asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether passports are required by passengers for Ireland; and, if so, will he say how and where the necessary passports are to be obtained?

British subjects do not require passports to travel between England and Ireland. Aliens have to obtain a permit, which is stamped on the National Passport, and may be obtained at 19, Bedford Square or the Military Control Office, Liverpool.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the Army Council to continue paying to Regular soldiers who are retained with the Colours under Clause 2 of the Military Service Bill the £15 bounty granted under Army Order 86 of 1916; and whether the grant of this bounty will now be extended to Territorial soldiers who are retained in the Army more than twelve months after the termination of their engagement?

I am unable, at the moment, to carry this further than in my statement in Debate yesterday.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether there is any reason why action cannot be taken under Part I. of the Munitions Act against workmen engaged on munitions work who take part in a strike to enforce recognition of their trade union?

I have no authority to interpret the Munitions of War Act, but I am not aware of any provision of that Act excluding prosecution in such a case as that referred to by the Noble Lord.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many British ships, of how much aggregate tonnage, were launched in the three first months of the years 1914, 1915, and 1916, respectively?

According to the returns published by "Lloyd's Register of Shipping," the number of merchant vessels launched during the first three months of each of the years mentioned,' and their aggregate gross tonnage, were as follows: Year. Steam. Sail. No. Gross tonnage. No. Grosstonnage. 1914 142 428,549 6 576 1915 121 266,732 4 880 1916 67 80,161 2 500

also asked what number of British ships, of what aggregate tonnage, were engaged in commerce at the end of the years 1913, 1914, and 1915, respectively.

I fear it would not be possible, to give the figures for which my hon. Friend asks. It would be very difficult to compile an exact return, and it would disclose information which cannot usefully be made public at present.

next asked how much new shipping, destined for the mercantile marine, was laid down in the first three months of 1914, 1915, and 1916, respectively; and what was the aggregate tonnage in each case?

According to the returns published by "Lloyd's Register of Shipping" the number of vessels commenced during the first three months of each of the years mentioned and their aggregate gross tonnage were as follows: Year. Steam. Sail. No. Grosstonnage. No. Grosstonnage. 1914 148 370,639 15 2,326 1915 140 292,421 — — 1916 54 102,723 1 160

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state what quantities of barley and malt nave been exported from the United Kingdom to France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy, respectively, during January, February, and March of the present year?

submitted the following statement, showing the quantity of "barley, bere or bigg" and "malt" the produce of the United Kingdom registered as exported from the United Kingdom to the undermentioned countries during the months January, February, and March in the year 1916:—

Barley, Bere or Bigg. Malt. Country. January, 1916. February, 1916. March, 1916. January, 1916. February, 1916. March, 1916. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Denmark … — 127 — — — — Netherlands … — — — 12,771 22,333 24,927 Belgium … — — — — — — France … — — — 197 — — Italy … — — — 10,868 12,576 7,182

asked the President of the Board of Trade if British manufacturers of rubber tyres are in a position to supply the whole of the tyres required for national purposes; and, if so, in view of the adverse effect which the importation of tyres has upon the rate of exchange and of the amount of shipping space which such tyres take up, will he place these articles on the list of prohibited imports for the period of the War?

As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Lancaster on 9th May, there are certain considerations affecting the arrangements made with the rubber importers of the United States which have led me to the conclusion that the proposal to prohibit the importation of tyres should be abandoned.

asked the Attorney-General whether any form of indictment for high treason has been prescribed by the Rule Committee under the Indictments Act, 1915?

No form has been prescribed by the Rule Committee. The forms in the Appendix to Rules, and in the Rules issued by the Rule Committee are merely examples.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in reference to the assistance which is being given by this country by means of funds administered by the Swiss International Committee to the Poles in the territory

occupied by Germany, whether it has the full approval of the Russian Government; and, if not, whether he will consider the limitation of this assistance to Poles living under Russian jurisdiction?

The Polish Victims Relief Fund has been given permission in one or two instances to remit funds to the Polish Committee in Switzerland for relief in the occupied districts of Poland. His Majesty's Government are acting in consultation with the Russian Government in all matters affecting relief in Poland.