asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, exclusive of many hired vessels where the conditions of training of the engineer officers is difficult to determine, there are now in the Royal Navy six classes of engineer officers whose training has been under six different systems of entry, namely, the dockyards, Keyham, Osborne, civil life, and promotions from the engine-room artificer branch and from the stoker branch; whether he is aware that this state of affairs can be traced to the adoption of the scheme of training adopted in 1903; and whether the matter will be carefully watched with a view to the creation of a perfectly homogeneous engineering personnel when the opportunity offers after the War?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The suggestion contained in the second part of the question is not in accordance with the facts. The question of training is one that is continually under the consideration of the Board of Admiralty.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. Darrell Figgis, the author, was arrested at his home, near Achill, all his papers were seized and taken away, including notes of historical research and study, the work of several years; whether he can undertake that this material will not be lost or damaged; and whether, as soon as found to have no connection with current events, it will be returned to Mrs. Figgis?

What the hon. Gentleman suggests is the obvious course to follow, and I think he can be assured that this course will be followed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why the military authorities in Dublin announced that the Reverend Mr. Watters, of Leeson Street, had been shot by a stray bullet, and prevented an inquiry, when witnesses were ready to prove on oath that they had seen a soldier aim and shoot Mr. Watters; and whether an open inquiry into his death will be instituted and a public announcement made in Dublin that no person will incur any risk of giving evidence?

The hon. Gentleman is misinformed. No such announcement as he describes has been made by the military authorities. An inquiry is being made into the circumstances of Mr. Watters' death, and all relevant evidence will be taken.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has any information about John Greenwood, who was arrested as an absentee on 8th May and sent to Shoreham on 9th May; whether he was given a medical certificate as fit for Home service only when he was at Houns- low Barracks; if so, why he is now being warned that he will shortly be sent to France; and whether the decision to send this man to France has been taken because his refusals to obey orders can be thus speedily and finally disposed of?

I have not been specially informed that any offence has been committed by this soldier. My hon. Friend will be safe in rejecting the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will give the approximate number of men of military age now employed by the Board in London?

Of 320 men of military age employed by the Local Government Board in London at the beginning of the War, the number now remaining is 126. Of this number 44 have been medically rejected. Half a dozen more have been returned to the Department by the military authorities or the tribunals on various grounds. Eight more will join the forces at the end of this month, and others in the near future.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what command pay and extra duty pay were allotted to commanding officers and adjutants of first, second, and third-line Territorial Battalions, respectively, on 1st January, 1916; whether any change has been made since that date; and, if so, on what date and to what extent?

On 1st January, 1916, commanding officers and adjutants of first and second line Territorial Infantry Battalions were in receipt of command and additional pay, respectively, at 5s. a day. The corresponding rates for 3rd Line Depots were 3s. and 2s. a day. The 3rd Line Depots were recognised as Reserve Battalions from 8th April, 1916, and from that date the commanding officers and adjutants have received payment at the rate of 5s., as in the case of the 1st and 2nd Line Battalions of the Territorial Force.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has had a bight of a number of letters from Mrs. Thorpe, of 9, The Green, Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, relating to the case of her son Private Thorpe, 17th Sherwood Foresters, who was sent abroad last March to fight in France, aged seventeen years and five months; whether he is aware that this boy enlisted at the age of sixteen; that the mother, following his statement in Parliament that boys would not be sent abroad till the age of eighteen, wrote on several occasions both to him and to her son's commanding officers calling their attention to his statement in Parliament; if he is aware that, notwithstanding his pledge, the boy was sent abroad though Mrs. Thorpe had taken the precaution of sending a birth certificate to prove that the boy was only seventeen years of age; and will he, in view of the undertaking given in Parliament, see that the boy is returned to this country till he reaches the age of eighteen?

I must apologise for the delay in answering this question. My hon. Friend is wrong, I venture to suggest, in stating that I gave a pledge in this House that boys would not be sent abroad till they were eighteen. If my hon. Friend will look at the answer given on the 2nd November to the hon. Member for Blackburn he will see that what has happened in the case of Mrs. Thorpe's son does not in any way contravene the principles therein described.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the approximate number of civilians of military age employed in uniform in the Expeditionary Force canteens in France, and their approximate wages; and whether the places of such men can be taken by soldiers requiring rest from military duties?

It is not possible at this moment to state the number of men of military age employed in Expeditionary Force canteens in France. The process of distinguishing those to be enlisted and those to be exempted is now taking place under the directions of the Commander-in- Chief. It is not practicable to replace these men by soldiers requiring rest from military duties, except to a limited extent.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) has made an order prohibiting entirely the sale of spirits in the western parts of Inverness-shire, Ross-shire, Cromartyshire, Skye, and all the outer islands, Lewis to Barra, while permitting the sale to continue in Glasgow and other areas where munitions are produced?

The answer is in the affirmative. The order in question is based upon the request of the naval authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the total issue of rupee notes to the Government of the East Africa Protectorate; and whether these notes are secured by coined rupees held by the Government of India, or are they fiduciary?

The rupee currency notes used in East Africa are issued under the provisions of the East Africa and Uganda (Currency) Order in Council, 1905. They are secured by the Note Guarantee Fund, consisting partly of investments and partly of coin in the hands of the local Currency Commissioners, and they are further secured on the general revenue of the East Africa Protectorate. I have no information as to the total issue of these currency notes, but the total amount in circulation on the 10th March, 1916, the latest date for which I have figures, was Rs.79,87,500. On the same date the coin portion of the Note Guarantee Fund consisted of—gold, Rs.5,02,500, and silver, Rs. 32,66,497, and the investments were of the nominal value of £301,819.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British troops, native, Boer, or British, now operating in East Africa under General Smuts, are paid in Government of India rupees; and, if so, whether there is any record available of the number of Indian rupees imported and absorbed by the East Africa Protectorate for this and other purposes during the past two years?

I have no definite information as to the arrangements made for the issue of pay to the troops in East Africa, but I assume that, so far as troops in the East Africa Protectorate and Uganda are not paid in local currency notes, the Indian rupee, which is the standard coin of British East Africa, is generally used. As the coin required is furnished almost entirely by the local banks, I regret that I have no information as to the amount imported in the last two years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, if the legal tender currency of the East Africa Protectorate is to continue as hitherto to be the Indian rupee, he will consider the desirability, in the interests of economy and safety, of minting the coins required in Mombasa or Nairobi?

The question of future currency arrangements in East Africa will receive careful consideration after the War. In the meantime I do not consider that the advantages to be gained from my hon. Friend's suggestion would justify the establishment of a local mint.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that motor manufacturers in this country, whilst supplying the Government with commercial vehicles on the basis of supplies being stopped at six weeks' notice, are under restrictions as to the sale of the surplus material thus left on their hands; whether he is aware that foreign firms are not placed under any such restrictions; and whether steps will at once be taken to remove the penalising restrictions so as to leave the Home manufacturer unfettered as to the surplus?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. In the case of firms whose output is controlled, the surplus of commercial motor vehicles, after the war requirements of the Government have been supplied, is available for private customers, subject to the approval of the War Office or the Ministry of Munitions, who endeavour to arrange that commercial motor vehicles shall be released to applicant firms in their order of importance for munition and national purposes. The suggestion made by the hon. Member in the latter part of the question will be considered, but owing to the many important issues involved, it is not possible to give any undertaking at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, in view of the recent Home Office circular, in which attention is drawn to the probable connection between the increase of juvenile delinquency and the display of objectionable cinema films, he will consider the advisability of so amending the Cinematograph Act, 1909, as to place all picture theatres under the jurisdiction of the local licensing authorities, and to give such authorities complete control over such theatres in the matter of the admission of children?

These matters are engaging my attention, and I am now in communication with the local authorities on the question of the control of cinematograph entertainments.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how much land is now actually attached to St. John's Lodge, Regent's Park; whether of the 12¼ acres attached prior to 1883 4¾ acres were virtually given up at this date; and whether he can see his way to recommend that the area left with the house be substantially less than 6¾ acres as at present proposed, seeing that the land so occupied forms part of a public park?

As regard the first and third questions, I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer of the 18th ultimo. As regards the second question, it is a fact that 4¾ acres were thrown into the public park in 1883, but the area attached to the lodge prior to that date was 17 acres, not 12¼.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what houses are situated within the radius of Regent's Park, the periods of lease, and the extent of ground occupied by each?

The following return gives the particulars asked for: Name of House. Period of Lease. Extent of Ground Occupied with the House. a. r. p. Baptist College House and part of grounds—99 years, expiring on 5th April, 1932 9 1 34 Remainder of grounds—48½ years, expiring on 5th April, 1932. Grove House 62½ years, expiring on 5th April, 1973 4 3 22 Hanover Lodge 63 years, expiring 5th April, 1973 5 1 2 North Villa House and part of grounds—99 years, expiring 5th July, 1920 2 1 0 Remainder of grounds—Yearly tenancy, from 5th April, 1836. St. Dunstan's 63 years, expiring on 5th April, 1974 12 2 11 St. John's Lodge House and part of grounds—99 years, expiring on 5th July, 1916 12 1 10 Remainder of grounds—Various terms, expiring on 5th July, 1916. St. Katharine's Lodge 40 years, expiring on 10th October, 1929 5 3 34 Bedford College for Women 99 years, expiring on 10th October, 2010 10 0 12 The Holme 61½ years, expiring on 5th April, 1973 4 1 22 The Botanical Gardens 31 years, expiring on 5th April, 1932 18 1 22 Toxophilite Society's House and grounds Yearly, from 5th July, 1890 5 2 22 The Zoological Gardens Yearly tenancies (under Commissioners of Woods), from various dates 30 2 34 During pleasure (under Commissioners of Works) 3 0 0 NOTE.—The above return does not include the houses in the various terraces within the Park.