asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that two brothers named Moore, of Dorking, were fined on 12th April at Oxted as conscientious objectors; whether these men are now in the Army; if so, where and in what unit; whether they have been militarily punished; if so, with what punishment; (2) whether he has inquired into the case of two brothers, R. T. C. Gilchrist and A. G. D. Gilchrist, of Hackney, who were arrested on 13th April and tried at the North London Police Court; whether these men are now in the Army; if so, in what unit and where, located; whether he is aware that these men never received any official notice to join up; whether the instructions have been given to arrest before calling to the Colours any men suspected of being conscientious objectors; and (3) whether he has inquired into the case of J. Selwyn Dunn, of Haslemere, who was arrested on. 15th April at Haslemere, kept in custody for over forty-eight hours before trial, was on 17th April handed over to the military after being fined by the Guilford County Bench, and taken to Dover or Sitting-bourne; where this soldier now is; whether he has been punished by the military authorities; if so, for what offence and with what punishment; whether he has been placed in a combatant unit; if so, in what unit; and whether, in view of Dunn's repeated offer made before two tribunals to undertake non-combatant service, he will secure the drafting of this willing man into some non-combatant arm of the Army?

Reports on these cases are being obtained.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the official statement that Russian subjects residing abroad had been given by the Russian Government the option of serving either in the Forces of the Allies, or in the Russian Army, and in default of either of such enlistments would be considered deserters, he will explain why a young man who, though of Russian parentage on the paternal side, born abroad, but who has continuously resided in this country since childhood, and possessing technical and skilled knowledge of engineering, should have been refused enlistment in every branch of the Army, including the Royal Flying Corps, because of his Russian nationality?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will furnish me with the name and other particulars of the two brothers to whom he alludes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has been able to assure the Lord Mayor and citizens of Manchester, in response to their representations, that adequate arrangements are being made for the defence of that city against hostile aircraft?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he will state the amount of money spent in Ireland for munitions up to 1st April, 1916, or the latest date available; and if he will state the amount spent in England, Scotland, and Wales?

It would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for in the question.

asked the Minister of Munitions if persons who are deprived of their means of living as a result of regulations issued by the Central Control Board can claim compensation or pension, and, if so, from whom?

I would refer the Noble Lord to the terms of reference to the Royal Commission appointed on the 2nd August, 1915.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if instructions have been issued by the Government to the railway companies to withdraw all agencies for the sale of tickets; if so, for what reason; does the withdrawal of the agencies refer equally to the larger agents, such as Messrs. Thomas Cook and Son, Messrs. Dean and Dawson, etc., or only to smaller agencies; and if the Government propose to grant compensation to the agents for the complete cessation of their business?

The Railway Executive Committee decided some little time ago to dispense with a number of ticket agencies during the period of the War. These agencies were originally instituted for the sale of excursion tickets, the issue of which has now ceased, and notice of determination was given in accordance with the terms of the various agreements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a statement showing the value in pounds sterling of German exports (home produce and manufactures) for the year 1913, respectively, to each of the nations with which Germany is at war (in the case of the British Empire giving details for the United Kingdom and for each of the main divisions of the Empire), each of the nations with which Germany is allied, and each neutral country, respectively; also a similar statement relating to German imports from these countries for home consumption?

The following statement gives the particulars desired by my hon. Friend:—

In order to complete this Statement of the Trade of Germany the following particulars have been added—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that his Department has published statistics showing that only about 10 per cent. of the petrol sold in garages in Ireland is used for pleasure purposes owing to the want of railway facilities and the shortness of horses; whether the absence of adequate supplies is hampering the carrying trade and business of the country; and whether he will consider the advisability of releasing some of the tank steamers at present being used for carrying merchandise

I have no knowledge of any official statistics such as those referred to in the first part of the question, but I quite appreciate the difficulties which arise from the existing shortage of petrol. I am not aware that any tank steamers are at present being used for carrying merchandise.