asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether in any new trawlers that may be proposed to be built it is the custom of his Department to insist in the specifications on the metallic packing for main engines to be United States packing; and whether, seeing that there are other metallic packings made in this country which have been largely used for years for auxiliary engines with satisfaction, and that the use for main engines of this home-made metallic packing would save the nation £3,000 or £4,000 on every twenty ships without any detriment to the vessels' power or speed, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The name of the packing referred to by my hon. and learned Friend has apparently misled him. It is not, as its name might imply, of foreign manufacture, but is British made. My hon. and learned Friend is also wrong in supposing that its use in the machinery of trawlers is insisted upon by the Admiralty. The custom of the trawler engine-makers is being followed, and proposals for modification to facilitate manufacture made by the engine-makers themselves being given as favourable consideration as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why Sergeant John Adams, North Irish Horse, Antrim, who has served for the stipulated period of eight years and a year extra owing to the War, will not be permitted to return home to assist his widowed mother in the management and working of a farm of fifty acres; is he aware that Sergeant Adams' father died in January, 1916; that at the time of his death his two sons and son-in-law, who constituted the entire male portion of his family, were serving with His Majesty's forces; that since then his aged mother, who is in feeble health, has been left alone to manage her farm; and, considering the necessity for food production and the fact that this man has served his country, and that there are hundreds of homes in Ireland with many sons from amongst whom no one has been taken, will he order this man's discharge, or at least transfer his services to his mother's farm for the seeding down of the land?

This man was transferred to the Reserve on 3rd January, 1917, and is available for his mother's farm.

asked whether there is an urgent need for dental mechanics in the Army; and, if so, whether the War Office is prepared, in order to meet this need, to give the first consideration to those members of the dental profession who have already done home or foreign service in Line regiments?

There is now no shortage of dental mechanics for the Army. A temporary shortage, which occurred some months ago, was made good by transfers from other arms of the Service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the steps taken by the French Government and people to main tain the social welfare of their coloured labour units now in France from overseas by the provision of recreation huts for religious and educational facilities and also simple amusements, and other means of maintaining the comfort of these auxiliary forces; and whether British coloured labour contingents will receive similar consideration; and (2) whether the African labour contingents are proving in every way eminently satisfactory; and whether he can give an assurance that they will not be denied the provision of the facilities enjoyed by the white troops for religious and social welfare, and supplied by the Young Men's Christian Association or other approved agency?

I will answer these questions together. I am not aware what steps have been taken by the French Government and people with regard to the welfare of their coloured labour units. The Union Government have appointed an officer of exceptional personality to command and administer the South African labour units and promote their comfort, and I have every confidence that he will provide whatever is necessary. Any suggestions which my Noble Friend may have to offer will receive every consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the returning officer for the Rossen-dale by-election has declared Lieutenant Monkes to be the election agent for one of the candidates; and can he say whether he has taken any action in the matter, in view of the fact that the War Office had refused to permit Lieutenant Monkes to neglect his military duties in order to act as a political party agent?

Since the hon. Member put his question on Thursday we communicated by telegram with the local command. It is now reported that Lieutenant Monkes applied for leave on private affairs. When it was brought to the notice of the War Office that Lieutenant Monkes was acting as election agent for a Parliamentary candidate his leave was immediately cancelled and he was recalled to his military duties on the 9th inst.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Statutory Committee forwarded to the War Office a resolution on the 21st September, 1916, to the effect that the Admiralty and the War Office be requested to retain in their hospitals all invalided men requiring, active treatment; whether a deputation on the subject from the Statutory Committee and the Central Medical War Committee waited upon the Secretary of State for War on 3rd November; whether an immediate reply was promised; whether he can say if an official reply lias yet been sent; whether he is willing to take the responsibility for completing the treatment of disabled men and for refitting them for industrial life when they cannot be returned to active service; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

My Noble Friend the Secretary of State and I have been in close personal touch with the Pensions Minister (who represents the Statutory Committee) on this question for some time past, and I have reason to believe that the latter will shortly make a statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Pensions if, for the information of Members of the House, he will cause the Report of the hon. Member for Blackburn on the treatment and training of French disabled soldiers to be circulated?

The Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office has been asked to put this Report on sale. I will arrange to have copies available in the Vote Office for hon. Members.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether old shrunken, threadbare, patched, and darned clothing is being issued to the troops serving in France; whether officers commanding battalions in France have refused to issue such clothing to the men serving under them; and whether, in consequence, an order has been issued by the Army Council respecting issue of part-worn clothing service dress, giving an extract from Army Council Instruction, No. 1321. of 1916, for information and guidance (utilisation of part-worn service dress clothing) to the effect that this is an emergency measure to meet existing conditions, and though the standard of the renovated part-worn clothing may be much below that of the ordinary peace issues, it must be accepted without question and continued in wear to the utmost possible extent, and that so long as wearable no objections to its re-issue can be entertained?

The instructions to which the hon. Member refers were issued in July of last year and had reference to Home. Commands only and were based on the paramount necessity under existing conditions of using every possible economy in woollen commodities. Steps have been taken to ensure that no clothing which was not unquestionably fit for further use should be issued to the fighting troops in France. The War Office has no knowledge of any commanding officers refusing to issue the clothing supplied.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the pay and allowances of a warrant officer or a senior non-commissioned officer with a wife and children is in most cases greater than the pay of a second lieutenant, and that, in consequence of the inadequacy of the pay of second-lieutenants, many warrant officers and non-commissioned officers with wives and families have been obliged to refuse commissions on the ground that it would be impossible for them to maintain their wives and families on their pay if they accepted commissions; and, having regard to the effect on the Service and on warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of duly qualified warrant officers and noncommissioned officers being unable to accept commissions by reason solely of the inadequate pay given to subaltern officers, whether the Government propose to take any steps to remedy such conditions?

It is not the case that the pay and allowances on a warrant or non-commissioned officer in most cases exceed the pay and allowances of a second lieutenant. The matters referred to in the last part of the question are under active consideration, and I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, by General Routine Order No. 248 of the 22nd December, 1916, issued by the Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, it was ordered that lodging, ing, fuel, and light allowances and field allowances issuable under Army Order 501 of 1914 are not admissible if the officer's wife is living with him in Egypt; if so, will he explain why an officer serving in Egypt should be penalised because he is living with his wife; is the result of such order that a captain serving in Egypt who lives with his wife gets less in pay and allowances than an unmarried second lieutenant serving there; and, if so, what is the justification, if any, for such an order and what authority has the officer issuing such order to deprive married officers of the rights given them by Army Order 501 of 1914?

The General Routine Orders of 22nd December, 1916, reaffirmed orders issued by the War Office early in 1915. The special allowances under Army Order 501 of 1914 were granted as a provision for the wives or other dependants of officers, who were obliged to vacate their quarters or were otherwise left unprovided for when the officers took the field. They were not given to the wives of officers who continued to do duty at Home or in Mediterranean stations, such as Malta and Gibraltar. Officers whose wives were already provided with lodgings in kind or in cash in Egypt were consequently excluded from the special grant. It is not the case that a married captain in Egypt, livng with his wife, draws less in pay and allowances than an unmarried second lieutenant.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has had any reply to his inquiries as to the treatment of the nurses and others at Dundee Military Hospital?

I wrote to my hon. Friend on the 22nd of last December, giving him full information on this subject. If he has hot received the letter, I shall be happy to send him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the hardship involved on the wives of soldiers proceeding long dis- tances every week during the winter to draw in person their separation allowances, he will consider the practicability of authorising payment through the post to those women who live more than two miles from the nearest post office?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am not prepared to undertake payment of separation allowances through the post except in isolated cases where peculiar hardship would be caused by insistence on the ordinary rules. If the hon. Member had any such special cases in mind, I shall be glad to inquire into them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the extra 3s. 6d. London separation allowance is stopped in many cases where soldiers' wives go away for four or five weeks for health reasons, and is not reinstated on their return; and if he intends taking action in the matter?

No, Sir; I am not aware of this, and it would be contrary to the Regulations. The hon. Member brought one case to my notice recently in which the wife was absent for six months, and this will be inqured into.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the widow and orphans of the late Driver R. Flatman are still being provided with the necessaries of life by the Dublin Poor Law administrators; if he is aware that this man met his death by accident whilst in the service of his country and that his dependants have received no pension; and if he will say when the case will be considered?

In my answer to the hon. Member on this case on 20th December I explained that no pension could be given from Army funds, but that it was a case for consideration by the Statutory Committee. I drew the attention of the Committee to it, but any question as to their action in the matter should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a soldier who, after serving for twelve years, left the Army a time-expired soldier, who volunteered for the South African War and served one year and seven months on that occasion, and who volunteered again for the present War in September, 1914, and is serving yet, is entitled to bounty for voluntarily joining the Army on this last occasion, to proficiency pay by reason of his previous service, and if his service during the South African War and during the present War, either or both, will be allowed to count cumulatively in his record of service; and whether if he desires to continue in the Army after the War, to complete twenty-one years' service, he will be allowed to do so with full pension rights for the whole period of twenty-one years' service?

The bounty is given only to men who were serving on an Army engagement on August 4th, 1914. The previous service mentioned counts towards the two years required for proficiency pay, if the man is serving in an arm which is eligible. All his service will count towards pension, but the question of his continuing in the Service to complete twenty-one years cannot be settled until the termination of the War.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the powers of the Civil Liabilities Committee with regard to officers; is there any and, if so, what limit to the amount of assistance the Committee can give an officer or as to the rank of the officers to whom assistance may be given; and has an officer to appeal to the Committee as a suppliant for charity or is he entitled to receive a grant as of right?

The scheme of the Civil Liabilities Committee extends to officers in the Army below the rank of captain and to officers of equivalent rank in the Navy. Assistance may be granted to such officers in cases of serious hardship to enable them to meet their civil obligations up to a limit of £104 per annum. The grants are paid out of public funds, and are in no sense charity, but the officer is, of course, required to produce evidence as to his financial position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any, and, if so, how many fresh battalions of the King's African Rifles have now been raised in either East Africa or Nigeria?

The King's African Rifles is an East African force, and has no connection with Nigeria. All possible steps are being taken to expand the local military forces, both in East and West Africa, but the hon. Member will realise that it is inadvisable in the public interest that details should be given.