asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, with regard to the recent seizure of arms and arrest of leaders of the Irish Volunteers, he has evidence to show that, before receiving arms, members of the force are compelled to sign a sworn declaration not to surrender their arms to any authority in Ireland; and whether the Irish Government intends to proceed with the disarmament of the force?

It would be contrary to the public interest to disclose the information in the possession of the Irish Government concerning the Irish Volunteers or the course of action proposed to be followed in dealing with them. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that the activities of this organisation are receiving the closest attention.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Harry Johnson, of No. 9, Hunter House Road, Sheffield, forty-one years and five months old, married, who presented himself for attestation on 10th October, 1915, at the Jungle, Sheffield, going before the doctor for examination later in the day, when he was informed he was not accepted, and subsequently received Army Form B 2,512, bearing endorsement "Not accepted; below standard," and signed by A. Taylor, Second-Lieutenant, recruiting officer; whether he is aware that in January he received from the recruiting authorities attestation card Army Form W 3,194, numbered 1,517, and on inquiry at the Corn Exchange depot, Sheffield, he was told that the rejection certificate was no good, and Sergeant Greenwood thereupon destroyed it and conducted Johnson to the officials for an armlet; and what he proposes to do in this case?

I am obtaining a report about this case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Henry Sara was sentenced on the 5th April to one month's imprisonment as a conscientious objector against the Military Service Act, 1916, and that at the West London Police Court, which sentenced him, he was not allowed to see his friends nor to state his case, but was told by the magistrate that the sooner his mouth was closed the better; whether he is aware that previously the Hammersmih Tribunal had held in Sara's case that it had no power to give exemption for conscientious objection; whether Sara is still undergoing his sentence; and whether, on the completion of his sentence, he will be again tried with a view to a recurrent imprisonment?

I am obtaining a report about this case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether steps are being taken under the Military Service Act, 1916, to secure the combatant services of single men of military age now employed with the Armies at home and abroad in the Young Men's Christian. Association, the Church Army, and other non-military occupations?

At the end of last month the Young Men's Christian Association, Church Army, and similar bodies, provided a return to the War Office of all single men of military age in their employ with a view to their release from canteen duties and the substitution of men of non-military age.

asked the President of the Local Government Board when he proposes to introduce the legislation necessary in regard to the obligations of married men in the forces?

Legislation, as far as it is necessary, will be introduced shortly.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he will order a discharge certificate to be issued to John McEwan, who was discharged from the Argyll and Sutherland Regiment after examination by a medical board at Alder-shot, Talavera Barracks, on 2nd October, 1914; and will he explain why there has been such delay in supplying this certificate?

This is being investigated.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether there is an early prospect of the men not yet time expired of the l/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Territorial Force) being granted a period of leave and rest at home after their recent services in Gallipoli?

I fear it is not possible to give effect to this suggestion.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he has heard of any discontent amongst Territorial medical officers, especially those attached to regiments; and whether he will consider the appointment of a Territorial medical officer of position and long service as such on the staff of the Director-General at the War Office and the insertion in the Army List of a seniority list of the officers of the Territorial medical service?

The Territorial regimental medical officers joined the Service for the specific purpose of doing the duties in which they are now engaged, and it is unlikely that they would be discontented if called upon in time of war to assume responsibilities for which they engaged in time of peace. Promotion of regimental medical officers is regulated by time service. Other Territorial Force medical officers are promoted by selection and seniority in their units. In these circumstances there is no need for a seniority list. The Director-General has an officer on his staff who has considerable experience of the Territorial Force.

asked whether a lieutenant-colonel of the Territorial medical service of many years' service receives the same remuneration as a temporary lieutenant-colonel appointed since the commencement of the War; if so, whether this is in. accordance with the spirit of the War Office undertaking that such officers should receive the pay of the corresponding rank as laid down by the Pay Warrant, 1914, for officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps; whether in the case of such officers their experience and their services are held to make them more valuable; and whether the higher rate of pay of 35s. laid down in the warrant for lieutenant-colonels of the Royal Army Medical Corps will be given them after five years' service in the ranks?

Yes, Sir; these officers are treated in accordance with the undertaking referred to. Unmobilised service in the Territorial Force cannot be held to count towards the higher rate of pay as if it were full-pay service in the Regular Army. If any Territorial Force lieutenant-colonels give the necessary amount of embodied service they will be entitled to the higher rate of pay.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many qualified medical men are now employed in connection with the Army?

There are 10,659 medical men holding commissions in the Army at the present time. A certain and varying number of civilian medical men are also employed according to local requirements.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the grounds upon which a separation allowance has been refused to the father of No. 27,451, Private M. Johnston, 3rd Inniskilling Fusiliers; if he is aware that the claimant, who is paralysed and unable to follow any occupation, is an ex-soldier and non-commissioned officer in the Royal Horse Artillery and has given two sons to the Army, one of whom has been killed in the War; and if he will give further consideration to this case?

I will inquire and inform my hon. Friend of the result in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will have inquiries made into the case of Daniel Bradley, formerly a private in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and now residing at 113, Sandygate, Burnley, who, after serving through the War, is now discharged as a cripple in consequence of the wounds he has received, and has an orphan sister to keep; and in particular if he will ascertain what is the amount of grant or pension to which this man is entitled; whether any arrears of pay are due to him; whether these have been made good; and whether, in consequence of the hardship of his position as testified by those who have inquired into his case, any appeal for a higher grant or pension is open to him?

Bradley was awarded, on the 17th February last, a pension of 25s. a week for six months conditional, the maximum rate for a private soldier. It has been ascertained that a sum of £2 was due to him, and the paymaster has been instructed to pay this amount forthwith.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War why separation allowance has been refused to the mother of Private Patrick Forker, No. 2,571, 4th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, having regard to the fact that this man made an allotment of pay of 3s. 6d. per week in her favour within a month of his enlistment in November, 1915, and that she had been previously dependent upon his earnings?

Inquiries will be made and the hon. Member informed of the result.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that a considerable number of Germans have lately been changing their names to British names; and whether he will consider the advisability of organising some system, either by a conseil de famille or otherwise, whereby British families can exercise some means of selection towards, alien-born individuals who may wish to join their ranks and assume their family name?

As regards the first part of the question, my hon. Friend is no doubt aware that alien enemies are prohibited during the War from changing their names, and I have no knowledge that any Germans have attempted lately to adopt British names. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to a question by the hon. Member for Devizes on the 8th December last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received complaints that during the months of December, 1915, and January and February, 1916, parcels despatched from this country to British prisoners of war at Ruhleben have not been delivered, although parcels of the same description packed and despatched in the same way by the same firms were regularly and safely delivered during the preceding twelve months; and if he will cause inquiry to be made into the matter?

Only isolated complaints have been received as to the non-receipt of parcels by British prisoners of war al Ruhleben during recent months. The United States Ambassador at Berlin has been requested to make inquiries in regard to this matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state what the expenses were of the Royal Commission on Venereal Diseases, which was presided over by Lord Sydenham?

The expenses of this Commission, including £980 for reports, appendices, and index, amounted to £3,585.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is a German employed in the Customs House in Room No. 17, or elsewhere; and, if so, what is the reason?

The Board of Customs and Excise find on inquiry that one of the charwomen employed on weekly wages, who cleans the particular room referred to (which is in the Statistical Office) is a registered alien widow of German nationality. She has long resided in this country, and has a son in the British Army at the front.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the position of a free buyer of beer under the Restriction of Brewing Bill in the event of the brewer from whom he has been in the habit of purchasing his beer being unable or unwilling to supply him owing to his output being entirely absorbed by the brewers' own tied houses, to which he would naturally give preference of supply; and will he arrange that the certificates entitling the holder to a proportionate supply of beer shall be issued to the dealer or free buyer, so that he can obtain his supplies from another brewer?

In the event of a would be purchaser of beer being unable to obtain a supply from the brewer with whom he ordinarily deals, it will be open to him to purchase from some other brewer. It is not proposed to issue certificates to persons entitling them to a supply of beer.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the disturbances which have recently occurred in the Clonmacate police district, near Portadown; whether he is aware that hundreds of armed men, said to belong to the Ulster Volunteer Force, marched to Tartaraghan, in the Breagh district, and demolished the entire structure of a hall which was in process of building there for the Ancient Order of Hibernians, that shots were fired, the bullets lodging in the walls of an adjacent house; that the small force of police present were helplessly outnumbered and obliged to remain as spectators only; and that having pulled down the building the armed party marched away, rifle firing being heard in the district for hours afterwards; whether he is aware that on Friday morning last the dwelling-house of a Catholic family named Donnelly was attacked by an armed Orange mob num- bering between 150 and 200, that scores of rifle and revolver bullets were rained on the dwelling-house, the inmates, consisting of Mr. John Donnelly, his sister, and a relative, just escaping; and what steps, if any, the authorities propose to take to protect the lives and properties of Catholics and Nationalists in the district?

My attention has been called to the regrettable incident referred to, of which the main facts, though not all the details, appear to be as stated by the hon. Member. The aggressors were disguised, and it has not yet been possible to identify any of them. The police in the neighbourhood have, however, been strengthened, and are continuing their investigations. So far as I have been able to ascertain, no persons of responsibility had previous cognisance of the attack, nor of the circumstances that led up to it, and I have hopes that the prudence of party leaders in the district will prevent further risk to the public peace.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether female prisoners are allowed to choose whether they will accept the ministrations of a male or of a female chaplain?

There are no female chaplains in the Prison Service. In one recent case a woman prisoner has been allowed a special visit from a lady who was described by the prisoner's solicitor as a "Quaker chaplain," and in another case, some years ago, a visit was allowed from a woman minister of a Unitarian Church.

asked whether there are any female doctors on the staff of any prisons under the Home Office, or any female doctors attached to or available for prisons to give medical attendance to female prisoners, whose special cases render female attendance preferable to attendance by male doctors?

There are no female doctors on the staff of prisons, except at Aylesbury, where the deputy-governor of the female prison is a qualified doctor, and acts as the medical officer of the establishment, and her advice would always be available. Moreover, in very special cases, it is open to the Commissioners at any time, if they think it desirable, to invite the opinion or assistance of a female doctor.