asked the Prime Minister what are the total casualties in the main fields of operation, respectively, distinguishing between killed, wounded, and missing, as well as the total casualties in all fields of operations up to 9th January?

presented the following figures:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the number of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty from Messrs. Evan Thomas Radcliffe and Company, Cardiff; Tatem and Company, Cardiff; Maclay and McIntyre, 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?

supplied the following figures:—

With regard to the last part of the question, it must be clearly understood that, in selecting vessels, the Admiralty has first to consider which are most suitable for the required service and available at the due dates. So far as these considerations allow, a vessel belonging to an owner with a lower percentage of service is taken in preference to one belonging to an owner with a high percentage, but no uniform percentage is maintained, or could possibly be maintained, without serious injury to the naval and military Services.

I should like to take occasion to say that in our efforts to secure as far as possible proportionate requisitioning amongst shipping firms, we have been greatly

assisted by the Advisory Committee which has been at work upon this and other matters for the last twelve months.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of steamers of enemy nationality which have taken refuge in South American ports; whether any of such steamers have been transferred to and are now flying a neutral flag; and whether he can say what orders have been given to our cruisers in those waters as to how they are to deal with such steamers?

It is not possible at such short notice to give the information for which the hon. Gentleman has asked, but I will communicate with him on the subject of his question as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can issue instructions that in cases such as arise in the East Coast towns, where rents of houses have of necessity been reduced for the period of the War, surveyors of taxes, shall, on production of satisfactory evidence of such reduction, adjust the assessments for Schedule A, Income Tax, so that no person shall be taxed on an income he does not receive?

Where remission of rent is being made for reasons directly connected with the War, applications are being entertained for an equivalent allowance in respect of Income Tax, Schedule A.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the Kerry County Council on the 4th January, 1916, asking for an amnesty of the imprisoned Volunteers in Ireland; and whether he can accede to the request?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The exercise of clemency in these as in other cases is a matter for the Lord Lieutenant.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War if he is aware of the apprehension that the individuality of the Territorial Force would be lost if the power to apportion recruits under the Military Service (No. 2) Bill to the Regular and New Army and the Territorial Force is not exercised with discretion, and that the Executive Committee of the City and County of London Recruiting Council has passed a resolution that it would be advisable that an officer of the Territorial Force of rank and experience should be appointed to co-ordinate with the senior officers of recruiting at the War Office, to see that when possible those recruits applying for the Territorial Force and for certain regiments should be so appointed, and that the representative of the War Office at that meeting undertook that this should be done, and stated that it met with the approval of the War Office; and whether effect is being given to this decision?

The apportioning of recruits amongst the units of the Regular Army, the New Armies and the Territorial Force, must be made with reference to military considerations. Subject to this being fully realised, I may say that the point raised in the question has already received the careful consideration of the Army Council, and that, as far as possible, individual recruits who have applied to be posted to the Territorial Force will be so posted. The "Senior Officer for Recruiting at the War Office" is the Director-General of Recruiting, and as he is himself a chairman of the Territorial Association, my hon. Friend may be assured that the need for supplying existing Territorial units with proper reserves is fully appreciated.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War whether a man whose period of service under his original attestation expired in January, 1915, and who, according to the Territorial Force Regulations, served an additional year which expires this month, is liable to be called up under the Military Service (No. 2) Bill?

Such a man would be excepted by Schedule I., paragraph 5.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the age of forty-one as the age for exemption is taken at three different dates under the Derby scheme and the Military Service (No. 2) Bill, namely, under the first part of the Derby scheme at the date of being called up for service, under the reopened scheme at 15th August, 1915, and under the Bill on the appointed date; how he proposes to arrive at the promised uniformity in this matter; and whether that would best be secured by taking the first-named date for all three classes, namely, the date of being called up for service?

The Army Council will consider the suggestion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that local recruiting officers are summoning men who have been previously rejected under Lord Derby's scheme to submit to a further medical examination; and whether, having regard to the fact that these men hold a white certificate which states that they presented themselves to join the Army but were not accepted on medical examination, they will be exempt under the Military Service (No. 2) Bill?

In view of many decisions which had to be hurriedly reached and the desirability for greater uniformity, a fresh medical examination will be necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men who were attested under Lord Derby's scheme without medical examination are being informed that no medical examination can take place until the particular class concerned is called up; and whether, in view of the inconvenience caused both to employé and employer, instructions can be issued that any Derby recruit presenting himself shall be examined forthwith?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 25th January to a written question put by the hon. Member for East Hertfordshire.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state to what tribunal, under the Military Service (No. 2) Bill, men from Scotland should apply for exemption who are serving as home-service Territorials in various parts of England?

The Regulations to be made under the Bill are now being prepared, and the matter to which the hon. Member refers will receive consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether arrangements are now being carried out to release men from provisional battalions who are of no military value from physical causes, and thus effecting a saving in Army expenditure and at the same time adding to the industrial productivity of the country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Shipley Division on 4th January.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of pensioned officers of any branch of the Army Reserve whose services have been temporarily availed of during the War, such officers are paid their old salaries in addition to their pensions, or what the terms are of such temporary re-employment?

Officers recalled to duty from the retired list are entitled under the Pay Warrant to the pay of their rank or appointment in addition to their retired pay, but do not become entitled to any increase in their retired pay in virtue of their further service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has received a complaint alleging violation of the Fair-Wages Clause by the firm of Blacklock and Macarthur, Glasgow, in the wages paid to some coopers in their employ; and whether he is having the complaint inquired into, with a view to the enforcement of the provisions of the Clause in question?

A complaint against this firm has been received, and inquiry is being made into the matter. I will let my right hon. Friend know the result in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether contractors to the War Office who have contracted to supply jams and marmalade for delivery up to July next will be paid at prices varying with the prices fixed for sugar from time to time by the Government Sugar Commission; and, in particular, whether allowance will be made to them in respect of the advance of 2s. 6d. per hundredweight, announced on the 24th January?

The matter is under consideration.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War whether he has had a sight of two letters, dated 19th October and 15th November, from Mr. J. Tennant Byrne, addressed to the Member for Mansfield, in which Mr. Byrne stated that, as the hon. Member was a member of the firm of Markham, Nelson and Company, he desired an early appointment in connection with a contract he had received on 19th October, 1915, from the Army Contract Department for this firm; and will he say whether, when Mr. J. T. Byrne was negotiating this business with the Army Contract Department, he informed the Department that the Member for Mansfield was a member of the firm of Markham, Nelson and Company, alias A. C. C. Schultz, senior, for whom he was acting?

I have seen the correspondence referred to. As stated in answer to a question on this subject yesterday, Mr. Byrne made an offer of blankets to the War Office Contracts Department, but received no order. I understand that no mention was made either of the hon. Member for Mansfield or of the firm of Messrs. Markham, Nelson and Company in the interviews which took place between Mr. Byrne and the contract officials.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) whether he is aware that Walter Louis Schultz, who by deed poll in January, 1915, changed his name to Walter Louis Waldie, is carrying on a coal export business from 166, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, under the name of A, Markham and Company, alias A. Schultz and Company, Limited; whether this firm recently shipped coal to Herr Kerdal, of Holland, and has this person recently been placed on the black list for sending goods to Germany; will he say why the shipping business of Markham and Company is permitted, seeing that neither A. Schultz, senior, nor Walter Waldie are allowed by the police on the East Coast; whether prior to the War this firm carried on any export business in coal; why should this firm, a director of which is an alien enemy, be permitted to trade when British subjects, their competitors, have gone to the front; (2) whether he proposes taking steps to see that A. Schultz, senior, of 1, Beaumont Gate, Glasgow, who was born in Germany, is interned; whether he is aware that this gentleman owns the business of A. Schultz and Company, Limited, and of A. Markham and Company, of 165, Fenchurch Street, London, managed by his son, A. Markham; that he also finances through A. Schultz and Company, Limited, the firm of Markham, Nelson, located at the same address, and that he further controls the Glasgow firm of A. Markham and Company, managed by Walter Waldie, late Walter Schultz; whether he is aware that these firms have exported goods from this country to Germany through Holland and improperly became possessed of documents, the property of the Italian and French Governments, taken from the Board of Trade, and have also employed an ex-convict to obtain orders from the British War Office; and (3) whether he is aware that Walter Waldie, late Walter Louis Schultz, a director of the firm of A. Schultz and Company, Limited, is the owner of a number of pigeon carriers; whether he has any information that these pigeons have been handed by Mr. Walter Waldie to a friend but are still under his control; whether another director of this firm is Herr Emile Plathen, an alien enemy; has this person been interned; has he since been released; and, if so, is he now directing the operations of A. Markham and Company, who are exporting goods to Holland?

Both the Schultzes are naturalised British subjects. Their business activities and those of the other persons mentioned come within the province of the Board of Trade and the War Trade Department. So far as the movements of these persons are concerned, I can assure my hon. Friend that, in consultation with the military authorities, restrictions considered sufficient were imposed upon them as soon as appeared desirable. The same assurance can be given as regards the pigeons, which, as a matter of fact, were destroyed some months ago. It is the case that Plathen was interned and subsequently released. Any question as to his position with reference to the firm referred to should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will say under what arrangement medical students are employed at the First Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge; how many medical students are now employed at that hospital, and whether these students have passed a medical examination in anatomy and physiology; whether he can see his way to extend the employment of senior medical students in military hospitals in this country without requiring them to enlist as private soldiers in the Royal Army Medical Corps; and whether, by adopting this course, a certain number of qualified medical men now working in those military hospitals could be set free for other duties?

All I can say, in reply to the first two parts of the question, is that the employment of these students is a private arrangement between the Cambridge Teaching School and the Officer Commanding the First Eastern General Hospital. It is possible that senior students may do work in military hospitals elsewhere under similar arrangements, but if they have not completed the prescribed period of their medical studies they would not be exempt from combatant military service under Lord Derby's scheme. The students employed in this way could not, however, undertake the duties of qualified medical men.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether a person named Oxley has been appointed inspector of munitions for the whole or part of East Anglia; if so, will he state what his qualifications for the position are and what salary he is being paid; if he is aware that this man is also the market toll collector for the corporation of Bury St. Edmunds, and also collector of allotment rents for the Marquess of Bristol; and whether, under these circumstances, this man can discharge his duties as inspector of munitions efficiently?

No man of this name has been appointed inspector of munitions. I understand that a man named Hoxley is employed at Bury St. Edmunds as mark transferrer at 30s. a week.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the curriers employed on Government contracts come within the scope of the Munitions of War Act?

I have no power to give an authoritative decision on this point, which could only be determined by the duly authorised tribunal. I am, however, disposed to think that the answer to the question is in the negative, unless the material on which the curriers were employed was specified in an Order made under Section 9 (1) ( a ) of the Munitions of War (Amendment) Act, 1916. No such Order has at present been made.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware of the number of men with technical skill who can do munitions work who are in provisional battalions and in units guarding prisoner-of-war camps; and whether he is arranging for their temporary release from the Colours for the purpose of munitions work?

I am sending to my hon. Friend, for his information, a copy of a pamphlet giving in detail the arrangements made with the War Office for the compilation of a register of all men now serving in the Army at home, both in Regular and Territorial Force units, whose trades in civil life qualify them for employment, if it is found necessary, in the production of munitions of war. The register in question has been completed and many men placed in employment, but it is not practicable to state the number of men still on the register who are in provisional battalions and in units guarding prisoner-of-war camps.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can give any information as to the present state of the Bagdad Railway; how far the cuttings through the Taurus and Amarus ranges are nearing completion; where is the railhead at present; when it is expected that communication will be established with Mosul; and how far the line north from Bagdad has been completed?

The area dealt with in the hon. and gallant Member's question lies entirely in enemy territory. I regret, therefore, my inability to make public such information on the subject as may be in the possession of His Majesty's Government. I shall, however, be very glad to give my hon. and gallant Friend what information I have.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps, if any, his Department will take to safeguard the supply of flour and coal at reasonable prices to the people of Ireland; whether his attention has been drawn to the continued increase in the prices of the same, and if he will appoint a Committee to inquire into the cause of the increase; if he will take the necessary steps to prevent any person or persons making an undue profit by cornering supplies of fuel or foodstuffs during the War; and if he will regulate the freights to be charged by shipowners?

On the subject of freights, I must refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on 19th January. I am, of course, aware that Ireland does not escape the results of the heavy demands made on the available tonnage. If the hon. Gentleman will furnish me with particulars relating to any cases of cornering of fuel or foodstuffs, I will see that such cornering, if established, is dealt with as it deserves.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will cause to be published with the Parliamentary Debates a list of the articles which are prohibited as exports in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, with the date of prohibition, and in which cases licences have been granted to export to Germany in spite of the prohibition?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question.

A complete list of the articles covered by the prohibitions of export in force in the countries named will be issued shortly as a (Supplement to the "Board of Trade Journal," in continuation of a similar supplement issued on the 28th October last, but owing to the diversity of forms in which the prohibitions have been issued, and the extent to which they have been varied from time to time, it is impracticable to give in any concise shape the dates for which the hon. Gentleman asks. I regret that the information asked for in the last part of the question is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a number of men employed at Lloyd's have been starred and put in the classes of reserved occupations at the suggestion of his Department; and, if so, will he state whether their duties could be done by men of non-military age?

In view of the importance to the national welfare of the business done at Lloyd's, arrangements have been made to secure that the cases of indispensable men should receive special consideration. In so far as men can be replaced this will be done.

asked what proportion of the present price of a quarter of wheat and of a loaf of bread, respectively, may be deemed to represent freightage costs?

The rates of freight now being paid on wheat from North America, whence almost all the imported wheat being offered for current delivery in this country is derived, represent about 20 per cent. of the value of the wheat in this country. The current rates of freight from Australia represent about 30 per cent. of the current value of imported wheat in English ports. The freight on a ton of wheat from North America represents about one-sixth and freight from Australia about one-fourth of the value of the bread made from a ton of wheat. It should, however, be remembered that the freight on the wheat covers the carriage not only of that part of the wheat which is made into bread, but also of the offals produced in milling the grain.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) whether, in view of the cost of the Land Court in Scotland and of the reduced funds now allowed by the Exchequer towards its activities, the Retrenchment Committee will take into consideration the advisability and possible economy of transferring the whole of the work of that Court to a small standing Commission of the judges of the Court of Session, corresponding somewhat to the Court of Tiends and the Valuation Appeal Court; and (2) whether the Committee has under its consideration, with a view to possible economy, the recent proceedings before the Land Court in Scotland in connection with an estate in Mull; whether his attention has been drawn to the pro- portion which the costs in this case bear to the value of the land in question; whether the whole proceedings in this case were finally abandoned because it was discovered that no small holders desirous of settling on the land were available; and whether the Government will consider the practicability of enacting that the consent of the Secretary for Scotland will either permanently or at least during the War be obtained before any more litigation of this kind is allowed to take place at the taxpayers' expense?

I am not in a position to say what the Retrenchment Committee may have under consideration. Legislation, which certainly would not be uncontroversial, would be required to make the substitution suggested by the hon. Member, nor would it be a practicable one. The reason of the abandonment of the proceedings in connection with the estate in Mull was that I found, after the arbitration, that the expenditure considerably exceeded the estimate and went beyond what I thought was justifiable, especially in war time. The scheme was abandoned not on account of lack of applicants, but on the ground of expense. I am told that there were a number of applicants. There is no necessity for legislation such as proposed in the end of the second question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Trading With the Enemy (Extension of Powers) Act has yet been put into operation in any neutral country; has a single firm been put upon the black list; and has any trade been actually diverted from any enemy firm?

A Department called the Foreign Trade Department of the Foreign Office has been formed, under the control of my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester, to deal with the working of the Act, and a great deal of preparatory work has been performed. Apart from this, many firms have been put on black lists in China, Siam, Persia, Morocco, Liberia, and Portuguese East Africa; and in many cases trade has been diverted from enemy firms. The first of the statutory black lists under the extended powers recently conferred by the Trading With the Enemy (Extension of Powers) Act will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement about the present position, international and diplomatic, of the island of Corfu?

I am not prepared to make a statement.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Ballyheigue sub-committee granted a pension of 5s. per week each to Jeremiah Ryle and Hanora Ryle, his wife; whether he is aware that, under the marriage agreement of his son William Ryle, Jeremiah Ryle and his wife Hanora Ryle are only in receipt jointly of £8 per year and the use of a bedroom and fire; whether he can state on what ground the Local Government Board disallowed the pension; and also whether he will give the items calculated by the Local Government Board making up their separate means as exceeding £31 per year?

Jeremiah Ryle and Hanora Ryle, his wife, have each made four claims for old age pensions. The first was disallowed by the Ballyheigue subcommittee, the second and third claims were allowed by the sub-committee, 5s. a week being the rate of pension awarded; the fourth claim was also passed by the sub-committee, but the pensions allowed were only at the rate of 3s. a week. All the claims were disallowed by the Local Government Board, on the ground that the claimants' means exceeded £31 10s. a year. It will be seen that the sub-committee's decisions have not been consistent, although there was no substantial change in the claimants' circumstances between the dates of the several appeals. The terms of the deed by which Jeremiah Ryle assigned his farm to his son are correctly stated, except that, in addition to the benefits mentioned, he retained four heifers, the use of a donkey cart, and an allowance of milk and potatoes. The Board could not, however, accept the reservations made in the deed as adequately representing the means of Jeremiah Ryle and his wife, inasmuch as the farm transferred had seven acres under crops (potatoes, oats, wheat, roots and vegetables) and carried a stock of twelve cows, ten calves, two horses, pigs, and fowl. These particulars show that the family are in very comfortable circumstances, which is also borne out by the fact that Ryle had at least £50 in the bank.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what amount of school fees has been collected for each of the five years ended 31st December, 1915, in the Central Model Schools, Marlborough Street, Dublin, and what amount has actually been paid for each of these five years to the teachers on the staffs of these schools; if they have not received the amount collected in full to whom has the balance been paid; and whether the parents of the children attending these schools are contributing to the emoluments of other model school teachers in Ireland, from whom their children receive no instruction?

The particulars asked for in the first two parts of the question are as follows:—

The fees paid by the pupils of all model schools form a common fund which is distributed in augmentation of their ordinary salaries among the teaching staff of model schools, generally in fixed proportions, which have no regard to the amount of receipts from any particular school. The principle observed is that the residue, after certain allowances have been paid to head masters and head mistresses is distributed among all the model school teachers on the basis that a head teacher shall receive twice the share of an assistant.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the number of children committed to industrial schools in Ireland during the six months ending

31st December, 1915, and during the corresponding months of 1914; and the number of children discharged from any such schools during such periods by his order with the reasons therefor?

The answer to the first part of the question is 466, and to the second 578.

During the six months ended 31st December, 1915, children were discharged as follows:—

The figures for the corresponding period of 1914 were 20, 6, nil, and 20, respectively.

asked whether any change has taken place in the law, regulations, or practice with regard to the committal of children to industrial schools in

Ireland or the discharge of children from such schools during the last twelve months?

I am not aware of any change except that during the year there have been a certain number of discharges in consequence of my being advised that the grounds for committal were insufficient.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has received a complaint alleging violation of the Fair-Wages Clause by the firm of Blacklock and Macarthur, Glasgow, in the wages paid to some coopers in their employ; and whether he is having the complaint inquired into with a view to the enforcement of the provisions of the Clause in question?

No such complaint has been received, but if my right hon. friend will give me particulars, I will have the matter inquired into.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will explain why the recommendations of the Holt and Gibb Committees, that foremen of the Post Office electric light staff should be appointed inspectors, has not been carried out in the case of Mr. P. Juden, foreman of the electric light staff at the Dublin General Post Office; whether he is aware that in May last this officer was nominated and passed the official medical officer for the appointment of inspector; can he state if Mr. Juden, by subsequently entering, with official permission, the Royal Navy as an engineer, prejudiced his official prospects and thus caused the suspension of his appointment and consequent retardation of promotion; whether, when Mr. Juden's appointment is again under consideration, steps will be taken to ensure that Mr. Juden shall be given, should any question of age limits arise, the benefit for eleven years' Colour service to which he is entitled under the special extensions of the age limit applicable to ex-soldiers and ex-sailors; and whether he will explain the circumstances under which payment of arrears of war bonus of 2s. per week for a period of nearly seven months is being withheld from Mr. Juden?

As I informed the hon. Member for Dublin Harbour, on the 23rd ultimo, steps are being taken to nominate Mr. Juden for a Civil Service certificate as inspector. As the pay received by Mr. Juden while in the Navy materially exceeded his Post Office pay, plus war bonus, it was decided that he could not receive the bonus for the period he was in the Navy. Owing to a misapprehension the remaining portion of the arrears of the war bonus was not paid to Mr. Juden. The mistake will now be rectified.

asked why the Report of the sight tests of the Board for 1914 has not been published; and whether we may expect the publication at an early date?

The Report to which the hon. Gentleman refers was incorporated in a general report on the examination of candidates for certificates of competency for the year 1914. I am sending him a copy of the Report.