asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the increase in the cost of living as revealed by the official statistics, it is proposed to grant a war bonus to assistant clerks generally; if he is aware that extra duties are being performed by those clerks owing to the dearth of second division clerks; and if he is aware that their salaries range from £45 to £150 per year, and that the majority are in receipt of salaries from £45 to £100?

The question of granting a war bonus to assistant clerks is under consideration. It must be borne in mind that many assistant clerks are at present in receipt of overtime pay in addition to their salaries. The minimum of the scale was raised to £50 in April of last year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many tenths dis- abled the medical report of S. N. Wallis, No. 16144, showed him to be; on his resurvey?

When resurveyed, Wallis was reported to be suffering from, no disability so far as his earning capacity was concerned.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty up to what length of time are officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines given full-pay sick leave; and for what reason does the period differ in the case of the Royal Navy from that followed by the Army?

The detailed Regulations as to full sick-pay leave in the case of naval officers are contained in Articles 1396, 1352, and 1353 of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions. The general effect of these Regulations is that in ordinary cases of sickness three months' full-pay sick leave is granted as a matter of course, and extensions up to twelve months are possible in certain circumstances and are frequently granted. In the case of wounds in action which cause the loss of an eye or a limb, full-pay sick leave may be granted until cured or pensioned. If the effects of the wound are not so serious, full-pay sick leave may not exceed eighteen months except in very special circumstances. In the case of injury on duty or insanity due to the Service, the same treatment is accorded as in the case of wounds in action. Officers of the Royal Marines come under the same Regulations as Army Officers in the matter of sick leave. The conditions of service and pay in the Navy and Army are very dissimilar, and the rules as to full-pay sick leave naturally developed on different lines in the two Services. In the opinion of the Admiralty the naval officer is accorded no less favourable treatment in the matter of sick leave than the Army officer, and it is not considered that anything would be gained by an attempt to assimilate the practice of the two Services in this matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will give the names of the manufacturers who have been selected to supply jam to the Army without the contracts being put up to competitive tender?

The names of the manufacturers who have been selected to supply jam to the Army are as follows:

• Messrs. J. Keiller and Sons, Ltd., Silvertown, E.
• Messrs. Batger and Co., Ltd., Ratcliffe, E.
• Messrs. Maconochie Bros., Ltd., Millwall, E.
• Messrs. E. and T. Pink, Ltd., Staple Street, Borough, S.E.
• Mr. W. P. Hartley, Green Walk, Southwark, S.E.
• Messrs. Crosse and Blackwell, Ltd., Soho, W.
• Messrs. Chivers and Sons, Ltd., Histon, Cambridge.
• Messrs. J. Robertson and Sons, Ltd., Catford, S.E.; Paisley; Brislington, Bristol; Droylsden, Manchester.
• The Arrow Preserve Works, Broom, Bidford-on-Avon.

asked the Secretary of State for War up to what length of time are officers given full-pay sick leave?

The present practice is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that recruits who previous to enlistment have had no training, either physical or military, are being sent to the front after only twelve weeks' training, while fully trained men, fit in every respect for foreign service, are still retained in England though they have been under training from twelve to eighteen months; and why no system of discrimination exists to equalise the risks and therefore the element of sacrifice among all men serving in the force?

It is necessary to retain in this country sufficient trained men for Home defence, and the number so retained is kept as low as possible. Men fit for general service in the Home defence formations are being gradually withdrawn, and replaced by men unfit for service abroad, but this can only be done gradually in order to avoid destroying the efficiency of these formations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a man who on enlistment under the group system, or under the Military Service Act, gave his age as less than forty-one, and subsequently found that by his birth certificate he was over forty-one years of age at the time when he enlisted, and consequently was not then and never has been subject to the Military Service Act, can claim his discharge?

If the case referred to is that of a man deemed to have been enlisted under the Military Service Acts, he will, on production of a birth certificate which applies to him and supports the accuracy of his statement as to being over age at the appointed day, be legally excepted from the Acts, and his mobilisation will be cancelled. If he is a voluntarily attested man, the matter is one for the Army Council to decide when the full facts of the case are laid before it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board who is the responsible authority for the issue of the Regulations and instructions of procedure to the Appeals Tribunal; if he is aware that a ease at the Hampstead Tribunal has been allowed to stand over for decision to see if the case can be met by a grant to the applicant for that section of his business which the wife cannot manage; and if he will instruct the tribunal that payment of Income Tax is a matter of national importance?

The Regulations are made by Order in Council. I am not aware of the case in question. I consider that tribunals should deal with cases as promptly as possible, and, as regards claims made on the Civil Liabilities Committee, should not postpone cases for the decision of the Committee, but should always proceed on the assumption that the Committee will give reasonable assistance in respect of the particular liabilities with which they deal.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received a letter from Mr. W. H. Thompson, solicitor, Longton, making allegations of local persecution and of the unfairness of the inquiries made by the president, and asking for a full inquiry into his case; whether any further inquiries have been made; and whether he has received any other complaints with reference to the conduct of the Stoke tribunals or their clerk?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on the 2nd instant. I have nothing further to add. I have replied to some other questions with reference to one or other of the tribunals referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of all ranks, of military service age, physically fit and in all respects competent to take their place in the fighting lines, are at present and have for many months past been employed in civil and military duties of an administrative character at the various depots and stations in Northern France; and whether he will take steps to ensure that these officers, non-commissioned officers, and men are required to go to the front and share the full burdens of the ordinary units of the British Expeditionary Force in France as soon as arrangements can be made for their duties to be taken over by those men of corresponding rank who have been returned incapacitated for further active service and whose condition permits of their being employed in the discharge of administrative duties?

Steps have already been taken for the withdrawal from the lines of communication of men fit for general service and their replacement by men who are not fit for general service. This process involves, first, the training of unfit men in England to enable them to take over the important duties they will have to perform on the lines of communication, and then the training of the men withdrawn in their new duties with combatant units. The transfer and replacement of a single individual from the lines of communication to a combatant unit, therefore, takes some time to effect, and, as the withdrawal of the men must be spread over a certain period to avoid dislocating the administrative machinery on the lines of communication, the whole process cannot be effected by a stroke of the pen.

asked the Secretary of State for War what number of officers on full pay physically fit for service in the field, and within the limits of military service age, are at present employed in the War Office and the public Departments connected therewith who have not, since the commencement of the War, seen any service in the field; and will he take steps to ensure that all such officers shall be required to go on active service as soon as arrangements can be made for their duties to be taken over by those officers who have been returned incapacitated for further active service, and whose condition permits of their being employed in the discharge of administrative duties?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 7th March last to the hon. and gallant Member for the Enfield Division of Middlesex.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in the Censor's Office (letters) certain of the reading linguists who only read a few languages are paid a higher salary than others who read a large number of languages; and, if so, will he state the reason for this apparent irregularity?

The rate of pay depends on general efficiency as well as on a knowledge of languages, and it does not vary in direct proportion to the number of languages the individual knows. The services of persons knowing certain languages, such as Scandinavian, are less easily obtained than the services of persons knowing languages such as French and Italian, and a higher rate has to be paid in order to obtain them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether an allowance to compensate for the increase in prices in the cost of living generally can now be arranged for all workmen and clerks and foremen in the Army Ordnance Department at Dublin in such a manner that the increases will be paid as from July, 1914, or that the amounts arranged will be based on a percentage to compensate if the allowances are not retrospective?

I am afraid that the War Department cannot deal exceptionally with Dublin in the matter of further war bonus.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can state the number of employés in the Army Ordnance Department, Dublin, employed in a civil capacity who have not received promotion or war bonus since July, 1914?

No figures are available in the War Office. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any case in which he is interested, I shall be happy to make-further inquiry.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he will state at what date a change was made in the management of the firm of Haigh, Grüban and Company; what was the nature of the change; whether any transfer of shares or debentures took place; and, if so, to whom and on what terms?

Mr. Grüban. one of the joint managing directors of Messrs. W. B. Haigh, Grüban and Company, ceased to act as such immediately upon the appointment of a supervisor on the 22nd March, 1916. I have no information with reference to the other parts of the hon. Member's question.

asked the Minister of Munitions what was the nature of the false returns made by Haigh, Grüban and Company, a controlled munitions firm; whether, in making these returns, they committed any offence under the Munitions Act; and whether any proceedings were taken?

Messrs. W. B. Haigh, Grüban and Company supplied certain information with regard to their sub-contracts for machinery which upon investigation was found to be incorrect. Proceedings were not taken against the firm for this offence under the Munitions Act, but, as stated in reply to a previous question, a, supervisor on behalf of the Ministry was, installed at their works. Arrangements-were then made under which refunds are being given by the firm to their customers in order to bring all their transactions within the Regulations of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, when employers of controlled firms make an application for soldiers to work in controlled establishments, they have to fill in and comply with all the conditions set forth in the application forms obtained from the Minister of Munitions and the Army Council Instruction No. 344, 1916, and the Minister Circular R.C. 85 B of 18th February, 1916; and if he can state who is responsible for seeing the Regulation carried out?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Minister of Munitions is responsible for securing observance by the employer of the conditions under which a soldier is released for munitions work.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that a number of workers in the Arsenal in the fuse shop have had their piece rates cut down one-third; whether it is a violation of the agreement that has been arrived at between the organisations of labour and the Government; and, if so, does he intend taking any action in the matter?

Reductions of piecework prices for certain operations in the filling of fuses have been made at the Arsenal on account of the introduction of altered and improved methods. A reduction under such circumstances is quite consistent with the pledge given by the Government on this matter and with the special notice on this subject posted in the Arsenal in August, 1915. I am sending my lion. Friend a copy of this notice.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that Messrs. Adams, hydraulic engineering works, York, which is a controlled firm, have discharged a number of men and women, and have given notice to others who have been working at the firm for a number of years, ranging from four to ten years, because they are members of the National Union of General Workers, and because they have been acting as delegates on behalf of such members; if he is aware that the management of the firm in question had some of the women in the office and questioned them about being members of the union, and said that it was foolish for them to pay contributions for such a purpose; if he is aware that the firm in question was brought before the Munitions Tribunal and was ordered to pay one of the women a sum of 20s. for discharging her without a week's notice, and had to pay 30s. damages for not granting a leaving certificate; and if he intends having inquiry made into the matter; and, if so, will he consult the local officials of the trade union in question?

My attention had not previously been drawn to the statements contained in the first part of the question. I will, however, make further inquiries and communicate the result to my hon. Friend in due course. As I have more than once indicated in reply to previous questions, I should most strongly deprecate any such action as that alleged to have been taken by the firm in this case.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he can arrange for the London and Dartford express to stop at Crayford on Saturday afternoon so as to take away the munitions workers ceasing work at five o'clock?

Arrangements are now under consideration which it is hoped will meet the needs of the workpeople referred to in my right hon. Friend's question.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he is aware that early morning trains into Crayford are crowded in the third-class carriages and that there are on the same trains first-class carriages locked up unused; and, if he cannot arrange for munition workers having enough third-class carriages, will he have the first-class carriages opened so that workers can have seats going to their work instead of, as at present, being compelled to stand?

I am going into this matter with the railway company concerned, and anticipate that the arrangements which are being made will relieve the overcrowding referred to.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he has had a complaint from the Swansea Building Trades Federation to the effect that an increase of wage granted to the workmen in the building trades in Swansea owing to the increased cost of living is not being paid to these workmen when employed in controlled establishments in that district, although in normal times an increase of wage in the building trade means an increase of wage to the men employed on similar work in those establishments; and will he give instructions that the increase shall be paid on this occasion?

A complaint on this subject was received by the Ministry. I understand, however, that the question has now been reported to the Board of Trade under Part I. of the Munitions of War Act, and will be settled by arbitration thereunder.

asked the Home Secretary whether the owner of a motor car which he habitually uses for commercial purposes may employ that car to convey Volunteers to and from drill without having it licensed?

The statutory exemption from licence duty in favour of motor cars used for commercial purposes applies only to cars which are constructed or adapted for use, and are used solely as trade vehicles, and are properly inscribed. If such a trade vehicle were used for the purpose referred to in the latter part of the question, the legal exemption would cease to be applicable; but the question whether, in any particular case, a licence would be insisted upon in respect of such a vehicle lent upon some special or exceptional occasion to carry passengers gratuitously would be, as regards England and Wales and Ireland, a matter for the proper county council, and, as regards Scotland for the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the owner of a motor car, habitually used by him for commercial purposes and in connection with which he receives the rebate of 3d. upon the gallon of petrol consumed, may also receive the rebate when using the car to convey Volunteers to and from drill?

There is no statutory provision for the grant of rebate on motor spirit used in a trade vehicle for the conveyance of Volunteers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has any reason to think that the stocks of wheat on passage to this country or landed here from abroad are in speculative hands; and, if so, whether anything can be done by the Government to prevent the price of wheat being artificially raised to the profit of the speculator, but to the detriment of the consumer?

The Board have no reason to think that stocks of wheat landed or on passage are being unduly held off the market or that the present price of wheat is in any material degree attributable to speculation in this country. The subject of present and prospective supplies of wheat is receiving close attention.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the growing unrest of Irish railway employés; if he is aware that this dissatisfaction is being caused owing to the wages they receive; if he will say whether the Government have any powers over the railways that do not pay their employés a living wage; and if he will take the necessary steps to see that Irish railway employés receive the same wages as those paid by English railway companies?

The Board of Trade have no compulsory powers in the matter of the wages paid by an Irish railway company to its employés.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the stocks of hops in this country in proporton to requirements are much larger than usual now in consequence of the restriction on the output of beer, and the market is very depressed; whether he is aware that the Department of Import Restrictions is offering licences for the import of hops; and whether he will put a stop to these licences?

It is not the case that the Department of Import Restrictions has offered licences; for the importation of hops. The hon. and gallant Member is doubtless aware that with regard to all prohibited articles permission is accorded to import consignments bona fide en route to British consignees, or actually paid for by them, before the dates on which the respective prohibitions were announced to the public. Apart from the 1 comparatively small quantities of hops which have been entered under this concession licences have been given only for small quantities of hops grown within the British Empire or from that part of Belgium which is in the occupation of the Allies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the imports of sugar into Switzerland, as shown by the Swiss Official Brown Book for 1915, were, approxmaitely, as follows: From Germany 24,000 tons, from Austria 90,360 tons, and from the United States 4,070 tons; and whether, in view of these figures, he will explain the allegation that the sugar used by the Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Company in making the condensed milk marked "Produced in Switzerland," and imported into England, is derived from America and that none is of German origin; and whether any of the sugar so used is of Austrian origin?

The figures quoted in the question are substantially correct. I am having inquiry made as to whether any Austrian sugar is used in the manufacture of the milk in question, and will inform the hon. and learned Member of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, having regard to the action of the Board under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, 1915, he is aware that, in making the recent advance of 2s. 6d. per ton in the standard amount sanctioned by the Board for South Wales retrospective, he is causing the existence of uncertainty amongst coal merchants and thereby contributing to an increase of the price of coal to the consumer; and will he arrange that any future necessary alterations of the standard in this and other companies shall not be retrospective?

In fixing the date on which any Order under Section 1 (2) of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act takes effect it is necessary to consider the date of the increase of costs in respect of which it is made; but where, as in the South Wales case, the Order is dated back, the Board would recommend that the increased price should not be charged on past deliveries where the purchaser has sold the coal and cannot recover.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the public opinion in South Wales against the permission granted to the coalowners of South Wales and Monmouthshire to increase the price of coal beyond the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act; and whether he can state the reasons for granting this permission?

As I have stated in reply to previous questions on this subject, the increase of 2s. 6d. in the maximum pit-head price in South Wales of coal sold for home consumption was granted in respect of an average increase in working costs of 2s. 6d. a ton.

asked the Secretary for Scotland, anent the fine of £10 imposed upon Mr. G. S. Forbes, innkeeper in the Royal burgh of Jedburgh, for not obscuring lights under the Lighting Order, by Sheriff-substitute Baillie, whether the learned judge found that there were any atrocious or aggravating circumstances suggested, admitted, or proved; and whether, in a petition for a substantial reduction of the fine, Mr. Forbes asserts that he explained to the Sheriff-substitute that he had before the occurrence, and with a desire to conform to the Defence of the Realm Act, spent £5 5s. in putting up new blinds, and whether he is prepared to make any statement on this subject?

No finding in the terms suggested was issued, nor was any such finding necessary. The petition included an assertion of the nature referred to, but in spite of any preparations which had been made I understand that on the night in question a very bright stream of light was clearly visible across the roadway.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will take into favourable consideration the remission of the sentence of three years' penal servitude now being served by John Maclean, in Peterhead prison, for alleged seditious political utterances, in view of the severity of the sentence and the much lighter sentences which have been passed for similar and more serious offences in England and Wales, and in view of the character of the police evidence on which Maclean's conviction was secured?

No, Sir; I cannot undertake to give any promise of remission on either of the grounds stated, and I must enter a protest against the suggestion implied in the concluding portion of the question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he will lay upon the Table, of the House at an early date Papers and full information regarding the offer of the Duke of Sutherland of some 12,000 acres of land in the North of Scotland for the settlement of ex-Service men and afforestation, including all the conditions attached to the offer and the proposals of his Department for the settlement and development of the land in question.

I hope to be able to satisfy the very natural desire of my Scottish colleagues for full information upon these proposals at an early date.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the importance which has always been attached to education in Scotland, of the experience of the past generation, and of the many new problems opened up by the War, he will appoint a Commission to inquire into the whole subject of education in Scotland, from the elementary schools to the universities, in order to be prepared at the earliest possible moment to adopt such improvements as may be desirable?

As I stated in the course of discussion on the Estimates on the 9th instant, the Government are making arrangements for a comprehensive review of the existing provision of education as a whole with a view to formulating from that point of view proposals for developing it, particularly in directions indicated as desirable or necessary by experience gained during the War. This inquiry will have reference to Scotland as well as England and Wales, and I shall be guided by its results as regards the action which I may take in Scotland with or without such further inquiry, with particular reference to Scotland as may be expedient.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the shortage and consequently high price of superphosphates, he will take steps to enable raw phosphates being imported from Algiers, so that this essential fertiliser shall be available for next season's crops?

I understand that the Ships Licensing Committee have promised to consider favourably applications for licences made by British shipowners for voyages with cargoes of phosphate to this country.

asked the Attorney-General if his attention has been called to the case of Joyce v. Army and Navy Cooperative Society, Limited, in which it was held by a County Court judge that an employé who volunteered for the Army in September, 1914, forfeited thereby all claim to the provident fund to which he had contributed for fourteen years; and, if so, will he introduce Regulations under the Defence of the Realm Act providing that no man shall be prejudiced as regards his rights under any pension or provident scheme only because he became a member of His Majesty's Forces, or that at least such a man or his heirs may recover the whole of his contributions to such fund, with interest at the rate of dividend paid or profits made by the firm, employer, or company who received such contributions?

The matter raised by my hon. Friend is under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of certain information given in the recently published Memorandum on the Recent Development of German Agriculture, by Mr. T. H. Middleton, C.B., he can make any statement as to the extent to which, before the War, the occupying owners in Germany had mortgaged their lands?

Full information on this point is not easy of access in this country at the present time, but Returns relating to Prussia in 1902 show that in the case of about 87 per cent, of the landowners of a large part of Prussia their total indebtedness amounted to about 31 per cent, of the capital value of their land. There is a considerable amount of detailed information in the possession of the Board, all of which is at my hon. Friend's disposal if he will call at the Board's office.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a difference of opinion between the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution as to whether the adoption of a site of a proposed mussel-cleansing tank at Aberdovey by the former body will interfere with the reasonable requirements of the latter, and that the Board of Trade decided the question in favour of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution without any local inspection or inquiry by any of the Board of Trade officials; and whether, in view of the importance of the mussel fishing to the local fishermen, he will cause a public inquiry to be held locally at an early date by someone competent to receive and weigh evidence and to report to the Board of Trade.

I am aware of the difference of opinion referred to by my hon. Friend. The Lifeboat Institution informed the Board of Trade that the construction of the tank on the site proposed would in certain circumstances be a serious danger to the lifeboat when being launched. In view of this representation the Board declined to sanction the scheme, and in doing so they suggested to the Fisheries Committee that the latter should submit for consideration an alternative site in the Aberdovey Estuary that would not be open, to the same objection. On the 2nd June last the Fisheries Committee informed the Board that the consideration of another site was postponed, and on the; 19th July that the erection of the tank was deferred for the present. As the Board had plans and all the information they required for coming to a decision, they did not think a public local inquiry necessary. If the Fisheries Committee can satisfy the Board that there is no suitable alternative site, the latter will give the matter further consideration.