asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now state the result of the inquiry into the shooting of Mrs. Naylor and continuing the fire for five hours on the bridge where she lay in agony, though no combatants were there, thus preventing her removal, until she was ultimately removed and died while being carried to Sir Patrick Dunn's Hospital?

The result of the inquiries regarding these allegations has not yet been received.

asked whether the Government have considered the advisability of releasing the wounded prisoners in Dublin Castle hospital on recovery from their wounds; whether some of them have recently been transferred from the hospital to Kilmainham prison and forced to sleep on the floor without beds and with no covering but their ordinary clothes; whether among those so treated are Daniel M'Carthy and Maurice O'Flanagan, not nearly recovered from their wounds; whether the visiting doctors, as distinguished from the medical officer, declared these two men able to bear that treatment; and where these two are now, and what is the nature of their treatment?

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to this question yesterday. Possibly the hon. Member has not noticed the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Home Secretary on whose instructions the police in some parts of Ireland forbid the wearing of mourning republican badges, while in other parts this practice is not interfered with; if any general order on the subject has been issued, will he state its terms; and, either way, whether a uniform rule will be introduced instead of leaving the decision to individual policemen scheming for promotion?

No such instructions have been issued to the police in Ireland, and I am not aware of any case in which, apart from the effect of No. 27 of the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulations, the wearing of badges—"mourning republican" or not—has so far been forbidden.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that application was made to the Surrey Appeal Tribunal on 24th June on behalf of E. B. Chappelow, a conscientious objector, now undergoing a sentence of detention for a revision of his certificate of exemption, on the ground that his willingness to undertake work of national importance of a civil character had not been taken into account; that it was stated by this tribunal that they had no jurisdiction to hear the case so long as Chappelow was in the hands of the military authorities; and whether he will give instructions that this man should be provisionally released, as has been done in other similar cases, in order that a decision may be obtained?

Release has not been granted by the War Office in any similar case. This man has been serving since 12th April. He has been sentenced for disobedience of military orders; he, therefore, comes under the provisions for dealing with these cases outlined by the Prime Minister in his statement of 29th June.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make inquiries into the case of Thomas Henry Haynes, of Rycroft Villa, 81, Marsden Road, Burnley, who was sentenced to two years' hard labour on 24th June and is now believed to be imprisoned in Walton Gaol, Burnley; whether he is aware that this man, who is only nineteen years of age and bears a very high character in the town, has frequently expressed his willing-ness to undertake any work of national importance of a civil character; and whether the man will soon have this opportunity under the new scheme?

No inquiry into this case seems to be necessary. If the facts be as stated T. H. Haynes will certainly have the opportunity desired under the new scheme.

asked whether instructions have yet been given to the military representative at Middlesbrough to liberate Walter Robinson, of Middlesbrough, from military custody and to refer him to the Pelham Committee, seeing that the local tribunal granted him ah exemption certificate conditionally upon his doing work under that Committee; and whether definite instructions have been given to this military representative as to the functions of the Pelham Committee?

I am informed that Walter Robinson was granted exemption from combatant service only by the Middlesbrough local tribunal on the 11th March. His appeal to the North Riding Appeal Tribunal was dismissed on the 7th April. He was called up for the 29th May, but did not report. A second notice was sent for the 17th June, but again he did not report. He was arrested on the 19th June, and on the same day convicted as an absentee and handed over to the military authorities. It is not correct, as implied in the hon. Member's question of the 29th June, that the local tribunal had before his arrest granted him an exemption certificate conditionally on his obtaining work under the Pelham Committee, though he had been in communication with the tribunal, who, without reviewing the certificate, had authorised him to apply to the Pelham Committee. As his certificate was an exemption from combatant service only, this permission was not effective, and his formal application only came before the tribunal on the 30th June, twelve days after his arrest. In these circumstances, no instructions have been given for his release. Information has been given to Captain Brissender, the recruiting officer, as to the functions of the Pelham Committee.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that dissatisfaction has been caused by the constitution of the Committee on Food Prices; and whether, with a view to securing the adequate representation of the private trader, he will consider the advisability of adding to this Committee a member of the Federation of Grocers' Associations?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a member of the Grocers' Federation upon the Committee on Food Prices, seeing that the cooperative societies are already represented?

I will answer these following questions together. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Acting President of the Board of Trade that, after giving the matter the careful reconsideration promised, he does not think it would be wise to increase the number of members of this Committee. He hopes, and so do I, that the Committee will receive the assistance of all organised bodies of traders.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he will inquire into the question of promotions amongst the workmen engaged at the Royal Gunpowder Factory, at Waltham Abbey, as many complaints are made that men with only a few months' service are promoted over the heads of those who have been there a number of years; and whether he will do his best to allay the prevalent dissatisfaction entailed thereby?

I have made inquiry into the system adopted. Other things being equal, preference is given in regard to promotion, to men with the longer service. In other cases merit has precedence over long service, and my hon. Friend will no doubt agree that this is the proper system.

asked the Secretary of State for India what were the exports of raw cotton from India during the last prewar year and the principal purchasing countries; what were the exports in the most recent recorded period and the purchasing countries; and what endeavours are being made to secure the growth in India of cotton of a staple suitable for Lancashire mills?

Efforts are being made to increase the cultivation of long stapled cotton where this is possible, and I shall be glad to place at the disposal of the hon. Member Papers showing what is being done.

The Exports of Raw Cotton from British India in 1913–14 and 1915–16 were as follows:— — 1913–14(1). 1915–16(2) Cwts. Cwts. United Kingdom 384,914 823,502 Germany 1,688,070 Nil. Belgium 1,133,083 Nil. France 524,264 203,707 Spain 166,933 237,061 Italy 848,576 1,097,138 Austria-Hungary 747,041 Nil. China 194,288 381,074 Japan 4,817,560 5,913,981 Other Countries 121,583 149,853 (1) Ending 31st March, 1914. (2) Ending 31st March, 1916.

asked the Secretary of State for India from what dates prior to June, 1915, was Surgeon-General Sir W. Babtie absent from his appointment as Director of Medical Services in India; where was he employed during that time; and who was the officer responsible in regard to the medical provision for the expedition to Mesopotamia during his absence?

Surgeon-General Babtie left India for Egypt on the 6th February and returned on the 19th March. He was deputed to Egypt at the instance of the War Office to report on the Indian medical arrangements there. During his absence the routine duties of the office were carried on by the Deputy-Director of Medical Services. The Government of India report that the latter dealt with no questions of policy.

asked what local authorities have made provision for the treatment of the mentally deficient under the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, Section 30?

The total number of local authorities under the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, is 125. The number of local authorities who have submitted one or more schemes for giving effect to the Act is eighty-seven. There have been interviews or correspondence with other local authorities who have not, so far, submitted formal schemes, and they have been urged to carry out the important, but comparatively inexpensive, duties of ascertaining the numbers of defectives for whom they are responsible, and of providing supervision and guardianship where required. The restriction of capital issues during the War prevents local authorities from purchasing land or buildings with a view to the provision of institutional accommodation on an important scale. The Board of Control have suggested that they should provide for urgent cases by ( a ) leasing and adapting existing buildings, where this can be done at little cost; or ( b ) entering into contracts with the managers of existing institutions; or ( c ) applying for the approval under Section 37 of the Act of suitable portions of Poor Law premises. The institutional accommodation now available for local authorities is as follows:

(1) Certified institutions provided by local authorities alone or in conjunction with other local authorities: (a) Institutions actually open (3):— Local Authority. Institution. Accom. Middlesex Bramley House 44 Lancashire Brockhall 158 Mid-Yorks Joint Board Cattal 120 Total 322 ( b ) Proposals which have been approved, or probably will be approved, in the near future (5):— Local Authority. Institution. Accom. Bradford Ashfield 36 Leicester Borough Cross Corners 20 London Brunswick House 55 London Streatham Schools 81 Sheffield Wales Court 60 Total 252

(2) Institutions and homes provided by religious and philanthropic associations and by individuals: Number certified or approved 54 Accommodation provided 3,808

(3) Nine hospitals and institutions formerly registered under the Idiots Act have become certified institutions or houses under the Mental Deficiency Act, and continue to provide accommodation for 2,526 defectives, who are, by virtue of Section 67 of the Mental Deficiency Act, on the footing of defectives dealt with under Section 3 of that Act.

(4) Twenty-six Poor Law institutions (not certified institutions) approved under Section 37, providing accommodation for 1,283 cases.

Sixty-six local authorities have entered into contracts with one or more of the institutions described above. In many instances, also, patients have been sent to the institutions in anticipation of the completion of the contracts. The number of cases sent by local authorities to certified institutions or to guardianship in the exercise of their obligations, and chargeable to them, was, on the 30th June, 1916: Sent to CertifiedInstitutions Guardianship. Total. Cases dealt with by Orders of Judicial Authorities (Section 6) 1,154 69 1,223 By Orders of Criminal Courts or by the Secretary of State (Sections 8 and 9) 207 6 213 1,361 75 1,436

The figures in the above table do not include the cases now under care, amounting in number to about 600, dealt with under the Act since its commencement otherwise than by Order.