asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the increasing importance of national economy, he will give a lead to the special effort that is being made by the War Savings Committee by directing the Postmaster-General to discontinue forthwith the expenditure that is being incurred in connection with the Post Office Railway, a scheme which is of no value for war purposes and could not, in any event, be completed for many years?

The question as to whether the expenditure upon the Post Office London Railway should be continued during the War has been carefully considered by the Government, and whilst the work on the tunnel construction has been slowed down owing to the shortage of labour, etc., on financial grounds it has been thought better to allow the work to proceed for the following reasons: (1) There would be a serious risk to the work already done in the event of its suspension; (2) the suspension of the contract would render the Government liable to claims for damages by the contractor and the several sub-contractors for breach of contract; (3) the work, if deferred, could only be completed at prices considerably above those in the present contract. The construction of the tunnel is nearly completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if taxi-cabs can be exempted from the proposed Petrol Duty as suggested by the Finance Act now before the House, which means an increased duty of 6d. per gallon, taking into consideration that they, are at the present time taxed higher than any other motor vehicles that are used for commercial purposes; and would taxi-cabs be in the same position as commercial cars, doctors' cars, and cars used by veterinary surgeons?

Under the proposed Clause which stands on the Paper in my name, taxi-cabs will be exempted from the proposed new Motor Spirit Licence Duty.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the officials of the London County Council are collecting a tax of ½d. for each chair used around the band stands in the public parks in addition to the ordinary charge of 1d., on the ground that the person is attending an entertainment; and, if so, will he state if this tax of 50 per cent, is being collected with the sanction of the Treasury?

In the case of band performances in public parks the Entertainments Tax is not leviable on any payment made merely for the use of a chair, provided such payment is not in any sense made, directly or indirectly, for admission to an enclosure. But when the arrangement of the chairs is such as to constitute an area reserved for the occupants of the chairs, the payment made must be held to be a payment for admission to an entertainment and is subject to tax accordingly.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what action he has taken, and on what date, towards obtaining the release of Mr. John Daly, agricultural inspector under the Department, arrested in his house at Manorhamilton, and, without charge or trial, deported to Woking and starved in prison there; whether he is aware that Mr. Daly had no connection with the insurrection or With any organisation supposed to have led thereto, and that a search of his house did not reveal any connection; and, in view of these facts, whether he will move for Mr. Daly's immediate release and reinstatement in his public position?

The Department applied to the military authorities for information as to Mr. John Daly, an agricultural overseer, arrested on 14th May. The military authorities state that the case has been fully investigated by them, and that they would apply for an internment order against Mr. Daly under Regulation 14B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. They add that under this Section Mr. Daly will have an opportunity of appealing to the Advisory Committee therein referred to.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Department intend to employ the agents who have hitherto purchased wool from the farmers to buy the same for the Government under the recent Order, and so to secure for the public service the advantage arising from the experience and knowledge such agents have both as to the quality of the fleece and otherwise?

The Department intends, so far as possible, to purchase wool through the regular channels of trade.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to a telegram to the "New York American" from the London correspondent of the International News Service, dated London, 2nd June, in which it was stated that the Admiralty admitted an overwhelming defeat by a portion of the German high sea fleet; and whether the telegram was passed by the Press Bureau?

My attention has been drawn to this alleged telegram which appeared in the "New York American" as having been sent from London. No such telegram was passed by the Press Bureau, and I have ascertained that the passage in question was not included in any telegram sent from this country, but was composed in the New York office of the International News Service, with the exception of the word "overwhelming," which was inserted in the office of the "New York American." There were several cases at the time of the disturbances in Ireland at the end of April in which messages appearing in the "New York American" and "New York Journal," which purported to be from the London correspondent of the International News Service, bore no likeness to the cablegrams actually dispatched, and in some instances gave information which was the opposite of that which had been sent. The Press Bureau have been in communication with the representative of the agency with a view to the prevention of the recurrence of such incidents, and he gave an assurance that no such manipulation of his messages should occur again.

asked the Home Secretary from what bodies of persons he has received representations adverse to the recommendation in the Final Report of the Committee on Retrenchment which is embodied in Clause 8 of the Police, etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and the accompanying Schedule; and whether the Government adhere to that Clause and Schedule?

The only bodies that have made representations against the proposal are the Association of Certifying Factory Surgeons and the British Medical Association, and certain district societies representing the Oldham section of the cotton trade. A representation was also received from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but this was based on a misunderstanding as to what was proposed. It is intended to proceed with the Clause and Schedule.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the fact that the action of the Statutory Committee under the Naval and Military War Pensions, etc., Act, in approving a scheme framed by the London County Council for the administration of the Act in the county of London which does not provide for the appointment of a district committee for the area of each Metropolitan borough, is contrary to the intention of Parliament as expressed in the Debates on the Committee and Report stages of the Bill, and is causing dissatisfaction in the Metropolitan boroughs which is likely to prejudice the smooth working of the Act and those it is intended to benefit thereunder; and whether he will at once take steps with a view to the appointment of these district committees?

I am aware that some of the Metropolitan borough councils are dissatisfied with the decision of the London County Council not to divide the county into districts at the present time under Section 2 (4) of the Act, but the matter is one which, under the Act as passed, rests with the county council, and neither the Statutory Committee nor my right hon. Friend has any power to require such a division to be made. I may add that, for the temporary purpose of dealing with supplementary allowances, the London local committee are appointing sub-committees for a period of six months, and are inviting the borough councils to nominate representatives upon them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a petition from trading companies and business people in Belfast, Lurgan, and the counties of Derry, Antrim, and Tyrone, and also from merchants and manufacturers in Lancashire, calling his attention to the hardships inflicted on trade, industry, and commerce in Ulster and Lancashire by the continuing suspension of the steamship services between Belfast and Heysham and Belfast and Fleetwood; will he state what steps, if any, he proposes to take to bring this strike to an end; and whether he is aware of the fact that the workmen are still, as they have been since the commencement of the strike, quite prepared to submit to arbitration, but that settlement by arbitration is rendered impossible by the conduct of the railway companies owning the ships involved who have from the inception of the strike to the present time refused to have the dispute decided upon by any arbitrator selected by the Board of Trade?

I would call the hon. Gentleman's attention to the replies given on the 22nd June to questions on this matter by the hon. Baronet the Member for Mid-Armagh and the hon. Member for West Down, of which I am sending the hon. Gentleman a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Belgium proposed by legislation, passed in 1897, to compel aliens to serve in her Civic Guards; whether this country or any other Power protested at that time against this proposal; and, if so, with what result?

By Article 8 of the Belgian Law, of 9th September, 1897, foreigners in Belgium, after residence of a year, become liable to service in the Civic Guard. Exceptions are made in the case of those exempted by Treaty stipulations. When the law was passed there were in existence Treaties between Belgium and seventeen foreign States, which contained clauses providing for exemption from service in Civic Guards. The same privilege was enjoyed by the subjects of five other foreign countries in virtue of the special wording of the Most-Favoured-Nation Clauses of their Treaties with Belgium. It was at first held by the Belgian Government that the ordinary Most-Favoured-Nation Articles of Commercial Treaties did not confer the privilege referred to above. As this decision, however, affected the nationals of Great Britain, France, Germany, the United (States, etc., representations were made to the Belgian Government by the British Minister, at Brussels, and by some of his colleagues, with the result that it was reversed, and the Belgian Government agreed to extend the privilege of exemption to the subjects of all those countries whose Treaties contained those Most-Favoured-Nation Clauses. Accordingly, instructions were issued to the Belgian recruiting "bureaux" to the effect that foreigners, who by their passports could establish their nationality, were not to be called upon for service in the Civic Guard. As regards British subjects, they were exempted from the service in question, in virtue of the Most-Favoured-Nation Clause of the then existing Treaty with Belgium (23rd July, 1862). All the privileges enjoyed by them under that Treaty were continued under the guarantee of the Anglo-Belgian Commercial modus vivendi, of 27th July, 1898.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if a claim for rebate of Income Tax has been received from Mr. G. G. Parkins, of 4, Coningsby Road, Harringay, N.; if he was informed in reply to a second application that his claim would be specially dealt with; if this has yet been done; and, if not, when may he expect to receive the amount due to him?

This claim has now been dealt with.

asked whether, in view of the necessity for economy, the desire of the small local governing bodies in Ireland to have, like the larger bodies, a yearly instead of a half-yearly audit, and, the power given by the Local Government (Emergency Provisions) Act to allow this, whether half-yearly audits will be allowed henceforward; and, if not, will the reason against it be stated?

I am advised that the enactment referred to gives no power to alter the period fixed by Statute for the audit of the accounts of local authorities in Ireland.