asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the importance attached in foreign countries, neutral and otherwise, to the articles appearing in the leading newspapers in this country, he will consider the desirability of providing by Regulation under the Defence of the Realm Act that all newspaper articles shall bear the signature of the author, so that the readers of the newspapers may know what value to attach to the opinions expressed therein?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I do not think my hon. Friend's proposal is practicable, even if desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that many householders at the West End of London have failed to provide dark blinds for the top-storey windows of their houses; and will he give such instructions to the police as will ensure the letter of the law being observed in this respect?

The police endeavour to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Lighting Order both in the spirit and the letter. The provision of dark blinds is not compulsory if the lights are adequately screened.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the married men of the groups summoned for the 29th of May will in fact be called up on that date, or whether the younger married men to be brought in under the new Military Service Bill will be called up before them?

asked whether Groups 35 to 41 of attested married men are officially called up for the 29th instant; whether such call was made in the expectation that the Military Service Bill, now withdrawn, which did not include unattested married men would become law; whether, since that Bill has been withdrawn and all married men are, under the Bill now before the House, to become liable, Groups 35 to 41 will come in their order; whether this will be later than the date of calling up very large numbers of the married men; and whether it is proposed nevertheless to call first upon these, who behaved best and came forward before they were under any legal obligation in this behalf, or whether all the married men will now be placed upon the same footing in all respects?

Military requirements necessitate the calling up of these groups?, and it is impossible to defer the calling of them up until the Military Service Bill now before Parliament has received the Royal Assent.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the condition under which special constables are serving preclude them from attesting for military service, and in the case of a special constable who is also a member of the Volunteer Corps have the police the first right to call on such a man; and, if not, under what regulation is a special constable free to break the conditions under which he is serving?

The fact of a man being a special constable does not exempt him from military service, nor does it preclude him from attesting. The answer to the second part of the question is that the question of priority of claim on the services of special constables is now engaging the attention of the various departments concerned.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether Ernest Batten, of Old Sodbury, Gloucestershire, a farmer, was refused exemption, his case being heard before the Pelham Committee was formed; whether at the Bristol Appeal Tribunal on 28th April a market gardener named Hugh Williams was given exemption while he remained at his present employment; and when E. Batten will be allowed to appeal to the Central Tribunal, so that the inequality in these two cases, which has given offence locally, may be rectified?

Mr. Batten appears to have applied for exemption on conscientious grounds. In such a case the tribunal is justified in granting exemption only if satisfied that the grounds have been established; the man's occupation is beside the point, though, if they have decided that exemption should be granted, it may be important in determining the conditions of exemption. The Pelham Committee is simply an advisory body; the decision of cases rests with the tribunals. Appeal to the Central Tribunal can be made only by leave of the Appeal Tribunal. I have no information of the case of Mr. H. Williams.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Pelham Committee for placing in work of national importance certain men attested under the Military Service. Act, 1916, was only inaugurated when the cases of many conscientious objectors had been decided by tribunals; and whether he has arranged, or will arrange, that men who have been compelled to enter the Army because they failed to get work of national importance will now be allowed to make application to the Pelham Committee?

The Committee to which the hon. Member refers is an Advisory Committee. It does not decide cases. It is for the tribunals to decide whether a man shall be exempted and, if so, on what condition.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if a list of men who on conscientious grounds have been granted twenty-one days' exemption to find work of national importance is kept and, if so, whether that list may be made available to employers whose industry is being seriously hampered by recruitment of their employés; and whether, in view of the necessity of the land producing the maximum of food, such men may be in the first instance made available to assist farmers where a case is made good for replacing the labour of men taken for the Army and the channel through which such persons may communicate?

No list of the kind is available. The individual cases are being decided by Local Tribunals, Appeal Tribunals, and the Central Tribunal. It is for the tribunal dealing with the case to determine the work of national importance which will be accepted as a condition of exemption. But I would suggest that agriculturists who are in need of labour might communicate with local tribunals in their neighbourhood with a view to seeing whether there are available any such men as are described.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware of the chaos into which the decisions of the Manchester Appeal Tribunal have been put by the action of the chairman in referring appellants on the ground of conscientious objection to the Pelham Committee; that in some cases he has omitted to make any reference to the Pelham Committee on the form handed to the appellant, although he has marked the forms retained by the tribunal to that effect, and that he has endorsed both forms as though the appellant had been passed for non-combatant service instead of certifying that they were exempted on condition of being employed in some work of national importance; that this practice has naturally led to confusion and injustice, and that a number of men who have been referred to the Pelham Committee by Judge Mellor have been arrested and fined as deserters, though the military representative admitted at the Police Court that the chairman of the Appeal Tribunal had by word of mouth referred the men to the Pelham Committee; that the Pelham Committee refuse to assist men referred to them by the tribunals; and, in view of the serious misunderstanding by the tribunals, appellants, and the military, will he at once issue instructions on the matter pointing out that men given non-combatant service and willing to undertake work of national importance are exempt from military service?

I am in communication with the Appeal Tribunal on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary, having regard to the fact that the law does not allow for any sentence of penal servitude of less than three years, whether he is aware that conscientious objectors under the Military Service Act, 1916, have been sentenced to two years' penal servitude; and whether he will bring these sentences under the notice of the Prison Commissioners or take other steps to prevent illegal sentences being carried out?

No, Sir. I am not aware of any such sentences having been passed.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if there is any exemption given to the persons employed in the circuses and shows travelling about this country; and, seeing that the heavy traction engines they employ and the wagons damage the roadways and obstruct them, and that the drivers and stokers of these engines could be more, usefully employed in war work, will he look into the question?

There is no exemption given to the employés of shows and circuses as such. I think it may be assumed that the demand for capable mechanics will attract most of such men into work of greater importance. The measures which are now being taken will require the names and addresses of employés of military age to be ascertained.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state the position under the new Military Service Bill now before the House of a youth of eighteen (nineteen next birthday) attested under the Derby scheme; and will he be called up at once under the new Bill or will he have to wait until his group is called up under the Derby scheme?

The Bill does not apply to attested men.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that a young man who is the youngest of five brothers, and all whose brothers were enlisted voluntarily at the commencement of the War, attested and applied for exemption on the ground of serious hardship owing to exceptional family position, and was only granted temporary exemption until 17th May; and whether in the view of the Central Tribunal longer or total exemption ought to be granted in such cases?

I am not aware of the case to which reference is made. The Central Tribunal are authorised to give decisions only in cases of appeal from Appeal Tribunals. Each case has to be judged on its merits.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that Joseph Law, Royal Irish Rifles, of Church Street, Downpatrick, county Down, whose case is numbered by the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, 730, Inv. Bd., 13/4/16, enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles 29th February, 1904, served eight years with the Colours, six and a half in India, Reserve two years, was called up on 5th August, 1914, was in the retirement from Mons, wounded crossing the Aisne 13th September and again on 7th November, necessitating the amputation of his right leg, 8th January, 1915, and has been granted a pension of only 10s. 6d. per week; and whether, under all these circumstances and in view of the fact that he is a chauffeur by profession, used to good wages, he will reconsider the case and grant an adequate pension?

This case is under the consideration of the Chelsea Commissioners, and I will inform the hon. and gallant Member of the result in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the French Government have appointed, or are appointing, a number of dental surgeons to look after the teeth of the French soldiers; and, if so, will he state what that number is?

It is known that the French soldiers are provided with dental treatment, but the War Office have no information as to the number of dentists employed.

asked how many qualified dental surgeons have been recruited for combatant service instead of for service as dental surgeons; also if qualified dental surgeons are still being recruited for combatant service; and, if so, whether, having regard to the efficiency of the Army, he will consider the advisability of employing such men as dental surgeons rather than as combatants?

I cannot give the figures asked for in the first part of the question; the answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part I can assure the hon. Member that full provision for dental surgeons for the Army has been made, and that all demands to such service for the troops, both at home and abroad, have been supplied. Further, there is a very large number of applicants for dental commissions, and no difficulty is anticipated in meeting any demands which may remain.

asked what is the proportion of dental surgeons in the British Army as compared to the number of men; and the proportion in the Canadian Forces and in the French Forces?

I cannot, I think, give the proportion asked for in the first part of the question, as it would be easy to deduce from it information available to the enemy regarding the total strength of the Army. The War Office do not possess the information asked for in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the fact that Oxford is becoming increasingly a military centre and that many sick and other soldiers are stationed in the city, the Central Control Board have investigated the local conditions; whether any and, if any, what restrictions on the sale of alcohol have been applied; if not, whether any restrictions are contemplated; and when are they intended to be enforced?

I understand that the Central Control Board have not at present held a local inquiry at Oxford, or taken any steps towards the making of a restrctive Order for that city, because there has been no demand from the authorities.

asked the Minister of Munitions why six months ago he placed abroad, through the Savage Arms Company of Canada, a large order for military weapons to the value, approximately, of £1,400,000; whether a well-known small arms manufacturing company of a Midland town offered to carry out the same order at roughly two-thirds of the price; whether in both cases the order involved laying down new plant and the time for executing the order was the same; and why the need of economy and the claims of British manufacturers and workmen were ignored?

The order for the weapons referred to is not on British account. It was, in fact, placed with the Savage Arms Company subsequently to a contract with the English company. Orders have been given to the British firm for their total output over an extended period, and the Ministry have used and are using every effort to increase that output. I strongly suggest to hon. Members that it is highly undesirable that questions should be put relating to orders for particular munitions.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, in order to save £12,500 per annum, the Retrenchment Committee has reported in favour of the discontinuance of the services of certifying surgeons in connection with factories and workshops; and, if so, in view of the number of inexperienced persons employed at the present time in occupations in which accidents are likely to occur, will he inquire into the question of the desirability or otherwise of the adoption of this recommendation?

The recommendation of the Committee extends only to reports on accidents, and not to the whole of the duties of the surgeons. The question was investigated by the Departmental Committee on Accidents in 1911, and I do not think further inquiry would throw any fresh light on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether miners who were appointed by their fellow employés to represent them at the Recruiting Court and who lost wages and incurred expense in doing so can be recompensed for such loss by the State; and, if so, how and to what extent?

I am afraid it would not be possible for me to ask the Treasury to bear the cost of representation in these cases. In all other cases where a party to an application for exemption appoints someone to represent him before the Courts or local tribunals, the expense, if there be any, falls upon the person making the appointment, and there do not appear to be any grounds on which I could justify an exception being made in regard to these cases.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is his intention to take evidence before introducing legislation to dispense with the reports of certifying surgeons on accidents, based on the recommendation of paragraph 27 of the Retrenchment Committee (Cd. 8200)?

This proposal has been considered by two Committees—the Departmental Committee on Accidents in 1911, and the Retrenchment Committee. I do not think further inquiry is called for, but I have had the advantage of meeting the representatives of the certifying surgeons and hearing a full statement of their views.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to an inquest upon an old man who died recently by drowning at Temple Stairs, on which occasion brandy was unobtainable and was explicitly refused at a neighbouring public-house, though, as the coroner subsequently said, it might have saved the old man's life; and whether this effect of the licensing laws now in operation will be made the subject of remedial legislation?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on behalf of the Minister of Munitions to a similar question last Thursday.

asked the Home Secretary the number of naturalised German and Austrian subjects who have been allowed to change their names under deed poll since 1st August, 1914; is he aware that in some cases the change of name has been used for commercial purposes; and can he suspend permission for naturalised German and Austrian subjects to change their names until after the War or forbid such change being used for commercial or business purposes?

The only power that exists in regard to changes of name is that which prohibits such change by alien enemies. I have no information with regard to changes of name by British subjects, and on this point I can only refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the question by the hon. Member for the Baling Division on the 17th April, and to the answers given by myself and my predecessors to many previous questions on this subject. I would take the opportunity of referring to a report which has appeared in the Press of observations alleged to have been made at the Old Bailey on the 2nd instant by the Recorder of the City of London. He is reported to have said that "the Government allowed persons of German nationality to change their names," and again "that Germans were allowed to change their names under a deed poll, and that that was being done extensively all over the country." The reported statements do not represent the facts. Persons of German nationality have been prohibited under penalty since the 12th October, 1914, from changing their names; and no facts have been brought to my knowledge to suggest that this prohibition is not being strictly enforced throughout the country. Exemption from this prohibition may be granted by the Secretary of State, but it has been granted only in a very few cases where special circumstances existed. The total number is twelve, and almost all of them are cases of British-born women, German by marriage only, and now widows or separated from their husbands.

also asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the present number of single constables in the Metropolitan Police Force and the reason why the Commissioner has refused some of these men permission to join the Army; and can he state the number of police pensioners who have been re-employed in the force and the number of pensioners who have not yet been called up?

The number of single men in the Metropolitan Police Force on the 23rd February last was 4,212, of whom a considerable proportion are engaged on naval and military protection duty. The reasons why more of these men cannot be spared were given at some length by my predecessor, in reply to the hon. Member for Bethnal Green, on the 3rd November last. The total number of ex-members of the force in receipt of pensions is between 9,000 and 9,500. Only a proportion of these are physically fit for active police duty, and there has been some difficulty in maintaining the strength of 1,200 pensioners authorised to be employed, owing to the profitable field for employment elsewhere. The number at present serving is 1,128.

asked the Home Secretary what action he proposes to take upon the conduct of the Cefn Police Court magistrates, who have convicted two young men and fined them each £10 and one month's imprisonment with hard labour for distributing a leaflet containing a statement of fact in regard to the prosecution and imprisonment of conscientious objectors; and, in view of the fact that no evidence whatever was produced at the trial that an offence had been committed, and that the presiding magistrate was the military representative who had opposed the claims of these young men before the local tribunal, will he order the immediate release of these young men and the remission of the whole sentence, and also inform the presiding magistrate that he is not entitled to use his position as a magistrate to prosecute men against whom he has a grudge as the military representative on the tribunal?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made in reply to the hon. Member for Windsor on Wednesday, the 3rd May, that I was advised "that it is illegal to advocate by means of speeches, posters, pamphlets, or otherwise, any resistance to the law or refusal to serve on the part of persons who have not been granted exemption." The leaflet referred to in the question appears to fall within these terms, and I regret that I am not able to advise any interference with the sentence of the Court.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is a rule of prisons that prisoners are allowed to have a Bible in their cells; and whether it is by his orders or the order of the Prison Commissioners that conscientious objectors are being deprived of Bibles in their cells?

I have no reason to think that there has been any departure in the prisons under my jurisdiction from the rule as to the supply of Bibles to prisoners. As stated in reply to my hon. Friend on 8th June, 1915, the rule is carefully observed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what articles are now prohibited from importation into the United Kingdom?

I will send the hon. Gentleman copies of the Proclamations which have been issued, imposing prohibitions of importation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the price per ponnd at Smithfield market for fore and hind quarters of chilled meat, Argentine frozen beef, mutton, and lamb, respectively, on 1st August, 1914, 1st January and 1st July, 1915, and 1st January and 1st May, 1916?

The figures are given in the following table:— MEAT PRICES AT SMITHFIELD—Per lb. — 1st August, 1914. 1st January, 1915. 1st July, 1915. 1st January, 1916. 1st May, 1916. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Beef— North American Chilled Hinds … No quotation. 9½ 10¾ North American Chilled Fores 6⅝ 8¾ South American Chilled Hinds … 6¼ 7 9¼ 9¼ 10⅜ South American Chilled Fores … 4 5½ 7¾ 6½ 8⅜ South American Frozen Hinds … 4¾ 6⅝ 8⅛ No Quotations. South American Frozen Fores … 3⅜ 5⅞ 7¼ Mutton— South American … 3⅞ 5¼ 6⅞ 7 9 Lamb— South American … 5⅜ 6⅛ 7⅞ 7¼ 9½

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the uncertainty which prevails as to the exact articles of which the import is prohibited under recent restriction of import orders, and the delay and expense involved to traders, he has considered the practicability of sending a full list of the prohibitions to the chief British consular officer in the United States; of authorising him to interpret the application of the order in relation to specific articles; and of admitting goods certified by him as not coming within the scope of the prohibition?

Consular officers at all seaports are kept informed by the Foreign Office as to the prohibitions of import from time to time established in this country and specific cases of doubt referred by them to His Majesty's Government are dealt with as rapidly as possible. I regret, however, that I cannot see my way to adopting the suggestions contained in the two last parts of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any British shipbuilding yard is engaged upon orders for owners other than British; if so, how many such orders for neutral shipowners are being executed; and, if there are any in the latter category, whether he has been able to satisfy himself that such orders are not German orders in disguise?

Shipbuilding yards in the United Kingdom are engaged on orders for other than British owners, and I am informed that twenty-six of the vessels now building have been ordered by neutral shipowners. The Government have full control over the matter, and in the few cases in which facilities for construction have been given, the Board of Trade were satisfied that the ships were bonâ fide neutral ships, and the ships have been fixed to trade in trades approved by us during the War at about half the market rates of freight.

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?

The inquiry referred to in my right hon. Friend's reply to a similar question on the 25th April is not yet complete. I will not fail to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether instructions have now been given to the Patent Office and the Probate Office that holdings by deceased Scotsmen of patents issued for the United Kingdom are no longer to be treated as English estate for probate purposes; and, if so, from what date the discontinuance of the costs and exactions due to the practice now discontinued came into effect?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. As a result of legal advice instructions have been given to the Patent Office to discontinue the practice to which the hon. Gentleman refers. Resealing in the Probate Registry in England will accordingly not be required in the case now pending, which I may say is the only one which has occurred within the last five or six years.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the ground landlord of Listowel receives £80 from the Government as rent for the police barracks at Listowel; whether he is aware that this ground landlord who owns the barracks has refused for the past nineteen years to pay the town's improvement and sanitary rates to the local authorities; whether he is aware that Lord Listowel's name is in the official list issued annually by the Commissioners of Valuation for £40 for rating purposes for the police barracks; and, if so, will he say why the Local Government Board have not exercised their powers of compelling the local authority to collect the rate?

The reply to the first and third parts of the question is in the affirmative. Half annual rents are not liable to assessment for town or sanitary rates, and accordingly the Local Government Board could not with propriety take the action suggested in the last part.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether the vacant post of medical officer in his Majesty's prison in Belfast is being temporarily filled by a man of military age who has not joined the Royal Army Medical Corps or any other branch of the Army; and whether he will undertake that no permanent appointment shall be made except of a medical man who has served in the Army or who was over military age at the outbreak of war?

The vacant post of medical officer in His Majesty's prison, Belfast, is being temporarily filled by the doctor who has been acting as substitute for the late medical officer at the time of his death. Otherwise I have no information as to the matter mentioned in the first part of the question. The appointment of prison medical officer in the ordinary course is not permanent, but is made for a term of three years, but such an appointment in the case of Belfast Prison has been deferred until the termination of the War, when, of course, it will become practicable to consider applications from doctors now serving with His Majesty's. Forces.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Surrey County Council has recently closed its special schools for mentally defective children; and what steps he proposes to take in regard to this contravention of the Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Act, 1914, with a view to enforcing compliance by the county council with its statutory duty?

I understand that the two schools in question have been closed partly on grounds of economy and partly owing to difficulty experienced in organising satisfactorily small schools of this kind. I am making inquiries as to the arrangements made for the educations of the children.

asked the Home Secretary the number of petrol-driven vehicles which were on the 31st July, 1914, registered in Great Britain, indicating separately the number relating to commercial motors, public conveyances, and private motor cars, respectively; and if he can also give the same information respecting the number of vehicles which were at the most recent date for which figures are available registered in Great Britain?

I find, on inquiry of the Local Government Board, that this information is not available.