asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that three successive Prime Ministers of Greece have indicated that Russia opposed the offer made by the Greek Government to participate with a land force in the proposed attack on the Dardanelles; and can he state at what date the Russian Government refused assent and the grounds of objection?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer returned on the same subject to the hon. Member for North Somerset on the 5th ultimo.

Does my right hon. Friend observe the great amount of capital that has been made out of this question in neutral countries, notably in America, and can he consider whether we may not have some elucidation of the point?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give notice of that question.

Has my right hon. Friend's attention been drawn to the public statement by the present Prime Minister of Greece that Russia objected on the ground that the Greek force was not to come within fifty miles of Constantinople? Can he confirm or deny that statement?

I am not prepared to add to the answer I gave last month.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the use that has been made of Lord Faringdon's secret Report on German trade through Denmark, whether he can state how many days Lord Faringdon spent in investigation in Copenhagen; what other Danish ports he visited; and whether he visited the port of Aarhus, the capital of Jutland?

I am not prepared to answer questions on selected details of Lord Faringdon's journey or of his investigations, nor do I consider that such answers are necessary. Lord Faringdon was quite capable of judging of the value or amount of information at his disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who are the members of the Contraband Committee; and of what services are they representative?

The Contraband Committee consists of a chairman, who, as I have already stated, is my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Leamington; of Captain Longden, R.N., representing the Admiralty, assisted by Lieutenant Arnold-Forster, R.N.V.R.; one representative of the Foreign Office, Mr. G. S. Spicer; one representative of the Board of Trade and Customs, Mr. H. Booth; and one of the Procurator-General's Department, Mr. Shearman.

Does the Committee fall under the jurisdiction of the new Minister of Blockade?

Certainly it is one of the Committees—it will continue to perform its functions in the same way—whose executive action will be supervised and co-ordinated with that of other Committees by the new arrangement.

Will it be exempt from the condemnation of the new Minister of Blockade, who said a few days ago that he loathed all Committees, and if there was only one Committee in the world it would be one Committee too many?

We are already committed to the machinery of Committees for dealing with these questions. Each one, as far as I know, is performing its functions extremely well, and it would be very undesirable, and I believe that is the opinion of my Noble Friend also, that a Committee now in existence and performing its duties as well as it does should be disturbed.

The right hon. Gentleman mentioned Lieutenant Arnold Forster, R.N.V.R., as making two representatives of the Admiralty. Is it the case that Lieutenant Arnold Forster is the secretary and not a member of the Committee?

I was asked what the composition was and it was given me in this form. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will give me notice of that, I will inquire whether there is anything in that point.

Is the Mr. H. Booth the hon. Member for Pontefract?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the nationality of our Consular representative at Bâle?

The officer in charge of His Majesty's Consulate at Bâle is a member of the salaried Consular service, and is a British subject.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is now in a position to state the aggregate amount of economies which the Government have decided to effect in Irish administration, as compared with the aggregate expenditure in the last pre-war financial year?

It is not possible to answer the hon. Member's question until the Estimates for the year 1916-17 are ready for presentation to Parliament, and I must therefore ask that that presentation should be awaited.

Will the right hon. Gentleman promise to seize this occasion to make real economies which would be of advantage to the conduct of the War and also to Ireland permanently?

I shall be very glad to seize these occasions when they offer.

asked the Prime Minister the names of the persons composing the Committees appointed by the Government for the purpose of safeguarding expenditure and effecting economies in the three great spending Departments of the Government; what are the functions and powers of the Committees; how long have they been acting; and the names of the chairmen of the three Committees?

If my hon. Friend will refer to the OFFICIAL REPORT for the 6th, 13th, and 18th January last, he will, I think, find the information for which he asks. I should add that Mr. S. H. Lever is the chairman of the Committee which has been set up in the Ministry of Munitions. This Committee reports to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry.

asked the Chief Secretary what amount of money has been, or will be, obtained for Ireland from the Treasury by way of special Grant to agricultural institutions to meet loss of income during the War, corresponding to the £145,000 granted under this head in England; and how the money is to be allocated in Ireland?

I have been unable to trace the Grant of £145,000 to agricultural institutions in England to meet loss of income during the War referred to by the hon. Member. Grants amounting to £7,900, on account of the War, appear, however, to have been contributed to such institutions in England and Wales, and the Department of Agriculture and Technical. Instruction inform me that the matter of a corresponding Grant to that Department is under consideration.

asked if the Congested Districts Board will ascertain how many of the 2,500 men in casual employment upon their works are of military age and issue instructions that, having regard to the urgent need for recruits for Irish reserve battalions, employment under the Board shall be restricted to men who are not eligible for military service?

To ascertain the information referred to in the first part of the question will involve a census on some particular day of the men employed by the Congested Districts Board on their works. The advisability of taking such a census and issuing the instructions suggested by the hon. Member will be considered by that Board at their next meeting, which will be held on the 14th March.

Will it be considered by the Congested Districts Board?

Yes.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state for each of the counties of Ireland the number of men who have enlisted in the Army and in the Navy since the outbreak of the War, and the number of men of military age still remaining?

It is not considered to be in the public interest that the recruiting figures for Ireland should be given in greater detail than they were in the Lord Lieutenant's Report of the 14th January. According to the returns furnished by the police, the numbers of men who have enlisted in the Army and the Navy since the outbreak of war up to the 15th instant are as follows:

An estimate, based on the National Register, of the numbers of men of military age still remaining is as follows:— Ulster … … … 159,640 Leinster … … … 167,492 Munster … … … 133,237 Connaught … … … 80,330

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the figures supplied in the Lord Lieutenant's recent Report on recruiting in Ireland were incomplete and referred only to Infantry; and if he will state how many men have been raised in Ulster, additional to Infantry, for the Royal Army Medical Corps, Divisional Train, Royal Engineers, Cavalry Squadron, Cyclists, etc., connected with the Ulster Division, and how many men were enlisted in Ireland for the corresponding units of the 10th and 16th Divisions?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and I have no sources of information which would enable me to give the figures asked for in the second part.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it has been publicly stated since that the figures which were given in the White Paper issued by the Lord Lieutenant only contained the numbers regarding Infantry regiments, and did not include the Cavalry?

I say that is not right.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take into consideration the practicability of giving the warlike Zulus and Basutos of South Africa the opportunity of volunteering for service in the German East African campaign?

This matter has been considered, but it is not considered practicable or desirable to employ these natives in the manner suggested.

Is this not a matter which is almost entirely and practically in the hands of the South African Government?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether a man (single) forty years of age who married on 2nd November, 1915, is within the provisions of the Military Service Act, 1916?

My hon. Friend is much better able than I am to express an opinion on a rather nice question of law. I should myself be inclined to give the man to whom he refers the benefit of the doubt.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that on 17th February four men subject to the Military Service Act applied to the clerk of the local tribunal at Cwmavon (Port Talbot) for forms upon which to claim exemption, and that the mayor, who is chairman of the local tribunal, refused to provide such forms on the ground that the applicants had not attested; and whether, having regard to the provisions of the Military Service Act, he will say what steps the Local Government Board propose to take in this matter?

I am in communication with the local authorities on the subject, and will let the hon. Member know the result.

Is the right hon. Gentleman making this communication to all authorities? Is he aware that similar refusals have taken place in many places, and that a great number of people have been told that they can only claim exemption after attestation, and some have been induced to attest on this ground?

I am not aware that this has happened in many cases; but I have given the clearest instructions, and it is to be hoped that the instructions issued will stop its recurrence.

Have the instructions been general, or only to certain authorities?

Certainly.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received a letter from Colonel Conran, through the hon. Member for the Buckrose Division, protesting against the constitution of the local tribunal set up by the Bridlington Town Council, in which special exception is taken to the inclusion on the local tribunal of Mr. T. D. Fendy on the ground that, when the Military Service (No. 2) Bill was introduced, he wrote a letter to the Press against compulsory military service; will he say if the military representative is entitled to interfere with the discretion of a local authority about the constitution of a local tribunal; whether the fact that a man has previously expressed views against Conscription is to be regarded as a disqualification to sit on a local tribunal; and, if so, will all members of local tribunals who have expressed themselves in favour of compulsory military service be regarded as disqualified to exercise their powers in a fair and judicial manner?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I do not think that a military representative is precluded by his position from calling attention to such a matter. In reply to the last part of the question, as I stated in this House, I do not consider that the mere holding of views for or against compulsory military service need disqualify a man from sitting on a local tribunal. The important question is whether he can bring an impartial mind to the determination of the cases which come before that body.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if, seeing that many local tribunals are expressing the view that they have not the power to grant absolute exemption under the Military Service Act, 1916, to conscientious objectors who establish a case, he will call attention to that part of the instructions which says that in certain cases absolute exemption can be granted to conscientious objectors?

On the evidence before me I do not think it necessary to take action. If any case is brought to my notice in which there is misapprehension, I will be prepared to consider it.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn; to the statement of the Chairman of the Wands-worth Tribunal that they do not intend to grant any exemptions? Will he have a tribunal set up there to administer the Act and not the views of the chairman?

I have not seen the statement referred to.

What action will the right hon. Gentleman take in the case of tribunals that refuse to administer the Act and not to grant exemptions?

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that a number of local authorities are not carrying out the instructions of the Local Government Board in the constitution of the local tribunals under the Military Service Act, 1916; that in the majority of cases there is no representative of labour on the tribunal; that in hardly a single case has a local authority carried out the instruction to consult the body representative of labour in the district; that women are not being appointed on the tribunals; and particularly that no regard is being paid to the instruction which requires the local authority to remember in constituting the tribunal that cases of conscientious objection will come before them, and that the tribunal should be so constituted that such persons will feel that their case will be justly considered; and will he say what steps he proposes to take to enforce upon local authorities the carrying out of the instructions of his Department and the Regulations issued by His Majesty in Council?

I have no reason to think that generally the local tribunals which have been appointed do not command general confidence. I have received a certain number of representations that labour is not properly represented, and, where necessary, I am communicating with the local authorities. Local authorities are not required to appoint women on the tribunals; the matter is left to their discretion. I do not feel that I could properly go further than the advice given in the circular letter of the 3rd February. It is necessary to distinguish between directions contained in the Regulations and the advice contained in the circular letter. The appointment of the tribunal has been left to the local authority as containing the elected representatives of the people. I do not think it would be right for me to interfere with their discretion unless there are very strong reasons for doing so.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state what action he proposes to take in regard to the constitution of the local tribunal for the Pickering (Yorks) Rural District Council, which is composed of eight members all of whom are farmers, the council having refused to follow the instructions of the Local Government Board by making the constitution of the tribunal of a representative character?

I am making inquiries in this case.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has official information to the effect that shortly after the publication by the "Labour Leader" of their intention to agitate against the Military Service Act, 1916, that portion of the paper dealing with the proposed campaign was translated into Roumanian and reissued broadcast in Roumania, with an introduction to the effect that industrial England was in revolt; and, if so, what action the Government propose to take?

The attention of His Majesty's Government was drawn by His Majesty's Minister at Bucharest to the use which was being made by enemy agents in Roumania of the article from the "Labour Leader," and steps were at once taken to make it clear in Roumania that that journal has not the representative character attributed to it by enemy agencies.

Do the Government propose to take any steps to prevent the publication in this country of matter in the Press which is bound to be of use to the enemy in neutral countries?

I must ask the hon. Member to give me notice.

asked the Prime Minister what Departments are responsible for the lists of the multifarious trades and occupations exempted from the operations of the Military Service Act, 1916; and if these Departments consulted with the War Office and with each other before settling such lists?

The lists of exempted occupations referred to were drawn up by the several Departments specially concerned. Thus, the Home Office arranged the coal-mining list, the Agricultural Departments the list of farm servants, the Admiralty and the Ministry of Munitions were responsible for the lists of workpeople essential to the manufacture of ships and munitions of war. The remaining exemptions were recommended to the War Office by an Interdepartmental Committee sitting at the Board of Trade. A representative of the War Office has served on this Committee for some time past. In all cases the consent of the War Office was obtained.

Will the Ministers representing the different Departments answer in this House questions referring to matters with which they have to deal?

I should think they would.

asked the Prime Minister whether he intends to introduce legislation with a view to suspend the operation of leases and other existing contractual obligations entered into by men of military age during their period of service with the Colours in cases where the fulfilment of such obligations would be rendered impossible by their enlistment, or where such existing obligations might afford a ground for claiming exemption under the Military Service Act, 1916?

No, Sir; His Majesty's Government do not propose to introduce legislation on this subject. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board on the 19th January to the right hon. Baronet the Member for Swansea.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the number of cases of hardship—great hardship—which have already been brought before the tribunals in relation to this matter, and is the Government taking no action whatever?

It is being very carefully watched.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether single men of military age who, before 15th August, 1915, had applied for a commission in His Majesty's Army and had been rejected on grounds of physical unfitness, are now being called up for re-examination, and, if found to be fit, will be compelled to serve in the ranks under the Military Service Act; and, if so, whether arrangements can be made to allow of such men obtaining commissions, as they would have done had they not been rejected on their first medical examination?

The category of persons mentioned does not fall within the exceptions set out in the First Schedule of the Act. As I have stated to the House, the normal method of obtaining a commission now is through the ranks. Quite apart, therefore, from the provisions of the Military Service Act, the general channel of approach to all ranks in the Army, commissioned and other, is through the ranks. I do not, therefore, think that such individuals, if physically fit for service, have any grievance in having to enter the Army in the same manner and on the same footing as everybody else.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of paragraph 14 of Form R. 48 (Instructions to tribunals as to voluntarily attested men), he will say, if an employer makes an application for exemption of an employé on the ground of indispensability, the employé is thereby precluded from making an application on personal grounds to the tribunal of the area in which he resides?

asked whether, if an employer makes an application for exemption of an employé on the ground of indispensability, the employé is thereby precluded from making an application on personal grounds to the tribunal of the area in which he resides?

I would refer my hon. Friends to the full explanation I gave yesterday on this matter in reply to a question put to me by the hon. Member for the College Division of Glasgow.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that apparently his reply yesterday only applies to cases under the Military Service Act, whereas we want to go a little further than that?

I am not aware that that is so. I think it applies to both cases of men attested and men under the Military Service Act.

I will put down another question on the subject.

A great many of us did not understand the right hon. Gentleman's answer yesterday. Can he reply to the question actually on the Paper?

My reply was to that effect—and I will repeat it substantially—that any man who desires to be exempted and wishes to appeal to the tribunals, if he has a private reason and a reason in relation to the employment in which he is engaged, he should confer with his employer and make up his mind which is the most governing reason. That is what I said yesterday. It is the perfectly natural and proper course to adopt. There is no good in the hon. Gentleman shaking his head. Having made up his mind whether the most important reason is that which is personal or that relating to his employment, he can go forward to the tribunal with the governing reason.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why the services of Mr. George Hewson, land agent, of county Leitrim, as recruiter have not been continued in that county; where he is now recruiting; with what military rank and pay, seeing that he has never been in the Army; and whether he will be given leave of absence to execute the sixy-seven ejectment decrees which he now holds against Leitrim tenants?

Captain Hewson does not hold, and never did hold, the post of recruiter. He is stationed at Clandeboye Camp, Newtownards, county Down, and holds a captaincy in the 18th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. The question of leave is a regimental matter, to be dealt with by the commanding officer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether men who attested and were rejected since the 14th August last, but who were not supplied with a certificate of rejection although marked in the register as medically unfit, are now being called upon to undergo a further medical examination; and whether such action is contemplated by the provisions of the Military Service Act, 1916?

A man who has offered himself for enlistment and has been rejected since the 14th August, 1915, is excepted from the operation of the Military Service Act, but obviously to claim that exception he must prove that he comes within the description. If a man has no properly authorised certificate of rejection, it is difficult to see how he can prove that he has offered himself and has been rejected. If he has no evidence to support his statement he must be considered prima facie as subject to the provisions of the Act.

Was the certificate of rejection given to all applicants for attestment who were, as a matter of fact, rejected?

No, Sir, a certificate was not given in all cases, but in many cases something was given which he could show.

If there are a number of cases where the applicant was rejected, but where no certificate of rejection was given, will it not be necessary for the War Office to take other evidence than the certificate of rejection?

He must have something to show, and some evidence to show that he has been rejected.

I would point out that there is a large number of questions on the Paper.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has issued instructions to recruiting officers in which he has corrected the answer given by him to the hon. Member for Derby on 27th January; on what date the new instructions were issued; and whether he will state the terms of the correction contained in these instructions?

In my correspondence with my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Walthamstow I made the necessary correction. Detailed instructions were not issued at that time, but I am causing instructions to be sent out at once. A communiqué to the Press was issued yesterday.

Will the Prime Minister take steps to see that my right hon. Friend is not always made the butt of the divergent views of Ministers? It is very unfair to him.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether men discharged from the Army or Navy since the outbreak of war are liable to be called up under the Military Service Act, 1916?

I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 5 of the First Schedule to the Military Service Act. He will observe from that paragraph that men who have left or been discharged from the naval or military service of the Crown in consequence of disablement or ill-health (including officers who have ceased to hold a commission in consequence of disablement or ill-health), and, subject to any provision which may hereafter be made by Parliament, men who have been discharged from the naval or military service of the Crown at the termination of their period of service are not subject to the provisions of the Act. Men who have been discharged for other reasons than those stated are not within the exceptions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the circular letter signed by the Director-General of Recruiting, dated February, 1916, and addressed to all unstarred single men, is being sent to men who have been rejected as unfit since 14th August last; that in several instances the letter has been followed by a yellow Army form, warning the person addressed that he must present himself for military service on 2nd March next; will he say why this is being done; will he also say whether men who have been given a blue form, No. 2,505a, stating that they were not accepted and giving the cause of rejection, are obliged to come up the second time before the medical officer; if this is the case, will he explain the object in giving out the blue form, No. 2,505a; will he also state whether it is possible for the War Office to make one statement covering all unfit men; and, if so, will he make if?

It is quite possible that the circular letter signed by the Director-General of Recruiting, dated February, 1916, has been sent in some cases to men who have been rejected by the military authorities as unfit since the 14th August, 1915. This would occur where the military authorities had no record of the man having offered himself for enlistment. In such a case, if a man were a person primâ facie liable to the provisions of the Military Service Act, he would no doubt receive an Army form under the Military Service Act requiring him to present himself for military service. If a man has offered himself since the 14th August, 1915, and is rightfully in possession of an official form stating that he was not accepted and giving the cause of his rejection, he is not subject to the provisions of the Military Service Act, and if he is not willing to enter the Army there is no obligation upon him to come up for further medical examination. The general conditions relating to unfit men have been already stated in Parliament and elsewhere, so far as it is possible in one statement to cover all cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that officers and men of the merchant service are being served with yellow notices calling upon them to join the Army on certain dates; whether he can state what instructions have been issued by his Department that these men should be exempt or excepted from the provisions of the Military Service Act, and what steps he proposes to take to carry out the undertaking given to this effect?

I understand that in some cases officers and men of the merchant service have been served with notices to join the Army. They are, however, included in the list of certified occupations, and the Board of Trade are already in communication with the War Office as to the most effective means of dealing with the matter.

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend that all these officers and men of the mercantile service should attend before the tribunals in exactly the same way as everybody else before they can get any exception or exemption from the Act?

That is one of the questions upon which we are now in communication with the War Office. I cannot make any statement on that at the moment. It was certainly not my intention that officers and men of the mercantile marine should necessarily appear before the tribunals.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he was in a position to name, as the result of the eighteen years' technical instruction of the Department, the new industries introduced in Ireland since the beginning of the War corresponding to industrial development in this country in that time; the places where such industries are situated; and the approximate number of persons engaged in them?

The Department are not charged with responsibility for industries other than rural industries, and are not in a position to give statistics as to the num- ber of new industries introduced into Ireland since the beginning of the War or the number of persons engaged in them. The Department are aware that new industries have been introduced, but the success of the education they provide is to be tested not by the number of such new industries, but by the progress of existing industries.

Is it not a fact that during the eighteen years of its existence the Department has not founded a single new industry in Ireland?

No, but they have contributed very much to new industries being introduced into Ireland.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies if he could make any statement with regard to the operations in the Cameroons?

A telegram was received from the Governor-General of Nigeria on 18th February, reporting that the German garrison at Mora in the north of the Cameroons, had capitulated. This completes the conquest of the Cameroons by the Allied Forces, and I have telegraphed my warm congratulations to Major-General Dobell, to Brigadier-General Cunliffe, and to the forces under their respective commands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the arrangement among the railway companies by which the directors of the various companies travel without payment, not only over their own lines but the lines of other companies; whether, in view of the railways being under Government control, this practice is still continued; and whether, in view of the financial position of the country, it is intended to provide that railway directors should only travel after payment of the usual fares?

No alteration has been made in the practice to which my hon. Friend refers, and I do not think it is a matter in which any alteration is called for.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has been a great increase in this practice since the War began, and consequently a large amount of first-class carriage accommodation has to be provided, with considerable increase of expense in haulage and otherwise?

I was not aware that the directors were travelling more than usual.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that persons in the Board of Trade have been offered these passes, and can he give any information upon that point?

Yes. Persons in the Board of Trade have been offered these passes and quite properly offered them.

Has the President of the Board of Trade received one himself?

I would remind the hon. Member that we have a great many questions.

I beg to give notice that I shall call attention to this matter on a suitable occasion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with the view of preventing the importation of luxuries, he will take steps to prohibit the importation of plumage, with the exception of ostrich feathers?

I can add nothing at present to the replies I gave yesterday to the questions addressed to me by the hon. Members for East Edinburgh and the St. Augustine's Division of Kent.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this trade is mainly in the hands of persons of German name and nationality?

Yes, Sir, that may be; but the only object the Board of Trade have had in restricting imports has been to provide tonnage space. I am not aware that aigrettes occupy a very large amount of space.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will resume the weekly publication of the maximum prices that should be paid by the consumers in this country for the necessaries of life for their guidance?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 14th October last to a similar question addressed to me by the hon. Member for Mid-Lanark. The periodical issue of statements comparing the wholesale prices of leading commodities with those prevailing before the War, which was at that time in contemplation, has since been carried out.

asked the Presi-Prime Minister whether, with a view to aware of the handicap that is now imposed on toilet soap makers in competition with American firms; whether he is aware that, owing to the firms who used to supply nickel-plated tubes for holding shaving sticks of soap being how Government controlled firms, British shaving soap manufacturers have now to either send out their soap in seamed tin boxes or else unboxed, whereas their American competitors are at no such disadvantage; whether the Government is still purchasing glycerine from American firms at an inflated price and not from English suppliers; and whether it is the intention of the Government to put a heavy tax on the import of toilet soap, shaving soap, and dentifrices during the period of war?

I recognise that under existing conditions British manufacturers of toilet soaps are placed at a disadvantage as compared with their neutral competitors, but I am not at present able to say more than that the matter is receiving the careful consideration of the Departments concerned.

May I have an answer to the last part of my question, as to the importation of glycerine?

The latter part of my answer also applies to the latter part of the hon. and gallant Member's question. It is having consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if an application by the lower-grade clerks of the Labour Exchanges for a war bonus has been considered and refused; and, if so, will he, in view of the small wages of this class, the extra work they are doing, and the increased cost of living, reconsider the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by me to similar questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Peterborough and East Wolverhampton on the 22nd February.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can make any statement of results achieved by the Committee appointed to consider possibilities of economy in Army expenditure?

I do not think it would be in the public interest to make any statement at the present time of the kind suggested.

Has something been done or is it being attempted?

It is being done.

asked the Postmaster-General the terms upon which Edinburgh and district sub-postmasters are to be remunerated for transacting War Loan business; and whether it will be the same as those for bankers, brokers, and financial houses?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave yesterday to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for East Nottingham, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that many foremen in controlled establishments in Scotland have not shared in the rise in wages although they are training unskilled labour, which subsequently earns larger wages than the skilled men instructing such men; whether he is aware of the discontent this engenders; and whether he will take steps to have it remedied?

It is within the power of an employer to raise the wages of individual foremen without reference to the Ministry. If an application in regard to classes of foremen were put forward by an employer to the Ministry under Section 4 (2) of the Munitions of War Act in the circumstances referred to by my hon. Friend, it would receive sympathetic consideration.

Is my hon. Friend aware that discontent arises from the fact that skilled foremen who otherwise would earn very large wages are compelled by the necessity of training unskilled labour to abandon the possibility of getting those wages, while the unskilled labour is earning, in many cases, much more than those who are instructing it. Can nothing be done to meet that case?

I am quite aware of the facts, but, as the hon. Member is well aware, that arises from the observance of the agreement by trade unions. I quite agree that some adjustment should be made in order that these men should not be penalised in their wages because they are skilled.

Is it the case that in such cases the applications to the Ministry of Munitions must only be made by the employer? Have the employés no right of access to the Ministry of Munitions?

Applications can be made by either party.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the Friendly Society of Iron Founders had 220 of its members unemployed at the beginning of February and in receipt of weekly sums varying from 10s. to 17s. 6d. from the society, and that moulders who have joined the Army are employed in munition works at Llanelly and elsewhere, the Government paying, in addition to their wages, separation allowances to their wives; and whether, having regard to the need for national economy and the maintenance of our military strength, he will take steps to send back the soldier-moulders at Llanelly and elsewhere to their military duties, and replace them by the moulders who are now unemployed?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on the 13th December last, in which I pointed out that the work of moulders is specialised to a very high degree. In spite of the facts quoted by my hon. Friend there is at the present time an unsatisfied demand for upwards of 400 moulders of different grades, although the vacancies have been circulated to every Labour Exchange in the country. Any of the unemployed men referred to in the question who are in fact capable of filling these vacancies and willing to do so can at once be placed in employment in them. In the circumstances it would clearly be undesirable to take the action suggested in the question.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he will give the terms of the agreement between Messrs. Beard-more and Company and the representative of the employés for the dilution of labour at the Parkhead Works, Glasgow?

I have communicated with the Chairman of the Commissioners for dilution of labour in the Clyde district, and am informed by him that the labour dilution scheme applied to the works at Parkhead of William Beardmore and Company, Limited, provides that:

Is there not a further condition providing for supervision over the scale by a committee of the shop stewards of the workmen?

There was an arrangement of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend, but I am informed that it was not in the form of an agreement.

Is it not in the agreement between the employers and the representatives of the workmen?

According to the information which I have got it is not in the form of an agreement, though an arrangement was made.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that during the end of last month and the beginning of this month a number of casualties were caused on the Western frontier by rifle grenades; whether he is aware that the Germans appear to have had an unlimited supply of these grenades, while our supply was strictly Limited; and will he say when the importance of having large supplies of rifle grenades was first brought to his notice by the War Office?

The importance of this matter is fully appreciated, but it would be contrary to the public interest to enter into details with regard to the supply of rifle grenades.

Why have we not got enough?

There are a good many different kinds to be dealt with, which ought not to be considered in public discussion.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is now in a position to give the House the text of the instruction issued to merchant shippers with respect to arming and their use of arms?

AS I have already stated, the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman is engaging the attention of the Admiralty.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the manufacture of anti-aircraft guns for Home defence has now priority over other ordnance; if so, on what date did he issue such instructions to the manufacturers of ordnance?

Under instructions issued on 10th February the manufacture of certain anti-aircraft guns for Home defence was given priority over that of certain classes of field guns of which the existing and prospective deliveries were so large that it was possible to adopt the above course without detriment to military interests.

Are we to understand that we have so many field guns that these field guns are not necessary for the front?

No, Sir. If the hon. Gentleman looks at my answer he will see that the existing and prospective deliveries were so large that it was possible to adopt this course without detriment to military interests. It was only to make provision for a certain number of guns of this nature, and there is no intention whatever of taking any action whatever that will be detrimental to the interests of any of our arms.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that he took the ordering of ordnance and the design of guns out of the control of Lord Kitchener last autumn and placed the same in the hands of the Minister of Munitions, he will say whether he authorised Lord Kitchener to state that the construction of anti-aircraft guns for Home defence has now priority over other ordnance; and, if so, will he say what are the reasons which led His Majesty's Government to take this step to the detriment of the men fighting in the field?

The accelerated manufacture of anti-aircraft guns will not be to the detriment of the supply of the forces in the field. The priority given to the production of such guns, which was the result of a decision of the War Committee, will only effect certain classes of lighter ordnance with which the Army is already well supplied. Lord Kitchener made his view clear by a statement in another part of his speech: The people of this country do not desire to give too great importance to these attacks or allow them to affect our military operations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions stated that anti-aircraft guns had been given precedence of field guns in manufacture, and that many field guns at the present time are very badly worn and at present require to be renewed?

That is not so.

He said so.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Sir Percy Scott was relieved of the command of London anti-aircraft defences at 1 p.m. precisely on the 16th instant; whether he is now adviser in matters of anti-aircraft gunnery to the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces and of naval gunnery to the First Lord of the Admiralty; and whether it is intended to appoint this officer to some position where his energy and administrative ability will have some executive scope?

Sir Percy Scott's responsibility to the Admiralty ceased on the transfer of the Anti-Aircraft Defence of London to the War Office. He has accepted the appointment of Adviser to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, in regard to gunnery matters relating to such anti-aircraft defence, and he is also, under an arrangement made in November, 1914, available for consultation in regard to naval gunnery when the Board of Admiralty desire his advice.

In view of the discrepancy between the answer which the right hon. Gentleman has given and the answer given by the War Office on the 16th February I shall call attention to this matter in the debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill.

asked the Prime Minister if he can make a statement with regard to the Joint Naval and Military Committee to deal with the Air Service?

I am glad to be able to announce that Lord Derby has accepted the Chairmanship of the Committee referred to, and that, with his accustomed public spirit, Lord Derby has volunteered to act without any remuneration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, except in very exceptional cases, schoolmasters who joined the Service since 1910 do not benefit under the 1910 concessions; that under the present Regulations only two promotions of men who joined in 1913 can take place within the next ten years; that several men who joined in that year will have to wait thirty years before being promoted, and are thereby prevented from ever becoming chief schoolmasters; that the Army and Royal Marines schoolmasters have recently been made warrant officers; and whether, in view of all these facts, he will consider the question of raising the status of the naval schoolmaster and giving further consideration to the question of promotion?

I explained fully on 24th November to my hon. Friend the improvements in the pay and prospects of naval schoolmasters made in 1910. I regret that it is impracticable at the present time to reopen the general question. I might remark that warrant rank for Royal Marine schoolmasters after twelve years' service has been in existence for about thirty-five years.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that those schoolmasters who have joined since 1910 do not participate in the concessions given in 1910?

My hon. Friend has in mind, I think, the question of promotions?

Yes.

They do participate in all the benefits, but I understand that my hon. Friend thinks that promotion is rather slow.

Before 1910 the applications were very small, but since then they have been large.

I went with the greatest care through all these matters in 1910. I really cannot take any steps now.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can say how it happened that no relief has been given to the men on His Majesty's ship "Albion" since the beginning of the War; and, in view of the fact that the naval barracks are filled to overflowing, would it be possible in this and in some other cases to effect a change?

Reliefs for ships long abroad are arranged so far as military exigencies permit. Those longest from home are the first considered, and His Majesty's ship "Albion" will receive attention in her turn.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the steamship "Mauretania" is now under charter by the Government; if so, since what date was she chartered; what is the average total cost per month of running the ship; what was the date when she completed her last voyage; and what is she doing at the present time?

The "Mauretania" is at present under charter to the Government. She has been on hire since 11th May, 1915; she completed her last voyage on 25th January, 1916. Since then she has been prepared for further service as a hospital ship. In view of altered circumstances, however, it has now been decided that she can be dispensed with and is being returned to her owners. It is not considered desirable to publish the cost of the ship, but the arrangements made with the owners were very favourable to the Government, the company having agreed to waive the rates payable under their agreement made with the Government before the War.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will say how many of the 12,446 male and 10,500 female uninterned alien enemies are of German nationality, exclusive of natives of Alsace-Lorraine?

Technically, 7,350 of the males and about two-thirds of the females are of German nationality. It is not possible to state how many are natives of Alsace-Lorraine, but persons of French race from Alsace-Lorraine form only one of the several classes of friendly race or sympathies who are technically of German nationality. Of Germans and Austrians of military age, 6,756 males have been exempted from internment, and of this number the natives of Alsace-Lorraine, the Czechs, Poles, and Southern Slavs amount to a little over 3,000. I cannot give the figures as to other persons of friendly race or sympathies.

asked the Home Secretary the present position of the dispute between the Amalgamated Union of Clothiers' Operatives and the Employers' Federation on the question of the employment of women; whether a meeting between the two has been held, and, if not, why this has not been done, as was promised by the Home Office; and will he at once get into touch with the hon. Member for Loughborough, who is chairman of the Employers' Federation, and try to arrange the conference, in view of the fact that the ranks of the operatives are being rapidly increased by the introduction of women, for whom there are no recognised rates of pay?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet been able to bring together the representatives of the employers and of the workers affected by the dispute in the garment working trade at Leeds; and whether he is in a position to make any statement on the matter, in view of the critical stage that has been reached?

A conference with representatives from a number of branches of the Operatives' Society took place yesterday, and conferences with the Employers' Association and with the executive of the Operatives' Society are being held to-day. It is hoped that a settlement may be reached.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that unrest has been created among the warders at Norwich Prison since the departure for active service of the governor, Lieutenant-Colonel Fowler, who held the respect and confidence of the men; that the unrest and discontent is due to the policy of the acting-governor, H. Wade, who subjects the warders to irritating petty persecutions and has revived the obsolete practice of fining officers for trivial offences; that one warder, after twelve years' service, has resigned and sacrificed his pension rather than accept the new conditions; and whether steps will be taken to inquire into these complaints with a view to a better feeling being restored?

Nothing is known to the Prison Commissioners of these allegations. On the contrary, the Chairman of the Visiting Committee, in his Annual Report, says of Mr. Wade: I cannot speak too highly of the acting-governor. I attribute the general good conduct of the prisoners entirely to his tact and management. This good opinion is corroborated by His Majesty's inspectors. It is the fact that a warder has recently resigned after twelve years' service. The reason given by him in writing was that he meant to seek outdoor occupation, and that his eyesight was worrying him, and he could not concentrate his mind on his work. He also told the governor that he wished to better himself. If any definite complaint is submitted, inquiry will, of course, be made. I would deprecate the publicity given by means of a question in this House to charges against a member of the prison service before there has been time to investigate the charges and before even any complaint has been made to his official superiors.

asked the Prime Minister whether a Bill will be introduced at an early date to give effect to the Report of the Departmental Committee on Land Settlement for Sailors and Soldiers?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given yesterday on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman let us have an early Debate on this question, on account of the interest taken in it?

I will consider that.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability in the public interest of issuing from time to time official Reports reviewing the history, position, and prospects of the various British Expeditions in France and elsewhere; and whether, having regard to the contradictory estimates of irresponsible military critics, the military authorities will follow the example of the French and publish at intervals a carefully and scientifically compiled estimate of the losses sustained by the enemy?

In reply to the first part of the question, it is proposed to issue shortly the first of a series of descriptive accounts of past events written up from Official Records, as these become available for the purpose. It would clearly not conduce to the success of the various Expeditions to make public their actual position from time to time in greater detail than is done at present. In reply to the last part of the question, it is not thought desirable to issue any such official estimate of the enemy's losses.

Can my right hem. Friend say whether the Reports will be on a commercial basis, or as a Parliamentary Paper?

I cannot tell.