asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who held the office of British Minister at Tehran during the recent critical occurrences at the Persian capital?

The post of His Majesty's Minister at Tehran has been held from the 17th of April last by Mr. Charles Marling.

Is it not the case that our representative acted with great tact and diplomatic skill during a most crucial period?

Oh yes, that is quite true. Mr. Marling has conducted affairs with great judgment and skill.

asked whether recent developments in Turkey, Mesopotamia, Persia, and the Middle East will occasion any changes in the administration of Egypt or in the political direction of affairs in these countries?

No changes of the nature referred to by the hon. Member are at present in contemplation.

Does not the direction of affairs in Egypt at present possess a paramount importance compared with that of previous conditions, and is not any change contemplated there in consequence?

There are no changes contemplated in the political direction of affairs, but, of course, there may be military changes according to the progress of the War.

asked whether belligerents who wilfully destroy the life of persons belonging to neutral States by inhuman methods of warfare are under the practice and custom of international law entitled to purchase indemnity by payment of moneys to individuals?

No action of His Majesty's Government has given occasion for such question to arise between His Majesty's Government and any neutral State. I am not aware of any international law that has the effect described in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who now represents British interests in Bulgaria; and what information has reached him with regard to the status and property of British subjects in that country?

British interests in Bulgaria are in the hands of the United States Chargé d'Affaires at Sofia; British subjects in Bulgaria are free to leave the country if they wish to do so; as far as we know none are interned; no complaints have reached me of damage to British property in that country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the crew of the British submarine which sank off Texel on the 6th instant, having sprung a leak and grounded, who were rescued by a Dutch cruiser and brought into Helder, have been interned at Groningen by the Dutch Government; whether, having regard to the fact that the British submarine whose crew were thus rescued was not sunk by a belligerent, the detention or internment of that crew by the Dutch Government is contrary to the principles and practice of international law; whether Article 13 of Convention X., of the Second Peace Conference, providing that if shipwrecked sailors are taken on board a neutral man-of-war precaution must be taken so far as possible that they do not again take part in the operations of the war, applies only to sailors whose ships have been wrecked by the enemy, not to sailors whose ships have been wrecked in the ordinary course of navigation; and whether Great Britain will demand the immediate release from detention of these sailors, whose case does not differ from that of any other British subjects in neutral territory, and who should, even if their ship had been dis- abled by a belligerent, as in the case of the Russian sailors rescued by British, French, and Italian cruisers from ships disabled by the Japanese, be not detained but handed over to Great Britain on the condition that they should not take part in hostilities during the War?

The crew of the E 17 has been interned by the Dutch Government, but the place of internment is as yet unknown to His Majesty's Government.

The answer to the second part of the question is that Article 13 of Convention X. of The Hague draws no distinction between ships wrecked by the enemy or in the ordinary course of navigation. As to the remainder of the hon. Member's question, I will see that the suggestions and arguments put forward by him are very carefully considered.

Thank you.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that owing to the condition of many poor people in Dublin it is necessary to continue the Grant to the distress committee; and whether he will inquire into the matter and assist them to obtain a Grant from the Treasury?

The Treasury have notified the Local Government Board that they do not propose to make Grants to distress committees this year in any part of the United Kingdom.

asked whether any instructions have been issued recently to the Royal Irish Constabulary with regard to their prosecuting persons who may be walking beside their bicycles with the light accidentally or otherwise extinguished?

The reply is in the negative.

asked whether, when members of the Royal Irish Constabulary use their bicycles in performance of duties for which they would be entitled to hire a car they are given the equivalent of the car fare; and, if not, why is this not done; and upon what basis their allowance is calculated?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, on the general principle that expenses cannot be allowed for a mode of locomotion not actually used. The cycling allowances of the police are calculated so as fully to recoup them for the wear and tear of their machines so far as used on the public service.

asked what position Mr. Kevin Kenny has occupied in the service of the Irish Government since the tuberculosis campaign ceased to pay; and what position he occupies now?

The gentleman referred to does not occupy and, so far as I am aware, has never occupied any position in the service of the Irish Government, but I understand that his services as an advertising agent were for a time utilised in the ordinary course of business by the Department of Recruiting and payments for advertisement space made through him.

Does not that bring him into convenient and intimate contact throughout Ireland with the owners and editors of provincial newspapers?

I do not know, Sir, whether the employment has that disagreeable result.

asked the number of elected public bodies in Ireland that have adopted resolutions calling for the repeal of the National Insurance Act so far as regards its application to Ireland; and what action it is proposed to take towards meeting their wishes?

I have received resolutions of the nature indicated from six of the several hundred elected public bodies in Ireland, and I do not propose to take any action on them.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to suggest that only six representative bodies in Ireland have called for the abrogation of this Act?

No, Sir; all I say is that I have only received representations from six of them.

Mr. Speaker, the question does not ask the right hon. Gentleman how many have been received, but how many have been adopted?

I cannot answer that.

You should say so.

Does the right hon. Gentleman ever read the Irish newspapers?

Occasionally.

asked on whose advice the actual withdrawal of education Grants in Ireland has been made; if further withdrawals of educational Grants in Ireland are being contemplated; and whether the Treasury will seek the advice of Irish educational experts, willing and competent to advise, before further limiting Irish educational Grants?

The Grants that have been effected by reductions are almost wholly within the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, and no advice has been asked or given by the Under-Secretary for Ireland in the matter.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the advisability of restoring the educational Grants which have been withdrawn from Ireland?

The decision of the Treasury in the matter was based on the most careful consideration of all aspects of the question after consultation with the Department primarily concerned. The Treasury can act in such matters only on representations from the Department responsible to Parliament.

That is not an answer to my question, which is whether the Grants will be restored.

The answer to that, I assume, is "No."

How can the right hon. Gentleman reconcile the reduction of the Grant in Ireland for technical education with the speech of his right hon. colleague the President of the Board of Trade in this House the other night?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a question.

I shall.

Why should there be this injustice to Ireland in the matter of education as compared with other parts of the United Kingdom?

The Grants have been cut down all round.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the President of the Board of Trade said there were no reductions being made of a similar character in Scotland or Great Britain?

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Treasury contemplate any further withdrawals of Irish educational Grants?

No, Sir, I cannot say that. I am only answering on behalf of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether it has been proposed by the Development Commissioners to reduce the Grants for the encouragement of horse-breeding in Ireland; and. if so, to what extent?

The Development Commissioners proposed in August last that their Grant of £10,000 for horse-breeding in Ireland should be reduced by £5,000. They have within the past week suggested reasons why the Grant should be stopped altogether. Among these reasons is the reduction of the Department's expenditure on horse-breeding from their endowment fund brought about through the shrinkage of Government securities due to the War, which has left the Department a smaller amount available to apply to their schemes.

Have the Grants for horse-breeding been stopped in England?

No; I rather think they have been increased.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made any further representations on the subject since he learnt that they have been increased in England?

Oh, yes; we have been in constant communication about them, because we think it is a most serious thing.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to a meeting of the Navan board of guardians, at which was read a letter of resignation from the chairman and secretary of the committee appointed to manage the plot on the Oldtown farm set apart for the use of local labourers, because of the action of the Department in refusing to allow a necessary operation to eradicate disease by temporarily ploughing the land; and whether, seeing that he has issued pamphlets and leaflets and addressed many public meetings urging upon farmers the importance of cultivating more land in order to increase the supply of home-raised food, he will explain why he refused the local committee the right to till the farm in order, in addition to other reasons, to produce food for the labourers' families, especially when the local landowners had offered to plough the land free of charge?

The attention of the Department has been drawn to the report of the meeting referred to. The plot in question was allotted by the Estates Commissioners to the Navan Rural District Council for purposes of pasturage in accordance with Sections 4 and 20 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, as amended by Section 18 of the Irish Land Act, 1909. The proposal of the rural district council was to amend the scheme of user approved under these Sections so as to permit of tillage. Unfortunately tillage is not one of the purposes enumerated in the Sections, and the Department have no legal power to amend the scheme of user in the sense desired.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that the country is at war, and that the production of food is (necessary; and could he not do away with some of the red-tape of his office?

The fact that the country is at war does not authorise me to break an Act of Parliament.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Newport Education Committee in striking 400 children from the list of those previously receiving free meals; whether he is aware that this action on the part of the committee has given rise to considerable feeling in the locality; and whether he will make representations to the committee on the matter?

From the information received by the Board it appears that the number of children fed during November, 1915, was about 270 as compared with about 720 in November, 1914. The decrease, the greater part of which occurred in the first half of last year, is, so far as I am aware, due to ordinary causes, such as improved trade, which have operated in the same direction over the whole country. I will, however, make inquiries and let the hon. Member know.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that, despite the undertaking that the Central Control Board would not make any Order affecting any new area without consulting interested parties in the locality, including amongst others specially named the licensed trade, the Board held an inquiry on 16th December at Hull with reference to the scheduling of the Humber district, the East Riding, and parts of Lincolnshire, at which inquiry, although all the other interested parties were consulted and represented, the licensed trade were not only not consulted, but on their making application to be present were refused repre- sentation and participation; and, if so, whether he will take steps to ensure that in future in similar inquiries the licensed trade shall be consulted as one of the interested parties in accordance with his undertaking?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on the 6th instant. If he will also refer to my right hon. Friend's statement on the 9th December, he will see that no engagement taken by him has been infringed either in letter or in spirit.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the Great Northern Railway Company locked out from 24th December to 3rd January several thousand men employed at their Doncaster works; that many of these skilled men could have obtained work elsewhere but for the fact that the company refused to give them their cards; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I am informed that the period referred to in the question was that of the Christmas holiday of the establishment in question. I am further informed that the company did not refuse their insurance cards to the workmen. I may add that under Clause 5 of the Munitions (Amendment) Bill, workmen, under the circumstances stated, would be entitled as of right to leaving certificates in the future. I do not think it would be possible to take any action in regard to the past.

asked when it is expected that the Dublin arsenal for munitions manufacture will be open to give employment; and why the Dundalk Munitions Factory has been scheduled in the northern area although it is within the province of Leinster?

The Dublin National Shell Factory is already giving employment. The weekly wages bill at the end of last month was £150, and is rapidly increasing as additional machines become available. The Dundalk Munitions Factory is controlled by the Great Northern Railway Company, who are carrying out part of their contract at their works in Belfast. It was therefore considered advisable for administrative reasons to include Dundalk in the Belfast area.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether complaints have been received concerning the conditions of labour at one of Messrs. Thornycroft's works, and whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists among the workers there employed on account of the shortage of necessary tools involving waste of time and money, and also on account of the condition of the yard pre venting men working dry shod; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the matter?

I understand that the works referred to by the Noble Lord are those at Woolston. I will have inquiries made and communicate the result to him.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the destruction of munition works in the United States by incendiarism and the number of persons killed and injured thereby, he can state how many aliens are at present employed in munition factories, controlled or otherwise, in this country; and what are the conditions and safeguards made in connection with their employment?

The matter referred to by my horn Friend has not been lost sight of. I do not think, however, that it would be in the public interest to state the nature of the precautions taken, and I am not in a position to state the number of aliens employed in munition factories, but I can assure my hon. Friend that great care is being exercised in this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation put forward by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce that all transport workers, including carters on the list of reserved occupations, be placed in a position similar to that of munition workers, so that there may be a co-ordination of labour in the interests of the nation; and if, in view of this recommendation, he can see his way to put these men in the same position as munitions workers who are recognised as working for the vital interests of the country?

My hon. Friend has been called away, and has asked me to answer this question. I understand that the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce have recommended that all transport workers, including carters, on the list of reserved occupations be placed under control similar to that of munition workers. As at present advised, however, I cannot see my way to adopt the recommendation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what day he is prepared to introduce the promised Bill for dealing with enemy companies and firms trading in this country?

The Bill dealing with enemy companies and firms trading in this country will shortly be introduced—I hope early next week.

asked what special precautions are insisted upon as a protection to life in ocean-going steamers; and whether any and, if so, what such precautions were taken in the case of the steamship "Persia" before leaving port on her last voyage?

In order to meet the special risks which have arisen during the present War, the Board of Trade some time ago issued to masters and owners of passenger vessels instructions with regard to the special precautions to be taken. I am sending the hon. and learned Gentleman a copy of these instructions. The Board have no reason to think that any precautions were omitted in the case of the steamship "Persia."

May I give notice of my intention to raise this question on the Motion for the Adjournment on Monday next?

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that owing to the shortage of railway wagons, potato growers in England are unable to obtain from Scotland, more especially from the counties of Perth and Forfar, the necessary supplies of seed potatoes for the coming season's crop; whether, in view of the importance of that crop from the point of view of the nation's food supply as well as for industrial purposes, he is aware that damage has already been done by the non-delivery of thousands of tons of seed potatoes for sprouting and early planting; and what steps he has taken or proposes immediately to take in order to ensure to the English growers the raw material essential for their industry?

I am informed by the Railway Executive Committee that special steps wall be taken to deal with this traffic.

asked the number of companies wound up in the United Kingdom or, failing that, in England during the year 1915; and how it compares with the years 1914 and 1913?

The numbers of companies which went into liquidation in the United Kingdom during the years 1913, 1914 and 1915 are 2,120, 2,183 and 1,812 respectively.

asked the number of bankruptcies in the United Kingdom or, failing that, in England during the year 1915, and how it compares with the years 1914 and 1913?

The number of bankruptcies in England and Wales gazetted during 1915 was 2,411; the corresponding number for 1914 was 2,887; and for 1913, 3,393. So far as regards Scotland and Ireland, the question should be addressed to the Secretary for Scotland and the Chief Secretary for Ireland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any representations from the Dock, Wharf, Riverside, and General Workers' Union against the proposal of the Government to commandeer some of the vessels of the Bristol City Line; and whether due consideration will be given to those representations before any action is taken?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative, but no guarantee can be given of exemption from the ordinary liability to requisition for naval and military purposes which attaches to all British ships.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if aliens of military age were registered under the National Registration Act; and, if so, how many were included?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the numbers, I may refer to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on Monday last to the hon. Member for the Tradeston Division of Glasgow.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a resolution from the Kerry County Council protesting against the action of the Post Office censors in opening and censoring letters of the Most Reverend Dr. Mangan, Bishop of Kerry, and the nuns throughout the county; and if he will see that such action is not repeated?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Kerry County Council have unanimously passed a resolution condemning the censoring of letters addressed to His Lordship the Most Reverend Dr. Mangan, Bishop of Kerry; whether he is aware that Dr. Mangan himself found it necessary, after repeated complaints, to publicly call attention to the fact that letters of a most private and confidential character addressed to him on purely religious questions were censored; and whether, in view of Dr. Mangan's well-known position and public feeling, as also that he is a colleague of the Chief Secretaries of Ireland on the Congested Districts Board, he will be further spared the affront of having his private and most confidential communications examined?

I have not seen the resolution from the Kerry County Council, but I have seen letters addressed to the Postmaster-General and to the War Office on this matter by the Bishop of Kerry, and I have seen a statement made by the Bishop in the Cathedral, Killarney. A full explanation of the action taken was sent to the bishop on the 11th January, in which it was explained that the censorship of letters was imposed out of military necessity, and that it was conducted by a staff of honourable persons in accordance with instructions which do not discriminate between letters addressed to the bishops and clergy in Ireland and those addressed to the bishops and clergy in Great Britain. It would not be possible, without delaying the correspondence more than it is now delayed, to sort out and exempt from censorship particular classes of correspondence addressed to or sent by different categories of persons.

The object of the censorship is to prevent the disclosure of military information as much by innocent inadvertence as by deliberate intention, and to confine it to examination of the correspondence of known enemies of the Empire would, even if such a course were feasible, defeat one of its main objects. The censorship of letters is undertaken solely with a view to protecting the lives of the soldiers, in whose safety I know the people of Ireland are as keenly interested as are the inhabitants of other parts of the United Kingdom.

Are the military authorities in Cork allowed to censor letters of a purely religious character, and has the right hon. Gentleman any reason to doubt the patriotism of the Bishop of Kerry?

The county of Cork is not treated differently to other parts of the United Kingdom.

Ought not there to be at least a suspicion of a person before letters are opened, or some reason for suspecting that a letter of a treasonable character is being sent?

There is no suspicion in any individual case, and it is only by opening a mass of letters that one is able to ascertain what is actually being communicated.

Why do they open private and confidential letters of a most sacred character dealing with purely religious matters addressed to a bishop?

It is impossible to know until the letters are opened.

Ought not the mere fact that a letter is addressed to a prominent bishop of the Roman Catholic Church to be a sufficient security that it is of a loyal character?

I am afraid that would not be sufficient security. The letters of the bishops in Ireland have not been treated differently to the letters of bishops in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Letters from Members of this House to their families at home have been censored, and I want to know is this allowed by the Post Office?

The hon. Member must give notice of that. There are no bishops here.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is proposed, in connection with Admiralty expenditure, to appoint a Committee similar to that now considering the possibilities of economy in Army expenditure?

A Committee has been appointed by the Government, under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, to consider questions of Departmental expenditure?

asked the Prime Minister, whether he will give facilities for the consideration in this House of the Companies of Enemy Character Bill brought in by Lord Halsbury in another place?

I am not prepared to give facilities for the Bill referred to, but a Bill dealing with the matter will shortly be introduced in this House.

asked what funds, if any, have been placed at the disposal of the Statutory Committee set up under the Pensions Act; whether a secretary has been appointed and what the staff is to be; whether any premises have yet been allocated to the business of the Committee; and when he expects that the Committee will begin its work?

The question of the funds to be placed at the disposal of the Statutory Committee is receiving consideration. No decision has yet been arrived at in the matter of the appointment of a secretary and staff, or as to the choice of permanent offices, but correspondence may be addressed for the president to the vice-chairman, at the offices of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation, 17, Waterloo Place, S.W. The Committee will hold its first meeting on Monday next.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how the work of the Statutory Committee is to go on without any funds whatsoever?

The work of organising the Committee which will do this work can easily go on with very little expense, the money for which can be readily obtained. In a short time we hope to know the decision of the Government as to the funds, and that decision will be communicated to the House.

When the Statutory Committee is set up to which Minister will questions have to be addressed?

The Prime Minister has arranged that, for the present at all events, I shall answer all the questions of hon. Members relating to the Statutory Committee.

Is it not a waste of public money to appoint a paid secretary in addition to a paid vice-chairman?

I should say certainly not. If the hon. Member will look at the functions and powers of this Statutory Committee he will see the enormous amount of work which they will have to do all over the country in England, Scotland and Ireland, and he will see that a paid secretary is absolutely necessary, as well as a paid vice-chairman.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that it was advocated in this House that there should be a paid secretary instead of a paid vice-chairman?

asked if single men with dependants are to be exempted from compulsory enlistment, what is the position of an attested married man with a widowed mother dependent upon him; and is he also exempt?

Under the Bill, single men with dependants can claim an exemption (absolute, conditional, or temporary), and an attested married man with a widowed mother dependent upon him can claim a similar exemption under the Derby scheme.

asked the number of employés of military age in the Government Departments in London; and how many are still unattested?

The exact numbers are not available, and I understand that the labour involved in procuring them would be considerable. I am, however, informed that there are very few eligible Civil servants who have up to the present failed to attest.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that every effort will be made to release all available men in the Government Departments in order to set an example?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of doubts prevalent concerning what constituted youth in the pledge given concerning young unmarried men, he will say whether all unmarried men to the age of forty-one are held to be young; or whether young men means men up to a lower age; and, if so, to what age?

It is difficult, if not impossible, to define the precise boundary line at which a man ceases to be young; but for this purpose I should be disposed to regard all men of military age as still young.

Does the Prime Minister know that each man is for himself the best judge whether he is young or not?

I am glad to say that my experience is the same as that of the hon. Member. Some of us are young long after the calendar marks us old, and others are old long before the calendar marks us old.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Scotland has given more men to the Army and Navy in proportion to her population than any other portion of the United Kingdom; and whether he is prepared to furnish the House with the figures to enable it to determine whether Scotland should, like Ireland, be excluded from the provisions of the Military Service (No. 2) Bill?

Recruiting in Scotland has undoubtedly been most successful, but the figures for which my hon. Friend asks are not available. The suggestion in the last part of the question cannot be entertained.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the fact that an Amendment will be put down to exclude Scotland, he will provide us with the figures in order to enable us to come to a decision on that subject?

I cannot undertake to do so, and I shall certainly oppose any such Amendment.

Is it not the case that the figures for Scotland are withheld in order to spare the blushes of England and Wales?

asked the Attorney-General whether he will now take steps to define by legislation the meaning of the phrase, "for the continuance of the War"; and will he move to add a Clause to the Military Service (No. 2) Bill with this object?

The phrase referred to in my hon. Friend's question occurs in a great number of statutes, and will undoubtedly require definition at some period. It cannot, however, be usefully defined until we are in a position to foresee the circumstances under which the War will end. The more particular point raised by my hon. Friend in relation to the Military Service (No. 2) Bill will no doubt require consideration in the Committee stage of the Bill when my hon. Friend will be able to develop his point.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if men who have been discharged from the Army on medical grounds since the commencement of the War are excluded from the provisions of the Military Service Bill?

asked whether men who enlisted since 4th August, 1914, and have since been discharged as medically unfit, are exempted from the provisions of the Military Service (No. 2) Bill?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Tottenham Division.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it has yet been decided if men discharged from the Army as medically unfit shall have some distinctive badge?

That matter is under consideration, and I believe a solution is being arrived at. I will inform my hon. Friend if he will repeat his question next week.

asked the Home Secretary how many German and Austrian alien enemies, male and female, respectively, are now at large in the United Kingdom?

As regards males, the figures for Great Britain are: Germans, 7,449; Austrians, 5,088. I have not been able to obtain the figures for Ireland. A final census of female alien enemies has not yet been taken for the whole Kingdom, but the available records show that the number at large, excluding British-born wives, is between 10,000 and 11,000, of whom about two-thirds are Germans and one-third Austrians.

Seeing there are nearly 12,000 male alien enemies at large, may we ask the new Home Secretary to take this matter into more serious consideration?

I will report the hon. Gentleman's desire to my right hon. Friend.

Are any steps taken from time to time to review those cases which have been adjudicated upon?

Yes, there are.

asked the Home Secretary how many alien enemies are now at large in prohibited areas and, in particular, how many are still residing in Northumberland and in Kent?

The available figures show that as regards the prohibited areas on the East and South Coasts of Great Britain, for which statistics have previously been given, the number of male alien enemies now residing in them is as follows:— Germans 353 Austrians 48 401

For the prohibited areas of Northumberland and Kent the figures are:—

Northumberland.—Germans, 74; Austrians, 17; total, 91.

Kent.—Germans, 15; Austrians, 2; total, 17.

Will the hon. Gentleman really take steps to see that prohibited areas are made what their name implies and that these aliens are moved elsewhere?

My hon. Friend knows that no alien can live in a prohibited area without an order. The Home Office has to pay some regard to the opinions of the chief constable.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why, if the number of aliens in the country can be given, the figures of Scotsmen in the Army cannot be given?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what the Board have done or intend to do with the nitrate of soda bought by them?

It will be shipped to this country if sufficient freight can be obtained in time for the ensuing agricultural season.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what sum has been granted by the Exchequer to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries for the purchase and maintenance of the Tully Stud?

The Tully Stud was given to the nation, and therefore no Grant has been necessary for its purchase. An estimate has been presented to the Treasury showing that the cost of its maintenance for the next fifteen months will be about £4,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture the amount of the Grant for the encouragement of horse-breeding made by the Development Commission to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries last year; and what Grants are arranged to be made to the Board for the encouragement of horse-breeding this year from the Development Commission or from the Exchequer?

The Grant for 1915–16 was £31,500, £26,500 of it coming from the Development Fund and £5,000 being an ordinary Exchequer Issue. For the year 1916–17, expenditure from the Exchequer not exceeding £40,000 has been authorised, and there will be no Grant from the Development Fund.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the reason for the increased Grant this year?

Yes, I think it is because of the anticipated great need of the Army for horses of a Cavalry type, for which on mobilisation they have to rely largely on England.

Would not the same reasons apply to Ireland, where they have reduced the Grant for horse breeding?

I think not quite. It is a matter of hours rather than days to get the horses.

Is it not a fact that before the War all the remounts necessary for the Army were bought in Ireland?

Yes, but there is a difference between annual purchases and war mobilisation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether donations for patriotic purposes are allowed as deductions in excess profits; and whether Excess Profits Tax can be exacted in the case of a company which is wound-up in order to escape payment thereof?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Section 44 (2) and Section 45 (4) of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1915.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any information as to German financiers negotiating securities in Paris and London through neutral intermediaries; and what steps he is taking to prevent this practice?

No information has reached me which tends to show that German financiers are succeeding in negotiating securities in London through neutral channels. The precautions established under the temporary regulations for the reopening of the Stock Exchanges and under the Trading with the Enemy Acts are expressly designed to frustrate any such attempts, and I have no evidence that they are not proving effective.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the reserve of gold coinage in the possession of the Bank of England and in that of the German Imperial Exchequer, respectively, on 31st December, 1915; whether it is still obligatory on the Bank of England to deliver gold to all who ask for it in exchange for notes; and if he can state approximately how much of the gold coinage of this country was melted down during the year 1915 by the manufacturers of jewellery?

As shown by the Bank of England Return for 29th December, 1915 (the last of the year), the amount of gold and silver coin then held by the banking department was £137,977, and the amount of gold coin and bullion held by the issue department was £51,338,430, or together £51,476,407. No information has been published since the outbreak of war as to the state of the German Imperial Exchequer. If by "Imperial Exchequer" the hon. and learned Member means to refer to the German Imperial Bank, the amount of gold held by the Imperial Bank on 31st December, 1915, was, according to the official German return, £122,259,250. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative and to the third part in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Bank of England declines to recognise the trustees of unregistered trades unions for the purpose of investing funds in the War Loan for and on behalf of their unions; whether he is aware that large sums of money are being withheld from investment in the War Loan in consequence of this action on the part of the Bank of England; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

It is the uniform practice of the Bank of England to decline to register stock in the name of trustees as such, as it can take no cognisance of any trust. But it is open to trustees of unregistered trade unions to open stock accounts in the names of the trustees as individuals, or the trustees may apply to the Public Trustee to act for them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether recent developments in Turkey, Mesopotamia, Persia, and the Middle East will occasion any change in the military administration of affairs in these countries; and whether the Mesopotamia Expedition is still controlled entirely by the Government of India?

I cannot answer for changes that may be occasioned by future developments, but at present the Mesopotamia Expedition is controlled by the Government of India.

May I ask whether Mesopotamia is not rather remote from India, and whether its present close connection with Egypt does not make a change desirable?

I am not aware of any geographical changes.

Although the right hon. Gentleman may not be responsible for the geography of the globe, is he not responsible for answering as regards military proximity?

It is true that, measured by miles, Mesopotamia is nearer to Egypt, but for military convenience it has been arranged—and I do not think this is likely to be altered—that the Mesopotamia Expedition shall remain under the control of India.

asked the Under-Secretary for War, if he will issue a request to the military authorities that all men who have been on service, say twelve months, without leave shall have priority in the granting of leave over those of less time service?

The instructions already in force are to the effect that those who have been in France the longest time shall have preference as regards leave. This, however, does not mean and cannot mean that until all the men who have been in the War the longest have had leave no others shall be granted leave.

Has the right hon. Gentleman not had complaints that the rule, as he has stated it, is not being carried out?

It is impossible to carry out a scheme for leave for such a large Army as we have in the field without there being complaints of hardship in individual cases, but that is inevitable to any large scheme.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he is aware that there is dissatisfaction among the Forces at the front owing to the differences in granting leave to various units, especially the Territorials, they having greater difficulty in obtaining leave than those in more recent enlistments, some never having had leave since the beginning of the War; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The granting of leave is not, I think, affected by the consideration whether any individual is a Territorial or Regular soldier. Military exigencies make it inevitable that leave in units in different parts of the front cannot be distributed with absolute equality. The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief is well aware, I am sure, of the feelings and wishes of his troops in regard to this matter, and consistently with the military considerations, which are paramount, will give leave to the largest number possible.

Is it true that suspension of leave has become a form of punishment?

I do not think that is true, but leave has been deferred to those who have been constant delinquents. I think that is not unnatural.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he will outline the regulations that govern the granting of leave of absence at the front; whether he is aware that officers who have only been at the front for less than three weeks have been granted leave of absence, and that publicity was given to their presence in London; and, having regard to the dissatisfaction that exists among non-commissioned officers and men at the way in which leave is granted, some men having been at the front ten or eleven months without leave whilst others have been granted leave twice in that period and commissioned officers are allowed frequent leave, whether, with a view to allaying not only the dissatisfaction among the rank and file of our Army but also the misgivings of parents and others anxious to see their sons and relatives, he will arrange for some uniform system being applied which will be fair to all concerned regardless of position or political influence?

The general principle is to send daily on leave as many as the train and boat accommodation will permit. Which individual officers or men are selected must depend on the military conditions at the moment, which obviously vary and can be known only to the military authorities in France. I am not aware of any cases of officers returning after three weeks' service at the front, unless any Members of this House may have returned after that short interval in order to take part in the important Debates which have recently taken place in this House.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many parents of soldiers are complaining when they know men are home on leave who have not been at the front as long as those in whom they are interested? Is it not causing general dissatisfaction?

I have endeavoured to have this matter put right. I have had correspondence with Field-Marshal Sir John French, the late Commander-in-Chief at the front. He informs me there were really great difficulties, but every effort is made to give leave to those men who have been out longest. The hon. Member must know that is not always possible. It must depend on military conditions.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if it is the intention of the War Office to allow of the raising of local Royal Artillery brigades and any more local battalions of Infantry; if he is aware that at Portsmouth three battalions have already been raised locally; and that Portsmouth is specially suited for the raising of local Royal Artillery brigades, inasmuch as so many residents are mechanics and skilled labourers?

There is no present intention to raise any more local units either of Artillery or Infantry. Should there be reason in the future to alter the present policy, the suitability of Portsmouth, where two service battalions and one reserve battalion have been raised, for such a purpose will be borne in mind.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether the men lately employed in the outside stations of the anti-aircraft defence had been trained at anti-aircraft work for about a year or more; whether most of these men were unfit for foreign service; whether the men who have superseded them are physically fit and of the right age for foreign service, but with no experience of anti-aircraft work; and can he say why this change was made?

The first two parts of this question should be addressed to the Admiralty. As regards the third part, no men have been superseded, but certain changes agreed to by both the naval and military authorities, both in organisation and in the distribution of personnel, are in progress. It is not desirable to furnish information on the details of these changes.

asked the. Under-Secretary for War whether any decision has been taken to break up the South Wales Mounted Brigade, and the Border Mounted Brigade by utilising the regiments to provide drafts for an Infantry division recently employed in the Gallipoli Peninsula; and whether he will reconsider this decision with a view to employing these units collectively either as Cavalry or Infantry?

I am glad to be able to inform the House that both the brigades mentioned will go abroad as brigades.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether the War Office are building kilns at £50 a-piece in order to burn to ashes the many thousands of tons of stable manure produced at the remount depot at Avon-mouth; whether he is aware that this valuable fertiliser is greatly in demand by Gloucestershire farmers outside the immediate neighbourhood of Avonmouth, but that, owing to the impossibility of obtaining railway trucks, a large number of which are kept empty and unused out-side certain railway stations in case of emergency, it cannot be conveyed to them; and whether, in order to avoid its contemplated destruction and satisfy the farmers' growing needs, the War Office will place temporarily at the disposal of the Agricultural War Committee of the Gloucestershire County Council for this purpose either a few of the trucks now standing idle on railways in the West of England or some of the motor transport lorries similarly standing idle in the neighbourhood of the above remount depot?

The cinerators were erected by the commandant as he was unable to get rid of the enormous accumulation of manure from last winter in any other way. As my hon. and gallant Friend suggests, the difficulty has been the impossibility of obtaining railway trucks for its removal from the depot to places where it could be made available for the farmers' use. I am informed that no railway trucks suitable for the purpose are being held up by the War Office, but the local military authorities are now considering the possibility of providing some motor lorries to take the manure into Gloucestershire, and I shall welcome my hon. and gallant Friend's co-operation.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that certain men of the 3/8th Middlesex Regiment are still being kept at the country's expense, although they were certified as medically unfit for service by the medical board sitting at Tunbridge Wells on the 14–15th October last; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have asked for a report on this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that No. 1565, Private J. E. Russell, of the 3rd Welsh Regiment, was recently tried by court martial for insubordination in connection with some trouble arising out of the quality and quantity of the food supplied to the men in camp, and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour, and his wife and children are deprived of the separation allowance; and, in view of the length of the sentence and Russell's age, which is fifty-seven years, and of the fact that he had previously served twelve years in the Royal Marines, he will consider whether some mitigation of the punishment can be made?

I will have inquiries made into this case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the delay in making the new short deviation of the main high road between Folkestone and Dover; if he is aware that this road has been forcibly closed since the great landslide which destroyed the South-Eastern main line beneath, and if his attention has been called to the inconvenience and loss now incurred both by the military authorities and by civilians owing to the delay in reopening the main highway; if he will, in the circumstances, urge the authorities concerned to hurry on the new deviation and, until this is finished, if he will take steps to obtain immediate permission from the Royal Naval Air Service, which without any delay immediately began to make and promptly finished a deviation for themselves, to rejoin the damaged main road for military ambulances travelling between Dover Pier and the different hospitals in the Shorncliffe area to use this temporary junction road; if he is aware that, owing to the state of the interior roads, wounded soldiers transported from Dover to the hospitals in the Shorncliffe area have now, under orders, to be taken in ambulances round by Denton and Broome Park, an additional 10 miles; and if, as the road journey via the Naval Air Service deviation there and back would be less than half (namely, 19 miles) the journey via Denton (namely, 39 miles), he will at once issue instructions for all military vehicles forced to travel between Folkestone and Dover to use the same short road and deviation, in order that both the British and Canadian Governments may be saved the present wastage in wear and tear, in petrol, tyres, and oil, and also in the time of officers and men in charge of transport?

No formal representations on this matter have, so far as I can trace, reached the War Office, but the inconveniences experienced as a result of the recent landslide are known. The reopening of the main highway is a matter for the county authorities, and I believe that the General Officer Commanding concerned is doing all in his power to forward the restoration of the ordinary means of communication. I will ask him to arrange for the temporary utilisation of the shorter route referred to if that can be done.