asked the Prime-Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to appoint a Select Committee or other means of inquiry into the consumption of raw coal during war-time, and the consequent waste of by-products required for national service, with a view to formulating such restrictions as will increase the quantity of explosives and dyes urgently required for national service?

The general question of economy in the consumption of fuel of all kinds has been entrusted by the Government to the Fuel Research Board, under the direction of Sir George Beilby.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to relieve shooting tenants from the obligation to pay the rent for their shootings if unable to purchase cartridges?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to -the reply given on 14th March by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for East Antrim. In view of the fact that there are considerable stock's of sporting ammunition in the country, the hon. Member's suggestion is not one which can at present be entertained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the Treasury agreement with the Stock Exchange in regard to pre-moratorium business, the Stock Exchange Committee increased the rates of interest on stocks being carried over when the Bank Rate was raised, but on the last lowering of the Bank Rate the Stock Exchange have made no corresponding decrease in their rates; and whether, seeing that this acts unfairly on the public who were promised corresponding advantage from the Stock Exchange when the Treasury saved them from ruin in 1914, he will endeavour to procure from the Stock Exchange fair and equitable treatment to the public?

I understand that the rate charged by the Joint Stock Banks when the Bank Rate was above 5 per cent. was less than the maximum of 1 per cent. above the current Bank Rate which they are entitled to charge under the scheme, and that this rate (being still within the maximum) was not reduced by the Joint Stock Banks to stockbrokers when the reduction of the Bank Rate took place. The Stock Exchange, therefore, held that they were not in a position to reduce their rates to their clients. Any rates less than the maximum chargeable under the scheme are, of course, a matter for arrangement between the parties concerned and the Treasury has no locus standi for interfering provided the maximum is not exceeded.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is contemplated by the Controller to take, at an arbitrary price of 1s. per lb. from British traders, not growers, 40 per cent. of their imports of Indian and Ceylon tea purchased in public auction in Calcutta and Colombo without consideration of the price actually paid for such teas, and without consulting or obtaining the consent of such merchants to this confiscation of their property, bought in the ordinary course of business and in all good faith?

The arrangements whereby 40 per cent. of the total amount of tea imported has to be made available for sale at the fixed price of 1s. per lb. were recommended to the Food Controller by the Advisory Committee on tea. This Committee contains representatives of all the interests concerned. It was, of course, an impossibility to consult every individual merchant, but the complete scheme is of such a nature that no material grievance is expected to result.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that through having control of shipping the Government has been able to compel Australian farmers to accept 39s. per quarter for the wheat purchased from them on which the freight charge to England is 15s. per quarter; and can he say why, under these circumstances, the Government has not compelled British farmers to sell wheat at less than the maximum price which has been fixed at 78s. per quarter?

The figures given in the question are inaccurate; I may add that there is no relation between the price agreed to be paid for Australian wheat under a contract made several months ago and the price at which farmers are now compelled to sell home-grown wheat.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will consider the advisability of forming a wages board for Dublin City; and whether he is aware that there is a volume of public opinion in favour thereof?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The question of extending the scope of the Trade Boards Act, for which legislation would be required, is engaging the careful attention of the Ministry of Labour, and inquiries are being undertaken in order to ascertain the actual conditions in trades to which the application of the Act has been suggested, including certain trades carried on in Dublin.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give a proportionate Return of the amount of food allowed to our soldiers at Aldershot and Dover as compared with that allowed to German prisoners in England?

My hon. and gallant Friend will find the present German prisoners' ration in yesterday's OFFICIAL REPORT. The daily ration at present issued to the troops at home is as follows: ¾ lb. fresh meat or 1 lb. (nominal) preserved, 14 oz. bread, or 10½ oz. biscuit or flour, 2oz. of bacon, ½. of tea, 2oz. sugar, ¼ oz. salt. With the above ration a cash allowance of 5½d. a day per man is issuable to be expended solely on messing, to provide for the varying of the dietary of units at the discretion of their commanding officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many complaints are still received by Members of the unsatisfactory nature of the cooking of food for the Army at home; whether he can say if women cooks have been introduced into all camps yet, or whether he intends to introduce them; and whether, in view of the food shortage, he can make such arrangements to have the men so catered for in camp as to avoid the necessity of resorting to canteens, provided for voluntarily, and otherwise?

I am not aware that many such complaints are received, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with specific instances I will have inquiry made. Several thousand women arc already employed in camp cook-houses, and the number is being increased as rapidly as possible, but the rate of progress depends on the provision of suitable accommodation. The catering arrangements are believed to be satisfactory, and the ration is fully adequate to the needs of the troops. The use of canteens and similar institutions is subject to the same restrictions as those imposed by the Food Controller on the civil population.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of Private Arthur Joseph Rooney, No. 31924, Royal Irish Rifles, Victoria Barracks, Belfast; whether he is aware that this boy joined the 4th Hussars, B squadron, I troop, 1st Cavalry Reserve, Curragh Camp, county Kildare, on the 12th January last; that his birth certificate shows that this boy is only sixteen and a half years old; and that his father, who is a widower with seven other children all younger than Private Rooney, has forwarded a copy of the boy's birth certificate to the commanding officer, Royal Irish Rifles, Belfast, but up to the present has received no acknowledgment; and whether instructions will now be given to have this boy discharged from the Army?

I have no information on this particular case. Under-age soldiers are not now discharged.

asked if the communication made by the Secretary of State for War through the public Press on 29th March last, referring to the welfare of young recruits of eighteen years to eighteen years and eight months, is still to be regarded as the settled policy of the War Office; if so, why, since the date referred to, have youths been sent to training camps where serious infectious disease is prevalent; whether, to carry out the spirit of their March communication, the War Office will refrain from sending any more recruits to such camps until the disease has been eradicated; and what means the War Office medical boards are taking to ascertain what are the causes of the outbreaks of spotted fever, and whether they have found any local conditions which may be assumed as contributory causes?

The policy in the communication to the Press referred to still holds. I am not aware that youths have been sent to camps where serious infectious disease is prevalent, but as my hon. Friend does not give details in his question I am afraid I cannot answer as to the case which he doubtless has in mind. Cases of infection are bound to occur where large bodies of men are collected, but they and the contacts with them are isolated. Cases of spotted fever and suspected cases are dealt with by a special organisation, and every attempt is made to trace the source of origin. I am not aware of any local conditions having been found which can be considered a contributory cause.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, contrary to the advice of the Irish Local Government Board, medical men of military age have been appointed to fill public positions in Ireland in preference to doctors who have returned from military service; and what arrangements are being made to secure doctors from Ireland to meet the urgent needs of the Army?

The first part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary. In regard to the second part, we have freely intimated our needs to the medical profession in Ireland, and are as anxious to obtain doctors from Ireland as from other parts of the country.

asked whether the servant of every German officer prisoner in English hands is provided with the following articles: one ordinary suit, one suit of overalls, one suit of white ducks for waiting at table, one suit of oilies (trousers, coat, and sou'wester complete), one pair of boots, one pair of rubber boots, one pair of shoes, and one pair of slippers for waiting quietly at table; and, if so, how this compares with the outfit supplied to the British soldier and with the outfit, if any, supplied by the Germans to British prisoners in their hands?

In addition to the clothing supplied to other German prisoners the servants of German prisoner officers receive a canvas suit or overalls, waiters receive a white apron and a white jacket; and men employed in the kitchen receive a pair of wooden soled shoes. The scale of clothing supplied to German prisoners is not equal to that supplied to the British soldier. I have no information as to the outfit supplied by the Germans to British prisoners.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that Sergeant Buckland, 8th Hants, Isle of Wight Rifles, joined in January 1915, being an old soldier, having served through the South African War; that after a few months in this battalion he gained the rank of sergeant and that he kept this rank for eighteen months; and that he joined the 1st Battalion in Egypt, and as soon as he arrived there he was reduced to the rank of lance-corporal; if the War Office let it be known some time ago that when a man had kept his rank for eighteen months he was on joining another unit to retain that rank; and, if so, will he explain why Sergeant Buckland was reduced to the rank of lance-corporal along with many other non-commissioned officers who were sent to Egypt?

As this man re-enlisted into a T.F. unit he had no claim to his former rank. As he was later given the acting rank of sergeant, he was correctly reverted on proceeding abroad with a draft, if there was no vacancy for him as a sergeant in his new battalion. I think my hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension in supposing that any understanding or promise was given of the kind which he mentions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has been informed of congestion at the Command Depot, Western Command, Heaton Park, in the department for massage treatment; whether he is aware that this leads to insufficient attention in many cases; and whether any steps are being taken to improve the accommodation?

Inquiries have been made and there would appear to be no congestion in the massage department at Heaton Park Command Depot. The apparatus is sufficient for the number of soldiers who are ordinarily under treatment at a command depot. I might mention that fourteen additional masseuses were recently supplied, making an increase of twelve over the establishment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Army Council have found any difficulty in obtaining the required number of woman for Army purposes in military hospitals and motor ambulance corps; what organisation is responsible to the Army Council for advertising requirements, fixing rates of pay and condition of services, and engaging women for Army purposes; and to whom should women apply who desire to serve under the War Office in work connected with military hospitals and military motor ambulances?

No serious difficulty has been experienced in finding the necessary number of women for the purposes mentioned. The organisation responsible at present for advertising requirements is the National Service Department, in consultation with the Joint Committee of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John. The rates of pay and conditions of service are fixed by the Army Council. Women desiring to do work connected with military hospitals, other than the Army Nursing Service, should apply through the National Service Department for selection as members of the Voluntary Aid Detachments. Those desiring to drive ambulances should also apply to the National Service Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can state the number of civilian clerks out of Government offices who have been enlisted since the beginning of the year and are now employed as clerks in Army offices; and why these clerks are compulsorily enlisted and removed from work the details of which they are thoroughly conversant with, and placed to perform entirely new office work in the Army about which they know nothing?

I am afraid there are no statistics available of the number of clerks enlisted from Government offices and now employed as military clerks. Government offices release those of their members only who are not indispensable, and the use of such men for the necessary clerical work of the Army is of advantage both as setting free men better adapted for other work and as relieving the strain on the clerical classes in the commercial community.

asked why the military authorities at Preston arrested F. W. Parr, of Lostock Hall, near Preston, on the 3rd April last, seeing that he was in a badged and certified occupation, namely, the railway service, up to the 7th March last and was entitled to two months before being called up?

I have telegraphed for a report, and will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether correspondence has been sent to him with regard to the case of Mr. Michael Curzon, aged thirty-nine, head of a furniture business with three branches in London, with whom an arrangement was made by the Central London Tribunal that if his brother joined he should not be called upon for military service, as his staff had practically all joined the Colours, and if he left the businesses must be closed; and whether, seeing that, not withstanding this arrangement, a notice has been served on Mr. Curzon calling him up on the 21st instant, he can arrange that the agreement made before the tribunal in this case shall be maintained?

Inquiries have been made and it has been ascertained that no case with reference to a man of the name of Michael Curzon has been decided by the Central Tribunal. If my right hon. Friend will supply particulars as to the address of this man and the tribunal by which his case was decided I will inquire further and inform my right hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Home Secretary whether Arthur Hatfield, a conscientious' objector until recently employed under the Home Office Committee, has been returned to his unit; whether the magistrates at York stated that they could not understand on what ground the man was being treated in the way the evidence disclosed that he had been; whether any charge has been preferred against this man by the Home Office Committee and what is its nature; whether he has had any opportunity of answering the charge; and whether in view of the frequency of arrests of men employed under the Home Office Committee on secret reports made by the agents, he will consider setting up an impartial tribunal which will judge whether any offence has been substantiated against men employed under the Committee?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Whitehaven on the 23rd instant. The only question before the magistrates was whether the man was an absentee. The question whether Hatfield had failed to carry out the conditions of his release was one for the decision of the Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors, and they fully considered his own account of what occurred before deciding to recommend his recall to the Army. I do not think anything would be gained by setting up another tribunal to discharge one part of the functions of the Committee.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he is aware that a number of independent persons are prepared to make an affidavit to the effect that Mr. H. J. Jones, a con- scientious objector to military service now undergoing a term of imprisonment, was told by the clerk to the Camberwell Tribunal that a letter had been addressed to him requesting him to find work of national importance; whether he is aware that it is stated that such letter was never delivered to Mr. Jones; and will he, having regard to the failure of the clerk to the tribunal, take steps to see that Mr. Jones is released from prison and permitted to find work of national importance?

I have no information on the facts alleged, but the case does not seem one in which I can interfere. As was previously stated the man was offered work under the Home Office scheme and refused it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the reason for the arrest of Solomon Shepherd, a conscientious objector to military service, until recently employed at Llandeusant Home Office Camp, and who performed his work with apparent satisfaction to the responsible officials; and whether he is aware that the agent in charge of the camp expressed himself astonished when Shepherd was arrested?

My hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Shepherd was arrested because he failed to rejoin his unit on receiving notice to do so. His recall to the Army was recommended by the Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors because his behaviour and work were not satisfactory and because he left work without permission, remaining absent more than a month. There was an interval between his return to work and his arrest, and during that time he showed signs of amendment. If he should again be committed to prison, and applies to be allowed to work under the Committee, his request will be considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that it is estimated that the cost of every conscientious objector to the country is £5 per week, £2 representing the average maintenance, guards, and administrative charges, and £3 the average economic loss of each man being withdrawn from his usual employment; and that, according to this estimate, the cost of the conscientious objectors to the nation is £750,000 per annum; and whether, in order to conserve the financial resources of the country, a mitigation of the present policy which makes and maintains thousands of conscientious objectors will be considered?

I am not in a position to offer any opinion on the estimates mentioned in the question, which should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. If, as the hon. Member appears to suggest, conscientious objectors were to revert to prison from employment under the Brace Committee, there would be the financial advantage that their labour would cease to be paid.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why, or under what authority, Thomas Brennan, a native of county Monaghan, Ireland, who left Liverpool in August, 1915, to carry on a business concern that he had purchased in Ballybay, has been notified by the military authorities at Seaforth to report himself there with a view to military service, presumably under the Act passed into law several months after Brennan had returned to reside permanently in his native country; whether he is aware that he has been giving effective aid to his uncle, John Brennan, an aged man, who owns 30 acres at Cornacrew and who otherwise is without farm labourers; and whether, under these circumstances, the notice above referred to will be withdrawn?

Inquiries are being made, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if at the present time the Royal Engineers are employing in the Isle of Wight carpenters at only 9d. per hour and labourers at 7d. per hour, and no war bonus; if at shipbuilding and aeroplane works in the Isle of Wight, doing Government work, carpenters are paid l1d. per hour and labourers 8d. per hour, and also a weekly war bonus of 5s., which is to be increased this month to 7s. per week; and, if so, why the War Office underpay these men and give them no war bonus?

I am having inquiry made, and will let my hon. and gallant Friend know the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any application for an increase of wages or a war bonus has been received from the men employed at the remount depot, Balmoral, Belfast; whether these men work nine hours per day on the seven days of the week for 30s. per week; whether their wages have been reduced twice since they started work; whether all other Government workmen in the Belfast district have got an increase of wages or a war bonus; and whether the War Office will issue an order immediately that the men employed at Balmoral shall receive an adequate increase of wages or a war bonus?

I will make inquiry into the various points raised, but I may say that an increase of 3s. has just been approved, making the weekly rate 29s. for men employed as labourers at the remount depot referred to.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what the rates of wages or scales of pay are at Woolwich and Dublin, respectively, for the following classes employed in the Ordnance Department: for labourers, foremen, storeholders, principal foremen, messengers, writers, and foremen writers?

The rates at present current (including war rises) are:

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office on what basis the rates or scales of wages have been fixed for ordnance employés at Dublin; and whether, in view of the recent Report of the Board of Trade showing an increase of 99 per cent. in the cost of commodities as compared with 1914, the question of wages will be reopened and statements taken from workers as to the purchasing power of their wages?

The general basis of the wages for ordnance employés in Dublin is the Fair-Wages Resolution of this House. The question of purchasing power affects all localities alike, and the men at Dublin have had as much war bonus (7s. a week in all, including 3s. in February last) added to their wages as those at any other place where conditions are similar.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if Private James Callaway, No. 9285, 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment, was reported as missing and presumed killed on 16th August, 1915; if his mother has yet received the sum of £6 2s. 8d. which the War Office informed her on 2nd October, 1916, the Command Paymaster, Eastern Command, has been authorised to issue to her, being the amount due on the settlement of the accounts of Private Callaway; and why, although repeated applications have been made, she has not yet received all her son's kit and personal belongings?

The facts are as stated. The money order issued last October was allowed to lapse. A fresh order has now been authorised, and if there are any personal effects they will be forwarded from the Depot, Hampshire Regiment, Winchester.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why Private R. W. Gardner, No. 149305, Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps, 51st Auxiliary Bus Company, British Expeditionary Force, France, who enlisted at 6s. a day on 8th November, 1915, has had his pay reduced to 2s. 2d. per day?

I am making inquiries into this case, and will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he can give the num- ber of men badged by the Ministry of Munitions whose only qualification was, and is, that the men so badged put capital into munition firms; and whether he proposes to debadge such of these men as are of military age?

No badges have been issued by the Ministry of Munitions on the ground that the applicant had put capital into a munition firm.

asked the Minister of Munitions the number of persons at present employed in munition work in Ireland; and what steps, if any, have been or are being taken to increase the number so employed?

The total number of persons engaged in Government and controlled establishments in Ireland is approximately 35,000. In addition, there are the employés in uncontrolled establishments, in respect of whom complete statistics are not at present available. The desirability of utilising the resources of Ireland is borne constantly in mind whenever additional supplies of munitions have to be obtained.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether Voluntary Aid Detachment women working in military and auxiliary hospitals in this country are included among those persons for whom it is intended to provide under the Billeting of Civilians Bill?

This matter is at present under consideration, and I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. Perhaps the hon. Member will put down his question again at a later date.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the improved conditions to be introduced into the elementary schools will be extended to the teachers and scholars in the Poor Law schools; and, if not, will he consider the advisability of applying them?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to answer this question. The Local Government Board will endeavour, so far as practicable, to introduce into Poor Law schools the improved conditions which my right hon. Friend proposes to establish in the public elementary schools.

asked the Pensions Minister if he will state fully the procedure to be adopted by applicants for diablement pensions for soldiers and sailors disabled by wounds or on account of disease; pensions for widows and dependants of soldiers and sailors who have been killed in action or who have died in consequence of wounds or disease; gratuities for widows; and any other class of pension, allowance, or gratuity administered through his Department?

The procedure with regard to application for pensions is as follows:

asked the Pensions Minister if there is any fixed minimum gratuity for men not eligible for pension; and, if so, what is the amount?

I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend on the 27th March, and my statement to the House on the 17th instant.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that regimental paymasters' inquiries directed to wives and dependants of soldiers are accompanied by an intimation that the answer must be prepaid; and if, having regard to the slender resources of a large proportion of the persons concerned in these inquiries, he will arrange for replies to be returnable post free, especially in view of the fact that inquiries emanating from Government Departments concerning commercial, industrial, and taxation questions, which are directed mostly to persons of the middle and upper classes, are accompanied by envelopes in which replies may be sent post free?

My hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I am aware of the intimation in question, which is in accordance with the general rule stated on page 49 of the Post Office Guide. I am not sure that there is a case for following in respect of the inquiries to which the hon. Member refers the practice of enclosing an official paid cover, which is followed in respect of some other inquiries made by local officers of Government. But I will look into the matter and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any pension is being paid to Driver Philip Smith, late of the Army Service Corps, No. T4,093,020; what was the original pension; when was the same granted; and what is the present pension?

Driver Philip Smith was granted on the 6th July last a pension for 18 months, final, of 4s. 8d. a week, on the report of a medical board that his disability was neither caused nor aggravated by military service. His ease has been reviewed, and he has been granted a conditional pension for six months of 13s. 9d. a week, with 8s. 9d. in respect of his children, or 22s. 6d. a week in all, with the appropriate arrears from the 6th July.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Sandwell, wife of R. Sandwell, engine-room artificer, Royal Navy, who is separated from her husband and has a maintenance order of £2 a week against him; whether the Admiralty refuse to issue any separation allowance to Mrs. Sandwell although the compulsory allotment of 5s. a week has been made; whether he is aware that if the man had enlisted in the Army instead of the Navy the compulsory allotment would have carried with it separation allowance for the wife with ordinary rates for children; and whether steps will be taken to remedy the injustice caused by the different treatment accorded to the separated wives of sailors as compared with those of soldiers?

It is true that Mrs. Sandwell, wife of E. Sandwell, engine-room artificer, Royal Navy, who is separated from her husband, has a maintenance order of £2 a week against him and that separation allowance has been refused to Mrs. Sandwell, although her husband made a voluntary allotment of 5s. a week from his pay, which is sufficient to carry the usual rate of separation allowance in normal cases. It is also true that, if the man had enlisted in the Army, a compulsory allotment would have carried with it the ordinary rate of separation allowance for a wife and her children, if any; but in comparing the practice of the two Services it must be remembered that rates of pay in the Navy are often, as in the case of Sandwell, sufficient to enable a man to maintain his pre- entry contribution to a separated wife in full, which is not normally the case as regards soldiers. In these circumstances there is no intention of taking any steps to alter Admiralty practice and thus enable a man to transfer his civil liabilities to the Crown simply by refusing to discharge them. I may add that Sandwell has recently been placed under a compulsory allotment which, in the case of men of his rating, is at the rate of 7s. a week, and that if he were willing to allot 30s. a week as he is quite able to do, the Admiralty would make good the difference of 10s between that sum and the amount of the magistrate's order.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the practice whereby dependants of soldiers have their allowances reduced owing to errors of paymasters overpaying and then recovering and also of recovering debts from soldiers from their wives' allowances; whether he recognises the hardship to the dependants; and will he take steps to place the responsibility for such overpayments on the shoulders of those responsible?

Full consideration is given to the circumstances of each case, including the degree of responsibility attaching to the issuing officer, before any recovery is decided upon, and such recovery as is found necessary is effected by small instalments spread over such period as to avoid hardship. There is no practice of recovering the soldier's debts from his wife's allowance.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why no dependant's allowance has been paid to Mrs. E. M' Kenna, Dingins, Losset, county Cavan, mother of Private E. M 'Kenna, No. 24,109, Royal Irish Fusiliers; and, as this soldier enlisted 22nd March, 1916, and was at the time supporting his mother, will instructions be given to also pay arrears due to date?

Mrs. M'Kenna's claim for dependant's separation allowance in respect of her son was disallowed as prior dependence could not be established, and she was so informed on the 3rd instant. If she is dissatisfied with this finding, she can appeal on a form obtainable at any post office.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the need of economy, his Majesty's Government will take into consideration the introduction of early legislation with a view to prohibiting, during the period of the War and such further period as may be thought expedient, the opening on Sundays of refreshment houses, whether licensed or unlicensed, and the opening of shops on Sundays which are concerned in selling sweets, ice creams, etc., which are to-day largely run by foreigners, and thereby curtail waste of labour, money, and material resources in the production of such luxuries?

My right hon. Friend does not see his way at the present time to propose legislation dealing with the very controversial subject of Sunday trading. The question of the manufacture and sale of luxuries generally is receiving the careful attention of the Government.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the number of Irish prisoners receiving hospital treatment; if he will report on their health; if he will say the nature of their employment; if he will allow an independent medical officer to examine and report on the health of the prisoners and their surroundings; and if he will order their release or, pending release, political treatment?

Three of the Irish prisoners are in hospital, one of whom is suffering from phthisis, and the other two from slight colds. Eight others are under medical treatment for various ailments; of these, seven are employed in the garden, and the other is at indoor work. The Medical Inspector of Prisons has visited Lewes several times and is satisfied that the medical arrangements are good and the health of the prisoners well cared for. It is proposed to send the prisoner who is suffering from phthisis to a sanatorium for treatment. With regard to the last part of the question, I have nothing to add to previous replies on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that Alfred Reinhardt is an unnaturalised German, and either head of or intimately connected with the Schimmelpfeng organisation in Great Britain, which organisation has been denounced in France as a commercial and military spy agency, he can say why Alfred Reinhardt has not been interned?

Alfred Reinhardt was recommended for exemption from internment by the Advisory Committee. He had resided in this country since a child, is married to a British wife and has a son serving in the British Army; and the inquiries which were made at the time when the case was under consideration showed no reason for departing from the Committee's recommendation. New facts have, however, now arisen and my right hon. Friend proposes to consider the case further. In the meantime Mr. Reinhardt has resigned his position in connection with Bradstreet's and has been succeeded by a British subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why Willie Ranspach, of 43, Didsbury Road, Stockport, single, aged 23, has now been called up for military service seeing that he was born in Germany and is the son of unnaturalised German parents; and, in view of the illegality of this calling-up notice, will he order it to be cancelled at once?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Ranspach is an alien enemy exempted from internment. His case has been under consideration in connection with the general review of such exemptions, which, as the Home Secretary stated in the Debate on 14th February, is being undertaken with the object of utilising in the national interest the services of those who are left at liberty. As this man has been in this country since he was two years old, he has been offered, and is, I understand, availing himself of the opportunity of joining a labour unit.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the entrance of America into the War, any change is proposed to be made in the rules governing the censorship between that country and Great Britain?

This matter is now receiving the most careful considera- tion with a view, on the one hand, to increasing the Allied control over enemy communications; and, on the other, placing the United States of America on the same footing as the rest of the Allies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the prohibition of the import of hops has now been in force many months; whether he is aware that imports have come in under licence frequently since the prohibition, and that 1,889 cwts. were imported in the week ending 4th April; and whether he can say anything to allay the discouragement and disappointment caused to farmers by reason of these imports at a time when they have to make many sacrifices?

The policy of the Board in regard to this matter is as stated in the reply which was given to the hon. and gallant Member in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 22nd February. The consignment referred to in the question is of Colonial origin, and was imported not in April but in November last, in pursuance of an under-taking given last summer. It appears in the April import returns, because it was not released from detention until the beginning of April, and then only after a prolonged inquiry had established the nature of the transaction.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a man who registered at Bournemouth as a national volunteer, and was interviewed by the official at the local Employment Exchange on the 22nd February, has not been placed in work; will he explain the cause of the delay; whether six weeks may be taken as the average period taken to place a man in work after enrolment; (2) whether his attention has been drawn to the complaints made by national volunteers against the Employment Exchanges owing to men being sent long distances to do work for which they are totally unfitted; whether he is aware of the case of a draper sent from Christchurch, Bournemouth, to Paisley, a distance of 500 miles, who returned the same night owing to his inability to perform the work assigned to him; whether he is aware that another man, who had never done labourer's work in his life, was sent from Bournemouth to Paisley and put to do the work of a bricklayer's labourer, and that many men in Paisley could easily have done the work; and how this transfer of labour from one district to another where there are already men able and willing to do the work compares with the principle laid down by the Director-General of National Service that an essential part in his scheme is that men are not to be transferred from one district to another if there are men in the other district already there and equally capable of doing the work?

As I informed the hon. Member on the 19th instant, I cannot answer his questions until he gives me the names and addresses of the three National Service Volunteers to whom he refers.

asked the Postmaster-General what will be the work, pay, and conditions, respectively, of the women temporary sorters now serving in the Army postal service in this country who are being asked to volunteer for service in France; what steps are being taken to see that all necessary protection, accommodation, etc., are afforded these women; whether they have to sign any agreement; what are the terms of the agreement; and will they be allowed to return to work in this country if not satisfied with the conditions?

The rate of pay of women sorters to be employed in France is 26s. per week of forty-eight hours with overtime, and was settled in agreement with the General Post Office. Care will be taken to ensure the comfort and protection of the women. Welfare superintendents will also be appointed to supervise their welfare at the hostels where they will be accommodated. The woman has to sign an agreement, which binds her for twelve months or the period of the War, whichever is greater. My hon. Friend will find full details in the notice which appeared in the Press on 28th February.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the question of remuneration to head postmasters for all war work, consequent upon the War, since 1914, on similar lines to that granted to scale-payment sub-postmasters?

The circumstances in the two cases are altogether different. Scale-payment sub-postmasters provide out of that payment for the necessary assistance and also provide the necessary accommodation. The salaries of head postmasters cover only remuneration for personal services. There is no ground for treating the two classes on similar lines as regards payment for additional work due to the War. I may mention, however, that in certain cases where the pressure has been exceptionally heavy individual head postmasters have received special honoraria in recognition of the additional work.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it has been admitted that remuneration for national health and telephone work is due to head postmasters since July, 1912; and, if so, why it has not been paid?

There has been considerable difficulty, which has been explained to the postmasters, in settling the proper remuneration; these difficulties are now settled, and payment will be made as soon as practicable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the present cost of living, as represented to him by a deputation from the Head Postmasters' Association, on 31st January last, he will see his way to grant a war bonus to head postmasters similar to that received by persons of corresponding ranks in commercial, municipal, and banking establishments?

I have already informed the Head Postmasters' Association that I am unable to grant their request for a war bonus, but that it is open to them to submit a claim to the Conciliation and Arbitration Board if they think fit.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Divi- sion) whether any neutral country other than Switzerland is prepared to take prisoners of war for internment; and what negotiations are in progress to procure the sending of English prisoners to such country accordingly?

We have reason to believe that more than one neutral country is prepared to receive a certain number of interned prisoners; but it would be inadvisable to make any definite suggestion to them until we know how far the German Government will assent to the proposals which, as I stated on Tuesday, we have lately made to them on this subject.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, as a result of the deputation of Members of Parliament which waited on him on the 6th ultimo, he has taken steps to bring about some improvement in the pay and allowances of Irish warders; if he has fulfilled his promise by personally investigating the case of those public officials, especially the married officials, during the Easter Recess; and, if so, will be now state what are his intentions towards relieving the distress of those officers?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a similar question in yesterday's OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that tie Newry Pensions Committee granted a pension of 5s. per week to Mary M'Iver, of Meigh, Upper Killeavy, county Armagh, who is now seventy-eight years of age; if he is aware that this pension has been disallowed by the Local Government Board; why it was so disallowed.; and whether he will arrange to have the pension paid to her?

The claim was disallowed on the ground that the applicant does not satisfy the statutory conditions as to residence in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether in October, 1916, the coastguard station at Cahirciveen was abolished by the naval authorities, and in February last the station and the commander's residence were surrendered to the Congested Districts Board by the Admiralty; whether on 12th March the fee simple of these houses were sold secretly by the Board, the commander's house to Mr. James Shuel, solicitor, for £400, and the coastguard station to Mr. B. Sheehan for £250; why were these houses not put up for public auction and the public given an opportunity to compete for them; whether the commander's residence would have realised from £800 to £1,000, and the coastguard station about £500 or £600; whether this artificial prevention of competition has resulted in a loss of about £800 to this congested district; were any posters put up inviting tenders for private sale; do Mr. Shuel and Mr. McClean, the chief officer of the Congested Districts Board in Kerry, belong to the same secret society, and is Mr. Shuel a personal friend of Mr. Sheehan; has the latter houses and land elsewhere, and only wanted the coastguard station for speculation; has he sub-let it now for £34 per annum; are there a number of people in the town having no houses of their own who were anxious to purchase but got no opportunity; and will the Congested Districts Board take steps to set aside the sale as a fraud on the public or direct a public inquiry in Cahirciveen as to the facts?

In September, 1916, the Congested Districts Board received notice that the Admiralty had decided to abolish the coastguard station at Cahirciveen, and the Board accepted a surrender of the premises last February. The sale of the promises was not advertised, and they were not put up for public auction, as the intended sale was well known in the district. A number of persons inquired whether the Board would let or sell the premises, and were informed that it was the Board's intention to sell, and they were asked to make offers if they so desired. It was not considered likely that a higher price would be obtained by auction, and the Board decided to accept the highest offers received, which were slightly in excess of the price agreed to be paid to the vendors of the estate, on which the coastguard station is situated. The Board are satisfied with the prices obtained, and no loss of public funds has resulted by reason of the sale. I have no knowledge of the persons mentioned in the question, or of the property owned by Mr. Sheehan, and I am informed that no conditions were made as to how the premises should be dealt with by the purchasers. The Congested Districts Board are not in a position to set aside the sale, and they do not consider that there are any grounds for a public inquiry in connection with the matter.The following tenders were received:For the Divisional Officer's House, an offer of £420 from Mr. Shuel, which was accepted;For the Coastguard Houses, an offer of £400 from Mr. B. Sheehan, which was accepted;For the Coastguard Houses, an offer of £250 from Mr. P. J. O'Shea;For Coastguard Houses, an offer first of £l60, and a second offer on the same day of £180 from Mr. T. Garvey.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will allow the Dundalk Post Office to remain open between the hours of 12 noon and 2 p.m., if not for the whole week at least on market days (Monday in each week)?

I wrote fully to the hon. Member on this subject on the 24th instant.