asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any communications on the foreign policy of Great Britain and France have passed between the permanent secretariat of the Foreign Office and the Political Committee of the Grand Orient of France in the last seven years; and, if so, what is the nature of the communications?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has got any report of the conduct of the military after they had killed the non-combatants in North King Street, Dublin, and buried them in yards and cellars, breaking into a public-house where drink had been refused to them, and drinking and taking away what they pleased; whether more than one of them died from alcoholic poisoning; and whether any guarantee of indemnity will be given to the publican if he gives public proof of these facts?

No, Sir, I have not any report in the sense of the first and second parts of this question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask for a report?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the names of all the non-combatant civilians, including women, killed by the military during the recent insurrection in Dublin and buried in Trinity College grounds; whether it was in those grounds they buried the boy Gerald Keogh, shot and bayoneted by them in Grafton Street and dragged into Cook's tourist office; and whether he will have that boy's coat examined and photographed, showing the nineteen wounds of which he died?

I am obtaining information, but in the meantime I must not be taken as accepting any of the statements made in the question as correct.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the information in the House when he receives it?

I will see what it is.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet obtained from the Dublin police or from Sir Patrick Dunn's Hospital the names of all the non-combatant civilians killed and wounded, respectively, on the drawbridge connecting Brunswick Street with Rings end by the soldiers firing from Haddington Road Catholic Church; if not, whether he will get the information; what was the purpose of the continuous fire on the bridge, where there were no combatants; . whether Mrs. Naylor, one of those shot dead, was mother and dependant of a soldier serving at the time in the British Expeditionary Force; whether information on the shooting of his mother has been allowed to reach him: and, if there are ether dependants, what provision has been made for them?

I have not the information on all the points of this question. As regards Mrs. Naylor, it appears from inquiries made that she was crossing. Victoria Bridge with her sister at 9 a.m. on the 29th April, and was shot and left for dead. A priest went to her and also thought that she was dead, and reported to that effect. At 3 p.m. the same day she was removed to St. Vincent's Hospital, where she became conscious. She was attended by the priest, but died the next day. The rebels had three positions within 20, 50, and 200 yards from the bridge, and the troops had a machine gun posted a mile away, which covered these positions and the bridge. The rebels in this district were the last to surrender.

asked the Secretary of State for War the text of the written message sent by the late Patrick H. Pearse before his surrender on 29th April last to the Commander of the British Forces in Dublin, and the text of the reply?

No written message was sent to headquarters by the late P. H. Pearse on the 29th April, 1916. He sent word through a Red Cross nurse that he was prepared to surrender, and a verbal reply was sent, as a consequence of which a meeting was arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any of the officers or soldiers concerned in the incidents connected with the murder of Mr. Sheehy Skeffington, Mr. Dickson, and Mr. M'Intyre would have been liable to punishment under the Army Act if they had refused to carry into effect any of the orders given to them by Captain Bowen-Colthurst in relation to those murders?

Without knowing the particular incident to which the hon. Member refers, it is difficult to furnish him with the information he desires. An officer or soldier, however, is only liable to punishment under the Army Act for refusing to obey a lawful command, and for a definition as to what is a lawful command I would refer the hon. Member to note 6 to Section 9 of the Army Act in the Manual of Military Law, 1914.

Will the hon. Gentleman inform the House why the soldiers or officers, as the case may be, who murdered these three unarmed civilians have not been put on trial under the ordinary law?

The hon. Member must give notice of that question; it is fresh matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has read the admission of the Law Officers in Ireland that no civil authority had been consulted by the military in Ireland last May on the legality of trying persons not subject to military law by field general courts-martial held in camera in capital cases until Courts had been, for the first time, so held, and some persons not subject to military law executed and other such persons sent to penal servitude in pursuance of their sentences, and that the Law Officers then informed the military authority that the responsibility for their procedure rested with the courts-martial, having regard to the facts that, without the fiat of any civil Court, judge, or Law Officer, persons not subject to military law have been executed and other such persons sent to penal servitude under this new procedure not warranted by any law, but only by a regulation which has never been judicially reviewed, and that its victims are now, powerless to have it so reviewed; whether he can cite the authority of any competent civil Court for assuming the existence in field general courts-martial of a power to try in capital cases in camera persons not subject to military law, or for assuming that a field general courts-martial has, without statutory authority, inherent power to exclude the public from such trials; in the absence of both law and authority of any competent civil Court for the procedure in question, whether he will take immediate steps to obtain a decision of a competent civil Court on the legality or illegality of trying civilians in capital cases by field general courts-martial held in camera, in order that Parliament may deal with the matter without delay; and when the Government intend to introduce a Bill to indemnify those responsible for the procedure in question in Ireland last May?

I circulated an answer to this question with the OFFICIAL REPORT of Thursday last.

The question to which the answer refers me is substantially different from this. The first clause of this question has never appeared on the Paper before, and I now ask the Prime Minister if he will be good enough to answer it?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer I have circulated.

If this case arose in England, involving, as it does, fifteen murders and 130 cases of penal servitude by illegal courts-martial, would the right hon. Gentleman dare to evade it?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now direct that the proceedings of the Irish courts-martial shall be published?

Yes, Sir, I will arrange for this to be done.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been directed to the fact that on the 11th May, 1916, he informed the House of Commons that Thomas Kent had been most properly executed at Fermoy for murder; whether he is aware that since that date at the hearing of a case before the Assize Court in Cork, a certificate of the finding of the court-martial was produced, and that it was a certificate that he was convicted of high treason; and whether any explanation is now forthcoming as to how it happened that this House and the public were misinformed and misled?

I do not think the point raised by my hon. Friend is one of substance. As I stated in answer to a question on the 4th July, Kent was executed for taking part in an armed rebellion. The murder of Constable Rowe was one of the acts of rebellion proved against Kent, and my statement of 11th May does not conflict with this fact.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the act of rebellion consisted in protecting his mother from soldiers firing at her?

Did not the police go to the home at 2 o'clock in the morning, although the same police had met him at a fair in the neighbourhood the same day, were they not armed and without a war want or any lawful authority, is it not the case that at the court-martial there was no evidence whatever of Kent having fired a shot, and that no such charge was made against him?

I cannot answer that question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the increasing number of German prisoners of war now in Great Britain, he will consider the advisability of their immediate em- ployment upon canal construction, land reclamation, and other work of national importance and urgency?

A Committee is now sitting to inquire into the question of utilising prisoners of war labour on works of national importance and other works of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that numbers of men over thirty years of age, married and with large families, who are only passed as fit for Home duties, are being called up; whether it is intended that they shall take the place of the first-and second-line units of Yeomanry and Territorials who are still retained for garrison duties at Home and release these latter for general service, either as units or in drafts; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of postponing the calling up of these category C men with a view to their releasing for general service unmarried men under thirty now badged or in reserved occupations?

Men in category C 1 are being called up to replace category A men in Home service units. Men of categories C 2 and C 3 are not being called up, but are being used to replace category A men now badged or in reserved occupations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all men in category C 1 are likely to be required; if so, whether they are likely to be required immediately; and whether this also applies to men in categories C 2 and C 3?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards categories C 2 and C 3, the position is that in the majority of cases the men classified are not likely to be required.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that men who are classified in categories C 2 and C 3 are being returned to civil life with an intimation that they will be called up when required, and that those of them engaged in business are rendered, by this uncertainty, incapable of entering into any contract, not knowing when they may be called up; and in these circumstances can he give these men some kind of undertaking that they will not be called up, say, before a certain date or within a certain number of months?

I am afraid we cannot guarantee that none of these men, or that no individual man, will be called up. It is quite obvious that if we want a man who is accustomed to clerical work we might require his services, but, speaking of them as a class, we do not expect that they will be called up.

In order to meet the difficulty, which is a very real and pressing one, could not the hon. Gentleman select a certain number of men and say that they will be called up first and so give some guarantee to the others?

We will have that point considered. We do not desire to inflict unnecessary hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether inspections of factories, with a view to ascertaining the number of men of military age that in each case should be called up for military service, are usually made by a recruiting or other military officer who has no special knowledge of the mechanical skill or experience required of any of the employes; and whether he could arrange that on such occasions the officer should be accompanied by some independent person who has a technical knowledge of the work carried on at the factory visited?

The hon. and gallant Member will be aware that employers are required to post lists of all male employés between the ages of eighteen and forty-one in a conspicuous place on the premises in or about, which such persons are employed. From these lists the recruiting officers and others who are authorised by the Army Council to inspect such lists can see what the maximum number of men available for military service is, irrespectively of the needs of the factory. With regard to this latter point, the recruiting officer on making his visit would go equipped with special information supplied to him by the Advisory Committee, and would consequently be in a position to form an independent opinion on any points placed before him by officials of the factory.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a conference in the Isle of Wight on the proposed manpower distribution and substitution, and to the statement of Colonel C. H. Lewis that they were placing less fit men in Class W and returning them to employers, and that if there was any hanky-panky action on the workman's part the military retained the power to tell him to come back to military service and to give the employers another man; and if this represents the policy of the War Office?

No Sir; my attention has not hitherto been drawn to any statement by Colonel C. H. Lewis. Men passed to the Reserve on condition of engaging in a particular class of occupation will be in a position exactly similar to that of men holding conditional exemption on the ground of employment in a certified occupation, and the question of a man remaining in the employment of a specified employer will not arise.

Do I understand from the answer that if a workman so returned desires to change his employer he will be free to do so? I will put it in this way: If a workman who has been so returned is discharged by one employer will he be free to seek employment with another employer?

I think so, but perhaps my hon. Friend will give me notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for War, the object and purpose of the proposed card catalogue in the premises of the National Liberal Club; whether it is proposed to use the cards for the purpose of supplying labour after the War to employers in the various towns, and, if so, under what arrangements for safeguarding the standard rates of wages; whether this is to be in substitution for the former proposal that each man's form should be sent a month before his discharge, to the town to which he elects to proceed; and whether it is proposed to have any joint committee of employers and employed to supervise the use of the card catalogue as conceded in the Advisory Committee of the Labour Exchanges?

The card index of men is a portion of the machinery which the War Office employs in maintaining information and control with regard to the men now in the Army and to those who may become available for service in the Army. It exists solely for military purposes and it is not proposed to use the cards in any way whatever which would conflict with any of the former proposals with regard to the distribution of forms for the men.

Can my right hon. Friend say how much it has cost the War Office to take over the National Liberal Club?

I think my hon. Friend had better address that question to the Office of Works.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will explain why the military authorities are so active in rounding up young Irishmen who lived in England for a short time, but who went back to Ireland previous to the passage of Conscription, and at the same time close their eyes to the fact that thousands of young Englishmen of military age are living in Dublin and throughout Ireland without any question being put to them; is he aware that numbers of young Englishmen of military age can be seen daily at Irish race meetings, some of them in company with officers of high rank in Ireland; and whether he will see that, if young Irishmen are being harassed and persecuted, the same rule will be put in force against others, no matter in what capacity they work in Ireland and no matter to what profession they belong?

Under the Military Service Acts liability to service depends upon the question whether the individual has been ordinarily resident in Great Britain on or after a certain date, and, so long as the individual is a British subject, is wholly unconnected with the question of nationality or descent. If the hon. Member will furnish me with any information he may possess as to individuals believed to be liable under the Military Service Acts, but not summoned to the Colours, I will undertake that attention shall be paid to their cases wherever they may reside and in whatever capacity or profession they may be employed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether an attested man whose employment has ceased to be classed as a certified trade is entitled to two months interval before he is called up under the same conditions as apply to an unattested man who has been engaged in an occupation which has been removed from the list of certified occupations?

No, Sir, he is not entitled to such interval, but both the attested and unattested men have the right to apply for the renewal of exemption which ceases to be in force owing to the change of a certified occupation list.

Is not a man whose leaving certificate has been withdrawn and who had been previously working for a controlled establishment entitled to the two months' interval before he is called up?

I am not quite sure that I grasp the point; perhaps the hon. Member will give me notice.

If he is still on the certified list, is he entitled to exemption?

It is the occupation which is on the certified list.

If he is in one of the certified occupations, is he entitled to exemption?

This does not really come within my province, as the House knows, and I am very reluctant to give answers which might lead to misunderstanding. Perhaps the hon. Member will give me notice of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all Group 46 are to be called up in November; whether therefore attested men are in a less favourable position than unattested men; and whether, in view of the promise of the Prime Minister, he will explain why this course has been adopted?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which has just been given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to Question No. 35.

Do I understand that henceforth, from this moment, attested and unattested men are in the same position?

I am afraid I cannot add anything to the very lucid answer which my right hon. Friend gave.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many millions of men of military age have been exempted in Great Britain from the operation of the Military iService Acts?

I gave some general information in a speech I made in this House on 12th October. The exact number of exemptions in force varies, of course, from day to day, and it is not desirable to add anything to the general statement just referred to at present. It may be necessary to do so later on.

May I ask whether it would be possible to give a Return to this House of the men of military age who are serving in the various Departments, showing their number and age?

There has been such a Return. Could it be brought up to date?

That is what I was going to say to my right hon. Friend. To the best of my memory, there was such a Return. Since then I rather think a good many men have been released to join the Army; but it might be desirable to bring the Return up to date. I certainly remember going through the list at the War Office. I believe there are other Departments doing the same thing.

Can the Return include all those men included in the figure of 3,600,000 that the right hon. Gentleman gave us the other day?

I was not aware that I had given a figure.

My right hon. Friend was comparing the figures with the French figures of 560,000.

No; at any rate my right hon. Friend wants to know whether there are in the numbers those who, for one reason or the other, have been exempted. I should not like to say, but I think it is very likely that they are in the number exempted.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men who offered themselves for enlistment in the Army in Ireland since mobilisation were not accepted on medical or other grounds?

I cannot yet say whether this information is obtainable.

Is it not the fact that this is a recruiting award for these rejected men in Ireland?

Did not the right, hon. Gentleman promise to give the figure this week, in view of the fact that he gave the figure of 50,000 in debate

Yes; I gave the figure, but I instantly corrected it on discovery. I am trying to find out what exactly is the actual figure. I find it extremely difficult to get accurate figures in connection with Ireland.

Will the right hon. Gentleman try to obtain these figures?

Yes; I will. I promised my hon. Friend, and we are doing our best to get the figures, but it is very difficult.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether three conscientious objectors have been confined for the last three months in a dungeon at Fort Horsted, in Chatham?

If my hon. Friend wishes inquiry made, I must ask bim to furnish me with with the regimental number and unit of the soldiers concerned. In the meantime I must not be taken as accepting the truth of the general allegation made in this question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the Burwarton district, near Bridgnorth, Shropshire, several men passed as fit for foreign service, although refused exemption by the tribunals, have, just before being called up for service, applied to and been taken on by the Home-grown Timber Committee, a Government Department, and been given badges; and whether, as these men are now employed as unskilled labourers, he could have them taken for the Army and men of Class C or discharged soldiers put in their place?

I am not sure that my hon. and gallant Friend should not have addressed this question to the representative of the Ministry of Munitions, as men who are badged for the Home-grown Timber Committee are badged by the Ministry of Munitions on the application of that Committee. The issue of badges is, therefore, as he will see, not under the control of the War Office. I understand, however, that under orders recently issued by the Man Power Distribution Board men who have been refused exemption by a tribunal cannot in future be badged.

Will these particular men be unbadged?

The hon. Member must ask the Ministry of Munitions.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the purport of the protection certificate issuable by recruiting officers to men classified under Category C, and under what circumstances is it issuable?

These certificates are granted, upon request and upon production of proof of identity, to men who, after examination by a medical board, are certified to be in a category which is not being called up for srevice and are relegated to the Reserve. The certificates are cancelled by the sending of a calling-up notice by the recruiting officer.

What is the purport of this certificate; what effect does it have; what is the meaning of it?

I am afraid I must throw myself on my hon. Friend's indulgence.

If I put the question down again, shall I get an answer? That is the question which is asked—what is the purport of it?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that No. 189990, Sapper W. Booth-royd, Railway Corps, Royal Engineers, along with many other railwaymen, enlisted under the conditions that the rate of pay should be for the first twenty-eight days 1s. 8d. a day, then 2s. 2d. a day, rising after sixty days to 3s. 2d.; that those men have recently been advised that they are to be rated at 1s. 8d. a day and have had deducted from their pay the amount previously paid above this rate, notwithstanding the terms of their enlistment; and whether he will have inquiries made into this question and arrange for the men to be paid the rate promised to them when they were recruited from the railway service?

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the number of the men of military age employed in the offices of the Surveyors of Taxes in the Metropolitan area who have been granted, on the grounds of indispensability, certificates of exemption from military service; whether the list of exemptions contains a number of youths between the ages of nineteen and twenty; and (2) how many men of military age employed in the office of the Surveyor of Taxes at Carlisle have, on the grounds of indispensability, been exempted from military service; and whether among the number one is a youth not exceeding nineteen years of age?

The number asked for in the first part of Question 91 is 427. Of this number 141 are between the ages of eighteen and twenty. The number of men of military age employed in the offices of the two Carlisle districts is seven. Of these three are between the ages of nineteen and twenty. I may remind the hon. Member that the question of the extent to which it may be possible for Government Departments to release further men for military service is under the consideration of the Man-Power Distribution Board, of which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India is chairman.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that the instruction issued by the Army Council, under the date of 12th October, for the calling up of men who voluntarily attested and who have since attained the age of forty-one years places such men at a serious disadvantage as compared with unattested men; and whether, in view of the authoritative statements which were made that men who voluntarily attested were not to be put to a disadvantage he will make arrangements for the instruction in question to be withdrawn?

The Army Council intends so to administer the calling up of the men of forty-one that the attested men will not be at a disadvantage in relation to the unattested men of the same ages. Instructions to give effect to this intention will be issued immediately.

Am I to understand that the Army Order is to be treated as withdrawn?

No, no! The hon. Gentleman is not to understand anything except what I actually told him. There will be no disadvantage as between them and the others.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I had two definite and explicit promises from the War Office; one on 17th May and the other on 7th March, saying that men who reached the age of forty-one, whether attested or unattested, would not be called up, but would be passed into the Reserve. Does that stand?

Yes, it does.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in spite of his statement, now, this week, they are calling men up who are past forty-one? Are we to understand that his answer is to be taken as cancelling these instructions?

No; it simply means that there will be equalisation of conditions in both cases.

How?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that yesterday and the day before men of forty-one have been called up? Does that Order stand?

No. I will give the exact Order to the House in the course of a day or two, but you have undoubtedly to redress the position. Cancellation of the Order would mean the loss of an enormous number of men whom we cannot afford to lose. We propose, therefore, to go up to the legal limit so far as the unattested men are concerned, and to equalise the conditions so far as the unattested men are concerned.

Notwithstanding the answer you have just given to the Member for Blackburn?

There is no inconsistency.

Oh, yes!

No, I have here simply stated that it was proposed to equalise. The only pledge that has ever been given is that attested men would be in the same position as unattested men.

No, no!

I am not aware of any other pledge. My attention has not been drawn to any other. It is proposed to carry out the pledge by means of equalisation.

As this is a matter of such urgent importance, might I ask for a clear answer to this question: If a man who has turned forty-one receives a notice calling him up has he to respond to it or not, seeing that the two replies I got from the War Office to which I have referred stated explicitly that he would not be called up?

I do not know the answers to which my hon. Friend refers.

They were given by Tennant.

The only pledge that I am aware of is that attested or unattested men should be on exactly the same footing.

No, no!

That we propose to carry out. If we went beyond that it would be a very serious blow to the Army.

Raise the age limit.

We do not propose to raise the age limit, but to go right up to the legal limit imposed by the Military Service Act. If the House insists upon anything else they will be deliberately depriving the British Army, at a time when it stands in serious need of men, of a very large force. That is a very serious responsibility for the House to take.

In view of the unsatisfactory replies of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give notice that I shall ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House in order to discuss the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has taken any means to ascertain the number of men of military age who, in the first year of hostilities, escaped the National Registration Act by leaving Great Britain for Ireland, France, and the United States of America and are now resident particularly in Paris, Monte Carlo, and California in the two latter countries; whether it is intended to allow these men to shirk service without making any effort in the matter; and is he aware of the feeling caused to our French Allies by this slackness of our War Office?

It is not possible to give any estimate which would satisfactorily answer the first part of this question. The hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that every possible effort will be made to obtain the men in question for military service, and that any consultation with the French Government which may be necessary in regard to this matter will take place.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, owing to representations made to his predecessor about this time last year as to the friendless and forlorn condition of our soldiers and sailors arriving from or going to the front, it was decided to provide suitable accommodation for them under the control of the War Office and the Young Men's Christian Association; and if, in view of the fact that there is now practically no suitable place in the neighbourhood of Victoria Station, he will make inquiry if any suitable site or building can be obtained?

A considerable amount of accommodation is already available for any soldiers who are on leave in London, and this is being continually increased. At the present time it is in contemplation to provide further accommodation in the neighbourhood of Victoria Station.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the possibility when danger from a Zeppelin raid in London has passed of reassuring invalids and parents, of young families by sounding a hooter or in some other obvious way?

I cannot say more than that this proposal is about to be considered by the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief Home Forces in conjunction with the Home Office.

Might I ask whether, in, view of the enormous amount of inconvenience that is caused by rumours on. nights when Zeppelins are expected, information might not be withheld from responsible people asking for it from, officials?

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

Whether information regarding known raids might be withheld from any responsible person who asks a. special constable or police official?

asked the Secretary of State for War during what hours the office of the Military Press Censor in Ireland is opened, and how many hours a week the head of that Department is supposed to look after his duties; what particular officer does duty in the absence of Lord Decies; how many days since the rebellion of Easter week the latter person has been absent from all public duties; and why it has been possible for him to be so absent?

The office of the Press Censor in Dublin is open night and day for the convenience of the Press, but the Press Censor is, of course, not required to be present continuously. If he is away a competent assistant is always present.

Has he to get leave before he goes from Dublin?

I do not know; perhaps the hon. Gentleman will give me notice of the question.

asked the Secretary for War what steps are being taken by the Government to regulate and co-ordinate the dispatch of food and comforts to British prisoners of war in belligerent countries other than Germany?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Croydon on the 17th October. Since then a very full and detailed statement has been published in the Press, and to this there is at present nothing to add.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the answer given to me referred entirely to Germany; the question on the Paper relates to other countries; would he clear that up?

That is why I asked the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that no dispatch has been published since the Army landed at Salonika; and when a dispatch may be expected?

I do not think my hon. and gallant Friend's statement is quite correct. He will find in Sir Charles Munro's dispatch, published in the "London Gazette" on the 10th April, a lengthy reference to the Salonika Army, and in Sir Archibald Murray's dispatch, published in the "London Gazette" on the 25th September, the story was brought down to a more recent date. A dispatch will, no doubt, be received before very long from Lieut.-General Milne, but I cannot state the date he will send it off nor the date when it is likely to be published.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the increased cost of living is pressing very hardly on married captains and subalterns appointed for the period of the War, and especially on those promoted from the ranks; and whether he is considering the practicability of granting some allowance to these officers in order that they may be able to support their families in reasonable comfort, and also to meet their necessary expenses as officers?

The cases of officers holding temporary commissions can be dealt with by the Civil Liabilities Committee. I am considering whether any analogous arrangements can be made for officers of the Regular Army.

Does not the Civil Scheme only cover the cases of those concerned before they joined the Army and not to the case of those where expenses have been incurred owing to the increased cost of living?

I think they have the power to deal with cases of officers who have joined the Army with temporary commissions since the War began, but have no power, I understand, to deal with cases of officers of the old Regular Army. I am seeing whether I cannot work out some scheme which will give the Regular officers the same advantages as the officers with temporary commissions.

Will the scheme also include the Reservists who at the present time are excluded?

I will take that into consideration.

Can the same considerations be made to apply to the ordinary soldier?

Would it not be possible to raise the pay of the subaltern instead of his having to go before this Commission to plead for a further allowance?

I do not think that arises.

asked the Secretary of State for War if soldiers are not allowed to hold the Russian war decoration and the French cross of war at the same time; if Bombardier Jennings, 51st Battery, Royal Field Artillery, who had been awarded both decorations for two different acts of gallantry, has been ordered to return the Russian decoration; and, if so, where is the order for the same to be found?

Orders are in force that an individual soldier is not to receive more than one foreign decoration. This rule has been adopted in order to ensure an equitable distribution of such decorations. In the case mentioned in the question the second decoration was inadvertently given. Orders have, however, been issued that as a special case both decorations may be retained by the soldier in question.

Does that apply to officers?

Would the order granting the decoration to soldiers also apply to officers?

I would not like to answer without notice.

Was not the old rule laid down in time of peace, and is it not now possible to have separate awards for separate acts of gallantry?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the workers are disturbed at the practice of allowing soldiers to be employed under military discipline on public work or civilian work of any kind, and, moreover, that the soldiers themselves resent it; and whether he will consider the practicability of allowing the temporary release with full civilian rights to any soldier whilst employed on civilian work?

It is hoped shortly to be able to arrange for soldiers now employed as military working parties on civil work, who are not for the time being required in the Army, to be passed to the Reserve. There will then be only a limited number who cannot be passed to the Reserve who will still be available to meet demands of a temporary nature where civilian labour is unobtainable. These men must retain their military status, as the civil employment forms only an incident in their service.

Are these men who are engaged in civil employment under military discipline?

Yes; when they are working under military officers they are under military discipline.

If a man is released from the Army and not passed into the Reserve, but released to engage in some kind of civil employment, is he under military discipline?

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangement has been made for the distribution of badges to those entitled to them on account of having been discharged from the Army owing to wounds or physical disabilities contracted during the present War?

Silver War badges are issued to approved applicants, in the case of officers, nurses and civilians, direct from the Deputy-Director of Ordnance Stores, Woolwich Dockyard; in the case of warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men, through the officers in charge of records of the units with which they served. Instructions on the subject were published in the Press on 16th September, 1916, together with a notification that a pamphlet containing full information as to whom individuals should apply, could be obtained from any post office. Supplies of these pamphlets have been distributed to the post offices throughout the United Kingdom.

Could not my right hon. Friend see that soldiers, when they are discharged, are notified where and when they can receive their badges?

I will consider that.

Why are soldiers who are discharged for disabilities due to disease not entitled to the silver badge?

asked the Secretary of State for War why it is that if a wounded flying officer succeeds in bringing himself and his aeroplane back into the British lines, and thus saves himself from being taken prisoner and his machine from being captured by the enemy, he is deprived of flying pay after a short time in hospital, whilst a flying officer, whether wounded or not, coming down within the enemy lines or in a neutral country is given flying pay till the end of the War?

Flying pay, like other forms of special corps pay, is continued to officers who suffer the crowning misfortune of being imprisoned or interned. In other cases, special consideration is given to cases of injury due to flying, but the orders on this subject were found to have been overlooked in some cases, owing to the rapid growth of the corps. Action to correct this, including review of past errors, was taken in September last.

Would the hon. Gentleman state whether or not the flying pay of an injured officer who succeeds in getting back wounded with his machine ceases when he comes out of hospital unfit or continues?

It continues as long as the officer is on sick leave on full pay. As my hon. Friend is probably aware, the length of sick leave on full pay differs in differing circumstances. It rests largely, I think, with the commanding officer to settle how long sick leave on full pay should continue. I think there was some misunderstanding as to how far commanding officers' power was properly exercised. Attention has been called to it, and I hope the matter is in order now.

Would the hon. Gentleman consider the fairness of allowing cases of officers who are so injured to receive their flying pay so long as they remain in the force for the duration of the War, and thus put them on the same basis as those taken prisoner?

I do not think we can make an exception in favour of flying officers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the German bayonet is six inches longer than the British bayonet, thus placing our soldiers very often at a disadvantage; that it is admitted that the German rifle is also superior to ours; that the German rifle can use British cartridges, while the British rifle will not take the German cartridge; and that the German cartridge clip is neater and handier than ours; and whether he will take steps to remedy these defects in the interests of our soldiers?

The point raised in the first part of the question was dealt with in the answer given on the 19th May, 1915, by the present Secretary for Scotland to the hon. Member for the West Toxteth Division of Liverpool. It is not admitted that the German rifle is superior to the British, nor that the British cartridge can be used in the German Mauser rifle. The Army Council do not propose to alter the designs of the rifles now being produced and issued to the troops.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the growing discontent of young subalterns at the front who, after leading men in charges and trench fighting, find there is no chance of promotion on account of the fact that other officers already made captains are sent out and placed in command over them, although these captains have had no experience at the front; and whether he will take steps to secure that these lieutenants fighting at the front are given the preferential consideration for promotion they deserve?

The Army Council have no information of any discontent such as is alleged in the question. It may occasionally occur that an officer of captain's rank is sent out who has not had previous experience of this War, but most officers of captain's and higher rank have already been employed at the front.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the scale of dietary given to soldiers in the field and what the floor and cubic space per man in the military huts?

The scale of diet varies in different theatres of war. There are, in point of fact, scales in force for France, Egypt, Salonika, Mesopotamia, and East Africa respectively. It would be quite impossible to give an accurate idea of these scales within the limits of an answer to a question. I will, however, with my hon. Friend's permission, send him a copy of each of the scales of rations. In military huts and barracks 400 cubic feet and 40 square feet of floor space are the normal amounts for each man.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why separation allowance is not issued for imbecile dependants above twenty-one if they have been kept at home and still are?

Some limitation of the payments made by the War Office in such cases has always been considered necessary, and this was a feature of the scheme approved by Government and accepted by this House. If it operates harshly in particular cases, appeal lies to the Statutory Committee.

Supposing a soldier had imbecile dependants over twenty-one dependent upon him, would the War Office pay a separation allowance?

In that case dependence would be established.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why men entitled to Service pension have it merged in disablement pension?

So far as the War Office is concerned, the reason is that the Select Committee on War Pensions recommended, and this House approved, a scheme of which this is a feature. It does not fall to me to expound the reasons of these decisions.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Select Committee drew up a scheme of separation and disability pensions, that as a matter of practice a soldier who is earning a Service pension does not get that pension when he gets his disability pension, but the two are roped into the same payment, and does the right hon. Gentleman think that fair?

It depends which is the higher of the two. The hon. Member must really accept that from me. He gets whichever is the higher of the two. The point whether he should draw both was put to the Select Committee, which decided against it.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that this House has never had an opportunity of discussing or approving the recommendations of the Committee?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can state the position in regard to separation allowances of wives living apart from their husbands owing to such causes as their desertion by their husbands; whether, where the husband made no payment under an order of Court or otherwise before mobilisation or enlistment, no issue of separation allowance is made by the War Office; whether the War Office require, as a condition precedent to the issue of allowance, that clear evidence must be forthcoming of reconciliation between husband and wife and that the soldier intends to re-establish his home with his wife and maintain her after his period of service; and whether he will state under what authority such a Regulation has been framed?

The Regulations are as stated. They proceed on the principle that separation allowance is intended to make good the loss due to separation caused by military service. They were framed under the authority of the Army Council.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if, under Army Orders issued in January this year, a reduction is made in the separation allowance paid to a dependent mother of a soldier if she. becomes the recipient of the soldier's separation allowance by transference in consequence of the death of a soldier's father to whom the soldier's dependants' separation allowance had previously been paid; and whether, having regard to the fact that a dependent mother is made poorer and not richer by the death of her husband, and also, having regard to the fact that the payment of dependants' separation allowance in such a case was based on the amount contributed by the soldier for the benefit of the home, and not on the number of members of the household, he will arrange to put a stop to this practice of saving odd shillings and half-crowns for the Treasury at the expense of bereaved relatives of soldiers?

Yes, Sir. The fact that the husband is in any ordinary sense of the word self-supporting does not prevent him from being reckoned as a dependant in assessing reparation allowance, and when he dies his share necessarily lapses.

asked the Prime Minister whether questions relating to pensions can now be addressed to the Paymaster-General?

No, Sir; I think the existing practice should be continued for the present.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will arrange free travélling facilities on the underground railways between the mainline railway termini in London for overseas soldiers travelling to their homes on leave and when travelling to rejoin their overseas battalions?

These facilities already exist.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been drawn to the loss of time suffered by soldiers from overseas on leave, arriving at Waterloo Station, in having to go to the Army Pay Office; and whether a branch office will be opened at or very close to that railway station?

Yes, Sir. Some little time has been occupied in the provision of accommodation, but the office was opened last week.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is proposed to concede to men in the Army Ordnance Department the war bonus recently granted to men in the Royal dockyards?

The question is under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that at Olympia, a much used and important depot under the Royal Army Clothing Factory, Pimlico, goods both coming inward and going outward are conveyed from a station on the railway some five miles distant by carts and motors, using a gallon of petrol to two miles run; whether he is also aware that three railway sidings abut on Olympia; and will he state why no use has been or is being made of these railway sidings for the transport of these goods?

I dealt with this matter in debate on Thursday last. The matter is being considered.

Do I understand that the War Office are trying to get the railway companies to give these railway facilities?

I will not go so far as to say they are doing that at the present moment. The whole question is being looked into.