asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the United States of America are now at war with Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey, respectively; and, if not, whether in order to complete the unity of the Allies, representations have been made to the United States on this matter?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the statement in Lord Hardinge's letter of 21st July, 1916, that Roumania was striving to obtain enormous tracts of territory, he will state whether any undertakings were given to Roumania involving annexations or indemnities to Roumania's benefit when Roumania declared war in August, 1916, on Austria-Hungary?

I have nothing to add to the reply returned to the hon. Member's question of the 28th ultimo.

Will the Noble Lord or the Foreign Office be able to make a fuller statement if I raise this matter on the next Vote of Credit?

I do not know what we shall do if the hon. Member raises anything on a Vote of Credit.

I desire to give notice that on the next Vote of Credit I shall raise the matter of these statements of Lord Hardinge which seem to commit the Government, but for which the Government repudiate responsibility.

asked whether any of the South American Republics are in a state of actual war with Germany; and, if so, whether a special message of congratulation will be sent to them from this House?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the provisions of the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, exempting from notice and examination under that Act men who have been discharged from the naval or military services of the Crown in consequence of disablement caused by wounds (including injury from poisonous gases) received in battle or in any engagement with the enemy or other wise from the enemy, apply to men who have been discharged from such service in consequence of disablement caused by wounds received in former wars; and whether his recent announcement extending such exemption to men who have been discharged from such service in consequence of disablement, however caused, in the course of their naval or military service, applies to men who have been so discharged in former wars?

Recruiting officers have been instructed that the exception from this Act of men discharged in consequence of disablement resulting from wounds, etc., is to be taken as applying to discharges on these grounds in any war. The recent instructions which in effect extend the exception from this Act to all men discharged from the Armed Forces of the Crown in consequence of disablement after service overseas also extend to service overseas irrespective of service in the present or in former wars.

Does the reply cover all the cases of men who have been discharged in this or former wars by reason of disablement, whether due to the specific causes mentioned in the Act of 1917 or to any other cause?

Yes.

asked if any decision has yet been arrived at as to the disposal of the money derived from the profits made by the Expeditionary Force canteen?

I would refer the lion, and gallant Member to the answer given on 21st November, 1916 to the hon. and gallant Member for Ludlow. The profits made by the Expeditionary Force canteens will be devoted to the benefit of the Army under the direction of the Army Council.

Would not the hon. Gentleman consider a proposal to start a fund which can be made use of to relieve, after the War, men who have been soldiers, and who are in want through no fault of their own?

Yes, I will place that consideration before the financial authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can now state why the War Office have not sent any reply to the matter laid before them by the Shetland Territorial Association?

I understand my hon. Friend to refer to certain proposals as to recruiting which were put forward by the Shetland Territorial Association last January. These proposals were approved by the War Office last March and the Associations concerned informed on the 10th of that month.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, concerning the case of Private F. Willey, No. 12313, C Company, 2/7th Durham Light Infantry, Assaye Barracks, Colchester, if he is aware that the soldier in question enlisted on 8th September, 1914. was wounded in France in August, 1916, was twenty-two weeks in hospital, and when, after a period of sick furlough, he rejoined his unit in February last, was classified C 2, B 179, B 179 being said to be equivalent to a recommendation for discharge; if he is also aware that three weeks afterwards Private Willey had a pension granted to him; if lie is further aware that shortly after this Private Willey was told to appear before the regimental medical officer for the purpose of being inoculated, whereupon he refused and was told that he would have to go to France in less than two months, and was classified as B 1; and if he will inquire into the circumstances relating to the ease, and take suitable action as required?

I am making inquiries, and will inform my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the statement made by the Chairman of the House of Commons Tribunal on 2nd July that men holding certificates of exemption from a local tribunal are not liable for medical re-examination by any military authority has the sanction of the War Office; if so, why this is not made clear in the notice (A.F.W. 3,579) requiring men to be re-examined, which purports to give a full list of exceptions to the requirement; and whether he will have the necessary addition made to all forms sent out after this date?

The Military Service (Review of Excepitons) Act, 1917, applies only to men who were, previously excepted from liability for military service. If such a man previously. held a certificate of exemption, such a certificate, being an exemption from a liability to which he was not subject, had no validity, and, therefore, did not preclude the man being served with a Statutory Order under the Act. It is, therefore, unnecessary to make any such addition to the Statutory Order as is suggested. I am not aware in what context the alleged statement by the Chairman of the London Appeal Tribunal may have been made, but it is the fact that a man who holds a valid certificate of exemption from a tribunal, and who has already been examined by a recruiting medical board, is not required to be medically re-examined while the certificate is current. If, however, a man though holding a tribunal certificate, has never been examined by a medical board he can be required to submit himself for examination under Defence of the Realm Regulation 45 C.

Would there be any drawback to putting this alongside the other exemptions on the noticed?

I am afraid my hon. Friend has not heard the whole of my answer. My hon. Friend is talking of exemptions. The Act refers not to exemptions, but to exceptions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office now intend to remove from work on the land men be longing to the Non-Combatant Corps; whether such men are no longer allowed to work on the land; and, if so, as the need for labour on the land is greater at the present time than earlier in the year, whether he will take steps to renew the permission to such men to do farm work?

Any man of the Non-Combatant Corps who has been accustomed to work on the land will, as far as possible, be used for farm work.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will take into consideration the fact that the daily rate of a soldier's pay would in many cases admit of a larger amount being deducted towards a maintenance order for a wife or child or bastard child; and whether he will amend Section 145 (2) (b) of the Army Act so as to enable the rate to be deducted to be in proportion to the amount of daily pay received and not only in accordance with the rank of the soldier?

I am afraid my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion is not practicable at the present time.

Does my hon. Friend consider that where a private soldier is in receipt of, say, 3s. a day, it is sufficient for him to be marked at only 3s. 6d. per week for the support of a wife, a woman whom he has deserted, or at 2s. 4d. for the support of a bastard child?

I cannot argue with my hon. Friend as to the merits of the case, but I would point out to him that to carry out his suggestion would require an amendment of the Army Act.

As the Army Act is being amended now once or twice a year, will this matter be considered when the next Army (Annual) Act (Amendment) Bill comes in?

I believe it is considered every time: my hon. Friend sees to that.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if farmers' sons and others engaged in agricultural work who have been exempted by local tribunals but have been appealed against by the military, with the result that the Appeal Tribunal has given exemption only until a substitute is found, come under the Instructions recently issued to tribunals by the War Office providing that men engaged in agriculture are not to be recruited?

No Instructions have been issued by the War Office to tribunals, nor would any such Instructions be competent. Recruiting officers have, however, been given Instructions to the effect that a man whole-time employed on a farm on farm work is not to be posted for military service without the concurrence of the Agricultural Executive Committee in England or the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in Scotland, and these Instructions take effect whatever may be the man's position with regard to tribunal exemption.

May I ask if men who have been before the tribunal, and have been exempted until substitutes are found, will come under the Instruction just mentioned?

I must have notice of that.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state the position under the Military Ser- vice (Convention with Allied States) Bill of ex-soldiers discharged on account of physical unfitness from the Army who have since gone to America or other countries; and whether all ex-soldiers discharged on account of unfitness since the beginning of the War who have been allowed passports to leave this country will be exempt from the provisions of the Act, and whether or not they have been on foreign service?

Where a convention has been concluded with an Allied State under the Military Service (Conventions with Allied States) Bill, it is proposed to issue instructions to His Majesty's Ambassador to any such State to the effect that where an ex-soldier claims that he is not liable to service and produces evidence that he has been discharged from the Army in consequence of physical unfitness, he is to be granted a provisional certificate of exemption and his case referred to the War Office for special consideration.

Does that mean that the soldier has no right in the matter at all, and that the matter rests with the War Office?

It is so, but I do not see what the War Office could do. It does not come directly under this Act, but we are doing the best we possibly can by instructing the Ambassador that a soldier under those circumstances should be granted a provisional certificate of exemption, and that the case should be referred to the War Office to be decided on its merits.

Has any convention on these lines been already agreed upon?

I think my hon. Friend must put that question to the Foreign Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will make arrangements for suspending the drafting of the members of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) now at Blackpool to Infantry battalions so as to permit of the reconsideration of their position, in view of the fact that about 74 per cent, of these men have already been wounded at the front, are anxious and able to return to their former work there, for which they have had long training and special experience, and also of the fact that a large number of them enlisted at the commencemet of the War for the form of military service which they could conscientiously render and had no opportunity of claiming the position given by the Military Service Act to men who did not voluntarily enlist?

Out of 1,154 Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) men who are being transferred to Infantry, ninety-two only (or 7.97 per cent.) have been wounded. Arrangements have been made by which any men who enlisted with the express proviso that they should only be employed in Royal Army Medical Corps work shall remain with the Royal Army Medical Corps. Also that the cases of any men who enlisted at the commencement of the War, and are in a position to prove that they conscientiously object to service other than that in the Royal Army Medical Corps, will be sympathetically treated.

How are they to have the opportunity of proving that?

I shall have to consider that.

Will a statement be issued?

Yes; I think that is advisable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a discharged soldier called up for medical examination and passed for service under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, is compelled to give up his certificate of discharge from previous service?

The answer is in the negative. Where a man in possession of a discharge certificate is called up and not immediately posted his discharge certificate is endorsed medically examined under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, and classified in Category C (ii.), B (iii.), or C (iii.), as the case may be.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Herbert John Wallace, of 68, Glengarry Road, Ea3t Dulwich, who was recently passed fit for general service by the Special Medical Board; whether he is aware of the fact that on 30th June Wallace received a letter from the Ber-mondsey Tribunal informing him that they were unanimously of opinion that he was not fit for general service, but that, in view of the medical report, they were unable to grant further exemption; and, in view of the fact that in May, 1915, Wallace was classified C3 by the Camber-well Medical Board, that he subsequently joined a volunteer battalion, but was only found fit for orderly-room work, that he afterwards offered himself for Section B of the Volunteer Force, and was in February, 1917, examined by three Royal Army Medical Corps doctors, who rejected him for heart trouble, and also for inguinal hernia, whether this case can be reconsidered?

I gather that the question at issue in this case is the medical classification of the man, and I have therefore informed the War Office of the hon. Member's question, and have asked them to communicate with him.

asked whether men who were exempted from military service as being mentally unfit are to be considered fit and proper persons to exercise their vote at a General Election?

The question of the mental competence of any voter to exercise the franchise is one for the decision of the Returning Officer at the time of the election.

Does my right hon. Friend think it is fair if a man is unable to serve his country—

That is a matter for argument.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, owing to shortage in the number of funeral workers due to Army recruitment, corpses have in some cases to lie for days without a coffin being available, and that in other cases the funeral has had to be delayed for a week or more after the coffin was forthcoming; whether he has received any representa- tions on this matter from the public health departments of local authorities or from other quarters; and whether it is proposed to take any action?

I have received some representations on this matter, but not recently. I have no reason to think that generally the position is serious. I am fully prepared to consider any representations which may be made to me.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that Councillor Dollan, of Glasgow, has been granted exemption by the Central Tribunal on the ground of conscientious objection, conditional on engaging in work of public importance; whether the Central Tribunal imposed as a further condition that the work must be found more than fifty miles from Glasgow, and, if not, who imposed this condition; whether his appeal to the High Court against the decision of the stipendiary magistrate that he was an absentee has not been heard; and, if not, whether he ought to be released from prison until it has been finally decided whether he was rightly convicted of being an absentee?

I am aware of the decision of the Central Tribunal in this case. I am informed that it was intimated to Dollan that he should find employment in a district at least fifty miles from Glasgow. As regards the latter part of the question, I am informed that no such appeal has been heard in the High Court. The question of interim liberation has already been disposed of by the stipendiary.

Is it in order to impose such a condition as that he should find work of public importance at a distance of more than fifty miles from Glasgow? Is not that more suitable for the action of the authorities under the Defence of the Realm Act?

I see no reason whatever to doubt the legality of the condition.

What is the object of a condition like that? Is it held that no work of public importance can be found within fifty miles of Glasgow?

That is a matter entirely for the tribunal and not for me.

Is it the case that the tribunal can impose any condition whatsoever, no matter how irrational or how irrelevant to the matter at issue?

One must wait until such a case arises. This is not a case of that type.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what system is pursued regarding meat contracts, generally, in Ireland; whether tenders are invited or whether private arrangements are made with certain individuals; whether there is open competition to ensure reasonable prices; and whether the quality of the supplies is inspected, and by whom is the inspection carried out?

In the Dublin and Cork districts meat is obtained under the contract system. In the Belfast and Curragh districts cattle are bought from farmers and slaughtered by military labour. Under the contract system tenders are invited and there is open competition. Supplies are inspected by the Army Service Corps.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether it is a fact that a stockbroker from Belfast has a contract for The Curragh?

No, Sir; I think not.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his Department has yet investigated the working of the experimental meat scheme now in operation in certain districts in Ireland; can he now state the results obtained by the scheme; do the results, if obtained, encourage the continuance of the scheme; and will he now inform the House what are the intentions of the War Office in respect to the matter?

I have nothing at present to add to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on 28th June.

When will the hon. Gentleman be able to let us know? Has not the experiment gone on long enough for an adequate result? It has been going on since last December.

Yes, I think so far as I am able to gather, it has been so successful that in all probability it will be continued, but no final decision has been reached at the moment.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he has received a resolution from Houghton-le-Spring Rural Council to the effect that the public should during the present food crisis have free access to the rivers of the country, with a view to increasing our home-produced food supply, and that the Board of Agriculture should remove the present restrictions; and, if so, will he say what steps, if any, he proposes to bring about this result?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Similar resolutions have been received from a number of local authorities. It is not clear what is intended by the expression "free access to rivers and lakes"—whether, for instance, it is suggested that a general right of trespass shall be conferred upon the public, or that existing licence duties and by-laws should be abolished. It does not appear to the Board that circumstances have as yet arisen which would warrant so drastic an interference with private rights or action liable to have so prejudicial an effect upon the future welfare of our inland fisheries. The Board expect to receive now at an early date the interim report of the Committee which is considering the question of the utilisation of the freshwater fish supplies of the country, and do not propose to take any general action in the matter till they have considered the report.

May I take it from that reply that the Board itself is opposed to taking any action whatever in order to give more free and better access to the rivers of the country?

I do not think the hon. Member can come to that conclusion. We have an open mind on the subject

asked how many women have been found employment on the land by war agricultural committees and at what wages; what directions these committees give as to the provision of suitable housing for the women; and what sum is usually charged them for board and lodging?

Five thousand two hundred and forty-three National Service Volunteers selected by the county women's war agricultural committees have been placed on farms or in instruction centres. Instructions have been issued that the National Service recruits are only to be placed with employers whose accommodation and general conditions have been approved by the county selection committee. The wage is never less than 18s., and up to the present has reached in some cases 27s. The billeting rate varies between 12s. and 15s.

Are these 5,243 all women who have been found employment on the land?

Yes, that is so; only those through the National Service. Of course, there are farmers who have made their own private arrangements.

asked the Postmaster-General by whose orders steamers from Lerwick to Aberdeen are prohibited from crossing direct; if it has been brought to his notice that a large consignment of beef arrived in Lerwiek absolutely rotten; and if he will take the necessary steps to insist on a direct mail at least once a week?

The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. As to the first and third parts, I am not in a position to insist on the maintenance of any mail service without regard to naval requirements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if any steps are being taken to supply those who have large fruit gardens and have always made considerable quantities of jam in past years, and have applied for sugar, with at least some sugar and so prevent the fruit rotting on the ground, as tons of fruit have already been so wasted?

About 7,500 tons of special preserving sugar have been allocated to private growers of soft fruit for domestic jam making, and no further issue for soft fruit is contemplated.

On what system is this sugar being distributed, seeing that many people have got some, whereas regular makers of jam and many of those who applied have had no notice taken of their applications?

If the hon. Gentleman will give me instances I will put them before the Food Controller.

Will the hon. Gentle man issue some information, so that poor people may know to whom to apply for sugar?

I think there have been notices issued, but it is hardly any use issuing any further notices now for the soft fruit season.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a great number of people who grow fruit have had no reply at all, the alleged cause being that they did not include stamped directed envelopes, and does he think it quite fair that such a small technicality should deprive the country of a great quantity of fruit?

Is he aware that those who did include stamped directed envelopes did not receive any sugar?

I have heard both these complaints before, but I do not think that I am in a position to express an opinion as to what course the Food Controller ought to have taken. I will pass on the remarks of the hon. Gentleman.

How much sugar has been allocated to Ireland?

The hon. Member must give notice of that question. The hon. Gentleman cannot be expected to carry all these figures in his head.

It was stated just now that there would be no more soft fruit. I think that must be a mistake, because plums and so on are none of them ripe, and they are soft fruit.

What I said was that I did not think that it was any use issuing any further notices with regard to soft fruit. I meant soft fruit as distinct from stone fruit. I am perfectly ready to bring it before the notice of the Food Controller.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that while the approximate amount of sugar used in the manufacture of 100 gallons of ginger beer or lemonade is 150 lbs., the amount used in the manufacture of 100 gallons of light ale, of 18 lbs. gravity, rarely exceeds 25 lbs.; whether in many breweries in the United Kingdom the employment of sugar is altogether excluded; and whether, in view of the restrictions of output which have been imposed upon breweries, with the alleged object, inter alia, of conserving sugar as an article of food, he will say if similar restrictions have been applied to the output of ginger beer and lemonade?

My hon. Friend's statement is approximately correct as regards light ale; but I understand that the maximum amount of sugar now used in the manufacture of 100 gallons of ginger beer or lemonade is about 80 lbs. and not 150 lbs., as stated in the question. If sugar is wholly excluded from use in many breweries, such exclusion is not due to any Statutory restriction. The amount of sugar that may be used for purposes of manufacture is 25 per cent, of that so used in 1915. This restriction applies equally to brewers, makers of ginger beer and lemonade and other manufacturers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether there is a definite and compulsory limit to the amount of cereals other than wheat in the constitution of flour now permissible for the baking of ordinary bread; if not, will he take steps at the earliest possible moment to fix a definite limit; will he consider the desirability of taking compulsory measures by which all flour for the making of ordinary bread shall be ground to such degree of fineness as the experts advising the Departments state will ensure the most nutritive and digestible qualities; and, while the committee of experts is experimenting with the view of overcoming the difficulties in the baking of bread made of flour in the constitution of which maize, beans, etc., form part, will he take means to safeguard the health of the public by allowing in the immediate future the milling only of 80 per cent, or 75 per cent. wholly wheaten flour for the making of ordinary bread?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The machinery in different mills varies so considerably that it is impossible to prescribe a uniform standard of fineness for finished flour. Nor is it possible, in view of actual and prospective supplies, to revert, even temporarily, to the pre-war degree of extraction. The hon. Member may, however, rest assured that no effort will be spared to ensure the supply to the public of a digestible and palatable bread.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what are the component parts of the standard loaf; and what provision is made to secure uniformity of standard and the prevention of adulteration of the bread standard prescribed throughout the United Kingdom?

There is no standard loaf. The suggestion that the mixture of flour should be standardised throughout the country is attractive but impracticable. It is not, however, permitted to mix with wheaten flour anything save flour derived from rice, barley, maize, oats, rye, or beans.

Could the hon. Gentleman say how much of the offals of wheat, such as bran and pollard, are mixed with the present standard loaf?

I am afraid I cannot say.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that offals coming from wheat, such as bran and pollard, are favourite feeding-stuffs for cattle among farmers, and that in their absence they are importing other feeding stuffs?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) the number of rated occupiers in county Tipperary who have failed to comply with the Tillage Order; and what action the Department intend taking to enforce the penalties provided by the Order?

Several cases of non-compliance with the Compulsory Tillage Regulations in county Tipperary have been reported to the Department of Agriculture. Inspectors have visited the county, and in the case of twenty-nine holdings the Department have entered or are about to enter upon the lands in the exercise of their powers under the Defence of the Realm Regulations.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether farmers in county Leitrim could not proceed with the potato spraying owing to the scarcity of spraying machines; and whether the Department will supply spraying machines to the county committee to be lent on hire on the same terms as in county Fermanagh?

I am not aware that farmers in county Leitrim are unable to spray their potatoes owing to the scarcity of spraying machines

I am.

These machines can be procured, and the Department are prepared to advance loans to farmers to enable them to purchase knapsack sprayers. Every county committee of agriculture may purchase spraying machines for hiring to farmers, and where the funds of the committees are insufficient the Department are prepared to advance the amount required. Spraying machines have not been supplied free to any county committee.

asked the Prime Minister whether any disciplinary notice has been taken of those officials and persons censured in the Mesopotamia Report; and, if not, whether the decision to do so will be announced before Thursday or whether it is the policy of the Government to wait and see what debate in this House may produce.

I propose, with the leave of the House, to make a statement at the end of Questions tomorrow as to the intentions of the Government in this matter.

Has it become the settled policy of the Government to cover up their blunders by a shower of decorations?

asked when it is proposed to give a day for the discussion of the Scottish Estimates?

I hope to arrange a day for this, probably in the week after next.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the hardship of taxpayers having to pay double Income Tax, and in view of the concession granted by the British Government of 1s. 6d. in the £ to all who suffer from this charge, he can say whether any of the Dominion Governments have shown a similar consideration to the British investor whose money is invested in a Dominion where he has to pay the local Colonial Income Tax, in addition to all his taxes in this country, by way of a partial rebate of Dominion Income Tax or in any other manner?

I am not aware of any provision in the Income Tax laws of any of the Dominions under which a resident in this country would obtain relief from the Dominion Income Tax on the ground that income arising to him in the Dominion is subject to Income Tax in the United Kingdom.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is prepared to direct a uniform gratuity to Metropolitan Police officers and constables who, having qualified for pension, are retained in the force in accordance with the provisions of the Police (Emergency) Acts?

As regards the Metropolitan Police this has been done. I would refer the hon. Member to my written answer of the 14th February last. As regards the county and borough police, I have no power to order any such payment to be made out of local police funds.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, owing to the amount of additional work occasioned by the War that has now to be performed by the Metropolitan Police, many officers and constables are showing signs of strain, and that it is necessary they should be granted such leave of absence as is possible under the circumstances, but the expense of travelling by train is now so prohibitive that they are unable to take advantage of it to the full; and whether, as the police are largely assisting in military work, he will arrange that they should be treated in the same manner as other members of His Majesty's Forces and granted the privilege of a return ticket at single fare when proceeding on leave?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by the President of the Board of Trade on the 7th and 21st ultimo. With regard to the Metropolitan Police, while they have undoubtedly felt the strain of additional war duties, it is right to say that with few exceptions their hours have not been lengthened, and there is less sickness in the force than at this time last year?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether all the licences granted to German banks and firms have been definitely withdrawn; and, if so, will he undertake that no continuation of these licences will be granted during a period of years after the declaration of peace?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The licences to the enemy banks are granted in order to enable payment to be made to British, Allied and neutral creditors and securities held by banks to be properly disposed of, and cannot be cancelled till this work has been done. As regards the second part of the question, the existing licences are applicable only during the War, and the whole question will necessarily have to be reconsidered in relation to the conditions which will obtain after the conclusion of peace.

Can my right hon. Friend give any indication when he thinks this change will be made and the licences withdrawn?

I cannot say, but I hope it will not be very long delayed.

Is he absolutely certain that these men will not be able to start again immediately after the War?

I hope not, but it will depend upon the Government in power at that time.

If the right hon. Gentleman is leading the House may we be assured that that will be the case?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the scheme of the Coal Controller for dealing with the coal supply of London during the winter months has yet been circulated to the Metropolitan local authorities who recently attended the conference on the matter called by the Local Government Board; and, if not, when will it be issued?

A draft scheme for dealing with the coal supply of London during the winter months has been completed by the Controller of Coal Mines and circulated among all local authorities within the Metropolitan Police Area.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if it is by Admiralty orders that steamers from Aberdeen to Lerwick are prohibited from crossing direct; whether he is aware that, in consequence, much perishable food, meat and fish, becomes useless; and, in view of the fact that an armed vessel continually crosses said, to carry mails only, will he inquire if it is possible to utilise this cruiser or destroyer at least once a week as a convoy?

A report is being called for.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the naval authorities have forbidden Con Sullivan and Michael Murphy, of Dee-shirt, and Joseph Moriarty, Castletown Bere, to carry on lobster fishing in Bere-haven; whether he is aware that these men have carried on their industry for a long number of years, and that it was their source of livelihood for themselves and their families; and whether, in view of the fact that they have been deprived of their living in direct consequence of naval operations, he will see that they get proper compensation?

The Fishery Regulations applying to the district in question were prepared only after the most careful consideration, and no infraction of them can be permitted. My hon. Friend will, of course, recognise that the fishermen in whom he is interested are only three amongst many affected by the Regulations. Claims for interference with trade or business are not dealt with by the Admiralty, but by the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission, and compensation can only be awarded when private property or private rights have been interfered with. It cannot be awarded for interference with a public right such as the right to fish at sea, which is apparently the basis of the claim in the present case.

May I ask if nothing can be done to protect the livelihood of these poor people?

I am very sorry that that should arise, but what has been done is an inevitable consequence.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this means a further shortening of the fish supply, which is the food of the people?

I am afraid that is the result.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that numbers of teachers in elementary schools have received no war bonus and are still working at the same salaries as before the War; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have no power to require local education authorities to pay war bonuses to teachers, but I have every reason to believe that the great majority of local education authorities have either granted war bonuses of teachers in public elementary schools or increased their salaries.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of issuing a circular from the Board of Education asking the local educational authorities to consider this question of granting war bonuses, seeing that he has himself stated that in his opinion the salaries paid before the War were by no means large, and that if they receive no war bonus they will suffer very considerably? My information is that in many cases they have not had any war bonus.

I have already indicated my attitude towards the remuneration of teachers very clearly, and I do not think that any circular is necessary. I think many local educational authorities are waiting for the Report of the Committee on salaries paid before they take any such action as the hon. Baronet desires.

When does he think the Report and the other Report with regard to salaries will be issued?

I hope very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in the Departmental Committee set up to inquire into the principles which shall determine the construction of scales of salaries of teachers of elementary schools, no members have been appointed to represent the National Union of Uncertificated Teachers, although uncertificated and supplementary teachers number 54,771; and whether, as these are by far the worst paid teachers employed in elementary schools, he will see that their case is adequately represented by the addition of members of the Committee selected by the National Union of Uncertificated Teachers to represent them?

I may refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tavistock on the 5th instant. I am sincerely anxious that the position of teachers in public elementary schools, including uncertificated teachers, should be improved, and I have recently stated the principle of a fixed minimum salary for uncertificated teachers which will involve a very large additional expenditure.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board of Education is prepared to make representations to the Treasury to increase during the period of the War, or during the present period of the increased cost of living, the amount of the Government pensions and breakdown allowances to elementary school teachers?

The Board have already made representations to the Treasury in this connection, but, as I explained in my answer to the right hon. Member for the Ashford Division of Kent on 20th June, it is difficult to grant relief to one particular class of retired public servants unless it is possible to extend such relief to other classes also.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service whether he is aware that, under a notice dated 2nd July, issued from the M.A.S. Office, 6, St. Helen's Street, Ipswich, Office No. 12, Enrolment No. 14,185, it is proposed that Mr. Speaker be transferred to new employment as a labourer at Wolverhampton at 4s. 10d. per day, 5s. per week war bonus, Saturday and Sunday H.D. 4s. 10d., on the ground that such employment, upon the instructions of the Director-General of National Service, is deemed to be of greater national importance than that on which the recipient of the notice is at present engaged; and what steps the recipient of the said notice should take to comply with its instructions?

Through a regrettable clerical error, a calling-up notice intended for Mr. F. C. Culpeck was addressed to Mr. Speaker by a local officer of the National Service Department. Mr. Culpeck, who is engaged as a gardener by Mr. Speaker at Campsea Ashe, volunteered for National Service, and it is proposed to transfer him to the steel and iron works of Messrs. Hickman, Limited, at Wolverhampton.

Is not this another example of the incompetence of the Department?

asked the Undersecretary of State for War why the Report on the work done by the 6th Royal Welsh Fusiliers in recent fighting in the East, and which was read at the headquarters at Carnarvon is not given to the Press; and will he, in fairness to the men and for the gratification of those interested in them, cause it to be released for publication?

I understand the facts to be that permission was inadvertently given locally to the commanding officer to communicate certain facts for the personal information of the Territorial Association. There was never any intention of giving general publicity. It is unfortunate that my hon. Friend has shown by his question that this battalion is in the: East, as this information is just what the enemy Intelligence Department is always seeking to discover to enable him to dispose of his own forces to the best advantage.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether several small licensed traders in Ireland are not getting nearly their one-third, while the large traders who supplied them are getting considerably more than one-third of their beer supply of 1915; and whether, as small traders can least bear the strain of restriction of their trade and are now being ruined, he will take steps to amend the law so as to give them a right-of civil action in case they do not get their rightful supply

This matter is not under my control. I have, however, made inquiries and am told complaints have reached the Board of Customs and Excise that a number of small licensed traders are unable to get what they consider is their fair proportion of the beer now being brewed, but that the Board have no knowledge as to the actual quantity of beer being received either by the large or the small traders. The complainants do not appear to have legal right to a supply, but I have brought the circumstances under the notice of some of the principal brewers.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform us to whom should applications be made in cases of this kind, if not to himself?