asked the Prime Minister whether payments due to enemy aliens interned in this country Hinder contracts and agreements with British firms made before the outbreak of War are allowed to be made to such aliens during the War; and if so, whether the policy of the Government is to encourage or discourage such payments?

Payments to enemy aliens interned in this country are not prohibited; but, in order to prevent any money so paid finding its way to an enemy country, any person desiring to make such payment is advised to make the payment only through the commandant of the camp in which the enemy alien has been interned, or to a bank in this country to the account of the enemy alien, notice being given to the bank of the enemy nationality of the payee.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether he has received further information concerning the condition of the Irish potato crop; whether he proposes to take steps for the purpose of safeguarding the Irish people from a scarcity of potatoes during the winter and spring; and if he proposes to take action with a view to the provision of sound seed potatoes for next year's planting?

The Department of Agriculture is being supplied with regular and frequent reports from every district in the country on the subject, and is also in consultation with the Government in order that if action becomes necessary it may be promptly taken. Owing to the recent bad weather much of the potato crop remains in the ground. According to the best judgment the Department can form, the crop will be about two-thirds of normal or perhaps a little less. After careful inquiry the Department believes that the danger is not of such a serious nature as is apprehended by the hon. Member. When the crop has been lifted and the full facts are known any necessary action will be taken, and can, if the facts require it, include action with regard to the provision of sound seed potatoes.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether in making appointments, patronage or otherwise, he has imposed, or will impose, any restric- tions or terms on the new office holders as a result of the War; and does the question of military age effect all candidates?

The only appointments that have been made by or on the advice of the Attorney-General for Ireland have been those of certain members of the Bar to act as junior counsel in the prosecution of criminal offences or in connection with the legal work of certain Government Departments, and also of certain members of the solicitors' profession to act as Crown solicitors in Ireland. For all practical purposes the only suitable persons available for such positions in Ireland are of military age, but the Attorney-General is considering the question as to how far in all future appointments of the kind it would be possible to limit them to the duration of the War.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private G. F. Dutch, No. 20,534, E Company, 30th Training Reserve Battalion, Maxton Camp, Dover, on completion of 112 days' imprisonment as a resisting conscientious objector, was given a permit, signed by G. G. White, adjutant, commanding 30th Training Beserve Battalion, to be absent from quarters from 23rd September for the purpose of proceeding to Tunbridge Wells to appear before a tribunal, and was informed he would hear from the tribunal, but on 9th October was recalled and rearrested before he had appeared before the tribunal or even heard from them; whether he is further aware that on 25th October Dutch was courtmartialled for refusing to parade when ordered, was found guilty, and sentenced to forty-two days' detention; and whether he will now be given the opportunity to appear before the tribunal and, if he fails to obtain exemption, whether the decision of the court-martial will be reversed so that he may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment to be served in a civil prison, in accordance with Army Order No. 10, of 25th May, 1916?

Inquiries are being made into this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a conscientious objector died suddenly in the guardroom at Strensall Camp, Yorkshire; whether the man was attached to the Northumberland Fusiliers; and whether he can give any information as to the name of the man and any circumstances attending his death?

Inquiries are being: made.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if it is proposed to remove from the farms men of military age, however skilled or indispensable, on and after 1st January, or, in the case of dairymen, 1st April next; if so, what will be the exact process of providing substitutes; and whether the substitution officers will be practical agriculturists with knowledge of local conditions and requirements; (2) whether,, seeing that there is likely to be a shortage of milk, wheat, and other essential foods if farms are further depleted of their skilled and indispensable labour, he will instruct the Appeal Tribunals to act in strict occordance with the recent public statements on this subject of the President of the Board of Agriculture speaking on behalf of the Government?

The hon. and gallant Member is mistaken in thinking that the intention of the War Office is to withdraw indispensable men from the farms. The men who will be called up on January 1st or April 1st are those whom tribunals have decided can be dispensed with. Where the man is indispensable and fit for general service a substitute will, if possible, be found in order to release him for service in the Army. If a substitute cannot be found he will remain in his civil occupation. The substitution officers charged with this work will be chosen, as far as possible, from people acquainted with local conditions, and in effecting substitution in agriculture will work in co-operation with the representative of the Board of Agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, when in the New Year married farm workers occupying farm cottages are compelled to join the Army, their wives and families will be forced to leave their homes while they are serving their country in a military capacity in order to provide accom- modation for the substitutes who will take their place, or how otherwise suitable accommodation will be found for the latter?

Substitution has been in operation for some time, and so far no difficulties of the kind suggested have developed on a scale seriously to affect the general success of these early experiments in substitution.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of hardship inflicted on the wives and dependants of agricultural labourers who were called to the Colours during the months of July and August in Norfolk and other counties, where dependence is placed on harvest earnings for the payment of rent, permission will be given to the war pensions committees in these counties to make separate grants to meet the needs of individual cases?

It is open to men whose circumstances are as described to make an application under the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) scheme. Assistance has already been granted in a number of cases of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he s aware that the Appeals Tribunal for the northern district of the West Riding of Yorkshire passed a man named Herbert Wright as fit for active service; that this man, on the 15th of May, 1916, had the index finger of his left hand taken off at the second joint and the thumb and middle finger severely injured while working a spindle machine; that at the present time he is only able to undertake light employment; and whether he will take steps to exempt this man from military service until he has recovered from the effect of the accident?

I think the hon. Member must be under a misapprehension in stating that an Appeal Tribunal passed a man as fit for active service. The question of passing a man as fit for military service is for a medical board to decide, and physical fitness for military service only comes under the consideration of tribunals in connection with a claim for exemption. The man in question will certainly not be sent abroad until, in the opinion of military medical authorities, he is fit to go.

asked the Secretary of State for War if unattested men who reached the age of forty-one on. 24th June, 1916, are liable to be called up for service under the Military Service Act?

The answer is in the affirmative for men who come within the operation of the Military Service Act, 1916 (Session 2), on the date of the passing of that Act (25th May, 1916), and who had not attained the age of forty-one before the appointed date (24th June, 1916).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether miners who are released by their employers for military service are given any opportunity of appealing to the tribunals on domestic or other grounds before they are required to join the Army?

Miners who are released for military service are entitled to apply to tribunals for a renewal of their certificates of exemption, if unattested on any of the domestic or other grounds specified in Section 2 (i.) of the Military Service Act, 1916, or if attested on the grounds set out in the instructions to-tribunals.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the policy of the Government regarding the withdrawal from the mines of those men who, to avoid military service, have started work there since the War; whether he has official information showing that the miners themselves would raise any objection to this step; and whether he will explain why the retention of these amateur miners in their present posts is required?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The policy of the Government, which is faced with the problem of obtaining an additional 15,000,000 tons of coal a year over and above the present rate of output, is to exempt from military service all persons at present employed, and so long as they continue to be employed, in the industry, excepting any men who may have gone into the mines since 24th June last. I am advised that there is no ground for supposing that any large number of men have entered the mines in order to evade military service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the number of men of military age who are being retained for clerical duties in the War Office; and whether he is satisfied that no more can be spared for military service, having regard to the advisability of the War Office setting an example by releasing as many as possible to fill up the numbers of recruits which they are urging the country to supply?

Yes, Sir. My attention has been called to certain statements on this subject. The following facts will give the answer to the question in the most convenient form. Rather more than a month ago I appointed a special Departmental Committee to take in hand the combing-out of the civilians and soldiers employed in the War Office and the various Departments included in it. The Committee have reported to me that as a commencement they have ordered the release, at varying dates, within the next few weeks, of all the members of the civilian staff who are fit for general service and are under the age of twenty-six. This will leave 171 only fit for general service out of a staff of about 8,200, of whom 4,000 are women. Similar orders are being issued in regard to the military staff (other than commissioned officers), but as to these I am not in a position at the moment to give figures such as those I have quoted above in regard to the civil staff. As to the commissioned officers, the Committee are going through the names one by one with a view to determining the possibility of the release of as large a number as possible. Having regard to the part which the War Office has to play in the War, I am not sure that it would be safe to go further in this matter, at any rate, at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to replace all men of military age now employed in the Labour Exchanges throughout the country by discharged soldiers or civilians over the age of forty-two?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to a somewhat similar question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Wednesbury on 19th October, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Class C 1 men, presumably men of poor physique accustomed to sedentary occupations, who have been recently called up have been placed immediately under canvas; and will he say how many of these men have consequently been sent to hospital?

I am not in a position to say whether men of Class C 1 have in any cases, and if so, in how many, been placed under canvas on being called up. It is quite possible that this has been done. I have no figures available in reference to the last part of the question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will state the grounds upon which separation allowance is refused to Hubert O'Connor, father of No. 933, Corporal H. O'Connor, 12th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, in view of the fact that prior to enlistment he was accustomed to receive from his son from 15s. to £l per week?

This claim was very carefully considered by the Appeals Committee presided over by my right hon. Friend the Member for North Sv. Pancras, with the result that the claimant failed to establish dependence prior to enlistment.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, whether a series of resolutions passed by the Corporation of the City of Glasgow has been submitted to the Army Council urging that the scale of separation allowances should be revised in view of the prevailing high prices, that separation allowances be granted in respect of apprentices who had nearly finished their apprenticeship and students who had nearly completed their education and would already have been contributing to their parents' support, that separation allowance should not be suspended while the person in respect of whom it is payable is temporarily under treatment in a rate-aided institution for infectious disease, and that the full separation allowance, including allotment, should continue to be paid after the death of the soldier for the period of the War at least; and whether it is proposed to take any action?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has already undertaken to consider the reassembling of the Select Committee which dealt with these matters, and no doubt, if reassembled, it will review the question mentioned in the resolutions.

asked the Secretary for War (1) whether he will have the case of Private R. Smith, No. 10035, late 15th Lancashire Fusiliers, inquired into; whether he is aware that he has a wife and nine children, and was discharged on 12th October, 1916, having been wounded on 1st July; that his wife's separation allowance has been stopped, while he has received no allowance or pension of any kind; and (2) whether he will have the case of Corporal J. W. Burrows, late 15th Lancashire Fusiliers, No. 20629, inquired into; whether he is aware that he had bad attacks of bronchitis owing to the damp when in camp during training; whether he was discharged as medically unfit; and whether some pension or allowance will be made to him?

I am making inquiries into these two cases, and will let my hon. Friend know in due course the result.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. M'Shane, the widowed mother of Corporal H. M'Shane, No. 4 Mountain Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, now in Egypt, who has had eleven years' service, also of a daughter, whose husband is now in the Army in France, also of Private Edward M'Shane, of the Grenadier Guards, who died of wounds on 23rd September, 1916, also of William M'Shane, now in the Army Service Corps in Egypt, also of J. M'Shane, who has been wounded and discharged from the King's Liverpool Regiment; whether he is aware that this widow's only income is 8d. a day from the son in India, and that the War Office allege they are precluded from making any allowance or allotment, owing to the fact that prior to the War Mrs. M'Shane was not a widow and not then dependent upon her sons; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I cannot trace W. M'Shane from the particulars given, but there does not appear to be any claim in respect of the other sons. Under the recommendation of the Select Committee, separation allowance is only given to dependants on account of dependence which, existed before the War or enlistment. The case appears to be one for the consideration of the Statutory Committee.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board what arrangements exist for ensuring that subcommittees appointed by the war pensions committees adequately carry out their work; and when are such sub-committees expected to issue reports on their activities?

It rests with the local committee appointing sub-committees to satisfy themselves that the subcommittees are adequately carrying out the powers and duties delegated to them by the local committee, who are authorised by Section 2 (9) of the Act of 1915 to make such delegation subject to any restrictions or conditions they may think fit. They can require such reports from them and at such times as they may deem desirable. I may add that the Inspectors of the Statutory Committee are always ready to afford any advice or assistance in their power to local committees and their sub-committees in the discharge of their functions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office has instructed recruiting officers to refuse to recognise birth certificates issued by registrars for the purposes of the National Insurance Act; whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that some officers are declining to recognise these certificates; and whether he will take steps to instruct officers to accept them when they are presented?

I am .looking into this point.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is in a position to state the progress which is being made in recruiting and training the native British subjects throughout the Empire?

Considerable progress has been made in the organisation of native forces, both combatant and non-combatant, amongst such native races and tribes as are suitable and available for military service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the members of the Territorial Force (Yeomanry) now serving at Salonika have had no leave since they left England eighteen months ago, he will represent to the General Officer Commanding the desirability of granting leave, thereby adopting the same practice as the French authorities, who arrange leave for their men in detachments?

I can assure my Noble Friend that this matter is now receiving the consideration of the General Officer Commanding Force at Salonika, and I hope the outcome will be such as my Noble Friend desires.

asked the Secretary? of State for War whether he can state the proportionate contribution of each of the Allies to the total of the forces in the field?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will issue an order to the effect that special attention be drawn to the granting of leave to such soldiers who have been twelve months and over without any furlough and so remove what is becoming a source of discontent?

I do not see my way to issue such an order. The grant of leave is, as has frequently been stated, vested in the Commander-in-Chief, who is, and always has been, desirous that all possible leave compatible with military exigencies shall be given. I am afraid that this is all I can say in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the war bonus recently given to the clerical staffs in His Majesty's Dockyards will be extended to the civilian clerks and writers employed in the garrison at Mount Wise, Devonport?

The question of extending the bonus to War Department employés at these stations is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private Joseph Howe, No. 36355, C Company, 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment, joined the Herts Infantry on 24th November, 1915, and is now with the forces in France; and whether, seeing that he will not reach the age of 18 years until 11th January, 1917, steps will be taken to see that he is released from the Army?

Yes, Sir, steps will be taken to see that this case is disposed of under the instructions given.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the deaths from pneumonia arising in the Cannock Chase camps during last winter were above the average; whether he has heard complaints as to the condition of the hutments on Cannock Chase; and, if not, will he have an independent inquiry made into the housing conditions on the Chase before the winter comes on?

According to the information in the possession of the Army Council there were only six deaths from October, 1915, to April, 1916—two in February, four in March. No complaints have reached the War Office as to the condition of the hutments on Cannock Chase.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it has now been arranged that convalescent hospitals should be under canvas rather than in huts; what, if so, is the type of tent used; is he satisfied that all such tents are watertight, and also with the class of tent and the flooring of such tents; and, if not, will be send a small committee of responsible civilians to inspect all these convalescent tented hospitals?

It is necessary to expand hospital accommodation from time to time, and hospitals are sometimes put under canvas in climates where patients .and convalescents can remain under canvas in winter. Where this is done proper hospital marquees are provided and extra comforts for the winter are also issued. No complaints of the kind suggested by the hon. Member have been received. I cannot agree to the proposal contained in the last sentence of my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is now any regular dental personnel and equipment laid down for His Majesty's Army; and how many qualified dentists, how many dental equipments, how many vuleanisers, and how many dental assistants or artificers are there now attached to the Expeditionary Forces in Egypt, Salonika, Mesopotamia, and East Africa, respectively?

There is no fixed regular scale of dental personnel or equipment laid down for His Majesty's Army; but provision for dental treatment has been made, and all demands have been fully met. The equipment has been standardised with the advice of dental experts.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a restaurant train runs from Antwerp viâ Berlin to Constantinople with unfailing regularity; and, seeing that such railway facilities increase the sources of supply of the enemy, will he state what steps he proposes to take, by aircraft attack or otherwise, to destroy such connection and interrupt this means of communication?

I have no reason to doubt the statements made by the hon. Member, but it is obviously impossible to give any information as to future military operations.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of Private Edward Jobling, of Blyth, who is said to have died from the effects of anti-typhoid vaccination, who gave up a permanent situation and enlisted in September, 1914, in the Tyne-side Commercials; whether he is aware that before his vaccination this man's health was good, as he had never been in the doctor's hands; that immediately after vaccination he felt ill, and never regained his former health; whether he is aware that Jobling was discharged in August, 1915, as no longer physically fit for war service, and was registered as having served 352 days; that up to the time of his death, in August of this year, he was under medical treatment at Blyth; and whether an investigation will be made with a view to compensation being paid to the young man's parents for the loss and expense they incurred?

If my right hon. Friend will furnish me with the name of this man's regiment and his regimental number, I will have the case inquired into.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, under the new Regulations about to be enforced with regard to the sending of food packets to British prisoners of war in Germany, it will still be possible for the families and friends of prisoners to send packets to individuals through the new centralising authority; and whether full details as to the new arrangements will be displayed in post offices for the information of the general public?

Parcels of certain kinds can be sent by the families and friends of prisoners, provided that they have been examined and packed by the Central Committee or by an organisation authorised by that committee. Before the scheme is brought into operation notices will be put up in post offices, giving lists of the authorised organisations and showing for which regiments, etc., each organisation will receive money or is authorised to send parcels.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the desirability of bringing Territorial battalions who have been in India for twelve months and upwards back to serve either in France or in England; and whether he can give any assurance that all Territorial battalions which may be in India at the conclusion of the War shall be brought back to this country as soon as may be?

I regret that I am not able to give any undertakings as to the future dispositions of the troops; but it may be taken for granted that Territorial troops serving in India will have every consideration given to their claim for early demobilisation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has received any complaints as to the conditions in which the soldiers at Pennington Camp have to sleep; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter and take steps to secure that the soldiers are adequately protected from the danger arising from lying on wet soil?

No, Sir; I have received no complaints, but I am having the case inquired into, and, if found necessary, steps will be taken to remedy matters.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the essential distinction between long-distance carrier pigeons and the class known as short-distance flyers, which latter class have a radius of not more than two miles; and whether he can see his way to remove the restriction which the National Union of Short-distance Flyers so strongly object to, having regard to the fact that their birds, with their short range, are entirely outside the possibility of espionage?

The question of the liberation of pigeons generally was very carefully gone into at a conference attended by representatives of the Admiralty, War Office, Home Office, and Home Forces before the present regulations were issued. The birds known as "short- distance flyers." are capable of fairly long flight, certainly up to fifty miles, and are, therefore, not outside the possibility of being used for espionage. In addition, there is no distinction in appearance between the long and short-distance birds. There would, therefore, be considerable-danger in removing the restrictions which are now objected to by the National Union of Short-distance Flyers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the sentence of ten years' penal servitude passed upon Private Robert Edward Gunthorpe, No. 13839, 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, for striking Corporal Walter Powell, Military Staff Corps, on 24th August, 1916, who was at that time engaged in the assisting of distribution of prisoners to their work, and also of using threatening language to his superior officer on the same date; and whether, having regard to the term of the sentence, he will have the case reconsidered with a view to reducing the same?

No, Sir; in view of the serious nature of the offence for which this man was tried and convicted and of his previous bad record, I see no ground for reconsidering or reducing the sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the £20 bounty which time-expired soldiers, under the Military Service Act, are entitled to on being retained with the Colours can be invested in Exchequer Bonds on their behalf or in the name of their wives?

Two-thirds of this bounty is already held for deferred payment on the man's discharge, with interest at 5 per cent. Ample facilities for investment in such bonds of the remainder, and of any other cash the soldier may possess, have already been provided.

asked the Secretary of State for War why our Infantry, who have to bear the brunt of battle in the trenches and engage the enemy with the bayonet or bomb, and who have to risk their lives in all front line movements, should be the lowest paid regiments in His Majesty's Service; and if his Department will at once consider a more fair rate being paid to these men pro rata to the risks they run?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Hanley on the 12th October.

asked the Secretary of State for India what has been the measure of response to the appeal to Anglo-Indians to volunteer for war service; whether any similar appeal has been made to the Burmese nation, and with what result; and what military units have been or are being formed in each case?

Up to the beginning of August about one-half of the number of recruits who were asked for under the scheme had been enrolled. I have no later information. (The scheme contemplated sixteen platoons of Infantry, two troops of Cavalry, and a battery of Artillery. No appeal has been made to the Burmese to enlist, as on previous occasions such experiments did not meet with success.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the loyalty of the West Indies during the War, he has yet arrived at any definite decision with regard to the proposed West Indian flag?

The loyalty of the West Indies has never, I think, been in question before or during the War. But before I can take any decision in regard to such a matter as a joint flag there must be general agreement among the Colonies concerned, which is not at present the case.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will arrange, at the end of the first month's working, to obtain a Report as to the effect of the new Early Closing Order upon the businesses of small tradesmen?

I shall take steps to keep myself informed as to the working of the Order, and will bear specially in mind the point referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether any Order in Council has yet been made under Sub-section (2) of Section 40 of The Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914?

It has not been found possible to deal with this matter during the War, and no Order in Council has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether flying machines F.E.2D are still supplied with longerons for which ash has to be substituted as soon as they are delivered to the Expeditionary Force, necessitating the dismantling of the machines and causing delay?

The answer is in the negative. All machines now supplied to the Expeditionary Force have ash longerons.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing amongst postal servants with the recent bonus of Is. to men and 6d. to women; that this bonus is quite inadequate to meet the increased cost of living; and, in view of what is being granted in most other departments of labour, will he grant an increased bonus or consent to the demand for such increase to be submitted to arbitration?

I would refer the hon. Member to the announcement made to-day by the Prime Minister in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Great Grimsby.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state why Mrs. Anne Dolan, of Owencaum, Oorlough, Bawnboy, county Cavan, and number in pension register 3,173 of Bawnboy sub-committee, number in committee register 1,928, was refused a pension?

The claim of Mrs. Anne Dolan, of Owencaum, Oorlough, Bawnboy, county Oavan, was disallowed on the ground that the claimant failed to show that she had reached the statutory age.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the numbers of the paid staff in the Irish Land Commission under suitable headings for the years 1913, 1914, 1915, and up to date for 1916; and will he also give similar figures for the Estates Commissioners and state how many evicted tenants have been dealt with in 1914, 1915, and to the latest available date in the present year?

The particulars asked for in the first part of the question as regards the staff of the Land Commission, including the Estates Commissioners, are given in the Estimates. The number of evicted tenants reinstated in their former holdings, or provided with new holdings as purchasers under the Land Purchase Acts in the years mentioned, are 90, 47, and 44.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Report of the Intermediate Education Commissioners under the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Act, 1914, in continuation of Cd. 8,071, 1915, has been drawn up and printed; and, if so, when it will be presented to Parliament and circulated?

The Report has been submitted to the Lord Lieutenant, but the Schedules which are to accompany it have not yet been received. When they are received the question of publication will be considered.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will give the names of the bodies amongst whom was distributed the sum of £9,000 given by the agricultural branch of his Department to its technical instruction branch for the year 1914–15 for manual instruction and domestic economy in rural districts, and the amount set aside for each of those bodies, as notified to the Technical Instruction Board; and similar information relating to the corresponding subsidy for 1915–16; and the like information regarding the proposed distribution of the corresponding subsidy for 1916–17?

In regard to the first portion of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 3rd August on this subject. The Grants voted by the Agricultural Board for the purposes referred to for the years 1915–16 and 1916–17 have been reduced to £7,000. In the former year the Grant was participated in by twenty-seven county committees and by two joint committees for urban and rural districts. The Grant for 1916–17 will be shared by thirty-three county committees and by two joint committees for urban and rural districts.