asked the Prime Minister whether a Special Committee, described as the Fish Committee, has been appointed and sits at regular intervals to advise Government Departments on questions affecting the British fishing industry under existing conditions; if so, how is it composed; whether Scotland, whose fishing interests are so important, is represented on it; and, if so, by whom?

The President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries has appointed a Departmental Committee, the constitution of which will shortly be published, to endeavour by various means to increase or to maintain the output of British-caught fish for home consumption, and to advise him and the Food Controller on matters affecting the distribution of fish and on the subject of propaganda for the encouragement of the home consumption of fish in various forms of cure in which it is not commonly consumed in this country. The Committee, on which the Ministry of Food is represented, is primarily concerned with the maintenance of the fish supplies in England and Wales, and there is no representative of Scotland on it. Its functions are generally analogous to those of the Food Production Department on the agricultural side of the Board.

asked the Prime Minister whether a Special Committee has been appointed to advise the War Trade Department on the policy to be followed in allowing the export inter alia of cured fish from this country and in the granting of the necessary licences to export; how the Committee is composed; whether Scotland is represented on it; and, if so, by whom?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. No Special Committee has been appointed to advise the War Trade Department on the policy to be followed in allowing the export of cured fish from this country. Licences for the export of fish are granted on the recommendation of the Director of the War Trade Department, who consults the Ministry of Food and other Departments concerned.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) if, in view of the continued increase in the cost of living, he will extend the bonus to Civil servants to persons in receipt of salaries between £150 and £200 a year?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, His Majesty's Government has set up a Conciliation and Arbitration Board to consider applications from Civil servants for increases of remuneration, and I am not prepared to take action on the lines suggested in anticipation of the conclusions of the Board.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the following co-operative societies, amongst others, are giving full net weight in their tea packets and not weighing in the tea wrapper, namely, four ounces of tea net for quarter-pounds, eight ounces of tea net for half-pounds, and sixteen ounces of tea net for pounds; the Manchester and Salford Equitable Co-operative Society, Limited, the Gateshead Industrial Co-operative Society, Limited, the Edmonton Co-operative Society, Limited, the Long Eaton Working Men's Co-operative Society, Limited, the St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Association, Limited, the Bristol Cooperative Society, Limited, the Leicester Co-operative Society, Limited, and the Preston Industrial Co-operative Society, Limited; and whether he will take steps to see that other multiple shops will follow the lead given by these co-operative societies by weighing the tea net and not including the wrapper in the weight?

I see no reason to doubt the accuracy of the statement made by the hon. Member, although, obviously, I cannot verify it in the case of each of the societies named. As I have previously stated, the Food Controller does not, at present, propose to adopt the course suggested.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, when the Food Controller had declared the Order of his Department, under which holders of white flour were allowed a month in which to dispose of their stocks, to be unauthorised and had with- drawn the Order, licences to dispose of the same stocks were issued and, after a short period, renewed to large numbers of these holders; whether he can state the number of licences so issued and renewed and the cost of the issue and renewal; and, in view of such cost and of the expenditure of time and energy involved, what were the reasons, if any, for the withdrawal of the Order?

During January licences were issued to 2,668 persons to use flour not milled in accordance with the Manufacture of Flour and Bread Order. The licences were for definite quantities, and for varying periods, from a week up to three months in exceptional cases, and this issue was necessary to avoid waste of existing stocks. In 100 cases it was subsequently found necessary to extend the period of the licence originally granted for the same quantity, while in 416 cases further licences have been granted in respect of additional supplies received after the grant of the first licence. The licences relate mainly to imported flour. The issue of individual licences in place of a general extension of time enabled the Department to exercise the necessary control over the use of the floor in question, an advantage which has far more than compensated for the slight administrative expenditure involved.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps he proposes to take by way of punishing the gamblers who are holding up the meat markets in London and elsewhere to increase the prices of meat to the poor people of our country; if he will take steps to commit such offenders to prison without the option of a fine; and will he see that such firms shall be black-listed now and after the War?

There is no evidence before the Department of any considerable speculation in respect of meat; unless and until such evidence is forthcoming, I cannot say what steps will be taken to deal with the offenders.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will examine into the storage and disposal of the meat cargo of the steamship "Thorpe Grange"; the extent to which the sheep, lambs, and beef have been held up while a rise in value was manipulated; and whether he will examine all stores transfers which record the persons participating in the profit of this hold-up and decide what action it is necessary to take?

My hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The Board of Trade are making inquiry into the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if his Department will take over at once all potato stocks in the country and thereby nullify the schemes of those who have held their potato stocks for the higher price of next month; and if he will issue potato tickets, so that all the people shall have a share pro rata to the extent of their families as long as the stocks last?

The higher price for potatoes after the and of March was intended to prevent the whole stock from being thrown on the market prematurely. The Food Controller sees no sufficient ground for taking over the remaining stocks or for introducing a system of rationing as regards potatoes. Owing to the shortage of supply, the result would be wholly disproportionate to the effort and expense involved in setting up such a system.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, since the institution of voluntary rationing, there have been increases in the issues of wheat and flour as compared with the previous issue; whether be can state how the increase compares with the diminution during the same period in the consumption of meat; and whether it is regarded as more important at present to diminish the consumption of wheat or of meat?

I have no information to indicate that there has been, so far, an increase in the actual consumption of wheat and flour since the introduction of voluntary rationing. As a larger proportion of wheat than of meat is imported from abroad, a decrease in the consumption of bread-stuffs is more important than is that of meat.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that only a few large firms with big reserves are now able to sell sporting cartridges; and whether he will approach the Minister of Munitions with a view to such a restricted release of the materials for the manufacture of shot as will enable farmers to purchase cartridges locally for the protection of their crops?

I have been asked to answer this question. I am advised that there is sufficient sporting ammunition in stock in the country to meet requirements for a considerable time, and it is proposed to review the situation in a few months' time. It is no doubt the fact that, owing to the shortage of lead, only such firms as have sufficient reserves of shot, are at present in a position to supply ammunition of this type.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether agoraphobia is included among the diseases which disqualify persons otherwise qualified to serve in the Army; and, if so, how many agoraphobists have been granted exemption by medical boards since the War began?

In only one case, so far as is known, has this disease disqualified a man for service, and the man in question was otherwise of unsound mind, though not certifiable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. G. H. Stuart Beavis, a conscientious objector, was arrested on 25th May, 1916, and handed over to the military authorities, and a few days later sent to Franco, tried by court-martial at Boulogne for refusing to obey a military order, sentenced on 24th June, 1916, to death by shooting, which was afterwards commuted to ten years' penal servitude, was brought before the Central Tribunal, who considered him to be genuine and offered him work under the Home Office scheme, which he refused, and is now in Maidstone Prison; and whether, seeing there is no doubt as to his genuineness, he will be discharged from the Army and released from prison?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. Oswald Clark, a conscientious objector, formerly clerk to the Doncaster preparative meeting of the Society of Friends, assistant secretary to the West Laithe Gate adult school and of the Don-caster International Polity Club, plan secretary of the Doncaster Gospel Temperance Union and of the Yorkshire adult school Co-operative Holiday Committee, member of the committee of the Doncaster Amateur Swimming Club, director of the York Retreat, assistant at Warms-worth Sunday School, Doncaster Friends Band of Hope, Factory Lane Band of Hope (president), Sunday evening children's meeting, and Factory Lane Mission, was arrested on 23rd May, 1916, taken to Pontefract Barracks, court-martialled, and sentenced to 112 days, sent to Armley Gaol, Leeds, appeared before the Central Tribunal, adjudged genuine and offered work under the Home Office scheme, which he refused, court-martialled again at Rugeley on 6th October, 1916, sentenced to two years' hard labour, and is now in Wormwood Scrubs; and whether he will consider the desirability of employing Mr. Clark at his occupation as a tanner and currier and giving him his liberty in accordance with the provisions of the Military Service Acts?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will inform me which provision of the Military Service Acts he has in mind.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Tom, Archie, and John Umpleby, residing at Stockton, and described as farmers and market gardeners, were called up for military service in May last, have since been sentenced to terms of imprisonment as conscientious objectors, and were at the Wakefield works centre until recently; whether he is aware that these young men assisted on a farm which, in addition to growing vegetables and other foodstuffs, had 37 head of cattle, including 12 milch cows, 47 sheep, and 30 pigs; that, owing to the loss of the sons' help, thou- sands of cabbages and other foodstuffs were wasted; that, owing to his age (sixty-three years), the father finds the work too heavy, and the farm is likely to run to waste, the loss to date being reckoned at £200; and whether these young men will now be employed in the national interests and sent to work on their farm in order to increase the national food supply?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am aware that these men are at present working under the Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors at Wakefield, and that they describe themselves as farmers and market gardeners. I have no information as to their previous employment. Arrangements are being made for their employment on agricultural work within the next few days.

asked the Home Secretary whether Walter Joseph Cunningham, formerly a teacher under the West Ham Education Committee, a conscientious objector now engaged on navvy work in road cutting at Llangattock waterworks, is in consumption; whether he is aware that this man's father and brother died of rapid consumption; that right up to the time of his being arrested the man was attending a dispensary for consumptives; whether he is aware that the man was told by the prison doctor in the presence of an officer that he was unfit for road-making; and whether it is the intention of the authorities to release this man?

This man, who when in prison described himself as a fruit-grower, at first refused to work under the Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors, but subsequently withdrew his refusal and was sent to work at Llangattock on the 11th January last. In consequence of representations made by his mother he was examined by the medical officer of the camp, who reported that on a thorough examination he could not find any sign of disease and pronounced the man fit for the work which he had been ordered to perform. On 29th January Cunningham informed the committee's agent at Llangattock that he desired to return to service with his unit, No. 7 Eastern Company, Non-Combatant Corps, Newhaven. The committee informed the War Office, and Cunningham voluntarily reported himself to his commanding officer at Newhaven on the 17th February last.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of conscientious objectors serving a sentence of penal servitude on 1st March, 1917; the length of the sentence in each case; and the circumstances under which it was imposed?

There are now nine conscientious objectors serving a sentence of penal servitude; they were sentenced in France to ten years' penal servitude. There were thirty-five conscientious objectors so sentenced; of these all but nine have accepted work under the Brace Committee; of the nine, three of them refused to accept work, and the other six were recalled to penal servitude by the Home Office for misbehaving whilst on work of national importance.

asked why Thomas Moran, who left his home at Park, county Mayo, about four months ago to do temporary work in England, was recently arrested under the Military Service Acts at Wrexham; what decision has been given in his case; and whether Moran will be permitted forthwith to return to his home in Ireland?

I am informed that Thomas Moran has been resident in Great Britain since the 5th June, 1916, to the present time, with the exception of one month from the 4th November to the 15th December, when he returned to Ireland. During the time he has been resident in Great Britain he has been employed as a shop assistant by Mr. E. B. Jones, of Market Street, Holyhead. He was called up for military service in the ordinary way, and the recruiting officer was instructed that in the event of his failing to comply with the notice calling him up for service Moran was to be given every opportunity of having the question of his liability for military service decided by a Civil Court. Moran reported for military service in accordance with the calling-up notice, and after he had been posted at Wrexham he raised the question that he was not liable for military service on the ground that he was ordinarily resident in Ireland, and refused to submit himself for medical examination. Moran was then given the option of having his calling-up notice cancelled and going before a Civil Court at Wrexham in order that the question of his liability for military service might be decided, but he refused to take advantage of this offer, and is now liable to be dealt with as a soldier who has refused to obey military orders.

asked whether the recent Order instructing heads of Departments to withdraw exemption certificates from Civil servants up to and including twenty-two years of age applies only to men passed for general service or to men in other medical categories as well?

It applies only to men fit for general service, unless the head of the Government Department concerned is of opinion that any other man is no longer so urgently required by him as to justify his continuing to retain the man in civil life.

asked by what authority boys of 17½ years employed at the Gretna works are being required to submit themselves for examination by the Army medical boards?

I have no information that any boys of 17½ years of age have been required to submit themselves for compulsory examination by recruiting medical boards.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the editor of the "New Europe" has recently written animadversions on the Foreign Secretary and has been engaged in an unfortunate movement in Roumanian policy; what is the exact national service for which this gentleman's calling-up notice has been cancelled by the War Office; and on whose recommendation was this action taken by the War Office?

I am having inquiries made.

asked if men actually engaged as ploughmen have within the last month been compulsorily recruited for the Army?

Many men employed in agriculture to whom the tribunals have not thought it necessary to grant exemption, or renewal of exemption, have, nevertheless, been left on the land for the present. A general instruction to recruiting officers has now been for some time current that the necessity of maintaining food production must not be lost sight of, and that in individual eases opportunities should be given to the local agricultural representative to confer in the decision which of the unexempted men should be called up for military service. In these circumstances, if any ploughmen have recently been compulsorily enlisted, they must be men who were not considered to be indispensable to the local agricultural needs.

asked the right hon. Member for Barnard Castle, as representing the Department of National Service, on what system the available ploughmen in the Army are now being allotted to the various counties; and whether consideration is being given to the fact that, owing to the geographical position, the need of some counties is much more urgent than that of others?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Allocation of military labour for agricultural purposes in England and Wales is being controlled by the Board of Agriculture for the present, in accordance with a decision of the Cabinet. In Scotland such labour is being allocated by the military authorities, acting in co-operation with the National Service Department Sub-Commissioners, who have regard to the needs of each district in placing men in agricultural employment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention was called on 6th February to the case of Private H. Rodwell, No. 6615, 9th company, Mechanical Transport, Lee Centre, S.E.; whether he is aware that after submitting him to X-rays three times the medical board asked him what he would do if he were discharged before deciding he was fit for duty; and whether, seeing that he has been given no duty for months past, he will be allowed to return to Woolwich Arsenal where he was previously employed?

This man is now awaiting a travelling medical board, and if he is found "unfit for duty," he will be disposed of under existing instructions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what steps, if any, have been taken to release from idleness the 2,000 C3 men, to whose case his attention has been called; and if he is aware that this waste of man-power is repeated in six other depots in London alone?

I am sorry that I am not yet able to reply to the first part of my hon. Friends question, but hope to be able to do so very shortly. Instructions have been issued that no men surplus to military requirements are to be detained at depots.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will instruct that all Civil servants, school teachers, and skilled workmen in essential trades detained at Kingston Barracks as being men in C 3 category shall be released to return to their ordinary occupations?

I am not aware that there are any men of the classes mentioned detained at Kingston Barracks, but I will have inquiries made and inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will consider the possibility of giving such a thorough medical examination to recruits as will prevent men passed for active service and similar categories taking up the time and attention of the military authorities for months until their shortcomings cause thorn to be relegated to C3 category, to which they should have been originally passed?

The whole question receives the constant and careful consideration of the War Office. The number of men, however, where the original classification has been revised is an infinitesimal proportion of the total, and considerably more men are raised in the category every month than lowered. My hon. Friend appears to make a reflection upon the capacity of those members of the medical profession who are doing their work under great pressure, and I cannot let it pass without a strong protest. Considering the vast total of medical classifications carried out every day, the total number of mistakes made is surprisingly small.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board with regard to the case of a hairdresser who has all his capital invested in a shop and fittings, who has had to close his shop on being called up to join the Army, who cannot get a manager to take his place and who cannot sell the fittings except at a ruinous sacrifice, whether the Civil Liabilities Committee is carrying out the intention of the Government in granting him a rent grant for his business premises for six months only, instructing him to get rid of the business within that period; and whether, in the case of businesses ruined in such manner, it is proposed to take any steps to assist the owner to start in business again at the close of the War?

If the hon. Member will give me particulars of the case he has in mind. I shall be pleased to make inquiries regarding it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the percentage of sorters and postmen in the London postal service, 84 per cent. and 86 per cent., respectively, that have joined His Majesty's forces, and in view of the disorganisation and consequent delay that is bound to result from the introduction of the new system of sortation, steps will be taken to see that there are no further withdrawals from these classes until such time as it can be reported that the new proposals operate with efficiency?

The new method of addressing correspondence will simplify sorting, and I have no reason to anticipate that disorganisation and delay will result. I am bound to release for military service all men who can possibly be spared.

asked on what authority employés in the Post Office service are ordered by their superior officers to present themselves at recruiting stations for medical examination without having received any summons from the military authorities?

I cannot usefully add anything to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member's question on this subject on the 21st ultimo. The instruction was given in the interest of the public service.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether ministers of religion or missionaries of British nationality at present residing in territory belonging to an Allied nation will, in the event of an arrangement being made between the British Government and the Government of the Allied nation with whom he resides for imposing military services on each others' nationals of military age, be granted exemption if they fulfil the same conditions as apply to ministers of religion in this country?

Yes. Sir.

asked whether Daniel Kennedy, a lad under fifteen, improperly induced to enlist, and now in Mullingar military barracks, will be sent home to his mother forthwith?

Instructions have been issued for the release of this lad as a special case. I am inquiring as to the hon. Member's suggestion that he was improperly induced to enlist.

asked whether William Murphy, a lad under fifteen, improperly induced to enlist, now No. 11265, 3rd Battalion Connaught Rangers, whose baptismal certificate, sent to the military authorities at Cork, has not been returned, will be sent home to his parents forthwith?

Inquiries are being made, and the hon. Member will be informed of the result.

asked what steps the military authorities have taken to apprise the American Government of the fact that William Pedlar, an American citizen, has been without charge or trial deported from Ireland, his only known offence being his opinion that Ireland is entitled to representation as a distinct nation at the International Peace Conference; seeing that this is President Wilson's opinion also, whether the American Government acquiesce in the punishment of an American citizen for entertaining it; and whether that Government requires a charge to be formulated and tried in this case?

As far as I am aware, no steps have been taken by the military authorities, nor has the American Government interested itself in this man.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why the men at the Park Hall Camp, Oswestry, are being refused draft leave before being sent to Prance; and if he will give instructions for this leave to be given to them?

I am sorry that it has not proved possible to grant draft leave in this case owing to the exigencies of the Service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there have been recent outbreaks of illness among the soldiers at Litherland, Park Hall, and Kinmel Park camps; if so, what was the nature and cause of the illness, the number of men affected, and the number of deaths; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made as to the adequacy of the medical staff and of the hospital accommodation?

Inquiries are being made, and my hon. Friend will be informed of the result.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the 30th Battalion Middlesex Regiment is composed of men the sons of alien enemies; that many fathers of these men are interned as alien enemies and their brothers and relatives are in some cases lighting in the enemy armies; that these men have German names, converse in German, and sing German songs, and that when enlisted they were assured that they would not be asked to bear arms against their kith and kin; seeing that these men were willing to fight to defend on British soil this land from invasion or to do non-combatant work at homo, why has a double company of 500 men been sent to France; whether these men have protested against the breaking of a pledge made to them; why a non-commissioned officer has been deprived of his stripes for protesting; whether those men now at Folkestone awaiting transport to France will be retained in England; and what action he proposes to take?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on the 8th instant.

asked if General Northey's column, operating in German East Africa, is under the orders of the commander-in-chief there; and, if not, whether any dispatch from him can be published, as no mention has been made of his column for the last year?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative so far as the conduct of military operations is concerned. I think that my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension in regard to the last part of the question. He will find a special mention of General Northey's force in General Smuts' second dispatch, which was published as a supplement to the "Gazette" of 1st January, 1917. There have also been numerous references in official communiques.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that consignments of high explosives are being carried in the ordinary brake vans of electric passenger trains on the Liverpool, Southport, and Ormskirk section of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway; that the men contend that there is danger in transporting by electric passenger trains on this line; and whether, in the interests of the public as well as the railway employés, he will make inquiries with a. view to this method of transportation being abolished?

Inquiries are being made, and my hon. Friend will be informed of the result.

asked whether the privilege of one month's furlough to time-expired soldiers is still in existence if they elect to continue to serve for the duration of the War, and if a man who, having completed thirteen years in the Army, elects to continue to serve either for the duration of the War or to complete twenty-one years' service, will be on the footing of a conscript, although he has never left the Army at all?

Yes, Sir; the, privilege is still in existence, provided that the exigencies of the service permit, and that accommodation in leave boats or transports is available in the case of men overseas. If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the case which he has in mind in the last part of the question, I will let him know how the matter stands.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that advertisements arc now appearing in local papers referring to Defence of the Realm Regulation 41a, requesting employers to fill Form D.R 17; and will he state if it is necessary that employers who have branch establishments should fill up forms both at headquarters and local branches?

I have no knowledge of the advertisements to which the hon. Member refers. It is necessary that employers who have branch establishments should keep the statements required to be posted up by Defence of the Realm Regulation 41a, Clause (2) (b), posted up at headquarters so far as such statements relate to persons employed at headquarters, and posted up at the branch establishments so far as such statements relate to persons employed at the branch establishments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the graves of officers who have been killed in territory which remains in the possession of the Allies have been duly marked for identification after the War; and whether the relatives of those officers are now or can be later provided with a chart by which they can find the identical graves?

The graves of both officers and men are, wherever possible, marked and registered by a special branch of the Army which has been created for the purpose during the present War. Map references of isolated graves are carefully recorded and plans and surveys made of all burial grounds. While the records and charts now being made will be available for reference, I am afraid that it will not be possible to provide individual relatives with charts as suggested.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that owing to a scarcity in Dublin of the hay required for the feeding of dairy herds there is likely to be a serious shortage in the city supply of milk; and whether, in view of this, the military authorities will at once release all hay in Dublin and surrounding counties not immediately required by them?

I. would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on Tuesday last to the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office who are the persons who constitute the Central Advisory Committee on Wool Purchase; and what are their several occupations, by whom they were elected, and what their particular qualifications are for advising the Government?

The Central Advisory Committee on Wool Purchase for England and Wales has been appointed by the Army Council after consultation with the Hoard of Agriculture, the British Wool Buyers' Association, the Advisory Committees for Wales and the Board of Trade. It is composed of leading representatives of the farmers, of the wool buyers, and of the manufacturers. I shall be glad to supply the hon. Member with a list of the members and the branches of the trade or organisations they represent.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can state the amount of potatoes that have been requisitioned for the various Army canteen committees during December, January, and February?

The quantity purchased under requisition is 33,874 tons.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the financial arrangement come to with the London General Omnibus Company for the commandeering of their omnibuses in case of emergency; and whether the servants of the company who are badged come under B Reserve?

An agreement is in force with the London General Omnibus Company whereby they guarantee to produce certain buses in certain eventualities. For their services they receive a small retaining fee on each bus required and a rate of hire will be paid for each bus called out. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in the case of parcels forwarded to soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force who have before their receipt been invalided home, and such parcels being returned, Customs Duties can be claimed before the recipient is allowed to receive those parcels?

I will answer this question. Parcels containing dutiable gifts returned from abroad addressed to soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force who, having been invalided home, are patients in accredited hospitals or convalescent homes, are not charged with Customs Duty. Duty is, however, chargeable in cases where the returned parcel is for a man who has been discharged from the Army or is not a patient in an accredited hospital or convalescent home.

asked the Parliamentary Representative of the Air Board whether the Avro and other aeroplanes are still being fitted with English-made Gnome engines; what is the number of accidents that can be traced to the use of this engine in training squadrons; and if its use is to be continued?

The engine referred to is still in use, though it is gradually being replaced. The number of accidents which occur to machines fitted with this engine is not proportionately greater than to machines fitted with any other engine used for training purposes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty entered into a contract with men joining the Anti-Aircraft Corps by which the latter were to serve for the period of the War, and neither party could terminate the contract before the end of that period except in the event of misconduct or ill-health; and, if so, why R. C. H. Windett, No. AA 2,657, was given a paper purporting to be a discharge, but with the discharge certificate left blank?

This man joined the Anti-Aircraft Corps in December, 1915, as a part-timer on a searchlight. In November, 1916, with Admiralty General Headquarters Home Forces approval, all men of military age in the Anti-Aircraft Corps were medically examined and classed under the Military Service Act. Those classed A were given their discharge to free them for general service. Those in B and C Classes were given the option of performing full-time duties or being given their discharge. The man referred to in the question was classed B 3, and as he would not take on full-time duties, but wished to continue on part time, he was given his discharge. His service certificate was filled up in accordance with Admiralty instructions. He wrote to the Admiralty in this connection on 10th February, and the matter was completely dealt with in an official reply of the 19th February.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that the Dungarvan Board of Guardians has received an application from Michael Nagle, formerly a seaman on board the schooner "Margaret West," to be supplied with an artificial leg; whether he is aware that one of his legs was amputated on 3rd March,]915, as the result of a shot fired as a warning from the battery at Nelly's Point, Barry, which struck him on board the "Margaret West"; and whether he will ascertain from the commander of the battery whether, while Michael Nagle was in hospital at Barry, the commander informed him he would provide him with an artificial leg?

I have been unable to ascertain any particulars as to this case, but if the hon. Member will send me more precise details, I will have further inquiries made. I have had a telegram sent to the Local Government Board in Ireland, but no answer has been received. The Admiralty know nothing of the matter.

asked the Pensions Minister how many inspectors have been appointed to inspect the accounts of the Statutory Committee (War Pensions); whether any have been appointed in Ireland and Scotland; whether any of those appointed are of military age; and, if so, how many?

The Statutory Committee have appointed twelve inspectors of accounts, including one for Ireland and one for Scotland. A further appointment will be made for Scotland. Nine of the inspectors who have been appointed are above military age, and the remaining three have been permanently or temporarily exempted by tribunals.

asked the Minister of Labour whether several trade boards have lately varied the minimum rates of wages which were fixed for their trades prior to or in the early stages of the War; whether the variations made are commensurate with the increase in the cost of living as shown by the index numbers in the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette"; and, if not, whether he will ask the several boards to state on what basis the variations were decided on?

Several trade boards have recently raised the minimum rates of wages for their trades or given notice that they propose to raise the minimum rates. My right hon. Friend is receiving a deputation on the subject to-morrow from representatives of the workers, and the Noble Lord will understand that I am unable to make any statement until he has considered the arguments brought before him.

asked the Minister of Labour why the National Federation of Women Workers were refused an invitation to attend the conferences of representatives of workers in the engineering and shipbuilding trades held by the Committee on Production, as a result of which increases of 5s. and 2s. 6d. per week were awarded to all men and boys, respectively; whether he has considered the claims of the women employed in these trades to equivalent advances; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The hearings referred to, so far as regards the shipbuilding trades, were in respect of applications made to the Shipbuilding Employers Federation by certain trade unions, and, as regards the engineering trades, arose out of an agreement recently made, under the auspices of the Chief Industrial Commissioner, between the Engineering Employers' Federation and certain trade unions. As my hon. Friend is aware, the Munitions of War Acts provide special machinery for dealing with questions of women's wages, and it is understood that the Ministry of Munitions now have under consideration the question of women's wages in the light of the circumstances which occasioned the awards referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can inform the House what steps are being taken in parts of the British Empire, other than the self-governing Colonies, to utilise the available British man-power?

My hon. Friend will no doubt recognise that it would not be desirable to make public full particulars of the steps which are being taken to utilise the available man-power of the Colonial Possessions other than the self-governing Dominions. But for general information upon this point I would invite his attention to the answer which I gave on the 19th February to a question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for the Melton Division.

asked the Home Secretary under what Statute, Regulation, or Order in Council it is an offence for persons of civilian or military status to travel by railway in Great Britain?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 15th February last.

asked the Home Secretary whether ho will lay upon the Table of the House the exact terms of reference under which the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors is acting; whether this Committee is in existence by virtue of any Statute, Regulation, or Order in Council, and the terms of such Statute, Regulation, or Order in Council; what were the personnel and emoluments, if any, of this Committee on the 24th February; and how many Home Office officials are occupied in administering this scheme?

The functions of the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors, as laid down by my predecessor, are to determine to what kind of work the men referred to them should be set on their release from prison, and under what conditions; to ascertain whether they would be willing to give an undertaking, if released from prison, that they would perform with due diligence the work under civil authority to which they were set; to organise the necessary establishments and provide for supervision; to make recommendations with a view to the financing of any schemes which may be adopted; and other incidental matters. No Statute, Regulation, or Order in Council is necessary to enable the Committee to exercise these functions.On the 24th February the Committee consisted of Mr. Brace, M.P. (Chairman), Sir Matthew Nathan, G.C.M.G., Sir Thomas Elliott, K.C.B., and Sir Alexander McHardy, K.C.B.No member of the Committee receives any emoluments in respect of his work for the Committee. One Home Office official is engaged for the whole of his time and four for a part of their time on the administrative work of the Committee. The secretary of the Committee and the rest of the staff are temporary officers.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he has received any proposals from local authorities for economising labour and enabling volunteering for National Service by organising a unified distribution of milk, coal, and other articles under municipal auspices, in place of the separate and competing distributive services of rival traders; and whether he has power to authorise and encourage schemes in this direction?

I have received proposals of the kind. While doubtful of the wisdom of displacing existing machinery for distribution, or substitution for it, a municipal organisation, I am strongly impressed with the desirability of encouraging in every way co-operation in local trades so as to secure the maximum of economy in the process of distribution. I understand that the Director-General of National service has this subject under consideration.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) if he can report any improvement in the condition of British prisoners in Turkish bands; and whether, in view of the recent considerable captures of Turks as prisoners, some active steps to effect an exchange of prisoners will be instituted?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies yesterday to the two questions of the hon. Member for the Bassetlaw Division of Nottingham shire.

asked the right hon. Member for Barnard Castle, as representing the Ministry of National Service, whether the Director-General, in conjunction with the War Office, has now undertaken the finding of substitutes from men in training reserve and other units who are considered by their commanding officers as unlikely to make efficient soldiers for civilians fit for general service: whether he is aware of the delay and difficulty that has been experienced in getting such inefficient men released from their unit and placed in their appropriate class of the Army Reserve or discharged and made available as substitutes; and will he say what changes is he introducing to accelerate the process of transfer?

My right hon. Friend has requested me to reply to this question. The selection of men to be released from the Army and the procedure with regard to discharging them or placing them on the Reserve is under the control of the War Office, with whom the Director-General is in consultation with a view to expediting the discharge of men who are found to be physically more suitable for civil than for military employment. As a first step, arrangements have been made whereby C3 men who are surplus to military requirements will be discharged without necessarily being allotted as substitutes.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the professor of astronomy in Glasgow University, who holds office under the Crown, is still in receipt of the salary of that position, although he has had leave of absence on account of his German extraction for many months; has any substitute been appointed; and, if not, how are the students of that subject in the university being dealt with in the meantime?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am informed that arrangements have been made by the University Court under which the Assistant Astronomer Royal for Scotland acts as substitute professor, and, along with the assistant to the professor, is providing the instruction required by the students.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has had any returns from local authorities in Scotland to his circular appealing to them to economise their expenditure in war time and so reduce the rates of their various localities; and will he say how many local authorities in Scotland have reduced their rates since the War started?

Replies were received from a number of local authorities to the circular referred to by my hon. and learned Friend which indicated that every effort would be made to economise. I have no reason to doubt that local authorities generally have been impressed with the great importance of the subject and have endeavoured to act in accordance with the spirit of the circular. A return showing the rise or fall of rates during the period of the War would not furnish conclusive evidence of economy or the reverse. That could only be derived from a somewhat close and detailed examination of the expenditure of the local authorities during the last few years.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has consented to the transfer of the staff of the Home-Grown Timber Committee to the Director of Timber and to the disbanding of the committee; and, if so, whether he can make any statement on the subject with regard to the work carried out by the committee?

Yes, Sir. The President has consented to the transfer of the work and staff of the Home-grown Timber Committee to the War Office. It is necessary, consequently, to dissolve the Committee. The formal transfer will take place towards the end of this month, but in the meantime a working arrangement has been come to by which Mr. Sutherland, who has hitherto acted as Director of the Committee, reports to Sir Bampfylde Fuller, the Director of Timber Supplies. The Committee was set up in November, 1915, and by the end of last month they had acquired approximately 29,000,000 cubic feet of standing timber. The number of men employed was about 5,800: this included 2,682 men of the Canadian Forestry Corps and 830 prisoners of war. The number of mills in operation at the end of February was 150, of which sixteen were Canadian. The total output of sawn timber by the Committee was approximately 9,000,000 cubic feet;of this3,000,000 cubic feet was produced by the Committee's own mills; 2¼ million cubic feet by the Canadian Forestry Corps; while the balance has been supplied by contractors. In addition, a large amount of pitwood has been produced, and it is in this class of work that the German prisoners have been employed. The principal articles supplied by the Committee were:

Sleepers (of all kinds)	2,500,000
Scantling and boards	4,000 standards
Pitwood and poles	50,000 tons.

I should like to take this opportunity of expressing, on behalf of the Government, the President's appreciation of the services which have been rendered to the Mother Country by the officers and men of the Canadian Forestry Corps. I should also like to thank the Home-grown Timber Committee for the services which they rendered. The work has been most ably conducted by the Director, Mr. John Sutherland, under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Member for the Camborne Division of Cornwall.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he is aware that there are a number of foxes near many of the sheep farms in the county of Northumberland; and whether his Department, in consultation with the farmers, is taking any steps to protect the lambs from the ravages of foxes during the lambing reason?

The Board have received complaints from Northumberland of the damage done by foxes and the matter has been brought to the notice of the North Northumberland Hunt through the Masters of Fox Hounds Association, and the war agricultural committee for the county. It is hoped that adequate steps will be taken to deal with the foxes.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he concurs with the Congested Districts Board, when distributing a grass farm at Ballyvary, county Mayo, for relief of congestion, in refusing to give any portion of it to Mrs. Bridget M'Hale on the ground that Ballyvary, which contains only 75 inhabitants, is a town; and whether he will have this decision reversed and a portion of the land assigned to Mrs. M'Hale?

I dealt with this matter in reply to a question by the hon. Member for West Mayo yesterday

asked whether Colonel Purdon Winter is tilling the required proportion of his grass farm on the Shaen-Carter estate, near Killucan; whether the Estates Commissioners inspected and made a preliminary offer for this grass farm in October, 1911, with a view to its purchase and distribution among the uneconomic holders on the estate under Section 6, Sub-section (2), of the Land Purchase Acts; and whether the Commissioners will take the necessary steps now for distributing this farm among people willing and able to till it?

This estate is not the subject of proceedings for sale to the Estates Commissioners under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the Commissioners have made no offer to purchase the farm referred to. The farm is not untenanted land in the hands of the owner, but is held by Colonel Purdon as a judicial tenant. No purchase agreement has been lodged in respect thereof in the proceedings which the owner has instituted for the sale of the estate direct to the tenants under the Act of 1903. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Home Office have considered proposals for the amendment of the Factory Act, especially as regards hours and spells of work, and for giving effect to the findings of the Departmental Committee on Truck; and whether, if so, it is proposed, at an early date, to submit measures on these questions to the House?

Both these questions will come up for review after the conclusion of the War, but I do not think it would be practicable to deal with them at the present time. The experience accumulated during the War will, no doubt, be of value in dealing with the questions of hours and spells of work.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is able to state the relative increase in loss through carelessness and dishonesty, respectively, in the Post Office during the past two years?

No, Sir. I have not the material upon which to form a reliable estimate.

asked the Postmaster-General when the Irish postal employés may expect to receive the same wages and allowances as are being granted to English employés doing similar work?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to his question of the 12th instant. The general claim of Post Office servants for increased remuneration was partly heard by the Arbitration Board on the 9th instant. I am not in a position to say when their decision will be given.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can state the number of pensioned women teachers in Scotland whose pension or breakdown allowance (Government and local combined) does not exceed £52 per annum?

On 28th February there were 274 retiring allowances and 243 disablement allowances not exceeding £52 per annum payable to women teachers under the Scottish superannuation scheme for teachers. School boards have power to supplement these allowances, but no information is available as to the extent to which this power has been exercised, and it is therefore not possible to say in how many cases the combined allowance falls below £52 per annum.