asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he has received a copy of the resolution protesting against the denudation of forest areas in Ireland dated the 7th June, 1917, when the Marquessof Head-fort presided; whether his Department has sufficient powers to deal with this matter or whether he will seek the same; and if he will state the numbers of trees planted in Ireland, by counties, for the years 1915 and 1916 for which he has the figures?

The Department of Agriculture have received the resolution referred to No funds are available for the encouragement of tree-planting by private owners. A scheme of loans to private owners for the purpose was submitted to the Development Commissioners, but the funds at the disposal of the Commissioners cannot be applied in this manner. Inquiries are being made as to owners of land in Ireland willing to lease it for afforestation purposes. This proposal would apply only in cases of areas of con- siderable extent, and where the Development Commissioners would be prepared to consider the question of providing funds for planting operations after the War, if suitable schemes can be framed. The Reconstruction Committee are, I believe, considering a scheme of reafforestation for Great Britain and Ireland.The following Return shows the area planted with forest trees in each Irish county in 1915 and 1916. The numbers of trees planted in each county cannot be stated, and the Returns for the year 1916 are subject to revision:

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that dis- satisfaction exists among the adult permanent clerical classes of the Civil Service at the delay in giving effect to the award in their favour by the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration for Government Employés, in view of the fact that while the award referred to is dated 7th May no payments have yet been made?

As I stated on the 19th instant, I am not aware of any avoidable delay in giving effect to the award. If, however, the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any cases which he has in mind, I shall be happy to inquire into, them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the commander in charge at Ardrossan of the whole Clyde port has been in that position since the outbreak of the War; and whether it is usual to interchange port commanders so as to utilise the experiences gained in one port for the benefit of other ports?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, the present senior naval officer having been appointed in August, 1915. As regards the second part of the question, the practice is not as suggested unless there is any advantage to be gained in individual cases.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why his Department still persists in refusing to grant an advance in wages to the women employed under the Army Ordnance Department, Island Bridge, Salvage Depot and Government Laundry, Dublin; if he is aware that at the rate of value of £l and the prices of commodities 14s. per week is not a living wage at present to keep women and children from starvation; and if this treatment is to be meted out to the wives and widows of ex-soldiers?

I recently inquired into the rates paid, and found that they were in accordance with the Fair-Wages Resolution of the House. If the hon. Member has any information showing that this is not the case, perhaps he will communicate with me.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the delay in the erection of the promised receiving and examining depot in Dublin has aroused indignation; whether he has received a copy of the resolution of protest passed at a meeting in St. Patrick's Division; and whether, under those circumstances, the War Office will consider the advisability of commencing the building, as materials are procurable and a properly equipped institution would lead to economy, efficiency, and convenience?

Yes, Sir; my hon. Friend has sent me a copy of the resolution. As I have already informed him, it has been decided that a receiving depot is to be established in Dublin as soon as a suitable building with the necessary railway facilities can be provided. It has been reported that no such building can be found, but directions have been given to see if it is possible now to alter or adapt some existing building so as to provide the requisite accommodation without waiting for the erection of new premises.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office who has been appointed to buy cattle for the War Department in respect to the supplies for Curragh Camp; are the persons or firms so appointed of an expert character; and will he state their usual business and their qualifications for the performance of this duty, and also the result, in loss or gain, of the experimental system said to be now in operation?

The buyer is Mr. Robert Graham, 2, Ocean Buildings, Belfast, who is a farmer and cattle dealer. The system is still in an experimental stage, and it is too early to pronounce any opinion on its merits.

asked the Pensions Minister whether the Chelsea Commissioners continue to act; if so, who is the chairman of the Chelsea Commissioners and what salary does he receive; and how soon, in the interest of public economy, will this office and its salary be discontinued?

The Chelsea Commissioners do continue to act as regards service pensions. The Ministry of Pensions Act has only taken away the disability cases from them. The Chairman is the Paymaster-General. As Chairman or Commissioner he does not receive any salary.

asked the Pensions Minister whether the War Pensions Statutory Committee still continues to exist; whether this body together with its department for disablement, has been merged with or is placed under the control of the Pensions Ministry; and how soon, in the interests of public economy, will the salary of its chairman be discontinued?

The question of the transfer of the functions of the War Pensions Statutory Committee to the Ministry of Pensions will shortly come before this House, and, in the meantime, they are continuing their functions under the control of the Minister as provided by Section 3 of the Ministry of Pensions Act, 1916. The Chairman of the Committee receives no salary in respect of that office. It is not proposed to discontinue the salary of the Vice-Chairman for so long as his office and its very arduous duties continue.

asked the Pensions Minister when he will be in a position to state whether the dependants of apprentices are to have their allowances placed upon the same basis; and whether such basis should be the wage-earning capacity of the lad at the time when application is made by the mother or other dependant for increased allowance and not simply hardship?

I am taking steps in the direction desired and will write to my hon. Friend when a decision is reached.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if the position of the ex-teachers who do not come under the latest pension scheme can be reconsidered with a view to some improvement, in view of the fact that the present cost of living renders their present pensions inadequate to provide them with the ordinary necessaries of life?

I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on the 20th June to the right hon. Member for the Ashford Division of Kent, a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Censor of the Press Bureau, or any other official of that Department, has refused to permit reports of a lecture by Mr. Mahoney, an escaped prisoner from Germany, or whether there has been any general prohibition from the Press Censor of references in newspapers to the treatment of prisoners of war which tend to draw un-favour-able comparisons between the treatment of German prisoners here and of English prisoners in Germany?

Nothing is known of any report of a lecture having been stopped, but if my hon. Friend will give me the date when the report is said to have been stopped, further inquiry will be made. The draft of an advertisement that lectures, illustrated by photographs, would be delivered was submitted to the Press Bureau on the 10th October, 1916, and was stopped after reference to the War Office. There is no general prohibition of the nature referred to in the latter part of the question, but the Press have been asked to exercise care in publishing statements from returned prisoners which might react unfavourably on the treatment of those who remain in captivity or stand in the way of their repatriation.

asked the Home Secretary how many male enemy aliens whose exemptions have been reviewed are already engaged on work of national importance; and how many names of those not so engaged have been forwarded to the National Service Department?

The number of male alien enemies who appeared on review of their exemptions to be already engaged in occupations of national importance was 1,667. The number of alien enemies whose names up to date have been forwarded to the National Service Department is 5,852.

asked the Home Secretary whether Regulation 40 B in the Order of Council, No. 501, of 28th July, 1916, which restricts the traffic in opium and cocaine to that required for medicinal purposes, applies also to morphine, the principal alkaloid of opium; and, if not, whether, in view of the abuse to which that drug is liable, he will bring to the notice of the Privy Council the desirability of extending the Order so as to include morphine, its salts, and preparations?

Regulation 40B does not apply to morphine. The Regulation is an emergency provision made under the powers of the Defence of the Realm Act; and I am not at present aware of any special grounds, arising out of the present emergency, for exercising those powers in regard to morphine. The inclusion of opium in the Regulation was necessary in order to put a stop to the illicit export of opium in contravention of the Proclamation.

asked the Home Secretary whether Alec Gordon has been employed by the Criminal Investigation Department at Scotland Yard; if so, on what date was he last so employed; and whether his whereabouts is still known to that Department?

The man described as Alec Gordon has never been employed by the Criminal Investigation Department at Scotland Yard. His whereabouts is not known to the police.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he will allow any hon. Member of this House who desires to see them the perusal of the reports received from or concerning; Alec Gordon?

The Ministry of Munitions has received no reports from this man.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether the Local Government Board has made any estimate as to the shortage of houses in this country at the end of the War; and what the estimated shortage is and the proportion of new houses needed, respectively, in rural and in urban areas in England and Wales and Scotland?

I am not in a position to make any reliable estimate as to the shortage of houses in rural and urban areas, respectively, in England and Wales at the end of the War, but I contemplate asking local authorities for information which will, I hope, make it possible to make some fairly accurate estimate of the housing needs in those areas.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that complaints have been received at the head office of the National Union of General Workers on account of the delay in fixing up settlements between the Committee on Production and the various sections of labour; if he is aware that the women engaged in the tin-box making at Blackburn reported their case to the Board of Trade on 26th February and no settlement has been arrived at; and that the engine-drivers, shunters, and cleaners employed at the Fleet Works of the United Alkali Company reported to the Board of Trade on 30th March and no agreement up to the present has been arrived at; and if he can give any reason for these delays, which are causing unrest in all parts of the country?

I have seen the letter addressed to the Chief Industrial Commissioner under date 13th June from the head office of the National Union of General Workers in which complaint is made of certain delays. A reply to the letter has, I observe, been sent. I may add that with regard to the case of the workpeople employed in the tin-box making trade of Blackburn, of the four firms reported, two only replied to communications addressed to them by the Chief Industrial Commissioner's Department, one employer stating that he had no employés, being assisted only by his wife, and the other stating that he had had no complaints from any of his workpeople. The other two firms did not reply, although reminders were sent to them on three occasions. With regard to the case of the Fleetwood works of the United Alkali Company, the Department understood that this case was merged in and covered by a general application, which included this firm and their workpeople, dealt with by the Committee on Production in an award of 12th April. When it was made clear that the case referred to was a separate question the matter was again taken up, and an arbitrator appointed on 25th instant. I quite agree with my hon. Friend as to the importance of these matters being dealt with speedily and am taking steps to deal with these matters with expedition. At the same time it is necessary that every help should be given by the parties themselves, both employers, workpeople and trade unions. To this end a special circular is being issued, a copy of which has been sent to the hon. Member. I shall be glad to arrange for the hon. Member to see an officer of the Chief Industrial Commissioner's Department on the matter, if desired.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company have, since 1st June, raised the freight charges on the carriage of potatoes from Lamlash, Arran, to Glasgow, from 9s. per ton to 16s. 6d., and also that the Caledonian Railway Company have increased their charges fully 100 per cent, on small consignments of goods to Clyde coastal towns; and whether those increased rates have received his sanction?

My attention has not previously been called to the increase in freights referred to, but I will make inquiries and let the hon. Gentleman know the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that owing to the closing of Bowling Station, on the Caledonian Railway, a number of shipyard and munition workers have difficulty in getting punctually to their work in the morning, and have to pay an increased sum per week for travelling; and whether, in view of the fact that the train by which they used to travel still runs past Bowling Station, and that the station agent is still in residence, he will arrange for the train to be stopped at Bowling at 5.30 in the morning and for a corresponding return train in the evening to be stopped at that station?

The Board of Trade are arranging with the railway company for the station to be opened, so as to provide for workers a service of one train in the morning and one train in the evening.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether he is aware that English officers, including one holding the Victoria Cross, are now being confined at Crefeld in separate cells, measuring 6 feet by 9 feet, for periods of solitary confinement extending to five months, as reprisals for alleged similar treatment of German officers in England; whether there is any such treatment of German officers; and whether the Government is taking steps to bring this treatment to the notice of the Dutch authorities?

Certain English officers were lately confined at Crefeld in separate cells, though I am not aware of the exact size of the latter. Such treatment is not justified by any punishment imposed on German officers in this country. The camp at Crefeld has been broken up, but we have no information at the moment as to whether the officers undergoing punishment have been removed, or, if so, whether their treatment remains the same.

asked whether it is proposed that the families of officer prisoners of war shall be deprived of the privilege of sending parcels to their imprisoned relatives; and, if so, what is the reason for this change?

I am informed that it has been decided that the conditions as to the number and weight of parcels of foodstuffs, medical comforts, drugs, and wine sent to officer prisoners of war should be assimilated to those under which parcels may be sent to other ranks. It is hoped that details of the new arrangements will be published shortly.