asked the Prime Minister how many Committees there are dealing with publicity and propaganda campaigns of the various Government Departments, giving the name of the chairman or controller of each Committee; and whether, with the object of co-ordinating the work of these Committees and economising, he will consider the advisability of setting up one Committee to deal with propaganda work?

A Joint Committee has been set up to contain representatives of the War Aims Committee, the War Savings Committee, the Ministry of Food, the Ministry of National Service, and the Ministry of Munitions to secure coordination of effort and to prevent overlapping.

asked the Prime Minister what savings and economies have been effected by Government Departments in view of the urgency of the war savings campaign recently opened by him?

The Government has under its constant consideration the question of effecting economies, and business methods have been adopted in the large supply Departments which have resulted in a considerable saving in expenditure. It would be impossible within the compass of a Parliamentary reply to make a full statement on this subject, but I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that I have already in the course of the present Session explained what has been done in this connection and that the Government is now considering the recommendations made in the First Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the unforeseen financial burdens laid on friendly societies owing to the protracted character of the War; whether he is aware that the actuarial basis of the societies is being destroyed by the claims made upon them, especially in respect of young members who have been killed; whether the Government has considered the question of accepting some part of this exceptional liability; and, if so, what is the decision?

My attention has not recently been called specially to this matter. I regret, however, that I should not feel justified in imposing on the Exchequer a charge for the purposes indicated by the hon. Member, and I understand that the voluntary self-governing societies have themselves recently confirmed a previous decision not to ask for assistance from public funds for this object.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state approximately the value in millions of pounds, under the heads of monetary and other levies, bank balances, stock in trade, raw and manufactured material, minerals, and foodstuffs, of the plunder in cash and in kind that has accrued, directly and indirectly, to the German treasury and warchest from their military occupation of territory in Belgium, France, Serbia, Poland, and Roumania, respectively; and whether the necessity for the German Chancellor of the Exchequer to add to the burden of the German taxpayers has been thereby lessened to that extent?

The information available is not sufficient to enable me to answer either part of the hon. Member's question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office under what terms, conditions, and price the Belfast potato supply committee supply the War Office with potatoes; whether the War Office contracts are open to competition in the ordinary way of business, in view of the fact that thousands of tons of Irish potatoes have been offered to the War Office by outside traders at exceptionally low prices, so far without result?

All purchases are made through the Irish Advisory Potato Committee, the members of which represent all potato-growing districts in Ireland. War Office orders are divided weekly by the committee amongst the members, who in turn distribute them and hold themselves responsible for the supply. The price is the minimum fixed by the Food Controller, plus expenses and 5s. per ton for services rendered. The War Office retain the right to buy in any cheaper market that may present itself, and have taken advantage of any such opportunities. No offers from outside traders that have been more advantageous than those received through the Committee have, so far as I am aware, been overlooked.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, seeing that the duties of enforcing Orders prescribed under Regulation 2J (1), made under the Defence of the Realm Act, have by arrangement with the Food Controller been conferred by the Board upon local authorities, he will state, in sanctioning this devolution of powers, what steps will be taken to make it clear whether the prosecuting authority in case of offences against the food Regulations is to be the local authority, the local food committee, or an officer of the local authority; and whether, in prosecutions before Courts of summary jurisdiction, members of local authorities who are justices of the peace should take part in the proceedings?

I have been in communication with the Food Controller in regard to this subject, and further Instructions are about to be issued.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether during the last month a large ship laden with a cargo of tea entered a certain port and requested discharge at that port but was forbidden by the Shipping Controller's office to do so; and whether this ship sailed again and was forthwith sunk?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. I have made careful inquiry, but cannot trace the occurrence of such a loss as is referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend. I understand, however, that a story of the kind has been put into circulation. In these circumstances I should feel indebted to my hon. and gallant Friend if he would put the question down again for next Tuesday, and in the meantime furnish me privately with the name of the steamer which is alleged to have been lost.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in making arrangements for the supply of agricultural power and machinery for the 1918 season, he will carefully consider the possibility of allowing farmers to place orders for oil engines and steam engines for operating farm machinery, ploughs, and threshing machines where in the opinion of county agricultural war committees the provision of such engines is necessary to enable a farmer to work his farm economically under the present conditions?

At the present time no restrictions are placed on orders from farmers for oil engines and steam engines for operating farm macninery.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the comparative inefficiency of motor tractors for ploughing out heavy grass lands and the necessity for such ploughing, he will make representations in the proper quarter for the release of additional firms, who have factories equipped for the purpose, for the manufacture of steam cable-ploughing apparatus?

The Board's information does not show that motor tractors of suitable design and horse-power are inefficient for ploughing out heavy grass lands in this country. They are, however, well aware of the value of using sets of steam cable-ploughing apparatus on certain lands, and have placed orders for a considerable number of them with those makers most capable of giving early delivery. Such delay as there is in supplying the sets is due to the difficulty of getting materials and labour, and not to the lack of a sufficient number of manufacturing firms released for the work.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if, in view of the refusal of Derbyshire farmers to hire from the county executive committee teams and men for ploughing owing to their objection to paying by time, as provided in the Board's scheme, he will authorise the committee, in order that this obstacle to progress may be removed, to arrange for payment by the farmers by the acre, instead of by time, as in the case of ploughing by motor tractor?

A scheme of the nature referred to has already been dispatched to the Derbyshire Executive Committee.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has been able to read resolutions passed by delegates attending the recent republican convention in Dublin; whether one resolution declared that pressure should be brought to bear against the employment of any police pensioners; whether he is aware that control of the local authorities has largely passed to those in sympathy with the republican movement; and whether he will be influenced by this added disability to the present position of the police pensioners to recommend a grant from the funds of the Constabulary Force Fund, or from Treasury sources, by way of War bonus, to tide pensioners and their dependants—many of whom are in acute distress—over the present period?

I believe there was a resolution to the effect stated. I am not aware at present that it has prejudiced the position of the police pensioners.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that some of the cottages offered by the evicting authority to tenants who had been evicted in order to construct the Beachley dock have been condemned on sanitary grounds by the local surveyor; that others of these tenants would now be homeless were it not for provision kindly made for them by a neighbouring landowner; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The only cottages available for the tenants who were dispossessed at Beachley, in connection with the acquisition of land for the construction of the new national shipyard there, were not in good condition. An offer to carry out the necessary work to make these cottages habitable was therefore made, and in the meantime certain tenants are being accommodated by an adjoining landowner.

asked whether it was necessary to take arable land of high productivity in order to create a dock at Beachley; and whether the Standard Shipbuilding Company has any financial interest, present or prospective, in the Beachley Dock and Shipbuilding Works connected therewith?

In acquiring the land necessary for the new National Shipyard at Beachley, it was impossible to avoid taking a certain amount of arable land, and that amount was the absolute minimum. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will inquire into the case of C. H. Bowyer, of 166, Lordship Lane, S.E., who was called before the Camberwell tribunal on 28th July last and put back for four weeks, and being re-examined on 30th August was rejected on account of his health, and finally employed a week later under the Munitions of War Act, the man during those five weeks being unable to obtain employment because he had no paper to show that he had been put back, hardship thereby being inflicted upon the man and his aged and dependent mother; and whether steps will be taken to prevent such unnecessary suffering being inflicted in future?

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

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private A. Padgett, No. 401482, 1/1st West Riding Field Ambulance, A.P.M., 49th Division, British Expeditionary Force, France, is now undergoing imprisonment after court-martial for refusing military orders on the ground of conscientious objection, and that this man had previously undergone imprisonment in this country as a conscientious objector; whether he is aware that he agreed to rejoin the Army on the condition that he was permitted to undertake Royal Army Medical Corps work, and that his recent refusal was due to his transfer to the infantry; and why he has not been sent to this country to work out his sentence of imprisonment according to the promise given by the War Office that conscientious objectors in France would be sent to this country?

I am making inquiries in this case, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will make inquiries into the conscripting of Thomas Quinlan, an Irishman, who left Ireland in March, 1916, to perform work of national importance, and who was engaged on munition work up to last week when he was arrested and held liable for military service at Gloucester Petty Sessions; and will he order this man's discharge?

Inquiry is being made in this case, and I will communicate with the right hon. Member when I am in a position to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private Frank James Winham, No. 29617, 3rd Battalion Hampshire Regiment, was court-martialled as a conscientious objector at Cambridge Barracks, and that a sentence of eighteen months' detention at a detention barracks was promulgated; if this man has now been released from detention and sent overseas to join the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force; and, if so, why this has been done in violation of the Army Instruction that conscientious objectors would not be forcibly compelled to undertake combatant service?

I have ascertained that Private Winham was tried by court-martial for desertion and losing, by neglect, his clothing and regimental necessaries, and was sentenced to undergo detention for twelve months, but that he was released on 27th September, in order to proceed with a draft overseas. My hon. Friend is doubtless not aware that Private Winham enlisted on 23rd November, 1914, and has served with an Expeditionary Force, or he would not have suggested that he has been forcibly compelled to undertake combatant service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that E. W. Dickes, No. 41290, 2nd City of London Yeomanry, a conscientious objector, was court-martialled on 19th September at Bridge, Kent, and sentenced to two years' detention; and whether, in view of the fact that this sentence is in violation of Lord Kitchener's pledge, he will see that steps are taken to have E. W. Dickes transferred to civil control?

It has frequently been stated in this House that Army Order No. X. of the 25th May, 1916, was an invitation to Courts to pass a sentence of imprisonment instead of detention under certain circumstances. It has also been frequently pointed out that if a Court thinks fit to pass a sentence of detention it is not possible in law for the soldier concerned to be transferred to a civil prison. I would refer my hon. Friend to the numerous questions and answers and debates which have taken place on this point.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any information of conscientious objectors becoming insane during their sentences; and in what prisons and in how many cases have conscientious objectors suffered nervous breakdowns?

Up to the end of last month twelve prisoners have been certified insane who had been convicted by courts-martial of disobedience to military orders and had claimed that their offence was due to a conscientious objection to military service. Of these, seven were confined in Wormwood Scrubs (where a large number of conscientious objectors are confined) and one in each of Birmingham, Derby, Liverpool, Shepton Mallet, and Wandsworth Prisons.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that H. Bathgate was arrested by the military at Dartmoor for an infringement of the regulations of the Home Office Committee; and whether, in view of the magistrate's recent decision at Merthyr that a man accepting work under the Home Office scheme has ceased to be subject to military discipline under the Army Act, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Bathgate having broken the conditions of his employment under the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors was recalled to the Army, and was afterwards arrested for breach of military duty. I have no reason to doubt that the arrest was justified by law.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will cause investigation to be made into the position of the Brightside and Car-brook Co-operative Society, Sheffield, with regard to the recruitment of employés; whether he is aware that the society has made every effort to meet the demands of the military authorities, and that 75 per cent. of the male employés have enlisted and a further 18 per cent. gone to munition making; whether he knows that the continued demands of the military authorities will, if persisted in, lead to dislocation in regard to the supplies of food and other necessities for the 145,000 individuals served by the society, many of them engaged in urgent war work; whether he has received representations and protests on this matter; and whether it is his intention to have inquiry made?

I have received representations respecting the enlistment of men employed by this society. The inquiries which I have made do not indicate that the society has been treated inconsiderately. I am in communication with the Minister of National Service on the subject?

asked the Postmaster-General why he has allowed the postmaster at Auldgirth, who is within two months of being forty-one years of age, to be taken for active service by the military department; whether he is aware that the shutting up of this post office will cause inconvenience; and why he did not take the opportunity of so representing matters to the tribunals?

The sub-postmaster of Auldgirth has arranged for the work of his office to be carried on in his absence by his wife, and the office will not be closed. The Post Office would not have been justified in claiming exemption for the sub-postmaster.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, seeing the desirability of enrolling volunteers in as great numbers as possible the rule whereby those enrolled under Section R (railwaymen) do not receive uniforms or rifles will be altered so as to encourage these men to volunteer, which otherwise they will not do?

Section R of the Volunteer Force was formed to contain men in specified employments—of which the railway service is one—who were certified by their employers as unable to be spared from their civil duties even in the event of invasion. Any man in one of these employments who wishes to enrol as a volunteer is required to produce a certificate from his employer in one of two forms—either that he can or cannot be released from civil duty on emergency. Those whose certificates are completed in the latter sense are placed in Section R and will not be called out for actual military service without the consent of the Government Department concerned. In view of the limited value of this section of the force, they must clearly take second place in the matter of the provision of rifles and equipment, and if the volunteer establishments can be completed with other men it is clearly desirable to do so. My hon. Friend's premise that it is desirable to enrol volunteers in as great numbers as possible is, as I would remind him, subject to the condition that the establishments of the Volunteer Force, like those of the other branches of the Army, must be limited to actual requirements.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many of the Presidents of Republics, Allies in War of this country, hold honorary rank in the British Army; and whether he will give the complete list of the monarchs, ex-monarchs, or Royal princes who hold honorary rank in the British Army?

No Presidents of Republics hold honorary rank in the British Army. The list requested in the last part of the question is as follows: The King of the Belgians, the late Emperor of Russia, the King of Spain, the King of Norway, the King of Denmark, and the King of Siam.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether General Pétain is now Commander-in-Chief of the Allied forces on the Western front; and, if so, why the War Office has not communicated it to this House and to the country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second portion does not therefore arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of misconceptions as to anti-typhoid inoculation and prejudice against that form of treatment, he will direct his attention to a recent report on the subject communicated to the French Academy of Science by Dr. Richet, which showed the boon to the soldier as well as to the State conferred by this system of inoculation; whether he will have this document translated and circulated in quarters where it is likely to do good; and whether similar statistics referring to British forces will be published and laid upon the Table of the House.

I am not familiar with the document to which my hon. Friend refers, but the prejudice against anti-typhoid inoculation in the Army is negligible, and the course which he suggests is not considered necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, as by the terms of Section 17 of the Expeditionary Forces Act, 1915, the law of New Zealand provides that the British Army Act shall apply to the men of the Dominion Expeditionary Force, he will take steps to see that the terms of the Army Council Instruction X. of 25th May. 1916, shall apply to members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force claiming to be conscientious objectors?

It is for the New Zealand Government, if they think fit, to apply the terms of Army Order No. X. of the 25th May, 1916, to New Zealand troops. My hon. Friend will doubtless realise that Army Order No. X. of the 25th May does not form a portion of the British Army Act.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Major Ball holds his position as chairman of the Property Losses Commission to give satisfaction to the War Office or if he holds the position to justly satisfy the injured citizens of Dublin; if he will state the number of cases and names of the claimants reported on by Major Ball; and if his reports will be made public?

Major Ball is not chairman nor is he a member or an official of the Losses Commission. As I have already informed the hon. Member in an answer given on the 24th October, Major Ball has reported upon thirty cases of which nine arose in connection with the Irish Rebellion. His reports will not be published by the War Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is the rule to send to the next-of-kin of men sentenced by courts-martial to imprisonment or other heavy punishment some intimation that such sentences have been passed; and, if so, whether he can explain why, in a case of which particulars have been supplied to him, two months' delay occurred and much opposition had to be overcome before a father could get any news of his son's court-martial?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part therefore does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether soldiers sentenced to imprisonment or penal servitude for offences abroad by courts-martial are sent home; if so, whether they serve their sentences in civil or military prisons; and how many such soldiers are now serving sentences in this country?

The conditions under which soldiers sentenced to imprisonment or penal servitude for offences committed abroad and are sent to the United Kingdom and under which they serve their sentences will be found by reference to the King's Regulations and the Army Act. I am not aware how many such soldiers are now serving sentences in this country.

asked whether military hospitals for venereal disease are being located in or near urban districts in the Eastern Command; whether the local authorities have protested against this action; and whether in such cases regard will be had to the wishes of the local residents?

The concentration of patients suffering from venereal diseases in special hospitals, under expert treatment, ensures the utmost advantage to health and the speedy return of men to duty. The location of such hospitals in all commands is a matter of the greatest difficulty. Feeling is strong against the use of buildings for the purpose, and it has become necessary to utilise hutments which are the property of the Government. In every instance, not only in the Eastern Command, there has been strong local opposition to the location of hospitals of this nature. Every possible consideration has been given to representations, but there being no alternative, the hospitals have been located in hutments which could be spared, having regard to other military considerations.

asked the Under-Secre- of State for War whether medical men who join the Royal Army Medical Corps are compelled to undergo a course of instruction in drill before they begin their clinical duties; if so, what is the period allocated to this course of instruction; and whether, in view of the shortage of medical men, arrangements will be made to allow these medical officers to proceed to their clinical duties without the delay caused by this instruction?

Medical men commissioned as officers in the Royal Army Medical Corps undergo a short course of instruction in their military duties, and much importance is attached to this training, which is not confined to drill, but includes military sanitation, anti-gas protection, and the duties of a medical officer with troops in the field. It is not proposed to abolish this special training, which is considered essential to the efficiency of the officers concerned?

asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether the inquiry now proceeding into the distribution of medical officers with the British Armies in France and such other matters connected with the distribution of medical personnel as may come under its notice will also report on the present status of the Director-General of Army Medical Services?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among the civilian population in the vicinity of military camps on the disregard exhibited by the military authorities of the lighting restrictions Order; whether he is aware that during recent air raids military establishments in civilian residential districts have been conspicuously illuminated; and whether he will take steps to enforce observance of the Regulations by the military?

If the hon. Member will give me particulars, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has yet received information as to any agricultural work undertaken by the military authorities in Mesopotamia; and, if so, whether he can now state the amount of agricultural produce which has already been raised?

I find that it is not considered desirable in the public interest to publish these figures, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will communicate with me in a week's time I hope to be able to show him figures privately.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the British mission attached to the Serbian Army was recently dispatched; if so, what is the number of officers included in the mission; and what knowledge or experience of the Serbian Army and of the conditions in the Balkans these officers possessed previous to their appointment?

I am afraid that it is not in the public interest to publish details of this description, but I may state that the head of the mission is well qualified for the position which he holds.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the ration allowance to dispensers in military hospitals in Woolwich has been reduced during the War; that early in the year rations were stopped and 6s. 3d. a week allowed in lieu, although the ration allowance was estimated at 1s. 9d. per day; that these dispensers have only received one war bonus whereas other Government employés have received several; and whether he will consider the possibility of revising the pay of these men in order to meet the present cost of living?

This matter is being considered, and I will let my right hon. Friend know the result in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that, in the Royal Engineers works yard at the Curragh, there is the necessary plant for carrying out the system of oxygen welding and a competent fitter to carry out the system of welding; why this man's services are not availed of, with a view to the economical working and upkeep of the heating and hot-water circulating boilers; and whether inquiry will be made into the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Hitherto no competent fitter has been available, but endeavour is being made to find a really competent man.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that unrest exists amongst the seventy men employed in the Royal Engineers works yard at the Curragh, owing to the fact that these men have received only one bonus since the outbreak of war; whether he is aware that on the 20th of June the clerks and foreman received a second war bonus; whether he is aware that on 29th September, 1917, a letter was written to Brigadier-General Grant, Irish Command headquarters, directing his attention to the fact that the employés at the Royal Engineers works yard, Curragh, had petitioned for an increase of wages or extra war bonus due to them, with the result that one or two only received a second bonus; why the whole body of employés did not receive the second bonus at that time; is he aware that the barrack labourers received a second bonus; and whether steps will be taken to remove the grievance of these men by granting them the second bonus, from June last?

If my hon. Friend has any information to show that the rates paid to these building trade workmen are less than the local standard rates, the matter will be inquired into.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that, owing to payments being made to soldiers on active service abroad in irregular amounts and at irregular intervals and the general obscurity of regimental efforts to inform individual soldiers as to the state of their accounts, soldiers who are unaccustomed to regimental methods of keeping accounts are unable to ascertain what money is due to them at any given time; if he will try to institute some clearer and simpler system of keeping soldiers' accounts; and if he will say whether, in the meantime, a soldier has the right to claim a statement giving details of his account in writing, fully dated as to the various items and showing the credit or debit balance, as the case may be, whenever he so desires, or, if not whenever he so desires, then will he say at what intervals a soldier can claim such a statement?

The hon. Member will appreciate the fact that regular weekly payments to troops in the trenches, even if possible, would not be for the benefit of the men. Every soldier on active service abroad is in possession of a pay-book which shows his daily rate issuable to him in cash and every payment made to him. From that book he can at any time ascertain his approximate balance. Arrangements are in progress for a systematic notification to each soldier in the field of his exact balance, but the clerical work involved is very serious. If the soldier has reason to think his balance is incorrect he can complain through the usual official channel, and, if necessary, a detailed statement will then be furnished.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the present rate of the dollar in Hong Kong is inflicting hardship on all ranks in His Majesty's forces stationed there; that the dollar having risen from 1s. 9½d. to 3s. has resulted in the purchasing power of the pay of all ranks being reduced by at least half; and whether, in view of the fact that it is estimated the figure may rise still higher and remain high for some time after the conclusion of the War, steps will be taken to improve the financial position of the soldiers in the same way as has been done in the case of employés of the banks and of the Colonial Government?

This question is under consideration, and I hope a decision may be announced very shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been drawn to the case where a first air mechanic in the transport servcie ran his lorry on to the pavement in Empress Street, Walworth, on the 9th September last; whether he is aware that in addition to damage to two houses a girl of eight years of age was killed, a soldier's wife has had to have her left leg amputated, and two other women were badly bruised; whether he is also aware that a request to the authorities to compensate the injured, make good the damage, and defray the funeral expenses of the dead girl has not been acceded to on the ground that the driver of the lorry was on an unauthorised journey at the time of the accident; whether he is aware that the driver had taken an officer to the station and was returning to the garage; and whether, in veiw of the fact that the lorry had not returned to the garage and that the injured people are in poor circumstances, he will have the case reconsidered and accept the moral, if not legal, responsibility for the accident?

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

asked the Pensions Minister if he will state the reason which has been assigned for keeping back from his mother, as next-of-kin, the personal effects and back pay of Private John Wrenn, late of the Connaught Rangers, who died in London of wounds so far back as March last; whether he is aware that no statement of this man's effects has been rendered and no pension or gratuity offered the mother, who was dependent on him; and if he will have the matter now finally dealt with?

I am still awaiting the particulars for which I wrote to my hon. Friend, to enable me to make the necessary inquiries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether on Friday, 19th October, after an air-raid warning had been received, the lights in the Royal Gunpowder Factory, Waltham Abbey were not at once extinguished; and, if so, why were these lights not extinguished at the same time as those in the Royal Small Arms Factory, which were extinguished immediately on receipt of the warning?

Certain factories, among which are the Royal Gunpowder Factory and the Royal Small Arms Factory, receive special warnings from controls which are in direct communication with General Headquarters, Home Forces. On the occasion referred to in the hon. and Gallant Member's question the general warning in this district, on which the police and special constables act, preceded the "special" warning by an hour. The Royal Small Arms Factory extinguished their lights on the receipt of the general warning, whereas the Royal Gunpowder Factory did not do so until the "special" warning was received. Instructions have been given that in future both factories will act on the same notice.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that a decision has been given by the magistrate at the West London Police Court that a protection certificate issued by the munitions area recruiting officer is not valid in law on the ground that it was not issued under any Section of the Military Service Acts nor by any Government Department on which such powers had been conferred by these Acts; whether he will state what effect this decision will have on the Protected Occupations Schedule; and whether he has taken or intends to take any action?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the decision referred to by my hon. Friend. That decision will have no effect on the Protected Occupations Schedule, as protection certificates issued under that Schedule do not purport to be exemptions under the Military Service Acts. They are issued by the authority of the Army Council and have the effect of protecting from recruitment men by whom they are rightly held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the evidence of the witnesses named on page 36 of the Empire Settlement Committee was not published; and is he aware that many of these witnesses, especially those from oversea, most strongly supported the contents of Clause 10, on page 3?

I understand that there was no verbatim report of the evidence taken by the Empire Settlement Committee, and it was thought unnecessary to publish the summaries. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Home Secretary whether any soldiers tried for offences by courts-martial abroad are now in civil prisons in this country; and, if so, how many?

Figures on this subject could not be given except after a search through the registers at all the prisons, involving an amount of labour which could not, I think, be justified at the present time, when the prison staff has been so much depleted.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered a petition, signed by more than 1,000 residents in a neighbourhood adjoin- ing a factory occupying a large area, calling attention to the way in which the unscreened lights of the factory stream skywards, making nightly a great pool of light, thus indicating conspicuously its position, pointing out that the matter has been reported repeatedly to the police, who state that permission has been given for the use of uncovered lights but that they are to be put out when an air raid warning is received, testifying that air raids have actually been in progress before the lights were extinguished, that the neglect to provide window coverings is causing great uneasiness to the residents in the near neighbourhood, and praying that the factory may be required to conform to the lighting Regulations which the public generally are doing their utmost to observe; and will he say what action he proposes to take in the matter?

On account of the nature and importance of the work done at this factory it is specially exempted from the requirements of the Lighting Order as to screening windows, but this exemption is subject to the condition that all lights shall be extinguished on warning being received. Care has been taken to secure that the conditions of the exemption are observed, and the police are not aware of any failure in this respect, save on the 29th September. At this time the factory had just began to work late on Saturday nights, and there was a misapprehension about the warning on that occasion which is not likely to recur.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if a recent Coal Order now in force prohibits the sale of less than 1 cwt. of coal to any purchaser; if so, in view of the fact that an old age pensioner getting the maximum pension of 7s. 6d. a week, or a person in a similar position, out of which, at the lowest estimate, he or she would have to pay 2s. a week for rent, cannot afford to buy such a large amount of coal at one time, in many cases costing as much as 3s. 3d. or more, if he will state what the reason was for making this Order; and if he will take steps to have it reconsidered.

No Order of this kind has been issued. On the contrary, the sale of coal in small quantities to the poor is being encouraged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the dispute between the railway companies and the taxi-cab drivers, has not yet been settled; that, in the present circumstances, apart from the inconvenience to the travelling public necessitating a searching for cabs in the streets, the extra time taken in the process often adds 6d. to the fare, and that, when the new Regulation comes into force, this sum will probably be raised to 1s., so that a journey of a mile, exclusive of luggage, will cost 2s. 2d.; whether the railway companies require the cab drivers to enter into an arrangement for seven years and refuse to consider an arrangement for the duration of the War allowing the question in dispute to be reopened when hostilities cease; and what steps he proposes to take so that the public maybe protected against a continuance of the inconvenience as well as an enforced expenditure which conflicts with the Government policy in respect to war savings?

So far as I am aware no question has arisen in regard to the duration of any arrangement between the parties concerned in this dispute which, as the hon. Gentleman states, has unfortunately not yet been settled. I do not think that I can usefully intervene in regard to the question of station cab tolls.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether he is aware that our prisoners of war in Germany and Poland are constantly asking that they may be provided with some form of leg covering, such as puttees or gaiters; whether he is aware that numbers of our men are constantly working on the land in deep snow, and that so far no issue of any protection or covering for the legs has been allowed; whether he is aware that the question of official sanction for such leg covering has been a long time under consideration by the Army Council; and whether he will take such steps as are possible to hasten a decision on the point, so that the sufferings of our men may not be prolonged, as the winter has already set in and the necessity for action is required?

Approval has now been given to the issue of puttees to prisoners of War in all cases in which the Central Prisoners of War Committee consider that they are necessary. A stock of suitable puttees is being provided, and instructions will be issued very shortly to regimental depots, care committees, and other similar organisations, informing the that they may forward applications to the Central Prisoners of War Committee.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange that all his colleagues in the Ministry should instruct their staffs to quote each question in their written Answers to Questions?

I shall call the attention of the various Departments to this question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has received a memorial from the paper-promoted Irish national teachers; if he has considered the claim made therein for the arrears of grade salary and good service salary withheld from them; if he has ascertained the views of the Commissioners of National Education on the justice of this claim; and, if not, will he do so and communicate their reply?

I am informed that the Commissioners of National Education have received a memorial on behalf of these teachers, and I am expecting to have their report upon it for immediate consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has considered the claims of the paper-promoted teachers for the arrears of grade and good service salary withheld from them in despite of Rules 105 ( a ) and 108 ( b ) of the Commissioners of National Education; if he has ascertained the views of the Commissioners on this grievance; and if he will state when the arrears will be paid to the teachers affected?

I am informed that the Commissioners of National Education have received a memorial on behalf of these teachers, and I am expecting to have their report upon it for immediate consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if, before placing upon the Table the Paper dealing with the Irish school teachers and Irish education, he will take steps to place the Irish school teachers on a level with school teachers in Great Britain; why they should be treated differently; and if he is aware that food prices are as high, and in many cases higher, than in Great Britain?

It would be impossible to discuss the differences between Great Britain and Ireland with respect to educational matters in answer to a question in Parliament. I shall lay the Paper I have promised without any avoidable delay.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has taken into consideration the claims put forward by the junior inspectors of the National Board in connestion with the disposal of the equivalent Grant?

The question of granting an improved scale of salaries for junior inspectors of national schools is being dealt with in connection with the proposals for the allocation of the additional Grants for primary education in Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the death rate in the Dublin registration area is the highest in the United Kingdom; and that of the 132 deaths registered in Dublin during the week forty-one were those of children under five years of age and twenty-seven of these were infants under one year and eight under one month, the cause of death being in the case of children under one year mainly diarrhœa; if he is aware that the housing conditions, unemployment, and bad wages are largely responsible for this death roll; when the Government will help the authorities to remedy the evils; if the Government will outline their programme for the housing of the people; if they will treat Ireland the same as England with reference to the feeding of school children; and if they will raise the wages of their own employés in Ireland to the same level as that paid in England for similar work and thus give a lead to the employers in Ireland at present paying their workers a starvation wage?

The detailed figures of mortality in the Dublin registration area for the week ended 30th October, 1917, are us stated in the question. No doubt the death rate in Dublin is very high, but for the expired portion of the present year it averages 1.5 per 1,000 below the mean rate for the preceding decennial period though the weather conditions of the first quarter were exceedingly severe. I am informed that the current death rate and infantile mortality are at present not abnormal. The factors which produce a high mortality in Dublin are complex, and I cannot discuss them in reply to a question. As regards infantile and child mortality, the corporation are in a position to take remedial measures and to obtain recoupment of half their approved expenditure from the Government Grant, which extends to a moiety of the cost of providing milk and dinners for mothers and for children under five years of age in necessitous circumstances. I dealt fully with the subject of housing on October 22nd in reply to questions by the hon. Members for St. Patrick's and St. Stephen's Green Divisions of Dublin, and with wages in an answer to the hon. Member last Thursday.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received communications from rural district councils and town councils in Ireland representing to him the necessity of amending the Allotments and Land Cultivation (Ireland) Act, 1917, so as to allow rural district councils to provide allotments for persons resident or employed in towns who are willing and anxious to assist the State in raising more food for the people in the coming year; and is it intended to assist public bodies in Ireland in the carrying out of this great work?

The Local Government Board have received representations from rural district councils on this subject, and a circular letter from the Vacant Land Cultivation Society has been adopted by many urban district councils and town commissioners. Under Section 16 of the Labourers Act of 1885, and Section 12 of the Act of 1886, rural district councils may acquire lands for allotments for the use of labourers living in neighbouring villages and towns. Under the Act of 1885 lands could be taken by agreement without any local inquiry, but under the Act of 1886 the usual preliminaries as to scheme, inquiry, Provisional Order, appeals, etc., must be complied with before compulsory powers could be conferred. As to the rest of the question, I would refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin on 18th October.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board compulsorily acquired the Clanrickarde estate when the towns on the estate were excluded from purchase; whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board are at present handling and preparing a scheme for the distribution of a considerable quantity of untenanted land in the township and in the vicinity of the town of Loughrea; is he aware that several requests have been made by the inhabitants of Loughrea in respect to these lands, and that a number of people find it almost impossible to procure milk in the town; is he aware that a number of congests, whose holdings are within the township, are excluded from all benefit because they do not reside outside the town; and, having regard to the desire of the townspeople to assist the Government in the production of potatoes, oats, and other crops out of these lands in the coming year, whether he will represent to the Congested Districts Board the advisability of considering sympathetically the petition recently forwarded by the people of Loughrea, to the effect that these untenanted lands should not be disposed of without making adequate provision for the needs of the townspeople?

The Congested Districts Board compulsorily acquired the agricultural portion of the Clanricarde Estate for the purpose of relieving congestion, but the towns of Loughrea and Portumna were excluded, because the compulsory Clauses of the Irish Land Act, 1909, were held not to apply to holdings comprised in them. I am advised that in the present state of the law untenanted land on the estate must be utilised for the relief of congestion amongst agricultural holders, and the Congested Districts Board do not propose to distribute any of the lands referred to amongst non-agricultural holders in the town of Loughrea. The residents of Loughrea are in occupation of a large area of land in the immediate vicinity of the town, and I am told that if there is a scarcity of milk the persons who have the land cannot be using it for the purpose of feeding milch cows.

asked the President of the Board of Education on what date he received the Report of the inquiry into the Leeds Training College; and on what date the Report was transmitted to the Leeds education authority?

The Report was made to the Board on 12th October, 1916; copies of it were transmitted to the governing body of the college on 21st November, 1916.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he contemplates at an early date curtailing the amenities associated with the Members' Small Smoke Room on the Terrace by reducing it still further in size and by blocking up its direct communication with the Terrace; and, if so, will he state his reasons for so doing, the estimated cost involved, and whether he will require a Supplementary Estimate for the purpose?

The answer to the first question is in the negative; the others do not, therefore, arise.