Written Answers
War
National Insurance Audit Department
asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether Mr. Dames, an assistant auditor on the staff of the National Insurance Audit Department, was some time ago regarded as dispensable by that Department, and lent to the Exchequer and Audit Department, in which he was serving until recently, and in which he was regarded as indispensable; whether Mr. Dames has now been recalled by the acting chief of the National Insurance Audit Department; and, if so, will he explain why?
The circumstances of the case are as follows: Mr. Dames, as assistant auditor of the National Insurance Audit Department, was in August, 1915, with other members of that office lent for service in the Exchequer and Audit Department, the work of which had largely increased owing to the War. As the Comptroller and Auditor-General, in view of the large numbers previously released for military service, had decided in December, 1915, that the remainder of the staff so lent, equally with members of his own Department, must be regarded as indispensable, they were, on his representation, given certificates of exemption under the Military Service Act, by the head of their Department, the Acting Chief Auditor, National Insurance Audit Department. In consequence of a decision of the Government that a further number of Civil servants should be released for military duty, the Treasury in May, 1917, required a medical classification of men of military age employed in public Departments who had not been placed in a medical category since 25th May, 1916. Mr. Dames, in common with all other men of military age serving in the Exchequer and Audit Department who had not been placed in a medical category since May, 1916, was required to present himself for medical examination, and upon his refusal to comply with this Order, was returned by the Comptroller and Auditor-General to be dealt with by his Department in which he had never been regarded as indispensable, and he was consequently released for military service by the Acting Chief Auditor.
Brewing Restrictions
asked the Secretary to the Treasury if brewers who are unable or unwilling to supply their customers with an amount of beer proportionate to that supplied in 1915–16 are bound to issue certificates which can be transferred to other brewers for the purpose of enabling the balance of supply to be obtained; whether he is aware that certain firms refuse to issue such certificates; and what steps will be taken in the matter?
I have been asked to reply. Licence holders and persons having the same rights as licence holders under Section 5 of the Output of Beer (Restrictions) Act, 1916, are entitled to obtain certificates in the circumstances mentioned in the question. Any brewer who refuses to issue a certificate to a person entitled to obtain it from him is guilty of a summary offence against the Defence of the Realm Regulations; but I am not aware of any case in which such refusal has occurred. If the hon. Member has different information and will supply me with particulars I will cause inquiries to be made.
Food Supplies
Fish
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any decision has yet been reached with regard to the marketing and export of cured fish, including pickled herrings?
Yes, Sir. The supply of pickled herrings on the market at present exceeds the demand, and the Cured Fish Committee have authorised the export to British Possessions or Allied countries of a portion of the existing stock. The future catch will be dealt with at the close of the summer fishing season.
asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that, under existing train arrangements, fresh fish from the county Donegal fisheries is often greatly delayed in transit to the English markets; and whether any steps have been, or are to be, taken to ensure more rapid delivery?
I understand that some delays have occurred on the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway in the transit oafish for English markets. Action is being taken by the Director of Cross-Channel traffic to ensure expeditious conveyance in future.
British Blockade
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many German armed raiders, excluding submarines, have attempted to pass our blockade, going out and coming in, since the outbreak of war; and how many of these have we sunk within the blockade area in northern water?
My right hon. Friend the First Lord is advised that the public interest would be better served by not giving this information.
Service Members (Parliamentary Duties)
asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the growing importance of the legislation being passed by this House, affecting wide-reaching changes after the War, he will consider whether Members of this House serving on distant Fronts in Salonika, Palestine, and elsewhere, should relinquish in the public interest their military and assume their Parliamentary duties; and if he is aware that hon. Members who are serving in His Majesty's Army abroad are placed in a difficult position, owing to being unaware as to whether they should or should not return to their Parliamentary duties?
The Government do not interfere with the power of choice allowed to the Members referred to. Those who have elected to give military service are at liberty to attend to their Parliamentary duties so far as military and geographical exigencies permit.
Army Officers (Hotel Charges)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a threat has been made by the military authority in the Midlands that if any hotel refuses to agree to take in officers travelling in uniform, on duty, at certain specified low prices in relation to the present cost of provisions, that the name of it will be published in a black list; and by what regulation this black list is authorised and by whom is it compiled or controlled?
I understand that, in order to regulate the charges to officers on duty, hotel proprietors in the command have been asked by the military authorities to agree to certain maximum charges, and that in nearly every case hotel proprietors have agreed. In a few cases where the hotels have declined to agree to the terms, the proprietors have been notified that a list of such hotels will be published, in order to deter officers of limited means from going to those establishments. A list also of the hotels which agree to the rates will be published at the same time.
Parkhall Camp, Oswestry
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will make inquiries as to the condition of the soldiers now stationed at Park Hall Camp, Oswes-try; whether he is aware that some of the men belonging to K Company, 1st Lancashire Battalion, are said to be stone deaf, one-eyed, and short-legged; and if he will consider whether such men would be of more use to the country in civilian occupations?
No such complaints regarding the condition of the soldiers stationed at Park Hall Camp have reached the War Office. Steps have been taken to expedite the discharge from the Army of men who are no longer fit for military service.
Naval And Military Pensions And Grants
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why the separation allowance granted by Private Goodfellow, 2nd Battalion Seaforths, has not been paid, and why no attention has been paid to the repeated remonstrances made to him?
As my hon. Friend has already been informed by letter by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, inquiry was made as soon as he brought the case to notice, and it was ascertained that the postal draft book had been lost in transit. The case has now been settled and all arrears have been paid.
Troops In East Africa (Mails)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether mails posted in England take from two to three months to reach troops serving in East Africa; and, if so, whether steps can be taken to accelerate the service?
My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Letters take on an average seven weeks to reach the port of disembarkation in East Africa, parcels slightly longer. In present conditions I am afraid I can hold out no hope of any acceleration in the service. After arrival in East Africa the mails are taken over by the Indian Field Post Office foe delivery.
Munitions
Soldiers Released For Munition Wokk
asked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been called to the fact that men who have been discharged under Army Council Instruction 316 being temporarily released from the Army and placed at the disposal of the Ministry of Munitions are refused allowance as Munition Volunteers; and whether they are placed at a disadvantage with the ordinary Munition Volunteer?
The men to whom the hon. Member refers are eligible for enrolment as War Munitions Volunteers. If they so enrol, they receive whatever allowances may be due to them under the terms of the scheme in exactly the same way as any other War Munitions Volunteer. If the hon. and gallant Member knows of any cases in which this is not being done, the Ministry of Munitions will be glad to be informed.
Mesopotamia (Officers' Reports)
asked the Secretary of State for India if he will lay upon the Table before the Debate on the Meso- potamia Report takes place the statement of the deficiency in the personnel and equipment of the Indian Army submitted by General Sir O'Moore Creagh on the 30th January, 1914, and the Report submitted by him in 1911 of the reasons which, in his opinion, made the reduction in the Indian Army which he was ordered to make unwise?
The statement to which the hon. Member refers is, I presume, a Memorandum by Sir O'Moore Creagh on the Reports of the Army in India Committee. I am not sure what documents are referred to as "the Report submitted by him in 1911." The Reports of the Army in India Committee itself has never been published and cannot be published now. It is impossible that I should publish comments upon them.
asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will produce the confirmatory Report of Surgeon-General Babtie mentioned in telegram H 5620, of the 16th June, 1915, set out in page 74, paragraph 53, of the Mesopotamia Report?
The Report itself was not sent home. The gist of it, according to the Commission, is contained in the Viceroy s telegram of 16th June, 1915.