asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an owner of land who sells, not for a royalty but for a lump cash payment, his interests, such as they may be, in a quantity of petroleum under his land to an oil merchant or syndicate either at auction or by private treaty, will be required to pay Excess Profits Duty on the net profits arising out of such a trading operation in the same way and on the same scale as a shopkeeper or co-operative trading society selling oil by the gallon across the counter; and, if not, whether he will introduce legislation to place large and small sales on the same plane of taxation?

Excess Profits Duty is charged upon excess profits arising from a trade or business, and the question whether the proceeds of a given sale constitute the profits of a trade or business is one to be determined upon the particular facts of each case. Where the sale is an isolated transaction of a capital nature, the proceeds (whether small or large) could not ordinarily be regarded as profits of a business carried on by the vendor, and would not, therefore, be chargeable to Excess Profits Duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that 4½ per Cent. War Loan does not carry the privilege of being accepted in payment of Death Duties, even when converted into 5 per Cent. Loan by executors, he has considered the advisability of accepting it for this purpose upon terms considered equitable by the Treasury?

As the terms of issue of the 4½ per Cent. War Loan do not give it the privilege of being accepted in payment of Death Duties it would not be equitable to the general taxpayer for the Treasury to accept it at any higher price than could be obtained by a sale in the market. There would be no advantage to a holder in tendering it at such price as compared with selling it and tendering cash.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has been informed of any action taken by the committees of the London or other stock exchanges in connection with the practice known as straddling with a view to avoiding payment of Income Tax; whether any inquiry has been made by the Inland Revenue Department with the object of ascertaining whether the practice defeats the revenue or merely effects redistribution of liability for tax between buyers and sellers; and, if so, with what result?

I have no special information on the subject. The Commissioners of Inland Revenue are considering whether the character and extent of the practice referred to are such as to call for any action to prevent the avoidance of Income Tax. I may point out to my hon. Friend that the danger of loss to the revenue is limited to the dividends of securities which are paid without deduction of Income Tax, and there is no reason to suppose that the revenue has hitherto suffered any loss from operations of this nature.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the pensions granted to the widows of officers and men killed in the War are liable to Income Tax; and, if so, will the Government take steps to relieve such widows from such liability on the ground that they have already made more than their share of sacrifice in the War?

These pensions are and always have been income taxable under the provisions of the Income Tax Acts. Whether they are in fact charged with duty depends upon the amount of the total income from all sources. The widow whose total income is within the exemption limit pays no tax, and where the income exceeds that limit the various statutory abatements are allowed. The considerations suggested in the second part of the question, however appropriate to the determination of the amount of the pension, are hardly relevant to the question of liability to Income Tax.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, whether he will issue a Regulation compelling all salesmen who sell Government imported Australasian meat to retail butchers to preserve the address of the purchaser and on the same day as the sale to forward particulars to the local food control committee so as to enable them to exercise proper supervision and stop the robbery of the public which is at present existing?

It is proposed at an early date to issue an Order providing for the registration of all wholesale and retail butchers. The system of registration proposed will be such as to secure an adequate supervision of the sale of both imported and home-killed meat, and to prevent such practices as those to which the hon. Member alludes. Meanwhile, the suggestion made in the question will receive the careful consideration of the Food Controller.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the amount of oatmeal consumed in feeding foxhounds, and that in consequence the price is raised when required for purposes of human food; and whether he will issue notices to the country police to keep watch and prevent waste of this description from arising in future?

The feeding of hounds with oatmeal is not forbidden by Statutory Order, but the Master of Foxhounds' Association have voluntarily agreed not to purchase further supplies of oatmeal for this purpose during the period of the War. In view of this undertaking, no further action is considered necessary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the examination of the poultry funds of 160 fox hunts over the last five years reveals an average expenditure of £250 per annum per establishment in compensation for destroyed poultry; that at 2s. per fowl this implies an annual destruction of 400,000 head of poultry; that it is computed on the average what is paid for is only a percentage of the total destruction; that foxes have increased enormously during the last two years; and whether his Department is now prepared to adopt the suggestion made to them last February and put a reward of £1 per head on every fox destroyed?

I have not been able to check the figures given in the first part of the question, but I understand that the destruction of poultry by foxes has considerably decreased since the outbreak of war. I cannot agree with my hon. Friend's assertion that foxes have increased enormously during the last two years. My information is that their number has been so considerably reduced that it is unnecessary to adopt the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that, owing to brewers being able to give 5s. 3d. per quarter more for barley than millers, they are always able to secure the best quality, leaving inferior goods for bread; and that they frequently completely clear the markets, so that millers requiring barley for bread have to go without any; and whether he will take steps at once to abolish the 5s. 3d. preference now given to brewers over millers?

The object of permitting maltsters to pay to farmers 5s. 3d. per quarter more than millers was to allow farmers to obtain extra prices for the types of barley known as malting barley. These types are not those best adapted for milling. Owing to the limitation of brewing, less than half the crop of barley will be allowed to be used for malting, and it is expected that as soon as threshing becomes more general any difficulty experienced by millers in obtaining an adequate supply of barley at the authorised price will disappear without any necessity for further action.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the Ministry of Food have contracted for what is considered to be an adequate supply of dried milk, which they can supply to medical officers of health and to institutions that will need dried milk during the winter; if he is aware that the total amount of full cream dried milk that may be available equals approximately 2,200 tons and would represent nearly 4,000,000 gallons of whole milk when reconstituted; if it will be suitable for infant feeding; will he say whether Ireland will participate in the scheme; and if any arrangements are being made to safeguard a supply of milk for the Irish people?

The answer to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative. Irish children will participate in the scheme for the distribution of dried milk. Arrangements for safeguarding an adequate supply of liquid milk for Ireland are also under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that pork is on sale practically all the year, but in larger quantity at this season and up to March; and, seeing that in consequence of the omission of pork rates from the Schedule of meat prices the average works out lower than it really is, whether he will arrange to have pork included in the price of food commodities?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Maximum wholesale prices for pork, both home-killed and imported, are included in the Schedule of the Meat (Maximum Prices) Order, 1917, which came into operation on 3rd September last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing difficulties in obtaining supplies of such commodities as margarine, butter, bacon, sugar, and tea; whether he has been informed of the shortage of milk in some districts of Manchester, and that the appearance of a small quantity of butter on the Preston market last Saturday led to a struggle requiring the intervention of the police, that potato queues are again being witnessed in a number of London districts, and that fresh eggs are being sold in some districts for as much as 6d. and 7d. each; and whether, in view of the danger of serious food shortage aggravated by winter conditions, he will take steps to organise the distribution of available food supplies on a family basis, making it impossible for any interest to use this emergency for its own profit?

It is hoped that the action of the Department will effectually prevent any section of the community from making use of any temporary shortage for its own profit. The Food Controller has already taken steps to organise the distribution of sugar on a family basis, and the organisation so set up will be available for the distribution of other essential foodstuffs if occasion should arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the statement that immense quantities of wheat in Australian warehouses are deteriorating owing to delays in procuring tonnage and milling facilities so as to cause heavy losses of foodstuffs and of British taxpayers' money, he will consider some arrangement whereby British farmers, whose capital is locked up in wheat stacks, may be induced to postpone thrashing until their wheat is actually required for milling?

The increasing scale of maximum prices permitted for late deliveries of wheat under the Grain (Prices) Order already offers an inducement to farmers to keep their wheat in stack.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is now in a position to issue detailed Regulations regarding the guaranteeing of the price of £6 a ton for potatoes, in view of the fact that that guarantee became operative on 15th September, and that some difficulties have arisen in securing that price in certain local markets?

I can add nothing to the answer given yesterday to the right hon. Member for West Islington by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked whether the small local grocer will be placed on the same footing as the large firms as regards not only the quantity but the quality of sugar supplied under the card system?

The sugar distribution scheme will, it is hoped, preclude any possibility of discrimination between the two classes of retailers referred to in the question. Steps will, moreover, be taken to remedy any inequality which may arise in the distribution of the several qualities of sugar.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) if steps can be taken to regulate the price of foodstuffs, such as damaged wheat, for the feeding of poultry; and if he is aware that the present cost of such foodstuffs is compelling thousands of poultry keepers to sell off their stock; and (2) if he will take action to encourage poultry keepers in the direction of an increase of the importation of feeding stuffs for poultry rather than the importation of eggs; and if he is aware that such suggestion, if adopted, would lead to a saving of tonnage?

I have been asked to reply to this and the following question, and I will answer them together. The prices of damaged home-grown grain are already regulated by the Grain (Prices) Order, and it is proposed to issue an Order regulating the prices of imported damaged grain and of poultry mixtures. The Food Controller is anxious to encourage poultry-keepers so far as the restriction of imports permits; but in view of the difficulty of obtaining an adequate supply of cereals for human food it is impossible to increase the importation of feeding stuffs for poultry. The importation of eggs has considerably decreased during the last two years.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what number of Ford agricultural motors are under order; how many have been delivered and when the balance is expected to be delivered; and whether any and, if so, how many of these tractors are to be made available for sale to farmers, and at what price?

The total number of Ford tractors ordered by the Government is 6,000. None have yet been delivered, but a large number have been completed in America and are due to arrive shortly. It is anticipated that the whole number will be available in time for the spring ploughing. Under present arrangements these tractors will be allocated to the county Agricultural Executive Committees for use under their control, and they will not be available for sale to individual farmers.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the result of his inquiries into the claim for compensation by Mr. E. O'Neill, Eden Quay, Dublin?

The inquiries are not yet complete.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that passengers from the Londonderry, Strabane, and Dungannon direction holding third-class tickets on the Great Northern Railway are prevented from travelling third-class on the evening mail train from Belfast to Dublin, although Belfast passengers and passengers from the Ennis Killen and Dundalk line are allowed to travel third-class on this train, and that there is a military policeman at Portadown to prevent passengers from the districts named from boarding the train; and, if so, will he state under what statute or regulations the company discriminate between passengers holding the same description of ticket?

The Irish Railway Executive Committee inform me that there are two evening express services from Belfast to Dublin with expresses from Londonderry connecting at Portadown as follows:

and a half hours at Dundalk if they were compelled to wait for the second express. It is not practicable to extend third-class travel on the Limited Mail train, as it is a very difficult train to work to time.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the officer responsible for the inadequate convoy and consequent loss of transports which occurred recently has been called upon to furnish a report; whether such report has been received; and whether, with a view to the satisfaction of public feeling, some information can be given to the House to account for the incident without waiting for a committee of inquiry to be set up?

My right hon. Friend the First Lord hopes to deal fully with this incident in the course of his statement to the House to-morrow.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the need for Welsh-speaking labour in Wales, he can arrange that all Welsh-speaking soldiers intended for agricultural work shall be sent to the Agricultural Company at Wrexham so as to be available for farm work in Wales?

As far as possible all soldiers for agricultural work are sent to the county in which they worked as civilians.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will order the discharge of the boy, Private James Walsh, who is only seventeen years old, and now serving in the 86th Training Reserve Battalion?

Soldiers who have enlisted in the Army by overstating their age, as Walsh has done, are not discharged, if, at the time their correct age is communicated, they have attained seventeen years of age. They are retained on Home service until attaining the age of nineteen. Walsh appears to be seven- teen and a half, and instructions have been issued in the sense which I have indicated.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there exists any provision of officers with legal training or knowledge attached to corps or Army headquarters who are responsible for the duty of defending officers or men charged with offences before courts-martial; and whether, in view of the Government's decision to provide expert legal aid on behalf of the officers concerned in the Mesopotamia Inquiry, he will take steps to have that provision extended to all ranks in the Army?

It is not the duty of any officer to defend an officer or man charged with an offence before a court-martial. The right of an accused to be represented by counsel or an officer having the same rights as counsel at general or district courts-martial are laid down in Rules of Procedure 87–94. At field-general courts-martial an accused has no right of representation, but in practice this is generally accorded whenever possible. If an accused charged with a grave offence before any court-martial desires to be represented and finds a difficulty in securing an officer for the purpose, on application by the accused, endeavours would be made to secure a suitable officer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Gunner J. Fitzgerald, Royal Garrison Artillery) enlisted in Dublin as a smith in August, 1914, under Army form for tradesmen, and that though his contract of service has expired he has been refused his discharge from the Army; and will he say why this has been done, seeing that having been resident in Ireland he does not come under the Military Service Act?

I have no information as to this case, but if my hon. Friend will give me Fitzgerald's regimental number, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a motor-car, the property of Mrs. M. J. Pearse of Main Street, Longford, was requisitioned by Major L. James, officer commanding 1st King Edward's Horse, stationed at Longford, in the month of May, 1916, under the authority of the Defence of the Realm Acts for use by the military authorities in Longford; that this motor-car, whilst being driven by a soldier of King Edward's Horse, under the authority of the said Major James, drove into and collided with a horse-drawn van and sustained injuries to the amount of £16 19s. 10d.; and that application for payment of this sum was made by the owner of the car, Mrs. Pearse; why payment has been withheld so long; and whether payment will now be made?

Inquiry is being made, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has been able to discover any authority entitling the War Office on the disbandment of a battalion to confiscate that part of the officers' and sergeants' mess funds which were the private property of the officers and sergeants; and, if so, what is the authority?

I am afraid I can at present add nothing to the answer which I gave on 9th November last. In the further consideration of the question of these funds generally, the point referred to by my hon. and learned Friend will not be overlooked.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether it is his intention to fill up the vacancy in a procurator fiscal-ship at present existing in Scotland or to adopt his former system of joining up two or three districts of this office, in view of the facts that very few duties have to be performed in war time by fiscals in most districts, that the holders of such offices are themselves in favour of consolidation, and that thereby considerable sums would be saved to the Treasury?

The appointment referred to falls to be made by the Lord Advocate, who has asked me to reply on his behalf. The answer to the first alternative of my hon. and learned Friend's question is in the affirmative; to the second in the negative. The Lord Advocate does not agree that very few duties have to be performed by fiscals in most districts in war time, and certainly no such state of affairs obtains with regard to the fiscal-ship in question. In view of the circumstances of this particular post, the Lord Advocate is satisfied that no amalgamation with any other district would be expedient or would result in any considerable saving to the Treasury.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, under Army Order 406/1915 and 42/1914 (Article 1,117, Pay Warrant), officers and noncommissioned officers and men of the Royal Engineers signals and postal service, Royal Flying Corps, who are postal servants in civil life, will not receive gratuities on their discharge; and, if so, Whether this order applies to those who enlisted prior to these War Office decisions?

Gratuities will not be issued. These officers and men draw their full civil pay as well as their Army pay. If the gratuities were issued, their civil pay would be reduced pro tanto.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Gunner F. W. Lentz, No. 13445, Royal Garrison Artillery, was discharged on the 10th of July, 1917, after twenty-two years' service in the Army, having been for thirteen months on active service with the 32nd Siege Battery in France; why no pension has yet been paid to this veteran; what pension he is entitled to receive; and if he will give directions for such pension, with arrears due from the date of his discharge, to be paid to Lentz without further delay?

Inquiry is being made, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on the 16th November last a man named Thomas Moran, in canteen employment at Curragh Camp, was waylaid by a soldier named Leonard James, of the Dorsetshire Yeomanry, and had his leg broken in the encounter; that Moran was twenty-one weeks under treatment for the injury and is still unable to do any but the lightest work; that though James was prosecuted at the Kildare Assizes and, having pleaded guilty to a common assault, was let out under the First Offender's Act, the injured man has been refused any compensation; and whether, in view of the fact that he was the main support of his father and mother, the War Office will now direct that he shall be adequately compensated?

On the facts as stated in the question, it is not possible to say whether any compensation should be paid from public funds; but if the hon. Member will send me further particulars of the occurrence, the matter will be further considered.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the increases in price of food, fuel, drugs, etc., since the amount of the Grants-in-Aid to voluntary hospitals in respect of the treatment of wounded soldiers was fixed, it is proposed to raise the scale of such Grants to these institutions?

Yes, Sir; this point has been under consideration for some time, and an announcement will shortly be made.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether a manufacturer of pig iron whose works are in Northamptonshire, but who manufactures pig iron by the methods and of the materials used by manufacturers of pig iron in Derbyshire and of the quality produced in Derbyshire, is entitled, under the Order dated 7th July, 1916, under Regulation 30 A of the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulations, to charge the rates fixed for Derbyshire pig iron or those fixed for Northamptonshire pig iron?

The manufacturer referred to in my hon. Friend's question will only be entitled to charge the rates fixed for the Northamptonshire district.

asked the Home Secretary in what way it would assist the enemy's system of espionage to reveal to the accused the identity of witnesses called against him before the Advisory Committee, in view of the fact that if the person has any hostile connection he will be subsequently interned?

An interned person receives visits and writes letters, and there is always a possibility of his making use of information which has come to his knowledge

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give a Return of the levies made by the compensation authorities in England and Wales during the years 1916 and 1917 under Section 21 and Schedule 3 of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910?

Information on this point is given each year in Table II. ( c ) of the Licensing Statistics. The volume for 1916 will, I hope, be issued very shortly. I do not think that I should be justified at the present time in calling for a special Return of the figures for 1917

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the agents of our enemies in this country are actively engaged in spreading discontent and urging people to agitate for an inconclusive peace, he can say what steps he is taking to prevent the circulation of seditious literature and for prosecuting people who agitate against the strenuous prosecution of the War?

This matter is receiving constant attention, and a number of seditious publications have been seized; but I do not think it would be to the public advantage that I should make any more detailed statement as to the action which has been or may be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for India (1) whether wounded officers reported medically unfit for duty are liable, alter nine months' convalescence, to be placed on unemployed pay, which is in many cases less than the pension to which they are entitled on retirement; and whether he will take steps to secure that these men shall not be deprived of an adequate recompense for their services; and (2) whether, according to the new Regulations of pay and allowances to wounded Indian Army officers while convalescing, the dates are so fixed as to exclude the men who served in the early days of the expeditions in Mesopotamia and East Africa; and whether he will make the Regulations retrospective in such a way as to include all officers who have seen service in this War, and who will otherwise have their pay reduced by one half.

With the permission of the hon. and gallant Member, I will answer his two questions together. Under Rules issued in August last Indian Army officers still on the cadre of a regiment or Department who are wounded, or are on sick leave from field service, receive after nine months ordinary leave pay, not unemployed pay. Leave pay is generally considerably in excess of the amount of pension admissible on retirement and seldom, if ever, less. The new Rules apply to officers who were on leave on or after 17th February, 1917. They were agreed to by the India Office and the War Office after prolonged consideration, and I do not think that the latter Department or the Treasury would accept any further modification.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the wife of a soldier not paying rent, living in the same cottage as the soldier did previous to enlistment and on the same conditions regarding rent, can, providing she is living respectably, be evicted from her home without a magistrate's order; and, if so, whether he will take steps to amend the laws in order that soldiers' wives may not be deprived of their homes without the consent of a magistrate?

So far as I am aware, no order for ejectment can be issued at the present time without an application to a Court of law.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee on Electricity Supply has yet presented any Report; and, if so, when such Report will be published?

The Committee have not yet presented a Report, and they cannot say at present when they will be in a position to do so; but there will be no avoidable delay, in view of the great importance of the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is intended that no private cars are to be on the roads after the 31st October; and, if so, if all motor licences for private cars will be suspended from that date; if not, will he define the purposes for which private cars may be used: whether they may be used for business and station purposes, for attendance at meetings of local authorities or visiting committees of asylums or prisons, for attendance at church or public meetings, and for collection or dispatch of household necessities in country districts?

It is not intended to prevent entirely the use of private motor cars consuming motor spirit, but to limit the purposes for which they may be used. An Order has been issued and will come into force on the 1st November, under which private motor cars can be used for business purposes, public duties, journeys to and from a railway station, and necessary household affairs, provided that no other means of conveyance is reasonably available, and I am sending a copy of the Order to the hon. Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that neutral shipowners are reported to have recently placed orders with British shipbuilders for over seventy large cargo steamers; what steps the Shipping Controller proposes to take to enforce the British Ships Transfer Restrictions Act, 1915, which prohibits the transfer of any British vessels to foreigners during the War or within three years after the termination of the War; and whether, to avoid this Act of Parliament being circumvented, he will take steps to prohibit any of the vessels referred to being registered in the name of British limited liability companies unless he is satisfied that the steamers are bonâa fide the property of such companies, and that the companies are owned by British subjects of British parentage, and are not directly or indirectly controlled on behalf of persons who are not such British subjects?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether the Shipping Controller has been consulted and sanctioned the placing of contracts for eighty Norwegian vessels with firms in this country, a sum of £2,500,000 being received by the builders on the signing of the contract; will he give the names of the builders; and has he considered the necessity of making all shipyards available for the construction of British or Empire tonnage rather than for the tonnage of neutrals immediately after the conclusion of hostilities?

The Shipping Controller is aware that, as stated in the question, orders have been placed—of late in considerable numbers—for the construction of merchant ships in British yards for neutral and other private owners. In the present state of the law these orders cannot be executed during the period of the War without the permission of the Government, and I need hardly say that, in view of pressing war requirements, it is not intended that such permission should be given. The matter is therefore essentially a post-bellum question and has been carefully considered from this point of view. It is clear that some form of control over the output of British yards must continue to be exercised after the termina tion of hostilities. The principle upon which it will be exercised will necessarily depend upon the circumstances prevailing at the time, so that on this point I am not in a position to make any statement. The form in which the necessary powers should be obtained is now engaging the attention of the legal advisers of the Departments concerned, but I am assured that for the time being the position is fully safeguarded by legislation already in force.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether the freight on tea from Calcutta to London which, under a contract existing with the shipping companies, had been about 50s. per ton has been raised by authority of the Ministry of Shipping from October 1st to 270s.—300s.; who will receive this increment of freight; and whether it is the policy of the Ministry to impose these heavy additional burdens on foodstuffs?

The facts are not precisely stated in my right hon. Friend's question, the freight on tea from Calcutta to London under the old contract which has now expired being 75s. and not 50s. per freight ton of 50 cubic feet. The present commercial rate on tea is accurately stated in the question. It is very little above the actual cost of carrying the tea, the increment being less than one-fifth of a penny per pound. As soon as the trade is completely controlled, tea will enjoy the advantage of freight on a cost basis. I may add that, with regard to the conditions which previously obtained, the freight on Colombo tea has amounted since December 1st, 1916, to nearly 3d. per pound of tea carried, and this rate undoubtedly had its full effect upon the market and the consumer.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division), as representing the Prisoners of War Department at the Foreign Office, whether any progress has been made in the arrangements for the exchange of prisoners of war of over forty-five years of age; and whether, with regard to the officers of the Merchant Service interned at Ruhleben since the com- mencement of the War, there is any probability of the exchange being effected before the coming winter?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Southampton on Monday last. A number of the prisoners over forty-five to whom my hon. Friend refers are expected to be among the first to benefit. I trust that officers of the Merchant Service who come within the terms of our agreements with the German Government will be repatriated or transferred to Holland at an early date.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that Civil Service writers appointed as such before 19th August, 1871, were allowed to count the whole of their unestablished service for pension, whereas writers appointed after that date count only half of their unestablished service, and, having regard also to the fact that the Report of the Royal Commission on Superannuation in November, 1902, attached great weight to the principle of similarity of treatment of all classes of pension able servants, he can now see his way to allow the full unestablished service to count in respect of all writers borne on the establishment throughout the Civil Service?

For the explanation of the circumstances in which writers appointed since the 19th August, 1871, were permitted to reckon one-half of their temporary service towards superannuation under Section 3 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, I may refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by one of my predecessors on the 26th March, 1906, of which I am sending him a copy. The writers serving before 1871, to whom the special privilege of reckoning the whole of their temporary service under certain conditions was granted by Treasury Minute of the 1st June, 1882, constituted a class serving under conditions dissimilar to those prescribed for later appointees.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the present position of the negotiations for the sale and division of the lands of Bann, Moydow, county Long ford; how many persons have applied to the Estates Commissioners for a portion of these lands which are at present seized under the Defence of the Realm Act by the Department of Agriculture in Ireland; whether he is aware that the landlord, H. B. Armstrong, has sold all his other lands and retains this for grazing purposes only; whether the mansion on the lands is in ruins and unoccupied; whether the persons now applying would be all tillers of the soil and would produce valuable food stuffs if admitted to till these lands; and whether he will advise the Commissioners to strive to obtain possession of these lands immediately with a view to their division and allotment for the coming spring?

There has been no change in the position of the proceedings pending before the Estates Commissioners for the sale of the estate referred to since I answered a previous question by the hon. Member on the 5th July. The lands in the occupation of Mr. H. B. Armstrong, at Bawn, county Longford have not been entered on by the Department of Agriculture. The lands in the townland of Bawn, on which they have entered, are those of Mr. Charles Webb, and they inform me that an opportunity of making good the default in the cultivation of these lands is being afforded Mr. Webb before further action is taken.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board have come to an agreement with Messrs. Horseman and Williams with a view to compensating them for their interest in their holdings at Meelick, county Galway, which they hold as planters; and, if not, whether the Board have served notice on those tenants that they will resume possession of the farms referred to which are required for the relief of congestion in the district.

Proceedings have been instituted to obtain possession of portion of Mr. Williams' farm for the relief of congestion, but no agreement has been arrived at with him up to the present. The Congested Districts Board have not come to any agreement with Mr. Horseman for his interest in the holding at Meelick, nor have they yet taken proceedings for the resumption of the holding.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have come to an agreement with Mr. John A. O'Kelly, Gurtray, Portumna, county Galway, as to compensating him for the interest in his holding at Capira, in the parish of Leckmolasserf, and which he holds from the Board as grazing tenant; and, if not, have the Board taken steps to resume possession of this farm for the relief of congestion in the district?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that they have not come to an agreement with Mr. O'Kelly with reference to his farm at Capira on the Clanricarde Estate. As it appears that the adjacent holders have taken the grazing of the lands from Mr. O'Kelly, the Board do not propose to take any further action at present with a view to obtaining possession of the farm which is held under a yearly and not a judicial tenancy.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have come to an agreement with Messrs. Cooke and Blehien and Miss Hession with a view to compensating them for the interest in the grazing farms which they hold from the Board in the parish of Clontuskert, county of Galway; and, if not, whether the Board have served notice on those tenants that they will resume possession of the lands referred to which are required for the relief of congestion in the district?

Negotiations are in progress for the purchase of the tenancy interests in the holdings of Miss Hession and Mr. Cooke As regards Mr. Blehien's farm, the Congested Districts Board decided some time ago to take resumption proceedings with the object of obtaining possession of the lands for relief of congestion, but owing to the action of persons who drove live stock off the farm, the Board directed that no further action should be taken pending further orders. The prevalence of intimidation in any form has the effect of delaying indefinitely, instead of hastening, proceedings for the acquisition of any land in respect of which illegal practices prevail.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it is the intention of the Congested Districts Board to sell to Mr. James Howard his interest in a grazing farm which he holds from the Board at Moorefield, county Galway, containing 165 acres; if he is aware that Mr. Howard resides on a farm of 161 acres which adjoins the farm above men tioned, and which he has purchased under the Ashbourne Act; and if he will state what authority the Board have to sell land in a congested district to a man already in possession of 161 acres, while seven tenants, whose total valuation is only £73 10s., and who are tenants to the Board in the townland of Moorefield, are to be thus debarred from much-needed enlargements to their small holdings?

The Congested Districts Board have entered into an agreement to sell to Mr. J. Howard the portion of the lands of Moorefield on the Clanricarde Estate referred to in the question. He has surrendered to the Board the lands of Ballyhanry and Aughrim Hill, containing 227 acres, for the relief of congestion.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the eviction of allotment holders at Mill Heap; and whether he will introduce an Allotments Bill for Ireland which will prevent the summary disturbance of allotment holders in Ireland until land is provided which, by the transference of their labour, will enable a continuance of the food supply?

I have not seen any report as to the allotments at Mill Heap. I understand that they are not Irish allotments. There is, so far as I can ascertain, no present risk of displacement of allotment holders in Ireland, and the whole question of allotments is engaging the attention of my advisers.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the work of the National Health Insurance Act depends altogether on the exertions of the agents of the various approved societies and that the remuneration given for such services is wholly inadequate, with the result that the Act is only partially in force in Ireland; and if he will introduce an amending Bill by which agents would be under the direct control of the Irish Insurance Commissioners and paid a suitable salary by them for their services and endowed with authority to take action in all cases of non-compliance with the Act?

I am aware of the excellent way in which the agents of the various approved societies in Ireland as well as in other parts of the United Kingdom discharge the duties which fall upon them in connection with the National Insurance Acts. Their rate of remuneration, however, is a matter for the societies themselves to determine, and does not come within the province of the Commissioners. There is no intention of introducing legislation in the direction suggested by the hon. Member, for the reason given in my answer to him on the 24th instant.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered recent evidence from America showing that the new methods in use at Auburn and Sing Sing Prisons in New York State have improved the standard of conduct of the prisoners, reducing the number of cases in which prisoners have had to be punished for offences against discipline and having marked effect on former recidivists; and whether he will encourage at least some experiment in this direction in one or more British prisons?

I am not in possession of any official evidence showing the effect on the conduct of prisoners of the new regulations recently introduced in certain prisons in New York State; but it appears from various reports in the Press and otherwise that opinion differs greatly as to their value. I am not in present circumstances prepared to make experiments in the direction suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the inconvenience arising from recent changes in the postal services to and from the borough of Maldon; whether he is aware that these changes will postpone the first delivery of morning letters until 8.45 and later, and will also accelerate the last collection of letters so that the collection will close at 6.30 p.m.; whether he is aware that Maldon is a separate borough and the centre of a large trade in the distribution of food both by sea and land, with munition works, iron factories, saw mills, and flour mills of large size, in addition to a number of commercial and private residents, many of whom leave Maldon for London at eight o'clock and do not return until after the postal collection above referred to, and that their correspondence will be delayed by the recent change for at least one day; whether he is aware that the principal post office is now open for only eight hours per day instead of twelve, as formerly; that the deliveries have been reduced from three to two per day, and that the last collection for London is now at 6.30 p.m. instead of 10.30 p.m.; whether the change was made in consequence of increased remuneration asked for by the mail driver by reason of the price of oats and fodder; if so, will he say whether such increase was substantial; whether any steps were taken to obtain tenders for the work; and whether he will arrange to revert to the same postal service as formerly, or, failing this, will he receive a deputation of the mayor, alderman, and town council upon the subject?

The facts with regard to the postal service are as stated by the hon. Baronet. The mail contractor asked for an increase of remuneration (amounting to about 30 per cent.). No useful purpose would have been served by inviting tenders for a fresh contract, as it was evident that the maintenance of the road service would involve considerable increase in expense, and no sufficient reason was seen for making an exception in favour of the Maldon district to the policy which, wherever practicable, has been pursued throughout the Kingdom generally in cases where the continuance of a mail service by road would involve an increased burden on the State. I do not think that a deputation at the present time would serve any useful purpose, as the change is so recent; but if after, say, three months it is still desired to make further representations, I shall be prepared to reopen the question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether and, if so, when he proposes to introduce legislation on the lines of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Housing of the Industrial Population of Scotland, Rural and Urban?

The Report is receiving my anxious consideration in consultation with any colleagues in His Majesty's Government and my advisers in Scotland, but beyond referring to the pledges already given by the Government to deal with the housing question, I cannot as yet give any definite undertaking as to legislation.