asked the Secretary of State for Foreign affairs whether the action of Sweden in blocking upwards of sixty of our merchant vessels from exit out of the Baltic by means of a minefield through which pilotage is restricted to her own national vessels is justified under international law; and, if not, whether Sweden has been informed as to the very large sum of money for which she is liable under demurrage claims-through the enforced inactivity of these vessels, together with claims for damage to the physical interests of this country?

In reply to the first part of question I would refer the hon. Member to the correspondence with the Swedish Government respecting the mining of the Kogrunds Passage, which was laid before the House in April last, and to the reply returned to the hon. Member for Dublin University on 19th March last. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. I should add that an arrangement has now been arrived at with the Swedish Government under which the vessels are allowed freely to pass out of the Baltic, and that a number of them have already done so

Why were these vessels which have been interned— because it comes to that—been interned. by a neutral Power, and have neutral Powers any right to intern our vessels?

If my hon. and learned Friend will read the Parliamentary Paper, he will see that that was the view which the British Government took and pressed very strongly on the Swedish Government.

What happened?

They have agreed to allow them now to pass.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of the protecting Powers to allow King Constantine and his family to remain on Greek soil; and whether any steps have been or are being "taken to remove from Greece Herr Streit, M. Gounaris, Colonel Metaxas, General Dousmanis, and other notoriously pro-German intriguers?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; that to the second is, I believe, in the affirmative.

Is it true, as stated in the Press yesterday, that the Queen of Greece is now in London?

Certainly not.

Had King Constantine and the Queen a free choice to go wheresoever they liked?

I had better explain that the actual arrangements were left very much in the hands of the High Commissioner whom we agreed with the French to appoint—M. Jonnart—and we have not yet received full reports from him as to "what exactly took place.

Will Papers be laid as to these events?

I should like to consult the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, although I imagine that Papers will be laid sooner or later.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is now prepared to invite the Governments of the French and Russian republics to consent to the abrogation of that part of the Treaty of 1832 which guarantees a monarchical constitution to Greece; and whether, in accordance with the spirit of the preamble to the treaty of 1863, which stated that the arrangement establishing the present dynasty on the throne of Greece was made in order to give effect to the wish of the Greek nation as declared by a plebiscite of all Greeks at home and abroad taken in the preceding year, it will be left to the Greek nation to determine by a similar plebiscite what form of government shall now be established in Greece?

The Treaty of July, 1863, was concluded, not only with the French and Russian Governments but also with the Danish Government, whose consent would also be necessary before any modification could be introduced. I am unable to trace the words in the preamble of this Treaty to which my hon. Friend refers. As regards the general principle involved, I can only say that for the present it would be impracticable to hold a plebiscite of the Greek people, and that, in my judgment, all such questions as are here raised should be postponed for the present and perhaps till the end of the War.

Can my Noble Friend say that no steps will be taken which will preclude the Greek people from eventually being consulted?

I cannot imagine what steps we could take to preclude that. Personally, I certainly cannot imagine that the British Government, with all the traditions of the British Constitution behind them, desiring—[Interruption.]—I am speaking to loyal Members opposite—[Interruption.]—I cannot imagine that the British Government, in the circumstances, would take any steps to prevent the free expression of the Greek people on any domestic affair.

In view of this stupendous change in favour of democracy indicated in the question which has just been put, will the Noble Lord take notice of the latter part of the question, and, by omitting the word "Greek" and putting the word "Irish," give us an answer?

Will not the Government, both in the cases of Greece and Ireland, follow the precedent of the plebiscite of 1863 for Greece?

I have nothing to do, I am glad to say, with the Irish question.

Supposing we come to an arrangement with the hon. Gentleman (Mr. E. McNeill) so that he gets what he wants in Greece, shall we get what we want in Ireland?

I would like to see you come to an arrangement with the hon. Gentleman on any subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the text of the Note presented by M. Jonnart to the Greek Government demanding the abdication of King Constantine, referred to by M. Zaimis in his reply thereto on the 12th of June; whether the full demand of M. Jonnart has been formally complied with by King Constantine; whether King Constantine was requested or empowered by the representative of the protecting Powers to nominate his successor; whether he has formally renounced all his rights to the throne; whether the Crown Prince has formally renounced all his rights to the succession; and what arrangement has been made as to the future domicile of King Constantine and his family?

I have not yet received the text of the Note, and cannot therefore safely reply to the first five parts of the question. The point raised in the last part of the question is still under discussion.

Will the Noble Lord be able to give information to the House soon as to the renunciation by the Grown Prince and as to the whole position with regard to the dynasty?

I can assure my hon. Friend that we shall certainly be delighted to give all the information we possess as soon as we can get it, subject, of course, to international considerations that may arise.

Is Russia, as one of the protecting Powers, co-operating with Great Britain and France in what is being done in Greece?

I should like notice of that question.

Are we to understand that the Noble Lord has had no knowledge of what is going on in Greece and is unable to reply to these questions?

I hope the House will not understand anything of the kind. It is common knowledge that the object of the appointment of M. Jonnart as High Commissioner for the Allies was to enable him to act with decision and rapidity, and without consulting the Home Government at every stage and on every detail. That has, in fact, taken place, and the result has been satisfactory.

A dictator, in fact.

Has he been in constant communication with our Minister?

asked whether, in the event of M. Venizelos desiring to extend his influence over the whole of Greece, obstacles will be placed in his way?

If, as we hope, Greek unity is re-established by recent events in Greece, this question will not arise.

asked whether any diplomatic correspondence has revealed any encouragement given at any time by the Greek Government to Irregular Greek troops engaged in unfriendly acts towards the troops of the Allies?

No, Sir. I cannot go as far as that, though a certain number of Greek officers of the Regular Army were concerned with the operations of Irregular bands in Thessaly.

asked whether the Allies will oppose any movement which expresses the general will of the Greek people to establish a Republic; and, if so, upon what grounds?

I do not think that anything is to be gained by discussing a hypothetical question of this kind.

Is it necessarily hypothetical that Greece should set up a Republic? Why should not Greece march in the way of progress?

There is nothing abusive in the epithet "hypothetical." It is merely a grammatical statement of the effect of the hon. Member's question.

asked whether, after the massacre of British and French blue jackets in the streets of Athens last December, any burial rites were accorded to their remains; whether any military salutes were given by the King's troops at their funeral; whether any distinctive memorials mark their grave; and, if not, whether any representations on the subject were ever made to the Greek Government by the British Ambassador?

The bodies of the British sailors and marines who lost their lives on the occasion referred to were handed over to the British naval authori- ties for burial. As the hon. Member is aware, the Greek Government tendered official apologies for the attack upon the Allied detachments, and representative Greek regiments were publicly paraded for the object of saluting the Allied flags.

Do any distinctive memorials mark their grave?

I am sorry I have not yet been able to obtain information on that point. I will make it my business to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any authentic evidence of British prisoners of war in Germany or Austria being handcuffed and, in addition, chained together in groups?

I have no information to the effect suggested in the question.

Will the hon. Gentleman ask for information?

I have asked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there are any representatives of municipal coporations owning their own electric light and power undertakings on the Committee appointed by the Board to inquire into the supply of electricity after the War; whether the Committee has issued an interim Report; and, if so, whether the House will have an opportunity of discussing it?

There is at present on the Committee one representative of a municipol corporation having its own electricity undertaking, and as my right hon. Friend informed my hon. Friend the Member for the North-Western Division of Staffordshire on the 11th instant, the President has decided to increase the representation of such local authorities. The Committee have not issued any interim Report.

Will the House have an opportunity of discussing the interim Report, because the matter has engaged a good deal of attention in many places?

That question should be addressed to the Leader of the House. No Report is ready yet.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that outlines of the Report of this Committee have been appearing in the Press, and do they accurately represent the Report or are they purely a figment of the imagination?

I do not know to what reports the hon. Gentleman is referring.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the dissatisfaction that exists as to the constitution of the Committees which the Board of Trade is appointing, and will that be remedied in future?

I was not aware of the fact, but any representations which the hon. Member may wish to make will receive attention.

asked if the members of the Advisory Committee of the Tobacco Control Board are representative of the manufacturers and of the retailers; and whether these members will have access to returns made by firms who may be their competitors in trade?

In answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The returns made by firms will not be accessible to members of the Advisory Committee, but will be considered by the Tobacco Control Board, none of the members of which are connected with the trade.

asked if two of the three members of the Tobacco Control Board are stockbrokers; what administrative experience they have had to qualify them for their present position; and whether a Customs official possessing such experience will be asked to serve on the Board?

The principal qualifications required for the members of the Tobacco Control Board are administrative capacity and independence of the tobacco trade. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the present members possess both these qualifications, and neither the Board of Trade nor the Customs think it necessary to add a Custom House official to the Board. My right) hon. Friend has invited the hon. Member for North-East Manchester to serve on the Board to represent the interests of consumers.

Does the Board of Trade consider that the Stock Exchange contains such a monopoly of administrative ability that two-thirds of the members of this Committee could only be found there?

I do not think that my right hon. Friend takes into consideration the fact that they are members of the Stock Exchange, but rather their personal qualifications for their work.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of having a Member of this House on each of these Committees?

I will make that representation to my right hon. Friend. He is making these appointments.

asked the quantity of sea-borne and rail-borne coal respectively which entered the port of London in the first five months of this year and also the quantities for the first five months of 1914?

The quantities of coal brought to London in the first five months of 1914 and 1917 respectively 3,657,090 and 2,560,082. The last figure includes a small quantity of Admiralty coal.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the Irish railway executive limit the quantity of fresh fish to be taken from the West of Ireland, including Roundstone, Cleggan, and Aran, to 1,000 boxes; whether such a limitation would, on the occasion of a big catch, leave much wholesome food to rot and would be particularly injurious to the Aran fishery on account of its distance from Galway; whether the limitation was imposed with the concurrence of the Ministry of Food; and whether it will be relaxed and those food-producing industries be afforded every possible facility?

I am informed by the Irish Railway Executive Committee that no restriction has been imposed by them upon the quantity of fish to be accepted for conveyance from the western Irish ports, but that the shipping companies are not at present in a position to convey to Great Britain more than 1,000 boxes a day. The matter is now being investigated by the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the estimated increase in the area of land ploughed in Scotland for the harvest of this year compared with last year?

The estimated increase in the area of land ploughed in Scotland for the harvest of this year compared with last year may be approximately and provisionally stated as 60,000 acres. This figure will be capable of verification in July, when I anticipate that 'the preliminary summary of the Agricultural Returns for 1917 will be ready.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if there have been complaints of shortage of labour in Scotland?

That does not arise.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what is the estimated increase in the area of land ploughed in Ireland for the harvest of this year compared with last year?

The official enumerators of agricultural statistics in Ireland are now at work and their returns are shortly expected. The estimated increase in the area under cultivation in Ireland in 1917, as compared with last year is between 600,000 and 700,000 acres.

Is not that increase due to the fact that the War Office did not take any men from the plough in Ireland?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the present or last quoted price of Canterbury lamb in New Zealand, the landed cost of the last consignment which reached Great Britain, the commission paid to the importing house, the current wholesale market price, and the current retail price; and, having regard to the difference in price as between the farmer's price in New Zealand and that paid by the consumer in this country, whether he will now take steps to correct this difference in the interests of the wage earners?

My hon. and gallant Friend has requested me to reply to this question. The Board of Trade purchase this lamb by the carcase at a cost of 6⅜d. per 1b. f.o.b. in New Zealand; its landed cost in the United Kingdom is 8d. per lb.; the importer's commission is 2 per cent.; the wholesaler's profit is limited to ½ d. per lb.; the expenses of the Department for administration, cost of storage, and various uninsurable risks are 1¾d. per lb., and the meat is sold to the retailer at about 10½d. per lb. I understand that the question of retail meat prices is being considered by the Ministry of Food.

Do not the Government think it time this question was taken up very drastically?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any official information showing that consignments of bacon landed at the Victoria Docks have been lost or damaged owing to exposure to the weather after being landed; if he will say if there is cold storage available where perishable food stuffs of this description can be placed; and, if not, will the Board of Trade immeately commandeer all the cold storage of the country and, if necessary, construct further accommodation to supplement the space at present available?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any official information showing that quantities of bacon are being wasted at the Victoria Docks; and, if so, if he will say what steps the Government propose taking to prevent this and further waste?

I have been asked to reply. I have inquired into the matter, and am happy to inform the hon. Members that the consignment in question has neither been lost nor damaged. The goods are sound and sweet and have been transferred to the cold stores.

Is it the fact that consignments of Danish bacon and ham have, during the present month, taken up to fourteen days to remove from an East Coast port to London?

I will ask the Food Controller.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether for many months past there has been and still is a scarcity of potatoes in Great Britain, which has pressed with severity on the poorer classes of the community, while during the same period the Irish Government have refused, except under special circumstances, to allow potatoes to be exported from Ireland to Great Britain; whether it now appears that potatoes have been hoarded and are now rotting in Ireland; and why an artificial scarcity of potatoes has been created by the action of the Irish Government; and (2) whether he has been able to peruse the proceedings of the Hotel and Tourist Association of Ireland held under the presidency of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, at the Mansion House, on the 7th instant; whether he is aware that the Lord Mayor stated that potatoes were now rotting in the country and that forty wagons of potatoes were lying at the Great Northern Railway terminus practically useless, and that a resolution was passed that there was a large margin of potatoes available for immediate export to Great Britain; and what action, as President of the Board of Agriculture (Ireland), he has taken or proposes to take?

I am, of course, aware of the shortage of potatoes which has existed in Great Britain and of the Regulations as to export of potatoes from Ireland, which have been in force during the winter. I have no reason to suppose that potatoes have been hoarded, or are now rotting in Ireland. What potatoes are left are reported to me to be keeping well. With regard to the meeting mentioned in Question 72, I am informed that at the date referred to not more than twelve wagons of potatoes were at the Great Northern Railway Station, Dublin, of which four wagons were rejected by the military authorities, as too small for table purposes; but these have since been shipped. Most of the other wagons were consigned to Dublin potato factors, and were distributed in the usual way. The price of potatoes in the Dublin market has remained at £11 10s. per ton, indicating that a surplus of suitable table potatoes has not been lying at the railway stations. The resolution referred to was passed at the meeting, but the Depart- ment's information is that only a small margin of potatoes is available for military purposes or for export to Great Britain. Since the 4th instant licences have been issued for the export to Great Britain of 6,200 tons of potatoes which had been earmarked and surrendered for the military authorities, but were not immediately required for Army or Navy purposes. No new policy for dealing with this matter seems to me to be required.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that amongst the labouring element in Ireland potatoes constitute the main food for their sustenance, and that owing to the high prices of Indian meal and flour the labouring classes are unable to buy either, and must subsist on potatoes?

These conditions are notorious.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that a new Food Controller has at last been appointed and in view of the intense public indignation against high prices and profiteering which successive Governments have done little or nothing to arrest, he will at once grant facilities to this House for a discussion of the whole problem, so that the opinion of Parliament may be known to the Food Controller, and may help to guide him in shaping new policies?

The Food Controller has accepted the appointment with the intention of dealing with the difficulties referred to in the question and if after he has been given an opportunity of carrying out his policy there is a general desire for discussion a day will be given for the purpose.

asked whether there is any censorship on communications between this country and Russia at present?

The censorship of communications between this country and Russia does not differ from that of communications between this country and the other Allied countries. The details of this censorship it would not be in the public interest to disclose.

Will the hon. Gentleman reply categorically to my question? Does the censorship exist?

It does exist.

Is it carried on on the principles on which the "Nation" was-suppressed?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to an article in the "Morning Post" of 12th June last, tending to discredit the ability and to disparage the moral principles of members of the present Russian Government; whether criticism of a grossly offensive character in reference to the Governments of the other Allies is permitted; and, if not, why discrimination is shown, to the detriment of Russia?

I have read the article in question, and do not think it can be described as an attack on the Russian Government. The two last parts of the question do not, therefore, seem to-arise. His Majesty's Government are most anxious that nothing should be said or written in this country offensive to our Russian Allies. But as many months ago the Foreign Office censorship was abolished they must rely mainly on the-patriotism and good sense of newspaper editors and others to avoid increasing our international difficulties in this way at the present time.

Is the whole tenour of the article that this new Government must be attacked and pulled down simply because it is not a dynastic Government and that you should sacrifice thousands of lives to the superstition of royalty?

I do not know what the last observation may mean. As to the general question, I read the article when the hon. Member called my attention to it, and I do not think that would-be a fair description of it.

Are any articles-allowed in newspapers which support the Government, no matter what their character is?

No; as far as I am concerned, it makes no difference to me at all whether the newspaper supports the Government or not. I am not quite sure whether the "Morning Post" does.

asked whether there is now in Petrograd a member of the War Cabinet in consultation with our Ambassador to Russia; whether His Majesty's Government here are in close communication with these gentlemen; and whether any outside assistance is required in order to place the views of the Government and the people of the United Kingdom before the Russian Government and the Russian people?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative, and the Government are in every respect satisfied with them as representatives of this country. In view, however, of the vigorous propaganda of our enemies in Russia, I am not prepared to say that further assistance in placing our views before the Russian Government and people may not be required.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give the dates of the treaties with the twenty-two countries with which we have mutual agreements not to conscript their nationals and the names of the countries.

I will send the hon. Member, if he wishes, a list of the countries with which we have these treaties, together with the dates of the treaties. They are fully set out on page 1,099 of the last edition of the "Handbook of Commercial Treaties."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many conscientious objectors have been sentenced to more than one term of hard labour?

I have no precise statistics of the number, but I understand that it is roughly 1,300.

asked whether Mr. Albert Taylor, late Parliamentary candidate for the Rossendale Division, has recently served his first sentence in Wormwood. Scrubs Prison, during which he has been for 111 days on punishment diet, in strict cellular confinement, and for about half of that period without a bed; whether this punishment, as a consequence of his resistance to the Military Service Act and refusal to undertake the prison tasks allotted him under it, has been detrimental to his health; and whether it is proposed to continue this method of punishment in definitely?

This man has been punished in the appropriate way for refusing to work in prison. Care is taken to make sure that prison punishments are not such as to cause injury to health, and in this instance the prisoner gained in weight while he was in prison. He has now been discharged. If he should again be convicted and committed to prison, refusal to work would entail punishment in accordance with the prison rules.

Does it involve the particular form of punishment stated in the question, and is it right that anyone should be confined so long without any opportunity of exercising or any intercourse with human beings?

They have opportunities of exercise.

In this case surely they are confined entirely to their cells. Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry as to whether there are opportunities of exercise except in the cells?

asked the Home Secretary whether Dr. J. C. MacCallum, a graduate of Edinburgh University, medallist and holder of the Monat scholarship, executive tuberculosis officer for the county of Argyll, holding the diploma of public health, and having specialised in the treatment of tuberculosis, has been employed by the Home Office Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors, first at Wakefield and then as a labourer in the manufacture of manure for Messrs. Rough and Sons, Broxburn, Edinburgh; whether, in consequence of a breach of workshop discipline, this employment has been terminated; and whether, in the national interest, he will consider the possibility of employing this specialist on public health work under whatever financial conditions the Committee's regulations impose, instead of on work for which he is not fitted or instead of sending him back to court-martial and prison?

John MacCallum has been employed as stated. His employment has been terminated, not for one but for several breaches of discipline. The Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors have recommended his recall to the Army, and the ease is now out of their hands. I understand that Dr. MacCallum has never applied to the Committee to be released in order to take up employment as a doctor, but he and members of his family have made applications for him to be allowed to do ploughing and similar work for relatives.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the Under-Secretary of State for War on the matter? Is he aware that this man is one of the finest football players who has ever played in Scotland? Will he get some details and put him to useful work?

It is a matter of recommendation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider that this Committee should employ doctors for medical work in view of the great need for doctors in the country? Is it not uneconomical that they should be employed on making mail bags and artificial manures?

If applications were made for their services no doubt they would be considered.

Is it not their duty to find out for themselves?

Would it not be better to employ as medical men doctors who are not shirkers?

He is not a shirker.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider this an instance of scientific organisation?

asked the Home Secretary how many citizens were detained for a period exceeding five hours by the police and how many were kept until after daybreak on the following day on the occasion of the police raid in Whitechapel on 18th May, 1917; and whether he will give instructions that apologies shall be made to those men who were thus detained without any just cause?

Fifteen persons were detained for more than four hours. These fifteen were detained until their friends brought their papers to the station; and their detention averaged about five hours. None were kept after daybreak except those charged. The answer to the last question is in the negative.

Were none of these aliens found to be absentees?

I forget the number, I think about five.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether his attention has been directed to the statement made by the chairman of the London Appeal Tribunal as to the circumstances in which exemption might be granted to applicants who were carrying on one-man businesses; and whether, in the event of the Local Government Board adopting the views expressed by the chairman, steps will be taken to have the statement circulated throughout the country, looking to the interest attaching to this question at the present moment?

A number of decisions by the Central Tribunal are being circulated to tribunals to-day. These decisions include that in the case of a sole proprietor of a business, as to which there appears to have been some misapprehension. I hope that the circulation of this decision, added to the statement made by the chairman of the London Appeal Tribunal, will remove this misapprehension.

Will that be circulated to all the tribunals?

Will it be circulated to all the chairmen of London tribunals?

The effect of it will be brought to their notice.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether a person who was in a certified trade at the time of the passing of the Military Service Act and a person for whom an exemption on business grounds has been given on the application of the employer is, in the event of the exemption being cancelled, entitled to make an application to the tribunal for exemption on domestic 'or conscientious grounds though such application has not been previously sent in?

A man who has held a valid certificate of exemption is entitled to apply for a renewal of the exemption on any of the grounds specified in the Regulations or Instructions, as the case may be, provided the application is made within the period allowed by the Regulations or Instructions.

That does not answer my question. I tried to put a specific question, to which the right hon. Gentleman does not reply. May I put it like this? In the case of a man having an exemption given on the application of his employer by a tribunal, which lapses, may that person send in an application on domestic or conscientious or business grounds, if no previous personal application has been made.

I should like notice of that question.

It is on the Paper.

I think the answer is in the affirmative, but I will verify it.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether bonded spirits can be used for the manufacture of munitions and and of commercial alcohol instead of importing molasses and spirits into this country for that purpose; whether the adoption of such a course would result in the saving of tonnage; and whether there is any reason why a portion of the 156,000,000 gallons of spirits at present in bond should not be used for the purpose above indicated, and why the tonnage previously taken up should not be released for the importation of food instead?

Bonded spirits, after redistillation, can be used for the purposes indi- cated in the first part of the question. The question of how the spirits required for the manufacture of munitions and of industrial alcohol, not covered by the output of the yeast distilleries can best be obtained, is now under consideration.

Will my right hon. Friend answer the second portion, whether the adoption of the course in question would result in a saving of tonnage?

It would not result in a saving of tonnage.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether any clerks or assistants or partners of iron merchants in Glasgow of military age have received exemption cards from his Department or have been badged in any way so that they are not taken for military service; if so, why middlemen engaged in such trade have a privilege over other middlemen in other trades; how many iron merchants there have the privilege of having their employed in possession of such exemption cards; and will he say on what principle the choice of merchants is made?

No employés of iron merchants have been badged as such, or protected under the Schedule of Protected Occupations, M.M. 130. The Schedule provides for the protection of certain classes of employés of scrap metal merchants, the reason being that the collection, treatment, and distribution of scrap iron and steel is essential to the fulfilment of the programme of construction of ships and the manufacture of munitions, and can only be carried out if a certain number of qualified and experienced men are retained to perform the work. I regret that I have no information available as to the number of scrap metal merchants in Glasgow whose employés have obtained protection under the Schedule. If the hon. Member wishes, I will endeavour to obtain the information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the chairman, directors and 63 per cent, of the shareholders in the firm of M. Goerz and Company, Pinners Hall, Austin Friars, City, are Germans; and whether any attempt has been made to deal with these alien traders?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The company referred to by my hon. Friend is no doubt A. Goerz and Company, Limited, which is registered in South Africa. Before the War five of the eight directors were enemy subjects, but the present chairman of the company is a British-born subject, one of the other directors is a French citizen, and the remaining two directors are naturalised British subjects of enemy origin. I will have further enquiries made as to the shareholding in the company.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will inform those of the Irish political prisoners in penal servitude under sentences of secret courts-martial who are American citizens that they are free to communicate to the Government of the United States the facts that they are enduring penal servitude under sentences of secret courts-martial, and, in addition to handcuffs, are chained in groups on transfer from place to place, provided any such communications are sent through the prison authorities, and will he say whether statements of these facts by those prisoners will be delivered?

In view of the release of the Irish prisoners this question does not now arise.

I am afraid it does arise. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the part of it asking whether authentic statements of fact written by these men will be allowed to reach America now?

The matter does not arise so far as the prisoners are concerned. All these men have been released and have returned to Ireland.

Will their statements or the facts of their imprisonment be allowed to reach America?

That does not depend on my Department.

asked what it is proposed to do with books, papers, and other private property belonging to the Irish political prisoners in penal servitude in England under sentences of secret courts-martial who have been transferred in chains from one prison to another?

The books, papers, and private property of these prisoners are at their disposal.

asked the Prime Minister why a prepaid telegram, accepted by the Postal Department in Dublin, on 22nd May, 1917, addressed to President Wilson, Washington, with reference to the treatment of Irish prisoners, from the Irish Women's Council, 6, Harcourt Street, Dublin, has not been allowed through to its destination?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given him on the 15th instant to a similar question.

The hon. Gentleman has not answered the question either then or now. The question is, Why was that done?

My recollection is that on the previous occasion I gave the hon. Gentleman that information.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Home Secretary where at present are the released Irish political prisoners, and what is the reason for preventing communication between them and their friends in London anxious to greet and comfort them, and whether he will have the obstacle to these removed immediately?

I have not the slightest idea where the Irish political prisoners are. As a matter of fact, as soon as the decision of the Government was taken, instructions were given that the prisoners should be brought to London and allowed to go over to Ireland. Arrangements were made for their comfort, and they were, I believe, despatched by boat on Sunday night. Certainly, so far as I know, no steps were taken to prevent them seeing their friends.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell the House whether a definite order has been issued, and whether it includes all the Irish political prisoners, and whether all have been released?

All the prisoners who were in Lewes at one time have been, I understand, released, following the issue of the order.

Can the Home Secretary say whether all the men, from the various prisons in which they have been, have yet passed through London?

I understand that is so

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the air raids, he will make arrangements for timely warning of pending attacks to be given to residents in the East End, and especially the schools; and whether it is the practice to warn the hospitals in advance?

For reasons which I gave in Debate on Thursday last, it has not been the practice to give public warning of impending air raids in London, but the question of giving such warnings in the future is under consideration. As regards giving warning to schools, I am in communication with the Board of Education. It has been the practice for hospitals to be warned by the police at the earliest possible moment, but it is now proposed that in order to expedite such warning hospitals should be placed on the list of institutions which are directly warned of impending air raids under the instructions of the Headquarters, Home Forces.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at a meeting yesterday the Lord Mayor of London distinctly stated that he proposed to use the information given to him by General Lord French and to publish it to the citizens of London, and whether in these circumstances any further information is to be given in view of the fact that he says he will issue that information?

I am aware that that statement is reported to have been made. The information is given in the City to the Commissioner of Police, who, no doubt, informs the Lord Mayor. I should not think of withholding that information from the Commissioner of Police.

Is it a fact that that information is given to the Lord Mayor as the first citizen of London; and whether under these circumstances he is or is not permitted to issue it to other people?

I have said that the information is not given to the Lord Mayor, but to the Commissioner of Police.

Is the Commissioner of Police to be given instructions to give it to the Lord Mayor or not to give it to the Lord Mayor? Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that it is better to give a warning than not to give a warning so as to defeat the rumours, which are much more unsatisfactory?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many schools there are resident pupils as well as day pupils, and that in some of these schools a regular system of fire drills has been organised by the teachers, and that in all these schools warning ought to be given to the mother superior when an air raid is about to take place?

I am aware of the facts mentioned by my hon. Friend. The view hitherto taken by the London Education Authority has been that the giving of warning to schools would involve the risk of driving the children out of the schools into the streets, where there is more danger. I am in communication with the Board of Education on that point.

Would it not be as well to come to an immediate decision upon this point, so that we may know where we are?

We propose to come to a very early decision.

Do it now.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman does not mean to say that resident pupils, little girls in bed, are to be turned out of their sleep at two or three o'clock in the morning by the mother superior? Does he not think that the rev. mother of these schools ought to get proper orders that the children should be removed from the upper dormitories to the basement?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in considering the advisability or otherwise of giving public warning of an approaching enemy raid, he will bear in mind the fact that people residing within hearing of the continual gun practice at Woolwich are thrown off their guard and can be taken completely by surprise in the case of a raid?

The consideration to which my right hon. Friend draws attention will certainly be borne in mind.

Have not local authorities the power to make rules and regulations in regard to air raids? We have in West Ham.

I am not sure to what the hon. Member refers.

As a matter of fact, has not each local authority the power to make their own systems for giving warning that enemy aircraft are coming? Several of them have done so. I know we have in West Ham.

The recommendations of local authorities always receive consideration.

Are we to understand that any resolution brought forward by the London mayors will be adopted?

I cannot give such an unqualified statement.

Will it be considered?

Of course.

asked the Postmaster-General why proper warning was not given to the female staff in the Central Telegraph Office during the German raid on Wednesday last; is he aware that no use was made of the alarm signals, even to warn the school on the top floor, notwithstanding the fact that bombs were dropping in the immediate vicinity, the girls in this dangerous position having to rush for shelter on their own initiative; and will he make arrangements immediately for a proper system of signals to be installed to warn the staff of the approach of enemy aircraft so that they may be quickly removed to proper shelter?

In view of the importance of maintaining the telegraph and telephone services without interruption, there are serious objections to allowing the staff to withdraw from their instruments immediately upon the issue of air raid warnings, a large proportion of 'which are not followed by an attack upon the London area. Arrangements have been made under which, on the issue of a warning, officers will be stationed on the roof of the Central Telegraph Office and other buildings, who will give warning as soon as aircraft or firing is heard. Those of the staff on the top floor or in exposed positions will then be instructed to withdraw to the lower floors if they so desire. I am glad to say that the staff of the telegraph school did not rush for shelter on their own initiative on the occasion of the raid on the 14th instant, but withdrew in an orderly manner on the instructions of their supervising officers, and the school was cleared within one minute.

Who is responsible for giving the notice or warning, and why was it that on Wednesday last warning was not given?

There were only arrangements for night warnings. There were no arrangements, so far as I am aware, for day attacks.

Has the General Post Office warning given to it or is it the case that the only means they have of knowing when a raid is expected is to post their own officials on the roof to see if by chance they can see an aeroplane; and would the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability, to save the time of these men, of asking some other Government Department to give them warning?

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance, when another warning is given, that the whole of his staff will be instructed what to do, whether it is at night or in the daytime?

Out of the last four occasions on which warning was received there was only one on which there was any attack on London, and I do not think it would be in the interests of the public service if on receipt of every warning the whole of the postal servants were to go down in the cellars, delaying the mails and everything.

May I ask whether it is not a fact, in the event of any instructions being given to employés to get down into the basement, and a bomb dropping on the pavement outside, there is not greater danger than if they had stopped where they were? It all depends where the bomb drops. I would not move a peg.

( by Private Notice ) asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is prepared to appoint a small committee to confer immediately with representatives of the teachers in the light of their experiences to propose without delay rules to minimise the dangers from air raids to the schoolchildren, while at the same time obviating the danger to these children from unnecessary panic?

I am in consultation with the Home Office on this question, but I shall be glad also to ascertain, the views of the teachers.

Are you taking any steps to ascertain the view of the teachers from their experiences in the recent events?

I have asked the teachers to come and see me.

asked if the War Cabinet will, in view of the recent outrages by German aeroplanes in this country, reconsider the question of reprisals?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that it is not possible to prevent German airmen dropping bombs on our unfortified towns in the daytime on account of the height and speed at which they fly, he can say whether reprisals on German towns will now be repeatedly carried out until the Germans cease to practice this kind of inhumanity?