asked the Prime Minister if at the Coachford Show, county Cork, the prohibition of Gaelic dancing competitions amongst children was enforced under martial law; and, if Irish r dancing is illegal, would General Maxwell allow the Pyrrhic dances or nautch dancing?

General Max-well informs me that the police have been instructed to grant applications for permission to hold these competitions unless there are exceptional circumstances which make it undesirable. He has no knowledge of the particular case referred to by my hon. and learned Friend, but will make inquiries. The second part of the question does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Mr. P. T. Daly, secretary of the Irish Trades Congress, is at present detained in S Wandsworth Detention Camp, and that Mr. W. O'Brien, secretary of the Dublin Trades Council, and Mr. T. Foran, Poor Law guardian, are at Richmond Barracks, Dublin, awaiting trial in connection with the recent disturbances in Dublin; and whether the inquiry concerning the three men will be expedited, and the minute-book and other papers appertaining to the congress restored to the officials of that body?

The inquiries regarding all Irish prisoners are being conducted with the utmost rapidity possible. Any I books or documents which are no longer required by the military or civil authorities will be restored in due course.

asked the Under-1 Secretary of State for War how many Irish Catholics are interned at Frongoch, near Bala, Wales, as untried prisoners; how many miles is the camp from a Catholic church; what arrangements have been made as to providing for a Catholic chaplain; and why have His Majesty's subjects, accused of no offence, been sent to a more inaccessible place for visits than alien enemies?

On the 28th June there were 1,047 Irish prisoners at Frongoch, the majority of whom are believed to be Roman Catholics. Arrangements have been made for a priest to say Mass in the camp weekly. Frongoch was chosen, in conjunction with the Home Office, as a place of internment most suitable, on account of size, of all the available places of internment in Great Britain.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has seen the resolutions passed by the borough of Cambridge deprecating the action of the military authorities in withdrawing dentists from the practice of their profession and putting them to do the work of ordinary soldiers; and can he say what is die policy of the War Office in the matter?

I have not seen the resolution to which the hon. Member refers. Claims for the exemption of dental surgeons whose services the principal medical officer considers indispensable have been assented to conditionally on their services with the troops being continued. In other cases dentists have recourse to tribunals in the ordinary way. A decision by the Central Tribunal in a recent case has been circulated to tribunals. In this case the dentist was granted exemption conditionally on his remaining in his present occupation. The following was added:

"The Central Tribunal, from evidence submitted to them, are impressed with the danger of farther reducing the number of registered dentists now in this country. Whether any particular dentist should he granted exemption must obviously depend to some extent upon the requirements of the place in which he practises, but they are inclined to think that unless it he shown that his services are not required he should be granted exemption. Similar considerations apply to the mechanics on whom dentists depend for the efficient performance of their work."

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a memorial from the National Federation of Boot Trades' Association calling his attention to the national importance of the trades which it represents and the serious difficulties and hardships which the calling up for military service of any more of the men engaged in those trades will entail; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I received the memorial referred to and arranged that a deputation from the National Federation of Boot Trades' Associations should be received by the Reserved Occupations Committee. As a result of this conference the Committee recommended that boot repairers of certain ages should be placed on the list of certified occupations, and this recommendation is now in operation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether men who have attained the age of forty-one years since attestation are required to obtain and produce a birth certificate at their own expense, amounting to 3s. 7d.— i.e., 1s. search, 2s. 6d. certificate, and 1d. stamp; and, if so, whether he will take steps to have their birth certificates issued free of cost upon production of the War Office demand for the same, and thereby save a number of persons what in many cases amounts to a day's earnings.

Proof is required that a man has attained the age which prevents him from being accepted for service. I do not think public funds can be expected to bear the expense involved in enabling men to establish this point. I am not sure that there are not persons who would be quite ready to lay down a day's earnings or even more for the attainment of this object.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is misunderstanding in various regiments as to the exact conditions of bounty and leave to be granted to time-expired soldiers who re-enlist under the Military Service Act; and whether he will state categorically what the exact position is?

Men who have been discharged on termination of their engagement, and who are recalled to the Colours under the Military Service Act, 1916 (Session 2), or from the groups, are entitled to a bounty as laid down in Army Order X., of 20th June, 1916, but will not be entitled to a furlough. Men who, on termination of their current engagement, are retained with the Colours for the duration of the War under the Military Service Act, 1916 (Session 2), are entitled to a bounty, as laid down in Army Order X. of 20th June, 1916, and are to be given a month's furlough, if the exigencies of the Service allow.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has obtained information about John Catherall Penny, of Chelmsford, who is a conscientious objector to military service; whether he has been drafted to the 2/1st Herts Regiment and was tried by regimental court-martial at Newmarket; whether he was tried a second time by a district court-martial at Newmarket on 9th June; whether he was sentenced by it to two years' hard labour; and why he was not handed over to a civil prison instead of being retained in Springfield Military Gaol, Chelmsford?

I am still awaiting a report on this case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is in a position to give information concerning Harold Reuthe, of Bromley Common, Kent, who is a conscientious objector; whether he was, during his detention at Chelmsford, illegally knocked down and dragged into a dark cell; whether he has been, or will be, sent to France; and whether he is still disobeying orders?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave to the hon. Member for "West Leeds on the 26th June. In a letter addressed to his commandant, Harold Reuthe says, "Beyond the inconvenience and natural irksomeness of confinement, I am well and as happy as can be under the circumstances." I am sure my hon. Friend will be reassured to find that the allegations contained in his question are without foundation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has inquired into the case of James Pitts, a conscientious objector, who is, or recently was, at the non-combatant camp, 3rd Dorset Regiment, Wyke Regis; why was this man arrested before the day fixed for the reviewing of his case by the tribunal; whether he has been sent to France; if not, is it intended to send him abroad; and is he still disobeying orders?

I am obtaining a report.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether R. E. Pond and W. A. Cooper, conscientious objectors, have been court-martialled a second time; whether they are now or recently were at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield; whether their conduct there has been good and respectful to their officers apart from their refusal to do military service; will he say why they were not handed over to a civil prison when they had been sentenced by the first court-martial: whether it is intended to send these men to France; and, if so, whether they will be allowed the usual leave given to soldiers who are ordered abroad?

If the hon. Member will state the sentence awarded by the first court-martial and the date on which the sentence was signed I shall be in a position to say why they were not handed over to a civil prison. If, as he says, these men are refusing to do military service, the question as to whether their conduct has been good and respectful in other respects does not arise. If the hon. Member will state the regimental number and unit to which these conscientious objectors belong I shall be in a position to say whether or not they will be sent to France, as also whether they will be allowed leave prior to proceeding abroad.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has inquired into the treatment of J. H. Lees, at Duddingston Camp, Edinburgh; whether this case of ill-treatment was witnessed by three privates whose names and numbers were supplied to him; and whether he has had any report?

I have no recollection of having been asked to inquire into this case, and I have no report of it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can state what part Lord Holmpatrick took in the Curragh revolt two years ago; if he can say whether Lord Holmpatrick took an active part in inciting the military against the Government at that time; if he is aware that Lord Holmparick is evicting some of his tenants; and if he is aware that the reason given is because their sons took part in the rising and that the Government desire them to be punished?

I know nothing about the matters referred to in the first two parts of the question, but it is, I think, common ground that it is undesirable to rake over the events at the Curragh of two years ago. The relationship between Lord Holmpatrick and his tenants is, obviously, not a matter with which the War Office has anything to do.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, before the Second Reading of the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Bill, he will lay upon the Table of the House a list of commons and counties in which they are situate to which the Bill will apply, temporary possession of such commons, or parts of them, having been taken by the War Office or other Departments of the Government for the purposes of the War, and stating briefly the extent of the common land so taken, the purposes for which it has been taken, and the value of the buildings erected upon such lands?

:I cannot, I fear, undertake to have this Return compiled. I think my hon. Friend may be under the impression that the Bill gives power to purchase commons compulsorily, but that is not so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is in contemplation to take over from asylum authorities any further accommodation for uncertifiable nerve-shaken soldiers or sailors, who are in consequence to be placed, as in the Middlesex county asylums, under asylum management?

No, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in fixing the amounts of pensions, it is the practice of the military authorities to take into account any grants of a temporary character which are made to the dependants of soldiers from unofficial benevolent sources; and, if such be the practice, whether it is usual to augment the pension in order to compensate for the loss sustained in the withdrawal of such unofficial financial assistance?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the reference to European soldiers in the various Royal Warrants excludes soldiers belonging to what is known as Kitchener's Army, serving in India and elesewhere, to the rates of pension there set up; and, if so, what rates are applicable in such cases?

The troops in India are not on active service, and the special warrants for disability pensions issued for the War do not apply to disability due to-disease contracted in India. The rates applicable in those cases are governed by the Pay Warrant (Articles 1163 onwards).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Munitions (l) whether he has now devised any means by which the burden cast on the trade of the family brewers by the Liquor Control Board regulations can be removed; what steps he proposes to take to alleviate the hardship on this class of trader; (2) whether he will consider the possibility of amending the regulations of the Liquor Control Board with a view to removing the hardship on the family brewing section of the trade without reducing their effect either on hawking or on the prevention of home drinking to excess; whether he will consult the Union-of Family Trade Brewers on this point; and (3) whether he will state on what occasions, if any, the Liquor Control Board invited the Union of Family Trade Brewers to suggest alterations in the-Board's Regulations or restrictions which would obviate the hardship imposed by those Regulations and restrictions on the family brewing trade, and what reply was received from the union; and whether the object of the Board's Regulations regarding the delivery and supply of liquor by family brewers, and the orders and collection of accounts for such liquor, are made with a view to preventing hawking or preventing home drinking?

Three formal deputations from the Union of Family Trade Brewers on the matters in question have been received since the 25th November, in addition to which representatives of the union have discussed these matters with representatives of the Control Board, and numerous written communications have also been addressed to the Board by the union. I do not think there is any want of understanding either on the part of the Control Board of the objections which the union take to the Regulations, or on the part of the union of the objects which the Board have in view.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that the present Regulations of the Liquor Control Board operate in such a way as to induce moderate drinkers and their wives to take drink in public-houses instead of with their meals in their homes as they have hitherto been accustomed to do; and whether he proposes to take any action with regard to these Regulations?

I think it may be regarded as established that the Control Board's Orders, taken as a whole, have, in the first place, effected a very large reduction of excessive drinking, and, in the second place, have had the effect of transferring some moderate drinking from the homes to the public-houses and some from the public-houses to the homes. I am glad to see the hon. Member's question, as the complaint which is implied in it is the exact converse of that usually made. I under- stand that the Control Board have the question constantly under consideration and that they would welcome precise figures on the subject.

asked whether any decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the application made on behalf of the clerks at Woolwich Arsenal for certain wage questions being remitted for arbitration, which the Chief Industrial Commissioner has had in hand for several months in correspondence with the Ministry of Munitions?

I am informed that the Ministry of Munitions and the War Office are in communication with the Treasury on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Private Lonsdale, who was sentenced some months ago to penal servitude for life, has been released?

The only information we have is that which has appeared in the Press, and it is contradictory. If I receive any other information I shall be glad to give it.