asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the treatment of soldiers who join special regiments and sign papers for special class of work; if he is aware that Irish mechanics, fitters, and motor drivers who joined the Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps, are being compulsorily transferred to the Infantry, which means less pay and is a direct breach of agreement on the Government's part; and if he will see that in future, if Irish tradesmen give up their employment to join special mechanical regiments, their agreement will be respected?

These men were all enlisted for general service, and are liable to be transferred to any arm or branch of the Service under the Army (Transfers) Act, 1915. There is no breach of agreement. The transfers, however, do not involve loss of pay unless transferred through inefficiency.

Is this not obtaining goods under false pretences? They advertise for mechanics, and get them to join, and then transfer them?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the opinions of Colonel Kennard, the officer commanding the troops in the Dublin district, with regard to temperance questions; and if, in dealing with alleged breaches of military order in connection with licensed premises, this officer acts on sworn testimony?

I have no information as to this officer's private opinions. The rules with regard to the taking of sworn evidence before a commanding officer upon summary disposal of cases brought before him are contained in Section 46, Sub-section (6), of the Army Act, and Rule 3 of the Rules of Procedure.

Will the hon. Gentleman make inquiries into the opinions expressed by this officer when dealing with cases in connection with the licensing law, and is he aware that his opinions have been used with prejudice in cases coming before him?

I am not prepared to make any inquiry into the private opinions of any officer.

This officer

The hon. Member is not entitled to make a statement. I call upon him to ask the next question.

On a point of Order—

I call upon the hon. Member to ask Question No. 17.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Irish clerks specially enlisted in the Pay Corps at Beggars' Bush Barracks were engaged as medically unfit men in accordance with War Office letter 16/General No. 3,331/a/c's 2, dated 17th May, 1915; and if he will see that these Irish clerks will not be compelled to join Line regiments while fit men from other countries stop in Ireland to take their places?

Men enlisted under the terms of the letter quoted would be liable to transfer. When enlisted they must have been medically fit, though possibly of a low category.

Will the hon. Gentleman not give particulars of this War Office letter which this man enlisted on?

No, I cannot add anything to the answer I have given.

asked the -Under-Secretary of State for War (1) if he will inquire into the case of Private No. 58172, 103rd Training Reserve Battalion, F Company, Portobello, who joined the special labour section of the Army Service Corps at the age of forty-four in September, 1915, and who, after service abroad and several times in hospital, has, on his last discharge from hospital, been transferred to the above-named Infantry unit, for which by his age and physical condition he is quite unfit; (2) why W. Acton, No. 1546, Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport, No. 1 Depot, Grove Park, now awaiting court-martial since 15th April, has been refused the services of his friend James St. Aubyn in the preparation of his defence; why he has been refused access to witness and other persons in the preparation of his defence, to which he is entitled under the Regulations; and will this man be given these rights at once?

It is necessary to make inquiries into these matters, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food who was chairman of the Sugar Commission previous to the appointment of Lord Devonport, and how long he held that office; also what necessity there is to retain Mr. Julius Runge as business manager to the Sugar Commission, seeing that, owing to his connection with his uncle's firm at Hamburg, he is an expert solely on the German sugar trade, and that there are now no purchases to be made of German sugar, or that he is only an expert in sugar refinery business, in which case somebody else as capable a manager and as good an expert can be found?

The late Chancellor of the Exchequer was Chairman of the Sugar Commission from its establishment in August, 1914, until December, 1916. Mr. Julius Runge's qualifications as business manager of the Sugar Commission are based upon all-round business capacity, and not upon his expert knowledge of any particular branch of the sugar trade. As a matter of fact, his experience before the War related to cane sugar rather than to beet sugar. The retention of his services by the Commission is justified by an extended experience of his business efficiency. No reason exists to doubt his absolute loyalty to the country of his birth.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps are being taken to bring the recent Royal Proclamation urging economy in the use of foodstuffs to the notice and attention of people in country districts where the necessity for care is often not understood; and whether he has considered the desirability of having copies of it posted up at post offices and other places of popular resort?

The Proclamation is being read on four consecutive Sundays in all churches, chapels, Jewish synagogues, and Salvation Army barracks. Fifty thousand posters containing the text of the Proclamation will be exhibited on post offices and other public buildings. Two million Proclamation leaflets are being distributed through the local war savings committees covering the rural districts. Arrangements have also been made to issue several million pledge cards on which the Proclamation is set forth, and on which members of the public are asked to sign their names as pledging themselves to observe its terms.

Has the hon. and gallant Gentleman made any progress with the idea of publishing a list of food supplies owing to the sinking of ships in a more graphic and impressive form than is now the case?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the prison diet, especially the bread allowance, now conforms to the scale laid down by the Food Controller as sufficient for the civil population?

The prison diet was settled in March last, after consultation with the Food Controller's Department, who advised that the prescribed bread ration fixed as an average for the whole population might be exceeded to some extent in institutions where the inmates were adults engaged in hard manual labour. In view, however, of the altered circumstances, the Food Controller will be further consulted.

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (FINANCIAL INTEREST).

asked the Prime Minister whether he will introduce legislation requiring Members of this House who are directly or indirectly interested financially or otherwise in any concern producing or distributing food or speculating in food prices to make a statutory declaration giving details of such interests, and providing for these statements being laid upon the Table of the House?

The answer is in the negative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable feeling of dissatisfaction throughout the country because people consider the reason why this is not done is accountable for the reluctance which the Government shows in controlling food prices?

I am not aware that any such feeling exists, and, so far as I can judge, I do not believe it does exist.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the Government have considered the advisability of withdrawing the meatless days; if he is aware that the reduction in the supply of meat at meals has caused an increase in the consumption of bread; if he is aware of the supply of meat in the country; and, seeing that there is a danger of a shortage of bread, if to save the bread he will recommend the withdrawal of the meatless days?

I must refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Devizes on this subject on Wednesday last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the inconvenience and loss suffered by the inhabitants of the Royal burgh of Pittenweem by the closing of the railway station for passenger traffic; and, seeing that this station is only open three days a week for goods traffic, and that a large fishing industry and agricultural and house-letting interests are seriously handicapped, he will endeavour to secure a daily service for both passengers and goods?

As the hon. and gallant Gentleman is aware, the requirements made upon the railway companies in connection with the War have necessitated the total or partial closing of stations and the reduction of train services in various parts of the country. The case of Pittenweem has been brought specially to the notice of the Board of Trade and the Railway Executive Committee, but in present circumstances it has not been found practicable to reopen this station as suggested.

asked the Under-Secretary for War why men of the Non-Combatant Corps who hold certificates of exemption from combatant service are being transferred to the Army Service Corps, and are required to conform to all the conditions of that corps, including the wearing of bandoliers and the performance of sentry duty; and will he take immediate steps to have this infringement of the conditions of their service ended, and particularly will he order the release from custody, for refusing to perform combatant work with the Army Service Corps, of Private H. Mawdsley, No. 3, Squadron D, Army Service Corps, Remount Depot, Swathling?

Men of the Non-Combatant Corps are not being transferred to the Army Service Corps, but a certain number are doing duty at remount depots. A man of the Non-Combatant Corps is not called upon to conform to all the conditions of any unit to which he might be attached, but only to perform such duties as are not of a combatant nature—that is to say, the bearing of arms and instruction in the use thereof, but he may be required to perform sentry duty and when doing so to wear a bandolier. I understand that Private Mawdsley was ordered to sweep out a horse's stall and refused to do it on the ground "that it had a distinct bearing on the prosecution of the War." He was placed under arrest, and is being tried by court-martial for refusing to obey an order.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he is aware that a man rejected on the 13th December, 1915, for hernia and hæemorrhoids was in August, 1916, re-examined, passed B1, attested, and postponed to the 31st May, 1917; and that, although this man continues to suffer from his disabilities, he has on further re-examination been passed for general service in Class A 1; if he will state whether this is contrary to the terms of Army Order 867; and, if not, will he say whether, if such a man's health suffers through Army training or general service, he will have any special claim for consideration on discharge?

All men are periodically examined and graded. The degree of disability is the determining factor with the medical examiners. I think my hon. Friend is under a misappre- hension in supposing that the instructions to which he refers are applicable to the circumstances mentioned. The instructions refer to men who have served overseas. Any man who on discharge is suffering from a disability caused or aggravated by military service has a claim for the consideration of a disability pension.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he will make inquiry respecting the case of Private G. A. Griffiths, No. 25769, South Wales Borderers, who joined the Army at the age of 15, and was released at the request of his widowed mother; is he aware that Griffiths rejoined soon afterwards, his mother being given an assurance that he would not in the meantime be sent abroad, but that despite this assurance he was sent last year at the age of sixteen to Salonika, being immediately sent back, having contracted malaria and suffering from disordered action of the heart; and, seeing that at his present age, sixteen years and five months, he is under orders for France, will he say what action can be taken in this case?

Instructions have been issued that Griffiths is not to be sent overseas pending the necessary inquiries as to his age.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether, in the present shortage of doctors for service in France and elsewhere, there are doctors who have abandoned their practices months ago, have put on khaki, and are awaiting in various towns in England instructions from his Department to proceed to where they will be useful, but appear to be forgotten by his Department except in the way of paying them their salaries; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Any officers so situated are either awaiting passage or relief by officers who are unfit for foreign service. Until such reliefs are available it is not possible to deplete the Commands at home of medical officers fit for general service.

Does the hon. Gentleman not admit that there are doctors in this position who are waiting and doing nothing?

They are either waiting their turns to go out or for reliefs.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Army Council have now completed their thorough consideration of the interim and final Reports on nursing issued by the special Committee set up by the War Office on the subject; whether any recommendations of either of these Reports have been carried out; whether the urgent fresh appeal for young women for nursing and Voluntary Aid Detachment purposes was made after consultation with the Committee which had carefully considered the subject; and whether the two Reports will now be published without delay?

No, Sir. The consideration of this Report is not yet completed.

May I press my hon. Friend in this matter? Is it not the case that at least one of these Reports has been three and a half months before the Army Council, and is it fair to the House and the country that we should not have these Reports which enable us to judge of the necessity for more nurses?

I will do my best to expedite the matter.

May we not have at least a summary of the recommendations if the Reports cannot be published? What is the reason why the Reports cannot be published?

I will see whether I cannot meet my hon. Friend in the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether timber is still being bought by his Department through Mr. Meyer; if so, whether he is paid a salary for his services or is paid on commission on the purchases; and, if the latter, what is the rate of commission?

Mr. Meyer is still purchasing timber for the War Department. He is paid a salary for his services, and is not remunerated by a commission.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether his attention has been called to a resolution of the North Staffordshire Trades and Labour Council, representing 50,000 organised workers, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the Regulation permitting a competent military or naval authority or superior officer of the police, rank above sergeant, to attend any private meeting or assembly and remain there during the continuation of the meeting, and expressing the opinion that this Regulation is an abuse of the Defence of the Realm Act; and if he will state the intentions of the Government in respect of the matters complained of?

My attention had not previously been called to the resolution referred to in the question. I would, however, point out that the resolution appears to have been based upon an erroneous reading of No. 51 B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, which does not, as stated, permit a competent naval or military authority or any superior officer of police to attend any private meeting or assembly. The operation of the Regulation is specifically limited, by words contained in the Regulation itself, to meetings or assemblies which, in the opinion of the competent naval or military authority, or any superior officer of police, are of such a character that an offence against the Defence of the Realm Regulations may be committed thereat. This is clearly within the scope of the Defence of the Realm Act.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he is aware that an article written by Mr. A. H. Smethurst, assistant general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, on the subject of the engineers in relation to military service, which was sent to the weekly journal, the "Woolwich Pioneer," was censored, and that this article was merely a reply to articles in the daily Press on the superseding of the trade-card system by the Protected Occupations Schedule, and was wholly in the nature of fair and reasonable discussion and, seeing that the censoring of this article has aggravated the situation in Woolwich, will he state the ground on which such action was taken?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The answer to the first point is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative. The article was, I understand, censored as being likely to aggravate the situation at a moment when important and delicate negotiations were pending.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Government's stoppage of racing in England will by Germany be trumpeted over the world as an incontestable proof that the food shortage in England is far more serious and deadly than in Germany; and whether, to reassure our Allies, he will publicly announce that the reason English racing is stopped is not for the sake of the relatively small amount of oats that will be saved?

I do not think that the stoppage of racing will have the effect which is feared by my hon. and gallant Friend.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether action was not taken on the ground given in the question, and whether they are not quite callous to the misery and ruin they have wrought by that tyrannical action?

I think all the facts were taken into consideration before a decision was arrived at.

Is it not a fact that there is an absolute shortage of oats?

Undoubtedly. Everyone knows that is so.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before the decision of the Government to stop horse racing in England and Ireland was taken, regard was had to the fact that the thoroughbred horse industries of England and Ireland are so closely and amicably connected that it is impossible to injure the one without adversely affecting the other; and whether he is aware that, in the interest of the horse-breeding industry, racing is taking place in Germany, Austria, Italy, and France, owing to the Governments of those countries recognising that racing is the only method whereby the relative merits of thoroughbred horses can be ascertained?

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

Does that mean that if any concession is granted to Ireland a similar act of justice will be granted to England in this matter?

So far as I know, it is the intention to act in the same way in both parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the manifesto of eighteen Catholic and three Protestant bishops and a number of chairmen of county councils in Ireland in which they have declared for the principle of an Ireland one and undivided; and whether, in formulating his proposals for an Irish settlement, he will keep that fact in view as an indication of the practically unanimous wish of the Irish people?

The hon. Member may rest assured that no relevant factor in the situation will be overlooked.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the time is past for dodgery, and will not the Prime Minister rise to a higher level in considering this question?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total sum in profits received from the controlled establishments from the beginning up to 31st March last?

I may refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Rushcliffe Division, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked whether the tax returns indicate that distillers have recently earned large excess profits; if so, how much profits; and what tax has been paid upon them?

I fear I can add nothing to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend yesterday in regard to another class of traders.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that the mayor of Salonika, giving effect to the views of the bulk of Greek citizens there, has issued a proclamation urging the deposition of King Constantine; and whether, in view of the attitude of the king and the importance to the Allied cause of a friendly Government in Greece, he will advise a reversal of the policy hitherto pursued of restraining the republican movement and of protecting the dynasty?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, having regard to the fact that the instrument by which the three protecting Powers guaranteed constitutional government and monarchical institutions to Greece was made at a time when France and Russia were monarchical States, whether he has any information showing that either of those Powers would now refuse, if requested by His Majesty's Government, to join in deleting from the guarantee all reference to monarchical institutions, thus leaving it open to the Greek people to decide whether the constitution shall be monarchical or republican; and whether, in view of the unconstitutional character of the present régime in Greece, he will propose to the French and Russian Governments to follow the precedent of the Treaty of London of 1863 which sanctioned a change of dynasty in Greece?

I can only say that my Noble Friend will bear in mind the suggestions made, but that he does not think the present is a suitable time to promote far-reaching constitutional changes in Greece.

Is it proposed to give Monsieur Venizelos a free hand, so that he can represent the entire nation of Greece?

The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

asked the Pensions Minister when the tribunal will be set up to deal with the cases of sailors and soldiers discharged as unfit who claim that their unfitness has been caused by or aggravated by service and are dissatisfied with the pension or gratuity offered them; and will he say if these tribunals will have instructions to regard the fact that men were passed as up to a certain physical standard on being enlisted and afterwards discharged as unfit as primâ facie evidence of physical deterioration attributable to service?

The composition of the proposed tribunal to hear appeals from men awarded gratuities who claim that their disabilities are attributable to or aggravated by the present War has not yet been finally determined, so I can give no definite date when it will be set up, but this will not be long delayed. Their instructions will enable them to take all the ascertainable facts of the cases into consideration when coming to decisions.

asked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been called to a resolution of the North Staffordshire Trades and Labour Council, representing 50,000 organised workers, protesting against the payment of pensions and allowances to soldiers broken in the present War in the Wolstanton Poor Law offices; is he aware that the association of soldiers' pensions with Poor Law offices is causing feeling in the district; and can he say what steps he will take in dealing with the matter?

I have received the resolution to which my hon. Friend refers, and have been in communication with the Staffordshire War Pensions Committee on the subject. Their Wolstanton subcommittee have declined to alter the arrangements set out in the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for New- castle-under-Lyme on the 12th February last. They claim that these arrangements secure the services of a worker for whose sympathetic assistance many pensioners have expressed gratitude, and that in no instance has complaint been made with regard to them. I propose, nevertheless, to get the Staffordshire War Pensions Committee to press their sub-committee to reconsider these arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the disfavour with which the Admiralty Invention Board is regarded by inventors in every part of the country, many of whom refuse to submit their inventions before it, he will appoint a fresh Committee whose duty shall be to examine inventions directed solely against the submarine menace?

The Board of Invention and Research is composed of a number of eminent men of science, presided over by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher of Kilverstone, and the large number of inventions submitted daily to the Board does not bear out my hon. Friend's contention. I may remind him that in addition to the Board of Invention and Research there exists a special division of the Admiralty War Staff whose sole function is to devise and perfect methods for dealing with enemy submarines.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) with which of the legal authorities the question of the Treasury's interest in the holding of paid directorships by judges lies; whether the Treasury has communicated with the legal authorities referred to; and whether any resolution, formal or informal, by the judges of the Court of Session has been communicated to the Treasury or to the Government on this matter?

I do not understand the first part of the question, as the Treasury has no interest in the holding of paid directorships by judges; the answer to the second part of the question is in the negative; in reply to the last part no such resolution has been received by the Treasury, or, so far as I am aware, by the Government.

Does not the fact that the Treasury pays the judges' salaries, both in England and Scotland, give them an interest, and place upon them the duty to look into this kind of thing?

I do not think so.

I shall raise the matter in debate the first chance I get.