asked the Prime Minister whether he has noticed that the American Government propose to maintain in the United States freedom of political discussion; and whether, with a view to uniformity of practice among the Allies, freedom of political discussion will now be restored in this country?

As freedom of political discussion has not been abrogated it cannot be restored.

asked the Prime Minister whether the fact that the American Government is now making common cause with the Allies in the War will be allowed to have any effect on the treatment of American citizens now being treated as felons in penal servitude in this country for political offences under sentences of secret, and therefore illegal, courts-martial, of which the reports have been concealed, not even the charge or conviction having been produced; whether the American Government have demanded and received a statement of the charge, trial, and sentence in each of these cases; whether those American citizens will now be released; and, if not, whether they will be treated as prisoners of war?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the feeling amongst the commercial community on the subject of the British Trade Corporation; and whether he will give an assurance that attempts to secure further capital will be suspended until Papers have been laid by the Board of Trade and the House of Commons has had an opportunity of expressing its opinion upon them?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would point out that the establishment of an institution of the kind in question was recommended to the Government by competent representatives of the commercial community after a full examination. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the right hon. Baronet to the answer which I gave on the 2nd May to my hon. Friend the Member for Wandsworth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the number of public-house licences issued in England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, for the last year for which figures are available and the proportion of population to each licence?

The information asked for is as follows:—

Note. — The figures for beer-house licences are not included.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland by whose instructions the police at Naas, on Sunday, 29th April, made an unprovoked attack on a Gaelic Athletic Association club returning from a hurling match, broke the staff bearing the club colours (green, white, and yellow), and carried away the flag; what was the pretext for this attack; whether he can name any Irish authority for thinking that such treatment of an orderly athletic club will produce peace or affection; and whether he will require the flag to be returned to its owners with an apology?

There was no attack on the club referred to. The display of the flag taken from a cyclist after the athletic matches was considered by the police likely to lead to disturbance. The answer to the last inquiry in the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a resolution from the Ballyjamesduff Town Tenants' Association asking for the establishment of tribunals for the purpose of fixing fair rents in towns, and showing that it is impossible to pay present rents owing to depression of business brought about by the War; and what prospect there is of some such relief being granted or opportunity given for reviewing town rents?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. I do not think legislation for a general review of rents is necessary. There is emergency legislation which protects tenants from harsh treatment in circumstances arising out of the War.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Thomas M'Cann, of Lossett, county Cavan, was granted an old age pension of 5s. weekly, that this sum was reduced to 3s. weekly, and that the Local Government Board has now stopped all his pension; if he will state on what grounds this old age pensioner has been so treated; and, if he is entitled to a pension of 7s. 6d. weekly, will this and arrears be paid to him at once?

The case of Mr. Thomas M'Cann does not appear to have come before the Local Government Board.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) how many tons were lost due to the enforcement of the Maintenance of Live Stock (Breeding Sows) (Ireland) Order of 1916; how many cases were reported and how many cases were investigated; was any compensation asked or paid; and, if so, how much?

No cases of sows having been lost owing to the operation of the Order referred to have been reported to the Department of Agriculture or investigated by them, nor have they any power to pay compensation in such cases.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office can now see its way to provide rifles or carbines and bayonets to senior cadets in various Cadet Corps; and whether the War Office have considered that training in Cadet Corps without rifles cannot be complete, and that if provided with rifles many cadets would be fully trained when they become of age for military service?

I am afraid that the issue of service rifles is not practicable at present, but a certain number of drill purposes rifles are about to be issued.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a new scale of allowances for children under fourteen years of age, the dependants of soldiers, has now been made; if so, what is the scale as compared to that previously ruling; and whether, in cases where a woman has a son as well as a husband in the Army, this extra allowance is being at present withheld?

A new scale of allowances for children under fourteen years was approved in January last, with effect from 15th January, and gave an increase over the old scale as follows:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private T. H. Pritchard, No. 78,295, King's Liverpool Regiment, who had been rejected for the Army up to August, 1916, was then classed as C3 until 15th March, 1917, when he was reclassed C2 and sent to France in a labour battalion on 28th March, 1917, and that on arriving at Dieppe he was sent to hospital, where he died on 9th April; whether any monetary allowance will be accorded to his father and mother, whom he assisted at home, in the form of a gratuity or otherwise; and whether, as he died on service, something in the form of a medal or memento will be given to his family?

My hon. Friend's question raises various points, as to which I am making inquiries. I will inform him of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that a private of the 11th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, who has seen service at the front and has been invalided out of the Army in consequence of a mental breakdown, is now in the lunatic asylum at Chester and chargeable to the poor rates; and whether he can see his way to secure some governmental provision towards the care of members of His Majesty's Forces who have lost their reason while serving their country?

I was not aware of the case to which the hon Member refers, but I am making inquiries and will communicate the result to him.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the contents of the leaflets dropped in Freiburg by the air squadron which conducted the recent reprisal on that town?

"As reprisal for the sinking of the hospital ship 'Asturias,' which took place on the 20th-21st March, 1917."

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he signed an order for the deportation of Justin Boquet; whether an attempt was made to persuade Boquet to sign a document which he refused; whether force was then used to substitute his thumb impression in lieu of signature; and, if so, what was the reason for such action and the nature of the document?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I would refer to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Blackburn on the 25th April and the hon. Member for North Somerset on 1st May. No attempt was made to persuade Boquet to sign any document. At the request of the French authorities his thumb print was taken for the purpose of his passport as no photograph was available; some force had to be used to obtain this.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Irish political convicts at Lewes under sentence of secret court-martial are all in failing health owing, among other causes, to insufficiency of food; how many have had to be released on account of ill-health; how many are in hospital; whether the insufficient diet which has caused this is now being further reduced; and whether doctors from the allied countries, or any independent doctor, will be allowed to examine those prisoners and report on their condition?

The hon. Member has been misinformed. The prisoners referred to, who number 121, are generally in good health, and none of them are suffering from insufficiency of food. Two have been released on medical grounds—one on account of an internal complaint of long standing and the other because indications of tuberculosis developed. There were recently three prisoners in hospital, but there is now only one, and his ailment is not serious. The diet was recently altered to meet the requirements of the Food Controller, but it is sufficient in quantity and good in quality. It has not been further reduced. The answer to the last paragraph of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has issued or proposes to issue an order for the deportation of M. Morisens, a Belgian subject, in order that he may be required to undertake compulsory military service in the Belgian army; whether it has been represented to him that M. Morisens is by reason of his medical and physical condition wholly unfit for military service; whether an offer has been made that M. Morisens should submit to be medically examined by the representative of the Belgian Government in the presence of Dr. Verschauen, his medical attendant, provided a definite assurance is given that he should not be arrested provided the result of such examination should confirm Dr. Verschauen's conclusions; and, if so, why such offer has not been accepted?

My right hon. Friend has made a deportation Order in this case with the object stated in the first paragraph of the question. I am aware that it has been alleged that Morisens is unfit for military service, and that a proposal to the effect of the third paragraph of the question was made by his solicitors to the Belgian authorities; but, having been under medical observation, he has been adjudged by those authorities to be fit for, and has been called up for, auxiliary service. I may add that the latest information in my possession is that the man is now in hiding. If that is so, there is reason to fear that, apart from the question of deportation, he may have rendered himself liable to criminal proceedings for breaches of the Aliens Restriction Order.

asked in what cases and in pursuance of what statutory authority or other powers does the Department claim to issue Orders for the deportation of friendly aliens resident in this country for military service in the armies of their respective countries; and whether any regard is had to the special circumstances of each case and in particular as to whether, had they been British subjects, they would have been entitled to the benefit of exemptions under the Military Service Acts, e.g., on the ground of infirmity or physical unfitness?

Orders for the deportation of aliens are made under Article 12 of the Aliens Restriction (Consolidation) Order, 1916, in pursuance of Section 1 (1) ( c ) of the Aliens Restriction Act, 1914, and they are made in cases where the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is in the interests of this country or of the Allied countries that the alien should be removed from the United Kingdom. Reference may be made to the decision of the Court of Appeal given on the 16th March in the case of Rex v. Home Secretary, ex parte Léon Amand de Rouis-Bouillon, otherwise Derais, otherwise the Duke of Château Thierry. Orders made in the case of aliens under military obligations to their own countries are made after full consideration of the circumstances of each individual case, including the considerations mentioned in the second part of the question, due regard at the same time being had to the point that the obligations of the persons in question arise under the laws of their respective countries and not under the British Military Service Acts.

asked whether, before signing an Order of deportation of a friendly alien, and in particular a subject of an Allied country, any opportunity is afforded the person whose deportation is sought to be heard against the making of such an Order, or of explaining or justifying his action, or otherwise putting his case forward or showing cause against the proposed Order, as is always done where extradition is sought in the case of a foreign subject alleged to have committed an extraditable offence; and, if so, what is the reason for refusing such facilities in cases where no such offence or other misconduct can be alleged?

Before signing a deportation Order with regard to any alien the Secretary of State satisfies himself by examination of all the information before him that it is a proper case for the exercise of the powers of deportation conferred on him in the present emergency. There is always an opportunity for the alien, before being sent out of the country, to make representations to the Secretary of State, and any such representations are considered before the Order is enforced. There is, however, no analogy between cases of deportation under war powers and cases falling within the Extradition Acts.

asked whether it is claimed that the power of making an Order for the deportation of a friendly alien is exercisable as a matter of right or as of course, provided that it is applied for by the police; and, in any case, whether such Orders are made upon verbal application or are required to be in writing and in the nature of informations laid for the purpose of the issue of legal powers and whether or not upon the oath of the informant?

The answer is in the negative. The making of deportation Orders is in the discretion of the Secretary of State, and in every case all the facts are carefully scrutinised before the decision to make the Order is reached. The reports submitted to the Secretary of State are in practice always in writing, but there is no power to take statements on oath for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to maintain a reasonable and necessary steamer service between the Island of Bute and the mainland, he will take steps to have a conference held, representing his Department, the Admiralty, and the town councils of Rothesay and of Millport, along with Messrs. MacBrayne and Company, of Glasgow, so that an arrangement for avoiding the presently threatened isolation may be promptly overcome?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I find that full local inquiries were made before any steamers were removed from the service referred to, and it is understood that the present arrangements give an adequate service to the island concerned. In these circumstances it does not appear to be necessary to hold the conference which my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the grounds upon which the usual permit to return to the Argentine was refused at Liverpool last November to Mr. Bartle Daly, who had come to this country in pursuit of his business connected with pedigree stock; and whether, seeing that his business was well known, his passport correct, and also his certificate from the Argentine Government veterinary department, he will say when Mr. Daly will be allowed to return for the resumption of his business?

Permission to leave this country was refused, as the military authorities, to whom Mr. Bartle Daly's application was referred, considered him to be liable for military service.

asked the Home Secretary on what grounds Mr. Bartle Daly, an Irishman who has lived for fifteen years in the Argentine Republic, and has frequently come to this country in connection with blood-stock transactions was, on the latest of these occasions, last November, at Liverpool, refused permission to return on his business; whether the business on which he had come was manifest and indisputable; whether he is aware that Mr. Daly also bore a credential from the Argentine Government veterinary department; whether all restraint on him will now be withdrawn; and what compensation is to be made to him for the loss of his time and business without cause?

The hon. Member is misinformed. The person to whom he appears to refer applied at Liverpool for a permit to proceed to South America, not in November, but in January. His application was not refused, but he was informed that it could not be proceeded with until he produced a passport, as required by the Defence of the Realm Regulations, which he has not done. The remainder of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what trades did the Trade Board Act, 1909, apply during the years ending 31st December, 1913 and 1916; and what were the average rates of wages in those trades during those years respectively?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. At the beginning of 1913 the Trade Boards Act applied to the four trades specified in the Schedule to the Act, which may be briefly described as wholesale tailoring, paper and cardboard box making, lace finishing, and chain making. In 1913 the Act was applied by Parliament to the following additional trades—namely, sugar confectionery and food preserving, shirt-making, hollow-ware, tin box making, and linen and cotton embroidery. I have no information as to the average rates of wages in these trades. The minimum rates of wages in operation during 1913 and 1916 for experienced workers in the above trades are shown in the following table, but it should be observed that the minimum rates of wages in several of the trades have been raised since the end of 1916:—

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will make facilities in the new reorganisation scheme of pay for Irish prison warders so that they may meet together to discuss among themselves their own grievances in the prison service such as is permitted in the English prison service, under Standing Order No. 713; and whether he has completed his inquiry regarding complaints of pay and allowances?

There is no rule in the Irish prisons service forbidding warders to act in any manner permitted in the English prisons service. The answer to the last inquiry in the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why no action has been taken relating to the conduct of the police at the time of the riots in Ceylon in 1915 with reference to which Mr. A. C. Allnutt, English Special Commissioner in Colombo, declared that these policemen were the persons who spread false reports and they deserved to be hanged?

I have no evidence that any such statement was made. The conduct of the police during the riots has been the subject of inquiry by a local commission, and their report contains no reference to the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can arrange for the publication of a Return showing the amounts entered in the accounts of local education authorities for elementary education in the year 1915–16 as received under the heading of grant under the Agricultural Rates Act?

I am arranging for the publication of a statement such as my hon. Friend desires.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, for the information of local education authorities, he can state the minimum rates of the salaries of teachers which he proposes to prescribe under Clause 4 (IV.) of the Regulations for the Supplementary Grants?

The minimum rates which I have in view are: