asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the scarcity of maize, which is even now required for human consumption in Ireland, and the scarcity of offals for pig-feeding, and, in view of the fact that all Irish bacon comes on the British market, steps will be taken to divert to Ireland the maize and at least a portion of the offals now being permitted to go to Denmark?

No maize or offals are being exported from this country to Denmark, and such cargoes of these commodities as are now going forward are presumably neutral property bought in other countries and shipped on neutral vessels to a bonâ fide neutral destination. I do not, therefore, understand precisely what action on the part of His Majesty's Government the hon. Member is advocating.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) what action has been taken by him with regard to the fining of a farmer for killing a pheasant destroying the seed of a growing crop; (2) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the food economy advocates in Lincolnshire are hampered by the magistrates at Bourne fining a farmer for killing a pheasant for destroying seed sown for the purpose of producing human food; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Board have caused a full report to be made in the matter by their District Commissioner, and have decided that, in this particular case, intervention is not justified. The War Executive Committee in this area has already secured on this estate a reduction of the pheasants, which are far fewer than Press reports of the case suggest. On the general question of game damage the board have decided to revive the Destruction of Pheasants Order which expired on 31st March last. This will permit landlords and shooting tenants to continue to shoot pheasants, and will enable executive committees, if they think it necessary in special cases, to authorise the farming tenant to do so on his own farm. The Board are making an Order prohibiting the rearing of pheasants except under licence by the War Executive Committee.

Do I understand that the Board of Trade does not propose to remit this fine?

As I have told my hon. Friend, that is really a question for the Home Office.

Is a man entitled to shoot bird, fox, or game that he surprises in the act of destroying or devouring food that is fit, or likely to become fit, for human consumption?

was understood to reply in the affirmative.

Will the same protection be afforded to farmers in connection with the birds scheduled under the Wild Birds Protection Order?

I am afraid I shall have to have notice of that question.

In view of the importance of pheasants as an article of cheap food—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—Yes!—is it desirable to allow the shooting of pheasants during the breeding season?

The Board have come to the conclusion that, where it is necessary, it is not a disadvantage to shoot pheasants.

Only in those cases?

asked the Home Secretary if it is proposed to remit the fine imposed on a farmer at Bourne, Lincolnshire, for killing a pheasant that was destroying seed peas, thereby exemplifying that food production must be preferred to game preservation in these days, when food production is vital to the national welfare?

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for the Gainsborough Division on Thursday last.

Is it proposed to remit the fine?

No, Sir!

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he received a communication, dated the 9th instant, from the hon. Member for North-West Staffordshire, and enclosed therewith a copy of a letter signed by one of the nine men concerned at Bignall End, Staffordshire, stating that they had made repeated applications for small holdings to the North Staffordshire County Council's Small Holdings Committee, and that having failed they had decided to write to their hon. Member and the President of the Board of Agriculture to use their influence on their behalf; whether he has replied to the letters; whether the operation of the Small Holdings Act has been entirely suspended during the War; whether the suspension is due to the difficulties that the Treasury experience in finding the necessary money or to some other cause, and, if so, will he state the difficulty; whether he will state the date on which the operation of the Act was suspended and by what authority; whether he will take steps to secure that county councils shall go on making provision for holdings wherever the opportunity occurs, and especially in the case of the nine men at Bignall End who have made repeated applications for small holdings and have equipment for the same?

The reply to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. The suspension of the facilities for borrowing money for purchase or equipment of small holdings is due to the Government decision that State money would not be availiable for that purpose during the War. That decision was arrived at soon after the outbreak of War and was made owing to the need for national economy and the effect of the high rate of interest on such purchases. The Act has not been entirely suspended, for county councils may now provide small holdings under it in cases where land, needing no expenditure on equipment, can be obtained on lease. The Board are in communication with the Treasury with a view to secure some relaxation of the borrowing restrictions for use in those special cases where it can be justified. I am not in a position to say that the application from Bignall End constitutes such a case, but it will be carefully considered by the county council and the Board should additional facilities be forthcoming.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the position in respect of allotments in the parish of Warton, Carnforth, Lancashire; whether he is aware that applications have been made to the council to secure one or two acres for allotment purposes and that the council will make no move in the matter; and, in view of the importance of the question from the standpoint of food production, whether he will cause investigation to be made?

The Board do not appear to have received any information on this subject. Inquiries will, however, be made, and I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will supply me with any particulars which he may have.

asked what formality has to be complied with by a country cartridge dealer who desires to obtain cartridges for farmers to kill game and ground game destroying crops intended for human food?

At present a country dealer can obtain supplies of cartridges for the purposes described, if he forwards to the manufacturer the licences issued to the dealer's customers for this purpose by the executive of the War Agricultural County Committee. A simplification of this procedure is under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food on what principle dropped scones are included among the list of cakes forbidden while scones in which there is no sugar and not more than 50 per cent. of G.R. flour are included in the list of cakes allowed?

The dropped scone was forbidden because it appears to fall under the same category as the crumpet, the manufacture of which is specifically prohibited by the Cake and Pastry Order. Its composition is different to that of the ordinary scone. This ruling was approved by persons having expert knowledge of the Scottish bakery trade.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the basis of the distinction between the different kinds of confectionery or pastry embraced in this Order?

The governing factor is the percentage of flour or the degree of sweetness. If the hon. Member will study the prohibited list, I feel sure he will recognise the present impropriety of touching such delicacies as "Maids of Honour" or "Sally Lunns."

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these methods have been raised in the West London Police Court, and that the magistrate says it is impossible to ascertain on what basis the distinction has been arrived at, and therefore he has dismissed the case.

It is quite clear after my recent explanation that there will be no such misapprehension in the future.

asked whether the recent Notes on the Cake and Pastry Order for the guidance of the trade were framed by persons having expert knowledge of that trade; and whether the trade was consulted before the Notes were issued?

Yes. Sir. These notes were drafted by the Glasgow Bakers' Association and eventually approved after consultation with representatives of the trade in England as well as of the principal trade journal.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if there is plenty of spraying materials to be had for potatoes and other crops; and if he will consider the possibility of arranging that they may be sold at reasonable prices?

As I informed the hon. Member for North Monaghan last Thursday, sufficient supplies of spraying material to meet the requirements of Irish farmers for the coming season can at present be secured if orders are placed at once and immediate delivery taken. The Department of Agriculture desire to emphasise the importance of orders being placed at once, and immediate delivery taken. On this will depend whether the quantity of materials available will be adequate for the requirements of the Irish potato crop in the coming season.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that winter prices for milk still prevail in Glasgow; and whether he proposes to take any action?

Information to this effect had not reached the Ministry of Food prior to the receipt of the hon. Member's letter of the 16th. This matter is being closely investigated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, having regard to the alleged adequate supply of meat in this country, he can explain the fact that abnor- mally high prices continue to be charged by retail dealers; and whether he can suggest some means of reducing the price so as to enable the poorer classes to obtain butcher's meat at a price within the limits of their means?

The retail prices of meat have varied in direct relation to the wholesale prices, which have risen considerably. The increase of the latter is mainly due to seasonal causes, to a temporary diminution in the amount of imported meat available for civilian consumption, and to the high price of feeding stuffs. As I informed the House last Wednesday, the Food Controller is now in consultation with the Departments of Agriculture in reference to the control of meat prices, and is conferring with representatives of the meat trade with a view to taking early action in this matter.

May I ask whether the supply of meat is held up by a few monopolists who are making exorbitant profits?

I should not like to give any comprehensive answer to the question, but I am satisfied that there is a certain amount of undesirable speculation.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that neck of mutton on Saturday was 2s. a lb.?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the total monthly consumption of oats by racehorses and horses used or intended to be used exclusively for racing or for breeding for racing as estimated by his Department?

The consumption of oats by horses of the classes specified in the question before the prohibition of racing and the imposition of restrictions by the Horses (Rations) Order may be estimated at between 900 and 1,000 tons per month.

In view of the great shortage of oatmeal in certain parts of the country, would it not be desirable to divert a considerable quantity of this supply at once for human food?

That is what is actually being done at the present time, and it is hoped that a noticeable difference will be seen in the course of the next few days.

May I ask whether the quantity of oats just referred to is based upon the calculation that there are 4,000 racehorses in training in this country, and is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Secretary of State for War, the largest breeder or owner in Great Britain or Ireland, stated a few days ago that there were only 1,000 racehorses in this country altogether?

I have no reason to believe that the estimate has been made on at all an extragavant basis. It has been formed as the result of a committee of experts from every part of the United Kingdom.

Is it possible to restrict the consumption without stopping it altogether?

As I have already explained, that matter is now under the consideration of the Cabinet, and I am not authorised to say anything further to-day.

May I ask why oatmeal has been fixed at 6s. 5d. a stone, when the retail price in Scotland—

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has any information as to the quantity of foodstuffs destroyed in the recent fire at the premises of the International Stores at Gillingham?

No foodstuffs were destroyed in the fire referred to.

Was any action taken against the rioters who attacked these stores?

No, Sir! It is not known what the origin of the fire was, and therefore it is impossible to take any action such as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the prices of the essential foods of the working classes have increased on an average of 100 per cent. since the establishment of the Ministry of Food; to what does he attribute this increase; and to what extent this increase is to be permitted to extend before Regulations controlling the price of such essentials are issued?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The prices of essential foodstuffs have risen on an average between 7 and 8 per cent. since the Food Controller took office. No important foodstuffs have risen in price to the extent suggested by the hon. Member, with the exception of beans, the increase in this case being due to an unusual demand for this commodity as a substitute for meat, bread, and potatoes. The wholesale prices of beans are already controlled, and the retail prices of various cereal meals, which showed an undue although smaller increase in price, have also been fixed.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that Indian meal made out of Indian corn, which is now used partly for human food, has increased by over 300 per cent. over pre-war prices?

That is not the question I was asked. I was asked to what extent prices had increased since the establishment of the Ministry of Food. I am afraid it is a fact that many of these cereals have increased very considerably, and the same thing obtains even to a greater extent in many ether parts of the world.

What difference does it make to the consumer whether prices have increased since the Food Controller took office or since the commencement of the War, because the consumer has to pay in either case.

That does not arise out of the question, but I would like to remind the hon. Member and the House that there is one thing even more important than the price of food, and that is its availability.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether it is possible to obtain beans at the price fixed by the Food Controller?

In certain parts of the country certainly, but beans are not a very plentiful article of food at the present time, and they are likely to become more scarce in the next few weeks

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of my question as to how long it is proposed to allow this to go on, and whether it is proposed to control the price?

I have already stated that the price of these commodities where an excessive increase of price has taken place is, in fact, being controlled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government have come to any decision as to the date after which all cereal grain shall be used solely for human food and brewing stopped until the War is finished?

I fear I cannot at present add anything to the replies already given on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a supply of petrol can be awarded auctioneers and others to whom the motor car is an indispensable adjunct of their business?

The Petrol Control Committee are still prepared to consider applications for the renewal of motor spirit licences issued for private cars used for business purposes, but the maximum amount that can be allotted in such cases is necessarily small.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on 23rd February, 1917, the importation of the feathers of wild birds was prohibited by Proclamation; that during the two following months, March and April, 48,346 pounds weight of these feathers were imported into this country; that these feathers are still being shipped from the countries of their origin; and whether he can state why at the present time, in view of the shortage of tonnage, these articles are allowed to occupy freight-space in defiance of the aforesaid Proclamation?

The quantity of feathers specified in the question was imported by virtue of the standing concession in favour of goods which were en route to this country or which were paid for by the importers before the date on which the importation was prohibited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that about 7,000,000 policies have been lapsed by the nineteen industrial assurance companies since the beginning of the War, and that for the years 1913 and 1914 they received £35,000,000 in premiums and only paid in claims and surrenders in those years £15,500,000, he can now say what steps he proposes to take to prevent these companies from lapsing so many of the policies of the working people and so taking sums of money out of their pockets without any benefit?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the answer given to his question on the 27th November last.

Am I to understand that the Board of Trade are not going to do anything to stop these insurance companies taking such enormous sums of money out of the pockets of the working people?

I understand that the question is not within the competence of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether one of the men of the 7th Highland Light Infantry employed by the Ministry of Munitions at Morecambe is ill; whether his pay and subsistence allowance have been stopped and all he now has to support his wife and family in Glasgow and himself at Morecambe is his insurance benefit; and what arrangements he proposes to make in such cases?

I know of no case of illness amongst the Army Reserve munitions workers employed at Morecambe. One, however, who left his depot with instructions to report for munitions work at Morecambe is understood not to have carried out those instructions, but to have gone home to Glasgow. This man wrote on the 9th April—a fortnight later—to say that he was ill, but it seems that he has now found employment on his own account with a Glasgow firm.

If one of these workmen falls ill at Morecambe, is he left without pay or without allowance?

No; but perhaps my hon. Friend will put a question on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Munitions how many men of the 7th Highland Light Infantry are now employed under the Ministry of Munitions at Morecambe on unskilled labour; how long have they been so employed; how many of them, in addition to ordinary civil pay, are being paid subsistence allowance to enable them to maintain two homes; and whether these men could be more usefully employed at less cost to the nation in Glasgow, where their homes are?

Twenty-eight Army Reserve munitions workers transferred to Reserve W from the Highland Light Infantry are employed at Morecambe. They started work there originally on 13th September last as a military working party, but were passed to Reserve W on 28th February; eighteen of these men are receiving subsistence allowance. As far as possible Army Reserve munitions workers are placed near their homes, but in cases like this of Morecambe, where local labour is not available for important munitions work, it is necessary to transfer labour from elsewhere. These men will be returned to the Glasgow district if at any time it is found possible to place them there on munitions work and at the same time to provide substitutes for them at Morecambe.

asked at whose suggestion Mr. Brand was recently appointed Deputy-Assistant Inspector at Woolwich Arsenal just at the moment when his last appeal against military service had failed; and what are his special qualifications, what is the nature of the work, what is the salary, what is his age, and what is his military category?

Mr. Brand's application for employment by the Ministry was considered by the officers responsible for the selection of a suitable staff. His qualifications are that he is a qualified engineer. He is employed in the inspection of gun ammunition. His salary is £300 per annum. He is thirty-two years of age, and his medical category is C 1.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he communicated with the War Office before accepting this man; whether he is aware that the War Office has been trying for months to get this man into the Army, and why he is sheltered like this?

I am not aware of this, but I will inquire.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will grant to the Munitions Inventions Department the power to exempt from active service men who, in their opinion, would render better service to their country by perfecting inventions of naval and military utility than by bearing arms?

The Ministry of Munitions may, in consultation with the Army Council, grant exemption from active service to men employed by the Munitions Inventions Department of the Ministry on the work of perfecting inventions of naval and military utility, where it appears to be to the advantage of the public service to do so.

Is it not a fact that very often, when men have been recommended for exemption from military service, those recommendations have never been listened to?

If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any such case, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the Regulation preventing employers in the building and other trades engaging men to do other than Government work has been withdrawn?

I have been asked to answer this question. In view of special arrangements which have been made by the National Service Department with the representatives of employers and workpeople in the building trade for the release of men to act as substitutes and reinformcements in essential industries, it has been agreed that the provisions of the Restricted Occupations Order shall not in future be enforced as regards that trade. Similar arrangements have been come to as regards certain other trades covered by the Schedule to the Restricted Occupations Order.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Treasury ruling which deprives a pensioner of his pension or so much thereof as, together with the wages he is able to earn on re-entering the employment of the Crown, is in excess of the wages he was earning at the time of his discharge to pension, deters men from reentering; and whether he will at once consider the desirability of making the conditions of re-entry more attractive by increasing the amount of the pension for each year's or part of a year's service, or by offering a gratuity to those who re-enter?

We are aware that some workmen who have been pensioned from the Dockyard service are not willing to re-enter service under the conditions prescribed in the Superannuation Act, 1834, namely, that only such portion of their superannuation allowances shall be payable as may be required to make their emoluments equal to those they were in receipt of prior to being superannuated. The matter has been repeatedly under consideration, and it has been decided that the advantages to be gained by altering the conditions with a view to attracting to the Dockyard service a few workmen who have previously been superannuated from that service are not sufficient to warrant any special steps being taken in the matter.

asked whether any decision in the matter of pension has been taken with regard to the mother of Michael Cosgrove, stoker, Royal Naval Auxiliary, who appears to have lost his life in the Mediterranean early in the year 1916?

The case of Michael Cosgrove has been gone into anew in consequence of my hon. Friend's question of 21st February. I then replied that he disappeared on the night of 1st February, 1916, and the presumption was that he had deserted. Further investigation has led us to arrive at the decision to withdraw that presumption, and I am very glad to have an opportunity of stating this. In consequence of this revision, it has been found possible by the Ministry of Pensions to award his mother a pension of 5s. a week, the amount of prior dependence, with effect from 3rd August, 1916.

asked the Pensions Minister whether the new Royal Warrant for officers has yet received the sanction of the Treasury, and when the House will have an opportunity of discussing it?

I have found it necessary since the draft Warrant was submitted to the Treasury to consider further certain of its provisions. With regard to the question of a discussion in the House, the question should be addressed to the Leader of the House.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say when the Warrant will be issued?

No, I cannot say definitely, but I hope very shortly. The hon. Member will appreciate that it is a very difficult thing to formulate, and it is much better to wait a little time to get it right than to bring it in prematurely.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether, when it is brought in, it will also include the nurses?

Yes, it does include the nurses.

asked whether the enlargement of the Board of Admiralty, so that some members deal exclusively with the conduct of the War and others with administration and material, means in practice that the Board as a whole will not meet but that certain members will be summoned according as the subject under discussion belongs to one of the two categories?

It is not intended to depart from the traditional practice of holding meetings of the Board of Admiralty.

asked whether vessels which are torpedoed, and which are brought into port or beached and can be repaired, are included in the weekly Admiralty statistics as unsuccessfully attacked or are excluded from the statistics altogether?

These vessels are excluded from the Returns.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is yet in a position to make a statement with regard to the granting the rate of chief petty officer to sailmakers in the Royal Navy?

The rating of chief petty officer has already been established for sailmakers.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the steam trawler "Gretta II." was brought into Aberdeen for repair of her boiler by order of his Department; whether an offer of a new boiler was there made for £800 by the firm of Abernethy which would have enabled the boat to go to sea within four weeks; whether the offer was refused, and repairs to her boiler at the cost of £1,100 proceeded with which took six months' time, during which time a substitute boat on hire at £120 per week had to be found, which hire amounted in the end to £3,000; if so, will he say who was responsible for this transaction?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative; but no such offer as that referred to in the second part of the question was received from the firm mentioned, nor from any other firm. The cost and period of repairs are approximately as stated, but a suitable new boiler could not have been obtained at the price mentioned, nor was it considered that a new boiler could be made as cheaply and quickly as the old one could be repaired. No substitute vessel was engaged; and no such rate as that quoted in the latter part of the question is paid for any trawler under Admiralty charter.

Was that sum not paid for the boat itself?

I do not understand. We did not engage any substitute.

Was that the price paid by the Admiralty for the boat which was undergoing repairs?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put down a question.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he could briefly define the functions of the Board of Invention and Research; whether that Board has power to accept or reject inventions dealing with the submarine menace only or all inventions relating to the Navy; what salary the President of the Board receives; how often the Board meets; and how many sittings the President has attended during the last twelve months?

The functions of the Board of Invention and Research are: The Board considers all inventions relating to naval warfare and acts in an advisory capacity to the Admiralty. It has funds at its disposal for carrying out trials and experiments, and possesses full facilities for arriving at a decision whether an invention is worthy of adoption or not; but the adoption of an invention is subject to the approval of the Board of Admiralty. The general superintendence of the Board of Invention and Research is reserved to the First Lord, to whom it has direct access.

The Central Committee meets once a week; the Panel once every six weeks; and the Sub-Committees hold meetings at frequent intervals as the circumstances require. The President has attended fifty-four sittings during the last twelve months

asked which of the members of the Admiralty Board of Invention and Research, including the Central Committee and the consulting panel, receive remuneration for their services, and how much they respectively receive; and whether the paid members of the Board are expected to and do attend the meetings of the Board with regularity?

The answer to the first part of the question is as follows: The President—£1,350 a year, in addition to retired pay.

Vice-Admiral Sir Richard H. Peirse, K.C.B., M.V.O. (naval member of Central Committee)—£1,530 a year.

Professor W. H. Bragg, F.R.S. (member of Panel)—Whilst occupying the post of Resident Director of Research at an Admiralty Experimental Station, professorial salary of £1,000 a year at the University of London is refunded by the Admiralty to the university authorities.

Dr. Dugald Clerk, F.R.S. (member of Panel)—As Director of Engineering Research at the Admiralty Engineering Laboratory, City and Guilds (Engineering) College, South Kensington, is entitled to repayment of out-of-pocket expenses to an amount not exceeding £600 a year.

The answer to the latter part of the question is in the affirmative.

Does this Board of Invention and Research act also for the War Office or is there a separate Board for the War Office?

I think they act for the Admiralty only.

I am very loth to ask my right hon. Friend this question, but I would like to know, in view of the great disfavour which this Board, rightly or wrongly, has brought upon itself, whether I should be allowed to show some of the hundreds of letters of complaint which I have received with a view to the reconstruction of the Board?

I could not say at all whether the complaints are well-founded or not, but I feel quite sure the Central Committee would investigate any complaints made to them.

Can we be informed whether any statement of the practicable needs of the Admiralty and the Fleet in general terms has been formulated and given to the Board of Inventions, and whether he would allow the House to see it?

Order, order!

asked the Postmaster-General if the Post Office superintending engineer, Ireland, who left England apparently to evade the Military Service Acts, and who is still of military age, did not during the Irish rebellion approach the danger zone, whilst the work of establishing and maintaining communications in the firing zone was successfully performed by an Irishman; if it was only when the work could be performed in absolute safety that the engineer referred to was accorded any assistance; if he was ignored in subsequent public congratulations and announcements; and if any official recognition has been accorded this officer for his work?

The officer referred to left England, at the order of his superior officer, having been selected, against his own wish, as the best qualified of the various officers available for the control of engineering services in Ireland, and has discharged his duties, both during and since the rebellion, to my entire satisfaction. As he left nine months before the passing of the first Military Service Act, it is obvious that he did not leave Eng- land to escape military service; and throughout the disturbances he moved freely about the zone of danger without regard for personal safety. If any member of his staff considers that services rendered by him have not been recognised adequately, it is open to him to lay a statement of the circumstances before his superior officers.

asked the Postmaster-General if he aware that for the period from August, 1914, to April, 1915 the Post Office engineering branch in Ireland was controlled by an Irishman, acting as superintending engineer, assisted by other Irishmen, and that when the acting superintending engineer joined His Majesty's forces, although over military age, he was replaced by an Englishman of military age, who brought over with him six personal friends, some of whom were of military age, to be placed in charge of elections over the heads of Irishmen who had been carrying on the work satisfactorily; and if he will say whether the volume of work in this Department was greater during the period August, 1914 to April, 1915 than during any similar period since?

I do not know whether the officer alluded to is an Irishman. He joined the Army at his own desire. The officer sent to Ireland to take charge of Post Office engineering work there as superintending engineer in April, 1915, was not consulted in the selection of the staff which accompanied him. On this point I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question of the 2nd April. The last part of the hon. Member's question could not be answered without an examination of statistics, which I am not prepared to undertake.

asked the Postmaster-General what amount was expended by the Post Office engineering branch in the removal to Ireland in April, 1915, of the households of seven engineering officers; and if the amount was debited to the Irish account?

£442 9s. 7d.; there is no separate Irish account for such expenditure.

asked the Postmaster-General whether Mr. Allinson, a conscientious objector, is employed in doing censorship work; and will he take the necessary steps to remove this man from this appointment and hand him over to do such work in France as will ensure his remuneration being more on a par with that received by men who are fighting in the trenches?

I must ask my hon. Friend to furnish more precise information, as I can trace no individual of the name mentioned employed in the postal censorship who answers to this description. If my hon. Friend refers to anyone employed at the Press Bureau, it will be for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to reply.

I will certainly supply the information.

asked the Home Secretary who are the members of the Committee appointed to find work for conscientious objectors; when and by whom was this Committee appointed; how many conscientious objectors have been found employment in work connected with the Government; and is it intended that loyal Government employés with relations at the front should be turned out of Government emlpoyment because they refuse to work with or supervise the work of conscientious objectors?

This Committee was appointed by the Home Secretary, and the names have been published. The number of men claiming to be conscientious objectors who have been employed in work connected with Government Departments under the Home Office scheme is thirty-eight. The last part of the question does not appear to concern my Department.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that men in employment necessary for carrying on the War are taken for the Army if they keep bad time, he can say for what reason men of military age who strike against the orders of their trades union leaders are not treated in the same way?

My hon. and gallant Friend is not quite correct in his statement of the position with regard to men who keep bad time. The protection given to skilled men in certain trades engaged on Government work and to men in certified occupation is subject to withdrawal if the men are shown to have a bad record for absence from work. Each case, however, must be the subject of investigation, as it is obvious that there might be a reasonable explanation for a man's absence from work, such as domestic affliction, ill-health, etc. My hon. and gallant Friend will, therefore, see that the putting into force of the suggestion he makes is not so simple as would appear from his question. I would also refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions last Thursday.

In the case of men who are only not called up for military service because they are considered more necessary for other work, should not those men if they refuse to work, be taken by the Army?

I think they should, if they come under the Military Service Acts.

asked the Home Secretary if, under the Representation of the People Bill, no Parliamentary borough with a population exceeding 50,000 inhabitants is to be in any way interfered with by any scheme of redistribution of seats?

The representation of the Parliamentary boroughs will be determined in accordance with the recommendations of the Speaker's Conference. In no case will a borough of 50,000 inhabitants lose its separate representation in Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister as the redistribution proposals of the Representation of the People Bill are based on the assumption that the Home Rule Act reducing the Irish representation in this House is put into operation, and should such Act become inoperative, will he say what basis for representation in Great Britain the Government proposes to adopt?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The proposals of the Speaker's Conference on Electoral Reform, which will be embodied in the Representation of the People Bill are made upon the basis that the number of Members of the House of Commons for Great Britain shall remain substantially as at present. It is, therefore, not the fact that the Bill is based on any assumption as to the operation of the Home Rule Act, and the question put by my right hon. Friend does not arise.

(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister when an opportunity will be given for the discussion of the Instructions to the Boundary Commissioners?

An opportunity for a discussion on the recommendations of Mr. Speaker's Conference on the subject of Redistribution, upon which the Instructions are based, will arise in the Debate on the Motion for the Second Reading of the Bill.

Will there be any opportunity of moving Amendments?

In Committee.

Will they be part of the Bill?

asked the Home Secretary if he has received a resolution from the urban district council of Hetton, county Durham, calling attention to the increase of Sunday trading in that district during recent years; what steps the Home Office proposes to reduce what is regarded as a growing evil; and what powers do the police or other authorities possess to check the same?

I have received the resolution referred to in the question. I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the question of the hon. Member for Swansea District on the 27th April, and to previous questions on the same subject. Sunday trading is prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, by the Sunday Observance Act of 1677, and it is open to the local authorities if they see fit to take proceedings under that Act.

Will my right hon. Friend send me copies of the answer to which he alludes?

Certainly.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has noticed that, since July, 1914, in divisions in this House on matters affecting Ireland all English parties have combined to outvote and defeat the party claiming to represent Irish Nationalists; that the leaders of that party frequently complain of having been betrayed, contemptuously ignored, and a policy pursued opposed to that which they advised; that every memorial and resolution sent to the Government, or to any Member of the Government, by an Irish corporation, county, borough, or district council, or other representative body on a matter of Irish importance has been similarly treated, and the opposite policy pursued; that all forms of justice and civil law have been abrogated; that men not subject to military law have been, in contravention of English statutes, tried by secret courts-martial, some executed, and many sent to penal servitude, where they still are; that many, without charge or trial, have been deported to England, where they still are; that no public meeting of protest is allowed; that elected public bodies are warned not to call attention to these things; that so much of the public Press as is not silenced by bribes is silenced by Government authority; that Ireland is held and ruled as a conquered country by a large army of occupation; that its appeals to neutral countries, in the absence of constitutional government, are intercepted and prevented; that the Irish people, forced by these facts to withdraw their representation from Westminster and look elsewhere for justice, now trust and rely upon themselves alone, Sinn Fein amain; and whether he has any statement to make on the international, the English, or the Irish aspect of this situation?

:I can add nothing to previous statements on this subject.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state when the statements were made on this subject and by whom?

It would be rather difficult to say from memory. A great many have been made both by the Prime Minister and other members of the Government.

asked the Prime Minister, having regard to the declaration of the new Russian Government that the integrity and independence of Poland must be restored and the declaration of the American Government that the lasting peace to be aimed at in the War must be founded upon equality of rights without distinction between big nations and small, and must apply equally to those subject to the Entente Powers as to those subject to the Central Powers, whether the corresponding British declaration of concurrence in this will be made without further delay or withheld until compelled by American pressure; and whether it will be put into practice in Ireland where there is no other foreign Power to oppose?

I can add nothing to the statements already made in this House on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is with the concurrence of the War Cabinet that the Home Office and the Irish Office use the emergency powers of the State to damage the professional prospects and destroy the means of living of political opponents not tried for or charged with any illegality; whether his attention has been called to the letters from the Home Office to administrative bodies in this country preventing them on political grounds from appointing Dr. M'Cartan as medical officer, when the need for such an officer was intensified by the demands of the War; whether his attention has been called to the Order of the Irish Office preventing on political grounds the Galway County Council from paying Mr. George Nicolls his salary as coroner in accordance with his contract, although he povides a competent substitute for discharging the duties during his banishment; whether he is aware that, in addition to the personal and professional injury to these two gentlemen in arresting them, tearing them from their families and affairs, and banishing them from their country without charge or trial, their families and dependants suffer sufficiently without this additional suffering imposed by the Departments mentioned; whether both these gentlemen demand a trial, even by a jury in one of the counties proposed to be excluded from Home Rule, and that it is under emergency legislation a trial is denied them; and, in view of his recent admission that since the War began English rule has transformed Ireland from the one bright spot into the one menacing prospect, whether the War Cabinet will, on the example of Russia, reverse its policy and leave Ireland to exercise the right common to all nations of ruling herself?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. Dr. M'Cartan and Mr. George Nicholls were among the persons who by order of a competent military authority, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in Ireland, were in February last prohibited from residing in Ireland. The Order remains in force, and His Majesty's Government do not at present see any reason for overruling the discretion which is reposed in the Commander-in-Chief under the Defence of the Realm Act.

Will the right hon. Gentleman or the Leader of the House inform the House whether the state of Ireland revealed in these questions is satisfactory?

I am not sure that the state of Ireland is revealed in the questions.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he has read the opinion expressed by his predecessor in this House on 11th May last that with regard to the rank and file in the Dublin insurrection, many of them very young men, even lads, the conduct in their case was a merely venial and pardonable error; whether the prolonged detention of youths in penal servitude for pardonable political errors will come up for consideration at the approaching International Peace Conference; whether the ten Irish youths under nineteen years of age now in penal servitude at Lewes for those pardonable errors will be released now or detained until the peace conference has given a decision on the subject; (2) whether he is aware that Cornelius Colbert, executed in Dublin on 8th May last, on the unsupported hearsay evidence of Major Armstrong, on the charge of having fought at Jacob's biscuit factory, at his trial offered to produce evidence that he had not been at Jacob's at all; that the president of the secret Court replied that it would make no difference whether Colbert's statement was proved or not, and that Colbert was convicted and executed on a charge which he was thus prevented from disproving, and which numerous competent witnesses are still available to disprove; this case being typical of all the cases then tried by secret courts-martial, whether there is any reason but these defects for concealing the reports of those trials, whether a public unrestricted inquiry, to be presided over by a judge from one of the Allied countries, will be instituted into the Irish insurrection of 1916, the constitution and conduct of the secret Courts, and the charges and evidence against the accused; pending its Report, whether those now in penal servitude by order of those secret courts-martial will be released; (3) whether the attention of the Government has been called, in the evidence of Major Armstrong, the uncorroborated witness against Mr. William T. Cosgrave, a member of the Dublin Corporation, now in penal servitude under sentence of a secret court-martial for an unspecified political offence in Ireland, to the fact that no specific charge was made, nor any time, place, date, or other essential particular of an offence proved or even alleged; that the only evidence of Mr. Cosgrave having been armed was the absence of his name from a list of persons believed not to have been armed; that Major Armstrong was unable to say what arms Mr. Cosgrave bore; that, this case being typical, the entire lack of legal evidence is the reason for concealing the reports of the secret courts-martial; whether these circumstances have been discussed with the American Government in connection with the desired alliance; whether they are among the matters to be submitted to the International Peace Conference after the War; meanwhile whether those now in penal servitude by order of those secret courts-martial will be released; (4 having regard to the fact that of the three charges which Eamonn Kent was convicted and executed on the 8th May last in Dublin on the unsupported hearsay evidence of Major Armstrong, of the first charge, that Kent had been fighting in Jacob's biscuit factory, no evidence was given, and it could have been, and can still be, disproved by many competent witnesses; of the second charge, that Kent had been armed, no evidence was given beyond the statement that a list was taken of all who had surrendered, from this a subsequent list extracted of all who were believed to have been unarmed, and that, since the accused was not on the latter list, he must be presumed to have been armed; and of the third charge, that Kent had signed the republican proclamation, no evidence was offered but the fact of his name appearing in print on that proclamation, the conviction being therefore legally bad from lack of evidence, the execution being consequently illegal, this case being typical of all then tried by secret courts-martial, the restricted reference to the Hardinge Commission having prevented a full inquiry, even some of the restricted evidence obtained by it having been suppressed; whether the Government will now, in the interest of justice and the credit of the Empire, institute a public unrestricted inquiry into the Irish insurrection of 1916, the constitution and conduct of the secret courts, and the charges, witnesses, and evidence against the accused, and, pending its report, release from penal servitude all those convicted by those secret courts-martial; (5) whether, as a preliminary to any fresh proposal regarding the government of Ireland, he is in a position to announce the immediate release of the 130 Irish political prisoners now suffering penal servitude by order of secret courts-martial; whether the Countess Markievicz, who has spent twelve months in solitary confinement while the men imprisoned for the same offence are allowed intercourse, will be released with the others; and whether he can also announce the immediate release of the Irishmen deported from Ireland without charge or trial?

The Prime Minister has asked me to deal with these questions. The time has not arrived for reopening the cases referred to in these questions.

That is nearly a contemptuous answer. Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether the Court mentioned in some of these questions was the same Court which tried and sentenced the hon. Member for Longford (Mr. J. MacGuinness)?

I have nothing to add to the answer I have given.

Can the right hon. Gentleman deny that it was the same Court?

I have still nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister when a day will be given for a discussion of the Motion on Arterial Drainage (Ireland) standing in the name of the hon. Member for Leix?—"That, in view of the absolute necessity for protecting, maintaining, and developing the sources of food supply during the War and after, this House is of opinion that a scheme of arterial drainage for Ireland should be at once formulated and put into effect, in order to render available for food production the immense tracts of land at present rendered useless by the flooding of Irish river."]— [Mr. Patrick Meehan.]

asked the Prime Minister when a day will be given for a discussion of the Motion on Agriculture (Ireland) standing in the name of the hon. Member for Leix?—["That, as food is the first want and its procuration the first work of a country, and in view of the vital necessity of developing the sources of food supply during the War and after, this House is of opinion that prompt and effective steps should be taken to make the untenanted grass land of Ireland available for tillage by vesting the Estates Commissioners and the Congested Districts Board with increased powers and facilities, or otherwise."]— [Mr. Patrick Meehan.]

I cannot give special facilities for the discussion of the Motions referred to. Both subjects can, I understand, be raised in Debate on the Irish Estimates.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of further extending the advantages of the daylight-saving system by utilising a second hour during the period of longest daylight, so as to produce a maximum of economy in national resources?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. The question of advancing the time by a second hour during the period of longest daylight was considered by the Departmental Committee, but they reported adversely to the proposal. Very few suggestions in favour of this course were received by them, and they were of opinion that it would lead to inconvenience and confusion. The Government do not propose, therefore, to take any steps in the direction suggested.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction that exists throughout this country with the administration of the Department of the Food Controller; and, under these circumstances, if he can see his way clear to appoint a special Committee to inquire into and report upon the administration of the Food Controller, with powers to discover the books and documents of any firm that may be involved in such inquiry, and also with power to examine witnesses on oath?

The answer is in the negative.

Might I ask whether he is aware that grave charges are being made on public platforms throughout the country and otherwise as to the administration of the Food Controller generally, and whether, if this continues, he will either take action against the people making the charges or appoint a Committee?

It depends upon the people who make the charges. We shall take no action unless we think that there is some foundation for doing so.

Has the right hon. Gentleman noticed that the statement made by the Director of Food Economy in Edinburgh differs from the statement of the Prime Minister in the Secret Session?

No, I have not noticed it.

asked the Prime Minister whether Mr. Gilbert Augustin Tonge, of Kearley and Tonge, governing director of the International Tea Stores, holds any paid or unpaid post under the Government or is or has been called in any capacity, consulting or otherwise, by the Ministry of Food?

I have been asked to reply. The answer is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will call on persons who are directly or indirectly concerned, paid or unpaid, with the Ministry of Food to make a statutory declaration of any interests they may hold either directly or through the medium of nominees in any company, trading concern, or undertaking, British or Foreign, which may be directly or indirectly affected by market fluctuation occasioned by food regulations or any other cause attributable to the actions of the Ministry of Food?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the work of the employment exchanges and local war pensions committees, and the various bodies which are co-operating with them in finding employment for partially disabled men, would be facilitated if they had ready to hand a national roll of employers willing to engage such men now, and to continue to do so as long as the need exists; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I am not convinced that the best interests of disabled men would be served by the preparation of a national roll of employers willing to employ such men.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the further arrangements for finding employment for partially disabled men under post-war conditions, which is under the consideration of His Majesty's Government, due weight will be given to the enhanced difficulty of the problem after the demobilisation of the forces, when the labour market will be flooded by able-bodied men seeking for employment, whom employers will naturally be inclined to engage in preference to those suffering under any physical disability?

The considerations mentioned in the question are being borne in mind in the preparations of plans for dealing with the problems which will arise after the War.

Does the remark of the right hon. Gentleman allude to his public statements respecting the demobilisation of the Forces, or, as this question implies, does it deal with men who are already out of the War on account of their discharge or disablement?

I understand that such men have been replaced very rapidly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service whether he is aware that dissatisfaction prevails among the men who have enrolled as professional and commercial men on the special register owing to the employment he is offering to them of an unsuitable character; and will he make inquiries into the matter?

I have been asked by my hon. Friend to answer this question as the work of placing professional and commercial men has been entrusted by the Director-General of National Service to the professional and business register of the Ministry of Labour. I am not aware of the dissatisfaction referred to by the hon. Member, but if he will inform me of any specific cases I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service whether he can give the amount of money expended on the National Service Department since its formation to the 30th April last; can he specify the amount spent on advertising, including the cost of paper and printing; how many national volunteers were enrolled up to the 30th April last; and how many have been placed in employment?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is, approximately, £104,000, of which sum £1,150 has been paid in subsistence allowances, and £150 in railway fares for volunteers. The amount spent on advertising is, approximately, £78,000. The number of National Service volunteers enrolled up to the 30th April was 307,005, of whom, approximately, 130,000 were munition workers or otherwise not available for putting into other employment than that on which they were engaged. The number actually placed up to 4th May (the date taken for statistical purposes) is returned by the Employment Exchanges as 9,092.

Are we to understand from that statement that it takes £100,000 to fix up 9,000 men?