asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that three young men, members of the Irish Republican party, were recently at the Oranmore (county Galway) Sessions convicted under the Defence of the Realm Act of an offence of the usual seditious nature; whether he is aware that these men had been interned after the recent rebellion and released last Christmas; was any undertaking required of them before they were released; and will they now be again interned?

Two men, who were released from internment at Christmas, were arrested for being drunk and using seditious expressions. I do not know whether they professed to be Republicans. They have been convicted at Petty Sessions on a pica of guilty, and ordered to be imprisoned and afterwards held to bail, but are appealing against the sentence. They will not be interned unless some ground arises for supposing that their being at large endangers the safety of the realm. At present no person who is responsible for the public safety has made this suggestion.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, though Ireland is still nominally subject to martial law, offences are being tried under the Defence of the Realm Acts, and those coming before the Courts are made subject to the same mode of trial as though they were charged with a like offence in this country, and if convicted and sentenced cannot have their sentence remitted or reduced at the discretion of the general officer commanding the Irish forces, as would be the case if tried by a military court; and is it intended to substitute for martial law government under the various Regulations of the Defence of the Realm Acts?

Cases of the kind referred to in the question are, and always have been, tried under the Defence of the Realm Regulations. There is no difference in procedure or practice as to sentences of courts-martial between Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, and no change is contemplated.

Are courts-martial in England in capital cases held in camera, as they are in Ireland?

That does not arise out of the question.

It arises out of the right hon. Gentleman's answer.

The hon. Member can put a question down.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, on the return from North Roscommon to Dublin of the successful candidate in a recent by-election, the procession of Irish Republicans who were escorting him was allowed to pass through Sackville Street, Westmoreland Street, and Stephen's Green, with the result that collisions between the procession and soldiers and sailors whom it met was with difficulty averted; and will he take steps in future to have processions of this kind confined to those parts of the city where the risk of such collisions would not be so likely to occur?

The information I have received as to the procession referred to by the hon. Member does not indicate that there was any interference with soldiers or sailors, and does not identify the persons who took part in the procession as Republicans. The Chief Commissioner of Police will no doubt continue to observe the care which he habitually exercises to prevent disorder in the streets of Dublin.

If I send my right hon. Friend an account of what might have been the beginning of a scuffle between a party of sailors and the procession, will he read it?

I will read any information, my hon. and gallant Friend sends me, but I have seen very detailed accounts of what took place on the night to which the question refers, and I am quite satisfied that there was nothing in the nature of organised interference with either soldiers or sailors. No soldier or sailor has complained in any way of any interference.

Would my right hon. Friend read my question? I did not mention organised interference on the part of the procession against soldiers or sailors. I asked a question about the danger of collision between soldiers and sailors and the procession, which is a very different thing.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the hon. and gallant Gentleman that instead of blackening the character of his countrymen he ought to be employed in some sort of clean and decent work?

asked the Chief Secretary whether small holders under £10 valuation and labourers who agree with the owners of land to take portion of it in conacre from them for tillage for the year independent of any scheme formulated by the district councils are entitled, under the food regulations, to get seeds and fertilisers on loan from the district councils on the same terms as if they were included in such a scheme; and, if not, is it left to themselves to purchase seeds and fertilisers for cultivating the land without receiving any assistance, financial or otherwise, from the Department of Agriculture?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a pamphlet prepared by the Department of Agriculture, entitled "Food Production, 1917," which gives particulars as to the scheme for the provision of seeds and manure.

If small holders agree with the occupiers of land outside the scheme to take allotments, will the Department give facilities by giving them seed and fertilisers?

That is too wide a question to admit of a general answer at the moment. The whole matter has been under consideration. I have discussed it with a Committee of Members representing the party to which the hon. Member belongs as well as other Members. The matter is being dealt with to the best judgment of the Department.

asked whether it is intended to introduce a Bill legalising the proceedings hitherto taken in connection with seed supply in rural districts; and whether he will introduce a Clause into any such Bill providing that the officers engaged in connection with schemes for the supply of seed shall be paid out of the district fund such reasonable extra remuneration for their services as the Local Government Board may by Order direct, rather than that such remuneration should be added to the cost of such seed, and collected from the recipients of such seed as ordered by the circular of the Local Government Board, dated 14th February, 1917.

The cost of the distribution of seed has been added to the price of the seed in all previous Seed Supply Acts. It is doubtful whether the rural district councils would be willing to charge this item of expense to the ratepayers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ascertain what would be the opinion of the rural councils?

I have taken steps to ascertain what the Local Government Board thinks.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Local Government Board for Ireland has always ignored the opinion of the local councils?

That has not been my experience.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will take steps to see that in all applications for exemptions from the tillage regulations care will be taken that each case will be dealt with on its merits, and that no influence will be used by which the large grazing ranches in the country may be excluded from their operation, so that there may be equality of obligation on all landholders to produce food?

Each application for exemption from compulsory tillage is dealt with on its merits, subject to the decisions of the Advisory Committee on Food Production as to the classes of holdings which should be exempted.

If the owners of these grazing farms ask for horses and ploughs will they get them?

It depends whether horses and ploughs are available.

asked what are the terms upon which local authorities in Ireland can borrow money from the Treasury to carry out that portion of the tillage scheme put on to them?

The rate of interest is 5 per cent., and the local authorities have already been notified to that effect.

Are there any county agricultural committees in Ireland?

Yes.

It shows what little you know about Ireland when you ask a question like that.

asked whether the Advisory Committee to the Irish Food Production Controllers will have all exemption claims brought before them; and, if so, will they be the final authority on such matters or will the Government officials who constitute the Food Committee have the right of veto?

Applications for exemption are dealt with by the Department of Agriculture in accordance with the decisions of their Advisory Committee as to the classes of holdings which may be exempted from the operation of the regulations for compulsory tillage. Cases in which doubt arises as to whether a particular application comes within one of the classes of exempted holdings are submitted to the Advisory Committee for their recommendation, but final responsibility for the decision rests with the Department.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has considered the possibility of graziers hoodwinking the Irish Food Production Committee by telling their inspectors on their visits after the 28th February that they are prepared to comply with the law without having any notion of so doing, and then when the season would be coming to a close putting forward the pretext that labour and machinery were not forthcoming; and will the Royal Irish Constabulary be in structed to pay almost daily visits in or near the lands of such people and report to the Food Committee whether or not serious and genuine attempts were being made to carry out the tillage order?

The Department of Agriculture will exercise the powers conferred upon them by the regulations for compulsory tillage should cases occur in which occupiers of land act in the manner referred to in the question. The necessary inquiries will be made and reports obtained.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many exemption claims have been put forward in county Limerick from those who have hitherto used their lands for grazing purposes alone; if he will take into consideration the fact that every one of those holding such grazing tracts are wealthy men capable of purchasing machinery and all the necessary requirements for tillage as well as labour, and compel every one of them to comply with the Order; and, failing their doing so, will he give over the percentage allocated for tillage to the labourers and small farmers and landless people at the ground rent?

Applications for exemption in respect of land have been received from Limerick as from other counties, but I am not in a position to say how many come from any one class of occupiers. All the attendant circumstances will be duly taken into consideration by the Department of Agriculture in cases in which it may be necessary to take action owing to the failure of occupiers to comply with regulations for compulsory tillage.

asked whether the Irish Food Committee have approached the military authorities in Ireland with a view to securing help in the production of food by the supply of horses and military wagons; and, if not, will immediate steps be taken to see if such arrangement is possible?

The Department of Agriculture have approached the military authorities in Ireland as to the possibility of obtaining horses for farm work. Only a limited number of horses can be released. I am told military wagons would be of little use for agricultural purposes

asked the amount of the yearly take of fish by the fishermen of Seafield and Quilty; and whether any estimate has ever been made of the extent to which this amount might be increased if the facilities and the necessary safeguards were developed so as to secure the utmost possible efficiency?

During the year 1916 the Seafield and Quilty fishermen landed herrings valued at £902 10s.; mackerel at £387; and other kinds of fish and shellfish at £211. In the opinion of the Congested Districts Board the improvements suggested for Seafield Pier are not practicable.

As this question not only affects fishermen but also affects a policy of public utility in view of the possible shortage of food, would the right hon. Gentleman have the question looked into again by a competent person?

I cannot accept the suggestion that the engineer who reported on this scheme was not a competent person, but when I am in Ireland I will take the opportunity of discussing the matter with various authorities who have to deal with the question, and if anything reasonable can be done it shall be done.

Without reflecting on the engineer, is it not quite, the usual thing to have a second opinion?

That depends on the circumstances of the case. I will consider the suggestion.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution sent to the Department of Agriculture by the food production committee of Kilfenora, West Clare, pointing out that the outlook of the agricultural class in the neighbourhood is such as to cause the gravest apprehensions, that except for the grazing lands held by a few graziers the land available for tillage is inadequate and unsatisfactory, and requesting that the grazing lands should be thrown open to tillage; and, seeing that this resolution substantially represents the state of affairs in all parts of West Clare, whether it is the intention of the Government to utilise for food production to the utmost degree of efficiency the estates now held by graziers?

The Department of Agriculture have received the resolution referred to, but they have no power to intervene unless occupiers of land fail to comply with the requirements of the Regulations under the Defence of the Realm Acts.

Although they have no power of intervention, is it not a fact that if they gave advice that the proper amount of land should be thrown open, that advice would certainly be followed?

I am not so sure about that. I find there are a great many people in Ireland who do not take reasonable advice.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the twenty-eight tenants on the estate of Mr. R. O. Lynch, an inspector of the Local Government Board for Ireland, at Cappanagopple, Clonbur, Connemara, will be given an opportunity of cultivating, under the conacre system, the grass farm in possession of the landlord, and which is the only land on his estate that is capable of economic cultivation; whether he is aware that this landlord has consented to give only 10 acres of this farm to the tenants, and at the price of £5 per acre; and whether compulsory powers will at once be exercised to compel this gentleman to give a larger portion of the farm to his tenants, who are compelled to eke out an existence on this, from 3 to 5 acres of miserable patches of bog land, and at a price that will take into consideration the character of their present poor holdings?

The Department of Agriculture have no power to deal with any holding unless the occupier fails to comply with the Regulations under the Defence of the Realm Acts. There are no reasons to suppose that the occupier of the lands referred to does not intend to fulfil his obligations under the Regulations.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask how many gentlemen on the Local Government Board are of the same class of landlords, and why it is that so many public boards in Ireland have no confidence in a board administered by this class?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Crosbie is setting up a large portion of his grazing lands tomorrow for grazing lettings, in order to avoid the obligation of offering the land for tillage?

I do not know whether proceedings of that kind would be successful. If the case arises it will be considered.

As President of the Local Government Board, will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has received the names of a number of labourers and artisans from the town of Rathdowney, Queen's County, requiring allotments of land under the Government food production scheme; and, if so, seeing that the Abbeyleix District Council have failed to acquire such land by agreement from the owners of untenanted lands throughout the union, will he take steps to acquire such land as may be necessary to provide labourers and artisans with allotments in accordance with the Government Regulations?

The Department of Agriculture have received the lists of names referred to, and will deal with the matter in due course.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why compulsory powers are being granted to urban areas and not to rural district councils? Is he aware that a labourer in a country district is better able to till an acre of ground than a resident in a town is to till one-eighth of an acre?

There are difficulties in getting allotments that are capable of being tilled by town artisans, and it is with a view to meeting the requirements of that class of the population that the Regulation was introduced.

What I want to know is why the same Regulation does not apply to a rural area as to a town?

Because there is not the same necessity.

Does not allotment land under the Government food production scheme mean an allotment of land for the period of the War or afterwards?

If the land is available by agreement for permanent schemes of allotments it would be desirable, but that is not very general. If compulsory powers are exercised they will be exercised for the duration of the War and for a short period afterwards.

asked whether the amount of sugar allowed to shopkeepers in Ireland is based on the amount purchased by them in 1915; and, if so, what regulation is made in the case of shopkeepers who did not begin to trade until after 1915?

The supplies of sugar allowed to retailers in Ireland, as elsewhere, are based on their supplies in 1915. The arrangements made by the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply do not admit of sugar being allotted to persons who did not begin to trade until after 1915. A person taking over the goodwill of a business which was in existence in 1915 is, however, able to draw any supplies of sugar to which the owner of the business would be entitled on the usual basis.

Does not that involve a great hardship in the case of those who started business after 1915?

With the very limited supply of sugar the Sugar Commission found it impossible to meet the case of those entirely new businesses which did not previously exist.

But surely it would require only a very small amendment in the Regulations? Will my hon. Friend undertake to have this matter considered immediately?

The matter has been very carefully considered by the Sugar Commission, in whose hands the matter rests. In every case where there is a growing population facilities have been afforded for existing establishments to obtain larger supplies of sugar than they previously had.

That is not my point, with all respect. Is the effect of the Regulation going to be that every man who started business after 1915 is going to be ruined?

It is obvious that with a limited supply of sugar an entirely new business started during the War has no special claim upon the national 'stock. Existing businesses have the claim. In the case where the goodwill is purchased the supply is given.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in munitions centres and other places where the population has enormously increased, they have refused to supply sugar to shopkeepers who established businesses after 1915?

I am aware that in every such case where representations have been made to the Sugar Commission or the Food Controller, additional supplies have been given to those who previously sold sugar in the locality.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will appoint a Committee to act immediately in regard to our meat supplies; will he provide that such Committee shall have full power to investigate and discover the best cattle-raising lands in Queensland, New Zealand, South Africa, and Northern Nigeria, with a view of starting cattle ranches to supply our British markets and to prevent the possibility of the great American and other meat trusts from cornering our meat supplies; and if he will take such measures at once as to prevent these meat trusts from securing any more land in our Colonies for cattle raising?

I have been asked to answer this question. It would not be possible to constitute a Committee, with the powers suggested, unless with the assent and co-operation of the Dominion Governments. I am, of course, fully alive to the importance of the subject, and I anticipate that it will be discussed at the approaching Conference with the representatives of the Dominions.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government has received a petition, unanimously resolved upon by the corporation of the city of Glasgow, urging that, in view of the increased cost of living, the old age pension should be increased from 5s. to 7s. 6d. a week; whether this proposal has been considered by the Government; and whether he proposes to take any action?

The answer is in the negative.

Has no petition been presented?

No petition has been presented.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, having regard to the number of cattle in this country and the possible scarcity of milk next winter, and having regard to its value as an article of food, he will issue an Order compelling the owners of suitable heifers to take the necessary means of converting them into milk producers at the earliest opportunity?

On this, as on all questions affecting the stimulation of home production, the Food Controller will only take action if so advised by the respective Departments of Agriculture.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider the advisability of laying down a different scale of rations for children and adults; whether he has had any special reports on the effect of the present scale of rationing on industrial, preparatory, and public boarding schools; and whether in such schools the bread allowance is proving sufficient to maintain the healthy growth of boys and girls?

The scale of rations laid down in the Food Controller's statement was intended to apply to households containing an average distribution of adults and children of both sexes and various ages. The Food Controller has received many inquiries as to its application to schools and similar institutions. He has stated, in reply, that special consideration must naturally be given to the needs of growing boys and girls, and that, while every effort should be made to approach as nearly as possible to the voluntary scale, that scale may require modification in details and adjustment to circumstances. He places on the authorities of such institutions the responsibility of applying the scale to the special circumstances of each case in the spirit of his appeal.

Will the hen. Gentleman consider the advisability on drawing up some scale to guide headmasters in the schools, as that would be of considerable assistance?

The Food Controller has set up a Committee to give advice to those who require it on the subject of relative food values. I think that is what the hon. Gentleman requires.

Will the hon. Gentleman take into consideration that thousands of families in the North bake their own bread, which is certainly of more value than baker's bread, and that it is substituted in place of meat, so that hardship is caused by the bread allowance; and while they could very well do with 2½ lbs. of meat, they find the bread ration rather hard?

That has been fully taken into account, and it applies very particularly in the case of agricultural labourers. In all such cases it is recognised that certain classes of people do consume more bread and less meat, and it is proposed in such cases to allow a reasonable discretion, as long as the spirit of the appeal is not broken, and as long as the aggregate amount of staple food is not exceeded.

Has the Ministry any information about the patriots who are beginning to hoard flour?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has furnished to the American Ambassador a full Report of the trial by secret court-martial, contrary to Statute, together with the evidence in the case of Dermod (Anglicé Jeremiah) Lynch, an American citizen, a surrendered prisoner of war in Dublin last May; of the sentence of death, commuted to twenty years' penal servitude; of the fact that the sole witness against him was a British officer whose life Lynch had saved by imprisoning him in the Post Office; and of the manner of identification; and if he will inform the House of any communications received from the American Government on the form of trial, the denial of facilities for defence, the character of the evidence, the name of the witness, or otherwise with reference to this case?

A request received from the United States Ambassador for information regarding the trial of Jeremiah Lynch was duly complied with.

Will the Noble Lord supply the Ambassador with this information when it is applied for?

The request for information was duly complied with.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will arrange for a referendum of the Irish people to decide whether it is with their consent or at their desire that a state of military rule has been imposed in that country?

The state of military rule to which the hon. Member refers is, I assume, the enforcement of the Defence of the Realm Acts and Regulations No referendum is provided for in the Acts; and I do not propose to ask for any modification of them in this respect.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his reply and submit that reconsideration to the Cabinet, because such a reply puts him out of court?

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the offence for which Frank Drennan is now undergoing a sentence of twenty years' penal servitude, reduced to ten; the witnesses against him; why the alibi which applied to him and another charged with him was effective in the latter case and disallowed in Drennan's; whether the trial was secret and the rights of civil trial and defence denied; and whether he will produce a full Report of the proceedings in this trial?

asked the Home Secretary if he will specify the alleged offence for which Peter Doyle, of Inchi-core, is now undergoing a sentence of ten years' penal servitude, in view of the facts that this man did not fight in the insurrection, being physically incapable of fighting, and that his activity was confined to cooking; and, if these two facts are confirmed on inquiry, whether Doyle will be released?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him yesterday.

This contemptuous method will not do. Will the hon. Gentleman answer the last clause of Question 60?

I can add nothing to the answer I have given.

You are an impertinent Minister !

The hon. Member has no right to make a statement of that kind.

May I ask whether he is not an impudent Minister?

That adjective is equally offensive, and is not one which is permitted.

On a point of Order——

I must ask the hon. Member (Mr. Ginnell) to withdraw the expression used by him.

If you rule that it is incorrect I will withdraw it.

The hon. Member can substitute the word "incorrect."

I must ask the hon. Member to withdraw the expression.

All right, I withdraw it, and substitute "incorrect."

On a point of Order. While paying testimony to your invariable courtesy——

There is no point of Order; it has been disposed of.

asked the Home Secretary, in view of the length and increased cost of the journey from Ireland to Lewes and only half an hour allowed for visiting the Irish political prisoners there, whether he will extend the time for visiting or transfer the men to some prison in Ireland; whether he will rectify the apparent oversight by which the hard labour prisoners, in for the same cause, are still separated from the penal servitude prisoners; when and how he proposes to redeem the pledge given by his predecessor that the Countess Markievicz, in penal servitude for the same cause, should participate in the amelioration of condition accorded to the male prisoners; whether he is aware of the effect on this lady's nerves of having been kept in the prison at which her friends were being executed and within hearing of the signals and of the shots: and whether he will allow her to be visited now by her Dublin doctor acquainted with her health before her imprisonment?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; and to the second that it is the rule not to allow hard labour prisoners to associate with penal servitude prisoners. As to the third, I would refer the hon. Member to the written reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Dublin Harbour Division. As to the fourth, this prisoner receives all necessary medical attention from the medical staff of the prison.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he will allow this lady to be examined by her own Dublin physician?

I do not think it is necessary. There is no question as to her health. She has full attention from the medical officer there.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that it is the general opinion of experts that there is a steady decline of the salmon fisheries of the Shannon and its tributaries which can only be arrested by the establishment of hatcheries; and, as the Shannon system could be made a national asset capable of returning a harvest of value, will he see that the Department of Agriculture take the necessary steps to establish these hatcheries so as to be ready for the autumn spawning?

The Department of Agriculture are of opinion that the stock of salmon in the River Shannon and its tributaries could be augmented by establishing hatcheries, but the Department have not at present any funds available for this purpose.

Cannot the Department get funds for the purpose?

We have asked for them.

What is the use of asking if you do not get them? Having regard to the fact that a Departmental Committee inquired into this matter, and also a Royal Commission, and recommended that land should be got for this purpose, cannot something be done, especially at the present time?

The hon. Member had better put that question on the Paper.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the number of old age pensioners in Ireland who have been denied the extra 2s. 6d., he will have any objection to meeting a deputation from the Irish public bodies and representatives of the Irish party with a view to the mitigation of the hardship which exists as far as the poor people referred to are concerned?

If the hon. Member will communicate with me privately, I will endeavour to meet the wish expressed in the question.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether inspectors under the Old Age Pensions Acts are instructed to inquire, in the case of a claimant entitled by age and circumstances, into the nature and value of the meals given to the claimant by one who employs him casually at odd jobs pending the acquisition of the pension; whether such instruction is acted upon in this country; and, if the charitable employer gives good meals, whether this fact bars or reduces the pension to which the claimant would otherwise be entitled?

Under Section 2 (1) (d) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, which is equally applicable to each part of the United Kingdom, account must be taken in estimating the means of a claimant to an old age pension of the "yearly value of any benefit or privilege enjoyed by that person," and the question whether the enjoyment of free meals would affect a claimant's right to a pension would be a matter for the determination of the local pension committee according to the facts of each particular case, subject to the right of appeal on the part of either the pension officer or the claimant to the Local Government Board. The pension officer must, of course, ascertain all the relevant facts, so that the pension committee may be in possession of the information necessary to enable them to adjudicate on the claim.

The hon. Gentleman has not answered the question on the Paper, whether the pension officer is empowered to issue this document inquiring the nature of the meals given gratuitously by the member of the pension committee to an applicant, and whether, if this gentleman gives good meals, it will lessen or destroy the chances of the man to get a pension?

I think if the hon. Member reads the answer I have given, and it is a rather lengthy one, he will find it covers the whole ground.

asked whether any grant or loan was made to the Vacant Land Cultivation Society in Dublin; and, if so, how much?

Provision for a Grant not exceeding £400 has been made by the Development Commissioners in favour of the Vacant Land Cultivation Society (Ireland), in order to assist in obtaining allotment grounds for working men in the neighbourhood of Dublin and other towns, in respect of the financial year ending the 31st March, 1917.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state what orders for timber are being given to British Columbia, if any, and what kind of timber is ordered; and will his Department see that, as far as possible, this Colony shall now, and after the War, receive its fair share of such timber orders so as to further develop its great timber resources and trade generally?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question as my Department has hitherto been responsible for large purchases of timber for Government account. Contracts have been placed in British Columbia, and the placing of others is under consideration, but the long sea voyage and the shortage of tonnage have rendered it difficult to take much advantage of the great resources of British Columbia, and this shortage is likely, I fear, to act still more disadvantageously in the near future.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the present policy of the Government to conscript for the Army carpenters brought from Ireland to this country to work on buildings for munition works, hospitals, and other war requirements; under what law Mr. Cecil Chapman, magistrate, ordered James Bray, an Irish carpenter in the foregoing circumstances, to be handed over to the military authorities; under what law Bray is now being punished for refusing to become a soldier; and whether he will be sent back to his skilled work or allowed to return to Ireland?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Dublin Harbour on the 14th February. It is assumed that James Bray was handed over to the military authorities by the learned stipendiary magistrate in accordance with the provisions of Section 15 of the Reserve Forces Act, 1882. Bray is at present being punished for refusal to obey orders in accordance with the provisions of the Army Act. The hon. Member for Dublin Harbour has already been informed that if he will supply further particulars of this case further inquiries will be made into the matter.

Will the hon. Gentleman say why this magistrate sent Mr. Bray away without offering him an opportunity to prove how he had been employed since he arrived in this country?

The Minister is not responsible for the action of the magistrate.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that early in January about 200 Irishmen were induced, on the promise of receiving £2 10s. per week, to come to a northwestern county of England to be employed in a munition factory; whether he is aware that these men, who were enticed away from agricultural work and constant employment in Ireland, were without lodging accommodation, and in many instances were obliged to herd in the slums of a large town, many of them being only seventeen years of age, and, in consequence of their sufferings, two have died and many others are now in workhouse hospitals suffering from pneumonia; whether he is aware that they are obliged to travel thirteen miles to and from their work morning and evening, some being unable to do so owing to the want of means of conveyance, and are consequently left in a state of starvation; whether he is aware that if they apply for a change to another factory they are informed they will be taken over by the military authorities; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter'?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to take this question. If the hon. Member will inform me of the particular munition factory which he has in mind, I shall be glad to have inquiries made and to inform him of the result.

Has a note been sent stating the facts?

I am afraid that the note has not been seen by the Minister. I will make inquiry.

asked the Minister of Munitions the result of recent inquiries in Ireland as to the increasing of the output of munitions from that country; and what factories have been opened, or are likely to be opened, consequent on that inquiry?

It is not clear to what special inquiry the hon. Member refers. My right hon. Friend is kept continually informed of the possibilities of increasing the output of munitions from Ireland, and has recently very carefully reviewed the whole position. As a result of that review, it is hoped to extend one of the national factories, and instructions have been given to press on the completion of a certain cartridge factory. These two extensions will result in the employment of several hundreds more hands. The hon. Member is doubtless aware that large orders for ammunition boxes have recently been placed with Irish firms.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions, with regard to Circular M. W. 146,967/22, calling up certain men aged eighteen to twenty-two, just issued, whether it contains an instruction to employers that, whenever a man who is employed in an essential process by a firm mentioned in the White List or supplement thereto receives a calling-up notice, he is to bring it at once to his employer, who must return it immediately to the recruiting officer endorsed with a certain certificate; whether copies of this list have been refused to employers; how employers are to act on the instructions if copies of the list referred to in the instructions are refused them; and whether he will take steps to secure that all employers who may consider themelves affected may have copies of the list?

The list is being reprinted and will be issued as soon as possible. In the meantime, any firm which considers that it may be affected can obtain definite information either from the Ministry's local dilution officer, or from the recruiting officer, or from the Badges Section of the Ministry of Munitions.

Within what time will the list be available for firms to get a copy of it?

It is a question of printing. As soon as the printer has got them ready they will be available.

Is it a large list?

Not so very.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received a resolution unanimously passed by the corporation of the city of Glasgow urging that arrangements should be made for a general exchange of civilian prisoners of war with Germany; and whether the Government has come to any decision in this matter?

My right hon. Friend has received the resolution referred to. The question of a general exchange of civilian prisoners has been frequently considered, but I regret to say that the obstacles in the way of bringing it about have hitherto proved insurmountable.

Are the representatives of the Dutch Government now dealing with the matter?

The Dutch Government have succeeded to the functions which were formerly exercised by the representatives of the American Government.

Why is the Department not so smart as the French Foreign Office?

I can only speak for our own Department.

Are negotiations for the exchange of prisoners still going on?

No; I am afraid that at this moment negotiations have been suspended. If there is any likelihood of the German Government consenting to a man-for-man exchange no doubt they would be renewed.

Then am I to take it that the idea of a general exchange of prisoners has been abandoned?

Certainly, as I am at present advised.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) if ho can state what arrangements have been made to ensure the regular transport off food parcels, clothing, medicines, etc., from this country to British prisoners of war in Germany; and whether he can assure the House that the recent German sea regulations will not involve the starvation of our prisoners?

Arrangements have been made, and our information is that the parcels for British prisoners of war in Germany are going regularly to their destination.

asked the Prime Minister (l) whether, in view of the approaching Conference with representatives of the Dominions, he will discourage in all official documents the use of the terms Empire and Imperial as being improper in point of fact and contrary to the spirit of free institutions in self-governing States; and (2) whether he will take advantage of the presence in London of the representatives of the Dominions to set up a small committee, including delegates from the Dominions, in order to consider the objections to the use of the word Empire in official documents on account of its associations in history, and its present implication, according to German usage, of military domination, and to suggest in place of Empire a term which shall apply to the community of nations of which this country and the Dominions form part, and which shall be consistent with the freedom of development of each of the parts according to its destiny?

The answer to these questions is in the negative.

If the use of the word Empire, which is incorrect in fact, be not out of order, shall I be in order in using the word Republic, which is also incorrect in fact, at present; but which has a brighter future than the word Empire?

I do not know what term the hon. Member would use, but I am sure that his philological studies must have taught him that a word does not necessarily depend on the roots from which it originates, and the word Empire does not necessarily mean a military despotism.

Is His gracious Majesty the King an Emperor at all, except as to India?

asked the Prime Minister whether, before setting up the Advisory Committee to assist the Coal Controller, it is proposed to consult the various coal owner's associations; and who he proposes shall speak for this new Department of the Board of Trade in the House of Commons?

The Advisory Committee which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board proposes to appoint to assist the Controller of Coal Mines will, I understand, be representative so far as possible of the various districts. It was not considered necessary to consult the local associations of coal owners. My right hon. Friend and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade will speak for the Controller in the House of Commons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the numbers of War Savings Certificates sold in England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, up to some recent date; will he explain why Scotland drags so far comparatively behind England and Wales in this matter; and are the same means taken by his Department to raise these funds?

I will, with the hon. Member's leave, circulate a full statement, as the answer is a long one. I may state that not only the totals for Scotland, but the proportion, has greatly improved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there is any official record of the number of barrels of beer sent from Great Britain to Ireland and from the latter country to the former; and, if so, will he state the quantity for each year since 1912?

The Board of Customs and Excise inform me that no such official record is kept.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it has yet been decided to make a grant out of public funds to the local education authorities, and so enable them to pay a war bonus to teachers?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I hope to deal with the question of educational finance in a manner which will render a special grant in aid of war bonuses to teachers unnecessary. If I am not fortunate enough to obtain the consent of Parliament to my proposals, it may be taken for granted that State assistance in aid of war bonuses will be available in England and Wales as well as in Scotland, though it will possibly not be distributed in precisely the same manner.

May I ask with regard to this particular question whether he has been able to break through the door of the Treasury?

May I ask whether this increase will be retrospective and from what date?

It will not be retrospective.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that single men under twenty-five years of age, with no dependants, are still being employed by the Board of Inland Revenue (Taxes Branch), and that although repeated applications to be allowed to join His Majesty's forces have been made by some of these men their requests have been rfused; and will he take steps to liberate these men and let the work be done by men over military age?

I may remind my hon. Friend that the raising of the vast additional revenue sanctioned by this House for the purpose of the War has thrown a great burden on the Board of Inland Revenue, and especially on that branch of their Department to which he particularly refers, whose work, as he is well aware, is of a highly specialised character. The question whether further men could be taken with safety from a staff already depleted is under the consideration of the Director-General of National Service.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that young men from eighteen to twenty-three are employed by the Board of Inland Revenue and Excise and are sent to get particulars from old people with regard to old age pensions instead of being in the Army?

I have myself looked very closely into the question with the desire of sending away as many men as could possibly be spared. It has been left to the decision of the Director-General of National Service.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet received the Report of the Committee appointed to consider the reintroduction of so-called summer time for Greenwich time during the summer months; and whether he can state what decision has been arrived at by His Majesty's Government?

asked whether it is proposed to bring the Summer Time Act into operation at Easter or at some earlier, and what date; and, if so, whether the Shops (Earlier Closing) Order can be allowed to lapse on that date instead of on 30th April as at present arranged?

I am informed that the Committee have settled their Report, which will reach me to-day. I hope to be able to announce the decision of the Government very shortly—possibly in the course of next week; but in the meantime I may say that the Committee unanimously recommend the reintroduction of summer time.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question about the Shop Hours Closing Order?

I am considering that question.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether a seaman in the lower ratings who has previously been the sole support of his mother and of three younger children cannot get a dependants' allowance for them of more than 10s. a week; whether a private soldier in similar circumstances may get an allowance of 28s. a week for his dependants; whether he proposes to take any steps to remove this injustice to men serving in the Navy?

The allowance would, in any event, be governed by the extent of the pre-entry dependence, and however high such dependence, I understand that in the case of the private soldier with four dependants as described, it could not exceed 23s. a week—including the allotment of 3s. 6d. a week from the soldier's pay. The allowance, plus allotment, in the case of a seaman similarly circumstanced would be limited to 10s. in those instances in which the man, if a Reservist, could allot only 5s., and 7s. 6d. in the case of active service rating similarly situated. I have previously pointed out to my hon. Friend that it is one of the functions of the Statutory Committee to grant relief in the comparaively small number of cases where hardship is found to result from regulations which are necessarily framed to meet the general case, and which do fairly meet the very great majority of cases. I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the Pensions Minister on the point.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Statutory Committee has all along in every case repudiated the interpretation which he places on its powers and refuses to do anything to raise the Admiralty flat rate for the lower ratings to the level of the private soldier?

As I have just told the hon. Member, I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the Pensions Minister and I have taken note of his contention on the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in every case for over a year the Statutory Committee has absolutely refused to do what he states?

I was not aware of that.

Yes, in every case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will state what steps are being taken, and with what result, to reduce the price of feeding stuffs used for feeding milch cows and other cattle?

At the instance of the Food Controller, the supply of maize was taken over by the Wheat Commission, with the result that prices have been reduced from the previous level. He also met representatives of the military industry on the 7th February, with the result that the price of bran and middlings since that date has fallen by 15s. per ton. The restriction of the use of barley for malting purposes may reasonably be expected to cause a further reduction. This work is about to be handed over to the Ministry of Munitions, and that Department is setting up a Committee which will contain representatives of the three Departments of Agriculture.

My hon. Friend has not referred to feeding cakes, which have risen in price very considerably. Has any action been taken?

A considerable amount of action has been taken, but as it affects very largely the question of explosives, which is being dealt with by the Ministry of Munitions—it covers the case of glycerine, for instance—it is thought desirable that the Ministry of Munitions should deal with the matter, which it is about to do without delay.

Will the Ministry of Munitions fix the price of feeding cakes?

They will, I understand, fix the prices of the products and by-products of the seeds and nuts to which the hon. Gentleman refers, on the advice of a Committee largely composed of the representatives of the three Departments of Agriculture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to suspend, for the period of the War, the payment of renewal fees for patent rights granted for devices made of metal now commandeered for munitions, especially in cases where the patent rights have been secured since the outbreak of war, and thus follow the policy adopted by the French and Belgian Governments?

I am not prepared to suspend payment of renewal fees altogether in such circumstances, but I would draw the attention of the hon. Member to the rules, of which I am sending him a copy, made on 21st August, 1914, with a view to meeting the difficulties which patentees may have at the present time in regard to payment of fees. He may rest assured that the power given in these rules to extend the time for the payment of fees has been, and will continue to be, generously exercised in all suitable cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the shortage of paper supplies, the Government has encouraged the starting of new newspapers; and whether it proposes to impose any restrictions in this matter?

Generally speaking, the Government deprecate the starting of new newspapers at the present time. The reductions of imports of paper and paper-making materials which are now in force and which will shortly be made more stringent must have the effect of discouraging such enterprises.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether any member of the Government has been putting capital into new newspapers?

I cannot answer that.

Can he say whether the Government gives advertisements to newspapers and so encourages the starting of them?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the appointment of a permanent Inventions Committee, who shall be empowered to help and assist those poor people who have useful and practical inventions but no money or means of developing them and placing them upon the market; and if a special bonus will be given for any life-saving device, generous and pro rata to its life-saving value, thereby giving a stimulus to the nation's inventive genius in commerce, industry, and war?

It is proposed to introduce a Bill containing Amendments to the Patents Act, some of which are expressly intended to assist poor inventors in the development and working of their inventions. The question of appointment of a permanent Inventions Committee has been brought to my notice, but I think it can be most conveniently considered when the proposals of the Bill are under discussion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will state what means the Board of Trade have for compelling retail coal merchants to sell at the prices issued by the Department; will he state who institutes prosecutions; and what are the maximum penalties for not carrying out the Board of Trade price order?

The London coal prices to which the hon. Member refers were fixed by voluntary arrangement between the merchants and the Board, of Trade, and it is part of the arrangement that the merchants will refuse to supply small dealers who charge more than the agreed prices. These dealers are required by by-laws of the London County Council to display their prices prominently and to charge no more than the prices displayed; and the county council have prosecuted in a number of cases of infringements under these by-laws. The maximum penalty is a fine of £5. I understand that the London Coal Merchants Committee have received a considerable number of complaints regarding prices, and that they are having them investigated. When I have received their report I will consider what further steps it may be necessary to take.

I would like to ask what action the hon. Gentleman has taken in regard to a number of cases in which I have given him the names and addresses of coal merchants who have been charging up to 2s. 4d. per cwt?

I am having them investigated in the form I have indicated in my reply.