asked the Prime Minister whether he has received memorials and communications from representative sources praying for the appointment by Royal Proclamation of a week-day of national prayer for victory and a speedy termination of the War: whether such an appointment is likely to be made, and when; and whether, if a week day is considered undesirable for such an appointment, he is prepared to recommend to His Majesty the King that Accession Sunday,. 6th May, or another date being a Sunday, be appointed by Royal Proclamation a day of solemn and national prayer?

The Prime Minister has received the communications referred to, but the Government are not prepared to adopt the suggestion in the question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that at Somerset House and other places there are over 200 women known as female tellers, whose work consists in checking Treasury notes, British and Indian stamps, and who are in many cases performing work formerly done by men; whether he is aware that the pay of these women ranges from 8s. to 20s. a week, and that they are unestablished and get no sick pay; whether he is aware that for months past memorials for higher pay have been under consideration, but that no reply has been vouchsafed; and whether he will take immediate steps to inquire into the matter?

Female tellers at Somerset House are engaged at the ages of fourteen and upwards, and of the total staff of 200 employed more than half are girls under nineteen. The rate of pay is 10s. to 22s. a week, including war bonus, except that the earnings of women on Currency Note work may exceed this maximum and reach in some cases 27s. A certain number of women are replacing men, and the question of granting an increase of pay for superior work is at present under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has considered the effect on the export of eggs and other perishable produce from Ireland to this country of a recent decision of the House of Lords (Lord Shaw dissenting) exonerating railway companies from all loss on damage when such produce is forwarded at owner's risk; and, seeing that the decision amounts to a premium on careless carrying, and must check Irish production by forcing producers either to consign such goods on commission for sale at prices which they cannot control or to pay higher freights, whether it is intended to relieve this situation by legislation or by Order or Regulation?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I assume that the case of the Great Western Railway Company v. Wills is referred to. The decision in that case, however, did not have the effect which the hon. Gentleman supposes. It involved only the question of the proper interpretation to be put upon the terms of the consignment note, which, under the existing law, are not legally binding if unreasonable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether there are at present at Stornoway, in the Hebrides, 100,000 barrels of pickled herring ready for consumption; whether the delay in sending these away is traceable to his Department, whose decision as to their disposal is awaited; and, if so, when the decision will be given and what will be its effect?

The quantity of herrings pickled in brine in Stornoway is about 75,000 barrels. It is clearly desirable that these fish, although not usually eaten in this country, should be retained for consumption under present circumstances, and steps are being taken which it is hoped may render this practicable. In the meantime, the export of these fish is prohibited.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if proprietors of public schools are expected to limit the food supplied to their pupils in accordance with the requirements of the Food Controller, or can they vary or increase it on receiving representations from the parents or the doctor that the food is insufficient for growing lads?

As I informed the hon. Member for the Harborough Division, on the 22nd February, it is hoped that those in control of schools and other like institutions will realise that special consideration must naturally be given to the needs of growing boys and girls, and that, while every effort should be made to approach as nearly as possible to the voluntary scale, that scale may require modification in details and adjustment to circumstances. Representations from a, doctor or parent would naturally influence the decision.

asked whether the malting of barley for the manufacture of both beer and potable spirits is now being prohibited?

The manufacture from barley or any other cereals of any malt suitable for use in the brewing of beer has been prohibited since 20th February last. The malting of barley for the manufacture of potable spirits is controlled by the Ministry of Munitions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the waste of bread that is taking place in the London parks, where swans, ducks, and even sparrows are continually being fed, chiefly by nurses and children, who bring half loaves and slices of bread for the purpose; and whether, seeing that the majority of households are on short bread rations in compliance with the Food Controller's instructions, he will take immediate steps to put a stop to this practice?

Such waste of food suitable for human consumption is greatly to be deprecated; as, however, the amount so used is small, it is hoped that the practice may cease without the necessity of issuing an Order.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he will state the position of the housewife who purchases her sugar, often less than the regulation allowance, for the week, but does not use it at the time, reserving its use for the purpose of jam-making when fruit is in season, consequently having in store more than the regulation fortnight's supply; and in such case will he say if the housewife is liable to the penalty of fine and imprisonment?

There is no intention to interfere with the legitimate conservation of domestic supplies for such purposes as those mentioned in this question. The saving of sugar from the weekly voluntary sugar ration for domestic jam-making is particularly commendable and will receive every encouragement.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what additional acreage he expects will be broken up this year in Scotland in comparison with last year; what arrangements he has made to provide additional labour; and what quantity he has been able to secure of manures and fertilisers for use during the present season?

Up to the 21st of March the additional acreage expected to be broken up this year amounted to 28,403 acres. The provision of additional labour is in the hands of the National Service Department, whose efficient help in this matter I desire to acknowledge. My hon. Friend will find in a statement issued by that Department and published in the Press of Monday last particulars of their work in Scotland. As regards manures and fertilisers, the arrangements made by the Fertilisers' Committee have so far, I understand, been found sufficient. The situation is being carefully watched.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that Miss Wilson, Rathdowney, Queen's County, has let about 40 acres of land for eleven months' grazing quite convenient to that town while eighty-seven labourers and artisans who applied to the Department of Agriculture for allotments under the food production scheme have not so far obtained any land on which to grow vegetables; and what steps the Department intend taking to provide these landless people with allotments?

The Department of Agriculture are arranging to enter on the lands referred to and to offer them for letting in conacre tillage.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether grain and other food materials are at present being used for the manufacture of alcohol for explosives; and whether the consent of the Food Controller has been obtained for the use of grain, etc., for this purpose?

Grain is being used at the patent still yeast distilleries with the knowledge of the Food Controller. The resulting spirit is utilised for war services, and the essential industrial trades.

asked the First Lord of-the Admiralty the pay and conditions as to separation allowances and special war retainers of men in the Royal Naval Reserve (Trawler) as compared with fishermen on hired drifters engaged on boom defence?

The rates of pay of ratings belonging to the Trawler Section of the Royal Naval Reserve are as follows:

Second Hands	6s. per day	Plus War retainer at, £1 a month.
Enginemen
Leading Deck Hand and Leading Trimmer	4s. per day
Deck Hands	3s. 6d. per day
Trimmers and Trimmer Cooks
Boys	1s. per day	No War retainer

All ratings receive a- provision allowance of 1s. 5d. per day and a free kit on entry. All ratings (other than boys) receive a gratuity of thirty days' pay on discharge, if they have completed twelve months' service unbroken by desertion. The families of these men are entitled to sparation allowance. In regard to the crews of hired drifters, these men were formerly employed on a civilian basis, but arrangements have recently been made to engage them under a spcial form of agreement by which they will be subject to naval discipline. The standard rates of pay, which are variable to a small extent under local conditions, are as follows:

		Orkneys and Shetlands only.
Mate	6s. 1d. per day	7s. 3d. per day
Engineer	7s. 4d. per day	8s. 6d. per day
Remainder of Orew	4s 10d. per day	6s. per day

A daily allowance of 1s. 5d. for food is also paid, and the crews receive periodical gratuities when they are required to wear uniform. The families are not entitled to separation allowance. Issue of Navy separation allowance to a wife is conditional, primarily, upon the husband being a Naval rating, Marine or Reservist, borne on the books of one of His Majesty's ships, and in receipt of naval rates of pay. It is also necessary that he should allot, voluntarily, not not less than 5s. a week in favour of his wife. The conditions are given more fully in a Memorandum which I am sending to my hon. Friend separately.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the recruiting officer at Perth has issued to skilled ploughmen notices calling them to the Colours on 5th April; and, if so, will he see that these orders are cancelled, with a view to the arrangement between his Department and the War Office?

My hon. and gallant Friend has asked me to answer this. We have telegraphed for a report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State if he will say how many conscientious objectors willing to do work of national importance are now working at Dartmoor, and what is the character of the work they are doing; how many he eventually expects to place there; and whether all men who have expressed themselves as willing to do work of national importance and have been passed by the Central Tribunal as genuine cases have now been released from prison and are engaged upon such work?

The number of conscientious objectors now employed at Dartmoor is 582, and as regards the nature of the work on which they are employed I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Enfield on the 22nd instant. There is accommodation at the Dartmoor Work Centre for 1,200 men. All the men referred to in the last part of the question have been released for employment on work of national importance under the Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors except twenty-five, whose names have only been received from the tribunal within the last few days.

asked the Under-Secretary of State if he will give particulars of the various places where conscientious objectors willing to undertake work of national importance are now situated, the approximate number at each place, and the character of the work upon which they are engaged; and whether, in view of the opening of work at Dartmoor, he is expecting to close down some of these places?

I shall be happy to send the hon. Member a summary of the information asked for in the first part of the question. In reply to the latter part, it is proposed shortly to close the work centre at Warwick.

asked the Home Secretary whether any record is kept showing the value of the work done by conscientious objectors or from which an estimate of the value of such work can be made; and how does the value of such work compare with the cost incurred in maintaining and otherwise in connection with conscientious objectors?

The value of the work done by these men varies considerably according to the nature and conditions of the work, but generally speaking it is considerably less than the cost of maintaining the men. I am glad to say, however, that owing to the stricter discipline now exercised by the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors, there has recently been a slight improvement in the value of the work.

asked the Financial Secretary to the. War Office if he is aware that the male clerks under Lieutenant Brett, Stockton-on-Tees recruiting office, have had their wages reduced by 15s. per week, and that there is dissatisfaction among the whole clerical staff in consequence; and if he will make inquiry into the matter and order that the wages of the clerks be restored to the amount received prior to Lieutenant Brett taking charge of the office?

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

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he will state the number of cases of disease in the British Army in France, Gallipoli, Salonika, and Egypt, which was originally clinically diagnosed as typhoid fever; and how many of these have been taken out of the typhoid class on the reports of bacteriologists using the Dreyer test?

I am afraid that there is no information available to answer this question, and that the labour involved in its preparation would be prohibitive.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the l/9th Manchester Territorials have been abroad on active service for nearly two years; whether during this time very few of the men have had home leave; and if, as far as it may be consistent with the national interest, such leave will be given to men applying for the same?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am afraid that I can add nothing in regard to the second part of the question to the answer given on the 6th instant to the hon. Member for the Bridgeton Division of Glasgow.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in refusing dependant's allowance to Mrs. Sarah Conaghan, of Owennagadragh, Killy-gordon, county Donegal, mother of Private Thomas Conaghan, No. 7466, 6th Connaught Rangers, British Expeditionary Force, the authorities had before them the fact that he remitted money regularly to his mother in sums of £2, £3, £4, and £5, and that in July, 1916, he remitted £15 to her; and, in view of these facts, will he cause the case to be reopened so as to secure an appropriate dependant's allowance?

Inquiries are being made and I will inform the hon. Member of the result in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it had come to his notice that, concerning the wages claim of the workpeople at the Army Ordnance Department, Gloucester, an arbitration with regard to the wages of workpeople employed by the Ministry of Munitions in the same locality had been held; is he aware that Mr. Charles Doughty heard the parties on 10th February and issued his award on 12th February, granting the men a war bonus of 5s. per week and the women a war bonus of 3s. per week; and, as the rate of wages paid to the men by the Munitions Ministry is 8d. per hour, plus the bonus, and that paid by the Army Ordnance Department 7¾d. per hour, whether, having regard to these facts and the difference in wages, giving rise to dissatisfaction among the workers in the Ordnance De- partment, steps will be taken to equalise the wages or instruct an arbitration to be held on the points at issue?

It is proposed to refer the matter to arbitration.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the increased cost of living, he can see his way to grant subsistence allowance to married workmen who have been sent to work on munition work at a distance from their homes, by either their trade union or an employment exchange, and thus place them on an equality with munition volunteer workers who have been sent to work at a distance from home?

I regret that I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion. Subsistence allowance is only paid to those munition workers who enter into an undertaking to work in any place to which they may be sent by the Ministry. It would not be equitable to give similar consideration to workmen who do not enter into a similar undertaking.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the infliction of a fine of £50 by the Croydon justices upon a person convicted of attempting to send a letter to the United States of America otherwise than through the post; whether he can distinguish that case from others of a like nature, including that of Mr. Bertrand Russell, which have been brought to his notice; and, if not, why a prosecution has not been launched against these persons so as to vindicate the equality of all before the law?

My attention has not been called to the Croydon case. As regards Mr. Russell, I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave on the 12th February last to the hon. and learned Member for York. He may rest assured that a prosecution will be instituted in any such case in which the necessary evidence is available.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will specify the Statute, if any, under which letters transmitted from a foreign country to this are stopped in the Post Office, their enclosures withheld, and no communication made to either the addressor or addressee; and whether the money sent from Portugal for a memorial to Thomas J. Clarke, an Irish prisoner of war executed last May, and so stopped in the Post Office, will be given to the owner for that purpose?

Letters are submitted by the Post Office to the military censors under a Warrant of the Home Secretary. The Post Office Act, 1908, provides that no penalty shall be incurred by an officer of the General Post Office for obedience to such a Warrant. There are not sufficient details to enable inquiry to be made into the matter referred to in the last part of the question. The name and address of the sender and addressee of the packet and the date of posting, and, if the packet was registered, the registered number are necessary, and should, in the first place, be addressed to the General Post Office.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the cinema licensing authority of Leicester in retusing to grant a licence to women manageresses of cinemas for the period of the War; whether such a refusal is governed by Home Office regulations; and, if not, will steps be taken to issue a general instruction to cinema licensing authorities to grant such licences on application?

I have made inquiry and find that the licensing authority have granted licences to women in two cases, but have refused a licence in another case, where the house was of large size, and they were of opinion that it was essential that a man should be in control. The matter is entirely within the discretion of the licensing authority, and their decision in each instance must depend on the circumstances of the case.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he has received representations as to the effects on the distribution of fruit and vegetables which will be caused by the Regulations prescribing prepayment of charges on these food stuffs when sent by passenger train; and whether he will take steps to have the Regulations rescinded?

The Board of Trade have received representations as to the effect on the fruit and vegetable trade of the requirement that the charges for the conveyance of such traffic by passenger train must be prepaid. These representations have been very carefully considered, but in all the present circumstances I am afraid it is necessary to adhere to the proposal.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he can state the quantity of spirits in bond in 1914 before the outbreak of hostilities, as compared with the quantity of spirits now in bond?

On 01st July, 1914, the quantity of spirits in bond was 158½ million proof gallons. The latest available figures are those for February, at the end of which month the quantity in bond was 156– million proof gallons.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can state the wages advances in each of the years 1914, 1915, and 1916, compared with the year 1913?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. "The Board of Trade Labour Gazettes" for January, 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1917, contain a review of the changes in rates of wages taking effect in each of the previous years, so far as reported to the Board of Trade, and I am having a copy of each of these issues sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary for Scotland on what principle the German labour available for timber felling in Scotland has been allocated; what landowners have received this labour; and in what number?

The Home-grown Timber Committee was responsible for the distribution among various forests of the prisoners of war made available for timber cutting in Scotland. Prisoners are only assigned to cut timber which has been purchased by the Government. The functions of the Committee are now vested in the Director of Timber Supplies.

asked the Minister of Labour if interned German prisoners are being taught the craft of brush-making; if it is intended that they shall compete with outside labour; if the United Society of Brushmakers have been consulted in the matter; and if safeguards will be taken to protect the interests of skilled workmen now employed in this occupation?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave on this subject on the 28th February and 7th, 13th, and 14th March. It was not necessary to consult the Society of Brushmakers, because there was a great shortage of brushes, and it was clearly desirable to utilise the services of the interned men in supplying the deficiency due to war conditions. But the arrangements are of course temporary, and I am advised that there is no danger that the interests of skilled workmen in the industry will be affected.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a Departmental Committee has been appointed by the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to advise him and the Food Controller on matters affecting the fish supplies in England and Wales; and whether he proposes to appoint a similar Committee to advise the Controller on matters arising out of the Scottish fishing industry?

I am aware of the appointment of the Committee referred to by my hon. Friend. I am considering the desirability of appointing a similar Committee in Scotland.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that a circular has been received by Scottish fish curers from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries inquiring, presumably on behalf of the Departments dealing with war trade in fish, as to the stocks of Scottish cured herrings in their hands and other matters affecting the Scottish curing industry; and what action he proposes to take in regard to such a Departmental irregularity?

I understand a circular was sent making inquiries as to stocks and prices, and I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries with a view to the removal of any misunderstanding which the issue of a circular from the English Department may have created in Scotland.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether he will furnish a statement showing the salary or scale of salary of each permanent grade in the Department at its inception and on the 31st March, 1913, the 31st March, 1914, the 31st March, 1915, and the 31st March, 1916, respectively, and the grounds for variation where a permanent increase of salary, of increment of salary, or of scale of salary has been granted to each grade or to certain officials in each grade?

The information asked for in the first part of the question is given in the Estimates for Civil Services for the appropriate years. The answer to the second part of the question is that each case of variations has been dealt with on its merits, with particular reference to the performance of specially onerous duties.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance

SCALE of Travelling and Subsistence Allowances on inception of Department—
Rail.		Subsistence Allowance.		Day Allowance.
				s.	d.
Inspectors, 1st class	…	Stay not exceeding 14 nights in any one place—per night, 20s.	Stay exceeding 14 nights in same place—per night, 13s. 4d.	6	8
Auditors	…	Stay not exceeding 14 nights in any one place—per night, 15s.	Stay exceeding 14 nights in same place—per night, 10s.	5	0
Present Scales.
Inspectors, 1st class	…	For first 14 nights in one place—per night, 20s.	For any nights in excess of 14 in same place—per night, 13s. 4d.	4	0
Auditors	…	For first 14 nights in one place—per night, 15s.	For any nights in excess of 14 in same place—per night, 10s.	3	0

The answer to the first question is in the negative. With regard to the second part, the hon. Member is referred to the answer to the Member for North Kerry on the 26th April, 1916.

asked the hon. Member-for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as-representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether he will state the grades in respect of which the rates of travelling and subsistence allowances-were laid down by the Treasury at the inception of the Department; the rates-of travelling and subsistence allowances: so laid down for each of such grades; the present rates of travelling and subsistence allowances now in force for each of such grades; the grounds for variation where variation has occurred; and whether the concurrence of all these; affected by such variation was obtained prior to the variation being made?

issued the following information:

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether, seeing that the hours of attendance of assistant auditors and audit clerks employed in June, July, and August, 1914, in giving instruction on the arrears' scheme to secretaries of societies and branches in respect of the contribution year ended 5th July, 1914, were so managed that in some instances no subsistence allowance or overtime payment could be claimed by these subordinate officials, notwithstanding that they were obliged to perform evening work, either at their official stations or away from their official stations, before returning home late at night, after at least eight hours' continuous duty, that such evening work entailed additional expenses for refreshments which were not ordinarily incurred by these officials and which the Department did not refund to them, and that increased salary by way of double and treble special increments has been granted to certain inspectors of audit on the scale £550 to £700 per annum, he will explain why the additional expenses for refreshments in the instances referred to were not refunded to the subordinate officials in question?

Subsistence allowances when claimed have always- been paid, in accordance with the Departmental scales. No allowances are payable unless an officer is away from home for more than ten hours.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) whether he is aware that, although the National Insurance Audit Department is only a small department which has been in existence for less than five years, the official instructions issued to the staff of that department are now spread over as many as eight printed books, in addition to sixty or seventy neostyled circulars, which are continually increasing in number; whether these books and circulars are bristling with a multiplicity of cross-references; if so, whether this multiplicity of cross-references is mainly due to the continual necessity of amending and reamending the instructions which have been incessantly issued: whether a considerable amount of the time of the staff, involving an appreciable item of public expenditure, has been occupied in endeavouring to establish some kind of intelligible coherency and co-ordination as regards the application of these instructions to the work of audit; if so, whether this confusion of instructions to the audit staff has reacted to the financial detriment of approved societies by increasing their administrative difficulties; whether lack of practical knowledge of the work of audit and other shortcomings on the part of inspectors of audit are responsible for the issue of such instructions; whether a considerable amount of public money has been expended on headquarters' conferences of inspectors of audit, at which these instructions have been devised; and whether steps will be taken to bring about efficiency and economy in this and kindred matters by the abolition of the grade of inspectors to audit?

The instructions issued to the Audit Staff of the National Insurance Audit Department are of a strictly confidential character. The instructions actually issued to the staff are necessarily complex, covering as they do developments of the administration of national insurance. It is not admitted that the trained staff of the department has difficulty in dealing with these instructions, or that approved societies (who have no access to such instructions) have been prejudiced in any way whatever. I have already deprecated strongly the ungrounded attacks made by the hon. Member on officers of this department.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether he will furnish a statement showing the names of the auditors now serving in the department who have been promoted from the position of assistant auditor, the date of birth of each, the position of each in order of merit in the literary examination held by the Civil Service Commissioners at which he competed for entry into the department, the date of first appointment of each in the department, the date of promotion of each to the position of auditor, the scale of pay of each as at date of promotion, the actual salary of each immediately preceding date of promotion, and the position of

Name.	Date of Birth.	Position in Examination	Date of First Appointment.	Date of Promotion to Auditor.	Scale of pay at promotion.	Actual salary immediately preceding date of promotion.
					£	£
Alexander Morrison	20 May, 1877	7	18 Nov., 1912	29 April, 1913	180–10–250	180
Herbert Harry Reeks	28 April, 1879	22	4 Nov., 1912	29 April, 1913	180–10–250	180
Joseph Davies	4 April, 1881	8	16 Dec, 1912	29 April, 1913	180–10–250	180
William Fred Castledine	6 Aug., 1879	29	25 Nov., 1912	29 April, 1913	180–10–250	180
Percy Gordon King	28 Nov., 1881	4	18 Nov., 1912	22 Jan., 1914	£100, after two years £120; 10–£200; 15–£350.	190
Edwin Rhys Nicholas	8 June, 1880	79	25 Nov., 1912	21 May, 1915		200

There is no departmental seniority list of assistant auditors.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether he will furnish a statement showing the names of the acting auditors now serving in the department, the date of birth of each, the position of each in order of merit in the literary examination held by the Civil Service Commissioners at which he competed for entry into the department, the date of first appointment of each in

Name.	Date of Birth.	Position in Examination	Date of First. Appointment.	Date of Promotion to Intermediate Grade.	Date of Appointment as Acting Auditor.	Scale of pay at date of Appointment as Acting Auditor.
Henry Arkle	29 Jan., 1883	64	25 Nov., 1912	1 Jan., 1914	10 Aug., 1915	£100, after two years £120; 10–£200; 15–£350.
James Alfred Atkinson	26 Aug., 1883	107	3 Mar., 1913	1 May, 1915	11 Oct., 1915
Cyril Henry Alfred Joynt	30 Sept., 1884	36	25 Nov., 1912	1 May, 1915	20 Sept., 1915
George Thomas Williams	16 Jan., 1883	41	25 Nov., 1912	1 May, 1915	2 May, 1916
There is no departmental seniority list of assistant auditors.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) whether he is aware that the National Insurance Audit Department in cases pointed out in its Reports on the Accounts

supplied the following particulars:the department, the date of promotion of each to the intermediate grade, the date of promotion of each to the position of acting auditor, the scale of pay of each as at date of promotion to the position of acting auditor, and the position of each in the departmental seniority list of assistant auditors immediately preceding date of promotion to the position of acting auditor?

issued the following particulars:of Approved Societies that personal security in respect of certain officers had not been taken out as required by the rules of these societies, notwithstanding that such societies had already obtained such security by subscribing to the National Health Insurance Commissioners' Approved Societies' (Officers) Guarantee Fund; if so, whether it is also a fact that, when such societies as a result of such Reports incurred unnecessary expenditure in taking out further security by way of personal bonds, the Department pointed out in subsequent Reports that duplication of security had occurred; whether he will explain how the action taken by the Department in each instance can be reconciled; whether, seeing that the Commissioners' guarantee fund could serve no other purpose than that of covering personal security in respect of officers of a society, he will explain why the National Insurance Audit Department reported in the first instance to the effect that such fund did not cover such security; whether in a number of cases many months elapsed before the Department reported in the second instance to the effect that such fund should be regarded as covering such security; if so, whether, seeing that in the meantime subordinate officers of the Department must have spent time in dealing with this question, he will state the approximate amount of public money expended in this way; and whether he proposes to take any steps with a view to bringing about economy and efficiency?

The matter is not suitable to be dealt with by means of question and answer. I do not, however, accept the suggestions made by the hon. Member as accurately representing the facts of the case.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) whether he is aware that certain subordinates in the National Insurance Audit Department were censured as a result of their truly recording the actual time spent by them on duty when such time exceeded the limit of eight hours a day laid down in a departmental order issued to the staff shortly after the death of a subordinate in the Department; if so, and having regard to the continuous strain involved in auditing accounts of the volume and character of those submitted, and to the fact that the departmental pressure on the staff as regards output of work was not relaxed after the issue of the order referred to, will he say whether the authorities of the Department were well aware that the duties performed both before and after the issue of the order, repre- sented an average of from eight to twelve or fourteen hours daily work; whether their object in issuing the order and censuring subordinates for a breach of it on paper was for the purpose of protecting the Department should any further deaths occur amongst members of the staff as a result of working long hours under continual strain and high pressure; and, if so, whether he sanctions such methods being adopted by any Government Department?

There is no trace of any subordinate in the National Insurance Audit Department having been censured in the circumstances mentioned. No departmental order of the purport mentioned was issued. Directions were given soon after the Department was created that excessive hours should not be worked, and so far as I have been able to ascertain, except in rare instances and for short periods, the hours of work cited by the hon. Member were not worked. The rest of the question does not arise.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether, seeing that nearly all second division clerks with three to four years' experience of audit work in the various divisions of the Department are now serving with the forces, it is the intention to retain such clerks in the Department after the termination of the War; if not, whether it is-the intention to recruit the Department from the intermediate examination; and, if so, if he will explain why it is considered in the interests of economy and efficiency to fill future vacancies by inexperienced young men on a higher scale of pay than that of the second division rather than retain the services of second division clerks with the experience referred to?

The question of the future method of recruitment of the office dues not require to be considered at the present time.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether, seeing that in addition to the ordinary rates of salary commuted annual allowances are granted to the following Metropolitan officers of the Local Government Board, namely, £75 each to five assistant auditors and £40 each to nineteen clerks, and that the travelling and other conditions which warrant these Local Government Board allowances equally apply in the case of the National Insurance Audit Department, he will explain why similar allowances are not granted to the Metropolitan staff of the National Insurance Audit Department?

It is not considered that sufficient experience has yet been gained under normal conditions of the travelling and other expenses of the staff of the National Insurance Audit Department to render possible the consideration of granting commuted allowances.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will give further consideration to the case of the sub-town tenants of Middletown, county Armagh, who desire to purchase their holdings under the Land Purchase Acts; if he is aware that in the town of Athenry weekly tenants and sub-tenants were afforded facilities for purchasing their holdings; if he will state what valid reason exists for refusing similar advantages to the town tenants of Middletown; if he is aware that in the majority of cases at Middletown the premises in the occupation of the sub-tenants are substantial buildings and afford ample security for an advance, and that in other cases the premises might be put into such a condition as would make them good security; if he will state whether, in the case of town holdings on the Stearne Estate, held direct from the landlord, the tenants provided the purchase-money in cash, and, it not, whether these holdings compare in point of security for the advance with other town holdings; if the Land Commission offered to exercise their powers under Section 15 of the Act of 1903, which enables them to deem a sub-tenant a direct tenant on the terms of the tenant producing the purchase-money in cash; and if, pending the further consideration of this matter, the Estates Commissioners will be requested to abstain from causing holdings to be vested in middle landlords, who are willing to co-operate with the sub-tenants in securing equal treatment with themselves?

The Estates Commissioners have further considered the cases of the sub-tenants of premises in that portion of the town of Middletown which is included in the portion of the Stearne estate pur chased by the Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts, and they do not consider that the premises held by the subtenants afford ample security for advances. The advances sanctioned in the case of direct tenants of holdings which included premises in Middletown were those for which the Commissioners considered the holdings provided security. Under Section 15 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, the Commissioners decided not to deem sub-tenants who held as weekly or monthly tenants direct tenants, but if the sub-tenants can arrange to purchase the premises in their occupation from their direct landlords on terms which can be approved by the Commissioners, and if they are prepared to lodge the purchase money in cash, the Commissioners will vest the premises in. the purchasers. If the three yearly sub-tenants also can arrange to purchase the premises in their occupation from their direct landlords, the Commissioners will consider what advances, if any, could be made to them, the balance of the purchase-money to be lodged in cash by the purchasers. Advances were not made to weekly or monthly tenants in the town of Athenry.

asked on what ground an old age pension was refused to Eliza Doherty, of Cloughfin, Ballindrait (Stra-bane, No. 2), in view of the fact that the claimant satisfied the local committee that she was over seventy years of age?

The claim of Eliza Doherty, of Cloughfin, was disallowed on the ground that there was no evidence to show that the claimant was seventy years of age.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether he has now received the Report of the Irish Railway Committee on the Burtonport line; and, if not, will he press the committee to deal with this question at once, in view of the fact that it has now been before them for some months; and (2) if he is now in a position to say what steps will be taken to secure an efficient service on the Burtonport Railway and such permanent alteration in the management of this and other local lines as is necessary?

I have not yet received the Report of the Burtonport Railway, but the matter is being dealt with as speedily as possible. The legal and financial questions require careful consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been called to a Resolution passed by the Gal-way Teachers' Organisation calling attention to the insufficiency of Government grants for Irish primary education, requesting that the full equivalent of nine-eightieths of the contemplated grant of £6,000,000 for English elementary education be devoted to education in Irish primary schools, pointing out that the salaries of English teachers are already 40 per cent. higher than those of Irish teachers, and that the proposed increased grant will make the English teachers' income double that of the Irish teacher; and whether he will make representations to the Treasury on the subject, with a view to having Irish teachers paid adequately?

I have seen a copy of the resolution referred to, and the Board of National Education inform me that resolutions dealing with the matter have been passed by a number of branches of the teachers' organisation. As I stated on Monday in answer to the hon. Member for West Kerry, the other matters mentioned in the question are engaging the attention of the Government.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the cause of the delay in paying secondary schools in Ireland the Schools Grant of £40,000; whether he is aware that this money is now considerably overdue; and, as schools which complied with the rules have suffered by the delay, will he take steps to have this grant paid immediately to those schools that have complied with the conditions?

There has been no delay in the payment of the teachers' salaries grant for the year 1916–17 which has now been disbursed. Payment on former occasions was made at the end of each financial year.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Estates Commissioners are employing a staff to cultivate 180 Irish acres on the Clonebraney estates, county Meath; how many com- pose the staff; what are the duties of each member of the staff; what is each man's salary; how many workmen are employed and at what wages; and what implements and horses are provided; whether he is aware of the number of uneconomic holdings and landless workers in the vicinity who would gladly pay reasonable rents for portions of that estate if divided among them; and whether, under the circumstances, he will explain why this outlay by the Commissioners has been undertaken?

The Estates Commissioners are cultivating about 300 acres on this estate. The manager, who was formerly employed by the Commissioners as an inspector, is paid £5 5s. a week, and acts under the general supervision of the chief inspector. Forty-six men are employed at the rate of £1 per week per man, and the foreman receives £2 per week. Fifteen horses have been lent by the military authorities and two motor tractor ploughs, and other machinery and implements are in use. There are few, if any, uneconomic holdings in the neighbourhood, and these will be considered when the lands are being divided. Meanwhile the Commissioners are employing on the lands the available local labour. The cultivation of these lands has been undertaken for the purposes of food production in the present crisis, and the action of the Commissioners is, in my opinion, well conceived in the interest of the whole community.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many officers in the Dublin Metropolitan Police are retained beyond a pensionable age; if he will give their name and age; if he will explain why men are thus retained who are objectionable to the rank and file of the men; is he aware that dissatisfaction exists in all the grades through this proceeding; and is he aware that the men believe this action deprives them from obtaining the promotion which they would in the ordinary course be entitled to?

There is no age limit for retirement in the Dublin Metropolitan Police Force. Under the Act of 1883 voluntary retirement may take place on the completion of twenty-five years' service, and under the Act of 1916 voluntary retirement cannot take place until the completion of thirty years' service and fifty years of age. Men who joined prior to the passing of the Act of 1916 have the right to revert to the conditions of the Act of 1883. The retirement of officers who discharge their duties efficiently because they have attained pensionable service, although it might give increased opportunities of promotion among junior ranks, would not be in the public interest.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he is aware that John Ward, ship inspector, employed at North Wall, is under notice of dismissal; if he is aware that this man has twenty-eight years' service; if he will say if it is proposed to pension this man; and, if so, with what amount?

Under Treasury regulations ship inspectors are required to relinquish their appointments on attaining the age of sixty. The inspector referred to has accordingly been informed that his services will terminate on 20th proximo. These appointments are not pensionable, but in view of Ward's service of over twenty-five and a half years the Department of Agriculture have decided to make an application for the grant of a gratuity in his case.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Department has any records showing the number of mares in Ireland which were served by registered and unregistered sires in the years 1914, 1915, and 1916, and, if so, what the figures are; and whether he can say, in the absence of such records, whether there was a large diminution in 1916 of the number of mares served?

The Department of Agriculture have no record which would enable them to furnish this information.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether a refusal to undergo vaccination when asked by a medical officer of health by a person who has been in contact with a small-pox case will be treated as a refusal to comply with a reasonable requisition and deemed to be a wilful obstruction of that officer, rendering the offender liable to penalties under the Public Health Acts as set forth in Statutory Rules and Orders, 1917, No. 146?

The Public Health (Small-pox Prevention) Regulations, 1917, which are referred to, do not authorise the vaccination of any person who is unwilling to be vaccinated.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that several Poor Law Boards in Ireland have protested against enforcing the Vaccination Act on parents who for conscientious reasons objected to having their children vaccinated and only did so under threat of mandamus from the Local Government Board; and, as the legal costs incurred by several boards of guardians in connection with such prosecutions have been very high, will he take steps to have the Conscientious Clause of the Vaccination Act extended to Ireland?

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for the Harbour Division of Dublin on 22nd December last, I am not aware that there has been any general demand on the part of public boards in Ireland for a change in the law as regards vaccination. I am informed that the vigorous enforcement of the Vaccination Act throughout the country is at present a matter of vital importance in view of the serious outbreaks of smallpox on the Continent and the fact that some cases have recently occurred in England.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board if he is aware of the desire of boards of guardians that more simple and less expensive books and forms for account keeping might be provided with a view to economy instead of the expensive books and forms now in use; and if he will consider the desirability of making the change?

Since the commencement of the War the Local Government Board have given general authority to Boards of Guardians to discontinue entirely the keeping of certain prescribed books of accounts and other records, and to modify the form of others with a view to economy. Any suggestions that may be made for further changes with the same object would be carefully considered.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board how many local authorities have as yet made no arrangements for the free treatment of venereal disease; and what steps are being taken to urge these authorities to do so?

Fifty-seven out of the 145 local authorities in England and Wales which are responsible for the provision of free treatment for venereal disease have not yet formally submitted schemes to the Local Government Board, but in all these cases schemes are under consideration. It is the duty of local authorities under the Regulations issued by the Board to provide facilities for free treatment, and the Board have impressed upon all local authorities the urgency of the matter.