asked the Minister of Munitions whether the Gretna Tavern at Carlisle is furnished with chairs bearing the royal monogram; and whether His Gracious Majesty's consent was obtained for this use of the Royal monogram?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It has been the practice from time immemorial to affix the Royal monogram on all articles of furniture supplied for official use to denote that it is the property of His Majesty's Government.

Is it put on the bottles?

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, on the occasion of His Gracious Majesty's recent visit to Carlisle, the Royal Standard was flown from the flagstaff of the Gretna Tavern; and whether this was done with his sanction?

In accordance with the Office of Works Regulations, the Royal Standard was flown during the time their Majesties were in the building. No sanction on the part of my right hon. Friend was asked or was necessary.

Is not the Royal Standard the personal emblem of the Sovereign, and does the Minister think it consistent with His Majesty's well-known desire to limit the consumption of alcoholic drink during the War to encourage and advertise that sale under the Royal Standard itself?

Is it not a fact that at the Gretna Tavern not more than 10 per cent. of the receipts are from alcoholic liquors and that the purpose of the tavern is to discourage the consumption of alcoholic liquor and to encourage the sale of non-intoxicating drinks and food?

In answer to the second supplementary question, that is so, and it is within the knowledge of all who have taken the trouble to get acquainted with the facts. In reply to the supplementary question put by the hon. Member (Mr. Molteno), I think it is quite a natural thing that the Royal Standard should be flown on this occasion, and it was flown in accordance with the Regulations.

Was anything else flowing?

Was His Majesty's permission obtained? I asked if the Royal Standard is not under the personal control of the Sovereign. It is not so with the Union Jack, which is the official flag. I understand that the Royal Standard is the personal flag of the Sovereign.

On a point of Order. Is it not your ruling, Sir, that the name of His Majesty shall not be introduced into Debate, especially with a view to influencing opinion? That introduction certainly influenced mine.

That is so; but this is Question Time, not a Debate.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the district under the Liquor Control Board of the Gretna area is situated mostly in the county of Dumfriesshire, which has long been the county affording the least facilities for drinking in the United Kingdom, inasmuch as there are no public-houses in more than one-half of its parishes; and whether the Central Liquor Control Board will have some regard to the views and wishes of its inhabitants, who view with concern the association of the sale of drink with places of public entertainment and amusement and its provisions under the auspices of the State?

The Control Board have reduced the number of licences which they have acquired in Dumfriesshire by nearly 50 per cent. The constitution of their local advisory committee keeps them very closely in touch with the views and wishes of the inhabitants of those parts of the county which are within the sphere of the Board's undertaking, and the representatives of the local authorities of most of the remaining parts of the county recently expressed a strong desire for the extension of the Board's undertaking over their own districts.

Can the hon. Gentleman explain how it is that the hon. Member for Dumfriesshire (Mr. Molteno) in one question is so anxious to discourage the sale of liquor and in the next to increase the number of public houses?

May I ask how it is that the local advisory committee is kept in ignorance of the concerns upon which it is supposed to advise, and that its opinion is not regarded when it is given?

The answer is that it is not so. In reply to the first supplementary question, I have not made an effort to understand it, and I do not intend to.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether every order for a court martial to inquire into the loss of a ship still contains the words, used for several centuries, pursuant to the custom of the Navy to inquire into the loss of the said ship.

The words used are, "to inquire into the cause of the loss of His Majesty's ship—, and to try—," that is to say, the survivors. The words "Pursuant to the custom of the Navy" are not used and have not been used for a number of years.

How many years?

I could not say offhand.

Since 1907?

Long before that. The words prior to 1908 were "to inquire into the loss of His Majesty's ship—and to try—for their conduct on the occasion." The words "for their conduct on the occasion" dropped out in 1908, no doubt as being unnecessary. There was no other change in the form.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many warships have been lost in the present War; in how many of these cases have there been courts-martial, in accordance with the established rules and practice or the Service up to the year 1907; whether any of these courts-martial have been held in public or their proceedings subsequently published as in former times; and whether even the full terms of reference, word for word, on which the courts were to conduct their proceedings have ever been made public?

It would manifestly not be in the public interest to reply to the first two parts of the question. As regards the third, generally speaking, all courts-martial are public, but in exceptional cases where matters of a confidential nature have to be referred to, permission is given by the Admiraty under King's Regulation 674 to close the court while the confidential matters are under examination. There is no such thing as terms of reference in connection with courts-martial. The order convening a court-martial is made on the form which my hon. and gallant Friend can see in the "Manual of Naval Law."

Has the public had access to any court-martial for the loss of His Majesty's warships during the course of this War?

I should like to have notice of that question. My hon. and gallant Friend knows that a Regulation was issued in the early part of the War, Regulation 674, which provided that during the War the Admiralty may give sanction for proceedings to be held in private.

Have we had any single case of the publication of any evidence or even of the verdicts, except incomplete verdicts, in answer to questions in this House?

I am afraid I cannot answer a detailed question of that sort without notice.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, having regard to the fact that the first break with the established rules and practice of the Navy of holding courts-martial on the survivors to inquire into the loss of a warship was in the case of the destroyer H.M.S. "Ariel," lost on 19th April, 1907, when the regulations were introduced under Article 663 making the convening of courts-martial in such cases subject to any orders from time to time made by the Admiralty?

Article 666 of the King's Regulations was introduced in 1908.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of food if his attention has been called to the fact that sugar is being sold in the Floodgate Street area of Birmingham at two ounces a penny; and what steps he proposes to take to stop such a price being charged to poor persons?

The attention of the Food Controller has been called to the practice referred to in the question. The sale of sugar in very small quantities clearly involves additional expense to the retailer. I am, however, making inquiries with a view to taking action if desirable. Local co-operative effort on behalf of poor persons might in such cases effect more good than official action.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it strange that in these various questions put down with regard to the rise in prices, the Food Controller seems to find a reasonable reason why it should be done? Is that by way of excuse, or an actual fact?

No, Sir; I wish to make it perfectly clear that I think this is an undoubtedy excessive charge to make upon poor persons, but under existing arrangements the only way this can be dealt with is to stop the supply of the retailer—the present allowance granted to the retailer through the medium of the wholesaler. It might be very difficult. However, investigation is being made into this particular case.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in many poor parts of London queues of people have to wait outside grocers' shops in order to get the necessary supplies of sugar?

Yes, Sir; but it may be interesting to mention that even under the ticket system prevailing in Germany there are queues equally long.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if his attention has been called to advertisements in Birmingham asking for offers of half a ton of sugar at 6d. per lb., spot cash, for ice-cream purposes; and what steps he proposes to take to stop such large diversions of sugar for more useful purposes.

A copy of an advertisement to this effect has been received by the Ministry of Food. No one would be entitled, in answer to such an advertisement, to supply with sugar anyone whom he did not supply in 1915, and in the event of his doing so his sugar allowances would be liable to be suspended. The quantity of sugar used in the manufacture of ice-cream is inconsiderable, and the Food Controller does not at present propose to prohibit its use for this purpose.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can explain why American white refined sugar is being imported at a premium of £10 per ton when Cuban raw sugar is available in this country; and why some of the largest wholesale distributors in the, country have been refused supplies of the same for the grocery trade after that trade had expressed its readiness to accept and use this unrefined quality?

A certain quantity of American granulated sugar has been purchased to meet the requirements of fruit preserving, for which Cuban raw sugar is quite unsuitable. Supplies of Cuban raw sugar to wholesale distributors have been refused because, as has already been explained, the impurities in sugar of that description render it unsuitable for general consumption as a grocery sugar. It contains iron, and if strawberry jam were made with it it would turn it black.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the Sugar Commission in their dealings with sugar planters always ask them to supply low grades, that is, refinery sugar polarising 96 per cent.; whether he is aware that such action is largely influenced by the refiners, who are anxious to keep their refineries open; and whether sugar planters, if they had been asked to supply a higher-grade sugar which could be sold direct to the public, could equally well supply it?

The Sugar Commission do not usually deal direct with planters, nor does the Commission influence in any way the character of the sugar which planters produce. That has been determined long ago by the methods practised and the plant employed in treating the juice of the sugar cane, and it does not lie with the Sugar Commission to alter it. The influence of the refiners does not affect the policy of the Commission.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, in reference to a recent statement on behalf of the Department regarding impurities in raw Cuban and Java centrifugal sugars, will he say whether the refiners have from time to time melted raws the polariscope test of which was 97 to 98 degrees and if the alleged high percentage of impurities is overstated, and will he produce copies of the analysis of sugars melted during the last three months; and will he say whether the polariscope test of Cuban raws now being refined is higher than that of the Jamaica and Demarara raws which the Royal Commission allocate for grocery use?

The question appears to be based on the supposition that the polariscope test of sugar is indicative of the impurities that may be mixed with the sugar. This, however, is not the case, as sugars showing a high polariscope reading may contain a large percentage of impurities, rendering them unfit for direct human consumption. Conversely sugars with a low polariscope reading may be relatively free from such impurities. There appears therefore to be no reason for furnishing the analyses asked for, as it would involve a large amount of unnecessary labour.

Having regard to the fact that the hon. and gallant Gentleman the other day made some serious suggestions about the impurities of this sugar, why should he not be able to give us the analysis which was made previously when I asked my question?

Because there would be nothing gained if the analysis desired is one which will result from the polariscope test. The polariscope is effective in determining the amount of sucrose in the sugar itself—that is, the amount of saccharine matter—but it would not be effective in making any determination with regard to such adulterants as beetles, lice or lizards.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman allow any tests of impurity previous to my asking my question, and then we will go into the lizard question afterwards?

I am trying to point out that no test would, in fact be effective. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will have a little discussion upon the chemical side of the problem after questions. I should like to invite him to come and see the collection now to be found in the Sugar Commission museum. As a zoologist it would interest him.

Is that a collection obtained since I asked my question or before?

Before. It is still awaiting the right hon. Gentleman's inspection.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he proposes to take any steps to secure that the allotment holders of Lambourne shall have their crops protected from the ravages of rabbits proceeding from the London County Council property of Hainault Forest; and whether he is aware that up to the present time the London County Council have refused in their letters to the Board of Agriculture to assist in any way?

My hon. Friend has asked me to take this question, as matters relating to the growing of crops in this country fall to the Board of Agriculture and not the Ministry of Food. As I understand it, the London County Council have decided that they would not be justified in fencing the allotments in question, and I can only refer my right hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to his previous question on the subject on the 23rd of last month. Under the Rabbits Order, 1917, the Agricultural Executive Committee for the county of Essex may authorise in writing any person to enter upon any land in the county for the purpose of killing and taking rabbits.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that a considerable piece of uncultivated land at present used for grazing a few sheep is attached to the military barracks at Bodmin, in Cornwall, and that efforts have been made locally to obtain the permission of the military authorities for the cultivation of this land by the planting of potatoes or cereals, but that permission has been persistently refused; and whether, in view of the fact that such refusal in its effect upon the public, especially in a small town, is discouraging to the national effort now being made to increase the production of food, he will endeavour to obtain from the military authorities permission for this land to be let to a suitable person or persons for the purpose of cultivation in the national interests?

The Board have not received any representations on this matter, but they will communicate with the War Office at once as desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Government have consulted the executive of the National Utility Poultry Society, or other practical poultry farmers, as to the steps to be taken to save the poultry industry of the country; and, if so, what has been the result of such consultation?

I have already received a deputation representing the leading poultry clubs, including the National Utility Poultry Society, and have made arrangements for the appointment of an advisory committee to consider the means to be adopted to safeguard the interests of the industry at the present time.

asked whether any special foods, in addition to tail corn, are to be set aside to provide the country with home-produced eggs?

The question of the allocation of special foods such as tail or damaged corn and biscuit dust will be considered by the Advisory Committee referred to in the hon. Member's previous question.

Is the destruction of poultry going on?

I hope not. The advice of the Board has been that as long as the poultry are laying it would be a damage to the public interest to destroy them, and they must be kept going as cheaply as possible till that period is over.

May we hope for a decision from the Board and the Advisory Committee before the laying season is over.

I will certainly make every endeavour.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Government propose to take any steps to exterminate foxes in order to permit farmers to let their poultry wander about the fields so that they may be kept at a minimum expenditure of grain foods?

The Board have on several occasions impressed on the Master of Foxhounds Association the importance of reducing the number of foxes, and the great majority of the hunts have taken effective action in this direction. They have also agreed that no objection will be raised to the shooting of foxes by farmers whenever they are doing serious damage.

Will my right hon. Friend consider offering a reward for every fox shot?

I do not think we could do that.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether representations were made to him by the Canadian Ministers during their recent visit to this country on the subject of the prohibition of the landing of Canadian cattle except for slaughter at the port of debarkation; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?

Up to October, 1892, Canadian cattle could be landed in this country without being subject to slaughter at the port of landing. During 1892 foot and mouth disease and pleuro-pneumonia scourged the continent of Europe, and the landing of foreign cattle from those European countries, which had been previously treated on the same footing as Canada, was successively prohibited. In October, 1892, cases of pleuro-pneumonia were suspected in two cargoes of cattle imported from Canada. Acting on expert advice the landing of Canadian cattle, except for slaughter at the port, was therefore prohibited by the Board. Under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1896, the prohibition received statutory permanence. Strong representations on the subject of the prohibition, but more particularly as to the stigma which its form casts on Canadian livestock, were made to me by the Canadian Ministers during their recent visit to England. Canada disputes the genuineness of the cases on which prohibition was originally founded, and, without doubt, has always been exceptionally, if not entirely, free from foot and mouth disease and pleuro-pneumonia. Canadian feeling, therefore, resents the imputation of infection as unjust. The prohibition cannot, as I am advised by the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Board, be justified on the ground of health, and cattle bred and reared in Canada and leaving that country for the first time by direct shipment to a British port ought not to be excluded under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1896. I cannot say whether, or under what conditions, Canadian cattle, as defined above, might hereafter be permitted to enter this country except for slaughter at the ports. At present, when farmers at home are being asked to reduce their livestock, permission is plainly impossible. But the prohibition rests rather on the agricultural policy of the United Kingdom than on the risk of diseases from which, for many years, Canada herself has been most remarkably, if not entirely, free.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state the result of the representations made to the Government as t6 the necessity of finding men of a lower category to replace the 16,000 A men taken from agriculture for military service on 10th May?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to give any definite answer to this question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea when he will be able to make a statement?

Before the House reassembles I have no doubt I shall have a definite answer.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received a memorial from the Kirkcaldy Chamber of Commerce protesting against the further recruitment of members of the commercial community while thousands of young men engaged in mines who are available for military service are only employed a few days a week; and what action he has taken in respect of the same?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. A further measure of recruitment of mines was announced in the Press on the 21st inst. under which it is proposed to recruit all medically classified A men who have entered the coal mining industry since 4th August, 1914, and were of military age at that date, with the exception of certain barred classes. Fifeshire miners are also being asked to volunteer for timber felling and for work in the English ironstone mines.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the military authorities are still pursuing the policy of taking out men Who have been in the mines practically all their lives previous to the War, which is the means in many instances of reducing the output of coal?

I was not aware of that personally.

They are doing it regularly.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what steps are being taken to replace the labour of the young men taken out by others not of military age or unfit for military service, in order to keep up the output of coal?

It would be impossible to maintain the output of coal at the prewar level, but every endeavour is made for the National Service Department to ensure that there is, so far as practicable, am adequate supply of labour for the mines.

In view of the shortage of coal, is it not better to leave the miners in the pit and to allow the commercial men to go?

That is a question of policy, and is not for me to say.

Is the hon. Member aware that some of these young men have gone into the pit since the War, and are only working two days a week?

Will the hon. Gentleman call out these young miners by age—say nineteen first, then twenty, and twenty-one, at stated periods?

That cannot be answered on this question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether representations have been received from the Kirkcaldy Tribunal protesting against the calling up of additional men for military service belonging to the commercial community while a number of young men available for military service are only employed in the mines two or three days a week; and what action he has taken, or proposes to take, in the matter?

Representations have been received from the Kirkcaldy Tribunal protesting against the number of young men engaged in coal mines who are only employed in the mines two or three days a week. Arrangements are being made for the release of a large number of men who are at present engaged in the coal mines, and who have entered the coal mines since August. 1914.

asked how men stand under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act who receive their note for re-examination but whose actual examination is then postponed to a later date; whether they have thirty days in which to appeal to a tribunal from the second or subsequent date or only from the first; and how, if they are not examined within thirty days of the first calling-up notice, can they appeal?

A man to whom a notice under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, is properly sent is deemed to have been enlisted in His Majesty's Forces and forthwith transferred to the Reserve as from the appointed date. The appointed date is the thirtieth day after the date of the notice. At any time before the appointed date applicable to him, a man to whom the notice is sent has the right of application to a tribunal for exemption, and that right is quite independent of the date of the medical re-examination of the man. Application to the tribunal is made by lodging a form with the tribunal, and this may be done whether or not the medical examination has already taken place.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether his attention has been called to a raid on Friday night last in the East-End of London, when gangs of police and Australian soldiers armed with knuckle-dusters entered a number of billiard clubs and public restaurants, stopped tramcars, and seized every man there and arrested numbers of men in the street; whether several hundreds were arrested and kept in crowded cells for a large part of the night; and how many persons evading their military obligations were discovered by this process?

The proceedings referred to were taken by the military authorities with the assistance of some twenty police. There is no foundation for the allegation that police and Australian soldiers were armed with knuckle-dusters. The Provost-Marshal's Department was concerned with military absentees, and the police had the right to question those who might have been found to have evaded their military obligations. A recruiting officer was present with the provost staff to help with his knowledge of the locality and of the forms of exemption from military service. As the papers could not be examined in the streets, the individuals concerned were taken to Aldgate Section House, where there was ample accommodation and lavatory facilities. There is a very strong feeling in the neighbourhood against aliens, who are alleged to be getting the profitable employment vacated by those who had joined the Army; precautions had to be, and were, taken to prevent those who might be detained from molestation. I may add that over 500 absentees and deserters have been arrested by the police in this area in the last six months.

When does the hon. Gentleman intend to get on with the Bill to deal with these aliens?

That is hardly relevant to the question.

Will the hon. Member say on whose evidence he states that there is strong feeling in the locality against these aliens, and whether he will consult the Mayor of Whitechapel upon this subject, and especially ask the Home Office what information has been given by the hon. Member for Whitechapel, who is also the Mayor of Whitechapel?

It is a well-known fact that there is strong feeling, and an expression of that feeling has been publicly stated in this House. I am sure that hon. Members have received from public authorities—I have received it only last week—a statement to that effect.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is no such person as the Mayor of Whitechapel?

asked what procedure is open to a man called up for examination under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, who is dissatisfied with his medical classification, to have his case submitted to a medical appeal board?

An application to be examined by a special medical board is submitted for the consideration of the War Office by the military representative in a case where such examination is recommended by a military service tribunal before which the man concerned has laid his case.

Are we to understand that he cannot get an appeal to a special medical board except through a tribunal?

That is so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether examinations of recruits by the medical boards have frequently been made at the rate of thirty per hour, which may account for the number of men in the Army who have been found physically unfit; whether instructions have been or will be given that all examinations under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, shall be careful and thorough; and whether, in order to fix responsibility for blunders, he will order that the medical classification card shall bear the name of the examining doctor or doctors?

I am not aware of any instance in which recruits have been examined at the rate mentioned. If my hon. Friend will provide me with the facts of one of the frequent instances I shall cause inquiries to be made. If my hon. Friend will refer to the copy of the Army Council Instruction dealing with the matter, he will see that express instructions have been issued that examinations under the Review of Exceptions Act should be most careful. The classification certificate is signed by the president of the board.

asked whether the special medical board at Leeds deals with cases arising in Manchester under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917; and whether the expenses of the man attending such appeal board are paid by the War Office?

The special recruiting medical board at Leeds deals with cases of disputed medical classification of men resident in the North of England which tribunals recommend should be sent to an Appeal Board. The recommendations of the tribunals are submitted to the War Office, along with the necessary documents in each case. Men sent to the special medical board for examination are provided with travelling warrants and with subsistence if detained overnight.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received any complaints in regard to Major Bell, the recruiting officer for the Holland Division of Lincolnshire; whether he is aware that Major Bell, who is also a solicitor, allows his solicitor managing clerk to appear for persons applying for exemption at the urban and rural and also at the Grantham tribunals, Major Bell having himself acted as clerk to the rural tribunal on more than one occasion when his clerk was applying for exemptions for clients; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

No complaints have been received with regard to the matters referred to in my right hon. Friend's question, but I am having inquiries made into this case, and will communicate the result of the inquiries to my right hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will introduce into the Military Service (Conventions with Allied States) Bill a provision that all aliens coming within its operation shall be offered a free passage to their own country?

It is not proposed to introduce into the Military Service (Conventions with Allied States) Bill any provision of the nature suggested by my hon. Friend in this question, as this. matter is one which can more conveniently be dealt with in the conventions which it, is proposed to make with the Allied States. I must also remind my hon. Friend that the majority of the aliens who will be. affected by the Military Service (Conventions with Allied States) Bill are absentees from military service in their own country, and it is not considered that the expense of returning these men to their own country to fulfil their military obligations in that country should necessarily fall upon the country in which they are for the time being resident.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the number of men of military age now serving in the Metropolitan Police Force and other police forces, and that most of these men are desirious of doing their duty, but are not allowed to serve in the Army; whether he is aware that, owing to Home Office action, to the policy of chief constables, and to standing joint and watch committees, these men, whose work at home might be taken by older men or special constables, are not released; and what steps he proposes to take to enable these thousands of men to take their places beside our soldiers in the Army?

As the hon. Member is doubtless aware, a considerable number of constables have been released for service with the Forces, and, in pursuance of the War Cabinet decision in the beginning of February, those fit for general service under the age of twenty-three were made available for service. A further release of constables has just been arranged. It is hoped that, as men in lower categories who have become unfit for service overseas Can be released, it will be possible to obtain still more constables for service in the Army without endangering public safety. I must remind the hon. Member in this connection that the responsibilities placed upon the police force are greatly increased during wartime.

Will the hon. Member say about how many men are expected to be available for the Army owing to the recent Orders of the War Cabinet?

I cannot answer that offhand.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Editor of the "New Europe" was served with a calling-up notice on 18th November, 1916, and that on 1st December, 1916, this calling-up notice was cancelled; whether subsequently this man joined the Royal Army Medical Corps; whether he is still serving in the Army; if not, why not, seeing that this man has been before a tribunal which decided that he ought to serve; why was this man's calling-up notice cancelled on 1st December last, and by whom; and whether it is a common practice for the War Office to cancel calling-up notices in cases decided by tribunals?

The reply to the first three questions of the hon. Member is in the affirmative. The gentleman who was the Editor of "New Europe" is still serving in the Army. The calling-up notice was cancelled on 1st December, 1916, on the instructions of the then Secretary of State for War, as inquiries were not completed respecting this man's position. It is not the common practice for the War Office to cancel calling-up notices in cases decided by tribunals, though a calling-up notice for a particular date may be cancelled pending inquiries as to the best utilisation of the man's services in the Army and another calling-up notice subsequently issued.

Is this gentleman really serving or has he had unlimited leave granted?

My hon. Friend should have asked me that on the question. I cannot tell him now.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer it if I put it down for after the holidays?

Is not special provision being made to enable jingo editors to escape military service?

It is disorderly to introduce argumentative adjectives.

The hon. Member has already put two supplementary questions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there is a large number of men in the Army unfit for military duty but capable of following employment in essential industries depleted by labour; whether he is aware that firms doing Government work, and crippled for want of workers, are denied the services of such men, except substitutes be provided, on the ground that such help would be a reinforcement of their present staffs; and, seeing that it is not in the national interest that men should be maintained in idleness in the Army at the public expense when employers, including Government contractors, are needing their labour, whether the Government will immediately release for work of national importance, and without demanding substitutes, such men as the Army cannot use?

It is inevitable that there should be a certain number of men on the books of the Army awaiting discharge. In order to avoid scandals of men being discharged without either pension or money to which they may be entitled, three weeks elapse between the date of approval of discharge and the actual discharge. There are, further, always a certain number of men awaiting medical boards. Whether these men are capable of being employed in essential industries is not known.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that in these cases when situations are available the discharge will be accelerated?

Yes; we will try to do that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Hammersmith Borough Council have been informed by his Department that local authorities should buy and store coke for distribution in the winter; and, if so, will he now extend the same instruction to local authorities in regard to coal?

It is the fact that the Hammersmith Borough Council are, with the approval of the Controller of Coal Mines, undertaking arrangements for the distribution of coke during the winter. As regards the supply and distribution of coal, I indicated in my reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for the West Newington Division on the 19th April the steps that have been taken to ensure supplies from the colliery districts normally supplying London, and as the position still gives cause for apprehension the Controller of Coal Mines is making arrangements for additional supplies from other districts. As I stated on the 16th May, proposals for dealing with the problem of distribution during the coming winter are receiving the Controller's careful consideration, but it is not possible at present to say definitely how far or in what directions it may be necessary to invoke the assistance of the local authorities.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether it is not a fact that the Coal Retail Prices Committee, in their Report in 1915, unanimously recommended the consideration of the Government to asking the London County Council and the other public authorities to sell coal, and can he say why, if the Hammersmith Borough Council is to be allowed to store coke, they should not be allowed to store coal?

The hon. Member is quite right with respect to the recommendation to which he refers, and I have stated nothing which in any way is out of harmony with that recommendation. The whole matter is receiving the very careful consideration of the Coal Controller, and if he subsequently finds that public authorities are the best means of securing better distribution he will have no hesitation in availing himself of their services.

Will it be long before they report?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the statement that coal may have to be rationed for London next winter, he has yet received from the Coal Controller any proposals regarding coal stocks and distribution for the coming winter in London; whether he proposes to call any conference of local authorities on the matter; and, if so, when?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to-day to a question asked by the hon. Member for the Dartford Division.

Is the hon. Member aware that this question will be a very urgent one in the coming winter, and as I believe the Board of Trade have urged upon public authorities in London the necessity of having stocks for public purposes, does he not think it is necessary that there should be some kind of stock for small consumers during the coming winter?

I am aware of the urgency of the matter, and I have given the House repeated assurances that the Coal Controller is fully seised of the necessity for making arrangements for equitable distribution during the coming winter. I need hardly assure my hon. Friend that I am painfully aware of the disabilities which the poorer classes have suffered during the past winter, and I will co-operate with the Coal Controller to see, as far as practicable, what can be done in regard to this matter in the coming winter.

Is he not aware that if you have to work through the local authorities in London it will take some time in order to get a supply, and does he not think it is urgent that something should be done at once?

That has already been covered twice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is intended to amend the Trading with the Enemy Acts, so as to preclude firms or companies of British constitution from trading under names which closely identify them with firms of enemy origin; if he is aware that firms so trading in this country are maintaining the goodwill of enemy firms; and if he is aware that the goodwill of the German firm of Bluthner and Company, piano manufacturers, Leipzig, is being so maintained in this country by a British - constituted limited company, Bluthner and Company, Limited, Wigmore Street, W.?

I doubt the expediency of legislation of the nature suggested by the right hon. Gentleman. I am disposed to think that there may be some advantage in the trade being carried on under a name which indicates the origin of the goods sold.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the meeting of bankers held at the Board of Trade in reference to the British Trade Corporation, which was unanimous in favour of the scheme, had before them the terms of the charter and the deed of settlement; and can he undertake that before the Debate on the subject is again resumed the evidence taken before Lord Faring-don's Committee will be available to Members?

The charter and the deed of settlement had not been published as a Parliamentary Paper at the time of the meeting referred to, and I am not aware how many of those present may have seen the documents privately. As regards the second part of the question, the witnesses who appeared before the Financial Facilities Committee received assurances that their evidence would be treated as confidential, and in those circumstances I regret that I cannot give the undertaking asked for.

Are we to understand that the opinion of the bankers was taken at this meeting with the Board of Trade, and that the deed of settlement and the charter were not disclosed?

I am not in possession of the necessary information, and I am not able to say how many of these gentlemen may have seen these documents privately.

Can he say if they were officially laid before the meeting?

I think not.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether any exception was made by his Department in dealing with the Shops Act administration whereby holiday resorts with only seasonal trade were allowed exemptions on certain conditions and in certain circumstances; and, if so, can he now adopt the same line of action on the subject of early closing of shops?

My hon. and learned Friend probably has in view the special provisions as to holiday resorts contained in the Shops Act, which, however, do not depend for their operation on any administrative action by my Department. The answer to the first part of the question is, therefore, in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, I am not satisfied that there is a case for exceptional treatment in the areas referred to.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if, in reference to the recent Order prohibiting the manufacture and use of packing cases, he is aware that certain cotton goods of the value of 6d. per yard and upwards are allowed to be packed in cases; and if, having regard to this fact, the request which has been made by the Belfast Chamber of Commerce that bleached linens, lawns, and damasks, which are of much greater value, should be treated on an equal footing with the less valuable cotton fabrics will be acceded to?

I am in communication with the Belfast Chamber of Commerce on this question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information regarding the Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the question of promotion under the chairmanship of the right hon. Member for Dundee?

I am afraid I can add nothing at present to the answer given on the 22nd instant to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Melton.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the word "Empire" is inapplicable to the conditions under which the Dominions remain in relation with this country and that General Smuts has proposed the term "Commonwealth" instead, he will state definitely what warrant there is for the use of the word Empire in Royal Proclamations and in official Papers; and whether, in view of the fact that the word must either be used in a sense not usually understood or be regarded as conveying unwarranted implications, he will advise the discontinuance of this word?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The answer to both parts of this question is in the negative.

As this involves a very grave constitutional matter, I wish to call attention to the fact that the King in a recent communication to the President of the French Republic used the words "My Empire," and after the holidays I will, within the limits allowed by this House, protest against a usurpation which is not in any way justified.

asked whether, in the event of vacancies occurring in the Civil Service owing to the combing-out process which is now in contemplation, priority will be given to officers of His Majesty's Forces who have been discharged as disabled on the ground of wounds or sickness?

Claims for civil employment in Government service made by officers invalided out of His Majesty's Forces will, of course, receive favourable consideration when vacancies are being filled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the delay in Manchester in the payment of new cases of dependants' allowances due to the shortage of women investigators; and whether he will now cause additional appointments of women investigators to be made, so that the present delays and consequent hardships on dependants may be avoided?

Difficulty has been experienced in obtaining suitable women candidates for the position of investigator, but in view of the continued pressure in Manchester arrangements have been made to give relief by the employment of Customs and Excise officers on the work.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many poor people have to wait as long as twelve and fifteen months before they can get any allowance granted to them even after the papers have been filled up? In Manchester I know of cases personally myself which I have dealt with locally in which there has been a delay of fifteen months. Imagine poor people having to wait that time. It is ridiculous!

asked whether twenty-five of the huts in the Cromarty Military Camp are being used for cases of venereal disease; whether all the huts, 101 in number, are quite close to each other, so that complete isolation is difficult or impossible; and whether the taking over of the huts for this purpose has led to an overcrowding of the remaining huts?

No, Sir. The scheme has been abandoned and other arrangements will be made.

Will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance on the part of the War Office that nothing of the sort will be done in future with regard to the treament of venereal disease?

I think that each case must be decided on its merits.

What is to happen to the huts now that the scheme is abandoned?

asked the number of men enlisted during the present War, separately from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and give the proportion from each according to population?

I think my hon. Friend will realise that this information cannot be made public without detriment; to the interests of the country.

asked whether it would be possible to grant home leave to those men of the regiments recently engaged in the battles in Palestine who were also present with their regiments during the operations on the Gallipoli Peninsula?

I am afraid I can only repeat what I have explained before, that the privilege of leave rests with the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief of the Force concerned. All that is possible is done to grant it, but the privilege is dependent on the military exigencies of the moment and the availability of transport. I think that I recognise the gallant regiments that my hon. and gallant Friend has in view, and I will draw the attention of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief to their special claims.

asked. the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any statement will be submitted to this House indicating the purpose of Lord Milner's mission to Russia, the steps taken, and the nature of the Report he brought back whether Lord Milner was furnished with sums of money, or provided with credit, for the purposes of his propaganda and, if so, whether there is any record of the expenses of the mission?

In answer to the question, I have to state that there is no intention of taking the course proposed.

May I ask this straight question: Did Lord Milner go to Russia with the definite mission of propping up by every means in his power the old regime of Tsardom?

As the hon. Member is always straight, I will give him a straight answer: Lord Milner went for no such purpose.