asked the-Under-Secretary of State for War if he can state, since leave was opened from Salonika last autumn, how many regimental officers have had leave granted and how many staff officers; and whether regimental officers have been over eighteen months without leave?

I am sorry that I have no information available; but I am sure that the. General Officer Com-manding-in-Chief has done, and will do, all he can to grant leave, subject to the exigencies of the Service and availability of transport.

asked the- Under-Secretary of State for War whether the military authorities recently requisitioned a 22-acre field of autumn- sown wheat for a military camp, and that complaints have been made about the- matter in the neighbourhood where the camp is fixed; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given in another place on the 20th instant by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture. The field was required for necessary extension of the aerodrome to secure safer landings and to provide additional accommodation, and it was the only field suitable for the purpose. The original aerodrome was dangerous for pupils when it was a one-squadron station; now that a second squadron is to be stationed there the danger is doubled. In fact, the additional squadron could not be stationed there unless the wheatfield were acquired, and the alternative would have been to acquire a new aerodrome, which would have entailed the acquisition of perhaps 200 acres of agricultural land and the expenditure of thousands of pounds on road-making, water supply, and other services.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the statistics as to the killed, wounded, and missing in the Royal Flying Corps recently given embraced the whole Flying Corps or only that part of it operative on the Western front; and, if so, can he now state our losses for the last six months of killed, wounded, and missing of the whole of the Royal Flying Corps both at Home and abroad?

With regard to the first part of the question, the figures I gave related to the Western front. In reply to the second part, I am sorry that, in the public interest, these figures cannot be given.

Does the hon. Gentleman still maintain that we can hold our own in aeroplanes on the Western front?

I cannot add anything to the exhaustive statement I made the other day.

When the late Lord Kitchener was Secretary of State for War did he not think it was not against the public interest to publish these details and why does the present Secretary of State for War think it is inconsistent with the public interest?

I have not consulted my Noble Friend the Secretary of State, and I am not aware that my late Noble Friend made any such statement.

Why is it possible to publish the losses on the Western front and not the losses at home?

asked the Under- Secretary of State for War whether the scheme for the defence of this country from aerial attack initiated by his predecessor some twelve months ago is now complete?

It is not known to which particular scheme reference is made, but while it is undesirable to publish details, everything possible is being done, as events have shown, for the aerial defence of the country.

Is the hon. Gentleman referring to the last raid?

No; to many raids

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there is complete co-operation between the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps for the protection of our coasts and of this country from aerial invasion; from whom do the respective Services receive orders to engage the enemy; and at exactly what point do the Royal Naval Air Service hand over their quarry to the Royal Flying Corps and vice versa?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of an answer which I gave on 7th August, 1916, to a question on this subject put by the hon. Member for Bethnal Green. I regret that I have nothing to add to the information therein contained.

When orders are given in the event of a raid alarm are they given simultaneously to both Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps'! Is one officer responsible for the issuing of these orders and are they issued to either corps without being issued to both?

I must ask for notice.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the percentage of accidents, fatal and otherwise, that have occurred during the training of pilots for the Royal Flying Corps for the last six months of 1915 and 1916, respectively?

1.5 per cent. in 1915 and 1.53 per cent. in 1916.

What is the percentage based on? Is it percentage on number? Is it percentage per hundred?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many of the Royal Flying Corps have been accidentally killed in this country during the past three months; in how many cases the accident was due to defect in the aeroplanes; can he say in the latter cases what action has been taken to fix responsibility; and with what result?

The total number of casualties in the Royal Flying Corps in this country for the period 1st December to 28th February Was fifty-eight. Of this number three were due to breakage of machines. Every accident is reviewed by a Court of Inquiry, and in any case where it appears advisable that some structural modification should be made in any particular type of machine, action is taken accordingly.

If not due to structural defect, is it due to ineffective training of the pilots?

I think it is impossible to say to what a flying accident is due. Flying is a very difficult thing to do, and is a new service. It is quite impossible to say on each occasion of an accident what it is due to.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied with the position as it is to-day? Does he think there is no remedy for this large casualty list?

No one can say he is satisfied with anything connected with aviation. It is in its infancy, and improvement is being made in every respect as regards training as experience suggests.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied that the best material is being used and the best workmanship, and the best possible engines are being put into the machines?

I can safely say the system of inspection is as thorough as it can possibly be made. Like everything else connected with aviation, it is being perfected every day.

As I understand 30 per cent. of our total efficiency is being killed during training, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the advisability of altering the system of training, which is largely at fault for all these accidents?

If I rightly understood the hon. Member to say that 40 per cent. of our total efficiency is being lost in training, he is entirely in error. I have not the figures in my head, but I know they are nothing like that.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the prohibition of the import of coffee, besides bringing near ruin a large body of planters in India, will cast adrift many thousands of employés and coolies; that the two last coffee crops were so poor that the planters were already embarrassed and that they depended upon the crop now affected to save them; that if this crop is retained in India after picking it will so deteriorate as to become of little value; that, if this prohibition is enforced, bankers will refuse to give the usual advances and estates will go out of cultivation; that London is the almost exclusive market and the United Kingdom the chief consumer; that this home-trade coffee should have preference over the produce of Brazil and other foreign countries, of which stocks here are chiefly composed; that the total stock of East India coffee in the United Kingdom at the end of February did not exceed 4,370 bags; that this year's crop is how almost all gathered, and that every day's delay in shipping is a serious matter for the owners, who have no other than the British market and cannot store in the monsoon; that the tonnage required for the crop is small and that the crop is always shipped in small parcels; and that the industry is British all through; I whether the Government will in the special circumstances issue licences for the import of this year's Indian coffee crop?

My right hon. Friend, who is unavoidably absent on public business, has asked me to answer his questions. The Secretary of State is in communication with the Board of Trade in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether documents found by General Smuts at Moshi included a copy of a circular signed by the Governor of German East Africa, and dispatched to all military stations in that territory, in which circular officers of the Government of German East Africa were asked to consider whether the religion of Islam could be altogether prohibited, and intimating that the encouragement of pig breeding among the natives was recommended by experts as an effective means of stopping the spread of Mahomedanism; and, if so, whether any steps have been, or can be, taken to make known in India, and in Mahomedan countries under British rule, the attitude of German administration in this behalf?

A circular signed by the Government of German East Africa was found at Moshi, in which inquiry was made whether the propagation of the Moslem religion by Government officials, and especially by schoolmasters, could not be prohibited, and in which it was stated that the encouragement of pig breeding among the natives was recommended by experts as an effective means of checking the spread of that religion. Steps were promptly taken by His Majesty's Government to make widely known to Moslems this illustration of the real attitude of the German Government towards them.

Did those steps include the publication of this fact in the Indian Press?

I will put that to the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether officers and men of the troops serving in Persia and on the Persian and Afghan frontiers will now be given the same rate of exchange of rupees into krans as that granted to gazetted and non-gazetted officers of the Indo-European Telegraph Department in Persia?

The Government of India referred this question to a Committee, whose recommendations are now under consideration. A decision will be arrived at as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give information regarding certain experiments made at Hyderabad, in the Deccan, by Mr. G. E. C. Wakefield, Director-General of Revenue, anent the production of a motor spirit from the flowers of the mhowra tree?

The Secretary of State has received no information on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in November, 1915, the Director-General of Ordnance in India made a favourable report to the Government of India on certain experiments and results made and obtained at Hyderabad, in the Deccan, by Mr. G. E. C. Wakefield, Director-General of Revenue, to His Highness the Nizam and Professor M'Ewen, of the Nizam College, regarding an Indian raw material useful for munitions; whether these experiments and results have been tested in this country and the report submitted to the India Office; and whether he is in a position to say what steps have since been taken?

The Secretary of State is not aware of the reports to which the hon. Member refers. But it is the case that Mr. Wakefield brought to the notice of the Government of India the possibility of using a certain material for the manufacture of munitions. Experiments while showing the utility of this material have not yet established its superiority over other materials, and consequently no final decision as to its employment has yet been taken.

Has the Secretary of State seen the report in the "Times of India" as to the result of this, and as to the establishment of a factory in India?

I will ask my right hon. Friend if he has seen it?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether those non-commissioned officers of the Royal Marines called up to serve during hostilities and those who have completed twenty-one years' service since the 4th August, 1914, who already have earned the maximum pension allowed under paragraph 1198 of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions will, by reason of their additional service, be permitted to exceed the maximum pension of their rank; and, if so, to what extent?

I regret I am not in a position to give my hon. and gallant Friend an answer to this question, which, as he probably knows, has been under discussion between ourselves and other Departments concerned. If he will be so good as to put the question down again early next week, I hope then to give an answer one way or the other.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty under what authority the Press is now prevented from publishing any account of any vessel sunk in connec- tion with the War, even when it is a transatlantic liner; whether he will give the House any particulars of a Cunard liner said to have been recently sunk, the number of persons on board, and the number lost; whether their relatives have been communicated with; whether the cause of the sinking was a British mine; whether in deep or shallow water; and whether any inquiry will be instituted?

The reply to the first part of the question is that any such request is made on the authority of the Government. No discrimination is made in such request between liners and other vessels. It has been decided by the Government, in consultation with its Allies, that only numbers of ships lost shall be published, in order to withhold information from the enemy which he has, in many cases, no means of otherwise obtaining It is not, therefore, in the interests of the country to give the information desired. But it may be stated that in all cases Lloyd's and the owners are confidentially informed, and the latter communicate with all relatives.

Is the Admiralty aware that enemy newspapers publish every day a list of the ships, giving the name and tonnage of the ship, of British, neutral and Allied countries, and, if that is in the knowledge of the Admiralty, can he say whether the lists published in enemy newspapers are accurate or inaccurate?

I cannot say whether they are accurate or inaccurate. I do not propose to give any indication as to whether they are or not.

Is it not the business of the Admiralty to watch things like that and see if they can derive any advantage from them?

With all due respect to the hon. Member, I think the Admiralty might be trusted to do that without the hon. Member suggesting it.

Does the right hon. Gentleman include in the things not to be told in the public interest the question whether any inquiry will be held in this case?

I cannot add to my answer.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty why certain men employed on mine-sweepers are only allowed 1s. 5d. per day victualling money, while the allowance of certain other men is 1s. 7d. per day?

The rate of 1s. 5d. allowed to all small vessels is really a victualling allowance, and carries with it the right to take up Government provisions on repayment, which is an advantage to the men. The rate of 1s. 7d. a day is fixed when no such privilege is accorded. My hon. Friend is wrong in supposing that the rate varies with the locality upon which the vessels are based.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will arrange that accountant officers on sea-going ships carrying 650 complement and over shall have 3s. 6d. per diem charge pay as is at present the case with accountant officers in ships with complements of 900 and over?

My hon. Friend apparently bases his question upon a supposed analogy between the medical and accountant officers. The former receive charge pay of 3s. 6d. a day when in charge of the medical duties of a ship of war at sea with a complement of not less than 650. The latter receive charge pay at the same rate when in the position of senior accountant officer of a sea-going ship in which the average number borne per quarter exceeds 900. I do not agree that there is, or can be, any real analogy between the two classes of officers in regard to their duties or responsibilities which would necessitate or justify their being treated on exactly similar lines. I regret, therefore, that it is not possible to carry out my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now state whether Mr. Frank Baer, a German-born subject and a member of the firm of Messrs. Henry It. Merton and Company, Limited, who was permitted to go to New York for the purpose of the purchase of enemy interests in the Ore Trading Company, which negotiations proved abortive, availed himself of the opportunity to make purchases in America of copper or other metals; and, if so, whether such action might have been instrumental in raising the prices of materials, the supply of which is of great importance to this country and to the Allies.

I have been asked to answer this question. I understand that the purchase of electrolytic copper were made in the United States by Messrs. Merton during Mr. Baer's visit, but I am unable to say whether Mr. Baer negotiated those purchases. As my hon. Friend knows, any purchase tends to raise prices, but I have no information to show that these particular purchases had, in fact, this effect.

Are we to understand that this man will now be allowed to leave America and go to another neutral country and play the same game with the consent of the Government?

I am not sure, but I rather think he has already returned to this country.

Will you keep him here?

That is not a question that should be addressed to me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether arrangements have yet been made to issue week-end tickets to the men working away from their homes?

Arrangements are being made for the issue through the Ministry of Munitions, as an experiment, of 20,000 vouchers a week to enable the munition workers to whom they are issued to travel home at week-ends at reduced rates.

Am I to understand that vouchers are being issued?

The arrangement is with the Ministry of Munitions, and the whole matter is in their hands now.

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the methods of administration of the Munitions Acts are causing grave industrial unrest in Sheffield; whether he has received a resolution passed unanimously at a mass meeting of 10,000 engineering munition workers demanding the removal within seven days of Sir William Clegg from the chairmanship of the Sheffield Munitions Tribunal; and whether, in view of the present critical position, he will cause immediate investigation to be made in respect of the grievances regarding leaving certificates and other matters?

I am not aware of any justification for industrial unrest being caused by the administration of the Munitions Acts in Sheffield. I have had no official intimation as to the matter mentioned in the second part of the question. I under- stand however, that such a resolution was passed and that it contained a threat that unless Sir William Clegg were removed from the chairmanship of the tribunal cessation of work would follow. I cannot too strongly deprecate any such resolution, and I am certainly not prepared in any circumstances to hold an inquiry under pressure of such a threat. The only complaints of the administration of the Acts in Sheffield which have been brought to my notice have been based on a misunderstanding of the provisions of the Acts. If, however, specific complaints for which the Acts provide no appropriate remedy are brought to my notice, I shall be prepared to consider them on full particulars being supplied.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that discontent regarding the administration of leaving certificates is not confined to Sheffield, but that there is general discontent in every part of the country; and, apart from this threat, will he not institute an inquiry into the matter?

The information that reaches the Ministry of Munitions does not bear out any such sweeping statement as that.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that in Yorkshire the greatest part of the unrest among the working classes is dissatisfaction with the proposed increase in the price of beer?

May I ask whether it is not a fact that I have brought a definite case to the hon. Gentleman's notice, where a man was given a week's notice, served his six weeks' penal period, and then applied for his leaving certificate to the gentleman who has been mentioned, and that gentleman absolutely refused to give him his certificate?

In those circumstances there is no obligation on the chairman of the tribunal to grant a certificate.

Why does he not explain that? Has an inspector been sent to Sheffield by the Ministry of Munitions to investigate the very serious industrial position that now obtains in that city?

We have had inspectors in Sheffield now for some time, and the Ministry is fully aware of the circumstances in Sheffield which are aggravating discontent, but those circumstances are not circumstances arising for the most part out of the administration of the Munitions Acts.

Can the hon. Gentleman explain how it is possible for a man to get work anywhere, after he has served his six weeks' penal period, unless he has a leaving certificate? No employer will employ him.

There is no obligation on the part of a workman to have a leaving certificate if he has been out of employment for six weeks.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that this provision is being used to compel men to stay in their present occupations, and that men have no freedom of contract whatever?

That is the question at issue. If my hon. Friend will show any specific instance in which it is being used in that sense inquiry will be made, as it has always been made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether senior Army officers and non-commissioned officers are being appointed to naval units of the Royal Naval Division in France; whether such a step is necessary considering that the Division was raised at the commencement of the War, has served with distinction, and contains a number of officers and men with experience gained on two fronts; and whether such a course will unfairly prejudice--officers and men of those units whose prospects of promotion are limited to their own units by the fact of their serving under the-Navy and not under the Army?

Some warrant and non-commissioned officers have been sent out specially at the request of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief for certain battalions of the Royal Naval-Division, as he considered it necessary. I am afraid I have no information as to the first part of the question. The matter would lie within the discretion of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief.

Is every opportunity being given to the Naval Division to train for superior commands?

I am told that is so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how- many cases of small-pox have occurred since the War began in the British Army amongst vaccinated and unvaccinated soldiers, respectively, in the different theatres of war?

I regret that this-information is not available at the War Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in December last, the editor of the "Glasgow High School Magazine" applied for a licence to post copies of the magazine to subscribers in neutral countries; and whether the licence can now be granted?

I am sorry that this letter was overlooked accidentally, and a reply is now being sent. School magazines contain much information useful to the enemy (e.g., details of dates and localities in casualty lists, letters from the front, etc.), and it has been necessary to refuse all applications for permits to export them under Defence of the Realm Regulations, No. 24 B.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his Department has any statistics of the number of military representatives at tribunals throughout the country who have received promotions or decorations or honours since the passing of the Military Service Act; will he say for what work these honours are given, in view of the fact that these men are always in the zone of safety?

A small number of military representatives appearing before the Appeal Tribunals who already held military rank as lieutenant have been promoted to the rank of captain because it was considered essential to the proper performance of their duties. A few gentlemen who had also been engaged as military representatives were mentioned in the list appearing in the Press recently for good service. Beyond this no promotions, honours, or decorations have been given to military representatives for their work as such.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Myles Foster, who was referred by the Hampshire Appeal Tribunal, on the 23rd November, 1916, for examination by the Central Medical Board, but received a notice calling him to the Colours before such examination had taken place, namely, on the 9th February, 1917, and joined up; whether he is aware that the Poole recruiting officer, although his attention was called to the mistake, refused to cancel his calling-up notice, and threatened that if he did not present himself on the day named at 9 a.m. he would be arrested as a deserter; whether he is aware that the man has not yet been released, although the Appeal Tribunal called the attention of the Director-General of Recruiting to the circumstances by letters dated the 12th and 26th February, 1917, and by telegram on the 8th March, 1917, the only answer given to the Appeal Tri- bunal being a letter dated the 8th March stating that inquiries were still proceeding and that Foster had expressed his willingness to serve; and, in view of the fact that this was an employer's appeal and that Foster is therefore not the aggrieved party, whether the Army Council will give immediate instractions-that Myles Foster should be returned to civil life in order that he may be examined by the Central Medical Board?

Inquiry has been made into this case, which was, as stated brought to the notice of the War Office by the Hampshire Appeal Tribunal. It appears that a calling-up notice was sent to Foster in error, as his case had not been finally disposed of by the tribunal, but it is not known that the recrutiing officer at Poole refused to cancel the calling-up notice or threatened that Foster would be arrested as a deserter. Any man is entitled to join the Colours if he wishes to do so, notwithstanding that there may be an outstanding application before the tribunal, whether lodged by himself or his employer. It is reported that when Foster reported at the recruiting office, Dorchester, on the 9th February, he was informed that as the application was in fact outstanding he was at liberty to return home, but he stated that it was not by his wish that so much had been done by his employers to get him exempted, and that he did not desire to have any further delay in entering the Army and was prepared to join at once. On this statement he was posted to the Colours accordingly.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that Foster has since specifically denied that he ever said he wanted to join the Army and is at present anxious to return to civilian life, and under these circumstances will he cause further inquiry to be made?

I will certainly inquire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether enlistment under the Military Service Act on reaching eighteen years of age carries with it any obligation to serve for a longer period than the duration of the War?

Men who are called up under the provisions of the Military Service Acts, 1916, are deemed to have been enlisted and transferred to the Reserve for the duration of the War.

asked the Prime Minister whether skilled men are still being returned from the Army to the shipyards and marine engine works; and whether any labour, skilled or otherwise, is being, or is about to be, withdrawn from the shipyards or marine engine works in order to transfer the men so withdrawn to the Army?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second in the negative; to the third that nothing is known at the War Office of any present intention to do so.

asked whether it is still the policy of the Government to take no more men from agriculture for the Army beyond 10,200 out of the 30,000 authorised by the War Cabinet to be taken?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As men can be spared from, or satisfactorily replaced in, agriculture, they are being withdrawn for military service. There is no policy of limiting the number to 10,200 or any other figure below 30,000, provided that the interests of food production are safeguarded.

Are the War Office still taking men from agriculture.

Yes, they are.

Who is to decide what are the interests of food production—the War Office, the Board of Agriculture, or the Food Controller?

There is constant consultation with the Board of Agriculture.

Who is to decide?

If there is any difference of opinion the matter always conies before the War Cabinet.

For every man!

Would the hon. Gentleman consider the propriety of the President of the Board of Agriculture being given the power of dealing with individual men where he is convinced that it is not in the interest of food production that any particular man should be taken?

So far as the general principle is concerned. I have already stated the facts of the case In every individual case the military representative always consults the local agricultural representative, and I think that in any case where the President of the Board of Agriculture has recommended that no man should be called up the War Office has always agreed.

How many Irish applications have been dealt with by the War Office?

The hon. Gentleman cannot say without notice.

I have replied to that.

Does the local military representative acquiesce when objection is taken to an individual engaged in agriculture being called up?

I cannot say that, but I am certainly right in saying that arrangements have been made that in every case where agriculture requires the services of a man that man is not taken.

Does that apply to Scotland?

Is a case where a consultation does not take place subject to revision by the tribunal?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the inquiries into the case of cerebral meningitis at the jam factory, Coley, near Reading, then occupied by the School of Technical Training, have now been completed, and with what result; and if he can make any statement regarding the maladministration by the military authorities alleged at the coroner's inquest?

Two men have died from cerebro-spinal meningitis. Contacts were carefully segregated until pronounced free from infection. In the case of the man referred to in the question, the seriousness of the illness was not recognised either by the patient himself or by the orderly until the day after he was taken ill. As soon as it was recognised, the medical officer was summoned and arrived within half an hour. Men who report sick are not punished by having extra parades, but a man who is marked "medicine and duty," and who misses a parade by going for medicine, has to make up the lost parade later. The medical staff both of the district and of the command have visited the premises, and the sanitation was found to be very good.

Has the hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the very serious complaints made at the coroner's inquest against the military authorities?

My attention has been drawn by my hon. and gallant Friend, but that is all. I will make further inquiries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private Norman Humphreys, of the 13th Platoon. No. 2 Camp, Kinmel Park; whether he is aware that on the 9th instant, when at drill, he fainted and remained unconscious for an hour, and that on the 20th instant he was ordered on parade and had to remain exposed to the cold for two hours waiting for medical attention; whether he is aware that Humphreys was not admitted to hospital till seen by Dr. Roberts, of Corwen; that he had a temperature of 105, and was found to be suffering from pneumonia; whether he is aware that three other soldiers were seen by Dr. Roberts and found to have similar temperatures; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the medical officer responsible for these cases?

Strict investigations are being made, and my hon. Friend will at once be informed of the result.

asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether he can yet give any information as to increased hospital accommodation at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in view of the addition to the number of cadets; how many deaths have taken place there within the last five weeks, and from what causes; and whether further hospital improvements are proposed?

Temporary arrangements have been made to provide extra hospital accommodation in the Commandant's quarters at the Staff College, where twenty beds have been allotted, and during the recent outbreak of mumps certain of the halls of study were utilised. Further hospital improvements are under consideration. There have been two deaths—one from cerebrospinal fever and the other from pneumonia.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for War if two brothers named Baldwin are now confined in the guardroom, 9th Eastern Company, Non- Combatant Corps, M Lines, Morn Hill, Winchester, awaiting court-martial; if these men have been brought from Win chester Prison after serving two and a half months of a nine months' sentence; if they have been released because the court-martial which sentenced them has been found to be irregular; and, seeing that these men have been illegally kept in prison for over two months, what action is the War Office going to take to compensate them?

Further inquiries are being made in this case, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for War if he will take immediate action in the case of Private Robert Reid, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who on Monday, 12th March, was remitted from Partick Police Court to the military as a deserter, seeing that Reid has on two occasions been discharged from the Army, the last time unfit for further military service, and granted a pension of 25s. a week, but since his discharge has acted in his parents' house for six months in an insane manner, drilling imaginary soldiers, throwing articles about which he believed to be bombs, and that it was during this period of insanity that he enlisted for the third time; and, seeing that these-facts are within the knowledge of the recruiting officer, Bath Street, Glasgow, will proper action be taken to deal with the matter?

Yes, Sir; this has been done.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a War Office Order was issued to clip all horses and mules; and whether this Order has been the cause of the loss of a large number of both animals during the past winter, especially in Salonika?

The clipping of horses overseas is left to the discretion of the Commander-in Chief of the Force. There is no evidence that clipping has led to loss of animals; on the contrary, the Commander-in-Chief at Salonika reports that the health of the animals, when clipping was introduced, compares most favourably with that of the year previous, when the majority were unclipped.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether an Army Order was issued to the troops that all potatoes were to be peeled; whether he is aware that the most valuable parts of the potato are next the skin and are thus wasted; whether the Order is still-in force; and, if so, will it be cancelled?

No, Sir; no Army Order has ever been issued that potatoes should be peeled. On the contrary, as I informed the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on the 13th instant, the peeling of potatoes is strictly forbidden, except when the dietary of the troops makes it necessary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that a potato merchant named Boot, residing in St. George's Road, Forest Gate, East, was selling pota- toes to the people at 2½d. or 3d. per pound and had a notice up stating that they were seed potatoes; and if he can take any action in the matter?

I am obliged to the hon. Member for bringing this case to my notice. I am causing inquiries to be made, and proceedings will be taken if it can be proved that any of the Potato Orders have been contravened.

(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it has been brought to his notice that there is a serious shortage of potatoes in Dublin, and whether any steps have been taken to meet the difficulty?

I am aware of the shortage of potatoes in Dublin. The city was not in fact without supplies, both wholesale and retail, when wholesale dealings were suspended, but the stores were being rapidly exhausted. Steps have been taken to bring forward such potatoes as are immediately available in Ulster, and temporary relief will no doubt be thus obtained. Next week increased prices to producers will come into operation and this is expected to release some additional supplies. It must be borne in mind, however, that the partial failure of the potato crop is an inevitable cause of scarcity in Ireland as well as in Great Britain. As to possible future action, I am consulting with the Food Controller in the hope that arrangements may be devised which will ensure better regularity in the marketing of such supplies as are available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to receive a deputation from the wholesale merchants in connection with this whole question of food in Dublin?

Certainly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the cost of living in the city of Dublin has increased 89 per cent. since August, 1914, and that a further advance is expected in the price of bread; and whether instructions will be given that the recent advance in bonus to labourers and others will be extended to all employé's who are on the wages list?

No, Sir. The exclusion of certain classes from this advance is not confined to Ireland or to the War Department.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he is aware that the whole value of the powers given to local authorities to seize land for food growing is destroyed by the fact that the land must be handed back by January, 1918, seeing that no allotment holder will take derelict land, dig it, and clean it, to lose it after the first crop; and if it is possible to make some change by which a longer tenure of occupation can be secured?

The Board do not agree with the statement made in the first part of the question. Over 66,000 plots have already been taken up under the Order, and the demand has by no means been yet fully satisfied. The true position is that the Board have said they could not guarantee possession of plots after the 1st January next, but it does not follow from that that the plots will have to be given on that date. The whole question is, however, under consideration, and it is hoped that a further statement on the subject may be made shortly.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this difficulty about the surrender of plots is one that engaged his own personal attention three months ago, and has nothing been done yet to secure either compensation or security of tenure?

Yes, Sir. It has engaged my attention, and I hope to make a further statement shortly which will be of a satisfactory character.

Then why is this statement to go out to the public that plots have to be handed back on the 1st January?

The latter part of my answer states that the whole question is still under consideration, and it is hoped to make a further statement shortly.

Three months.

asked, with a view to economising on the con- sumption of meat, if arrangements can be made for conscientious objectors and other prisoners at present confined in His Majesty's gaols who are vegetarians to be served with a vegetarian diet on application?

This is now the case. The medical officer, in the ordinary course, prescribes a vegetarian diet to any prisoner who refuses meat on the ground mentioned.

Is it not a fact that the vegetarian diet allowed in lieu of meat is wholly insufficient?

I think not.

Would the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to the insufficiency of this diet?

indicated assent.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the privation which the poorer classes in this country are now suffering through food shortage, he will consider the advisability of introducing a legislative measure offering a reward to any person giving information which leads to a conviction for food hoarding, and thus effectively check this practice?

I have been asked to reply. The expedient suggested by the hon. Member is open to so many objections that I hope that no ground may arise for considering it seriously. May I add that the suggestion made seems to me to smack of Rorne in the unhappy days of Nero?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction among the poorer classes as to the action which is taken by some of the richer people in reference to food?

That possibly may be the case. I think that to a large extent it is so, but I believe that it is unfounded. In any case, I am quite sure that to establish such a system of espionage would be entirely foreign to English ideas.

In the public interest, does the hon. Gentleman not think that there might be a new Department started with five or six well-paid officials who are Members of this House?

I do not think that the practice suggested would be desirable, or one which the hon. Gentleman would like to sec established.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that on Thursday, 22nd March, at the premises of the Griffin Meat Company, Smithfield, a quantity of River Plate lambs marked T, which had evidently been in store a considerable time, were offered for sale; whether he can say the date at which the same were landed in this country and the names of the firms through whose hands they have passed in the interval; whether he is aware that on the same date a quantity of River Plate Iambs of old storage were offered for sale at the premises of J. K. Buer and Company; whether he can say in this case the date of landing in this country; and (2) whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that on Thursday, 22nd March, there was on sale on the premises of Armour and Company, Limited, of Smithfield Market, and on several other premises, a quantity of frozen beef labelled National Cold Storage Company, New York, and bearing labels that the goods had been received into store on the 9th of July last; whether he can state what boat carried this beef from America, what date it was landed, and in what refrigerator it was stored in this country; whether he is aware that on the same day beef from the same company-was on sale at W. and R. Fletcher, Limited, bearing date of receipt in store of 3rd March, 1916, and will he say by what boat this was shipped and where stored in this country?

The meat referred to was not the property of the Government, and the Board of Trade have no information regarding it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Cork, Bandon, and South Coast Railway Company have proposed to supply only a limited number of wagons for the conveyance of fish from Baltimore to Cork and other markets this season; and, seeing that a failure on the part of the railway-company to supply an adequate number of wagons will seriously handicap the fishing industry in the Baltimore district, where hundreds of poor families are dependent on it for a livelihood, will he see that facilities for marketing the fish are not curtailed by the railway company?

I am not aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but I will look into the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, if, and when, he will equalise the maximum prices of Irish and English bacon; and if he is aware that Irish bacon commands the highest price in any part of the world in which it is placed?

There appears to-be no justifiable ground for equalising the prices of English and Irish bacon, which have almost invariably differed in the past under normal market conditions. I am well aware of the high value and reputation of Irish bacon.

Is it not the fact that Irish bacon is a superior article to any other bacon, and will he not take into-consideration the fact that the carriage from Limerick, Cork, Waterford, or Belfast to this country equalises the extra cost with pigs sold in the English market; and is it intended under those circumstances to make a difference in price of from 5s. to 7s. 6d. and put the Irish curer—

The hon. Member should give notice of that question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has received resolutions from war pensions committees in Ireland urging that the system of basing separation allowances on pre-war dependence needs reconsideration, and giving reasons therefor; and whether he intends taking any action in the matter?

No, Sir. I cannot trace having received any such resolutions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why Mrs. Walker, of Glin, County Limerick, wife of Sapper James Walker, No. 103548, Royal Engineers, has not received the separation allowance of 12s. 6d. a week which she was receiving from June, 1915, the date of her husband's enlistment, to September, 1916; is he aware that she received a memorandum from the paymaster at Chatham stating that her separation allowance had been reduced to 8s. 6d. a week and that, as she had been overpaid, 1s. 3d. a week would be deducted from the same; and whether, as she is a very poor woman in delicate health and has at present to live on the charity of her friends owing to the fact that she has received no allowance for some time, will he take steps to see that she gets the allowance at the old rate of 12s. 6d. a week and that the arrears due to her are paid at once?

The allowance of 12s. 6d. was paid in ignorance of the fact that the soldier and his wife had been separated before his enlistment. she is entitled to Ss. 6d. only. I am inquiring into the statement that she has received no allowance for some time.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the wife repudiates absolutely the charge that she was separated from her husband? Is he aware that her husband was in Scotland and that she was at home suffering from ill-health, and that that was the reason why she could not be with him? Having regard to these facts, will the hon. Gentleman reconsider the case if I put the facts before him?

Yes, if there is any doubt on questions of fact.

asked the Pensions Minister whether the grant of £3 to widows under the new Warrant is a retrospective payment?

The grant is not retrospective. It will be paid in cases where the notification of death is received on or after the 4th April.

asked the Pensions Minister if he has received a resolution from the Waterford war pensions committee, proposed by the Marchioness of Waterford and passed unanimously, which resolution has been adopted by many other war pensions committees in Ireland, urging that the refusing of a pension because there was no pre-war dependence needs reconsideration and giving four reasons therefor; and whether he intends taking any action in the matter?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to in the question which has special reference to parents, and the hon. Member will, no doubt, have observed that provision is made in the new Warrant whereby pensions may be granted to parents in certain; circumstances, although there was no prewar dependence. If cases of hardship arise in other circumstances they can be dealt with under Statutory Committee-Regulation 32 of Part I.

asked the Pensions Minister if the £3 gratuity for widows of soldiers in addition to their pensions will be paid in all cases or whether it will be refused under exceptional circumstances; and, in the latter case, what is the nature of the exceptional circumstances that would disqualify a soldier's widow for the gratuity?

The gratuity will be paid in all eases when the widow is qualified for pension, or temporary pension.

asked the Pensions Minister if men who have been discharged from the Army in consequence of disablement by reason of wounds or disease and widows and dependants of soldiers who have been killed in action or died of wounds due to or aggravated by military service, whose applications have already been made for pensions or gratuities but have not yet been dealt with, will be paid according to the provisions of the new Royal Warrant; and whether applications previously decided against applicants but which under the new Royal Warrant would be allowed may be renewed by the persons concerned?

The provisions of the new Warrant will be applied to all existing pensions and to any pensions under consideration with effect from the first weekly payday in April. The answer to the latter portion of the question is in the affirmative.

asked whether the-present prices for horses purchased for the Army are on a scale fixed in 1915; and whether these prices will be raised, having regard to the increased cost of keep and labour?

The prices of horses are fixed in accord with the market, and it is not intended at present to raise the price of any class.

What are the prices as compared with 1915?

The price of riding horses is, I think, the same as in 1915, and the price of the draught horses is, I think, above that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Irish prisoners at Lewes are still existing on food supplied to criminals; if they are sleeping on plank beds; if they wear convict garb; if any requests have been received from America for their release; and if he will say what the Government proposals are for the future as regards these men?

The prisoners at Lewes are receiving food on the dietary scale to which they are entitled; they sleep on mattressfts; they wear the clothing prescribed by the prison rules. I have received no application from America with regard to these prisoners.

asked if the Government will adopt a similar policy to that upon which they have congratulated the Provisional Government of Russia and declare a general amnesty of Irish rebel prisoners and a revocation of the recent order of deportation upon other Irishmen?

The Resolution passed by this House on the 22nd instant contains no reference to the policy of the Provisional Government, on any point except the prosecution of the War with steadfastness and vigour. It has therefore no bearing on the question of an amnesty to prisoners.

Would it not be well to follow the excellent example which has added great strength to the new Government of Russia?

I think this country must judge these matters in its own way.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the grounds or principles on which certain literature sent, carriage paid, to Irish prisoners of war in this country last year was not allowed to reach them; and whether such of it as was not contrary to those grounds or principles will now be returned to the owners on application by them?

The object of censorship was to prevent the passage of printed or written matter which might tend to excite or perpetuate hostility to this country or sympathy with the enemy. Very little literature sent to the Irish prisoners was stopped, and, so far as the censors are aware, none was withheld except in accordance with this principle. The last part of the question, therefore, does not seem to arise.

The right hon. Gentleman has not defined what sort of literature is calculated to excite antipathy to this country. For instance, does it include the book in my hand, the Four Gospels in the Irish language which was so treated?

No, Sir; that is an old question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether literature, so stopped, of which this book is a part, becomes the perquisite of any official in the Censor's office, and will he say how this book came to be sold by a person in that office to a second-hand bookseller in London, from whom I bought it? Will the right hon. Gentleman give any information on this interesting subject?

The hon. Member should give notice of that.

I want to know why this book, sent to a man interned at Fron-goch, was not allowed to reach him?

I have answered that. It is not a fact.

It is a fact.

asked the Home Secretary whether any general Order has been issued that all Government officials between the ages of eighteen and sixty-one must enrol under the National Service scheme, and, if so, by whom; and, if such an obligation has been imposed, will he -explain how it can be reconciled with his pledge given to the House of Commons that there would be no compulsion under the National Service Bill?

The Prime Minister has invited Civil servants to enrol as National Volunteers, but there is no obligation on them to do so.

asked whether the inclusion of the powers under the Defence of the Realm Act into the Bill for national voluntary service would enable the Director of National Service at his discretion to introduce compulsory measures to enforce the fulfilment of a voluntary obligation?

An assurance has been given that compulsory measures should not be introduced by the Director-General of National Service under the powers conferred upon him by the Ministry of National Service Bill. Clause 1, Sub-section (2) of 1ihe Bill, as amended in Committee, is intended to give effect to this assurance.

Are we to understand that the Director has no power, under the Defence of the Realm Act, to force a man to do anything he does not want to?

If the hon. Member will read the Bill he will find that there is no compulsory power. There are no penalties.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that Police Constable M'Shea, Police Constable Danies, and Police Constable Chane, all of the R Division, have all been penalised to the extent of £54 in connection with the police agitation for joining a trade union; if he is aware that twenty other police- men have been penalised to the extent of £15 12s. for the same offence; and if he can see his way clear to reduce the penalty inflicted?

The cases of Police-constables Davis, Moshea, and Chane were dealt with two years ago, and I would refer the hon. Member to the full replies given by my predecessor on the 4th and 8th March, 1915; and, with regard to the latter cases, to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for North Islington on the 28th February of this year.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reasons why these policemen are not allowed to join a trade union when all the other thousands of Civil servants, both men and women, are allowed to join, and when there is no restriction upon any policemen under the control of the municipalities in joining a trade union?

I have answered the question before. The police are under military discipline, and are responsible for peace and order in London and elsewhere and I do not think they should be allowed to join a trade union.

Is the attitude of the right hon. Gentleman towards the whole police problem identical with that of his predecessor?

Yes.