asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that information from various private sources has reached this country concerning the bad treatment to which British prisoners of war are subjected in Bulgaria; and whether he will persuade the American Government to consent to the immediate publication of the Report on this subject recently received from the United States Minister at Sofia to reassure and inform the British public?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part of the question, the suggestion of my hon. Friend will not be overlooked; but as an old diplomatist he will recognise that a more definite reply cannot be given to him at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the passes of Chimarra have been occupied by the forces of our Italian Allies; and if he can state whether it is intended that there shall be any foreign occupation of this district or intervention in its affairs?

I regret that in present circumstances I have no information which I can give as to the military measures taken by our Italian Allies in the neighbourhood of Valona.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement on the Dutch securities arrangement, and whether similar arrangements are being or have been made with other neutral European countries?

I regret that I can make no statement at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War under what circumstances Mr. T. Forcer Evans, solicitor, of Holyhead, now a private in the 22nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, has been requested to be sent to Wrexham under an escort; what is the charge against Mr. Evans; and under what circumstances the authorities at Wrexham exercise control over the military at Kinmel Park Camp?

I have asked for a report on this matter, but it has not yet reached me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the refusal of a Perthshire local tribunal to grant exemption from military service to the working manager of a fruit farm; and, in view of the fact that if he is taken from the farm it will be impossible to carry on the farm, he will give his earnest attention to the matter?

I have called for a report about this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what can be done for a minister who has attested under the Derby scheme and who has applied for and been refused leave of absence from his parish; whether, in view of the fact that under the Military Service Act, 1916, ministers are specially exempted from military service, he will make it quite clear that a minister will not be brought face to face with the loss of his livelihood on account of his patriotism; and if he will insist that a minister who can neither get leave of absence from his parish nor exemption from the tribunal will not be placed in the serious position indicated while his colleagues, who have not displayed the same enthusiasm for their country, will reap all the advantages?

I think the point my hon. Friend raises is one for settlement between the minister and his presbytery, and that it would be difficult for the Army Council to intervene. I associate myself with the view that a minister should not be wrongfully penalised for patriotic action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether poisonous drugs are supplied to transports by unqualified chemists; if so, in view of the dangers involved owing to this practice, will he cause its discontinuance; and will he say whether the practice indicated is permitted in any other European country?

I am making inquiries with regard to the points raised in this question, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend in due course. In the meantime, I should be glad if he would give me any definite information he has with regard to the supply of drugs in the manner indicated.

asked the Prime Minister whether steps are to be taken to disfranchise men who refuse to do any military duties in aid of their country during war time on the ground that they are conscientious objectors?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the question of submitting to a Referendum of the Parliamentary voters of the Kingdom, both in this country and at the front, the amendment of the Military Service Act, 1916, so as to require equal sacrifice from all men of military age by rendering all alike liable for national service during the present War?

I see no reason to adopt this suggestion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Daniel Huxstep was arrested at Bleadon on 12th April as an absentee; whether he was handed over by the magistrates to the military and taken to Horfield barracks; whether he was subsequently taken to Reading; where he is at present; on what work is he engaged; and if his conduct is satisfactory?

I have called for a report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, without undue departmental labour, he can state the number of deserters or absentees in the Army at Home who have been reported in the first four months of the present year, giving the numbers for each month separately; and how many in each case were cases of conscientious objectors to service under the Military Service Act, 1916?

I fear I cannot undertake to make public statistics of desertions. There is no information as to the number of conscientious objectors who may have deserted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, without disclosing military information capable of hostile advantage, he can state how many battalions, companies, officers, and men have been graded in the Non-Combatant Corps?

About 400 men have been appointed to the Non-Combatant Corps, and six companies are being formed of which one company is now complete. There are no officers or non-commissioned officers in the Non-Combatant Corps, these ranks being formed by attachment of personnel from Infantry regiments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the men who enlisted under the Derby scheme were transferred to the Army Reserve at their own request, were called up with their group, and were again placed in reserve by his Department, are entitled to Army pay and allowances from the day that they were returned to the Army Reserve; and, if so, will he say when this pay is to be distributed?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the written answer which I gave on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Aston Manor on the 17th instant.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Lance-Corporal William Lockhart, No. 2115, Lanarkshire Yeomanry, who was entitled to his discharge on 12th March, 1916, he having joined on 12th March, 1910, and signed on for another year, which expired on 12th March, 1916, has not received his discharge but was summoned to report himself at Lanark on 15th April and supplied with a new uniform; whether Lockhart is anxious to be discharged; and whether he will arrange that this shall be done forthwith?

I have had to call for a report about this case. I will send my hon. Friend the information for which he asks when it reaches me.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is yet in a position to make any statement with regard to the hardship involved in depriving soldiers' wives entering an infirmary or sanatorium of their separation allowance; and whether it is proposed to take any action in the matter?

I have carefully considered the matter, and regret that it is not possible to make the change in the present practice which my hon. Friend desires. As he is aware, the object of separation allowance is to maintain the soldier's home during his absence, and there is no guarantee that if issue were made in the circumstances suggested it would continue to be devoted to that object.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the frequent and sometimes unavoidable delays in issuing pension allowances to soldiers who have been discharged as permanently unfit and of the suffering and hardship thereby caused, he will arrange that, immediately upon the discharge of a soldier as permanently unfit, a provisional allowance shall be paid to him until his full pension allowance is ascertained and issued?

Arrangements have been made whereby some payment on account of pension will be made in cases where it is not possible to fix the full pension without further delay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the new tax will be charged upon admission to Shakespeare's Birthplace, at Stratford-on-Avon; and whether, in view of the tercentenary celebrations now in progress, he will, if necessary, obtain or secure the publication of the Commissioners' decision upon the matter without delay?

If the persons responsible for the exhibition and the tercentenary celebrations can satisfy the Commissioners of Customs and Excise that they come within any of the exemptions contained in Sub-section 1 (5) of the Finance (New Duties) Act, no duty will be chargeable. If application is made to the Commissioners, giving the necessary particulars, their decision will be given as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has consulted with the Minister of Munitions in regard to the growing shortage of petrol and the proposal to establish plant at the pit-mouth of each colliery to distil benzol from coal and obtain the important by products; and whether he is aware that this is done in Germany in the majority of collieries?

I am glad to be able to assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that considerable attention has been given, especially during the past year, to the extension of by-product coking plant in this country, both in connection with gas works and in coke works at collieries.

asked the Minister of Munitions why, having regard to the Regulations under which Advisory Committees were appointed, a circular signed by H. Llewellyn Smith has been sent from 6, Whitehall Gardens, to employers, informing them that they are under no obligation to supply lists of men in their employ holding war service badges to recruiting officers or Advisory Committees?

The letter to which the hon. Member refers instructed employers holding war service badges to keep a register in a specified form of all their male employés over sixteen. The register is to be open to the inspection of any duly authorised official, including, of course, authorised representatives of the military authorities. The letter was issued because it was found that employers were being put to considerable trouble in preparing a variety of lists of their employés for the different authorities concerned with exemption and recruiting.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the Swedish prohibition of exports on which our national industry largely depends, he can make a statement as to the satisfactory progress which has been made in substituting Imperial and Norwegian products to supply our reduced requirements?

I assume that the question refers to the prohibition of export from Sweden of chemical wood pulp. The question of obtaining sufficient supplies of this article from other sources is receiving urgent attention.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give the number of elementary and secondary schools, respectively, which were, at the end of March, in the occupation of the military authorities; how many scholars were thus displaced; and whether adequate provision, approved by the Board of Education, has been made for the education of all such dispossessed scholars?

The number of elementary schools or departments in England and Wales occupied for military purposes on 31st March, 1916, was 242; the number of children displaced was 155,658; in all cases adequate provision, approved by the Board of Education, has been made for the education of the children displaced except in the case of two departments, one in England and one in Wales. The number of secondary schools recognised by the Board which were in military occupation on 31st March, 1916, was twenty-nine; the number of pupils displaced was, according to the latest figures available, 8,295. Provision has been made, and approved by the Board as adequate, for all the dispossessed pupils.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give any information about the proposed new issue of £1 and 10s. Treasury notes?

The question of a new design is under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any further statement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking artistic advice upon this subject?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the pay of the women war workers in the Accountant's Department of the General Post Office at Edinburgh; what is the pay of the permanent women clerks in the same Department; what is the overtime pay for the women war workers; what is the overtime pay for the permanent women clerks in the same Department; whether the temporary workers get no holiday until they have served a year, while the permanent clerks get regular holidays; and whether he can see his way to alter these anomalies?

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

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, if he can say how many men have been discharged from the Army and Navy during the past year because they were suffering from tuberculosis; and in what proportion of such cases have the Insurance Commission been able to provide immediate accommodation in sanatoria?

The first part of this question should be addressed to the War Office and the Admiralty. As regards the second part, since the special arrangements for the provision of immediate residential treatment for discharged tuberculous soldiers and sailors came into force, in April and August, 1915, respectively, the several Commissions have had approximately 2,450 cases reported to them by the War Office and Admiralty as cases in which residential treatment was essential, and I am not aware of any such case in which accommodation has not immediately been made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that numbers of patriotic citizens have served as special constables continuously since August, 1914, at personal inconvenience and sacrifice; if he will introduce measures to cause all citizens over military age who are on the jury lists to serve as special constables in their turn unless medically unfit or engaged in work of national importance or have other good reasons for exemption; and will he ensure that all special constables are required to attain a certain proficiency in ambulance work, so that in case of air raids or accidents they will be able to render efficient and organised service?

I am well aware of the good public work that has been done by the special constables since the outbreak of war, but I have no reason to think that legislation of the nature suggested by my hon. Friend is either necessary or desirable. It is not possible to require all special constables to attain proficiency in ambulance work, but many men have qualified or are qualifying themselves in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is proposed that European commerce in India shall be represented by one member only on the Imperial Commission on Indian industries?

As far as I am aware, the facts are as stated by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has prohibited women from landing at Aden without permission of the Commander-in-Chief in India; and will he explain the reason for this measure?

The answer is in the affirmative. The prohibition has the concurrence of the Army Council. The reason, briefly, is that Aden is a fortress and that we are at war.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Regulations relative to officers serving in His Majesty's Forces who have been elected Members of this House are based on the constitutional right of a Member to at all times represent his Constituency and that no person has any power to prevent any Member proceeding to this House or to control the duration of the time he remains there; whether he is aware that his own supporters serving at the front received notice to attend at this House to support his Administration; whether this notice was sent out by the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury; and whether he will direct Lord Kitchener to notify the Commander-in-Chief in France that Members of this House are entitled to attend to their Parliamentary duties without the permission of their Commanding Officer?

With regard to the first part of the question, I am unaware that Members of this House who are serving in His Majesty's Forces possess any constitutional right to leave their military duties without the permission of the military authority. In considering any application for leave I do not doubt that the military authority will have regard to all the circumstances, but particularly to the military situation. With regard to the second part of the question, I understand that notice was sent by both the Joint Parliamentary Secretaries to the Treasury to the members of their respective parties. With regard to the last part of the question, I have several times stated in this House that this matter must, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, be left within the discretion of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief. I have every reason to think that there is general satisfaction with the manner in which he has hitherto exercised his discretion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is laid down in the manual of military law, and in Clode's "Military Forces of the Crown," that they have unquestionably the right of attending this House without leave or order?

That must be subject to the performance of their military duties.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the number of officers in His Majesty's Army and Navy considerably exceeds 100,000, will he say whether, in the opinion of his military and naval advisers, the services of the 130 to 140 military and naval officers of this House are indispensable, seeing that their presence, counsel, and advice in this House would at the present time be of benefit to the nation?

I am not prepared to impose upon the naval and military authorities the duty of inquiring into every individual case which would be necessary before I could answer the question.

Does the Prime Minister not think that the presence of 140 of the active and vigorous Members of this House would greatly assist him in driving force in which the Government is sadly lacking?

I have no doubt it would also assist the Army.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has noticed the speech of General Botha in the House of Assembly in Cape Town on recruiting for East Africa, in which he said that every citizen should be left free to decide regarding his duty, and that he hoped recruits would not be obtained otherwise than by an appeal to their patriotism; and whether, in the interests of Imperial unity, a like principle would be maintained by the Prime Minister of the Home Government?

I have not seen any official report of General Botha's speech, but the newspaper summaries of it seem to bear out my hon. Friend's version. With regard to the last part of the question, I must ask my hon. Friend to await the statement which I shall make this afternoon.

( by Private Notice ): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland a question of which I have given private notice to him as well as to the Prime Minister, namely: Whether he is prepared to make a statement regarding the situation in Dublin?

At noon yesterday grave disturbances broke out in Dublin. Possession was forcibly taken of the Post Office, and telegraphic communication was cut off. In the course of the day soldiers arrived from The Curragh, and the situation is now well in hand. Although communication is still exceedingly difficult, and I am not now able to give any further particulars, the House may take it from me that the situation is now well in hand.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether any arrests have been made?

I cannot give the names of any arrests that have been made.

Have any lives been lost?

Yes

How many?

Speaking on the information now within my reach, I should say twelve.

Up to seven o'clock last night was Dublin practically in the hands of the rebels.

That again is a difficult question to answer. They were in possession of four or five different parts of the city; they were not in possession of the whole place.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether telegraphic communication is still interrupted between Ireland and England?

All I can say is that throughout this morning I have endeavoured to get through, and have had very great difficulty, but I have had some communication passed through telephone.

Have any soldiers' lives been lost?

I am afraid that is so—four or five.

( by Private Notice ): I beg to ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the proposed Secret Sitting this day, on what Motion will his statement be made; if possible, will it be made in such a form as to enable the Debate to be adjourned if the House so desires, and also can he inform the House who is the authority to be responsible for the Report of the proceedings which is to be issued to the public?

I think it most convenient that my statement should be made on the Motion, "That the House do now adjourn." The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. Mr. Speaker is the authority responsible for issuing the Report referred to in the last part of the question.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he has had within his consideration that the form of the Motion, "That the House do now adjourn" might conceivably terminate the Debate against the obvious desire of the House if the Debate were continued till eleven o'clock. If that Motion were put and carried it would obviously be impossible for Members who so desired to continue the Debate, and will he, therefore, consider the desirability of moving, "That the Debate be now adjourned."

I will see to that.

Will a full report of the proceedings in Secret Session be kept?

There will be no reporters present, so far as I know.

On what report will Mr. Speaker issue his Official Report to the public?

Mr. Speaker will exercise his discretion as to that.

May I ask whether the proposal that the House should sit in Secret Session will be made in a form which will be debatable?

reply was inaudible to the Official Reporter.

On a point of Order. May I ask will it be in order to discuss, on the Motion for the Adjournment, the recent Orders-in-Council, as well as any subject which may be brought to the notice of this House by the Prime Minister?

On the Motion for Adjournment every topic can be discussed.

( by Private Notice ): I beg to ask the Prime Minister, is it the fact that Sir Roger Casement has been brought to London, and can he give this House and the nation an assurance that this, traitor will be shot forthwith?

I do not think this is a question which ought to be put.

( by Private Notice ): I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the importance and far-reaching character of the new Regulation prohibiting any public reference to the proceedings of the Cabinet, he can see his way to provide an early opportunity for the House to discuss the whole matter?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me notice of that.

I gave notice.

I have not had it.