asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the amount of Income Tax payable for each of the periods ending quarter day, September, Christmas, March, and June, for the years 1914, 1915, and 1916, respectively?

The amounts of Income and Super-tax paid into the Exchequer for each of the periods mentioned are as follows:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of certain Stock Exchange speculations which have taken place arising partly through uncertainty whether profits realised by the liquidator of a limited company selling off large stocks of whisky are liable to Excess Profits Duty, he can state whether such profits will be assessed to such duty?

The profits made upon the sale of stocks of whisky belonging to a limited company trading in whisky are the profits of the trade or business. The fact that the company is in process of liquidation would not of itself remove the profits from the scope of the charge to Excess Profits Duty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the reason or reasons why it is not proposed to publish the names of the ships and of the naval officers and men who took a conspicuous part in the quelling of the Dublin rebellion?

I stated in reply to a question by my hon. Friend on the 24th May, that it is not proposed to publish in the "Gazette" any naval report dealing with the events referred to. I have nothing to add to that reply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether all Irish prisoners who have claims in respect of loss or damage of property are enabled to put their claims in writing; whether Mr. D. MacCarthy, now in Dublin Castle Hospital, has been or will be enabled to set out his claim in respect of seven bicycles which stood in his hall and were destroyed by the military; and by what tribunal, and when, are claims of this character to be investigated?

Mr. D. MacCarthy will be given the same facilities in this matter as others. I am inquiring how these claims are being dealt with.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his atten- tion has been called to the fact that the windows of Wakefield Prison, in which Irish untried suspects are detained, are level with the surface of the ground outside and the cells therefore 6 feet underground, and that gas is continually burning and leaking in the corridor; whether any independent medical opinion defends the use of this underground prison with its gaseous atmosphere for untried prisoners; and when they are to be tried or released?

No, Sir; I have received no information in this sense. This prison was handed over by the civil authorities a short time ago for the use of the military temporarily. As a civil prison it no doubt complies with the sanitary and other conditions laid down for such prisons. Those men who are not released are being interned and their cases will come before the Advisory Committee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state on what charge Denis M'Carthy, Con Ahern, William Duggan, T. O'Shea, and Con O'Sullivan, all of Dunmanway, county Cork, have been arrested and deported to England; whether, if no offence in the recent rebellion can be alleged against any of them, they will be at once liberated; and, if not, what is the reason for keeping them for six weeks without trial?

This will be a matter for consideration by the Advisory Committee, the prisoners having been interned under the powers granted by Regulation 14 B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why J. B. O'Driscoll, a member of the rural district council, Skibbereen, county Cork, is still detained in prison; and if he is aware that he is the only support of his mother and that his health is failing under prison treatment?

This man has been interned under Regulation 14 B Defence of the Realm Regulations, and his case will no doubt be considered by the Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Darrell Figgis', a literary gentleman, who was residing in Achill Island at the time of the recent Irish rebellion; whether this gentleman is now in Stafford Gaol in solitary confinement; whether there is the slightest evidence of his complicity in the rebellion; whether his house was battered in by twenty armed policemen; whether he was taken, without resistance on his part, first to Castlebar Gaol and then to Richmond Barracks, Dublin, and afterwards to Stafford; whether there was any disturbance at all in his county; and how long he will be kept in solitary confinement, without charge or trial, and without permission to communicate with his wife and friends?

Mr. Figgis is at present interned at Stafford Detention Barracks in pursuance of an Order made by me under Regulation 14 B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. The question of his complicity in the rebellion will be considered by the Advisory Committee by whom his appeal against the Order will be heard. He is not and has not been in solitary confinement and is allowed to communicate with his wife and friends. It appears that on the occasion of his arrest he did not open his door when summoned to do so, and after an interval it was found necessary to force it open. Perhaps this is the incident referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will cause to be altered the visiting conditions at Frongoch camp so as to enable visitors travelling forty miles to be admitted at any time they arrive; if he is aware that visitors from Cork, after travelling 300 miles, were refused admission; and if he is aware that a Member of this House who travelled all night to reach the camp was refused admission and turned away without seeing his friends?

The ordinary rules for internment camps apply to Frongoch, and, as at present advised, I do not see my way to relax them.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the desirability of allowing Irish prisoners of war to receive parcels of food free of postage; if he will allow letters from camp to be delivered free of postage; and if he is aware that the postage in many eases exceeds the value of the parcels?

I am sorry I am unable to adopt either of the hon. Member's suggestions in connection with Irish prisoners detained by the military.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will ascertain and state the amount of money handed to Lieutenant Lindsay, of the Royal Innis-killing Fusiliers, when a prisoner in the hands of the insurgents, by John Edward Daly, since executed, under a promise to deliver it to Daly's mother; why it has not been delivered; and whether Lieutenant Lindsay will be required to give it up for delivery?

I am having inquiry made about this.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, having regard to the lowness of the ceiling in Dublin Castle Hospital and the absence of ventilation except on one side, will he say why the outdoor exercise of the wounded prisoners who are able to go out has been curtailed; what is the reason for a guard in excess of that over prisoners elsewhere who are not wounded; whether medical visitors hold that more outdoor exercise would accelerate recovery; why the number and duration of visits to the sick have been reduced to one hour a day, most of which has to be spent obtaining a permit; and, seeing that improvements in all these respects would not involve expense or risk, whether such improvements will be carried out?

The ventilation carried out by nine large windows and two doors is quite ample, irrespective of the height of the ceiling. Daily outdoor exercise for prisoner patients has not been curtailed. Each patient capable of walking gets one hour's exercise daily. This time is deemed sufficient by the visiting medical staff. The hours allotted for visitors to Sinn Fein prisoners have not been restricted and are similar to those allowed for visitors to wounded soldiers. The Sinn Fein prisoners are in every way treated from the point of view of accommodation, medical attendance and food in exactly the same way as are the wounded soldiers of the British Expeditionary Forces, for which purpose the Dublin Castle hospital was instituted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can state any reason for refusing the same facilities that are now afforded to Members of Parliament to societies formed for visiting and providing comforts for Irish prisoners of war in this country; whether permits will be issued to such societies enabling persons appointed by them to visit all the prisoners together, or in large sections, so that all may be treated alike; whether two hours in the afternoon will be set apart for this purpose, leaving the morning visiting time to relatives; and whether permits issued for this purpose will be made available for the camps to which some of those prisoners are being transferred?

This question should, I think, be addressed to the Home Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that notices to report themselves under the Military Service Act have been served upon men who are subjects of Russia and other foreign States; that in some cases such men have no passports or other official documents proving their nationality; and whether he will indicate the line which is being taken by recruiting officers in such cases, and especially whether any organisation like the Polish Information Bureau, or any similar body, is or will be allowed to furnish certificates in such cases?

Possibly notices may have been served by recruiting officers who did not know that the men were Russian subjects or subject of foreign States. Recruiting officers only require proof that the men are foreign subjects and the notices would be automatically cancelled. If the man is not in possession of any document to show what his nationality is, he should get his Consul to vouch for him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Geoffrey Lees, now a prisoner in Horfield civil prison; whether his conduct in prison is good; whether his health is good; when he will be due for release from prison; and whether this conscientious objector will then be handed over to the military authorities, or whether any other course is intended in respect of him?

I find on inquiry that this prisoner's health and conduct are good, and his sentence having been reduced to six months by the military authorities, he will in ordinary course be due for release about the beginning of November. Before that time the case will no doubt be further considered by the military authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office has authorised a Russian gentleman, Mr. Jabotinsky, to address meetings of Russian students and others in London and to recruit among aliens for the British Army; whether the battalion which Mr. Jabotinsky states that he is authorised to raise will be a separate unit under Russian, or British, or other officers; whether the men will receive pay, separation allowances, and other privileges as British soldiers; and whether he can state the number who have up to the present enlisted for this battalion?

Recruiting of Russian Jews is now permitted for the British Army. Although Mr. Jabotinsky has no direct authority from the War Office to address meetings and to assist recruiting, it is possible that he is doing so. There is a voluntary Jewish Committee assisting in the work. Pay and allowances are given as to other soldiers in the British Army. There is no return at present to show the number who have enlisted.

asked the President of the Local Government Board to which tribunal the holder of a certificate of conditional or temporary exemption under the Military Service Act must apply for a revision in a case where the certificate was originally granted by the local tribunal, and where on an appeal to the county tribunal no change was made in the conditions of the certificate?

The application: should be made to the local tribunal.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that many tribunals, notably by the-tribunal presided over by the hon. Member for Peckham, refuse to recognise educational work, either teaching in elementary schools or otherwise, as work of national importance; and whether, in view of the shortage of teachers and the determination to continue popular education, he will issue an instruction to all tribunals that education is to be regarded as work of national importance?

I presume that the hon. Member has in mind the exemption of men on conscientious grounds. These exemptions may be made conditional on the men being engaged in work which, in the opinion of the tribunal, is of national importance. My right hon. Friend cannot interfere with the discretion thus given to the tribunals.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, whether he is aware that many tribunals profess entire ignorance of the Pelham Committee for finding work of national importance for conscientious objectors and that, as a result, many men willing to serve the country in a civil capacity are now either idle, unemployed, or serving terms of imprisonment, and in either case are a burden rather than an aid to the nation; and whether he will now issue an instruction to tribunals giving them information of the activities and use of the Pelham Committee?

Tribunals have already been informed of the appointment and of the address of the Committee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Bombardier George Crowhurst, of the 3/2nd Royal Field Artillery, was inoculated against typhoid fever at the end of January or the beginning of February this year, and died on 9th February at the Eastbourne Borough Sanatorium, the cause of death being registered as cerebro-spinal fever; whether this young man was in perfect health when he joined the Army; and whether his widow has been granted a pension?

I have called for a report regarding this case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has any information to give concerning Joseph Walden, of Bristol, who was court-martialled and in Gosport military prison; whether, during his confinement, Joseph Walden, though kindly treated by the authorities, was in solitary confinement on bread and water diet and then showed signs of his mental and nervous power failing; whether the chaplain appealed to him to give way as the only means to preserve his health of body and mind; and whether this man has been or will be sent home to Bristol on leave so as to save him from a complete collapse?

This man was sentenced by court-martial held at Weymouth on the 5th May to 112 days' detention. He is afforded the same medical attendance and treatment as is granted to other soldiers under sentence. A sentence of detention does not in itself entail the punishment of solitary confinement and diet restrictions, unless the offender has to be punished whilst in detention barracks. The punishments which are then inflicted are laid down in the Rules for Military Detention Barracks and Military Prisons.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what were the Regulations which at first governed the issue of leave to men called up under the groups and classes; whether those original Regulations have been cancelled; and, if so, what are the Regulations now in force?

Originally recruiting officers were authorised to grant a man ten days' leave, with free railway warrant, to enable him to settle his affairs. Under Army Council instructions issued in April the above was cancelled, and instead authority was given for men to travel free, by arrangement with the recruiting officer, for medical examination prior to being called up.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, what is the aggregate amount of the awards made by the Claims Commission in France?

The aggregate amount awarded up to 15th June last is 6,060,916 francs.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can give the names, of the existing Chelsea Commissioners, the constitution of the body, the number of existing Commissioners, how many of them are paid for their services, the arrangements by which they sit in rota, and the name of the present chairman?

The information for which my hon. Friend asks is as follows:

asked the Financial Secretary to the WarOffice whether he is aware that the recent Order forbidding field cashiers of the British Expeditionary Force to change either Treasury notes of £l and 10s. into French money or to cash postal orders inflicts hardship upon soldiers serving in outlying places which are not within reach of an Army post office; will he state the reason for this Order; and will he cause it to be revoked?

I have no information at present as to this Order, but inquiry is being made, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to Cd. 7104, Historical Manuscripts Commission publication of Calendar of the Stuart Papers, Vol. VI.; and whether similar publications are to be made during the War?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I am informed by the Controller of the Stationery Office that it is proposed to publish during the War only one other volume of this series, and that it is more economical to issue these particular volumes now than to postpone publication, as the matter has been long in type, and type-rent would otherwise be payable. The paper used is an old stock, bought especially for the purpose. Most of the volume just published was printed off a year or two ago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether any aliens interned at Cornwallis Road, Islington, are, or have been, allowed to leave the precincts of the internment area on parole, with or without escort; if so, under what conditions; and (2) if he will have printed as a White Paper and lay upon the Table of the House any regulations that have been made for the management of places where aliens are interned, and any instructions that have been given to officers in charge of such places?

The regulations and instructions in force in the various places of internment are too voluminous to be printed and laid on the Table, but I will circulate with the OFFICIAL REPORT a reply to this question which would explain the conditions under which aliens are occasionally liberated for a short time on parole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any further steps are being taken with regard to the internment of alien enemies; what number of alien enemies are still at large; and whether he proposes to take steps to intern those still at large?

As regards the number of alien enemies still at large, I would refer the the hon. Member to my answers yesterday and to-day. I hope to make a general statement on the subject to-morrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alien enemies of German and Austrian nationality respectively, and distinguishing men of military age, men above military age, and women, are at the present time interned in the British Islands, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man; how many of each of the same three classes remain in the British Islands uninterned; and how many approximately of those remaining uninterned are women of British birth or parentage, or persons who, although technically of enemy nationality, are natives of districts believed to be friendly to the cause of the Allies?

About 32,000 alien enemies are at present interned in this country and the Isle of Man. All of these, with the exception of about 200, are of German or Austrian nationality, and all but a very few are of military age. No female alien enemies are interned as prisoners of war. About 23,000, including a small proportion of British-born children, have been repatriated, and 4,000 more have been allowed to leave the country for other destinations. Excluding British-born wives of alien enemies, who number between 10,000 and 11,000, there remain at large some 22,000 persons of Austrian or German nationality, all of whom have been recommended by the Advisory Committees for exemption from internment or repatriation. Rather more than 10,000 of these are women; about 6,700 are men of military age, and the remainder men over military age. The number who are of friendly race or origin included in the above figures is about 4,000, but if the hon. Member will refer to my answer yesterday to the hon. Member for West Newington, and to many previous answers on this subject, he will see that friendly race or origin constitutes only one of the special reasons for exemption from internment or repatriation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Mr. Max Kuhn, a German, was chairman of the German Emperor's reception committee during his last visit; that Mr. Kuhn is the chief of the London and International Window Cleaning Company; that his house is a mansion with a turret on the west side of Hampstead Heath and overlooks a large stretch of country; and whether, as naturalised Germans are so very rarely to be trusted, he will take steps to have this man interned?

I have no information as regards the first part of the question. As regards the second and third, I understand that the facts are as stated. Mr. Kuhn is a naturalised British subject, and I am not aware of any sufficient ground for the action suggested by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the increase in the number of house-to-house collections in London both by boxes and books, the names of war charities and other funds being used; and will he con- sider if the police should make regulations for these collectors like those that have been made for all street collections in London?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that the police have not received complaints regarding house-to-house collections. As at present advised, I hardly think that necessity has been shown for legislation to extend the Regulations as to street collections to the collections from house-to-house.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether inmates of prison who are in bad health, or who fear that they may not live to complete their terms of sentence, are allowed to make their wills; whether they are allowed legal assistance to do so; if they are allowed such assistance, whether they may see their own solicitors; and, if not, whether a prison solicitor is available?

Prisoners can make their wills in prison in case of necessity, and, if necessary, the prisoner's solicitor can assist.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the delay and difficulty often experienced by soldiers who are discharged from hospital as unfit for further service in getting arrears of pay due to them; whether he is aware that help has hitherto been afforded to these men by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association and kindred bodies from public funds placed at their disposal; and, seeing that the activities of these bodies are about to cease, can he say to whom discharged soldiers and sailors can now look for such temporary help?

I am aware that in the ease of disabled soldiers and sailors discharged from service unavoidable delay sometimes occurs in obtaining the amount due to them in respect of pensions or of arrears of pay. Such cases have in the past been helped by the voluntary organisations referred to, with the assistance, not of public funds, but of the National Relief Fund. The Statutory Committee and local committees are empowered by the Naval and Military War Pensions, etc., Act, and the Regulations under it, to make emergency grants and advances in respect of pensions.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many local committees have been set up under the Naval and Military Pensions Act, 1915, and how many have still to be set up; whether he is aware that there is complaint regarding the apparent delay in tackling this work; and what arrangements are being made for carrying on the work of supplementing separation allowances in districts where no local committee exists?

In about 120 out of some 300 areas local committees have already been set up. Every effort has been and is being made to get them constituted at the earliest date practicable. Meanwhile arrangements have been effected with the voluntary organisations to continue to carry on the work of supplementing separation allowances where no local committee at present exists, or where it is not yet in a position to undertake the work.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received copies of resolutions or representations from local authorities urging that no expense or charge should be thrown on the local authorities in respect of pension committees; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

A few resolutions of this character have been received and their contents have been noted. The power of making payments towards the administrative expenses of local committees under the Naval and Military War Pensions Acts has only recently been conferred by Parliament on local authorities, and I am given to understand that it will be largely acted upon.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has informa- tion as to what the individual owners of British merchant ships interned in enemy countries are doing in the way of sending parcels of food to their crews who are held captive in Germany and Turkey and supplementing the weekly sum payable to the dependants of these prisoners in necsssitous circumstances in this country, beyond paying 20 per cent, of the weekly allowance, the maximum amount of which is £l, which is paid out of the Board of Trade War Risks Insurance scheme; and, if he has not any such information, whether he will take the necessary steps in obtaining it if possible?

The action that is taken by individual owners in this matter would not necessarily be reported to the Board of Trade. Such action is entirely voluntary, and I do not think the matter is one in which the Board of Trade could well call for a return.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Munitions Act applies to the clerical staff of the railway companies; and, if not, whether the Great Central Company have any authority under the terms of the agreement between the Government and the railway companies, or otherwise, to inform women clerks that they cannot leave the railway service?

I am looking into the points raised by my hon. Friend, and will communicate with him shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount weekly is expended out of the Government War Risks Insurance scheme in allowances to the dependants of the merchant captains, officers, and crews now interned in Germany and Turkey, and what proportion of this amount is paid by the shipowners; and whether the maximum allowance in each individual case still remains at £l weekly?

It is not possible to give the weekly figures, but the total amount paid under the dependants' scheme up to the end of last year was about £50,000. Of this amount 80 per cent, is borne by the Government and 20 per cent, by the War Risks Associations or by the individual shipowners. The allowance is half wages or £1 a week, whichever is less.

asked whether it is the intention of the Government to enforce the liquidation of the Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank, Direction der Disconto-Gesellschaft, and similar alien enemy financial institutions shortly after the declaration of peace, and to take steps to prevent such alien enemy financial institutions, or any agents acting directly or indirectly on their behalf, carrying on any business in this country in future?

The institutions referred to in the question are at present prohibited under the law relating to alien enemies from carrying on any banking business in this country except the completion of transactions entered into before the outbreak of war, so far as these transactions would, in ordinary course, have been carried out through or with their London establishments. It would be premature to make any statement at the present moment as to whether and, if so, under what conditions they will be allowed to resume business after the conclusion of peace.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the recent American Note dealing with the treatment of neutral mails has not yet been officially published in this country; and can he state what is the cause of the delay?

The Note was published some days ago.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can give the House any statistics showing the number of old age pensioners chargeable to the rates, owing to the inadequacy of 5s. a week for their support; and whether he has considered any method of relieving the distress of these old people alternative to sending them to workhouses?

My right hon. Friend has no statistics showing exactly what my hon. Friend desires, but the information in his possession, while showing variations in different areas, does not as a whole support the suggestion that any considerable number of old people are finding it necessary to have recourse to Poor Law relief. On the contrary, there has been a marked decrease in the total number of persons over seventy years of age in receipt of poor relief. I may say generally that the evidence obtained indicates that, while some old age pensioners, owing to a variety of causes, of which the high cost of living is only one, have both before and during the War found themselves unable to live on their pension; those who live with their relatives are frequently in better circumstances at the present time than they were before the War.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the number of affidavits alleging grave irregularities in Ceylon, which affidavits are regarded by the Colonial authorities as unworthy of any credence, he intends to-give instructions that those who have sworn such affidavits shall be prosecuted for perjury?

I have no doubt that the Ceylon Government will take any action which appears to them necessary; but, since most of the affidavits in question have been sworn by illiterate persons, who were probably not responsible for the elaboration of the stories which they contain, I see no reason for giving any instructions in the matter.