asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the civilian workmen employed at the Royal Engineers' Depot, Shoeburyness, are being paid very much below the recognised trade union rate; if he is aware that a number of the men in question have not received the war bonus that was granted by the Government as far back as April; if he is prepared to receive a deputation of the men and officials of the trade union; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

Instructions on the subject were issued recently, and it is understood that payment of the rates approved will be made shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to increase the number of recruiting officers in the London area so as to enable each individual officer to have one half-day off duty in each week, in view of the fact that these officers, who are over age and unfit, have sometimes to work for twelve or fourteen hours a day?

There are approximately 220 officers employed in London, exclusive of the. War Office in the various sub-area and munition area recruiting offices and substitution offices. The work is admittedly heavy, but with the exception of supplying an extra officer, when asked for, it is doubtful if the total number can be increased with advantage, as the duties cannot be further distributed without creating congestion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the male civilian staff employed by the recruiting officers are not paid for overtime work, whereas the female staff is paid for overtime work; and whether he will take steps to remedy this inequality?

As stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Bermondsey on the 30th April last, the rates of pay of the male staff in recruiting offices are inclusive rates calculated to cover all time worked. As regards the female staff, it is considered preferable to limit the normal hours to forty-two hours a week, and to pay overtime when extra attendance is found necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, in view of the services rendered by the Royal Army Medical Corps on board the hospital ships, and the fact that they are in the zone of danger from mines and torpedoes, whether the Army Council will consider if their services at the end of three years of war may be more fully recognised, especially in the Honours List; and whether he can make any statement as to those services?

While recognising fully the services of the staffs of hospital ships, I hardly think that the risks they run are as great as those encountered by the combatant or medical corps at the front.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the ease of Charles Bourdon, late Private No. 6,050, 2-6th North Staffordshire Regiment, who was discharged from Ebbrington Hospital, Ireland, on 21st February, 1917, with a pass for Burton-on-Trent, but on arrival there was told that his depot was at Lichfield and given a pass via London with permission to sleep the night at his own home in Hammersmith; whether he is aware that this man collapsed on arrival at his home and has since been under constant medical care but was discharged from the Army on 8th March, 1917, without appearing before any medical board and received no money whatever until 26th March, when his back pay was sent in response to telegrams dispatched by the local War Pensions Committee; and if he can explain why Bourdon has received neither pension nor gratuity nor Mrs. Bourdon any separation allowance since the end of February, although she was entitled to it until 22nd March.

This question raises a number of matters necessitating local inquiry. I will call for reports and inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the hardship caused by reason of the increase of railway fares to persons having to travel by rail in order to discharge the public duty of serving as jurymen, he will arrange for the issue to such persons of return tickets of all classes at single normal fares, that is, fares not increased by 50 per cent., as is done in the case of first-class tickets issued to officers of His Majesty's forces travelling on leave?

This matter has already been carefully considered, and. I regret that it has not been found practicable to issue cheap railway tickets to-jurymen.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now able to state the result of his inquiries into the complaint regarding the employment of Chinese labour in the Smethwick district?

I regret that it has not yet been possible to complete the necessary inquiries, which have involved reference to other Government Departments, but I will let my hon. Friend know the result at the earliest possible moment.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether it is proposed to take over the premises of the National Fire Brigades Union, in Northumberland Avenue, for the purposes of the Government; and whether, halving regard to the importance of the work of this union, representing 800 fire brigades, and to the disorganisation resulting from such disturbance, he will consider the advisability of taking over other premises in the immediate neighbourhood?

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