asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he has taken, or proposes to take, upon the recommendations of the Royal Commission anent the mode of recruiting persons to be appointed to the Foreign Office and the Diplomatic Service; and whether he intends to give effect to the recommendation that the existing rule confining the appointments in the Diplomatic Service to persons assured of a private income of £400 a year shall be abolished?

I am afraid that it will be impracticable to deal with the recommendations, of the Royal Commission during the War, especially as they involve if adopted a considerable permanent increase of expenditure.

asked if British military or naval prisoners or British subjects interned in Germany are employed on any kind of work in the various camps or prisons; if so, is the work optional or compulsory; and do they receive any wages or remuneration for their employment?

I believe that British military and naval prisoners in Germany are in considerable numbers compulsorily employed on work for which they receive remuneration. Civilian prisoners are not so employed, though they are employed on ordinary fatigue work in their place of internment. This is in accordance with the Fourth Hague Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, considering the importance of our trade with Scandinavia and Holland at the present time, and the fact that out of 111 salaried and unsalaried British Consuls and Vice-Consuls in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Holland only eleven salaried and seventeen unsalaried are of British descent and that the remaining eighty-three are all unsalaried aliens, and the desirability of replacing these unsalaried alien Vice-Consuls by men of British race at the earliest possible moment, he will now consider the question of obtaining the necessary funds for the payment of these salaries without extra cost to the State by directing the British Consuls resident in those foreign countries, whose Consuls; in Great Britain levy fees for Consular invoice certificates, certificates of origin, or for legalisation of bills of lading on all goods exported from this country, to levy the same fees for corresponding documents on all goods shipped from those countries to Great Britain?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer returned by the President of the Board of Trade to the question asked by him on 26th January.

Salaried Consular officers of British nationality have been, and will be, appointed so far as is possible at all places where their presence is necessary, but it must be remembered that apart from the question of expense it is exceedingly difficult at the present time to find suitable candidates with the requisite linguistic attainments.

I may add that the Diplomatic staff in those countries has been considerably increased since the War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, inasmuch as the price of living in Russia as well as the Home taxation of salaries of British Government officials has very largely increased since the rates of pay were fixed for 1913, he will take steps to secure for our Diplomatic and Consular representatives in Russia a reasonable compensating allowance for these disadvantges?

The increase which has taken place since 1913, both in the cost of living and in Home taxation affects British officials in all parts of the world including this country, and I fear no special provision can be made for the benefit of those serving in Russia.

asked whether any British subjects are now imprisoned in Switzerland under military law; whether Messrs. Purcell, Service, and Draycott were incarcerated for over fifty days and seventy-two days respectively; what trial did they receive, and upon what charge were they condemned; and whether any explanation of these procedings has been forwarded to His Majesty's Government from the Federal Council?

Messrs. Purcell, Service and Draycott were arrested by the Swiss military authorities on charges of espionage, and were kept in prison, the two first-named for over fifty days and the last-named for seventy-two days. His Majesty's Minister at Berne reports by telegraph that Messrs. Purcell and Service have been acquitted of the charge brought against them. I understand that they were tried before the Federal Tribunal. Mr. Draycott was not brought to trial. He was released owing, apparently, to the absence of evidence against him, but it was decided to expel him from Switzerland. He is, however, appealing against this decision and putting forward against the Swiss Government a demand for compensation for wrongful imprisonment. The Federal Government have agreed to make full inquiries into this case. So far as I am aware there are no other British subjects now in prison in Switzerland.

Is any redress to be had from His Majesty's Government by Messrs. Purcell and Service for their fifty days' confinement?

I do not know quite what my hon. Friend suggests. I should imagine, if any compensation is to be paid, that it would be due from the Swiss authorities. But I would not like to express an opinion without knowing a little more about the legal aspects of the case.

Will His Majesty's Government press for compensation from the Swiss authorities?

I should not like to pledge myself about that. I think that the practice of this Government is not to give compensation to those who are arrested and tried. But it must depend upon the circumstances of the case. I will inquire into them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why it is necessary to provide a new office in Paris for the purpose of stamping passports for Great Britain, seeing that this duty has been admirably performed since the outbreak of war at the British Consulate-General, and that the number of passports has enormously diminished during the past year; if be can state the rent paid for the new offices in the Rue Chauveau Lagarde and the salaries of the staff, and whether the secretary in charge will be a member of the Consular service?

The Permit Office in Paris has been established to deal with passengers proceeding from France to the United Kingdom. It is the counterpart of an organisation in London under the control of the French military authorities, who have also detailed an officer and assistants to co-operate in Paris. The work of the Permit Office will not be confined to the perfunctory stamping of passports, and the nature of the work necessitates the employment of a staff which, unlike that of the Consul-General, can give its entire time and attention to the objects in view. The number of passports issued generally has increased and not diminished, but this has little relation to the work to be accomplished at the new Permit Office. The rent paid for the offices in the Rue Chauveau Lagarde is at the rate of 7,000 francs per annum. The salaries of the staff appointed by the War Office amount to £2,050 per annum. There is also a Home Office representative paid by that Department. In addition, an official of the Consular service assists in an honorary capacity. The officer in charge is not a member of the Consular service. The Army Council has found the establishment of this office a necessity, for reasons which it is not desirable to state at present, and it is anticipated that its formation will result in a saving in time, labour, and expense in other directions.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why this arrangement has been made when the Consul-General with a few more clerks would have done just as well and at considerably less expense?

I am informed that my hon. Friend is not correct in that assumption.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of William Cameron, of Methil, Fife, who, although suffering from a weak chest and spinal disease, presented himself under the Derby scheme and was rejected as unfit; whether he is aware that subsequently a soldier attended at Cameron's house and ordered him to report himself for the purpose of obtaining his armlet; that he did so and was attested, although the doctor still adhered to the view that he was unfit; that Cameron has now been informed that he will have to travel to Perth in order to be certified as unfit; and whether he will have inquiries made into the case and release this man from an unnecessary journey which would probably be detrimental to his health?

I am having inquiry made.

asked whether, in connection with the application of the Military Service Act, 1916, to Territorials not yet signed for Imperial service, it is only the single men who are being asked to make the declaration?

Only the single men amongst the Home service Territorial soldiers are subject to the provisions of the Military Service Act, 1916. Others may have been canvassed from time to time to undertake the Imperial service obligation, but if they do undertake it it would be a voluntary undertaking.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the intention in those cases is to persuade these men they are in some way or other under the Military Service Act?

I can only say that any person who is so imposed upon must be a person with a very small knowledge of affairs.

asked by what authority Howell Eames Williams, of Groeslon, Carnarvonshire, was requested to submit himself for medical examination at Wrexham, having applied to enlist on the 3rd February, and been rejected as medically unfit, his certificate being signed by the recruiting officer on Army Form No. 178?

I am having inquiry made into this matter, and will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of a tobacconist's assistant at Shoreditch who suffers from consumption and has a cork leg, and who was passed by the doctors as fit for the Army and afterwards given a certificate of total exemption by the local tribunal; and how much is paid to the doctors for every man examined and accepted and for every man examined and rejected?

I should be glad to have precise details of the case referred to. Subject to certain limitations, the usual fee for medical examination is 2s. 6d. per man. If within three months the man is found to have been improperly passed, the doctor is liable to refund the fee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a case which came before the Manchester tribunal on 3rd March, when an applicant who had been twice rejected stated he was unable to produce his certificate of rejection, because when he took it to the recruiting station at Houldsworth Hall an official there, after examining it, tore it up; that the military representative, on being asked by the chairman whether this story could be true, replied that he supposed the man's statement was quite right as something of this sort was done at one time; that the application for exemption was refused; and what action, if any, the Government propose to take to ascertain in how many thousands of cases medical certificates have wrongfully been torn up, and on whose authority and for what purpose this action has been taken?

No, Sir, my attention had not been drawn to this case, but I am having inquiry made, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the number of persons of military age employed under the River Tweed Commissioners; and whether he can state the number who have been attested?

I have no information on the subject referred to.

asked whether, in view of the exhibition of lack of manhood and cowardice displayed before local tribunals by young men seeking escape from military service on conscientious grounds, he will censor in the public Press all reports of such exhibitions?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask if the hon. and gallant Gentleman has not mistaken conscience for cowardice?

Sometimes "conscience makes cowards of us all." Although the prominence given to those cases in the Press is out of all proportion to their number or intrinsic importance, and can hardly fail, therefore, to produce a false impression, there are serious objections to prohibiting the publication of the reports.

Does my right hon. Friend accept the innuendo contained in this question as correct?

I am afraid it is correct, but I trust only in a small minority of these cases.

Is the right hon. Gentleman's view of that minority due to the fact that he has no sympathy with the views of the early Christians?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that tribunals are in some instances refusing to treat as exceptions under the Military Service Act, 1916, the fourth of four sons in a family where already three are serving in the Army; and whether, in view of his pledge to the House on 5th January on the introduction of the Bill, he will take any action, by regulation or advice, to have his pledge fulfilled?

I must ask my hon. Friend to refer to the Prime Minister's speech on 5th January, in which it is made perfectly clear that the case he regarded as entitled to exemption is that of the man whose dependants would be deprived of their means of maintenance were he to be called up. It is the duty of the tribunals to decide whether this condition exists, and if an applicant is aggrieved by their decision he has the right of appeal.

Is it not a fact that in the speech from which the right hon. Gentleman has quoted the Prime Minister did not say that the Bill exempts the widow's son?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the decision of certain local tribunals to exclude the public generally from all their sittings; whether this action has been taken in contravention of the instructions issued by the Board to tribunals; and whether he has been able to take any action in the matter?

My right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to a few cases in which tribunals are reported to have acted in this way, and he has communicated with them, pointing out that, under the Regulations governing the procedure of local tribunals, applications are to be heard in public, unless the tribunal in any particular case consider that any application or any part of the proceedings should be heard in private.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the case of Mr. John T. Dur, an Irish medical student at Edinburgh, who has been ordered to report himself for enlistment; whether Mr. Dur and others similarly cir cumstanced in Great Britain are bound to enlist; and what steps have been taken in Mr. Dur's case?

If Mr. Dur is unattested and is only temporarily resident in the United Kingdom, he would be excepted from the operation of the Military Service Act; if he is ordinarily resident he would be treated as explained in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North-West Lancashire, 2nd March.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the case of an applicant for exemption before the Camborne (Cornwall) tribunal on the ground that he was the only son of a widowed mother and that the Prime Minister had given assurances in respect of such cases; whether he is aware that the chairman of the tribunal replied that the Prime Minister's pledge unfortunately was not carried out by the Military Service Act, 1916, and did not remain a pledge since what was said in the House had not been put into the Act; whether he is aware that this view appears to be widely held by tribunals; and whether, since the Military Service Act, 1916, was passed on the ground that the pledge of the Prime Minister had to be redeemed, steps will be taken to see that the tribunals regard his other pledges as valid and binding?

I may refer to previous answers of my right hon. Friend on this question, and particularly to his reply to the hon. Member yesterday. He cannot deal with individual decisions of local tribunals. If their decisions are not satisfactory the aggrieved party has the right of appeal.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the claim for compensation made by the Abbey net fishermen of Limerick to the military authorities in Ireland on account of damage done to their fishing interests on the several fisheries owned by them on the River Shannon above Limerick during the fishing season of 1915 by reason of bridge-building by a corps of the Royal Engineers in the course of military instruction during that year; whether the representatives of the fishermen called attention to the fact that damage would be done to them by the operations being carried out at this particular place and suggested that another portion of the river would be as suitable for the work; is he aware that a small sum of money was offered as compensation, which sum the fishermen think is utterly inadequate for the damage sustained by them; will he give favourable consideration to the claim of those men with the view of granting some reasonable sum for the injury done them; and is he aware that half of this body of fishermen, including all the young men, are serving in either the naval or military forces of the country?

I am informed that the pontooning started on the 11th May, and that the fishing season closes about the end of July. The part of the river used by the military is rarely fished, and while the fishing hours are from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. no pontooning was done at night except on four occasions. After full consideration of all the circumstances it was decided at the headquarters of the Irish Command that no claim for compensation could be entertained, and I regret I do not see my way to reopen the matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a sum of money was offered to an hon. Member of this House as compensation from the military authorities in Ireland for these fishermen?

No, Sir.

Will the hon. Gentleman see me after questions on the subject?

asked whether Territorials who have completed three years' service are returning home to civil employment and are exempt from further military service?

I do not see how it is possible that any Territorial soldier should become time-expired after an aggregate of three years' service. The normal period of engagement prior to the War was for four years, and since mobilisation it has been for four years or alternatively for the period of the War.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many vessels fitted with insulated chambers which before the War brought chilled and frozen beef and other descriptions of meat food to this country have been requisitioned by the Transport Department of the Admiralty during the War for purposes other than the carriage or storage of meat; whether he can state the total quantity of meat-foods in tons these steamers would have brought to this country during the period of the War had they not been so requisitioned; and whether he can give the names of the steamers so requisitioned by the Admiralty, and their respective meat-carrying capacities in tons' weight of meat?

Twenty-one of the class of vessels referred to have been requisitioned by the Transport Department and used for naval and military purposes other than the carriage or storage of frozen meat. I may add that four of the ships were laid up when requisitioned, and in all probability would have continued laid up for the rest of the War, owing to the cost of running them on their ordinary service. these twenty-one ships would probably have made about fifty voyages and carried about 80,000 tons of frozen meat. It is not considered desirable in the national interest to publish the names of vessels engaged on transport work.

Is this a kind of requisition which my right hon. Friend would call proper?

With respect, the question is argumentative, but if I must reply I would say the ships were immediately available at a time of urgency.

Are arrangements made to safeguard the interests of British meat companies as compared with those of American firms operating in England?

That is a matter for the Board of Trade.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the steamship "Maine," ex "Heliopolis," which was bought by the Admiralty three years ago and has been lying unused at Pembroke ever since, was on 1st March bought at auction by Messrs. Harris and Dixon, Limited, on the undertaking given by the auctioneer, who stated that he was authorised by the Admiralty to announce that the vessel would not be requisitioned except in case of urgent necessity and that, if so requisitioned, the market rates current at the time would be paid and not Blue Book rates; and if Blue Book rates for this ship would amount to about 7s. per ton on the deadweight per month, and current market rates at present ruling amount to 40s. per ton on the deadweight per month for neutrals and 25s. per ton on the deadweight for British steamers?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The current market rate, as my hon. Friend implies, is several times higher than the Blue Book rates. It has for some time been the practice to give a guarantee of the kind in question to British purchasers of neutral vessels in order to enable them to pay a price sufficient to obtain such vessels in competition with foreign purchasers, who would not in any event be subject to requisition. In view of the fact that the "Heliopolis" required some months' work at a considerable expense before She would be fit for work, it was considered that a reasonable price could not fairly be expected unless a similar guarantee were given. The financial advantage of the guarantee, of course, accrues to the Exchequer, and it is the intention to leave the vessel for employment in the ordinary trade of the country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of steamers owned by the Lamport and Holt Line fitted with insulated chambers for the carriage of chilled and frozen meat, etc., which are at present running regularly between the Argentine and the United States, giving their names and respective carrying capacities of meat in tons; and why, in view of the shortage of merchant ships and the high price of meat, these steamers are not employed between the Argentine and the United Kingdom or France?

Messrs. Lamport and Holt, Limited, have at present eight vessels fitted with refrigerated chambers. Their names and carrying capacities are as follows:—

Steamship. Tons of Meat. Steamship. Tons of Meat. "Vauban" … 2,900 "Voltaire" 2,900 "Verdi" … 1,800 "Meissonier" 3,000 "Versari" … 3,100 "Memling" 3,000 "Vestris" … 2,900 "Murillo" 3,000

The "M" boats have been mainly employed in carrying meat to the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, and certain of the "V" boats have on occasion been so engaged, though their regular employment is in trading between the Argentine and the United States. I am at present in communication with the company as to utilising all the above vessels for carrying meat to Europe.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is in a position to give an account of the battles of the 14th January and the 7th February, and later battles in which troops belonging to the garrison at Nasiriyah, on the Euphrates line, have been engaged?

My hon. Friend should seek information regarding any action on the 14th January from the India Office who Were at that time in control of the opera- tions. In regard to operations at Nasiriyah on the 7th February, I would refer him to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the Enfield Division on the 21st February. As regards later battles, I may inform him that a small punitive column set out against a hostile Arab concentration about 4 miles north of Nasiriyah on the 22nd February, and that the enemy fled and suffered severely, whilst we had no casualties.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether he has appointed a military Court of Inquiry into the circumstances of the assault committed by Second-Lieutenant Plummer on a man named Stewart, and into the action of Colonel Leith, commanding at Aberdeen, in suppressing the civil proceedings which were commenced; and (2) whether he is aware of the effect on opinion in Scotland caused by the action of the local military authority in attempting to hush up all inquiry into the assault committed by Second-Lieutenant Plummer when acting as recruiting officer at Aberlour; and what action he is going to take to bring the offender to military justice?

As I informed the House, in reply to a supplementary question put to me on the 1st March, no Court of Inquiry in the ordinary sense of those words has been held, but the military authorities at the War Office, in conjunction with the local military authorities, are making an investigation. This is not yet quite complete, and until it is complete I cannot say what action may be necessary.

If the result of the right hon. Gentleman's informal inquiries leads him to the conclusion that there is a case to be investigated, will he hesitate to appoint a military Court of Inquiry?

No, Sir, I shall not hesitate to appoint such a Court.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the desirability of creating a special battalion of young lads who, without their parents' consent, joined the Army and are still under nineteen years of age; and whether such persons could be kept in this country until they are the age of nineteen or used in other places than the fighting line?

If I may say so without presumption, the locus classicus on this point is the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn on the 2nd November. My hon. Friend is a stern and unbending advocate of economy, and I am advised that the creation of special battalions such as he ingeniously suggests would cause avoidable expenditure, and would not, from the military point of view, give such good results as the present system of retaining the lads in question in Reserve units until they are old enough to be sent out in drafts. I may add that for a considerable period now recruiting officers have been required to see the recruit's registration card, on which his real age is shown, before accepting him.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the difficulty does not exist with regard to the new Regulations, but with regard to boys who are already in the Army; and is he further aware that Members of this House have more requisitions about this matter than practically any other?

I am, of course, quite aware that the real difficulty has arisen prior to the arrangements which were made in the autumn. I am also aware, judging from the questions which I get, that a great many representations do come from parents who are anxious about their lads of tender age on this subject, but beyond that I do not think it is possible for us to make further arrangements different from those that have been made, which, I think, have been made with a view of safeguarding these boys of tender age.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the parents of these lads are not against their being used for fighting purposes, but only against their being used before the age of nineteen?

Before my right hon. Friend answers that question, can he give an assurance that no boys under the age of eighteen shall be sent to the front without their parents' consent?

That does not arise out of this question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) the number of German military and naval prisoners now in this country and the number of prison camps or buildings they occupy in Great Britain and Ireland; if any of them are employed at any camp on any useful work, and if so, if they receive payment and at what rates; if they are not employed is it proposed to find work for all or any of them during the present year; what kind of work it is proposed to employ them on; and (2) the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of alien enemies now interned and the number of camps or buildings they occupy in Great Britain and Ireland; if any of them have been employed on any remunerative or useful work during last year and, if so, what kind of work; and if it is proposed to employ any or all of them on any work during the present year; and, if so, the employment proposed?

As regards question No. 21, there are 13,821 German naval and military prisoners of war distributed over thirteen camps and buildings in Great Britain. There are none in Ireland. Some of them are employed in the immediate neighbourhood of their camps, and for this work they receive the same working pay as British soldiers. Others are employed in making mail bags, for which they receive payment at the rate of 6d. a bag. It is hoped to employ large numbers-shortly in clearing forest areas, and perhaps in quarrying. There are 32,181 alien enemies interned in eight camps in Great Britain and one in Ireland. Some of them are employed in quarrying, for which the rate of remuneration is varying, and others in the manufacture of mail bags, at the same rate as the military and naval prisoners. It is hoped to employ some of these prisoners also in clearing forest areas in the near future.

Are these rates of pay the same as paid to British prisoners who are prisoners of war in Germany?

Yes, I think that is so, as provided by The Hague Convention.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is a practice in some cases when a soldier is in hospital to deduct 9d. per day from his pay; if so, will he state the reasons for this deduction; whether the deduction is made in all cases; if not, will he state the reason for the differentiation; whether he is aware that, in the case of a married soldier who has allotted 3s. 6d per week to his wife, such deduction means that while in hospital he is getting into debt; and whether he will have the matter reconsidered with a view to wounded and sick soldiers receiving their full pay?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Devonport.

asked whether the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in whose command the training centre at Ripon is situated is to receive increased pay for the extra duties which fall to him by reason of the suppression of the general and staff at the Ripon training centre?

No proposal to this effect has reached me.

asked what steps, if any, are being taken to provide pensions for soldiers discharged from the Army owing to disease developed in the Service?

This question was dealt with in Debate yesterday.

asked whether the officers of the Armies and Navies of our Allies have been subjected to an increase of taxation upon their respective incomes as officers during the present War; and, if so, when and to what extent this increased taxation was imposed in France, Russia, Italy, and Japan, respectively?

The information which I possess as to the legislation of Allied countries is not sufficient to enable me to answer this question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can give the names of the horses belonging to the Tully stud or, alternatively, the names of the horses leased to Lord Lonsdale?

The names of the horses leased to Lord Lonsdale are Albion, Calais, Candescent. Eagle's Nest, Halewood, Lionella, Royal Favour.

asked whether there is to be any increased facilities for flat-racing during the approaching season; and, if so, what the increased facilities are to be?

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has informed the stewards of the Jockey Club that no objection will be raised by the Government should they sanction in addition to race meetings at Newmarket a limited number of meetings at Newbury, Lingfield, Gatwick, and Windsor, provided that these courses are not required for military purposes, and that no requirements are made upon the railways.

Can my light hon. Friend say whether any of the horses just mentioned by his right hon. Friend have been entered for these meetings?

The Board of Trade has not been consulted on that matter.

Are the conditions under which admission is allowed to these meetings submitted to the Board for approval?

I must have notice of that.

May I ask if this is part of the new economy campaign?

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the scientific representative on the Fishery Board is paid a salary of £500 a year; whether, up to the , time of the present holder, no payments were made to the scientific members of the Board; and whether the work done by the holders of this post is now possible under the present War conditions?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the detailed information on these points which I gave in answer to two questions by him yesterday.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been called to the shortage of houses for the working classes in the middle ward of Lanarkshire; and what steps he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, I am not in a position to make any definite statement.

asked whether subjects of foreign countries who have become naturalised subjects of this country, and notwithstanding this naturalisation still remain subjects of their original countries, are, as regards status and treatment, placed in the same position as those people who have become naturalised in this country and have been denationalised from the countries of which they were originally subject?

Yes, Sir; no distinction can be drawn between the rights and obligations of a British subject who may also possess a foreign nationality and those of a British subject who has lost or never had any such nationality. The point in question arises not only with naturalised, but also with natural-born British subjects.

asked the Prime Minister whether the salary paid to Lord Kitchener is paid to him in virtue of his functions as Secretary of State for War; if so, why it is in excess of the amount usually paid, or whether it is paid to him as Agent-General in Egypt; and, if so, whether he is performing at present, or has performed since his appointment as Secretary of State for War, any of the functions of Agent-General in Egypt?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether on the occasion of Lord Kitchener's appointment as Secretary of State for War an engagement was entered into guaranteeing him a certain salary for the duration of the War?

On the outbreak of War, Lord Kitchener was in receipt of £6,140 a year, which was the salary drawn by the British Agent and Consul-General in Egypt while on leave. On his acceptance of the post of Secretary of State for War this salary was continued.

Is not the moment badly chosen to pay a public functionary an excessive amount for services which he does not perform?

That is a matter upon which everyone can form his own opinion.

Do I understand that the salary paid to the Secretary for War is guaranteed for the term of the War?

Certainly, as long as Lord Kitchener holds office.

Does that figure include the duty of looking after munitions?

Is that salary guaranteed for the term of the War whether Lord Kitchener remains Secretary for War during the whole of the War or not?

It is the salary guaranteed to Lord Kitchener.

Is it paid irrespective of the duties he performs?

asked the Prime Minister whether, when Lord Kitchener was appointed Secretary of State for War, he resigned his functions of Agent-General in Egypt?

No, Sir: on Lord Kitchener's departure from Egypt the business of His Majesty's Agency and Consulate General was, as is customary, conducted by a Chargé d'Affaires. Subsequently it became necessary, in view of the altered status of Egypt, to appoint a High Commissioner, and Sir Henry McMahon was appointed to this position on 18th December,1914.

Will the whole situation be revised, because, as it stands, it is discreditable to all concerned?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any statistics, are available to show the number of aliens in the United Kingdom or in any part of it who claim to be subjects of neutral countries but who have not conclusively established the truth of such claims; if no such statistics are available, will he say how a correct statement can be made of the number of uninterned alien enemies there are in this country; and if he has given, or will give, instructions that all aliens who may reasonably be suspected of being of enemy birth and who have not conclusively proved that they are neutral subjects shall be interned until their neutral nationality is proved beyond doubt?

The answer to the first and third parts of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the figures which have been given as to uninterned alien enemies are not and could not properly be arrived at by any process of subtraction such as that suggested. They give the results of the enforcement of the law requiring all alien enemies to register and all persons as to whose nationality any question arises to prove that they are what they claim to be.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been called to an announcement in the advertisement columns of the "Richmond and Twickenham Times" for Saturday, 26th February, to the effect that the Rev. Henry Carter would give an address on the subject of war and drink at the Twickenham Wesleyan Chapel; and whether it is with the sanction of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) that in such connection one of its members should advertise himself as a member of the Central Control Board?

My attention had not previously been called to this announcement, but I have made inquiries and I am informed that Mr. Carter did not direct or authorise the insertion of the announcement in the form suggested, nor did he attend the meeting.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware of the shortage of the supply of splint coal avail able for the Scottish ironmasters engaged in the production of hematite; and, seeing that this shortage involves a restriction in the output of hematite, whether he will suspend the issue of export licences for splint coal until the requirements of local hematite producers are satisfied?

The export of Lanarkshire splint (which is the brand chiefly in demand by the Scottish ironmasters) has for over two months only been permitted to Allied countries, and only then sparingly and in cases where no other coal would suit the intended purposes. Further restriction would necessarily cause injury to our Allies, but the situation is being closely watched, and, if necessary, the export of this kind of coal will be even further curtailed.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that men of No. 4 Supernumerary Company of the Black Watch are being employed at an aluminium works at the rate of 1d. per hour; and whether he will have inquiries made into the matter with a view to these men being paid the proper rates according to Regulation?

Inquiries are being made, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he has had reported to him a case which came before the Huddersfield Munitions Tribunal in which Harry Dennis Earnshaw, small-wire drawer, in the employment of Messrs. Ramsden, Camm and Company, complained that his certificate had been with held unreasonably; whether he is aware that Earnshaw contended that the firm would neither provide him with work to do nor let him go elsewhere, and that the firm admitted that that was the position; and in view of the statement of this firm that they were trying to obtain compensation for this workman from the Ministry of Munitions will he say whether such a demand has been made and, if so, what answer, if any, has been returned?

My right hon. Friend received a letter from the firm asking for advice as to the course they should pursue in this case, and inquiring in particular whether they should make an offer of compensation. Since the case was about to come before a local tribunal, and appeared to involve questions of law under the Munitions of War Acts, my right hon. Friend did not feel justified, pending the hearing, in advising them. In view, however, of the decision now reported to have been given by the tribunal, the firm are being advised that this is a case in which, in the Minister's opinion, compensation should be paid by them.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, in prosecuting a fitter before the Newcastle Munitions Tribunal, Mr. Bunbury, as representing the Ministry of Munitions, alleged that many firms urged the Ministry to undertake the prosecution of their workmen, so as to spare themselves the odium of the proceedings, and that this was particularly true of the Clyde; whether this Newcastle fitter was charged with being the worse for liquor on the establishment and with failing to attend diligently to his work; whether the first of these charges was withdrawn with the consent of Mr. Bunbury, on the ground that the evidence did not support it, and that in respect of the second charge the chairman refused to impose a fine, stating that the workman, on the whole, had worked very well; and whether, before a decision is taken by the Ministry of Munitions to prosecute an individual workman, any independent investigation is made into the circumstances or any understanding reached as to the justice and necessity of the proceedings, apart from the word of an employer or a foreman?

The facts of this case are substantially as stated by my hon. Friend. In every case in which the Ministry undertakes a prosecution, evidence adduced in support of the alleged facts is subjected to a close scrutiny, and in many cases instead of lodging a prosecution the person accused is admonished by the local labour officer. I much regret that the Ministry of Munitions was misled in this case by the statements made to it. Special measures are being taken which I hope will avoid a repetition.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland if he will specify the alleged illegality or breach of duty as a magistrate for which the Lord Chancellor of Ireland has deprived of his statutory commission of the peace Mr. James O'Shea, member of the Kerry County Council, chairman of the Killarney Rural District Council and, in virtue of this position, a magistrate for the county of Kerry; what evidence was given; by whom; what opportunity was given to Mr. O'Shea for cross-examining the informer; and under what statute the Lord Chancellor purports to override the provision on this subject in the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898?

Complaints were received by the Lord Chancellor that Mr. James O'Shea, J.P., was one of a party which interfered with a recruiting meeting at Killarney on 6th February last, and an explanation of his conduct was thereupon requested. The Lord Chancellor not being satisfied with the explanation of Mr. O'Shea, and considering that such conduct was incompatible with Mr. O'Shea's position as a Justice of the Peace, caused a writ of supersedeas to be issued under the provisions of Section 95 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question: What opportunity was given to Mr. O'Shea to cross-examine the informer?

No, Sir, I do not think that any opportunity was given him to cross-examine anybody. He was asked by the Lord Chancellor to give an explanation. He furnished it, and the Lord Chancellor thought that it was not satisfactory.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will explain the non-delivery of the cablegram sent by Mr. Sheehy Skeffington from Dublin on 8th January last to Ford Peace Crusade, The Hague, Holland, in these terms: Dublin public meeting convened by Irish Women's Franchise League endorse your mission; and whether the money paid for its transmission will be refunded?

I have not yet received the information in regard to this, but I am having inquiry made and will communicate further with the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether depositions have been obtained from the officers, crew, and passengers of the steamship "Persia" relative to the circumstances attending the loss of that vessel; whether these depositions have been examined; and what steps are being taken with regard to them?

Representations were , made on the Motion for the Adjournment in this House on the 17th January last in favour of a formal investigation into the circumstances attending the loss of the steamship "Persia," and, as there appeared at that time to be good ground for taking such a course, I informed the House on the 25th January in answer to a question put by the hon. Member for Warrington that a formal investigation had been . ordered. The necessary measures for holding the investigation were immediately set on foot.

As the result, however, of a very careful scrutiny of the depositions obtained from passengers and members of the crew of the steamship "Persia," it does not appear to the Board of Trade that any fresh fact of any consequence would be brought to light or that any material advantage would be gained by a formal investigation.

In view of the fact that the services of every officer and seaman are urgently required afloat in the national interest, the Board of Trade have reconsidered the question of holding a formal investigation, and have come to the conclusion that an investigation would not lead to any result of sufficient importance to justify the further detention of the officers and crew or the considerable expense which would be involved.

In the light of the experience gained in this and other cases, the Board of Trade with the assistance of their technical advisers, will take every step that appears to be practicable with a view to minimising loss of life at sea.

I would like to add a word of appreciation, in which I am sure the House will join me, of the coolness and courage of the passengers and crew and the discipline of the ship maintained in face of this sudden and appalling disaster. I am told that the captain, officers, and engineers of the "Persia" had spent their lives in the company's service, and all had unblemished records. The country is deeply indebted to those who are facing the perils to which our merchant ships are being subjected.

Do the Board of Trade contemplate any alterations in the Regulations with regard to life-saving apparatus in view of the danger from submarine attacks?

Yes, Sir, we are contemplating modifications of the Regulations which are now under technical consideration, and we will make them public as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if vegetable parchment and certain papers are indispensable to creameries in connection with their butter trade; and if he will take their case into consideration in connection with the proposed restriction of the paper import?

I am aware of the requirements of the butter trade in the matter of grease-proof paper, but I cannot see my way to exempt paper for this purpose from the restriction which it has been found necessary to impose upon imports of paper of all descriptions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total quantity of chilled or frozen beef imported into Great Britain or for the purposes of the Army and Navy elsewhere during 1915 from, respectively, the Dominion of Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, or any other British Dominions; what was the total quantity imported from the United States of America and the Argentine Republic, respectively; and what provision is being made for increasing this portion of our food supply from our own Dominions, and for preventing the productions of our food supply from our own Dominions from being diverted into foreign channels by the purchase of such productions in foreign markets?

I do not think there would be any advantage in stating publicly the exact sources of our supplies of meat, but the hon. and learned Gentleman may rest assured that the Government have in mind the same considerations that he has and that their operations are not likely to have the effect of diverting any food supplies from our own Dominions to foreign channels.

Is it not a fact that the comparative amount of supplies is well known through the medium of the public Press, and at a time when there is so much talk about Imperialism and the consolidation of the Empire could not a larger proportion of meat supplies be obtained from the British Dominions?

I do not know what extra proportion the hon. and learned Gentleman would wish us to take, because my information is that we take now the entire refrigerator output of Australia, New Zealand, and Canada

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what principle the Woods and Stones Licensing Committee have acted in prohibiting the importation of certain kinds of wood and permitting others to come in as before?

The Proclamation of the 15th February prohibits the importation of furniture woods, hardwoods and veneers. Woods not classified under this heading by the Customs authorities are not regarded as affected by the Proclamation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question and say on what principle they act? Why do they prohibit certain goods and allow others to come in?

The Proclamation prohibits the importation of furniture woods, hardwoods, and veneers, and woods not classified under this heading are not regarded as affected.

I will put it down again.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Majesty's Government will promote or give facilities for an exhibition of German goods which might be made in this country, similar to the museum for the same purpose that is now in course of preparation in Paris?

A large number of samples of German and Austrian goods collected from oversea countries have been exhibited by my Department in London, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, and Nottingham, and arrangements are now in progress for their exhibition shortly in a number of other localities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if power-loom manufacturers in the Belfast and Dublin districts are experiencing increasing difficulty in securing supplies of spun cotton from Lancashire and that consequently workers are often enforcedly idle; that, in order to relieve congestion on the railways, Lancashire spinners have conveyed their cotton by motor lorries from the mills to the ship-side, but that this traffic has been held up at Liverpool; and that supplies of materials carried by Scotch railways and steamboats reach Ireland practically without delay; and if he will inquire into the organisation of the English railways and steamboats with the view of facilitating traffic and removing these difficulties from this Irish industry?

I am aware that there has recently been some difficulty experienced in connection with the transit of traffic of this description from England to Ireland, owing partly to the limited amount of shipping accommodation available under the present circumstances. I doubt whether any such general inquiry as is suggested could usefully be undertaken, but I am in communication with certain of the railway companies upon specific complaints which have reached me, and any further complaints that I may receive will have careful attention?

Will the right hon. Gentleman send a representative down to Liverpool to inquire into the matter?

The Board of Trade has its representative in Liverpool now. We have made inquiries, and we are making inquiries there every two or three days into the state of the traffic.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether the Statutory Committee on Pensions has passed a resolution declaring that they are unable to take steps in many cases where relief is urgently required owing to the lack of office accommodation and staff; and whether he is now in a position to make an announcement as to the immediate provision of adequate accommodation as a necessary preliminary to giving effective operation to the relief which Parliament has decided shall be promptly available for our soldiers and sailors and their dependants?

The only resolution passed by the Statutory Committee with reference to the question of office accommodation and staff is as follows:— That this Committee views with the gravest apprehension the inability of the Office of Works to find adequate and suitable offices. That this Committee considers that the closing of the London Museum offers an opportunity for providing them with such offices on the most economical plan. That the Committee understands ample accommodation is there for both the Foreign Trade Department of the Foreign Office and for the Statutory Committee: that failing such accommodation being provided, they will be compelled immediately to take offices at a rental of possibly not less than £2,000 a year and on a lease which will prevent them from taking advantage of the ample office accommodation which is likely to be available at a cheap rate after the War. Copies of the resolution have been sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the First Commissioner of Works, who, I understand, are giving the matter their consideration.

Will any steps be taken in accordance with the Statutory Committee's Resolution for obtaining premises accessible to those concerned? Cannot accommodation be secured in the premises formerly occupied by the London Museum?

Inquiries are being made, and premises are being visited almost every day, but nothing suitable or adequate has yet been found.

What about the premises of the London Museum?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board have informed local education authorities and the managers of technical schools that the Grants for technical instruction for the year 1915–16 may be reduced below the sums paid for the year 1914–15; and whether the Board are aware that the fixed commitments of these schools were made last year and cannot now be reduced without throwing upon the rates the additional sum that may be required for any deficit?

The Board have informed certain schools where the number of students has greatly diminished that they must not assume that the Grant for the current session will be as large as that for the preceding session. The Board, however, are fully alive to the point raised in the second part of the question, and where reasonable economy has been practised will have due regard to the expenditure necessarily incurred.

Have the Board fulfilled the intention announced in one of its circulars to base the Grant on class hours instead of students' hours, in order to avoid the loss which has been caused by the unavoidable absence of students?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board can give any information for the guidance of local authorities in framing their estimates as to the probable amount of Grants to be allocated for technical instruction for the Session 1916–17; and whether, in deciding as to those Grants, he will consider the urgent importance at the present time of maintaining the standard of efficiency of teaching in our local technical classes?

In view of the great uncertainty as to the volume and cost of the work which will be done in the Session 1916–17, and which furnishes the basis for the assessment of Grants, it is not possible to give such information as is suggested. The Board fully appreciate the importance of maintaining the efficiency of technical instruction, and since the War broke out have done their best to meet the various difficulties experienced in carrying on the schools.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it is for the offence of having used the Irish language in Ireland the police at Ballingeary arrested Claude Uasal Chavasse, B.A., of Christ Church, Oxford, imprisoned him, stripped him of his clothes, told him that a man born at Oxford had no right to speak Irish, insulted him, and got him fined; whether it is for that offence alone he maintains that the police treated Mr. Chavasse properly; if not, for what offence, seeing that no other was charged; whether he is aware that the resident magistrate who tried the case is an ex-policeman, and admitted that his reason for not allowing the policeman who had witnessed the whole occurrence to be cross-examined was his fear that the policeman was under the influence of drink; whether he is aware that local gentlemen have applied for Irish-speaking police to be sent to the place; and whether he can state any other reason for the conduct of the police in the neighbourhood of all the Irish colleges than the known hostility of their superiors to the Irish language?

The offence for which Claude Chavasse was arrested was that mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member on the 22nd February. The accused after arrest was treated with kindness and consideration by the police and not at all in the manner suggested by the question, and when released he expressed great thanks for the kindness shown to him. No resident magistrate attended the Petty Sessions at which Chavasse was convicted. Requests have been received for Irish-speaking police to be sent to Ballingeary, but compliance with them has not been found practicable or necessary. I have no reason to believe that the conduct of the police in the neighbourhood of Irish colleges has been in any way blameworthy.

Has Mr. Chavasse been accused of any crime whatsoever except that of answering a policeman in Irish?

No, Sir; but under the Defence of the Realm Act, when a person is asked a question by the police he is bound to answer to the best of his competency.

So he did.

No, Sir. Being an Englishman, he was asked a question in English and he replied to it in Irish to a man who does not understand that language.

Is the right hon. Gentleman still under the Cromwellian influence he mentioned the other day?

I do not know.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, in the case under the Defence of the Realm Act against Mr. John M'Galey at Tralee Petty Sessions, the uncorroborated evidence of one recruiting sergeant was accepted, and the evidence of a sergeant of the Munster Fusiliers, who had distinguished himself for bravery during thirteen months at the front, was rejected, though corroborated by three civilian witnesses, and Mr. M'Galey sent to prison for three months with hard labour; whether he is aware that his imprisonment has been unanimously condemned by the Kerry County Council and other representative bodies; and having regard to the means by which it was compassed and the effect of it on recruiting in Munster, what action is being taken with regard to the recruiting sergeant responsible for it and with regard to Mr. M'Galey?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 29th February to a similar question of the hon. Member for the Harbour Division of Dublin, in which it was stated that the decision was confirmed on appeal.

Is it not the fact, as stated in the question, that the evidence of one sergeant which was uncorroborated was accepted, while that of another sergeant, who has been fifteen months at the front, and which was corroborated by four civilian witnesses, was rejected?

All I can say is that the case has been heard twice, and each time the decision has been the same.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware of the number of officers of all ranks, noncommissioned officers, and men sound in health and fit for active service who are at present employed in the Army Pay Department; and whether it is the inten- tion of the War Office to release in rotation batches of all ranks in the department for active service in the trenches and replace them by officers and men invalided from the front by wounds or disease and only fit for such light duty?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on this subject on the 23rd February last to the hon. Baronet the Member for Mid-Armagh and the hon. and gallant Member for Ludlow.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will procure a report as to the urgency and expediency of establishing a receiving depot in Dublin for all supplies made in Ireland from their superintendent-engineer for Dublin and the South of Ireland; and whether the War Office will give full consideration and effect to such report when received?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to him in reply to a similar question a week ago.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that question was directed to a totally different subject?

No, Sir, I am not.

( by Private Notice ) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received representations about the great shortage of coal in Glasgow, owing to supplies being withheld unless merchants agree to contract for a considerable time ahead at the present inflated prices, and whether he can make any statement as to the action which the Board of Trade propose to take in the matter?

I have not received any specific representations regarding an actual shortage of house coal in Glasgow. As regards the question of contracts, I must refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to the right hon. Member for the Blackfriars Division.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication as to when he thinks he will be able to make any statement on this subject?

I think I should first have to hear what the deputation from Glasgow has to say.

( by Private Notice ) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with the view of restricting the imports of materials used in brewing, he has concluded an arrangement with the brewing trade, and whether he can state its terms?