asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Royal Naval Division has now been transferred from the Admiralty to the War Office; and, if so, what are the reasons for making this change at the present time?

The Royal Naval Division has been transferred to the War Office. Its organisation is military, and it is as part of the military rather than the naval forces of the Empire that it has performed great deeds during the present War. The administrative convenience of the transfer is beyond question; and care has been taken to effect it without injury to the splendid tradition which this Division has already built up during the brief period of its existence.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Royal Marines on His Majesty's ship "Suffolk" have been at their post for nearly three years without leave; and can he hold out any hope of these men obtaining leave at an early date?

I have more than once, I think, informed my hon. Friend that leave must depend upon the exigencies of the Service. I need not assure him that every care, subject to that, is taken to treat our men with consideration. In this particular case the statement in the question is not correct. A number of the Royal Marines in the ship in question have been relieved within the last twelve months, and it is hoped to relieve the remainder shortly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Government to celebrate His Majesty's birthday by closing His Majesty's dockyards for the day?

It is proposed that Monday, the 26th June, shall be regarded as a closed day, so far as the bulk of the employés in His Majesty's dockyards are concerned. Such employés as are required to attend on that day to prevent urgent work from being stopped or delayed will receive extra pay in accordance with the usual Regulations.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Government to extend to time-expired men in the Navy the same bounties as are to be given to time-expired men in the Army called up under the Military Service Act?

Section 9 of the Naval Enlistment Act, 1853, enacts that in the event of His Majesty by Proclamation calling upon the seamen serving in His Majesty's Navy to extend the term of their services, any seaman to whom such Proclamation shall extend and whose term of service shall have expired at the date of such Proclamation, or may expire while such Proclamation shall continue in force, may be required to serve for a period of five years from the expiration of such term, and shall for such extension of service be entitled to such bounty as may be given by such Proclamation.

Under the Royal Proclamation of August, 1914, the bounty is denned as a "gratuity of three pounds ten shillings for clothing and bedding," and this sum, together with a special allowance of 2d. per diem "Detained pay," is being paid to all ratings entitled thereto under the Regulations governing the pay of men detained beyond the period of their engagements. Should these men complete time for pension during the War any additional service will count in augmentation of pension.

As regards time-expired seamen who are in receipt of pensions, the Admiralty has power, under the Naval Volunteers Act, 1853, to call them up whenever an emergency shall arise, and has exercised such power. The liability to be so called up is a condition under which they receive their pension. Time served while so called up will count towards increase of pension.

Having regard, therefore to the powers conferred on the Admiralty, it does not appear that there is any necessity to offer further special inducements of the nature referred to in the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether certain officers belonging to the late Armoured Car Division of the Royal Naval Air Service have recently been transferred back to the Royal Naval Air Service; whether these officers joined the Armoured Car Service in the early stages of the War; whether, on joining the Royal Naval Air Service, they have been given seniority as dating only from the date of their actual transfer back; and whether he will take steps to provide that the seniority of these officers will date from the time of joining the Armoured Car Service and not from the date of their transfer to the Royal Naval Air Service?

Officers who have transferred for general service in the Royal Naval Air Service keep their original seniority. It is only those who enter for flying who are graded with the seniority of entry. In this respect they are treated exactly the same as officers of the Royal Navy who become flying officers.

Do they get any advantage from the time they have served with the armoured cars?

If they enter for the general service, yes; if for flying, no; then they are graded from the date of entry. That is the case also with the Royal Naval officers entering the flying

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the letter he addressed to the mayors of Yarmouth and Lowestoft, dated 8th May, was intended for publication in the Press; and, if so, whether it was submitted to the Press Censor before publication, seeing that it gave information to the enemy?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes." It is probably unnecessary to add, for the information of my hon. Friend, that a letter written for publication by the First Lord, and concurred in by the First Sea Lord, is not thereafter submitted for approval to any subordinate officer.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why the Admiralty instructed the Press Censor to suppress the reassuring article in connection with merchant tonnage and enemy submarines, pointing out that there was no cause for panic?

I cannot give an answer to that question. I would like to see the article first.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware of the ruin which is being caused to the little which remains of the fishing trade at Grimsby by the further restrictions as to fishing in the North Sea, lately issued by the Admiralty; is he aware that a number of the vessels lately engaged in fishing on this ground are unable to carry coals to take them further afield; and will he, if possible, withdraw these restrictions to enable these vessels to continue fishing and thus provide a supply of food for the nation?

I can assure my hon. Friend that restrictions as to fishing in the North Sea are only imposed when absolutely necessary.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can explain why the steamship "Telemachus," carrying a large quantity of cargo from Canada for a French port, was directed to Southampton, and her cargo discharged there and transhipped in other vessels to France?

The cargo of the vessel consisted mainly of two kinds: one, the lighter portion, which was on top, for discharge in France; the other, the heavier portion, which was at the bottom, for discharge in England. For good reasons, it was subsequently decided that the portion for discharge in England must be unloaded first. This involved the discharge of the whole of the cargo in England and the despatch of the part for France in another vessel. I do not suppose my hon. Friend will mind my saying that he is probably of the impression that in this case he has laid hold of another of his illustrations of alleged carelessness and want of foresight on our part. Neither do I suppose that he will be altogether reassured if I tell him it is not so.

Could not the two guns have been sent across in a vessel intended for discharge in a British port?

I cannot go into the reasons.

Is it because your case is so good that you cannot give it?

No; I do not propose to go into it.

Seeing that the First Lord of the Admiralty publishes his reasons, why cannot you do so?

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now state which Government Department is responsible for sending Australian wheat in requisitioned or controlled British ships to Spain and the reason for sending this wheat to Spain instead of bringing it to the United Kingdom; and whether he will state how many British vessels have already delivered cargoes of Australian wheat in Spain and the total weight of these cargoes, and how many British steamers are loading Australian wheat or are on voyage to Spain, and the approximate weight of their cargoes?

The responsibility for these ships carrying wheat to Spain rests with the Commonwealth Government. I am not able to give the information asked for in the second part of the question.

Has the Commonwealth Government the right to send these ships?

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty (1) if he can explain why the steamship "Glenspean," on voyage from Canada to Havre, was kept lying idle in Cherbourg for about twenty-five days; and (2) whether he is aware of the delay experienced by British requisitioned vessels in French ports; and what steps the Admiralty propose to take to remedy this wasteful use of British vessels?

My hon. Friend must be aware that the delays to which he refers are due to congestion and to shortage of trucks and labour. The whole question is receiving the serious consideration of the Governments and Departments concerned.

Could not a little foresight on the part of the Government have obviated the sending of ships so soon?

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now state how he is going to supply River Plate ports with coal from the United States by requisitioned or directed steamers without making ballast voyages across the Atlantic, as recently stated?

My hon. Friend is, of course, aware that it is not practicable to allow the vessels in question to take coal from the United Kingdom. They have to make ballast voyages across the Atlantic, and the contrary has never been stated. The arrangement that has been come to is that by carrying coal from the United States to the River Plate ports in the first place the shorter voyage to North America instead of the longer voyage to South America is made in ballast, and in the second, useful and profitable occupation so far as possible is secured.

Is it not the fact that on the 4th May the right hon. Gentleman stated that these arrangements were made so as to obviate the making of a ballast voyage?

The question suggests that that was stated, but what I was asked then was that in sending coal to the River Plate ports we would keep in view the reducing of ballast voyages, and it was from that point of view I gave an answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further news which he can report upon the treatment of our prisoners in. Bulgaria?

My hon. Friend was informed, on the 15th May, that the last report from the United States representative, at Sofia, showed considerable improvement in the condition of the British prisoners of war at Philippopolis. We have received no further information in regard to this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he would ask the United States Embassy that in all visits paid by the members of the United States Embassy in Berlin to the camps in Germany where British prisoners of war are interned the exact weekly dietary given to the prisoners should be obtained?

The United States Ambasador was requested on the 10th May to ask the United States Ambassador at Berlin to furnish, if possible, a weekly statement of the diet supplied to all combatant British prisoners of war, both officers and men. Dietaries in force at various German detention camps have from time to time been obtained by members of the United States Embassy at Berlin on the occasion of visits to those camps.

As a very large number of people are interested in and very anxious about this question of the dietary of British prisoners, and have great doubt as to the amounts given at the present time, will it be possible to give them information upon the subject, in view of the great dissatisfaction which exists?

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend that it is very desirable that all information we can obtain about the condition of British prisoners in Germany should be given, and I shall take care that this suggestion is acted upon, as far as it can be acted upon in reference to our commitments to the American Ambassador.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there has been formed any estimate which can be safely made public of the total number of prisoners of war of all nationalities in the hands of the enemy?

I think my hon. Friend has probably seen on reflection during the period which has elapsed since he put this question on paper that information as to the number of soldiers which any of the Allied nations may have lost as prisoners of war would more properly be sought from the Governments of those countries. I cannot think that it is any part of my duty to make any statement as to the numbers of officers or men the enemy may have captured from any of our Allies individually, or from them all collectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that, under present rules, a prisoner of war is not able to obtain food supplies by means of a direct remittance to his relatives from the amount standing to his credit, but must make an allotment of pay through the paymaster; and if he will favourably consider the advisability of granting facilities for a prisoner of war to make a direct remittance from his account current to his relatives in order that they may buy and forward food to him?

I am anxious to give all possible facilities. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will give me more particulars of the difficulty to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can arrange for the publication in neutral and, if possible, in other countries of the notice of the interview that he gave to Mr. Edward Price Bell, of the "Chicago Daily News," with a view to informing those countries of the objects and intentions of Great Britain in entering into the War against Germany.

I understand that the report of the interview has already been published very fully in the Press of many Allied and neutral countries.

Has the report of the interview been translated into the language of the countries in which it has been published?

I cannot say that offhand, but it has appeared in a very large number of newspapers belonging to neutral countries, and particularly, also, in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the present position of affairs in China, more especially with regard to the reported declaration of a financial moratorium; and whether energetic steps are being taken to safeguard this country's financial stake in the republic?

According to the most recent information received, the rebellion in China shows no sign of abating. With regard to the financial situation, it is reported that the Bank of China and the Bank of Communications have suspended cash payments, but it is understood that Chinese Government obligations will not be affected. Any steps which may become necessary and proper to safeguard British financial interests in China will be taken.

Does the financial moratorium apply to the whole of China or only the part covered by the rebellion when the rebellion is in progress?

I am afraid I must ask for notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, with a view to the next Hague Conference, he will ascertain the opinion of neutral Governments, especially that of the United States, on the prospect of having an international convention adopted against the practice of executing wounded military prisoners, after trial and sentence by court-martial, as in the recent Irish rebellion?

The statement of the hon. Member does not appear to me to be at all a correct description of what has happened in Ireland. I am not aware of any reason for taking any steps with neutral Governments with a view to the next Hague Conference.

Can the Noble Lord mention any other country where wounded military prisoners are shot summarily?

I believe in all civilised countries people who are guilty of murder and treason are shot.

Is it not the fact that if that were the case some of those on the Treasury Bench would be shot?

Surely it is more merciful where a man is proven to be guilty to be shot, even though he be wounded, than to cure him and then shoot him!

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has yet received particulars of the work done by the Irish Volunteer Training Corps at the rebellion on Easter Monday last; whether six men were killed and eleven wounded; whether they held Beggar's Bush Barracks for nine days; whether these men wore the green-grey uniform and the G.R. brassard similar to the English Volunteers; and whether the men who were on duty during those nine days will be paid and compensation given to the dependants of those killed and wounded in the same way as if they were Regular soldiers?

I have not yet received the information to enable me to answer this question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a Kilkenny merchant named John Kealy, while being conveyed with thirty others from the gaol to the railway en route to Richmond Barracks, Dublin, under military guard, dropped dead in the street; whether this man was examined and attended to by the prison doctor; and did he certify him fit to be removed to Dublin?

This occurrence has been reported. No examination was made previous to the removal of John Kealy. He joined the other prisoners when ordered to do so en route to the station, and made no remonstrance or complaint.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Mayor of Kilkenny called the attention of the Governor to the condition of this man, and asked him to see if something could not be supplied?

That fact has not been reported to me.

( in whose name stood Questions Not. 61 and 62, relating to the disturbances in Ireland ): I have been requested to postpone these questions. In acceding to that request, may I ask for a guarantee that no more labour leaders will be arrested?

I am afraid I cannot give a guarantee of that kind.

( who had given notice, of Questions No. 63, 64, and 83, relating to the disturbances in Ireland ): Mr. Speaker, you have passed over Questions 63 and 64.

I understood that the hon. Member had been asked to postpone them.

I understood that the hon. Gentleman had received a request to postpone Questions 63, 64, and 83. The information to enable me to answer them has not yet reached me.

I have not received the request.

Several of us have received requests from the right hon. Gentleman to postpone our questions, arid we have gladly acceded. At the same time I think we are entitled to know when we should put the questions down again, as our Constituents are anxious to get the information.

I am sure the hon. and learned Member realises my position in this matter. I am unable to issue either orders or instructions. All I can do is to get such information as I can over the telegraph wires. The wires are very congested, and it has been impossible for the War Office to obtain the information necessary to answer these questions. I hope that the situation may be relieved on the return of the Prime Minister, but I am not able to make any promise.

I gladly accept the statement of the right hon. Gentleman. But we are in receipt of hundreds of messages from all parts of the country complaining of the state of things that is going on; therefore I think it is only fair that our Constituents should know that at all events we are trying to elicit the information, but cannot get it. Does the right hon. Gentleman know when the Prime Minister will return?

I believe at the end of the week.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information as to the fate or the present whereabouts of Mr. Octavius Hardy, of 17, Belgrave Road, Rathmines, Dublin, and his nephew, Mr. Joseph Vincent Hardy, of Mount Prospect, Ballinasloe, landowner, both being well-known Unionists and Protestants, who were arrested on Easter Tuesday, at 17, Belgrave Road, because some old fowling pieces were found on their house being searched, and who have not since been heard of by their relations: whether the authorities have since returned the old guns to 17, Belgrave Road as being of no use; and whether, nevertheless, the Messrs. Hardy are still kept in prison or have been subjected to some graver fate by the military executive?

Would the hon. Gentleman postpone the question, as I have not been able to get the information for which he asks?

In view generally of the anxiety of the friends, will the right hon. Gentleman answer as soon as possible—to-morrow?

No, I do not think I shall be able to answer the question to-morrow. I should like very much to be able to do so. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put the question down and take his chance. I may be able to get the information, but the hon. Gentleman will not be disappointed if I cannot.

had the following question on the Order Paper: To ask the Under-Secretary of State for War the name of the regiment and officers in charge in North King Street, Dublin, during the rising; whether he is aware that fourteen men, unarmed, and not connected in any way with the rising, were shot without trial and without any charge being made against them; and if, in the interests of justice and peace in Ireland, he will demand an explanation from those responsible for the incident?

This question, I think, is postponed.

May I inquire when I can put this question down again?

Monday or Tuesday—early next week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will explain why the London newspapers to which Mr. Sheehy-Skeffington sent a pacifist letter a month before the insurrection in Ireland were not allowed to publish that letter; whether any Irish Members of this House were consulted and approved of the Government preventing publication of that letter; and, suppression being regarded in Ireland as confirmation of the intention of the Government to carry out a pogrom of Nationalists, whether he can now make any statement towards removing that impression?

There is no foundation for the hon. Member's allegation. No letter from Mr. Sheehy-Skeffington was submitted for censorship, and no newspaper was prohibited from publishing any letter from him. The letter has, in fact, lately been published, and its character does not, in my opinion, conform to the hon. Member's description of it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say to what higher authority the editor of the "Daily Chronicle" sent this letter, a month previous to its publication, if not to the right hon. Gentleman or to the Censor?

Could we not put a cold-water tap on the hon. Member—he gets everyone's blood up?

The hon. Member refers to a recent number of the "Daily Chronicle," in which the editor stated that the letter had been sent to him but had not been published by him. He had, however, communicated it to a higher authority. I do not know to what higher authority, but it was not referred to me or the Censor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, seeing that no charge was made against Mr. F. R. Senanayaka, B.A., LL.B. (Cambridge), a barrister, elected member of the municipal council of Colombo, and landowner, arrested on 21st June, 1915, kept in prison until 5th August, and then released without trial on depositing Rs. 10,000, giving a bond for Rs. 50,000, and undertaking not to leave Colombo without permission of the military and police authorities, will he now say what the charge in that case was; whether any evidence against this gentleman was obtained from his employées, who, while he was in prison, were imprisoned for that purpose, and also released without trial; and whether any official serving under Sir Robert Chalmers in Ceylon at that time has accompanied him to his new post in Dublin Castle?

The circumstances of the arrest of certain persons, including Mr. Senanayaka, are explained in the correspondence which has been presented to Parliament. I see no reason to take any action in the matter.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the latter part of the question: whether any of these executioners have accompanied Sir Robert Chalmers to Ireland?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state when the Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the export trade in edible nuts and oil seeds on the West Coast of Africa will be presented to Parliament?

As I informed the hon. Member for Brecknock last Wednesday, I am at present considering the Committee's Report, and hope to lay it before Parliament at an early date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received from the Rugby Board of Guardians a communication calling attention to the cases of three single men, one of whom had suffered from tuberculosis for six years and for three years had been in receipt of out-relief; the second, who had been discharged as incurable from hospital, had done no work for two years, and had been on the rates for a year; the third, a case of a man who had been suffering for a considerable time from heart trouble and had been told by the infirmary doctor that he should remain in the infirmary; why these three men were passed for military service and called up; and what action he proposes to take?

I cannot trace the receipt of the communication from the Rugby Board of Guardians, and cannot, therefore, say whether my hon. Friend's information, as stated in his question, is correct or otherwise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the general desire on the part of men holding medical certificates showing them to be unfit for any kind of military service to know what' their position is, he will say whether these certificates are valid under the Military Service Act?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on the 15th May to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh and to some observations I made in Debate last night.

asked the Undersecretary for War whether a rejected man, if he holds Army Form B 2512a, the same endorsed, "Not accepted, medically unfit," and signed by the medical officer who examined him, also having had an armlet issued to him on the strength of the doctor's medical rejection, will be bound to reappear again after the passing of the Military Service Bill, or can he consider himself finished with by the military authorities?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on the 15th May to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh, and also to what was stated in the Debate yesterday during the Report stage of the Military Service Bill.

The right hon. Gentleman cannot give me a definite answer?

Well, Sir, I made a good many observations on these men last night; and the question, I think, does not lend itself to a simple answer of "yes" or "no." I would ask my hon. Friend to refer to my observations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will say if officers who have been found for various reasons inefficient in the discharge of their duties, and have been allowed to resign their commissions, become liable, if within the age limit, to be called to the Colours under the Military Service Act?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the Group system under Lord Derby's scheme is still open; and, if so, up to what date will it be possible for married men to offer themselves under it for attestation?

Yes, Sir. The date of closing the groups is under consideration.

Will it be announced at an early date, so as to relieve anxiety?

asked how many conscientious objectors have now had sentences passed upon them by courts-martial; and how many have had a sentence of two years' imprisonment with hard labour inflicted upon them?

To answer my hon. Friend's question would involve obtaining returns from the various Commands which I am not prepared to ask for specially, but it will no doubt be rendered in the ordinary course.

asked if a conscientious objector who has net applied for exemption and has been sentenced for failing to join the Army when he was called up and who has lodged an application for exemption under Section 2, of the Military Service Act, is amenable to military law, having regard to the provisions of Subsection (5) of Section 3 of the same Act?

Applications for exemption had to be made under the Military Service Act, 1916, before the 2nd March. If a man did not apply for exemption, he would pass to the Reserve, and would be liable to be called up for service, and as from the time he joins or is handed over to the military authorities by the sentence of a Civil Court he is under military law.

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 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?

My right hon. Friend is in correspondence with the chairman of the Appeal Tribunal on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the sentences passed on David John Evans and Thomas M. Thomas at Cefn on 4th May, imposing a fine of £10 and a month's imprisonment in each case for the distribution of leaflets against the severe treatment of conscientious objectors; whether it is to be understood that facts in regard to the treatment of conscientious objectors may not be made public in speech and print; and whether, seeing that it is not possible to urge the repeal of the Military Service Act without showing the alleged evils of its operation, the conviction of these men will be quashed, in view of his answer to the hon. Member for Elland on 17th January?

To advocate the repeal of an Act of Parliament is one thing, to advocate refusal to obey its requirements is another. It is because the leaflet in question appears to me to have the latter purpose in view that I am not disposed to interfere in the case mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked if, under the new Military Service Bill, men who have reached the age of forty-one before they are actually called up for service with the Colours will be exempt so long as the age is not extended?

The new Military Service Bill does not apply to men who have attained their forty-first birthday before they would otherwise require to present themselves for service with the Colours.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state the circumstances in which the Army Council will authorise transfers to the Reserve under Clause 10 of the new Military Service Bill?

The matter is under consideration, and an Army Council instruction will be issued at an early date.

asked if the War Office have a register of all British subjects of military age who, being liable to service under the Military Service Acts, are temporarily resident in countries outside the United Kingdom; and if notice will be sent to all these persons warning them of their duty to return home to discharge the obligations which Parliament has imposed upon them?

Notice papers will be sent to the registered address in this country of all people who are so registered, but the War Office do not possess the names and particulars of men who were not in the country at the time when registration took place.

Is it the intention of the Government, following the Continental practice, to confiscate the property of all men of military age who do not return to this country?

We are unaware of the ages of persons not resident in this country unless they have been registered. What I told my hon. Friend opposite was that we could not possibly send papers to persons who are not registered. To persons who have been registered papers will be sent, whether they are in this country or not.

Are not all these subjects residing in France already registered?

I am not aware of that, but I can quite believe it.

asked whether a private in a Territorial regiment who was discharged as medically unfit a couple of months after the outbreak of War is liable to be called up under the terms of the Military Service Bill?

As the Military Service Act and the Bill stand, this man would be excepted.

asked whether a boy under the age of nineteen preparing for entry into Woolwich or Sandhurst is liable to be called up for enlistment under the Military Service Act, or will he be allowed to finish his course of study and allowed to remain unenlisted until he knows the result of his examination?

A boy who can produce a certificate from his headmaster stating that he is a bonâ fide candidate for admission to Woolwich or Sandhurst or one the Indian Training Colleges, and that he has a reasonable chance of success at the Army Entrance Examination, will not be called up to the Colours pending the announcement of the result of the examination.

asked the Under-Sec retary of State for War the present position of officers in school Officers' Training Corps under the Military Service Bill; whether they will still be exempted from joining the Army under the recent War Office Regulation or whether they will be immediately liable for service?

Officers in the Officers' Training Corps have the same liability for service as other officers of the Special Reserve or Territorial Force. Their services are at the disposal of the Army Council.

Those whose ages bring them within the provisions of the Military Service Act have been required to undertake the Imperial Service obligation (A.F. E624) in order to retain their commissions.

I am not aware of any War Office Regulation other than that I have just indicated.

asked the Under-Secretary for War, if he is aware that soldiers who live in barracks, but have to mess out, find it extremely difficult to live on the reduced subsistence allowance; and if, in view of the increase in prices, he will raise the allowance to its former level?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on this subject on the 10th instant to my right hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich.

asked whether voluntarily attested men who have been rejected for combatant service are to be drafted into Non-Combatant Corps along with conscientious objectors; and, if so, why they are to be penalised in such a way?

No men other than conscientious objectors are to be appointed to the Non-Combatant Corps. If the hon. Member has any information which leads him to think any other course is being followed, perhaps he will communicate with me.

asked whether attested men who have attained the age of forty-one years before being called up are still liable for military service, or whether any step is taken to cancel their attestation?

I have already stated that if an attested man reaches his forty-first birthday before the date on which he is required to serve with the Colours, he will be left in the Reserve.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if it is with his sanction that the military representative pressed the Skipton urban military tribunal to refuse exemption to a deaf youth, who had been certified as unfit for combatant service, on the ground that the youth would be more usefully employed as an officer's servant than in his own occupation as a warpdresser; and whether, having regard to the fact that owing to the shortage of warpdressers in the West Riding looms are kept standing and the production of woven fabrics seriously diminished, and in consideration of the plea of the youth's mother, who stated before the tribunal that her four other sons were serving in the Army already, he will direct the military representative to withdraw his opposition to this case?

I am obtaining a report.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has made any representations to the Manchester local tribunal upon its decision in a case before it on the 5th instant, where a farmer appealed for exemption for two men, one a young unmarried man, his nephew, the other a married man in Group 44, with five children, and, in the course of the hearing the farmer said he would agree to withdraw the appeal for the married man in Group 44 if exemption were granted to his nephew, and the tribunal gave exemption to the young unmarried man, his nephew, on that condition?

My right hon. Friend has no information respecting the case. There are, of course, other considerations besides marital conditions—such as occupation—to be taken into account in deciding whether a man should be exempted.

asked whether the circular to local tribunals, dealing with the exemption of men who are the sole head of their businesses, has been sent out in accordance with promise made to the hon. Member for Enfield?

The arrangement finally arrived at in connection with this matter was that an attempt should be made to deal with it by an instructional Regulation. The form of this, as well as of the other amendments to the Regulations which will be necessitated by the passing of the new Bill is being considered.

Is it a fact that attested men who are now being called up will come under this Regulation or instruction that they may claim its advantage?

I would not like to give a certain answer to that, but I think that is so.

With regard to single men in these positions whose claims on these grounds have been disallowed, will they have any opportunity of taking advantage of this new instruction?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked whether an unattested. man who attains the age of forty-one years while his claim is before a tribunal is liable to be called up for military service?

The answer is in the negative.

asked if men coming under the Military Service Act will have the choice of volunteering for service in the Navy?

By Sub-section (3) of Section 1 of the Military Service Act the Admiralty is given the first call on men who express their preference for naval service in case their services are needed for that purpose. This provision will apply to men coming under the operation of the new Bill.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the decisions of certain tribunals to post pone the consideration of appeals of at tested married men to deal with them at the same time as with the appeals of married men arising from the Military Service (No. 2) Bill; and whether he will recommend all tribunals to adopt this pro cedure so that the appeals of married at tested men may be considered not earlier than those of married unattested men?

The suggestion is receiving the attention of my right hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps have been taken to ascertain the probable effect of the new Military Service Bill upon the supply of bread to the public; whether the National Association of Master Bakers and Confectioners have placed before the Reserved Occupations Committee a statement that unless steps were taken to retain bread bakers in their occupation the adequate supply of bread to the public would sooner or later become impossible; and whether the Board of Trade will make arrangements by which the whole subject can be discussed with representatives of the baking trade with a view to ensuring for the public an adequate supply of bread?

All bread bakers who were married on or before 2nd November last are already reserved, as well as single men over thirty years of age, and it is not proposed that the present reservation should be removed. In these circumstances, the fear of a shortage in the supply of bread owing to the new Bill appears to be unfounded, and I understand that the-opinion of the Reserved Occupations Committee is that no further reservation is required.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the drafting of men of provisional battalions, Territorial Force, to other than their county units, in contravention of Army Council Instruction 301 of 6th February, 1916; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

If my hon. Friend will permit me to say so, I would point out that I have answered at least twenty questions on this subject. I may, I think, therefore say that my attention has been drawn to it. Men from provisional battalions have been attached to units other than those which they originally joined. In these cases the Army Council exercised their power of attachment, which was necessitated by the requirements of the Service. As regards the latter part of the question, my hon. Friend will be aware of the provisions of the Military Service Bill now before the House, which bears on this, point.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that miners enlisted in Notts in October, 1914, in the 43rd Railway Supply Department, who were promised, and paid, 3s. per day down to December, 1915, then, without any reason being given to them, the 3s. was crossed out of their pay books and Is. 8d. inserted, and their pay at the same time reduced by that amount; and, if aware of this, will he say why this reduction has been made, and give instructions for the arrears to be paid and the conditions of enlistment observed?

These men were enlisted in error at 3s. a day, and as soon as the error was discovered they were given the option of continuing to serve at ordinary Army rates or of taking their discharge. So far as I am aware, all had been disposed of toy June, 1915, and no one of them should after that date have been in receipt of more than Army rates. I am inquiring into the statement that men were paid 3s. a day until December last.

Did not the hon. Gentleman give an undertaking on 28th March that where men were enlisted under a definite promise that promise would be kept?

That promise will be kept or the men will be given the opportunity of taking their discharge.

Did the hon. Member say they would have the opportunity of taking their discharge? I see no record of it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I cannot charge my memory whether I said it on that particular date.

If these men take their discharge will they be conscripted under the new Bill?

I do not know.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the Royal Army Medical Corps doctors whose gallant behaviour at Wittenberg has been rewarded by His Majesty were volunteers for that particular work, or were detailed by the Germans to do it; and whether other British doctors in other typhus camps in Germany will be recommended for similiar recognition?

The three officers mentioned were detailed by the Germans for duty in the typhus camp at Wittenberg. I think my hon. Friend may take it that if other officers have done equally good work they will receive equal recognition.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the War Office had come to any conclusion as regards the advisability of releasing, after they have had a satisfactory military training, experienced miners from Home-service battalions for work in the mines for a short period, so as to relieve the shortage of coal?

No man known to be an experienced miner is being enlisted except for service in Tunnelling Companies, Royal Engineers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that it is now proposed to give commissions and grant military rank to officers of Volunteer corps, the War Office is prepared to grant similar privileges to medical officers in charge of voluntary military hospitals?

Commissions have already been given to all medical men doing work which renders military rank necessary. It is not proposed to recommend any further extension of the granting of temporary commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps except under this principle.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that Mr. H. Charles Woods, formerly of the Grenadier Guards, is an acknowledged authority on Asiatic Turkey and the Balkan Peninsula and has obtained a certificate in the Turkish language; whether any steps have been taken, or will be taken, to utilise his services in some special direction where his peculiar knowledge of and experiences in the Near East may be of value; and (2) whether, in the face of public declarations by the Army. Council or by his then senior officers that he was inefficient as a regimental officer, that he never was a really efficient regimental officer, that he was never likely to be fitted to command troops under service conditions, and that his retention in the Service was not in the interests of the Army, Mr. H. Charles Woods, formerly of the Grenadier Guards, has been offered a commission carrying with it those very duties for which he is disqualified, namely, those of a regimental officer; whether it had been suggested to him that the best way of securing extra-regimental (special) work was to demonstrate his power and efficiency regimentally; and whether he was officially informed by the Secretary of the War Office on 28th February that no appointment was available in which his peculiar qualifications could be utilized?

I understand that Mr. Charles Woods has written articles in the Press on "Near Eastern Questions," and that he passed an examination in Turkish in July, 1907. He is not the only person who has written such articles or passed such an examination. This officer was told that his services were not required extra-regimentally, but he was informed that, if he put forward an application for regimental employment, a commission would be granted.

Does not that amount to saying that an officer who has been proved or stated to be regimentally inefficient would be received as a regimental officer, and one who has proved his efficiency in other respects will not be received to serve in those other respects?

No, Sir. What it really means is this: the officer might become regimentally efficient as a regimental officer and opportunity was given in order to demonstrate that.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the War Office undertook to set up a separate internment camp for friendly aliens, i.e., Czechs, Poles, Alsatians, Slovaks, Croats, Slovenes, and others; whether anything has yet been done to carry out this promise; and, if not, whether he will now give instructions that it shall be carried out?

This special camp was opened on the 1st April.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in order that efficient non-commissioned officers of the Line battalions may be encouraged to transfer as regimental sergeant-majors into Territorial battalions, he will consider the advisability of raising the rank of regimental sergeant-majors of Territorial battalions to warrant officers, Class I., instead of Class II., as at present?

During the time regimental sergeant-majors hold that appointment in the Territorial Force they are regarded as Class I. warrant officers and are entitled to all the financial advantages of pay and allowances (including non-effective rights) according to that rank; and this applies, of course, to any non-commissioned officer of a Line battalion selected for transfer as regimental sergeant-major to a Territorial Force battalion.

Does the sergeant-major of a Territorial battalion hold the rank of first-class warrant officer or that of second-class?

The first class applies to non-commissioned officers of Line battalions who are sent to Territorial Force battalions. I could not answer the actual question put to me by the hon. and gallant Gentleman offhand.

asked what steps are being taken to release from service with the Colours men who are physically unfit for any sort of arduous military duty and whose return to civil employment is desirable in the interests of the Army itself and of the trade of the country?

Men who are physically unfit for arduous military duty but who can be usefully employed in the Army to relieve men who are under training to go overseas are retained in the Service for this purpose. There are at present insufficient of these lower-grade men to relieve from employments and fatigues all the fit men under training. Men who cannot usefully be employed in the Army are discharged at once, unless they are likely to recover soon.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking steps to substitute women in the indoor departments?

Yes, I understand that many women clerks are employed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that soldiers continually being discharged are kept waiting for periods varying from one to four weeks before being permitted to resume their former employment on the railways; and, having regard to the fact that during this period these men receive neither allowances from the Army nor wages from the railway companies, whether he is prepared to make arrangements whereby their Army pay will be continued until such time as they are able to resume civil employment, and so avoid the hardships at present experienced by men who have served their country on the battlefield?

Perhaps my hon. Friend would explain to me more fully the difficulty which he has in mind. The normal rule is that a soldier awaiting his discharge continues to receive Army pay and allowances until the actual date on which he is discharged, and it would be for him to arrange with his civil employers the date on which he takes up civil employment.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that men have been kept waiting a fortnight or three weeks to go into civil employment, and that in the interval they are getting nothing; and in some cases their families are suffering?

I am not aware of that. I do not quite understand the position. These men, I gather, have been discharged from the Army, and a period of two or three weeks elapses before they take up civil employment.

These men are discharged from the Army, and before their employers who had guaranteed them their jobs will re-employ them they are waiting another medical examination, which occupies two or three weeks. In the interval they are getting neither pension nor anything from the employers.

If the hon. Member will give me particulars of a case I think it will enable me to deal with the matter better.

I will do that.

asked the Under-Secretary for War the reason for Army Council Instruction No. 787, of 12th April, prohibiting commissioned officers attached to Officers' Training Corps from wearing uniform except on the days when they are engaged on some military duty; and whether he is aware that these officers, although not on active service, are doing useful military work, and the fact of their not being allowed to wear their uniform except on the occasions stated in the order has aroused resentment?

My hon. Friend will see that some definite significance must attach to the wearing of uniform. The officers he refers to are not mobilised, and it would be wrong that they should wear uniform when carrying out their ordinary civil avocation. It has, therefore, been decided that the wearing of uniform must be confined to occasions when military duties are being performed.

Does not that apply to Members of this House?

Yes, Sir.

On the Treasury Bench, too?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office (1) when the new Royal Warrant will be issued; and (2) whether it has yet been decided that dependants of men who die from disease aggravated by service with the Colours are to receive pensions on the four-fifths basis?