asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many requests for permission to raise capital have been received by the Treasury since the outbreak of the War; and if he can give the names of the petitioners, the sums in question, and the official decision in each case?

As already stated by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary, the information asked for is not available and could only be obtained either by interfering with the duties of the present staff or engaging additional staff. I hope that in these circumstances my hon. Friend will not press his request.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether naval officers working on shore in conjunction with Army officers in Egypt are entitled to receive the same rate of Colonial allowance as the Army officers; and if he will explain why the Admiralty are not paying this allowance?

The allowances payable to naval officers are governed by the King's Regulations and Admiralty instructions, which do not provide for the payment of Colonial allowance to officers serving in Egypt. Officers who are compelled to reside in hotels there are repaid the actual reasonable expenses which they incur, and officers who are living under canvas are entitled to the payment of a field allowance.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a soldier in the British Army, after bringing his wife and two children from America at his own expense and after eight months' active service in France, was discharged as unfit for further service on account of his wounds; whether the authorities fixed this man's pension at 4s. 8d. a week; whether a letter from Sir Frederick Milner, Baronet, protesting against such a miscarriage of justice, was banned by the Censor; and, if so, will he say why this course was adopted; whether the man's pension was raised to 25s. a week; and whether effective steps have now been taken to guard against a recurrence of such an incident?

In the case referred to the pension was at first fixed at 4s. 8d. a week, the medical board being of opinion that the disability was not due to service or climate. On further inquiry, made at the instance of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society, Edinburgh, it was found that the man's disability was largely due to concussion caused by a bursting shell, and on the 26th August an increased pension of 18s. 9d. a week was granted, with 2s. a week each for the man's three children, or a total of 24s. 9d. a week. Later the man was re-examined, and as a result of the re-examination, simultaneously with which an application from Sir Frederick Milner was received, it was decided that the man was totally incapacitated from the effects of active service and he was awarded 25s. a week for six months, with 2s. 6d. a week for each of his three children. The grant of the increased pension made in this case and in others similar had nothing to do with the letter which the hon. Gentleman speaks of having been banned by the Censor.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state on what date Mrs. Saville left her work at the War Office?

3rd December.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is a considerable number of young soldiers who are either unfitted for drafts or have to be discharged from the Service owing to their suffering from hammer toes or similar disability; and whether he will consider the advisability, in the less aggravated cases, of having these men fitted with surgical boots which might render them fit for service in any event with a non-combatant unit?

In the opinion of my medical advisers the issue of surgical boots to the men mentioned is not likely to render them fit for service, and even if such boots were issued it would be quite impossible to replace them if they were lost or worn out on service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, considering the response of ex-Volunteers to the Colours during the latter months of 1914, he will reconsider their grievances as regards proficiency pay and grant those who joined the Colours before 1st January, 1915, and are now serving, proficiency pay from 1st January, 1916?

I regret that I am unable to add anything to my previous replies on this question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether British soldiers who have served in Egypt are entitled to additional pay at the rate of 5½d. a day, or any other rate, for the period of their service there; if so, how is this sum to be obtained by soldiers who have returned home, and is it paid by the military authorities in England and recovered from the Government of Egypt?

No such additional pay for service in Egypt is given.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he will give orders for a further supply of ammunition boxes to be manufactured in Ireland; and if he will take steps to establish a filling establishment in that country immediately?

Additional orders for ammunition boxes to be manufactured in Ireland are being placed. Our requirements do not justify an addition to the list of filling factories at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether it has been decided to schedule Lancashire under the Control Orders on all fours with the Orders already made in other places without the opportunity of an inquiry and the production of evidence?

No decision has yet been arrived at regarding Restriction Orders for Lancashire. An inquiry was held on the 23rd November, at which representatives of the naval, military, and civil authorities, and of employers and trade unions attended. Representatives of the licensed trade and of other bodies were also heard by the deputation on the same day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government propose to take to reduce the rates of freight now charged by shipping firms on agricultural and other produce exported from Ireland to Great Britain, and on coal and other articles exported from Great Britain to Ireland; and if he is aware that the present rates for sea-borne freight to and from Irish ports is three times what they were before the War?

The whole question of the increase of freights, which is caused mainly by the scarcity of tonnage, is engaging the constant attention of the Government, and steps have already been taken to relieve the situation by restricting the use of British ships abroad and by requisitioning ships for the carriage of foodstuffs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Metropolitan borough of Islington has sent a circular to its electricity consumers stating that, in consequence of an advance of nearly 70 per cent. in coal prices, the council is compelled to increase the price of electricity commencing with the March quarter; and whether, seeing that the expectancy that charges for coal would not be materially increased has not been realised, he will take further action in the matter?

I understand that the borough council of Islington has sent out such a circular. The Electric Lighting Order under which the council supply electricity fixes the maximum charges which may be made to consumers. Electric lighting undertakers are acting within their statutory powers in varying their prices so long as the prescribed maximum is not exceeded. I presume that the pit-mouth price of the coal the council are buying complies with the provisions of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what proportion of the milk produced in England and Wales for commercial purposes is sold directly by the producer to the consumer, by the producer to retail dealers, and by the producer to wholesale dealers, respectively; and what proportion of the total number of milch cows kept in England and Wales by commercial milk producers consist of herds of more than three?

The information in the possession of the Department does not enable me to furnish the hon. Member with the particulars asked for, and in the present state of the Board's staff it would be quite impossible to obtain them.