asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. Albert George Hol-zapfel has been appointed British Consul at Rotterdam; if so, will he say what is this gentleman's nationality; whether Mr. Holzapfel's uncle was German Consul in Newcastle-on-Tyne prior to and up to the outbreak of war; and if it is not possible to find men of British name and birth to-fill Consular positions in neutral countries?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if a Mr. G. Holzapfel, a nephew of the late German Consul, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, has been appointed to any position in connection with cur Consular service; and, if so, will he state where and the nature of the appointment and its duties?

Mr. A. G. Holzapfel is a British-born subject. He has been given an honorary appointment as British Vice-Consul at Rotterdam, in order to enable him better to discharge certain special duties in Holland connected with commercial questions of which he has expert knowledge. He will, of course, in no way displace or interfere with His Majesty's Consul - General at Rotterdam, who approves of his appointment. His Majesty's Government have no precise information as to the relationship between Mr. A. G. Holzapfel and the Mr. Max Holzapfel, who was German Consul in Newcastle-on-Tyne before the outbreak of war, and who was a naturalised British subject. His Majesty's Government are not prepared to lay it down as an inflexible rule that no British-born subject with a foreign name should receive any appointment under the British Crown. The guarantee of the fitness of an individual for a post is not knowledge of his name, but of his personal character, qualities, and record.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the name of the late German Consul at Newcastle-on-Tyne was Mr. Max Holzapfel, who was an uncle of the gentleman in question; and that this German Consul, Max Holzapfel, left this country shortly after the outbreak of war and has not returned?

Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that this gentleman's father, who was naturalised, is stated to have left England at the outbreak of the War; that this gentleman has near relations living at Charlottenburg; and, if this gentleman is true to his race, is it not possible for him to communicate with his relatives from Charlottenburg?

All I can say is that this gentleman is a British-born subject. If there is anything against him personally, of course, the Government will be prepared to consider it. I must repeat respectfully that the mere fact that a man has a German name or is of ultimate German extraction would not of itself be: sufficient to debar him from becoming a Consul.

Without disputing the general principle laid down by the Noble Lord, may I ask does he not think it would tend to general satisfaction in a time of war if as few appointments as possible were given to people who are closely associated with alien enemies?

I should not disagree with the hon. Gentleman in the general principle he has laid down. At the same time he will also agree with me that the first consideration is the proper discharge of the public service.

Will the Noble Lord consider that there has been a number of appointments within the last few months to which attention has been called in this House, all filled by gentlemen with foreign names and hostile associations?

I was not aware of that.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that in a case like this it is extremely dangerous to appoint a gentleman belonging to this particular family, considering that the firm of Holzapfel, Limited, is at present being considered by the Board of Trade under the Trading With the Enemy Act, on the ground that there is suspicion attaching to the members of that family?

Of course, in this matter, as in all matters of a similar kind, the Government are bound to act upon the advice which they receive from those who are best acquainted with the gentleman concerned. We have acted in accordance with that advice. If my hon. Friend has any observations to make about this appointment which tends to show that he is not satisfactory for the appointment which he holds, I need not say that the Government will be very glad indeed to-consider what he has to say. The mere fact that there is some prejudice against the family is not sufficient.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any official information showing the release of the staff of the Shiraz branch of the Imperial Bank of Persia who have been held prisoners for the last nine-months by German emissaries in Persia; and if he can give any information regarding the British Consul and other British Government officials at Shiraz who have been held prisoners with them?

I am happy to say that not only the gentlemen of the Imperial Bank of Persia but all the British subjects detained at Ahram—with the unfortunate exception of Colonel O'Connor —have been released and arrived at Bushire on the 10th instant. It is hoped that as soon as the Persian tribesman who is to be released simultaneously with Colonel O'Connor arrives from Bombay, this officer may be set free.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the demobilisation of the Greek Army is proceeding satisfactorily; whether he has any information as to when it will be completed; and whether any date has been fixed for the elections in that country to take place?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; and that to the second in the negative. I am not aware whether the Greek Government have announced the date of the elections, which depends on the date of dissolution of the Chamber.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the prisoners who fell into Turkish hands at Kut-el-Amara have been traced; and whether, in view of the anxiety of relatives, he will publish the names of such officers and men directly they are known?

My right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has asked me to answer this question. I will preface my answer by stating, in reply to the last part of the question, that the names of prisoners of war, when received; are at once communicated to the next-of-kin, who are not left to discover the names in the columns of the Press. After such communication has been made, the names are published. The numbers traced are as follows:

British Army Officers	…	80
British N.C.O.'s. and Men	…	178
Indian Army Officers	…	139

No native N.C.O.'s and men have been reported by name.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken to provide occupation and recreation for the British prisoners of war who have been and are being sent from Germany to Switzerland?

I understand the Minister at Berne is doing all he can in this direction, and we shall give him whatever help he may require.

asked the Minister of Munitions if the light beer manufactured for the Control Board and sold as shell beer contains very considerable quantities of saccharine; and if he is aware that the use of this article is prohibited in the case of brewers who brew beer?

No light beer is specially manufactured for the Control Board. The use of saccharine is prohibited in the manufacture of beer brewed in a licensed brewery, but this prohibition does not extend to the manufacture of beer brewed elsewhere.

If the use of this saccharine is so unwholesome that it is prohibited in a brewery licensed to brew beer for sale, why is its use authorised for the peculiar liquid for the sale of which the right hon. Gentleman's Department is responsible?

I am not responsible for the sale of any peculiar liquid. As for the other part of the question, it is a matter for the Inland Revenue authority. I cannot reply to it.

asked the Minister of Munitions why the Government withdrew from the arrangement made with the Barnsley Company to put up a plant to work the new process of carbonising coal at low temperature for the production of materials for explosives and dyes; if the Government had paid £10,000 and had proposed to pay a further £15,000 against similar sums paid by the Barnsley Company; if the failure of the Government to carry out the arrangement has delayed this important plant which is urgently needed and from which so much was expected; and if the soft coke resulting from the low combustion process is more valuable as a fuel than the hard coke although not so suitable for smelting purposes?

The Government has not withdrawn from any agreement with the Barnisley Smokeless Fuel Company. The Government took £10,000 in debentures in the company, but has not been disposed to assist further in view of the slow progress made in the erection of the plant by the company and because it now appears doubtful whether the process will prove of much service in the production of munitions. There has been no failure of the Government to carry out its obligations; the failure has been on the part of the company. I have no information of the value of the coke resulting from the low combustion process, except that it is of small value for smelting purposes, and therefore of little importance in the production of munitions.

The question does not mention the word agreement. Is it not a fact that an arrangement was come to that the persons putting up this factory should put it up pound by pound with the Government, the Government advanced their,£10,000 and the people advanced their £10,000, and there was £15,000 further to be advanced by each, and the Government then withdrew?

We were not satisfied.

Is it not a typical example of a case where there are very wealthy vested interests opposing it and it is difficult to get the Government to undertake anything?

I do not know where the vested interests are at all. All I know is that we are advised that this does not seem likely to be a success.

How much Government money was expended before you came to the conclusion that it was a failure?

The money it was decided to advance was £10,000.

Will that money be lost to the nation?

No, I do not think it will be all lost.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that 200 soldiers have recently been employed in the Army Ordnance Department and by the Chief Inspection Department, Woolwich, working in two batches on day and night shift, for an average of thirteen hours per shift, without extra pay, and were marched to and from the place of work; whether he is aware that numbers of workmen, some of them married, who were employed on the class of work to which these soldiers were put have recently been discharged; and whether, in view of the pledges given against any introduction of industrial compulsion, he will take into consideration the advisability of placing all departments at Woolwich under civilian control?

A party of soldiers have been employed in one of the Departments at Woolwich. The hours worked were, by the day-shift, nine hours, less breaks of about one and three-quarter hours, and, by the night-shift, ten hours, less breaks of about one and a half hours. It is not the case that civilian labourers engaged on similar work were discharged. On the contrary, about thirty new labourers were engaged during the time when the soldiers were working. The work is of a heavy character, and it is impossible to satisfy the urgent demands for this particular class of labour.

Will these soldiers be paid?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the men employed at No. 8 erecting shop, Midland Railway, Derby, are now on short time, being booked off from 5.30 p.m. each Friday until 6 a.m. the following Monday, which actually occurred in the week the men were required to work through August Bank holiday, and the company have refused leaving certificates to a number of men who have offers of employment at much higher wages, and leave has also been refused to men who desired to take a few days' holiday; and, in view of the hardship involved by an employer refusing leaving certificates to men on short time and whose labour could be fully utilized elsewhere, whether he will have inquiries made into the matter?

The case referred to in this question had not previously been brought to my notice, but I am making further inquiries into it. It is always open to a workman to whom a leaving certificate has been refused by his employer to apply to a munitions tribunal for the issue of a certificate if he is of opinion that such refusal is unreasonable. A form of application to a tribunal can be obtained at any Labour Exchange.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that there is apprehension prevalent among Midland Railway men about the effect of employment in the munition bond stores, Derby, owing in the first place that many of the men were threatened that if they refused to be transferred to the bond stores under the Ministry of Munitions, and in some cases at lower rates of wages, they would be released for the Army, and, secondly, when retransferred to the Midland Railway shops they are not reinstated at their former rate of pay, which was understood would be the case; and whether he will inquire into the matter and ensure that the position of the railwaymen affected will not be prejudiced as a result of having been working in the Government bond stores?

The labour employed in the bond stores at Derby is not under the control of the Ministry of Munitions, and I am not in a position to intervene in the matter.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not see the danger of a threat of this kind being held over the heads of these men?

I do not understand the hon. Member's question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not see the; danger if a man is offered a certain job at a certain price and he refuses it, and he is threatened that he will be released to go into the Army? Is not that a matter for his Department to take up?

No, I am afraid it is not.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the night-patrol men employed at Messrs. Cammell, Lairds, Birkenhead, work an average of eighty-nine hours a week— thirteen hours for five nights and twelve hours for the other two nights of the week—for a wage of 34s. per week, and that these patrol men never received any extra rates for working during the last calendar Bank holiday; whether he is aware that these men sent a petition to the manager of the firm on 15th June asking consideration of their case and an increase of wages, to which no reply has been given the men; and whether, having regard to the fact that Messrs. Cammell, Lairds are a controlled establishment, steps will be taken to have the men's claim submitted to arbitration within the terms of the Munitions Act?

I have no information as to the points raised in the first two parts of the question. The men them- selves, or their representatives, if they have a difference with their employer,, which cannot be settled otherwise, can report the matter to the Board of Trade under Part I. of the Munitions of War Act, without the intervention of the Ministry of Munitions.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the congestion which, although it was inevitable at the commencement of the War, still continues to hamper many of the departments in Woolwich Arsenal; whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulties and delays in the production of certain munitions of war both inside the Arsenal and outside owing to the increasing congestion in the drawing and other departments; if, with only a slightly increased staff, the drawing de partment, which before the War was con sidered to be working satisfactorily if it turned out some 10,000 or 12,000 drawings in a year, is now expected to turn out as many as 25,000 to 30,000 drawings in a month; and whether this continuation of congestion still accounts for urgently required drawings being sometimes de layed for from eight to ten weeks, to the detriment of our prompt equipment as-well as to economy in production?

I am aware that a certain amount of congestion and delay existed some months back. The number of people employed on the reproduction of drawings has been greatly increased, and and no very serious delays are now experienced. By the end of this month new buildings and plant will. I hope, be completed, which will further improve the conditions under which this work is done. The output of drawings has risen from 17,000 in January, 1916, to 35,000 in July.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, now that the building and equipment of the new munition factories have already assumed such satisfactory proportions, the Army Council will now take into con sideration the necessity for a thorough and business-like reorganisation of the Arsenal at Woolwich, so that by the removal of congestion its former efficiency may be maintained; and whether, in the interest of the prompt and economical production of munitions, the Army Council will consider the desirability of disentangling some of the departments and workshops and, if practicable, of removing the manufacture of certain classes of munitions to new factories or arsenals further removed from the zone of Zeppelin activity, and at the same time of transferring vacated shops to those other departments which are most in need of expansion at Woolwich?

Taking into consideration the circumstances of pressure and expansion that necessarily prevail, I am not prepared to admit that Woolwich efficiency has not been fully maintained. On the contrary, a special inquiry was held recently by an expert, and the result showed a most gratifying increase, both in output and efficiency. In regard to the second part of the question, some detailed rearrangements may quite likely prove necessary, and, if so, they will be duly considered whenever this is practicable without risk of loss of output or disorganisation.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been called to the correspondence between Sir John Ross and the late Chief Secretary, in which the former declared that his resignation of the post of Chief Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Police in 1914 was a protest against an act of tyranny and of unfair dealing on the part of the Chief Secretary in dismissing the Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Harrel, for conduct which was approved by Sir John Ross, his superior officer, and for which the latter accepted full responsibility; whether, in view of Sir John Ross's statement that Mr. Harrel had always discharged his duties most faithfully and most efficiently, and that the action for which Mr. Harrel was dismissed by the Chief Secretary was taken with the concurrence of the Under-Secretary for Ireland, who later changed his mind and censured Mr. Harrel, and having regard to the vindication of Mr. Harrel's conduct by the recent rebellion in Dublin brought about by the feebleness of the late Chief Secretary in dealing with the disaffection which it was the aim of Mr. Harrel to suppress, he proposes to reinstate Mr. Harrel or to make public acknowledgment of his services and to compensate him for his treatment by the late Chief Secretary and the Under-Secretary for Ireland?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the replies given by the Prime Minister to his questions on this subject on the 27th June and 6tn July.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the replies to which he refers given by the Prime Minister were on account of the temporary character of the Government of Ireland at that time, and am I to understand now that the right hon. Gentleman has been appointed Chief Secretary, whatever other changes may occur in Ireland, this injustice will not remain unredressed?

My hon. Friend must not expect me to acquiesce in the imputation of injustice in a case which I have not myself investigated, but if representations are now made to the Government of Ireland with regard to this matter they will receive the attention which all representations ought to receive.

Is this Gentleman being employed by the Government now?

I am not sure of the facts, but I have reason to believe that Captain Harrel is rendering very good service in the Royal Naval Reserve.

If inquiries are going to be made by the Irish Government into this matter, will they also make-inquiries as to why no Government official was suspended in Belfast for not interfering with the landing of arms at Lame?

asked the Chief Secretary whether his atention has been called to statements made in evidence given before the Royal Commission on the rebellion in Ireland, and also made elsewhere, casting aspersions on the fitness and conduct of the magistrates in the counties of Cork and Kerry, and also on the method of the appointment of justices generally in Ireland; whether any justices have been appointed in the counties mentioned in opposition to the express wishes of the Lords Lieutenant of those counties; if so, how many; whether any particulars can be given as to the number of instances, if any, in which complaints have been made as to the misconduct or disloyalty on the part of any of the justices appointed for these counties since April, 1913; and what action, if any, has been taken upon the receipt of adverse reports on such justices?

I am informed that of the magistrates appointed by the present Lord Chancellor of Ireland in the counties mentioned, none were appointed in opposition to the wishes of His Majesty's Lieutenants of those counties, who, in fact, were consulted in every case. No complaints have been received as to misconduct or disloyalty on the part of any of these magistrates. One magistrate, appointed by virtue of his office as chairman of an urban district council, was recently superseded by the Lord Chancellor, as also one magistrate appointed for the city of Cork several years ago. As regards the general question of the appointment of magistrates, the Lord Chancellor states that in no case has any magistrate been appointed by him without careful inquiry and deliberation, and that it is his custom to take into consideration the views of His Majesty's Lieutenants of the various counties.

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the evidence of Major Price?

I have no recollection of the passage in the evidence of Major Price to which the hon. Member calls my attention, but I am familiar with it generally. I no doubt shall get an opportunity of seeing to what he particularly refers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter and ask Major Price for an explanation of his evidence?

That is a matter I should have to consider when I have seen the evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, if he is satisfied that novo-caine is an effective substitute for cocaine, he will make his restrictions with regard to the supply of cocaine apply equally to all dentists, registered as well as unregistered?

I see no grounds, as at present advised, for applying the restrictions to practitioners duly registered under the Dentists Act. I would point out also that if registered dentists were prevented from using cocaine, the supply of novo-caine for the unregistered would be made more difficult.

Is there any reason why restrictions should apply to unregistered and not to registered dentists?

Yes, because registered dentists are persons who are registered to receive cocaine, and unregistered dentists are not registered.

Is it the case that they have not a list of unregistered dentists, and cannot get a list of those to whom cocaine is supplied?

Any person could call himself an unregistered dentist.

asked the-Home Secretary whether he will state the circumstances which led to Mrs. Burnyeat's internment and her subsequent release; also if he can state under what conditions Mrs. Burnyeat is allowed to reside at Harrogate; and if he can give the name of the competent military authority who advised Mrs. Burnyeat's release, and on what grounds and at whose request this advice was tendered?

I do not think it is desirable in the public interest to state the circumstances which led to Mrs. Burnyeat's internment. I mentioned the circumstances which led to her release in a written answer to a question by the hon. Member for Chippenham on the 3rd August, and would repeat that she was released temporarily at the end of April when her husband was gravely ill. After his death, in view of the medical evidence as to the state of her health, I decided, with the concurrence of the competent military authority on whose recommendation she was interned, to allow her to reside at Harrogate. Her release is conditional on her observing all the restrictions which apply to alien enemies, and certain further stringent conditions as to her movements, correspondence, etc. The military authority in question was the competent military authority appointed to deal with such cases at the War Office, but the responsibility for the decision to release her rests with me.

Did she have residing with her for a considerable period a German woman who has since been tried, convicted and sentenced as a German spy, and under the circumstances if her health cannot stand internment does the right hon. Gentleman not think it is a case in which she might reasonably be deported and sent to her friends in Germany?

She is a British subject and cannot therefore be sent to Germany.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state how many soldiers have been admitted to county asylums since the War began; how many county asylums, with what total number of beds, have been handed over to wounded soldiers; and what proportion of the beds so handed over are at present allotted to nerve-shaken cases, certifiable and uncertifiable?

I presume this question refers to the number of soldiers admitted to asylums which have been converted into war hospitals. The number of soldiers so admitted cannot be given without inquiry, but I will send it to the hon. Member when it is ascertained. The whole of eight asylums, an isolated portion of a ninth, and four borough asylums have, under the scheme of the Board of Control, been handed over to the War Office for use as war hospitals for the accommodation of sick and wounded soldiers. The number of insane patients displaced has been approximately 15,750, and some 21,000 beds have been provided for sick and wounded soldiers. This figure does not include about 3,000 beds for soldiers in a newly-erected county asylum handed over previous to occupation. Of the total beds handed over 1,570 in three of the above hospitals are at present allotted to nerve-shaken cases, certifiable and uncertifiable.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board if he will state what the Statutory Committee on disablement propose by way of providing occupation for soldiers who have been discharged from the Army as suffering from nervous affection due to the War but who are not certifiable as insane; and whether he can guarantee that such men will not be placed under detention on account of their condition either by the civil or military authorities?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Harbour Division of Dublin on Thursday last. As regards the latter part of the question, I am not sure precisely what authorities the hon. Member has in mind, but I am afraid I am not in a position to give any guarantee in the matter.

Are any steps being taken to provide convalescent homes for the treatment of these men?

That is a matter which is now under very careful consideration by the Statutory Committee.

If any of these men-are put into county asylums which have been set apart for them will they be then in a position of being under detention in a county asylum?

They would undoubtedly be in the position which the hon. Gentleman describes. We are endeavouring in all these cases to make arrangements with the managers of these asylums that they shall have separate treatment and more favourable treatment.

I am sorry to seem to press this: When county asylums are transferred from their ordinary uses of lunatics into being asylums for wounded soldiers, and are used for the reception of soldiers who are suffering from nerve shock, can it be arranged in those cases that the men shall not be subject to detention as ordinary lunatics?

They are not now.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Irish Government will instruct the police to issue to intending migrants from Ireland to Great Britain, where the facts warrant it, certificates that they are ordinarily resident in Ireland and are only proceeding to Great Britain for a special purpose; and, if so, whether he will arrange with the civil and military authorities in Great Britain that persons holding such certificates are not to be pressed into the Army against their will?

Several suggestions as to the best mode of dealing with this difficulty have been made to me, and I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War upon the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of a number of Russian Jews, resident before the War in France, who came over as refugees to this country in August and September, 1914, when Paris was threatened by the German Armies and owing to the action of the French Government in ordering a partial evacuation of the civil population of Paris; whether, seeing that these people had no intention of settling here but have been unable to obtain passports to enable them to return to France or proceed elsewhere, it is proposed to compel such of them as are of military age to serve in the British Army; and whether he will safeguard their interests either by leaving them alone or by granting them such facilities as will enable him to return to France or depart to a neutral country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for North Somerset on Tuesday last.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that we have refugees also from Belgium?

Yes.

Has my right hon. Friend nothing to add to that, in view of what is now known to the Foreign Office, that these Jews if they were in France could now freely go to America?

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will make inquiries into the case of W. H. Smith, of 293, Slade Road, Erdington, who obtained a certificate of exemption from combatant service from the Birmingham Local Tribunal on 15th March, 1916, before the Pelham Committee had been set up; whether he is aware that on 28th April this man applied for a revision of his certificate, on the ground that he was willing to accept work of national importance under the civil authority, but could not undertake service in the Non-Combatant Corps; that on 24th May he received a certificate stating that his case would be revised, and that he has since been waiting for such revision and has been unable to get any regular employment, on the ground that he is technically liable to arrest; and whether, in view of the hardship that is caused to this man by this delay of four months in revising his case, he will take steps to see that the case is decided as soon as possible?

I will have inquiries made.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that it is very undesirable that this man should be kept in compulsory idleness during a period of four months?

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether, pending the consideration of his case by the Central Appeal Tribunal under the new scheme, he will order the release on furlough of Ealing Penilott, a conscientious objector, who was sent to Usk civil prison on 14th June; (2) whether he will cause an inquiry to be made with a view to ascertaining why Ealing Penilott, a conscientious objector, sent to Usk on 14th June, had not been permitted to communicate with his parents up to 10th August; and (3) whether, pending consideration of their cases by the Central Appeal Tribunal under the new scheme, he will order the release on furlough of the following conscientious objectors, who were on 9th August removed from Forest Hall camp to Newcastle civil prison: George Horwill, H. Horwill, Adam Daniels, Samuel Daniels, Thomas M'Ellin, Leo M'Ellin, Edward M'Ellin, John H. M'Ellin, Fawcett, Harold Watt, and W. H. Thompson?

As Ealing Penilott is in a civil prison the question regarding the facilities for correspondence allowed to him should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. I cannot undertake that he shall be released on furlough, and the same statement applies to the cases of the men mentioned in Question 94. In connection with these two questions, Nos. 92 and 94, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on the 15th of August to the hon. Member for the Kennington Division.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will state how many Irish migrants have been arrested in and around Glasgow, including Mossend and Motherwell, since 1st August by the police with a view to proceedings against them under the Military Service Act; on whose instructions the police acted in these cases; what was the procedure followed; what were the charges made; and whether he has issued instructions to the police authorities that proceedings of the kind are not in future to be taken unless it is clear that the persons concerned are ordinarily resident in Great Britain and are not here for a special purpose such as is provided for under the Act?

I cannot give the numbers asked for by my hon. Friend, inasmuch as the whole matter in dispute is whether the persons in question are or are not migrants from Ireland. The police would naturally act in conjunction with the military authorities, under the general instructions issued by the Departments concerned. I am communicating with the police on the lines which I indicated on Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he has inquired into the case of Private F. C. Lee, No. 28,561, 13th Battalion, Devon Regiment, now in training for about three weeks at Saltash; whether he is aware that this man was summoned to the Colours by the threats of the recruiting officer, Captain Longrigg, at Bath; whether the same recruiting officer has now sent to him Army Form W 3,470, stating that Lee may be called up any time after 26th September next, whereas the same Captain Longrigg actually threatened to arrest him a month ago if he did not join on 12th July; whether he will call for an explanation of this action from Captain Longrigg; whether he is aware that F. C. Lee was the sole support of his invalid mother and sister, who now only receive 3s. 6d. to live upon; whether, in order to remove a state of things prejudicial to recruiting, he will give Lee a free pass till the end of September and make a proper allowance to his mother and sister; and (2) whether he has inquired into the case of Thomas Simpson, who joined the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in August, 1914, and was subsequently discharged from the Army as medically unfit; whether a certificate of medical unfitness and discharge was given to him at Preston; why, in view of Section 3, Sub-section (1), of the Military Service Act, Session 2, and paragraph 5 of the First Schedule of the principal Military Service Act, 1916, he was summoned at the Manchester County Police Court on 7th August, 1916, as a deserter and fined £2; where this medically unfit man now is; and whether he is to be kept in the Army?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Reserve Battalion of the 20th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, stationed at Kinmel Park, is composed of men who have been rejected as unfit for foreign service and of men who have been injured at the front; that, in consequence, the physical standard of the battalion is low, and that there are in the battalion men who have for some time been recommended for discharge; if he is aware that on 10th August the commanding officer sent round the orderly sergeants to the various dining-rooms to read out to the men a list of penalties which would be applied in future to all men who report sick and are marked M.D. by the medical officer, such penalties to include pack drill from 2 to 4.30 every Saturday afternoon for all men given M.D. during the week, also to parade in front of the canteen at 6 p m. every night for regimental fatigue duty; and if steps will be taken at once to stop this punishment of men who justly report illness?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will inquire into the treatment of soldiers at Penkridge Bank Camp in Staffordshire; if a man who reported himself sick to the doctor was sent back to parade without examination, and was taken ill and died; and if there have been several cases of suicide among the men in this camp?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that George Quine, G. Hodgson, James Baxter, Richard Aircher, Ernest Cartmell, Samuel Benson, and Arthur Malpas, who were recently engaged to serve on the steamship "Duke of Cumberland," belonging to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, are all of military age, were never employed at sea before, and are therefore not bonâd-fideseamen; whether he can state if these men have been exempted from military service under the Military Service Acts; and, if so, upon what grounds and authority?

further asked—

90. If the Secretary of State for War is aware that F. Brooks, R. Leach, W. Croas-dale, F. Mason, T. Baron, R. Brooks, W. Bolton, A. Robinson, T. Gillett, T. Cartmell, W. Kirkham, T. Bonny, R. Mather, C. Austin, and J. Wignall, who were recently engaged to serve on the steamship "Duke of Connaught," belonging to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, running from Fleetwood to Belfast, are all of military age, are not bunâ-fide seamen and were never at sea before joining that vessel, and that, on their accepting service in the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company's boats on account of the seamen being on strike, they were informed that while they were in the service of the railway company they would be exempt from military service; and whether he will state upon what grounds and authority these men have been exempted from military service under the Military Service Acts?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Edward Murphy and John Cleary, both of Clydebank, Glasgow, left Ireland for the first time last March specially to work at munitions, and have since been so employed in Glasgow, and that under the Military Service Act these men, not ordinarily resident in Britain, are exempt, and more especially as they were engaged in munition work; whether he is aware that they have since been brought before a Court, fined £1 each, and received warrants to join the Colours; and whether, seeing that such action is contrary to the Military Service Act and calculated to work injury if persisted in, he will take immediate steps to allow those men back to their work?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Messrs. Riley and Browne applied on the 23rd June last to the Islington local tribunal for exemption under the Military Service Act, 1916, Session 2, and have received from that tribunal no notice of the hearing of their applications, but have, contrary to the provisions of that Act and while their applications were pending, been arrested and charged before a magistrate and fined and handed over to the military authority; and whether he will give directions for their immediate release?

All I can say in answer to these eight questions is that they cannot be answered without reference to the Commands, as the information asked for is not in the possession of the War Office. Reports will in each case be obtained, and when received will be communicated to the hon. Members interested by letter, so as to save them the necessity for taking further trouble in the matter.

Arising out of the answer to 76 and 77, is the hon. Gentleman aware that I sent him full information about these two cases at the end of last week, and that these questions have been on the Paper a very considerable time, and cannot he facilitate and accelerate the reply to these questions?

I am ready to do anything I can to accelerate the reply, but I am not in a position to give as full a reply as I should like to the hon. Gentleman without communicating with the various Commands, which is being done.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that Questions 89 and 90 refer to cases where the Military Service Act is used for the purpose of encouraging blacklegs to break a dispute, and does that come within the category of the other questions?

It comes within the category, but I cannot give an answer without information.

Would it assist if these questions were put down a long time in advance, with all the information and references fully set out?

I should be much obliged for any assistance.

I beg to give notice that I shall call attention to this question on the Motion for the Adjournment.

In view the the very great importance of this question, will the hon. Gentleman make inquiry by telegraph, or by any other means quickly?

I think I am right in saying that inquiries have been made, but we have not received an answer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can say when the issue of the silver badges to men discharged out of the Army on account of wounds will be commenced; and whether he can state the approximate number of men to whom these badges will be issued?

The arrangements for the issue of the war badges will be completed in a few days, and instructions as to the means of making application will be issued through the Press. I fear I am not in a position to state the approximate number of men to whom these badges will be issued.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether all the taxi-cab drivers in Edinburgh have a uniform allowance of petrol; and, if not, what is the reason of the distinction?

Taxi-cab drivers in Edinburgh have been allowed 50 per cent, of their requirements, as shown by them at the time the census was taken for the purposes of the Petrol Control Committee, and if their normal consumption for petrol was not uniform before the census, the allowances granted to the drivers will not be uniform. If there is a general wish on the part of the Edinburgh drivers for a uniform allowance the Petrol Control Committee will be prepared to arrange for such an allowance on the lines followed in London.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a German named Kearton, manager of a colliery at Chislet, Kent, is constantly to be seen driving about in a motor car, especially when any movement of troops takes place in the district; whether this man has a licence to use a motor car, and, if so, for what reason the licence was granted; and if he will say what allowance of petrol has been allotted to him under the recent restriction orders?

The Chislet Colliery Company have been licensed to be supplied with 10 gallons of petrol a month for a motor car. I understand that no licence for petrol for a motor car has been issued to Mr. Kearton personally. The remainder of the hon. Gentleman's question relates to matters with which the Home Office appear to be concerned, and I will draw their attention to it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has completed his consideration of the case for revision of the present scheme of insurance against war risks; and whether, in view of the diminution of risk of hostile attack by sea and the probability that within the next twelve months the risk from all kinds of hostile attack will be still further reduced, he can see his way to make some modification in the scheme for the benefit of policy holders who have to renew their insurance for a period of twelve months?

The question whether any modification can safely be made in the Government aircraft insurance scheme is being carefully studied, but it is not possible to make any statement at present.

Is it not possible to make a statement as to when the right hon. Gentleman can decide what is to be done now that premiums are being paid for the coming twelve months?

I cannot give a day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a feeling prevalent among Lancashire and Yorkshire railwaymen that Rule 273, Clause (c), should be, amended so that the responsibility for the appointment of a flagman or other competent person to give the necessary warning when work is proceeding in tunnels or where the approach of a train cannot be observed or heard in time for the men to get out of the way should lie with a higher official of the company, and not, as now, with the ganger; and will he say what action he proposes to take?

The Board of Trade have received representations on the subject. The Rule was, however, recently revised at the request of the Department and the Board do not think that they can usefully ask the railway companies to amend it further at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the manager of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company at Fleetwood engages landsmen presenting themselves for employment on their boats owing to the dispute with the seamen; and will he explain why these men when taken on are given an exemption certificate exempting them from being called up for service under the Military Service Act?

I have no information on this subject, but will make inquiries and inform my hon. Friend in due course of the result.

asked whether any manufacturing concerns belonging to enemies in this country have been prohibited or wound-up since the War started; and what are the names of the thirty-seven enemy businesses referred to in the Advisory Committee's Report which are being permitted without interference to continue to trade and make profits during the War?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am not at present prepared to publish the names of the businesses referred to in respect of which no Order has been made, but I shall be pleased to show the hon. and gallant Member a list of those businesses.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many manufacturing concerns belonging to enemies in this country have been prohibited or wound-up since the War began?

I do not carry the figures in my head. I will supply the hon. Member with them if he desires.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the super visor or controller of an enemy business has any power to control or restrict the profits made by that business in this country during the War; and, seeing that the Trading With the Enemy (Amendment) Act, 1916, limits the authority of the Board of Trade to three specific steps in regard to enemy businesses, namely, prohibition, winding-up, or sale after a vesting in the Public Trustee, will he say-under what authority the Board of Trade have permitted thirty-seven enemy businesses to continue to trade and manufacture in this country in competition with British concerns during the War?

The duties of a supervisor of an enemy business are to see that no trading with the enemy takes place, but he does not restrict the profits made. The powers of a controller appointed by the Court depend on the terms of the Order and, in some cases, he has full control of the conduct of the business. The businesses referred to in the hon. and gallant Member's question have been permitted to continue trading in accordance with Section 1 of the Trading With the Enemy (Amendment) Act, 1916, the Advisory Committee having come to the conclusion, after investigating the circumstances of each case, that for special reasons it was inexpedient to make any Order with regard to those businesses.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say, in reference to the first part of the question, whether an enemy business can make any amount of profit-in this country during the War?

Profit can be made, but it does not pass to the enemy.

To whom does it pass?

That rests for future decision by the Government authority.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the public interest in the physical education of our youth, he will set up a Committee to consider the question of an improved system of physical training in all elementary schools, and the extension of this training to all secondary schools, in the form of the Cadet Corps that are now being so generally established in the county council and other secondary schools throughout the country?

This is one of the questions which will have to be considered as part of the general inquiry into the national system of education which has been announced.

Is it not possible for children to have a thoroughly efficient physical education without the aid of or belonging to Cadet Corps?

That is one of the questions which ought to be considered.

Having already appointed two or three Committees on this subject, will the right hon. Gentleman not appoint another Committee to consider this question?

No, Sir. I think the old maxim of the Schoolmen applies—Entia non sunt multiplicanda prœter necessitatem.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is his intention to appoint a Minister of Commerce; and whether the Government are taking any steps to reorganise and redistribute the duties and work of the Board of Trade, so as to place the country in a better position to deal at once with the new economic conditions created by the War?

Active steps are being taken with a view to placing the Board of Trade in a position to deal effectively with post-war economic and commercial problems. I am not now in a position to go into details, and, as at present advised, I doubt if the object would be furthered by the multiplication of Ministries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that these inquiries cover Ireland?

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he can see his way to add two representatives of Labour to the Committee on Production?

The Committee on Production, as at present constituted, consists of independent persons, and is not intended to be representative of classes or interests. The suggested alteration in its constitution would alter its character, and is not, in my opinion, advisable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that great discontent exists in many large works on account of lack of understanding by the Committee on Production of questions submitted to them?

If my hon. Friend will send proof I shall be obliged.

When the appointments were made to the Committee on Production was the question of the experience of these men upon these methods taken into consideration?

They were among the most eminent of our Civil servants.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not see that there are representatives of capital on the Committee—that is to say, men who formerly were engaged looking after the interests of capital—one a late general manager, to give no other illustration—and would not the fact that a representative of Labour was on the Committee be calculated to give more general confidence?

As I have said, I do not think that a Committee of this kind ought to be representative of interests in any sense. The desire is to get the best and most detached minds you can.

asked whether the fifty German steamers obtained by us from Portugal are paid for; and, if so, to whom does the money go and what is the amount per ship per month?

A number of ex-German steamers are being chartered to us by the Portuguese Government at the rate of 14s. 3d. per gross ton per month. We pay all the expenses of running the steamers.

To whom does the money go when it is paid?

To the Portuguese Government.

Will any of that money find its way to Germany?

I think that that is more a question for the Portuguese Government.

What will happen in the event of these steamers being torpedoed?

I believe that they will go to the bottom.

Is it our plan to allow all our money to go to Germany in this way?

No. No arrangement has been made to allow our money to go to Germany in any way.

The right hon. Gentleman said that it was very likely to go there.

No. I did nothing of the sort.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the conditions under which men are working at British Dyes, Limited, Huddersfield, a firm which is subsidised by the Government, to the defective state of the sanitary arrangements there for instance, and also to the prevalence of eczema among the men employed in the picric acid department of the firm's works; and whether he will arrange with the Treasury to reduce the Government subsidy unless drastic alterations are made by the firm with the object of improving the conditions under which work is carried on under their management?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to the hon. Member for North Somerset.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state how many Customs watchers are at present employed in the port of London; how many will receive immediate benefit under the new scale of pay recently announced; how many will receive an increase of not more than 1s. per week; whether he is aware that the Customs watchers in the provinces are receiving an immediate advance of from 3s. to 6s. per week, as compared with the limited advance of 1s. to the London men; and whether this is in accordance with the Treasury Regulations as applied to Post Office employés and soldiers' wives, who receive 3s. 6d. per week extra when residing in the London area?

Under the new scale of watchers' pay 249 out of 390 watchers employed in London will receive an immediate benefit, the amount in each case being 1s. a week. Watchers in the provinces, whose pay has now been levelled up to London rate, receive an immediate benefit ranging from 1s. to 4s. a week. I do not think that the facts referred to in the last part of the question affect the decision in the present case.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the Port of London Customs watchers are in receipt of a weekly wage ranging from 24s. to a maximum of 27s.; if ho is aware that the Port of London Authority has recently granted a further war bonus of 3s., making 6s. since February, 1915; and whether, under these circumstances, he will give favourable consideration to the Customs watchers' petition to be granted a war bonus?

I am afraid that at present I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich on the 27th July. I am sending my right hon. Friend a copy of this reply?

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in cases where exemption from vaccination is granted for a child to the mother in the absence of the father on service in the Army, the father remains liable to penalties on his return home; whether his attention has been called to cases in which vaccination officers have threatened soldiers' wives with such penalties against their husbands; and what steps he will take to deter the authorities from using this kind of pressure on the wives of absentee soldiers who desire to keep their children's blood untainted?

My Department has sent a circular letter to all vaccination officers impressing on them that it is their duty to accept, as valid, declarations made by the mother of a child in the father's absence from home on naval or military service. In the case to which the hon. Member has drawn my attention the notices were issued by a temporary vaccination officer, and I have directed that the form of notice shall be amended.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the case of the widow of Frederick John Howe, driver in the Army Service Corps, who died on the 16th April, 1916, in consequence of gas poisoning whether he is aware that, owing to Mrs. Howe having received no pension or other allowance since her husband's death, three of her five children have had to be sent to the workhouse and almost everything she possessed has been sold; and whether he will give this matter immediate attention and see that the arrears of pension due to her, which amount, approximately, to £35, are promptly paid?

I am making inquiry into this case and will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked whether the Statutory Committee intend to pay the supplementary pensions through the local post offices?

The Statutory Committee hope to make satisfactory arrangements with the War Office and Admiralty, so that supplementary pensions may be paid through the local post offices with the State flat-rate pensions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that under Section 3 (1) (j) of the Naval and Military War Pensions Act Parliament has placed on the Statutory Committee the duty and responsibility of making provision for the health and training of discharged disabled soldiers, and in view of the importance that suitable medical and surgical provision should be made available without further delay for the large number of men already needing special treatment over and above what the ordinary general practitioner can give, it is to be understood that the £6,000,000 recently promised to that Committee from the Exchequer is to be available towards these purposes or whether the necessary expenditure of the Committee in carrying out this duty is to be provided from the Exchequer in some other mannr; and, if so, how and when?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. It is not the intention that the £6,000,000 (though calculated on the estimated cost of pensions) shall be earmarked to the payment of pensions, and the Statutory Committee will have power to expend it on any other of their statutory functions.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a man named Peregoy, a wounded soldier, discharged from the 2nd Royal Dublin Fusi Iiers, on 29th October, 1915, has been deprived of portion of his pension, although he at the time of his discharge, with the rank of corporal, being a married man with one child, was entitled to the additional allowance prescribed by the Army Order, August, 1915, namely, corporal 2s. a week and 2s. 6d. a week for each child; and will he say why such deduction was made in his case, and if steps will be taken to have this man's case dealt with in accordance with Regulations?

Inquiry is being made, and my hon. Friend will be informed of the result as soon as possible.

In view of the fact stated in the question, that this man was discharged on the 29th October, 1915, can the hon. Gentleman promise that the matter will be disposed of at a very early date?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he will issue as a White Paper the particulars and details of the Duke of Sutherland's gift of land for the use of soldiers and sailors?

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, with reference to the estate of 12,000 acres gifted by the Duke of Sutherland of which the annual value of the land and shootings is £475 according to the Valuation Roll for 1914–15, whether he can state how much of that annual value is attributable to the land and how much to the shootings?

I have promised to give full information as to the Borgie estate which has been offered to the Crown by the Duke of Sutherland for the settlement of sailors and soldiers on the land. I do not know whether there is any general interest in having a close investigation into the minutiae of valuations. If there be any general desire to enter into such details, it is possible that this separation of values could be made.

asked whether the wages of second-class warders in Scottish prisons range from 24s. to 32s. weekly; and whether, now that the sovereign is only equal to 12s. in spending power as compared with July, 1914, it is proposed to grant these men a war bonus?

I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 31st of July to my right hon. Friend the Member for the Blackfriars Division of Glasgow.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will allow letters which the senders desire to keep private from Government Departments to be sent by private messengers?

If the question refers to letters passing within the United Kingdom there would seem no objection, subject to the provisions of Section 34 of the Post Office Act, 1908. But since, as a rule, such letters are not subjected to censorship little advantage would accrue to the senders. If the question refers to letters to and from the United Kingdom, the answer is in the negative. Such a practice would contravene No. 24 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. Since, moreover, only such trade letters as disclose transactions contrary to the public interest or contain information likely to con- duce to the successful prosecution of the War are passed to the Government Department concerned, the letters in question would probably be just those which it is desired to intercept.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange to send an intimation to the senders of private letters when these letters have been submitted to a Government Department?

I air afraid that that cannot be done.

Are they marked as having been passed through the Censor's office?

I think that every letter that is censored bears the Censor's stamp.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if it is the intention of the Government to give a fur ther bonus to men employed in the Royal dockyards; and, if so, will he state the amount and from what date the new payment will be made?

Additional temporary war increases have recently been granted in His Majesty's home dockyards and naval establishments, namely, 3s. a week to adult male employés and 1s. a week to apprentices and boys. These increases take effect as from the 23rd July.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the clerical staff in His; Majesty's dock yards will participate in the; new war bonus; and, if that is not to be the case, will he explain the reason for the omission?

No, Sir. The matter is under consideration, but I can give no undertaking respecting it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this matter has been under consideration almost since the beginning of the War? When will some result be arrived at?

As my hon. Friend knows, more than one Government Department is concerned.

I know that.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the men employed by the Admiralty as yard-craft men have sent in a request for a victualling allowance of 1s. 6d. per day; whether he is aware that this allowance is paid to the crews of hired tugs and the tugs of the Great Western Railway Company; and whether he will take steps to see that consideration is given to what is considered a hardship borne by these men in the trying circumstances of their employment?

A victualling allowance of 1s. 6d. a day was formerly paid as a separate allowance to yard craft men, but was merged in their pay some years ago, that pay being increased by the full amount of the victualling allowance at the time when the change was made. As I informed my hon. Friend yesterday, the conditions of service of the yard craft men have recently been the subject of a most careful review, and they are considered to be just and equitable. I cannot admit that these men are suffering any hardship in not receiving a victualling allowance in addition to their ordinary rate of pay, which, as I say, was some time ago brought up to include pay plus victualling allowance.

Have these men received any advance of wages since the War began?

I believe they have received a war bonus?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the employés in His Majesty's Gunwharf, Devonport, will be placed in a similar position to the employés in His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, with regard to the extra bonus?

This matter is under consideration.