asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Mr. Chester Jones stated at a recent Home Office inquiry at Bradford that wool is being brought into Germany through Norway and Sweden, and that German yarn manufacturers are now paying very good dividends; whether the Department of blockade communicated these facts to Mr. Chester Jones; and whether action will be taken to make our blockade more effective?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Certain wools had been imported into Sweden from South America and sent to Germany to be combed and spun on commission and returned to Sweden, as Sweden was unable to obtain wool or yarn from other sources and did not possess the necessary machinery for combing the wool thus imported. The Swedish Government supervised the return to Sweden of the wool in the spun state. These facts had been communicated to Mr. Chester Jones and also the report that two spinning factories in Germany had declared a good dividend. Action is constantly being taken to make the blockade as effective as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can lay any Papers with regard to recent Diplomatic events in Greece?

The hon. Member for Bethnal Green asked me a question on this subject yesterday, and I am afraid there is nothing to add to what was then said.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Belgian Grey Book states that the German demand for a passage-way through Belgium was presented at Brussels at 7 p.m. on 2nd August, 1914; and, if so, will he state why the hour is omitted from what purports to be a translation of the document issued as a Parliamentary White Paper?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I cannot say, after this length of time, how the hour 7 p.m. came to be omitted in the translation of No. 20 of the Belgian Grey Book. I presume it was due to inadvertence. The hon. Member will see by reference to No. 23 of the same publication that the hour 7 p.m. is given.

May I point out the great desirability that the hour should appear in future reports, and so set at rest the statements being made that this country took no stand alongside France before the Belgian incident arose, and that only that morning we decided to place the Fleet at the disposal of France?

I will represent that point. I was not aware that any reasonable person had any doubt of it.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the recent statement of the late First Lord of the Admiralty in the " Sunday Pictorial" that this country did not decide to stand by France until the Belgian incident consolidated the Cabinet?

My attention has not been called to that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made for retaining a hill station in the Cameroons for the benefit of the administration of Nigeria?

The hill stations in the districts of the Cameroons provisionally placed under British authority are now occupied by officers of the Nigerian Government, which is administering those districts.

In case of any change, or proposed change, in the status of these hill stations will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that, if possible, one or the other is retained in British hands?

That will certainly be considered if any rearrangement is made.

Do the hill stations in our occupation provide good sanatoria?

Yes, of the very best.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the names of the two destroyers which accompanied His Majesty's ship "Hampshire" on her last voyage?

The names of the two destroyers that escorted His Majesty's ship " Hampshire " have not been reported to the Admiralty, but inquiry has been made by telegram.

asked what steps have been taken by the Admiralty in connection with the authority given by Parliament in the year 1914 for the use of £2,000,000 sterling for the development of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's properties; and what advantages have accrued to this country financially and in the obtaining of an oil supply?

The Admiralty is represented on the board of directors of the company, and is satisfied that, in spite of interruption caused by the War, and the difficulty of obtaining the necessary plant, good progress has been made in the work of development. It has, of course, been inevitable that operations have been much hampered, but even in normal circumstances it would hardly be expected that capital spent in the development of oil properties would yield a return in less than two years. As my hon. Friend is aware, the company has not yet paid a dividend on its ordinary shares. He will probably concur that this would be too much to hope for in the circumstances. But a large quantity of oil fuel has been supplied for the Navy. Nothing has occurred to impair confidence in the productivity of the field.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give an assurance to the inhabitants of the North-East Coast that special precautions are being taken against submarine or other sea raids, especially those portions of the coast which are industrial and which offer temptations to the enemy, seeing that the recent submarine raid on the Seaham portion, though abortive in a general sense, is evidence of the possibility of runaway attacks without sufficient means of defence, and that the inhabitants of the coast, while bearing themselves with remarkable coolness and confidence, would have been enthusiastic if they had seen or heard evidences of defence and reply?

It is not possible to prevent the occasional appearance of an enemy submarine within range of the shore, but I can give an assurance that the measures which have been and will be taken are such as to render a proceeding of this sort increasingly dangerous for the submarine.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the practice of the yacht patrol section of his Department, presided over by Commander Lecky, to refuse all evidence of the capacity of men who offer themselves for his Department once they have given a decision, no matter how much experience the men may have gained between the two applications; and, if so, will he see that a more efficient system is adopted in future so that good men may not be lost to his Department?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Candidates for appointments are interviewed by a Board and not by Commander Lecky personally. The greatest possible care is taken in selections made from amongst those who present themselves, the competition, I may say, being very keen. If a candidate is unsuccessful and seeks thereafter to improve his qualifications, his case is considered again. I can assure my hon. Friend, in reply to the second part of his question, that we have every confidence in the efficiency of the methods at present adopted.

In view of the mismanagement by this commander of the Scottish part of the yacht patrol section, will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence to have him raised to a higher level?

In the usual way.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my hon. Friend is a competent yachtsman, and will he avail himself of his very special knowledge?

If the hon. Gentleman can make any suggestions to me, I shall be glad.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of interned civilian male prisoners under the age of forty-five, the number between the ages of forty-five and fifty, and the number over fifty?

I am not in possession of the information desired and it could not be obtained without a great expenditure of time and trouble.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it would be worth while to go to the trouble and expense, seeing that these facts are material, taken in conjunction with what was said last week by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs?

I will put my hon. Friend's point to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the senior medical officer at Kinmel Camp has lately resigned his post; and, if so, whether he has stated the reasons for so doing, and what are they?

No officer who has been in medical charge of Kinmel Park has resigned his post. The present incumbent has held the appointment since April last. His predecessor was relieved on account of ill-health as certified by a medical board.

asked the Secretary of State for War why permission is now refused to the public to be present at the district courts-martial held at Chelsea Barracks; whether he is aware that on Wednesday, 12th July, several friends of a prisoner who was to be tried at this Court were refused admission on the ground that they were not named as witnesses and were not representatives of the Press, and that the president of the Court had given orders that no other persons could be admitted; and whether such orders are in accordance with the Regulation which provides that the Court must be open to the public, military or otherwise, so far as the room or tent in which the Court is held can receive them?

Inquiry has been made, and I find that the Court on the date mentioned was throughout the proceedings open to the public, military or otherwise, and was always crowded, to the inconvenience of all present. I am also informed that a man handed in a visiting card purporting to be that of the hon. Member who puts this question, and that this man was accommodated with the best seat in the Court, although he was not named as a witness nor admittedly a representative of the Press. I think the House will agree that this goes to show that ample facilities were afforded to the public for attending this trial.

Is my hon. Friend aware that I was personally denied admittance as a member of the public, and that several members of the public "who were at the same time with me were refused admittance; and I only obtained admittance by sending in my visiting card and saying that I demanded to be present?

Then my hon. Friend had ample opportunities of seeing that the public were admitted in so far as the space in the Court allowed.

Will my hon. Friend see that in future it is made quite clear that courts-martial are public, and that the public shall not be excluded, as they were here?

I am informed they were not excluded.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these courts-martial are held in very small places, and there is not room for everybody?

I beg to give notice that I shall call attention to the matter on the Adjournment.

asked what steps are being taken to see that men who resist orders on conscientious grounds are not in future to be treated with such brutal and illegal violence as has been used on various occasions in the past but are to be brought immediately before a court-martial, with a view to coming under the provisions of the new scheme?

Sections 37 and 40 of the Army Act provide penalties for the striking or ill-treatment of a soldier. I cannot accept the hon. Member's generalisation as a correct description of what has happened, but I can, of course, assure him that, where there is good ground, the Sections of the Army Act mentioned will be put into force. On the second part of the question I would refer him to Section 45 of the Army Act, and to the note appended thereto on page 421 of the Manual of Military Law. The provisions for ensuring that no undue delay takes place before a man is brought to trial are sufficient.

asked whether Lance-Corporal Barker, of the 17th battalion Cheshire Regiment, against whom disciplinary action was ordered to be taken in consequence of the undue force which he was found to have used towards conscientious objectors at Prees Heath Camp, has recently been promoted to the rank of corporal?

Lance-Corporal Barker is now Private Barker. He had been appointed an unpaid acting corporal prior to the receipt of instructions that disciplinary action was to be taken against him for exceeding his duty when in charge of conscientious objectors.

Will the War Office have an inquiry made into this man's state of mind, seeing it is quite evident from his letters to Members of Parliament that such a step is necessary?

If there is any reason to think that his mind is affected inquiry will be made.

asked whether the provision contained in the Local Government Board Regulations, R. 85, Part III, paragraph (2), is still in force under which a case may be reheard by a tribunal with the consent of the Army Council after the man has joined the Colours; and whether in the case of a man who is in custody for disobedience to orders on conscientious grounds, the Army Council have power to grant him a temporary re-lease for the purpose of such rehearing?

The provision to which the hon. Member refers in the first part of his question is still in force. With respect to the second part of the question, the case put by the hon. Member would seem to come within the arrangement out-lined by the Prime Minister, on the 29th June last, and, if so, the question of permission for a rehearing before the tribunal would not arise.

asked when the scheme recently outlined by the Prime Minister for dealing with conscientious objectors in the Army will be brought into operation; and whether all those men who are now serving sentences for disobedience to orders on conscientious grounds will have the opportunity of being brought under the new scheme?

The scheme is being brought into force. The cases of all conscientious objectors who have been sentenced to imprisonment, and of all who are undergoing detention, will be inquired into.

Do I understand that the men whose sentences are now about to expire will not necessarily be sent back into the Army, and are they to go through the whole thing again merely because there is delay?

Will they be sent to Germany?

I am not really very well posted in the details of these arrangements, and perhaps the hon. Member will kindly give me notice.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of H. W. Hampton, No. 5 Eastern Company, Non-Combatant Corps, Valley Camp, New-haven, who was handed over to the military authorities by the Dartford Bench on the 8th instant, was placed in the guard room, Woolwich on Saturday night and part of Sunday for refusing to be medically examined, on Sunday afternoon was taken to Guildford and placed in detention cells, next morning was forcibly stripped of his clothes, medically examined, and forcibly dressed in khaki, then sent to Newhaven, there placed in the Royal Sussex guard room, deprived of any tea, and treated in a rough manner; whether the officers told him that he would be tried by district court-martial; can he state whether Hampton has been tried by court-martial; and, if so, with what result?

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will give instructions to the recruiting officer at Keighley to cancel the calling-up notice to a tradesman whose name has been supplied to him, who offered himself for attestation in November last and was rejected on medical grounds, who was given an Army form B 2 512 A in February, marked permanently unfit, who was called up for re-examination last month and passed for general service, and later was sent a notice calling him to the Colours on 20th July; in view of the illegality of this notice under Section 3, Sub-section (2), of the Military Service Act, will special instructions be given to the recruiting officer to carry out the law in such cases; and (2), if he will order the release of Frank Sutton, who is now undergoing imprisonment in Winsom Prison, Birmingham, for refusing to obey military orders, seeing that Mr. Sutton has been taken into the Army by force, without a civil trial to prove that he was an absentee, and that he was taken from employment as inspector at the gunworks of Hodgkiss et Cie at Coventry; and, as he is a skilled engineer and a member of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, whether he will take steps for the better employment of Sutton in his trade instead of his being supported at the public expense in prison?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the fact that a lieutenant in charge of a signal section of the 5th Royal Munster Fusiliers, stationed at Haynes Park, near Bedford, on 21st or 23rd March last, threatened to arrest a farmer named Burr, of Willington, Bedfordshire, who endeavoured to protect from destruction his crops of young wheat and cabbages, and pointed out a neighbouring piece of grass which could be utilised by the men without any resultant damage; if so, will he say under what authority an officer is empowered to threaten to arrest a civilian endeavouring to protect his own property, in this case farm produce for the use of the nation; whether instructions will be issued by his Department to prevent such action in future on the part of officers; and whether this particular officer has been reprimanded in any way?

I have not the information to-day to answer these questions. Reports have been called for, and when they have been received the results will be sent to the hon. Members, with their permission, by letter.

asked if a Territorial whose time expired in June, 1915, who has been on active service since the outbreak of the War, is now stationed in Egypt, who has had no furlough since he was called to the Colours twenty-two months ago, and who by the passing of the Military Service Act has been deprived of the expectation of release in June, 1916, is entitled to a furlough; and if instructions will be given that the furlough shall be granted in such circumstances?

Instructions have been issued for the granting of a month's furlough in such cases—provided the exigencies of the Service will allow and that accommodation on ships is available.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether any steps have yet been taken to liberate Mr. Walter Robinson from military control, in view of the fact that the Middlesbrough Local Tribunal has granted him a certificate exempting him from military service on condition that he became engaged in work of national importance; and (2) whether a man who, having been granted by a tribunal a certificate of exemption from combatant service only, applies for a reviewof the certificate and is granted by the tribunal a variation of the certificate exempting him from military service on condition that he becomes engaged on work of national importance, is debarred by any provision of the Military Service Act from obtaining that exemption by reason of his having in the meantime been called up for military service; and, if so, will he state the provision which so debars him?

The case of Mr. Walter Robinson appears to fall within the terms of the hon. Member's Question No. 53. With regard to this latter question, I am informed that doubt exists as to how far the provisions for review of certificates under the Military Service Act apply in the case of certificates of exemption from combatant service only. Such certificates, as the hon. Member is aware, are not certificates of exemption from military service. Further inquiry is being made into this point, and I will inform the hon. Member later of the conclusion reached.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Hendon Local Tribunal hold their sittings in private, and that members of the public, though friends of the applicants whose cases are being heard, are refused admission; and whether he will draw the attention of the chairman to the Regulations issued by the Local Government Board on this subject?

My right hon. Friend is informed by the local tribunal that the sittings are held in public and that members of the Press attend every sitting. Where the applicant expresses a wish for his case to be taken in private the tribunal do so.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will make an inquiry into the action of the majority of the members of the Aberdare Military Service Tribunal in refusing to allow Mr. Evan Parker to have a review of the certificate granted to his son, seeing that Parker is able to submit new facts to the tribunal in support of his claim that his son is absolutely indispensable in his business as a garage keeper and motor vehicle repairer; and will he instruct the tribunal to review the certificate?

I understand that a certificate of exemption was not granted in this case, therefore there can be no question of a review. It rests with the tribunal which finally decides a case to determine whether it shall be reheard.

asked whether the scheme for meeting fixed charges such as rent, rates, insurance premiums, etc., in the case of men now serving in the ranks of the Army will also include men serving in the Navy as well as junior officers in the Navy and Royal Naval Reserve?

The scheme applies to men who have joined the Navy on or after the 4th August, 1914.

Can he say whether in the case of the Royal Naval Reserve men it would not apply to those who were on the list of the Royal Naval Reserve before the outbreak of the War?

I should like to consult the Secretary to the Admiralty before answering that question.

asked what number of applications have now been received by the Committee for providing grants for serving soldiers and sailors under the Civil Liabilities Relief scheme, and in how many cases grants have already been allotted; also what steps have been taken to inform officers that they are entitled to apply for relief under the scheme; and how many officers have made application?

The number of applications received, including applications still under investigation by the Commissioners, is approximately 50,000. Grants have been allotted in approximately 10,000 cases. The extension of the scheme to junior officers was notified to the Officers' Families Fund, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society, and the Statutory Committee, and was given publicity by the. Press. Up to the present only about a dozen applications from officers have reached the Committee. I cannot say how many such applications are before the Commissioners.

asked the Minister of Munitions how many solicitors act in Scotland as military representatives of the War Office on the tribunals under the Military Service Act; is he aware that a feeling exists that these solicitors do not press the claims of the War Office against their own clients; and will he see that this is altered?

I have no record showing how many military representatives in Scotland are solicitors, nor am I aware that any feeling exists that those military representatives who are solicitors, and who, like other military representatives, are performing an important public duty, do not faithfully perform that duty at the cost, in many cases, of great sacrifice of personal convenience. If the hon. Member has any definite case in mind and will send me particulars I shall be very happy to make enquiries into the matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that in many districts cases can be given where solicitors acting for the War Office have got off great batches of clients?

If my hon. Friend will send me particulars I will certainly have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, after the recent experience of the submarine attack on the North-East Coast, Seaham portion, which is of vital industrial importance, he will provide some more effective form of defence in the direction of guns, as it is believed that results disastrous to the enemy would have occurred if such had been in readiness, and seeing that the confidence and rational conduct of the people, which was commendable under such circumstances, was largely the result of their reliance on effective means being at hand to deal with such an attack?

My hon. Friend will, I am sure, acquit the Army Council of any want of sympathy with those who were the subjects of the recent attack if I say that the disposition of the guns and other means of defence available for the protection of the coast, which are settled and must be settled after careful consideration of all circumstances, cannot be made public. If I may say so, I fully agree with my hon. Friend that the demeanour of the people in the recent attack was worthy of all commendation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men in Pioneer Battalions at the front engaged for long periods on mining and similar important skilled work only receive pay at the rate of Is. 2d. per day, while men of Infantry regiments working with them carrying away earth, and also men in Engineer regiments when on exactly similar work, receive 2s. per day; if so, will he explain on what grounds the pioneers have been refused extra pay and required to work for 10d. per day less than any other members of His Majesty's Forces when engaged on this skilled and dangerous work at the front; and will steps be taken to alter this state of affairs, which is keenly felt by the pioneers?

Men in the Pioneer Battalions are employed on the work for which they were enlisted, and receive continuously the appropriate rate of pay. They do not receive the extra working pay granted to other soldiers for occasionally performing these duties.

asked what is the average number of returns per month which a commanding officer of a third-line unit of the Territorial Force has to compile and send in to superior military authority?

All returns are standardised, and Army forms are provided so that they may be rendered with the minimum trouble, and the number of such returns is kept as low as is consistent with due regard to proper and economical administration. It is impossible to say without instituting inquiries what the average number of returns per month would be over the whole of Great Britain, and it would hardly meet my hon. Friend's view if the War Office were to call for special returns in the matter. Only two weekly returns are rendered regularly to the War Office, but commanding officers are continually being asked for information on various subjects due to questions in Parliament.

Would the hon. Gentleman be surprised if I furnished him with the names of two battalions where the average number of returns which every commanding officer has to send in during the last three months is between 175 and 200 per month'? Is it not better the commanding officer should be out training his men instead of making returns which nobody reads?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to communicate with me.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to amend the Regulation made on the recommendation of the Select Committee under which the family of a soldier whose wife dies after his enlistment is placed in a worse financial position than where the wife has died before her husband's enlistment by enacting that the full allotment made by the soldier to his wife, together with the full separation allowance she received, shall, in the event of the wife dying while her husband is serving with the Colours, be paid to the soldier's sister, aunt, or other relative undertaking the charge of his children and without other means of support?

It is not proposed to alter the Regulations. These cases fall within the sphere of the Statutory Committee, who, I understand, are arranging to supplement the allowances to the children in proper cases.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when this will be completed?

I think the Committee have settled to take the action which I have indicated, and I think they are only awaiting the creation of the local committees in all parts of the country.

Will the hon. Gentleman give the information as to the scale of allowances?

The scale would be up to the maximum of the separation allowance. I may say that, so far as the War Office is concerned, the Department is very anxious that these people should get the allowance up to the maximum scale of separation allowance. We really think the statutory body is the best body to do it.

Will the hon. Gentleman take care there is no undue delay? Is he aware that there are great complaints of delay in obtaining this money?

I hope there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a meeting held on 13th July of the committee of management of the Cavan and Monaghan Asylum, under the presidency of the Bishop of Clogher, at which the clerk reported that with two exceptions all the patients returned as criminal lunatics were soldiers who had been sent home from the front suffering from shell shock, and that in consequence of recent legislation all patients committed under the Army Act were treated as criminal lunatics, the full cost of their maintenance being paid by the Government; if he will say whether this is the practice in such cases; and whether he proposes to take immediate steps to put an end to such treatment of invalided soldiers?

My attention has not been called to this meeting. There is evidently some misapprehension as regards the treatment of these men. The explanation is that, owing to a misprint, the word "prisoner" in the Criminal Lunatics Act, 1884, became "person"—a mistake which was copied into the Irish Lunacy Act, 1901, the consequence being that soldiers committed as dangerous lunatics to asylums in Ireland, whether they are prisoners or not, become chargeable to the Prison Vote instead of to the rates. The matter is one of technical classification and the treatment of the invalided soldier is not in any way affected; it corresponds in all respects to that of the ordinary patient. No action is therefore called for. The term "shell-shock" is not correct as applied to these cases in the majority of which there is disability of another kind.

Will the War Office take steps to make these mistakes known, in order that the practice may be rectified?

I think that is very desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a letter sent from Brocklesby Camp, near Grimsby, to a friend in this country is liable to be opened and censored; and, if so, who is the responsible authority in this matter?

All letters are liable to be opened and censored if and when naval or military considerations render it desirable. Different authorities are responsible in different cases for carrying out the censorship under the orders of the Army Council. If the letter referred to is produced, inquiry will be made as to whether it was opened in the course of post and, if so, whether it was opened in accordance with instructions applicable to this particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether soldiers discharged from the Army with a pension on account of wounds are left to pay, out of their pension, for any subsequent medical treatment that the wounds may require; and, if so, whether provision will be made for gratuitous treatment for discharged soldiers in so far as they suffer from the direct effect of wounds received in the War?

Soldiers discharged from the Army on account of wounds can, on application to the secretary of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, obtain treatment in a military hospital provided there is a reasonable probability that their disability will be cured or materially improved thereby. While in the hospital their pension is raised to the full amount allowed for total disablement and any allowance for children born before discharge to which they may be entitled. A stoppage of Is. per day is made for maintenance while they are in hospital.

Could not the same arrangement be made applicable to people in country districts who cannot get up to Chelsea Hospital?

Yes, the same arrangement would apply, and accommodation would naturally be found for them in the most convenient military hospital.

Where ought they to apply?

Apply by letter to the Secretary of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.

Then, are we to understand that the allowances to wives and children still go on?

No. Where they are in receipt of pension, of course there is no separation allowance.

But the pension still goes on?

Yes. The hon. Member will see, when he reads my answer tomorrow, that while in the hospital their pension is raised to the maximum.

Is it the practice of the War Office to discharge a man who is suffering from wounds before being admitted to a hospital?

No; these are cases where the wound breaks out afresh, or some further disability arises after discharge.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in the case of a witness from the Royal Aircraft Factory who recently appeared before the Judicial Committee as Mr. A, although his name was given in confidence to the said Committee, Colonel O'Gorman on the afternoon of that day communicated to the assistant-superintendant of the factory, Major Heckstall-Smith, the fact that the said witness was a viewer, Mr. Valentine, and as a result Mr. Valentine was taken seriously to task by the assistant-superintendant; and will he say what action he proposes to take?

Mr. Valentine's name was not disclosed by Colonel O'Gorman. Major Heckstall-Smith identified Valentine from the Press reports of his evidence, and on his own initiative had an interview with Valentine to enable him to investigate the breaches of discipline, etc., on which Valentine had given evidence. He had no intention of taking Valentine to task, but assured him at the interview that he had a perfect right to hold any opinion he liked, and that nothing he said would be used to prejudice his position. No disciplinary action whatever had been taken against Valentine.

asked whether contracts for fur coats for the Army have been placed with Wagner and Company, Schiltze, Festenstein, Ariostien, and Josselsonn; and can he give the House the name of any British firms to whom orders have been given?

Orders for the manufacture of fur coats have been placed with Messrs. C. Wagner and Co., Limited, Messrs. N. Schultz and Co., Messrs. J. Festenstein and Sons, Mr. J. Arenstein, and Messrs. Josselson Brothers. Mr. Josselson, the proprietor of Messrs. Josselson Brothers, has been in business in this country for the last twenty-five years, but is still a Russian subject. With this exception, however, inquiries by the Department show that the directorate or proprietors of the firms mentioned consist of naturalised British or Britishborn subjects of Russian or Polish origin. Similar orders have been placed with several firms whose names clearly indicate British origin, such as Messrs. Debenhams, Limited, Messrs. F. Cornish and Co., Messrs. G. Rice, Limited, and Messrs. Peters Bridges and Co., Limited, and O. F. Smith.

Was not the contract placed with Messrs. Debenhams, Limited, sublet by that firm to another firm of foreign designation?

Who is the firm of Schiltze which had this contract? Is he aware that these people were convicted at the Central Criminal Court recently?

Will the hon. Gentleman answer my question?

The hon. Gentleman must give notice of that. It is not a very easy question to answer offhand.

I have given notice on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the waste of petrol in the camps, and will he cause measures to be taken that will prevent this waste; whether he can say if officers stationed at the depots in this country and possessing motors of their own are given a free supply of petrol; and, if that be so, will he see that any gratuitous supply for services other than military is stopped?

Measures to prevent waste in petrol have already been taken, and a careful record is kept of the consumption in accordance with the mileage run by the various vehicles. These records are subject to constant inspection in the commands. Officers possessing motor cars of their own are not given free petrol.

Is he aware that in some cases officers are given free petrol?

No, Sir; I have just said officers possessing motor cars of their own are not given free petrol.

Is similar care taken with the great waste of petrol that is going on at aerodromes, which is very great?

I will communicate with the proper authorities.

I hope the hon. Gentleman will not stop practising economy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the card system for the supply of petrol comes into operation within the next fortnight and the apprehension that the introduction of the card system for the supply of a necessary commodity has created, he will inform the House of the general outlines of the scheme which it is proposed to adopt?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. It is intended to issue to owners of cars licences entitling them to obtain such supplies of petrol as may be specified in the licence. The general outlines of the scheme are contained in Clause 15 of the Finance Bill. A census of cars has recently been taken by the Petrol Control Committee under a Defence of the Realm Regulation, and the Committee will communicate with the various owners with regard to the issue of a licence on payment of the Motor Spirit Licence Duty.

Am I to take it that until 1st August the owner of a private car will not know what quantity of petrol he will get; that no notice will be given?

No. Until he gets his licence, he will not know. The licences will be issued as early as possible.

Is it necessary to send in an application to the Board of Trade? Will any communication be made to the owners of these cars?

The owner of a car will be required to make a return of the quantity of petrol he has been using and wishes to use in the ensuing six months and upon that he will receive a notification in the form of a licence from the Board of Trade that he can be given so much petrol a month for the next few months on the payment of the duties.

Will there be any appeal from the decision as to the amount of petrol any particular person will be allowed have, and, if so, what kind of appeal can be made?

No, I sincerely hope there will be no appeals.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state as precisely as possible what is meant by the primary military examination?

I think it will answer my hon. Friend's purpose if I say that the primary military examination is directed to determining whether a man who offers himself for enlistment is deficient of intelligence, suffers from impediment of speech, and whether he is in all respects desirable as a recruit. The primary military examination is carried out by the recruiting officer or recruiter.

Has it anything to do with the medical examination?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can inform the House as to the regulations under which interned alien enemies are granted leave of absence from their place of internment; what is the average length of such leave of absence; how often is it accorded; and is it given solely for the purpose of allowing the interned person to attend to private and urgent matters of business?

Interned alien enemies are granted leave of absence, under escort, to attend to urgent matters of business. Leave in such cases is limited to the period between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. In very exceptional cases, and with the concurrence of the local police, a man may be released for one or more days on parole. He is then required to report himself to the police.

I take it that the interned person does not have an escort.

No, Sir.

asked whether the late Major Wright, who was in charge of the establishment at Grove Park, was granted leave of absence in May last at his own request or whether his absence was enforced by the War Office; if the latter, will he say what was the reason of such enforcement; and was the management of Grove Park found to be in an unsatisfactory condition?

Lieutenant - Colonel Wright obtained leave in the ordinary way, and I am glad to reassure my hon. Friend that his apprehensions are unfounded. I am informed that the management of Grove Park has been quite satisfactory.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the board of three or four officers who pass candidates at Grove Park make the strongest point in the viva voce examination of the capacity of the candidates to play polo and ignore entirely the results of the examinations in the subjects taught by the various officers; and will he therefore see that the expense incurred in teaching the various subjects at Grove Park be abandoned in view of its inutility?

I am informed that the statement which has been made by my hon. Friend, and upon which the first part of his question is based, is without foundation.

May we take it that the men at Grove Park are perfect in the eyes of the War Office?

I did not say that.

That is the effect of the answer.

asked if the Director of Special Intelligence has informed the proprietors of the "Times," the "Daily Mail," the "Morning Post," the "Labour Leader," and the "Tribunal" that the matter published in these journals has been used by the enemy for the purpose of his propaganda, and that in these circumstances no further copies of these journals will be allowed to leave the country; and, if some but not all of the news— papers named have received this intimation, will he say why certain of them have been specially selected for this prohibition?

The proprietors of the "Labour Leader" and the "Tribunal" were informed in the sense stated by direction of the Army Council and with the concurrence of the Home Office. The hon. Gentleman is misinformed in thinking that a similar communication was sent to any other newspaper.

Will the hon. Gentleman explain why were not such communications sent to the " Times," " Daily Mail," and "Morning Post," seeing that the late Home Secretary said that extracts from the "Daily Mail" are being constantly used by the enemy for the purposes of their propaganda and are being translated into the European and Asiatic languages and are doing great damage to the cause of this country?

My hon. Friend will remember that that observation was made a long time ago and that we are now dealing with current issues.

Have any of these papers said a single word except for the prosecution of the War with the utmost vigour?

I think that is perfectly true.

asked how many Regular captains in the Royal Army Medical Corps have been promoted majors since the War began; and does the number of medical promotions bear any proportion to that of combatant promotions of similar rank?

One hundred and fifty-five captains have been promoted since the beginning of the War. The number of promotions in the Royal Army Medical Corps has not been fixed so as to bear a definite proportion to combatant promotions of similar rank.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Lieutenant Lawrence Joseph Petre gave up his business and was granted a commission in the 10th Royal West Surrey Regiment soon after the commencement of the War, that he worked hard and satisfactorily in that capacity, and that on the battalion going abroad he was kept behind on the ground of age; whether he is aware that he was recommended by his commanding officer as a very hard working and industrious officer for appointment as officer in command of details at home and he was so appointed; whether he is aware that he was then asked to relinquish his commission on the ground of age, that he then applied for a vacancy in the mechanical transport section of the Army Service Corps, and after an interview at the War Office proceeded to various tests, all of which he discharged satisfactorily, and that on the 22nd June, when he was expecting his transfer to the Army Service Corps, he was gazetted out of the Army without any further communication whatever; and whether the Army Council has the slightest complaint against this officer, or whether this is to be taken as a sample of the way in which the Army Council treats those officers of whom they were glad to avail themselves earlier in the War?

I cannot, I fear, follow my hon. Friend through all the numerous points of detail raised by this question. Broadly, the case is that Lieutenant Petre's retention as an Infantry subaltern in a service battalion was not, on account of his age, considered to be in the public interest and Lieutenant Petre stated in writing that he appreciated what was said as to his position as subaltern. He asked to be transferred to some branch of the Army Service Corps. This was considered, but as it was found that he could not suitably be employed, a notification was sent to this effect. On receipt of this Lieutenant Petre asked for and was granted an interview, after he had submitted details of his qualifications. It was not, however, found possible to employ him in the Army Service Corps and this was notified on 19th June. Lieutenant Petre was gazetted as relinquishing his commission on 21st June. The concluding sentence of my hon. Friend's question does not represent correctly the attitude of the Army Council to this officer, and consequently the generalisation is also incorrect.

asked if any arrangements are made or are about to be made for the employment of German prisoners on British farms in the same manner as British prisoners are engaged on German farms?

This matter has, of course, been very carefully considered, but owing to the small number of men required in any particular place and to the short period during which, as a rule, such labour is wanted, it has not been found possible to make suitable arrangements for the employment of combatant prisoners of war in agriculture with due regard to necessary economy in troops for guards and escorts. It is understood, however, that the Home Office is prepared to consider applications for the employment of interned aliens of a suitable class on agricultural work.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the warning issued by the Navy League as to the dangers to British sea-power involved in the setting up of a possibly hostile Irish executive; and whether he will consult the Admiralty as to the necessary safeguards?

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask him who are the members of the Navy League, as I tried in the Library and could not find their names? Would they be ancient mariners or retired admirals, landlubbers, and other citizens, sea cooks or dyspeptic cranks and other faddists? Did they suffer from brain storm? Were they of German descent, and did any of them live in Ireland?

The hon. Member's researches seem to have been not unfruitful. Yes, a copy of this document has been sent to me. The Admiralty are fully alive to all the necessities of the situation?

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that prior to the rebellion his administration of Ireland was so successful as to justify him——

That is a matter of controversy and for debate, not for a question.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give a day for the discussion of the present position of old age pensioners if forty Members express a desire to this effect?

My experience is that there are few proposals involving an increase of expenditure which forty Members could not be found to support, and I do not think it would be desirable to create a precedent by acceding to my hon. Friend's request. Of course I shall be glad to consider any expression of the general feeling of the House.

How many would the right hon. Gentleman want before he would be willing to consider the general feeling of the House?

I do not like to pin myself to the precise number.

asked the Prime Minister whether, with the object of removing the doubt and misunderstanding that prevail regarding the postponement of holidays, he will state whether the Government desire all workpeople to post-pone their holidays or only those who are engaged on munitions or providing material for carrying on the War?

Yes, Sir, my appeal was addressed to the patriotism of all classes of workers.

All classes?

Yes, all classes.

Including Members of Parliament?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the factory built ten months ago on the North-Eastern Railway, where expensive machinery was erected and 1,500 females employed turning out thousands of shells per week, was recently closed for three weeks, during which period a number of the workers were paid off, and that when another start was made the girls were only employed three shifts per week, and although the shift starting at 6 a.m. on the 13th July were ordered to work until 9 p.m., they were at the same time given notice that owing to the closing of the shop their services will not be required after Thursday, 20th July, 1916; and, in view of the need for munitions, as evidenced by the suspension of August Bank Holiday, and having regard to the suffering likely to result from such a large number of workers being suddenly thrown out of employment, whether he will make full inquiries into the matter?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer his questions. This matter was dealt with in an answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for the Attercliffe Division of Sheffield on the 17th instant, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

Does the hon. Gentleman know that the notices of these 1,500 people expire on Thursday, and that the men in munitions cannot understand the dismissal of this number of people and the abandonment of holidays; and will he give an assurance that they will not be dispensed with?

I am informed that everything is being done to give these people employment. I undertake that my hon. Friend's supplementary question shall be brought to the immediate notice of my right hon. Friend.

How is it, seeing that there are two Parliamentary Secretaries to the Munitions Department, neither of them is here to answer questions?

There is only one.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the National Shell Factory, Newport, Monmouth, has given a week's notice to the whole of their women workers; and, if so, whether this has been done with the knowledge and consent of the Ministry of Munitions; and whether he will state for what reason such action has been taken?

A week's notice was given to about 600 operatives in the factory referred to, with a view to facilitating certain special work required in the later stages of manufacture. Later it was found possible to make arrangements for carrying out this work without interfering with the ordinary work of the factory, and the notices only became operative in regard to 22 out of the 600 operatives concerned.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether a Belgian turner named Mertens, who is the branch secretary to the men's union, has been discharged from the National Projectile Company's works, Durham County, for distributing union literature outside the works in his own time; whether he is aware that the Belgian works manager, Mr. Le Panne, has personally warned five of the Belgian workmen that they were not permitted to be members of a trade union; and whether he will inquire into this matter, with a view to making it quite clear that the Belgians have exactly the same right to join trade unions as other workmen?

The factory referred to by the hon. Member is under the management of the Belgian Government. The staff consists of the most part of soldiers, the bulk of whom are unfit for further military service, a small proportion being skilled men withdrawn from the Army for special work in the factory. It is provided that English rates of wages should be paid, but the other conditions within the factory are within the discretion of the Belgian Government. I am making inquiries from the Belgian authorities as regards the points mentioned in the hon. Member's question, and will inform him of the result.

Does this Belgian factory come under the Munitions of War Act?

I cannot answer that without notice.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the gravity of the situation in Ireland and its repercussion in the United States and in the Dominions, he will outline and submit to the Prime Ministers of the Dominions the main features of two alternative policies, one that of dragooning and coercing the Irish people into submissiveness, the other that of healing the wounds by means of a policy of general amnesty and of conciliation; and whether, in the event of such a consultation being arranged, he will give particular attention to the advice of General Botha, who dealt not unsuccessfully with a similar crisis in South Africa?

No, Sir, I do not think this is a practicable suggestion.

In the event of representations being made to the Prime Minister either from foreign countries or from the Dominions, will the right hon. Gentleman have the goodness to permit me to remind him of the answer once given by his predecessor, the late Mr. Gladstone——

The question partakes of an anecdotal character.

asked the Prime Minister upon what day the Irish Government Bill will be introduced?

We intend to introduce the Bill next week.

What day?

I cannot say.

Can the right hon. Gentleman fix any date?

I cannot for the moment fix any date. We have next week to take a Vote of Credit; that is essential, and that is why I cannot fix any particular date at this moment, but I will give full notice.