's Government. It enjoys no special facilities or privileges, but its telegrams are subject to the same censorship as those of all other private persons, companies and agencies.

Would the censorship modify a telegram that was ostensibly incorrect: would it go so far as that?

Not unless some public disadvantage would be caused by it.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether the rule which heretofore in peace time regulated the promotion of officers in the Indian and Egyptian Armies, namely, that every subaltern must have served nine years before being eligible for promotion to a captaincy and every captain for nine years as captain before being eligible for promotion to the rank of major, is being still enforced during war time, with the result that junior officers from the English Regular or Territorial Armies, many of whom have no knowledge of native languages, are being promoted over the heads of Indian and Egyptian officers who are their seniors in point of service and familiar with native languages?

I am sorry to say I have only just noticed that my hon. Friend's question refers to Egypt and India, and my answer deals with the Indian case only. I have no information about the Egyptian case. As regards India, as I have before explained in answer to a similar question on the subject, there is a fundamental difference between the system of promotion in the British Army and that prevailing in the Indian Army, and an appropriate remedy for the disparity resulting from the exceptional conditions of the War is not easy to devise. Certain suggestions have been made to me by the Government of India. These have been examined by a Committee representing the War Office and the India Office, and I am awaiting their recommendations.

Might I ask whether the effect of bringing in from outside officers who have no knowledge of the native languages has a very bad effect upon the Indian Army?

The hon. Member, I think, is assuming a great deal in assuming that officers are brought in from outside with no knowledge of the native languages. I am not aware to what he is alluding.

(by Private Notice ): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the action of the Government in interfering with the supply of coal to manufacturing industries in the West Riding of Yorkshire is greatly accentuating the scarcity of coal already due to the shortage of mine labour and the lack of adequate facilities for railway transport, and that unless immediate steps be taken to remove or to modify the Government regulations many important industries engaged on Government and export work will be compelled to close down and large numbers of workers will be thrown out of employment?

If my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will look into the matter. The Board of Trade have on particular occasions requested coal-owners to give a preference to public utility undertakings and munition works, and they have called general attention to the necessity of maintaining adequate supplies to by-product coke-ovens, but I am not aware of any regulations such as my hon. Friend suggests.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the West Riding of Yorkshire coal-owners are being instructed to withhold the supply for the execution of their coal contracts in the interests of the manufacture of coke and the residuals of coal?

If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any cases to which he refers, I will certainly have them inquired into.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that the Government are pressing manufacturers of coke very strongly for the need of benzol, and there is a great deal of difficulty in obtaining the slack to keep ovens going and so producing the byproducts indispensable for high explosives?

Yes; and that was the ground on which some communications have been sent out by the Board of Trade to some districts. The necessity of byproducts from some sorts of coal, of course, is always present to my mind.

( by private Notice ): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position to give any information about the operations in Mesopotamia?

On the 6th instant General Aylmer left Ali Gherbi with the troops marching to the relief of Kut-el-Amara.

On the same day, General Townshend at Kut reported that on the previous night the enemy had opened a heavy fire on his north-west front and on the village opposite Kut, but that they made no attempt to attack him.

On the night of the 7th, General Aylmer reported contact with the enemy and heavy fighting on both banks of the Tigris, two or three miles below Sheikh Saad. On the right bank, General Kemball's column had carried the enemy's position, taking two guns and 700 prisoners, and was then entrenching in a position close to Sheikh Saad. Meanwhile the main attack on the left bank had been retarded by outflanking movements of the enemy.

General Aylmer adds that he was apparently opposed by three Turkish divisions.

On the evening of the 8th, General Aylmer reported that, owing to the fatigue of the troops, he was unable to make any progress.

On the 9th, General Aylmer reported: "The enemy are in retreat and I am pursuing, but heavy rain hinders the pursuit." From a later telegram it appears that the enemy had reached Orah in its retirement.

I regret to add that General Nixon has been compelled by ill-health to relinquish his command and return home. Lieut. -General Sir Percy Lake, at present Chief of the General Staff in India, has been appointed to succeed him.

asked the Prime Minister whether a Report on the Gallipoli Expedition has been specially prepared for the Australian Government; if so, whether it has been communicated to the British Government; and whether, if and when such a Report is received, it will be communicated to this House?