asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any licences have been issued for the brewing of beer for the Army in excess of the 10,000,000 standard barrels of beer allowed by order of the Food Controller; and if he can state the additional amount of beer brewed during the past month?

The answer is in the negative. The amount required by Army canteens will be included in the 10,000,000 barrels, and it is not now intended to issue any licences for excess brewing for Army requirements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what is being done by the Government towards promoting the cultivation of sugar beet in suitable districts and the founding of sugar manufactories; and, if financial help or any consideration equivalent to it, or a guarantee of a standard price, were to be given, would he state the conditions attached.

Owing to war conditions it has been necessary to suspend for the present measures for the promotion of the sugar beet industry in this country, but, on the recommendation of the Board of Agriculture and the Development Commissioners, the Treasury have made a loan of £125,000 from the Development Fund to the British Beet Growers' Society for the purchase of an estate near Newark with a view to the establishment of the industry there as soon as circumstances permit. The loan is to bear interest at 5 per cent, per annum, to be secured upon the estate, and to be repayable within two years of the date of the advance.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if ex-Civil servants have their pensions curtailed when employed at Government work when their combined earnings and pension exceed the amount of their pay at the time of their retirement; why this distinction is made in the case of ex-Civil servants, seeing that no such distinction is made in the case of military pensioners; and, in view of the increased cost of living, will he urge upon His Majesty's Treasury that this Order be cancelled?

The position is regulated by Sections 20 and 21 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, to which I would refer the hon. Member. With regard to the last part of the question, the legal position cannot be altered by any Order of the Treasury, and I see no sufficient reason for introducing amending legislation.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that migratory labourers of military age left their homes in Ireland this year, as in former years, to take temporary employment in Great Britain and without applying to Labour Exchanges for military exemption cards, of which they knew nothing; whether they have since applied unsuccessfully for such cards; and will he take steps to have bonâ fide migratory labourers from Ireland provided on application with cards exempting them from military service and Trom prosecution as absentees?

The arrangements with regard to the supply of cards certifying that Irishmen are exempt from compulsory military service were given wide publicity in Ireland. Irish migratory labourers who were not sent to Great Britain through the Employment Exchanges in Ireland can obtain cards certifying exemption upon application to any Employment Exchange in Great Britain, provided that they are actually employed upon munition work, other Government contracts, transport work or agriculture, and are found, after inquiry in Ireland, to be ordinarily resident in that country.

asked the Secretary o State for the Colonies what steps, if any, have been taken to identify and bring to justice the English officer who, according to the deposition of J. K. Palis Nona, at Mangalatiria, Ceylon, on the 5th June, 1915, called forth her husband from his mid-day meal in his own house, and, without inquiry, charge, or trial, had him instantly shot dead by Punjabi soldiers; whether he is aware that this woman and her four children are now destitute; and what action is it proposed to take in this case?

This case has been considered by the Governor. From the Reports before me it appears that this man was shown by reliable evidence to have been a leader of a mob which had set fire to a mosque and killed a priest. The officer in charge of a patrol arrested him and ordered him to be shot after hearing the evidence. Rioting was in progress at the time and martial law was in force. I have no information as to the circumstances of the widow, but I have no doubt that the Governor has considered any representations brought to his notice in the matter.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) when is it proposed to pay the war bonus recently awarded to Civil servants other than postal employés?

Departments were notified of the awards of the Conciliation and Arbitration Board on the 1st instant, and the amounts due, if not paid already, will no doubt be paid at the next pay day.