asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the cases of those persons whose income and earning capacity has been interfered with by summary action on the part of the Government through the commandeering, or control, or stoppage of raw materials, from the handling of which such incomes were derived; and whether he has formulated or proposes to formulate some special basis for the assessment of such incomes?

I may refer my hon. Friend to the provisions of Sections 11 and 12 of the Finance Act, 1917, which continue measures of relief which have been granted during the War to meet cases of diminished income.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what method a sugar retailer must adopt for supplying customers between 5th November and 31st December who have registered with another retailer?

Pending the introduction of the Sugar Registration scheme on 1st January supplies of sugar to retailers themselves will be continued on the basis which has hitherto been in force. No retailer may, therefore, refuse to supply his previous customers on the ground that they will obtain their sugar from another retailer after the 31st December. Steps will be taken to deal with any retailer who thus attempts to influence his customers right of free choice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total quantity of tea and sugar remaining in bond on 1st November in 1916 and 1917, respectively?

I have been asked to reply. The bonded stocks of tea on 1st November, 1917, were 33,500,000 lbs., as compared with 130,700,000 lbs. on 1st November, 1916. It must not, however, be assumed that all this quantity has been actually landed or is available for imme- diate consumption. It is not considered advisable to publish the stocks of sugar in the country.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the War Trade Department whether the Government have decided to permit the import into this country of China green tea destined for Morocco; whether he can now state approximately the quantity that may be imported and trans-shipped in this way before 31st May, 1918; whether the teas may be warehoused in this country while awaiting transport under proper restrictions; and whether re will cause the full conditions which the Government desire to attach to this concession to be published for the guidance of the trade as early as possible?

( on behalf of War Trade Department ): Facilities will be allowed for a limited quantity of China green tea coming to this country for trans-shipment to Morocco, provided it is brought in Japanese or neutral vessels. This concession is limited to 11,500 tons, and expires on 31st May, 1918. The tea may be temporarily stored under Customs control pending opportunities for shipment. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been, drawn to complaints which have been made by a large number of bee-keepers in Great Britain and Ireland relative to the arrangements that have been made for the distribution of sugar for bee food; whether he is aware of the danger of the loss of large numbers of stocks of bees this winter through starvation; that beekeepers generally object to use candy with which a noxious drug has been admixed and at the price of nearly twice that of the sugar; whether he will state what reasons are supposed to have justified the Government in granting a monopoly to one London firm for the supply of this sugar throughout the United Kingdom, and a monopoly to a second London firm for the supply of the drug which is incorporated with this sugar; whether there is any properly substantiated evidence of any efficacy in this drug employed for the prevention or cure of bee diseases; whether there is any connection, direct or indirect, between the monopolists of this drug and the association which was advertised in the now withdrawn Leaflet FC 31 issued by the Food Controller; whether he is aware of the evidence to show that there is no efficacy whatever in this drug from the point of practical bee-keepers; whether he will announce the names of the bee experts of the Board of Agriculture under whose advice the present arrangements have been brought into operation, and state whether these experts are the persons responsible for the issue of the leaflet referred to which the Government was obliged to withdraw in deference to criticism which showed it to be an ill-informed and dangerous publication; and whether, in view of the importance to the nation of the preservation of bees through the coming winter, the Government will make arrangements to supply sugar, unadulterated by any drug, to bee-keepers solely for bee food and under terms similar to those adopted for the supply of sugar to fruit growers for the manufacture of jam?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given last Thursday to the hon. Member for South Leitrim. I may; however, point out that the object of medicating the candy with the disinfectant referred to was not to protect the bees against disease but to prevent the candy from being used for purposes other than those for which it is issued. The disinfectant manufacturers referred to are Bacterol, Limited, a company formed under medical auspices and having no connection, direct or indirect, with the Bee-keepers' Association mentioned in Leaflet FC 31. I may add that the bee experts of the Board of Agriculture had no knowledge either of the publication or the withdrawal of that leaflet.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether in April last his Department requisitioned certain arrivals from Australia, amounting to some thousands of boxes; what was the price paid to the importers for such butters; whether such butters were placed in cold store; whether any and, if so, what portion of such butters have been released; what is the price charged to the distributing firms for the butters so released; and why is the balance of the butter still held in cold store in view of the present shortage?

The Food Controller requisitioned, on 18th April last, consign- ments of Australian butter amounting to 191,829 boxes, all of which were placed in cold storage. Subsequently 25,240 boxes were released to go through the ordinary channels of trade and 3,340 boxes to victual hospital ships, transports, Army hospitals, and canteens. The prices paid in all cases were the market price at the time of arrival or release. A scheme is now being prepared for the equitable distribution throughout the country of all imported butter, and as soon as this is complete the balance of the butter still held in cold store will also be released.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the idea, of establishing a national shipyard in Ireland has been definitely abandoned; whether the four national shipyards are all to be located in Great Britain; and, if so, whether the Admiralty is prepared to give encouragement and assistance in the development of any existing shipyard in Ireland whose capacity for the output of mercantile tonnage can be rapidly extended without interfering with the labour supply available for shipbuilding in other localities?

There is not at present any intention of establishing national shipyards in Ireland, as it is considered that in that country the object can be best obtained by improving existing yards and encouraging private enterprise. Three of the national yards have been decided upon and are in Great Britain. It is proposed to construct a fourth in the same locality if possible, so that the four yards may be worked as a whole. The Admiralty have given encouragement and are prepared to give encouragement and assistance in the development of existing yards in Ireland where that can be done without interfering with the labour supply for shipbuilding in other localities.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that men who have joined the Royal Naval Air Service who have passed the trade test and who were skilled woodworkers when they joined are having their rating reduced, some of them after having been in the service ten or twelve months; that when they protest against the disrating they are told they will be discharged and then forced into the Army; and whether he will inquire into this matter with the object of preventing such treatment of these men?

Except on disciplinary grounds, men are only disrated after entry when they have been reported by their commanding officers as being incompetent to perform the duties of their rating, and in such cases they are invariably given another trade test before disrating. If they refuse to accept the rating for which experience has shown they are fitted, they are discharged from the naval service. After discharge from the Royal Naval Air Service, they have the same rights and privileges and are under the same obligations as any other civilians. I may say that discharges for incompetence in the Royal Naval Air Service are comparatively rare.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the whereabouts of Holloway Miller, who was arrested some time ago and refused to serve under the Military Service Act, and after undergoing punishment for a considerable time was sent to France about March or April this year in the Royal Fusiliers, No. 45,722; and if he will give a report on this case?

The latest information as to this man is that he was missing on 29th April last.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction with the system of placing men unfit for further service in Class W, Army Reserve; whether he has considered the effect of this category on the wages, industrial status, and freedom of men returned to civil life; and whether, in order that men deemed unfit for further service may be free to follow their own trade or calling, he will consider the question of granting them a final discharge?

Men unfit for further service in the Army are ineligible for transfer to Class W of the Reserve. No man is now transferred to Class W, unless sufficiently robust to earn a normal day's wage, and unless definite employment is awaiting them.

asked the Minister of National Service whether the theological students at Manresa House, Roehampton, are exempted from military service while students at Nonconformist and Church of England theological colleges are not exempted?

Certain members of the Order of the Jesuits who are residing at Manresa House, Roehampton, have not been called up for service on the ground that they are members of a religious order working under religious vows. The men in question have not been dealt with as students. All theological students are dealt with in the same manner, and if they are not fit for general service, if over thirty-one years of age, or not fit for garrison duty abroad if under thirty-one years of age, are not under present instructions called up for military service. No distinction is made between the students of the various denominations, the question whether the man should be called up for service or not being governed by the man's medical classification.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many years' service have the junior Regular lieutenant-colonels and the junior Regular majors in the Royal Field and Royal Garrison Artillery respectively, and how many majors of the Royal Garrison Artillery have more service than the junior lieutenant-colonels of the Royal Field Artillery; and how many captains of the Royal Garrison Artillery have more service than the junior major of the Royal Field Artillery?

The services of the junior lieutenant-colonel and major are as follows:

Seventy majors in the Royal Garrison Artillery have more service than the junior lieutenant-colonel Royal Field Artillery, and 126 captains in the Royal Garrison Artillery have more service than the junior major in the Royal Field Artillery. Many captains in the Royal Garrison Artillery are seconded for work in the factories and the Indian Ordnance Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state the offences for which a soldier can be sentenced to death by court-martial; whether, in cases that may involve the death penalty a soldier has any right of legal or other adequate defence; and, if not, whether the War Office will consider the justice of making such defence possible?

The offences for which a soldier can be sentenced to death by court-martial will be found by reference to the Army Act, Sections 4–40. In regard to the second and third parts of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 31st October to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Montgomeryshire.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the claim of Mr. Thomas Paul, 11, Garth Terrace, Portmadoc, for the value of a watch and gold chain, stolen from his clothes whilst he was in an adjoining room undergoing medical examination at Wrexham Barracks on the 13th June last; and whether it is proposed to pay the amount claimed?

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

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that Shoeing-smith Denis M'Carthy, No. 101,135, Royal Field Artillery, and Shoeing-smith Henry M'Carthy, No. 101,013, Royal Field Artillery, enlisted at Cork in October, 1915, were passed as first-class shoeing-smiths, being promised pay at the rate of 5s. per day each, with separation allowances accordingly; whether, although they have seen service in Egypt and France, they have been paid only at the rate of 2s. per day and their mother and other dependants have received only the ordinary separation allowance; and whether, in the circumstances, he will cause inquiries to be made into the matter with a view to seeing that the terms under which they enlisted are carried out?

Inquiries are being made, and my hon. and gallant Friend will be informed of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware of the apprehension which has been aroused among the smaller controlled firms working on Government contracts as direct and as sub-contractors by reason of the recent advances in wages which have been ordered by the Government; and whether his Department is prepared to assist them to recover the additional cost of labour on running contracts at fixed prices, as they will in cases where they are paid on a cost-percentage basis?

Arrangements have been made by the Ministry, in conjunction with the Admiralty and War Office, for the insertion in future contracts of appropriate clauses providing for an addition to the contract price to meet the additional cost of wages resulting from direct Government action. These clauses will not be inserted automatically in all contracts, but their inclusion will depend upon the Department concerned being satisfied that the proposed price contains no provision for possible increased cost of labour. Claims for an addition to the price in existing contracts will receive consideration on similar lines.

asked the Secretary of State for India how many Indians have, up to this date, received His Majesty's commission?

Nine—the number mentioned by the Secretary of State for India in the announcement made by him on 20th August in this House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the railway companies have revived the cruel practice obtaining many years ago of accepting calves for consignment by rail tied up in sacks or bags with their heads only, and not their legs also, protruding through such covering, with the result that many have died from cramp or strangulation; and whether he will take steps to ensure for these animals more humane treatment on the railways?

As the President of the Board of Trade informed the hon. and gallant Gentleman last week, the complaint on this subject, which he has forwarded to the Board of Trade, is being investigated. I will let him know the result as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether any Committee has been appointed to consider local government after the War; and, if so, can he give a list of the members and references they have been asked to report on?

asked the Minister of. Reconstruction if he will give a statement showing all the Committees appointed under the Ministry of Reconstruction, the functions which each Committee is to discharge, and the members of each Committee?

I will answer these questions together. This matter has been carefully considered by the Government, and it has been decided to publish a list of Committees, with their composition and terms of reference, which I hope to present to the House in the course of a few days.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether it is proposed to appoint any Committee to consider and report as to whether railways should be continued under Government control after the War; and whether the whole railway system of the country should be taken over by the State?

The whole question of the future of the railways is now under the consideration of a Special Committee appointed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, on which I am represented.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that the number of disabled men seeking employment through the Labour Bureaux has been increased since the late Minister of Labour stated that the number was 2,886 in February last, and that the number is continually growing larger; and whether he is now prepared to recommend the adoption of Mr. Rothband's scheme of a Royal roll of employers willing to employ such men in order to meet the evergrowing difficulty of placing these men in suitable occupations; and (2) whether he or his predecessor received copies of resolutions passed by the Middlesex local war pensions committee, the Flintshire local war pensions committee, and several other similar committees expressing approval of the scheme suggested by Mr. Henry L. Rothband, of Manchester, for finding employment for disabled men after the War by the formation of a Royal roll of employers willing to employ such men; and what action he has taken or proposes to take in view of the expressed approval of that scheme by the local war pensions committees throughout the country?

I have already informed the hon. Member that the number to which he refers does not in any way represent the number of discharged sailors and soldiers who are unable to obtain employment. It is approximately the number of discharged sailors and soldiers registered at any one time at the Employment Exchanges as desiring employment; most of the men obtain work with very little delay. It is true that the number of discharged men registered at the Employment Exchanges as desiring employment has since February, 1917, generally been greater than 2,886, but the average number so registered has been less during the past six months than during the corresponding six months of last year. I am circulating a statement giving the precise numbers. My right hon. Friend's attention has been called to the resolutions to which the hon. Member refers. He is at present in communication with the Minister of Pensions, who would appear to be primarily concerned, as to the desirability of adopting a scheme such as that suggested by Mr. Rothband.

STATEMENTS of the Number of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers on the Registers of the Employment Exchanges on the following dates:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the steamship "Chrysopolis," from Alexandria to Hull, with a large quantity of provisions on board, was captured by the Italian naval forces and taken as prize into Messina, where these goods, the property of British merchants, were sold; if the owners of the goods, instead of receiving payment for the same, are now asked to pay expenses incurred in trying to recover possession of their own property; and, if so, whether he will call the attention of the Italian authorities to this matter with a view to arriving at an equitable settlement?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for East Hull on 24th January, 1916, concerning the capture of this vessel by the Italian naval forces, and the steps taken to dispose of her perishable cargo. It is understood the Italian Prize Court has since released the vessel, while pronouncing her capture to have been justified. His Majesty's Government have no information of the nature mentioned in the second part of the question, and they see no reason to suppose that the cargo, or its proceeds, is being dealt with by the Italian Prize Court otherwise than in strict accordance with the Italian Prize Court regulations, which, moreover, empower the Court to adjudicate on all claims for losses presented against the State in respect of matters pertaining to the exercise of the prize law. While legal remedies are thus open to claimants in such matters, diplomatic intervention on the part of His Majesty's Government would not be justified.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received proposals from the Irish Evicted Tenants' Association dealing with the land question and cultivation of food in Ireland; and if he will state his recommendations respecting them?

I have seen the proposals to which the hon. Member refers. They relate to matters which are being or have been dealt with by the Estates Commissioners, the Congested Districts Board, and the Department of Agriculture, and as to which no recommendations are at present before me.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been directed to the application of the small farmers and congests in the parish of Skreen, county Sligo, to the Congested Districts Board to have the lands known as Seaforth, situate in the townland of Carrowbricken, parish of Skreen, county Sligo, purchased by the Board and divided up amongst the uneconomic holders in the neighbourhood; and what action the Government propose to take in the matter?

The Congested Districts Board has entered into an agreement to purchase eighty acres of untenanted and twenty-five acres of tenanted land in the townland of Carrowbricken, known as Sea-forth, in the parish of Skreen, on the estate of Mrs. M. Lane and another, but pending conveyance of the ownership to the Board they are unable to dispose of the lands. They propose to do so as soon as the estate is vested in them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received and considered a memorial from the paper-promoted national teachers for arrears of salary alleged to be justly due to them; whether he has consulted the National Board on this claim; and whether he can state the view of the Board on it?

The Commissioners of National Education have received a memorial on behalf of the teachers referred to, and have made a Report upon it, which I hope to deal with in a few days.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that a majority of Irish national teachers by resolutions, as well as by deputation, which waited on him personally, has expressed objections to the present system of making salary increments and promotions depend on averages, and have also pleaded with him to remove these barriers; whether practical effect has been or will be given to the almost unanimous wish of teachers in the allocation of the new grant; and whether he has been informed by the central executive committee that the teachers' alternative scheme would satisfy at least 15,500 out of 15,836 teachers in Ireland?

I have received a number of resolutions protesting against the system of averages. With regard to the rest of the question, I would refer to the answer I gave on 23rd October, to the hon. Member for South Kerry.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of promotions and increments awarded by the Commissioners of National Education during each of the years 1913, 1914, 1915, and 1916; the cost of the same for each year; the number of teachers at maximum salary of III., II., I. (2), and I. (1) grades, respectively; and the number of assistant teachers at maximum of III. Grade?

The numbers of increments and promotions are as follows:

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether untrained assistants in national schools appointed since 1905 are, according to the rules of the national board, ineligible for increments; whether these teachers perform the same work as trained teachers; and whether, under the new scheme of salaries, he will see that they are given increments and promotion when their service merits it?

The answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative. Under the new scheme it is not proposed to make any alteration in the Regulations affecting the eligibility of untrained teachers for awards of increments and promotion.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the amount of money paid by county councils and borough councils to the various clerks of the Crown and peace in Ireland for expenses incurred in carrying into effect the Acts relating to the registration of voters in the years 1912, 1913, and 1914, the amount in each county and county borough for which vouchers were produced to show how the money was expended, in accordance with the provisions of The County Officers and Courts (Ireland) Act, 1877, and the Order in Council dated the 21st day of November, 1898, and what sum was lodged with His Majesty's Treasury by the clerk of the Crown and peace for each county as the balance not so ex-

Under Clause 3 of an Order in Council, dated 4th June, 1879, the secretary of the Grand Jury (now the secretary of the County Council) audits and ascertains the accuracy of the account submitted by the Clerk of the Crown and Peace.

pended and vouched for in accordance with the Act and Order in Council?

The sums paid by the county councils and borough councils to the various clerks of the Crown and Peace throughout Ireland for expenses incurred in carrying into effect the Acts relating to the registration of voters in the years 1912, 1913, and 1914 are as follows:—

The Order in Council of the 21st November, 1898, does not provide for the payment of any sum by way of remuneration to be lodged to the credit of the vote for County Court Officers (Ireland) or direct to the Treasury.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the need of further State aid being given for the development of technical instruction in Ireland; whether he is aware that technical education committees all over Ireland are hampered in the development and carrying out of schemes for improving technical education by the want of the necessary funds for defraying the costs of essential instruction in practical courses of technical education; and what are the intentions of the Government in regard to the position which has arisen through lack of funds?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25th October to questions on this subject by the hon. Members for South Kerry, St. Stephen's Green, and South County Dublin.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mr. J. Larkin, B.A., head master of St. Laurence's secondary school, Bray, county Wicklow, will participate in the proposed Grant to intermediate education in Ireland?

The conditions under which the proposed Grant for intermediate education in Ireland will be distributed are in course of being settled. They will be issued as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consider the case of those few old teachers who were superannuated before the year 1912, when a new pension scheme was introduced, which was not made retro- spective, in view of the fact that these teachers were contributors to the old pension scheme?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which were given to the right hon. Member for the Ashford Division of Kent on the 20th June, and to the hon. Member for West Newington on the 10th July, of which I am sending him copies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any representations have been received in favour of making a Provisional Order applying the Trade Boards Act to those employed in the wholesale and retail distributive trades; and whether, in view of the low wages prevailing in these trades, he will favourably consider the matter?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The Minister of Labour has received representations of the nature indicated in my hon. Friend's question, and the matter is receiving his careful consideration.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been directed to the fact that the residents of the Skerries have the greatest difficulty in getting provisions from the mainland and are unable to dispose of their fish; and if he could arrange that the subsidies paid by the Northern Lighthouse Commissioners and the Postmaster-General could be utilised to provide a motor boat to make the trip weekly when weather permits?

I have received representations as to the difficulties experienced by the residents of the Skerries in regard to mail and transport facilities, and I have communicated my hon. Friend's suggestion to the Postmaster-General and to the Board of Trade.