asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state if any of the islands in the possession of Greece have been utilised by either Germany or Austria for purposes in connection with the War?

We have reason to think that our enemies have on several occasions endeavoured to utilise certain of the Greek islands as bases for hostile operations, but it is to be hoped that the measures being taken by the Hellenic Government in conjunction with the French and British naval and military authorities will effectually put a stop to these practices.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement about correspondence with the Dutch Government about the intercepting of postal matter in transit on the sea; and whether any offer to submit the question to arbitration has been made?

The correspondence with the Netherlands Government will shortly be laid before Parliament.

What about the last part of the question, which is very important, whether there is any suggestion or possibility of arbitration on this matter?

I think if my hon. Friend waits until he sees the correspondence, he will then ascertain exactly what has been proposed on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House if the Germans who crossed the frontier from the Cameroons into Spanish West Africa have been disarmed and interned by the Spanish Government?

His Majesty's Government have not yet received certain information that German troops have entered Spanish territory, but they have no reason to doubt that any troops seeking refuge in the neighbouring Spanish colony will be interned.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why, in view of the decrease of work owing to the peaceful state of Ireland, no reduction has yet been made in the staff of the Chief Crown Solicitor; why solicitors given temporary employment on that staff are retained permanently; and how many members of that staff, if any, have joined the Colours since the War began?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer. There has been no decrease of work in the office referred to, which is conversant not only with criminal business but also with the civil business of several public Departments. No solicitors are temporarily employed there, and no member of the staff has joined the Colours since the War began.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can give any details as to the present numbers of the various bodies of Volunteers in the three Southern provinces of Ireland; do these bodies possess any rifles or ammunition; have any of them taken any oath of allegiance to the Sovereign; and for what purpose have they been called into existence?

The National Volunteers were established under the direction of the Irish Parliamentary leaders in the early part of 1914, in circumstances which is, seems scarcely necessary to recall to the memory of the House. The section which seceded from them and which have, under the guidance of their committee, endeavoured to obstruct recruiting and foment disloyalty in Ireland, have called themselves the Irish Volunteers. It does not appear to be in the public interest to furnish the details asked for by the hon. Member with reference to these bodies. As far as my right hon. Friend is aware none of the Volunteers in Ireland have taken an oath of allegiance to the Sovereign.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to a public meeting and overflow meeting recently held in the City Hall, Cork, under the auspices of the Irish Volunteers; whether speeches were delivered of a highly seditious nature and the hope expressed that Ireland would soon be an independent country in alliance with a victorious Germany; whether armed Volunteers in uniform attended the meeting; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

The attention of my right hon. Friend has been called to the meeting in question, the facts as to which are substantially as stated by the hon. Member. The incident appears to have been greatly resented by the loyal people of Cork, but it has not been thought desirable to take any action against the speakers, who were only seeking notoriety by their speeches on this occasion

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the extent to which Dublin University, Trinity College, Dublin, and Magee College, Derry, enjoy public sources of revenue, as distinguished from private endowments; and the extent to which the teaching and study of German, French, and Irish respectively are subsidised out of their public revenues in those institutions?

My right hon. Friend has not been able to ascertain that there are any public sources of revenue accruing to the institutions named in the hon. Member's question, unless the payment can be so regarded which is made, under Section 39 of the Irish Land Act of 1903, to the Public Trustee for the account of Trinity College towards indemnifying the college for loss of income arising from the redemption under the Land Purchase Acts of any superior interests owned by the college.

Will the hon. Member say whether these colleges have been asked to furnish this information, and, if not, why not?

I cannot give the hon. Member that information without notice.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if boards of guardians and asylum boards furnish the Local Government Board for Ireland with minutes of their proceedings; will he say by what amount the aggregate estimates of those so far received of expenditure in the coming financial year exceed the aggregate expenditure of the same bodies in the last financial year?

The minutes of proceedings are furnished by boards of guardians to the Local Government Board and those of lunatic asylum committees to the Inspector of Lunatics. With regard to the second part of the question the information is not available, but if the hon. Member will refer to column 32 on page 291 of the Annual Report of the Local Government Board for the year ended 31st March, 1915, he will observe the total expenditure from revenue of all the boards of guardians in Ireland for 1914 as compared with that for 1913. Similar information as regards lunatic asylums can be obtained by a reference to Table XV., Appendix B, pages 26–29, of the Sixty-fourth Annual Report of the Inspectors of Lunatics (Ireland) and the corresponding tables in previous reports. My right hon. Friend hopes this information will meet the hon. Member's requirements.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will name the counties in Ireland in which police sergeants and constables are engaged on crimes special duty, with the number of them in each of those counties; the species of crimes prevalent in those counties, as shown by the assizes; and whether those sergeants and constables are in uniform or live as civilians under assumed names among the people?

It would be against the public interest to supply the information asked for by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of the Government to hold an Imperial conference this year; if so, can he give the date; and, if a conference is to be held, will he say if it is to be a conference called for a special purpose or a conference at which general matters of Empire can and will be discussed?

I do not think that an Imperial conference could be usefully held at present, but we shall shortly have the opportunity of a full and frank discussion with the Prime Minister of Australia, such as we had last year with Sir Robert Borden, and I am in constant communication with the Governments of all the self-governing Dominions in all matters connected with the War.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of discussing the question of emigration and immigration and joint action with the Premiers of the Commonwealth of Australia?

That is one of the subjects which will certainly be considered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also consider the question of a Federal Parliament?

I may be considering it, but I do not think the time has come for its discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that no official censorship of books exists, he has made any arrangements by which the functions of such an office devolve on police magistrates or on constables of police; and whether any order has emanated from the Home Office directly or indirectly that books which are disagreeable to any class, of the community shall be suppressed?

The answer to both parts of the question is "No."

Is there any control by the Home Department over the action of the police?

No, Sir; the police act of their own motion in pursuance of their own ordinary duty in the execution of a warrant.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the action of the police at Canning Town on Saturday, 22nd January, in closing an open-air meeting against Conscription on the evening of that day, on the ground that the speaker was not entitled to hold a meeting on such a subject; and whether, in order to secure the freedom of speech which he promised on behalf of the Government, he will undertake that the police throughout the country shall be made aware that it is perfectly legal to hold meetings against Conscription or in favour of the repeal of the Military Service Bill if it becomes law or against any extension of the principle of compulsion?

The Commissioner of Police tells me that nothing is known of an open-air meeting in Canning Town being closed by the police on Saturday, the 22nd instant. There is no police record of any meeting having been held there on that date. If my hon. Friend will give me fuller particulars, I will make further inquiry.

asked the Postmaster-General if, notwithstanding assurances by successive Postmasters-General that the telephone rates in Glasgow would not be increased until a new general tariff came into force, and that if the new tariff were not generally acceptable the question would be investigated by a Committee, subscribers to the former corporation ser vice at a flat rate of £5 5s. per annum have, contrary to these assurances, been notified that unless they are willing to pay £12 or go on the measured rate they will be disjoined; if he is aware that for less than £5 5s., as charged by the corporation of Glasgow, the telephone company of Stockholm gives an unlimited service over a radius of forty-three miles for £4 8s. 10d. per annum and pays a dividend year in and year out of 8 per cent.; and if he proposes to take any action in the matter?

put a question in the same terms.

The changes recently made in telephone rentals at Glasgow are those recommended by the Parliamentary Retrenchment Committee and adopted by the Government with the view of putting an end to unremunerative tariffs. The new rates are applicable to the whole country and are being generally accepted as reasonable. The general revision of rates, which was, if not generally accepted, to have been the subject of consideration by a Committee, was suspended on the outbreak of war, and I cannot say when it will be possible to proceed with it. The conditions of the telephone service at Glasgow and Stockholm are not identical, and it has long been recognised that the Glasgow unlimited service rate of £5 5s. a year imposed a burden on the general taxpayer for the benefit of the local subscribers.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that notices had been received by tenants of houses in Seven Kings, Edmonton, Weybridge, West Ham, Winchester, Tottenham, Poplar, East Ham, Plaistow, Enfield Lock, and Aldershot, which come under the scope of the Increase of Rent Bill, that their rents are to be increased immediately; and if he will say what steps he proposes to take to make it known to this effect that these demands are illegal?

I do not find that I have received complaints from the areas referred to. As regards the last part of the question, I am issuing to the Press a statement briefly explaining the provisions of the recent Act.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the suggested grant of £3 10s. to the members of the Post Office wireless staff, who have been required by the Admiralty to enlist in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, for the purchase of uniform and kit is insufficient for the purpose; that the cost for an outfit of this kind is £10; and can he see his way to recommend to the Treasury an increase in the grant, so as to cover the requirements of the Service in this respect?

The grant is sufficient to cover the cost of one suit of uniform, and there is no compulsion on the men to buy more than this. It is not proposed to increase the grant.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the number of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty from Messrs. Evan Thomas, Rat cliffe and Company, Cardiff; Tatem and Company, Cardiff; Mackay M'Intyre, Glasgow; the Prince Line, Newcastle and London; Constantine and Pickering, Middlesbrough; Glover Brothers, London; Groves and Company, London; Ropner and Company, West Hartlepool; W. and C. T. Jones, Cardiff; W. Runciman and Company, Limited, Newcastle and London; and Sutherland Steam Shipping Company, Newcastle; the number and percentage of vessels owned and managed at the present time; and whether there is any regulation governing the percentage requisitioned from each firm?

The answer to this question includes a tabular statement. I hope my hon. Friend will agree to allow me to publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Mean while, I may perhaps say that the percentages of the vessels owned by the various shipowners mentioned in the question, which have been requisitioned by the Admiralty, range between 21 per cent. and 59 per cent., and I append a note to the table stating the reason which governs the selection of vessels.

Are the Admiralty taking care in making those requisitions not to destroy a trade which is responsible for so many of our invisible exports?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the present requisitioning policy of the Admiralty is threatening to destroy the mercantile marine which it is one of the main objects of the Admiralty to maintain?

I cannot go into that now.

Is this requisitioning policy likely to be developed and extended or has the limit been about reached?

We must, of course, requisition. We do it carefully, wisely, and economically.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is satisfied with the progress of the 1914 and 1915 shipbuilding programmes; and whether he can assure the House that the Navy, as it stands to-day, both as regards ships and guns, is in a stronger position than was the case at the beginning of the War?

There is nothing to add to the statement which the First Lord made yesterday in reply to a question addressed to him by the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what steps have been taken to maintain a competent staff of shorthand writers for the service of the House during the coming Session in reporting proceedings before Select Committees and Private Bill Committees?

The Second Report of the Select Committee on Publications and Debates Reports is at present under the consideration of the Treasury.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that the official shorthand writer is an officer of the House, and that his assistants who have not enlisted have been for many years entirely engaged in the services of the House?

reply was inaudible in the Press Gallery.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that pictures protected by glass are in far greater danger of irremediable dam age from explosions than pictures not so protected; if he will therefore take steps to safeguard all the more valuable pictures in the national collections which may be left in the danger zones by having the glass removed; and if he will see that steps are taken to place the unique and priceless collections of pottery and glass of all ages in the different museums in more suitable places and conditions of safety?

As I informed the hon. Member on the 25th instant, the various bodies of trustees, who are responsible for the safeguarding of the national collections, are constantly considering what protective measures can and should be taken, but I will communicate the hon. Member's suggestions to the trustees.

asked whether the Treasury will be prepared to bear the expense of moving and placing in safety all the most precious portions of our national collections; and, if so, if the Treasury will extend this necessary aid to provincial museums which are known to possess unique collections of undoubted national interest within the danger zone of raids by Zeppelins or other aircraft?

Parliament is asked annually to vote the money necessary for the measures required to protect the national collections. But Parliament can hardly be asked to meet the expenditure incurred in protecting collections which are not national.

asked the right hon. Member for West Essex, as representing the Kitchen Committee, whether the Kitchen Committee is still purchasing German wines; and, if so, whether precautions are taken that this action does not result in trading with the enemy?

Like my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War, I always live in the hope of not doing anything illegal, but we are willing to run a certain amount of risk to assist our fellow Members. The action we have taken is based on a Motion passed by the Kitchen Committee, that it would be a hardship to English merchants were we not to assist in disposing of their duty-paid stock of German wines, for which there is a demand.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to hold an inquiry into the complaints concerning the management, discipline, and catering of the young officers' training company at Fort Purbrook, Portsmouth; and whether he can say who is responsible for the contract for the catering thereof?

No, Sir, it is not proposed to hold any inquiry additional to that which has already taken place. As regards the last part of the question, the officer commanding the school would be responsible for making the contract, and in doing this he would be guided by the recommendations of the mess committee. The contractor would, of course, be responsible for carrying out the contract.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War whether the Central War Committee connected with the British Medical Association extends its operations beyond England and Wales; whether an independent organisation, called the Scottish Medical Service Emergency Committee, had previously been instituted in Scotland; if so, what is its composition and what are the functions it undertakes to perform; and whether the War Office has accorded to the Scottish Committee the same recognition in relation to Scotland as it has accorded to the Central War Committee in London?

The Central Medical War Committee, besides dealing with England and Wales, extends its operations to Ireland. The Scottish Medical Service Emergency Committee has been accorded the same recognition in relation to Scotland; the functions of both Committees are similar. I will send the hon. Gentleman a list of members of the Scottish Committee if he will permit me to do so. It would take too long to read it out to the House now.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there is any limit of age to the appointment of regimental officers serving abroad in France and in Greece; if not, can he see his way to introduce a limit of forty-five to fifty years, in view of the hardships which such officers have to endure?

No, Sir, I cannot promise that this point will be dealt with by laying down a hard-and-fast age limit. It is better dealt with by entrusting discretion to commanding officers to make any necessary representations with regard to individual cases on the basis of the particular circumstances which may be present in each case

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it was by order of the War Office that on 13th January the chief constable of Cardiff seized or attempted to seize copies of a book entitled "My People," written by Mr Caradoc Evans and published early in November last; and, if so, what are the grounds on which this action was taken?

So far as I have been able to ascertain no such action as that mentioned was taken on the instructions of the War Office, but I am making further inquiries.

In what way was the book a source of danger to the Realm?

I cannot say. As far as I know the action was not taken on instructions from the War Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the contract in respect to rations in the case of temporary medical officers is the same as in the case of dental officers; and, if not, can he see his way to place the two contracts on the same footing?

Both contracts provide for the issue of free rations while in the field.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many Members of Parliament have been selected to visit the trenches on the Western front; by whom were the applications made and by whom were they granted; on what principle were they selected; and will he publish the names and indicate in each case the nature of the services on account of which the privilege was granted?

A distinction should be drawn between visits to the trenches and visits to the front, but I have no exact statistics on either head. When my right hon. Friend answered a question on this matter on the 24th January he had in mind principally those Members who had gone out in a military capacity as officers. Where any Members other than these have visited the front for special purposes this has been arranged in the discretion of the Department, and the particular circumstances of each case have been considered on their merits. These cases have not, I think, been numerous, and it is not proposed to take the action suggested in the last part of the question.

Is my hon. Friend aware that certain Members of this House have been invited to the front by the French Government, but cannot get invitations from their own Government?

I believe that each command has selected or nominated those Members who they thought it was desirable should go out.

How do the commands select the men whom, they invite?

I understand that those who have rendered specially valuable services in connection with recruiting are those who have received recommendations, or the nomination by the commands.

How can the commands know what services anybody has rendered here?

As my hon. Friend knows, the recruiting officers are under the general officers in commands, and report to them. I have no doubt they get information in that way.

Will my hon. Friend see that in future these facilities are not used to enable Gentlemen, either in the House or outside, to take music-hall, turns?

I entirely sympathise with that point of view. I think there is general agreement, on all hands, of both military and civilian opinion, that only those who have special business connected with the public welfare should go out to the front.

asked the Financial. Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been called to allegations that some clothing firms in Glasgow, in order to evade the condition re payment of trade union rates of wages, are in the habit of making agreements with their workpeople for a lower standard of payment; will he cause inquiry to be made into the allegations; and will he consider the desirability of standardising wages or rates of piecework, so as to put all contractors on the same level?

My right hon. Friend has written to me on this matter a letter, which I received yesterday, but otherwise no complaint of this nature has been brought to the notice of the War Office. I will have inquiry made and shall be glad if my right hon. Friend will let me have the names of the firms in question. I am afraid that in view of the varying industrial conditions prevailing in different localities, there would be great difficulty in adopting the suggestion in the last part of the question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware of the inconvenience and cost to the relatives of wounded soldiers in consequence of such soldiers being sent to hospitals far removed from their homes or where they enlisted; is he aware that, of 100 wounded men sent for treatment last week to Bella-houston, in Scotland, only twelve belonged to Scottish regiments; and will he have inquiry made with a view to getting men sent nearer their homes, so as to lessen the cost to relatives visiting them?

I fully appreciate the desirability of doing what is suggested by my right hon. Friend, and I can assure him that, as far as is possible, the existing practice is in conformity with what he suggests. It is not, however, possible to send every man to the hospital to which he would prefer to be admitted. Some men are too ill to stand the fatigue of the journey, others are earmarked overseas for admission to hospitals specially set apart for the class of sickness or injury from which they are suffering. It is also necessary to distribute men in ambulance train loads— i.e., in groups of 100 or so, as railway conditions do not permit of the disturbance of traffic which would arise from a train depositing cases here and there at hospitals between the port of dis- embarkation and the ultimate destination of the train. Under these circumstances some men must find themselves in hospitals remote from their homes, but arrangements can generally be made for the patient's transfer to a hospital near his home as soon as he is fit to travel, and provided the medical authorities are satisfied that the case is a suitable one for treatment in the hospital to which the transfer is requested.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if Lord Kitchener has stated that four days' leave would be given to men ordered abroad; and, if so, if he can take steps to get such promise given effect to?

The instructions issued ensure that, as far as possible, non-commissioned officers and men shall have four clear days' leave before proceeding abroad. It is, however, impossible to guarantee absolutely that men will get this leave, as the exigencies of the Service may in some cases render it impracticable to give it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that fitters (artificers) in the Royal Artillery and Army Ordnance Corps are paid only 3s. 7d. per day whereas the same class of men as motor drivers and mechanics in the Army Service Corps get 6s. per day and upwards; and if he will promise that attention shall be given to this matter?

Yes, Sir, I am aware that mechanics enlisted for different duties did so at different rates of pay, and each receives the rate at which he enlisted. But I may mention that the 6s. rate for drivers in the Army Service Corps is no longer in operation for new enlistments.

asked how much Army flour became damaged at Belfast; and the total loss to public funds sustained thereby?

Only a small quantity of Army flour has been damaged at Belfast. The loss sustained was £3 18s. A considerable quantity of Canadian gift flour, stored at Belfast, which it was intended to place at the disposal of the War Office, was damaged by fire last July and rendered unfit for human food. The total loss to public funds has not yet been ascertained.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is now in a position to say how much of the Army flour bought at an average price of £20 a ton and damaged in Dublin was sold, baked and unbaked, to a contractor for barrack refuse at 30s. a ton; and if he can now state the total loss sustained?

I am unable to state how much of the Army flour damaged in Dublin was sold as barrack refuse at 30s. a ton, but inquiries are being made by telegraph, and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member. The total loss has not yet been ascertained.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Governments of Great Britain, France, Russia, and Italy urged the Government of Serbia to consent to the cession of the whole of the uncontested zone in Macedonia to Bulgaria; and whether, in reply to these representations, the Serbian Government gave a conditional assent to the eventual cession of a part only of the zone in question?

This question could not be properly answered without entering upon a good deal more than is covered by its terms, and it would not be in the public interest to do that at present.

asked whether the British Government has acquired any rights over grain or flour in Roumania and, if so, what are the intentions of the Government as to the disposal of the supply acquired?

His Majesty's Government have concluded contracts for the purchase of a certain amount of Roumanian grain.

These purchases will be spread over a period of several months.

The grain is to be held at our disposal in Roumania and exported after the War, or so soon as export facilities permit.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know the amount of money involved and the price at which these purchases were made?

I think my hon. Friend ought to give notice of these questions.

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will be ready to answer them in another Session?

I will wait until they are put, and see.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that quantities of goods are being manufactured in Germany for immediate export on the termination of hostilities, the Government are aware of the commercial conference called by the Association of Chambers of Commerce on 29th February to deal with the question of an offensive and defensive trade alliance of the Entente Powers; and whether the Board of Trade will be represented at the conference?

I understand that the Association of Chambers of Commerce is holding a special meeting at the end of February to consider certain questions arising out of the War, and I shall await the report of its proceedings with much interest, but I hardly think it would be necessary for my Department to be officially represented on that occasion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether large purchases of a preparation known as Sanatogen have recently been made by any Government Department; whether the profits accruing from these purchases continue to be paid over to the Public Trustee, and for whom is this official keeping them; whether the works of the Sanatogen Company and their London business premises are now entirely free from aliens of enemy nationality; and, if not, what action does he propose to take?

I am not aware that large purchases of Sanatogen have recently been made by any Government Department. All the profits of the business of A. Wulfing and Company, which firm manufactures Sanatogen, are being paid over to the Public Trustee, and the question as to how such profits will be dealt with will receive consideration at the termination of the War. I understand that, with the exception of the London manager, no one of enemy nationality is now connected with the business. In January, 1915, the Board of Trade appointed a supervisor of the business.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that London shipowners are refusing to carry tomatoes to neutral countries adjacent to Germany because all fresh vegetables have been declared contraband, but that quantities of tomatoes consigned as fruit are being shipped to these countries from Harwich; and if he will prohibit their export as fruit?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to answer this question. The Board of Customs are making inquiries as to the statements made in the question, and I will send an answer to the hon. Gentleman as soon as practicable.

Do the Board of Trade contemplate prohibiting the import of fruit from abroad? If so, how long notice are they likely to give to the trade in this country?

I have received notice of a question in regard to the problem of tonnage, and I am going to give an answer at the end of Questions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in August, 1914, the editors of the trade papers offered to supply gratuitously to him full data and recommendations for each of our 250 trades; whether this offer included consideration of the problems affecting labour, small manufacturers, all retailers, and inter-Empire trade; and whether, in view of the value of the comprehensive knowledge, interests, and opportunities of these editors in the regeneration of our commerce, he will now accept their offer should it be repeated?

I am aware that offers of assistance of the kind to which my right hon. Friend refers have been made, but, whilst I shall be glad to receive any practical suggestions from the gentleman referred to in the question, I cannot regard their assistance as a substitute for direct communication between the Board of Trade and the trade interests concerned.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is considered necessary or desirable that further supplies of food and other commodities should be sent into Belgium for the relief of the Belgians; and whether he can give any information as to the present condition of the Belgian population?

Yes, Sir, as the German Government, at the time when the Relief Commission first began its work, openly expressed their intention not to support the Belgian population or supply them with food, and as their attitude since then has always corresponded with that expressed intention, His Majesty's Government believe it to be their duty to facilitate the work of the Relief Commission, but only as long as, and in so far as that work is carried on under adequate neutral supervision, completely independent of German control, and in compliance with the conditions laid down from time to time by His Majesty's Government. As regards the last part of the question, it is difficult within the compass of an answer to a question to give a survey of conditions in Belgium. So far as those conditions affect the work of relief, I may refer the hon. Member to the Reports of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, which are available to the public.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that no German control is exercised over the Belgian relief?

It is very difficult to be sure of anything in this world; but I am as sure of it as under the circumstances one can be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the interests of agriculture and employment after the War, he will extend the power to make advances under Section 1 of the Development and Road Improvement Act, 1909, so as to include light railways and experimental commercial undertakings in which the possibility of making profits is the essence of the experiment?

No, Sir. This question has been carefully considered and I am not prepared to introduce legislation for amending the Development Act in the manner proposed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that watchers employed in the department of His Majesty's Customs and Excise are in receipt of non-progressive rates of wages of 21s. per week in the outports and 24s. per week in London, with the addition of 2s. per week good conduct allowance granted after ten years' approved service; and will he state the amount involved in granting to these Crown servants a war wage increase on the same lines as granted to weekly servants in the Post Office, Woolwich Arsenal, Royal dockyards, and other Government controlled Departments and factories to meet the abnormal increase in the cost of living caused by the War?

The wages of watchers are 24s. in London, and 21s. in the outports, with one quarter of the latter rising to 24s. In addition they receive 1s. good conduct allowance after five years' service, and another 1s. after ten years' service. The cost of a war bonus of 3s. a week to all watchers would be just over £8,000 a year.

asked when the last statutory regulations were issued by the Board of Trade with the object of safeguarding life on ocean-going steamers; and whether those regulations have been amended in any way since enemy sub marines commenced sinking passenger steamers without warning?

The latest statutory rules regarding the life-saving appliances to be carried by British ships came into force on the 1st July, 1914, and have not since been amended. The latest regulations made by the Board of Trade with the object of safeguarding life on passenger steamers (apart from life-saving appliances) were issued in December, 1915.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has power to issue statutory regulations from time to time with the object of safeguarding life on ocean-going steamers; and whether, by reason of such power, the precautions suggested in the circular issued by the Board of Trade in August, 1915, could, if so desired, be made compulsory?

The Board of Trade have power to make statutory rules for life-saving appliances under Section 427 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and the Board may make regulations under Section 724 of the same Act as to the surveys of passenger steamers. Under these powers some, but not all, of the precautions suggested in the circular issued in August, 1915, could have been made compulsory, subject to compliance with the requirements of the Sections referred to and other legal provisions.

If the right hon. Gentleman has these powers, why was it not considered desirable before to make them compulsory—if the circular of the Board of Trade of August, 1915, thought it desirable?

One of the reasons for not making them compulsory was to make them uniform as applied to all vessels. It was also thought by our advisers to be unnecessary.

Are the right hon. Gentleman's advisers still of the same opinion?

Cannot British ships take the same precautions as French ships?

I hope they do. So far as our statistics show, the proportion of British vessels passing through the danger zone and lost is not larger than that of other nationalities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries to discover the difference between the way British ships distribute and use lifebelts and French ships?

Certainly.

May I ask whether the proportion of lives per ship lost is greater in France than in England?

I cannot answer that without notice. I do not carry in my head the number of lives lost.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any estimate of the amount of harbour dues and charges lost by the Southampton Harbour Board by the adoption of the system of calling for passengers off the Isle of Wight outside the jurisdiction of the Southampton port authority; and whether there is any record of the number and tonnage of the steamers which adopted this practice?

I am informed by the Southampton Harbour Board that the amount of harbour dues which that Board would have received from August, 1913, to August, 1914, had the vessels calling off the Isle of Wight for passengers entered within the Harbour Board's jurisdiction would have been £4,337, and that had the vessels used the docks the amount of the dues would have been twice that amount. I am also informed that during that period the number of the vessels adopting the practice referred to by the hon. Member was 188, with a net registered tonnage of 2,051,032.

asked by what authority the North-German Lloyd and the Hamburg-American liners have embarked and disembarked passengers outside the area of the Southampton port authority; and whether there is any Parliamentary authority for this or any rule issued by the Local Government Board, Board of Customs, or other authority?

Under Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, the definition of "passenger steamer" in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, includes foreign steamships which carry passengers from the United Kingdom and the requirements of the Merchant Shipping Acts apply to them. There is nothing in our present law, so far as I am aware, to prevent passenger steamers embarking or disembarking passengers outside the area of the Southampton port authority.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate quarterly totals of all important imports from oversea which show an increase since the beginning of the War into Norway, Sweden, Holland, and Denmark from 25th June, 1912, till 25th December, 1915, inclusive; if he will give the quarterly totals of all important imports from Germany which show an increase during the War into the same countries; and, if his Department has been unable to obtain or compile such approximate totals, will he ask for and obtain the figures from the perhaps forgotten organisation still known as the Free Trade Union, or, failing that, from the Tariff Reform League, one or other of which, it is understood, could supply the necessary figures?

Owing to the lack of detail in the monthly trade returns of the countries named, and the non-publication of the Swedish and Danish returns for several months past, it is not practicable to give a statement in the form desired by the hon. Gentleman. I shall be glad to arrange for the difficulties to be explained to him in detail. As regards the last part of the question, I shall be glad to see any statistics which either of the organisations referred to may care to furnish.

asked the Prime Minister, having regard to his pledge that Ireland should be given full self-government within the lifetime of the present Parliament, whether it is the intention of the Government to put in operation the Government of Ireland Act as from the 17th March next, to which it now stands adjourned; and, if not, what is the intention?

If the hon. Member will look at the Order in Council he will see that it provides that, if the War has not ended within eighteen months after the passing of the Government of Ireland Act, no steps shall be taken to put the Act into operation "until such later date, not being later than the end of the present War, as may hereafter be fixed by Order in Council."

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question which asks whether the Irish Parliament will be set up before the expiry of this present Parliament?

If the hon. Member will tell me when the War will end it will be easier for me to answer his question.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the introduction into the French Chamber, with the approval of the Naval War Committee there, of a measure of a Bill fixing the age of retirement from the highest command in one of the Services at sixty-two years of age; and, if so, does the Government propose to introduce any similar measure in this House dealing with the Army?

I am aware that such a Bill has been presented. Similar action, if considered necessary in regard to our Army, would not require legislation, but no change in existing rules is at present contemplated.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has noted the number of Motions standing the names of hon. Members on the Order Book for an early date, and is aware that no facilities have been available for the free discussion of these and other important issues; and whether in the coming Session he will refrain from interfering with the rights of private Members to ballot for the evening sittings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays?

Yes, Sir; I am aware that there are a very large number of private Members' Motions on the Paper; but I fear I cannot give any pledge as to the facilities for their discussion which it may be possible to afford next Session.

Will the suggestion that is thrown out here—in quite good faith—be properly considered before long?

I am sure it will.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that Members of this House have equal freedom for discussing public questions as members of another place?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Secretary of State for War has not made any statement recently in Parliament on the subject, he will make a statement before the House prorogues as to the military operations of the Allies generally, and especially with regard to the Russian successes?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will, before the Prorogation, relieve the public mind by a general statement of the progress of the War in the various theatres of conflict; and will he tell the House of Commons what, in the view of the Government, are the considerations which ought to give the country continued confidence in ultimate victory?

No, Sir, I am afraid I am unable to make a statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether, with a view to bringing the financial and military demands on the country into harmony, the question has been considered of limiting the numbers of our Military and Naval Forces; and, if so, whether a Cabinet decision has been reached?

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on the 11th January.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that a little advance towards fuller information on this subject would be a great relief to large numbers of the public, especially business men?

I will convey that view to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Director-General of Recruiting has endorsed the opinion that foxhunting should be continued during the period of the War, and has recommended that men of military age indispensable for the maintenance of hunts should be exempted from military service by local tribunals; whether this represents the settled policy of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, whether an opportunity will be given to the House of Commons to discuss the matter before definite action is taken?

I can add nothing to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War to the hon. Member for Brecknockshire on the 6th January. The matter can be discussed on the Army Estimates.

asked whether any of the contingents that have come over to England from the Cape or other Dominions are under canvas; and, if so

No, Sir. None of those contingents are under canvas.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War if he is aware that boys under sixteen are habitually permitted to work overtime at the Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough; and if arrangements can be made to avoid this practice?

I am making inquiries into this matter and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

( by Private, Notice )asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what steps, if any, have been taken to restrict or prohibit the export from this country of sulphate of ammonia, with the view of making certain the retention of a sufficient supply to meet the needs of British agriculture?

The Board of Trade and the Board of Agriculture have, after consultation with the Ministry of Munitions, decided that for the present no licences for the export of sulphate of ammonia should be issued. It will not be possible to continue the withholding of licences indefinitely, as the normal production in this country considerably exceeds the consumption, and I venture to express the most earnest hope that farmers will take this opportunity of securing ample supplies at the earliest possible date. Such a course will combine prudence with patriotism, and I confidently rely upon all agriculturists to adopt it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman take measures to reduce the price of sulphate of ammonia, which has gone up from £14 to £17 a ton?

The cost of production has also gone up very much, and I think a limitation of exports ought to be the surest way of securing that sulphate of ammonia shall be offered at a fair price to the farmers. The Government cannot hold out any hope of bringing down the price to anything like the pre-war level or even to the level in the early part of the War, because the cost of manufacture is gone up very much.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the fact that the limitation made by this Order in the disposal of sulphate of ammonia will compel the producers practically to give a bonus to the farmers?

If it compels them to make reasonable offers to farmers, I shall be very glad, because that will be very much in the interest of the nation in encouraging and facilitating the production of food, which is a very important national object.

( by Private Notice ) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to comments upon the reserved occupations method of safeguarding the pivotal and indispensable men in essential industries, and whether the Government contemplate making any change in this matter?

No, Sir, the Government do not propose to make any change in this matter. The Reserved Occupations Committee has kept strictly within the limits set for it and approved by Lord Lansdowne's Committee. But for the system of reserved occupations hundreds of companies and firms would be put out of action, which would be against the national interest in the waging of the War.

( by Private Notice ): I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the demand of the male members of the Leeds United Garment Workers for immediate Government action to bring about a settlement of the difficulty that has arisen through the introduction of temporary female labour for what has hitherto been men's work; and what action he proposes to take to avert a trade dispute at the present critical time?

I understand that the general question of the temporary employment of female labour on tailoring operations usually performed by men is under consideration by the Home Office.

Am I to understand that the Government are willing to use their good offices to bring together the representatives of the workers and employers on this very important matter?

I do not doubt that that is so, but I have no direct information.

Can the machinery of arbitration not be applied?

I think that is a question for the Board of Trade.

( by Private Notice ): I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the official Bulgarian report issued from Sofia and published in the "Times" newspaper on the 15th December to the effect that the British and French Forces had been defeated; that the prisoners, dead and wounded belonged to the 29th, 30th, 31st, 65th, 66th and 67th Infantry Brigades; that such brigades were definitely beaten and in their retreat abandoned guns and rifles; that the whole battlefield was covered with equipment and that the Bulgarian troops were opposed by 97,000 French and 73,000 British with 600 field guns, 130 mountain guns and 80 heavy howitzers; whether such report is not wholly fictitious and untrue and whether in future when enemy Governments issue false reports concerning reverses to our troops he will take steps that an official British contradiction is at once issued?

It is already the practice to consider whenever necessary the expediency of the course suggested in the latter part of the question. It will no doubt not have escaped the hon. Member that communiqués such as that to which he refers are probably in most cases issued with a view to extracting by indirect means valuable information as to the location and disposition of troops. The communiqués already published give the correct version of the circumstances attending the withdrawal of the Allied Forces to the present defensive positions around Salonika. It is not necessarily in the public interest to supply the enemy with correct information because he publishes incorrect information.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when official dispatches will be issued regarding these operations?

No, Sir, I am afraid I cannot.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he can state the particulars of claim made by Miss Scoft, of Ancrum, as regards land taken up in that parish for small holdings and the total amount; and if he can give details showing the present position of the legal proceedings which have been taken?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland has asked me to reply to this question, and in answer to the first part to refer my hon. Friend to the particulars which my right hon. Friend gave in answer to a question by him on 12th May, 1914. The present position is that, in view of the recent decision of the House of Lords in the Lindean case, the balance of £l,000 compensation awarded in the case to which my hon. Friend refers, in respect of the estimated depreciation of the selling value of the estate, attributable to the constitution of small holdings upon it, becomes payable.

How many acres are there in this particular allotment at Ancrum?

I am sorry that I cannot give an answer to that question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can state how many small holdings were created in 1915 under the Small Holdings Acts; what was the number of acres; and what was the unsatisfied demand on 31st December, 1915; giving the number of applicants and the acreage required?

I am unable to give the particulars desired by my hon. Friend, because the Board, in the interest of economy, have not yet called for returns from the local authorities of the very limited proceedings under the Act due to the suspension of the purchase of land for small holdings shortly after the beginning of the War. The Board have, however, in their own records particulars of the

number, etc., of schemes approved by them during the year, and I. should be happy to send them to the hon. Member if he will let me know whether they are likely to be of use to him.

As some of us wish to keep up the records, will he consider the issuing of the returns?

It is not desirable to ask local authorities to send in returns of no very great utility at the present time.