asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (l) whether, without any prejudice to our national interests, he can give information concerning the present position in Greece; whether permission of a Bulgarian occupation of Greek territory was given by the Greek Government after, or before, any communications on the subject passed with the British Minister in Athens; and (2) can the right hon. Gentleman lay any Papers or make any statement with regard to recent events in Greece?

Pending communication with the Allied Governments on recent developments in Greece, which are in the newspapers to-day, I can make no statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the public announcement that the consuls of our Allies are urging the British Government to compel allied aliens either to enlist in the British Army or to return to their own countries and take up military service there, he will state what Allied Governments have made requests or suggestions in this direction; and what action, if any, has been taken?

I am not aware that there has been any public announcement to the effect stated, on the subject of aliens and military service. I have nothing to add to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to the hon. Member for the Ludlow Division of Shropshire on the 1st instant, and to the answers given to the hon. Member himself on the 19th April and 16th March.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received a protest from eleven Nonconformist ministers at Abercynon, Glamorganshire, in reference to the treatment accorded to conscientious objectors detained in the detention barracks at Devizes, four of whom are from that neighbourhood; whether several of these conscientious objectors at Devizes have had recourse to hunger strike; whether it is the intention of the military authorities to break the spirits of these men in order to force them into the Army notwithstanding their conscientious objection to bearing arms; and, if not, whether the Government will alter the system so as to give the genuine conscientious objector fair play and freedom from petty tyranny?

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I have no information at present on these matters, but I can see no ground for inquiry, as there appears to have been no departure from prison rules. I should like to say clearly that there can be no question of the military authorities forcing men into the Army. These men are handed over to them as soldiers.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the treatment received by Ithel Davies, of the 4th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, at the Military Detention Barracks, Mold, while serving his sentence for refusing for conscientious reasons to obey military orders; whether, on the first day of his detention, he was knocked and dragged about for ten or fifteen minutes by two or three officials so that he was bruised and sore all over; that he was then handcuffed for hours; whether he was given any dinner; whether the same treatment was meted out to him the second day with the addition that shovel fuls of mud and stones were thrown over him, and that he was placed in irons and a straight-jacket until bed-time; that on the third day one of the officials brutally ill-treated him and hit him in the face and broke his nose; whether, while in that condition a sergeant tried to drill him by himself and on his refusal dealt him many blows; whether Ithel Davies was released on 7th June and returned to the camp at Whittington, near Oswestry; whether he has been court-martialled again for disobedience to military orders; what sentence has been passed upon him; and what is proposed to be done to him after such sentence has been served?

I will make inquiries into these allegations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that similar instances are reported from many of the military prisons?

The hon. Member should give notice, as that does not arise out of the question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consent to the appointment of a small Committee of this House to inquire into the necessity for further combing out of men of military age in Government Departments?

No, Sir, I do not think it would be desirable to adopt this proposal, and I would refer the hon. Member to the speech of my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the Motion for the Adjournment on the 1st instant (OFFICIAL REPORT, Col. 3029), with which I am in entire agreement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the House has an opportunity of considering and debating the very important return which has been issued showing the number of men still in Government employ?

I think there will be many opportunities for doing that.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will say what measures he proposes to adopt to ensure that all eligible persons domiciled in this country but who are living abroad shall be brought within the scope of the Military Service Act; and what steps he proposes to take to deprive of their rights to British citizenship all such persons who, being of military age, are deliberately avoiding their military obligations by remaining abroad?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Mansfield Division on the 25th May. I doubt if the suggestion contained in the last part of the question is either practicable or necessary.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why?

That is a matter for argument.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Board of Inland Revenue have intimated that officers of the tax-surveying branch are at once to relinquish their membership of Volunteer Training Corps on the ground that mobilisation of the Volunteers would interfere with the work of collecting war revenue; and, if so, will he try and come to some arrangement with the War Office of a nature to ensure that his men would be exempted and only be liable to be called out in the case of the most absolute necessity for every man in the country standing to arms?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the suggestion contained in the second part, I have asked the Board of Inland Revenue to communicate with the Army Council.

Will the right hon. Gentleman suspend this instruction pending negotiations with the Army Council?

The first duty of the tax-surveying branch is to see that the taxes are collected.

Will the right hon. Gentleman suspend the instruction in the meantime?

I cannot suspend the collection of the taxes.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that some military representatives on tribunals refuse to respect the agreement come to between the War Office and the agricultural authorities as to the men who are to be left on the land; and will he take steps to have the agreement carried out by all tribunals in their decisions?

My right hon. Friend is about to issue a circular letter to tribunals with regard to the scale which has been agreed upon by the Army Council and the Board of Agriculture.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise the importance of that being done speedily? The agreement was come to months since, and—

My right hon. Friend does appreciate the importance of it being done speedily, and he is about to issue a circular letter, as I have just said.

asked the Home Secretary what action he has taken upon the conduct of the Tottenham Police Court magistrates, who on 15th June fined a young man named Eric Fox 60s. or twenty-eight days' imprisonment as an absentee under the Military Service Act, seeing that the officiating magistrates were the chairman of the local tribunal and the military representative on the tribunal who had refused and opposed Mr. Fox's claim for exemption, and why he was not allowed to undergo the punishment of twenty-eight days' imprisonment imposed by the Court, but was handed over to the military at once; if his attention has been called to the statement of Mr. Paul Taylor, a London police magistrate, that the legal course in such cases 'is to allow the prisoner to serve his imprisonment before handing him over to the military; and why in practically every one of the 1,167 cases of this nature the legal course has not been followed?

I have not had time to obtain a report on this case, but on the facts stated in the question there appears to be no reason why the chairman of the local tribunal should not act as a justice in a case where the justices had no power to question or review the decision of the local tribunal. The punishment imposed was a fine, with imprisonment only in default of payment, and it would have been, in my opinion, wrong for the justices to send the defendant at once to prison instead of allowing the fine to be recovered from his pay in the manner provided by law. I have not seen the statement attributed to Mr. Paul Taylor.

asked whether the tribunals have been informed that men enrolled under the naval group system of deferred entry into the Navy are not so enrolled unless actually available for active service within the next four months; and, if not, will he see that they are so informed?

The issue of instructions to tribunals is a matter for the Local Government Board, but I am informed that the subject referred to by the hon. Member is not one which would come before the tribunals. Perhaps he would be good enough to address his question to my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Admiralty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a Zionist battalion has been recruited in Egypt from Jews who came from Zionist colonies in Palestine or elsewhere; if so, whether this battalion took an honourable part in hostilities on the eastern front of Egypt; what numbers were enlisted in this battalion; by what officers was it commanded; what casualties it has suffered; and whether it is still fighting as a distinct unit?

I have no information at present, but will ascertain whether it can be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of his repeated assertions of the loyalty and quietness of the Egyptians and the fact that, even before the War, they had all been disarmed, what the reason is for the continuance of martial law in Egypt and when it will be withdrawn?

Martial law will cease to be in force in Egypt as soon as the authorities in Egypt consider that the circumstances connected with that country justify its discontinuance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the case of the 2,000 British prisoners of war recently transferred from Germany to the parts of Russian territory in the occupation of German troops, as a reciprocal measure for the transfer of German prisoners from England to France, the German Government has yet afforded facilities to the staff of the American Embassy in Berlin to visit the working camps for inspection or given information as to the districts to which the prisoners have been sent and the work on which they are employed; whether such inspections have actually taken place; and whether he is satisfied that the conditions prevailing are as good as those for the German prisoners transferred from England to France?

We have no official information beyond that contained in White Paper, Miscellaneous, No. 19 (1916). We have recently asked the United States Ambassador to obtain further information and to endeavour to arrange for an inspection of the prisoners at the earliest possible date; with regard to the last part of the question, a number of letters and postcards from prisoners have been communicated to us in which the writers complain of the severity of their treatment, and we are communicating the substance of these complaints to the American Embassy for inquiry, and asking for the same facilities of inspection and conditions of treatment as are given to the German prisoners by us.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he can state the changes which it is intended to make, or which are being made, to strengthen our blockade as the result of agreements reached on his recent visit to Paris?

The discussions were concerned with questions which are still the subject of negotiations between the Allied Governments, and as to which it is not in the public interest to make a statement at the present moment. But it is hoped that a statement may be made on the subject very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any arrangements have now been made by him for the relief of the starving population in Serbia?

I regret that I can add nothing to my previous statements on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any probability of a speedy release of the British Consul and other British subjects of Shiraz now held prisoners by German emissaries in Persia?

Everything possible is being done to secure the release of these captives, but I regret that I cannot at present give any more definite information on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House information of any punitive or disciplinary measure taken by the German Government in accordance with their promise to the United States Government in the case of the submarine commander responsible for the torpedoing of the "Sussex"?

I have not received any information on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to the fact that the figures given in the Official Memorandum, Cd. 6154, of the Financial Provisions of the Home Rule Act, 1914, were estimates only, and that the Act did not rest on them, he will, before the Act is brought into operation, furnish estimates brought up to date and showing any extra cost to the British taxpayer that a partition of Ireland would entail?

I will not fail to bear in mind the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the event of Home Rule being granted to Ireland during the War, steps will be taken to prevent members of the Sinn Fein organisation from providing bases and signal stations for German submarines on the Irish coast?

All necessary steps for the defence of the realm will, of course, be taken at all times.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he can state what steps, if any, he has taken, or intends to take, to hear the views of the Irish labour representatives and the Irish Women's Franchise League on the proposed settlement of the Irish question; and if the settlement is to be of a temporary or permanent nature?

My right hon. Friend has received no communication from the Irish labour representatives or from the Irish Women's Franchise League. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday by the Prime Minister in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Chertsey.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will communicate with local education authorities with a view to school holidays being so dated and arranged as to allow the use of the holidays by teachers and scholars in haymaking, harvesting, fruit-gathering, and other suitable work?

The local education authorities are, I am sure, fully alive to the desirability of making arrangements such as are suggested by my hon. Friend, and I do not think any action on my part is called for. A circular on the subject was issued in July last year.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many public elementary schools in the county of Gloucester have been closed since 1st January, 1915, and how many are in contemplation of being closed within the next six months?

From the information in the Board's possession it appears that eight public elementary schools in Gloucestershire, with a total average attendance of 134, have been closed since the 1st January, 1915. The Board have no information as to the second part of the question.

Is the same policy of closing these small schools being pursued in other counties?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) in regard to the new regulation that steel certificates for the export of steel or articles manufactured therefrom must be signed by the manufacturer and not by the consignor of the goods as formerly, whether he has considered that this will compel British merchants to divulge to customers abroad their sources of supply, with the result that their customers may in future trade direct with the sources of supply; whether he has considered the fact that this knowledge of markets and sources of supply is one of the most valuable assets of British merchants; whether, in view of these considerations, he will revert to the former practice of permitting consignors to sign the certificates or devise some means whereby the sources of supply need not be divulged to customers; (2) in regard to his instructions that steel certificates for American steel and articles manufactured therefrom in the United States and being exported ex the United Kingdom to British Dominions and India, can only be signed by the actual manufacturers in America, whether he has considered that in fulfilling these conditions British merchants will be compelled to divulge to American manufacturers the ultimate destination of the goods, with the result that the direct market may be captured by American manufacturers; whether he has also considered that such goods may be shipped from America to the Dominions and India direct without any such declaration, and that such consignments are invariably transhipped at Liverpool; whether he has also considered that this regulation imposes a disability upon home merchants selling from existing stocks as compared with merchants carrying no stocks whatever and shipping direct from America; whether he has also considered the fact that a consignor who makes a false declaration may be prosecuted under the Defence of the Realm Act, whereas an American manufacturer who makes a false declaration is outside the jurisdiction of British Courts; whether, in view of these considerations, he will permit certificates to be signed by the consignor; (3) in regard to the new Regulation that steel certificates for the export of steel or articles manufactured therefrom must be signed by the manufacturer and not by the consignor of the goods, whether he has considered the case of a British general merchant receiving a general order from a Colonial buyer for tools of various makers and manufacturers, English and American, say a set of carpenter's tools; whether this merchant would be required to obtain, perhaps, twenty certificates, English and American, for a shipment the total value of which might not exceed £5; and what procedure is to be adopted in such cases?

Representations have been made to the Board of Trade on the points referred to by my hon. Friend, and I am in communication with the War Trade Department with regard to them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government propose to allow the import of goods for the supply of which from Japan contracts have been concluded before the import of such goods is prohibited; if the answer be in the negative, whether it is intended that British firms in Japan shall only accept orders for goods to be exported to England on the conditions that the buyers undertake to pay the Japanese manufacturers when the goods are ready for shipment, and to meet all charges for storage and insurance until the prohibition is removed; and, if the answer be in the affirmative, whether the serious results to British firms in Japan can by some expedient be to some extent mitigated?

The question of granting some concession to meet existing difficulties in regard to goods from Japan of which the importation into this country is prohibited is receiving careful consideration, and I hope shortly to be in a position to make some announcement on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state either exactly or approximately the number of British vessels and the total tonnage of such vessels registered in Crown Colonies?

The total number of vessels registered in British Possessions other than the self-governing Dominions and India at the end of 1914 was 2,973, with a net tonnage of 267,507 tons

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a memorial signed by nearly 250 leading traders in Ulster and Lancashire calling attention to the loss occasioned by the suspension of the steamship services between Belfast and Heysham and Belfast and Fleetwood, and pointing out that for fourteen weeks the trade of Ulster with England has been practically held up, and that in consequence quantities of perishable goods have been damaged at a time when the supply of agricultural products is of extreme importance to the public; if either party to the dispute which is responsible for this dislocation of traffic is willing to submit to arbitration by the industrial section of the Board of Trade; and if he will bring pressure to bear upon the other parties so that a settlement may be arrived at?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the lines of steamers trading between Belfast and Heysham and Belfast and Fleetwood have vessels laid up and unemployed; and whether he will represent to the owners of these steamers the necessity of utilising them to their fullest extent so as to relieve the present congestion of traffic between Ireland and England?

I have received the memorial referred to. I understand that in both the Belfast and Heysham and the Belfast and Fleetwood services a boat now runs each way every alternate night. I am assured by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company that, so far as the Belfast and Fleetwood route is concerned, all the traffic that has been offered is being carried, and none is being refused on account of absence of steamer room. I cannot say whether the position is the same on the other route, but I am making inquiry.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that the steamers between Fleetwood and Belfast, and between Belfast, Liverpool and Heysham, are running?

Yes; they each run daily one way—that is to say, they take one day to go and one to return, so that they sail on each alternate day.

Are there any steamers laid up?

I think some may be out of work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the question of maintaining the ship-carrying capacity of the nation comes under his Department; and, if so, what steps he is taking to ensure that all insurance moneys which are paid to owners in connection with lost ships are used for the replacement of such ships?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board of Trade have no power to compel owners to invest insurance money in new ships, and as at present advised they have no evidence that any such compulsory measure is required.

Are the Government satisfied that the carrying capacity of the nation is being maintained under the existing Regulations?

I believe that any shortage of shipbuilding does not arise from shortage of capital available, but rather from shortage of constructive power in labour and materials.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of American bacon there are in the London docks; if he is aware that the American Meat Trust will not allow tons of bacon to leave the docks, and, in consequence, tons of it are going rotten; and whether he intends taking any action in the matter?

Inquiry is being made with reference to this matter, and the result of that inquiry will be communicated to my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Departmental Committee appointed to investigate the causes of the rise in food prices will issue a series of interim reports covering individual commodities or groups of commodities?

It will rest with the Committee to determine its own procedure. I will communicate my hon. Friend's suggestion to them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state how much more bacon was imported to the United Kingdom for the first five months of this year than in the corresponding period of 1914; and if he can state how much more bacon was imported to the United Kingdom from America for the first five months of this year than the corresponding period of 1914?

The imports of bacon in the first five months of the present year amounted to 3,500,000 cwts., as compared with 2,200,000 cwts. in the corresponding period of 1914. The import is likely to be increased in the immediate future. Of these quantities, 2,200,000 cwts. in 1916 and 700,000 cwts. in 1914 were consigned from the United States of America.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any reason why, although more of this was imported in 1916 than in 1914, it has reached such a tremendous price?

This is one of many foodstuffs whose prices vary in sympathy with one another.

Is it not because the Yankees have almost entire control of the trade?

It may be.

asked the Prime Minister if he can state on what principle the Members of Parliament were selected to serve on the Prices of Food Committee recently appointed by the President of the Board of Trade; whether such selection was made with his consent; and whether he is aw7are that this Commitee is generally regarded as being onesided and unrepresentative of important public interests?

The members of the Committee were selected with reference to their capacity and suitability to take part in the inquiry indicated in the terms of reference, and their names have been received with very general approval.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one important daily paper has referred to this Committee as a packed Committee?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that very great dissatisfaction exists because there is no member of the Kitchen Committee on this Committee?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of the Government frozen meat about two weeks ago were seized as unfit for human food; and if it had been in the cold stores about twelve months at a cost of over 30s. per ton per twenty-eight days for storage?

About 15 tons of meat were condemned. To a large extent this represents the defective portions of quarters otherwise sound. The meat was not twelve months in store, and the rate paid for storage was much below 30s. per ton per month. This meat formed part of a large consignment which was in course of issue to the Army during the period when it was in store, and there was no neglect in supervision or inspection. Relatively to the total quantities of meat handled only a trifling proportion has been condemned, but in the ordinary course of business it is impossible to prevent some meat from going bad.

How long was it in store?

About seven months.

Is it the custom to periodically examine this meat in cold storage and not allow it to go rotten in the way in which it did in this case?

I referred to that in my answer. There has been inspection.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the supply of munitions from America has diminished since the rising in Ireland; and if he has any information showing that the immediate release of the Irish prisoners of war would v increase the supply of munitions from that country?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, in the Ordnance Factory at Woolwich the out-turn of the women workers exceeds that of men doing similar work; and, if so, to what extent; whether the average wages of the women are, not withstanding, considerably less; and, if so, whether he will give instructions that the women shall be paid in proportion to their out-turn on the same scale as the men?

The output of groups of women workers at Woolwich occasionally exceeds that of equal groups of men for an equal period. The piecework prices paid to men and women are the same, but the hours of work and the time ratings are different.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, in connection with the existence at the cordite cannon cartridge factory at Woolwich, of seven night and six day shifts for women workers, he has yet had any Report of the result of the investigation which was made into the question of the hours and conditions of work at Woolwich as affecting the health of the workers; and if he has received such Report whether he will publish it?

The whole matter of the hours and conditions of work at Woolwich is receiving detailed consideration, and adjustments are being made as rapidly as possible.

When will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a general statement on this question of work at Woolwich which has been asked for a long time?

We are dealing with each shop as quickly as we can. A great many difficult considerations are involved.

asked whether the Commissioners forming the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) are paid; and, if so, at what rates?

No salaries are paid to the members of the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Von Bissing has been released from internment, and, if so, for what reason?

Von Bissing has not been released and the statements which have appeared in the Press to the effect that he has been seen at liberty are entirely without foundation.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an early date for a Debate on the Motion by the hon. Member for Brentford in regard to the internment of aliens?

It is intended to take the Home Office Estimates at a very early date when an opportunity for discussing this question will be given.

asked the Home Secretary what steps the Government are taking to control the sale of cocaine throughout the country; and whether the sale of this drug can be restricted under the Acts governing the sale of poisons?

The sale of cocaine to members of His Majesty's Forces has been made an offence by order of the Army Council under Regulation 40 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. Under the Acts governing the sale of poisons cocaine can only be sold by registered chemists to persons known or introduced to them, and after entering in the Poisons Book the particulars required by the Schedule to the Act of 1868. I am considering what further action should be taken.

May I ask whether the sale of cocaine has become dangerous since the suppression of opium, and whether that point of view will be taken into account?

I do not know that this matter is related to the question of opium, but I am informed that there has been increased use of cocaine among certain classes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether it is not a matter of common public knowledge that this has resulted from the suppression of the less dangerous opium?

The class which is addicted to cocaine at the present time is not a class which has ever been addicted to opium.

Do I understand that it is the intention of the Government to take very definite steps to stop the growth of this habit?

We are considering in what way the present law needs strengthening.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the widespread sale of pick-me-ups containing ether and cocaine in West End shops; whether he is aware that the new Regulations preventing the sale of cocaine do not affect these draughts which contain coca liquidum, and that these doses are generally responsible for creating the drug craving; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the spread of this evil?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have already given to the hon. and gallant Member for Wednesbury. The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed as to coca liquidum, which, being a preparation of coca, is covered by the recent Order of the Army Council. This substance is, moreover, in Part II. of the Schedule to the Poisons and Pharmacy Act, 1908, and is therefore subject to the restrictions as to sale laid down in the Poisons and Pharmacy Acts. Ether is not a poison within the meaning of those Acts.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to an article published in the "Daily News," on the 3rd June, in which the naval battle of Jutland was described as the greatest disaster to the British arms; whether this article was submitted to and passed by the Censor; and, if not, having regard to the discouragement and depression which such an estimate of the results of the action would be likely to create in the public mind, why the paper guilty of publishing it has not been suspended, as was done in the case of the "Globe" newspaper for a less serious offence?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. The article was not submitted to the Press Bureau. It was based on the first information relating to the naval battle that came to hand, and in addition to the opinion quoted, not quite accurately, in the question, expressed the view that the facts as then known were unwelcome but afforded no ground for pessimism or depression. There was no case for proceedings against the newspaper.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the expression used in the question was actually in the article, and does he not think this hasty step on the part of the newspaper ought to be dealt with very severely?

The hon. Member has not quite correctly quoted the article, but very nearly, and there is no point of substance in the difference. I am afraid a great many people when they received the first news of the naval battle took a somewhat depressed view of the facts, but I do not think the Government would be justified in prosecuting or suppressing this newspaper for the article in question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate the fact that this opinion was quoted all over Europe?

Is any action being taken with regard to the author of the original Official Report?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is yet in a position to give the names of the German battleships, battle cruisers, and light cruisers, and the number of their smaller war vessels sunk during the action of 31st May and 1st June in the North Sea, or in the course of their attempt to reach harbour; and, if so, whether he will now state the names and numbers accordingly?

It is not possible to define the full extent of the German losses in the naval action off the coast of Jutland, but the Admiralty have no reason to modify the estimate contained in the official communiqué published on the 5th June.

asked the Prime Minister what general or special instruetions were given to our representatives at the Conference now sitting in Paris; and, if these instructions were limited to discussion only, what subjects were our representatives instructed to raise and discuss?

No special instructions were given to the British delegation at the Conference, but they quite understood that they should act in accordance with the general statement of policy made by me in this House on the 9th March. They took a full and active part in the Conference, and a number of the resolutions adopted were proposed by them.

We are to understand, of course, that the resolutions of the Conference are not binding on this House?

I have said so, and I repeat it.

asked the Prime Minister whether the officer who gave the order to shoot any person entering a certain corridor of the South Dublin Union, or the soldier who in obedience to that order shot Nurse Kehoe through the heart, has yet been tried by any Court, civil or military; whether any notice was given to the nursing staff to avoid the corridor in question; whether Nurse Kehoe was when shot wearing her nursing uniform; whether there was any reason for thinking she was acting in any other capacity than that of a nurse; whether the King's Regulations empower any officer to order the shooting of, or any soldier to shoot through the heart, a nurse wearing her uniform and practising her profession; and what the intention of the Government is with regard to this case?

The circumstances connected with this case have been very carefully and exhaustively inquired into, the evidence of military and also civilian witnesses having been taken. It has been definitely ascertained that this most regrettable incident was a pure accident. The remaining portions of the question do not therefore arise.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state why no independent inquiry has yet been held into the cases of Councillor Carroll and Patrick Nolan, dragged by the military out of a house in Camden Street, Dublin, into a yard, shot there, taken wounded to Portobello Barracks Hospital, where the former died of his wounds within a week, the latter still living and able to identify the sergeant of the Royal Irish Rifles who shot him; whether Mr. Nolan will be afforded an opportunity of doing this; whether Mr. Michael Gibson will be allowed to give evidence of it in a public inquiry; and what the intention of the Government is with regard to these two cases?

I am obtaining information from Ireland, but in the meantime I must not be taken as accepting the allegations contained in the question as being accurate.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the indignation in Ireland and America caused by the delay in releasing the Irish prisoners of war; if he will state the number of arrests made and the numbers released since the rising; if he can state when those remaining are likely to be released; if he will state the cause of the delay in releasing Arthur Griffith, W. L. Cole, Councillor P. T. Daly. Mr. J. O'Connor, William O'Brien, and Thomas Foran, all of whom are well-known advocates of the Labour movement in Ireland; and if he will cause an inspection to be made into the complaints of the treatment of the Irish prisoners?

asked the Prime Minister if he will state what is the intention of the Government with regard to the Irish prisoners of war against whom the military authorities have no evidence, and who are kept in prison because of police reports that their release would cause local trouble, as those from Bal-laghaderreen, for example, have been informed; how many Irishmen are now in prison in such circumstances; whether he is aware that their continued imprisonment is the only cause of trouble in their native places, and that the police reports are due to the connection of police officers with local business rivals; and whether, having regard to the character of secret reports of the Irish police, he will institute an independent investigation of all such reports and the immediate release and examination of all imprisoned in pursuance of them on mere unsupported suspicion?

Is it not possible to give exact figures, but approximately 3,000 prisoners passed through the hands of the military authorities in Ireland, of whom about 1,200 have been released after inquiry. As has already been stated, those not released are being interned under Regulation 14 B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. An independent investigation will be made by the Advisory Committee appointed under that Regulation into any reasons for release that may be advanced by any of the prisoners. If complaints were made as to the treatment of the prisoners they would certainly be inquired into.

Are the gentlemen named in the question in solitary confinement?

None of these prisoners are kept in solitary confinement.

Two of these gentlemen are in solitary confinement.

The hon. Gentleman is not answering questions.

asked the Prime Minister if he can state the cause of the delay in releasing the lady prisoners of war now detained at Mountjoy Gaol, Dublin?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, having regard to his promise that no more lady prisoners would be deported, will he explain the deportation last night of five young ladies who have spent seven weeks in prison in Dublin without charge or trial; why they have not been tried; what is the charge against them; and when they will be released?

The women who were detained in Mountjoy prison in connection with the recent outbreak and not convicted by court martial have been released with the exception of jive who were removed on the 20th instant to Lewes prison to be interned under Regulation 14B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give these ladies the same facilities as he has already given other lady prisoners?

No.

Are these women prisoners of war rebels?

Yes; they were arrested in connection with the rebellion, and they have been interned on the recommendation of the military authorities in Ireland.

Are they prisoners of war then?

I am not sure that they come technically under that designation.

Have these ladies appealed to the Advisory Committee? If so, at the hearing of their appeals will they be allowed to be legally represented?

There is a question to that effect on the Paper.

In the handling of this whole question will the Government once more have regard to the manner in which in South Africa a question of even greater magnitude was disposed of?

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that a number of Red Cross workers, boys and girls, are still in gaol; if he is aware that the Red Cross badges on the arms of the Irish Volunteers were cut off with bayonets by British soldiers when the volunteers were arrested; and if he will have an inquiry made as to the reason of this insult to the Red Cross?

No prisoners, male or female, are still in detention on account of their having rendered medical services during the recent rebellion. I am not aware that any insult of the kind alleged by the hon. Member took place. It is quite possible that Red Cross badges were removed from those who had no right to wear them.

If I can produce one declaration to the effect stated, will the right hon. Gentleman look into it? May I add that I desire to give notice, not being satisfied with the answers given, that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment tonight?

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the names and number of untried Irish prisoners in solitary confinement in English gaols; and if he will cause all Irish prisoners to be treated as prisoners of war?

None of the Irish prisoners referred to are being kept in solitary confinement. A small number are for special reasons kept separate from the general body of the prisoners, but these are allowed to associate with one another. It is proposed to give all Irish prisoners interned under Regulation 14B treatment similar to that of prisoners of war.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received any resolutions from Dublin requesting the Government to compensate the dependants of non-combatants who were killed or injured in the recent rising in Ireland; if he will consider the advisability of granting compensation for loss of life as well as property; and if he will receive a deputation in reference to the question of compensation for loss of life?

My right hon. Friend has received representations in the sense indicated by the hon. Member. The obligations to be undertaken by the State in respect of the recent outbreak in Ireland have been carefully considered, and I am unable to hold out any hope of an extension of the terms already made public.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now see his way to indicate when the administration of civil law will be restored in Ireland; and whether he can give the House an undertaking that it will have an opportunity of fully discussing the Irish situation before the Cabinet commits itself to any definite plans for the future government of that country?

The civil law is at present being administered in Ireland, and I would point out to my right hon. Friend that the cases arising out of the disturbance in Dublin last Sunday were tried by Civil Courts. With regard to the last part of the question, the House will, of course, have an opportunity of discussing any proposals which may be submitted to them by the Government, but I cannot undertake to adopt the suggestion of my right hon. Friend.

Is the Prime Minister aware that meetings called to consider the proposals of the Minister of Munitions are being suppressed? A meeting called in Belfast to consider these proposals has, I understand, been suppressed by the military authorities. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of that, and does he approve of it?

No, I have no knowledge whatever of it. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars, I will inquire into the matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland has resigned his office; and if he is aware whether or no the resignation has been accepted by the Government?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister, whether the Government have issued any instructions to Irish employers to dismiss the relations of those who took part in the rising in Ireland; whether he is aware that a number of employers have given this as a reason for victimising their employés; if he is aware that such dismissals have caused a revulsion of feeling against the Government; and if he will take the necessary steps to prevent the employers connecting the Government with such proceedings?

The Government have issued no such instructions, nor am I aware of any employers having acted in the manner suggested.

If I submit proof to the right hon. Gentleman will he give the matter his consideration?

I shall be much obliged to the hon. Member if he can afford me any information.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether it is with his concurrence a meeting organised by the Gaelic League in Glasgow, to provide relief for starving and ill-treated Irish prisoners of war in Barlinnie prison, has been prevented and the hall seized by the police there; whether immediate instructions will be issued for the supply of a sufficiency of wholesome food for the maintenance of the health of those men; and whether all restrictions on the holding of meetings or other action for the provision of comforts for them will be immediately removed?

I am informed that no action of the nature mentioned in the first part of the question has been taken by the police in Glasgow. Prisoners of war in detention barracks at Barlinnie are under military control, and not under my jurisdiction, but I am satisfied that the suggestion contained in the second part of the question is quite unfounded. The last part of the question does not arise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that innumerable complaints have been received from Scotland as regards the treatment and the feeding of the Irish prisoners there?

I am not aware of it, but they would not be addressed to me in any case as I am not responsible.

asked whether the time may be extended during which after receiving notice of internment an Irish prisoner may make representation against the order to intern him, seven days being insufficient for the purposes in the cases of many young and inexperienced prisoners away from home and friends; whether such prisoners may be allowed to have private consultations with their solicitors as to the preparation of such representations; if prisoners may on application by themselves or their solicitors be furnished with copies of any definite charges made against them; and whether, on the application of prisoners or their solicitors, evidence will be taken within reasonable distances of their residences of witnesses named by prisoners?

asked the Prime Minister if Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Brooke is still commandant of Wandsworth Detention Barracks, or if he has been dismissed from this position; and, if so, on what grounds, and to what post, has he been appointed, if any?

Lieutenant-Colonel R. Brooke has ceased to be commandant of Wandsworth Detention Barracks. As regards the last part of the question, the Army Council must reserve their right to accept resignations of or to remove officers from this or any other appointment without making any public statement as to the grounds upon which they act.

Will the treatment to which some men in these barracks were subjected now be modified?

I do not think that that arises.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question which asks whether this man has been appointed to any other post?

I cannot answer that without notice.

Did I not give the right hon. Gentleman notice of the question?

Yes, but I have not got the information.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to announce to what purpose the Government are devoting the Royal gift of £100,000?

So far no specially appropriate use for His Majesty's generous gift has presented itself, but the Government have the matter under constant attention.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of handing over this money to the institution dealing with disabled and blind soldiers and sailors?

I am willing to consider any suggestion.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman tell me that the Government had submitted a scheme to the King and were awaiting His Majesty's approval?

That does not affect the answer I have given.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, although the women office-cleaners at the War Office, the Admiralty, and the India Office have received an increase in wages to meet the cost of living, the women in the other offices have received no increase, their wages being 13s. 9d. a week for two attendances a day; and whether he will make an inquiry into the matter with a view to some concession being granted?

I believe that the Departments named have increased the wages of their charwomen, but I am not aware of the grounds on which the increase was given, and I am not prepared to take any action as regards other Departments.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what progress has been made by the Statutory Committee of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation in fulfilling to widows and orphans of soldiers and sailors and of men discharged from the Services the duties hitherto discharged by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association and similar bodies; and whether the financial assistance to the above-mentioned bodies from the National Relief Fund has now ceased?

asked how many of the local committees of the Statutory Committees, appointed under the Naval and Military Pensions Act, which are now being formed will be unable to commence their public duties under the Act on 1st July; if in all such cases arrangements have been made for the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association to act in place of the local committees temporarily; and if this association where so acting will be invested with all the powers of the local committees?

In about 100 out of some 300 areas local committees will be in a position to undertake their duties under the Act of 1915 by the 1st July, and powers have been delegated to them by the Statutory Committee. In all areas for which local committees will not be in this position, arrangements are being made with the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association and other voluntary organisations to fulfil the duties hitherto discharged by those bodies. The National Relief Fund will continue financial assistance until 30th June. As from 1st July the funds required by local committees and by the voluntary organisations for the purpose of the Act will be provided by the Statutory Committee.

Are we to understand that the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association are to distribute State money?

Certainly. I do not know who else are to distribute this State money until the local committees are formed. I am sure my hon. Friend does not desire that the money should not be distributed and that the soldiers' and sailors' families should go without?

Will the right hon. Gentleman advise the Statutory Committee to withdraw their ban with regard to the appointment of district committees so that they can get on with the work?

They have put no ban—

Oh, yes, they have!

They have put no ban on the formation of district committees; they have given certain advice on the matter.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that no soldiers' and sailors' widows will suffer by reason of this transference of duties?

I think I can safely say that no soldiers' or sailors' wives or families ought to suffer from the transference. We have every reason to believe that we have made all adequate preparations for the transfer stage.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that an inquest was held on 13th May on Annie E. Baron, who died on 7th May, at Bridlington, when the doctor said the illness was due to urœnic poison caused by working in an atmosphere of dope which contained a poison known as tetra-chlorethane; whether he is aware that on 17th May an inquest was held at Southampton on Annie Metcalf, who worked at the Belvedere works on dope varnishing; will he say whether the doctor who made the post-mortem examination stated that he thought that the continued breathing of the fumes of the varnish which the deceased used at her work had circulated into the system and had set up jaundice, which was the cause of death; and, if so, can he state what further steps are being taken to secure the use of non-poisonous dope?

I regret that the facts are as stated. As I explained in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Dept-ford on the 11th May, the arrangements for securing an adequate supply of an approved non-poisonous dope were maturing and will be completed, I hope, very shortly. Meanwhile, much is being done to minimise the danger by the use of such other non-poisonous dopes as are available and are found suitable by the Admiralty and War Office, and by an increasing observance of the detailed precautions in regard to ventilation, periodic medical examination, and other matters, which have been laid down in the instructions issued by the Factory Department.

Are all non-poisonous dopes in the market being utilised at the present time, or are we to have more of these deaths before we arrive at a non-poisonous dope?

All non-poisonous dopes which the Admiralty and the War Office consider suitable for the purpose are used by them. The Admiralty and War Office are developing as fast as they can a non-poisonous dope for all purposes.

Can they not really expedite the provision of these non-poisonous dopes in view of the number of lives being continually lost from the poisonous dopes?

I will note what the hon. Gentleman says, but the War Office and the Admiralty are doing their best.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the fact that "The Sermon on the Mount," by the present Bishop of Oxford, has been seized by the police at Penarth, in South Wales; whether any person in possession of this work is subject to the penalty of having his premises searched and the book seized; and whether he can issue a list of works of a similar nature which are placed on the index by the Home Office?

Inquiry is being made into the subject of this question. When the police make a seizure of publications it necessarily takes some time to examine them and to decide which of them may properly be returned. The publication in question was not on any list issued from the Home Office.

Are we to understand, then, that this book will be returned to the owner?

I cannot say without inquiry.