asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the indignation that is felt at the failure of the Government to take any effective action to deal with the evils disclosed by the Report of the Commission on the Mesopotamia Expedition; and whether he now contemplates the holding of any further investigation or taking any steps whatever in the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer which I gave last Tuesday to my hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset.

asked the Prime Minister whether men who have lost their health in the Army or Navy are entitled to wear the silver badge or any other distinguishing mark; and whether officers who have been gazetted out of the Army on medical grounds are allowed to wear the uniform of their regiment or any badge to distinguish them from men who have shirked their duty to their country?

The revised conditions governing the award of the silver badge are contained in an Army Order of the 10th August, of which I will send my hon. and gallant Friend a copy. The existing Regulations with regard to the wearing of uniform by officers on retirement are laid down in an Army Council Instruction of the 16th December last, of which I will also send him a copy.

asked the Prime Minister whether privates in the Royal Army Medical Corps receive more than treble the pay of the ordinary Infantry soldier; whether this is causing dissatisfaction in the ranks; and whether the Government will take steps to establish a more equal distribution of pay?

My hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. With the exception of a few men specially enlisted early in the War, the difference is not as stated. The whole question of soldiers' pay is, however, under the consideration of a Committee of the Cabinet.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the maximum salary of the grade of senior clerk in the Statistical Office, Customs and Excise; what yearly pension was paid to the recalled official now acting as senior clerk before recall; what salary he is now receiving; whether he is in receipt of any travelling or subsistence allowance in addition; if so, what is the amount; whether a clerk earning £180 is about to retire on age limit; whether he has been offered a wage of 30s. per week to remain on the same duty he is now performing; whether any travelling or subsistence allowance, apart from war bonus, was to be given in addition; and, if not, why the conditions granted to the recalled official are so much more favourable than those offered to the official about to retire?

The maximum salary of the grade of senior clerk in the Statistical Office is £500. The yearly pension paid to the recalled official now acting as senior clerk was £231 12s. 10d. He is now receiving a salary of £498 per annum, but no pension. He also receives a travelling allowance of £12 10s. per annum, but no subsistence allowance. It is the fact that a clerk earning £180 is about to retire on age limit, and he has been offered a wage of 30s. a week in addition to pension to continue the duties which he is now performing. He will be paid travelling expenses, but no subsistence allowance, and consequently the last part of the question does not arise.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state what conditions existed in the Statistical Office, Customs and Excise, while the recalled official was acting concurrently with the retired senior clerk whose vacancy he is now filling which do not now exist; whether there has been a depletion of the permanent staff since the recall of the official in February, 1915; what is the number of men who have joined the Colours; whether a number of temporary clerks have been recruited to fill the places of these men; what is the number of the temporary staff; whether there is any reduction in the work arising out of the War; and whether there is row anyone helping the recalled official to carry on in the conditions now existing?

The answer to the first part of the question is that, at the time referred to, there was greater pressure of war work than now exists in the division concerned. The answer to the second, fourth, and sixth parts of the question are in the affirmative, and to the last part in the negative. The number of men who have joined the Colours is 149, and the number of the temporary staff is 154.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Secretary of his Department expresses the view of the Government when he says that posters at police barracks give as good results in the matter of increasing the food production of Ireland as advertisements in the newspapers, which are read by all the agriculturists throughout the country?

The Department of Agriculture inform me that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The Secretary of the Department did not make the statement attributed to him. In replying to a deputation from an association of Irish newspaper owners last June, he stated that the Department had found that very good results followed from the utilisation of police barracks for the exhibition of posters.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many advertising agents in Ireland were asked to compete for the Government food production advertising campaign now in operation in Ireland for 1917–18; to whom was the contract entrusted; and on what grounds was the contractor selected?

Two firms of advertising agents were invited to furnish estimates for the advertising of the food production scheme of 1917–18. The work was entrusted to Messrs. Kenny's Agency, Limited, Dublin, whose estimate was the lower.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) nave through their advertising agent refused to give the food production advertisement to over forty of the leading and most influential provincial newspapers in Ireland on the grounds that it was not Government advertising and that the scale of payment for these advertisements should be the same as for an announcement from the smallest huckster in the country; and whether he is aware that the newspapers who were refused these advertisements offered a special reduction of 33⅓ per cent. off ordinary Government rates because of the importance of increased food production to the country?

The series of food production advertisements at present being issued by the Department of Agriculture were offered by the agents in charge of the work to all the weekly provincial papers in Ireland which had been included in a similar scheme successfully carried out last spring. A number of these papers refused to accept the prices which they had been offered, and with two exceptions had accepted, for the previous series of similar advertisements. The advertisements deal with the promotion and development of the farming industry. They are modelled on the methods of business advertisements, and are large in size and continued over a long period. They are not of the nature of the public notices usually issued by Government Departments and paid for at special rates. They are similar to commercial advertisements, and I am informed that the agents' rates are not below commercial rates. The Department of Agriculture do not transact advertising business directly with the newspapers.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the amount allowed by the Treasury for the food production newspaper advertising campaign now in the hands of Mr. Kevin J. Kenny; if representations were made by the Department of Agriculture for Ireland that the sum allowed by the Treasury was inadequate; and if the Treasury refused to increase the sum allotted for this purpose?

The Grant-in-Aid for food production in Ireland for the financial year 1917–18 includes the sum of £7,270 for publicity purposes. The Department of Agriculture have not, up to the present, found it necessary to make representations to the Treasury of the nature referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what was the total yearly amount of pay and emoluments, including war bonus, which Warder Newman was in receipt of at the time of his retirement from the prison service on medical grounds; why this man has only been awarded the small allowance of £27 14s. as compensation; if this amount complies with the terms of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, in his case, seeing that he has lost the use of both hands in the public service; if he will recommend that he be granted a sufficient pension to enable him to provide for himself and his family; if he is aware that this man still requires personal attendance, and if he will recommend that an allowance be granted him for the personal attendance he has had; if this ex-warder was certified as capable of light employment; and, if so, why was he not offered light employment while in the service, seeing that such was to be had at Kilmainham Prison?

The total yearly amount of pay and pensionable emoluments of ex-Warder Newman at the tune of his retirement was £94 6s. He was also entitled to a non-pensionable (temporary) war bonus at the rate of 8s. per week. As some misapprehension may have occurred as regards the amount of his superannuation allowance, the matter is being further considered. The General Prisons Board has no light employment to which Warder Newman could be assigned after his accident. Kilmainham Prison is in the occupation of the military authorities.

asked the Home Secretary if he will consider the advisability of instituting another grade or merit class for the senior warders who have been sixteen years or so in the service, similar to the system in the Metropolitan Police Force; is he aware that, owing to the almost total absence of promotion, large numbers of the officers who have given their youth and vigour to the State can have no hope of further promotion under the present system, and will be further penalised by a meagre pension which was insufficient to live upon in normal times, owing to the fact that the pension is based upon pay and emoluments; and will he give this matter his most sympathetic consideration?

There is no merit class in the Metropolitan Police. Perhaps the hon. Member refers to the fact that constables after fifteen years' service receive a special increment of 1s. a week. The Home Secretary is glad at all times to give sympathetic consideration to the claims of prison warders, and they have recently received substantial war bonuses; but I fear the hon. Member's suggestion is one he could not recommend to the Treasury.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Government propose to strike a rate of wages for labourers not less than 30s. per week; and if he will recommend the advisability of doing so?

I am not aware of any such decision.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received copies of resolutions passed at a meeting in St. Patrick's Division respecting the extension of the Allotments Act to Ireland, housing, employment, and fair wages, trades Board, permanent receiving depot, reconstruction of ruined area, and modification of the brewing, distilling, and distribution regulations; and whether he can state what the Government propose to do in regard to these questions?

I have received copies of the resolutions referred to, but I can only refer the hon. Member to previous answers on the various subjects and to my statement in Debate on 16th August.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if Mr. Michael Maguire, who has 40 acres of tillage at Ballinakil, Ferns, county Wexford, will be given back his shot-gun taken from him by the authorities after the rising in Easter week, 1916, so that he may be enabled to protect his crops?

The military authorities have no record of Mr. Maguire's gun. If Mr. Maguire will supply them with full particulars the matter will be investigated.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a local officer who holds the rank of captain can alter a man's category from C 3 to C2 within a fortnight of his having been awarded C3 by a travelling medical board consisting of two majors and a captain; and, if so, is there any appeal from such an alteration?

Medical officers in charge of units are authorised to transfer men to a higher category without reference to a higher authority. They are charged with this responsibility. A man can appeal through his commanding officer in the ordinary way.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will have inquiries made into the case of James Edward Devlin, a conscientious objector to military service, formerly of 67, Curzon Street, Burnley, but now undergoing a sentence of twelve months' hard labour at the detention barracks, Gosport; if he will say whether this man has been living for three months on a diet of bread and water; whether he is kept in solitary confinement with only half an hour's exercise a week; and whether this man, who was once a well-known swimmer and athlete, is now reduced to a condition of extreme physical weakness and prostration as the result of the treatment he has received?

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

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether men who have been court-martialled and allege conscientious objection as the reason for the breach of discipline can now, on application, have their cases considered by the Central Tribunal if they have previously refused the conditions of inquiry but now express their willingness to accept them?

I am informed that arrangements have been made by which the Central Tribunal will be able to consider such cases as are mentioned in the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in a case where a soldier has been on service in France a long time, and his wife is ill and confined prematurely of twins who both die, temporary leave may be granted?

Any application for leave on account of dangerous illness of a wife which is supported by medical or other trustworthy evidence is referred by telegram to the military authorities in France for consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will make inquiries with a view to ascertaining why the pay of Private H. C. W. Hunt, No. 149416, Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps, Egyptian Expeditonary Force, who applied for enlistment as a driver in the Motor Transport Branch of the Army Service Corps on 9th November, 1915, was reduced from 6s. a day to 2s. 4d. a day after 29th January, 1917; is he aware that Private Hunt assisted his mother, Mrs. Hunt, of 30, Lidfield Road, Stoke Newington, London, N., a widow with two young children, and that the reduction in pay bears very hardly on her; and will he say why Mrs. Hunt has received no allowance from the Government?

This man has been unable to substantiate his claim to have applied to enlist before the 10th November, 1915, the final date for enlistment at the higher rate. Inquiry is being made as to Mrs. Hunt's allowance.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can now give the House any information as to the alleged evasion of military service by Mr. Colvin, of the editorial staff of the "Morning Post," and whether Mr. Colvin is of British nationality?

I have now received certain information from which it appears that Mr. Colvin has been duly exempted by the Westminster Tribunal, which exemption has recently expired. The "Morning Post" is appealing for a further term of exemption, but Mr. Colvin has never applied to a tribunal on personal grounds. He is the principal leader writer of the staff of the "Morning Post" and is one of two members of the editorial staff of that paper whose exemption was agreed to by the military representative after consultation with the Newspaper Proprietors' Association. He is thirty-nine years of age, in Category A, is married, has four children, and helps to support his mother and three sisters. I know that Mr. Colvin is of British nationality.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Wyndham Albery, a chartered accountant, and therefore in a certified occupation, was court-martialled at Wimbledon Camp on 8th August, sentenced to six months' hard labour, and taken to Wormwood Scrubs, despite the fact that a civil action in the House of Lords respecting his case was pending; whether this was an improper procedure on the part of the military authorities; and whether an Order will be made for Mr. Albery's release until his case has been decided?

If my hon. Friend will give me this man's regiment and number I will have inquiries made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men who, after periods averaging twelve months' service with the Royal Naval Air Service (Armoured Car Division), have been compulsorily transferred to the Motor Transport or Army Service Corps and sent overseas, are not allowed to count their service in the Royal Naval Air Service for the purpose of pay, allowances, or pensions; what is the reason for this; and will he see that this is remedied and that the full period of service in whatever branch of the Forces is credited to these men?

I am making inquiries, which will take a little time, and I will inform my hon. and learned Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War whether men enlisted in the canteen branch of the Army for duty with the Expeditionary Forces are being paid a wage which is less than those same men would get, taking into account the separation allowance to their families, if they had enlisted in a regiment; and, if so, will he take steps to see that the wages paid to these men shall be reconsidered?

I would remind my hon. Friend that service with Expeditionary Force canteens is voluntary, and the conditions of remuneration are agreed to by employés prior to joining up. The whole position of these men is, however, under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if it has been considered whether some modification of the system of payment of officers through Army agents is desirable under the altered conditions of the Army, and whether they credit the accounts of the officers with their pay and allowances immediately on receiving payment from the War Office; and if any complaints to the contrary have been received?

No complaint has reached me that an officer's account is not immediately credited, but I will inquire into any case which my hon. Friend may (bring to my notice. I am not aware of any sufficient reason for altering the system.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why difficulties are placed in the way of meeting the wishes of officers who do not desire to be paid through the Army agents; and why they cannot have their pay paid into any bank selected by them direct from the War Office as quickly as to an Army agent?

I am not aware of any difficulties of the kind suggested. Every officer has the option of drawing his pay either from the Army paymaster, or from the agents, or through the paymaster from any bank the officer may select. It would be impracticable to centralise all the work in the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he has received Reports of the health of the troops at Aden; and, if so, whether such Reports are satisfactory?

Returns received up to July, 1917, show rather high rates of admission for the previous six months, namely, 60.01 for British troops and 30.6 for Indian troops, but are, in each case, an improvement on the corresponding six months of 1916. Slight malaria and sand fly fevers are the prevailing complaints, and the more serious tropical diseases, enteric, scurvy and dysentery are almost entirely absent. The figures are not considered excessive in view of the fact that during the great heat the troops have been constantly engaged in minor operations against the Turks.

asked the Home Secretary if he has any information as to the way in which the number of accidents to cyclists prior to the introduction of the new lighting regulations compares with the experience since they came into force; and on what evidence the opinion has been formed that the advantages of the earlier hour of lighting-up more than counterbalance the disadvantage involved in the additional consumption of oil?

The total number of accidents known to the police to have been caused by cycles in the Metropolitan area during May, June, and July, 1915, was 2,227. In the corresponding months in 1916, after the new rule had come into force, the number was 1,732. There are no doubt other causes for the reduction. I have no figures for other areas. The police authorities attach importance to cycle lamps being lit half-an-hour after sunset, as it frequently happens that conditions of visibility are bad by that time. The decision not to relax the present requirements was arrived at after consultation with all the Departments concerned.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the desirability of issuing the Return on the increase of expenditure on public assistance, showing as nearly as may be possible the total expenditure from public funds, central and local separately, in England and Wales during each of the years 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, and 1916, respectively, on account of relief or assistance, whether in money or in kind, rendered to persons individually, distinguishing or apportioning as far as possible the total amount paid each year on account of public relief or assistance and on account of administration of the same, respectively, prepared under the following heads, namely: expenditure of public authorities in their administration of the Acts relating to the relief of the poor; the Acts relating to public health, including the cost of medical assistance ( a ) in hospitals; ( b ) domiciliary under subheads showing the nature of such expenditure, e.g., for isolation, tuberculosis, etc.; the Acts relating to education, including the cost of education; the Acts relating to pensions for the aged poor; the Acts relating to national insurance; the Acts relating to war pensions and allowances; and under any other authorisation; and further setting forth the several items of expenditure under as many sub-heads as may be necessary to explain the nature of, and the authority for, the expenditure, and showing any payments or repayments by the beneficiaries separately?

The compilation of such a Return as my hon. Friend suggested would make heavy demands upon a number of Government Departments in addition to my own, and I cannot, therefore, give any undertaking as to its issue. Some of the particulars desired are, however, given in the Annual Reports of the Local Government Board, and I will consult the other Departments on the question whether, and if so to what extent, it would be practicable at the present time to supplement the information already published.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the bad housing conditions in many districts, particularly in Barrow, described in the Reports of the Industrial Unrest Commissioners; and whether, in view of the state of things disclosed, he will take immediate action without waiting for the Government's general proposals dealing with the shortage of houses caused by the War.

The matters referred to are receiving my attention. As regards Barrow, I understand that the Ministry of Munitions have in preparation a scheme for the erection of further houses for the accommodation of munition workers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received representations regarding the new coal Regulations for the burgh of Greenock; is he aware that these Regulations will increase the transport difficulties; and will he take steps to modify the scheme?

Representations have not been specifically made regarding the burgh of Greenock. The transport of coal as it will be affected by the coal transport reorganisation scheme has been discussed with representatives of the railway companies in Scotland, and the opinion has been expressed that the difficulties of transport will be lessened rather than increased.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it has been brought to his notice that car owners who are unable to obtain petrol may, by resorting to the device of taking out a hackney carriage licence in addition to their full licence, become entitled to a petrol supply; and, if so, will he adopt measures to put a stop to this method of surreptitiously obtaining petrol for other than bonâ fide business purposes?

The issue of allowances of petrol for hackney carriages which have been licensed since 1st August, 1916, is now refused, and it is therefore no longer possible for car owners to obtain petrol by the means suggested in the question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if any instructions have yet been sent to Parliamentary councils, municipal authorities, and school boards in Scotland regarding elections to these bodies this year?

As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, all elections in Scotland for county, town, or parish councils, or school boards, which would have occurred before 20th December, 1917, are, by the provisions of the Parliament and Local Elections Act, 1917, postponed for a year. I see no reason to suppose that the local authorities concerned are unaware of the provisions in question, which continue a policy which has been in operation since the early stages of the War, and I do not think it is necessary to issue a circular drawing special attention to the Act.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state the conditions under which 4 acres of fruit and vegetable gardens are let to the present gardener at Ballyhaise; is any rent charged or has the gardener in addition a free house; how much money was recently spent on this house; is this gardener supplied with a cow free and 5 acres to graze and also a farm horse and van, manure, coal, and pumping engine, with a permanent man to work the same; if he will state the annual cost of running this engine; and whether any of the matters, referred to were offered for letting or is it because this gardener is a non-Catholic that the matter has been privately dealt with?

On the closing of the school attached to Ballyhaise Agricultural Station the payment of wages to the gardener ceased. With a view to securing that the garden should be maintained in a proper state of cultivation an arrangement was entered into under which the gardener continues to cultivate it and to supply the labour necessary for the purpose, in consideration of his receiving certain allowances in kind, including the use of a house as caretaker. There is no foundation for the allegation contained in the concluding portion of the question.