asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state on what grounds a passport to America was refused to Miss Nugent, of 58, Eccles Street, Dublin, seeing that her home and business are in America, and that she came to Ireland only for the purpose of visiting her relations; and whether he will now advise the proper authorities to issue her a passport forthwith?

Passports cannot be granted at the present time for women or children to travel oversea save in exceptional cases of urgent necessity. Miss Nugent has, however, been informed that if she will renew her application later OIL the passport will he granted at the earliest available opportunity.

Will the Noble Lord say when the restrictions will be raised on the emigration of women to America?

I could not say that. It does not rest with the Foreign Office.

Is the Noble Lord aware that there is a great number of cases in Ireland in which that reply has been given and nothing has been done?

Is it not in the interests of the safety of the women and children themselves that these passports have been prohibited?

The prohibition is imposed by other offices, and not by the Foreign Office. I have no doubt that that was one of the considerations.

Will the Noble Lord have the matter looked into with a view to having the restriction raised, so that women may be able to go out to their friends in America who want them there?

I would venture to suggest that the hon. Member should put a question to the Leader of the House on this point. I am not really in a position to deal with it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the chief of the Egyptian secret police, after a service of twenty-five years, has been convicted on eight counts and sentenced to five years' imprisonment and a fine of £800; whether an inquiry will be held into the cases of men executed, sentenced, or deported owing to the activities of this convict; and, if So, whether such inquiry will be immediate and public?

As regards the first part of the question, I have no official information beyond what has appeared in the Press. I will, however, consult His Majesty's High Commissioner on the points raised by the hon. Member.

In view of the fact that respectable people have actually had to leave Egypt owing to the blackmailing of this man, will some urgent representation be made to have a full statement of his delinquencies?

I cannot accept the suggestion of the hon. Member without further inquiry. As I have said, that is being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that the German Chancellor has declared that Beligum must form part of the economic system of Germany and of the military and naval defence of Germany; and, if so, on what occasion the statement was made?

I have no official information beyond that contained in the speeches of the German Chancellor as published in the Press. The hon. Member must form his own judgment as to the meaning of those speeches, but I cannot myself doubt that the speeches of 9th December, 1915, and 6th April. 1916. are on this point correctly summarised in the words quoted in the question.

Is the Noble Lord aware that the words quoted in the question are those used by the Prime Minister in his Glasgow speech as representing a statement made by the German Chancellor, while apparently from the reply no such statement was made?

I do not at all agree with that interpretation. I am quite aware that the words were used by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and I had said that in my view they were a correct summary of what the Chancellor said.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if it is proposed to make any representations to neutral countries with reference to the laying of mines in seas removed far from the scene of the War, and which it is alleged have been laid by vessels bearing neutral flags, and that damages to the value of any ship and cargo sunk by such mines will be claimed from any country which can be proved to have knowingly allowed such a mine-laying ship to have left its ports?

His Majesty's Government have every intention of claiming adequate reparation from any neutral country which can be proved to have permitted a vessel to leave its ports in the circumstances mentioned in the question, and I am much obliged to my hon. Friend for giving me this opportunity of making that intention publicly known to those whom it may concern.

asked the Minister of Blockade whether he is aware that there are some thousands of tons of coffee stored at Grimsby, said to have been German-owned and captured; whether any of this coffee is being exported to neutral countries; and if he can give an assurance that none of the coffee so ex ported reaches the enemy?

A large amount of coffee is stored at Grimsby which was seized upon the ground that it was believed to be destined for the enemy. There is evidence that some of this coffee is German-owned, and it is proposed to ask for its condemnation in the Prize Court. If the hon. Member is in possession of any reliable evidence on this point, it would be of considerable assistance in the legal proceedings now pending. Three hundred and seventy-five tons of coffee stored at Grimsby have recently been released for shipment to Sweden, under adequate guarantees that none of it will be re-exported to Germany. No part of these 375 tons was German-owned.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware of the delay in paying Irish teachers the fees earned by them for the teaching of rural science and school gardening; and if arrangements will be made for the payment of these fees to a teacher when his school has been inspected and payment certified?

Grants for instruction in rural science and horticulture are payable after the close of each school year, ending the 30th June, upon the reports of inspectors of the Department of Agriculture. Payments fire made without delay on receipt of the necessary reports.

asked whether national teachers in Ireland will be granted an additional war bonus to that received last year, in view of the fact that Civil servants have recently been granted an increase of war bonus, and that the war bonus of 1916 was granted to national teachers on the same scale and conditions sanctioned for Civil servants; and the scale of payments of such bonus and from what date it was intended to make such amounts payable?

The pay of national school teachers will, I hope, be dealt with by permanent increase upon a scale which will be stated to the House at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will consider the advisability of having a war bonus granted to asylum pensions in Ireland owing to the increased cost of living?

I have no power to authorise Grants by way of war bonus to pensioned asylums officers. The pensions are paid from local rates.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the date and place of meeting of the Convention?

These particulars will be announced in course of a few days.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what steps, if any, the Government has taken for the relief of unemployment in Ireland; and if he is aware that the present rates of wages, the conditions of housing, and amount of taxation and unemployment are largely responsible for the discontent now existing in Ireland?

To meet the cases of unemployment which were due to restrictions on the output of breweries the Minister of Munitions and the Minister of Labour are offering work for a considerable number of labourers from Dublin, and work is also being offered upon the railway for coal supply which is in course of construction between Athy and the Wolfhill Colliery. What are the causes of such discontent as exists, in Ireland could not be conclusively stated in answer to a question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the wages paid to labourers employed by the Irish Lights Commissioners at Kingstown is 22s. with 3s. war bonus; if he is aware that the wages paid do not compare favourably with the wages paid by other employers in the district; if he is aware that this is baby week in Dublin; if he is aware that almost all the labourers in the Irish Lights are married men fond of babies; and if he will say when they will be paid a wage sufficient to keep their families in comfort?

My right hon. Friend has requested me to reply to this question. The wages paid to labourers employed by the Irish Lights Commissioners at Kingstown are as stated. I am informed that they conform to rates current in the district and that whenever the current local rate is advanced the wages paid to the labourers at Kingstown are correspondingly increased. I understand that about 60 per cent, of these labourers are married.

What are the wages paid to labourers similarly occupied in England?

I cannot say from memory. If the hon. Member will put down a question I will inquire.

Would it not be better for the Government to have a standard wage, and not to follow an example set by the sweating employers in Dublin?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether His Majesty's Government has come to a decision with reference to the allowance of increased remuneration to Irish prison warders; and whether he is now in a position to say whether it is the intention of the Government to place the prison warders in Ireland in a position of equality as regards the remuneration with prison warders in England and Scotland?

The amendments in the pay of Irish prison warders have been communicated to the officers concerned, and have appeared in the Press. As to the latter part of the question, I would refer to the answer I gave last Thursday to the hon. Member for East Mayo.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question whether it is the intention to put the prison warders in Ireland on an equality as regards remuneration with prison warders in England and Scotland?

I told the hon. Member for East Mayo, in the answer which I gave him, the whole question was dealt with by a scheme which was presented some few months ago and which hag been extended within the last two or three weeks in order to meet the promises made on the subject. I cannot add anything to what is conveyed in the answer to that question.

The simple question which I want answered is whether the right hon. Gentleman agrees that prison warders in Ireland are entitled to as much per week as prison warders in England and Scotland?

That is a general principle on which I cannot express an opinion unless a particular case is put to me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that workers in Ireland are paid by the Government a lesser wage than is paid in England or Scotland, and why should that be so?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state why Mathew Sheridan, of Kilcogy, county Cavan, whose son resides in Granard, has been deprived of an old age pension; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the case and direct the Local Government Board to grant this man's application?

I am making inquiries.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state why the Granard pensions officer, Mr. Tumner, has objected to Mrs. May Farrelly, No. 886, in the Granard station district, being continued on the list of persons entitled to a pension; why the same officer, when the Ballinalee sub-committee granted her 3s., appealed although the woman is now older and poorer than when she first got the pension; and will he request the Local Government Board to reconsider her case and grant her the pension to which she is entitled?

Inquiries are being made in regard to this case.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when a definite statement will be made on the question of a grant of an all-round flat rate of 2s. 6d. per head to old age pensioners; whether he is aware that this sum has practically been paid to no old age pensioners in county Longford, the mere statement of the pension officers debarring the local committees from granting it; whether he is aware that many deserving cases have been thus shut out; and will he apply the only remedy, to give an all-round flat-rate increase forthwith?

The question of a general increase of old age pensions is not one with which I can deal as Chief Secretary. Appeals against the decisions of pension officers go to the Local Government Board for Ireland, and in proper eases come under my consideration. The proportion of cases in which the additional pension is granted is at least as large in Ireland as in Great Britain.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Local Government Hoard have practically turned down every appeal to them?

I do not, know how that may be, but I know the ratio of distribution and allowance, and the result of the comparison is that which I have stated.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Local Government Board says that there is no appeal in these matters?

I think not, because I have frequently answered questions in this House with regard to the grounds of decisions of appeals.

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to press the Local Government Board to look into this matter?

If the hon. Member can undertake to extend any year to twice 385 days, I should be very glad to give him some of the additional days.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many appeals there are?

I could not possibly.

Are there any?

I could not say.

When the pension officers take into consideration the rate of pay of dependants of old age pensioners, why do they not take into consideration the increased cost of living?

As I have already said, the proportions of those additional pensions in Ireland are at least as large, or slightly larger, than they were in Great Britain.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Local Government Board to give their reasons for refusing appeals?

They always give them when there is an appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the desirability of extending the compulsory closing Order for shops, which expires on the 30th of September next, the benefit of which has been realised by the majority of traders throughout the country?

Yes, Sir. The question will be considered in due course, but the Order is a war measure and the action taken must depend on the circumstances as they exist at the time of its expiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the passage of the Military Service (Conventions with Allied States) Act, he proposes to continue to forcibly deport any further French subjects to France in order that they may be conscripted there?

The legislation in question does not at present apply to French subjects in this country, and my right hon. Friend sees no sufficient reason for making a change in the practice at the present moment.

Is not the hon. Member aware that the French have plenty of enemies in front of them, without having enemies behind them in this House?

asked the Pensions Minister whether the Pensions Appeal Committee has yet begun to meet; and, if not, can he say when the hearing of appeals will begin?

It is hoped that the Appeal Tribunal will be in a position to begin its sessions in ten days' time.

May I state that I have received letters from men who have appealed, saying that the Committee stated that their appeal has not been sustained?

The appeal has not yet begun. The Appeal Court has not begun its session.

I am asking have the men received that answer?

If my hon. Friend will send me an example, I will make inquiry.

I will.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, when making inquiries from the local authorities as to how they propose to meet the shortage of half a million houses which he stated, in his answer to the deputation of the Workmen's National Council, would be required for immediate use after the War, he will also inquire from such local authorities what in their opinion are the chief causes contributing to such shortage?

Opportunity will be given to local authorities to submit any information or observations bearing upon the question of the shortage of houses in their respective districts.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any inquiries are being instituted by his Department as to the best way to meet the demand for houses for workers in agricultural districts which will arise if large areas of land are broken up for cultivation; and, if so, will he say what is the nature of such inquiries and' to whom have they been addressed?

The inquiries which it is proposed to send to local authorities in regard to housing heeds will extend to all rural districts, and will include inquiries as to the extent both of the needs of the area and of the provision which the local authorities will be prepared to make for supplying them. In connection with the general consideration of the housing problem, the very important matter referred to in the question is not being overlooked.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the position of a naval surgeon, retiring before the War with a gratuity, was as follows: that the Admiralty had no further claim on his services, that, as a voluntary act on his part, he could place his name on an emergency list which, in case of his being called upon to serve, would entitle him to the rate of pay he was receiving when he retired, plus a bonus of 25 per cent., and that for this voluntary act he received no extra gratuity or reward of any kind; whether he is aware that some ten or more naval surgeons who had retired before the War with a gratuity and who had placed their names on the emergency list have been called upon to serve, but are not receiving the pay promised, the Admiralty claiming to deduct, and deducting, from their pay a sum equal to the interest on their gratuity, and will he refer to any Statute, Regulation, or Order in Council made before the War that justifies this; if not, will he at once direct the repayment of the sums illegally deducted with interest at 5 per cent, to these naval surgeons; and will he state on what principle this deduction has been made and the rate of interest taken?

The position of the officer in question is as indicated in the first part of the question. On being called out he receives: (l) the rate of pay earned prior to withdrawal; (2) a bonus of 25 per cent, in lieu of any further retiring allowance. The gratuity paid on withdrawal is in effect a commuted allowance, and is comparable with the annual allowance paid to officers retiring under other conditions. The bonus is paid to both the emergency officer and the retired officer when re-employed, and as the latter has his retir- ing allowance suspended, it is consistent to deduct the annual value of the gratuity received by the former officer. The authorising Regulation is Order in Council, 13th May, 1901, No. 157, under which the Treasury has approved both the payment of the bonus and the deduction referred to. Any doubt as to the legality of the decision regarding the latter would, therefore, be equally applicable to the former. The annual value of the gratuity is calculated on the basis of the cost of an immediate life annuity at the date of withdrawal, under the Post Office annuity table in force at the time.

Does the right lion. Gentleman think you ought to give a man a bonus and subsequently charge interest on it when the man rejoins on his own initiative?

The heart of the matter is this: The gratuity is considered to be a commuted allowance. The officer retired on allowance and re-employed got his allowance suspended. So it is deemed equitable to deduct the annual value of the gratuity from the officer retired on the same.

Has not the gratuity been used to get a practice?

I should be glad if my hon. and learned Friend would argue his view, for which I have always much respect, before our Medical Director-General, the Accountant-General, and myself.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether temporary assistant paymasters of the Royal Naval Reserve attached to ships in commission are unable to obtain promotion although doing responsible and good work; whether the Regulations do not permit of promotion being given; and whether he will take steps to amend the Regulations so as to permit of capable and deserving officers who are temporary assistant paymasters receiving promotion?

The necessary steps have already been taken to obtain authority for the advancement of temporary assistant paymasters of the Royal Naval Reserve and regulations on the subject will shortly be issued.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have recently granted a commission as tem porary assistant-paymaster, Royal Naval Reserve, to an individual who had no previous experience of the Navy, and appointed him to His Majesty's ship "Mars"; whether this newly appointed officer holds the same rank and draws the same pay as those who offered their ser vices at the commencement of the War; and whether he is aware that the man's appointment has been received with feelings of dismay among officers of the Royal Naval Reserve who joined up voluntarily in 1914?

The officer referred to in the first part of the question cannot be identified from the information given. As regards the remainder of the question, all officers entered as assistant paymasters, Royal Naval Reserve, hold the same rank until they attain four years' seniority and draw the same rate of pay, and it cannot be admitted that any feeling should arise because a temporary officer in 1917 should be entered under the same conditions as temporary officers who were entered in 1914.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the case of Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve officers attached to the Royal Naval Division who were given promotion to acting rank before the Royal Naval Division was transferred to the control of the War Office, such promotions to acting rank are subject to cancellation under the War Office Regulation whereby officers who have held acting rank in the field are compelled to revert to their substantive rank upon their return, through sickness or wounds, to depot?

Prior to the transfer of the Royal Naval Division to the control of the War Office, the promotion of officers to acting rank was authorised under the same conditions as are laid down for the Army, namely, during the performance of specified duties. Officers so promoted would therefore automatically revert to their substantive rank on ceasing, from any cause, to perform such duties. The position of such officers of the Royal Naval Division was in no way affected by its transfer to Army control.

The point I wish to put is the case of the man promoted to acting rank while the Naval Division was under the Admiralty?

Having ceased to perform the duty which he was performing in that acting rank, he would have been reverted by the Admiralty had the Royal Naval Division remained with us. The same thing precisely happens under the War Office.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to prevent relatives of British officer prisoners of war from sending parcels direct to such prisoners and to regulate the contents of such parcels; and whether, before any new Regulations become operative, the Government will issue a White Paper giving the details of the proposed change and the reasons for such change, and will give the House an opportunity of expressing their opinion on the proposals?

Regulations on this subject will be published immediately. They will not, however, come into force until 1st August, and there will certainly be an opportunity on the next Vote of Credit of discussing the matter in this House during the present month.

May I ask why it is necessary to go against the wishes of many officers who are prisoners of war in Germany, and who infinitely prefer the present system to be carried on, and have asked that it should?

I think we had better wait and see the exact Regulations. This has not been done without very careful thought by the War Office and, indeed, by the Cabinet.

Will the right hon. Gentleman satisfy himself that the arrangements of the Central Committee in London are run on business lines, and that those parcels will get delivered satisfactorily to the prisoners in Germany?

I agreed to the decision after hearing the case in the belief that would happen.

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the Report of the Joint Committee on the Central Committee's work, and is he satisfied that it is desirable to hand over the care of our officers to the Central Committee, who are shown in this Report to have inflicted such hardship and suffering on our soldier prisoners of war in Germany?

My right hon. Friend put a question of that kind the other day. I do not agree with him as to the incompetence of that Committee.

May I ask whether under the interpretation of the new rules this old arrangement still holds good?

May I ask if the new Regulations; will apply to officers of the mercantile marine, and have the associations which have hitherto catered to their needs with the utmost satisfaction been consulted before the arrangements were made?

That is a new point to me.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the general dissatisfaction caused by the non-reception of parcels by prisoners of war since the. New Regulation made last December; whether the British representatives at The Hague are fully informed as to this; and whether they will endeavour to obtain per mission for parcels to be sent direct by relatives as previously?

I am aware that there has been dissatisfaction on this subject, but the whole question has been fully investigated by a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament, to whose Report I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend. The British delegates at The Hague were fully conversant with the matter. The former system of allowing prisoners to receive parcels from private sources led to much inconvenience and abuse, and it is not proposed to revert to it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer take note of that in regard to his answer to a previous question as to making some arrangements for officer prisoners of war, seeing the complete failure with regard to soldier prisoners of war?

Can my hon. Friend now tell me whether he has received the Report of the Joint Committee, and whether the recommendations of the Committee to remove the grievances under which our prisoners of war are now suffering are going to be adopted; whether, in regard to that Joint Committee, it is not necessary to say whether or not its Report has been adopted?

The hon. and gallant Member should give notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he has considered the method of Ministers dealing with vital public matters by sending communications of a private character; whether this practice, shown by the Mesopotamia Commission Report to be dangerous, is being continued; whether he can announce a break with the past practice in this connection; (2) whether any person whose action has come under the strictures of the Mesopotamia Commission has resigned or has been called on to submit reasons why his services should not be dispensed with; (3) whether the War Cabinet intends to leave the position of persons censured in the Report of the Mesopotamia Commission unchanged until the House has debated the Report next week?

I think that these questions can best be dealt with in the Debate.

As a matter of fact does not this practice relate to a great many other things besides the Indian Government and the Mesopotamia Commission, and in view of the fact that it is a general practice with other Departments will the Government consider the matter?

I am not aware that it is in other Departments. We should certainly consider it if it were.

Is it not a fact in the Foreign Office, and what about Lord Hardinge's letter to Sir George Buchanan?

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to extend the same amnesty to persons other than Irish rebels, who were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment or otherwise by court-martial; and, if not, will he say why this cannot be done?

I do not know to whom the hon. Member refers.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information showing that the exact time and place chosen by the enemy for recent air raids over England followed upon information supplied by enemy agents in this country?

The answer is in the negative.

Is it not the case that on the occasion of the recent attack upon London the conditions for attack were much more favourable than they would have been immediately preceding and immediately after. Would the right hon. Gentleman also say whether it is not the case that on the day of the Harwich raid an important movement of troops was taking place immediately before the attack?

All the answer I can give is that the Department concerned has no evidence such as my right hon. Friend's question suggests.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the statement in a London paper to the effect that on the occasion of the recent raid on London all the machines which could have met the attack were removed, and that General French had complained to the War Office that that had taken place; 'and can the right hon. Gentleman say whether that is a rumour or whether there is any truth in it?

In regard to that, the subject has been discussed at a meeting with General French, at which I was present, and I am quite certain that nothing of that kind occurred.

Does my right hon. Friend suggest that it is not the case that important squadrons were away on that particular day and were subsequently brought back?

I cannot say as to that. The question was whether General French had complained?

What is the answer to my question?

I do not know.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state approximately the amount of public money advanced to private concerns since the commencement of the War and how much, if any, has been repaid?

The answer to my right hon. Friend's question involves the collection of particulars from a large number of Departments. I shall, therefore, be obliged if he will be good enough to repeat the question in a fortnight's time.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government intends to proceed with the taking control of the liquor traffic in the present Session?

The Government do not at present propose to take control, and, as I have already stated, they will not in any circumstances do so until the subject has been discussed by the House of Commons.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the interest aroused by the issue of the Whitley Report on the relations of employers and employed and the importance of having it widely circulated, he will give instructions for copies of this Report to be sent to the libraries of all free libraries and to representative organisations of working men, such as the Workers' Educational Association?

I quite agree with my hon. Friend as to the importance of obtaining as wide a circulation as possible for the Report. The Ministry of Labour has already distributed several thousand copies, and I will certainly consider how far it is possible to adopt his suggestion. I would point out that anyone can procure a copy through a bookseller for Id.

Can my hon. Friend say why a Report of this kind was not circulated in the ordinary way with the Votes?

I should like notice of that question.

Why was it held back from March before being circulated?

The Report was not in the hands of the Labour Ministry to deal with at the date named.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Whitley Report on the relations of employers and employed is being sent to the heads of Government Departments employing a large amount of labour; and whether they are being requested to consider it and report to the Government on the suggestions contained in the Report in the same way that employers' associations are being re quested to do?

The Report has been circulated to the leading employers' associations and trade unions with a view to ascertaining whether the scheme proposed in it is likely to prove generally acceptable to industry. In the event of the Government being satisfied of this and adopting the scheme, the question of applying it to Government undertakings would obviously have to be considered; but it has not been thought necessary to approach particular Government Departments in the matter until the opinion of the country has been ascertained on the practicability of the scheme proposed.

Does the hon. Gentleman not think it would be advisable to approach Government Departments employing a large amount of labour, seeing that employers' associations in the country are being asked to consider the Report?

I think it would be better to await until the general views of industry have been ascertained.

Can the hon. Gentleman give us any earthly reason why the Government Departments should always be last?

Can he give us any other reasons?

That is a question which should be addressed to each Department to whom the hon. Member refers.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that dissatisfaction is felt by uncertificated teachers in elementary schools at the omission to appoint a member of the National Union of Uncertificated Teachers on. the Departmental Committee recently appointed to determine the construction of the scales of salaries for teachers in these schools; and, having regard to the number of uncertificated teachers, will he add a representative of such teachers to the Committee to safeguard their interests?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. The President of the Board of Education has received representations from the National Union of Uncertificated Teachers on this subject, but he is not prepared to make any further appointments to the Committee He is satisfied that any representations made to the Committee by or on behalf of the uncertificated teachers will receive careful and impartial consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman's Department prepared to leave quite unrepresented on this Committee 57,000 of the worst paid teachers in the elementary schools?

That has been fully considered, and any representations that may be made on the part of these teachers to the Committee will, as I have already said, be carefully considered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give instructions to this Departmental Committee carefully to consider the claims of these uncertificated teachers?

I have not the least doubt but that will be done.

Are not certain members of this Committee put down as representing certain classes of teachers? Why, therefore, should the same representation be denied to the teachers referred to in the question?