asked whether any of the officers who constituted the courts in the courts-martial of the Irish prisoners took any part in the Jameson raid or in the incidents at the Curragh of two years ago, or if any of them signed the covenant against Home Rule?

The answer I gave to the hon. Member on the 11th July applies also to this question, and I would refer him to it.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the restrictions on building announced in respect of works carried on by private persons, he will impose the same restrictions upon the Post Office railway, upon which large sums of public money are being spent and in the construction of which quantities of iron are being used?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on the 27th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that promoters of charitable entertainments have been informed that the Entertainments Tax stamps bought in connection with various celebrations are not returnable if unused; and whether he can make allowance for unused tickets so as to avoid loss to charity?

The persons referred to appear to have been misinformed. Unused Entertainments Tax stamps may be returned to the Customs and Excise Department and a claim made for allowance thereon under the stamp laws. The Board of Customs and Excise inform me that a number of claims have already been settled.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether an application has been received by the collector of Customs and Excise for a refund of the Entertainments Tax paid by the Stranorlar (county Donegal) Agricultural Show Committee; and, if so, whether he has seen his way to grant the refund?

The Board of Customs and Excise inform me that they have received an application for a refund of the Entertainments Tax paid by the Stranorlar Agricultural Show Committee, but as they are not satisfied that the show fulfilled the requirements of Section 1 (5) (d) of the Finance (New Duties) Act, 1916, they are unable to make the repayment sought.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has seen communications from the Wexford and New Ross boards of guardians deprecating the action of pension officers who appear to be raising questions with a view to deprive old age pensioners who have sought and obtained admission to workhouse infirmaries of their pensions; whether he is aware that the purchasing value of the pension has been reduced 50 per cent., thereby driving pensioners into workhouse infirmaries; and if he will consider the advisability of suspending the poor relief disqualification provisions of the Old Age Pensions Act, which was framed for normal times, until the conclusion of the War?

I have not seen the communications referred to. I am afraid I can only refer the hon. Member to my reply to his previous question on Monday last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the fact that the disasters of the Dardanelles and the Bagdad advance are about to be inquired into by Commissions, whether he is aware that the entry of Turkey into the War originated in the escape of the "Goeben" and "Breslau" from Messina to the Dardanelles in August, 1914; and whether he can now publish the dispatches dealing with the matter, together with the dispositions of ships of which the Board of Admiralty have expressed their approval?

The Admiralty have hitherto only published dispatches which deal with actual engagements, and not reports on the dispositions of His Majesty's ships, whether or not those dispositions succeeded in bringing about an engagement. My right hon. Friend does not propose to depart from this well-established practice. He must not be assumed as giving unqualified concurrence to the view of my hon. and gallant Friend that the entry of Turkey into the War originated with the arrival of these two ships at Constantinople.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the Admiralty have practically prohibited all passenger service between Caithness and Orkney, he will give facilities for the conveyance of mails from Scrabster to Scapa by drifter or otherwise, always provided no passengers are carried?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by me on the 20th July.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the Admiralty have practically prohibited all passenger traffic between Scrabster and Orkney, he will consider whether it is worth while to pay an extravagant price for a very indifferent and curtailed passenger service and obtain a drifter for the purpose of carrying mails only from Scrabster to Scapa?

The remuneration of the company (which, as I have informed the hon. Member in reply to a recent question, is still unsettled) is primarily not for the conveyance of passengers (with which the Post Office is not directly concerned), but for the conveyance of mails. I doubt whether a satisfactory mail service could be provided at reasonable cost by a vessel to be obtained by the Post Office for the purpose of carrying mails only, but I will make inquiry.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an officer in the Royal Marines who, before the War, had retired after twenty-six years' service on a pension of £300 per annum, and on the outbreak of war was called up for service, and was invalided home from Gallipoli with a badly strained heart brought about, according to the medical board, by the incidents of active service, has been declared by the Admiralty to be ineligible for any other award than his retired pay; if he will say what Regulation forbids the granting of disablement pension to the officer referred to; and whether it is in accordance with the Regulations and general practice of the naval service that officers who have risked their lives and sacrificed their health in the present War are precluded, unless actually wounded, from receiving any pension or award in addition to what they were entitled to for service prior to the present War?

My hon. and learned Friend's question apparently refers to a gentleman who was retired on the 3rd February, 1912, on a pension of £300 per annum, called up for service in the Reserve of Officers, R.M., on the 1st August, 1914, and removed therefrom on the 31st January, 1916, for medical unfitness, certified to be constitutional but aggravated by the Service. Under the Regulations which have been drawn up in pursuance of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Naval and Military Services (Pensions and Grants), majors are entitled to the half-pay of their rank as a minimum if partially disabled, and to an addition of £50 per annum to their retired pay if totally disabled, after more than twenty-four years' service. In the present case it was not possible to certify the officer as totally disabled, and he is therefore not eligible to receive a higher rate of retired pay than £300 a year.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the employés in the Naval Ordnance Department, Woolwich, are to participate in the extra rates of pay that have been fixed for the 7th and 8th of August; and can he state why these employés have not participated in the extra rates for previous holidays paid to Ordnance Factory employés?

As the holidays with pay, fixed for the 7th and 8th"August have now been postponed till later on in the year, those days become ordinary working days, and will be paid for as such. I should add that the employés in the Naval Ordnance Department, Woolwich Arsenal, are not governed by the Ordnance Factory Regulations, but by the Army Ordnance Regulations.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will issue stringent orders to the Royal Naval Air Service to economise to the utmost extent in the use of petrol and to prohibit the driving of Air Service cars unless it is absolutely essential in the public interest?

Orders, as suggested by my hon. Friend, have been in force for some time past, to ensure economy of petrol in Royal Naval Air Service cars and to prohibit the use of motor cars and motor lorries when the train service is available. Each car and lorry has a log book, and every journey is entered in the log book. The amount of petrol consumed daily is checked and entered in the log book. Every issue of petrol is initialled by the driver and the person who authorises the issue.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty how many tank steamers, and of what capacity, are now chartered or used by the Admiralty; and whether some of them could be released for the further import of petrol for this country?

I am afraid I cannot undertake to give the particulars asked for by my hon. Friend, and as regards his question as to whether some of the tank steamers now engaged for Service purposes can be released for commercial work, I can hold out no prospect that this will be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the admitted shortage of petrol, he will issue the most stringent orders prohibiting waste of petrol in any form and reducing, as far as possible, the amount of unnecessary motor driving by officers of his Department in journeys which they might equally well take by train?

The most stringent orders prohibiting the waste of petrol have already been issued. The improper use of motor cars has been prohibited, and their use where railway facilities exist has been restricted.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state what are the total numbers of officers and men officially reported missing in the Gallipoli Campaign; how many of these have since been reported killed; how many have since been officially or unofficially reported prisoners; how many of those since reported killed have been presumed killed from lapse of time and without any direct evidence of death; can the number of officers and men, naval and military, in reply to the above question be given separately; and what attempts are now being made to ascertain the fate of the remainder of the missing?

As I stated on the 26th July, in answer to an oral question, the number of prisoners captured in the Dardanelles and now in the hands of the Turks are believed to be nineteen officers and 359 other ranks. The net number missing, after allowance has been made for men since reported killed, etc., is about 290 officers and 9,700 other ranks. These figures include soldiers from the Dominions, native Indians, and men of the Royal Naval Division, but not officers and men of the Royal Navy. The Army Council, after the lists of prisoners had been referred to the United States Embassy at Constantinople for further check, were satisfied that there was no ground for hoping that there were prisoners who had not been reported, and it was consequently decided that the missing officers and men not accounted for must be officially accepted as dead. Effect is being given to this decision after due consideration of the circumstances of each individual case. As regards the naval prisoners, perhaps my hon. Friend will address a question to the Admiralty.

asked whether any steps have been or will be taken to bring their duties under the last Military Service Act to the attention of those persons who are within its terms, but are absent beyond seas and are not engaged in Red Cross or other services for the Allies?

The only men now abroad who are liable for service under the Military Service Act have gone abroad with the sanction of the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now received a report from the military authorities at Sheffield concerning the case of Albert Dowker, formerly of 6, Robinson Road, Sheffield, and now 133, Brighton Road, Crewton, Derby, who, although holding a badge and certificate from the Ministry of Munitions, had military papers served upon him three times; whether he is aware that this serving of papers continued despite his repeated explanations that, before leaving for Derby to work under the control of the Ministry of Munitions, he took his service papers to the recruiting station and explained his position to the officer; and that, despite this, his name has been posted throughout Sheffield as an absentee under the Military Service Act, this being done without inquiry at his home or elsewhere; and will he say what action he proposes to take?

The report has not yet been received. I have telegraphed for an early answer. The hon. Member may be assured that this matter is not being over-looked.

asked the Secretary of State for War concerning No. 28,776, Private J. H. Grant, of the 13th Yorkshire Regiment, a boy of sixteen years of age, who was sent to the front in France eighteen weeks after he had enlisted, although prior to his being sent there his mother had sent a written objection to his commanding officer; if he is aware that on 30th June last Captain and Adjutant C.. Clayton Hulton wrote to the mother stating that as her son was too young for service abroad he would on no account be sent overseas until he was old enough; and whether he will instruct commanding officers to keep the promises they make to parents in regard to boys under their control?

There is no information in the War Office about this individual case, but inquiries will be made and if the facts are as stated the boy will be brought back to England.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the military authorities have ordered the Reverend Leyton Richards, M.A., until recently Congregational minister at Bowdon, Cheshire, to report himself for military service on the ground that, having resigned his pastorate, he is not excepted by the Military Service Act; whether he is aware that this is a contravention of the Act; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

asked the Secretary of State for War why Edward Martin, of Kilnabrack, and Patrick Fitzpatrick, South Fermanagh, have been arrested under the Military Service Act and are now in custody awaiting escort in the Enniskillen military barracks; whether he is aware that the prisoners were arrested under the same Act in April last and discharged on the grounds that they were never ordinarily resident in Great Britain and were only engaged temporarily in England as migratory labourers, their homes being in Fermanagh, to which they returned in December last; and will steps be taken to have the two prisoners released forthwith?

My hon. Friends will realise that the War Office do not and cannot possess particulars of what happens from day to day to every soldier and to persons about to or liable to become soldiers, but inquiry will be made and the results will, with the permission of my hon. Friends, be at once communicated to them by letter without the necessity of their taking any further action.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now in a position to state why the Crowndale Road Medical Board passed A. G. Hopkins, of Charlotte Street, Islington, for general military service notwithstanding the fact that he is suffering from consumption and is a patient at Mount Vernon Hospital, Hampstead; why, when he produced a certificate as to his state of health, his examination was postponed, although he was informed that the doctor who attended to consumptive cases had left; if he has now received a report with reference to the examination of W. H. Spong, of Highbury Hill, by the medical board sitting at Crowndale Road, who was passed by them for general military service, notwithstanding the fact that he has had a severe fracture of the skull which has been stitched up, that he has a fractured arm, and further that he is totally deaf in one ear; and will he state why, when the Islington Tribunal asked for a special examination of this man to be made and the medical board appointed the 30th June, at nine o'clock, for Spong to attend no further examination was made?

A. G. Hopkins, of Charlottee Street, Islington, and W. H. Spong, of Highbury Hill, will both be reexamined.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Ithel Davies, of Tafolog Merionethshire, was awarded non-combatant service by the Appeal Tribunal as a conscientious objector; that he was attached under the Military Service Act, to the 4th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, at Oswestry; that on 11th May Private Davies was tried by court-martial for disobedience to military orders and sentenced to 112 days' hard labour; that on 22nd May, his sentence having been reduced to one months' detention, he was removed to the Mold Detention Barracks; that during the first three days he was subjected to harsh treatment; that on his release he was sent back to join his battalion at Oswestry; that on 21st July he was again tried by court-martial for disobedience to military orders on 21st May and sentenced to six months' hard labour; and that it was admitted that Private Davies was a genuine conscientious objector, although the court-martial had no knowledge that he had been awarded noncombatant service until the Rev. R. E. Davies, Llanllechid, Bangor, put in the Appeal Tribunal's certificate; whether, having regard to all the circumstances of this case, and to the fact that Private Davies has already undergone one sentence, he can see his way to mitigate the sentence of six months' hard labour; and if he will say what is to become of Private Davies after he has served his sentence?

In view of the fact that Private Davies will have the opportunity of appearing before the Central Tribunal and that if his claim is accepted he will be released from prison, no action on the lines indicated by the hon. Member is at present necessary. In the event of Private Davies' appeal being rejected by the Central Tribunal the sentence will be reviewed in regard to its severity and at the termination of his sentence as mitigated (if such a course be taken) Private Davies will return to his unit.

I would here take the opportunity of informing the House that this will be the procedure in all such cases. It will be realised it would be a waste of depart mental time to make any mitigation of a sentence of a conscientious objector who is awaiting the decision of the Central Tribunal, as, in the event of the tribunal deciding in his favour, the man will be released from prison. The severity of all sentences, however, will be at once considered in cases where the man's appeal is rejected.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in the case of an applicant seeking exemption from military service on the ground that serious hardship would ensue owing to his exceptional financial or business obligations or domestic position as specified in Section 2, Sub-section (1), of the Military Service Act (No. 1), the tribunal have the right to order the applicant to submit himself to medical examination as a condition precedent to their giving a decision on the merits of his application?

The tribunal have not the right to order the man to be examined, but I can imagine circumstances in which a request that he be examined before his case is decided would not be unreasonable.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the War Office to exhibit in London any of the captured guns and trophies obtained during the recent advance by London and other regiments; and, if so, can he state when and where such an exhibition will be held?

Yes, Sir, such an exhibition will be held, and particulars of the place and date will, of course, be announced as soon as they are settled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will recognise the distinguished services of Highland regiments by placing some of the captured German guns in the North of Scotland; and whether he will place one in Cooper Park, Elgin?

I would refer the hon. Baronet to the answer I gave on the 24th July to the hon. Member for South Islington. Application should be made to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the amount of money spent in Ireland for the purchase of Irish-cured bacon for the troops in Ireland for the year ending 1st June, 1915, and the corresponding amount for the year ending 1st June, 1916?

I am afraid this information is not available without a great deal of research.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he realises that in consequence of the commandeering of all the hay and straw belonging to British farmers it is not only impossible for a farmer having an excess of either to sell it to one who has a deficiency, but that also in the event of stacks of hay and straw on the premises of an outgoing tenant being commandeered in the late summer or autumn the incoming tenant may find himself incapable of wintering any live stock without purchasing from outside his holding cattle-cake and other manufactured feeding stuff at prevailing high prices; and whether, in order to prevent the restriction thereby of home food production, he will modify the present system ol commandeering these commodities in such cases?

I am afraid that my hon. and gallant Friend has been misinformed. It is not intended to remove from any farm hay which is required for bond fide consumption by stock on the farm, nor do the regulations prescribing the procedure for dealing in hay prevent a farmer who holds a surplus disposing of it to one who has a deficiency, provided he obtains the necessary authority from the District Purchasing Officer of Supplies.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will state if English hay suitable for Army purposes has been this year subjected to analysis for moisture, by whom tested, and with what result; and whether Irish hay of similar growth has been subjected to a similar test, by whom tested, and with what result?

The answer is in the negative.

asked upon what authority it is held that Irsh hay contains more moisture than English hay and that therefore a lower rate of purchase has been fixed for the Irish product?

The authority under which it is stated that Irish hay contains more moisture than that of English hay is that of the trade in Ireland, supported and endorsed by the Irish Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of last year's hay crop grown in Ireland was purchased by the Government; if he is aware that under the new military hay-trade restrictions farmers are prevented from selling their hay on the public market and that no trading is permitted except under licence and no one can either buy or sell hay without the permission of the military; if he is aware that the sale of small quantities of hay is the first relief that small farmers have at this season; and, seeing that the Government had no difficulty in obtaining a sufficient supply of hay from Ireland last year without such restrictions, will he take immediate steps to have them removed?

The average hay crop in Ireland is about 5,000,000 tons. The quantity purchased last year by the War Office was actually 83,000 tons. The restrictions this year are much the same as last year. I have every reason to hope that the system will work as smoothly as last year. I have been making arrangements to secure that the methods adopted are made as widely known to Farmers as possible.

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 undertaken that an inquiry shall be made into this matter, and a report has been called for. The results have not yet been received, but they will be sent to my hon. Friend, with his permission, by letter as soon as they are available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the widow of a soldier who at the time he was killed had the rank of acting-sergeant and was receiving sergeant's pay is entitled to a pension at the rate paid to the widow of a sergeant; and, if not, will he state the reason why?

The exact treatment of acting rank for purposes of pension is under consideration. I will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the application of Corporal Henry Coop, No. 2985, Lancashire Fusiliers (T.), for a pension has been decided; whether he is aware that this man is now dependent on the earnings of his wife and one boy; and whether he was passed as fit in November, 1914, and discharged for medical reasons after nearly twelve months?

Inquiries are being made, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can now give any information as to the date when separation allowances will be given to the five children of Private Wallis, 84th Provisional Battalion, Territorial Force, Herne Bay; if he is aware that Private Wallis has been over eight weeks in the Army and that there are more than fifty men in this battalion whose wives or children have not received separation allowances; if such treatment of the men is subversive of discipline and specially hard on the colonel and officers of the battalion, who are in nowise to blame; and if he will press that recruiting officers should complete the necessary forms when men are attested?

As I have already informed my hon. Friend I am having this case carefully investigated and will communicate the result to him as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the reason for the delay in the payment of separation allowances due to wives and mothers of men transferred from the National Reserve to the York and Lancaster Regiment; and whether steps will be taken to secure the prompt payment of the amounts due to these women, who have received no separation allowance since 3rd July, although transfer papers were sent off by the secretary of the West Lancashire Territorial Force Association directly he was notified of the transfer?

Urgent inquiry is being made and my hon. Friend will be informed of the result.

asked whether men who desert their wives in civilian life, and who have magisterial orders against them for the support of their wives and successfully elude their responsibilities, on joining the Army are forced to make an allotment of 3s. 6d. per week to their dependants; and, if so, why, where such an allotment is made by the soldier, the War Office refuses to make the usual allowance to the wife; whether the fact of a magisterial order being against such a soldier proves his liability in law, and why the War Office uses the fact of the man leaving his usual place of residence to evade his responsibility to prove non-dependency and thus rob the wife of her rightful allowance; and, if the man is made by the War Office to fulfil his obligations on becoming a soldier, why the War Office does not fulfil its responsibilities and pay the usual allowance?

Separation allowance is only given as compensation for separation caused by Army service. The responsibilities of soldiers who have deserted their wives are fixed by law.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board how many of the county councils who have adopted schemes under the Naval and Military War Pensions Act have appointed district committees; and whether the circular which was issued by the Statutory Committee to the county councils advising them that the appointment of district committees was not an essential part of the county scheme has been withdrawn?

In ten cases in which county councils have framed schemes for the constitution of local committees under the Act of 1915, they have divided the county into districts and have provided for the appointment of district committees. Eight of these schemes have been approved by the Statutory Committee, and the other two are now under consideration. The Statutory Committee have not withdrawn any circular issued by them on the subject of district committees. In their view it rests with the county council to determine whether or not the county shall be divided into districts under Section 2 (4) of the Act.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board how many district committees have been appointed in the City of London and Metropolitan boroughs under the Naval and Military War Pensions Act; and whether the councils have appointed a majority of the members of such district committees in accordance with Sub-section (4) of Section 2 of the Act?

District committees have not been appointed in London by the county council under Section 2 (4) of the Act. Consequently the point referred to in the latter part of the question does not arise. The County Local Committee have, however, appointed subcommittees for a period of six months, and have asked the several Metropolitan borough councils to nominate three members each to serve upon them. I understand that in the great majority of cases the borough councils have decided to adopt this course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that John M'Govern, of Cleen, Dromahair, was refused dependant's allowance out of his son Private J. M'Govern, No. 10,093, Irish Guards, on the ground that he did not apply within the prescribed time; and whether, having regard to the fact that Private M'Govern was not informed of the rules of applying and had made the usual allowance out of his pay, dependant's allowance will be made good to his father?

Inquiries will be made into this case, and the result will be communicated to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can now state the result of his inquiries into the wages and conditions of service of the scrubbers and cleaners employed at the Tooting military hospital and as to the fact that these women have suffered a reduction by transfer from the employment of the board of guardians?

I hope to have the report very shortly and I will then communicate with my right hon. Friend.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in fixing the price to be paid for wool, he took into consideration that in cases where Members of Parliament are also farmers they will be put to the expense of resigning their seats and seeking reelection, or incur penalties as having made a contract with the Government?

As the wool is being acquired under powers conferred by regulations made under the Defence of the Realm Acts, it is not considered that the transaction is a contract within the meaning of the House of Commons (Disqualification) Act, 1782.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the local wool buyers in the provincial towns of Ireland will be allowed to purchase wool as heretofore from the farmers in their respective districts; and, if not, whether the Government propose to compensate them for the loss of business, as many of them are dependent on the wool trade for their livelihood?

A notice has been issued by the Army Council permitting wool buyers to purchase wool in Ireland at fixed prices and upon certain conditions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether those engaged in the homespun woollen industry in the West of Ireland come within the new wool regulations under Section (a), namely, any person carrying on the business of woollen, worsted, or hosiery goods in any textile factory; and whether, in view of the fact that associations exist for the maintenance of the genuine homespun industry, in which the wool has to be hand-spun and hand-woven, he will state whether arrangements can be made for interfering as little as possible with this important cottage industry?

Persons engaged in domestic hand-spinning and hand-weaving are not included in Section 2 ( a ) of the notice issued by the Army Council on the 25th instant, and are, therefore, permitted to purchase Irish wool on the conditions set forth in the notice.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is acquainted with the circumstances in which on two occasions parties of the Royal Munster Fusiliers were billeted at the house of Miss Kate McCormack, Irish House, Ennistymon, county Clare; whether he is aware that on the first occasion a price was agreed to and paid, but on the second occasion payment on the same scale, though at first agreed to, was subsequently to the event refused, the final payment involving also a reduction on the account already settled; whether he has considered the effect on recruiting of such proceedings; and whether he will do justice to Miss McCormack?

I have already explained the position to the hon. Member. It is not admitted that any agreement was made on the second occasion. The billeting took place under the Army Act, and only the legal amount can be paid.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the circumstances in which a soldier was billeted on Mr. John O'Dwyer, of Market Square, Kilrush, on the night of 1st July last; whether he is aware that, on account of the delicate state of health of a member of his family, Mr. O'Dwyer paid for lodgings elsewhere and incurred loss; whether he is aware that the same soldier was billeted on him again, arriving when the house had been closed and all the inmates were in bed; and, seeing that the exceptional powers of billeting are used by the police to cause annoyance to political opponents, whether any general instructions have been given to use billeting powers with tact and discretion?

Special inquiry has been made into this matter, and as a result I am informed that a recruiting sergeant was billeted on Mr. John O'Dwyer, publican, of Kilrush, for three nights at the beginning of July. I am also informed that no member of the family of Mr. John O'Dwyer was sick, as has been stated to the hon. Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the Bedfordshire branch of the Farmers' Union wrote to his Department calling attention to the fact that one of their members had been threatened with arrest for protesting against the destruction of his crops by soldiers, when immediately adjoining was grass land which could have been utilised, and giving full particulars of the name of the officer and his unit, at the same time stating that they had been unable to get any satisfaction from the officer commanding the Signal Service Training Centre at Woburn; and, if so, will he say what action was taken by his Department in dealing with the Farmers' Union and in dealing with the officer involved.

I have not been able to trace the letter from the Farmers' Union, but I have made myself acquainted with what took place. The officer's statement of the law was not, I am informed, strictly accurate. The farmer could not have been arrested without a warrant, though it might in certain circumstances have been possible to take out a summons against him. The officer's attention will be called to the error of judgment which he committed. The farmer has been compensated for the slight damage done.

asked the Secretary of State for War why John B. Finn, of 336, Mare Street, Hackney, was discharged from his employment at the recruiting office, Walthamstow; whether he is aware that this young man is of excellent character and has his discharge from the Army; and whether he can state why Major Thatcher refused to give any reason or explanation as to the cause of his dismissal?

He was discharged because his services were no longer required.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make any statement as to the suggested provision of body shields for troops?

No, Sir, I cannot at present add anything to the answer which was given to the hon. Member for Monmouth District on the 19th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will grant a sworn inquiry into the action of the Sherwood Foresters in destroying property to the value of £15 in St. Clare's Hall, Manorhamilton, on the night of the 13th May last while in sole possession of the hall, as several independent persons are prepared to prove on oath that the damage was wilfully done by the soldiers?

No, Sir, it is not considered that any useful purpose would be served by taking the action suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can now give the total number of horses and mules, separately, which have been purchased since the outbreak of war, up to some convenient date, such as the end of March last; how many of these were acquired in Great Britain and how many from overseas; if he can say approximately what the average cost of each or the totals of all has been; and in giving the overseas figures, if he will say whether or not they include delivery to this country?

It is not desirable to publish this information.

asked what is the daily pay, in terms of marks and shillings, received by officer prisoners of war in Germany and Great Britain respectively; and whether there are in either country any compulsory deductions from this sum?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 29th May to the hon. Member for Inverness Burghs. As regards the latter part, an officer has to pay for his food and also for clothing if supplied, but I know of no other deductions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the daily expenditure per head upon German military prisoners interned in Great Britain and upon British military prisoners interned in Germany?

The cost in Great Britain (omitting cost of housing, etc.), is, roughly, Is. a day for men and 3d. a day" for officers, who pay for their food and clothing. I have no information as to the cost in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now consider the advisability of suggesting a conference of Red Cross representatives of the belligerent Powers in a neutral country, similar to that held in Stockholm between representatives of Russia and the Central Powers, to discuss and, if possible, determine a common basis upon which prisoners of war shall be treated, detained, exchanged, or transferred?

His Majesty's Government regret that they are still unable to support the proposal in question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state whether any Reports upon prisoner camps in Great Britain drawn up by members of the American Embassy can be published for the information alike of belligerents and neutrals?

There are a large numher of these Reports, and there seems no object in publishing them all. But the publication of the last Report on each camp is being arranged for.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the fact that recently Driver Graham, serving with the 30th Division in France, of Dumfries, was accused of very slightly exceeding the speed limit and was convicted, on the sworn evidence of a corporal and a private, and that the field court-martial awarded ninety days' field punishment, entailing being strapped to a wagon in full view of the troops for two hours a day, and also the loss of ninety days' pay and the loss to the man's wife of his allotment; and whether he proposes, or is it within his power, to take any disciplinary action against the field court-martial?

The court-martial was quite within its rights in awarding the punishment named. There is no power to take disciplinary action against any court-martial. Very strict Regulations have been laid down to prevent reckless driving in France—the authorities there having had their attention called to a number of cases where children had been injured owing to this cause. These Regulations must be maintained and any infringement will be severely punished, as in this case.

asked whether Irish military officers are not permitted to visit their homes in Ireland when on leave; if not, what is the reason; and whether these officers are allowed the privilege of being in the foremost ranks in the big offensive against the Germans?

I do not know whether my hon. Friend has in mind any temporary restrictions which may have been imposed at the time of the Dublin rebellion. These restrictions were solely due to difficulties of transport and no longer exist. Apart from this, there has, of course, been no discrimination in the privileges as regards leave in favour of or against any section of the officers of His Majesty's Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether promotion in the battalions at home is much quicker than in the battalions at the front; and, if so, whether he is prepared to give an explanation of this fact?

The general explanation of the inequality in the rate of promotion as between different battalions is that vacancies occur more frequently in some battalions than in others. There may have been in the past some unduly quick promotions in the reserve battalions at home, but the necessary number of senior officers in order to provide for proper conduct of training has now been provided, and pro motion will be slower in future.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department is considering any change of policy with reference to the command of Service or Reserve battalions of the New Armies; whether it is proposed to exclude all but professional soldiers from such commands; and, if so, is it intended to extend the same policy to the Territorial and Colonial Forces?

No, Sir, the Army Council are not considering any change of policy in the direction suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the employés of Messrs. Serpell and Company, biscuit makers, of Reading, who are Government contractors, have been out on strike for the past ten days because they refuse to advance the wages acceptable to their wage earners; if he is aware that the firm pay low wages, in some cases not more than 18s. per week to married men and between 9s. and 13s. to the girls and women workers; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

No complaint of the nature referred to has been received; inquiry is being made into the matter.

asked if doctors employed in Egypt for a year have been informed that they must remain for a longer period; and, if so, whether such doctors might be allowed to return to this country and to exercise their right of appeal to the professional committee?

Yes, Sir, temporarily commissioned Royal Army Medical Corps officers serving in Egypt who would on ceasing to serve as doctors become subject to the provisions of the Military Service Act have been retained beyond the termination of their year's contract. Their retention was necessary in order to provide adequately for medical requirements. It is hoped, however, that they may be able to return to this country at an early date when reliefs are available.

asked what will be the relation of the officers sent out by the War Office to deal with matters of supply and transport in India to the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army as such or as a member of the Government of India and to the Governor-General of India in Council under the Act of Parliament giving him the supreme control of the Army in India?

Officers sent to Mesopotamia will be serving in administrative services and departments under the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Force D., and will therefore have no relations with the Commander-in-Chief of the Army in India, except through the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Force D. Officers sent to India will have the same (relations to the Commander-in-Chief in India as any other officers have who are serving at the Headquarters of the Army in India. As has been explained before, the Commander-in-Chief in India will, so far as the forces in Mesopotamia are concerned, act under instructions of the Army Council. The position and duties of the Commander-in-Chief, India, and of the Governor-General in Council in relation to the control of the Army in India are untouched by the arrangements made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state his reason for refusing to the proprietor of the "Nenagh News" the necessary permit to enable him to send his papers to subscribers in the United States of America?

There has been no refusal of a permit to the "Nenagh News and Tipperary Vindicator." The proprietors did not apply for a permit until the 12th July, and they were requested to furnish the usual details. This having been done, a permit was sent to them on 29th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Colonial allowance for officers residing in Egypt for prolonged periods has been reduced by two-thirds or any other amount; was the rate fixed in times of peace to cover additional expenditure incidental to residence in Egypt and other places; and will he say on what basis is it reduced at a time when the prices prevailing in Egypt have made such additional expenditure much heavier than before?

Colonial allowance, which was a Grant-in-Aid designed to meet the special expenses of officers living in a Colonial station under peace conditions, has been reduced as stated in Egypt, the reason being that officers in Egypt are now in receipt of special war allowances which were not issuable in peace.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will direct that soldiers and sailors who received wounds in His Majesty's service prior to 4th August, 1914, shall enjoy the honourable distinction of wearing a distinguishing badge in the same way as soldiers who have been wounded after that date?

No, Sir; it is considered desirable to confine this distinction to those who have been wounded in the course of the present War.

asked whether a scheme for a Flying Corps was prepared by the staff at Simla prior to the War; and, if so, whether such scheme was put into force?

The establishment of a flying school was sanctioned in 1913. A few machines were supplied, and additional machines were on order when war broke out. Both the machines and the personnel were then transferred to the War Office at their urgent request.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that application forms for passes to enter the proscribed area north of Inverness, have entirely run out in the Glasgow and West of Scotland districts, with the result that all who wish to visit the prohibited area are held up indefinitely, apart from the merits of their claim to be allowed to enter; and, if so, whether his Department will supply fresh forms without delay or accept applications on other forms, in view of the fact that this is the holiday season in the West of Scotland and that many of the workers there are desirous of visiting their former homes within the prohibited area?

My hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As the forms referred to are issued to the police through my Department, I understand that there was a temporary shortage of application forms in Glasgow and one or two other districts in the West of Scotland, but fresh supplies of forms were sent at the end of last week.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough?

The action which it is proposed to take will be on the lines indicated in the Report of the Air Board to the War Committee which was recently published with the Report of the Committee of Inquiry.

asked whether, in view of the possibility of further enemy air attacks on this country during the autumn, steps have been taken to complete the air defences of the country; and whether perfect coordination now exists between all branches of the two Services?

The development of the air defences of the country has made great progress, and is proceeding as rapidly as the manufacturing output and the needs of our forces abroad permit. In regard to the second part of the question, the hon. Member may rest assured that all possible steps are taken to secure coordination between the various branches concerned.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether any firms originally engaged in the manufacture of munitions have since discontinued this work owing to lack of orders; and what policy his Department is adopting in facilitating the readjustment for ordinary trade purposes of such factories which remodelled and adapted themselves to meet Government needs?

It is not possible to give a precise answer to this question. There is in general a continuous increase in the total output of munitions, but changes in the nature of the requirements for the Armies in the field sometimes render it impossible to renew orders for particular articles placed with particular firms. When this occurs it is the policy of the Department to endeavour to find work for such firms, either on other forms of munitions or on other work necessary for the conduct of the War. The method of giving effect to this policy necessarily varies in different cases.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he will present a return of the number of cases heard before munitions tribunals between the 29th November, 1915, and the 30th June, 1916, in continuation of Cd. 8143?

A return of the number of cases heard before munitions tribunals between the 27th November, 1915, and the 30th June, 1916, has been prepared and will be presented forthwith.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give such information as to the age of spirits in warehouse as is available, in view of the fact that the Customs and Excise Department has recently been collecting the necessary information to enable him to make an approximate statement?

It is true that the Board of Customs and Excise have recently made some inquiries on this matter, but those inquiries have been limited both in scope and area. They do not cover the ground indicated in the question addressed to me on the 26th July by the hon. and gallant Member or afford a basis for even an approximate statement on the points raised by him.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to say when the recorders at Devonport Dockyard may expect a reply to their petition presented to their lordships in 1915?

It is presumed that the question is intended to refer to the petition presented by the recorders in 1914, no petition having been presented in 1915. A reply refusing to accede to the 1914 petition is now being sent.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that head masters of model schools in Ireland have now and have always had either free residences or rent allowances from the Treasury, and that prior to 1900 head mistresses of model schools had also from the same source rent allowances of £20 each per annum, and that principal teachers, both men and women, of all ordinary national schools are entitled to residences provided mainly from State sources; whether he is aware that model school head mistresses appointed since 1900 are the only principal teachers not entitled to residences or rent allowances from the Treasury, the rent allowance paid to them being made out of the school fees collected from pupils attending the model schools, with the result that a portion of these fees, which should go to supplement the salaries of model school teachers generally, is used in the payment of a Grant formerly made by the Treasury; and whether he will arrange that the Treasury will, with a view to removing this grievance of model school teachers, see that the rent allowance in question be paid from State sources, as was formerly the case?

The head masters of model schools are either provided with a free residence or with a Grant from State sources for house rent. Prior to the year 1884 it was set forth in the rules of the Commissioners of National Education that the salary paid to model school head mistresses out of the Parliamentary Vote included a sum of £20 per annum in respect of lodging allowance. Principal teachers of ordinary national schools are not entitled in all cases to residences provided mainly from State sources. Numbers of such teachers occupy residences provided from local sources and for many of them no provision has been made in respect of a residence. In a considerable number of cases, principal teachers of ordinary national schools occupy residences which were built by means of a loan obtained from the State. One-half of the annual sum required for repayment of such loans is provided by the Commissioners out of the Parliamentary Vote. The other half is provided from local sources, and is in a large proportion of the cases paid by the teachers. Under an arrangement sanctioned in the year 1905 school fees collected from model school pupils which had been required up to that time to be paid over to the Treasury, were allowed to be distributed between the model school teachers. The scheme sanctioned by the Treasury for the allocation of these fees provides for the payment out of them of a Grant of £20 in respect of house rent for each model school head mistress appointed since April, 1900. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to the reply which I gave on Wednesday last to a question of the hon. Member for the Leix Division of Queen's County.

asked the Home Secretary on what grounds Patrick Jennings, of Derrymore, Hollymount, was deprived of his old age pension; if he is aware that his holding is of an uneconomic size and his stock comprised of a cow, a yearling calf, two young pigs, and a few hens; and, under such conditions, will he issue instructions to the Irish Local Government Board to have Jennings restored his pension?

The case of Patrick Jennings, of Derrymore, Hollymount, has not come before the Local Government Board.

asked the numbers of children on the registers of ordinary public elementary schools (excluding institution schools not maintained by local education authorities) in England and Wales on 31st January, 1914, 1915, and 1916, arranged in the age groups eleven and under twelve, twelve and under thirteen, thirteen and under fourteen, and fourteen and under fifteen?

The number of scholars on the registers of ordinary public elementary schools in England and Wales (excluding schools not maintained by local education authorities) on 31st January was as follows:— — 1914. 1915. 1916. Aged 11 and under 12 657,207 658,661 659,787 Aged 12 and under 13 614,309 632,009 626,735 Aged 13 and under 14 435,437 437,629 426,207 Aged 14 and under 15 35,167 33,624 25,184

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will say how many children in the primary schools in the Royal borough of Salford are paying fees for their schooling; and whether, seeing that every child of school age is by Statute entitled to a free place, he will take steps to secure these rights for them?

The total number of children paying fees in ordinary public elementary schools in the county borough of Salford during the statistical year 1915–16 was 6,592. With reference to the suggestion made in the last part of the question, I have no evidence that there is any deficiency of public school accommodation without payment of fees or that the parents who send their children to fee-charging schools desire relief from such fees.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether, in view of the Report of the Royal Commission on Veneral Diseases that the rule by which approved societies are empowered to refuse sickness benefit to insured persons suffering from such disease is contrary to the interests of public health and national economy, and of the endorsement thereof by the British Medical Association and the conference of industrial assurance approved societies, and of the inestimable advantage to the race as well as to the individual arising from sufferers obtaining proper treatment in the primary stages of the disease, the National Insurance Commissioners will consider the advisability of recommending the Government to guarantee to the approved societies such deficiency in their funds as may result from the relaxation by them of the aforesaid rule?

The rule disqualifying for benefit a member whose incapacity is due to his own misconduct is optional, and can be revoked by any society at its pleasure. The finance of the Insurance Acts, therefore, must be held to include provision for the payment of benefit in such cases. The problem is, in fact, not wholly or mainly a financial one, since the safeguarding of the benefit funds was not the object, so far as I am aware, which societies had in view in originally adopting rules of the kind in question. The whole question, to the vital importance of which the Insurance Commissioners are fully alive, is receiving careful consideration, and I am hoping to have an early opportunity of consulting approved societies with regard to the position under their rules.