asked the Prime Minister whether there is any and, if so, what distinction between the status of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the rights and duties appertaining to the office of Irish Viceroy at the time of Lord Wimborne's resignation of the office in May last and his reappointment thereto announced on the 7th instant; and whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken to prevent the friction likely to arise between a Lord Lieutenant, a Chief Secretary, and an Under-Secretary by reason of the lack of a distinct and authoritative definition of their relations to each other in Irish affairs, as explained by Lord Wimborne in his evidence before he Irish Rebellion Inquiry Commission and in a speech on the 11th ultimo, complaining that the Chief Secretary and the Under-Secretary had absorbed the powers of the Lord Lieutenant, who had no independent information and no executive machinery for assisting his views should they conflict with those of his colleagues?

I think my hon. and learned Friend's question is covered by the answer I gave yesterday on this subject to the hon. Member for the Harbour Division of Dublin. I trust and believe that the new arrangement will remove the difficulties to which my hon. and learned Friend refers.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the word Colony is avoided in references to the Dominions, whether the Government can see their way to an alteration of the present title of the Secretary of State for the Colonies so as to bring it more abreast of modern conditions?

I see no reason for an alteration of the present title of Secretary of State for the Colonies, and have no evidence that any of the Dominions desire such a change.

asked the Prime Minister if General Maxwell made any report on the shooting of an aged priest named Father Waters, at his own door by a sentry; and are the Dublin papers free to publish the facts, including statements by members of the Marist Order who took the dying statements of Father Waters?

I have received the following report from Sir John Maxwell:

"No complaint on the subject of the death of Father Waters was made to the military authorities. From inquiries made on 2nd July, 19l6, it was reported that he had been wounded by a stray bullet whilst entering his residence, and he died of his wound on the 8th May, 1916.

The Marist Order have not to my knowledge reported the alleged dying statements of Father Waters.

I do not consider that such statements should be exempted from the ordinary rules of censorship.

(Signed) J. G. MAXWELL. 8th August, 1916."

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the letter of Mr. Ernest Frith complaining that his brother, who was a Protestant policeman in Dublin, was shot while on duty by a sergeant in the Royal Irish Rifles, and instead of having a full inquiry into the matter the whole business is hushed up; if General Maxwell made any report on this allegation; and what are the facts as to this constable's murder?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answers given yesterday by the Chief Secretary for Ireland.

asked the Home Secretary whether there will be any further releases of Irish prisoners; if so, when; and if he, is aware that the release of the Irish prisoners now interned would be appreciated by their relatives in Ireland?

I can add nothing to the answers which I gave to the hon. Member on Tuesday last and to the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin on Monday.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the reasons for the order of internment against Joseph M'Guill, of 9, Bridge Street, Dundalk, at present in Frongoch Camp; and whether he is aware that several clergymen and others can testify to the fact that this gentleman took no part in the recent insurrection and was at home during the whole time that the fighting was proceeding?

The order for the internment of Joseph M'Guill was made on the ground that he is of hostile associations and a member of an organisation called the Irish Volunteers or of an organisation called the Citizen Army, which have promoted armed insurrection against His Majesty, and is reasonably suspected of having favoured, promoted or assisted in armed insurrection against His Majesty. He had a full opportunity of making representations on his own behalf before the Advisory Committee, who recommended his continued detention, and I cannot now reconsider his case.

asked where and at what particular date and in connection with what movement Lord Decies acted as Military Press Censor prior to the Dublin rebellion?

As the hon. Gentleman desires exact particulars of the place and date, I have had to make special inquiry. The reply has not yet been received, but I will communicate with him as soon as I can obtain the particulars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Dublin motor dealers were compelled to pay duty on parts of imported machines actually in stock before the new duties came into force?

So far as I know, the answer is in the negative, but if my hon. and learned Friend has any case in mind where he thinks a charge has been wrongly made, I will have inquiry made.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that on the 14th July Captain Walker, who is the naval officer in charge at Stromness, handed to the proprietor of the Mason Arms Hotel a paper stating that the house was closed for a month; and whether, in view of the fact that no complaint had ever been made against the hotel, against the proprietor, or any of his servants, that the proprietor was refused all information as to what offence he had committed, immediate inquiry will be made as to the reasons actuating the officer in charge to take the action referred to?

The matter has been inquired into, and it has been ascertained that unlabelled bottles of spirit which were found in the possession of certain men had been supplied from this establishment. It is understood that the owner had been warned three months previously and also by Captain Walker's predecessor.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if there is any legal obligation on men entering the Navy to be vaccinated; and, if so, under what Act of Parliament this compulsion is authorised?

A condition of entry into the Navy is that the man or boy must express his willingness to be vaccinated or revaccinated; this condition has been laid down by the Board of Admiralty on the advice of their medical officers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that Irish millers, brewers, shopkeepers, etc., are large buyers of Irish hay; if he is aware that these people must sell their horses and cannot carry on their business owing to the action of the Government in commandeering the whole of the Irish hay crop; and whether, seeing that the Government only require a fraction of the Irish hay crop, he will see that some arrangement is made whereby other purchasers can obtain supplies that are not required by the Government?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. The War Office possesses information showing that large quantities of hay have now been released for the use of civil consumers in Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to vary the rations issued to the troops at home, oatmeal or rolled oats could be issued in lieu of bread saved on rations on the same principle as flour is now issued; and whether an equivalent ration of coffee could be issued in lieu of tea saved?

Oatmeal can already be drawn instead of bread on the basis of 2 ozs. oatmeal for 4 ozs. of bread. It is not considered advisable to issue an equivalent of coffee for tea. The weight to be issued, to get an equivalent in food value, would have to be nearly doubled and, as the price of tea and coffee per pound does not much differ, considerable extra expense for the public would be involved.

asked whether the whole question of promotion in the Royal Garrison Artillery is a matter for the consideration of the Army Council rather than the Commander-in-Chief in the field; and, if so, whether, to save the Commander-in-Chief, the Army Council will review the whole matter?

The general question of promotion in the Royal Garrison Artillery or in any other branch or arm is, of course, a matter for the consideration of the Army Council, in which they would be assisted by the advice of the Commander-in-Chief British Armies in France, if he thought, that any general consideration affecting his forces arose. He has not, so far as I can learn, made any representation. Promotion amongst the permanent officers of the Royal Garrison Artillery has for some time been slow as compared with the rate obtaining in other branches, but the Army Council having reviewed the matter do not consider that it would be right during the course of the War and without knowledge of eventual requirements to fix a new establishment. As regards the temporary officers of the Royal Garrison Artillery, the same rules are applied as in the case of the Royal Field Artillery, so far as they may be applicable as in other arms.

asked whether there is an insufficiency of sun helmets for our troops at Solonika, and an insufficiency of punkahs for the sick and wounded there?

No, Sir; there is no insufficiency of sun helmets. A sufficient supply to cover issues to the whole force was sent from Egypt last month. No representations have been received as to insufficiency of punkahs for the sick and wounded.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, considering the disquietude felt throughout the Empire owing to the medical arrangements in the past in Mesopotamia, he can tell the House that the medical arrangements at Salonika are thoroughly satisfactory.

Perhaps I cannot do better than read to the House an extract from a letter written by the Red Cross Commissioner in Macedonia, Sir Courtauld Thomson, who is an independent authority who has been familiar with the medical arrangements in France and other theatres since the beginning of the War. He writes as follows under date 26th July:

"Another striking change here is the progress that has been made in the hospital accommodation and arrangements. I have been in all your general hospitals and many of the casualty clearing stations and field ambulances and the standard of efficiency seems very high. I have been much impressed by the Officers Commanding. It is a pleasure to see the pride they take in their own unit and their keenness to try and make it the best of its kind. The last three weeks have been a great strain on everyone, but the medical service have risen splendidly to the occasion."

It is the case that there has been a good deal of malaria amongst the troops in the Struma Valley, but this is now, I am glad to say, lessened.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can do anything to accelerate replies to questions addressed to the War Office by Members of this House?

I am not quite sure whether my hon. Friend is referring to Parliamentary questions, oral or written, or to inquiries made by letter addressed to the War Office. As regards the former, my hon. Friend will realise that they are very numerous, but every oral question is answered on the day for which it is set down, unless it is absolutely impossible to obtain the information in time. As regards written inquiries addressed to the War Office by Members of this House, everything possible is done to send early answers, but I am bound to say that many of the questions, both in this House and by letter, are such as in the case of persons not Members of this House would visually be answered by referring the inquirer to the proper military authority concerned, who would most frequently be the officer in charge of Records. If the War Office is expected to give detailed information about the circumstances from day to day of individual soldiers, correspondence with the local military authorities already heavily burdened, is necessary, and some delay in the production of the answer is inevitable. If I might make an appeal to Members of the House I would ask them to confine their questions, as far as possible, to matters of principle and of general interest, and to direct their inquiries about individual soldiers to the authority who actually possesses the necessary details. I am aware that it is sometimes difficult for laymen to know to whom inquiry should be addressed, and in order to meet this the Army Council are drawing up a concise statement of directions, to which they propose to give very extended publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the competent military authority in London has raided the office of the No-Conscription Fellowship and seized copies of a pamphlet giving the official report of the trial of Rex v. Russell; if so, on what grounds this seizure has been made; and if, pending a legal decision on the matter, an undertaking will be given that the pamphlets will not be destroyed?

The hon. Member misdescribes, if he will permit me to say so, the pamphlet to which he refers. The pamphlet in addition to giving the official report of the trial, Rex v. Russell, contains a reprint of the mischievous pamphlet, the publication of which led to Mr. Russell's conviction and punishment. Under these circumstances I cannot interfere, nor give any undertaking that the copies of the pamphlets seized will not be destroyed.

asked if parcels for soldiers in the British Expeditionary Force abroad cannot be taken by the Post Office if they weigh over 7 lbs., and cannot be taken by the railways if they weigh less than 11 lbs.; and, if so, by what means can parcels weighing between 7 lbs. and 11 lbs. be forwarded to men at the front?

Parcels between 7 lbs. and 11 lbs. in weight were originally accepted by the General Post Office, but in order to assist the transport services in France to cope with the greatly increased number of parcels consequent on the increase in the Armies in the field, it was decided that the General Post Office should no longer convey parcels over 7 lbs. in weight. As no relief to the transport in France would have been afforded, had such parcels merely been transferred to the Military Forwarding Officers, it was also decided that they could not be accepted by the railway companies for transmission via Southampton.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the case of Sapper Benson, Royal Engineers, whose Record shows that he joined the Colours in October, 1914, was in the battle of Neuve Chapelle, where he was gassed and shot through the groin and leg, and, after recovery in England, returned to the front and took part in the battles of Ypres, Hill 60, Soissons, Messines, and Loos; whether he is aware that Benson, during an assault by the Germans on the British trenches, succeeded without aid in rescuing eight wounded men and a wounded officer, and while carrying another wounded man was shot through both legs, blown into the air, and subsequently buried in débris from shell burst, and as a consequence losing his sight and the use of his limbs; whether he is aware that a record of his conduct was read out in brigade orders at three parades and recommended by the general; whether he is aware that Sapper Benson is now at home again, blind and partially paralysed, that he is thirty-eight years of age and has a wife and three children, that he is totally incapable of any employment, his injuries being pronounced as permanent by the Army medical officers, and that so far he has not received any recognition of his action, nor has he received any pension, his sole means of subsistence for himself and his family being an allowance from the local relief committee of 25s. weekly; and whether, having regard to Sapper Benson's conduct while at the front, any recognition that may be due shall be awarded him and, having regard to the fact of the present hardship this soldier is enduring, an allocation of full pension and other allowances to which he may be entitled will be promptly made?

Sapper Benson was discharged on the 7th July. There was some delay in sending his papers to Chelsea, but the temporary allowance of 20s. a week was paid very shortly after discharge. The Chelsea Commissioners have now awarded him a temporary pension of 25s. a week, to which will be added 2s. 6d. a week for each of his three children.

asked whether the War Office meet the case of soldiers killed by accident while not in the performance of actual military duty; and, if so, how is this done?

When the accident is due to circumstances arising out of the man's employment as a soldier, as distinct from risks to which civilians also are exposed, his widow and children would be eligible for pension (and other dependants for pension or gratuity) provided there had not been fault or negligence on the man's part sufficiently serious to invalidate the claim.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will state the nature of the financial provision made for the wives, children, or other dependants of uncertifiable nerve-shaken soldiers sent to special hospitals and of incurable soldiers sent to asylums; and whether the War Office is directly responsible for the financial liability in such cases?

So long as these soldiers are retained in military hospitals their families and dependants remain entitled to separation allowance. In regard to pensioners in asylums, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on the 7th instant to the hon. Member for West Ham.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will grant a Return relating to hutting in the United Kingdom?

Yes, Sir, I propose to hand in a Return next week.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will arrange for officers going to their homes on leave to be allowed half fare if they travel second class on railways where second class is available, instead of confining the payment to officers travelling first class, and thus relieve them of any expense they can ill afford?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the Melton Division on Tuesday last.

asked if it is the intention of the Government to take the whole of a farmer's 1916 clip of wool if in sound condition, as is usual in ordinary sales, or will the dockings or any tied fleeces be rejected; and will the buyers be instructed to act in accordance with the usual custom in this respect?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In general, however, it is in the farmer's interest that dockings should be removed before the wool is sold and licences will be given for the purchase and sale of dockings on application to the Army Contracts Department, Tothill Street, S.W., or to any of the district wool purchase offices. If the wool is sold by the farmer to the Department with dockings and tied fleeces allowances will be required in accordance with a scale approved by the local Advisory Committee, of which three members are agriculturists and three are representative wool buyers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that it is the universal custom in the Army that a report in favour of an officer in action by a brigadier or other superior officer to a general who was not present at the engagement must be embodied in the latter's dispatch and should be done without comment; if he is aware that this was not done in the case of Major Sir Francis Vane by General Sir John Maxwell; and is he aware of any reason for this universal custom of the Army being departed from in Sir Francis Vane's case other than that he reported the murders of Messrs. Skeffington, Dickson, and M'Intyre when these had not otherwise been reported?

I am informed that the custom in the Army is not as stated by the hon. Member.

asked whether the task of burying the dead, the clearing up of battlefields, and similar non-combatant work is now undertaken by the Non-Combatant Corps and troops of the combatant branches relieved as far as possible of this duty?

The burying of the dead involves going into the firing line, and the members of the Non-Combatant Corps could not, therefore, under the pledges which have been given, be allotted this duty.

asked, the Secretary of State for War whether he car now state the result of his inquiry into the cases of Irish migratory labourers who have been arrested by the military authorities under the Military Service Act, though not ordinarily resident in Great Britain, on the ground that they were registered in Scotland last year; whether he is aware that further arrests have been made in similar cases during the last few days; and whether he will issue instructions immediately to have such arrests stopped and the men released?

The legal position is that these men require to prove their exception from the Military Service Acts before a Civil Court. No machinery exists to enable recruiting officers to distinguish between persons who are ordinarily resident and persons who are not if their names appear on the military register.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will have steps taken to put a stop to the torturing of conscientious objectors by the military at Buttrell Camp, Barry, where two resisters, named Dan Edwards and John Woolcock, are being handcuffed and dragged about a field, kicked, and picks tied about their shoulders, and are being given repeated sentences of detention by the commanding officer, who refuses their demand to be tried by court-martial, the instructions given to the soldiers who assault these men being that they must be tamed here and not allowed to go to a civil prison?

asked the Secretary of State for War why John Doherty, Calabria Road, Highbury, was called up under the Military Service Act; if he is aware that John Doherty was a member of a starred trade, that of engineer, and was in possession of an exemption certificate stamped by the Underground Railway Company; if he is aware that the recruiting authorities at the Holloway recruiting office, Agricultural Hall, Islington, refused to recognise the exemption certificate and sent Doherty under escort to a regiment; if he is aware that he received no opportunity to communicate with his friends or his employer; if he can say why this treatment was inflicted on Doherty; and if he will order his discharge?

Inquiry has been instituted with reference to the matters dealt with in both these questions, and immediately the necessary information has been obtained it will be communicated to the hon. Gentleman by letter, without the necessity for them to take any further trouble in the matter.

asked how the inquiry into the alleged bullying of Crowsley is going on; and what is the name of the officer holding the inquiry?

I am informed that, as a result of careful investigation, it is found that the account given by Frederick Crowsley of his treatment at the Mill Hill Depot is very much exaggerated. The only element of truth in it is that he was made to stand with his face to the wall. This was not for three hours, but for a period of less than an hour. Up till two days before he went away he had conformed to all orders and instructions given to him, but at the period in question, apparently in consequence of a visit he had received from a relative, he declined to help to clean out the detention room, and he was in consequence made to stand with his face to the wall while this was being done. I am further informed that Frederick Crowsley is not a conscientious objector and that he is the same man as the Frederick Crowsley who was in June, 1912, sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labour at Winchester for circulating seditious literature amongst soldiers at Aldershot. The proceedings then taken were instituted by the then Attorney-General, now the Lord Chief Justice. I may add that Crowsley before leaving the Mill Hill Depot made no complaint of having been ill-treated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the court-martial held at Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth, on 4th August, when Stanley Ashman, a conscientious objector, was unanimously held by the court to be genuine; whether he is aware that the court declared that he should be liberated if the sanction of the Prime Minister could be obtained; and whether this course, if taken by other courts-martial, will be allowed to have effect, and the labours of the Central Tribunal correspondingly lightened?

I am not aware whether any procedure such as that indicated by the hon. Member was adopted by the court-martial, but if such be the case it was entirely outside the province of the court to express such an opinion. I regret I am unable to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member in view of the fact that a court-martial is only permitted and required to give an opinion as to whether or not any particular offence has been committed, this opinion taking the form of the finding of the court.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he can see his way to issue instructions to the tribunals to avoid such expressions appearing as, final, and without right to appeal?

I will give this matter my consideration.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many shopkeepers and business men who have appealed for a rehearing of their cases by local tribunals have had their applications allowed; and what proportion this represents so applying?

I am not in a position to furnish the information desired.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Sutton Coldfield tribunal are contravening the Regulations issued under the Military Service Act, 1916, by permitting two military representatives to take part in the proceedings of the tribunal; and whether he will take any action in the matter?

I am having inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in cases where it is proved to the satisfaction of an Appeal Tribunal that an applicant failed to apply for an exemption certificate because he was in a reserved occupation at the time that such application should have been made and thought he need not do so, he will give directions that the tribunals, if satisfied of the bona fides of the applicant, should grant his exemption if they think that the merits of the case warrant it?

Tribunals have certain discretion as to dealing with late applications. Instructions to tribunals are received by my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board, but so far as the Army Council is concerned it is not considered desirable to deal specially with the particular cases mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Lewisham local tribunal refused exemption to Mr. C. E. L. Lock, of 30, Algernon Road, Lewisham, a conscientious objector to military service, on the grounds that being a bank clerk he would handle War Loan scrip, and therefore could not have a conscience in this matter; and, if so, whether, in view of the Military Service Act, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I am not acquainted with the facts of this case; but if a man is aggrieved by the decision of the local tribunal his proper remedy is to appeal to the Appeal Tribunal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher and Sir Thomas Mackenzie have been appointed by their respective Governments to serve on the Dardanelles Commission?

No, Sir. His Majesty's Government thought it desirable that they should serve on this Commission, but they were not appointed by their respective Governments, and are not to be regarded as representing them in this inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary if, with a view of safeguarding our home petrol supply, he will consult with the naval and military authorities and ascertain whether their reserve and other stores of petrol are stored in such a manner as to be reasonably safe from air-raid dangers; and, if he finds that these naval and military stores, especially on the North, North-East, and Eastern coasts, are more carelessly stored than the petrol permitted to be stored by the civilian population, whether he will come to an arrangement with the naval and military authorities whereby the police shall be able to enforce such safety regulations in the public interest with regard to the storage of petrol as may seem expedient?

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has asked me to answer this question. The Army Council fully recognise that it is one which concerns the civil population as well as the military and naval forces. The system of distribution of petrol required for Army purposes at home aims at reducing to a minimum the quantity of spirit stored at any one place in the North, North-East, and Eastern coasts. The Army Council have no information that the prescribed regulations for safety are relaxed anywhere on these coasts, but if my hon. Friend has reason to believe it is otherwise, and will impart to me in confidence his information, the matter will of course be inquired into carefully.

asked the Minister of Munitions if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at the Sheffield Munitions Court, early in July, Sir William Clegg stated that one of his gardeners, who had lived in the village all his life and who had never seen a shell, went straight away and was appointed a shell inspector; and will he say whether any test was made of this man's fitness for the appointment?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Blackburn on the 2nd instant.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he can state the quantities of beer and spirits cleared for home consumption in each of the months of the present financial year, with the figures for the corresponding months of the previous year?

The figures are as follows:

—		April.	May.	June.	July.	Total.
		Barrels.	Barrels.	Barrels.	Barrels.	Barrels.
Beer Imported	1915	1,900	2,400	1,900	2,400	8,600
	1916	1,300	1,300	300	100	3,000
Beer, Home-made	1915	2,226,000	2,562,000	2,673,000	2,847,000	10,308,000
	1916	1,875,000	2,253,000	2,267,000	Not yet available
		Proof Galls.	Proof Galls.	Proof Galls.	Proof Galls.	Proof Galls.
Spirits, Imported	1915	1,022,000	64,000	234,000	289,000	1,609,000
	1916	276,000	323,000	215,000	187,000	1,001,000
Spirits, Imported	1916	5,170,000	438,000	1,284,000	1,697,000	8,589,000
	1916	1,216,000	1,322,000	1,090,000	1,052,000*	4,680,000
* Approximate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any communication rethe case of a gentleman's son living near Manchester who enlisted as a private and was invalided on 15th February, 1916, to Maghull Military Mental Hospital owing to nerve strain attributable to the War; whether he is aware that on 7th May, 1916, he was reported by the doctor in charge to be

As a general rule the Board of Control, in dealing with cases under Section 72 (2) of the Lunacy Act, 1890, regard the person who made the last payment on account of the patient as the person who should give direction for discharge, but in cases of this kind they will offer no objection to action being taken by the wife, father, or other next-of-kin, not- withstanding the fact that a pension has been paid by the Army Pay Office to the asylum authorities.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if it was in accordance with his instructions that the Local Government Board auditor ruled that the Bermondsey Board of Guardians must be surcharged if they continued to pay out-relief to a parishioner whilst her son-in-law, on whom neither she nor the guardians had any claim, provided her with a lodging gratuitously; whether it is necessary before relief can be given that the son-in-law should refuse to shelter the applicant; and whether he will take steps to see that the action of the board of guardians in refusing to be bound by such a harsh view of their duties is endorsed?

I understand that at the last audit of the accounts of the guardians of the parish of Bermondsey the district auditor raised the question whether in a certain case in which weekly relief had been granted by the guardians there was destitution justifying relief from the poor rates, but that no surcharge was either made or threatened. As regards the powers of the guardians to give relief I would refer to my reply to-day to a question to my right hon. Friend the Member for the South Molton Division.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the necessity for making appropriate provision for uncertifiable disabled soldiers who have been discharged from the Army on account of nerve-shock, he will take measures to facilitate the establishment of convalescent homes, wholly removed from suspicion of connection with lunacy, where such ex-soldiers on return to civilian life may go voluntarily for the medical care they need and find cheerful surroundings, with employment of such a nature as may expedite their return to the life of self-supporting citizens?

I understand that the problem of providing appropriate treat- ment for all the different classes of mentally affected soldiers and sailors is undergoing the earnest attention of the Statutory Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of lascars engaged on British ships and paid-off British ships from 1st January to 30th June, 1915, and from 1st July to 31st December, 1915; and the number of non-domiciled foreigners employed on British ships and paid off from 1st January to 30th June, 1915, and from 1st July to 31st December, 1915?

I regret that the figures asked for are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what provision he intends to make at the end of their employment for the temporary clerks under seventeen years of age who have been taken on by his Department since the commencement of the War?

As a general rule temporary boy clerks serving in the Board of Trade are obtained through the Civil Service Commissioners, under whose Regulations these clerks are not retained after they have reached eighteen years of age, unless they have passed the examination for assistant clerks (abstractor class). The Employment Department of the Board have recently, in order to meet a special pressure of work, made arrangements for the engagement by the divisional officers of Labour Exchanges of temporary boy and girl clerks at special rates of pay. The engagement in these cases is purely temporary, carrying with it no prospect of permanence, and a warning to this effect is given on engagement.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is arranging for those engaged in Post Office work to have holidays or rest days in relays to make up for the loss of the Bank holiday, as is proposed for munition workers?

It has been possible to allow postal servants, with few exceptions, to take their annual leave this year in the ordinary course. Days in lieu will be given if the Bank holidays do not take place.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state upon whose authority the statement, contained in the Secretary of State's Note of 21st July to the American Ambassador, was made to the effect that soap is not granted free of charge in the internment camps in this country, and upon whose authority it was contradicted in the Note of 25th July; and will he issue instructions to the various Departments concerned that communications affecting the welfare of British prisoners should be in accordance with the facts?

The error is due to a misunderstanding which is regretted, but the hon. Member no doubt realises that in war time work in every Department has to be done under great pressure.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many clerks of the second class in the Estate Duty Office who have been called to the Bar or have taken a university degree in law, have been advanced to a salary of £200 under the terms of the circular of the 29th of April, 1912; how many cases there are in the office of clerks who have, on the strength of that circular, qualified as indicated but have been refused the special advancement; and if immediate steps will be taken to fulfil the promise made in that circular in all cases?

Twenty-eight of the officers referred to have obtained a law degree. At present no special increases of salary have been granted, but the matter is receiving attention and will be dealt with as soon as possible.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that complaints are being made respecting the neglect of land occupiers to comply with the provisions of the Weeds Act in certain districts; and whether, he will make inquiry and use the influence at his disposal to induce the local authorities to have the Act complied with within their area of jurisdiction?

The hon. Member appears to be under some misapprehension as to the position occupied by local authorities in regard to the administration of this Act. The sanction of the county council must be obtained before the Act is put into operation in any particular area. When such sanction is obtained the enforcement of the law rests with the Department. Owing to a shortage in funds and consequent reduction in staff the Act has not been very stringently administered during the past two years. I hope, however, it will be possible to work the Act more vigorously in the future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any decision has yet been announced by the Central American Court of Justice in the matter of the protest by Costa Rica and San Salvador against the treaty which would enable the United States of America to construct a canal by the Nicaraguan route?

So far as I am aware no such decision has yet been announced.