asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether soldiers warned for going abroad on active service are, as a rule, allowed four days' leave to visit their homes; whether, as a matter of fact, this leave is never or hardly ever refused; and whether the same leave is given to members of the Non-Combatant Corps before being sent abroad?

Members of the Non-Combatant Corps are not treated differently in regard to leave privileges from other soldiers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether on 26th May certain conscientious objectors were sent to France from Dovercourt; if so, whether some of them were conveyed on board ship on stretchers; and, if so, why was this unusual procedure adopted?

No conscientious objectors left Harwich on 26th May. A party of non-combatants went to France from Harwich on 8th May, but none were taken on board ship on stretchers, nor were any of them placed on a stretcher at any time during the journey.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any rules have been made since 1st August, 1914, under Section 135 of the Army Act; if so, whether such rules have been published; and whether copies of such rules are available to the public?

The instructions regarding the classification of prisoners referred to in Section 135 of the Army Act are contained in paragraph 607 of the "King's Regulations," which is available to the public.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, when Royal Engineer officers are serving as staff officers Royal Engineers, they may be allowed to wear similar badges to officers serving from other branches of combatant service instead of being required, as now, to wear badges more indicative of non-combatant services?

Certain dress distinctions are alloted to specified appointments, and the holders of these appointments wear the allotted distinctions irrespective of the branch of the Service to which they belong. Staff officers Royal Engineers are included among the Technical Staff and as such wear the same dress distinctions as other officers holding Technical Staff appointments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office or the Royal Aircraft Factory made considerable quantities of a dope known as D.94, and sold such dope to private manufacturers of aeroplanes; whether such dope is poisonous and injurious to the user; whether the War Office or Royal Aircraft Factory issued instructions to manufacturers of aeroplanes practically compelling them to use dopes of Royal Aircraft Factory manufacture; whether any manufacturers of aeroplanes protested against the use of such dopes as causing illness and, in some cases death of the women using them; whether such dope proved less efficient than the non-poisonous dope obtainable in the open market; and whether the War Office or the Royal Aircraft Factory are still endeavouring to sell dopes to aeroplane manufacturers?

At the end of 1915 competitive tenders were invited from all trade dope manufacturers for the supply of 18,000 gallons of dope to Royal Aircraft Factory formula D.94, and as a result an order was placed for 18,000 gallons. This dope was intended for sale to trade contractors for aeroplanes. D.94 dope contains a smaller percentage of the poisonous ingredient tetrachlorethane than two other of the principal trade dopes. As experience has shown that the dope and varnish used in the past has not proved satisfactory under service conditions, it was decided in October, 1915, to provide for the compulsory use in all new Army aeroplane contracts of dope 94 and varnish V.114, manufactured to Royal Aircraft Factory specification and under Royal Aircraft Factory supervision. Contractors were, however, allowed on existing orders to continue the use of the dopes they were then employing. There is nothing to show that the dope to Royal Aircraft Factory specifications causes illness to a greater degree than other dopes, and its small percentage of tetrachlorethane renders it less liable to do so. The answer to the fifth part of the question is in the negative. Analytical tests are now being carried out by the Aeronautical Inspection Department and trade contractors are allowed to use any dope which proves satisfactory under these tests.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the military authorities have taken possession of the Hedon Racecourse, near Hull, under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, 1914; that they have paid no rent for such occupation since October, 1915; that the owner of such estate is being pressed by her mortgagees, who have got a foreclosure order made against her and are now pressing for the same to be made absolute, the Master in Chancery expressing his intention of making such order absolute, notwithstanding the provisions of the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, 1914, which Act the military authorities have given the owner notice he must take advantage of; if any steps will be taken by the War Office to prevent the Courts of Chancery taking such drastic action as making a foreclosure order absolute at a time like this and so prevent a landowner from losing his land owing to the action of the military authorities; and if the War Office is prepared to give any relief to the landowner in such a case?

This property was originally hired from a Mr. Emerson under an agreement which was terminated by him by notice on 18th October, 1915. Since that date it has been occupied under the Defence of the Realm Consolidation Regulations, 1914. No formal claim for compensation in connection with the continued occupation has yet been made to the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission either by Mr. Emerson or the mortgagee. It is understood that the foreclosure order had been obtained by the mortgagee before the original hiring agreement was entered into. The matter is not one in which the Department can intervene at the present stage.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what wages it is proposed to pay to the Danish labourers which are being brought over for a year to assist British farmers; and whether, in the event of the War ending within a year, any curtailment of this hiring for a year is contemplated?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The employer when applying for the services of these workmen states the rate of wages offered, which is required to be not less than the current rate for the occupation and district. The period for which the workmen agree to remain in agricultural employment in this country is twelve months or the duration of the War, whichever period is the shorter, so that the hiring would be automatically terminated if the War ended within the year. I should add that in compliance with the expressed wish of the Danish Government it has been possible to recruit only a very limited number of men in Denmark, and the Board cannot entertain any further applications for these workmen.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the Government intend to re-open Kensington Palace to the public?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the manner in which the railway companies leave wagons, for long periods, unused in their sidings; and whether, in view of the fact that inspectors have been sent round to traders' works to report on delays to wagons, he will appoint inspectors not connected with the railway companies to inspect wagons in railway companies' sidings and to inquire into the causes of delay?

I think the railway companies are alive to the desirability of wagons not being left unused in their sidings, but any specific complaints on the matter will receive consideration.