asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the quantity of spirits retained for home consumpion in the first six months of 1916, 1915, and 1914.

The figures are as follows:Spirits retained for consumption in the United Kingdom, as beverage only, in the first six months of—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether an order has yet been issued that, in cases where the earnings do not exceed 20s. per week in rural areas and 30s. in urban areas, separation allowances shall not be taken into account when fixing or reviewing old age pensions; and whether effect is being now given to the recent statement made by the Prime Minister on the above subject?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement as to administrative concessions to old age pensioners which was presented on the 10th instant (Cd. 8320), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the administrative expenses of the local pensions committees will be paid from State funds; and, if not, in which way will such expenses be met?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has agreed to make a grant of a sum not exceeding one-half of the administrative expenses of the local authorities subject to a certain scale.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the average cost of tuition in flying at Government establishments of pupils for the Royal Naval Air Service up to the obtaining of their brevets, including a fair proportion of aerodrome expenses, maintenance, and wastage of aeroplanes and engines?

It would not be possible to give the information asked for without obtaining details from the local establishments with such subsequent investigation and collation at the Admiralty. In view of the present pressure of urgent Executive work, it is regretted that it is not practicable to undertake this additional work.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to put an end to the still existing lack of co-operation between the Royal Naval Air Service authorities and the Military Air and Anti-Aircraft Services; if he is aware that only recently, in substituting the military authority for the naval authority at an important station now moved somewhat further inland, the efficiency of the equipment has been impaired by replacing the more powerful electric projectors by others of a less power and by the provision of obsolete Boer war guns of a harmless nature beyond a very short range; whether his attention has been called to the inefficiency of our anti-aircraft defences when, during one of the recent Zeppelin raids, the projectors at an important station were found to be quite inadequate as they could only flash their lights effectively to a low altitude, and that although such anti-aircraft guns as had been provided fired incessantly none of the shells got anywhere near to their objective; and, in these circumstances, if he will consult with his naval and military advisers and ask them to point out to their respective Departments that, although the public is willing to make any necessary sacrifice, they are altogether opposed to the present lack of co-ordination between the two Services which still continues to minimise the effectiveness of our anti-aircraft defences as a whole?

In the present case no question of co-ordination or lack of coordination between the two Services arises for the reason that the guns and searchlights of the place which I have been privately informed by my hon. Friend that his question refers to, though originally in the hands of the Admiralty were transferred from the Admiralty to the military authorities, and are now under the control of the Department responsible for Home defence. I have made careful inquiry, and am assured that the searchlights now employed are of the same type as were in us-s when the defence was in the hands of the naval authorities. No guns have been removed except on replacement by others of a more efficient kind.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the duty of commanding officers in agricultural districts to cause a list to be made of such men under their command as are accustomed to agricultural work, so that the more suitable men may be engaged when required for agricultural and especially harvesting purposes?

In some cases commanding officers have been called upon by General Officers Commanding-in-Chief to prepare such lists, but the preparation of lists has not been ordered by the War Office. In all cases, as far as possible, men accustomed to farm work are sent out on agricultural furlough, but as the supply does not meet the demand, no doubt inexperienced men have to be sent to make up the numbers asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that near Troy Station, Monmouth, there are many acres of grass land which will become useless for hay unless cut immediately; is he aware that this land is stated to be a subject of litigation between joint owners who either cannot legally or will not save the crop; under these circumstances, has he the power and, if so, will he exercise it, so that the crop may be saved, by the employment of soldiers accustomed to agricultural work stationed in the district; and can his Department take over such crops at a fair price for Army purposes?

I am not aware of the circumstances of the particular case mentioned, but, on the information contained in the question, I do not think that the Army Council have the power to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now been able to arrange to compensate Mrs. Gordon Sutherland, of Brora, Sutherland, widow of the late Private Gordon Sutherland; and whether he can state the terms?

Under the new Warrant for cases aggravated by service, a gratuity of £300 has been awarded to Mrs. Sutherland. This sum will be paid to the Statutory Committee to administer on behalf of Mrs. Sutherland and her children.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he can state the composition of the local committee for the borough of Stepney; and whether it has yet met?

The Metropolitan Borough of Stepney is in the area of the London Local Committee. That committee has appointed two sub-committees for the Borough of Stepney, one for the portion of the borough east, and the other for the portion of the borough west of the East London Railway line. The sub-committee for the eastern district is composed of one member of the London Local Committee, three representatives appointed on the nomination of the borough council, three on the nomination of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, one on that of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society, two representatives of Labour nominated by Labour organisations, and five other persons (including a representative of Labour) appointed directly by the London Local Committee. The sub-committee for the western district is similar in composition except that it has four instead of five members who are appointed directly by the London Local Committee. I understand that both sub-committees have met.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether pay will be 'issued to the workers employed in Army Departments in Dublin to compensate them for the time they have worked on Bank Holidays since the beginning of the War, seeing that it is impossible to allow these workers time in lieu?

The question is under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is proposed to pay to the civilian clerks and foremen employed in Army Departments in Dublin overtime pay for the overtime worked during the recent disturbance; and whether he will pay to the workers a nightly allowance for the nights they could not proceed home and were detained in their respective Departments?

Suitable pay will be given in such cases.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he has yet found it possible to place further orders for munitions with Dublin engineering firms; if he can say the amount of war expenses paid by Ireland; and if he can say how the value of orders placed with Irish firms compares with the War expenditure paid by Ireland?

Continuation contracts for munitions are constantly being placed with Dublin engineering firms. I regret I cannot furnish the other information asked for by the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the treatment that the two brothers Nunan have been subject to since the rising in Ireland; if he will cause instructions to be issued that they should not be treated any worse than other Irishmen who took part in the rising in Ireland; and if he will order their release?

Both these young men were of military age; they were born in London and had been living there, and both had received notices calling them up for military service under the Military Service Acts. Nevertheless, they went to Dublin shortly before Easter, and when there took part in the rebellion. In view of these circumstances I revoked the orders for their internment, in order that they might be dealt with in the usual way by a Court of Summary Jurisdiction for evading their duties under the Military Service Acts.

asked the Home Secretary if he will cause to be returned to the Irish prisoners released all their property taken from them on their arrest and at the various prisons in Ireland and England; and if he will make a special order for the return of their uniforms?

I answered the first part of the question in the reply I gave on the 6th July to the hon. Member for North Westmeath. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will cause a special inquiry to be held into the cases of the Irish lady prisoners now detained at Aylesbury without civil trial; and if, having regard to the fact that they have now been detained for four months, he will cause their immediate discharge from prison?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member on the 17th July and subsequent dates.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any arrangements, and, if so, what, have been made with the Belgian Government for the maintenance of the wives and children of the Belgian refugees now in this country who are shortly to be: called up for service in the Belgian Army; and, if so, whether such arrangements can be communicated without delay to the various committees in this country who have hitherto undertaken the voluntary responsibility for the maintenance of the refugees?

This matter is at present under consideration, and I hope to make an announcement on the subject at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has been arrived at with regard to the issue of a special decoration to officers and men in the mercantile marine to be awarded in recognition of the services rendered during the present War; and whether there is any prospect of the issue of such a decoration before the termination of the War?

This, question is still being considered by the Board of Trade and the Admiralty, and I regret that it is not possible to make any statement with regard to it at the present moment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the attention of the Government has been called to the fact that the United States proposed to appropriate a sum of $20,000,000 for the purpose of determining the best process, securing the necessary water-power, and erecting suitable plant for the production of nitrates; and whether the Government will appoint a committee to ascertain the possibility of utilising the water-power of Wales for this and kindred purposes?

The question of increasing the supplies of nitrates is being actively considered. It, however, appears doubtful whether our available water supplies are sufficient to make production by water-power the means best suited to this country. If my hon. Friend would come to the Board's office and talk over the matter, I should be obliged. I have not received any particulars of the proposed action by the Government of the United States of America, which he mentions.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the subject of the censorship and control of cinema films, which has for so long past been engaging his attention; and whether, in view of the mischief done to juvenile minds by the exhibition of a certain class of films, he will indicate at an early date when he will be able to make a full statement on the subject?

The result of my communications with the local licensing authorities has been to show that there will be very general support on their part for the scheme for establishing an official censorship of films, and progress is now being made with the necessary arrangements-for carrying it into effect.