asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ascertain if last spring the Bulgarian Premier formally took possession of the Serbian Legation; and, if so, whether he will consider if it would be reasonable if the enemy Embassies were taken over here, especially in view of the great demands for suitable pre- mises for public purposes and the special requirements of the Young Men's Christian Association?

I understand that the Bulgarian Government not only seized the Serbian Legation house at Sofia, but sold the furniture, confiscated the archives, and arrested and detained as a prisoner of war the former archivist of the Legation who had been left in charge of the premises.

Although His Majesty's Government share the indignation of the Serbian Government at this gross offence against the comity of nations, they nevertheless consider that the treatment of the houses formerly occupied by enemy diplomatic missions in London should rather depend upon that accorded to the British Embassy and Legation houses in the enemy capitals. The Bulgarian Government have not so far interfered with the British Legation house at Sofia, though at one time they threatened to requisition it. They subsequently withdrew the threat.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now ascertained if any civil or military supporters of the constitutional movement in Greece or of the Government Of M. Venizelos are being punished or court-martialled by the Government in Athens because of their opinions or actions?

I understand that certain civil, military, and naval officers who had joined M. Venizelos have been dismissed from the service of King Constantine and deprived of their pension rights. The French and British Governments have meanwhile informed M. Venizelos that the Allies will not lose sight of the interests of those Greek officials and officers who may desire to offer their services to the Provisional Government at Salonika, and that care will be taken that the interests of these officials and officers do not suffer in the future.

Has the Noble Lord seen the telegram in the "Morning Post" giving specific cases of officers imprisoned in the common prison in the Piraeus, and of other officers who have been in prison?

I have heard of the telegram to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. If M. Venizelos brings any such cases before the notice of the Government, we shall be glad to take any action in our power.

Has there been communication with King Constantine's Government as well as with M. Venizelos' Government?

I do not understand my hon. Friend's question at all. If M. Venizelos' Government will bring any of these questions to our notice we will take any action in our power.

My question was whether the Government has communicated with King Constantine's Government in regard to this matter?

I should like notice of that question.

Can the Government not act on the principle that prevention is better than cure?

I do not know to what prevention my hon. Friend refers.

To prevent King Constantine's Government from doing this.

Will the Noble Lord consider the desirability of having nothing more to do with King Constantine's Government?

I can assure my hon. Friend that we desire to take the strongest possible action to prevent any proceedings of this kind.

Will it be taken before the War is over?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the pledges given in regard to safeguarding the Allied communications by the Government in Athens have now all been completely fulfilled?

The Allied Governments have no reason as yet to be dissatisfied with the manner in which the Greek authorities are carrying out, in conjunction with the French and British officers designated for the purpose, the pledges to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. If there should be any reasonable apprehension on the point, I presume the Allied Governments will not hesitate to take effective action, but the House will realize that we cannot make definite statements as regards the future except in consultation and agreement with the Allies.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Trooper England, No. 2405, Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Yeomanry, has been refused leave for fifteen months in spite of repeated applications for the same; whether the reason given is that he has been required for duty to allow of leave being given to men about to proceed overseas; whether during the last thirteen months very few, if any, of his regiment have proceeded overseas; whether the man has been given to understand that as long as he remains uninoculated he will not be allowed leave; and whether anything will be done to remove the pressure being put on this soldier, contrary to the promise of the late Secretary of State for War that no pressure was to be brought to bear on soldiers who objected to vaccination or inoculation?

Fresh instructions have been issued recently, which it is hoped may remove greivances in these cases. In these circumstances I am sure my hon. Friend will not expect me to call for a report on the details of the particular case he mentions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can say if a draft of 200 men from the Connaught Rangers have been taken from Kinsale, county Cork, and sent, not to the Con-naught Rangers, but to the Seaforth Highlanders and compelled against their will to don the kilt; whether he can say who is responsible; whether the men will now be restored to their own regiment; and, seeing that a number of similar instances have occurred, whether he can state how the War Office proposes to keep the Irish regiments up to strength if men are withdrawn from them to fill up gaps in English and Scottish regiments?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish a Return of the number and strength of all drafts from Irish regiments sent to other than Irish units?

Inquiry has been made, and the Officer Commanding the Reserve Battalion of the Connaught Rangers states that none of his men have been transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders. The Officer in Charge of Records concerned also states that he has no information regarding such a transfer. I am afraid I cannot publish the return asked for, as I am advised that it would be undesirable to do so on military grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Gunner M. Cowan, now serving with the 32nd Battery of the Royal Field Artillery, at Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow, was arrested in Rathfriland, county Down, on 16th August, whilst working on his mother's farm, and forced into the Army; whether he has ascertained that Cowan was only a few months in Scotland in his life, was not ordinarily resident there, and had returned permanently to Ireland a year before his arrest; and whether, as he is therefore illegally detained and has, moreover, been found to be physically unfit for drill, he will now be released?

To the answer I have already given on the first part of this question, I can now add that Cowan is reported to be physically fit for general service.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this man is at present in hospital, and how can he be fit for general service?

It is quite possible that he has been passed and reported fit for general service, and it may be that he is suffering from some purely temporary illness.

Has the hon. Gentleman received any report from the doctor? As a matter of fact the doctor has not seen him at all. May I ask will the hon. Gentleman communicate with this doctor and see if he is gifted with second sight?

We have communicated and that is the report I have received that he has been passed for general service.

Does it state that he has seen him—can I have an answer to that question?

I have given all the information I have.

Is it not the fact that in many cases the doctors do not see them at all?

I beg to give notice that I shall put this question down again, because the answer I have received is most misleading.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of a single man who was rejected previous to the first Military Service Act, i.e., since August, 1915, and who did not receive a notice to report himself for re-examination by 1st September of this year, as stated in the present Act, he can consider himself exempt from military service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Bridgeton Division of Glasgow on 2nd November.

asked the Secretary of State for War if there is any military reason why the Military Service Act should not be made applicable to Malta, Gibraltar, and Cyprus?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which was given on 26th October by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Are men of forty-one to be called up here while young men under twenty-five in Malta are to do nothing whatever?

asked the Prime Minister whether the percentage of men fit for general service obtained at the primary medical examination of employés of military age in Government offices has been "brought to his notice; whether in some batches of those examined 90 per cent. were passed as fit for general service; and whether the War Office will spare no effort in obtaining for the Army this material?

asked (1) the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of, officials at present employed by the Government at the Foreign Office; how many of them are men of military age; the number of these fit for active service in connection with the War; whether the military authorities are calling them up; (2) the First Commissioner of Works the number of officials at present employed by the Government in his Department; how many of them are men of military age; the number of these fit for active service in connection with the War; whether the military authorities are calling them up; (3) the President of the Local Government Board the number of officials at present employed by the Government at the offices of the Local Government Board; how many of them are men of military age; the number of these fit for active service in connection with the War; whether the military authorities are calling them up; (4) the President of the Board of Trade the number of officials at present employed by, the Government at the offices of the Board of Trade; how many of them are men of military age; the number of these fit for active service; whether the military authorities are calling these men up for active service in connection with the War; and (5) the Secretary to the Treasury the number of officials at present employed by the Government at the Treasury offices at Whitehall; how many of them are men of military age; the number of these who are fit for active service; and whether the military authorities are calling these men up for active service in connection with the War?

As has already been stated to the House, the question of the employment of men of military age in Government Departments is engaging the attention of the Man-Power Distribution Board. The Board are procuring Returns from Government Departments, and hope to present their recommendations to the Government in the course of a few days. These recommendations will at once be taken into consideration by the Government, and, when their decision is announced to the House, the Returns made to the Man-Power Board will also be laid before it. In the meantime, I do not think it would serve any useful purpose to give information relating to separate Departments.

Will Returns also be made of men of military age engaged in Government Departments in Ireland?

I will certainly consider the point.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Man-Power Distribution Board published on 4th October a statement that it had been proved that fresh supplies of men are urgently needed for the Armies and munition factories; and if he will say what steps have been taken in the month that has now elapsed to make good this urgent need?

I understand an announcement from the Man-Power Board is expected shortly. Any such statement as that which is invited by the last part of the question would, I think, more properly be made in the Debate on Man-Power which is expected to take place shortly.

Will the Debate take place this week?

Until we get the Report from the Man-Power Committee and have had time to consider it, it would be impossible to name a date. I can assure my right hon. Friend there is no time being lost.

Will we see the Report of the Man-Power Board or a sufficient portion of it to discuss it fully in this House before the Debate takes place?

I have no doubt when the statement is made about the Report of the Man-Power Board it will be discussed.

Will the Report be presented fully to the House?

I should not like to commit myself upon that until we have seen the Report. It is conceivable there may be facts in it which it would be most undesirable to publish. If there is a debate in Secret Session we could state the facts more fully. Therefore, there are two questions to be decided before I could answer my right hon. Friend's question.

Will both the fact of a Secret Session and the fullness of the Report of the Man-Power Board be considered before the Debate takes place?

Certainly. The moment the Government receive the Report of the Man-Power Board they will first of all consider it, and then there will be a discussion in the House of Commons. Whether a public one or a secret one, I have no doubt my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will take the House into council on that question.

Are the Man-Power Board considering the question of extending the Military Service Acts to Ireland?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case which came before the Bermondsey Tribunal in which an applicant passed by a medical board produced three medical certificates stating that he was unfit; whether he is aware that, although this applicant had five soldier brothers, one being killed and two wounded, and had a father in the asylum and a widowed mother, and a wife and two children, the military representative stated that he was instructed to oppose and appeal against any proposal for temporary, exemption as suggested by the tribunal; whether he is aware that the Mayor protested that the tribunal had no power left and had better disbtnd, and that Councillor Shearring protested that the tribunal was under the iron hand of the military; and whether the action of this military representative reflects the present policy of the War Office in, such cases?

My hon. Friend presumably refers to the case of H. G. Spong. As this man was thirty years of age, and has been passed for general service, the military representative considered that he would have no alternative but to appeal if the exemption of six months proposed by the tribunal were granted. He suggested, however, to the tribunal that the man should go before the Special Medical Board, and this suggestion was adopted by the tribunal by 11 votes to 4. There the matter rests.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are a number of unfit men in the Army, including volunteers and conscripts, wounded and invalided soldiers; that the majority of these men never can be made fit for any category of military service; that their maintenance is costing the country a very large sum of money; and can he see his way to alleviate the position by granting discharges in as many cases as possible?

All men who are unfit for military employment are discharged as soon as possible. The question as to how far men who have been disabled are to be kept in the Service for further treatment, and, if necessary, instruction in some trade, is under consideration.

Are we to understand then that the hon. Gentleman denies on behalf of the Government that there are thousands of unfit men in the Army paid by the State, and doing no work at all?

Is it not the case that large numbers of unfit men are being recruited, not directly for military purposes, but for industrial purposes, under the substitution scheme, and will the hon. Gentleman tell us what power there is under the Military Service Acts to do this?

I do not think that arises out of the question.

It is true.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private C. Keen, No. 20212, 23rd Middlesex Regiment, was awarded non-combatant service by the Middlesex Appeal Tribunal at the Guildhall, Westminster, that this decision has been ignored by the military authorities, and that the man is now in France expecting to be ordered to do the work of a combatant soldier; and what action he proposes to take to insist that the certificate of the tribunal is acted upon?

Instructions have already been issued for this man to be transferred to the Non-Combatant Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the statement made by Major Passingham, at the Montgomery shire Appeal Tribunal, on Friday, 20th October, that in respect of a man returned to industry or agriculture under the substitution scheme he continued to be an Army man, and would be called back to the Army if he misbehaved; whether the judge as to the man's behaviour would be the employer or the military authorities; whether an expression of dissatisfaction with his conditions would be construed as misbehaviour; and whether in this connection he will bear in mind the pledge given by the Prime Minister that the Military Service Bill should not be used, and should not be capable of being used, for any form of industrial compulsion?

Major Passing-ham reports that he did not in any way suggest industrial compulsion. He was asked what would happen if a man in Class W, Army Reserve, placed as a substitute, misbehaved himself, and he stated that the matter would be impartially inquired into. If it was shown that the man had failed to comply with the conditions under which he had been placed in Section W, he would revert to the Army; but if the employer was found to be in the wrong, he would lose the services of the man, who would be placed with another employer.

Has any action been taken against the newspapers, which reported that Major Passingham used the words exactly as I have stated them?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that skilled architects in some regiments are performing the varied duties of coal-heavers, flour-carriers, waiters, scavengers, etc.; and will he take steps to utilise brainpower in the ranks in other directions?

I have no information in regard to the duties which are being performed by skilled architects serving in the ranks, but I am, of course, aware that there are in the ranks a considerable number of highly educated men. Many of these have, owing to their attainments, already qualified for promotion, and have reached positions where they can exercise their higher attainments; but it is not possible to give any pledge or undertaking that all such men who are serving in the ranks will be specially treated.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that public appeals for funds are being made in order to provide local Volunteer Corps with uniforms and rifles; and, seeing that the War Office has now taken over the control of Volunteers, whether he will consider the possibility of providing all the men who join such corps with the necessary military equipment free?

It is known that such appeals are being made, and Volunteer Corps, designed as they are for Home and local defence, seem not inappropiate objects for assistance by local effort. The whole question of Government assistance to Volunteers is under consideration, and I hope to be in a position to make a statement on this subject very shortly.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that large numbers of uniforms are now sold to contractors, and that the Volunteers have to buy these back from the contractors at a profit? That being so, would it not be wise on the part of the War Office to allow Volunteer Corps to have the use of this equipment and clothing now being sold to the contractors?

All these things are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that intimation of the death of a soldier abroad to his nearest relative at home, where such death has taken place owing to disciplinary measures, is made in harsh and unfeeling terms, calculated to inflict needless pain and humiliation upon relatives; and whether he will take steps to secure that in future such intimation shall be made in a more humane manner?

I am making inquiries into this matter, and any directions shown to be necessary will be given.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the hardship that is being suffered by business men being called up to the Colours and having to dispose of their trade stocks at ruinous prices, he will consider the possibility of the Government purchasing such stocks at their proper value where such commodities can be used for the purposes of the Army?

The War Office would be prepared to consider sympathetically offers made by business men, in the circumstances contemplated by the hon. Member, of goods suitable for Army purposes, but the possibility of accepting such offers would, of course, depend on the circumstances of the particular case and, in particular, on the feasibility of making suitable arrangements for inspection.

Will the hon. Gentleman take into consideration the immediate review of the position of the Civil Liabili- ties Committee on the point; the people who have to deal with this matter find it very difficult?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why Lieutenant A. D. Stewart, War Department land agent, E.G., Norwich area, refuses to pay 2s. 2d. a week per horse for grazing in the summer last year as agreed to by the War Office?

My hon. and gallant Friend recently wrote me about this case. I am having careful inquiries made and will let him know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in consideration of the fact that the Government of Canada has closed the Civil Service against men of military age and fitness, he will give orders for the adoption of a similar course in the United Kingdom, and put a stop during the continuance of the War to the competitive examinations among young men who are approaching or who have attained military age?

Steps were taken as soon as possible after the outbreak of the War to suspend all Home Civil Service examinations open to men of military age for the duration of the War; and the last examination from which any appointments were made was held in March, 1915. The only examinations for males now held are for boys under seventeen years of age, with the exception of the assistant clerks examination, for which the candidates are boy clerks of seventeen years of age. These boys are entitled by the terms of their engagement to compete for assistant clerkships on reaching the age of seventeen, and their success at an examination in no way prevents them joining the Army when they reach military age.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the same rule applies to the Civil Service in Ireland?

I am not aware that there is any separate arrangement for Ireland. I think it must apply to Ireland.

asked when the House will be given an opportunity for discussing the Government's proposals, if any, for providing adequate Reserves for His Majesty's Forces, and particularly for the Irish divisions and regiments?

I cannot at present name a date.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received representations from the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture and affiliated societies' that any requirements of the military authorities in the matter of men to be drawn from the ranks of those working on the land should, in the interests of food production, only be enforced at the recognised term, and that none be called up between terms; and whether he proposes to take any action?

I have received through the Board of Agriculture for Scotland a representation to this effect, I would remind my hon. Friend that from the point of view of training there are great difficulties in accepting a proposal of this kind, and I am assured that hitherto farm workers have not been taken off the land at unduly short notice. The whole position, however, is under review, and it is proposed to take a census of agricultural labour.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Board of Agriculture for Scotland has held a conference of persons interested in the question of food production to consider the recent Memorandum regarding the calling up of men by the War Office; whether any agreement was reached as to the best manner of dealing with this problem in the national interest; and whether it is proposed to take any action?

A conference convened by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland was held last week, and certain resolutions were adopted. The Government will give careful consideration to these suggestions.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he would state if, when exemption from mili- tary service is granted for national or personal reasons, a tribunal has the power to-make it a condition that the exempted person shall do part-time service with the local public fire brigade in the same-manner as it has power to make it a condition that he shall do service with a local Volunteer Training Corps; whether chief officers of public fire brigades are entitled, to communicate to tribunals their requirements for the filling of vacancies in their fire brigades; and whether he can see his-way to urge upon tribunals the advisability of making such a condition in the case of able-bodied married men conditionally exempted who reside near their local fire station and have a reasonable-amount of leisure available for public-service?

I have informed tribunals that in suitable cases it is reasonable to require a man who is exempted to undertake duties in connection with a public fire brigade. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the circulars dealing with this point. I think that chief officers of public fire brigades would do well to communicate their requirements to-tribunals. No condition should, of course, be imposed by a tribunal which is not reasonable in the particular circumstances of the man.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether Reservists who were mobilised in 1914 are to be brought within the scope of the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Scheme?

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the incidents of very gallant behaviour on the part of the troops employed in quelling the Irish rebellion, referred to in General Sir John Maxwell's general order of thanks to the troops of 1st May, 1916, have been reported to and considered by the War Office; and when the names of those mentioned and the honours to be conferred upon them will be published?

I am afraid I cannot add anything to the answers I have already given to my hon. and gallant Friend himself, and my hon. and learned Friend the Member for the Bassetlaw Division.

Are we to understand that no notice is to be taken whatsoever of the gallant action of the troops employed in Ireland?

No.

What are we to understand?

I can repeat to my hon. Friend the answer which was already given:

"The names of those who are considered worthy of reward have not been overlooked, and the hon. Member will be aware that the majority of the honours given so far have been given in connection with services rendered in France and other theatres of war."

Have any honours what soever been given for services in Ireland; any rewards or notice?

As a matter of fact, I think the general has been rewarded.

But nothing for the privates?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the extremely severe losses suffered by these troops, especially the Sherwood Foresters, and nothing whatever has been done for them?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will submit to Members of this House the evidence on which John M Neill was sentenced to imprisonment for life in connection with the late rising in Dublin; and whether, in view of the fact that John M Neill used his influence to dissuade his followers from illegal acts, he will advise his immediate liberation?

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has already announced that the proceedings of the Irish courts-martial will be published. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in conjunction with the Board of Trade and the Minister of Munitions, arrangements have been made making it an offence for a man of military age who has been debadged or who has had his certificate of exemption withdrawn seeking employment without leave in a firm engaged on Government work, and imposing a penalty on the employer who takes such a man into employment?

No such arrangements or instructions are necessary, and none have been made. My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that it is an offence under the Army Act and Reserve Forces Act knowingly to employ a man who is an absentee.