asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any statement in reference to the nature of the interviews which the British Minister to Greece has recently had with King Constantine; whether any undertakings given have been in writing; and, if so, will he inform the House of their terms?

No, Sir; I am afraid I cannot.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that many aged persons in receipt of old age pensions in Ireland who were compelled by illness and decrepitude to seek treatment in union infirmaries and hospitals have been deprived of their pensions on this account by the pension officers; and whether he intends to take any action in the matter?

I would remind the hon. Member that Section 3 (1) (a) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, declares the receipt of Poor Law relief (other than relief excepted under that Section) to be a disqualification for the receipt of a pension. The pension officers have no power to deprive any old age pensioners of their pensions in consequence of the receipt of Poor Law relief. What the pension officers do in any case where a pensioner receives Poor Law relief of a kind apparently involving disqualification for a pension is to bring the matter before the local Pension Committee or Sub-Committee, and it is for them to determine whether the pension should be revoked, subject to a right of appeal to the Local Government Board on the part either of the officer or the pensioner.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will explain the delay in paying to old age pensioners the extra 2s. 6d. granted by the Government; and if he will say when the claimants in Ireland are likely to be paid?

I am not aware that there has been any undue delay in dealing with applications by old age pensioners for the grant of additional allowances. Over half a million pensioners have already applied for allowances, and some time must necessarily elapse before the pension authorities can decide the whole of the application. This will not, however, affect the date from which the allowances, where granted, will be payable, such date being governed by the date when the application was preferred.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that landlords of agricultural holdings in Ireland are demanding increased rents from the tenants, and on some estates, such as the De Vesci estate, the landlord has actually served notices to have the rents raised through the medium of the Land Court; and whether he will fake steps to prevent rents of agricultural holdings in Ireland being raised during the period of the War through the operation of the Land Court or otherwise?

The landlord of a holding to which the Land Law Acts apply is entitled under Section 8 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881, to apply to the Court subject to the provisions of that Section for an Order fixing a fair rent to be paid by the tenant of such holding. There are fifty applications of this nature at present pending for hearing before the Land Commission, some of which are on the estate of Lord De Vesci. The notices mentioned in the question are, I am told, notices for the purpose of raising the question for judicial decision. The cases are at present sub judice.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the Monasterevan dispensary district, with a population of nearly 6,000, is at present without a resident medical officer owing to the action of the Local Government Board in refusing to sanction the temporary appointment made by the Athy Guardians of a medical officer for the duration of the War; and whether he intends to take any action in the matter?

I dealt fully with this matter in my reply to the question of the hon. Member for Kildare (South) on the 7th November.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware of the dissatisfaction in Ireland at the war bonus granted to the Irish teachers, who were admittedly underpaid in pre-war time, especially at the distinction made between male and female teachers in the granting of the bonus; and whether he will secure that a bonus of 7s. 6d. a week will be granted to Irish teachers with salaries of £2 per week and under, and 5s. per week to teachers whose salaries exceed £2 per week, irrespective of sex, and that the bonus shall be retrospective from 1st January, 1916?

The Irish Government are at present in communication with the Treasury on this subject.

How soon may we expect a reply?

I expect the hon. Member is as much a prophet as I am.

asked the Chief Secretary whether in view of the prospects in store for the working classes in Ireland during the coming winter, he will see that the Local Government Board sanctions reductions in the rents of labourers' cottages in any rural district where the local public body responsible to the ratepayers consider it advisable this such should be done; and will he also consider the advisability of arranging that in the coming spring seed potatoes will be given to the poor, the same to be paid for by instalments extending over a period of years, as has been done on previous occasions?

In the opinion of the Irish Local Government Board, the suggested reductions of the rents of labourers' cottages would not, to any appreciable extent, meet the circumstances referred to. The Local Government Board consider the question to be one of wages rather than of rate aid. I propose to discuss further with the officers of the Board the question whether effect can properly be given to resolutions of the local bodies to which he refers. As regards the latter part of the question, if later on it is found that as the result of the partial failure of the potato crop the poor are unable to obtain an adequate supply of seed potatoes, the suggestion of the hon. Member will receive full consideration.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) the amount of potatoes shipped from Ireland by or for the Government during the present season?

The Department have no Returns of this nature, and the hon. Gentleman had better put his question to the Under-Secretary for War. The War Office is, I think, the only branch of the Government exporting foodstuffs from Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether copies of the Debates, as issued to Members, are either stopped or censored when addressed to Australian newspapers or Australian citizens?

No, Sir; they are not stopped or censored, so far as I am aware.

Are we to understand such action to be against the wish of the right hon. Gentleman?

Certainly; if anything of the kind is done, which I do not believe, it will be done by the Australian Government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say who is responsible for censoring the Official Debates in this House before they go to Press?

That, I think, is a question for the authorities of this House—certainly not for the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Home Secretary whether instructions or counsels emanating from the Government have been given recently to the Press to avoid mention of any speech delivered in this House or to suppress reference to any part of a Debate; and, if so, whether he will state the reason for such proceedings?

I have made inquiry from the Press Bureau, who know of no such instructions or counsels, nor am I aware of any having been given through any other channel.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he is responsible, or has he any knowledge who is, for the censoring of the OFFICIAL REPORT?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the nationality of the following persons, respectively, whose names appear in the Annual Return for 1915 as holding licences to perform experiments upon living animals, and, in the case of any of them whose nationality is British, whether they were naturalised or are British-born, namely, Bach, Neumann, Ofenheim, Rajchman, Scholberg, Schutze, Seidelin, Sudmersen, Krause, Naidu, Asayama, Ikeda, Itagaki, Iwasaki, Kojima, Kakehi, Kuno, Kuroda, Matsuoka, Okada, Tsuji, Yagi, Yanagawa, Takahashi, Tsurumi, Kozawa, Zilva, Spitta, and mavrogordato; whether certain persons of the name of Grünbaum, who were formerly so licensed, now hold licences under another and, if so, what name; and what is the nationality of such persons?

I shall be happy to send my Friend the particulars he desires with respect to each of the persons mentioned in his question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has information as to the number of waiters and other employés of enemy origin employed in the hotels and restaurants in London and in the country?

No, Sir; such information is not available.

asked how many German prisoners have escaped from the camps in this country; and whether they have all been recaptured?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State thinks that it is undesirable to give this information.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a petition from Mr. Samuel Norris, Douglas, Isle of Man, at present imprisoned for contempt of court there; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have received this petition, but by constitutional usage the exercise of the prerogative in a case of this kind rests with the Lieutenant-Governor. I will send the petition to him.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a petition, signed by many inhabitants of the Isle of Man, asking for redress of grievances of which they complain; and whether he is prepared to take any steps to allay the discontent in the island?

I have received the petition referred to. It relates in part to certain judicial proceedings for the recovery of rates and other matters in regard to which I have no authority to interfere, and in part to questions of legislation which, in the first instance, are matters for the consideration of the local legislature. No representations have reached me from the local legislature. I have not, therefore, seen my way to take any action in the matter. As my hon. Friend may be aware, the subject of constitutional reform in the island was thoroughly investigated some years ago by a Committee, and measures were in progress at the time of the outbreak of war for giving effect to a number of important recommendations made by the Committee. Further pro- gress with these measures was by common consent suspended during the War, but they will be resumed in due course. The Insular Government has, in consultation with my Department and the Treasury, made provision to meet the distress which the War has brought upon one section of the community, the persons dependent on the boarding-house industries, and apart from this the island has not been adversely affected by the War.

Is there any reason why the steps which were being taken to reform the Government of the Isle of Man should not be continued in the course of the War?

Yes, Sir; it is very difficult for either the Isle of Man or the Home Office officials to give attention.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, if there is any question of union of the Isle of Man with this country, he will take care that the Isle of Man bears its fair share of the Public Debt?

I do not think that arises out of the question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this petition has notoriously been organised by an agitator in the Isle of Man, and that copies of it have been sent to all the old women in the Midlands at somebody's expense?

asked the Home Secretary if every certificate of naturalisation granted to an alien has in it this qualification: that he shall not when within the limits of a foregn State, of which he was a subject previous to his obtaining his certificate of naturalisation, be deemed to be a British subject unless he has ceased to be a subject of that State in pursuance of the laws thereof, or in pursuance of a treaty to that effect; and when he intends taking steps to ask Parliament to amend the Naturalisation Act of 1870?

The Naturalisation Act of 1870 was repealed by the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, which came into force on 1st January, 1915. Certificates granted since that date do not contain the qualification referred to by the hon. Member.

asked whether Professor Ethé, an unnaturalised German, was in Germany two months after the out break of war; whether the Home Office used its influence to obtain his return; and whether, before he was allowed to return to Aberystwyth, the local chief constable was consulted?

Professor Ethé returned to this country from his vacation in Germany in October, 1914, and was given leave to land by the Home Secretary at the special request of the University College of Wales, in order that he might resume his duties at Aberystwyth. The law did not at that time require that before- he went there he should obtain the permission of the chief constable.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can inform the House of the modifications that have taken place in his original Regulation in respect to the limitation of evening trading?

The modifications made by the Amending Order of 27th October, which were announced in the Press at the time, were as follows: the closing hour where it was 7 was altered to 8; the exemption for meals was extended to include any refreshments consumed on the premises, and tobacco supplied at a meal for immediate consumption; and an exemption was added for the sale of motor or cycle supplies or accessories for immediate use.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the exceptions he has given he is showing rather the disadvantages of this Regulation and how it can be evaded?

No, Sir.

asked what alteration he has made in the Early Closing Order since Monday, 30th October?

No alterations have been made in the Order since the Amending Order of the 27th October.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fatal accident which occurred the other day owing to children walking in procession through the darkened streets; and will he consider the advisability of issuing a police regulation making it an offence for juvenile processions to walk through the streets after dark?

The Commissioner of Police last year wrote to various bodies, including the Boys' Brigade, advising them to conform to the military practice of having front and rear lights when marching in formation at night. It has been represented to the police that through inadvertence this direction was lost sight of on the occasion when the fatal accident to which the hon. Member draws attention occurred. The Commissioner proposes to communicate with the various children's organisations and urge them to adopt and carefully observe this necessary precaution.

asked whether there is now any law which entirely prevents aliens from changing their names at the present time; and, if so, how long has that law been in existence?

Aliens who are enemies are prohibited from changing their names by a Regulation made under the Aliens Restriction Act, 1914, on 8th October, 1914. There is no law to prohibit the change of name by alien friends.

May I ask whether that refers to the surname only or the full name?

I should like notice of that. My recollection is that it applies to any change of name.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Germans in this country changed their names from Wilhelm to William and from Johann to John both before and since the War?

No, Sir.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the time has arrived when it will be necessary to prevent naturalised persons from changing their names?

That is another question, and the hon. Member must give notice.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement of Herr Cohn in the Reichstag last Thursday that there are still 28,000 Germans uninterned in England, while all the English civilians in Germany have been arrested; and whether he will consider the advisability of now carrying out the same policy here?

My attention had not been called to this statement, and, if it was made, it is not correct. I would refer the hon. Member to the figures I gave in the Debate on the Home Office Vote on 29th June last, from which he will see that the total number of persons of German and Austrian nationality, male and female, of all ages, at liberty here was about 22,000. Of these, 10,000 are women, 4,000 of the males are of friendly race, and a large proportion of the remainder are aged and infirm. As regards the internment of British subjects in Germany, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply he received from my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs on 10th July, which, I understand, still holds good, and which does not accord with the statement quoted in the question.

Would the right hon. Gentleman take the trouble to read the reports of the debate in the Reichstag in regard to this question and continue our policy on the same lines as the Germans?

I am not challenging the accuracy of the hon. Member's quotation, but the original statement itself is not accurate.

Are there any English subjects uninterned in Germany?

The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs has stated in the answer which I have quoted that—

"There are a number of women and men over fifty-five, and also a number of men of military age, most of whom have been released or exempted from internment on account of ill-health or because they are German in sentiment."

Do you know the number?

No, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the restaurant of Josef Lauer, at 20, Ganton Street, Regent Street, W., a naturalised German, is the daily meeting place for at least forty enemy aliens of military age, and that German is exclusively spoken there; whether an order for the internment of Lauer has been issued, and through some influence been withdrawn; whether Lauer is the father-in-law of Paul Stulik, of Percy Street, who has lately been interned; and whether any influence has been exerted against the internment of Lauer and in favour of the release of Stulik?

An order for the internment of Lauer, who is, as stated, the father-in-law of Stulik, was made by me under the Defence, of the Realm Regulations on 27th October. Its enforcement has been suspended at the request of the Advisory Committee until the representations against the order which Lauer has made to the Committee have been heard and decided upon. His restaurant has been frequently visited by the police, who have been unable to find any evidence that it is, as stated by the hon. Member, a daily meeting place for alien enemies or that only German is spoken there, although a number of foreigners of various nationalities frequent the restaurant. A notice is exhibited requesting that only English be spoken. No representations have been made to me against the internment of Lauer or in favour of the release of Stulik, and I would strongly deprecate the suggestion in the question that outside influence plays a part in deciding cases such as these. Both the police and the Home Office, as well as the Advisory Committee, consider evidence as to character both for and against persons of enemy origin, but the decision is reached solely on the facts of the case.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that he has had no reports from the police with regard to this particular restaurant?

Yes, Sir; I have had one or two reports from the police.

Do the police speak German?

asked whether the wife of Paul Stulik, an interned Austrian, whom he decribes as a British-born woman, is in reality the daughter of a German whom he himself interned last week; and how is it that this German woman, married to an Austrian interned husband, is allowed to carry on a licensed house in London?

The father of Mrs. Stulik is a naturalised British subject of German origin against whom an internment order has been made under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, and the case is now under consideration by the Advisory Committee. Mrs. Stulik herself was born in England, and is a British subject, and must, therefore, be described as a British-born woman. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 31st October.

asked the Home Secretary on what authority he states that Reichenfeldt's restaurant is frequented by French and Serbians; whether he is aware that the bill of fare is printed in German, and German and Hungarian languages are solely used; whether he is aware that this restaurant has taken over most of the customers from. Voight's hotel, which he closed some months ago; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

My information is based on inquiries made by the police. The police obtained a number of menu cards all of which were printed in English. If the hon. Member is in possession of reliable information which supports the allegations made in his question I will be glad if he will communicate it to me in order that I may further consider the case.

I will.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Max Zeller, who, according to his information, gave up business in April, 1915, is still carrying on business in Charlotte Street; that his name is still over the door; that he constantly visits a German restaurant at 35, Charlotte Street, and there complains bitterly, in violent German, that the Home Secretary's new Order for closing shops is ruining his business; and whether he will consider the desirability of interning him?

The inquiries I have caused to be made show that the business referred to is now being carried on by Max Zeller's son, who is a British-born subject and is about to be called up for military service, that the name Max Zeller is not, as stated by the hon. Member, exhibited over the door, and that Max Zeller himself is at present in hospital, having undergone an operation. The inquiries do not bear out the statements made in the last part of the hon. Member's question, and I shall be glad if he will submit to me the evidence on which they are based.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has further considered the case of Joseph Kraft, the German tailor of Bond Street; whether he is aware that, when he first came to this country thirteen years ago, he was a prominent member of a German Socialist Society at 107, Charlotte Street; whether he is still of military age, and boasts of his influential customers who would prevent him being interned; whether he still is definitely pro-German; and, if so, why he is not interned?

This case is now under my consideration in consultation with the Board of Trade. Kraft who, as I have already stated, is a Hungarian and not a German, came to this country nineteen years ago when seventeen years of age. The inquiries I have been able to make so far do not bear out the allegations made against him by the hon. Member, but I am investigating further the information he has been good enough to send me.

Has he not been in this country nearly as long as the Judge Advocate-General?

I deprecate these personal allusions to Members, present or past.

On a question of general policy, is it not fair to refer to the case of an enemy-born subject apart from the individual menti6ned in the question?

The hon. Member's question is not designed to obtain information, but to cast a slur.

I will put a question on the Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what is the present position of the firm of Messrs. Kirchner and Company, of Leipsig and London; whether any Germans, naturalised or otherwise, are identified with the present management or conduct of the business; whether an examination is being made into the history of this firm; will he ascertain whether any German machines sold in London by this firm were disposed of to the Colonies; and, if so, how were they described upon the declaration forms?

An Order was made on the 10th July requiring the business of Kirchner and Company to be wound up, and the liquidation is under the sole control of Mr. James Fraser, the controller appointed to conduct the winding-up. I have no information as to the ultimate destination of the machines sold by the firm in London

May I ask my hon. Friend whether these controllers send in any interim reports?

I have already answered questions on this point. We are in constant touch with the controllers, and obtain information from them as required.

Are those reports in writing?

Sometimes, if necessary.

Can we see them?

Will the hon. Gentleman answer my question whether an examination is being made into the history of this firm in view of the fact that the Board of Trade, in August, 1914, had a strong complaint of an ex-employé of the firm that the firm brought machines over here, painted them as British, and sold them as British, and deceived the Colonies?

I think the hon. Gentleman is aware that all these cases are considered by an Advisory Committee consisting partly of hon. Members of this House, who go into the merits of the cases without any prejudice and hear evidence on both sides and advise the Board as to whether action should be taken on the evidence then before them and on which the Board act.

When there is an exceptional opportunity of getting at the facts as in this case when you have access to the books and evidence you could not get before, why not do so?

The facts and all evidence are laid before the Committee. If any further evidence, as has happened in certain cases, comes before the Board and it appears certain facts have not transpired in the case I send it back to the Committee for further consideration, so that it may be judicially considered by the Committee without any passion or prejudice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the firm of Ettlinger and Company, metal brokers, who carry on business in London, and until lately carried on business in India; whether this firm had before the War close business relations with, and largely financed, the German firm of Schroeder, Schmidt, and Company, of Bombay, who shipped large amounts of manganese ore from India to Germany; whether this firm had also before the War close financial relations with the German firm of Beer, Sondheimer, and Company, of Frankfort, who largely controlled the trade in zinc concentrates from Australia; whether he is aware that the Indian Government in June, 1915, closed down the business of Schroeder, Schmidt, and Company, and in July or August, 1916, closed down the business of Ettlinger and Company in India as being a business carried on in enemy interests; and whether the Board will take the necessary steps to close down the business of Ettlinger and Company in London in the same way as the Indian Government closed down the business of that firm in India?

I am aware of the facts stated in the hon. Gentleman's question, but the partners in the firm of Ettlinger and Company are naturalised British subjects, and the business is not within Section 1 of the Trading With the Enemy Amendment Act, 1916.

Is it not possible for the Board of Trade in this country to shut down this firm in the same way as the Indian Government shut it down in India?

I have looked into this question, and I am afraid that legally we have not the power.

Will the hon. Gentleman bring legislation before this House similar to the Indian legislation, so as to enable us to deal with such cases?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will furnish particulars of all sales which the Board of Trade or the Public Trustee have effected of enemy-owned shares in British companies?

I will lay on the Table of the House a list of the enemy-owned shares in British companies which have been sold.

Will the hon. Gentleman have a copy circulated with the Papers? It would be a convenience to Members.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the declared policy of his Department, in the sale of enemy interests in British companies, to see that the shares do not get into the hands of other manufacturers with the effect of stopping competition?

Yes, in cases where such action is in the public interest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, approximately, 96 per cent. of the share capital of the Union Cable Company, Limited, is owned by the Deutsche- Kabelwerke Company, of Berlin; whether this company is still continuing to carry on its private trade in competition with British firms under the direction of its pre-War manager; whether the contracts which the company obtained last February from the corporation of Coventry resulted in a profit or loss to the company; whether the company is making any contribution to the revenue of the country either by way of Income Tax or Excess Profits Tax; and whether any attempt is being made to sell its enemy-owned shares either by private treaty or public auction?

The share capital of the Union Cable Company, Limited, was held as stated in the hon. Gentleman's question, but the Public Trustee has now negotiated a sale of the shares to British subjects. The tenders made by the company to the Corporation of Coventry were investigated by the supervisor of the business last March, and he reported to the effect that the tenders were at a price which showed a fair trading profit. The company is subject to the same provisions with regard to Income Tax and Excess Profits Tax as any other company carrying on business in this country.

Has the company made any contribution towards Income Tax and Excess Profits Tax?

How can I tell that?

That question should apparently be put to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

On a point of Order—

There is no doubt about it. The Board of Trade cannot know the answer to that question.

If the management of this company is in the hands of the Board of Trade, surely they must know.

How is it possible without notice that the Minister responsible can answer a question of that kind? It is perfectly impossible. If the hon. Member attaches any importance to his question at all, the least that he can do is to give notice of it.

It is on the Notice Paper. It is the question I addressed to the hon. Gentleman. May I press the hon. Gentleman for an answer to the question?

On a point of Order. Is an hon. Member to have no redress if a question is deliberately evaded by a Department?

The question asked me was whether they were liable, and I distinctly answered by saying that they were liable.

Does the company make any contribution?

I said, "Yes, they were liable."

What I ask is, whether there is any contribution, whether they pay anything?

They are under the same liability as anybody else.

May I read the question. Whether the company is making any contribution to the revenue of the country, either by way of Income Tax or Excess Profits Tax?

I say that they are liable, and they are under the same rules as other people. I have not the exact amount they have paid, if they have paid anything. I will inquire if the hon. Gentleman will give me notice.

Put it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer!

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the firm of A. W. Faber, London, had its head office in Berlin and factories at Stein, near Nuremberg, Geroldsgrün (Bavaria), and Newark (New Jersey, United States of America); will he say if such firm has been ordered to be wound up as an enemy firm; if so, on what date and who is in control of the liquidation, whether he is aware that the late manager of the said firm is offering for sale in the City of London the A. W. Faber specialities at the old prices and under the same trade mark, Cast ell, which is the family name of the Count and Countess von Faber-Castell, the German proprietors of the firm of A. W. Faber; and. if so, whether he will take steps to put an end to this evasion of the Trading With the Enemy Acts?

The business of A. W. Faber carried on in this country was ordered to be wound up on the 24th February, and Mr. S. J. Field was appointed controller. The late manager is now carrying on business on his own account, and has sold rubber bands under the Castell mark which are manufactured in the United States. I am considering what further action, if any, should be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the stock of the British Petroleum Company was owned by Germans; if it is now vested in the Public Trustee; and why he has not the power to sell if he can obtain a reasonable price?

The whole of the capital of the British Petroleum Company, Limited, was held by or on behalf of a German company, and is now vested in the Public Trustee. Russian, French, and Belgian interests claim to be entitled to 49½ per cent. of the capital of the German company. The question of how best to deal with the shares in the national interest is under consideration, and pending the result of that consideration I am not prepared to authorise a sale.

Is it the intention of the right hon. Gentleman or of the Government in such cases as those mentioned in the question, where all the shares were owned by Germans, to prevent them using the name, British Petroleum Company?

Yes; I think it is very probable that the name will be changed.

Will my hon. Friend see that the Belgians and French get their fair share? Is he aware that the Belgians complain very much that they are not well treated by the British Government? And I think it is probably true.

I can answer that without notice. Particular care has been and is being taken to watch their interests; and in answer further to my right hon. Friend's question, I do not think he will object to the name "British" remaining if the company becomes British by purchase.

No. My objection is to calling a thing "British" which is German.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the danger of keeping open the Irish question, he will consider the suggestion of a conference of which the members shall be the Prime Ministers or representatives appointed by the respective Governments of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and Great Britain, and the leaders of the Nationalist and Unionist parties in Ireland; and, if so, whether the terms of reference will be such as to allow of free treatment of the problem along the lines of the greatest and boldest conceptions of democratic government and future development?

I do not think it would be practicable during the War to ask the Dominion statesmen to undertake the duties suggested in the question.

Would it not be an advantage to have an expression of their corporate opinion in favour of Home Rule?

There would be advantages, bat there would also be disadvantages.

What would the disadvantages be?

asked the Prime Minister if the attention of the Public Prosecutor has been drawn to the series of articles lately appearing in the "Financial News" which attack the Government, and reflect particularly upon the Lord Chief Justice; and if it is proposed to take any action in the matter?

I understand that articles of the kind referred to have lately appeared. So far as I know there is not the least truth in the suggestion made. When the question was put down I communicated with the Lord Chief Justice, who desires it to be stated that he knows nothing, and has never heard of any dealings or interest in shares of any Marconi Company by any Ministers or "person of influence" other than those which were fully investigated some years ago by a Committee of this House, I cannot say more than that these articles are being watched by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

On a point of Order. About fourteen days ago I handed a question in at that Table bearing on this subject asking permission to ask a question whether the Prime Minister's attention had been called to these articles in the "Financial News," and whether he did not consider, in view of the attack upon the probity of British Ministers which might cause dismay amongst our Allies, some statement might be advisable. I was refused permission to put that question on the reading that no question calling attention to anything appearing in any paper—

We must get on with the business. The hon. Gentleman can raise that at the conclusion of Questions, when I shall be very glad to deal with it.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of the award of a purely nominal pension to every sailor and soldier to enable them to claim revision of their pensions should disability arising from service overtake them at any time?

Yes, Sir; I will see that this suggestion receives consideration.