asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the Ministry of Munitions prohibit the sale of methylated spirits except in the most urgent medical cases and for the production of munitions, he proposes to remit the licence payment new made by pharmacists until they are again free to trade in this commodity?

In the special circumstances referred to, my right hon. Friend is prepared to authorise the remission of the whole or part, as the case may require, of the licence payment made if it can be shown that the trader is unable to obtain his supply of methylated spirit and has in consequence discontinued its sale.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the number of young men from the British Oversea Dominions continually passing through London, and considering that there are crippled and discharged soldiers available as custodians if required, he will now consider the possibility and advisability of reopening to the public at least some portion of the British Museum, with special regard to such exhibits as may illustrate our national origins and history?

I fear I can add nothing to the terms of my reply to a similar question on the 17th July last, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary of State of State for War whether he is aware of the complaints being made with regard to the shortage and the quality of food supplied to the boys' battalions stationed at Colchester; whether he will have inquiries made into the matter; and whether his promise on the subject of leave to these youths is being fully carried out?

I am not aware of complaints as to shortage and the quality of food supplied to these battalions. The messing of one of these units was inspected on 19th September, and it was reported that the diet was good, but that more use should be made of fresh vegetables and that the distribution of food required attention. Steps have been taken to rectify this. As regards leave, I assume that my right hon. Friend refers to the answer given on 30th July to my right hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs. I have no reason to suppose that leave is not being given, but if my right hon. Friend will give me any information I will have inquiries made.

asked the Home Secretary if an inquiry is being held into the circumstances of the death of a member of the Denton Camp, and by whom?

An inquiry is being held into this matter by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Gloucester and Dr. Dyer, the medical officer of Brixton Prison.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a soldier who went out with the Expeditionary Force will be struck off the waiting list if he marries off the strength and have no future chance of getting on the married roll while any fully qualified applicant is waiting for permission to marry or unless and until he attains the rank of company sergeant-major; whether the separation allowance which his wife gets during the War will be discontinued after the War, and whether she will then receive nothing; and if he will consider the desirability of letting such men come on the establishment when their time for doing so would have arrived in ordinary course if they had remained unmarried?

The Regulations which apply to soldiers serving on normal engagements lay down that a soldier who marries without the consent of his commanding officer is debarred from, being placed on the married roll at any subsequent time without the latter's consent. Such consent cannot be granted unless there is a vacancy in the establishment, or if a fully qualified applicant is waiting permission to marry. Whether more latitude will be given to the present Regulations after the War is a matter for consideration. Separation allowance in normal times is granted only to men married on the strength under certain Regulations which have during the War been very liberally interpreted, and the question of whether separation allowance will be discontinued after the War to those who are not married on the strength is also a matter which will require consideration. At the same time the question will be considered of the inclusion of such cases on the establishment when their turn would have arrived in the ordinary course had they remained unmarried.

asked whether any change is contemplated in the position of district officers, Royal Artillery; whether this rank is to be retained; and, if so, whether the qualifying conditions, namely, warrant officer, Class I., under forty years of age, are to remain the same?

No alteration such as my right hon. Friend suggests is in contemplation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the recent misstatements in the Swedish Press on the subject of the casualties to British officers for the months of August and September and the recent War Office statement that the actual figures for August and September were 5,678 and 3,182 officers, respectively, with an average daily loss in officers alone of 183 and 106, respectively, he will now publish the list of casualties to officers for each of the other months of the current year?

All casualties to all officers have been already published.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that many of our soldiers serving with His Majesty's Forces in Salonika have been abroad for a long time without leave; and whether, consistently with military requirements, increased facilities for leave can be granted?

Every consideration consistent with transport facilities is given to the troops serving in this theatre of operations, and it is hoped that facilities may improve shortly, though it is impossible to forecast to what extent.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether timeserving soldiers in the Regular Army are eligible for temporary commissions in the Royal Flying Corps; and, if not, will he state the grounds upon which they are excluded?

They are eligible for temporary commissions on the general list for service with the Royal Flying Corps, subject to their acceptance of certain conditions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been drawn to a sale by auction by order of the Director of Army Contracts at the London Commercial Sale Rooms on 4th October, when included with old Army boots were 20,000 pairs of new half-soles V.T.; why these new goods are sold in this manner and why they cannot be used for Army purposes; and whether he is aware that this is not the first time new Army materials have been sold in this manner?

The 20,000 pairs of half-soles referred to in the question put by the hon. Member had been rejected by the responsible officer of the Department as being unsuitable for Army requirements, and were included in the sale by auction as being the most convenient means of disposing of them at the market price of the day.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether officers whose winter kit, stored in public buildings, was destroyed in the recent fire in Salonika will have that kit replaced by the War Office or obtain a grant from the War Office to enable them to replace it?

The military authorities in Salonika have power to deal with the matter under the Regulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state the effect of the Regulations for replacing the kit, whether by way of money compensation or otherwise, of officers and men who lose their kit in consequence of accidents at sea while on military duty and the amount of the compensation paid?

If an officer loses kit through enemy action or shipwreck on duty, necessary articles are replaced free or their value in money (within limits) is paid to him. Men have kit replaced free.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the firm of Newton, Chambers (Thorncliffe Iron Works), Chapeltown, are not paying the proper rates of pay in accordance with the various circulars that have been issued controlling the wages and hours of women workers; if he is aware that some of the women working on shells only receive 22s. 6d. for a 53 hours' week instead of 29s; if he is aware that women crane drivers receive 23s. and 24s. for a 53 hours' week, which is many shillings per week below the proper rates of pay; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

The obligations of this firm under the Orders relating to women's wages have been fully explained to it. I am awaiting a report as to the wages now paid which shall be communicated to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether under present arrangements war munitions volunteers who have obtained employment in national factories or controlled establishments through their trade unions or some other agency than an employment exchange are entitled to a subsistence allowance and a free pass to their homes; and, if not, will he state the class of workpeople who are entitled to these privileges?

Men in certain trades who have enrolled as war munition volunteers or who may now enrol as war munitions volunteers, and who have been employed continuously upon munitions away from their homes since before 1st September, 1917, may, under special arrangements recently made, be assigned to munitions work and receive the privileges of a war munitions volunteer transferred through the ordinary machinery of the Employment Exchanges. I am sending to my hon. Friend a list of the occupations in which men are eligible to enrol as war munitions volunteers.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the abolition of leaving certificates, he has considered the question of protecting electricity undertakings from the danger of interruption, arising from the loss of their men and consequent difficulties in the supply of electrical energy to munition and other works; if he is aware that his predecessor recognised the gravity of the position, and undertook that this aspect of the matter would be borne in mind on any Amendment of the Munitions of War Act, 1915; and if he will say whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

I have received representations on this matter from the interests affected, and I am fully alive to the importance of their being able to retain or secure an adequate supply of labour. While I have no reason to think that the difficulties will be as serious as the representatives of these undertakings anticipate, I am prepared to take whatever steps are possible to meet such difficulties as may arise.

asked the Home Secretary whether Reshid Sadi Bey, who has been interned since 1915, is about to be released; and, if so, on what grounds?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has again, more recently, been called to the case of Baron Bruno von Schroeder; and whether he will how consider the advisability of interning this gentleman, seeing that his son fought against us?

Yes, Sir; my hon. Friend himself recently drew my attention to this case, and I replied that Baron Bruno von Schroeder (who is a British subject) could be interned only if he gave grounds for suspicion, which he has not hitherto done.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Indian opium is now largely used in this country, in place of opium of Turkish or Persian origin, for the manufacture of morphia and officinal preparations; and how much opium was used for these purposes in the year 1916, and what were the sources from which it was derived?

I am informed that for the last eighteen months Indian opium has been practically the only description available for morphia manufacture, Persian supplies being relatively insignificant. The following statement shows the total net quantity of opium retained for use and manufacture in the United Kingdom in 1913 and 1916, and the countries from which it was originally consigned:

Net Imports of Opium Retained.

Consigned originally from—

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that many persons who have taken out patents are, owing to a shortage of material or of restrictions imposed upon certain trades, unable to get the article patented manufactured; whether, in view of this fact, anything has been done by remitting the patent fees or extending the period of the patent to help these persons; and, if not, whether it is proposed to do anything in this matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Thornbury on the 18th October, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Coal Controller has received a resolution from the Houghton-le-Spring Urban District Council calling attention to the unequal distribution of orders for coal whereby much unemployment is experienced and consequent distress; if so, what provisions are being made to remedy this grievance?

The resolution in question has been forwarded to the Controller of Coal Mines. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to-day to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for the Chester-le-Street Division.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that permission has been given to the colliery owners to charge an extra 2s. 6d. per ton at the pit's mouth from Monday, 15th October; if he is aware that this extra charge of 2s. 6d. per ton will allow the colliery owners to more than compensate themselves for the extra advance given to the various men working in and about the colliery agreed to by the Coal Controller; and if he can give any reasons why the extra charge of 2s. 6d. per ton was allowed?

The cost of the war wage per ton necessarily varies considerably in different districts and collieries, and no general statement as to the effect on individual undertakings can be made. The amount added to the pit price by the Board of Trade is not considered to be more than was reasonably necessary having regard to all the circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Coal Controller is aware of the inequality of the distribution of orders for coal in the county of Durham resulting in unemployment; whether he is aware that the Harraton and North Biddick pits have been idle as follows: in the five last pays of 1916 only 43 shifts were worked by the men out of a possible 55; from the beginning of January, 1917, only 166 shifts were worked out of a possible 222, the men having over 25 per cent. of lost time; and, if the Coal Controller is aware of this loss of time, what remedy is proposed to meet such difficulty?

The question of distribution of trade in Durham and Northumberland among the different collieries has for some time been receiving the attention of the Controller of Coal Mines, and something has already been effected in the way of allocating trade to collieries which have been losing most time so far as such collieries have been capable of supplying the qualities of coal required. The matter is still receiving consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in respect of Sunday duty the general rule on the railways is that certain grades receive pay calculated at time and a-quarter, and others at time and a-half, whereas clerks and some stationmasters receive ordinary rate only, whilst other stationmasters receive no additional pay whatever; and whether he will take steps to remove some of these inequalities?

I am aware that the conditions of service of different classes of railway employés differ in regard to the rates of payment for Sunday duty and other matters. The question as to whether these differences are, or are not, reasonable appears to be one for the consideration of the individual railway companies, rather than for the Board of Trade.

asked what proportion of the coal and other heavy traffic has now been diverted to the canals so as to relieve the congestion on the railways?

It is not possible to state the proportion of coal and other heavy traffic which has been diverted to the canals so as to relieve the congestion on the railways. As the canals do not serve all districts of the country only part of the heavy traffic carried by railways could in any circumstances be diverted. It can, however, be said that in the Midland district, in the case of one canal system alone, the amount of coal being transferred from the railways to the canals is equivalent to 150,000 tons per annum. The Canal Control Committee is taking every possible step by increasing the number of boatmen available and by other measures to increase the amount of traffic carried by water.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Brentford Gas Company have recently raised the price of gas to 4s. 2d. per 1,000 cubic feet; and whether he will consider the advisability of taking action, legislatively or otherwise, to secure the supply of gas at a reasonable price to consumers?

I am informed by the company that the price which they charge for gas is 3s. 4d. per 1,000 cubic feet, but an additional 10d. is charged to prepayment consumers to cover the cost of the meter and fittings, the additional charge being less than the actual cost to the company. The sliding scale of price and dividend under which the company works makes it their interest to keep the price of gas as low as possible, by reason of the provision that when the price of gas is increased the dividend must be correspondingly reduced.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware of the shortage of thrashing machines and engines now available for thrashing owing to the scarcity of skilled drivers and the use of many engines by the Fodder Purchase Committee of the War Office, with the result that the seed-wheat required in quantities, much above the normal for the 1918 crop, cannot be threshed; and if he will at once make representations to the War Office and secure the release of an adequate number of skilled drivers and engines before the present sowing season is passed?

There is no general shortage of machines and engines for threshing, or of drivers for them. Such deficiencies as have been ascertained are supplied as speedily as possible and arrangements have already been made with the Forage Committee to release all engines now in their use. The drivers are released with the engines, and by the 15th of next month all will be available for agriculture. The other drivers required are being sought amongst the soldiers who have already been allocated for farm work and amongst those in the lower medical categories now serving in the Army.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is satisfying himself that the existing Government offices are making full use of their present accommodation; and whether he can give the House any report of the new buildings taken over since August, 1914, and the use that is being made of them?

Every effort is being made to ensure that the existing Government Departments are utilising their present accommodation to the fullest extent practicable. The work of the honorary inspectors of the Cabinet Committee on Accommodation is resulting in the more effective utilisation of the accommodation in the occupation of the War Departments. The number of new sets of premises acquired for official purposes since the outbreak of the War is 291.

asked how many of the twenty-five sets of buildings acquired by the Government since the rising of Parliament have been allotted to the Ministry of Food; and whether this office is asking for further accommodation?

Two of the twenty-five sets of buildings have been allotted to the Ministry of Food. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he can now make use of the new building erected for the London County Council as a temporary Government building?

Arrangements have already been made for the utilisation of a portion of the London County Council New County Hall for purposes in connection with the War.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he proposes to take over any more hotels in London; and, if so, whether he is aware of the demand for accommodation in London and the inconvenience caused by the closing of hotels?

I do not at present propose to take over any more hotels in London. No one is more fully aware than myself of the extent of the demand for hotel accommodation in the Metropolis, nor of the inconvenience to the general public which is involved in the temporary closing of any further hotels in Central London, and the hon. and gallant Member may rest perfectly assured that nothing but the most urgent necessity would lead me to do so. It should be mentioned that it has just been found urgently necessary to acquire a small hotel for the United States Army Headquarters in London. The needs of the case precluded any other premises from being taken, and I am sure that the House will not, in the circumstances, criticise the action I have taken in the matter. Two other hotel buildings may be taken over, but as they have both been unoccupied for a considerable period the Government user of the premises will not further encroach on the available hotel accommodation in London.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what action he proposes to take with a view to securing better provision for the admission of infants suffer- ing from ophthalmia neonatorum, along with their mothers into hospitals, for inpatient treatment, where such treatment is desirable?

It has been the policy of the Local Government Board to press upon local authorities the great importance of arranging for hospital beds for infants suffering from ophthalmia neonatorum, along with their mothers, and I am glad to say that several of the larger local authorities have made such arrangements. In the case of the Metropolis I have asked the Metropolitan Asylums Board to provide the accommodation necessary, and I understand that they are prepared to provide two hospitals—one to serve the North of London and the other the South. I may add that 50 per cent. of approved expenditure is repaid to local authorities by the Local Government Board out of the maternity and child welfare Grant, and that this Grant is also available in aid of home nursing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any decision has been arrived at as a result of the recent Government inquiry respecting the claim of the fishermen of Hall Sands, South Devon, for assistance in rebuilding their houses recently destroyed through the removal of the shingle from the foreshore?

The report of Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice of the inquiry held by him at Hall Sands on the 25th September last has recently been received, and is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster General if he has received a resolution from the Houghton-le-Spring Urban District Council complaining of the want of increased accommodation for the transaction of postal business, pointing out how badly that centre is served by premises inadequate to cope with the present and increasing business, and suggesting that if it is impossible to increase the present premises and staff, that the work be decentralised and branch post offices opened; and, if so, will he indicate what steps he is about to take to mitigate a growing public inconvenience?

I have received the resolution, and am making inquiries, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result.