asked the Secretary of State for India whether the commissions of officers of the Royal Indian Marine are signed by His Majesty the King, by the Secretary of State for India, or by the Viceroy of India; whether officers of the Royal Indian Marine are relatively senior or junior to the officers of the Royal Naval Reserve or the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve; and whom the commissions for the two latter services are signed by?

The formal document appointing officers to the Royal Indian Marine is signed by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India. The status of Royal Indian Marine officers is senior to officers of the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve of equivalent relative rank. I understand that officers of the last two services receive commissions issued by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and bearing the King's Royal Sign Manual.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether a company registered in England and carrying on its operations in India is exempt from Indian Super-tax if it remits its entire profits to the former country; and whether, when such remittance is made through a bank, such bank is an agency under the Act?

The liability of a company operating in India to Indian Super-tax is not affected by its having an English registration and remitting its profits to England. As my hon. Friend is aware, Indian Super-tax is levied only on the undistributed profits, less a deduc- tion, of a company. A bank through which a remittance of profits is made is not regarded as an agent for the purpose of the Super-Tax Act.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in addition to those British merchant vessels sunk by mine or submarine, as announced by the Admiralty, he will state how many British merchant vessels are missing at the present time?

Since the 1st January, 1917, fifteen British ships have been reported overdue, about which no information has as yet been received. It is impossible to say how many of these are marine casualties and how many are due to enemy action.

Could my right hon. Friend state the tonnage of those ships?

No.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what proportion of British vessels of all tonnage sunk during the last three months were armed?

In the opinion of my right hon. Friend the First Lord, it would not be in the public interest to give this information.

Might I ask whether there is any authority in this country which can order a ship to sea unarmed despite the protest of the captain or owners?

If it is not in the public interest to give this information, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Admiralty are now in a position to arm practically every merchant ship that leaves port?

They are being armed as fast as possible.

That was not the question I asked.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what period of time elapsed between the moment the "Ballarat" was torpedoed and the moment she was totally submerged; whether any assistance was available to attempt to salve her; and, if so, what action was taken?

The vessel remained afloat for about 14½ hours. A tug was immediately dispatched to her, and she had, in fact, been towed for a considerable distance at the time she sank.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if German submarines have recently been in Dublin Bay; whether a German submarine sank a food ship going to Ireland; and if officers of a German submarine boarded the mud barge of the Dublin Corporation almost beside the Kish lighthouse?

The Admiralty have no information that German submarines have recently been in Dublin Bay, and have no reason to believe that they have been. A vessel was sunk last month in the Atlantic while on a voyage to Belfast and Dublin with a half-cargo of wheat. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether he has made any inquiries from the authorities in Dublin as to whether the submarine commander boarded the mud barge which is the property of the Dublin Corporation?

My hon. Friend has heard the earlier part of the answer, which says that we have no information, and that we have no reason to believe that any submarine has been in Dublin Bay.

Have you made inquiries?

That being so, it follows that the commander could not have gone on to the mud barge in Dublin Bay. If the hon. Gentleman wants local and further inquiry made in respect of the rumour which he is now putting to me, inquiry shall certainly be made.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the ages of the six oldest officers in charge of patrol areas and bases around the United Kingdom; and whether he can state if these officers were retired for age during peace time?

The ages of the six oldest officers range from sixty-two to sixty-five. All these officers were on the Retired List prior to the outbreak of war, but only one was retired for age.

Have there been any changes in the direction of reducing the age, as a very short time ago there was one officer of sixty-seven and another of sixty-eight years of age occupying important posts?

I cannot say. My hon. Friend put to me a question the other day, and I got him what information I could by placing the matter before the First Lord of the Admiralty. I cannot say whether there have been any further retirements.

Is the Admiralty making a serious effort to get younger men in these posts which have to deal with the submarine menace?

Certainly. I have already put my hon. and gallant Friend's views before the First Lord of the Admiralty when he put the other question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make arrangements with the proper authorities for vessels to be allowed to enter port on arrival with food or other cargoes so that the risk of being sunk by submarine may not be extended and increased through their having to wait off the port; if he is aware that losses of ships and cargoes have occurred in consequence of these precautions not having been taken; and if, when vessels laden with food stuffs are obliged to call for orders at Falmouth, Queenstown, or Plymouth, he will arrange to have them convoyed thence to their port or ports of final discharge?

All possible steps are taken by the Admiralty to accelerate the entry of merchant vessels into port, and I do not know to what cases of losses of ships and cargoes the hon. Baronet refers. My right hon. Friend will be glad to receive and investigate particulars of any case that the hon. Baronet has in mind. I regret that the resources at the disposal of the Admiralty do not permit of an individual escort being provided for every vessel conveying foodstuffs, though, of course, in this and all other respects, I can assure the hon. Baronet that the Admiralty has done, and is doing, all that is possible and practicable. On the whole matter, I should like to say that the dispositions which we make are of a character which cannot possibly be discussed in public without giving information of the utmost value to the enemy. But if the hon. Baronet cares to see me upon this matter, I shall be glad to discuss it further with him.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that ships have been lost which have been going from port to port with food cargoes?

As I have said, I do not know to what cases the hon. Baronet (Sir W. Runciman) refers. If he will give us particulars we will investigate them at once.

Why should not an order be given that when once a ship with a food cargo has reached a port in this country it should not be sent away?

If it is possible and practicable, obviously that ought to be done.

Will it be done?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the tracks laid down to commanders in the merchant service by the Admiralty apparently become known to commanders of German submarines, and that the latter know the names of the British vessels and dates and time of sailing from British and Foreign ports, and that they lie in wait and very frequently succeed in sinking these vessels on the prescribed tracks; if he will alter this method and allow shipmasters to use their own judgment and methods of navigating with a view to avoiding these traps; and whether it has come to his knowledge that some of the victims of enemy submarining are persuaded that, given a free hand, they would have avoided the submarine?

We have no reason for believing that the commanders of German submarines become aware of the track laid down for any British merchant vessel, as this information is known only to the issuing authorities and to the master of the British merchant vessel. The names, dates, and time a sailing, even if known to the enemy, would give no clue to the tracks taken. No doubt it is the case that a certain proportion of vessels lost are sunk when taking the track prescribed for them; but the alternative method suggested by the hon. Baronet has already been fully tested, and the Admiralty have formed the conclusion that the present method—which is the result of careful thought, based upon the actual experience of war—is the better. It may well be the case that the opinion indicated in the last part of the question exists; but in a matter of this kind greater weight must be given to the judgment of those who are in possession of all the relevant data.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that so many German submarines are on a certain point to the west of Ireland which he knows?

Cannot sealed instructions be given to captains instead of, as to my knowledge is done, telephone messages?

I imagine that, in such cases where telephoning is possible, the instructions would be given personally. On the point of sealed instructions, I am not aware of the particular form which the instructions take in every case. I will certainly put the point.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the list of shipping losses to be issued this evening will include the trawlers and other fishing boats sunk off the south coast of Ireland on the 3rd and 4th instant; and what measures, if any, are being taken by the Admiralty to protect the fishing industry in those waters?

The latest Admiralty list of losses was issued through the morning papers of Thursday, 3rd May, and contained losses up to Sunday, 23rd April. It did not, therefore, include any loss which occurred on the 3rd or 4th May. If, after verification, the facts are found to be as stated, the loss would be included in the return to be issued tonight. The Irish fishing vessels receive all possible protection from the patrols.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the patrol boats which are supposed to be protecting these waters remain most of their time in harbours?

No, Sir; I am certainly not aware of that.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, owing to the increased Income Tax, the men employed in the Hong Kong dockyard are in receipt of less wages than they received before the War; is he aware that the cost of living in Hong Kong has increased, and that to meet this increase private shipbuilding firms in Hong Kong have raised their wages 10 per cent. and increased the war bonus to 15 per cent.; and what the Admiralty proposes to do in regard to an increase of wages and salaries of their employés, or give a reason why the Admiralty decline to give at least the like increases as private employers?

I assume that the employés to whom my hon. and learned Friend refers are certain workmen who have been sent out to Hong Kong as volunteers from the Royal dockyards at home under agreement for a term of service as chargemen of trades. These men are paid wages and allowances in dollars; their income is now subject to a greater reduction in the shape of Income Tax than formerly, and it is in this sense only that they are now in receipt of less wages than before the War. I may remind my hon. and learned Friend that in this respect everybody who is in receipt of an income amounting to more than £130 a year is similarly affected. Further, I think I should be right in stating that residents at Hong Kong are not affected by increases in food prices to the same extent as persons residing in the United Kingdom. An application has been received from the men in question through the senior naval officer, and the whole circumstances bearing on the matter having been reviewed it has been decided that there is no case for the grant of a special increase in emoluments.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the position of lieutenants promoted on retirement from the ranks of commissioned warrant officers who have been called up to serve since the outbreak of the War; whether he is aware that, had they been promoted before retirement, they would have been retired as lieutenant-commanders; and will he at the close of the present War grant to those retired as lieutenants who have been called up the rank of lieutenant-commander?

I am aware that commissioned warrant officers granted the rank of lieutenant on retirement are precluded by the Regulations from reaching the rank of lieutenant-commander, and that commissioned warrant officers who reach the rank of lieutenant before retirement become lieutenant-commanders on attaining eight years' seniority as lieutenant. The cases of lieutenants retired from commissioned warrant rank who perform specially good service during War will be considered with those of other officers on the termination of hostilities, but no hope can be held out that all who have served during the War, whatever their services may have been, will be granted the higher rank.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that in substance the honorary rank of these men when they are called up becomes an absurdity if no promotion is given?

I have said that promotion for good service will be considered. But I can hold out no hope of promotion at large. My hon. and learned Friend's point, however, shall be put to the proper authority.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet received the Report of the Government Arbitration Tribunal with regard to an increased war bonus to the clerical staff of the Royal Dockyards; and when he expects to be in a position to make a further statement on the subject?

No, Sir; but we expect to receive it immediately. When we do, if it does not cover our writers similarly situated in the home dockyards and naval establishments, we shall con- sider the matter with a view to immediate application to the Treasury on their behalf.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an Order was issued at the Crystal Palace on 1st May prohibiting the sale at mid-day of cakes and buns in the dry canteen but not in the wet canteen or refreshment rooms; whether he is aware that this has resulted in many young men frequenting the latter who before took their refreshment in the dry canteen; and whether, in view of the desirability of not offering these youths inducements to drink alcohol, he will have the Order either withdrawn or enforced equally on all?

The Order was intended to apply to every canteen or refreshment room in the depot at which men are allowed to purchase food or drink. Through some misunderstanding the Order was not transmitted to the wet canteen or refreshment room at the same time that it was transmitted to the dry canteen under the management of the Y.M.C.A. Steps have now been taken that the Order will apply equally to the Y.M.C.A. and wet canteen and to the refreshment room. I should like to say, with reference to the wet canteen, that although beer is sold there, tea and coffee are also provided, and the great majority of men prefer the latter beverages. Indeed, looking at the reports on this depot, the sobriety of the men is most praiseworthy.

asked the Home Secretary if, in view of the fact that the demand for horseflesh encourages persons to steal and butcher horses, he will take such measures as are necessary to prohibit the sale of horseflesh except in specially-licensed shops?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Having regard to the Sale of horseflesh, etc., Regulation Act, 1889, which provides that horseflesh can only be sold in places where there is a notice conspicuously displayed indicating that horseflesh is sold there, I doubt whether any further measures are necessary.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been directed to a case heard at Guildford last week when two gamekeepers in the employment of Lord Pirrie were fined for feeding pheasants with wheat and maize; whether the statement that the employer was unaware of what was being done by his gamekeepers was made on oath or supported by evidence; and if he will say why the employer of these men was not made a party to the proceedings?

May I ask, Mr. Speaker, before the hon. Gentleman replies, whether it is not possible to take steps to prevent the abuse of the Question Paper by making it the vehicle of mere petty malevolence, whether personal or otherwise?

The hon. Gentleman's question is even worse than that appearing on the Paper. He might, at all events, wait until he hears the answer.

Is it because he is a Liberal peer that the question was put?

The Home Office had not heard of this case. I am having inquiry made, and will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether, when vessels are obliged to call at Falmouth, Queenstown, or Plymouth for orders laden with grain, meat, or other foodstuffs ultimately destined for a United Kingdom port, he will make arrangements that either the vessel on arrival will have the whole cargo discharged at the port of call or, if facilities are not available for landing the whole of her cargo, that the vessel be ordered and convoyed to the nearest accessible port with the balance; and if he will carry out the policy of securing the cargo no matter at what port in the United Kingdom the vessel may call for orders, instead of risking the loss of ship and cargo by sending it through a long danger zone?

The action suggested in my right hon. Friend's ques- tion is that which is actually followed so far as the circumstances of each individual case permit. It is not the case that the Admiralty dispositions in question, of which the Ministry of Shipping is fully cognisant, are such as to endanger ships, or that ships have been lost because of those dispositions. On the contrary, the very reverse is the truth, as I have satisfied myself after exhaustive inquiry. The dispositions made, which it is quite impossible for me to discuss in public, have not risked ships, but saved them, and the questions which have been put to me in the House have related to cases of loss which are exceptional. I desire to say that, while it is impossible for me to add materially in public to the answers that I have given, I shall be very pleased to see any hon. Member privately on the subject, either at this House or at the Ministry of Shipping, and to give him full information.

Will my hon. Friend say whether he will take steps to, stop ships which come safely into port. with food proceeding to coast around practically almost the whole of Great Britain through all the danger zones, and is he aware of cases of that kind within the last three days?

No, I am not aware of any case to which the words used by my hon. Friend would accurately apply, but I think I know the case which he has in mind, and if he will be good enough to discuss it with me, I think he will find that the facts are as stated in my reply to my right hon. Friend.

Will the hon. Gentleman not take steps to have those cargoes of food landed on the South-West and West coast of Ireland and reshipped across the Channel to this country?

My hon. Friend is well aware that the case of the Irish ports is under our very serious consideration, but I hardly think that it arises out of the particular matter to which my right hon. Friend refers.

Is it a fact that vessels call to ports like Falmouth simply for instructions?

If my hon. Friend will be good enough to acquaint himself with the facts of the case he will see that he is raising a question which it is unfortunate, from the point of view of vital interest, to raise.

I can give the hon. Gentleman facts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the ignorance Which prevails among a large class of the community in regard to economical cooking and the preparation of such substituted foodstuffs as have now become necessary, he will consider the advisability of establishing communal kitchens forthwith in all populous areas where instruction could be given and samples of food supplied?

The National War Savings Committee are issuing to their local committees a memorandum suggesting the advisability of establishing central or communal kitchens wherever local conditions appear to favour such establishment. This memorandum defines a wartime central kitchen as a kitchen established to buy raw foodstuffs and to sell cooked foods for consumption at home, with a view to conserving the foodstuffs of the country, especially its cereals. Several of such kitchens have already been established. These institutions will, where possible, endeavour to combine instruction with supply.

Will these circulars be furnished to the different municipal authorities?

The National War Savings Committee and its allied local committees have the matter in hand. It should be clearly understood that any municipality taking similar action will do so with the full approval of the Ministry of Food.

In view of the saving undoubtedly resulting in point of labour, food, and-fuel, how many of these kitchens have been established up to the present?

I have a record of six established so far.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the shortage of cereals and the surplus of livestock, his Department intend to discourage the practice of having meatless days and also to advise the public to consume both veal and lamb?

The Food Controller has already announced his decision to abolish the meatless day in public eating places enforced by the Public Meals Order, and as a domestic practice it is to be deprecated. The restriction upon the slaughter of calves was withdrawn last month by the Board of Agriculture. There is no present reason for discouraging the consumption of either veal or lamb.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his Department have considered the advisability of removing the limitations placed upon the prices permitted to be charged by farmers to the retailers of milk and to substitute a maximum price at which it may be sold by the retailer to the consumer, and leave the management of the business in other respects to those concerned in it?

There is a great deal to be said for this suggestion. It has been considered, together with others, by the Advisory Committee of farmers and of wholesale and retail traders in milk, which was recently appointed by the Food Controller. The Committee have to-day presented a unanimous report to the Food Controller, who now has it under his consideration.

Can the hon. Gentleman state the purport of the unanimous report in favour of the suggestion contained in my question?

I am afraid that I must not do that, because the Food Controller has not yet decided whether he is prepared to act upon it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered the advisability of restricting the use of starch, having regard to the foodstuffs from which it is manufactured; and, if so, whether any instruction will be issued which would help to discourage men and women from wearing starched garments?

The effect of two recent Orders of the Food Controller is to prohibit the manufacture of starch from cereals, except under licence. This does not prevent the use of stocks of starch manufactured before the dates specified in these Orders. Licences for further manufacture are being issued to a limited extent only for laundry purposes. The stoppage of starch production at the source will, in fact, in due course prevent persons wearing starched garments, without the necessity of any special instruction.

Does that apply to all starched garments?

Yes, certainly; it is thought that potential food should nowadays be used for interior rather than for exterior clothing.

How much food per week will be saved in this way?

I cannot give any exact estimate. It is very difficult to be precise in any estimate, but it will be considerable.

Can the hon. Gentleman state definitely, for the benefit of the public, that it is unpatriotic to wear starched linen in war-time?

I venture to say that even Beau Brummel would, in existing conditions, accept the position with patriotic resignation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the campaign in the country to induce the people voluntarily instead of compulsorily to adopt the rations system has been entrusted to the War Savings Committees; and, if so, will he say whether this is to be so in Scotland, in view of the fact that the War Savings Committee there have not the faculty of deputing any of their work, but want to do it all themselves?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I do not understand the hon. Member's suggestion that the Scottish War Savings Committee have not the faculty of delegating any of their work On the contrary they have acted throughout in co-operation with the Patriotic Food League in Scotland; and, in conjunc- tion with the city authorities in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other important centres, they have set up special local committees for the furtherance of the Food Economy Campaign.

Is my hon. Friend aware that one of the greatest difficulties in carrying out the voluntary rationing campaign is that many millions of people in this country are not yet persuaded that there is a serious shortage of food; is he further aware that this is due to the manner in which shipping losses are being made public, that the number of ships without the tonnage is not enough, and that if the facts were published in a more graphic manner the system of voluntary rationing might suffice?

Certainly there is a shortage, and every effort is being made to bring home that fact to every class throughout the country. The suggestion of the hon. Member will be borne in mind with a view to bringing it home to a greater extent than at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the 75,000 barrels of pickled herring are still lying under embargo of his Department at Stornoway; and, if not, will he say whether they have been forwarded for consumption in this country and with what result?

The answer to the first part of this question is in the affirmative. An 0executive committee is now being set up by the Food Controller to make arrangements for the distribution of these stocks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, with reference to his Order which expires on 31st March, 1917, whether any brewers overbrewed; if so, what penalties have been assessed upon them in respect of such overbrewing; and whether such penalties have been paid?

A few brewers overbrewed, and the question of taking proceedings is under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, having regard to the fact that by the reduction of the amount of beer available for the public an increase in the consumption of bread or other cereal food is certain to occur, and to the fact that no information is available regarding the period during which beer will continue to be available for consumption, supplies of malt will be provided from the end of November for the production of the balance of about 3,334,000 standard barrels to complete the 10,000,000 barrels authorised; whether brewers holding a sufficient supply of malt to complete the brewing of their proportion of the 10,000,000 barrels will be at liberty to brew and sell such proportion at any time up to the 31st March, 1918; and, if so, when a list of brewers licensed to brew for the Army Canteen Committee in excess of the 10,000,000 barrels, with the number of barrels licensed to each brewer in such list, will be published?

The continuance of brewing after November will depend upon the conditions then prevailing. It is impossible to predict now what these conditions will be. The quantities of malt at present held by individual brewers bear no direct relation to the quantities of beer which they are authorised to brew, but machinery has been established with the approval of the Food Controller which, it is hoped, will ensure that those who have more than their requirements should hand over their surplus to those who have less. It is not intended to grant licences for the brewing of beer for the Army Canteen Committee in excess of the 10,000,000 barrels authorised for the whole country.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the new Regulation issued with reference to the use of maize will compel several factories, employing thousands of workers, to close down this week; is he aware that none of the products are used for brewing purposes, but that 68 per cent. is syrup, 2½ per cent. oil, and 24 per cent. is used for feeding milch cows; and will he, under these circumstances, relax the Regulations and give an extension of one month, as in the case of dog-biscuit factories, so that the employés may not be suddenly discharged and the trade generally disorganised?

I am not quite tire what factories the hon. Member has in mind. There is no intention at present to prevent the use of maize for the purpose of making glucose or other products intended for human consumption. Licences will, in special cases, be issued if full particulars are furnished.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if his prohibition of Whitsuntide school treats extends so far as to prohibit gatherings of school children in fields for purposes of play and amusement and the consumption there of buns and tea co-operatively provided by their parents and teachers; and, if so, by what means does he intend to enforce his prohibition?

The Food Controller has not prohibited Whitsuntide school treats; he has merely advised their discontinuance. The second part of the question does not therefore arise. It must not be assumed, in the absence of actual prohibition, that the Food Controller countenances under present conditions the consumption of breadstuffs by children beyond their usual domestic allowance at organised entertainments of this character.

(by Private Notice) asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if the licence referred to in the Royal Proclamation giving permission to feed certain horses is to extend to horses used on all work of national importance?

An Order is about to be issued prohibiting the feeding of oats and other cereal foodstuffs to horses, but providing for the exemption therefrom of certain specified classes, which will include agricultural horses and others engaged in heavy work of national importance?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Clyde steamers running between Glasgow and Dunoon have been ordered by his Department to cease running; if so, whether this Order is due to their intention of commandeering these steamers in the future; if so, can he permit the steamers to ply until actually wanted by the Department; and is he aware that there are six or more steamers lying at Bowling unused which would serve his purpose more thoroughly and at a cheaper rate, without further penalising the coast districts so heavily affected already by the War?

Yes, Sir. The river steamer service down the Clyde has been stopped by the Admiralty. If I have not already done so, I can give my hon. Friend the reason. I have already communicated with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller with regard to whether all the vessels to which my hon. Friend refers are likely to be taken over for Government service. I fully appreciate the desirableness of continuing, if possible and practicable, the facilities which this service offers to the Clyde workers for relaxation and recuperation, and I am doing my best to make arrangements whereby some sort of opportunity may continue to be offered.

Is not this prohibition due to the fact that the Shipping Controller gave permission for these vessels to run and the Commander at Ardrossan was annoyed and prohibited them? Is it not mere jealousy?

No; the reason is a perfectly sound Service reason, behind which I cannot go.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any pledges have been given to France or Italy which might impede the establishment of an independent and integral Jewish Palestine under American or British protection?

I am afraid that I cannot answer questions as to any pledges which may or may not have been given to our Allies about the terms of peace.

asked the Secretary or State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the amount of emigration of Jamaicans to Cuba; whether he will ascertain whether the economic conditions prevailing in Cuba are such as to attract labour from Jamaica; and, if so, whether he will have inquiry made as to the possibilities of extending to the West Indies economic advantages similar to those which Cuba enjoys with the United States?

I am aware that there is considerable temporary migration of Jamaicans to Cuba and some permanent emigration. It is to be inferred that the economic conditions in Cuba are attractive. As regards the last part of the question, if my hon. Friend intends to suggest that West Indian products should receive preferential treatment in the United Kingdom, that is a matter which is not possible to consider until the end of the War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the delay which has occurred in the gazetting of the names of officers of the Volunteer Force; and whether he can take any special steps to clear off arrears and to expedite future appointments?

I am afraid that some delay is inevitable in connection with the inauguration of a new Force of this magnitude in securing that the requisite details of nominations are correctly rendered and verified. Since 1st September, however, over 8,000 nominations have been submitted, and 6,700 have been gazetted, exclusive of promotions, resignations and transfers. It has been possible recently to expedite matters, and I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend all arrears will be cleared up in the near future.

Could not the hon. Gentleman arrange for a special Gazette or some other means to get rid of the arrears?

I will see that everything possible is done.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether men who have passed the age of forty-one are being called up for re-examination under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, contrary to the provisions of that Act; and whether the Army Council will issue instructions to recruiting officers that such men cannot be legally called up?

If the hon. Member refers to paragraph 23 of the Army Council Instruction No. 640 of 1917, a copy of which has recently been placed in the Library of the House, he will find that explicit instructions have been issued on the point he raises in his question. Any man who received a statutory Order and who has passed the age of forty-one, or becomes forty-one before the "appointed date," i.e., the 30th day after the date of the statutory Order, can make a claim to this effect on the back of the Order, a copy of which will be found in Appendix II. of the Instruction above referred to.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether men who have been wounded in action and have been discharged from the Army as unfit on account of wounds are being called up for re-examination under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act; and whether the Army Council will issue instructions that such men cannot be legally called up?

If the hon. Member will refer to the notes on the face of a statutory Order, a copy of which is printed as Appendix II. to the Army Council Instruction No. 640, he will find that the point he raises has been fully met.

Apart from that, can my hon. Friend say why the War Office should not themselves know which men have been discharged as disabled and refrain from sending notices under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act to these men to go up again for medical examination?

The present method of procedure does not entail any trouble to the man called up. If he signs the form on the back of the notice sent to him, that is all that is required.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether disabled soldiers in receipt of pensions are being called up for re-examination under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, and being put to the trouble and inconvenience of producing evidence concerning their degree of disablement; and whether he will cause the recruiting officers in such cases to get the men's, record from Chelsea or whether he will issue instructions to prevent this scandal?

Recruiting officers, are in many cases not in a position to know that a man to whom they issue a statutory Order is a disabled soldier and excepted from the Act. On receipt of a statutory Order all a disabled soldier has to do is to fill in the claim printed on the back of the Order to the effect that he is a disabled soldier and return it to the recruiting officer by whom it was issued. Full instructions are being issued to recruiting officers that in all cases where disabled soldiers return the statutory Order and claim to be excepted from the provisions of the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, their documents are to be obtained from the Ministry of Pensions, Chelsea, before any further action is taken.

Does not my hon. Friend really think that the man who is discharged and in receipt of a pension should be free from any further communication from the War Office, and that the onus of proving that he is not liable to be called up should not rest upon the man in receipt of a pension, but on the War Office who call him up?

I have already told my hon. Friend that I think the disabled man is very fairly treated. If this, notice is sent to him, all he has to do is to sign the form on the back of the notice.

In order to make this matter clear, may I ask the hon. Gentleman if it is the proper function of the War Office and their established practice to notify disabled men that they are to attend and be called up or not?

No. Nobody knows better than my right hon. Friend that the War Office have no particular information as to the reason for a man being discharged from the Army. He may have been invalided out because of disablement or ill-health. The only body who have really got the accurate information are the Chelsea Commissioners.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that papers calling up men for medical re-examination have been left at the late residence of disabled soldiers who have died from their wounds, and is it not possible to prevent instances of that kind occurring?

asked if he can state how many conscientious objectors are now under charge at Princetown, and what are the different forms of work on which they are engaged; is road making in Devonshire work necessary for the carying on of the War; and, if it is not necessary on that account, why are some men supposed to be doing national war work so employed?

There are at present 873 conscientious objectors under the control of the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors at Princetown. They are engaged in agriculture and general farm work, the reclamation of land, rope making, mailbag making, and the upkeep of the prison buildings (including gasworks, waterworks, general building repairs, and the repair and manufacture of agricultural implements). As regards the latter part of the question, I am informed that some thirty-five men were employed for two or three days in the repair of a cart track giving access to a part of the moor where ploughing, manuring, and draining was to be done, and it may be necessary to make a few cart tracks giving access to parts of the moor where reclamation is to be carried out. The work is work of national importance, but is not connected in any way with the operations of the War.

asked the cost per week of the maintenance at Princetown of the conscientious objectors, the upkeep of the prison, and the payment of officials at Princetown?

I can only give an approximate estimate based on the expenditure in March. On this basis the weekly expenditure on the wages and maintenance of the 873 conscientious objectors now employed at Princetown is £670, or 15s. 4d. per head. The weekly cost of the upkeep of the prison is £65. The weekly cost of fuel is £80. The weekly cost of the officials retained there is £140.

Is any record kept of the value of the work done by these persons as a set-off against the cost?

Yes

How does it compare?

asked if any of the families of the conscientious objectors at Princetown are in receipt of separation allowances; and, if so, are they on the same scale as the separation allowances made to the families of the ordinary British man who is fighting for his country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second, the allowances are given in necessitous cases only, and must not exceed the scale that was in force for the dependants of soldiers last July, the scale not having been raised when the Army scale was raised.

Is it proposed that these men shall pay the money back when they are released?

No, Sir.

asked the total amount of money paid by the Government in respect of railway fares for the conscientious objectors at Princetown?

The amount is £580 17s. 3d.

asked what are the rations allowed to the conscientious objectors at Princetown at the present time; has any reduction ever been made in the rations formally allowed; and, if so, how much?

The daily rations issued at the present time to the men employed by the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors at Princetown are as follows:

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the necessity of reducing the bread and flour ration to bring it at least as low as the voluntary rations in this country?

Whatever the Food Controller may recommend we shall be very glad to carry out.

Is it not a fact that 9 ozs. of bread is a trifle below the voluntary ration?

asked how many of the men now at Princetown condemned by courts-martial to imprisonment and released by the Central Committee on their agreeing to work have failed to carry out their undertaking; what punishment has been meted out to them; and, in cases not considered sufficiently serious to necessitate the men being sent back to carry out the balance of the original sentence or being called back to the Colours, what other punishments are imposed?

There may be many degrees of failure in carrying out an undertaking, and I can only give figures of cases which have been reported and punished. Of the men sent to Princetown by the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors, nine have been sent back to prison or recalled to the Army or are now being recalled; fifteen have been awarded by the Committee various punishments from the stoppage of six weeks' pay downwards; and up to the fifth instant sixty-two punishments had been imposed by the manager under the summary powers conferred on him by No. 33 of the Rules recently laid on the Table.

asked how many policemen are in Princetown; and if they are responsible for the maintenance of law and order in Princetown and its vicinity?

I understand that there is one police constable stationed at Princetown. He has the usual duties of a police constable in the matter of maintaining law and order.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the advisability of having the cases of the conscientious objectors now at Princetown thoroughly re-examined in order to separate the frauds from the sincere conscientious objectors, as the Central Committee who passed these men for Civil service in no way guaranteed that they were genuine conscientious objectors?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Wednesbury. The point which he mentions is one which will no doubt be considered by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now satisfied that Norman's speech publicly delivered at the meeting of the Independent Labour Party held at Leeds on 9th April, in which he described himself as the representative of the most remarkable branch of the Independent Labour Party—namely, that of Dartmoor Prison—constituted a breach of the discipline rule framed by the Committee of Employment of Conscientious Objectors laying it down that public propaganda, whether by making speeches, taking part in processions or demonstrations, or otherwise, is forbidden; and, if so, whether Norman has yet been sent back to work out the remainder of his sentence of eighteen months' imprisonment with hard labour for refusing to obey military orders, a sentence following one of two years' detention for breach of military discipline; and, if not, will he explain the cause of delay?

I have endeavoured to obtain a verbatim report of what Norman said, but the police inform me that no such report exists. It is stated that there were fifty-nine resolutions on the agenda, that Norman was seated in the body of the hall and constantly got up and spoke without his name being announced. The reporters took notes only of the principal speakers and did not regard him as one of these. In these circumstances it is impossible to take any action against him, though I have no doubt that he violated the spirit, if not the letter, of the rules. As I have already stated, the stoppage of leave will prevent any repetition of the incident.

Will the hon. Gentleman take care to alter the rules, so that a breach of this kind may not occur again without the offender being punished?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Committee appointed to inquire into the various conditions respecting promotion in the Army will cause evidence to be forthcoming from the Signal Training Centre, Royal Engineers, at Home, as compared with the system of promotion of officers in the Signal Service serving with the Expeditionary Forces; and whether the claims of fully-qualified officers attached to the training centre for duty who, owing to the exigencies of the Service, are debarred from proceeding overseas will come within the terms of reference by the Committee?

No, Sir. The officers attached to the Signal Training Centre at Home continue to be eligible for promotion in their units. If the hon. Member has some particular case in mind, and will let me know the details, I shall be in a better position to give him information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the death of Gunner Charles Sim, No. 193261, Royal Field Artillery; whether he is aware that Sim was medically rejected for the Edinburgh University Officers' Training Corps in 1915; that he was again rejected in April, 1916; that he was given a month's respite in May, 1916; that in that month he was specially examined by, amongst others, Professor Lorne Gulland, one of Scotland's leading physicians, and certified unfit for military service; that he was re-examined on the 26th June and given another six months' respite; that he was again examined by Professor Gulland and again declared unfit on account of his overgrown and undeveloped condition, more specifically in his chest; that he was then examined by a medical board, including X-ray examination at Edinburgh Infirmary, and passed C 1; that he joined up on the 1st February, 1917, and was sent first to Maryhill and five days later to Piershill Barracks, Edinburgh; where he was placed A from C 1; that he received severe drill, was inoculated, and vaccinated; that he went home on four hours' leave on the 25th February with a severe influenza cold; that on the 26th February he was inoculated for typhoid; that on Sunday, 4th March, at 7 p.m., his father called at Piershill Barracks but could find neither captain nor doctor; that a soldier took him to the gymnasium, an iron-roofed building next to the North British Railway lines, where he found Gunner Sim lying on a straw bed on the floor, where he had been since Friday, 2nd March, with no one attending him except any comrade who cared to do anything for him; that Gunner Sim was in a pitiable condition due to retching and vomiting and had not been washed since he lay down; that when he had requested the corporal on the 3rd March to be placed in hospital the reply was "That is for us to decide"; that the father refused to leave the barracks until someone in a responsible position arrived, whereupon a soldier fetched the corporal; that on the 5th March Gunner Sum was removed to hospital in Edinburgh Castle suffering from double rupture by being allowed to lie unattended in the gymnasium at Piershill; that severe bronchial pneumonia supervened, followed by meningitis; and that he died on the 15th April; and whether, in view of all these circumstances, he will cause a strict inquiry to be held into all the circumstances, with a view to fixing the responsibility for such neglect upon the proper person, and will state what the nature of such inquiry will be?

I am afraid that the report which has been called for has not yet been received. I will not fail to inform my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

I will repeat this question on this day week.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the reported losses of men and machines in the Royal Flying Corps include losses sustained by action or accident over our lines; and, if not, what is the number of such losses for the months of April and March?

All casualties in the Royal Flying Corps in the various theatres of operations are published in the casualty lists.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in the recent singularly successful air battle, out of the forty enemy aeroplanes which the military communiqué stated were shot down, twenty-nine were brought down by a squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service attached to the Royal Flying Corps in France; and whether, under these circumstances, he will arrange that in future communiqués praise shall fall where praise is due?

Complete information is not provided by the military authorities in France as to the particular squadrons, which inflict casualties on the enemy. I can assure the House that the valuable services of the naval contingent serving with the Royal Flying Corps in France are fully recognised.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any men are serving in the Inland Water Transport Service, Royal Engineers, as officers but who have not yet received their official commissions; and whether, in such cases, their pay and other emoluments follow their active rank?

In this, as in other branches of the Service, a certain time must elapse between their selection and the appearance of their commissions in the "Gazette," to which I assume my hon. Friend refers by "official commission." The officer is entitled to receive pay from the date of his commission, which would not be later than the date of assuming duty. Where hardship to the officer might be involved by waiting for pay until the "Gazette" appears, arrangements are made for his pay to be credited to him in anticipation.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if it has been brought to his notice that owing to scanty mail service between Skerries and the mainland men on leave have been unable to visit their homes; and if he would consider in such cases the possibility of giving them passage in the patrol boats?

I had no information regarding the suggestion made in the earlier part of the question until I received a communication upon the matter from my hon. Friend yesterday. That communication has been forwarded to the proper authorities. I am afraid we cannot undertake to detach patrol vessels from their proper work.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether Privates Dilthey and Noschke, of the 30th Middlesex Regiment, on refusing inoculation were tried by court-martial and sentenced, on 30th April, to one year's hard labour on a charge of wilfully making themselves unfit for service; whether such a charge can be preferred or such a sentence be inflicted for the exercise of a legal right; whether he will investigate these cases and, if he finds the facts as stated, at once quash the sentences; (2) if he is aware that a soldier in C company, 14th South Lancashire Regiment, stationed at Hemsby, Great Yarmouth, on being refused leave and week-end sleeping-out pass unless he consented to be vaccinated and inoculated, was informed by his captain that he had received from brigade headquarters orders to refuse all privileges, including leave, to unvaccinated and uninoculated men; whether the Army Council instruction in regard to this matter issued in November, 1916, has been rescinded; and, if not, whether they exercise any authority over brigade commanders and will have that instruction observed in this and other cases?

I have called for reports as to the matters raised in these two questions, and will inform my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if wounded soldiers are charged 6d. per day for their keep while in hospital; and, seeing that these men have been wounded in fighting the battles of the Empire, his Department will see that this charge shall cease at once?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if 2s. is deducted from the pay of our soldiers who fall in battle for the blanket in which they are buried; and, if so, will he take steps to stop this charge and to see that our gallant dead are buried with decency in the clothes they wore when they fell?

No, Sir; no such charge is made. If my hon. Friend would furnish me with details of any case he may have in mind, I will have a full inquiry instituted. I have, on previous occasions, made it plain that no such charge is made, but I have never received particulars such as would enable me to ascertain if any mistake has occurred.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the fact that the "London Gazette" refers to the 1st Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders as the Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany's; and whether, as His Royal Highness the present Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence, and Baron Arklow, G.C.V.O., is now in arms against the Sovereign and the people of these countries and the military forces of the Crown, including the battalion of gallant men which bears his name, the stigma of his name will be immediately removed from the designations of the 1st Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders?

The Duke of Albany, who was the original Colonel-in-Chief, was a son of Queen Victoria and a loyal subject of the Crown, and the regiment takes its designation from him. The present Duke is not the Colonel-in-Chief, and has no connection with the regiment. I therefore see no reason for altering the designation of the regiment, which has not expressed through its commanding officers any desire for a change in its title.

Is this regiment which is smirched by this name the regiment of my hon. Friend or of his country?

It is, and I am proud to think it is so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his Department has taken steps to release from the Army, where practicable, teachers classed in categories below B 1; and whether any instructions have been issued to prevent the calling up of such men, in accordance with the agreement between the Army Council and the Board of Education referred to in Circular 983, of 19th February, 1917, issued by the Board of Education?

The necessary steps have been taken to release from the Army, where practicable, teachers classified lower than B 1. Instructions have been issued to recruiting officers as to the agreement with the Board of Education referred to.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the discrepancy in the method of distributing the rum ration at the front, some commanding officers allowing it to be distributed neat and so that it must be consumed in the presence of an officer and frequently early in the morning before breakfast, while in other cases the commanding officers will not allow such ration to be taken except under strict regulation as with tea or some other diluent, he will consider the desirability of issuing, in the interests of the health of the soldier, some definite instruction on the subject to be carried into effect whenever circumstances permit?

Rum is issued at the front at the discretion of the General Officer Commanding on the recommendation of the medical officer, and it is not proposed to interfere with this discretion. The method of distribution must obviously depend on the circumstances of each particular occasion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will consider the desirability of raising the rank of lieutenants permanently injured while on active service, and who are thereby eligible for pensions, to that of captain but without additional emolument, so that such officers may be designated as captains, a rank they would probbaly have attained had they not been permanently injured, and the attainment of which would probably be much appreciated as a mark of special recognition of their services; and if he will consider the desirability of conferring some special distinction upon men from the ranks who have suffered like injuries?

I am afraid that my hon. Friend's suggestion is not practicable. It would involve a consequential step in rank to every officer incapacitated under similar circumstances.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the Gloucestershire Chamber of Agriculture to the effect that the present system of supervision over the treatment of remount horses results in a great waste of public money and horses, and also involves much cruelty and suffering to the horses themselves; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Yes, Sir. I have seen the resolution referred to, but as no details are given, the Gloucestershire Chamber of Agriculture has been asked to be good enough to state the grounds on which it was put forward.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why the foremen in the Army Ordnance Department at Dover are not being paid the 5s. per week war bonus granted since the 1st of April to all subordinate grades in their Department; whether he is aware that, although the foremen are pensionable servants and are paid overtime on a different scale from the subordinate grades, the total earnings of the latter are equal to or greater than the earnings of the foremen responsible for their work; whether he is aware that this circumstance is regarded as a slight upon the foremen which discredits them in the eyes of their subordinates and impairs the efficiency of the work; and whether he will take steps to provide that the war bonus be paid to foremen as well as to the other grades?

The necessary instructions are being issued.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that separation allowances payable to the dependants of men in the Royal Flying Corps constantly do not commence to be paid until two or three months after men have joined up; whether he is aware that the wife of Second Air Mechanic Freestone, Royal Flying Corps, has now waited eight weeks since her husband joined up and has received nothing and is living on loans from the Yeovil War Pensions Committee; and will he see that such payments to the dependants of men in the Royal Flying Corps are made at least as soon as similar payments are made to the dependants of men in other branches of the Service?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. I will cause inquiries to be made into the case of Mrs. Freestone, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that there are a number of married women employed at the Field Stores, Aldershot, who are only receiving 17s. per week wages; that discontent prevails in consequence; that the minimum rates for adult women in controlled and Government establishments, such as Woolwich Arsenal, Enfield Gun Factory, Gunwharf, Portsmouth, and the Royal dockyards, are 24s. per week; and whether he will take immediate steps to secure this minimum for the women employed at Aldershot?

The rates of pay at Woolwich and the other places mentioned are not applicable to other stations, but I will have the rates of pay at Aldershot inquired into.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he has received any communications from the branches of the Agricultural Labourers' Union regarding the standard of wages proposed in the Corn Production Bill and any communication from the Scottish Farm Servants' Union regarding the Bill as a whole; and whether he would be willing to receive a deputation from these unions before the Bill goes into Committee?

The Board have received resolutions from numerous branches of the National Agricultural Labourers' and Rural Workers' Union on the subject, but not from the Scottish Farm Servants' Union. The President, together with the Secretary for Scotland, would be willing to receive a deputation from the unions if they really desired it, though if their case can be adequately set out in writing he does not think that any useful purpose would be served by their coming to London.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to introduce the Bill for franchise and electoral reform?

I hope to do so shortly, but I cannot give an exact date.

Does that mean before the Whitsuntide recess?

I hope so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a small Commission to investigate in how far the success of the whole Balkan Campaign has been prejudiced and hitherto rendered nugatory by the desire to protect the dynastic principle against a republican movement; and whether he will proceed to the appropriate sanctions in whatever rank of society they may apply, and also advise a more active policy in the Balkans?

The answer is in the negative.