asked the Secretary of of State for War if he can give any information as to F. H. Parton, a conscientious objector, now confined in Stoughton Barracks, Guildford, for disobedience to orders; whether this man has yet been brought before a court-martial; if so, with what result; and whether he will come under the new scheme?

If the hon. Member will refer to the answer I gave him on Wednesday, in reply to his oral question No. 43, he will see that I stated that the cases of all conscientious objectors who had been sentenced to imprisonment or are undergoing detention will be inquired into by the Central Appeal Tribunal. In these circumstances he will agree with me, I think, that it is hardly necessary to make special inquiries about the particular individual mentioned in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Department has considered the possibility of releasing from further service, in recognition of the work they have done, men in Section D of the Army Reserve whose seventeen years with the Colours have expired, the more so as many of them are married men with families?

No, Sir; I am afraid that there cannot be a question of releasing these men.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that soldiers blind of an eye through the operations of war are being sent back to France as fit; and, if so, will he say whether this has the sanction of his Department?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Derby on the 1st June.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board how many applications for assistance in the payment of rent have been received under the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Committee; how many of these claims have been complied with; what moneys have been paid away or guaranteed under this scheme; whether he is aware that a circular has been sent to many applicants directing them to apply to charitable organisations for assistance; and if this circular has his sanction?

The number of applications received up to 15th July, including applications still under investigation by the Commissioners, was 52,137. Grants have been allotted in 11,833 cases, and the aggregate amount of these grants represents an annual payment of £190,648. No such circular as is suggested has been issued, but in cases in which no grant can be given under the Civil Liabilities Scheme the applicants are referred to the Local War Pensions Committee or to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association who are acting temporarily as agents for the Statutory Committee in districts where the local committees have not yet been formed. In both cases the grants are made out of public funds and not from charitable sources.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Michael Nolan, of Turlough, county Mayo, now Gunner Nolan, No. 85,152, Royal Garrison Artillery, 4 Hut, Lenan Head Battery, Donegal, was an ordinary migratory labourer, who came to England for a few months in each year, and, after working at Mouldsworth and Middlewich, returned to his home in Ireland; that Nolan was arrested by the military authorities as an absentee and forced to join the Army; and that he never received the registration form regarding him, and which was filled and signed without his knowledge, his home address having been omitted from it; and whether, as Nolan cannot be regarded as having been ordinarily resident in Great Britain, steps will be taken to discharge him from the Army and to permit him to return to his home in Ireland?

Inquiry has been made, and I find that when Nolan was called up, which in itself was a perfectly correct procedure, there was some discussion as to his legal liability, but Nolan himself ended the discussion by remarking, "If there is any bother, I will join the Army," and went willingly. So far as is known, no further question has been raised by Nolan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the reason why Mr. John Naughton, of Thomastown House, Athlone, was arrested and taken to Arbour Hill Barracks, Dublin; what is the charge preferred against him; and what were the circumstances under which the arrest was effected?

I have not yet been able to obtain the information to enable me to answer this question, but when it is obtained it will, with the hon. Member's permission, be at once sent to him by letter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the poems and other documents written by the late Mr. Pearse for delivery to his mother, but withheld by the military, are still withheld; if so, whether the reason for withholding them is the same reason for which the military authorities prevented his mother and brother from seeing Mr. Pearse before his execution; and when the originals of all those poems and documents will be delivered to Mrs. Pearse?

Information has already been given to the hon. Member on this matter in answer to questions put by him on the 12th July and previous dates. I would ask the hon. Member to refer to these answers. I am unable to afford him any additional information.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now state the number of funerals from Dublin to Glasnevin after the suppression of the insurrection which even the nearest relatives were not allowed to accompany, with the official reason for this prevention; the number of coffins burst open on the way by the military and police, with the official reason for this desecration; whether anything was found in any of the coffins to justify this desecration; and, in view of the Irish feeling that the dead should be inviolable, will he say who was responsible for it?

As I stated on the 12th July, this question was answered by my right hon. Friend the present Secretary for Scotland on the 6th July. As I then stated, it is not proposed to make inquiry on the point mentioned additional to that already made. As I then also stated, the results of the inquiries already made have been communicated to the hon. Member in the answer given to him on the 15th May.

asked the Secretary of State for War if any contracts for Government supplies have been given to and are now being carried out by firms of German origin whose proprietors or directors are now limited to the five-mile area?

Not so far as I am aware, but it would be impossible to give a definite reply without extensive inquiry, which, I fear, it would not be practicable to undertake.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of soldiers who have recovered from wounds or sickness sufficiently to be classed as fit for light duties, he will consider the advisability of employing them for one month or more in agricultural work during hay time and harvest, seeing that such employment would be more beneficial to the men and more useful to the community than occupying them in the exercises of route marches, leaping, skipping, ball games, cross-country running, hurdle-racing, and digging, which are prescribed in Army Council Instruction No. 450, of 1916.

My hon. Friend will doubtless agree that the main object is to get men fit for military duties as soon as possible. In command depots massage and other forms of medical treatment are used in combination with the exercises referred to in the Army Council Instruction quoted. The military and medical authorities are in agreement that the men would not get fit so quickly if they were taken away from the direct supervision of the military authorities. In these circumstances the Council do not see their way to adopt the suggestion in the question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why no answer has been sent to the parent of Alec Ginsberg, 36th Division Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery, British Expeditionary Force, who being under seventeen years of age was claimed by his parent as being liable to discharge under Army Order 1186 of 13th June, 1916.

Applications of this kind should not be submitted to the War Office, but to the officer commanding the unit or the officer in charge of records, in accordance with the instructions on Army Form W. 3183, a copy of which is issued to the next-of-kin of every soldier. The application in this case was forwarded to the officer in charge of records, Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, on the 26th June, to be dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in February last the Army Council, under the Defence of the Realm Act, took possession of some 112 acres of land at "Blank," in Hertfordshire, only 12 acres of which are grass, and that on the 13th July last it was intimated that a further 100 acres of arable land adjoining the land taken in February would be required; whether he is aware that this leaves the owner with no arable land on which to support a valuable herd of shorthorns; whether the policy of taking arable land for flying stations or pilot schools is likely to be extended; and whether he will consider the desirability, in the interests of food supplies, of obtaining the requisite areas from grass land rather than from arable land?

If I have identified "Blank" correctly, the answer to my hon. Friend is that before the site in question was finally selected all the land in the locality was carefully reconnoitred, with the result that no other site suitable could be found. I can assure my hon. Friend that it is the policy of the Department to avoid taking arable land where other land is available; and in the case of the Royal Flying Corps there are technical reasons connected with the work of that Corps, apart from the important question of food supply, why arable land should be avoided.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that during the past two years Dr. Markel, the German Red Cross representative, has visited a large number of camps in Great Britain containing prisoners of war and interned enemy aliens; whether these visits were paid with the sanction of the War Office; when this permission was withdrawn and for what reason; and whether his distribution of money, comforts, education equipment, etc., is still permitted to continue?

Until towards the end of last month commandants of places of internment, whether for combatant or civilian prisoners of war, were permitted to invite Dr. Markel to visit their camps, and many have taken advantage of this permission. Recently, as a number of small camps are being opened for working parties, it was decided to restrict narrowly permits of a permanent or semi-permanent nature to pay visits to camps, and the powers of commandants as regards invitations to Dr. Markel were accordingly withdrawn. Subject to this limitation Dr. Markel is permitted to carry on the work which he has hitherto done.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in many of the auxiliary Red Cross military hospitals there are a number of voluntary aid detachment ladies who are doing not only voluntary work but have thrown up good positions and sacrificed the completion of their education in order to help and nurse the wounded soldiers; whether he is aware that a number of these nurses not only receive no salary of any kind but have to purchase their complete outfit, pay their own washing bills, and also pay in most cases the rent of their bedroom, amounting to 8s. or 10s. per week; whether he is aware that a number of these ladies cannot go on a holiday as they are not allowed the privilege accorded to paid nurses of getting their return ticket at single fare; and whether he will grant this privilege to the voluntary aid detachment ladies?

The sacrifices made by these ladies are gratefully recognised, but it is not possible to give them preferential treatment as regards railway travelling over the large number of people undertaking voluntary work in other directions in the interests of the troops.

asked whether further aerodromes are required for training in the Royal Flying Corps; and whether the demands in this direction, although maintained by the highest expert authority and advice, are receiving the support of the Treasury?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and also the second part if I have put the correct construction upon it.

asked whether there has been any recent fighting on the Western frontier of Egypt between the Turks and the British or between the Turks and the Italians; and, if so, what was its nature?

No, Sir; no recent fighting between the British and any enemy forces on the Western frontier of Egypt has been reported, nor have the Army Council any information of any fighting between the Italians and the Turks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in fixing the amounts of pensions, the practice of the military authorities not to take into account any grants of a temporary character which are made to the dependants of soldiers from unofficial benevolent sources applies also, and equally, to the pensions awarded to disabled soldiers?

If I understand my hon. Friend's question aright, the answer is in the affirmative, but perhaps he will respond to my request for a more specific description of the grants referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will allot one of the captured German guns to the borough of Islington, having regard to the fact that this borough holds an unusually good voluntary recruiting record in addition to raising the Islington Battalion?

Applications for captured guns to be exhibited at particular places should be made to the General Officer Commanding the Command in which the place at which the exhibition of a gun is desired is situated—in this case, the General Officer Commanding, London District, Horse Guards.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the members of the Royal Flying Corps sent on the Kut relief force were forbidden to take aeroplanes with them; and whether the machines furnished them on the spot were only two in number and of such construction that they could only fire from behind?

The answer to all three parts of the question is in the negative.

asked how many officers and men died in transit after leaving the front on the Tigris, and arriving at Basra or Amara, between 5th January and 31st January, 1916?

A correct answer to this question cannot be given without reference to the military authorities in Mesopotamia. It is not proposed, however, to ask specially for this information, but rather to wait until it can be seen what information on the point raised by the question may be desired by the Special Commission which is to be set up by the Bill to be introduced to-day by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked whether General Townshend protested against the expedition to Baghdad being undertaken with the forces at his disposal; and, if so, whether his protest was communicated to the Government of India, and by it to His Majesty's Government or to the Army Council?

I would ask the hon. Member to refer to the Papers on this subject already presented to Parliament. The reference is to Command Paper 8253 of the present Session.

asked whether the principal medical officer in charge of the Kut relief force made representations with regard to the inadequacy of the medical equipment; and, if so, what action was taken by the Government of India on such representations?

This is a matter for inquiry by the Commission which is to be appointed by Act of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will state the names of the officials who have held the appointments of finance member of the Government of India and financial adviser to the Army Department of the Government of India since August, 1914?

Sir William S. Meyer, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., has held the appointment of member of the Council of the Governor-General in charge of the Finance Department since 30th June, 1913. Mr. G. B. H. Fell, C.I.E., has held the post of Financial Adviser, Military Finance Branch, since April, 1915. His predecessor was Mr. W. H. Michael, I.C.S., who was appointed in October, 1913.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is intended to introduce legislation at an early date to control the manufacture of cocaine and to make the sale and purchase of cocaine illegal except under medical prescription or other proper authority?

I would refer the hon. Member to the verbal answer which I gave on Thursday last to a similar question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state what official notice affecting aliens was published on 18th July; in what way was the publication made; and what is the object and effect of the notice?

An official notice relating to the registration of male aliens of French, Italian, Russian, and Serbian nationality in the Metropolitan Police district was published in the Press, and by poster in London, on the 18th instant. The object and effect of the notice was to call the attention of the persons affected to the requirement that they register themselves.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, owing to the restriction of the import of paper and paper-making materials, manufacturing stationers in this country are being obliged to refuse important Indian, Colonial, and foreign orders from want of the raw material for manufacture and are incurring risk of losing this trade permanently; whether he is aware that the loss to Great Britain of this manufacturing trade means no real saving in tonnage, as the countries named are still receiving supplies but from markets other than British; and if he can, always consistently with the national interest, allow the import of paper and paper-making materials in increased quantities, with proper and satisfactory guarantees that such extra imports will be used only for the export trade?

I am aware that the restriction of the import of paper and paper-making materials must reduce the power of manufacturers and dealers to furnish supplies in this country and abroad. The proposal that additional importations should be allowed for the purposes of the export trade would, however, involve increased use of shipping, and in view of the urgent necessity of saving tonnage for more important purposes, I am not prepared to adopt it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board recognise the necessity of keeping strictly to the prohibition of the imports of all hops unless actually shipped before 8th June; and, in the event of attempts being made to secure special exemptions for American hops, brought forward on the ground of prepayment, whether he will give due weight to the fact that such prepayments, except cases of small nominal deposits, are against the customs of the American hop trade?

Foreign hops are not ordinarily admitted unless they were en route to the consignees in this country on or before the 1st June. The payment of a nominal deposit would not be regarded as prepayment for the purpose of granting licences. It is not proposed to admit American hops on special terms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a Cardiff shipping company with a fleet of thirteen vessels and a capital of £280,000 have earned £524,000, representing 187 per cent. profit; whether he is aware that other companies have shown even a higher profit; and whether, in view of the fact that freight charges are a main cause of dear food, he will consider the advisability of making some arrangement whereby consumers shall not be compelled to contribute so largely to the profiteers?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of an answer given to-day to a question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member for South West Ham.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Dutch export of lace and embroidery to all countries in 1913 was valued at £20,550, of which only £1,073 worth was shipped to the United Kingdom; that the Dutch export to the United Kingdom in 1915 of lace and embroidery amounted to £29,015; and that the Dutch lack of facilities for the manufacture of these goods is strong evidence of their enemy origin; and whether he is now satisfied that the great bulk of lace and embroidery exported by Holland to the United Kingdom was of enemy manufacture and should not have been permitted to enter?

I understand that the value of lace and embroidery imported into the United Kingdom from Holland has increased practically to the extent indicated by the hon. Member. As promised in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 10th July, I am having inquiry made into the extent of the lace and embroidery trade in Holland.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the first Irish mail, which is due and arrives at Euston about 6 a.m., is not delivered in the House of Commons until 11 a.m. or later; and whether he will make inquiry and prevent this delay?

In order to secure inclusion in the first delivery at the House of Commons the mail in question must reach the South-Western District Office before 7 a.m. and recently the mail train has, owing to various causes, arrived at Euston as a rule too late for this to be possible. The second delivery in the South-Western District now takes place somewhat later than formerly, as a result of necessary War restrictions, but I am informed that it usually reaches the House of Commons between 10.35 a.m. and 10.50 a.m. I am afraid no improvement on these arrangements is practicable in present circumstances.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that bundles of the "Nenagh News and Tipperary Advocate," addressed to subscribers in the United States of America, were returned to the office of the paper at Nenagh on 12th July; that the proprietor was informed the previous week by the local postal authority that no restrictions existed on newspapers to the United States; will he say whether a charge was made for return postage; and whether, in view of the financial loss to the proprietor, he is prepared to compensate him for his loss?

I presume the papers were returned by the War Office censors in consequence of the decision that on and after the 1st of July newspapers addressed to neutral countries in America would be subject to the same restriction as newspapers addressed to neutral countries in Europe—namely, that postal packets containing such matter should not be passed by the censors for transmission to destination unless posted by publishers or agents who have obtained a permit for the purpose from the War Office. In view of the wide publicity given in the Press to the decision, and of the labour involved in dealing with packets infringing the Regulations, I see no reason for returning the postage paid in respect of such packets. No charge is made, however, for the return of such packets to the senders.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that a post office is established at No. 17, Clifton Road, Maida Vale, W., owned by a denaturalised German named J. Trageser; whether he is aware that public protests against this postmaster retaining his position have led to a breach of the peace; that a neighbouring tradesman has offered to take the transfer of the postal business into his shop with the sole view of helping the Department; and will he say what action in the circumstances he proposes to take?

Mr. J. Trageser is a sub-postmaster who has resided in this country since 1886 and was naturalised in 1907. There are no grounds for doubting his loyalty to this country. His premises, in common with those of other tradesmen bearing alien names, were the scene of a demonstration in May, 1915, shortly after the sinking of the "Lusitania." This demonstration was not provoked by any indiscreet conduct on the part of the sub-postmaster. No telegraph business is transacted at the office. The work at the office has always been conducted in a satisfactory manner and I do not propose to take any action

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the sum involved in the purchase of the wheat in Roumania and the transaction having been completed, whether he can state who was the head of the responsible purchasing bureau; what was his nationality; and who were the expert advisers who assisted the Legation to supervise the expenditure of the ten millions?

The Director of the Central Purchasing Bureau at Bucharest was Mr. Joseph Pitts, formerly British Pro-Consul at Braila, and a British-born subject. Attached to the bureau were two comptrollers, whose duty it was to inspect the purchasing bureaux established in the provinces. These provincial offices were, in their turn, under the direction of nine inspectors and thirty-four grain experts, or surveyors, with expert knowledge of local conditions. I understand that the majority of these latter officials were of Roumanian nationality.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that quantities of strawberries and other fruit are rotting in gardens in the country owing to the impossibility of procuring sugar for preserving them; and if he will say what steps he is taking or has taken to meet this difficulty and to prevent this waste of valuable food?

The information of the Board does not support the statement made in the first part of the question. The Royal Commission on Sugar Supplies have made arrangements which enable commercial jam makers to obtain 75 per cent. of their last year's supplies now and the remainder later on. Private fruit growers will, it is hoped, also be able to obtain sufficient supplies of preserving material.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will cause inquiries to be made into the stoppage of the payment of an old age pension to Mrs. Mary Bradley, 30, Temple Street, Dublin; and if he will issue instructions to restore it with back payments?

An appeal has been received in the case of the old age pension awarded to Mrs. Mary Bradley, 30, Temple Street, Dublin, and the matter will be inquired into by the Irish Local Government Board, in accordance with the requirements of the Statute.