asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether 200 lots of sugar were sold by auction at the Paddington Goods Station on Thursday, 16th March; if so, on whose behalf the sale took place; whether the prices realised for granulated ragged from 50s. to 55s. and for cube sugar up to 60s. per cwt.; whether these prices are about 1d. per lb. higher than the grocers are allowed to charge the public for sugar; and, if a grocer is liable to penalties for charging more than the regular price, under these circumstances how the proceedings at this auction can be explained and who will receive the excess price?

I have no knowledge of the facts of the case referred to, but steps had already been taken prior to the date mentioned to avoid sales of this kind, and none will take place in future. No steps would be taken against any grocer for selling at prices showing only a proper margin of profit to him in such a case. The excess price would go to the railway company as the seller, and be included in their accounts under their arrangement with the Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps are being taken by his Department, by co-operation or otherwise with other Departments, to deal with the sugar shortage in this country due to the neglect of the home-grown beet industry; is he aware that in 1913 Germany and Austria-Hungary supplied 1,296,400 tons of sugar, valued at £15,145,500, to Great Britain; and will he state the steps taken since 1914 to deal with this question?

The recent temporary shortage in the sugar supply was due solely to freight difficulties which have now been overcome. The question of encouraging the home-grown beet industry, which is only in the experimental stage, is one for the Board of Agriculture.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Worcestershire Pensions Committee are unable to obtain the forms as to wages paid by employers to soldiers before enlistment properly filled up, and consequently are unable to decide the cases as to separation allowances, and delay and hardship is inflicted upon claimants; and whether he can arrange that instructions will be given to the Board of Customs and Excise to order the officers to furnish as early as possible all the information the committee require to decide upon claims for separation allowances?

I am making inquiry, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the number of assessments made to Undeveloped Land Duty for the years 1909–10, 1910–11, 1911–12, and 1912–13, respectively, the total amount demanded on those assessments in each year, the total amount received by the Treasury in respect of each year; whether since the year 1912–13 any assessments to or demands for Undeveloped Land Duty have been made; and whether, in view of the need to increase the national revenue, any attempts are being made to recover arrears of Undeveloped Land Duty or to utilise to the utmost this source of national income?

The information asked for is as follows, for the years 1909–10 to 1913–14:

In consequence of a judicial decision affecting the principles of valuation of land liable to Undeveloped Land Duty, the assessment and collection of this duty has been suspended as from the end of February, 1914. Legislation confirming the basis of valuation adopted by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue was proposed in the Revenue Bill, 1914, which was postponed in consequence of the outbreak of war.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has had any Report on the air defences of London; if so, from whom; and whether he can convey the Report or any part of it to the House?

A Report by Sir Percy Scott, on the Gunnery Defences of London Against Air Attack, has been received, but as it contains a record of the steps which have been taken, and are being taken, to improve the gunnery defences of London, it would clearly not be in the public interest to comply with my hon. Friend's request.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether two German raiders, or only one, were brought down on the occasion of the recent aerial attack on parts of the Kentish coast; and whether, in the former case, he could state what the additional facts were?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty has he any information that the German seaplane, which the Admiralty reported on 19th March was forced to descend after the machine was hit many times and the observer killed, returned to Germany?

So far as the Royal Naval Air Service is concerned, only one enemy seaplane was brought down.

I take this opportunity of referring to the gallant conduct of Flight-Commander Bone, who, in a single-seater land machine, pursued this enemy seaplane to a distance of 30 miles from land, where he drove his opponent to the water, killing the observer. He was then compelled, owing to shortage of petrol, to return to land.

As to the ultimate fate of the enemy machine, there is in the circumstances no definite information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the high grade steel used in the German aeroplane engines is more suitable for its purpose than the steel used in the Royal Aircraft Factory for similar purposes; if he is aware that this steel is virtually the same steel as that used by the Germans some years ago; if he can explain why, in the circumstances, this House was informed by the War Office that we were ahead of other nations in aeronautical knowledge; and why we have taken no successful steps to obtain or produce similar steel at our own aircraft factory or elsewhere?

Only experimental engines are produced at the Royal Aircraft Factory, and there is no reason to believe that the quality of the steel used there is inferior to the steel used in the German engines. The composition of the German steel is known to us. The Royal Aircraft Factory does not make steel. The steel used in British aeronautical engines is obtained from British manufacturers. The War Office, in conjunction with the Admiralty, have taken active measures in the matter of investigation of production of steel for aircraft by obtaining a Treasury Grant for technical research to be carried out by the Institute of Automobile Engineers and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and by assisting in the institution of a committee of aircraft steel manufacturers in Sheffield and a committee of stampers in Birmingham.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the exact loss to British shipping caused by the raiding of the "Moewe"?

All the losses caused by the "Moewe" of which the Admiralty has knowledge have already appeared in the public Press.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that men with long service are being discharged from the naval department at Haulbowline while at the same time other men, such as ex-policemen, are being taken on; and will he state the reason for discharging these men?

There have been three carpenters, one skilled labourer, and ten ordinary labourers discharged on reduction by the Works Department at Haulbowline owing to certain work having been deferred. One ex-member of the Irish Constabulary, with special qualifications, has been entered in the engineering department. But these two facts have no relation the one to the other.

asked the Secretary ten the Admiralty if he will state the number of single men and of married men of military age employed at the Admiralty who have been granted temporary naval commissions, and the number of those who have received no naval training and whose, services are entirely confined to departmental work?

I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will postpone this question for a week.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the two wireless messages, or either of them, sent to and acknowledged by the acting-captain of the "Lusitania" on her last voyage had reference to the route; and whether the course actually travelled by the "Lusitania" was that advised?

The orders actually received by the captain of the "Lusitania" were considered by Lord Mersey at the official inquiry into the loss of the ship, and I would refer the hon. Member to the Wreck Commissioner's findings.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the number of men employed in the different Government Departments who have applied for exemption from military service on account of conscientious objections; and the number of those whose appeals have been admitted and who are still remaining in the service of the Department?

To answer this question I should have to ask the Departments to prepare a Return. I am not prepared to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if a man who has been rejected since the 15th August last on medical grounds from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve is included in the exceptions under Schedule 1, Clause 6, of the Military Service Act, 1916?

I am advised that such a man is not included in the exception.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will order the immediate discharge of Robert Lewis Jones, who is now at the camp, Whitchurch, having been kidnapped and tricked into attestation by the recruiting officer, after having been rejected as medically unfit on 12th November and also on 1st January last, but was, after the last rejection, told by the recruiting officer that if he did not again attest he would be fetched as a conscript, and under this threat he again attested and in ignorance allowed the military authorities to take him; and will he see that the military officer responsible for this action is properly dealt with?

My hon. Friend would not, I am sure, wish that I should act without hearing full particulars of this case. I have found that the versions of these cases supplied to hon. Members by their correspondents are sometimes somewhat one-sided. I will make inquiry.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has had representations from the Blackburn Trades Council about the absence of Labour representation from the local tribunal for that borough; if in his reply he said that it was his opinion that there should be some representation of Labour on each tribunal, and that representative bodies of Labour should be consulted about such representation; will he say why he now states it to be his opinion that there should be some representation of Labour on the tribunal, when in the instructions he lays it down that there should be adequate representation of Labour in the tribunal and on all committees; and why he declines to interfere in such a repudiation of the instructions on this matter, as the case of the Blackburn Tribunal, where practically all the cases which come before it are trade unionists, who have no faith whatever either in the capacity or justice of the tribunal as at present constituted?

As stated in the reply to the hon. Member's question of the 8th instant, this local tribunal, which consists of five members, contains a Labour representative, who is a trade union official; and on the evidence before me I do not consider that I should intervene in the appointments made by the local representatives of the people.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has seen the statement made by the Grays Tribunal on Wednesday, 22nd March, that the military representative declared that some days ago 900 men were turned away from the Tilbury Docks owing to young men squeezing out older men; and if he can say what efforts are being made to find employment for these unemployed men?

I am informed that on the 16th March—presumably the date referred to—960 men seeking employment at Tilbury Docks were turned away owing to the non-arrival of certain boats. There is, however, a shortage of dockers more or less pronounced at all the great ports, and the general question is a cause for anxiety in that delays in loading and discharging seriously diminish the effectiveness of our available tonnage.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to some remarks of Sir Lewis T. Dibdin, as Chairman of the Surrey Appeal Tribunal, on the 18th instant; and whether when a conscientious objector to military service establishes to the satisfaction of a tribunal that his objection extends not merely to combatant service but also to other kinds of military service, the tribunal may properly grant him absolute exemption from the provisions of the Military Service Act, 1916?

Perhaps I may reply to this question. I have seen a report of the speech referred to. The speaker appeared to recognise that it is open to a tribunal to grant absolute exemption in suitable cases.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that a soldier who is a skilled mechanic would be rendering greater service as a munition worker than as a soldier, he can assure the House that applications for the release of such soldiers on the recommendation of the Ministry of Munitions will not be withheld?

Soldiers who are skilled meachanics are just as urgently needed by technical units of the Army as they are in munition factories. Applications for the release of such soldiers, if recommended by the Ministry of Munitions, are not withheld unless, in the paramount interests of the Army, it is found impossible to sanction their release.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the percentage of time-expired non-commissioned officers and men since the beginning of the year who have accepted the present bounty for re-engagement in the Regular Army and the Territorial Force?

I have no information as to the percentage of time-expired non-commissioned officers and men in the Regular Army who have accepted the bounty. No bounty is payable for re-engagement in the Territorial Forces.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are many members of the Territorial Forces fit for service abroad at present employed in defended ports in England; whether he will consider the advisability of replacing them by men unfit for foreign service; and whether he will take steps to provide for the officers of such units who have been employed in them since the beginning of the War, and have trained a succession of officers now at the front, the chances of active service?

Not only portions of units employed as stated in the question, but also complete units similarly employed, have been taken when they could be spared without detriment to the requirements of Home defence. Individual officers are also given an opportunity of volunteering when opportunity offers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, since the passing of the Military Service Act, 1916, single men in certain provisional battalions of the Territorial Force were offered, if they signed the Imperial Service form before 2nd March, to be able to choose their 2nd or 3rd battalions, and that they signed accordingly, and will he say what he intends to do in the several cases in which this promise has not been kept?

These men have been temporarily attached to battalions in certain Territorial divisions. They will be transferred to such Infantry battalions as they may express a wish to join. But the Army Council reserve the power to attach men to such other units as may be necessary in the interests of the Service and the country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, on the 12th March, 1916, the 3/10th and 4/10th Battalions of the Middlesex Regiment were considerably under strength; why, if that was so, the men of the 63rd Provisional Battalion, Territorial Force, who before the 2nd March had taken the foreign service obligation, and desired transfer to the above-named battalions, were not allowed to make the transfer, seeing that their transfer had been sanctioned, not only by the Record Office, but also by the commanding officers of both the units to which they had been attached and also those to which they desired to be transferred?

The battalions named were on 12th March somewhat below strength. The men of the 63rd Provisional Battalion have been temporarily attached to the 60th (2nd London) Division. They will be transferred to such Infantry units as they may express a desire to join. But the Army Council reserve the power to attach men to such other units as may be necessary in the interests of the Service and the country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a man who joined a Territorial Force unit on 2nd May, 1910, for four years—that is till 2nd May, 1914— and who stayed in the force after that later date but did not sign any re-engagement form, and who, on the outbreak of war, did not sign the Imperial Service form but went voluntarily abroad with his unit to France in September, 1914, and was invalided home in January, 1915, is now entitled to be discharged as from 2nd May, 1915; and, if not, what is the exact position in which he now stands?

The date on which a man of the Territorial Force, who is serving without any record of his having reengaged or re-enlisted with the Territorial Force on or before mobilisation, is deemed to have claimed his discharge must be held to be that day on which he formally notified to his commanding officer or his company commander his desire to be discharged. If no record in writing of this claim was taken at the time, the commanding officer or company commander to whom the claim was made should draw up a written statement recording the date and the circumstances under which the claim was made. The formal claim and statement will be filed with the soldier's attestation papers and will determine the date on which the extra year required by the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act expires.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to statements in which the words "degrading initials" are applied to the badges of the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Army Service Corps; and, seeing that epithets of this sort will bring His Majesty's uniform into disrepute, discourage recruiting, and interfere with discipline, whether he will take steps to deal with offences of this kind?

Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to a newspaper article in which the words "degrading initials" appear. Without wishing to pose as having greater skill in interpretation than the hon. Member, suggest that the words are written in a sarcastic spirit, and that the article, rightly interpreted, is not intended to, and does not, cast ridicule on any branch of the Regular Forces. I do not think that this article, which seems to me comparatively unimportant, would have the effects mentioned in the second part of the question. The Royal Army Medical Corps and the Army Service Corps are, of course, distinguished branches of His Majesty's Army.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has seen an advertisement in the "Irish Times" of Wednesday, 22nd March, under the heading "Miscellaneous," on the first page of the issue, as follows: "Lonely officer on Egyptian desert wishes to thank the 193 girls for their kind letters, he cannot answer them all"; will he say what is the correct translation of this message; and whether he will consider the desirability of such messages being submitted to the Censor before publication?

I have not seen the advertisement referred to, nor do I understand what the hon. Member means by the "correct translation." The advertisement in question is of a type frequently used by persons who receive more correspondence than they can answer in the time at their disposal, and it does not, I think, deserve any particular notice.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether soldiers who have served thirteen years in the Army and re-engage for the duration of the War are entitled to a bonus; if so, will he state the amount; whether any discrimination is made; and whether a man whose thirteen years' service expired on the 2nd of October last is entitled to the bonus?

A bounty of £15 is given to those so re-engaging on or after 20th February, 1916, but not to those who were then already re-engaged.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the firm of Madame Val-Smith. Limited, retail milliners, have recently been given a contract for Army clothing; whether this is due to the inability of the clothing manufacturers and contractors to meet the requirements of the War Office; whether he is aware that complaints have been made that wages have been reduced in consequence of contracts having been given to firms who, prior to the war, were not engaged in manufacturing clothing; and whether he has been informed of a resolution passed by the Garment Workers' Union protesting against the Government letting contracts out to the lowest tenderers, thereby causing the workers to be sweated?

The firm in question were noted on the list of firms invited to tender for Army clothing, after it had been ascertained by inspection that they were capable of undertaking such contracts, and they at present hold orders from the Department. I have no information that they carry on the business of retail milliners. I am aware that complaints have been made as to the wages paid in connection with clothing contracts, but I have not been informed of the resolution stated to have been passed by the Garment Workers' Union. As I stated, in reply to the hon. Member for the Gorton Division on the 23rd February, all contracts placed contain the Fair-Wages Clause, and if particulars can be furnished of any instances in which that Clause is not being observed, I shall be glad to have them investigated. There is no difficulty whatever in obtaining ade- quate supplies of Army clothing, but this fact would not justify a refusal to allow competent firms an opportunity to quote for the requirements of the Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that at the accountants' office, National Health Insurance Commission, Maida Vale, there are 160 clerks, of whom thirty are accountants and heads of departments and fifty are temporary, leaving clerks to the number of eighty, of whom fifty are between the ages of twenty and thirty, and earning from £1 to £3 weekly, and that these fifty are to be drafted early in April to the Surveyor of Taxes Department to do work which is new to them and which could be done by ineligibles; and if he will interfere to prevent this waste of good material?

The figures mentioned by the hon. Member are, I am informed, substantially correct. The War has thrown upon the Inland Revenue very heavy and responsible work, for which increases of competent staff are essential. I do not, therefore, regard the use made of these trained clerks with official experience as by any means a waste of material.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if preference will be given the attested married men who are skilled mechanics to go to munition works, so as to relieve single men now employed at munition works?

This question is not one which can be decided by the War Office. It is rather for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Munitions.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he is in a position to give the Central Control Board's (Liquor Traffic) decision in regard to varying Orders now in force so as to permit the sale of small quantities of spirits, instead of compelling the purchase of a reputed quart of spirits, as now rendered necessary by the provisions of the Board's Orders?

There is at present little definite evidence in support of the allegations and suggestions that the Regulation in question is attended by undesirable results, whilst there is much evidence to show that it has been very effective in certain directions in reducing the evils at which it is aimed. The question is, however, one of a balance of advantages, and, as I have previously more than once stated, the operation of the Regulation is being carefully watched.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) have erected a canteen close to the dock gates at Avonmouth; whether beer is sold at this canteen at hours when the holders of licences in the neighbourhood are prohibited from selling, and at a price 25 per cent. below that of beer ruling in the locality; and whether treating in the canteen erected by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) is permitted?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. In answer to the second and third parts, authority has been given for the sale at this canteen of light beer— i.e ., beer containing not more than 2 per cent. proof spirit—and it has not been thought necessary to impose any restrictions upon the sale of this beer, which is considered to be non-intoxicating. No other beer is sold in the canteen.

asked the Minister of Munitions how many Civil servants employed in his Department on 1st February, 1916, were paid out of the Votes of other Departments; how many of these had received increases of salary since their employment in his Department, and what was the extra cost involved in those increases; how many other officers were serving in his Department at that date; how many of these latter had received increases of salary since entering his Department; and what was the extra cost involved in those increases?

The Civil servants employed on the 1st February by the Ministry of Munitions, but paid by the Votes of other Departments, numbering 355. Of these twelve had received temporary in- creases of salary, as distinct from ordinary increments, since their employment in the Ministry. The gross value of these increases, calculated in terms of annual salary, is £1,023, but in some cases these increases have involved cessation of overtime pay. The remainder of the civilian staff employed at the headquarters of the Ministry on administrative, technical, and clerical duties at that date numbered 2,796. Three hundred and ninety of these have received increases of salary since their employment. The gross value of these increases, calculated in terms of annual salary, is £15,093, but in many cases these increases involve or represent commutation of overtime pay.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will state to what extent Sir William Meyer was responsible for the transport of hospital equipment for the forces in Mesopotamia?

Sir W. Meyer is the Finance Member of the Government of India. He has no responsibility for the transport of hospital equipment for Mesopotamia except such as may be held to attach to every member of the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will say who was responsible for the equipment and supply of the Forces of the Crown in Mesopotamia, respectively; and if those who had charge of these arrangements still occupy responsible positions?

The Government of India are responsible for the equipment of all Forces coming from India, the War Office for those coming from Europe. Supply is arranged for by the Government of India in communication with the India Office or the War Office, according to the nature of the supply. The answer to the second question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether offers of hospital supplies for Mesopotamia were made by hospital supply depots three months ago to the proper authorities, which offers were renewed from time to time, but were refused on the plea of sufficiency and that India had more than enough for all eventualities; and, if so, will he say who is responsible for refusing these offers and for the statements as to sufficiency

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on the 23rd March to the question of the Noble Lord the Member for South Nottingham. I have no further information on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State fr India if he can say who is responsible for the medical arrangements in connection with the Expeditionary Force in Mesopotamia?

I would beg to refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the Under-Secretary of State for War on 23rd March to the questions on the subject of medical arrangements in Mesopotamia asked by the hon. Members for Great Yarmouth and Croydon. The arrangements are primarily under the control of the military authorities in India, but if they are in want of medical personnel and equipment they apply for assistance to the War Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the proper way of addressing letters to officers and men who are in General Aylmer's force in Mesopotamia?

Correspondence for units with General Aylmer's force in Mesopotamia should for the present be addressed "Expeditionary Forces," the usual details as to rank and unit being included. The question of giving a distinctive address to this force is under consideration. The rates of postage for letters and parcels are the same as for India.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether goods of German origin are admitted into India provided the proportion of enemy origin is not above 25 per cent. of the value of the finished article; whether the Government of Madras has made a representation to the Government of India on the subject; and, if so, with what result?

The Government of India have adopted the procedure generally followed in other parts of the Empire under which goods coming from neutral countries bordering on Germany or Austria may be admitted if they are covered by British Consular certificates of origin. Consular officers may grant such certificates if the proportion of the value of the finished goods due to enemy labour or material does not exceed 25 per cent. As regards the second question, I am not aware that any such representation has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, when a landowner sells timber to the Government and also undertakes to cut it up in the estate sawmill, the mill is held by the Home Office to come under the Regulations of the Factory Acts; and, if so, whether in such cases the Regulations of the Factory Acts could be relaxed for the period of the War?

The Secretary of State is in communication with the Board of Agriculture on the subject, and will inform the hon. and Gallant Member of the result in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many workers are affected by the General Orders and the Special Orders made under Section 150 of the Factory and Workshops Act, 1901, respectively; (2) if he will publish in the "Board of Trade and Labour Gazette" the General Orders and the Special Orders made under the Factory and Workshops Act, 1901, showing the periods for which such Ooders are in force, the industries to which they apply, and the number of workers affected in each case; and (3) what steps are taken by his Department to inform employers of labour, workers, and the general public of the exact nature of all alterations made in the provisions of the Factory Acts since the beginning of the War; and whether he will publish a summary of such alterations in the "Board of Trade and Labour Gazette"?

My hon. Friend refers, I presume, to the Emergency Orders which have been made under Section 150 of the Factory and Workshops Act, 1901, as extended by the Defence of the Realm Regulations, authorising special schemes of employment or otherwise modifying the provisions of the Act in respect of women and young persons employed on Government contracts or other work required in the national interest. These Orders are far too numerous to be published separately, and seeing that the relaxations granted are of a purely temporary character and are subject to constant revision and modification as circumstances require, publication would not, in my opinion, serve any useful purpose. A general account of the Orders made during the early part of the War was published in the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for the year 1914, and a similar account of subsequent Orders will appear in the next Annual Report, which will, I hope, be ready shortly for publication. The employers affected by any particular Order are furnished with a copy of the Order, or with full details of its provisions, and are required to put up notices giving particulars of the Orders at places in the works where they can be easily read by the workpeople. I regret I have no information as to the numbers of workers at present affected by the various Orders, nor would it be possible to obtain any reliable figures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that bread which is being delivered at consumers' houses in London is often short of the standard weight; and, if so, will he take steps to enforce the weighing of loaves, if required, when delivered to customers' houses?

There is no standard weight of the loaf in London, but the purchaser to whose house bread is delivered has the right, under certain conditions, to require that it shall be reweighed. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of cases in which the law is being disregarded, I will call the attention of the London County Council to the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any applications have been made to the Licensing Committee for licences to import tobacco; whether any have been granted; if it has been strongly represented to the Committee that inconvenience would be caused to the trade by unnecessary delays in granting applications; and what is the average delay between the application and the granting of a licenced

A large number of applications to import tobacco have been received, both by the Licensing Committee and by the new Department of Import Restrictions, which has just been set up to deal with this and other prohibitions. The Department is proceeding with all possible speed to deal with the applications so far received, and it is hoped that they will all have been dealt with in the course of a few days. In the meantime a general licence has been issued authorising the Customs to admit all goods which were consigned to the importers on or before the 15th February (the date of the Proclamation).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state how many merchant steamers are being built in this country, and how many orders have been booked for such steamers to be built for subjects of any allied or neutral Power?

The returns published by Lloyd's Register of Shipping show that there were 415 steamers of 100 tons gross and upwards, with an aggregate gross tonnage of 1,362,360 tons, under construction in the United Kingdom on 31st December last. I regret that I am unable to furnish information as to the number of orders which have been booked for steamers to be built for subjects of allied or neutral countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the committee to be appointed to consider the position of the textile industries in relation to international competition will include the dye industry; and whether it is intended to appoint committees to consider the position of other trades?

It will be for the Committee itself to determine within the limits of its terms of reference the precise matter to be included within its survey. As regards the second part of the question, I am not at present in a position to say what other committees it may be necessary to establish for similar inquiries in respect of other branches of industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the position of the Committees appointed to consider the position of certain important British industries after the War; whether they are Sub-committees of the Commercial Intelligence Committee, by whom they are appointed; and whether he can state the terms of reference?

A Sub-Committee of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence reported some time ago on the position of certain trades after the War, and the Report, with the terms of reference, has been published. The further Committees to which the hon. Gentleman refers were appointed by the Board of Trade. Their reference is to consider the position of the particular group of trades "after the War, especially in relation to international competition, and to report what measures, if any, are necessary or desirable in order to safeguard that position."

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has seen the statement made by the Grays Tribunal on Wednesday, 22nd March, that the military representative declared that some days ago 900 men were turned away from the Tilbury Docks owing to young men squeezing out older men; and if he can say what efforts are being made to find employment for these unemployed men?

I am informed that on the 16th March—presumably the date referred to—960 men seeking employment at Tilbury Docks were turned away, owing to the non-arrival of certain boats. There is, however, a shortage of dockers more or less pronounced at all the great ports, and the general question is a cause for anxiety in that delays in loading and discharging seriously diminish the effectiveness of our available tonnage.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agri- culture whether he has any intention of presently removing the embargo on the export of sulphate of ammonia?

The general prohibition of the issue of licences for export has now been in operation for two-and-a-half months, and farmers have had ample opportunity for purchasing their supplies. Considerable supplies have been secured for agricultural purposes, but as there is not sufficient agricultural demand to prevent congestion of supplies and the risk of closing down works in some of the chief producing centres, it has been decided to resume the issue of licences after the end of this month. Care will, however, be taken to see that sufficient supplies are retained in this country to meet all home needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that on 20th January last Senator Hitchcock stated in the United States Senate that he had come into possession of the confidential instructions issued to the British censors at Liverpool who examine the American mail, and that the instructions in question directed that business letters be taken to a central office and copied and distributed to British business men, so that they could steal American trade; and whether he can see his way to make a statement himself on the subject, with the object of removing the impression caused by the speech referred to?

My attention has been drawn to statements of the nature referred to in the first part of the question. I am glad to take this opportunity of denying emphatically that any instructions which have been issued to the British censors contain any directions in the sense alleged, nor is any such use made or intended to be made of the censorship as is indicated in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what effect, if any, the abrogation by the French Government of the Sherifian Dahir, dated 28th April, 1840, which constituted a Sanitary Council composed of the foreign representatives for the French zone in Morocco, is likely to have on British interests in Morocco; and whether the new regulations issued by the French Government for that zone, which came into force on 15th March, 1916, secure due protection to British interests?

The question is under consideration. His Majesty's Government are at present awaiting the views of the British interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can ascertain particulars showing the amount realised in the three years before the War throughout France by the tax on betting and racecources called the Pari-Mutuel?

I will endeavour to obtain the particulars desired.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state how many prisoners of war, either miltary or civil, have returned from Germany during the months of January and February; and whether any steps can be taken to expedite and extend the exchange of prisoners with Germany?

Sixty-one combatant prisoners and eighty-eight civilians were repatriated from Germany in January and February; steps are being taken to expedite and extend the exchange of prisoners with Germany.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the duty of collectors of Land Tax to complete the prescribed form of application for payment of Income Tax, House Duty, and Land Tax by stating the amount of the assessment of the lands in charge; and whether he is aware that, owing to the non-completion of the form in this respect, the taxpayer has no means of checking the correctness of the assessment and that in consequence errors in collection have remained unadjusted over long periods?

There is no statutory provision, as in the case of Property Tax and Inhabited House Duty, for the inser- tion in the application or receipt for Land Tax of the particulars suggested. Both the form of application and of receipt, however, provide for the insertion of these particulars, and there is no reason to believe that in the majority of cases such particulars are not inserted. As regards the second part of the question, I shall be happy to inquire into any case if my hon. Friend will be so good as to let me have the necessary details.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will request the Local Government Board to ascertain how many county councils and other local government bodies in Ireland have adopted a resolution forwarded to them by the Roscommon County Council in reference to the Insurance Act?

The Local Government Board have not got this information, but they observe from an entry in the Roscommon County Council minutes of last month that the County Council have received replies from the different local authorities in Ireland relative to the repeal of the National Insurance Act, and perhaps the hon. Member would apply to the Roscommon County Council for the information he asks for.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to the financial position of the Conservators of Fisheries for the Letterkenny district consequent, among other things, upon the reduction of net licences; and whether, in view of the difficulties they are experiencing in preserving a national industry, he will reconsider the withdrawal of the Grant previously made to them?

The Department are aware that the Letterkenny Board of Conservators has, in common with other boards of conservators, suffered in income by the reduction of the number of licences taken out for salmon fishing. The Department have never made any Grant for the general purposes of the Letterkenny Board, so that the question of reconsideration of withdrawal of such Grant does not arise. The Department have, however, from Development Commission Funds contributed to the cost of improving fish passes in the Letterkenny district, but further work in this direction has been for the present suspended by desire of the Development Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the decision of the Government of India to appoint Excise advisory committees in all municipal areas, he will explain why no committee has been established at Simla and why such committees have only been established in six municipal areas in the Punjab?

I gather from the latest Excise Report of the Punjab that advisory committees have not been very successful in that province and that the Local Government is of opinion that a better way of ascertaining public opinion would be through district and municipal bodies. Action is being taken in this direction. This is doubtless the reason that the number of ad hoc advisory committees has not been increased.