asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the aggregate amount represented by those Bank of England notes that were issued more than forty years ago and have not been presented for payment, which amount, without prejudice to the validity of these notes, may be written off, for certain purposes of the Bank Charter Act, 1844, under Section 6 of the Bank Act, 1892?

Up to and including the amount of £17,615, shown in the Return presented to Parliament on the 15th November last, the total amount written off under Section 6 of the Bank Act, 1892, in respect of notes issued by the Bank of England since its incorporation is £795,166 19s. 3d.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what has been the amount for each of the last five years of the unclaimed dividends in Scottish sequestrations which, after having been unclaimed during seven years, have been transferred to the King's Remembrancer, in accordance with Section 153 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act, 1914, and the previous provisions re-enacted in that Section?

The amounts are as follows:—

				£	s.	d.
1912	…	…	…	370	19	4
1913	…	…	…	642	8	8
1914	…	…	…	618	14	6
1915	…	…	…	225	9	10
1916	…	…	…	159	15	1

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state to what extent the contribution of £181,975 paid in relief of agricultural rates in Scotland during the financial year 1915–16 under the Agricultural Rates, etc. (Scotland) Act, 1906, was supplemented by the further contribution in relief of agricultural rates in Scotland during that financial year out of the Local Taxation (Scotland) Account under the Local Taxation (Scotland) Act, 1898, stating the total amount paid out of that account during that year in relief of agricultural rates in Scotland; what was the aggregate amount paid during that year in relief of agricultural rates in Scotland under these two Acts; and whether he will consider the desirability of adding to the information in Table 162 of the Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue as to the contributions in relief of agricultural rates in Scotland a reference to the supplementary contribution under the Local Taxation (Scotland) Act, 1898?

My hon. Friend will find full details as to the payments in and out of the Local Taxation (Scotland) Account in the year ending 31st March, 1916, in the return presented to Parliament on the 7th instant, Cd. 8318, which will be issued shortly. Payments into the account are also shown in the annual Finance Accounts. The payment under the Local Taxation Account (Scotland) Act, 1898, is not an allocation of Inland Revenue Duties, and is, I think, more suitably shown in the Finance Accounts and the Local Taxation Accounts than in the Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury on what ground it was sought to levy the Entertainments Tax on the Dungarvan Agricultural Show; and whether the committee of the show have been or will be informed that their receipts are exempt from the tax?

The tax is leviable on payments for admission to an agricultural show unless the Board of Customs and Excise are satisfied that exemption is allowable under Section 1 (5) of the Finance (New Duties) Act, 1916. In the case of the Dungarvan Show the committee claimed exemption under that provision, but the programme included items such as horse-jumping competitions which were held by the Board to debar the show from the privilege of exemption, and they therefore informed the committee that the tax was leviable.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state under what circumstances Daniel Ronayne was convicted at Dungarvan, county Waterford, under the Defence of the Realm Act, and sentenced to one month's imprisonment; whether his offence was trifling; whether he is aware that the Dungarvan Urban Council passed a resolution calling for his release; and whether he will communicate with Sir John Maxwell on the subject?

Daniel Ronayne was convicted at Waterford Petty Sessions on 21st July of using language prejudicial to recruiting and sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labour. A resolution of the Dungarvan Urban District Council, in favour of the remission of the sentence, was laid before the Lords Justices, who decided that the law should take its course.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Sergeant Bannon, Royal Irish Rifles, acknowledged in Store Street Police Station, Dublin, that he shot therein Constable William Frith, No. 174 C, Dublin Metropolitan Police; whether the military afterwards explained to the superintendent in Store Street that they did not know it was a police station that they had fired into; whether this case figures in General Maxwell's account of the slaughter of police by rebels; what compensation has been offered, or is intended to be paid, to the mother or dependants of this officer killed in the execution of his duty; and is he aware that Mrs. Frith has suffered severely and mentally owing to shock at her son's death at the hands of the military?

I am informed that Sergeant Bannon stated at Store Street Barracks that he fired shots at the windows through one of which Constable Frith received his fatal injury. The military, I understand,? were not aware at the time that the building into which they were firing was a police barrack. In the view of the military authorities, while it is possible that the death of, the constable may be attributed to military rifle fire, there is doubt on the point, as rebel sniping was also going on in that vicinity. The name of Constable Frith does not appear in General Maxwell's dispatch. The dependants of the deceased constable will receive a gratuity, the amount of which has not yet been determined.

asked the Home Secretary whether Patrick Carmody, Jeremiah Rear-don, Jeremiah Twomey, and Cornelius Murphy, of Millstreet, county Cork, are still detained at Frongoch Detention Camp; whether their cases have been investigated by the Advisory Committee, and, if so, with what result; if complaint has been made of the overcrowding and condition of the apartments in which they are confined and sleep; and if he will see that these men at least receive humane treatment pending trial?

The Advisory Committee, after carefully considering the cases of these four persons, have recommended that they should be retained in internment. As regards the remainder of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Members for North Westmeath and the Harbour Division of Dublin on the 6th and 11th of July. I may add that he has just received fresh reports upon the accommodation and ventilation in the dormitories at Frongoch, which show that there is no ground for complaint whatever.

asked the Home Secretary how much longer it is proposed to detain Messrs. W. Seares and C. J. Irwin, both of Enniscorthy, county Wexford, now prisoners at Frongoch Internment Camp?

The Advisory Committee carefully considered both these cases, and recommended that the prisoners should remain interned. They must, I fear, be detained, as in other cases, as long as this is necessary in the interests of public safety and of the defence of the realm.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if wounded sailors in Haslar Hospital, Gosport, are deprived of the solace of smoking; and, if so, will he inquire if the men regard this as a severe deprivation; and, if so, can the matter be remedied?

Patients at Haslar have always been allowed to smoke in the grounds, smoking sheds, and colonnades, and, in addition, permission has lately been given for men who are unable to get to any of these places to smoke in the wards.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that a certain firm who are making seaplanes for the Admiralty are paying many of the men engaged on the work from 2s. to 15s. per week less than the proper rate of wage; and whether he will give instructions to this firm to pay the standard rate of wage, with payment of arrears to all men who have been paid the lower rate?

The particulars furnished in my hon. Friend's question are not sufficient to enable the firm to be identified. If he will supply me with full details I will have the matter investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any steps have been taken to get black troops raised in Africa for garrison purposes in Egypt or Aden or for active service in Mesopotamia?

We have been in communication with the military authorities in Africa on this subject, and I shall have pleasure in conveying the results privately to my hon. and gallant Friend if he so desires.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many able-bodied German prisoners of war we now hold; how many of these are doing work; how many are engaged in road-making, whether here or in France; and how many are idling?

The latest returns give 23,142 able-bodied prisoners of war in the United Kingdom and in France. My hon. Friend, on consideration, will agree with me that it would not be desirable for me to answer the other parts of his question

asked the Postmaster-General whether there is a conflict of Regulations between his Department and the Foreign Office with regard to the dispatch of parcels to prisoners in Turkey; whether the Foreign Office Regulations allow cardboard, tin, wood, or stout packing paper, and whether the Post Office require hemp canvas and not other material; and, if so, why this confusion exists?

Parcels for Prisoners of War in Turkey must be packed in wood, tin, or hemp canvas. No regulations on this subject are issued by- the Foreign Office. The regulations issued by the Prisoners of War Help Committee, to which the hon. Member presumably refers, make no mention of cardboard or stout packing paper. It is possible, however, that the hon. Member may have seen some obsolete print of a memorandum issued by that Committee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, at this period of the War, steps can be taken, through neutral Embassies or otherwise, to bring about an exchange of wounded and unwounded prisoners on a large scale between Great Britain and Germany?

As regards interned civilians, the steps being taken to promote exchange have already been explained in the House. As regards military prisoners of war, the question should be addressed to the War Office.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if 5,000 Germans and 1,000 to 1,200 Austrians lately employed as seamen in the British mercantile marine are now interned?

I understand that the figures quoted by the hon. and gallant Member are taken from the Census returns of 1911. It is impossible, therefore, to say whether the persons to whom they related are now interned. But I can say that the policy of internment has been applied to German and Austrian seamen, as to other persons of those nationalities, and there are large numbers now interned. The number of German seamen in internment considerably exceeds the figure mentioned in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the number and quality of gifts of food from Germany to German prisoners in this country has increased, remained stationary, or declined recently; and n in the last case he has any official information showing that such decline represents decreased purchasing power and food supplies in Germany?

To obtain statistics on which to base an authoritative answer to this question would be a lengthy proceeding; but those who are in a position to form an opinion and whom there has been time to consult consider that while the number of food parcels from Germany has been fairly constant, the contents have distinctly fallen off lately, especially as regards sausages, bread and fats. There is no official information to account for this.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in enrolling the Volunteer regiments, it is proposed to make any provision for medical officers for the various regiments, and, if so, what provision it is proposed should be made; and whether, in the scheme for Home defence, arrangements will be made for the utilisation of the services of those medical practitioners who have enrolled with the Volunteer regiments and who are precluded by age or physical unfitness from serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps abroad?

The question of the medical organisation of the Volunteer Force is now under consideration. It is hoped to take advantage of the offers of voluntary service made by medical practitioners in connection with the Volunteers.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the commandant of a Volunteer regiment can offer the services of his regiment to the War Office without the consent of the members of the regiment; and, if accepted by the War Office, can these regiments be used for foreign service?

Under paragraph 17 of the Volunteer Act of 1863 Volunteer officers and Volunteers, are liable to be called out for actual military service, only in Great Britain. Under the Volunteer Regulations they cannot be so called out unless invasion is held to be imminent, nor are they legally liable for any other duty. It is, of course, outside the power of the-commandant to extend the liability to service of any member of the force under his command.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in the event of a soldier becoming insane and transferred to an asylum, all separation allowances payable to his wife or other dependants are immediately stopped; and, seeing that this gives rise to cases of hardship and suffering, whether he will take-steps to remedy the grievance complained of?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh on Wednesday last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, for the purposes of gratuity to the widow, his Department differentiates between the cases of officers who have succumbed to the results of strain, overwork, and exposure at the front and those who have been killed, died of wounds, or lost their lives by the collapse of a trench; and, if so, whether he will give the reasons actuating this differentiation?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Egremont Division of Cumberland on Monday last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state why no separation allowance has been given to the mother of Private James Alcorn, No. 2 Company, 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers; whether he is aware that an allotment of pay has, been made by the soldier in her favour since his enlistment in February last, and an application sent on her behalf early in June by the Rev. Canon Pirie Conerney, Dunfanaghy; and why Mr. Conerney's communication was ignored until a second letter was sent by him on the 3rd August?

Inquiry will be made, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board if he will give the names of the fourteen localities in Ireland where arrangements are in progress for setting up War Pensions Committees?

There are now seventeen counties and county boroughs in Ireland in respect of which the proposals in schemes for local committees have been approved, namely:

COUNTIES.
Antrim	Kildare
Armagh	Limerick
Carlow	Londonderry
Clare	Louth
Down	Meath
Fermanagh	Roscommon
and Wexford.
COUNTY BOROUGHS.
Belfast	Londonderry
Cork	and Waterford.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in the event of a soldier becoming insane, the cost of his maintenance in an asylum is charged to the board of guardians for his place of domicile without any consultation with them; whether protests against this pauperisation have been received from the Leigh Union and other bodies similarly affected; and whether he can see his way to discontinue this practice and provide for the entire cost of maintenance out of Army funds?

Under the Lunacy Act a lunatic's maintenance is chargeable in the first instance to the guardians of his place of settlement; but in the case of an insane soldier his pension is available to meet the cost of his maintenance, and in cases due to war service it is generally more than sufficient for that purpose.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has received a complaint against the firm of Sadgrove of violation of the Fair-Wage's Clause in not recognising an increase in the district rate for french polishers; whether he is aware that this increased rate has been accepted as established by the Ministry of Munitions and the Office of Works; and whether he will expedite the settlement of this complaint in harmony with the policy of other Departments?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the third part, there is a dispute between Messrs. Sadgrove and Company and the London French Polishers' Joint Committee as to the date on which the former were notified of the increase in the standard rate of wages, but every effort is being made to expedite a settlement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that about 800 men of the Royal Army Medical Corps stationed at Codford have 2d. a week deducted from their pay for barrack damages, which deductions have been made for about two months, although the men know nothing about any damage; and whether he will have inquiries made into the matter?

I will have inquiries made and let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if lie will state the remuneration of acting paymasters; what duties they perform; and whether, by dispensing with their services, there would be a great saving of time and money?

The pay is £250 a year. They are part of the necessary supervising staff and cannot be dispensed with.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that the firms who supply artificial limbs are allowed workshops at the hospitals, and that, as the Government allow various amounts for artificial limbs, the makers supply the crudest articles possible to fit the Government prices, but having on hand artificial limbs of a superior quality do their best to persuade either the men themselves or their friends to buy these superior articles; and, seeing that these wounded men are entitled to be supplied free by the Government with the best possible artificial limbs, will he take action at once to see that all our wounded men are supplied free by the Government with the best artificial limbs that can be procured1?

Some of the firms who supply artificial limbs use workshops at the hospitals. The limbs supplied by the Government, free of expense, to the soldiers are those which, in the opinion of the consulting orthopædic surgeons, are most suitable in each case, and every one is examined and approved by the consulting surgeons before the soldier leaves the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date and where in London the exhibition will be held of German guns and trophies captured by London and other regiments during the recent advance on the Somme; and if it is proposed to make any charge for admission to the same for the benefit of military charities?

I am afraid that I cannot yet say. Some of the guns are being used in France, and it is not yet certain how many, if any, will be available for exhibition.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Wheatstone operators are needed in the Signal Section, Royal Engineers, for service abroad; whether he is aware that a number of qualified men are attached to Territorial signal units scheduled for Home defence, and that these men have passed through the training centres but are now occupying most of their time in grooming horses or sanitary fatigues; and whether, in view of the fact that they would welcome active service, steps can be taken to transfer them to where their' skill may be of national use?

Telegraph operators experienced in Wheatstone working are employed abroad on this special work as far as they are required, but it is impossible to arrange that ail men with this experience will be so employed. In any case operators are not exempt from the ordinary routine work and fatigues in units. All men fit for general service are liable for services abroad, and such men are not kept in units scheduled for Home defence.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to destroy the Territorial designation and character of the Reserve battalions of the Army, both Regular and Territorial, and give them consecutive numbers only; whether this proposal, if contemplated, has been laid before the Territorial Associations; and, if so, can he state what opinion has been expressed by such associations as to the effect upon local patriotism of the obliteration of all reference to the town or county from which recruits are drawn?

There is no intention of destroying the Territorial designation or character of the Reserve battalions, Special Reserve or Territorial Force. What is being done is to form a training reserve from the second reserve and local reserve regular battalions, all of which have been formed during the War. I will furnish my hon. Friend with a leaflet explaining the object of the training reserve and the method of its formation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will allow Members of Parliament, on personal application, to receive confidentially information concerning the casualties suffered by our forces on the various fronts; and whether public announcements can be made from which the nation may gather a more complete estimate of the military position?

As the Prime Minister has stated, there is no objection to any Member being shown privately and confidentially from time to time the total casualties for all theatres of war. I am not clear to what my hon. Friend refers in the latter part of the question, but I can assure him that every effort is made to publish as full information as possible, subject to military expediency, of the progress of the British operations in the various theatres.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Army rations served out to the Labour Companies of the Army Service Corps are insufficient for the work entailed by the duties; whether he is aware that on -every other morning the breakfast consists of two thick slices of bread and butter and -on alternate mornings of about two ounces of fat bacon, so that in order to maintain their strength and efficiency, and to enable them to do their work, the men have 1o supplement their food out of their pay, which is a hardship in the case of married men with families; whether he is aware that the steamer "Ortolan," of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, occupied five weeks in a voyage from Ireland, where she loaded potatoes, to Le Havre, Rouen, and Dieppe; that in consequence her cargo of 500 tons was in such a bad state, owing to the heat of the hold, that 50 per cent, of the potatoes were ruined; that after they were discharged on to the wharf at Dieppe they were covered with a tarpaulin, which made their condition worse; and that finally, after being resacked and subsequently picked over and trucked to the front, only about 80 tons were in any way fit for human food; and whether he will cause inquiry into this waste?

The labour companies are rationed on the same field service scale as the troops generally in France, and I am not aware that their rations are insufficient as suggested. The steamer "Ortolan" arrived in Dublin on 31st May, sailed for Cherbourg on 2nd June, arrived at Dieppe on 9th June, and was back in Dublin on 21st June. I have no information as to the other matter referred to.

asked why men of the Labour Companies of the Army Service Corps, enlisted as skilled labourers and belonging to the original Expeditionary Force, have been, notwithstanding two years' service and good conduct, overlooked in promotion, while men more recently enlisted and only of a few months' service have been given non-commissioned rank; and why the £5 bonus promised on recruiting posters and elsewhere has been paid in a few cases but not many?

The last complete Labour Company was sent to France on 8th February, 1916, and since that date only drafts have, been sent. The original companies were enlisted with gangers, who were at once given acting non-commissioned rank. Subsequent promotion in the companies after their original formation is in the hands of the authorities overseas from whom the recommendations come. The £5 bounty was issuable only to men enlisted under Army Order 283 of 1914. Enlistments under this Order ceased from 15th August, 1914, except for 1,500 labourers, who were obtained by 17th August, 1914, and since that date no further labourers have been enlisted under these terms.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the only newsagent in Mickleover has written to the War Office no fewer than four times, thrice supplying full particulars of the papers he wishes to forward to America and Simla, and is still without information; and whether he can explain the delay and confusion in dealing with applicants for permission to forward printed matter to the countries governed by the Regulations which came into force on the 1st July, 1916?

I have no knowledge of this case, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with the name of the newsagent and any further particulars in his possession, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the date in July when a soldier committed suicide at Wang-ford Camp; did he leave any statement and, if so, to what effect; how many witnesses gave evidence at the inquest, and to what effect; what were their ranks, respectively; and what was the verdict?

A soldier committed suicide at Wangford Camp on the 16th July. He left no statement. A Court of Inquiry was held by order of the commanding officer, at which seven witnesses gave evidence, including the medical officer summoned to attend the soldier, and his company officer. It transpired that he never gave any trouble or made any complaints to his superiors, and as a result of the inquiry the commanding officer was of opinion that he committed suicide while in a state of mental depression. The verdict returned by the coroner's jury was that the cause of death was "suicide by cutting his throat whilst temporarily of unsound mind."

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British Army chaplains have been killed during the present War, and to what denominations did they belong?

The figures are as follow:

—	Church of England.	Presbyterian.	Roman Catholic.	Methodist.	Total.
Killed in Action—
British	6	—	3	—	9
Colonial	1	2	—	1	4
Died of Disease contracted "in and by" active service—
British	2	—	1	1	4
Indian Ecclesiastical Establishment	1	—	—	—	1
	10	2	4	2	18
	Total 18

These figures do not include any chaplains of the Indian Establishment who may have died as a result of service in Mesopotamia prior to the administration of that campaign being taken over by the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the reason for the non-publication of dispatches with regard to the German South-West African campaign which was entered upon over a year ago; and whether he can say when the dispatches will be published?

The campaign in German South-West Africa was conducted by the Government of the Union of South Africa, with naval and military assistance furnished from Imperial sources. Since no Imperial officers were concerned with the conduct of the operations, no dispatches have been received concerning them by the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any decision has been arrived at with regard to enabling officers to have issued to them second-class tickets at single fares when returning to their homes?

I am afraid I cannot, at the moment, add anything to the answers I have already given to questions on this subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office when it is intended to take delivery of wool in Great Britain and Ireland; whether he is aware that difficulty of transit will arise if the wool is not moved before the Colonial imports arrive and are put on the railways for transport; and whether he is aware that deterioration of quality may be consequential in certain cases where proper storage facilities are not available?

With regard to the first part of the question, wool is already being purchased generally in Ireland, and in large quantities in Great Britain. Delivery is of course being taken. The Department is fully alive to the need for avoiding congestion on the railways to which attention is drawn in the second part of the question, and it is anticipated that the bulk of the English clip will have been transported before arrivals of Colonial wools assume large proportions. Any farmer who has reason to anticipate that his wool may deteriorate in quality owing to inadequate facilities for storing should immediately communicate with the deputy executive officer for his area whose address is given on the census form which has been supplied to him.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mr. E. H. Mathews, proprietor of the St. Nicholas boarding-house, Scarborough, billeted a number of troops for the months of October, November, and December, 1915, and January, February, March, and April, 1916, at the rate of fifteen guineas per week, the total for thirty weeks amounting to £472 10s., and has not yet received payment; and whether, in view of the hardship thus occasioned this trader and of the fact that the catering business at Scarborough is practically at a standstill, steps will be taken to make payment in full and compensation for bank interest?

Mr. Mathews in January last signed a form of application for the submission of his claim to the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission, but after arrangements had been made to obtain the Commission's sanction to an immediate payment on account the applicant's representative withdrew the application and alleged the existence of an agreement to pay fifteen guineas a week. Renewed efforts are being made to arrange the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the demand of the permanent staff messengers and temporary staff messengers at the War Office for an extra war bonus; if he is aware that, although it is generally supposed that the pay of these men, who hold posts of trust and responsibility, was nominally augmented many months ago by 5s. a week on paper, they were at the same time deprived of their former privilege of sick pay; and if, as many other servants of the State have received more substantial war bonuses, as well as higher pay, as a set of to the extra cost of living, he will now recommend that both the permanent messengers, as well as those on the temporary staff, many of whom have been in the War Office for over ten years, although called temporary in order to effect an economy in emoluments, shall receive a fair and reasonable increase in their pay?

The case of messengers at the War Office will not be overlooked in connection with the question of granting a war bonus to the lower paid classes of the Civil Service which is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Irish soldiers who enlisted for six years in 1909–10 will now have the option of retiring if so willed?

All serving soldiers, unless they have served a period of twelve years or more and have attained the age of forty-one, have to continue to serve for the duration of the War under Section 2, Military Service Act, Session 2.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that men who have been previously rejected as medically unfit for military service are to be called up and subjected to a further medical examination, he will arrange for such inspection taking place locally; is he aware that it is proposed to send such men from the Saffron Walden district, pass them through London to Warley Barracks, and pay their expenses there and back; and, seeing that there are at least 600 men from this district to be examined, will he, in the interest of public economy, send Army doctors to Saffron Walden to do the work there?

Inquiries are being made, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that, as the late Lord Kitchener stated publicly and the Under-Secretary of State for War has repeatedly stated in this House, inoculation is not compulsory, he will cause instructions to be issued that men who enlisted in reliance upon that statement and undertaking should not be deprived of their leave and subjected to constant bullying and insult by Army medical officers and regimental colonels for declining to be inoculated in face of the results which they observe in the case of the men who are inoculated; whether he will take into consideration the fact that such an attitude on the part of the Army medical officers, with the connivance of the regimental colonels, is causing dissatisfaction amongst the men; whether he is aware that inoculation has produced a great deal of debilitating sickness and that a number of officers have declined to be inoculated; and whether these gentlemen have been penalised in the same way as the men of the line?

I have not heard anything of the bullying mentioned, nor of any dissatisfaction, nor that inoculation produces a great deal of debilitating sickness unless the slight "reaction," which is not unusual, is so described. Inoculation is not compulsory, but its benefits have now been so completely proved, that the vast majority of officers and men avail themselves of the opportunity of escaping enteric fever.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, as there is no likelihood of men passed by the medical board for garrison duty at home being called up for some time to come, he will consider the desirability of exempting from military service any married man who has been passed for this service only and who has efficiently served in the Metropolitan Special Constabulary since August, 1914?

An Instruction was issued a short time ago that married men of the age of thirty-five and over, employed as special constables in any police force in Great Britain, who have been classified by a medical board as fit for home service only, are not to be called up for service, provided they continue to carry out satisfactorily their duties as special constables.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the primary military examination referred to by the Financial Secretary to the War Office is the first medical examination of recruits which was carried out under the group system when recruits were examined by medical men in civil practice and medical men in charge of troops, and were then classified as fit or unfit for military service?

This is a military examination carried put by the recruiting officer. It is not a medical examination and is not carried out by medical men.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that G. Yates, of Leeds, a conscientious objector, was sentenced on 13th July to 112 days' imprisonment and lodged in Durham civil prison; and whether, having regard to his promise that conscientious objectors would be released pending an appeal to the Central Appeal Tribunal, to which such cases are now to be submitted, an instruction will be issued to release G. Yates and other conscientious objectors?

My attention has not been drawn to this particular case. I assume that the promise to which the hon. Member refers is that given by the Financial Secretary to the War Office on the 9th instant, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Blackburn, that all conscientious objectors whose cases have not been reached by the Central Tribunal during the currency of their sentences are to be sent on furlough. That promise is being strictly adhered to; but I would point out to the hon. Member that the currency of the sentence in the case mentioned by him has not yet expired. I understand that the Central Tribunal will deal with the cases of conscientious objectors in Durham prison very shortly.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will make inquiries into the complaint of Mr. William Harrison against the Bradford Local Tribunal, Mr. Harrison having stated that on 27th June last, his name being first on the list for hearing was called at 11.5 a.m., whereupon he intimated to the policeman who was acting as doorkeeper that he desired his case to be heard in public, and the doorkeeper, after consulting with the tribunal, reported to him that the room was very small and would not hold more than two persons beside the applicant in addition to the persons already in the room; on this message being reported to him, Mr. Harrison replied that he had twelve friends with him who wished to hear the case, which reply was duly conveyed to the tribunal, and a second message was returned by the tribunal to the effect that the case must wait and Mr. Harrison did wait until he felt it necessary to inquire whether his case was going to be heard at all that day, which inquiry the tribunal considered and then decided to admit Mr. Harrison and his twelve friends and, in fact, admitted in all about twenty persons, who found on entering the room that there was still room for as many more as had been admitted; and whether, if he finds the circumstances were as they are here stated, he will advise the Bradford Local Tribunal to be more truthful and more considerate in future?

I am sending to the hon. Member a copy of a letter I have received on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what number, roughly, of the 97,000 men requested by General Haig to express their wishes as to a career upon the land after the War were from the crofteer counties of Scotland; if so, what proportion of such men expressed themselves in favour of the suggestion; and (2) what number, roughly, of the 97,000 men consulted by General Haig as to their desire or not to live upon the land were from the crofter counties of Scotland; and, if so, what percentage of these expressed themselves in favour of this proposal?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer these questions, as such figures as are available are in the Board's possession. They do not, I regret to say, give any details which would throw light on the points which my hon. Friend raises.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he is aware that there are many male members of the clerical staffs of controlled establishments whose work could very well be performed by women; whether these men are exempt from military service; and, if so, will he state what steps he proposes to take?

Employment in a controlled establishment does not of itself exempt a man from military service, and it is the practice of the Department only to grant badges to clerks who possess special technical knowledge, or who can be shown on other grounds to be indispensable. The Ministry are constantly engaged in revising the lists of men to whom badges have been issued, and I shall be happy to investigate any case that may appear to my hon. Friend to need special inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the granting of responsible government to the municipalities of Nairobi and Mombasa has yet been considered; if so, what is holding the matter up; and whether he is aware that much cause for complaint in British East Africa would be removed if the municipalities, in question had control of public works and education in their own areas?

The question of giving extended powers to the Municipal Committee in Nairobi and of applying the Municipal Ordinance to Mombasa has, after careful consideration, been deferred until after the War. I have received no representations of the kind indicated in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any and, if so, what steps are being taken to establish representative government, with an official majority, in British East Africa; and will he see, before the representation is finally fixed, that some property or education franchise is granted to Indians, Arabs, and Natives?

The question of introducing some form of elective representation in British East Africa was receiving the consideration of my predecessor, but the outbreak of war made it necessary to postpone the matter, and I fear that it must now stand over until after the conclusion of hostilities. I will see that the suggestion made in the latter part of the question of my hon. Friend is considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the quantity of specially made lager-beer malt now in Great Britain; whether it is intended to grant licences permitting the export of the present stocks; and whether after those are exported no further licences will be granted?

On 1st July last the stocks of malt returned to the Board of Trade as specially prepared for lager beer amounted to 334,000 cwts., of which 272,000 cwts. were in the possession of firms with export contracts. The quantity of lager malt forming the subject of actual contracts for export was, however, returned as 251,000 cwts. Licences are being granted to export from present stocks to allied countries, mainly France and Italy. It is not intended to grant further licences.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any consignment of hops has recently reached London from an enemy source; whether these hops were confiscated and sold by leave of the Government to the very same firm to whom they were originally consigned; whether he can give the names of the consignor and original consignee, and of the firm who sold them on behalf of the Government; and whether the money received for the hops is held over till the end of the War for the benefit of the original consignor?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I presume that the hon. Member refers to a consignment of eighty bales of hops imported on 4th February last from Holland, which were seized by the Board of Customs and Excise on the instructions of the Foreign Trade Department as being of enemy origin and condemned. The Board inform me that they eventually sold the hops direct to the original consignee at a fair market price, and that the proceeds of the sale have been paid into the Exchequer. I need not say that the money will not be paid to the consignor either during or after the War, the goods having become forefit to the Crown. It is fair to add that the consignee believed that the hops were of Dutch origin.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many gallons of petrol were reported by enemy aliens in Great Britain as being in their possession at the recent census; whether any requests were made by Germans, or by other persons for the use of Germans, of any allotment of petrol; what grants were made; and what steps, if any, is he taking to prevent the use of petrol by motor and taxi-cab drivers in providing rides to enemy aliens in this country?

I am afraid that it is scarcely practicable to give the information asked for in the first three parts of my hon. Friend's question. The imposition of restrictions in the use of motors and taxi-cabs by enemy aliens is a matter for the Home Office to consider, but I may perhaps point out that an enemy alien may not travel more than five miles from his registered place of residence without a permit from the registration officer?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will state the names of the enemy holders of shares in Holzapfels, Limited, the sale of whose shares is being considered by the Board of Trade; how many of the shareholders in Holzapfels, Limited, are only British by naturalisation; what proportion of the shares in that company is held by persons of German birth; and (2) whether Holzapfels are trading as a firm whose capital is all British-owned; and, if so, whether that is strictly in accordance with the facts?

I shall be glad to show the hon. Gentleman a list of the shareholders in Holzapfels, Limited, who are enemies or enemy subjects, and who together hold less than 4 per cent, of the capital of the company. With regard to the other points raised, I would refer him to the answer to his question of the 19th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Mulcuto Company, carrying on business at 31, High Holborn, has works at Solingen, in Prussia, and that their goods are, or were before the War, stamped as being made in Germany; if he will say what proportion of the share capital is held by enemy aliens; and, in view of the fact that the company has recently been extensively advertising its goods for sale in this country, whether any steps are being taken to wind up the company or to deal with the enemy - held shares therein?

I understand that the sole proprietor of the business referred to is a British subject. I have no information as to the alleged ownership of works at Solingen, but, in view of my hon. Friend's question, I am causing inquiry to be made under the provisions of the Trading With the Enemy Acts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the latest period for which the Board of Trade can obtain returns as to the earnings of colliers in the South Wales steam coalfields; what is the average amount earned by colliers during that period per week and per day, and the average number of hours worked by such colliers during such period per week and per day; and have such colliers' wages risen or fallen since the end of such period?

The Board of Trade do not receive returns of the actual earnings and hours of labour of coal miners. Information as to changes in the standard rates of wages is regularly received, however, and is published in the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette." The latest change affecting coal miners in South Wales and Monmouthshire was an increase of 15 per cent, on the basis rates, taking effect from 1st June. This change raised the rates of wages to 40.83 per cent, above the standard rates of 1915

asked the Postmaster-General whether the increases in postage rates instituted since the commencement of the War have caused any reduction, and, if so, what reduction, in the volume of letters passing through the post?

No returns of letters posted have been taken since the outbreak of the War, owing to the pressure on the Post Office staff. Even if returns were available it would be very difficult in the existing abnormal circumstances to decide to what extent any reduction in the number of letters posted should be attributed to the change in the rate of postage, which affected only letters over 1 oz. in weight, rather than to the other conditions arising from the War which tend to reduce the number of letters.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken in the case of Mr. Boshell, a British subject, whose property was confiscated twelve years ago by the Republic of Colombia; if there is any likelihood of the matter being brought to a settlement; if he is aware that the Colombian Government offered to pay Mr. Boshell £30,000 in settlement of his claim some years since; and whether the British Minister at Bogota will be forthwith instructed to make energetic representations to secure a settlement without further delay?

The latest instructions sent to Mr. Wyndham. His Majesty's Minister at Bogota, regarding this matter were dated 16th February, 1916. Mr. Boshell has since been in consultation personally with Mr. Wyndham, who is employing his best efforts to facilitate a settlement. The correspondence regarding an offer of £30,000 leaves the question open to some doubt.? It does not appear necessary to supplement the instructions on which Mr. Wyndham is; now acting.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the- Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have asked the Treasury to agree to increase the number of vacancies in the first section of first-grade teachers, in order that promotion may be awarded to those teacherB who have earned it; and whether it is intended to concede this request without further delay, and in accordance with the understanding arrived at when the standard numbers were fixed between the Treasury and the National Board?

No recommendation in the sense mentioned has reached the Treasury, and in any event it could not be favourably entertained at the present juncture.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Board of Intermediate Education has received any communications from representative bodies of Irish "head-masters and teachers, protesting against the handicapping of science as a subject in secondary schools and against the injury involved for the methods of teaching that subject by introducing now a written examination as an additional obligatory test for a pass; whether he is aware that this will disturb the present system of inspection by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, which is declared to be working smoothly in the schools and to have effected great and remarkable improvement; whether protests have further been made to the Board against making such changes without notice and without consultation by the representatives of intermediate schools; and whether the Irish Government will call upon the Intermediate Board to publish the terms of such protests as it may have received, in order that the country may understand what competent educational opinion in Ireland thinks of a step which one of these protests declares to be educationally a backward step, likely to lead to less efficient teaching, and involving expense which the schools cannot afford?

I am informed that protests in the matter referred to have been received by the Intermediate Education Board from the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, the Board of Technical Instruction, the Schoolmasters' Association, the Education Committee of the Christian Brothers and the Science Teachers' Committee. There is no reason to suppose that the introduction of written examination will disturb the present system of inspection. The proposal of the hon. Member as to the publication of the terms of protests has been communicated to the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, by a resolution published in the Regulations of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for 1901–2 as regards experimental science in secondary schools, the Intermediate Education Board deliberately abandoned a written examination in experimental science and bound itself not to hold an examination in the subject until a year's notice had been given by the Board; whether a year's notice was given by the Board before they introduced a written examination, as a condition for a pass in this subject, into the rules for the school year commencing next month; if so, to whom was the notice given; and, if such notice has not been given, whether the change in the rules will be held to be valid?

I have seen the resolution referred to. Notice of the introduction by the Intermediate Education Board of a written examination in experimental science for the examinations of June, 1917, is given in the rules and programme of the Board for 1917 ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 6th April, 1916.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, as agriculture is the greatest industry in Ireland, what steps the Labour Exchanges in that country have taken to organise such labour, as the general impression in Ireland is that no real steps have been taken and that the Labour Exchanges in that respect are a complete failure?

The Labour Exchanges which have been established in Ireland are prepared to deal with agricultural employment, as well as with other industries. No special steps have, however, been taken in connection with agriculture, as the Department has not hitherto been satisfied that the farmers and agricultural workers would avail themselves to a sufficient extent of any special facilities which might be provided. I should be glad, however, to consider any evidence as to the desirability of taking special steps in this connection.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what steps his Department has taken to organise agricultural labour in Ireland in association with the Labour Exchanges there; and, if no such action was taken, why, seeing the importance of such action to the Irish farmer, adequate steps were not taken?

The organisation of labour is a matter for the Board of Trade Labour Exchanges and not for the Department. So far the circumstances of the agricultural labour supply in Ireland have not been such as to call for special action by the Department. The Department I have, however, communicated with the I Labour Exchange authorities in any cases which came to their notice in which it appeared that the Exchanges could assist and the Department have also from time to time furnished such information as was required to enable the Exchanges j to deal with agricultural labour questions.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the numbers of, and the aggregate credit balances belonging to, those accounts in the Post Office Savings Bank that have not been operated upon during the last 40, 30, 20, and 10 years, respectively?

There are no figures available to enable to give a Return in the precise form asked for. The only accounts which can be regarded as dormant in the Savings Bank ledgers are those in which the balance is less than £1, and in which there has been no transaction for at least five years. During the fifty-three years to the 31st December, 1914, these accounts have totalled to 4,233,444, with an average balance of about 2s. each. These small amounts appear to have been left with the object of keeping the account open, and have been subsequently neglected. The number of dormant accounts with balances over £1is believed to be inappreciable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state the number of outbreaks of epizootic abortion in the county of Devon in each year since that county has been subject to a special Order dealing with the disease; whether the results of the operation of the Order in die opinion of the Board justify its retention: and, if so, whether they anticipate any development of their policy with regard to the treatment of this disease which will modify the position in the future?

The number of out-breaks of this disease in the county of Devon in the years 1912 (26th February to 31st December), 1913, 1914 and 1915, were 775, 1,039, 642, and 659 respectively. In reply to the second part of the question, it is true that the Order requires the isolation and detention of diseased animals and the cleansing and disinfection of diseased animals and the premises in which they have been kept, and, in so far, is doubtless of advantage, but the Board, as at present advised, are doubtful whether the cost of the administration of the Order to the local authority will be fully justified when the arrangements for the supply of vaccine for vaccination against the disease from the Board's laboratory to all applicants are completed. The Board hope that this will be at no very distant date, when they will inquire more fully into the working of the Devon Order, and advise the local authority as to the steps which they consider might best be taken then to deal with the disease in the county. A certain amount of vaccine is obtainable at the present time on application to the Board's ofiice, and there is no reason why Devon farmers should not avail themselves of it more than they do at present.