asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the percentage of alcohol in the beer of gravity not exceeding 1,036 degrees and in that of the average gravity respectively referred to in the Order dated 7th July and entitled the Intoxicating Liquor Order (No. 2), 1917?

There is no fixed percentage of alcohol in beer of any particular gravity. The amount of alcohol depends on the degree of fermentation the beer has undergone in process of manufacture, and varies in beers of the same original gravity.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that married members of the Royal Irish Constabulary with families are in very straitened circumstances owing to the increased cost of living; and whether, under the circumstances, he has considered their position with a view to mitigating their position by the grant of a bonus or otherwise?

To meet the circumstances mentioned in the question the war bonus granted to the Royal Irish Constabulary has been increased as from 4th June.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the number of meetings which have been held in Ireland to protest against the unemployment caused by the restrictions on the brewing and distilling industries of the country; what is to become of the unemployed; if the restrictions will be withdrawn; and if he is aware that the only offer of the Government is to find employment for a few hundred men out of a total of 6,000 deprived of their employment?

My attention has been called to the meetings in question. The restrictions are not issued by the Irish Executive, but are of general application. Employment has been found for considerable numbers of men, and arrangements are in view by which this provision will be largely extended. The suggestion of the existence of 6,000 unemployed is, I believe, an extreme exaggeration

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that labourers at remount depots in Dublin have received only one war bonus of 3s. since the outbreak of war; if he is aware that in no Department in Ireland the increase in wages has equalled by one-half the increase in the cost of living; and if he will state the Government's proposals in this matter?

Bonuses to a total of 7s. a week have been authorised for War Department labourers in Dublin.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can give information about the military position in German East Africa?

The latest information available has been published in a communiqué dated 11th July, which appeared in this morning's newspapers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War on what day Lord Erskine, now second-lieutenant, 3rd Scots Guards, was granted a commission in His Majesty's Army?

This officer, who is now a lieutenant, and not a second-lieutenant, was originally given a commission in the 3rd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on 25th February, 1914.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many Belgian locomotives in France are not being used; how many of these are suitable for use; whether those which are not suitable for use in France could be utilised elsewhere; and why those which are suitable have not been used while pressure has been put on British railways to unduly deplete their rolling stock?

To give my hon. Friend the information which he requests would involve entering into details of negotiations with foreign Governments, which cannot be made public, but I shall be pleased to arrange to give him further information privately if he desires it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will make inquiries of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mesopotamia, as to allegations of ill-feeling between the civilian Inland Water Transport people and the Royal Indian Marine, on the ground that the latter get the good posts ashore and all the promotion instead of doing their natural work on the sea?

There are no civilians in Mesopotamia employed with the Inland Water Transport, which is a section of the Royal Engineers. When the War Office assumed full local control of the river transport in September, 1916, officers of the Royal Indian Marine were given the option of being seconded for service with the Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers, or of returning to their duties with the Royal Indian Marine in India; and with one or two exceptions all the Royal Indian Marine joined the Inland Water Transport. One or two civilians were at one time engaged locally on barge re-erection, but there is no evidence of any ill-feeling having existed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, when recommendations of officers for promotion out of their turn were recently asked for from commanding officers in France, a ruling was given that Territorial officers were not to be included in such recommendations, but were to await their turn on the Territorial list; and why, since officer reinforcements are now drawn from Regulars, New Army, Special Reserve, Colonial Forces, and Territorial Force, a distinction should be made against Territorial officers in the matter of special promotion for merit?

If my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to recommendations for promotion among temporary officers of the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, Territorial officers were not affected. Their promotion is carried out on the same lines as that of Regular officers and on a different roster from that of temporary officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are many men who have served in the Expeditionary Force in France for two years or more and who have only been granted one period of leave, and also men in the Eastern Forces who have never been home since they left this country more than two years ago; and whether he will arrange that steps shall be taken that, as far as is consistent with military necessity, these men shall be given a period of rest at home?

I would refer my Noble Friend to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Members for Edinburgh East and Dublin Harbour

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that a ribbon has been issued to the men who took part in the Cameroons Expedition, the time has now arrived when some ribbon should be issued to those who fought at Gallipoli; and whether, in view of the fact that many men invalided home from various fields of operation have nothing to show that they have been to the front, he will consider the possibility of issuing a ribbon or other mark of distinction to all men when they have served six months at the front?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in thinking that a ribbon has been issued to men who took part in the Cameroons Expedition. He is perhaps thinking of the African general service medal, which has been awarded for certain local punitive expeditions in Africa, none of which, however, were in West Africa since the outbreak of the War. As regards the rest of the question, I would refer him to the answer given on 19th June to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Melton.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if it is intended to utilise the services of Irish oat buyers to purchase oats on behalf of the coming harvest; and under what conditions and rates of remuneration?

I can add nothing at present to the answer which I gave my hon. Friend on 21st June.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what progress has been made regarding the acquisition of premises in Dublin to be temporarily utilised as an examining and receiving depot until a fully-equipped suitable building is provided; when it will be commenced, and where it is to be situated?

I understand that the question is under discussion on the spot between the military authorities and those who are interested in the matter, and I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a definite announcement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the only buyers of cattle for the military district of Belfast are Robert Graham and William Price, who have no experience of beef cattle, their business having been in the past in springing cattle only; and will he inquire into the results of their operations and state them in the House of Commons?

Mr. Robert Graham is the authorised buyer for the Belfast district, and is regarded as thoroughly competent for the purpose. The results of his buying are closely scrutinised and are regarded as satisfactory.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that Messrs. Robert Graham and William Price buy cattle for the military district of Belfast at the two auctions, namely, Robsons and Calgans only, and that their method is to bid until the cattle are knocked down to them, price being no object; and will he consider the advisability of changing this system?

Out of 250 cattle recently bought within a few days for the military authorities in Ireland, seventeen were bought by auction at the places mentioned. It is not the case that these auction purchases were made without regard to their value.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that there has been no inspection of cattle killed for the use of the military in the Belfast military district from December, 1916, to May, 1917, that in November, 1916, about a dozen head of cattle were found on being killed to be infected with tuberculosis, and that the inspections were then stopped; and can he state whether official inspections are now made, and was it the custom, before the present experiment was tried, to have each animal inspected for soundness, age, and quality?

:The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. All cattle from 1st January, 1917, have been inspected by City veterinarian and three inspectors before being accepted as beef. In November, 1916, beef was supplied under contract by the pound and all beef was inspected before being taken over from the contractor. No infected animal was offered. Inspections were not stopped, but have been continued without interruption. Official inspections continue to be made by corporation officials.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the address of Robert Graham, as given, is also the address of Cunningham, the stockbroker; and can he say whether the latter has any and, if so, what connection with the contracts for the supply of beef to the Belfast military district?

Both the persons mentioned have the same business address in Belfast. Mr. Cunningham acts gratuitously as adviser to the military authorities in Ireland on matters connected with the purchase of cattle for the troops, and has no connection with any Army contracts for beef.

asked what sum the military authorities pay per annum to the Belfast Corporation for the use of the public abattoir for the slaughter of cattle for the use of troops; and whether there is an additional charge connected with the present experiment?

£40 per month, and there is an additional payment of £8 per month for inspection services.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the disparity between the pay of medical officers belonging to the Territorial Force and officers who have recently joined the Royal Army Medical Corps; if he is aware that majors serving as medical officers in the Territorial Force receive the same pay as a recently joined lieutenant of the Royal Army Medical Corps; if he will state what are the reasons of this disparity; and if it is proposed to take any steps to put experienced medical officers of the Territorial Force in the same position as officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps?

The Territorial Force officer is paid at the same rate as the regular R.A.M.C. officer of the same rank and service, except that only embodied service counts for increase of pay in the same rank. The comparison which my hon. and gallant Friend wishes to make is probably that between the pay of the Territorial Force officer and of the temporary officer engaged on special contract terms during the War. When allowances and terminal gratuities are taken into account, the major of the Territorial Force receives considerably more than the special contract officer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why the wives and dependants of many of the men of the 48th Labour Company have not received payment of separation allowances although the men have been in the Army for four months and are now in France, in spite of the fact that repeated applications have been made for the overdue allowances, to which applications the regimental paymaster and the separation allowance branch of the War Office have stated on 12th April and 9th June, respectively, that everything is done to expedite payments; who is responsible for this neglect, and what steps he proposes to take to secure the immediate payment of all allowances and arrears that have accrued; and whether he proposes to replace the officers responsible by men competent to carry out the duties of the Department?

Through oversights, which are much regretted, the men's claims for separation allowance did not reach the paymaster. The allowance is now being issued in most of the cases brought to notice by the hon. Member, and inquiry is being made into the remaining cases.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the widow and family of the late Sergeant William Darcy, 4th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, formerly recruiting sergeant in Enniscorthy, are destitute and are depending on out-door relief given them by the Enniscorthy Board of Guardians; if he is aware that the late Sergeant Darcy served twenty-one years with the Colours; and whether the War Office proposes to take any action in the matter?

Sergeant Darcy, after leaving the Army, drew a pension in respect of his service with the Colours, and was also paid as a pensioned recruiter. His Army pension ceased at his death, which was not attributable to military service. In the circumstances the War Office cannot maintain the widow, but a small grant is being made for present necessities.

asked the Secretary of State for India between what dates the soldiers in Mesopotamia were prevented writing home except on printed post-cards specially supplied, and of which only a limited number were available?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Since the date (16th February, 1916) on which the War Office assumed control, no such orders were issued.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether, having regard to the finding of the Mesopotamia Commission that the active intolerance of all criticism of defects or suggestions for reform had worked evils, he will say whether the field censorship on letters from the front is so exercised as to prevent friends at home knowing what soldiers are suffering or what might be improved; and whether he will state the principles on which censorship of letters from men on active service is enforced; and (2) whether the censorship is, or has been, used to prevent any complaints being sent to persons in this country as to the rationing of the troops abroad or the medical treatment of the sick and wounded?

The principles are stated in Field Service Regulations, Part II., chap. 12, section 100 (6). Any complaint that those Regulations are being exercised in an unreasonable manner would form the subject of inquiry. No such complaints have been received, so far as I know.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the British occupation of Basra is considered to be permanent; and, if so, whether the agreement of the Allied Governments to this permanent occupation has been obtained, and at what date?

The problem of Allied war aims is not one which can be dealt with by question and answer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether officers of the Indian Army unemployed list have been prevented from retiring during the War by special orders of the Army Council, although unlikely to be required for active service owing to age or other causes; whether these officers, who but for such special orders might find remunerative civil employment, have a deduction made from their unemployed Indian pay when employed by the Army Council; whether the rules under which this deduction is made were framed at the request of, or after consultation with, the War Office; and, if so, will he say under what Regulation or by what authority does the Army Council act in making it a condition of employment under the War Office of officers of the Indian Army unemployed list that a deduction shall be made from the pay to which they are entitled in virtue of completed service in India?

I dealt with the question of the pay of these officers very fully in my answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Melton on the 29th November last, and I have nothing to add except that the rules in question were made in consultation with the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that the action of the Government of Madras in interning Mrs. Besant and others has caused indignation throughout India; whether he is aware that in June twenty-eight meetings of protest were held in the Madras Presidency, twelve in Bombay, six in the United Provinces, three in the Punjab, and three in Bengal, and that many others are announced; whether he has received cable resolutions from India protesting against the action of the Madras Government; and what action he now proposes to take?

I am aware that the action of the Madras Government has been the subject of protests. With reference to the last part of the question, I would refer to the answer given by me yesterday to the hon. Members for North Islington and West Leeds.

asked the Home Secretary (1) upon what charge Patrick Roche, of Mitchelstown, county Cork, was tried at Basingstoke, under the Defence of the Realm Act this week and with what result; and (2) if Patrick Roche, of Mitchelstown, has been removed from Bramley Internment Camp to Winchester Gaol for trial at Basingstoke this week; why he was kept a fortnight in prison without being brought before a magistrate; and of what offence is he accused?

:Patrick Roche was placed under arrest on 23rd June by the military authorities for attempting to cause disaffection among the German prisoners and others at Bramley Camp, where he was working as a labourer. After his case had been investigated a prosecution was authorised by the competent military authority. He was accordingly removed to civil custody on 6th July and appeared before the magistrates on the same day, when he was remanded. On 11th July he was convicted of an offence under Regulation 42 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour.