asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what charge, if any, is to be made against Miss Rose Timmons, now in Richmond Barracks for the past fourteen days without trial; if there is any charge against her besides being a teacher of the Irish language under the National Board; and if he will order her immediate release?

If Miss Rose Timmons has no connection whatever with the rebellion or with the movements which fomented it, my hon. Friend may, I think, be assured that she will be released under the general instructions which have already been given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the promised inquiry into the tragedy in North King Street, Dublin, will be a civil, judicial, and open inquiry to which counsel and the public will be admitted?

I am not yet informed on these points.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will say on what charge Christopher Dunleavy, an employé in Guinness's brewery, was arrested in Dublin on 4th May and, without trial, imprisoned, deported, and prevented communicating with relatives; seeing that he had no connection with the disturbance and bears a good character with his employers, when will he be released or tried; and, if exonerated, whether he will be indemnified for all loss so imposed upon him?

The case of Christopher Dunleavy is receiving consideration, and he has been requested to fill in a form claiming his release, and to furnish such information as will facilitate rapid investigation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can specify the law under which Irish non-combatant prisoners recently arrested, most of them only on suspicion, are informed by the military authorities that they will not be allowed to see a legal adviser except in presence of a military officer; that neither counsel nor solicitor will be allowed to appear for them at the trial; and that instead a military officer, called the prisoner's friend, will be appointed; whether he is aware that counsel and solicitors have protested against these orders as illegal and degrading, and must withdraw from the cases unless the orders are modified; whether trials under the orders are nevertheless proceeding; and whether he can promise any modification of this system?

It is necessary to exercise certain precautions with reference to interviews with prisoners; such precautions are common both in the cases of civil and military prisoners. Neither counsel nor solicitor is allowed at field general courts-martial; the prisoner is, however, allowed the assistance of a "friend" to assist him in his defence. One protest only has been received in respect of these rules. No change in the procedure as regards field general courts-martial is contemplated or desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is aware that at a council meeting held on the 16th May, 1916, the London County Council approved a scheme which permits cinematograph halls, licensed by the council for six days in the week, to be opened for entertainments on Sunday on the terms that each licensee may retain from such Sunday receipts as private profit or gain one-seventh of the weekly expenses of his hall in respect of rent, rates, taxes, and actual out-of-pocket expenses, handing over the balance to some charitable or other organisation; and whether the total or any portion of the gross receipts taken on each Sunday will be respectively assessed to income or other tax?

The profits derived from such performances, including those devoted to charitable purposes, are assessable to Income Tax. Any excess profits that may be made would similarly be liable to Excess Profits Duty. I may add that Entertainments Duty will have to be paid on the prices of admission to these entertainments, but the duty will be repaid under Section 1 (5) of the Finance (New Duties) Act, 1916, if the Commissioners of Customs and Excise are satisfied that the whole of the net proceeds are devoted to philanthropic or charitable purposes and that the whole of the expenses do not exceed 20 per cent. of the receipts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is with his sanction that certain surveyors of taxes claim, for the purposes of Excess Profits Duty, to treat bank deposits as investments, so diminishing the capital employed in the business; and whether he is aware that the effect of this method is to confiscate the deposit interest where the rate allowed is 60 per cent. of the statutory percentage and to mulct the taxpayer still further where the rate allowed is less?

The question whether in any particular case a bank deposit should properly be regarded as an investment is one of fact. Perhaps my hon. Friend would communicate with the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in any case in which he considers an erroneous opinion to have been formed. With regard to the latter part of the question, the conclusion arrived at by my hon. Friend is incorrect. I think he has overlooked the fact that if a bank deposit is treated as capital employed in the business the interest thereon cannot be excluded from the profits.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the four sons of G. S. Dunn, hat manufacturer, of Stockport, named, respectively, Randolph, Clifford, Howard, and Lloyd, have secured exemption from the Hertfordshire Tribunal from military service as conscientious objectors; whether he is aware that at the hearing of their appeal Mr. Frampton, a barrister, who appealed on their behalf, stated that his clients would refuse to kill rats or mice even if they attacked their crops and that if they saw a cat killing a rat they would try and prevent it; if he will state whether the military authorities intend to appeal against the decison of the tribunal; and if he has now received a report on the matter?

As my hon. Friend mentioned Stockport, the well-known town in Lancashire, the letter asking for a report was sent to the Western Command, but it appears that no hat maker of the name of Dunn is known in or about the town of Stockport. An attempt is now being made to get on the right scent, and an inquiry will be made of the Eastern Command, within which the county of Hertford lies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the military representative is entitled to be present when the local tribunals consider their decisions in private?

As stated in the official notes on Administration of the Group and Class Systems, the question whether a military representative is entitled to be present when the local tribunal is conferring upon the decision which should be given "is one clearly within the discretion of the local tribunal in each case. Generally speaking, when one party to an application is required to withdraw, the other party cannot properly claim to be present."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the position under the Military Service Act of taxi-cab drivers who are paying for their cabs on the hire-purchase system, in view of the fact that if the payments are not made promptly the cab will revert to the original owner without a return of payments made?

This is a matter for the tribunals to determine, who should have all material and relevant facts placed before them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can indicate what is the minimum sight test which a recruit must satisfy in order to be passed for general service?

I think the best thing I can do is to send my hon. Friend the printed instructions on this matter, and this I am doing.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a man posted to a battalion other than the one in which he originally enlisted is required to wear the badges and titles of the unit to which he is posted and to give up those of his original unit; whether a man so posted will be returned to the depot of his original enlistment for his discharge; and whether a man can be posted to a unit other than his own for the whole of his service?

A man transferred to a battalion of another regiment wears the badges of his new regiment. On discharge such a man will be sent to the depot of the regiment to which he belongs at the time his discharge takes place. A man can be transferred to a new corps or regiment for the whole of his service, but in the case of men serving on a peace engagement lasting beyond the duration of the War it is intended to transfer them back to their original corps at the end of the War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if, in conformity with the practice adopted at Kut of exchanging sick and disabled prisoners belonging, respectively, to the British and Turkish armies, arrangements, can be made for releasing by way of exchange disabled prisoners belonging to the Dorset Yeomanry and now in the hands of the Turks at Constantinople?

An agreement has been reached with the Turkish Government for the reciprocal repatriation of incapacitated prisoners of war under the same conditions as have been in operation for over a year between this country and Germany, and it is hoped that this may be put into effect shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to remove the Army Veterinary Corps and Army Ordnance Corps records, together with the pay office, from Woolwich to the City; if so, will he state the-reason for such removal; whether, in view of the inconvenience that will be caused, the record and other officers concerned have been consulted and recommend the proposal; whether it is anticipated that financial economy will result; if so, can he state the rent proposed to be paid for the new premises; and whether it would be cheaper and more convenient to build huts at Woolwich instead?

The answer to the first part of my right hon. Friend's question is in the negative. The remaining parts of the question, therefore, do not arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the grant of £104 for relief of home obligations applies to officers as well as to men?

The Regulations do not at present permit of the scheme being applied to officers.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if the effect of the Summer Time Act, 1916, in Poor Law infirmaries and other institution is to require the old and convalescent inmates to rise at 5 a.m. and go to bed at 6 p.m. instead of one hour later; and, if so, whether he will confer upon the boards of guardians the necessary powers, should they not now possess them, to make such alterations as may be necessary to obviate hardship in any case?

The hours of rising and going to bed in Poor Law institutions are governed by regulations which are made and can be altered by the boards guardians. Such regulations would not normally become operative before the expiration of one month after they are sent to my Department, but in the existing circumstances my right hon. Friend proposes to dispense with this requirement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the high rates of freight on maize; whether, in view of the steadily rising price of meat, owing largely to the price of feeding-stuffs, of which maize is one of the most important, the stipulation imposed on British shipowners by the Carriage of Foodstuffs Committee of the Admiralty, when directing them to load grain, that they are required to carry a minimum of 75 per cent. of wheat, will be removed; and, if so, how soon will this be done?

The Requisitioning (Carriage of Foodstuffs) Committee are acquainted with the position in regard to maize. It is obvious, however, that wheat is of even more importance than maize, and I am not prepared to interfere with the arrangements which they are making to secure an adequate supply of wheat.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a public statement as to the internment of the crew of the E 17 by the Netherlands Government and the view taken by His Majesty's Government?

The question of the liability of the crew of the E 17 to be interned has been very fully discussed with the Netherlands Government, who remain convinced that they are bound to intern them. In the circumstances His Majesty's Government have not felt themselves able further to contest this view.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the advisability of restoring the mid-day postal delivery in the town of Manorhamilton, as the stopping of this delivery is a loss and inconvenience to the professional and business people of the town and is not effecting any saving to the Government?

I am making inquiry, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state who is responsible, so far as may be, for British commercial and other interests in Mexico at the present time?

British interests in Mexico are in the charge of His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Mexico City and the British Consular officers at some thirty posts throughout that country.