asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the current rate of exchange in London for French, Italian, and Russian currency, respectively, on 1st July, 1914, 1st July, 1915, and 1st July, 1916?

The sight rates of exchange on London in Paris, Rome and Petrograd on 1st July, 1914, 1st July, 1915, and 30th June, 1916, were as follows:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office has yet arrived at any decision with regard to married men who, coming under the provisions of the Military Service Acts, have been medically examined and certified as fit only for Home service in garrison or provisional units; and, having regard to the anxiety experienced by these men owing to the uncertainty of their position, whether he will make an authoritative statement as to what is likely to be done with married men of this class?

The number of men required for Home service units has nearly been obtained, and it is intended to cease taking any more Home service men as soon as the requirements have been met. It is not possible to say that more Home service men will not be required later on.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether a number of conscientious objectors are being confined in a single small room at Seaford Camp, which is only 20 feet square; whether they only get half an hour in every twenty-four hours for change of air; whether these men are soon to be sent abroad; and whether, in order to give the strongest possible physique to men destined for foreign service, he will order some alteration of treatment in these cases; (2) whether he can give information concerning Private Fowler, 4th Eastern Company, Non-Combatant Corps, 10th Border Regiment; why was this man transferred from the 3rd Eastern Company, Non-Combatant Corps, 16th Royal Fusiliers, to his present company; and whether he is now, or was recently, in the cells on bread-and-water diet; (3) why certain conscientious objectors who are physically fit have been placed on garrison duty at home, put on the Reserve, and told that they will have two months' notice before being called up, whereas other conscientious objectors, who are physically incapable of doing general service, are posted to combatant units, are having their strength reduced by bread-and-water diet, and are being maintained at the public expense, while learning nothing of their duties; whether such action embodies the considered policy of the Army Council; and whether he proposes to make any alteration; and (4) why Private Hayward, No. 1106, Private Bishop, No. 1100, Private Reccord, No. 1088, Private Fromow, 1103, and Private Maynard, No. 1102, all of the 4th Eastern Company, Non-Combatant Corps, in the 10th Border Regiment, now at Seaford, were removed from the 3rd Eastern Company, Non-Combatant Corps, in the 16th Royal Fusiliers; how long were they at Shoreham Camp; were they disobeying orders all the time while there, and, if so, why were they not court-martialled; whether their colonel actually ordered their court-martial; what superior officer countermanded that order; and whether, in view of the prolonged idleness of these men, and the constant changes and hesitations shown in their treatment, he will now order their discharge on condition that they do useful work of an economic value?

As I have previously informed my hon. Friend, upon more than one occasion, I cannot undertake to make inquiries into the particulars as to whereabouts, conduct, or treatment of individual soldiers, unless there be valid cause to fear that there has been any irregularity in the action of the military authorities. As no cause to fear anything of the kind is disclosed in these questions, I see no reason to call for an inquiry.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why men of the Royal Engineers in the 27th Division, who formerly wore R.E. on their shoulders, have now to wear the brass letters and word, T.R.E. Wessex, instead; and whether he is aware that a unit which has done distinguished service under one name or mark does not appreciate such changes of name and signs?

My hon. Friend has more information about this than I have— I have none. But I may inform him that as a general rule Territorial Force units are very eager to be permitted to adopt a badge which indicates their territorial place of origin.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is a ware of the local inconvenience and injury to business caused by the continued internment in this country, uncharged and untried, of Mr. John Cawley, manager of the Granard Creamery, and of Mr. John Murphy, manager of the Ballydwyer Creamery, in this the most important season in the year for that business; seeing that ample security is available for the appearance of both to meet any charge in a Civil Court, whether they will be allowed to resume their business; and whether these two cases will be dealt with forthwith?

The cases referred to are under consideration by the Advisory Committee, who are dealing with all cases as rapidly as possible.

asked whether the request of Mr. P. J. Doris, editor of the "Mayo News," to be furnished with the charge, if any, against him, and the evidence on which it is based, has yet been conceded; and, if not, when it will be conceded and either a trial or release ordered?

The grounds for the internment of P. J. Doris are stated in the notice of the order for internment which has been served upon him. His case is under consideration by the Advisory Committee.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will have the cases of the following interned Irish youths considered at an early date, with a view to their release: James Murphy (aged fourteen and a half years), Michael Boles, James O'Dwyer, Edward Newell, William O'Brien, Thomas O'Donovan, John Howland, James Conlan, Francis Mason, M. Gahon, Joseph Musgrave, Joseph Cleary, Christopher Caulfield, John O'Shea, Matthew O'Brien, James Hand, James O'Byrne, Christopher Byrne, William Meade, Patrick O'Leary, William Franey, Michael Cahill, Michael Cunliffe, Michael Costlioe, Matthew Daley, William Hendrick, James Goodall, James Murphy, John O'Neill, and James Coady?

The Advisory Committee are dealing with the cases of all interned Irish prisoners as rapidly as possible.

asked whether all the personal property, including money, taken from the Irish prisoners now interned at the time of their arrest has yet been returned to them or to persons named by them; whether Thomas Clarke's pipe taken from Joseph Kelly has yet been returned; and, if not, this article being now a relic for which there is no equivalent, whether prompt measures have been or will be taken to recover and restore it?

In the absence of special reason to the contrary, articles of personal property, including money, taken from Irish prisoners at the time of their arrest have been or will be returned to them.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that the feis portions of local shows, comprising children's competitions in singing and dancing, and being a source of amusement and revenue for the purposes of the shows, are now being prevented under martial law; whether he has been consulted as to any danger to the realm from those entertainments; whether he has advised that prevention of them will increase affection; and what action he proposes to take with reference to them?

The Department have no information on this subject.

asked Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that the house of Joseph O'Regan, Midleton, county Cork, was searched on the 11th of June by the police, and that Mr. O'Regan was himself arrested by the district inspector and a policeman when returning from the Hibernian Hall on that date; whether the investigations of the police failed entirely to connect Mr. O'Regan with the Sinn Fein movement; whether it was notorious in Midleton that this gentleman was of the opposite way of thinking; whether it was also well known to the police that there was no branch of the Sinn Fein organisation in Midleton and no meeting ever held there in reference to it; and whether these proceedings, which cause local irritation and annoyance, will be dropped?

The house of Joseph O'Regan was searched at Midleton on the 13th May. In consequence of certain information which reached the police they questioned this man as to his movements on the 11th June, but did not arrest him, and he made no complaint of his treatment on the occasion. The question of O'Regan being a Sinn Feiner did not arise, but I do not understand that it is notorious in Midleton that he is of the opposite way of thinking.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state the number of children on the registers of the ordinary public elementary day schools for each of the years 1914, 1915, and 1916, at January in each year, respectively, and giving the figures for each year in the three groups, under six years, six years and under thirteen, thirteen years and over?

The numbers of children on the registers of ordinary public elementary day schools (i.e., excluding institution schools not maintained by local education authorities (see Section 15 of the Education Act, 1902)) in England and Wales on the 31st January in each of the years in question, arranged in the age groups suggested, are as follows:—