asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state what reason the Treasury assigns for its refusal to grant members of the Royal Irish Constabulary Force in Ireland who wish to join the Army half-pay during the period of the War; and whether such enlistment would reduce the expenditure of public money instead of increasing it, inasmuch as the places of those who wish to join need not be filled up owing to the absence of any crime in Ireland?

In dealing with members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who join the Army the Treasury are unable to go beyond the financial terms prescribed by the Irish Police (Naval and Military Service) Act, 1915. A revision of these terms on the lines understood to be suggested by the hon. Member would involve a considerable additional expenditure of public money.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the military authorities opposing an application for exemption under the Military Service Act, 1916, of a Lichfield chemist; and whether, in view of the fact that the chemist in question is engaged in dispensing under the National Insurance Act and therefore employed in exempted occupation, instructions will be issued to the military authorities not to oppose such claims for exemption when submitted to the tribunals?

My attention has not been called to this case. The mere fact of a chemist being engaged in dispensing under the National Insurance Act, and belonging in a general sense to a certified occupation, does not make it wrong for a military representative to oppose an application for a certificate of exemption. If it can be shown either that the man in question is not actually engaged in a certified occupation, or that although he is so engaged it is not necessary in the national interest that he should continue in civil employment, the tribunal can refuse to grant a certificate of exemption.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will make an inquiry into the constitution of the local tribunal for the county borough of Blackburn, which consists of five members only, three of whom are employers and one a lawyer, and one a working man who is not recognised as a representative of labour; and whether, in view of his instructions to secure an adequate representation of labour on the local tribunals and on all committees of the tribunal, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

My right hon. Friend understands that the Labour representative on the local tribunal in question is a trade union official. On present information he does not think that the case is one in which he would be justified in interfering with the choice of the local authority.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a man certified as medically unfit on Army Form B 2,512A by an officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps at a recruiting office since the 14th of August last is entitled to an armlet; and, if so, does the man in accepting the armlet render himself liable for subsequent examination with a view-to any form of Army service?

An armlet is only given to men who have been rejected as medically unfit if, on re-examination, they are found to be suffering from serious organic disease. If, on re-examination, they are not found to be so suffering, they are attested, and classified in their category in the Reserve.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the total amount payable at the present time to the officials of the House of Commons and of the House of Lords; and what was the corresponding amount paid during the year 1913-14?

I would refer my hon. Friend to Class II., Votes 1 and 2 of the Civil Service Estimates, which will be circulated shortly, and to the Appropriation Account for 1913-14.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will explain why the garrison town of Fermoy has been declared out of bounds for officers in Moore Park, who are thus prevented from visiting their brother officers in Fermoy or enjoying the evening amusements of a garrison town or a dinner with friends; is he aware that many of these officers have thrown up good positions and left comfortable homes to serve the country, and why should they be treated like schoolboys; was application made to the colonel commanding Moore Park for permission to allow the officers to attend an entertainment in aid of soldiers' funds in the Assembly Rooms, Fermoy, recently; were only about 10 per cent. of the officers granted passes; is this the first time that such a slur has been thrown on the town by a local commander; and what is the justification for it?

Moore Park was placed out of bounds on the 6th February by the officer commanding acting within his discretion. The restriction was subsequently modified, and on the 18th February was withdrawn. Far from any slur being thrown on the town of Fermoy, its attractions were apparently so great that they were found to interfere with the training of some young officers. Officers commanding must have discretion to take such steps as they think necessary for the efficient and rapid training of those under their command. No officer would be treated like a schoolboy unless his behaviour showed that such treatment was appropriate and desirable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is the practice of the War Office in cases where private soldiers have been court-martialed and put to death at the front for disobeying orders, etc., to notify their parents that such sentence had been carried out by means of open postcard; and, if so, will steps be taken to alter such methods and only notify parents of the death of their sons, without any reference to court-martial or otherwise?

I am not aware that deaths taking place in the circumstances mentioned have been notified by means of an open postcard. Record Offices are provided with forms on which to notify deaths. As regards the last part of the question it has been decided that as in these cases the relatives were bound to know, sooner or later, the circumstances of the death, it was better that they should be informed at once.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if Reserve officers now graded as staff officers, and temporarily occupying posts previously held by officers of higher rank, could for such time have that rank granted them, provided it does not carry any higher rate of pay?

Staff appointments do not as a rule carry rank. There are some exceptions to this rule, and in such cases the rank is always given. In the other cases it is not given quite irrespectively of whether the holder is a serving or Reserve officer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Government propose to provide at the public expense rifles or uni- form, or both, for duly recognised contingents of the Volunteer Training Corps, or whether either or both must be provided at the expense of members of the corps or by local subscriptions?

The conditions under which offers of service from units of the Volunteer Training Corps will be accepted are now under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will have inquiries made into the case of Private John Home, No. 17,542, D Company, 10th Battalion, Cameronian Regiment, now serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France, whose parents reside at 4, White Bull Street, Burnley, and, in particular, if he will ascertain whether Private Horne, on his enlistment in December, 1914, allotted to his parents 3s. 6d. a week from his pay; whether the committee recommended a further allowance of 3s. a week; whether the parents are in need of this sum to make up for the loss of their son's earnings; and why no payment whatever beyond the 3s. 6d. allotted by their son from his own pay has yet been made to them?

From the evidence before this Department it does not appear that Private Home contributed to his parents' support before his enlistment, and no grant from public funds has therefore been made. Mrs. Home was invited to appeal in the prescribed manner, if she contested the decision, but has not done so.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the soldiers who, before the War, were entitled under paragraph 272 of the King's. Regulations to claim their discharge after due notice and to receive their pension are now compelled to continue serving at their ordinary rates of pay and are not to be paid their pension, which they have already earned, until their discharge at the end of the War, thereby incurring financial loss by standing out of their pensions?

A soldier coming under paragraph 272 of the King's Regulations, after completing the extra twelve months for which he may be retained in time of war under Section 37 ( i ) of the Army Act -and the three months' notice required by Section 85, may take his discharge and draw his pension, and he is then at liberty to offer himself for re-enlistment, and, if accepted, he draws his pension in addition to his ordinary pay.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. Morrissey, of Pontefract, mother of Private J. Morrissey, of the 2/5⅖th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, No. 4813, and the refusal to grant her the proper allowances; whether a threat of prosecution has been held over this woman for about four months; if he is aware of the discontent in the borough arising from the conduct of the county association and of the War Council in this case; and will he take steps to end the uncertainty, as the family is on the point of starvation?

I have made myself acquainted with this case, in which there appear to have been serious misstatements made by the woman in support of her claim. It has now been decided not to prosecute, and I will consider whether an allowance can be granted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what amount of money has been expended in Ireland since the beginning of the War in the purchase of horses for the Army; and whether there are at present in Ireland thousands of such suitable horses which could be purchased at reasonable prices instead of going to Canada and elsewhere for them?

I cannot undertake to provide my hon. Friend with the figures for which he asks, the compilation of which would take a great deal of time. I may, however, say that I am informed by the Irish Department of Agriculture that the horse population of Ireland decreased between June, 1914, and June, 1915, by 58,111; In these circumstances, it is not anticipated that there will be a very large number of matured horses available in Ireland this year, but I can assure my hon. Friend that such suitable horses as there are will be bought in preference to reopening purchase in America, which as a matter of fact ceased last November

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware of the fact that officers who have risen from the ranks are indigent owing to their wives and families not receiving any allowances; whether he is aware that many such officers when home from the front sick or wounded, and subsequently given light duties prior to returning to the front, have to live away from their homes while carrying out such duties and, as a consequence, have often to visit the professional moneylender, piling up debts which it may be impossible to discharge; and, having regard to the honour of British officers placed in such circumstances over which they have no control, will steps be taken to meet such cases by adequate allowances being granted to dependants?

I am looking into this question to see if it is possible to do anything in cases such as that mentioned in the question.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he has received a petition from certain residents of Coalville and Loughborough asking for certain additional train facilities on Monday mornings in order to allow of their reaching munition factories where they work during the week; and whether he is able to induce the railway companies to take any action in the matter?

The petition has been received, and the possibility of making the arrangements suggested is being considered.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether it is now intended to enlist single men up to thirty years of age who are engaged in munitions factories; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to ensure that those responsible for the delivery of munitions shall have available a competent and sufficient supply of labour to fill the vacancies caused thereby?

The Minister of Munitions is fully alive to the importance of the point raised by my hon. Friend, but is not at the moment in a position to make a statement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Board of Control is in possession of information showing that canteen contractors charge 25 per cent. profit on the articles supplied under their contracts?

The Board has no such information. Prices of articles sold in canteens are fixed by the Board, with the exception of the prices of fresh vegetables, fresh milk, and similar perishables, which are settled by commanding officers. If a commanding officer cannot agree with his contractor the matter may be referred to the Board for adjudication.

asked the Home Secretary whether all the lunatic inmates are being removed from the Middlesex County Asylum at Napsbury, and, if so, for what reason; are they being sent to a long distance from their relatives; is it intended to increase the number of certifiable soldiers at present in a block of this asylum, or to place uncertifiable soldiers in this position; or will accommodation be offered in this asylum for the wounded?

The whole of the Middlesex County Asylum at Napsbury is being handed over to the War Office for use as a military hospital, and the patients there are being distributed over other asylums as near as practicable to Middlesex. The asylum is to be used by the War Office for sick and wounded soldiers, but it is still intended to receive there a certain number of soldiers suffering from mental and nervous affections of the same type as those now under treatment in the detached part of the institution already adapted as a war hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it has been possible to make use of the number of Nile tourist steamers and dahabeahs for the transport of troops and accommodation of wounded in the Mesopotamia operations?

Arrangements have been made to utilise suitable river craft from the Nile and elsewhere for the purposes mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend.

also asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the asylum in Hampshire now in process of building is to be used for certifiable or uncertifiable nerve-shaken soldiers; and whether the building of any other new asylum is in progress or in contemplation in any part of the country?

The new Hampshire Asylum is to be used by the military authorities as a hospital for sick and wounded soldiers, and not for cases of mental and nervous affections. No other new asylum is now in actual progress, the building of two new asylums having been suspended, and one or two contemplated schemes are held in abeyance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reason can he assign for the rise in the price of sugar?

The rise in price is due to the increase in the cost of production and in freight and other charges.

asked whether any of the allied or enemy Powers have altered their Customs tariff since war commenced; and whether particulars can be given of such alterations?

As regards France, Italy, Russia, Austria-Hungary and Germany, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 1st December to the hon. Member for North Somerset. The Japanese Government have abrogated the "Conventional" rates of Customs Duty which resulted from the Customs Agreement of 1911 between Japan and Germany, and the articles on which the duty was reduced by that Agreement are now dutiable at the higher rates of the Japanese Statutory Tariff. I am informed that in September, 1914, the Turkish Government increased the rate of duty leviable on imported goods from 11 to 15 per cent. ad valorem. I have no information with regard to Bulgaria.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether any mares have been brought back from France for the purpose of breeding, and, if so, how many and how have they been allocated; and whether any have been sent over to Ireland, and, if so, how many?

Two hundred and ninety mares have been brought back from France for breeding purposes. They were not allocated, but were for the most part sold by public auction in different parts of the country. So far as my information goes, none have been sent to Ireland, and, in this connection, I may perhaps be allowed to refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) to questions put to him on this subject on the 1st and 10th March, 1915.

asked the Attorney-General, in view of the fact that British life assurance companies are receiving notices of claims arising under contracts of assurance on the lives of persons of enemy birth domiciled in neutral countries, whether the Government is prepared to introduce legislation to prohibit any payments of these claims whilst the War is in progress?

I doubt the expediency of such legislation, and am not at present prepared to recommend its introduction.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the taxation of Ireland reported, in 1897, that Ireland was being overtaxed to the extent of two and three-quarter millions; and if, before the next Budget is proposed, he will consider the condition of Ireland's industrial resources and her inability to pay any further taxes?

I am aware of the views expressed in the various Reports by the Royal Commissioners. As regards the last part of the question, I fear that I can add nothing to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 29th February.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what were the amounts made in Grants from the Irish Government authorities under the various headings, including the Department of Agriculture, each year since 1910, and the amounts which will be available this year under similar headings, each year to be given separately?

For the expenditure on Irish Services made in past financial years from Votes of Parliament I would refer the hon. Member to the published Appropriation Accounts for those years, and for the provision that has been made in the current year to the relative Estimates.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if all political parties in Ireland agreed on the repeal of the present Malicious Injuries Acts as applied to that country, he will bring in a short Bill which would meet the requirements of such a demand and place Ireland on the same basis as regards malicious injuries claims as England, Scotland, and Wales?

Proposals for the repeal of the Irish Malicious Injury Code have always been treated as controversial. In these circumstances I cannot hold out any hope of legislation on the subject at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the gates shutting off the common of Wood Eaton, Oxford, from the common of Elsfield at the road that leads from the London Road at the foot of Headington Hill to the London Road leading from Islip to Wheatley, have been taken off and thrown in the ditch, to the injury of the rights of the parishioners to graze their cattle and stock on the said common; and whether he will have inquiries made and the damage rectified?

The Board's attention has not previously been called to this matter. If a statement of the facts is furnished to the Board they will consider whether any action on their part is desirable.

asked the hon. Member for the Doncaster Division, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, if he will state the number of houses licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors (other than those with grocers' licences only) upon lands the freehold of which is held for the benefit of the Church of England under the Ecclesiastical Commissioners Acts; whether the Commissioners will now, under Section 12 of 13 and 14 Vic., c. 98, direct the Estates Committee that when any lease of the said Church lands comprising a licensed house falls in, either the licence shall be dropped or, if the land is let with the licence, that the new lease shall contain covenants for Sunday closing; whether they will also now direct the committee, before any agreement for reletting or renewal of the lease of any licensed premises shall be made, carefully to investigate the circumstances and effect of the house, and especially whether it has been used for excessive drinking, for undesirable drinking by women or young persons of either sex, or is otherwise doing mischief; and that the committee shall make inquiries of the Ecclesiastical Commissioner, who is bishop of the diocese in which the house is situate, and of others interested in temperance and in the welfare of the neighbourhood?

The number of such licensed houses, so far as known, is about 330, of which the great majority are held by lessees on long leases. The method adopted by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in dealing with renewals or grants of leases of such properties is set out in several Returns to the Houses of Parliament, particularly Cd. 175 of 1883 (House of Lords), supplemented by Cd 252 of 1901 (House of Commons) and Cd. 41 of 1907 (House of Commons).

asked whether the Commissioners consist of the archbishops, thirty-seven bishops, three deans, and twenty laymen; and whether all the laymen have, before acting, to declare themselves members of the Church of England?

The answer to both parts of this question is in the affirmative.