asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have decided what facilities can be given to the Registration of Business Names Bill; and whether he can see his way to pass the Bill this Session?

This Bill is down for Second Reading to-day, and the Government hope to pass it through all its stages without delay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Section 37 of the Finance Act, 1916, is retrospective; and whether a person who has, since the outbreak of war and prior to 1st April, 1916, paid a war insurance premium is allowed the benefit of this Section and to a readjustment or return of Income Tax paid by him?

No objection is offered to the Income Tax allowance in respect of these premiums as from the date of the outbreak of war, and repayment claims will be admitted accordingly.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the present national loan of the French Republic, issued in this country with the consent and approval of His Majesty's Government, makes no provision for applications being lodged with any Scottish bank, such application being permissible only through the Bank of England or the Bank of Ireland; will he say whether this arrangement was made with the consent of his Department; and will he in future, in view of the unwillingness of the Scottish people to do business through the Bank of England, make some arrangement whereby the loans of our Ally will be facilitated in Scotland instead of hindered?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 24th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the amount of compensation which has been offered to Alderman James J. Kelly, J.P., ex-High Sheriff of Dublin; if he is aware that Alderman Kelly's losses have been estimated at £6,185 12s. 7d., whereas the Government have offered him the sum of £1,450 in full discharge of his claim; if he will say on what authority the Government have awarded this sum, which means the ruin of Alderman Kelly; and if he will cause Alderman Kelly's claim to be reconsidered?

Alderman Kelly's claim included items amounting to £3,843 17s. for consequential losses which the Property Losses Committee, under their terms of reference, were unable to consider. It included also items amounting to £27 16s. 8d. in respect of the personal property of others, in regard to which the Committee have asked that separate claims be made by the owners. I am informed by the Committee that, as regards the remainder of the claim, amounting to £2,713 18s. lid., in respect of building, stock, and household goods, their recommendation for the payment of £1,450 was the result of full and careful investigation, which included the examination of all available books and documents.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a few weeks ago on the doctor's advice, owing to grave heart trouble, Mrs. Sheehy Skeffington left Dublin to recuperate but gave no address for correspondence; whether, ten days afterwards, detectives called on her landlady and have called almost daily since; whether Sergeant M'Gahey, of the Aliens Department, and Constable Devine, among others, threatened the landlady with penalties for not knowing her address and not notifying her departure; whether a series of questions were put as to the amount of her luggage and the amount taken with her, as to whether she travelled under a false name and how she went, and as to the addresses of her sisters; whether the premises of one of her sisters, Mrs. O'Brien, was then watched and her father's house put under observation; whether, on Thursday last, on her mother being taken seriously ill and removed from her home to a private hospital, the police were in attendance and peered into the ambulance as it left and accompanied it to the hospital; whether Sir John Maxwell approves of such proceedings; if not, who is responsible; and whether, as they indicate that the widow will not be left at peace in Ireland, the Government will grant a passport to a neutral country to Mrs. Skeffington and her child for the duration of the War?

I dealt fully with this matter in answer to a question of the hon. Member for Liverpool (Scotland Division) on the 26th instant. The statements made in the question in regard to the action of the police are not in accordance with the facts.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give a reference to the law, if any, under which some letters containing complaints of the treatment of Irish untried prisoners at Frongoch are returned to the writers, others stopped but not returned, oral complaints are followed by severe punishments, an officer of the camp accompanying every visitor as a deterrent and reporter, this enforced absence of complaint used as a vindication of the Government, and no independent sanitary or other inspector or visitor allowed to enter the camp except subject to these restrictions; and, if any one of these allegations be denied, when will an independent visitor be allowed to enter and examine alone and report freely?

The authority for the supervision of correspondance and visits at Frongoch is the Royal Warrant for the maintenance of discipline, which is applied in the case of Irish prisoners by Defence of the Realm Regulation 14B. The insinuations contained in the question are groundless, and have been dealt with frequently in reply to previous questions. I have only to add that men are not punished for making oral complaints, but, on the contrary, they are instructed to make any complaints daily to the commandant through the head leader.

asked the Home Secretary whether the fact was brought under the notice of the Advisory Committee in the case of Miss Kearney, one of the untried Irish prisoners at Aylesbury, that her work during the week of the insurrec- tion was precisely a continuation of the civil and legitimate work in which she had been previously engaged, and that under contract and trades union rules she had no option but to continue it; whether she is the only woman trades unionist among the Irish prisoners; if she is kept in prison on any charge but that of being a trades unionist will he have her tried by a judge and jury; and, if there be no other charge, will he have her released?

Winifred Carney was interned upon the recommendation of a competent military authority on the ground that she is of hostile associations and reasonably suspected of having favoured, promoted or assisted an armed insurrection against His Majesty. She had a full opportunity of stating her case before the Advisory Committee, who recommended her continued detention in the interests of the public safey. I am informed that both she and Miss Helena Moloney are trade union officials, but I need hardly say that the fact that she was a trade unionist had nothing to do with her internment. I regret that she cannot be released at present.

asked the Home Secretary why the monthly rebate to the untried Irish prisoners at Frongoch on the amount of their purchases in the camp canteen has so varied that in July, with 1,800 prisoners there, only £4 10s. was allowed, in August, with 900 prisoners there, £10 was allowed, and in September, with 545 prisoners there, £10 was allowed; the money being the property of those untried prisoners, why are their leaders not allowed to examine the accounts; why are the leaders not allowed to purchase such goods as they know to be most suitable for the prisoners; whether Lieutenant Burns, adjutant of the camp, is the officer of that name degraded some years ago for connection with a catering scandal; whether he has ever held higher military rank than he now holds; and, if so, for what cause was he reduced in rank?

The correct amounts were:—For July, £4 15s.; for August, £8 13s.; for September, £15 9s. Such allotments can only be made after a reserve fund has been formed to meet barrack and other damages, which are a first charge on the canteen rebate. The accounts are posted on the notice board. The statement that the leaders are not allowed to purchase suitable goods is unfounded. If they require anything which is not on the canteen list, it is furnished by the contractor on a request being made through the commandant. Lieutenant Burns was concerned with a case connected with canteens which came before the Courts some years ago, but he was not degraded, nor has he ever held higher military rank than he now holds. He is reported to be a most efficient officer.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the interned men in the camp at Frongoch, none of them either tried or even charged, are receiving food sent in by their friends; whether he is aware that tinned food so supplied has to be immediately opened by order of the commandant, which order involves its immediate consumption, inasmuch as there is no place to conceal the tins from the rats which infest the place and would quickly devour the contents; and will he say what steps he proposes to take?

The facts are not as stated in the question. Tinned food supplied by friends to the prisoners interned at Frongoch is issued to them after examination by the Censor, but no tin is opened until the owner wishes to use the contents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the ladies interned at Aylesbury, untried and uncharged, have to mix with prostitutes also imprisoned there, one or more of whom is suffering from venereal disease?

No, Sir. I am not aware that this is the case and I shall be glad if the lion. Member will communicate to me the information which he has in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, having regard to the military restrictions on newspapers in Ireland after the insurrection there, the consequent incompleteness of the lists of those sentenced to penal servitude in connection with that event, the anxiety of those unable to ascertain whether their missing male relatives are dead or in penal servitude, and the impossibility of taking any legal action that might otherwise be available in any of the cases, whether he will furnish a full list of Irish prisoners now in penal servitude in connection with the recent insurrection, with, in each case, the home address, duration of sentence, and whether the Court imposing it was civil or military, open or secret?

It is the practice whenever a convict is transferred to a convict prison to allow him to write what is called a "reception letter" informing his friends of his arrival there. This applies to the Irish prisoners now in penal servitude, and the great majority, if not the whole, of them did in fact avail themselves of this opportunity of communicating their whereabouts to their friends. In the circumstances as at present advised it does not appear to me that the Return suggested is necessary. They were all tried by court-martial.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will grant a Return, in continuation of House of Commons Paper, No. 259, of Session 1913, bringing the figures up to the current year?

In view of the need for economy and the pressure on the staffs of the various Government Departments, it has been decided to postpone, as far as possible, the preparation and publication of Returns which are not of an urgent nature. I hope that in the circumstances the hon. Member will not press for the granting of this Return during the present year.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that at Mitchels-town, county Cork, on 13th October, five lads, named Daniel O'Keefe, Pat Clifford, Pat Roche, John Keane, and Thomas Walsh, were sentenced to seven days, and two calendar months' imprisonment extra in default of bail, for singing an old song called "The Felons for Our Land," and that on the accused giving themselves into custody the police refused to detain them on the pretext that the warrant was not signed; whether the justices delayed the warrant with a view of inflicting on the lads the additional hardship of being in gaol over Christmas; whether he is aware that the bench consisted of the resident magistrates and four members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians recently appointed; whether these four took part in delaying the warrant by throwing the duty on the resident magistrate, who lives in Fermoy; and will the Government publish a list of songs which can legally be sung, or fix standard penalties for the singing of songs to which the police object?

The five persons named, who are young men aged from nineteen to twenty-five years, were convicted of an offence under No. 27 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. The execution of the warrants was deferred, not by the magistrates, but in the interest of the peace of the locality by the police, who wished to afford opportunity for the giving of recognisances. As the delay, even with the object stated, was in the circumstances not justified, the necessary steps are being taken to obviate a repetition of the occurrence.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the old age pension of Mrs. Bridget Bryant, of Kilkenny, was stopped on the grounds that she recently married a man named Sheehan now serving in the Navy; whether the remarriage of an old age pensioner is held to be grounds for stopping her pension; and, if not, will he see that her pension is restored to her and all arrears due to her owing to the stoppage paid up?

I am informed that Mrs. Bryant's marriage took place some years ago, and that her pension has not been stopped on account of her marriage. When her husband was called up she received allotment and separation allowance of 16s. a week, which increased her means, previously estimated at £20 12s., to over £31 10s. a year, the statutory limit, and rendered her ineligible for the continuance of the pension of 5s. a week which she had been drawing.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Local Government Board for Ireland hold that although an old person has long ceased to be effective owner, and become in fact a lodger, a son having paid debts and arrears of rent and tacitly become owner of the home and he and his wife having stocked it and bought and sold for years, yet the old person, entitled to an old age pension, is refused one and treated as owner of everything, no legal transfer having been executed; and whether the Government will reconsider this interpretation of the Old Age Pensions Act and have a fresh claim allowed in the case of a claimant, named Keogh, at Finea, West-meath, in the circumstances stated?

The Irish Local Government Board have given no such decision as that stated in the question. Each case submitted to the Board is dealt with on its merits. In the case to which the hon. Member refers, the Board were not satisfied that the claimant Keogh had ceased to be the effective owner or that the stock on the farm did not belong to him.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether clerks to old-age pensions committees in Ireland are placed at a disadvantage in the matter of remuneration as compared with similar officials in Great Britain, inasmuch as the Irish clerks receive and are paid only in respect of disputed Army separation claims whilst clerks in Great Britain receive and are paid in respect of all claims, disputed or otherwise; and if he will consider the advisability of placing the Irish clerks on the same basis of remuneration as their British colleagues?

I am aware that certain work in connection with separation allowances which is performed by clerks to local pension committees in Great Britain is not performed by clerks to local pension committees in Ireland. The latter are, however, already paid for the work actually performed by them on a basis of remuneration which is in no case less favourable than that in force in Great Britain, and is in some cases more favourable.

asked the Chief Secretary if he has received a copy of the statement which has been forwarded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer setting out the grievances under which ex-national school teachers in Ireland are placed owing to the inadequacy of their pensions to meet present demands arising from the War; and whether he will obtain for them the same concessions of monthly payments and a war bonus as were granted to the national teachers?

I have seen the statement referred to. The proposal to pay teachers' pensions monthly is not at present deemed to be practicable, and I am informed that under the Irish Teachers' Pension Rules there is no power to pay a war bonus out of the Teachers' Pension Fund.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will consider the advisability of allowing the service of boys in the Navy to count for pension, instead of dating the pensionable service from the age of eighteen years?

As boys of the Royal Navy are under training their services cannot be regarded from an Admiralty point of view as so valuable as when rated ordinary seamen, i.e. , generally at the age of eighteen. If, however, a boy is invalided for an attributable cause, his case is in no way prejudiced by the fact that his service does not count towards long service pension, as he is granted a disablement pension on the same scale as an ordinary seaman.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has been in communication with the Board of Trade as to the requisitioning of the prize steamer "Prinz Adalbert"; and whether, as a result, this steamer will be used by the Government instead of being sold by auction?

As I promised, we are in communication with the Board of Trade on the matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty has had its attention drawn to the conditions in which the arrival on the Kentish shore of the ketch—rigged barge "Teutonic" became known to the naval and military authorities on a recent Sunday morning; if the Admiralty were made aware at the time that this steel-built craft came ashore almost opposite the Imperial Hotel at Hythe, within easy reach of Moyle Tower, at 1 a.m. Greenwich time on the morning in question, and that from the accounts given by the master mariner and crew signal lights were fired from the vessel between the hours of one and three without any attention being paid to them, either from the sea or shore; if the distressed mariners on board were left without assistance till the fall of the tide, when they were enabled at last to reach the land and subsequently report themselves to the police; and whether, in the circumstances, the naval authorities are satisfied that due guard and vigilance is maintained on the Channel shore against the possible arrival of hostile or spying craft of light tonnage?

A report on this matter was received at the Admiralty on the 17th instant. The vessel stranded one mile east of the coastguard station about 1 a.m. on the 15th instant. Owing the thick misty weather at the time, the wreck and any lights which might have been fired were not observed by the coastguard. They were informed of the casualty at 3.20 a.m., and arrived on the scene ten minutes later. It appears that the tide was ebbing and that the crew were in no danger; they eventually walked ashore. The naval authorities consider that the contingency foreshadowed in the last part of my hon. Friend's question is sufficiently provided against.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has received a request from Belfast to give Admiralty work to firms in Belfast, and whether, in view of the number of skilled workmen out of employment, he proposes to give any orders or place any contracts with firms in Belfast?

Requests have been received as indicated in the question. Every consideration has been given, and will continue to be given, to such requests.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Cyril Browne, Local Government Board inspector, who is physically fit and only thirty years of age, has made application to the Local Government Board for permission to join the Irish Brigade in order to fill up one of the gaps at present in existence; and whether he can state why the Local Government Board have not acceded to Mr. Brown's request to join the Colours?

Mr. Cyril Browne, who is forty-three years of age, not thirty, as stated in the question, is a Local Government Board auditor. With the permission of the Local Government Board he applied to the War Office for war service, but owing to the pressure of official business on the audit staff the Board were unable the accede to the request of the War Office for the loan of his services, as no substitute was available.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can say if Mr. Cyril Browne, Local Government Board auditor, came to Listowel union and started his audit four days before the date as advertised; whether the Reverend Canon O'Riordan, parish priest, Listowel, in the presence of the auditor made a public protest against his action in connection with the using and lighting of Christmas and wax candles on the altar and the crib of the Virgin and in the hospital; and if he will explain why Mr. Browne has stated that he did not know the candles were used for a religious_ purpose?

I am informed that Mr. Browne was engaged in Listowel for three days before, and remained in Listowel for two days after, the date officially advertised for the audit; that it is not a fact that Canon O'Riordan made any protest, public or otherwise, in the presence of Mr. Browne. He states that he does not know the Canon, and has never met him. Mr. Browne further states that he has never disallowed any payment for any article requisitioned for religious purposes or certified by a chaplain of any religious denomination.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the number of male British subjects of military age still residing in France and other European countries; and whether, in view of the unfairness to British subjects resident in those countries who have voluntarily enlisted and in view of the growing demand for men, he will now consider the extension of the Military Servce Act to such cases?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. and gallant Member for the Enfield Division on 24th October. I would add in supplement to what was there stated that it is not at present intended to introduce legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the exigencies of the Service require that boys, who, having voluntarily enlisted in the Army, were sent abroad before they were nineteen years of age, and have since returned from the front invalided, wounded, or claimed as under age by their parents, should be sent abroad for the second time the moment they have reached the age of nineteen, or whether such boys, after attaining the age of nineteen, may be allowed, if they so wish, to do a period of Home Service corresponding to the length of time that they served abroad when under that age, having regard to the fact that, under the Military Service Act of 1916, boys are protected from being sent abroad until they have attained the age of nineteen years?

I am afraid that the rule that soldiers may be sent abroad at the age of nineteen years must be applied without discrimination, and I fear that I cannot adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of eligible men in the various departments and branches of the Pose Office service in Ireland who signed voluntary enlistment forms testifying their willingness to serve when called upon, and of this number how many eventually responded; and whether those men of military age who violated their voluntary undertaking and refused to respond will be permitted to remain in the service?

An undertaking was given of a readiness to enlist in the case of about 920 men, but it was of a semi-private character and in many cases subject to conditions. There was no attestation or legal liability to serve. About 150 have since withdrawn the undertaking whilst others who have given no undertaking have enlisted. I do not propose to take any action.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the recommendation of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce, measures will now be taken to make the Military Service Act applicable to Europeans in India?

The answer is in the negative. I am not aware that the Bengal Chamber of Commerce has ever made such a recommendation as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any instructions have been given to local tribunals with regard to conditionally exempting men from military service who claim exemption on the grounds of willingness to be enrolled as Army Reserve munition workers?

The question of issuing further directions to tribunals with regard to substitution, including the exemption of men on condition that they take up munition work, is receiving my attention.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if the Central Appeal Tribunal have given a decision to the effect that an appeal by a man of eighteen years of age for exemption on the ground of conscience cannot be entertained, as the views of men of this age are deemed to be immature; and, if so, will he at once instruct the Central Tribunal to withdraw the decision as a distinctly illegal one under the provisions of the Military Service Act, which gives all who come within it the unquestioned right to claim exemption on any of the grounds specified in the Act?

I am not aware of any such decision. I presume that the hon. Member has in mind No. 55 of the circulated cases. What the Central Tribunal said in that was, "The Central Tribunal regard the age of the man alleging conscientious objections as an important factor in the consideration of the question whether his objection is so deliberate and settled as to entitle him to exemption or to the widest form of exemption."

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many conscientious objectors to military service have been referred to the Committee on Work of National Importance; and what proportion of them have obtained employment such as meets the requirements of the Committee?

One thousand seven hundred and forty cases have been referred to the Committee by the tribunals, of which 180 were afterwards withdrawn. Employment meeting the requirements of the Committee has been found in 71 per cent, of the remaining cases. In addition the Army Council asked the Committee to-deal with 1,254 cases, and, so far, suitable employment has been found in 79 per cent, of these cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there a number of single men under twenty-five years of age employed by railway companies; and whether he will state whether the Government intend to call out these men for service forthwith?

The Railway Executive Committee are fully alive to the necessity of releasing as many men as can possibly be spared consistently with the demands of the very heavy traffic with which the railway companies have to deal. The total number of men so far released by the British railway companies is considerably over 140,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of men of military age now exployed in various Labour Exchanges throughout the country; and if he will state the number of women who have been engaged to replace single men since the Military. Service Acts came into force?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to answers given by me to the hon. Members for Walsall and Wednesbury on the 24th and 19th October respectively, of which I am sending him copies. The engagement of women and of men of non-military age to replace the men who have gone to the Army was commenced by the Department long before the Military Service Acts came into force. About 1,200 men have joined the Forces from the Employment Department, and about the same number of women have been engaged during the War.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been directed to the fact that the Orkney Tribunal has refused exemption to a young man, Private J. Sabiston, practically the stand-by of the island, and that the islanders will find it almost impossible to do any fishing or visit the mainland on urgent business; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have no reason to doubt that the tribunal decided the case referred to with knowledge of the facts; but I am making inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the interim grants in the case of discharged men of 10s. and 20s. are now abolished, and an interim grant of 14s. and two weeks' separation allowance is substituted for it in all cases; and whether, seeing that the new interim arrangement is likely to cause confusion, he will consider the desirability of continuing the soldier's pay with ration allowance and separation allowance till the pension is fixed?

The new arrangement has already come into effect, and, as far as I am aware, no confusion exists. I fear I cannot make the further modification suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private T. G. Ellison, who volunteered early in the War, was discharged from the 15th Lancashire Fusiliers on 6th November, 1915, without a civilian coat, suffering fom lung trouble, after seven months in hospital; and whether, in view of the fact that his illness was entirely due to his military service, some State provision will be made to help Private Ellison, who has a wife and four children?

This case was fully considered at the time, and was reconsidered on appeal. The medical authorities are clear that the disability was neither caused nor aggravated by military service, and a pension cannot therefore be given from Army Funds.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in the case of the wife of a soldier who is receiving separation allowances for herself and children who has to go into a public institution for reasons of health her own allowance is stopped; and whether, as the result of this is to inflict hardship upon the family by depriving them of money necessary for keeping up the home, he will alter the Regulations so as to obviate or reduce this hardship?

The Regulation is as stated, except that the allowance for the children is increased to the higher rate as for motherless children. The question of making further provision to mitigate hardship in such cases, is already receiving sympathetic consideration.

asked the Minister for Labour whether Private W. G. Quin was discharged on 15th April, 1916, after 189 days' service in the Royal Engineers, 66th East Lancashire Division, with exemplary character as no longer fit for war service; whether he is aware that he has a wife and nine children, and that the £1 a week allowed to Quin by the Chelsea Commissioners down to about the end of June was then suddenly stopped, and a demand for £11 overpayment has now been made; whether he is aware that Quin is only capable of light and occasional work; and whether it is still suggested that the £11 should be refunded?

Through a mistake in the identity of this man the temporary allowance in advance of pension was erroneously paid him at the rate of £l a week for eleven weeks after the Chelsea Commissioners had notified that he was not entitled to any pension. It has now been decided to waive the recovery of the overissue.

asked the Minister for Labour whether he is aware that Corporal J. Noden, No. 3625, late 8th Lancashire Fusiliers, Territorial Force, of 3, Hodson Street, Salford, was discharged on 16th March, 1916, after 326 days' service, as no longer physically fit for service; that he is a married man with eight children under sixteen years of age; that owing to asthma contracted in, or aggravated by, Army service he is incapable of work and has been so found by his trade union; and whether the Chelsea Commissioners have refused to make any grant of pension?

This man was discharged after 326 days' service, all at home. He was not subjected to any exceptional hardship or exposure; and as the Commissioners were advised by the medical authorities that the disability was neither caused nor aggravated by military service, they were unable to award him a pension.

asked the Secretary for War whether, under Army Council Instruction No. 1023, the whole of the Army Pay Corps have now been medically examined and classified into categories; if so, can he state the proportion in each category; and whether the examining officers had instructions not to classify any of the men classification are:

The results of the classification are: Category A.—General service, 37.6 per cent. Category B.—Service abroad in garrison, provisional, or labour units and on sedentary work, 39.7 per cent. Category C.—Service at home in garrison, provisional, or labour units and on sedentary work, 20.9 per cent. Category D.—Temporarily unfit, 1.2 per cent. Category E.—Unfit, awaiting discharge or reclassification, .6 per cent.

It will be seen that a large proportion falls into Category B.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a number of soldiers belonging to the first Expeditionary Force operating in France have not been granted holidays since they were originally sent out, and, seeing that these men have had twenty-seven months' hardship, will he arrange for them to have the privilege of a short visit to their homes

As has frequently been stated, the grant of leave is left to the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief and is dependent on the military exigencies of the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is proposed to issue the war bonus to the civil clerks employed in military departments in Dublin; and whether the bonus is to be made retrospective to date from 1st April, 1915, in accordance with the payments to other civil employés?

Orders were issued on 5th October. The bonus dates from 1st July last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Parliamentary Committee to inquire into the grievances of employés in Ireland in Government and military departments as regards the rates of wages?

I am not aware of any such grievances as would call for that step.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware of the number of joiners and other skilled workmen in Belfast who are out of employment; and whether, with the object of utilising the labour of these men, his Department will place orders for articles or materials with firms in Belfast that are capable of executing them?

Every effort is being made to give Irish firms fuller opportunities for tendering, but owing to the difficulties of transport, they are not very favourably placed for supplying goods which need to be sent to England. The whole subject is being carefully watched.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the same price of hay has been fixed for Lancashire and Suffolk, respectively, it is the decision of the War Office that farmers' expenses in these two counties must be considered approximately the same?

I would refer my Noble Friend to the answer which I gave him on the 17th instant, to which I can add nothing.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any limit to the time during which, under paragraph 485 of the King's Regulations, a soldier may be remanded daily for further inquiry into his case; and whether, during these inquiries, the soldier is compelled to remain in the detention room, even though he be innocent of the charges brought against him?

The hon. Member will find full information on the subject of the first portion of his question by referring to King's Regulations, paragraph 464, Army Act, Section 45 (5), note 3 to that Section, Rule of Procedure 17 (c), and King's Regulations, paragraph 490. In regard to the latter part of the hon. Member's question, if he will refer to paragraph 473 of the King's Regulations he will find information on this subject, but I must observe that the question of the innocence or otherwise of an accused soldier cannot be established until the case has been disposed of in due course of law, namely, until he has been either convicted or acquitted.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the need for adopting a widespread policy of substitution of labour, he has created or proposes to create any department in the War Office with the special object of keeping in touch with working-class sentiment and of co-operating as much as possible with the organisations which represent it?

No detail work in connection with substitution is done at the War Office, which only acts as a central clearing house. The arrangements are made locally and labour organisations have been actively co-operating in all parts of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the discomfort of wearing a thick loose trouser under a puttee below the knee has induced thousands of men serving in the dismounted branches of the Army to narrow the trousers issued to them; and whether in future he will see that trousers are issued in a shape which can be worn with comfort, instead of endeavouring to enforce discomfort by means of punishments?

The War Office is not in possession of any evidence which supports what is alleged in the question, but inquiries will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether an agreement has yet been arrived at between the medical and orthopœdic authorities of the Army, the National Insurance Commissioners, and the Statutory Committee as to the proper system for providing and co-ordinating the treatment of discharged disabled soldiers and sailors'?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board on 26th October. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is also answering later a question (No. 93) which bears on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether steps have been taken to ascertain who is the official of the Censor's Department who is responsible for allowing the passing of the communication to the foreign journalist or newsagent Raffalovitch which formed the basis of a recent Court decision; and if he can state why this communication passed uncensored when communications from private persons in the United States addressed to private persons in this country with British names are so frequently opened by the Censor?

It is not possible to identify the official responsible, nor to give public explanations as to how the postal censorship is conducted.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the tinned fruit sold in Expeditionary Force Canteens, for which there is an enormous demand, is almost exclusively of I United States origin; and if he can give directions that more Tasmanian, Canadian, and South African tinned fruit, of which there is only a small supply at canteens, shall be purchased and substituted for this foreign product?

The bulk of the tinned fruit sold in Expeditionary Force Canteens is Californian, such brands having, at present, many advantages, especially in regard to the method of packing. There is every desire to encourage the use of tinned fruit from the Dominions, but, apart from other considerations, the quantities obtainable at present are altogether inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a number of non-commissioned officers and men transferred from first-line Territorial regiments to second and third-line Territorial regiments soon after the outbreak of war because of their refusal to volunteer for overseas service, subsequently obtained commissions, and have in some cases been sent out to replace casualties in first-line regiments and placed over the heads of officers who volunteered from the first and, in addition, have seen service; and if this practice can be made to cease?

Commissions were granted in certain cases under the circumstances described to complete the establishment of second and third-line units. If the officers referred to got direct commissions in a higher rank than that of second lieutenant, steps are now being taken to adjust any injustice that may have arisen. If, however, they only had temporary rank, their seniority in the first line should have been readjusted on their joining that line.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the number of expensive and high-powered light motor cars apportioned to the staffs of the Armies, Army corps, divisions, and other headquarters in England, Egypt, and elsewhere than in France; and whether, without injuring the tactical and strategical efficiency of His Majesty's Army, he can see his way to replace these cars, when worn out, with smaller and cheaper cars requiring little expert knowledge to drive, thus saving money and releasing a number of soldier-chauffeurs for the Infantry?

Every endeavour is being made constantly to reduce the number of high-powered cars, but the smaller cars require expert attention also. Experience has shown that the employment of less experienced chauffeurs leads to deterioration in the cars.

asked the Minister of Munitions if his attention has been called to the position in which certain members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen are placed who received injuries or suffered serious loss through the destruction of their household furniture by the recent explosion at a large munitions factory in Yorkshire by reason of their inability to obtain compensation from the company which owns the factory; and whether he will relieve the men in question of the process of proving negligence on the part of the company by obtaining a Treasury Grant and paying fair and equitable compensation himself and recovering the cost afterwards from the company if it is possible and reasonable to do so?

The company have arranged, without admitting liability, to> pay all reasonable claims; a considerable number of claims will be paid shortly, and investigation of the remainder is proceeding as rapidly as possible. Immediately after the explosion the company made arrangements for dealing with distress. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether controlled establishments are forbidden to accept any contracts for the manufacture or delivery of articles after the termination of the War?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he will state the number of ports in the United Kingdom in which men of the Transport Workers' Battalion have worked on cargoes in which the Ministry has been interested; the date of the first cargo handled by men of the battalion; the total number of cargoes so handled inwards and outwards; and the total number of days on which such work has been done by men of the battalion?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this and the three following questions. I am informed by the Port and Transit Executive Committee that the number of ports at which munition cargoes have been handled by the Transport Workers' Battalion is ten; that the first cargo was dealt with on the 18th May last and the first munition cargo on the 17th June last; that the total number of cargoes is about 126, and. the number of days so occupied up to the 26th instant was 67,000, of which upwards of 40,000 represent work on munitions.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the work of the Transport Workers' Battalion has been in all cases satisfactorily performed, delay avoided, and the flow of traffic through the ports greatly accelerated?

I am informed by the Port and Transit Executive Committee that the work of the Transport Workers' Battalion has been satisfactorily performed, and has facilitated the flow of traffic through the ports.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the conditions laid down by the Port and Transit Executive Committee as to the men of the Transport Workers' Battalion being employed only, to supplement proved deficiencies in civilian labour have been complied with in all ports; and whether there has been any difficulty in securing co-operation between civilian labour and the men of the battalion?

The Port and Transit Executive Committee inform me that the reply to the first question is in the affirmative, and that in every case the deficiency has been certified by a local committee containing representatives of the Admiralty, War Office,. Port Authority and Labour. There has been, I understand, no difficulty between civilian labour and the battalion.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the strength of the Transport Workers' Battalion is adequate to meet all cases of deficiency in civilian labour; whether delay could have been avoided if it had always been possible to supplement existing civilian labour by calling in the battalion; and whether he can state what steps have been and are being taken to increase the strength of the battalion?

The view of the Port and Transit Executive Committee is that the strength of the Transport Workers' Battalion is inadequate, and the War Office have recently approved an increase in its numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the troops fighting the Turks at Aden are considered to be on active service; if so, why special field service allowance given to Indian troops serving in Mesopotamia and Egypt is withheld from those at Aden and Sheikh; why officers invalided from Aden as casualties are compelled to change their leave on medical certificate into sixty days' privilege leave; and why the officers at Aden are charged Income Tax, and the officers and men deprived of the customary concession of free postage to places other than to India?

I have not the information required to answer all my hon. Friend's question. If he will be good enough to withdraw the question, I will make inquiries and communicate with him as soon as I am able to give a full answer.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the nature of the work undertake Q by Professor Ethé an unnaturalised German subject, in connection with his department; and what is the basis of his remuneration?

Professor Ethé has been engaged since 1872 in compiling a catalogue of the Persian MSS. in the Library of the India Office. The first volume of this catalogue was completed in 1901, since which date no payment has been made to him. The honorarium for the second volume is to stand over until its completion and has not been fixed.

asked the Home Secretary whether Professor Ethé, the unnaturalised German who is employed by the Government, has offered any reason why he has not become a naturalised British subject notwithstanding the long period during which he has accepted this country's hospitality; and has he any information as to the date of Professor Ethé's last visit to Germany?

The answer to the first part of the question is, so far as I am aware, in the negative. I understand that Dr. Ethé was in Germany during the summer vacation of 1914.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a petition presented by the people of the town of Hertford to the chief magistrate, begging for official intimation to be given to those desiring it of the imminence of Zeppelin raids, and also asking for due notification of the passing of the danger; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

I have received the petition which was forwarded to me by the hon. Member, and I have communicated with the acting chief constable, who considers that the institution of a public warning would be inadvisable, as it would increase the number of persons leaving the shelter of their homes and proceeding into the streets and fields without in any way diminishing the risks. The petition had only about 400 signatures, and I understand that the desire for a public warning is not shared by the inhabitants as a whole.

asked the Home Secretary whether disease caused by picric acid entitles the workman affected to compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act; and, if not, whether he can, in view of the number concerned, add the disease to the Schedule to the Act?

The only diseases normally attributable to processes in the manufacture of, or involving the use of, picric acid are eczematous ulceration of the skin or dermatitis, and poisoning by nitrous fumes. Both of them are scheduled under the Workmen's Compensation Act.

asked how many Austrian and Hungarian women and children have been repatriated from this country since the outbreak of the War; and how many who are desirous of leaving still remain in this country?

The answer to the first part of the question is 1,930, of whom 1,450 were returning to Austria or Hungary. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave last Wednesday to the hon. Member for North-East Bethnal Green. The position is the same as in the case of German women, except that no Austrian women are interned under the Defence of the Realm Regulations.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has power to issue a Regulation under the Defence of the Realm Act to require naturalised Germans, Austrians, and Hungarians who have changed their surnames since the outbreak of war to use their real and original names exclusively for all business, purposes; and, if so, whether he will issue such a Regulation without delay?

The Regulations under the Defence of the Realm Act are made by His Majesty in Council, and I am advised that such a Regulation as is suggested by the hon. Member would not be within the powers given by that Act.

asked whether the millinery business conducted by Madame Helene, in 55, Conduit Street, belongs to her German husband who is interned; and, if so, why this business is not closed?

The hon. Member has been misinformed. I have made inquiry, and I find that the business in question belongs entirely to Madame Helene, a woman who, though married to a German now interned, is of French birth and sympathies and has two brothers fighting in the French Army.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, at Reichenfeld's Great Hungarian Restaurant, in Foubert's Place, W.C., some twenty or thirty aliens of military age meet every day; whether the German and Magyar languages are solely employed; and why the business is not closed and the frequenters interned?

I am informed that the facts are not as stated in the question, but that this is a very small and well-conducted restaurant largely frequented by French and Serbians, and that the only alien enemies who visit it are three Hungarians who have been exempted from internment. The proprietor is a Hungarian woman who manages the business herself, and by means of it supports herself and her five children, three of whom are British-born.

asked the Home Secretary whether the restaurant business of Paul Stüilick in Percy Street, who was interned last week, is still being carried on by his alien wife; and, if so, whether the licence has been transferred to the wife and, generally, why the business is not closed?

I am informed that the wife of this man is a British-born woman, and that for the present she is carrying en the restaurant and employs two waiters, one of whom is a Czech with, a French wife, and the other an Austrian with a British-born wife and three British-born children. She has not yet, I understand, applied for a transfer of the licence, and I am considering what, if any, further action is desirable in the case.

asked the Home Secretary whether Max Zeller, an alien enemy, is still carrying on business in 45, Charlotte Street; and, if so, seeing that he openly professes pro-German feelings, will he say why he is not interned and his business wound up?

The hon. Member has been misinformed. This man, an Austrian, aged 64 and in feeble health, gave up the business in question in April, 1915. I shall be glad if the hon. Member will let me have the evidence that leads him to think that Zeller openly professes pro-German feelings.

asked why J. Graf, an alien German and a man of anti-English sentiments openly professed, is still carrying on business in 16, Goodge Street; and why he is not interned and his business wound up?

The hon. Member appears to refer to one Nicholas Graf, who was exempted from internment on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee, in view of the facts that he has resided here for thirty-five years, has four British-born children, and obtained his discharge from German nationality in 1884. The inquiries I have had made do not bear out the statement in the question that he is "a man of anti-English sentiments openly professed," and I will be glad if the hon. Member will let me see the evidence which he has to that effect.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can consider remitting part of the sentence of imprisonment of Edward Fuller, who was sent to prison for ninety-one days for desiring to publish a placard to the effect that war will become impossible if all men were to have the view that war is wrong; and since when has it become a crime to placard platitudes?

Edward Fuller was convicted of attempting to publish a placard containing statements intended to prejudice recruiting, contrary to Regulation 27 under the Defence of the Realm Act. The placard contained a sentence from a speech delivered by counsel appearing on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions in a previous case, in which he was describing what were, not his own views, but the views of the persons whom he was prosecuting. The placard took this sentence apart from its context, and represented it as conveying the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions. It was headed "The Public Prosecutor on War," and dishonestly made use of his name to promote the objects of the No-Conscription Fellowship. The sentence imposed Joy the Court was a fine, with imprisonment in default of payment. I cannot advise remission of any part of it.

asked the Home Secretary whether the report upon which he depends in pronouncing Mr. Bertrand Russell's speech at Cardiff to be anti-British was taken down by a trained reporter or by the police; whether he is aware that Mr. Russell denies the accuracy of part of the report as expressing opinions which he does not hold and never could have expressed; and whether it has become the practice of the Government to restrict the liberties of Britons on evidence which is never placed before them, and which they have never had an opportunity of contradicting?

In answer to the first part of the question, the report of the speech was made in ordinary course by a trained reporter on the staff of a leading newspaper, and the transcript of the verbatim notes was afterwards sent to the Home Office at the request of the Department. In answer to the second part of the question, I am not aware which are the passages of the reported speech the accuracy of which Mr. Russell denies, or how far he repudiates the attack, as it was reported, on the British case for entering the War and continuing to wage it. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative, but in time of war it is sometimes necessary for both the military and the civil authorities to take summary action.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement of the deputy stipendiary at Birmingham in the case of Councillor Kneeshaw on 22nd September that he must convict, as the pamphlet was an indirect attack on military Conscription; and whether, in view of the explicit statement of the Government that opposition to Conscription was not illegal, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I understand that an appeal has been lodged against this conviction. Until it has been heard, I cannot say anything with regard to the case.

asked the Home Secretary what the intentions of His Majesty's Government are regarding interned enemy aliens in this country; and whether they will be deported on the termination of Hostilities or will they be held until our soldiers are demobilised, in order that the men who have fought in the War may not find their places taken by aliens on their return?

The measures to be taken with regard to interned aliens at the end of the War are being considered in detail. It would be premature to make any statement with regard to them now, but the hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that the Government has not lost sight of the important consideration to which he draws attention.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will postpone all permissions for German women to leave Great Britain until all British-born women and children have been repatriated from the invaded provinces of France and Belgium?

I have considered the suggestion, but at present the position is that practically all. German women in the United Kingdom who desired to return have been allowed to do so.

asked the Home Secretary how many miners have been discharged from the Army and returned to civil life since the commencement of this year; and if arrangements have been made to replace all discharged men who were miners with single men of the same calling?

In accordance with the decision of the Government that men who were previously employed in coal mines, and were reported as not fit for general service, should be released in order to resume their former employment, about 11,000 men have been transferred to Class W, Army Reserve, and returned to the mines. As the output of coal is still far short of the amount required for national purposes, and the men in question have been released in order to assist in increasing the output, there can be no question of releasing other miners for enlistment in the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many alien civilian prisoners now interned in this country have sons serving in the British Army; and if such prisoners have any special privileges?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. As regards the first part of the question, I regret that no figures are available. As regards the second, the fact that an alien enemy had one or more sons voluntarily serving in the British Army was taken into consideration by the Advisory Committee on his application for exemption from internment, but where exemption was not granted it is not possible to allow special privileges to the interned alien.

asked the Secretary whether, after the repatriation to Germany of civilian prisoners over forty-five years of age, he will consider the possibility of employing all those able—bodied men who remain on work of public utility, more especially as their numbers will then be reduced, and most of them are reported to be desirous so to be employed?

The efforts which are now being made to provide useful work for interned prisoners, which I indicated in answer to the hon. Member for York last Tuesday, will be continued after the prisoners over forty-five years of age have been repatriated.

asked the Treasurer of the Household whether German civilian prisoners of war over forty-five years of age are given the option of returning to Germany or remaining in this country, and whether he can state the reasons for this stipulation on the part of the British Government?

The question whether German civilian prisoners over forty-five will or will not be allowed to remain interned in this country is not dealt with in the agreement, but is under consideration. It is provided in the agreement that neither Government shall have the right to claim the repatriation of any of its nationals who do not desire to leave.

asked the Treasurer of the Household whether negotiations have yet been concluded for the repatriation of British and Austro-Hungarian prisoners of war over a specified age?

We are still awaiting a reply to our last communication, dated 2nd September, to the Austro-Hungarian Government on this subject.

asked the Treasurer of the Household whether the delay in publishing the further Reports on British prisoner camps is due to the action of the State Department at Washington; and, if so, will he cause an earnest request to be made on behalf of the relatives of British prisoners of war that such Reports shall be published forthwith?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The United States Government are well aware of our earnest desire to publish these Reports, and any delay that has occurred is not due to His Majesty's Government.

asked the Treasurer of the Household whether British invalid civilian prisoners of war under forty-five years of age may now hope to be interned in Switzerland under terms identical with those applicable to German, French, and Belgian civilians?

This question is still under consideration. Perhaps my hon. Friend will repeat the question next week?

asked the Treasurer of the Household whether he is aware that French and German prisoners of war interned in Switzerland are permitted to attend courses of lectures at the Swiss universities; and whether British prisoners are allowed to do so?

His Majesty's Government have no information with regard to the first part of the question, but there is no reason to suppose that British prisoners of war in Switzerland are not permitted the same privileges as those of other nationalities.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether, for the information of Members of the House of Commons, he will cause to be circulated the Danish laws dealing with the question of venereal disease and the protection afforded to the community by such laws; (2) if the New South Wales Government have recently introduced a law dealing with the question of compulsory notification of venereal disease; and (3) whether he will arrange for the circulation of the Report issued by the Australian Commission on Venereal Disease?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer these questions. Perhaps I may be permitted to deal with them together. I am informed that copies of — the Danish laws on the subject of venereal diseases are being obtained and will be placed in the Library of the House. As regards the second question, no Bill on the subject of the compulsory notification of these diseases has yet been received from New South Wales, but I understand that the question is under consideration in New South Wales and other Australian States. The Report of the Australian Commission on venereal diseases will be placed in the Library of the House when received.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received any request from Statutory Committees on war pensions for an allowance for railway expenses and payment for lost time when attending meetings of these committees; and, if so, whether he proposes to do anything in the matter?

Some representations have been received, and are under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is considering the advisability of increasing the number of Trade Commissioners throughout the Allied and neutral countries and the British Empire; what is the number of Trade Commissioners at the present time; and how many Commissioners and Sub-Commissioners will be necessary to efficiently promote and safeguard British commerce throughout the world?

The whole question of the improvement of our existing machinery for the collection of commercial intelligence and for promoting British trade overseas is now under consideration by His Majesty's Government, and I hope to be able to make an announcement on the subject shortly. At the present time Trade Commissioners are confined to the self-governing Dominions. They are four in number stationed in Canada, Newfoundland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa respectively. My hon. Friend will understand that I am not yet in a position to reply to the last part of his question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the various Classes of sugared goods which have, during the years 1915 and 1916, been exported from this country for sale in the United States, Holland, Sweden, and Norway; whether such exports were made under licence; and whether he can state approximately, within a few thousand pounds, the value of such exports during the years 1915 and 1916?

I will have the particulars printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the raw material wood pulp is prohibited as an import into this country from Sweden, while paper is being imported in large quantities from that country; and, if so, will he say why this has been done in the face of the fact that paper-makers in Britain are working short time?

Import of both paper-making materials and paper from all sources are at present restricted to two-thirds of the quantities imported in 1914. The licences issued by the Paper Commission do not prescribe the country from which the imports are to be derived, but exports of chemical pulp from Sweden have been prohibited by the Swedish Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated total value of the businesses to be wound up under the Trading With the Enemy (Amendment) Act, 1916, and former Acts; how much has as yet been realised; and what fees have been paid or are still owing to the controllers, supervisors, inspectors, custodians, and other officials engaged in the winding-up?

As regards the amount of the realisations under the Trading With the Enemy (Amendment) Act, 1916, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for North-East Bethnal Green on the 18th October. I regret that I am unable to supply figures with regard to the other points raised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the former London manager of A. W. Faber and Company, an enemy firm which is being wound up, is now carrying on a similar business on his own account; whether he is, with the consent of the Board of Trade, importing goods from the firm of A. W. Faber and Company, New Jersey, United States of America, which is or was connected with the London firm of A. W. Faber and Company and is entirely German; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question is in the affirmative. The Board of Trade did not raise any objections to this importation nor had they any power to do so, as this firm is not at present on the Statutory List.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the basis of remuneration on 'which the controllers and liquidators of enemy firms and companies are employed; are they all employed on the same conditions; and will he lay a copy of the agreements upon the Table of the House?

Supervisors and controllers of enemy businesses are remunerated on the basis of the time actually occupied in the work at the rate of £5. 5s. 0d. a day for principals, £1 11s. 6d. a day for chief clerks, and 16s. a day for other clerks. An increased rate has been allowed in a few exceptional cases, and in some other cases a special fee may be paid. No formal agreements have been entered into, but the controllers are informed by letter of the scale of remuneration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any relaxation in the prohibition regulations passed last June has been permitted and licences permitting the importation of foreign hops granted, and, if so, to what persons or firms?

As regards the first part of the question, I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of an answer given on 16th August last to the hon. and gallant Member for Maidstone, in which the position was explained. As regards the second part, it is contrary to precedent to give the names of individuals. and firms to whom licences have been issued.

asked the President, of the Board of Trade whether the firm of Castner Kellners asked to be allowed to tender, as well as Messrs. Levenstein and British Dyes, Limited, for the Ellesmere Port Works; whether they subsequently withdrew their application, and can he give the reason; whether they are—now making the intermediate phenyl-glycine for Messrs. Levenstein to make the indigo from; and whether they have any present interest in the Ellesmere Port Works beyond contracting for the supply of the phenyl-glycine required for the manufacture?

In reply to an invitation to submit evidence of their ability to manufacture synthetic indigo if they desired to tender for the Port Ellesmere-Works, the Castner Kellner Alkali Company, Limited, informed the Board of Trade that after full consideration they had decided not to tender. I have no-knowledge as to their reasons for this decision, nor as to any arrangements between that company and Messrs. Levinstein for the supply of phenyl-glycin. So far as I am aware, the Castner Kellner Alkali Company, Limited, have no interest in the Port Ellesmere Works.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the names of the scientific expert—referees who advised the Board of Trade that only Messrs. Levinsteins were in a position to make indigo at the Ellesmere Port Works?

The scientific experts who advised the Board of Trade on the evidence of ability to manufacture synthetic indigo at the Port Ellesmere Works-submitted by British Dyes, Limited, and Messrs. Levinsteins were Sir William A. Tilden, F.R.S., and Professor W. J. Pope, F.R.S.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that on Monday, 16th October, at Mark Lane Corn Market, wheat was quoted for English whites and reds 71s. per quarter, and after his speech on Tuesday, 17th October, to the effect that the Government had decided to control the purchase of all wheat supplies, the price at the same market rose to 74s. on 18th October, and on 25th October to 76s.; and if he can state what steps he proposes to take to bring the price back to the figure it had reached before his announcement was made?

The announcement of the appointment of the Wheat Commission was made in this House on 10th October, a week earlier than the speech with which my hon. Friend connects the rise in wheat prices. I am disposed to think that the conditions which have brought about the rise are precisely those which rendered the appointment of the Commission desirable, and I hope that the efforts of the Commission will be effective in minimising the effect of the rise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on certain Scottish railways greater facilities are being given for the carriage of beer than for the carriage of potatoes and other foodstuffs; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received no complaints on this subject; but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with details of any particular case he may have in mind, I will make inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the official quotation of 8th October for refined granulated sugar as less than 2½d. per lb. wholesale in New York and 2½d. retail; and, if so, whether he will state the price in London?

The prices referred to by my right hon. Friend appear to be the duty—paid wholesale price and the advertised price of a retail firm which was making a leading line of sugar in 25 lb. lots. The wholesale bonded price of sugar in New York on Monday, 9th October was, I am informed, $5.90 per 100 lbs., or 27s. 9d. per cwt., and the wholesale bonded price in London on the same day was 26s. 10¾d. per cwt. net.