asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among the captains and officers of the merchant service at the refusal of the Admiralty to include a representative officer of the merchant service, with practical experience of submarine warfare against merchant shipping in the present war, on the Anti-Submarine Committee appointed by the Admiralty; and whether he will consider the advisability of including on this Committee men who have had practical experience at sea, and not confine the representation of the merchant service exclusively to the owners of merchant shipping?

No representations in this sense have been received from the merchant service. The anti-submarine and trade divisions of the naval staff work in close consultation with each other, and although the former does not include a merchant service officer, a number of mer- chant service officers are attached to the latter in various capacities, so that their advice is available. Any further provision for such advice which experience may show to be desirable will be arranged for.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state the amount of eggs, vegetables, fruit, cheese, butter, and milk which German prisoners of war in this country are allowed to purchase per week from Army canteens and the amount of these articles, respectively, which commandants of internment camps permit to be bought in this country and to be sent to such prisoners per week by English or German sympathisers; what are the Regulations on the subject, if any, for the guidance of Army canteens and commandants, or whether the matter is left to the discretion of the persons in charge of the canteens and the commandants; and whether, in view of the high prices and scarcity of such articles, the Government will, in the interests of the poorer classes of the popution of this country who are frequently unable to purchase these articles, forbid the purchase in this country of such articles by or for the German prisoners?

I am afraid that I have no statistics as to the amount of eggs, fruit, vegetables, cheese, butter, and milk which German prisoners are allowed to purchase. The commandants are responsible for the amounts of supplies purchased, and that permission to purchase is strictly regulated by the surplus over local needs of the commodities. The purchase of potatoes is, of course, prohibited. As my hon. and learned Friend has already been informed, supplies sent by sympathisers are controlled by commandants, in order to prevent supplies which are scarce, or an undue amount of foodstuffs, being sent. No articles containing meat, sugar or flour in any shape or form may be delivered. It is difficult, however desirable it may be, to lay down any hard and fast rules in such a matter, as my hon. and learned Friend will realise, but the commandants have been enjoined to keep a close watch over all camp supplies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an officer in the Dorset Regiment, who was taken prisoner after Mons, has recently been sentenced to seven months' imprisonment for attempting to escape; and what punishment is awarded to Germans who attempt to escape in this country?

In reply to the first part of the question, I am informed by the military authorities that the particular officer referred to cannot be traced. In regard to the second part, the average length of punishment for officer prisoners in this country is four months.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what are the Regulations which govern appointments and promotions in the Camel Corps; and what is the reason why there has been no recognition by promotion of their long fighting services in Egypt and Palestine?

Appointments are made by the General Commanding-in-Chief in Egypt. Officers remain eligible for substantive promotion in their own units, but are granted acting rank within the establishment of the Camel Corps. Officers of this corps are eligible for rewards in the same way as other officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Volunteers who are not in Classes A or B are entitled to wear khaki if provided by themselves or from local funds?

The wear of drab service dress clothing (commonly known as "khaki") is not permitted for the Volunteer Force, except in those special cases where clothing of this pattern had actually been purchased prior to the issue of instructions to the contrary. The approved material for the manufacture of Volunteer uniform clothing is "Serge, Volunteer Force," but as supplies are short, it is not possible to consider the question of issues on repayment until all Section A and B men have been provided for. When all Section A and B men, who are entitled to uniform clothing have been provided with it, the question of repayment issues to other Volunteers will be considered. It is not desir- able in the interests of economy to encourage the purchase of clothing by Volunteers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office how many appointments to the post of acting-paymaster have been given to civilians and enlisted clerks during the War, and how many have been given to men promoted from the permanent staff; whether there are a number of permanent men just as fitted for these posts as civilians; and whether, in fact, many of the civilians could not do their work without the help of the permanent staff sergeants?

One thousand and forty acting paymasters have been appointed. These are temporary civilian posts to which the permanent staff-sergeants could not be promoted without being discharged from the Army. The suggestion in the last part of the question is only true in the same sense as would hold good of any person entering any Department in any position of responsibility.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that a communication has been addressed by the Belfast Chamber of Commerce to the Secretary of the Army Council with reference to the order of the Council, dated 24th April, 1917, prohibiting the manufacture of cases and crates and the use of new cases and crates for the packing of goods listed in Schedule A attached to the order; whether he is aware that the inclusion in this schedule of linen piece-goods and handkerchiefs in paper parcels is calculated to inflict injury upon that section of the Irish linen industry engaged in the manufacture and export of the finer classes of cambric, linen, and damask; whether he is aware that while unbleached linens can be packed in bales without much risk to the fabric, the packing of fine bleached linen otherwise than in cases can only result in damage to the goods, and consequent loss to the trader; whether he is aware that the object of the order is understood and the necessity for a restricted use of wood is appreciated, but that, as it has been thought proper to include in Schedule B such goods as muslins, lawns, and voiles (valued at over 6d. per square yard), fine embroidered white dhoolies, and mercerised goods (silk-finished), it is most desirable that bleached and dyed linen, bleached and dyed cambric, and bleached linen damask (piece goods, cloths, and napkins) should be included in the same schedule; whether he is aware, as regards linen handkerchiefs in paper parcels, of the extent of the export trade in these goods to remote destinations and to countries where heavy duty is charged on cartons; and whether, seeing that unless these handkerchiefs are allowed to be cased in wood the trade therein will be gravely injured, he will take steps to see that linen handkerchiefs in paper parcels will also be included in Schedule B?

The Order of the 24th April, 1917, has been so far modified as to permit of the packing of bleached and dyed cambric in wooden cases. The restrictions which have been imposed upon the use of wood for casing textiles, and other goods, have been dictated by the urgent need of conserving the stocks of timber. The situation is very serious, and it is desirable that manufacturers and merchants should arrange to meet circumstances in which the amount of wood available for packing purposes will be very greatly reduced.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether His Majesty's Government will consider favourably the question of providing separation allowances for the wives of officers of His Majesty's naval and military forces?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which I gave on the 13th March to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Melton Division.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is the present practice of his Department to allow a very low sum for dependency, and in most cases nothing, in the case of apprentices earning a low rate of wages previous to enlistment; and, if so, will he consider the advisability of adopting in the future the principle of an implied dependency in such cases of at least 2s. 6d. per week or of stating publicly, in order to save time and trouble to claimants, that no claim can be recognised unless the earnings of the soldier exceeded a certain sum per week?

I regret I cannot see my way to adopting this suggestion, but I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given on this subject on the 22nd February last by my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Pensions.

asked the Parliamentary Representatives of the Air Board, whether he is now in a position to state if claims for compensation will be entertained in respect of damage done to fences or buildings in the United Kingdom by aeroplanes of our own force?

My hon. and gallant Friend has asked me to reply to this. The matter is still under consideration, but I am taking steps to expedite a settlement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the names of the persons appointed to represent the timber trade of Ireland on the Advisory Committee formed by the Director of Timber Supplies, and also by whom these persons were nominated for the Committee; and on whose nomination the representatives of the timber trade in England and Scotland were, respectively, appointed to the committee?

W. H. McLaughlin, Esq., D.L., of Belfast and T. N. Hutton, Esq., Hon. Secretary of the Irish Timber Importer's Association, and Managing Director of Messrs. Brooks, Thomas and Co. Ltd., of Dublin, have been nominated to represent the Irish Timber Trade on the Advisory Committee of Timber Merchants. Mr. McLaughlin was recommended for nomination by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, and Mr. Hutton's nomination was approved by the same Department. Of the English representatives, four were recommended by the Timber Trade Federation of the United Kingdom, and one by the Liverpool Timber Trade Association; two were selected by the Director of Timber Supplies. The two Gentlemen who represent Scotch interests were recommended respectively by the Scotch Section of the Timber Trade Federation, and the Home Timber Merchants' Association of Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Home-grown Timber Committee has passed from the control of the Board of Agriculture to that of the War Office; and, if so, why the transference was made?

The answer to the first portion of the question is in the affirmative. The staff and the operations of the Home-grown Timber Committee have been placed under the general control of the War Office in accordance with a recommendation that was made by the Committee which, under the chairmanship of Sir Henry Babington Smith, considered the best means of adapting importation to our restricted tonnage. In present circumstances, it is of the gravest importance that the extraction and conversion of home-grown timber should be stimulated to the utmost possible. By bringing the existing operations under the Department of Timber Supplies, it was hoped largely to increase production. This new Department was made a branch of the War Office because by far the greater portion of the timber that is consumed is used for war purposes, and because the Department is directly charged with the supply of timber to the Army in France, to the various Departments of the War Office, and to the Ministry of Munitions.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware of and whether his sanction has been applied for a proposal to erect a factory for war purposes on land forming part of the property known as Dibden House, Hanger Hill, Ealing; whether he is aware that early in February last the land in question was taken by the Ealing Borough Council under the Lands Cultivation Order, 1917, of the Board of Agriculture and, having been devided into some fifty war allotments, has since been brought under cultivation and planted, with the object of providing food for the holders and others in the district; and whether, before granting facilities for the erection of a factory on this land, he will cause inquiry to be made as to other available sites in the locality and refuse to allow the land in question to be utilised for a factory and the allotment-holders disturbed unless satisfied that no alternative site is so available?

I have had this matter investigated. A private firm had proposed to erect a factory for certain munition work on the site in question, but, on an appeal being made by the allotment holders to the Ministry of Munitions and after a meeting held on the spot by a representative of the Ministry, arrangements were made to erect this factory on another site.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that, pursuant to the powers contained in the Cultivation of Lands Order, 1917, the borough council of Ealing early in February last took possession of land attached to an unoccupied property known as Dibden House, Hanger Hill, Ealing; whether he is aware that the borough engineer handed over the land to the horticultural society of the neighbouring district of Brentham where there are a large number of industrial residents, and that the land has been divided amongst at least fifty persons for cultivation as allotments, and is now wholly under seed; whether he is aware that a notification has been given to the society that the land on which so much labour and seed has been expended is now likely to be required for factory purposes, and that as there are some 2,000 war allotment holders in Ealing anxiety exists as to security against disturbance which will involve the loss of their crops for which any compensation awarded by the War Losses Commission will be wholly inadequate; and whether he will take steps to prevent these holders being evicted by ensuring that any factory required for war purposes shall be placed on a site not under cultivation, for which purpose there is ample vacant land in the neighbourhood and more accessible for rail and other means of transport?

I am glad to say that the owner of the land referred to has now agreed to leave it in the occupation of the Ealing Borough Council and their tenants, and to build the proposed factory elsewhere.

asked the Home Secretary whether, with a view to the equal treatment of the Irish political prisoners now detained at Lewes under sentence of secret court-martial, he will supply a list of those of them who, owing to domestic circumstances, have had no visits or very few, so that a philanthropic society outside may arrange to have the comfort of visits extended to all with such regularity as the prison rules permit?

I regret that I cannot accede to the hon. Member's suggestion. Where a visit does not take place a letter is allowed in lieu of the visit, a privilege of which prisoners freely avail themselves.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the court of appeal has decided that no German at large in this country is an enemy alien, he can say whether this is the reason that Alfred Reinhardt, the German inquiry agent, and others are not interned; and what steps he proposes to take to alter the law in this matter?

The answer to the question is in the negative. The recent decision which the hon. and gallant Member no doubt has in mind has no bearing on the power to intern alien enemies in this country. Reinhardt's case is now under the consideration of the Advisory Committee.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that trustees and agents of British birth are privileged to carry on businesses for absent enemy aliens, he will say what steps have been taken to prevent profits from being piled up during the War and taken over by the enemy aliens after the War is over?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Businesses belonging to enemy subjects, whether carried on by agents or not, are within the scope of Section 1 of the Trading with the Enemy (Amendment) Act, 1916, and Orders are from time to time made for their discontinuance or winding up, unless there be special reasons rendering it inexpedient to make such Orders. If the hon. Member will supply me with particulars as to any such businesses of which he has information, I will have inquiry made with a view to considering the application of the enactment mentioned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller which Government Department was responsible for requiring a steamer of about 14,000 tons measurement capacity to load some 3,400 tons of sisal hemp at Tanga, occupying, owing to lack of proper facilities for loading at that port, some twenty-four days?

As I explained to the hon. Member in reply to a previous question on this subject on 3rd May, the Ministry of Shipping made the arrangement for loading this ship. The vessel was chosen for the purpose because she was on the spot where the hemp was ready for shipment, and the material was most urgently required. It is true that there was delay in lifting the hemp, but this was mainly owing to excessive rainfall.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether, in estimating the available tonnage for the needs of the nation, he has taken into consideration the number of steamers lying in home and foreign ports undergoing damage and survey repairs; and whether he can state what percentage of our merchant steamers is at present undergoing repairs?

In making forward estimates of the tonnage available for the needs of the nation and of the cargo that can be carried I give very careful consideration to the important point raised in my hon. Friend's question; with regard to the last part of his question I hope the hon. Member will not press me to make a public statement, but I should be very pleased to give him the information privately.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that resolutions have been passed by the Cork Corporation and many other public bodies in the South of Ireland requesting the Government to grant the usual excursion facilities during the period from 1st June to 30th September; whether he is aware that these excursions are mainly availed of by the working classes and seaside dwellers; and if he will grant the facilities, asked for?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to-day by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for West Cork.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the April issue of the Journal of the Board of Agriculture gives what purports to be the interim Report of Lord Selborne's sub-committee on agricultural policy; why the minority Report signed by Sir Matthew Wallace is omitted; and on what ground the subscribers to the "Journal" are to be deprived of the practical views and opinions set out in Sir Matthew Wallace's minority Report?

The article to which the hon. Member refers was a summary of the Sub-Committee's report intended to direct persons interested to the Report itself; and attention was naturally concentrated on the main Report, signed by the majority of the Sub-Committee, rather than on the differences of opinion expressed by the dissentient member. I agree, however, with the hon. Member that it would have been better if the article had dealt with the views expressed by Sir Matthew Wallace.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if it is intended under the provisions of the Corn Production Bill to fix the standard quality for wheat at 60 lbs. per bushel and oats at 39 lbs. per bushel; and whether it is intended that this standard of quality should apply to Ireland?

Clause 11 (d) of the Bill defines a quarter as meaning, in the case of wheat, a quarter of 8 bushels of 60 imperial pounds, and in the case of oats a quarter of 8 bushels of 39 imperial pounds. The provisions of the Bill take no account of the quality of the wheat or oats sold, but merely define the weight to which the guarantees apply. The Bill provides that for every 480 lbs. of wheat or 312 lbs. of oats the grower sells he is entitled to the amount by which the declared "Gazette" average price of that cereal for the specified seven months falls below the guaranteed price for the year, whatever may have been the quality, or the actual price received by the grower.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) if it has been represented to him that railway clearing house clerks working side by side with permanent Civil servants in the Admiralty, War Office, and Ministry of Munitions are receiving a war bonus up to 15s. per week, which is paid by the Government, while the maximum bonus paid to the Civil servants does not exceed 4s. per week; and whether he can explain to the House the reasons which have operated to produce this differential treatment, in view of the fact that all are suffering alike from the rise in the cost of living?

The railway clearing house clerks lent to Government Departments continue to be paid by the railway clearing house, and the Departments are not responsible for the rates either of their salaries or of their war bonus. Their position is, therefore, materially different from that of Civil servants, and any comparison between them would have to take account of this difference. It may be added, however, that the claims of the Civil Service for an increased war bonus were recently referred to the Conciliation and Arbitration Board, which, after a full examination of the whole question, awarded a considerable increase, to which effect is now being given.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will ask the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland to state their reasons for refusing national teachers appointed to the magistracy the right of adjudicating; are the Commissioners aware that in Great Britain there is no such instruction; and will this matter have immediate attention?

The Commissioners of National Education consider that the performance of the functions of a magistrate by a national school teacher is contrary to Rule 88 (a) of their Code, as tending to impair the usefulness of a teacher. The Commissioners inform me that they have no information as to the regulations in force in Great Britain.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Local Government Board has stopped the payment of the old age pension to Thomas M'Cann, Lossett, county Cavan; if not, will he state whether there is any pension being paid to M'Cann or ever was, and what it was; and will he say, in the event of stoppage, by whom this was brought about and, generally, who is authorised to do this?

Thomas M'Cann, of Lossett, has never been in receipt of an old age pension. His claim was disallowed by the local pension sub-committee in September, 1915, as he was then under seventy years of age, and a second claim was considered on the 27th November last and passed provisionally, the award to take effect from the 1st February, when it was considered he would reach the age of seventy. The pension officer appealed, and the claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. These cases are dealt with under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 and 1911, and the Old Age Pensions Regulations.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that clerks of the Dublin Police Courts are appointed by open competition on a programme similar to that prescribed for the London Police Court clerks, and that, while the latter are paid on a scale rising by large increments from £120 to £400 per annum and, on promotion, from £420 to £700 per annum, the Dublin clerks are paid on a scale rising by very small increments from £180 to £300, one rising to £500; that the second clerks in the London Police Courts receive after two years' service a salary larger than the maximum attained by the second class clerks in the Dublin Police Courts after twelve years' service; that the assistants in the London Police Courts receive £100 to £200 per annum, while in the Dublin Police Courts they only receive an average of £1 7s. 6d. per week; and, in view of the fact that the duties performed by the London and Dublin Police Court clerks are practically identical, will he have the salaries of the staff of the Dublin Police Courts revised?

The figures in the question make a comparison of remuneration in two classes of appointments in which the general conditions are not similar. There is no reason in any of the suggested discrepancies for reconsidering the position of the staff in Dublin.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state what are the qualifications required from candidates for the position of prison warders; what is the method of their appointment; and how long this method has been in force?

All candidates before appointment as warders must obtain a certificate of qualification from the Civil Service Commissioners, who must be satisfied as to their good moral character, sobriety, etc., and as to their ability to pass the prescribed examination. Among soldiers or sailors, men who have held non-commissioned rank, and who have been discharged with "exemplary" or "very good" characters; and among civilians, men who have a knowledge of some useful trade, are preferred. The procedure for appointment has been in force practically since the Civil Service Commission was first established to regulate appointments to the Civil Service in general.

asked what is the system adopted in the appointment of prison governors, and what are the qualifications required in candidates for this office?

Governors are appointed by the Secretary of State on the recommendation of the Prison Commissioners. Appointments are made either by promotion from the subordinate grades of the prison staff, discipline and clerical, or by the selection from outside the service of persons who, after careful inquiry, are considered to be well qualified for the special duties involved.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, before making public intimation of new arrangements for educational work in Scotland, he proposes to consult with representatives of the teaching profession in its various branches, especially with reference to their effect upon salaries and pensions?

Before formulating any proposals for submission to Parliament as regards the application of the new equivalent Grant for education in Scotland, I shall welcome any expression of views or definite suggestions from any body of persons who have an interest in the matter, including representatives of the teaching profession in its various branches. It will facilitate consideration if any suggestions or proposals to be put forward are made in the first place in writing, but I am prepared to make such arrangements as may be possible for a further elucidation of the situation in conference with accredited representatives of any important section of public opinion or of classes of persons whose interests may be specially affected.