asked the Prime Minister whether the attention of the Government has been directed to the statements contained in the memorandum prepared by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) just presented to the House pointing out that the successful prosecution of the War is still being hampered by excessive consumption of intoxicating liquor, that such excessive consumption is of serious consequence to the efficiency of our fighting forces, especially in regard to material, and that it involves wastage of the nation's food supplies and prevents economy in the use of the nation's resources in the matter of sea and land transport; and whether these statements were considered by the Government before they decided to increase the output of beer?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government is prepared to grant Home Rule to Ireland to the extent the Colonies enjoy it; and, if so, will he have drafted a Bill to that effect and submit it to a small but representative Irish convention for its acceptance or amendment; and is he aware that such a course would bring about a better state of feeling between the two countries?

The Government are of the opinion that the method which they have adopted affords in all the circumstances the best hope of reaching a settlement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what weekly sum an old age pensioner may derive at the present time from other sources without being deprived of his old age pension; whether the limit fixed takes into account the increased prices of food; and whether a benevolent grant of 2s. 6d. weekly to meet the increased prices of food would be computed as part of the income of the old age pensioner?

The hon. Member's inquiry presumably has reference to the fact that during the War temporary increases of means are not in certain cases being taken into account with a view to the reduction or revocation of existing old age pensions. Full particulars of these administrative concessions are set out in Command Paper 8320, to which I would refer the hon. Member as regards the general scope of the concessions. But as he inquires specially as to benevolent grants, I may repeat that action is not being taken for the reduction, etc., of pensions in consequence of the receipt of temporary assistance from relief funds or other voluntary sources to an amount not exceeding 5s. per week given for the purpose of enabling old age pensioners to meet the increased cost of living.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Johanna Pender and Patrick Din were allowed each an old age pension of 3s. a week by the pension officer, and that the New Ross and Old Ross Old Age Pensions Committee, having been made fully cognisant of the circumstances of both pensioners, unanimously gave each of them a full pension; whether the pension officer appealed, and whether the decision of the Local Government Board was that neither of the aforesaid persons was entitled to any pension at all; and whether, as the local pensions committee state that these aged people have no private means whatever and that they subsist on the charity of relations, he will order an inquiry into both cases with a view to giving them the full pension to which they are entitled?

Reports were obtained by the Local Government Board as regards, the stock and crops on the farms on which the claimants are respectively maintained, and in each case it appeared clear to the board that the value to each claimant of the benefits and privileges enjoyed exceeded the statutory limit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, as soon as the extra tobacco duty was put on, the wholesaler and retailer increased the price of tobacco; if he is aware that since the tobacco tax has been reduced neither the wholesaler or retailer have up to the present time reduced the selling price of tobacco; and if he intends insisting upon the price of tobacco being reduced at once?

My right hon. Friend has requested me to reply to this question. The reduction in the amount of the duty only took effect to-day, when an Order of the Board of Trade reducing the prices of tobaccos also came into force.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what steps are taken to protect the revenue against persons using cars for which they have not paid the registration fee?

I am not quite clear what is in the mind of my hon. Friend. The fee in question is not part of the public revenue, but is paid to county councils and county borough councils, who are the registering authorities.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, although the London Master Printers' Association has by agreement with the printing trade unions paid war bonus to the workmen to an amount of 6s. per week, Messrs. Malby and Son, Government printers, are only paying a bonus of 2s. 6d. to their workmen; and whether he will bring pressure to bear on this firm to conform to the agreement recognised in the district?

Messrs. Malby have already given their skilled workmen the recognised bonus, but there are a few unskilled men in their employ to whom, in the absence of information as to any agreement, the firm have given hitherto only a smaller bonus. The firm has now agreed to pay these men the larger amount generally recognised.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will take steps to provide for the payment of a war bonus to all Government pensioners who are in receipt of pensions less than 25s. a week and not earning wages?

The Government cannot contemplate the introduction of legislation to give effect to the proposal in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the danger of a coal shortage, and considering also that there is in Ireland water-power enough to supply all the demands of electrical power for the whole island, he will take the necessary steps to secure the realisation of scientific plans for utilising this water-power?

I have no reason to suppose that water-power can be made available as a substitute for power derived from combustion to the extent suggested by the hon. Member, but I understand a Committee has been appointed by the Board of Trade to deal with questions relating to electrical power, and I shall be happy to bring before them any practical proposal the hon. Member may formulate.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the distress caused by the unemployment now prevailing in the city of Cork; whether he is aware that the restrictions on building have in several cases stopped a number of building works which would have given considerable employment in the city; and whether he will take steps with a view to permitting such works to proceed, and thereby secure employment for a number of workmen now idle?

There is unemployment due to shortage of materials for building, especially timber, some discharges of workmen from factories, and the stoppage of two local firms. The Employment Department of the Ministry of Labour and the Director of National Service in Ireland have been in communication with me on this subject, and will, I hope, be able to help in finding employment. The building of the Ford Motor Company's factory is also expected to give new means of employment.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a trader who purchased the interest in a going licensed house in October, 1915, is entitled under the Beer Restrictions Act to get any and, if so, what supply of beer; and whether the Government will take the necessary steps to ensure that such a trader gets the supply he is entitled to when he is refused by his brewery?

A licence holder, unless bound by agreement to obtain his beer from a particular brewer is entitled to obtain a certificate as to the amount of beer supplied to him by a brewer or a brewer's recognised agent in any quarter of the year ending 31st March, 1916, and to obtain his due proportion of that amount from any brewer who is able and willing to supply him therewith, such proportion being determined by reference to the reduction in the authorised barrelage. Where licensed premises haw changed hands, the transferee enjoys the same rights as the original licence holder. The refusal to supply a certificate is an offence against the Defence of the Realm Regulations.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the ½d. per hour increase in wages granted to the bricklayers employed in the Rosyth dockyard, and supposed to commence from the 15th May, 1916, has not yet been paid, and that there is much dissatisfaction in consequence; and what action he proposes to take?

No such increase was granted to the bricklayers in Admiralty employ at Rosyth. The increase referred to was granted to bricklayers in the Dunfermline district. It was not granted to bricklayers in the direct employment of the Admiralty, whose wages are assessed in relation to those of other dockyard employés. The men in question, however, have participated in the several war bonuses granted to the dockyard employés generally.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. V. B. S. Hogins, of 18, Lordship Lane, S.E., twenty-two, a conscientious objector, and president of the National Association of Employment Exchange Officers, employed by the London and South-Eastern Divisional Office of the Employment Exchange Department of the Ministry of Labour, aged thirty-one, and married, who has been in the employment of the Labour Exchange Department since 1910, and, prior to that, under the Central Unemployed Body for London since 1906, who was sent to Ireland to open Exchanges in Belfast and Derry, and was for three years Exchange manager, and who now holds a high-grade position in the labour control section, had been released for military service whilst the majority of the men who were appointed to this divisional office in 1912 have been retained; and whether he will see that immediate steps are taken to have Mr. Hogins reinstated?

The Department are proposing to release for the Army a further number of the least indispensable of their clerks under thirty-five years of age fit for general service. For this purpose all officers under thirty-five were instructed to present themselves for medical examination. Mr. Hogins, who was included in the above category refused to be examined, and wrote to the Department stating, "I have no intention of serving in the Army or Navy in any capacity under any circumstances." His certificate of exemption was withdrawn with others. I am not prepared to cancel the withdrawal of the certificate. It will be for the appropriate tribunal to deal with any protest that may be made by Mr. Hogins on conscientious grounds. The hon. Member has been misinformed as to Mr. Hogins' position. He is a clerk, not a manager, in the Employment Department of the Ministry, and though I am given to understand that he was the president of a local association of officers' of the Department, I am informed that he no longer occupies that position.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that in the coal agency firm of J. Gothard and Son, Chesterfield, six of the ten men employed are of military age, why J. A. Richardson, aged forty, described as manager; H. S. Richardson, aged twenty-nine, described as secretary and cashier; J. Pharoah, aged thirty-six, described as confidential assistant and traffic manager; H. B. Southern, aged forty, described as labelling and controller of traffic, have always held badges and now hold protection certificates; and, seeing that two other men aged respec- tively thirty-two and twenty-four are employed as motor driver and labourer, what action he intends to take in this and similar cases in view of the needs of the Army at the present time?

This question has been referred to the Ministry of Munitions for inquiry. The duty of deciding whether or not an individual is entitled to protection under the Munition Area Recruiting Officer Scheme devolves upon the munitions area dilution officer, who is an expert official of the Ministry of Munitions. The sole duty of the munitions area recruiting officer in this regard is to give effect to the decisions of the munitions area dilution officer by issuing the appropriate certificates as recommended by the munitions area dilution officer.

asked the Under Secretary of State for War if he can now make his promised full statement on the Brightmore case?

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he can now state the result of his inquiries into the case of James Brightmore, who was confined in a pit 12 ft. below the level of the ground for some days in Cleethorpes camp, and for four days of that time obliged to stand ankle deep in mud and water; and whether, if this form of punishment is considered excessive and unjust, any redress will be given to the man who has suffered it?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement. I hope to be able to do so on Wednesday, if my hon. Friends will repeat their questions.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether James McManus, a resident of Fermanagh county, was recently arrested in Derry on the charge of being an absentee, brought under military escort to Glasgow and there fined £5, and handed over to the military authorities on the 9th instant; whether he is aware that McManus was never ordinarily resident in Glasgow or in Great Britain, and that his only connection with Great Britain was that he was brought to Glasgow some years ago to do special work, and that owing to ill health he had to return to his home in Ireland; and will inquiries be made into the case with a view to the discharge of McManus from military service on its being ascertained that he was never ordinarily resident in Great Britain?

I am inquiring into the matter brought to notice by my hon. Friend and will write to him later.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he will call for a report about the case of Private-No. 20,959, G Company, 3rd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, Malin Camp, Edinburgh, who was wounded three times in France, classed B 1, volunteered for Egypt on health grounds, waited a month for this, when it was cancelled, and he was ordered to proceed to France on 19th May, no embarkation leave being granted; whether he is aware that the man took twelve days, and has been sentenced to fifteen months' detention, afterwards reduced to nine months; and, in view of the man's Army record, his state of health, and the circumstances under which he took leave, and in view of the further fact that other such cases of absence have only received a few days' detention, a remission of this man's sentence can be granted?

I have asked my hon. Friend to give me this man's name, and on hearing from him I will have inquiries made.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that in March of this year two soldiers of the 5th Seaforths applied personally for work and were given employment by two tailoring firms in Inverness; whether he is aware that Lieutenant Simcox, on being approached in regard to this matter, stated in a letter written that the men were working without his sanction and that he issued instructions that all work of this kind must cease; whether he is aware that on 2nd July three soldiers of the National Defence Corps started work with another tailoring firm in Inverness, the men working in the afternoons only; whether the firm have applied for other eight soldiers to be sent to them; whether the employment of soldiers by tailoring firms is done with the knowledge and consent of the War Office; and, if so, whether he can state upon what terms as to wages and conditions?

I have no information on the matters raised, but I will inquire and let my hon. Friend know.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War concerning Private F. Hudson, No. 47,838, 11th Platoon, 2/4th Royal Scots, C company, Old Barracks, Fermoy, Ireland, a youth under sixteen years of age, whose mother was left a widow with seven children to bring up, the eldest of whom was already in the Army at the outbreak of the present War but is unable to contribute to her support, whether, having regard to the weak state of health of Private Hudson's mother, directly resulting from hard work to meet her family responsibilities, and that therefore she is in need of the earnings Private Hudson would have handed over to her, if he had remained in civil life, to help her to bring up her younger children, he will release this youth of fifteen and enable him to do his duty to his mother until he is old enough to serve in the Army?

I have called for a report and will inform my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a man can be transferred from the Army Service Corps to the Expeditionary Force Canteen without his consent; and whether such transference has the effect of depriving the man's wife of both separation allowance and any grant she may be receiving through the Civil Liabilities Commission?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that, on 17th March, 1917, Sergeant H. Pethybridge, 46, St. John's Park Mansions, Upper Holloway, was granted £30 10s. a year by the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Department, to run from 18th January, 1917, payable quarterly on 31st March, 30th June, 30th September, and 31st December; that the Department wrote to Mrs. Pethybridge, recently, saying that the allowance could not be paid as her husband is in a canteen in Egypt, and referred her to the Expeditionary Force Canteens Committee; that Mrs. Pethybridge has incurred liabilities on the strength of the promised grant; and will more effective steps be taken to diminish the cases of hardship and inconvenience which still arise from the termination of one source of income before another is substituted?

The points raised are not without difficulty, and they are now receiving active consideration.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he is aware that the 69th Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers, stationed at Retford, Nottingham, includes, in addition to A 1 men, a number of men who have been classified medically as C 2, and that the latter are obliged to undergo the same training as the former, with detrimental results to their health; and if he will have inquiry made into the matter?

I have ascertained that 90 per cent. of the men in this unit are unfit for the training given to A 1 men, and could not perform it without detriment to their health. They are employed, therefore, on light duty only.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can now state the result of his inquiries as to the War Office circular sent on 19th December, 1916, to members of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) who had previously been members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, in which they were informed that those who volunteered for service overseas would be dispatched overseas as required for the Royal Army Medical Corps; and whether the men who volunteered in response to this circular will now be sent overseas to the Royal Army Medical Corps, in accordance with this promise, instead of being drafted into the Infantry?

Any men of the Royal Army Medical Corps who come within the scope of the letter referred to will not be taken for Infantry, and any men who although coming within its terms have been transferred to Infantry will be re-transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps, if they so desire and apply.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that, while of the 1,154 Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) men at Blackpool about to be transferred to the Infantry ninety-two have been wounded abroad, about 75 per cent. have been sent home from the front as either sick or wounded; and whether regard will be paid to this before any final decision is taken to transfer such men against their will from the branch of the Service for which they enlisted and for which they have special training and qualifications?

Instructions have been issued to meet the point raised by my hon. Friend so far as is compatible with the interest of the nation in the successful prosecution of the War and in making the best use of its available resources of manpower.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if instructions have been sent to recruiting officers to call up all C 3 men within this month; and, if so, why the promise that only C3 men who were fit for clerical work or trades would be called up has been withdrawn?

I am not aware of any pledge or promise that no C 3 men are to be called up for service except for work as clerks or tradesmen. Instructions as to the categories of men to be called for service are issued by the Army Council from time to time. It so happens that at the moment, C 3 men are only being called up if they are sufficiently skilled to be employed at manual trades in the Army or sufficiently educated to be employed as clerks, but the need may arise in the future for men of category C 3 in other capacities, and, if it does, orders will be issued to. call up the number required. No instructions have been issued from the War Office to call up for service all C 3 men either within this month or within any other specified or unspecified time. Probably my hon. Friend has received information about C 3 men who were in the Reserve as C 3 men, temporarily not required, prior to the passing of the Review of Exceptions Act, being called up for medical re-examination. It may be that connection with such re-examinations in any area or sub-area instructions have been issued which might provide a substratum for my hon. Friend's question. Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me any particulars he may have, and I will make inquiries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a man who was examined by the Scottish Military Medical Board in July, 1916, and passed for B1, and subsequently on appeal was re-examined in December, 1916, by the Central Medical Board in Edinburgh and declared by them unfit for any category of military service, is now subject to re-examination under the Act of 1917; and whether, in that event, he will have the right to appeal again to the Central Medical Board?

I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 47 of Army Council Instruction No. 640 of 1917, which is published in Cd. 8617 of 1917.

asked whether the labour companies in France and Belgium are only paid at the rate of 2d. a day; and whether their rations have been, and in that case for what reason, reduced?

Labour companies are paid at Infantry rates, with no working pay in addition. In consultation with the medical authorities it was decided some months ago to make sight reductions among the troops on the lines of communication. This change was applied to labour companies about the end of May except as regards bread and meat. The reductions are as follows: Bacon, 1 oz.; tea, ⅛ oz.; sugar, 1 oz.; salt, ¼ oz. Against this reduction an increase of 1 oz. of margarine has to be set.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether, owing to the pressing need of men for the Army, he will consider the advisability of dilution officers, when considering protection certificates, being instructed to consult with the military representative and the officer responsible for substitution in the district concerned?

Arrangements have already been made for consultation between the munitions area dilution officer and the munitions area substitution officer, who is a military officer attached to the National Service Department.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the officials now employed in visiting the chairmen of local tribunals are authorised to do so by the Board; and are they recruiting officers in disguise under instructions from the War Office?

I am not clear to what officials the right hon. Gentleman refers. The general inspectors of my Department keep in touch with the work of tribunals and give what assistance is in their power. To the last paragraph of the question the right hon. Gentleman will, I think, scarcely expect a reply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what action the War Office have taken about the conduct of the New Zealand troops at Brockenhurst on the 9th instant when a number of conscientious objectors arrived there to engage in work under the Home Office scheme, and when they were proceeding to their destination were subjected to abominable treatment by these soldiers, being stoned, beaten with sticks, and kicked, a number being thrown into the river, some being very seriously injured, and their baggage opened, the contents thrown into the river excepting their money and watches, which were stolen by the soldiers?

I am making inquiries and have nothing at present to add to the answer which has just been given to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will make inquiries with respect to the whereabouts of Private Patrick Connors, No. 380, D Company, 1st Garrison Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Bombay, India, whose wife has not heard from him or of him for over three months?

This man is serving with his battalion in India, but at Poona, not at Bombay. I will have a letter written inquiring as to his health. The fact, however, that he has not written for three months does not necessarily indicate that he is otherwise than well.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the inefficiency of the air service on the occasion of the last raid on London, he is prepared to make or contemplates making any change in the higher commands of our air service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 11th instant to the hon. Member for West Clare.

asked the Parliamentary Representative of the Air Board whether he can state the total monthly cost of the inspection Department of the Air Board; how many inspectors are employed; what are the names and previous occupations of the inspectors; and how many of them had previous experience of engineering work?

The cost of inspection for the financial year 1916–17 was 1.83 per cent. of the value of the material inspected. The Inspection Directorate consists of one director, twenty-three inspectors, and 104 assistant inspectors. In addition to this, there are lower ratings of chief examiners, assistant examiners, and examiners. The previous occupations and experience of engineering work of the inspectors is carefully examined and recorded in every case.

asked whether any officer of the Royal Flying Corps has been suspended, or court-martialled, or is awaiting court-martial, for alleged faults of omission and commission in connection with the air raid of 7th July?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements exist in the case of air raids for clearing away the debris so as to effect rescues of people underneath; and whether he will organise a system of employing expert housebreakers for this purpose?

The attention of the local authorities was called to this matter by the Commissioner of Police early in the War, and I understand that they have made or are making the necessary arrangements in co-operation with the military authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Private King, of the 13th Battalion Manchester Regiment; whether he is aware that Private King, owing to medical unfitness, was originally placed in the remount branch and, after having twice suffered from fever at Salonika, has now been put into the Infantry; whether he is aware that the War Office has refused to relieve the anxiety of Private King's friends by an inquiry from the medical authorities at Salonika as to Private King's state of health, although repeatedly requested to do so; and whether he will take steps to prevent irritation in the country by indifference to such requests from the relatives of men serving with the Colours?

My hon. Friend will realise that it is quite impossible to make special inquiries in every case of this character, but in the special circumstances I am having inquiry made by letter in this case.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Grants at present paid to the auxiliary military hospitals are now quite inadequate owing to the increased cost of living, etc.; whether the War office can now increase the Grant to cover the difference in prices since the beginning of the War; and whether he is aware that, although the hospitals are auxiliary hospitals, they are at the same time controlled, as to their finances, to a great extent by the local representative of the War Relief Committee?

I understand that representations on this subject are likely to be made to the War Office shortly through the joint committee of the Red Cross and Order of St. John, which is the authorised channel.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can now state the result of his inquiries into the application of the employés at the Remounts Depot, Lusk, county Dublin, for an increase of wages?

I hope to communicate with the hon. Member on this point very shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that Corporal Martin Bennett, No. 3121, 4th Leinster Regiment, who served for one year in France and previously through the South African War, and was discharged by order of the medical board at the Curragh in May, 1916, as unfit for further military service, has received no pension or other allowance of any kind; and if he will make inquiries into this case with a view to granting a pension?

I shall have inquiries made about the case of Corporal Martin Bennett, No. 3121, 4th Leinster Regiment, with a view to the grant of a gratuity or pension. His discharge documents are with the military authorities, and they will have to be recalled before the case can be proceeded with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is a world shortage of sugar, or whether the shortage of sugar in the United Kingdom is solely due to transport?

There is no world shortage of sugar; the inadequacy of the supplies available here is almost entirely due to scarcity of tonnage.

asked the Home Secretary upon what grounds Father Norbut, official representative for Scotland and Ireland of the Lithuanian Relief Committee, has been refused permission to travel from Glasgow to Dublin; if he is aware that Father Norbut on or about the 20th June received a letter from the Home Office to the effect that no permit was required, but that on proceeding to embark on the 9th July he was detained on the ground that he was of military age; whether priests are exempted from military service in Russia as well as in Great Britain; and whether Father Norbut will now be permitted to proceed upon his mission on behalf of the Lithuanian Relief Committee?

It was owing to a mistake, which I regret, that Father Norbut was refused permission to embark, and steps have since been taken to correct the mistake and to allow Father Norbut to proceed on his journey. As regards the penultimate paragraph of the question I have no information.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the methods adopted by the German High Command in the bombing of London and its suburbs and other areas for the purpose of terrorising the inhabitants, he will reconsider all cases of alien enemies, particularly Germans who are in possession of a police permit enabling them to travel a distance of more than five miles from their registered place of residence, with a view of withdrawing such permits?

The permits referred to in the question are not in the nature of general exemptions from the restrictions imposed on the movements of alien enemies, but are temporary permits granted for particular journeys or purposes after careful inquiry in every case and expiring at the conclusion of the journey or at a specified date. There is, therefore, no question of withdrawing them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if he is aware that a firm of London corn importers state that in July, 1914, they paid for freight on corn from Chili £l 2s. a ton, and that in July, 1917, they paid £16 a ton; and will he explain why such a rate is still operative and what action is being taken?

It is not considered in the public interest that the limited freight space available from Chili should be used for the carriage of commodities such as grain, which can be obtained from a nearer source, and accordingly no facilities are afforded. If my hon. Friend's information is that a consignment was brought forward at the rate mentioned in the question, I should be glad to have particulars in order that inquiry may be made.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether in view of the probability of the shortage of coal during the coming winter, he can see his way to empower the councils of boroughs and urban and rural districts to purchase coal for sale to the residents in their respective areas?

I have been in communication with the Controller of Coal Mines on this subject. Special efforts are being made at the present time to secure deliveries of coal to householders who possess storage accommodation so that when the winter conies attention may be concentrated on keeping up supplies for the poorer classes. There would obviously be a risk of this object being defeated if some restriction were not imposed on the amount of coal which particular local authorities are allowed to accumulate, as the building up of special stocks by the local authorities must affect the quantities passing through the hands of the coal merchants and to that extent retard the deliveries which are now taking place to householders with storage accommodation. For this reason it is thought advisable to restrict the amount of coal which any local authority should accumulate, and it will be necessary to consider each case separately. Subject to these limitations and to such other conditions as may be required by the Controller, the Local Government Board would not wish to raise any objection to the purchase of coal by local authorities for the purpose which my hon. Friend has in view.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the fact that the latest additions to the Board of Trade Departmental Committee on the supply of electricity are all representatives of municipal interest, he will reconsider his determination to exclude representatives of electric supply companies which are liable to purchase; and whether his attention has been called to the fact that these companies, subject to purchase, represent a capital of £25,000,000 sterling?

As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. and gallant Member on the 11th instant, the Committee already includes representatives of the companies described, and he does not see any reason to alter his decision not to make any further additions to the Committee. My right hon. Friend is aware that the companies referred to represent a considerable amount of capital.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Diamond Export Committee is authorised and permitted by the Board of Trade, or, to his knowledge, other Government Department, to pass goods of alien enemies resident in England to British colonies or to India or Ceylon?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Reports recently made by the Electrical Trades Committee and the Coal Conservation Sub-committee on electric supply have been published; and, if not, whether they will be published at an early date?

The Government have decided that it is not desirable to publish at present the Reports of Committees on the various aspects of industrial and commercial reconstruction. All the recommendations of these Committees are receiving earnest consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will specify with detail and precision the categories of persons whose letters abroad, including those to friendly monarchs, neutral monarchs, or ex-monarchs of any kind are exempt from censorship; and whether any revision of the list is contemplated?

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on the 3rd instant. No revision of the regulations is contemplated.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the advisability of following the practice in force in France of prohibiting all conversations on the telephone in any language other than the language of the country?

Conversations on the telephone in languages of enemy States are prohibited. I do not think the use of the languages of Allied countries is open to objection, and it could not be forbidden without inconvenience to a large number of subjects of Allied States who, at present, are engaged on official work in this country.

asked the Postmaster-General whether employés who are not British-born are engaged in the cable-room at the General Post Office?

With the exception of a number of Belgians who are employed in a temporary capacity, there are eight men who are not natural born British subjects employed in the cable room of the Central Telegraph Office. They are all naturalised British subjects.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service whether he will state the total cost to the country to date of the National Service organisation; how many men have been found useful on work of national im- portance who would not have otherwise been so employed; how many men have given up the work to which the Department has allotted them; what is the total number of employés in this Department; what is the estimated cost for continuing this Department for twelve months; and what programme or policy have they, if any?

The total expenditure by the National Service Department up to the 11th July last is £163,118 5s. 3d., of this £84,491 12s. 3d. was spent on advertising under the original scheme of National Service. The second point does not admit of any exact answer. As regards the third point, out of 15,038 men placed the number who are not still in employment is negligible. Volunteers are from time to time transferred to other employment owing to the completion of the work on which they have been engaged. The weekly number of such men is under 100. The total number of employés in the National Service Department headquarters paid and unpaid, is 493. As regards the future cost and policy of the Department, this will depend upon the work entrusted to it by the Government.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether he is aware that the Central Committee have adopted the policy that bread cannot and should not be sent to our prisoners of war in Germany; whether he can state why this policy has been adopted; and whether he is aware that previously to the appointment of the Central Committee bread was regularly sent to many of our prisoners even in the summer months and in many cases, when properly baked and packed, arrived in a satisfactory condition?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am informed that the changed policy was due to congestion of the postal and railway traffic in Germany, which frequently caused delay in the receipt of the parcels by our prisoners until the bread had gone sour and mouldy. It was also found that further delay was frequently caused by the bread being subjected to censorship formalities involving its mutilation. I may state that the biscuits which have been substituted for bread give equal nourishment and that a considerable volume of correspondence from prisoners contained requests for biscuits in place of bread.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board have received representations from tenants on the Hamilton estate, Gortnasillagh, and of the Moore Orr estate, Letterilly, as to the dearth of turf in the district; and whether any steps are being taken to assist these people to obtain a supply of fuel?

The Congested Districts Board have not found themselves able as yet to come to the help of these tenants. I will communicate further with the board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the Committee on Native Affairs in Southern Rhodesia of 1910–11 that natives living on unalienated land must upon the disposal of these lands either vacate such ancestral lands or enter into an agreement to pay rent to the lessee or purchaser; whether many thousands of natives to whom this applies have occupied these lands from time immemorial; whether nearly one-third of the native population are living on such lands; and whether the contingency of such wholesale emigration has been considered by His Majesty's Government before agreeing to a proposal to cut down the reserves of Southern Rhodesia by over a million acres?

Yes, Sir; I am aware of the Report referred to, but I do not think that there is any reason to apprehend the wholesale emigration which the question suggests. A Commission on the Reserves appointed by the High Commissioner has recently reported, and I propose to lay their Report shortly.

asked the Home Secretary how many motor ambulances and motor ambulance stations are now provided by the London County Council under the Metropolitan Ambulances Act, 1909, for use in cases of accident and sudden illness in streets and public places within the county of London; and how many calls have been dealt with by the London County Council motor ambulance service in each of the years 1914, 1915, and 1916?

I am informed by the Clerk of the London County Council that the council maintains six ambulance stations, at which are stationed nine motor ambulances, including two spare ambulances. The first of these stations was opened on 1st February, 1915, and the numbers of calls dealt with by the ambulance service in the years 1915 and 1916 were 2,405 and 9,244, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the weight, in tons, of the various stone fruits grown in England and Wales in each of the years 1912 to 1916, inclusive?

The Board have no particulars of the weight of stone fruit grown in England and Wales in the years referred to. The weights of plums and cherries grown in Great Britain in 1,908 may be useful to the hon. Member. They were 35,750 and 8,800 tons, respectively. These figures were collected in the census of production of that year, which was a year in which the fruit crops may be said to have been much below average.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and young persons are on the live registers of applicants for employment at the Labour Exchanges of the United Kingdom at the present time?

Six thousand nine hundred and twenty-five boys and 9,360 girls were on the live registers of the Exchanges on the 8th June, the latest date for which figures are available.