asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House concerning the international position of Belgium; whether the Belgian Government has formally renounced the position of neutrality guaranteed by various treaties; and whether the present position of Belgium can now be fully stated?

Belgium was forced by the unprovoked aggression of one of the Powers—who had guaranteed her neutrality—to defend her territory. Great Britain, France and Russia, after previously informing their Allies, have made the following declaration to the Belgian Government:

"The Allied and Guaranteeing Powers declare that, when the time comes, the Belgian Government will be invited to participate in the peace negotiations, and that they will not cease hostilities unless Belgium is reinstated in her political and economic independence, and largely indemnified for the wrongs she has suffered. They will lend their aid to Belgium to secure her commercial and financial recovery."

This is how the matter stands at present.

Is that declaration of recent date? Can we have the date?

I cannot give the exact date. It is of recent date—within the last few weeks. I will give the exact date if the hon. Member likes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under what circumstances a permit has been granted by the War Trade Department to an unknown firm for the shipment of twenty-five cases of opium to Philadelphia; is he aware that a permit for a shipment was refused about a week ago to a British firm of ninety years' standing, all of whose partners but one are on active service in His Majesty's Forces at the different fronts, and that the export of opium has been prohibited because the opium might be wanted in this country; and is he aware that dissatisfaction prevails in the commercial world owing to the discrimination and favouritism that is being shown in granting licences generally?

The permit referred to in the first part of this question as having been granted was in respect of Indian opium, of which there is no shortage. The permit referred to in the second part of the question as having been refused related to Persian opium. I should explain that Indian opium is not a complete substitute for Persian opium, and, as I indicated in reply to a previous question by the hon. Member on the 1st instant, it has been found necessary during the past few months, in view of the probable requirements of our hospitals, to restrict the exportation of Persian opium somewhat closely. The question of relaxing the prohibition can be considered as soon as further substantial supplies are in sight. I can find no ground whatsoever for the imputation contained in the last part of the question.

Has any agreement been arrived at between His Majesty's Government and the United States to reduce the prohibition against the import of Indian opium because of the analysis being under the legal test?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has seen copies, deposited with the Prisoners' Department of the Foreign Office, of the printed books containing names of missing men and exchanged weekly between France and Germany, and has compared these with the typewritten sheets sent to Germany by Great Britain; and whether he will instruct the proper authorities to circulate these missing lists and return sheets in the same durable form as those presented by France and Germany?

I have not seen the printed books referred to. The lists of British missing are not typewritten as sug- gested by my hon. Friend, but are printed on sheets of thick paper bound or clipped together.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take occasion to look at the specimens I left with the Noble Lord in charge of the Department a fortnight ago, and he will find they are very much more suitable for passing about the camps?

I will ask for them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the German Government has consented to allow British prisoners of war, confined in fortresses for misdemeanours, to receive parcels of food from home during their incarceration; and whether, if Germany has refused such consent, he will waive the equivalent rule for German prisoners in England, or will give instructions that such men shall receive exactly the same amount of food in quality and quantity as is given to convicted British prisoners in Germany?

I can at present add nothing to the answer which I gave to the hon. Gentleman on the 16th March.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how soon the first batch of British invalid prisoners of war will be received into, sanatoria in Switzerland?

No, Sir, I regret that I cannot say how soon the first batch of British invalid prisoners of war will be received in the sanatoria in Switzerland.

Is it the Foreign Office or the War Office that is conducting these negotiations, and, if the Foreign Office, why should the right hon. Gentleman be put to the trouble of answering questions?

The hon. Member will realise that all such negotiations must proceed through the Foreign Office, in order to obtain the good services of the United States Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why, seeing that the basis of exchange of civilian prisoners from Germany is incapability for military service, he is unable to give a guarantee that such men will be employed for home service only?

Owing to the stringent standard of incapacity laid down for the exchange of prisoners, it is improbable that any of those exchanged will ever be able to fight again either at home or abroad.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state under which Vote on the Estimates the question of the treatment of British prisoners in Germany may be properly discussed?

The treatment of British prisoners in Germany is a matter which concerns both the Foreign Office and the War Office. The question as to the appropriate Vote for discussion of any particular subject is one for determination by the Chairman.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received from the Dutch Government the promised explanation of the grave punishment inflicted upon sixteen men of the Royal Naval Reserve at Groeningen nearly a month ago; whether he will communicate it to the House; and is he satisfied that no further intervention by His Majesty's Government is necessary?

A report has now been received from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at The Hague covering a report by Commodore Henderson, the senior British Officer interned, which shows that only four men of the Royal Naval Reserve at Groeningen served the sentences inflicted on the so-called "Follies" Troupe in connection with the recent incident. One of these four men had abstracted some furniture from a room, and others were thought to be aware of the identity of the culprit. The names of all the men belonging to the "Follies" Troupe have been erased from the Punishment Register, and the only name which now appears in that Register in connection with this incident is that of the culprit himself, who is not a member of the "Follies" Troupe, but a paid servant of theirs. I regret that I am not able to communicate the report to the House. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Otto Madsen, of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, has been expelled from the Chamber for violating his pledges and attempting to smuggle a large consignment of coffee into Germany; whether the Foreign Office will see that the direct responsibility of this man is not evaded by blaming a subordinate: that the fine of double the value of the coffee is paid; and that the firm remains on the black list until the end of the war?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The question of fixing the responsibility and imposing the fine in such cases is one for the Arbitration Court of the Danish Associations to decide. I understand that Otto Madsen paid a fine equal to double the value of the goods in the highest European market, as he was held to be technically but not actually responsible for the export of the coffee. The attitude which should eventually be adopted towards Madsen's firm is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to whom the fines inflicted for breaches of agreement not to export to Germany from Holland and Denmark are paid over, in view of the fact that the Allies are the injured parties?

Fines imposed by the Netherlands Oversea Trust for violation of their contracts with Dutch firms are paid by the Trust into the Fund of the Royal National Relief Committee of Holland. The disposal of fines paid to the Danish Merchants' Guild and Chamber of Manufacturers is left to the discretion of those two bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now ascertained if the official statement that there are two naval members on the Contraband Committee, or that of the hon. Member for Maidstone that there is only one is correct?

The Admiralty is represented on the Contraband Committee by Captain Longden, R.N., assisted, when necessary, by Lieutenant W. Arnold Forster, R.N.V.R.

Does Lieutenant Arnold Forster act as a representative on the Committee? He has no vote, I understand.

I have given the fact that Captain Longden is assisted, when necessary, by Lieutenant Arnold Forster, R.N.V.R. I understand that he is not considered by the Admiralty as a representative on the Committee. He is sent by the Admiralty to assist Captain Longden. I cannot say what view the other members of the Committee take.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will solicit the good offices of the American Embassy to obtain the release of Mrs. M'Allister and her little son, who are now interned in Jerusalem; and, if that is not possible, to solicit the services of the American Consul to transmit money to the lady and her son, the Armenian Consul at Port Said being now prohibited from rendering further assistance?

I have requested the United States Ambassador to be good enough to ask the United States Chargé d'Affaires at Constantinople to inquire into Mrs. M'Allister's case, and if necessary to advance money to her, at the same time requesting the United States Consul at Jerusalem to lend his good offices with a view to facilitating her departure, in the event of the Ottoman Authorities being now prepared to permit her to leave the country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether since the 30th September, 1915, any change has taken place in the position of those nerve-shaken soldiers then acknowledged to be uncertifiable cases by the War Office and placed in a block of the Middlesex County Asylum at Wandsworth; and whether this block is under the same management as the rest of the asylum, which is for certified lunatics?

No, Sir; no change has taken place since the date mentioned. The block is under the management of the Army Medical Authorities, and not under the same management as the asylum.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to provide appropriate hospital treatment, as has already been done in the case of officers, for soldiers of the rank and file who have been invalided through nerve strain or shock, which treatment shall be free from association with lunacy either in special wards of base hospitals or in convalescent homes connected therewith?

Cases requiring special but not prolonged treatment are transferred to the neurological section of one of the Territorial Force general hospitals throughout the country, or to other appropriate hospitals. Severe cases requiring more prolonged treatment are transferred to the British Red Cross Hospital at Maghull, or to the Springfield War Hospital at Wandsworth. The arrangements made secure the object which my hon. Friend has in view.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the military representative for Lewisham, in his capacity as recruiting officer's deputy, is acting in accordance with his instructions when coercing a recruit by threats into improperly sending an appeal for extension of a certificate granted in Bermondsey to the Lewisham Tribunal so that this representative may have an opportunity of opposing it; and, if so, will he issue fresh instructions that this military representative shall confine himself to his own work in future?

The military representative for Lewisham, to whom reference has been made, denies the imputations contained in this question, and I do not consider that any fresh instructions are necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the military representative for Lewisham has had delegated to him by the recruiting officer functions proper to the latter, and that, in the exercise of those functions, he refuses access to himself to which recruits are entitled; and whether instructions will be issued that, if this recruiting officer's deputy has not time to carry out his duties, another person shall be appointed?

I am informed that it is not the case that the military representative for Lewisham has had extraordinary powers conferred upon him by the local recruiting officer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will issue instructions that military representatives shall not occupy the time of tribunals by such objections as that a manager in a lubricating oil and grease makers is not a certified trade because oil is a product and not a manufactured article, as is to be raised in the case of a Bermondsey elector to be discussed in Lewisham; and if he will call the attention of such representatives to the fact that they should aim at practical decisions rather than legal finesse?

It is difficult to see exactly what point my hon. Friend's question raises. If the case he has in mind is that of which details have been laid before me, the military representative took the view that the matter was one which should be taken before the local tribunal, and in this opinion I think he was right.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many military representatives on the local and appeal tribunals are of military age; and whether it is proposed to enrol those that are of such age in the non-combatant corps?

I do not know of any such cases, and the latter part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that the Lewisham Tribunal have refused to forward to the appeal tribunal the appeal of a person aggrieved by the decision of the local tribunal, as specified by the last Clause of the Second Schedule of the Act; whether he will instruct that body that they have no right to refuse to forward such appeal; and will he, in the event of the appellant taking proceedings in a Civil Court to compel the observance of the provisions of the Act, make such arrangements as will cause the individual members of the tribunal to be surcharged with the costs of such legal proceedings?

I understand that the appeal in the case to which it is assumed my hon. Friend's question relates has been forwarded to the appeal tribunal.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the appeal dismissed by the Norfolk county appeal tribunal in respect of a woodman nineteen years of age, earning 18s. a week and the sole support of a widowed mother; whether he is aware that this woodman, who has two brothers serving with the Colours, has to perform domestic duties and even to dress and undress his mother; and, in view of his own declarations and of those of the Prime Minister, whether any steps will be taken to put this matter on a better footing?

My right hon. Friend has gone carefully into this case, which refers to an attested man. The description given in the question by no means fully represents the facts of the case. My right hon. Friend has satisfied himself that the appeal tribunal went thoroughly into all the facts, and it is to be observed that the appellant did not ask for leave to appeal to the central appeal tribunal. There seems no reason to interfere.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether certain canteen contractors are applying for and obtaining exemption for employés of military age; and whether there is any need for men of suitable age to be relieved from military service to do this class of work, especially in view of the resentment felt by ordinary citizens, who have to surrender their business when called up and are unable to obtain exemption of any sort?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will have an examination made of the men employed by the Canteen Mess Association and give instructions that those single men of military age who are fit for military service shall be discharged and their places filled by men who have been disabled on active service and who are physically fit to be employed in this description of work?

The Board of Control of Regimental Institutes have undertaken to act not only for those canteens which are under their direction, but also for the canteens under the direction of the Y.M.C.A., Church Army and kindred institutes with a view to the discharge of such employés as are of military age and fit for military service, and to their replacement by men unfit for service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether students of the Baptist, Methodist, Congregational, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic denominations are exempted from service, while only fourth-year men of the United Free Church of Scotland and third-year men of the Established Church of Scotland are so exempted; and, if not, what has been done?

The model on which were based the arrangements made in respect of the students of the denominations named was notified to the authorities of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church in order that they might suggest a form of words for an Army Council Instruction which would secure for their students equivalent treatment. The Council received a reply in which these authorities suggested the form of words which is used in the instructions finally issued on the subject. I should like to make it clear that the Army Council has made no discrimination against the United Free Church of Scotland and the Established Church of Scotland.

Is it the case that the denominations which I have named, Baptist, Methodist, Congregational, Episcopal and Roman Catholic are exempt from service?

Yes, but not in a manner different from the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church.

Is my right hon. Friend aware, as he must be, being a Scotsman, that the service in the Scottish churches is of infinitely longer duration than in the churches in England?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the military authorities have any power to send a man to camp whose appeal has not been decided, as in the case of Rifleman H. G. Kemp, No. 4,986, D Company, 3/21st London Regiment, who was summoned to Woolwich on 2nd March, where he attended and, although he told Lieutenant Bykus that his appeal had not been heard, was sent to Winchester?

I am not acquainted with the details of the case mentioned. A man whose appeal has not been decided should not be drafted to any unit, but it is impossible to prevent such cases occurring, if it has not been reported to the military authorities that an appeal has been made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will, in order to keep faith with married men who attested voluntarily at a time when they were in a reserved or certified occupation, ensure that they are not called to the Colours against their wish except upon the decision of the central tribunal, and that he will restrict the power of local tribunals in such cases to that which they possessed at the time such men attested?

The decision as to whether a voluntarily attested man can be exempted from being called up for service must rest with the local tribunal. If the claimant is not satisfied with the decision of the local tribunal he can make an appeal to the appeal tribunal, but can only appeal to the central tribunal by permission of the appeal tribunal. I am sure that these patriotic men can rely upon obtaining the same measure of justice from the local and appeal tribunals as my hon. Friend thinks they would have obtained under the Regulations previously in force.

Is it not a fact that these voluntarily attested married men were asked to attest under the condition that their case would be dealt with by the central tribunal, and under the changed arrangement have these men got to submit their cases to the local tribunal, and are they debarred from getting to the central tribunal, and will my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that the married men who voluntarily attested should be placed in exactly the same condition as they were in at the time they attested?

I do not know whether it is or is not the fact that these men when they were asked to attest were given the engagement which my lion. Friend mentions. I understand from him that that was done. But it is not possible in every case to assimilate the position of the two classes of men. I am sure we view with great sympathy my hen. Friend's question but you cannot go further than you can go.

Does my right hon. Friend suggest that the Government cannot keep faith with these married men? I feel bound to raise the question, if not by moving the Adjournment of the House, on the Adjournment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in selecting men for the new Non-Combatant Corps, he will take steps to ensure that a distinction is made between the men who have voluntarily enlisted and the men who have refused to enlist for service in the Army and have persistently endeavoured to obtain exemption from service; and whether he will arrange that men who have voluntarily enlisted shall be placed in a separate unit, or shall, so far as possible, be allowed to choose their regiment or corps, and may thereby be relieved from the stigma attaching to those who have endeavoured to avoid service?

I can assure my hon. and learned Friend that the Non-Combatant Corps is intended only for conscientious objectors who are liable for service under the Military Service Act.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that miners in the Congleton district of Cheshire are being called up under the Military Service Act, 1916; and will he state what is the position of these men, in view of the fact that they believe themselves to be subject to the decision of the special Colliery Court?

It is not intended that any man employed at a coal mine should be called up until his case has been considered by the Colliery Recruiting Court. If any such man is called up by inadvertence before his case has been so considered he should ask his employer to return the notice to the recruiting officer, with a statement that the man is employed at a coal mine and that his case has not yet been decided by the Colliery Court.

asked the Prime Minister if it is in accordance with the policy of the Government that such trades as shall have been certified by competent Government Departments as essential to the conduct of the War shall be unduly harassed and interfered with by the military authorities; and whether he will instruct the War Office that the raising of frivolous objections necessitating loss of time to manufacturers and tribunals should be avoided?

Stringent instructions have been issued to the military authorities that the list of certified occupations issued by the various Government Departments should be carefully watched and followed. The instructions sent out were approved by the Departments concerned. The military authorities have been instructed to carry out the spirit of the instructions as well as the letter.

How can that answer be reconciled with the answer to Question 14 given by the Under-Secretary for War?

asked if the men enrolled under the Military Service Act, 1916, are allowed to choose the regiments in which they are to serve, while the men who attested voluntarily have to go to any regiment to which they may be sent?

Whether men are attested voluntarily or not they are given a certain choice of unit. Naturally the men who come up earlier have a more unrestricted choice, although a certain proportion of vacancies in corps like the Royal Army Medical Corps, Army Service Corps, etc., are reserved for each group of voluntarily attested men.

asked whether the Government have taken into consideration the case of widowers with young children who are now being called up and have to maintain a home and a person employed to look after their children and for whom the only present provision is a separation allowance at the rate of 5s. per child; and what steps they propose to take to deal with such cases?

Men so circumstanced do not by any means stand alone in having domestic expenses in excess of the regulation allowances. I fear I am not in a position to promise any exceptional concession in such cases.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, seeing that the provisions of the Local Government Board's instructions to local tribunals (R. 48, page 7), requiring a military representative to give notice of the grounds of objection to a claim that a man is in a reserved trade, are being generally ignored, he will cause such instructions to be rendered more definite by deleting the word "may," in Section 5, line 3, and inserting "shall," if he desires to raise an objection?

The duties of the military representative are set out with sufficient clearness in the publication issued by the Director-General of Recruiting on the group and class systems, pages 38 and 39, and my right hon. Friend does not think the amendment suggested by my hon. Friend in the instructions to local tribunals is required.

asked the President of the Local Government Board by what date an attested man who has been granted temporary exemption by the local tribunal ought to apply for an extension of the period of exemption, that is to say, ought he to apply before the expiry of the original period of exemption or upon receipt of the summons to join the Colours?

if he wishes to claim further exemption it is desirable that he should apply before the expiry of the period of exemption, but may apply any time not later than seven days after individual notice has been sent to him calling him up for service.

asked the President of the Local Government Board with regard to attested men who have been granted temporary exemption, but who, unlike men enlisted under the Military Service Act, 1916, have not two months' grace after the expiry of the period of temporary exemption, whether, in the event of these attested men applying for an extension of the period of exemption, they will not be called up until the application and any appeal shall have been decided?

A man is not liable to be called up for military service until his application, whether for an original certificate or a renewal, has been finally disposed of.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Market Bosworth tribunal has exempted all the men in the Atherstone Hunt as being employed in an indispensable occupation; and whether the same tribunal has exempted all the men employed in the indispensable occupation of agriculture in their district?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the proceeding at the Market Bosworth Tribunal where a member objected to the waste of time involved in hearing the twaddle of conscientious objectors, and where the tribunal immediately proceeded to grant exemption to all the men employed by the Atherstone Hunt on the ground that foxhunting encouraged horse-breeding; and whether such proceedings carry out the instructions and regulations issued by the Local Government Board?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer these questions. My attention has not been drawn to the proceedings of the tribunal mentioned, and I have no information on the matter. I have little doubt that the tribunal dealt with the matter carefully and conscientiously. I am obtaining a report of what ' took place.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that under the instructions issued to the military representatives by the Director-General of Recruiting the occupation of a huntsman is the only particular trade that is specifically referred to for exemption?

I am aware of that. What I am not aware of is what the tribunal actually did in this case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the percentage of admission to hospital for venereal diseases of the troops in Egypt and Salonika up to the end of February?

In Egypt, during the last eight weeks, the percentage of admissions has averaged 0.09 per cent. per week. This, I understand, is equal to an average annual admission ratio of 46.8 per thousand. No figures have been received for Salonika.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether remission of hospital stoppages is properly refused when a soldier is in hospital for a disease or sickness due to or aggravated by military service or caused or contracted while on military service and certified by the medical officer of the soldier's unit; whether the medical officer of the military hospital in which such a soldier has been treated is entitled at his discretion to refuse such remission; and on what principle, if any, is such remission of hospital stoppages refused?

In the case of illness contracted on active service or wounds received in action there is no stoppage. In other cases the matter lies within the discretion of the soldier's commanding officer, who should take into consideration the extent to which the sickness may be attributable to military service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of the Public Schools Battalions that were formed at the beginning of the war, differential treatment is now being extended to certain of these battalions, as an effect of which one battalion, now the 20th Battalion, of the Royal Fusiliers will be handicapped in respect of its members getting commissions; and whether this battalion is to be kept at the front as an ordinary fighting unit while the other battalions are to be utilised as Training Corps for Officers?

No, Sir, non-commissioned officers and men of all battalions are on the same footing as regards qualifications necessary for recommendation for commissions. The other battalions referred to are not being utilised as Officers' Training Corps.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, for the purposes of the accounts submitted to Parliament, he can arrange for the sums voted for the Royal Flying Corps to appear as a separate Vote, so that Members may have an opportunity of analysing and discussing the exact amount devoted to this end?

I am afraid that the fact that the Army Votes are merely token amounts invalidates this suggestion.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has considered the advisability of appointing a naval flying man as a member of the Board of Admiralty, more especially in view of the action of the War Office in nominating a member of the Royal Flying Corps to a seat on the Army Council?

In answer to my hon. Friend, I have to say that in the case of a service so new, so rapidly growing, and of whose full possibilities no man can speak with confidence, it would be foolish to pretend that we have reached the final organisation. But the subject is too large to be dealt with by question and answer.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, for the purposes of the accounts submitted to Parliament, he can arrange for the sums voted for the Naval Air Service to appear as a separate Vote, so that Members may have an opportunity of analysing and discussing the exact amount devoted to this end?

The desirability of showing the expenditure on the Royal Naval Air Service separately in the Navy Estimates has been under discussion between the Admiralty and the Treasury, and it has now been decided that, so far as matériel is concerned. Air Service expenditure will be shown under a separate group of sub-heads in Vote 9—the Armaments Vote. The cost of personnel, works, etc., will still be dealt with under their appropriate Votes. For 1916–17, however, it is not proposed to give any detailed Estimates of the expenditure involved, the Votes presented to Parliament containing only token figures. I am afraid, therefore, it will not be possible, neither would it appear to be in the public interest, to discuss the details of actual air expenditure at the present time.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many naval captains without previous experience of aviation have been appointed to positions in the Royal Naval Air Service within the last twelve months?

Three captains have been appointed for duty with the R.N.A.S. during the last twelve months, but have not been graded in the R.N.A.S.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can make any statement with regard to the reasons actuating the retirement of Major-General S. S. Long?

Major-General S. S. Long resigned of his own accord. I cannot state his motives, which were personal to himself.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can give the number of marriages among the rank and file of the British Army since the outbreak of the War, and the cost in allowances per week made to wives, widows, and children as a result of such marriages?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the possibility of placing wounded soldiers returned from the front in hospitals in the counties whence they come and as near as may be practicable to their relations and thus enable the Government to practise economy in avoiding long and unnecessary railway journeys, such as sending a Surrey man to Scotland, and at the same time facilitate the relations of wounded soldiers in visiting them without encouraging the expense of long railway journeys?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will excuse me for referring him to the long answer on this point which was given on the 27th January to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Black-friars Division of Glasgow.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is now a practice to allow the commutation of Army pensions; if so, will he state whether he has any information showing the number of cases where the commutation of such pensions has been followed by such pensioners being ruined and becoming a charge upon the rates; and, in view of the increase in the numbers of such pensions in the near future, will he consider the desirability of discontinuing the practice of commutation or of so modifying the conditions under which it may be sanctioned as to avoid the evil results indicated?

Commutation of soldiers' pensions has been practically suspended during the War. In any case, it is only allowed after the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital have made full inquiries into the man's character and projects, and such information as the Commissioners have indicates that the privilege is very rarely abused. As a safeguard against entire destitution, commutation of a portion only of the pension is allowed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Sergeant Alexander Samways, Royal Field Artillery, was billeted last month at Mrs. Woods, 9, Abercromby Avenue, High Wycombe, and fell ill there; that the military doctor was sent for and after three days said Samways was suffering from pneumonia; that, notwithstanding, no assistance, attendance, or supervision was arranged for; that there was no ambulance to take the patient to the hospital; that the doctor refused to order any conveyance or to be responsible for the same; that the matron of the hospital sent two miles at her own expense to bring the patient in to the hospital; that the patient, while at Mrs. Woods and when suffering from delirium, was allowed to go out scantily clad and run about in the wet; that the doctor had been out of practice for sixteen years and was heard to say that he knew how to deal with shirkers; if another lad had died under somewhat similar circumstances ten days previously; that the sister at the hospital said that the sergeant's life would have been saved had he been sent earlier to the hospital; and if he will inquire into the whole matter so that the sick in billets may be more carefully looked after in the future?

I have not yet received a report on this case, but I will inform the hon. Gentleman when the report reaches me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) if he can give the date when the huts on St. Martin's Plain will be finished; and if he can say whether the drains and roads both at St. Martin's Plain and Dib- gate will be finished at the same time; and (2) if he can give the date when the huts at Dibgate were commenced, when the contract was signed, and the date when they were to be finished according to the terms of the contract; if there was any penalty clause in the contract; and if he can give a date when they will be really finished?

I am making inquiries into the case, and will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War when the Order in Council bringing the Volunteers under the Act of 1863 will be promulgated; and, if the War Office naturally pressed with more important work is unable to formulate the rules, will he consider whether the rules could be entrusted to the Commander-in-Chief in England to draft, and that he would, to save time, submit them for approval to the War Office?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in accordance with the intention that the Volunteers should be put under the Act of 1863 and be under the supervision of Lords Lieutenant of counties, he has caused to be issued any instructions to the Lords Lieutenant to enable them to carry out this scheme; and, if he has not caused such instructions to be issued, what is the cause of the delay and when the issue of such instructions may be expected?

An Order in Council is not required. The procedure is that offers of service shall be made by lieutenants of counties for His Majesty's acceptance. Lieutenants have been invited to submit offers. Meanwhile details of the necessary regulations are being worked out by the appropriate branches of the War Office. No advantage would be gained by the adoption of the hon. Member's suggestion in the last part of the question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman indicate when these regulations will be issued, as until they are issued the Volunteers are not able to get on with the work of guarding munitions and other danger points in the country, and the whole movement is held up pending these regulations.

My hon. Friend is in rather a hurry. It requires a great deal of working out. I cannot give him the date, but no time that can be spared will be lost.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is three weeks ago since we were informed that Volunteers would be utilised under this Act, and therefore there has been a considerable amount of time already at the disposal of the Department?

We had to wait until we could hear from the Lieutenants of His Majesty in the various counties what numbers could be expected. We have not that information yet.

Are we to wait until the whole numbers are sent in before the regulations are issued?

Will my right hon. Friend hurry up these regulations to the utmost of his power, because it is certainly very detrimental to the whole movement to have it hung up as it is at present.

We are trying to get it done as fast as possible, but my hon. Friend ought not really to be in too great a hurry.

Has my right hon. Friend not a copy of the old regulations? Would they not apply?

No, I do not think it would be desirable to proceed in the same manner of procedure as we did in 1876. The War Office is a progressive institution.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what description of boat is used for the conveyance of wounded soldiers from Nasiriyeh, on the Euphrates, to the base hospital at Basra; and whether the garrison hospital at Nasiriyeh has sufficient supplies of instruments, medicines, and other requisite articles for the wounded and the sick?

I have no doubt that every available boat would be used, but I have received no official report on this matter. As regards the second part of the question, no demands have been made upon the War Office for instruments. I could not definitely state that there had been no shortage of instruments, medicines, etc., at Nasiriyeh without ascertaining by cable, but no report of shortage has been received.

Is the India Office or the War Office now responsible for the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia?

It was handed over to the War Office some time ago.

asked the Prime Minister how long the siege of Kutel-Amara has lasted; and what information can he give the House as to the health of the troops and the condition of the wounded under General Townshend's command?

General Townshend's column reached Kut-el-Amara on the 3rd December, 1915. On the 9th, 10th, 11th, the enemy endeavoured to capture his position by assault, but was driven off and suffered severely. Since that time the garrison has been besieged. As to the last part of the question, I am informed that no information has been received.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Secretary of State for India stated, in reply to a question put to him by the Member for North-East Bethnal Green in December last, that adequate forces were being despatched to Mesopotamia; and, in view of the fact that General Townshend has been besieged at Kut-el-Amara for several months, who is responsible for the failure to supply General Aylmer with sufficient troops for the relief of the British garrison?

It is undesirable to say more at present than that there has been no failure to supply the relieving force with reinforcements.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether discussion of the question of Mesopotamia can more properly take place on the Army Vote or the India Office Vote?

I shall have to consider that.

asked whether the British Government is arranging through the War Office and the Admiralty for official recognition to be given to officers and men of the French army and navy who have, under distinguished circumstances, co-operated with us in this War; and whether each Department has already taken steps in this direction?

Yes, Sir; appropriate steps were taken in this direction early in the War.

asked the date of the approaching economic conference at Paris between representatives of the Allies, also the names of the representatives of this country and of the Allies, and the terms of reference or subjects of discussion at the conference?

The date of the Conference of the Allies on economic subjects has not yet been fixed, nor can the programme for discussion be published at present. The President of the Board of Trade will attend the Conference as the principal representative of the British Government. The Governments of the Allies will no doubt announce the names of their representatives in due course.

Has there been any postponement of the date?

No, I do not think the date has been fixed yet.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will order the issue in a White Paper of the conclusions arrived at by the approaching economic Conference between representatives of the Allies at Paris?

I am not in a position to make a statement on this subject at present.

asked whether Japan will be represented at the economic Conference of the Allied Government at Paris?

The Japanese Government have been invited to send a representative.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Secretary of State for War is drawing a salary of £5,000 per annum as Secretary of State for War in addition to his salary as Agent-General in Egypt; and what salary he is drawing in respect of the latter appointment?

I stated the total salary received by my Noble Friend in my answers to questions on the 8th March.

It is no definite answer to the point raised in this question, whether the total salary is what is stated in the question. Is there any payment made out of military funds at all?

I thought that I had answered.

"No, no."

I will put it down again.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman answer? It is a simple question.

I think I answered last week. The total is £6,260, I think. That is my recollection.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government would be prepared to take part in a conference of all the Powers for the purpose of discussing the terms of peace and conclusion of the present War?

I must refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's speech in this House on 23rd February, to which he has nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is in a position to state his expectations as to the date of the adjournment over Easter, and the probable date at which the House will reassemble?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will introduce legislation so as to enable bonus bonds to be issued to the public?

I think I have answered this question in reply to Question 45 [Sir J. D. Rees: Whether the Government proposes to introduce legislation in order to overcome any legal objections which may exist to the adoption of bonus bonds?].

Question 45 was not answered.

Has the right hon. Gentleman answered Question 45? I am sorry I was not here.

The answer to both questions is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that it has been officially stated that the salary of the Right Honourable C. F. Masterman is paid out of public funds and that he is doing work for the Government, if he will state on what Vote his salary is charged?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which the Prime Minister gave to a supplementary question addressed to him by the right hon. Baronet the junior Member for the City of London on the 8th of December.

Is it not most undesirable that a public man, receiving public money, and doing public work, should be paid out of Secret Service Funds?

I believe that was the question raised at the time, and my right hon. Friend answered. I cannot go beyond what he said.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister definitely stated that he did not know under what Vote Mr. Masterman's salary came?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many British soldiers under the age of twenty have been executed in France by sentence of court-martial?

Just as it is not in the public interest that a question like this should be asked, so it is not in the public interest that it should be answered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman cease sending these boys to the trenches, some of them as young as sixteen, when he dare not disclose their fate to the House?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case reported in the "Clarion" newspaper of the 17th March of a sentence of twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour on a private soldier; and whether he will have inquiries made as to whether there has been a miscarriage of justice in this case?

I cannot, I fear, claim that I am a constant reader of the "Clarion" newspaper. If the hon. Gentleman wishes me to have inquiries made, perhaps he will be good enough to state the name, regimental number and regiment of the soldier in question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has decided to take further action in the matter of the assault by 2nd Lieutenant Plummer at Aberlour; and whether, if a military Court of Inquiry has been ordered, the reference will include investigation of the circumstances connected with the suppression of civil proceedings, which has been commenced by authority of the officer commanding at Aberdeen?

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief the Scottish Command has been requested to assemble a Court of Inquiry to investigate the case. The Court will be presided over by an officer of rank not under that of brigadier-general; the evidence is to be taken on oath and the Press will be admitted to the proceedings. The Court are required to investigate the whole case and the question whether 2nd Lieutenant Plummer gave money to Charles Stuart to suppress further proceedings has been specifically put to the Court.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the whole of my question, whether the reference to this Court of Inquiry will include the action of the superior officer in command at Aberdeen in suppressing these civil proceedings in which the police were ready to co-operate?

I do not think so, but perhaps the hon. Member will put the question again.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any sum is being paid or has been paid since last May by the War Office to asylum authorities, or to the Lunacy Board of Control in respect of the care and treatment of uncertifiable soldiers invalided through nerve shock?

The War Office is directly and solely responsible for the care and treatment of such soldiers. Any payments that may be made to the asylum authorities or board of control in this connection are made to them as agents of the local military authorities.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether any payments have been made?

Yes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that No. 4,137, Private W. Colbourne, 6th Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, was killed by a military motor car whilst returning to camp; that a pension has been denied the widow; and will he take the necessary steps for obtaining some financial assistance in this and other cases for widows and children of soldiers overtaken by accident?

The official information is that this soldier was knocked down by a private vehicle under circumstances which do not enable a widow's pension to be granted from Army funds. Such cases are referred by the War Office to the Statutory Committee and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, and this case has been so dealt with.

asked what steps have been taken to supplement the grant of 5s. per week at present paid to Miss Ellie Grady, who was entirely dependent on her brother, Private Denis Grady, No. 4,230, Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was killed on 9th May, 1915?

The case has been represented to the Statutory Committee of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation.

asked why no pension has been, or is being paid, to John Hanly, 3rd Connaught Rangers, No. 3,588; shoulder shattered at Ypres; prisoner in Germany for five months; discharged from Army with good character on account of incapacity from wound; now at home in Ireland with his wife and three children, ages one, two, and four years; incapable of work and living on charity; what pension he is entitled to; and when it will be paid?

This case has not come before the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, but I am having inquiries made and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked what is now the settled scale of treatment of dependants of soldiers who have fallen in action, with the effect on it of the number of dependants; when the scale was adopted and put in operation; how it is that, in spite of repeated applications, representations, and supply of particulars to the War Office, Mrs. Ward and her nine children, all under fourteen years of age, dependants of soldier Ward, of the 4th Connaught Rangers, No. 4,578, who, at the age of eighteen, fell at the front in France on 8th November, 1914, are still left to starve or depend upon charity in Ireland; to what relief is this mother and family entitled; from what date; when the arrears will be paid; and whether a fixed sum will be paid henceforward?

The scale was published by Army Order of February, 1916, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy, and is now in operation. Pending its issue grants of separation allowance were ordinarily made; but in the particular case referred to Mrs. Ward has not at present succeeded in establishing dependence on the soldier. He made no claim on her behalf, and she made none until nine months after his death. The case is before the Appeals Committee, and the decision shall be communicated to the hon. Member.

asked why Martin Hopkins, of the Connaught Rangers, character certificate No. 2,275, wounded in action, discharged as unfit in consequence of wounds, quite incapable of work, and having no means whatever, is now left to die of starvation and neglect in Ireland; what pension he is entitled to; and whether it will be sent to him forthwith?

This man has been awarded a pension of 12s. 6d. a week for six months from 27th January, and the Pensions Issue Office will pay it as soon as they receive the life certificate from the man.

Suppose that this man unfortunately has lost his life certificate, will he get the pension?

If he has lost it he has merely to get another form and fill it up.

asked (1), whether the new scale of four-fifths of the total possible pensions to disabled men whose disablement is due to the development of disease while in the Army is to be retrospective with regard to the right of all such to have their cases reconsidered and to the arrears of payment from the date of their disablement, respectively; (2) when the Royal Warrant embodying the recent changes in pensions will be published; and (3), whether the new scale of four-fifths of the total possible pensions to disabled men whose disablement is due to the development of disease while in the Army extends to their widows and children should such men die as a further consequence of such disease?

These points have not been overlooked, but I am not in a position at present to go beyond what I said in Debate.

Can my hon. Friend answer question No. 73 and say when the Royal Warrant will be issued?

I hope that the Royal Warrant will be issued at a very early date. I cannot say the actual date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that ordinary seaman Walter Alexander Pearl, No. 4838a, has been discharged owing to mental breakdown; that he is now an inmate of the Ratcliffe Lunatic Asylum; and that the allotment of 5s. per week for the parents has been discontinued; and will he take such steps as are necessary to secure some financial assistance for relatives and dependants in these cases?

The man in question joined the Royal Naval Division on 10th December, 1915. He was admitted to Chatham Hospital ten days later. Twenty-two days still later he was invalided for insanity. He had thus only thirty-two days of service, twenty-two of which were spent in hospital, and as the disease which necessitated his discharge cannot be regarded as attributable to the Service, he is not entitled to the award of any pension or gratuity, nor are there any funds at the disposal of the Admiralty from which assistance can be given to his parents. The allotment naturally ceased when the man left the Service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that Messrs. Crossley and Company, Dean Clough Mills, Halifax, hold a contract for the War Office, and that the dyers employed by this firm came out on strike on the 9th instant because the firm refused to pay more than 28s., plus 1s. war bonus, for a working week of 55½ hours to one section of their men, although the minimum wage paid by other firms for similar work is 34s. for a week of 54 hours; and if he will take action with the object of bringing the strike to an end?

I was not aware of this dispute until my hon. Friend put down his question. I have now, however, been in communication with the firm and am consulting the Chief Industrial Commissioner of the Board of Trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that surveyors of taxes are informing mine owners that the limit of increase of the statutory percentage for Excess Profits Duty is to be 10 per cent.; and whether he will give instructions that proper consideration is given to the duration of the life of mines, as he indicated would be the case when referring in the House on the 27th October, 1915, to a gold mine which had just begun to pay though its life was not expected to exceed five years, and where 20 per cent. would be needed to repay capital alone?

I am not aware that such statements are being made, but if the hon. Member will inform me of any case he has in mind I will make inquiry. The extent of the increase of the statutory percentage for special classes of trade or business (including mining) rests with the Board of Referees and not with the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government to import 25 per cent. less sugar this season than formerly; whether it is proposed to restrict the supplies allotted to preserve makers; and, if so, on what principle will the restriction be based; whether he has considered that if the supplies of sugar for preserving are cut down by 25 per cent. not only will there be a considerable shortage in the production of jam, which is a very important article of food, but that hardship will be inflicted upon fruit growers by artificially closing one-quarter of the preserve maker's market to them, and by congesting other markets and forcing down prices to an uneconomic level; and whether he can undertake that the Government will endeavour to keep the supplies of sugar for preserving up to the level of last year?