asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Controller and Auditor-General has made any representations with reference to defective auditing and omission of auditing in Departments connected with the War; and, if so, whether he will make such representations available to this House?

The observations of the Controller and Auditor-General will be found in his published Reports on the Appropriation Accounts for 1914–15, to which I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been directed to the hardship to Russian subjects and others consequent on the arbitrary exercise by the Customs of the powers conferred on the Customs and Excise under Section 207 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876; and whether he will consider the dossier in the case of the Attorney-General v. Mnuchin with a view to the removal of just ground for dissatisfaction?

I find on inquiry that the case quoted by the hon. and learned Member relates to certain diamonds seized as having been imported without licence contrary to the Royal Proclamation of 28th July, 1915. The proceedings are not due to any arbitrary exercise of power by the Board of Customs and Excise, but to the action of the defendants themselves in making formal claim to the diamonds under Section 207 of the Customs Consolidation Act, thus leaving the Board no option but to take proceedings for condemnation. The Board inform me that they will be quite ready to consider the question of a compromise, if the defendants will, on their part, withdraw their claim, thus admitting a breach of the law and acquiescing in the seizure.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if any communications have passed between the officers of Customs and Excise in Ireland and the Gaelic Athletic Association with reference to the question of liability for Entertainments Duty; and if the Gaelic Athletic Association have withdrawn their refusal to pay duty in respect of their athletic meetings?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Association have raised the question of their liability with the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, and communications are still in progress, but no refusal on their part to pay the tax has been received.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the number of barristers who have been appointed to salaried positions in the Departments of the Procurator-General and the Treasury Solicitor since the commencement of the War, and how many of these are of military age and fit for some form of military service; if the barristers employed on salary are allowed to carry on their private practice; and if it is asserted by the responsible heads of these Departments that among the members of the Bar who axe above military age or unfit for military service there are none expert or experienced enough to undertake the work being done by young barristers and so release the latter for duty with the Colours?

In answer to the first part of the question, the number of barristers so appointed is twenty. As to the second part of the question, in addition to the seven mentioned in my answer of the 18th instant, there are four others fit for some limited form of service. The answer to the third part of the question is that private practice is not forbidden, but it is a condition that any private practice undertaken shall not interfere with Departmental work. As regards the fourth part, I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer of the 18th instant.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the amount that has been allotted to the wives and families of interned civilian prisoners from the commencement of the War to 30th September?

The allowances to distressed wives and families of interned alien enemies are only made in cases in which the wives are British-born or were by birth of Allied or neutral nationality. Up to the end of September the amount of these allowances was, approximately, £200,000 for England and Wales.

next asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the amount of the abatement made from the sum payable to each local authority in Ireland in the year ended 31st March, 1916, owing to insufficiency of income of the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account; the net amount in respect of land purchase liability deducted from or added to the sums payable to each county, county borough, and urban district council in Ireland as road authority on account of the Estate or Death Duty Grant in the year ended 31st March, 1916; and the net amount in respect of land purchase liability deducted from or added to the sum payable on behalf of each board of guardians in Ireland on account of the Estate or Death Duty Grant in the year ended 31st March, 19161

Owing to the necessity for economising staff and printing and in pursuance of Section 23 of the Local Government (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1916, this return for the year in question is not being prepared.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will explain why, notwithstanding repeated promises to the contrary, collections for the relief of sufferers by the Irish insurrection are prevented by the police in some places and not interfered with in other places; and whether he will have either one practice or the other followed uniformly henceforward?

There has been no police interference with the collection of funds for bonâ fide purposes of relief. Complaints in the matter have been received in two cases only, in which it was found the police had acted under a misapprehension.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will ascertain and state the fate o Miss Keogh, a school teacher, of Gorey, who was arrested in Dublin in the week of the insurrection as the Countess Marcievicz, brought into Trinity College grounds with the assistance of Provost Mahaffy, there again charged with being the Countess Marcievicz, and has not since been seen by her friends; whether she was shot as Countess Marcievicz; if so, where her remains were buried; and, if not, where is she?

I am informed that the lady to whom the hon. Member appears to refer is pursuing her usual avocation near Gorey. For refusing to comply with the challenge of a soldier in the street in Dublin during the rebellion she was arrested and detained for some hours. So far as I can learn, there is no other foundation in fact for the statements in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the editor of the "East Mayo News," at present lying in Reading Gaol, has ever been brought to trial or ever had a charge served upon him; and whether the crime alleged against him is that of refusing to insert a recruiting advertisement?

If the hon. Member is referring to Patrick Joseph Doris, this man was interned under Regulation 14 B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, on the recommendation of a competent military authority, on the ground, which was communicated to him, that he is of hostile associations and is reasonably suspected of having favoured, promoted, or assisted an armed insurrection against His Majesty. He had full opportunity of stating his case to the Advisory Committee, who recommended his continued internment. I have no knowledge of his having refused to insert a recruiting advertisement.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware of the fact that the Midland and Great Western Railway Company of Ireland, in their reply of the 10th instant to an application for an increase of wages of 5s. per week from the United Kingdom Society of Coachmakers, stated that they were unable to assent to the increase unless they can obtain assistance from the Government; and whether he has replied to the questions raised at the interview in this connection on the 26th ultimo; and if so, has an assurance of support been given in the event of an increase being granted?

I have no knowledge of the communication referred to in the first part of the question, but have received from this company an application for Government assistance either by way of compensation for losses stated to have been sustained in consequence of the rebellion or otherwise. The claim in respect of losses is at present the subject of investigation.

asked the Chief Secretary by whose authority the seizure of postcard photographs of the Irish rebel leaders and Irish song books was made in Dublin last week; and if he will state if the newsagents whose stock was destroyed will be compensated?

By order of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief the police seized certain song books and coloured prints of Irish rebel leaders accompanied by seditious matter. Some postcard photographs which were seized in error in one division of the city are being returned.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will look into the question of the conditions imposed on Irish newspapers in regard to transmission abroad; and whether, in view of the conditions being exceptionally different in the case of provincial newspapers, he will take steps to put the whole matter on a more reasonable basis?

The Regulations regarding the transmission abroad of newspapers apply impartially to the whole of the United Kingdom, and affect, therefore, all provincial newspapers. There would not appear to be any reason why Irish provincial newspapers should be treated differently from other British provincial newspapers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the son of British parents horn in the Argentine Republic in 1899, and who was registered at the British Consulate at Bahia Blanca in 1907 but then came to England, where he has since resided, should attest under the Military Service Act, having regard to the fact that, if he returns to Argentina after he is twenty years of age, he will be treated as a military deserter?

The son of British parents who was born in the Argentine Republic in 1899 possesses British nationality by reason of his parentage. He may also possess Argentine nationality. The present practice with regard to such a man, if he establishes the fact that he does also possess a neutral nationality, is that he is not called up for military service in Great Britain under the Military Service Acts during his minority if he is unwilling to serve, and claims that he intends to make a declaration of alienage and so adopt exclusively the alien nationality. After reaching twenty-one such a man is required to serve unless within two months of attaining that age he submits a declaration of alienage to the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many different kinds of forms have been used since the 1st August, 1914, up to the present date for the discharge of men from the military forces of the United Kingdom; and whether the discharged soldiers' claims to pension and compensation will vary according to the wording of the different forms of discharge in use at the moment when the man was discharged from the Army?

Two forms only have been used since 1st August, 1914, one for Regular soldiers and one for Territorial Force soldiers. The wording of the form has no effect on the question of pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether complaint has been received from alien enemies interned at Alexandra Palace that their rest was disturbed by the tread of the guard on sentry duty at night; whether, to meet such complaints, a quantity of coconut matting, involving considerable expense, has been, or is about to be, supplied in order to more effectually secure the comfort of those interned; and whether such provision has been made at the expense of the State or subscribed for by the interned persons?

There are raised wooden platforms in the Central Hall at the Alexandra Palace. These are above the prisoners' heads, and the noise of the sentries on their beat was accentuated by the wooden platform and the nature of the building. The matting was, therefore, put down some twelve months ago.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the danger to which the inhabitants of Enfield and district are exposed in the case of a Zeppelin raid owing to the flashes from the electric tramways and also to the glare of steam reflecting from the fire-boxes of the engines on the Great Northern Railway; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

Special instructions are in force in regard to both the points mentioned, but it is not desirable that these should be made public. The hon. Member may, however, rest assured that all possible is being done.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he is now in a position to make his promised statement as to the scheme arrived at between the Ministry of Munitions and the War Office for replacing single men working on munitions by men unfit for general service; and, if not, will he state which Department is responsible for the delay in arranging for this matter to be proceeded with?

1. A scheme has been agreed upon by the Ministry of Munitions and the War Office for the release of unskilled men under the age of thirty who are fit for general service and now employed on munitions work. 2. The War Office, at the request of the Ministry of Munitions, and with the approval of the Labour Adviser to the Government, have undertaken that men coming under the following categories: ( a ) exempted from military service for the time being by local tribunals or recruiting officers conditionally on their undertaking work of national importance; ( b ) at present serving in the Army who are not fit for general service and who are surplus to the requirements of their unit; shall have laid before them an opportunity of voluntarily enrolling as Army Reserve Munition Workers. 1144 3. Such men on enrolling and signing an undertaking with the Minister of Munitions, and having been passed to Army Reserve "N," will be found occupations suitable to them and will act as substitutes for men released for general service. 4. The War Office, who appreciate the importance of the continued and increased output of munitions, have agreed that, concurrently with this substitution, a reinforcement of labour so necessary to the manufacture of munitions shall take place so far as possible from similar sources. 5. The local operation of the scheme will be carried out by the Employment Department of the Board of Trade through their Employment Exchanges. Employers can obtain from their local exchange full information as to the details of the scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any communications from the Secretary of State for War and the Minister of Munitions in regard to the scheme for replacing single men working on munitions: by men unfit for general service; and, if not, will he state if his Department is responsible for the delay in arranging for this matter to be proceeded with?

The Board of Trade have been in communication on this matter with the two Departments referred to. There has been no avoidable delay, but it h necessarily a difficult and complicated matter to adjust the detailed working of a satisfactory scheme for replacing on a large scale men fit for general service in munitions works and other employment throughout the country. A complete scheme for this purpose has, however, now been arranged, which it is anticipated will come into operation on Monday next.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to say how many Sinhalese were in prison untried on 11th August, 1915, when Mr. Harry Creasy, European member of the Legislative Council, urged the immediate enactment of the measure to bring to trial or release imprisoned citizens; how many of those have been tried in the special tribunal then created; why all have not been brought before that tribunal; and whether any of those untried prisoners are still in prison untried?

I have not yet received this information.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will state the amount of opium cultivated and prepared in India under Government monopoly for the use of British subjects in India and Burma in each of the last five years; whether he will state the number of shops licensed for the common sale of opium during the same period; and whether, in view of the prohibition of the exportation of the drug, he can give an assurance that, subject to any existing obligations affecting the Native States, the future supply of opium in India will be limited to medical purposes?

presented the following statement:— — 1910–11. 1911–12. 1912–13. 1913–14. 1914–15. Total quantity of Opium issued for consumption in British India* in seers 500,856 499,972 503,542 503,086 482,513 Total number of shops licensed for retail sale of Opium in British India (excluding licences to sell for medical purposes) 7,602 7,470 7,076 6,951 6,814 * Excluding Aden.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the case of Mr. F. E. Fry, of the Bombay Public Works Department, has been received from the Government of India; and, if so, when a settlement may be expected?

The memorial has not yet been received by the Secretary of State. The Government of India have been asked to expedite its transmission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, at the request of the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply, a well-known firm in the City of London recently made them a firm offer of 10,000 tons of best quality Dutch beetroot sugar; whether he is aware that the firm in question had previously asked for a licence to import this quantity of sugar on behalf of Messrs. Cadbury, Limited, and that the price at which they quoted the sugar was in the case of their offer to the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply and to Messrs. Cadbury exactly the same; and, if so, whether he will state why the offer was declined and a large amount of a very necessary commodity up to the present excluded from the United Kingdom?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The only offer of the kind indicated in the question which I have been able to trace was an offer of 10,000 tons of Dutch sugar made to the War Trade Department in September last by a gentleman unknown to the Sugar Commission, and writing from a private address in South-East London. The offer was not made at the Commission's request and was declined, because, amongst other reasons, the price asked was considerably in excess of that at which the Commission could have made purchases in other quarters had it considered it advisable to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has taken any steps to ensure that after the War manufacturers in the United Kingdom shall not be dependent, to the extent that they have been during recent years, upon foreign sources for the provision of designs and working drawings for applied ornament in textile and, other surface decorating industries?

Yes, Sir. The Board of Trade, in co-operation with the Board of Education, have organised exhibitions both of British industrial designs and of German and Austrian products typifying successful design for the information and guidance of British manufacturers. The great importance of the subject referred to in the question is fully recognised, and it is receiving the attention of both the Departments referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that, both before and during the War, a German firm or company is able to turn itself into a British firm or company by getting one of the German owners turned into a British subject and transferring to his name just over half the shares, and in this way escape from the jurisdiction of the Trading With the Enemy Act, he can see his way to have such alteration made at once in the Trading With the Enemy Act as will render impossible such action, and avoid this injustice to British firms and the British people?

As for a long time past no German has been able to become a British subject, no such proceedings as those indicated in my hon. Friend's question can take place.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the firm of Arthur Wilson Peck and Company, of Sheffield, whose manager was a brother of the London manager of Bechstein and Company, is still owned by Bechstein and Company and is still doing business in this country; and whether the firm of Hopkinson Brothers, of Leeds, is still owned by Bechstein and Company and is still doing business in this country?

As my hon. Friend was informed in July, the enemy shares in these two companies were vested in the Public Trustee, who has been endeavouring to find British purchasers for them. As he has not been able to effect a sale, I am consulting the Advisory Committee as to whether the businesses should now be wound up under Section 1 of the Trading With the Enemy Act, 1916.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the enemy-owned shares in Siemens Brothers have yet been sold by the Public Trustee; if so, to whom and for what price?

I am considering, in consultation with my expert advisers, the British firms or classes of firms to whom it is desirable, in the interests of the electrical industry of the country, that the shares of Siemens Brothers and Company, Limited, should be sold. I hope this will shortly be decided, and the Public Trustee will then be in a position to deal with the shares which have been vested in him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if Messrs. Siemens Brothers, a firm of alien and enemy origin trading in this country, was allowed during the month of April last by the Commission Internationale de Ravitaillement to export copper required for a specific purpose in Portugal; and, if so, will he say why the War Trade Department at the same time refused to allow a British firm to export the same copper for the same purpose to the same municipality in Portugal, despite the fact that the application of the British firm was supported by a certificate from a British Consul in Portugal?

( replying on behalf of the War Trade Department ): Upon the first part of this question I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 12th October by the President of the Board of Trade. The facts with regard to the second part are as follows: A British firm applied to the War Trade Department for a licence for the export to Oporto of three and a-half tons of hard-drawn copper wire. Objection to this export was taken by the Ministry of Munitions, and the issue of a licence was refused on 12th April. Nothing further was heard of the matter until 28th June, when the firm by letter requested an interview, which was granted, and a suggestion was made to them that they should renew their application. They did so on 20th July, when the matter was further considered, with the result that a licence was issued on 28th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any steps have been taken to give the Labour and Irish interests representation on the Wheat Commission?

The Wheat Commission is not in the nature of a Commission of Inquiry, nor is it a body with power to decide questions of policy. The members were appointed purely on grounds of expert business knowledge and in no sense on the basis of a representation of interests. It is not proposed to depart from this principle.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the position of a firm of brewers in the county of Kent under Section 2 of the Output of Beer (Restriction) Act, 1916, who, having previously brewed at two breweries, on 31st December, 1914, closed down one of those breweries, and who, having given notice to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise of their desire to exercise their option to take the year ended 30th September, 1914, and restrict their output under the Act to 30 per cent. below their barrelage of that year, have now been informed by the Commissioners that they will not be allowed to include the barrelage of the closed brewery; and, if so, whether he will say on what grounds the Commissioners base their ruling, which has the effect of depriving this firm of the relief given to other brewers by the Section?

I hope shortly to introduce an amending Bill, in which this matter will be dealt with.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, at a conference of Irish Chambers of Commerce, a resolution was passed requesting the Board of Trade to prepare a statement showing the capacity for supplies both from agricultural and manufacturing industries in Ireland and the local consumption, so that the probable contribution from Ireland to the necessities of the Empire may be easily calculated; and if the Board of Trade will take steps to give effect to this resolution?

I have not seen the resolution referred to by the hon. Baronet, but if I receive it I can promise that it shall receive my careful consideration, in consultation with the Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to give any estimate of the value of British property and investments in the German Empire, and of the value of German property and investments in the British Empire?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given by the Minister of Blockade to a question of a similar character which was addressed to him by the hon. Member for Bethnal Green on the 16th August. I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has made any order under the Trading With the Enemy (Amendment) Act, 1916, requiring the business of the German banks in London to be wound up; and, if not, will he say why this has not been done?

No order has been made under the Trading With the Enemy (Amendment) Act, 1916, with regard to the businesses of the German banks in London, because under the licences granted shortly after the outbreak of war due provision is made for the control by the Treasury of any transactions of these banks, and for the limitation of the business to completing transactions entered into before the War, so far as necessary for making the assets available for meeting liabilities, any surplus being deposited with the Bank of England to the order of the Treasury.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state on whose instructions and under what law or Regulation the police, some in uniform and some in plain clothes, led a futile attempt at hissing the Member for North Westmeath on his arrival at Limerick railway station on Saturday evening, 30th September; whether their attempt to create a disturbance has been or will be dealt with as a breach of the Defence of the Realm Act; and, should the policemen in question deny their conduct, whether respectable citizens of Limerick who witnessed their conduct will be afforded an opportunity of proving it?

I am informed that the allegation in the hon. Member's question is unfounded.

next asked the Chief Secretary how many policemen in uniform and in plain clothes were engaged on Friday, 6th October, in protecting the hon. Member for Waterford City, in excluding citizens of Waterford from the meeting addressed by him, and in ejecting with violence from the meeting citizens of Waterford entitled to be there if the meeting was public; what were the instructions on which the police acted on that occasion; and why no police prosecutions followed the violence?

No police attended for or were employed on the purposes mentioned in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary the official reason why no inquest has been held into the death of Nicholas Ward, of 22, Boundary Street, Belfast, in consequence of rough treatment to which he was subjected in St. Mary's Hall because of his opposition to the partition of Ireland, and the official reason why no proceedings have been instituted against any of those who by the use of violence obtained a vote for partition?

Nicholas Ward is certified to have died from natural causes, namely, bronchitis and rheumatism. His death was, consequently, not reported to the coroner. The police received no complaint of the use of violence upon the occasion referred to.

asked when it is proposed to take the next stage of the Dublin Reconstruction Bill; and what progress has been made with the negotiations for an agreement as to its provisions?

The parties to the negotiations have not yet notified the Irish Office of their having arrived at an agreement, but I am told an agreement is probable. As soon as it is made I will do what is necessary with a view to the progress of the Bill.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ire- land) whether the Department have received complants of losses of Irish eggs due to imperfect packing, careless handling in transit, and other causes; and, seeing that the two defects mentioned have been frequently brought under the notice of the Department, can he state any measures taken by the Department to obviate them?

The steps taken by the Department in this matter were given in my reply of the 19th instant to a similar question by the hon. Member for West Wicklow. The Department fully recognise the importance of the subject.

further asked the Chief Secretary what date the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland last revised the curriculum of the training colleges in which teachers for Irish primary schools are trained, excluding from that curriculum the Irish language, Irish literature, and Irish history; what Commissioners were present at that revision; and whether immediate steps will be taken to have this proscription withdrawn?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. There has been no such exclusion as is suggested.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state if the Estates Commissioners will have the evicted tenants on the estate of Mr. H. J. B. Clements, Lough Rynn, county Leitrim, reinstated on the untenanted land which the landlord gave for that purpose when the estate was being sold; and, in the event of this not being carried out, although it was one of the conditions of sale between the landlord and the tenants, will farms be provided for them elsewhere?

Two evicted tenants have been reinstated in their formr holdings on this estate as purchasers under the Land Purchase Acts. The Commissioners "have decided after inquiry to take no action in regard to the remaining applications of persons seeking reinstatement as evicted tenants on this estate. No untenanted land was included by the owner for the purposes of their reinstatement, but some thirty-eight acres of untenanted lands have been divided amongst the occupiers of six small holdings in the neighbourhood. The purchase was not subject to the suggested condition. The reply to the concluding part of the question is in the negative.

also asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Land Purchase Aid Fund, known as the bonus payable to vendors under the Land Purchase Acts, which Parliament undertook to treat as an Imperial charge, is now being so treated in distinguishing between Irish and Imperial expenditure; if so, will he give a reference to the latest accounts in which this is shown; and, if not so, will he state the grounds and authority for the change in practice?

I am not aware of any such undertaking and I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 18 of the Report of the Committee on Irish Finance (Cd. 6153 of 1912). There has been no change in the method of allocating the charge for the Land Purchase Aid Fund in the Financial Relations Returns.

asked the Home Secretary whether the old age pensions long overdue will now be paid to James Reilly, a cripple for many years, and Anne Reilly, formerly of Fermore, now lodgers at Kilmore, Streete, Westmeath, both incapable of self support and devoid of means; whether he is aware that the Coole Pension Committee, familiar with the facts, have again voted full pensions to these two applicants; and, if the pensions are still refused, will he specify the means and capacity attributed to these old persons as grounds for the refusal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to his previous questions in regard to these cases. Since the last reply further claims by James and Anne Reilly were disallowed by the Board on the 4th August last. They refused to give any information as to their means, and on investigation of earlier claims it was reported that James Reilly had on the 26th March, 1914, assigned to an unmarried son a farm of twenty-seven acres of good land, and that there appeared to be no reason for the assignment except the hope of qualifying himself and his wife for pensions. The return from the farm assigned was estimated to be over £100 a year. The only additional fact reported to me is that the applicants have left their farm and gone to reside in lodgings.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any general instructions have been issued to old age pension committees and sub-committees and to pension officers in Ireland with reference to the new power to increase pensions in certain cases to Vs. 6d. a week; and what precautions are being taken against the influence of those old age pension inspectors who regard it as their sole function to get pensions reduced from the sums voted by the local committees?

Pension committees and pension officers in all parts of the United Kingdom have been fully instructed in the matter referred to. I must deprecate the suggestion of the hon. Member as to the manner in which the pension officers carry out their duties under the Old Age Pensions Acts.