asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government are prepared to receive the new Exchequer Bonds in payment of Income Tax and Super-tax; and if so, how they would arrange the interest due on them, if any?

I fear I am unable to adopt my right hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that one of the joint stock banks is charging its customers for giving a certificate to prove that Income Tax has been paid to the Government on interest due on securities which they hold as collateral security; and whether he can take steps to prevent this charge being made in future?

I have no information on this point—which appears to be a question of domestic arrangement between banker and customer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has in contemplation any measure with a view to the compulsory enforcement of individual thrift and to the arrest of such individual extravagance as is injuriously affecting the balance of our foreign trade, and may be seriously endangering our ability to ensure our eventual success in the war?

As has already been stated in this House, the question of encouraging thrift and arresting extravagance is engaging the continuous attention of the Government, and a Committee which has been investigating the subject is expected to report shortly. I shall be glad to consider any suggestions which the hon. and gallant Member may have to make.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if holders of the last War Loan and of the new Exchequer Bonds will be able to convert into any new War Loan that may be issued without subscribing for an additional amount of new Loan?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the amount of money paid to public boards, and to whom, since the outbreak of the War?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Civil Service and Revenue Department Estimates. I think he will find there all the information which can be given him without an expenditure of labour which could not in present circumstances be justified.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the public boards of Kerry, including the Kerry County Council, have, by an unanimous voice, strongly protested against the withdrawing of and largely reducing Grants to Ireland for education, horse breeding, technical instruction, Grants in aid, etc.; whether he is aware that the opinions in Kerry are reflected by an united Ireland demanding equal treatment with England in those Grants; and whether, in view of the situation which has arisen, he will now reconsider the claims of Ireland as demanded by the whole Irish nation?

The protests in question appear to be based on a misapprehension of the facts. There is not, and has not been, so far as I am aware, any intention of treating Ireland less favourably than England in the matter of continuing the Grants referred to.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange, as far as possible, that the political agents in every Parliamentary constituency shall have all the blue cards of the single men who have not attested during the next three weeks so that they may be canvassed with a view of finding out the exact number of single men standing out?

I think that if my hon. Friend would approach the recruiting officer in West Ham he would be able to obtain a list, not necessarily complete, of all the single men unattested. This would be the quickest way of obtaining the information he desires.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if Lord Derby has received a communication from Prestwich as to the constitution of the recruiting tribunal; whether Arthur Walkden is a member of it; if so, whether he is aware that this member stated at a recent meeting of the council that he would not fight if the Germans were on his doorstep and again, that he paid people to fight for him; whether of those who elected the tribunal four are themselves of military age; whether several members have sons who may come before the tribunal; whether there are other well-known circumstances which have caused the inhabitants generally to protest against the composition of the Prestwich tribunal; and will he take steps to remove Arthur Walkden and any other undesirable members?

No official communication on this matter has been received, taut I have seen newspaper extracts and have also myself received one or two private communications. I cannot confirm all the statements in my hon. Friend's question. The matter is evidently one on which I cannot dwell with advantage without obtaining complete information. To pronounce any opinion, in the absence of full information, would only create difficulty.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, in reference to the Lord Derby recruiting campaign, whether the Constituency Return, Form No. C.R. 2, giving details as to the total number of married and single men, details as to the result and analysis of the canvass, etc., both as regards married and single men, was duly to hand from the Manchester area on 20th December, when Lord Derby signed his Report on recruiting which was recently presented to the House?

I am informed by Lord Derby that the Report in question in no way affects the figures and the deductions made therefrom in his Report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many time-expired men who would have been retained with the Colours under the Military Service (No. 2) Bill have been discharged from the Army since the First Reading of the Bill in this House; and whether it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the Bill?

I am unable to give the figure asked for in the first part of the question. The second part is covered by the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to question No. 51.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in accordance with the undertakings repeatedly given, he can still give the assurance that any men desiring to join a particular unit under Lord Derby's scheme will be allowed to do so provided there are vacancies in that unit; whether, in accordance with the War Office order, men attested in the group system may come up at once for direct service unless the special circumstances of their case make this course undesirable; whether, under the Military Service (No. 2) Bill, the recruits will be given freedom of choice of regiment when called up; and whether, in view of the assurances previously given on these points, he can promise that the War Office will see that the undertakings will be enforced?

Subject to military necessities, the assurance referred to in the third line of the question holds good. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative, but the assurance asked for in the third part can, I fear, hardly be given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of an applicant for a commission in a provisional battalion, previously declared unfit for service abroad and subsequently rejected as medically unfit for service in such battalion in consequence of extreme deficiency in eyesight, such rejection being subsequent to 15th August, 1915, such applicant can claim exemption under the Military Service (No. 2) Bill in accordance with paragraph 5 of the First Schedule of the said Bill?

No, Sir; not unless he comes up again for examination.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will recommend the further use of the card-index system in the Army Service Corps for use generally and for casualties at the front, as well as for dealing with absentees, deserters, and men on sick furlough, consequently doing away with the methods of bookkeeping still used in many camps?

The card-index system is already used extensively in the Army. It is introduced whenever it can be used with greater advantage than registers and other forms of bookkeeping.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what percentage of the Army consists of married men?

No, Sir, statistics upon which a statement on this matter could be made are not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a large percentage of the shells that were supplied to the Royal Garrison Artillery serving in France were what is known as blind shells—that is, shells that do not explode; and, if so, what proceedings have been taken to protect our troops and punish the contractors?

All shells supplied for use in the field are live shells, but a proportion of them fail, from various causes, to explode. The fault does not necessarily lie with the contractor.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state how many British prisoners are in the hands of the Turks, comprising those captured at Gallipoli and Mesopotamia; and what reports have the Government of the conditions and health of these prisoners?

Although letters from individuals not infrequently speak of markedly good treatment, there is reason to fear that the general conditions of internment in Turkey are far from satisfac- tory, but, owing to the remoteness of some of the camps and the difficulty of communication, it is hard to ascertain the actual state of affairs. The American Ambassador at Constantinople has done everything possible to ameliorate the lot of British prisoners and has supplied them with certain comforts and articles of clothing which the Turks have apparently entirely neglected to provide; but notwithstanding all his efforts he has, by latest reports, been unable to obtain the consent of the Turkish Government to visit the internment camps. The number of prisoners of the Royal Navy and the British Regular, Colonial and Indian Forces is as follows, according to the reports available:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there is any difficulty in obtaining the necessary number of qualified motor drivers for the Army Service Corps; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of either enlisting recruits at a lower rate of pay than the 42s. a week, plus allowances, now paid to such men while awaiting vacancies as drivers, or of voluntarily transferring qualified drivers from other branches of the Service as required?

No motor drivers are now enlisted at the 42s. a week rate. As regards the last part of the question, there are obvious objections to transferring trained soldiers from combatant units in order to send them to perform non-combatant duties.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether regulations have recently been made which make it impossible for a prisoner being tried by a court-martial in France to exercise the right which the law gives him of being represented by a solicitor and counsel, because no permit is granted for their attendance, and they cannot attend without it; and whether he will take immediate steps to see that in all serious cases where a prisoner desires to be so represented either proper facilities are granted or the prisoner is sent for trial in England?

The exigencies of active service conditions do not generally allow of counsel being allowed to proceed to the zone of military operations. In this connection I invite the attention of the hon. and learned Member to paragraph 88 of the Rules of Procedure, and I would further remind him that the Rules of Procedure dealing with the employment of counsel do not apply in the case of field general courts-martial.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War on what ground the War Office recommended the Treasury Committee on New Issues to sanction the issue of capital by the Bleriot Manufacturing Company; whether the Bleriot machine is still being purchased by the War Office; and whether it is still in use by the Army?

It was understood that the new company was being formed to acquire and extend the works of the Bleriot Company, the extension being necessitated by the large order placed by the firm for aeroplanes in March, 1915. It was on this recommendation that the proposed issue was recommended. A few Bleriot aeroplanes are still being purchased: they are used by the Army only as training machines.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will state how the Board of Control of Regimental Institutes is constituted; who are the members thereof; what salaries do they receive; how many officials are employed by the Board; and at what salaries?

My hon. Friend the Member for the Doncaster Division is chairman of the Board of Control of Regimental Institutes. I will circulate with the Votes the full list of members. No member receives any salary. The Board employs nineteen inspectors, assistant inspectors, and sub-inspectors at salaries ranging between £200 and £700 per annum. Besides a secretary there is also a clerical and accounting staff, including typists, numbering twenty-nine persons, whose salaries amount at present rates to £3,300 per annum.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the cause of closing the remount station at Longford barracks; whether he is aware that this has always been a Cavalry barracks and that quite recently a large sum was spent in making it more suitable for the proper training of Cavalry remounts; whether the cause of closing it is personal pique on the part of a high official in Ireland; whether he is aware that this remount depot gave a considerable amount of local employment, which is now discontinued without notice; and whether, in the interests of economy and efficiency, he will see that this depot is not scrapped without adequate cause being shown?

This depot has been temporarily closed owing to the reduction in the number of horses kept in Ireland. The reason was its inconvenience compared with other depots as regards distance from the ports and from the mounted units in the command.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office 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 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?

Separation allowance is not issuable for the wife in the circumstances detailed by my hon. Friend, but it is issuable for the children at the higher rate given when children are motherless.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in sending to the dependants of a deceased soldier papers for the choice of a gratuity or pension, it is made quite plain to them that they cannot have both; and whether the advantages of either are pointed out to them?

There is no choice allowed to a soldier's dependant between pension and gratuity, those eligible for the one not being eligible for the other. It has recently come to my notice that the form filled in by the dependant does not make this as clear as would be desirable, and an alteration is under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that Private Gardner of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, has been refused any pension or solatium in respect to inability arising from rheumatism on the ground that such complaint was not contracted during military service; and whether, seeing that the medical authorities passed him into the Service as medically fit, the Government holds itself bound by such passing?

I understand that pension was refused in this case on the ground that the disability was not due in any way to military service. On the last part of the question I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh on the 19th November.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the method of direct purchase locally of forage required at small remount depots has been discontinued; whether the results of such direct purchases have shown that they are more economical than the supply by district purchases; and whether, in the interests of local producers of forage as well as economy of the taxpayers' money, he will reconsider this question?

It is found undesirable to have the two methods of purchase running concurrently, as this would involve the danger of two officers competing with one another for the same supply. If the hon. Member has any information showing that the present methods of purchase fail in securing economy of the taxpayers' money, and will communicate it to me, I shall be happy to give it full consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the dispute now proceeding between Messrs. Brown and Haigh, of Wigan, and their employés, the cause of which is the refusal of the firm and of the Wholesale Clothiers' Federation, to which it belongs, to come to terms with the Amalgamated Union of Clothiers' Operatives with regard to the conditions under which women are being employed in tailoring operations previously carried on by men; whether the Home Office have tried to bring about a meeting between the representatives of the Wholesale Clothiers' Federation and of the Clothiers' Union; whether the wholesale clothiers have refused to agree to such a meeting; whether every qualified member of this union in Wigan has either enlisted or attested under Lord Derby's scheme; and whether any and, if so, what steps are to be taken to prevent the employers in question thus taking advantage of the patriotism of these men?

No intimation has been received at the War Office of the dispute referred to. The second part of the hon. Member's question would appear to be a matter for the Home Office. I regret I am unable to say to what extent members of the union in Wigan have enlisted or attested.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that the carpenters employed in erecting huts at the Amphill Camp are being paid at the rate of 8d. per hour, while those working at two other camps in the neighbourhood are receiving 10d. per hour; and whether he will take steps to increase the wage of the men at the Amphill Camp to the rate paid at the other camps?

I have no information on this subject. The huts in question are not being built at the public expense.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the new factories erected and fitted up for munitions production by his Department are now in full operation and working full time and with the complete number of workers; and whether, with due regard to public interests, he can make any statement on this subject?

It would not be in the public interest to make any statement on this question.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he has received a complaint that Mr. Monk, of Edmonton, is only paying the painters employed by him at a munitions factory at Edmonton labourers' wages; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

Inquiry has been made, but as it appears that the work in question was not done on a contract or sub-contract from the Ministry of Munitions, I have no power to take further action in the case.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he has received a complaint against Mr. Lysarght, builder, of Bristol, who is carrying out work for his Department at Wormwood Scrubbs, to the effect that he is only paying labourers' wages to the painters employed on this contract; and whether he will take steps to compel this contractor to pay the standard wage of the district?

I have received a complaint of the nature referred to by my hon. Friend, and am making inquiries into the subject, which is not free from difficulty.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether late entrants into national health insurance who elect to pay an extra contribution to receive full benefits are required to pay those extra contributions while serving in His Majesty's Army or Navy?

The extra contribution referred to in the Question is payable in respect of any period of naval or military service. Under the regulations it may be paid at any time before the expiry of three months from the end of the contribution year in which the man is discharged.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the receipts resulting from the imposition of an entrance fee to Kew Gardens, the claims of the Kew Gardens employés for some increase in wages will be reconsidered, having regard to the fact that the labourers are in receipt of only 24s. and 25s. per week, the carters 25s. per week, constables 27s. per week, gangers 28s. per week, and stokers 32s. per week, and no allowance having been made to meet the increased cost of living?

The question of the rates of wages of the employés at Kew Gardens has quite recently been under the consideration of the Government, and it has been decided that no increase can be granted. It does not appear to me that the question of the proper rates of wages is affected by the decision to make a charge to the public for entrance to the gardens.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that eviction proceedings are being taken against a number of very poor tenants on Saint's Island, Lough Ree, by the representatives of the late Captain William Bond for non-payment of arrears, amounting in some cases to five and six years; whether he is aware that these tenants live on miserable uneconomic holdings of two and three acres without turbary or other amenities necessary to the proper working of their holdings, whilst there is a large tract of good land attached to the landlord's summer residence on the island; whether he will take any steps to see that the law is not harshly employed against these people in this inclement season particularly, owing to the vast floods in this lake due to the abnormal rainfall; and will the Estates Commissioners see that some effort is made to acquire the untenanted part of this island for increasing the uneconomic holdings on this property?

I have no knowledge of the eviction proceedings referred to, but I am informed that the holdings in question are of greater extent than is suggested, that in some cases considerable arrears of rent are due, and that the island has suffered from the recent floods. The Estates Commissioners understand that the untenanted land on the island is small in area, and is held in conjunction with the owner's residence thereon. Formal proceedings for the sale of this property under the Land Purchase Acts have not been instituted before the Commissioners, and they are not prepared under present conditions to take any action in regard to the lands in question.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have given 30 acres of land on the Toppin estate to Mr. John Kavanagh; and, if so, what were Mr. Kavanagh's qualifications which caused the Commissioners to ignore the claims of local holders of uneconomic farms?

I am informed that in the distribution of the untenanted land acquired by them on this estate the Estates Commissioners, in the exercise of their discretion, made an allotment to John Kavanagh, the sub-tenant of an uneconomic holding in the neighbourhood, and that he has signed an undertaking to purchase the said allotment.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether it is proposed to have a registration of voters this year; and, if not, whether the precepts, to overseers, so far as registration of voters is concerned, will be issued by the clerks of the county councils?

The Parliament and Registration Bill now before the House of Lords contemplates the suspension of the machinery for the registration of electors until further provision is made by Parliament.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the following facts: that, although the Post Office circular of 11th November last stated that in the case of factory foremen (established) there would be no change in the scales of pay, title, or conditions of service, these officers have been deprived of a condition of their service, such condition having been existent for twenty years; and that deductions varying from 13s. to 72s. were made on 31st ultimo, such being shown in pencil on the pay-sheet signed, the amounts deducted being for duty performed during the last ten months for war work on Sundays, etc., when these officers were employed for ninety to 100 hours per week continuously; whether he is aware that these officers petitioned for a postponement of the deductions until an appeal to him had been heard and that such petition was ignored and the deductions made; and whether he will receive a deputation?

I am making inquiry on this subject, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Brazilian Government have reduced the Import Duties on goods from the United States of America; whether he can state the details of such new tariffs; and whether goods from Great Britain will be charged exactly the same duties on entering Brazil as goods going to that country from the United States of America?

For many years past Presidential Decrees have been issued in Brazil (under powers given annually by the Budget laws) according a Customs preference to a limited number of articles the produce or manufacture of the United States of America. Information is not yet available as to any Decree which may have been issued under the Budget law for 1916, but by the Decree issued under the previous Budget law a reduction of 30 per cent. of the tariff rates was accorded to United States wheat flour and of 20 per cent, to the following United States goods: Condensed milk, certain manufactures of india-rubber, inks and colours of certain descriptions (but not including writing ink), varnishes, pianos, typewriters, weighing machines, refrigerators, windmills, watches, corsets, cement, school furniture, and dried fruits. These reductions of duty have never, in spite of repeated representations to the Brazilian Government, been extended to similar goods the produce and manufacture of the United Kingdom.