asked the Prime Minister whether answers will be given before the Prorogation to all Questions on the Paper for 12th December to which replies have not yet been handed in by the Deparments?

The arrangement proposed by Mr. Speaker was that the questions to which replies had already been prepared by the Departments should be answered in writing, and that as regards the others the Members would be free to put them down again. I think it is best to adhere to that arrangement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now state the decision of the Treasury in regard to the payment of a war bonus to County Court clerks and bailiffs?

Each case is considered by the Treasury on its merits, but the general practice is to authorise registrars and high bailiffs to grant their employés an increase of salary in the nature of a war bonus when it can be shown that the number of employés en- gaged at a particular County Court is not in excess of the requirements of that Court. Where there is ground for thinking that there are more employés retained than the work of the Court justifies, the Treasury has refused the grant of a bonus, as it is considered contrary to the public interest to encourage by an increase of wages at the Exchequer's expense the retention of persons in occupations where they cannot be fully employed at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take immediate steps to provide an adequate staff for the working of the Sugar Commission; if he is aware that at present the secretary is the sole person to deal with the correspondence, amounting to several hundred letters a day; and that, as a consequence of this state of things, arrears of work are accumulating and disorganisation and inconvenience prevail?

The staff of the Sugar Commission are working under conditions of considerable pressure and difficulty. The question of how this work can best be allocated between the Commission and the Ministry of Food is under consideration, and it is hoped that by a suitable division of work the staff of the Sugar Commission will be relieved as soon as the new Ministry is in working order.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the whole business of censoring in Ireland is now conducted by the military, or by the civil authority, or by both?

The Press censorship in Ireland is in the hands of the civil authorities.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office how many male clerks there are under thirty years of age for whom exemption from military service has been obtained by the Port of London Authority?

The Port of London Authority has received exemptions in respect of 226 persons, of whom twenty-one are fit for general service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether civilians of military age are now employed in the Army Pay Department and record offices in Ireland; and, if so, will he put a stop to the employment of such men in all military offices in Ireland?

The number of civilians of military age in pay and record offices in Ireland is 191. As these men are not subject to the Military Service Act, and are experienced at their work, their services have been retained. Of course every encouragement will be given to those who are medically fit to join the Colours.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a final decision has been arrived at as to the position of men engaged in agriculture, exempt until 1st January next, after that date, whose work is essential for carrying on the cultivation of the land?

No, Sir; no final decision has been reached. Instructions have, however, been issued that these men are not to be called to the Colours until after the agricultural census returns have been analysed, when more definite information as to the position of agriculture will be available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether Mr. C. B Andrews, of East Sheen, has been finally rejected for military service; whether he first applied for, and was refused, exemption by the Mortlake and Barnes Tribunal as a conscientious objector; whether the Surrey County Tribunal and the Central Tribunal dismissed his appeal from the local tribunal's finding; whether he was nevertheless subsequently exempted on the ground, first, that he was suffering from agoraphobia and dreaded to appear before a military board, and subsequently on the ground that his agoraphobism amounts to unsound mind not certifiable; whether Mr. Andrews was ever suspected of acute agoraphobia amounting to non-certifiable insanity until he had been refused exemption as a conscientious objector; whether the certificate of the local principal medical officer excusing Mr. Andrews from appearing before a local board was found to be unsustainable and was cancelled; whether the subsequent certificate of non-certifiable insanity is to pass unchallenged; and whether any precedent exists exempting in this manner and upon such grounds a strong man of thirty-one years of age?

Instructions were sent by War Office in September last that C. B. Andrews was to be called up. I am informed that he was accordingly called up and was specially examined by each member of the medical board separately. It was found that he was unfit for any form of military service, and he was accordingly rejected.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an application was received from the Anglesey local education authority, through the Board of Education, for the release of two teachers serving in the Army, who are now classified A 2 and C 3 respectively; whether this authority has released all their assistant teachers who are fit for general service and two of their head teachers to serve in the Army; whether the teacher who is classified C 3 is doing menial work, such as could be performed by a labourer; and whether, seeing that the authority has difficulty in staffing their schools owing to the number of men released for the Army, the Army authorities will accede to the request of the Anglesey education authority?

Yes, Sir; an application has been received for the release of these two men. No men who are medically fit for general service are released; the question of transferring to the Reserve men of lower medical categories, who were previously school teachers, is at present under consideration. According to information in the possession of the War Office the C 3 man was a student in a training college immediately prior to enlistment, and not in the employment of the Anglesey local education authority.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office when the present charges paid for billeting soldiers were fixed; and, seeing that it was promised that they were being reconsidered many months ago, whether a revised scale, paying due regard to the increase of prices, is about to be issued?

Increased rates for the billeting of soldiers with subsistence have been approved with effect from 1st December. The necessary instructions were issued on 5th December.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been called to the death of Driver Tidy, Royal Field Artillery, which occurred at Northampton on 14th December at a gas practice; whether he is aware that this man and Driver Dyson, of the same regiment, were removed from the gas-chamber in an unconscious condition and taken to the hospital, that Tidy died on admission, and that two days later Dyson was reported as being not yet out of danger; whether he is aware that this gas-chamber practice is regarded with much concern by the men; and whether he will take steps to ensure some other form of gas practice being devised which will not entail such fatal results?

I understand that this accident took place owing to the men removing their helmets in the gas chamber, contrary to express instructions. The men became unconscious and were at once removed by the staff of the school. The two helmets were tested immediately and found to be efficient. I am not aware that gas-chamber practice is regarded with concern by the men. There is no danger if helmets are worn.

asked whether a soldier's wife who is in receipt of the extra London allowance of 3s. 6d. must forfeit that allowance if she leaves London for three months under medical advice, even although she retains her rooms in London and continues to pay rent for them?

No, Sir; the Regulations provide for the continuance of sepa- ration allowance for periods of temporary absence during which the wife maintains her home in London.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, with regard to the case of Private Ardrey, No. 28759, 1st Garrison, King's Liverpool Regiment, whether it is claimed that he has allotted his mother 9d. a day when in fact he only allotted her 6d., in accordance with the usual rule; whether there is an alleged debt of £16 due from him; and what are the grounds of this alleged debt of £16?

I will have inquiry made and let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, if he can explain why Mrs. Mary Nolan, of Clooneeragh, Turlough, county Mayo, mother of Private Michael Nolan, No. 85152, 15th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery (Lenan Head Battery, Clonmany, county Donegal), has been refused a dependant's separation allowance in addition to the 3s. 6d. per week allotted to her by her son, from whom she obtained her only means of support before his enlistment; and if he can take immediate steps to have her claim reconsidered?

I am not aware that the claim for dependant's separation allowance has been refused. It would appear from inquiries which have been made, that the claim is still under investigation by the old age pension authorities who have been urgently requested to expedite it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can explain why Mrs. Mary Rielly, Westport, mother of Private M. Rielly. No. 28762, 4th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, received no dependants' separation allowance or the 3s. 6d. per week allotted to her by her son from 10th November, 1915, to May, 1916; and if the default were due to the destruction of papers in the General Post Office, Dublin, during the rebellion, whether the investigations into this and similar cases will be completed and dependants paid the allotments and allowances to which they are entitled and for which they have made repeated applications?

I am having inquiries made, and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible. Speaking generally, I can assure the hon. Member with regard to the latter part of his question that all cases which have been brought to light have been investigated.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the feeling of dissatisfaction that exists amongst the next-of-kin of soldiers in respect to the delay that takes place in informing them as to the pension or gratuity that they are awarded on the death of a relative; whether Quartermaster-Sergeant Hegarty, No. 7982, Con-naught Rangers, was killed at Gallipoli in August, 1915; whether he is aware that his sister was entirely dependent on him for a living; whether she received a separation allowance of £1 4s. 5d. down to the date of his death; whether that sum was then cut down to 4s. a week, but ceased altogether in May; whether, as a result of repeated applications, a small gratuity of £30 has at last been awarded to this soldier's sister; and, having regard to the circumstances of the case, namely, her youth, her sole dependence on her brother, and the fact that she is now left unprovided for, whether he will bring her application to the notice of the proper authority, so that reasonable provision shall be made to enable her to face the future?

There was some delay at first in settling the dependants' cases, as the scheme was not notified till February last, but matters are now up to date, and delays should not occur in future. The particular case mentioned is being inquired into.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in order to assist men (known as Class W), not discharged from the Army, whose pay and separation allowances have however been stopped as they are expected to earn a living but who find they are not in a state of health to enable them to do so, he will take steps to enable local committees to afford temporary financial assistance from State funds by extending to them the provisions of He of Part II. of the Statutory Committee's Regulations or provide other means for giving assistance in such cases?

This question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board as representing the Statutory Committee.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, with regard to the case of Private William Jackson, No. 4764, now in the First War Hospital, Rednall, near Birmingham, whether he lost a leg and also all his teeth on the battlefield; whether the war authorities are willing to replace his leg but not to incur the cost of replacing his teeth; and whether, in view of the unfairness of this distinction, he will say why it is made?

I cannot admit that this soldier is being unfairly treated, as alleged by my hon. Friend, until I have ascertained all the facts of the case. I am having inquiries made and will let him know the result in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the treatment of wounded at the Newport section of the 3rd Western General Hospital, both as regards food and lack of attention, which has resulted in complaints from those who have suffered in the country's cause; and whether he will have immediate inquiries made into the complaints and the general management of this hospital, and remove any unnecessary harshness in the treatment of our wounded soldiers?

A complaint was received of the feeding arrangements in the hospital, but not as to lack of attention to the patients. A surprise inspection was made recently. The food in the hospital generally was found to be sufficient, well cooked, and well served, but somewhat lacking in variety. Steps have been taken to remedy the shortcomings-observed.

asked what is the constitution of the Forage Committee; whether Ireland has any representatives on it; and, if so, who are they and by what method they were chosen?

I would refer the hon. Member, as regards the first part of his question, to the answer which I gave my Noble Friend the Member for the Newton Division of South-West Lancaster on 23rd November. As regards the latter part, Ireland is represented by my hon. Friend the Member for Londonderry North, who was deputed to serve on the Forage Committee by the Irish Advisory Committee.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the men from Territorial corps, the Royal Army Medical Corps, Army Service Corps, and Royal Engineers cannot get to France or any other front unless they are transferred to the Regular Army; whether this entails the breaking up of these corps, who in many instances have been trained together for two and a quarter years; and whether he will state the reason for this system?

I think my hon. Friend hardly states the position correctly. In the interests both of economy and efficiency it has been found necessary to transfer to the Regulars some of the reserves of the Territorial Force. This has been done wholly in the case of the Army Service Corps and partially in the case of the Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Engineers. The object is to economise in training establishments and to render all the reserves of any corps available for drafts to any unit of that corps.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is proposed to send hay purchased in Sligo for the Government by rail to Dublin,. Belfast, and Derry to be shipped from those ports; and whether, in the interests of economy, he will have the hay shipped direct from the port of Sligo?

I am making inquiries and will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that 93 acres of arable land near Northwood, Herts, some of which was already sown, were taken by the military two months ago for a certain purpose when a golf course and large private park were only separated from this plough land by a roadway; and, in view of the value of arable land, if it should be necessary to take more land he will give instructions that golf courses and pasture land shall preferably be used for this purpose?

An alternative site has now been found on land of but little agricultural value. The subsoil of the golf course was of such a nature as to preclude The use of the latter for the purpose. I can assure my hon. Friend that every endeavour is made to avoid the use of arable land for military purpose, but it is not always possible to find a suitable alternative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of J. Wilson, tried by field general court-martial held in camera in Dublin on 4th May, 1916, on the two charges of taking part in the insurrection and of attempting to cause disaffection; whether the prisoner was acquitted on the second charge, and convicted on the first charge and sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour, but recommended to? mercy on account of his youth; whether he is aware that the prisoner was then only seventeen years of age whether he is aware that General Maxwell confirmed the sentence, ignoring the recommendation to mercy; if he will state under which Sections of the Defence of the Realm Regulations the two charges were laid in this case; and whether the remainder of the sentence will now be commuted?

I am sorry that I am not yet in a position to give an answer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that the Presbyterian soldiers belonging to the Army Service Corps, now billeted at Norwood, are not paraded for divine service on Sunday and marched to the Presbyterian Church, while their Anglican and Methodist comrades are marched to their respective churches; what is the reason for this unequal treatment; and whether steps will be taken to secure the same privileges for Presbyterians as are enjoyed by soldiers belonging to other churches?

I think my right hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. Every effort is made to parade the troops to their respective churches on Sundays, and the Presbyterian soldiers were in fact paraded on three of the last four Sundays. On the fourth Sunday a parade was made impossible by military necessity.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has taken any practical steps to ascertain the rates of wages paid to the workers engaged on the contracts for dowlas and linen tent duck placed by the War Department with Belfast firms; and whether he will state the names of those firms and the quantity and value of the order placed with each of them?

The proposed contracts for linen tent duck have not yet been placed. I will circulate with the OFFICIAL REPORT details as to the recent orders for dowlas. All orders are placed subject to the usual War Office conditions of contracts which include the observance of the contractor of the Fair-Wages Resolution of this House. No complaint has been received about the wages paid by any of the firms holding orders, and in the absence of a complaint no inquiry has been made. But any complaint that may be made would be carefully investigated.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that men belonging to the Royal Engineers receive 2d. or more per hour in addition to their ordinary pay when engaged on certain work, while men belonging to other regiments working at the same work along with the Royal Engineers receive no additional pay; if he is aware that this is causing dissatisfaction; and whether he will issue instructions that the men when engaged on the same kind of work shall receive the same rate of pay?

If, as is presumed, the reference is to certain sanitary work under Article 935 of the Royal Warrant, the question is under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, what is the amount of money paid to the bacteriologists attached to the various military hospitals at home and abroad; and whether he can state the total amount paid out of public funds for this purpose since August, 1914?

The majority are paid or commissioned officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps. I am afraid I cannot give the total cost, without an undue measure of work.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will state, with regard to military officers' hospitals maintained entirely out of public funds, the present average total cost per week per bed occupied; and the average cost per week per bed occupied under each of the following headings: provisions, surgery and dispensary, domestic, medical, nursing and other maintenance, salaries and managements?

It is regretted that the accounts of military hospitals are not kept in such a form as to give this information.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, up to the end of August last, the British officers who are prisoners of war in Bulgaria were paid a sum of £5 per month by the American Charge d'affaires at Lassa; whether this money was deducted from the officers' pay by the British Government and refunded to the American Government; whether for the past three or four months no payment whatever has been made to the British officers who are prisoners of war at Panatcherevo, near Sara Zagora, and those officers are consequently unable to purchase food and other necessaries with which they supplemented the rations allowed them by their captors; whether all the British prisoners at Panatcherevo are under a similar disadvantage as to pay; and whether he will have this matter put right without delay?

With regard to the first part of the question, the United States representative at Sofia has been authorised to make such payments as he considers necessary. The amounts paid have not yet been notified to us. These amounts will be refunded to the United States Government, but it is not proposed to recover them from the officers. With regard to the third and fourth parts of the question, we are informed that the United States representative received assurances from the Bulgarian authorities that Bulgaria would make sufficient issues to the prisoners at Sara Zagora (and Panatcherevo). With regard to the last part of the question, the United States representative has full authority to deal with necessitous cases.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether work is now being provided for German prisoners of war in the cultivation of land; if so, what is the number so employed; how many such prisoners are there in this country at the present time, how many are now being employed in connection with useful national work; and will he state what is being done to ensure that these men are being usefully employed?

The number of German combatant prisoners of war employed in useful national work or earmarked for such work is approximately 8,600. Difficulties have arisen in connection with the employment of prisoners in agriculture, but it is hoped they may shortly be 'overcome. The general question of the employment of prisoners was up to lately dealt with by a Committee of which my hon. Friend the Secretary to the Food Control Department was chairman. The question of the reorganisation of this Committee with an extended scope is now in hand and will, I hope, be settled during the present week. I must add that there are a large number of prisoners who cannot be employed on account of various disabilities.

asked the Minister of Munitions, as representing the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) whether he is aware that the Board, in exercise of the special statutory powers conferred on them, took possession of the "Swan and Pike" inn at Enfield Lock, of which the freeholders were the River Lea Board of Conservators, at the end of December, 1915, and have ever since retained such possession without agreeing to any compensation; that in the month of November last the War Losses Commission awarded the sum of £2,000 for the freehold, but allowed nothing for the use and occupation of the premises in the eleven months' interval, during which the Liquor Control Board has had possession and made profits; whether he is aware that the solicitors for the Liquor Control Board decline to permit the payment over of the compensation money to the Lea Conservancy Board unless and until a special meeting of the debenture holders of that body has been called to resolve upon the exclusion of the compensation money from the debentures, notwithstanding that the Conservancy Board has offered to place such compensation to the credit of the sinking fund, in pursuance of Section 23 of the Lea Conservancy Act, 1900; and whether, having regard to the fact that the assets of the Conservancy Board in the last audited balance sheet stand at £251,958 and the amount of the debentures are but £184,114, and having regard to the lapse of time since possession was taken and the loss of £116 14s. 3d., which, but for the seizure of the premises, would have been paid as rent, he will give directions for this legal objection to be forthwith abandoned and the compensation money paid over upon the Conservancy Board undertaking to apply the money either in the reduction of the debenture debt or in carrying out works of urgent capital expenditure for the improvement of the navigation?

Speaking generally, the facts are stated correctly in the first part of the question. As regards the latter part of the question, the Control Board are quite ready to pay the amount of compensation awarded as soon as the payee satisfies them that he is entitled to give a good discharge, but in the present case they are advised that this has not yet been done, and payment is accordingly suspended.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he will state the advantage in the present system of giving a number of gentlemen £400 per annum as travelling allowance and describing them as unpaid; and whether such unpaid officials are free to resign when they like?

The hon. and gallant Member is presumably referring to the arrangement under which certain gentlemen who are assisting the Ministry without salary are paid allowances varying between 10s. and £l per diem to cover their out-of-pocket expenses when working for the Ministry in London. In these cases no subsistence allowance is paid in respect of journeys performed on public service. The arrangement has had the advantage of enabling the Ministry to secure the services of some very highly qualified men whose professional or business standing would not admit of their accepting salaries at the comparatively low rates prevailing in Government service. There are also cases in which officers appointed to important posts in the Ministry have expressed a desire to receive allowances of this kind in preference to taking the higher rate of salary which would normally be attached to their posts. The officers in receipt of these allowances are employed, like all the salaried staff other than weekly-paid staff, on terms which admit of a month's notice being given on either side.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make arrangements to have lamps lighted in London1 on foggy nights; and whether he is aware that a number of accidents have arisen from the want of light on the paths and in the streets?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave this afternoon to the hon. Member for West St. Pancras. I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he will instruct the aliens officers to restrict the landing facilities for crews of neutral merchant vessels as much as possible; and whether he can state, when permission is given to any of the neutral crews to land whose business it is to see that our hospitality is not abused and to examine what purchases are made on shore and taken on board the ships?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question, as its subject matter falls within the province of my Department. The restrictions with regard to the crews of neutral ships which have been in force for a long time are stringent, and the officers have already instructions to see that they are enforced, so far as practicable. The answer to the last part of the question is that the necessary supervision is generally exercised by the aliens officers and the police, and in ports of special naval or military importance, also by the naval or military authorities.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether action has yet been taken to prevent this country being depleted of stores and food supplies by the purchases, individually or collectively, of the crews of neutral ships, having regard to the danger also of such stores passing to the enemy?

As stated in the reply given on 13th December, the supply of stores to neutral ships which trade to the United Kingdom is already regulated, and the question of increasing the strictness of this control is now being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the provisions of the Trading With the Enemy Act, 1914, Section 4, passed to enable British subjects to secure payment of debts due from them or alien enemy firms, has been judicially interpreted as excluding German firms domiciled in territory of the Allies in enemy occupation; whether he will state on what principle such alien enemy firms are thus exempted; and whether, with a view to placing British creditors in the position to secure payment of debts from firms consisting of alien enemies wholly or in part, wherever domiciled or resident, by attaching debts due to them, or sequestrating properly to which they are entitled in this country, he will take prompt means to amend the Act?

The difficulty of obtaining satisfactory evidence of the nationality of firms domiciled in territory of the Allies in hostile occupation is so great that I am not at present satisfied that it is expedient to extend the provisions of the Trading With the Enemy Amendment Act, 1914, in the manner suggested. The matter, however, shall receive further consideration

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board will be prepared to delegate their powers under No. 2 L of the Defence of the Realm Regulations to local authorities in rural areas, or to enter themselves upon unoccupied lands in such areas and let them to persons who are prepared to cultivate them'?

The War Agricultural Committees in England and Wales will be given full powers to enter upon and cultivate land unoccupied or insufficiently cultivated. The Order conferring these powers is now before the Law Officers.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that at least 1,000 acres of grass, land exists in county Longford, available for the growing of wheat, oats, and potatoes, from which the people were driven in 1846 and 1847; whether he is aware that these lands are side by side with areas in which the worst form of congestion prevails; and whether, with a view to increase the food supply of the country, he will advise the Estates Commissioners to proceed to carry out their former decision to acquire the ranches on the Douglas Bond and Armstrong estates, with a view to their division amongst, and tillage by, the people living in congested areas?

As regards the estates specifically referred to in the concluding part of the question, the Estates Commissioners had the lands inspected with a view to acquiring them. In the case of the lands on the Douglas and Armstrong estates, they instituted proceedings for their acquisition under the Evicted Tenants Acts, but the owners lodged objections under those Acts to their acquisition, and on consideration of such objections, the Commissioners decided not to proceed further, and in the case of the Bond estate, they also had the lands inspected, but the owner stated he was not willing to sell at the price estimated by the Commissioners, and he has not instituted proceedings for sale. The Commissioners have already acquired and distributed close on 3,500 acres of untenanted land in this county under the Irish Land Acts,1903–9, which has thus been made available for the purposes mentioned in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether steps have been taken by neutral Governments for the commercial use of enemy merchant ships lying in neutral ports, to replace neutral tonnage destroyed by the enemy in contravention of international rights?

I am not sure what steps the hon. Member has in mind. One or two neutral Governments have, I believe, opened negotiations with the owners for the employment of enemy ships now lying idle, but, as far as I know, no business has resulted.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that the pension officer has no power to stop on his own initiative the payment of an old age pension, he can offer any explanation as to the pension officer's action in the case of Arthur Quirke, No. 99, No. 3 sub-committee, county Wexford; if he is aware that Quirke was in receipt of a pension on his admission to the workhouse hospital on the 7th August, and, despite repeated applications by the workhouse master, the pension officer declined to give him the requisite authority to draw the pension but raised no question until the 4th November and the committee did not meet to adjudicate until the 16th November, so no pension was paid to or in respect of Quirke from the 7th August to the 16th November; and will he see that the union is reimbursed for the period of Quirke's disqualification?

The question whether the old age pensioner referred to has been in receipt of Poor. Law relief of a disqualifying nature since his admission to the workhouse hospital is now before the Local Government Board on appeal, and until it has been decided whether the pension should be revoked, and, if so, from what date, no further payment of pension money can be allowed —Section 6 (4) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911. If the question should be decided in favour of the pensioner, any arrears of pension money that may be due will be made good to him. The pension officer did not raise any question till 3rd November, nor did he until that date take any action for suspending payment. No payment was made between 7th August and the 3rd November, because up to 3rd November no application for authorisation of an agent to cash the pension money on the pensioner's behalf had been made. After 3rd November payment was suspended under the Statute, and no payment could be made after that date or can be made until the case is finally decided.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the pensions of about twenty-five cases of old age pensioners, inmates of Wexford Union Hospital, were discontinued by the pension officer on the 1st July last, whereas the questions raised were not adjudicated on by the sub-committee until the 1st August; will he state on whose authority the pension officer acted on that occasion^*; will he see that the month's pension in each ease illegally impounded will be paid to the guardians; and, in view of the opinion of the Treasury recently given that pension officers themselves have no right to stop pensions, he will give directions preventing the stoppage of pensions in future without the authority of the pension sub-committee has previously been obtained?

The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. As soon as the pension officer brings before a local pension com- mittee or sub-committee a question whether an old age pensioner is in receipt of Poor Law relief of a disqualifying nature, it is a statutory requirement that payment of the pension should be suspended until it has been decided whether the pension should be revoked, and, if so, from what date—Section 6 (4) of the Old. Age Pensions Act, 1911. If the question is decided in favour of the pensioner, all arrears of pension money that are due are made good; but in the cases now referred to the pensions were revoked as from the 1st July last, and consequently no further payment of pension is due. While pension officers have no power to deprive any old age pensioners of their pensions it is their duty to see that payment of the pension is temporarily suspended in accordance with the statutory requirements pending the decision as to disqualification by the competent authority.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the original payment to clerks of the Old Age Pension Sub-Committee was 5s. per claim up to twenty claims and 2s. 6d. per claim afterwards; whether the Treasury imposed new duties of investigating claims for additional allowances, the payment for which is approximately 1s. per claim up to twenty claims and 6d. per claim afterwards; and, if so, whether he will consider the question of removing this-hardship and of paying clerks for these new duties at the same rate as was paid originally?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The scale for the new work in connection with additional allowances is 2s. 6d. for each of the first fifty applications in each quarter, 1s. for each of the next 350, and thereafter 6d. Having regard to the facts that the remuneration for the ordinary old age pensions work is on a generous scale, and that the new work is purely an addition to that provided for by the existing machinery of office accommodation and clerical staff, I am of opinion that these rates are adequate.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners, since they took over the Edinburgh Life Office estate in Rossbrin, near Schull, county Cork, proposed to exchange certain fields between the holdings now occupied by Stephen Brien and Patrick Brien and to carry out certain improvements in the buildings situated on both holdings; and whether they have now refused to carry out the proposed exchange and the proposed improvements notwithstanding that the present occupying tenants are anxious for them?

When the Estates Commissioners were preparing their rearrangement scheme for this estate the two tenants mentioned were asked to consent to a rearrangement of their holdings, but they refused. The Commissioners did not sanction any expenditure in respect of improvements in these cases, and they do not propose to do so.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state why the Edinburgh Life Office estate, situated in Rossbrin, and adjoining townlands in the electoral division of Ballydehob, in the union of Schull, in respect of which agreements to purchase their holdings were signed by the tenants in May, 1905,"and in respect of which the landlords were paid the purchase money three or four years ago, and on which all improvements proposed to be carried out by the Estates Commissioners were executed two years ago, has not yet been vested in the purchasing tenants; and can he explain the reason of the delay and the object of compelling the tenants to pay the higher rate of interest which the non-vesting of their holdings involves?

This estate has not yet been reached in its order for the purpose of vesting the holdings in the purchasing tenants, and the tenants are liable under their purchase undertakings to pay the minimum rate of interest prescribed by Section 18 (1) of the Irish Land Act, 1903. The holdings will be vested with as little delay as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received a representation from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council regarding the protraction of Indian litigation; and, if so, whether action will be taken in view of the necessity which exists for reducing the length of time allowed for appeals?

The Judicial Committee made very important suggestions which are before the Government of India. I am fully alive to the need for a reformed procedure.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he will consider the desirabilty of enabling boards of guardians to retain capable vagrants for trial periods of labour on the land; and whether he is aware that boards of guardians have frequently made requests for such powers of detention?

Resolutions have from time to time been received by the Local Government Board from certain boards of guardians in favour of the establishment of labour colonies for habitual vagrants and of increased powers of detention. At the present time the number of vagrants is comparatively small, and it will probably be better to deal with any cases who are capable of useful work under the Government scheme for national service.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now, in pursuance of the promise made by his predecessor in office, state the annual amount received by the Great Southern and Western Railway Company of Ireland for the carriage of the mails?

The amount, with which the hon. Member has already been furnished, is £56, 793.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Dyson, a post office learner at Wakefield, who has been performing full post office duties for the last seven months at a wage of 10s. per week, plus a war bonus of 2s. recently added, whilst temporary boys lacking the qualifications of Mr. Dyson have been, and are, receiving 27s. per week; and whether, having regard to the dissatisfaction which such inequalities create, he will take steps to secure a reasonable wage for all responsible Post Office workers?

Authority has now been received to grant a somewhat higher rate of pay to learners under 18 years of age when regularly employed on full duties, and Mr. Dyson will receive an increase at an early date. A learner is on a different footing from a temporary employé, inasmuch as he has a prospect of early establishment and in the meantime may be regarded as serving an apprenticeship.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can state approximately the number of town allotments now operating in England; the number of persons cultivating the said allotments; and the average extent of each allotment?

No figures are available as to the number of allotments in private ownership, but on the 31st December, 1914, the area of allotments provided by urban local authorities in England and Wales was 4,627 acres, which were-let to 78,569 individual tenants and forty-seven allotment associations. The average size of the allotments was rather less than ten rods.