asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the decision of the Netherlands Government to intern the crew of E17 is final, or whether it is now the subject of negotiation as to the correct interpretation of international law on the subject of shipwrecked sailors?

This matter is still the subject of consideration by His Majesty's Government, and I am afraid that I am not yet in a position to add anything to what I have already said on the subject.

asked whether any relations for purposes of trade or telegraphic and postal facilities with or through Italy have been granted to Germany since the entry of Italy into the War through her declaration of war against Austria-Hungary?

I am informed that trade between Italy and Germany has in practice ceased since Italy's declaration of war against Austria. Inquiries are being made of the Italian Government as to both the law and the practice in Italy in respect to postal and telegraphic communication with Germany.

I suppose we must not take it that Italy and Germany are at war with one another?

The hon. Member must give me notice of that question.

asked whether the Foreign Office has been aware of the state of things demonstrated by the American trade statistics; and, if so, can he say how much longer our Navy is to be crippled by the Foreign Office, the war prolonged, and many more thousands of our men sacrificed?

I understand that the subject is to be discussed next week. I must, however, say that the statement made in the question is grossly unfair and entirely misrepresents the facts. I reserve such further statement as can be made in public till next week.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say for what reason the Government have chosen not to allow the effective blockade of Germany as allowed by international law?

That is a rather large question, of which notice should be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that in August, 1914, the French Admiral in the Mediterranean informed his Government that he was in pursuit of the "Goeben" and the "Breslau," which he intended to sink before Constantinople, and that he was forbidden to do so by the French Government, in consequence of the objection of England to do anything to annoy Turkey; if he will state whether he was informed by the French Government that they had received any such dispatch from the admiral; and, if so, what reply he made to the communication?

The answer is in the negative. There is no record of any such communication in the Foreign Office, and I have no recollection of having heard of it before.

Seeing that the story has been published in neutral countries, will the right hon. Gentleman take any steps to give an authoritative contradiction?

As a matter of fact I did not hear of the story until I read the hon. Member's question, which was sent to me this morning. I should like to make inquiries at the Admiralty before I say anything more about it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of that captains, officers, engineers, and men of the merchant service lose their lives and are wounded by torpedoes, mines, and shot in the service of the country, he will take steps to have published a list of casualties occurring in the merchant service from time to time; and whether he can state the number of such casualties which have occured since the commencement of the War?

At the beginning of each month the Board of Trade issue a notice to the Press giving the number and net tonnage of British merchant vessels respecting the loss of which reports were received during the previous month and also giving the number of lives lost. The vessels and lives lost by enemy action are distinguished in this notice. I am sending the hon. Gentleman a copy of the notice which was issued on the 1st January. The number of masters, officers, and seamen belonging to merchant trading vessels reported to the Board of Trade as having lost their lives by enemy action between the 4th August, 1914, and the 30th November, 1915, was 1,073. I regret that I cannot give precise figures as regards the number of men injured.

Will the hon. Gentleman take some steps to give national recognition in some form to the great services and sacrifices of the merchant service in this War, so that individuals who lose their lives may be signalised in the same way as they are in the Army and Navy?

That is another question of which notice should be given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government are taking, or intend to take, to limit the rates of freight on grain, coal, and other necessaries to United Kingdom ports and the ports of the Allies; and whether, in view of the advantage which shipowners are taking of the necessity of the State, the Government will requisition the whole of the merchant tonnage on the British register and utilise it under the direction of expert committees for the services most essential to the prosecution of the War?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the very full answer given on the question of the regulation of freights yesterday. I am sending him a copy of the answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to an estimate that the freightage alone represented 3d. in the present price of bread; and whether, seeing that this depends upon getting wheat sent here as there is no shortage, he intends taking any action in the matter?

I am advised that the estimate in the question is much too high. It is probably based on the assumption that the bread is all made from Argentine wheat, which of course is not the case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the congestion of traffic and shortage of trucks on the railways owing to the absence of arrangements for the pooling of railway trucks of all the different railway companies; and whether, in view of the fact that these companies are controlled by the Government, he will issue instructions for this to be done?

I have requested the Railway Executive Committee to consider how far they can usefully extend the existing arrangements for the common use of railway companies' wagons.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any figures?

I have not the figures here.

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will give them in answer to a question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the members of the Board, the date of their last meeting, and the names of those who attended; and whether, in view of the necessity of bringing the industrial factors of the strength of the country to the highest state of efficiency, he will consider the desirability of a reconstitution of the Board so that it may include two men of recognised ability in the industrial world and two men of science, noted for their knowledge of technical education and interested in the problem of providing for its application to industrial development?

The Board is composed of a number of ex-officio members, in addition to the President, who do not attend meetings. As regards the last part of the question, there are, I think, grave objections to any scheme which would divide the responsibility of the President to Parliament for all the acts of his Department among the members of a Board. Such advantages as might possibly accrue from the constitution of a permanent Board are better secured by the development of advisory committees of experts dealing with special groups of questions whom the President can consult without any diminution of his ultimate responsibility.

Do not the ex-officio members of the Board include the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Speaker of this House and the Speaker of the Irish Parliament?

We have had that question put many times before.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a case which came before the Ecclesall Board of Guardians on the 12th instant of a man who is serving with his regiment in France, whose wife through mental strain, occasioned by the War, has lost her reason and had to be temporarily taken to an asylum, and his two children to the cottage home of the guardians; whether the mere fact of this misfortune not only disenfranchises this soldier but also stops the Army allowance for the maintenance of his wife and children; and, if so, will he take steps by legislation or otherwise to deal with such a case?

My hon. Friend has been good enough to send me particulars of the case referred to. I am glad to say that under the Electoral Disabilities (Naval and Military Service) Removal Act, 1914, the soldier would not be disfranchised on account of the circumstances mentioned. I also understand that the issue of an Army allowance in respect of the maintenance of the children would not be discontinued. Of course, the administration of these allowances is under the control of the War Office.

Will this refer to wives' allowances?

I understand that as the War Office order stands at present it only applies to children, but I believe the matter is under consideration. I think the question should be addressed to the War Office.

I will put the question down.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the requirements of British trade after the War, attention has been given to the advantages of using the metric system and of a command of foreign languages; and whether local education authorities are being encouraged to carry on classes or give instruction in these subjects, especially in the manufacturing and commercial districts?

The Board are fully alive to the advantages of a command of foreign languages, and local education authorities are encouraged to make provision for giving instruction in them. Instruction in at least one foreign language is required in all secondary schools aided by the Board. Instruction is ordinarily given in the metric system of weights and measures in secondary schools and technical schools, and the Board have no reason to believe that the value of such instruction is not adequately realised. My hon. Friend will appreciate the difficulty of asking local education authorities at the present time to extend their activities.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the corps of Royal Naval Reserve Assistant - Paymasters was established in 1904, and whether these officers have always had to maintain themselves in an efficient state either by attending annual classes of instruction or by a period of training afloat each year; whether they have done this service without any retaining fee and, until they were called out, received no grant in aid of uniform; and, seeing that officers of this grade with many years' service to their credit find themselves on the same level as temporary assistant-paymasters enlisted since the commencement of hostilities, will the Admiralty see their way to recognise the long service of these officers by granting them an additional half-stripe or extra pay?

The answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative. As regards the third part, it is not proposed to make any change in the present Regulations. Assistant-Paymasters, Royal Naval Reserve, of four years' seniority, are already distinguished from new entries by wearing two stripes instead of one.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, considering the importance of the proposed Ship Canal joining the Firth of Forth and the Clyde to the naval base at Rosyth, he will now make arrangements for the employment of the German prisoners of war on this work?

So far as the Admiralty are aware the construction of this canal is not contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there is any objection to the deportation to their respective countries of the number of enemy aliens still at large in this country and who are not of military age, seeing that this course will be simpler and less expensive than sending them back after the conclusion of the War?

The aliens mentioned in the question have all been exempted from repatriation on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee, presided over by Mr. Justice Younger, who were satisfied that there was adequate ground for exemption in each case. A large proportion belong to friendly races, such as Czechs, Poles, Alsatians, and Italians of the Trentino, which are included in the enemy Empires against their will. The majority have been resident here for more than thirty years, and have lost connection with their country of origin. A certain number are women, not of enemy birth, but who have acquired enemy nationality by marriage. One thousand five hundred are over seventy years of age.

asked the Home Secretary whether a mere statement on the part of a foreigner resident in this country to the effect that he is a citizen of a neutral country is accepted by the police authorities without further investigation; and, if not, what is the nature of the proof required, what steps are taken to obtain it, and what steps are taken if it is unattainable?

No statement that a foreigner is of neutral nationality which the police have any reason to distrust is accepted without investigation. The nature of the proof demanded must depend upon the circumstances of each individual case. If the police have reason to suspect that the foreigner is of enemy nationality they would put him to proof by summoning him for failing to register as an alien enemy.

asked the Home Secretary if all persons volunteering as special constables have hitherto been and still are required to make a declaration giving particulars relating to themselves, and, if so, in what form; and if making a false or misleading statement in this connection is a punishable offence, and, if so, what is the penalty for such offence?

The form of declaration required to be made by special constables is set out in the Order in Council of the 9th September, 1914, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy. It does not refer to the nationality of the candidate, but the enrolling officer is required to satisfy himself on this point. In future it is proposed to obtain from every candidate a written statement that he is a British subject. There are ample powers to punish by imprisonment or internment any enemy alien who falsely represents himself to be a British subject.

Would the penalty only apply to alien enemies or would it apply to any alien who obtained enrolment in the special constabulary by false pretences?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the Home Secretary if a man neither born nor naturalised in this country, and only recently arrived therein, was enrolled as a special constable in London without any proper inquiries being made or guarantees demanded, and that this man enrolled himself under an English name, his real name being a German one; and will he explain why the authorities, having known these facts and other suspicious circumstances for nearly two months, have taken no stronger action than to request this man to resign his position as a special constable, and still allow him to carry on business under an illegally assumed English name?

The person referred to, when he joined the special constabulary, made the usual declaration, and he stated that he was an American citizen. He has papers which appear to confirm this statement, but further inquiry is being made. As he was an alien he ought not to have been accepted as a special constable, the Regulations not permitting the enrolment of aliens, and, when the matter came to notice, he was required to resign. The police have, however, no reason to doubt his bona fides. He carries on business under a name he has used for many years, both in America and in this country. The prohibition against the change of name by alien enemies during the War does not apply to him.

I beg to give notice that I intend to raise this question on the Adjournment on Monday.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now state the changes in the Press censorship promised as a result of consultation with the military authorities abroad; whether the daily communiqué is now regularly published; and whether information regarding all our fronts is regularly included?

My right hon. Friend the late Home Secretary discussed the subject with the responsible military authorities from General Headquarters, and, as he informed the House on the 9th December, in reply to a question put by the hon. Member for North Somerset, the issue of a daily communiqué from the Western front was begun, and it is now regularly published. The arrangement did not extend to other fronts, but I will ask the War Office to consider whether any extension of the scope of the communiqué is practicable. At the conference referred to the question of facilities for newspaper correspondents was also discussed, and I understand that the Staff at General Headquarters are doing their utmost to facilitate the work of the correspondents. New arrangements have now been in force for some little time, and from the information which has reached me I believe that they are working satisfactorily and are much appreciated.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Quadruplex, Limited, who are manufacturing pocket cooking stoves for the Army; whether the shares in this company are almost entirely owned by alien enemies resident in Berlin and Hanover; whether the managing director of this company is Jakob Strumpf, a German by birth, not naturalised, and a discharged bankrupt; whether this person has a permit signed by the late Home Secretary to trade in this country; whether, in the course of business, he has opportunities of visiting various Government Departments and the military camps in this country; whether he will see that this person is interned at once; and what further steps he proposes to take in the matter?

Jakob Strumpf, a German, was exempted from internment in October last on the ground that he was engaged in work which it was in the public interest that he should continue. The exemption is liable to revocation at any time, but I am not at present aware of any reason for revoking it. No permit to trade signed by the Home Secretary has been granted to him. The question of any future action in regard to his business will be for the consideration of the Board of Trade when the Bill which is now before the House is passed. I understand that their attention has already been directed to the case.

asked the Home Secretary the grounds on which the representatives of Scotland Yard raided the office of the Russian Seamen's Union on the 20th December last and seized all the papers, stamps, and documents, and afterwards raided the private dwelling of the secretary; whether the union differs in any essential point from a British trade union; and whether any subsequent action is contemplated?

As the police inquiries are still incomplete, I think it would be undesirable to make any statement on this matter at present.

asked the Home Secretary what expense will fall upon the rates in consequence of the damage done in the Brotherhood Church in the course of disturbances at a public meeting held there on the 16th instant; if the authorities will take steps to recover this expense from the persons who are known to have promoted the disturbance in question; and whether he intends to take any action in respect to the incitements to violence which are continually appearing in the "Daily Express" and other papers?

Damages are payable from the rates only in cases of riot, and the reports received from the polile do not show that the disorder on the occasion refrred to amounted to riot. If my hon. Friend will let me see the newspaper paragraph which he alleges contain incitements to violence, I will consider whether any action ought to be taken.

Have the police recovered any of the property which was stolen by the thieves who took part in this disturbance?

I should have to make inquiry on that point, if the hon. Member will give me notice.

asked the Home Secretary whether, since the War, the number of male operatives employed in the export lace trade has decreased to such an extent that unless their places can be supplied by females it will be difficult for the trade to be continued upon a working basis; that the substitution of females is impeded by the rules relating to their employment being limited to the period between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. or 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., whereby, if threading is required after the later hours named, the machines have to remain idle till 8 a.m. next day; that a general Order extending the hours of employment for women and young persons, so that they may be worked in sets between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., or between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., is needed so that by the distribution of available labour stoppages of machinery may be avoided without increase of the actual hours of labour in respect of any individual worker; and whether he will, for these reasons, grant a general Order in the desired terms?

Representations have been made to the Home Office on this question, and in view of the important character of the export trade the Home Secretary is prepared to grant an Order for the purpose mentioned. The details are now under consideration.

Does the Home Secretary intend to issue an Order in the terms prayed for?

asked the Postmaster-General whether inland letters are now being censored; and, if so, on what principle and by whose authority?

I should like to take this opportunity of giving an explanation which I hope will do something to remove what is apparently a very prevalent misapprehension. The Postmaster-General has no control over the censorship, and is not in a position to answer any inquiries with regard to it. Any such questions should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War.

Is it not the case when you put a stamp on an envelope that my right hon. Friend takes charge of it and ought to be responsible to those who post it?

All questions with regard to the censorship are in the hands of the War Office.

Is not the Postmaster-General in charge of the carriage and delivery of letters, and does he not know whether anyone interferes with them?

That appears to be a legal question, and should be put upon the Paper.

asked the Prime Minister whether, taking into consideration the threatened shortage in the supply of doctors for the needs both of the Army and of the civilian population, he will take steps to reorganise and recall to normal action the Statutory Advisory Board of the Army Medical Services, that it may resume regular meetings in its consultative capacity with a view to aiding the Director-General to a better utilisation of the skill and experience which has been offered by medical men to the War Office, and to a more appropriate distribution of medical aid both for meeting the necessities of the military situation and for the needs of the civilian population?

As regards the Advisory Board, which is not, as my hon. Friend states, statutory, I would refer him to what I said in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Plymouth on the 25th November, and also to the written reply I gave the same hon. Member on the 12th January, 1915. From this latter answer he will see that machinery is in existence, in the shape of the Central Medical War Committee, to advise as to the best use which can be made of medical men presenting themselves for acceptance as candidates for commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps. The answer referred to deals with the matter at great length, and I cannot repeat it to-day. I may, however, add that, thanks to the patriotism of the medical profession, there is no present anxiety regarding the supply of doctors for the Army, and the action of the Central Medical War Committee, with which the Director-General of the Army Medical Service is in touch, will be to carefully guard the interests of the civil population in this matter, the claims of whom have not been and will not be disregarded.

Is it illegal for the Board not to perform the duties for which it was constituted?

I do not know that I quite follow the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the advisability of placing the education of the country on such a basis that not only scientific work, particularly original research work, may be fostered and developed to the utmost, but that its application to industrial enterprises is practically provided for in the most efficacious manner, he will take advantage of the present crisis to institute a broad and far-reaching scheme of education, extending from the primary schools to the highest paths of the universities, and setting in relief the paramount importance of science and of scientific methods?

The Board of Education hope, on the restoration of peace, to give effect to their plan for improving the national system of education, particularly on the technical and scientific side, which were necessarily suspended on the outbreak of War. The hon. Member is probably aware that a Committee of the Privy Council is at the present time engaged in carrying out a scheme of industrial research, a Vote for which was approved by Parliament a few months ago.

Even before the end of the War would it not be well to get under weigh with this important reform?

The Board of Education is doing everything that is practical and possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that dissatisfaction and discomfort have been occasioned by the delay in parcels reaching the troops in Salonika; and whether steps can be taken to ensure a more efficient service in future?

Parcel mails for the Salonika Force are forwarded from London by the most expeditious routes at the disposal of the Post Office, and there is now no avoidable delay in their transmission.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Allies' War Council includes military and or political representatives of Italy, Japan, Russia, Serbia, and Montenegro; and, if all these Powers are not now represented, whether it is intended to give representation to all belligerent States?

It is not expedient to say more than that arrangements for the extension of the Allied Council are in progress.

asked the Prime Minister whether the anti-aircraft defences of London and elsewhere are continuing to receive the close attention of His Majesty's Government; and whether he can discreetly disclose any information on the subject to reassure the public in this respect?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second, certain changes are now under consideration, but it would be contrary to the public interest to make any statement about them at present.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has been, asked by the London Master Builders' Association to meet a deputation from that association to discuss the question of suspending or cancelling contracts entered into prior to 4th August, 1914; whether he has agreed to meet such deputation; and, if so, whether, before coming to any decision on the matter, he will meet a deputation of the representatives of the workmen engaged in the building trades and discuss the question with them?

No, Sir, I have received no such request.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the services rendered by our merchant seamen, they will be provided with a distinctive badge or armlet to prevent them from being mistaken when on shore for men who have refused to do their share of duty?

The prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I have nothing to add to the answers given on this subject to the hon. Member for the Devizes Division of Wiltshire on the 26th October and 30th November last.

asked the Prime Minister whether Lord Kitchener has asked for 1,500,000 men to the end of 1916; whether this information was given to the Cabinet; and, if so, on what date?

I can add nothing to the statements which have already been made on this matter.

Does my right hon. Friend refer to the statement by the President of the Board of Education that Lord Kitchener had asked for these men?

I refer to all the statements which have been made.

Seeing that practically every statement which has been made contradicts every other statement, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us which statement we have to take?

That is a matter of opinion.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability, in regard to the present crisis, of so reconstituting the Board of Education and of so enlarging its scope that, while retaining a strong labour element in the Cabinet, there may be nominated as President of the Board some man eminent in theoretical science, able to grasp the trend of modern research work and to appreciate the results, as well as acquainted with the means of forming a nexus between such scientific work and its eventual outcome in technical education and the application of technical knowledge to industrial enterprises?

No, Sir, I am afraid I cannot entertain this suggestion.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement as to the position of the Allies in the Adriatic, more especially with regard to Montenegro and Albania?

I have no more information as to the present position in Montenegro than has appeared in the Press. I gave the hon. Member what information I could as to Albania on 10th January, and I fear that I can make no further statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the price of wheat is now higher than it has been for over thirty years, and that about one-third of the present price of a loaf of bread represents the cost of shipment to this country of imported grain or flour, the Government propose to take in the immediate future any steps to regulate or limit the freights charged during the War for the shipment of cereal grain to this country?

On the question of regulating freights, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in answer to questions yesterday. The estimate of the cost of shipment contained in the question is too high, and is probably based on the assumption that the bread is all made of Argentine wheat.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the legislation now passing through the House, he will also grant facilities for the introduction and discussion of a Bill to make available for the successful conduct of the War all the material resources of the nation by means of the conscription of all surplus wealth and landed estates?

I would remind the hon. Member that considerable steps have already been taken in the direction he indicates, by means of Income Tax, Super-Tax, and the Excess Profits Duty. I need hardly add that it may be necessary to impose further burdens of this character. Meanwhile, I cannot anticipate the measures which will be proposed in future Finance Bills by giving the hon. Member the facilities for which he asks.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it is not reasonable, when every other class of the community is being called upon to make great sacrifices during the period of the War, that those who hold the land of the country should be called upon to make a special contribution towards its defence?

Everybody should make a contribution in proportion to their ability to pay.

Will the right hon. Gentleman receive a deputation from the Land Values Group?

asked if the Government adhere to their declared policy of prosecuting the War with the utmost rigour until the territories of Serbia and Montenegro are restored as independent kingdoms?

I am not aware to what my hon. Friend refers. I adhere to the declaration which I made in this House on 2nd November.

Is not the House well aware of the declared policy of the Government, and has there been any change of policy in view of the recent development of events?

No, Sir. There has been no change whatever in any declared policy of the Government.

Has any obligation been entered into in regard to Montenegro?

I would ask the hon. Gentleman to look at my speech of the 2nd November. The question answers itself.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether the Irish National Health Insurance Commissioners have appointed referees according to the provisions of the Act; if so, when the appointments were made, what are the names and the qualifications of the persons so appointed, and whether their names were submitted to the Treasury for approval in accordance with the provisions of the Act; whether he is aware that the Irish National Health Insurance Commissioners have appointed members of their own body to act as referees under the Act for the purpose of deciding appeals, and that in a recent case heard in the town of Wexford, notwithstanding the legal objection by one of the parties to the appeal, two of the Irish Insurance Commissioners sat and acted as referees to decide the appeal; whether this appointment of members of their own body by the Irish National Health Insurance Commissioners to act as referees is in accordance with the provisions of the Act and has the sanction of the Treasury and of its legal advisers; and whether, if the Irish National Health Insurance Commissioners have not already appointed referees in accordance with the provisions of the Act, he will give directions that the Commission shall proceed to the appointment of such referees in the form and manner prescribed by the Act?

I assume that the first two parts, as well as the remainder of this question, relate to the appointment of referees under Sections 67 (3) and 81 (1) of the principal Act. I am advised that the procedure adopted by the Irish Insurance Commissioners is in accordance with the law, and I see no reason to depart from it.

asked if it is proposed to continue in operation and without modification the existing Order of the Board relating to the slaughter of calves?

The Department have recently circularised the local authorities and the Board's agricultural correspondents in order to ascertain their opinion as to the administrative effect of the Order. As soon as the majority of the replies to this inquiry have been received the President of the Board proposes to consult his Agricultural Advisory Committee as to the modifications of the Order, if any, which it may be considered desirable to make

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to meet the convenience of investors in Ireland, a special arrangement has just been made in terms of which applications for and registration of holdings of the new Exchequer Bonds are to be dealt with by the Bank of Ireland in Dublin; whether, in order to afford the same facilities to investors in Scotland, arrangements will be made for the transaction of such business at one or other of the bank offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow; and whether the volume of such business in Exchequer Bonds is expected to be on a larger scale in Ireland than in Scotland?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave yesterday on this subject in answer to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for the College Division of Glasgow.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the fact that the Scottish Bank is not dealt with in this matter militates against the loans?

I think that subject is fully dealt with in the answer given yesterday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Treasury permit the melting down of good sovereigns and half-sovereigns for the purpose of the manufacture of jewellery; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is being done extensively at the present time to meet the demand that exists for gold ornaments and trinkets?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave on the 6th January in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Bassetlaw Division of Nottinghamshire.

Does he not think that it is wrong that gold coins in this country should be melted down and turned into jewellery while in Germany they are turning their jewellery into gold coins?

I think in the answers I have given I stated that a Bill will be required in order to stop this practice, and we are now considering the question whether it should be introduced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the sales of furs and articles made of fur and of imitation fur; and if he will consider the question of putting a heavy Import Duty or tax on these luxuries, especially as a large part of them are imported from abroad and their purchase affects the exchanges against this country?

My attention has already been called to this matter. The suggestion of the hon. Member, in common with many other suggestions as to taxation now before me, will be carefully considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the number of 5s., 10s., and £1 vouchers and certificates of £5 and of larger amounts taken up of the 4½ per cent. War Loan, and the total value of the small investments in that issue?

The number of vouchers sold was, in round figures, as follows: 5s., 1,501,000; 10s., 421,000; £1, 827,000; and their total value £1,413,000. The number of £5 scrip certificates sold was 798,220, and their value £3,991,100. There were no certificates of larger amount than £5. Other subscriptions through the Post Office amounted to £30,642,000, and through the Trustee Savings Banks to £3,840,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the sanction of the Treasury Committee on new issues was given to the Bleriot Manufacturing Aircraft Company, promoted by Mr. Harry Lawson, of which the Duke of Manchester was chairman, and against which a petition for compulsory winding up has already been granted; will he say on what principle the Committee's sanction was given; whether, when the sanction was given, the Bleriot machine had ceased to be purchased by the Government; and whether, in view of the general dissatisfaction with the decision of the Committee, as expressed by the London Chamber of Commerce and other business interests in the City, he will appoint a new tribunal which will sit at regular times to hear applicants and give reasons when it refuses permission?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part I may say that, as stated in the prospectus of the company, the Treasury do not, in considering whether they have or have not any objection to new issues, take any responsibility for the financial soundness of any schemes or for the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed with regard to them. In this particular case the issue was recomended by the Fresh Issues Committee on the advice of the War Office with the object of increasing the supply of aeroplanes. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. In regard to the last part of the question, I fear I can add nothing to previous answers on this subject.

Are Bleriot machines purchased by the War Office?

I think that is a question which must be addressed to the War Office. I have no personal knowledge of it.

asked the Under-Secretary for War, whether officers in the Territorial Force temporarily at home from the front, either through wounds or being invalided, do not qualify for promotion in their third-line battalions when attached to them for service; and, seeing that this produces an injustice to officers of the first line, who, through no fault of their own, may become junior to third-line officers originally below them in the same regiment and who have seen no active service, will he say what steps he will take to remove this grievance?

Officers who are at-attached to third line depots take their proper precedence in the third line according to their seniority in the regiment. This precedence is determined in the case of an officer holding a permanent commission by the date of his permanent rank, and in the case of an officer holding a temporary commission by the date of his present appointment to the Territorial Force.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can yet see his way to accede to the many representations sent up to him by Members of the House of Commons that appropriate treatment, apart from connection with lunacy, should be provided for uncertifiable cases of nerve shock occurring among unwounded soldiers of the rank and file, since large numbers of similar cases among the wounded recover in a short time in the base hospitals; and, seeing that officers are provided with hospital treatment dissociated from asylums, will he put an end to the practice of placing the rank and file when so invalided under lunacy administration in annexes of county asylums?

As my hon. Friend is aware, I have answered many questions on this subject and have explained the treatment given. The institutions to which he refers in the latter part of the question are entirely under the control of the War Office and not under the jurisdiction of the Lunacy Board of Control. In order that my hon. Friend may see what the treatment is which is given to such cases occurring amongst soldiers of the rank and file, I should be glad if he would allow me to make arrangements for him to visit one or two of the hospitals in question. Perhaps he will kindly communicate with me with reference to the arrangement of such a visit.

asked whether any officer has been appointed to a chief command since the beginning of this War whose age has been on his appointment under fifty-three years; and, if not, why soldiers are refused enlistment after forty-one years of age, being then presumably past their best, while officers are given chief commands up to sixty-six years of age?

I believe that my hon. Friend is right in the broad generalisation he makes in the first part of the question, although, as the term "chief command" is not technically correct I have not been able to test it with precision. The latter part of the question seems to suggest that in the interests of democratic uniformity of treatment recruits should be allowed to continue enlisting up to the age of sixty-six, or, alternatively, officers who are over forty-one years of age should not be given what my hon. Friend calls a "chief command." This is a very novel idea, and on mature consideration I think my hon. Friend would reject it.

Is there any age limit for the appointment of chief commanders?

I am unaware that there is any limit of age for the highest places in this country, including the Premiership in this House or in the other House.

asked how many men enlisted between 15th December, 1915, and 10th January, 1916?

No. Sir, I regret that I do not see my way to give the figure asked for.

asked whether a man discharged from the New Army as not likely to become an efficient soldier, but with a good character, must attest again under the Military Service (No. 2) Bill if eligible on the score of age and condition?

This question is raised by one or two of the Amendments on the Paper to the First Schedule of the Bill. Perhaps my hon. Friend will await the discussion in Committee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will make arrangements to allow men who have been discharged as unfit after service at the front to continue to wear some uniform or armlet during the War to indicate the services they have rendered?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on the 18th instant to the hon. Member for Bethnal Green.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state broadly the effect of that answer? Are they entitled or not?

Oh, yes, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many men are employed in the various forces at home as servants to officers and others; and whether, in view of the urgent need for men, he can arrange for officers and others to do without servants?

I cannot provide my hon. Friend with the figure, but I can assure him that the number of men employed as officers' servants is reduced, as far as possible, by making one servant act for two or three officers, and that all men so employed are men who are not fit for service in the field. My hon. Friend's suggestion would not therefore, if carried out, increase the number of men available for service in the field.

Is my right hon. Friend quite sure that all officers' servants are not fit for service in the field?

Yes; that is the statement given to me.

asked whether the percentage of wastage in the Army, estimated at 15 per cent. per month, is applied to the whole Army or only to the Infantry?

I stated in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hanley on the 12th January that the figure 15 per cent. per month applied to the Infantry only.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the proportion of this 15 per cent. per month who are able to return to duty and have not to be replaced by others?

I think that I could do that.

The hon. Member must give notice.

asked whether, seeing that the Army medical services are subject to dual control, one Director-General being in England and another Director-General in France who may work contrary to the plans of the Director-General in England, and who posesses authority to upset the units of hospitals as soon as they arrive in France, appropriate steps will be taken to deal with the matter?

The appropriate steps for dealing with this matter would be, I think, to make no change. There is no conflict of authority. Medical units in the field are under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, to dispose of in any way he thinks fit. I do not see how it could be otherwise.

asked whether those retired officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps who have been called up for active service are now receiving full pay of rank in addition to full pension; and, if not, what pay is each surgeon-general and each colonel receiving?

Yes, Sir; with the exception of a small number of surgeon-generals, who have given their services in posts of a grading not commensurate with that rank, and draw £600 a year in addition to pension.

asked whether the Government have, during the last three years, paid to each paid member of the Advisory Board of Medical Services a sum of £600; and whether, seeing that since the beginning of the War the Board has held no meetings, he will consider the advisability of eliminating this expense, if it be the desire of the Government that no formal meetings of that Board be held?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Plymouth on the 22nd November and the 25th November, to which I have nothing to add.

asked what is the total of the emoluments at present being received by the Director-General in England, including present pay plus pension and salary as President of the Imperial College of Science and Technology; what emoluments are being received by the Director-General in France; and whether he is receiving the salary of a Director-General, together with allowances, as well as a wound pension?

The Director-General of Army Medical Services at the War Office is receiving from Army funds £2,000 a year pay and £625 pension. He is receiving nothing from the Imperial College of Science and Technology. The Director-General of Medical Services in France is receiving £2,000 a year pay and the field allowance of his rank (£273). His wounds pension was commuted some years ago.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any contracts have been placed by his Department with Quadruplex, Limited, for the supply of pocket cooking apparatus for the troops; whether he is aware that the shares in this company are owned almost exclusively by German alien enemies, and the business is managed by a non-naturalised person of German birth whose real name is Jakob Strumpf and who has assumed the name of J. Strong; whether this person has had access to our military camps; and whether he will at once take steps to see that no business is done in future with this firm by the War Office?

Nothing is known in the War Office of the person or the firm referred to; nor have any orders for pocket cooking apparatus been placed by the Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the British aeroplanes now at the front are equal in efficiency to the new German Fokker machines; and whether he can make any statement as to the results of the aerial fighting on the British front in Flanders during the last month?

In order that the present position as regards aerial fighting on the Western front may be correctly understood, the defensive nature of the German methods of fighting in the air must be kept in mind. It is to this kind of fighting only that the Fokker aeroplane, which is incapable of prolonged flights away from its own lines and over the British lines, is appropriate, though for this limited purpose its suitability is not disputed. The main duties of aeroplanes, however, are reconnaissance and artillery work, and, in our case, offensive fighting, and it is with reference to these duties that the suitability of our types of machine must be judged mainly. I may say, however, that if the Germans adopted the offensive and came behind our lines, we have machines quite equal in efficiency and speed to the Fokker aeroplanes which they employ defensively behind their lines.

In reply to the second part of the question, I would point out that, for the reasons I have mentioned, nearly every fight in the air takes place on the German side of the trenches. As a result casualties to our aeroplanes and pilots when they occur tend to appear excessive by comparison, because the Germans can hide their own whilst advertising ours. But my military advisers are satisfied that our Flying Service has given a good account of itself in recent fighting.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state why no statistics are given of the balance of 215 cases of enteric fever over and above those diagnosed after bacteriological examination; also if cases bearing the name of paratyphoid fever, trench fever, pyrexia, and other pseudonyms of enteric fever, are included in the totals furnished by him; and, if not so included, will he furnish statistics of cases and deaths diagnosed under those heads as well as those for the 215 cases of enteric fever referred to above?

The 215 cases consist of those waiting bacteriological examination and also of some cases which, in the early days of the War, were not bacteriologically examined, but were diagnosed as enteric fever on clinical grounds only. The diseases mentioned in the second part of the question were not included in the figures I gave on the 10th January. I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that those diseases are pseudonyms for enteric fever. No statistics are available of the cases of trench fever and pyrexia. My hon. Friend's question appears to me to suggest, though, no doubt, inadvertently, that the medical authorities hide cases of enteric fever by falsely returning them under other names. So far as this suggestion is contained in the question, I must repudiate it. I did not give particulars of the cases of paratyphoid in my answer of 10th January because no system of inoculation for that disease had been adopted.

asked whether the rule as to the promotion of captains in Regular Infantry Regiments after fifteen years' service is also applicable to captains in Regular Cavalry Regiments?

No, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether in view of the congestion of traffic on the railways caused by the number of out-of-order trucks and engines, he will release from military duties men at present training and serving at Home, so that the necessary repairs may be made to the railway rolling-stock and thereby relieve transit difficulties?

A certain number of railway employés have already been re- leased. I understand that the Ministry of Munitions have the whole question under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary for War the names of the lunacy institutions which are being used in whole or in part for the accommodation of unwounded soldiers invalided through transient loss of balance or mental disorder; and if these institutions are under the jurisdiction of the Lunacy Board of Control?

The institutions are Springfield War Hospital, WandsWorth; the Napsbury War Hospital, Napsbury, St. Albans; the Red Cross Military Hospital, Maghull, near Liverpool; and the War Hospital, Peebles, N.B. The institutions mentioned above have been taken over by the War Office, and are entirely under its control.

asked the Under-Secretary for War how much per head is being paid by the War Office to the asylum authorities in respect of the accommodation and treatment of those soldiers, whether certifiable or uncertifiable, who are suffering from nerve-shock but are still in the Army; and if the responsibility in regard to those soldiers is assumed by the lunacy authorities?

No rate per head has been fixed for these soldiers. The net additional cost will be refunded in due course. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

In the cases of men suffering from mental weakness, have they pensions or allowances for their support if they return to their homes?

I shall require notice of that question.

Are the War Office paying money to the Lunacy Commissioners and authorities, and are they not spending the money on keeping these men? Is not that the case?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether payment of separation allowance to a wife at the request of a soldier can, in the absence of a conviction for misconduct, be diverted to some other person without an opportunity being first given to the wife to justify her claim to the continuation of the allowance?

It is difficult to deal with this subject in reply to a question, as so much depends upon the circumstances of individual cases. If my hon. and gallant Friend will communicate to me the particulars of any case he may have in mind, I will make inquiry into it.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if, under the Military Service (No. 2) Bill, members of the Territorial Force who have joined for home defence only and have not volunteered for work abroad will be required to undertake foreign service?

Territorials who have not undertaken liability for foreign service come under the Bill as it stands. A full statement will be made to-day.

May I ask whether the Bill is not confined to Home Service Territorials who are unmarried and who are within the military age?

That is so.

It does not apply to anybody outside those conditions?

No.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, whether the best available artificial limbs are being supplied to officers and men who have lost limbs in the War; whether the whole cost is paid by the State; and, if not, what proportion is paid in the case of officers and men, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the Melton Division on the 12th May, and to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the hon. and gallant Member for the Maidstone Division on the 13th December. Officers are given such sum as the Army Council consider sufficient to defray the necessary expense of providing the artificial appliances; and artificial limbs for men are provided and prepared at the public cost for men who lose limbs in the War. I would add that an institution has been opened at Roehampton House where all men who have lost limbs can go and have the artificial limbs fitted under the advice of expert orthopædic surgeons. The men are also taught how to use the artificial limbs.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the deficiency of mineral phosphates in India and of the fact that the greater part of the bones exported go to foreign countries, he will consider the advisability of suggesting to the Governor-General in Council the limiting or prohibiting of the export of bones from India?

I will draw the attention of the Government of India to the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the despatches relating to the military operations on the North-West frontier of India, in September, 1915, have been published in the "Gazette of India"; and, if not, will he say why this has not been done?

The despatches have not been published in the "Gazette of India" as received up to date. For the reason of non-publication I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer I gave to his question on the 11th January.

Considering the position of the men who are retained for defensive purposes on the North-West Frontier of India, will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Government of India to consider the publication of these despatches in the "Gazette of India"?

I should be very glad to hear anything from my hon. Friend if he would like to see me on the subject. I do not at present see why operations on the North-West Frontier of India in pre- sent circumstances should be dealt with differently from what they would be in ordinary circumstances.

Are the operations under the India Office, or are they covered by the General Staff?

I do not think that arises out of the question. The operations for the defence of the Indian frontier are necessarily under the control of the Government of India.

Will the Indian Government recognise that by publishing the despatches?

I will refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the question which appeared on the Paper on the 11th instant., in which I explained the practice in regard to the publication of dispatches.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Cabinet has now before it the scope of the Mesopotamia campaign and the plans for its successful prosecution; and whether he can give the House any information as to the decisions arrived at by the Cabinet?