asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a person in receipt of an income of £190 a year, inclusive of a State pension of £30, is not entitled to the abatement of £120 but only to an abatement of £90; and, if so, upon what ground is this reduction in the abatement made?

The right hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The total income of £190 carries the full abatement allowance of £120, and the net income taxable is £70 only. The pension is assessable equally with other income, and if £30 of the abatement is allowed against the pension the balance of abatement available for deduction from the other income is, of course, £90 only.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the quantity of whisky in bond; and whether there is any probability of such quantity being required for munitions of war?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The term "whisky" is not recognised in official records for revenue purposes, and particulars of whisky in bond cannot be stated. The quantity of home-made spirits in the bonded warehouses of the United Kingdom (or entered to be warehoused therein) on 30th September, 1917, was 129,603,000 proof gallons. The question whether any of this spirit will be required for munition purposes is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has received a resolution from the Port and Docks Board, Dublin, respecting the commandeering of ships; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of restoring vessels to the companies unless they are most urgently required by the Government?

The representations received with regard to the requisitioning of certain vessels in the Irish Channel trade have received the most careful consideration. Unfortunately, however, the vessels in question are most urgently required for a military service and cannot be spared.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food for what reason merchants' charges for buying grain were fixed by the Ministry of Food at 2s. per quarter; and if he is aware that in the English corn trade this charge is much higher than has been usual previous to the War?

The charge referred to in the question is not a fixed charge, but a maximum for certain classes of transactions, and other maxima are provided for other cases. It is not anticipated that the charges actually made by merchants throughout the season will exceed those which were usual before the War.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that in some districts corn merchants and dealers are endeavouring to make a ring in purchasing certain classes of grain, and that in many instances they are buying grain in the stack before it is threshed or comes to market; and if these proceedings have the sanction of the Ministry of Food?

I am not aware of any such action being taken by corn merchants and dealers as is suggested in the first part of the question. There is nothing in the Orders of the Food Controller to prohibit the purchase of grain in stacks, but such purchase could, under existing Regulations, only be carried out with the consent of the Army Council, since it involves the purchase of straw. Moreover, since the Grain (Prices) Order applies equally whether grain is sold before or after threshing, it is difficult to see how purchases of this nature would be of any special advantage to the dealer.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that the workers on the Athy Wolfhill Railway have been furnished with sugar tickets entitling them to a certain amount of sugar per week; if he is aware that no steps have been taken to supply the local traders with sugar to meet the amount allotted to the workers on the tickets, and that consequently the workers cannot procure sugar on their tickets; and whether immediate steps will be taken to have a sufficient supply of sugar made available for the men?

The Ministry of Food have no knowledge of the matter referred to in the question, but inquiries are being made and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the amount of tea in bonded warehouses on 30th September, 1916, and the amount in bonded warehouses in September, 1917; and if he can state the amount of unrefined sugar in bond at the end of September, 1916, and the amount in bond in September, 1917?

The approximate quantities of tea and unrefined sugar, respectively, remaining in bonded warehouses in the United Kingdom on the dates specified were as follows:

Tea—118,663,000 lb. on 30th September, 1916, and 36,416,000 lb. on 30th September, 1917.

Unrefined sugar—2,112,000 cwts. on 30th September, 1916, and 3,914,000 cwts. on 30th September, 1917.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food with what object he prohibited the sale of ware potatoes at less than £6 a ton in lots of one hundredweight or more, particularly in view of the fact that the farmers would readily sell them at £5 per ton; and so reduce the price to the poorer classes?

The object of prohibiting the sale of sound ware potatoes in lots of one hundredweight or more by the grower at less than £6 per ton was to secure to every grower the benefit of the guarantee given by the Prime Minister on the 23rd February. I am aware that some growers would be willing to forego the benefit of the guarantee and sell at a lower figure than £6, but the effect of permitting this would be to give these growers an unfair advantage over others in the marketing of their produce and would tend to deprive these others of the guaranteed price.

asked how long it is proposed to persevere in the policy of artificially cheapening a commodity of which the consumption has to be lessened and of artificially raising the price of a commodity which they are urging people to consume in increased quantities as a substitute for other foods?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to bread and potatoes. The reduction in the price of bread was effected in deference to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Industrial Unrest. A reasonable degree of voluntary effort will obviate the danger of increased consumption which this reduction has involved. The price of potatoes was fixed in pursuance of the guarantee given by the Prime Minister in this House on 23rd February. As a result of this guarantee the acreage under potatoes has been considerably increased, and there is an abundant crop. The Government do not contemplate any departure from their present policy in respect of these foodstuffs.

asked whether any and, if so, how much malt has been sent from this country to Holland during the present year, and on what dates?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer already given on this subject to the hon. Member for West Hants.

asked if beer comes within the category of human food under the Wheat, Rye, and Rice (Restriction) Order, 1917, No. 376?

No, Sir.

asked if under the Wheat, Rye, and Rice (Restriction) Order, 1917, No. 376, rice may be used in the manufacture of beer?

No, Sir.

asked by what amount have cattle-feeding cakes and foods been reduced in price as promised by the Food Controller?

Arrangements for the control of the price of feeding stuffs are not yet complete. Some reduction has already taken place in the price of certain classes of feeding stuffs, and maximum prices will shortly be announced which will effect a further reduction.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that considerable stocks of half-fat animals have been rushed to the market through the fixing of meat prices by the Government; and what steps are being taken to ensure a uniform supply of homegrown meat in the coming year?

I have been asked to reply. Lord Rhondda is not aware that considerable stocks of cattle which ought not to be slaughtered have been rushed upon the market. He has, however, as recently announced, fixed a uniform price for the next eight months which should ensure a steady supply of home-grown meat in the coming year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the charges of profiteering made against native producers of food in the United Kingdom, and current statements that the foreign company, the Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, sells under contracts with his Department products costing 4½d. at prices ranging from Is. to Is. 3d., he will now state the terms of those contracts?

The statements to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers are quite inaccurate as regards the prices under Messrs. Nestlé's contract with the War Office. The figure named as cost is apparently the bare cost of fluid milk without any allowance for cost of preparation, tins, cases, delivery and profit.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the charges of profiteering made against native producers of food in the United Kingdom, and current statements that the foreign company, the Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, sells under contracts with his Department products costing 4½d. at prices ranging from 1s. to 1s. 3d., he will now state the terms of those contracts?

I am glad to be able to assure my hon. and gallant Friend that, so far as the Admiralty is concerned, the statements to which he refers are totally devoid of truth. In point of fact, the prices per tin which are now being paid by the Admiralty to the firm in question are less than half those named in the question, a favourable contract having been made before the most recent rises in cost took place.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether German prisoners in this country engaged in the planting of potatoes have removed therefrom the eyes and thus destroyed the production of the farmers' proposed crop?

Rumours to the effect referred to reached the Department and inquiry was made by the county executive committees concerned, who reported that they found no evidence existing to justify them.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War what steps are taken in this country before sending a soldier on foreign service to ascertain whether his teeth are in proper condition and, if defective, to remedy the defects?

Men are examined to see if they require dental treatment, such treatment when necessary being carried out by specially appointed dental officers.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War what is the number of dental surgeons attached as such to the British military forces per 10,000 men, also the number per 10,000 in the Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and United States forces?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 10th May last year by my right hon. Friend the late Under-Secretary of State for War. I am sorry that I can add nothing to it.

asked (1) how many dental surgeons with experience in the treatment of jaw injuries have been sent to the various fronts and are available for special first-aid treatment of such injuries; and (2) what percentage of dental surgeons now in the Army are employed in connection with dental surgery; and what percentage are engaged in combatant and other duties in which their dental-surgical training is of no value?

I am sorry that the detailed information asked for in these two questions is not available, but I may state that the total number of commissioned dental officers is 517.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in many cases delays, and sometimes refusals, have been complained of respecting the applications of soldiers being transferred into Irish regiments; and whether he can arrange that when such applications are put forward they will be dealt with favourably as soon as may be convenient?

I am not aware of the complaints to which my hon. Friend refers; perhaps he will give me further details. Action such as he indicates would be a departure from the instructions on the subject. The suggestion in the last part of the question represents the' War Office policy, which is already in force.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is now in a position to state what number of the 30,000 skilled agricultural labourers agreed to be taken from agriculture have now been called to the Colours; and if he will give a definition of the term "whole-time employed on a farm" used in the above agreement?

My hon. and gallant Friend is referring to two separate agreements. The first agreement under which 30,000 men were to be recruited from agriculture was terminated in June last, when only about 22,000 men had been recruited towards the 30,000. The new agreement made in June provided that no man was to be recruited from agriculture if given a voucher, in England and Wales by the Agricultural Executive Committee, or in Scotland by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, certifying that he was whole- time employed on a farm on farm work on work of national importance and so employed on 1st June, 1917. The expression cannot be completely defined, but, in addition to the obvious meaning, the following guide was given in an Army Council Instruction on the subject issued to the Recruiting Staff:

The expression "whole-time employed on a farm on farm work" is to be taken to include men whole-time employed in market gardens exclusively in production of food of a character and quantity of national importance, and also men engaged in agriculture as thatchers or as drivers of steam engines or motor tractors (including tractor ploughmen), provided that they are whole-time employed on a farm or farms on work of national importance, and were so employed on 1st June, 1917. It does not include men employed on poultry farms or market gardens devoted to production of flowers or of fruit.

A subsequent Instruction pointed out that the word "fruit" in the former Instruction was intended to include only luxury fruit. There has been little practical difficulty in adjusting cases in which the propriety of the issue of a voucher was doubted.

asked if a time-expired soldier is entitled to claim his discharge if he reaches the age of forty-one whilst he is serving with the Colours?

A man who has completed twelve years' service and has attained the age of forty-one, and who, when the time for his discharge occurs, does not fall within the operations of Section 2, Military Service Act, 1916, Session 2, is entitled to his discharge with all convenient speed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service if he will lay upon the Table of the House the memorandum which has been prepared containing directions as to the standards of physical fitness of recruits and the classification which is to supersede the present A, B, and C categories with their subdivisions?

The memorandum asked for by my hon. Friend is at present under the consideration of the Advisory Medical Board of the Ministry and will be presented to the House at an early date.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that in many parts of Ireland the military agents are not giving farmers the maximum prices for their hay and straw, and in some cases the prices paid are less than those which obtain in the local market; whether in future the full price will be paid; and whether the cost of labour in baling, delivery, and freight to Dublin will be paid by the Government?

My information is that throughout Ireland the maximum price is being paid for all first quality hay in good condition; qualities other than the best and first qualities not in the best condition have naturally to be graded in price to their relative value to the best. The terms of the Army Council Order are that where hay is bought at the stack the War Department pays the cost of baling and any rail charges to destination, but the vendor bears cost of transport to rail or other agreed destination available for road haulage. These conditions are being adhered to.

asked from what date the military agents intend purchasing oats in Ireland; and what prices have been fixed for such oats?

Purchasing will commence on 15th November, 1917, and the price will be 38s. 6d. per quarter of 312lbs.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if separation allowances are now paid to wives who have married prisoners of war in Switzerland or other places of internment?

I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the subject very shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will reconsider the practice of the Department in refusing the extra London allowance to a soldier's wife who removes from the provinces to the London area, in view of the fact that if a soldier's wife removes from the London area her extra allowance is stopped?

I am afraid that I can find no ground for altering the present practice.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the recent increase and improvements made in soldiers' pay, consideration will be given to the case of the soldier placed on family allowance as he is billeted at home; whether he is aware that in the case of a soldier billeted at home the family are in worse financial condition, as the soldier has to be kept in food and has to pay any travelling expenses; whether the recent concession that a soldier's allotment shall not be taken off his pay will operate in any way in the case of a soldier billeted at home; and whether he will revise this scale of family allowance so as to ensure that the family shall be no worse off.

Family allowance is being increased, and the Army Order on the subject will appear shortly.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War what separation allowances for the wives of officers are made by Australia, Canada, Newfoundland, New Zealand, and South Africa; and what separation allowances are made for the wives of officers of the United Kingdom?

I am not in a position to give a full answer to the first part of the question without inquiry. At present no separation allowance is given to British officers, but the question is under consideration.

asked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that Mrs. Eliza Price, of Ballylinan, Queen's County, mother of the late Sergeant Price, No. 10,962. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, is only receiving a pension of 2s. 4d. per week; and whether he will take steps to secure immediate payment to Mrs. Price of the full pension to which she is entitled?

Mrs. Price was awarded on the 12th instant a pension at the rate of 3s. 6d. a week payable from the 1st September. Further inquiries into the case are being made, and if it is found that Mrs. Price is in. pecuniary need through age or infirmity, it may be possible to increase the pension.

asked what progress has been made to establish the promised examining and receiving depot in Dublin?

I have written to my hon. Friend explaining fully the preposition of this matter.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether it is. intended to establsh a large remount depôt in Ireland similar to those now at Ormskirk, Swathling, Shirehampton, and Romsey; whether he is aware that it would be an advantage to land horses being brought from America in Ireland and thus escape the dangers from submarines encountered in the English and Irish Channels in approaching English ports; whether he is aware that such horses could be shipped for foreign ports as easily from Irish ports as from English ports; and, seeing that such horses would thereby be saved long journeys by rail, will he state why such a depot should not be established?

The existing depots were located in accordance with transport requirements, and it is not now considered possible or desirable to make any change.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he is aware that it has been stated on his authority that only service on full pay will be reckoned as qualifying service for this purpose in regard to the award of chevrons for service in a theatre of war; and if he will say if this means that an honorary brigadier-general serving as a colonel but graded for pay as a staff captain or lieutenant is not eligible for such distinction though he may enter a theatre of war and serve for twelve months?

No, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the administrator of St. Luke's War Hospital, Bradford, has applied to the Army headquarters at York for Army plumbers to take the place of men on strike at the hospital mentioned; whether men have been supplied as requested for this purpose; and, if so, whether it is in accordance with Army Regulations for men to be sent under military orders to defeat a strike?

The War Office has no information as to the matter, but I am making inquiries, and will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether suggestions for making a visible distinction between medals and decorations awarded for gallantry in action and those awarded for distinguished service have been considered; and whether he can make any announcement on the subject?

This matter is under consideration, but I am afraid that I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of German military prisoners in this country who have escaped since the commencement of the War; how many have been recaptured, and if any are at large at the present time; and whether any additional safeguards are being enforced to prevent the recurrence of these escapes?

One hundred and thirteen have escaped. Five are at large. Each case of escape from a camp is carefully investigated, and all advisable and practicable steps are taken to frustrate such attempts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state the present position of those officers censured in the Report of the Mesopotamia Commission; and what action the Army Council proposes to take?

I am afraid I cannot add much to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend's question on this subject on 14th August last. Surgeon-General Sir W. Babtie has submitted his explanation; the Army Council have found it satisfactory, and Surgeon-General Babtie has been recalled from leave and has resumed his official duties. The Council still await the explanations of the other officers concerned.

asked whether an arrangement can be made so that soldiers obtaining leave to cross the Channel or go long distances may be allowed to deposit their kits in some central depot, where they can be called for on their return; and whether the time occupied in travelling long distances on short leave will not in future be counted against them?

Apart from the convenience of the men, there are other considerations connected with questions of defence which necessitates the present rule. When leave is given from France, the fact that a man has long distances to travel is taken into account.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a number of medical men joined the Territorial Forces as medical officers à la suite with the rank of captain, and that an undertaking was given that such officers should be promoted to the rank of major after eight and a-half years' service; if he is aware that this term expired in the case of a number of medical officers à la suite in June last and that no promotions have taken place; and if it is intended to carry out the undertaking which was given at the time these officers joined the Service?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Officers appointed to the à la suite staffs of general hospitals serve under different conditions to other officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps, and promotion is not based on any qualifying time period.

asked if the recommendations of the Churchill Commission respecting the promotion of officers who had served eighteen months, unless adversely reported on, is being acted upon?

These promotions are being made as rapidly as possible, and approximately 9,000 officers have already been gazetted. Delay is inevitable to some cases, owing to the reports as to officers' efficiency not having been received from their commanding officers.

asked if the Commission recently sent to examine into the medical service of the Expeditionary Force has yet reported; if not, when the Report may be expected; and if it will be laid upon the Table of this House?

No report has been received, nor can I say when one will be in the possession of the Army Council. I am afraid that no promise to make the report public can be given in advance.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the recent announcement of the composition of and the proportionate casualties in the Imperial Forces was official; if so, whether 70 per cent. of the men under arms are English, 8 per cent. Scottish, and 6 per cent. Irish; why no statement was made as to the proportion of Welshmen at the Colours; whether the Welsh troops were included among the English; what is the proportion of Welsh troops, and of their casualties, to the whole; and if he will give instructions that in future Welsh troops shall be treated on an equality with Scottish and Irish troops and shall not be confused with English troops?

The announcement referred to was an incomplete extract made by a Press agency from a statement issued for circulation in the American Press with the object of refuting enemy calumnies as to the small part played by English troops as compared with Overseas, Scottish, and Irish troops. The proportion of Welsh troops engaged in the Battle of Flanders since 31st July amounts to 4 per cent. of the whole. Their casualties also amount to 4 per cent. of the total. It must be understood that in the case of the United Kingdom all figures are approximate only, since there are many Scottish, Irish, and Welsh in English regiments, and vice versa, whilst the numbers vary according to whether residence or parentage is taken as the determining factor.

asked what were the casualties in killed, wounded, and captured among the British, Colonial, and Indian forces on the various fronts up to the end of September last?

These figures cannot be stated in public, but if any Member of the House cares to go to the War Office he will be shown the figures.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he will consider the advisability of issuing a detailed and authoritative account of the first battle of Ypres in 1914, especially having regard to the desire to celebrate the anniversary of the victory on 31st October?

The suggestion will be considered, but I fear that, in any case, it will not be possible to have an account such as is suggested ready for publication by the date mentioned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the dissatisfaction that is prevailing that, whereas subjects of allied countries who are now being enlisted can obtain naturalisation under conditions that have been provided for, those subjects of allied countries who enlisted before the present provisions were enacted cannot obtain naturalisation under these provisions; and whether he will take any action in the matter?

My hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I am not aware of, and know no ground for any such dissatisfaction as is mentioned. It is open to any friendly alien, at whatever time he enlisted, to apply for naturalisation if he can fulfil the statutory conditions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the regulations as to lights in buildings apply universally to all districts or whether Army officers have power to alter them at their discretion; and, in the latter event, if he will give a list of those places where regulations are in force that differ from the standard regulations?

Orders are made by the Home Office and the Scottish Office. The same orders apply to the different parts of the country, but the time varies. Exemptions can only be granted by the competent naval and military authorities in the case of naval and military establishments or by the chief officer of police in the case of industrial establishments or works of public utility. This exemption is subject to compliance with orders issued by the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, Home Forces, or the local competent military authority on emergency. The information requested in the last part of the question cannot be given, as it would convey information to the enemy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to officers by the regulation that no food shall be supplied to them at any hotel after 10 p.m.; and whether this rule can be relaxed in the case of officers who are travelling?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley on 24th April last, of which I will send him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Order for the release of Mrs. Besant and her two colleagues was issued by him in accordance with the wish and advice of the Government of Madras or against it?

I stated quite clearly to the House on Tuesday that I issued no Order on the subject, and I must refer my hon. Friend to my full statement on the discussion on the Motion for Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to acquire or control the oil palm forests of West Africa, in view of the fact that British imports of margarine from Holland increased by upwards of 55,000 tons between 1911 and 1915, and of the fact that the sale of nuts, kernels, oils, and fats is now prohibited except under licence and at fixed prices?

No steps are being taken to acquire oil palm forests in British West Africa, and the control exercised by the Colonial Governments is confined to the ordinary regulations for preventing the destruction of the trees or the unwise alienation by the natives of the palm-bearing areas. The supply of palm kernels and palm oil brought forward and sold to the exporting firms by the natives during the War is considerably greater than the amounts for which it has hitherto been possible to provide freight, and the destination of the exports is strictly controlled. The production of margarine in the United Kingdom has largely increased since the War began.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has taken or promised to take some time ago any, and what, action to protect the owners of patents from having to pay patent dues on patents which cannot be worked owing to the War, and to extend the duration of patents for the same reason?

This matter has received the most careful attention of the Board, and it will be dealt with in the Bill which the President of the Board of Trade hopes shortly to introduce to amend the law relating to patents.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the average weekly earnings of the coal miners the addition to whose wages has caused a rise of 2s. 6d. per ton in the price of coal to household and industrial consumers?

Owing to the divergencies between the earnings of coal miners in the different districts and in the different grades of employment, it is not possible to give any really representative figure of the weekly earnings of coal miners. The wage rates of hewers have been increased since the outbreak of war by percentages varying from 27.2 to 46.7 before the recent war wage was granted.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that while letters addressed to English prisoners of war interned in Switzerland take about four or five days to arrive letters from such prisoners to England are not as a rule delivered for about a fortnight; whether the delay occurs in the Censor's office; and whether he will take steps to obviate it?

The inquiries which have been made indicate that no avoidable delay occurs in the censorship or delivery of letters which reach this country from prisoners of war in Switzerland. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any letters from prisoners of war in Switzerland which appear to have suffered undue delay, I shall be happy to have further inquiry made and to communicate the result to him.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether there is any amelioration in the lot of English prisoners in Turkish hands since August; and, if not, what steps are being taken to induce Turkey to treat the prisoners, especially the, privates, with humanity?

His Majesty's Government have continually pressed the Turkish Government to improve the lot of the British prisoners of war, but, unfortunately, it cannot be said that any improvement has resulted. A large number of the able-bodied prisoners have, however, been transferred to working camps on the Bagdad Railway east of Aleppo, to work under the Railway Construction Company, with whom the Netherlands Minister at Constantinople has been able to make arrangements for their better feeding and clothing. As it will be to the interest of the company to maintain the prisoners in health, it is to be hoped that this change may be to their benefit.

asked whether any English officers or non-commissioned officers, being prisoners of war in Germany, have been sent to Holland for internment under The Hague Agreement; and, if not, what is the cause of the delay and how soon will it be at an end?

No prisoners have yet been interned in Holland; the delay has been due to the difficulties raised by the German Government with regard to the port of embarkation, and it was only on Friday last that their assent to the use of Boston was received. Points have now arisen with regard to the charter parties of the necessary vessels, but as soon as these have been adjusted we hope that the exchanges will begin. I may add that over 800 combatant prisoners have already been repatriated from Switzerland as the result of The Hague Agreement.

asked whether any representative of the Netherlands Minister in Constantinople or of the Geneva Red Cross has been allowed sincè this House adjourned to visit English prisoners of war in Turkish hands; and, if so, what camps were visited and what reports were made on the subject?

No permission has been given for visits by the Geneva Red Cross Society, but the Netherlands Minister has obtained leave to send a member of his staff to visit camps, not, indeed, to report on the condition of the prisoners, but to ascertain the amount of winter clothing which they require.

asked whether officers and men prisoners in Germany, whose condition fits them for internment in Switzerland under the arrangement by which such internment was originally, and is still, allowed, have yet been sent to replace those recently repatriated in this country; and, if not, what steps are being taken to provide as far as possible that they should be sent before winter sets in?

Swiss Medical Commissions are now visiting Germany to select British prisoners of war for transfer to Switzerland. They have not yet, it is believed, completed their inspection, but once this is accomplished there should be no delay in the dispatch of our men to Switzerland.

asked if, in view of the undesirability of detaining British and German prisoners of War during the coming winter, His Majesty's Government will renew the negotiations for their exchange which were opened at The Hague in the summer of the present year?

The agreements negotiated at The Hague were ratified in August last, and are now in operation. In this connection I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to Question 100 of the hon. Member for Bassetlaw this afternoon.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping whether, as a result of Baron Sonnino's visit to this country in August, an increased tonnage of British, Allied, or neutral shipping was placed at the disposal of Italy?

His Majesty's Government have been in constant communication with representatives of the Italian Government with regard to Italy's shipping requirements, and additional assistance has been given.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the date of the appointment at the Ministry of Labour of Mr. St. J. Heath, the warden of Toynbee Hall, who is a declared pacifist and a conscientious objector of military age; upon what work he is engaged and the reasons that led the Minister of Labour to inform the Discharged Soldiers' and Sailors' Club, Poplar, that Mr. Heath's, services were indispensable; and on whose recommendation Mr. Heath was engaged?

Mr. St. J. George Heath, who had previously been devoting part of his time to other Government employment, entered the service of the Labour Section of the Board of Trade on the 27th November, 1916, as a temporary officer. This section was taken over by the Ministry of Labour on its formation in December, 1916. He was then in possession of a temporary exemption given by the tribunal, which was further extended for three months in February 1917. The Minister of Labour has no knowledge as to Mr. Heath's personal attitude towards military service. Mr. Heath's work consists of setting up and administering a large number of Central Trade Advisory Committees. After careful consideration, the Minister is fully satisfied that his services in this connection have been, and still are, indispensable. In this opinion the late Ministry of Pensions, with which his work is closely connected, concurred. Mr. Heath did not seek employment in the Department, but was invited to join the staff on account of the exceptional qualifications which he appeared to possess for the work that had to be done, and my right hon. Friend is satisfied of the great and growing importance of the work on which he is engaged.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations of the Industrial Unrest Committee so far as they apply to insurance agents of Great Britain and Ireland; and when the agents are likely to receive a living wage?

The Department have been in communication with one of the principal companies concerned. The company have hitherto declined to agree to arbitration and the Department possess no compulsory powers to enforce it.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware of the rents being charged for allotments; and whether he will seek powers to fix maximum rents, protect tenants in their tenancy unless good cause is shown for ejectment, and bring small holdings of ten acres or more near to towns within the compulsory Clauses of the Small Holdings and Allotments Acts, in order to encourage production?

The Department do not think that the rents charged for allotments throughout the country are unreasonable, or that additional powers are required on the lines suggested by the hon. Member, though they will be glad to consider any evidence he can furnish as to the need for them. As he may be aware, owners of land let as allotments under the Cultivation of Lands Orders cannot raise rents at any rate before the 1st January, 1919, and, where other allotments are concerned, the Board or the Agricultural Executive Committee may take them over and give instructions for their cultivation in any cases where such a course would seem desirable. Without legislation, it would not be possible to reduce the limit of fifty acres for compulsory acquisition under Section 41, (3) of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, to ten acres.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, seeing the necessity for improved secondary education in Ireland, he proposes to take steps to bring Irish secondary education up to modern requirements?

During the Recess I have had an opportunity of consulting with the authorities who administer Irish secondary education and of receiving representations from various bodies connected with the schools. An additional Grant will be provided, and I hope to be able shortly to state particulars of the conditions on which it will be distributed.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will give the names of the Irish secondary schools with State Grants paid to each that did not employ any lay teachers during the year 1917?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Report of the Intermediate Education Board under the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Act, 1914 (Cd. 8724). The Grants paid to the schools are shown in this Report and the annual Reports of the Intermediate Education Board (Cd. 8630) and the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Cd. 8574).

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Dunleary Line Fishermen's Society have forwarded a communication stating that owing to motor and other trawlers night-trawling within the limits of Dublin Bay the supply of fish is being diminished owing to the destruction of immature fish and continuous disturbance of fish-breeding places; and whether he will provide a patrol boat as suggested by the society?

The communication has been received, and inquiry is being made through the local naval authorities. The Admiralty allocate patrol vessels in accordance with naval requirements. In so far as trawling within areas prohibited by the Admiralty is in question, such steps as are requisite will be taken. It should, however, be understood that it is outside the province of the Admiralty to undertake to enforce by-laws, which are made on purely economic grounds.