asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the cause of the delay in publishing dispatches in connection with the campaign in German South-West Africa; and whether publication will now be expedited?

I am informed that the energies of the officers of the Union General Staff, on whom would devolve the duty of preparing an account of the campaign in German South-West Africa, have been fully engaged on matters of more immediate importance, but it is intended to prepare and publish such an account as soon as circumstances permit.

Seeing that this Report is more than two years overdue, and the hon. Gentleman is a Member of the Do-it-now Government, will something be done at once?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will lay upon the Table of the House the Report of a Commission appointed by the Governor of Ceylon to inquire into the circumstances connected with the shooting of ten persons during the riots in Ceylon in 1915 and dated 18th January, 1917?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for Burnley yesterday.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his predecessor in office on 14th August, said, "An inquiry was held into these cases and a report of it will be published here." May I ask, as quotations of portions of it have appeared in the Press, whether he will not give hon. Members and the public an opportunity of reading the whole Report?

That point was fully dealt with by my right hon. Friend yesterday.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that yesterday the Secretary of State for the Colonies denied the accuracy of the quotation which I made, and has he now satisfied himself that a promise was made and does he intend to carry it out?

I did not hear that he did anything of the kind.

Will the hon. Gentleman look into the record of his predecessors in office as well as of his chief?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what proportion of the 1,000,000 gallons of whisky now being called for by the Control Board for Navy and Army purposes is for hospital and medicinal purposes and how much for mess requirements; and whether it is proposed to commandeer spirits for both purposes?

Whisky for hospital supplies and medicinal purposes is not obtained by the Navy and Army Canteen Committee. The supply to which my hon. Friend refers is for officers' and sergeants' messes. The trade have cordially co-operated in the request made for this whisky, and the question of commandeering does not, therefore, arise.

Was the amount a million gallons?

What was the price of the whisky?

I cannot say, but my hon. and gallant Friend is sure to know.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why captains serving as à-la-suite officers of the Territorial general hospitals are allotted precisely the same kind of work, the same hours of work, and bear the same responsibility for the treatment of their patients as lieutenant-colonels and majors attached to the same hospitals, whilst they receive no temporary step in rank or additon to their pay?

The question of promotions to complete establishments of general hospitals is under consideration, but in all hospitals medical officers are frequently employed according to their professional aptitude and line of work, and, while senior officers are naturally given the more responsible duties, there is no reason why à-la-suite officers of captain's rank, who are often of the highest professional standing, should not be, employed in the same way.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the officers who were relieved of their positions in connection with the case of James Brightmore have yet been reinstated; and, if not, whether they will receive such reinstatement as will not involve financial or other disability?

The question of the re-employment of these officers is under consideration. They will not suffer any financial or other disability except such as was consequential upon their being unemployed for a certain period.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that every day's delay is an aggravation of the harsh and unfair treatment meted out to General Elliot in this case?

I do not think I can usefully add anything at present to the answer I have given.

I beg to give notice that unless justice is done to General Elliot shortly, I shall raise this question on the Adjournment or otherwise.

Is it usual to deprive an officer in these circumstances of his pay, and are there not precedents during this War for officers' in the same position continuing to receive their pay?

I have said the whole matter is now under consideration, and I cannot go beyond that.

asked the Undersecretary 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.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman to consider that there is a great prejudice even in this House and that on account of having put down this question I have received letters? It might be worth while to remove that prejudice.

My information is that there is no prejudice in the Army against it and certainly none in this House, except in a certain small quarter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the rules and regulations in regard to vaccination and inoculation, are the same for the Indian Army as for the British Expeditionary Forces; and whether the operation is performed on Indian soldiers before or after leaving India for the different fronts?

I am not quite certain what the practice is, but I believe that Indian soldiers are vaccinated but not inoculated against enteric before leaving India for service overseas. If the hon. Member desires, I will ask the Government of India to confirm this information.

Is it compulsory in the Indian Army and not compulsory in the British Army?

A recruit for the Indian Army is informed that he is liable to vaccination and is not accepted unless he accepts that liability.

asked the Prime Minister if there were 50,000 cases of death from typhoid in the South African War; if not, will he say how many cases and how many deaths, respectively, occurred in that war from this disease; and whether inoculation was extensively practised in the army in South Africa?

The number of cases of typhoid fever amongst the troops in the South African War was: officers, 2,066; other ranks, 57,684; and of deaths: officers, 205; other ranks, 8,022. Inoculation was not so extensively practised in the army in South Africa as in the present campaigns.

Will any measures be taken to correct the inaccurate statements made in the speech of the Prime Minister the other day?

I know of no inaccurate statement.

Is not the statement that there were 50,000 deaths untrue?

asked whether the 3,000 who fell victims to typhoid in the Army in France were merely cases or deaths; whether they included cases of paratyphoid, dysentery, and diarrhœa; if not, how many cases respectively of these diseases have occurred and how many cases returned as P.V.O.; and what proportions of cases and what proportions of deaths from each of the diseases named arose amongst inoculated and uninoculated respectively?

I am not aware what the figure of 3,000 is to which my hon. Friend is alluding. 184 officers and men have died of enteric in France and 48 of paratyphoid. 2,321 cases of typhoid (enteric) and 3,871 cases of paratyphoid have occurred. The totals for dysentery are not available, and it would take a long time to work them out. For diarrhœa it would be necessary to apply to France for figures. I have no figures regarding P.V.O. (pyrexia, i.e., fever, of uncertain origin). Of the deaths from enteric, namely, 184, 62 had been inoculated and 122 had not been inoculated. Of the deaths from paratyphoid, namely, 48, 39 had been inoculated and 9 had not been inoculated.

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.

Will the hon. Gentleman take into account that France has asked for one central control, and also that the demand is now being made from America, and it is absolutely vital to the success of the War?

I cannot add anything to the answer I have given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there are any soldiers who have lost an eye who are at present serving in any of the theatres of war; whether it is the experience that such men are handicapped in the fight by this deficiency that has led to the present rule of his Department that such men will no longer be passed for combatant service; and will he take means to have the soldiers of this type at the front brought back home for home service only?

I am not aware of any A men serving under these conditions. There are, no doubt, men of lower categories serving in the theatres of war with this affliction. I am afraid that my hon. Friend's suggestion in the last part of his question is not practicable.

Are these men in the lower categories sent into the trenches?

I am informed not.

If we bring to my hon. Friend's notice cases of men who are in the front trenches, will he take steps to have them taken out?

I must know all the facts and circumstances first of all. If my hon. Friends will produce any cases, I will certainly have them carefully inquired into.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a Report from the British Ambassador at Washington as to the steps taken by the American Government to conserve foodstuffs had to assist the Allies by providing grain and other food materials for their use?

His Majesty's Government are in constant communication with the United States Government on this subject, and are fully satisfied with the progress which is being made; but I regret that there is no detailed information which can be usefully made public at the present moment.

In view of the food economy campaign which is taking place in this country, might not the hon. Gentleman be able to issue a statement of the facts, which might be made public, to encourage community of sacrifice among all the Allies?

I must ask the hon. Member to give me notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether France, which previously exported rough bones to this country, has now prohibited their export, thereby reducing the quantity of bone meal and steamed bone flour available for agricultural purposes; whether we still permit the export of dried blood manure; and, if, so, whether, in the interests of increased food production, he will take steps to retain this ammoniacal fertiliser?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The export of dried blood manure to France is allowed in very limited quantities, in view of the urgent requests for fertilisers received from the French Government. It is understood that manure makers in Great Britain are able to obtain sufficient to meet their requirements, and so long as this is the case, it is considered desirable to assist our Allies by exporting the small surplus.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the first two sugar vouchers issued to caterers and manufacturers are in respect of supplies for the months of November and December; if so, what arrangements have been made towards providing supplies to meet these cases, seeing that the new scheme of distribution does not come into operation until January next; whether provision has been made to meet the claims of householders during the intervening period in cases in which these householders change their source of supply from one retailer to another; and whether any retailer who has supplied a customer with sugar up to 5th November would be entitled to refuse a further supply to such person during November and December if he registered with a competitor for future supplies as from 1st January next.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. No necessity will, it is expected, arise for any modification of the present basis of distribution to caterers and manufacturers. In the case of the latter, the voucher system merely provides machinery for enforcing the existing restrictions as to the usage of sugar for manufacture. As I informed the hon. Member for Rotherham yesterday, no retailer may refuse to supply his previous customers with sugar during November and December on the ground that they have registered with a competitor for future supplies as from 1st January next.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he knows that in certain towns where the price of butter had been forced up to 3s. 6d. per lb. the food control committees stepped in and reduced the price 1s. per lb.; whether he is aware that in consequence the farmers are diverting their supplies to adjacent towns where inflated prices can still be obtained, as no control is exercised; and what steps he proposes to take to establish some measure of uniformity in the matter of food control?

The Food Controller is aware that, owing to the fact that the price of Danish butter has not been hitherto controlled, this butter has in some instances reached the price stated by the hon. Member. The price of home-produced butter is, however, controlled by the Butter (Maximum Prices) Order dated 31st August, 1917. The Food Controller has fixed the first hand price of Danish butter at 229s. per cwt. export, as from the 13th November. This will have the effect of bringing the prices of all kinds of butter to the approximately uniform figure of 2s. 3d.—2s. 5d. per lb. to the consumer.

Can the hon. Gentleman inform us whether this price involves any loss to the Exchequer?

I am not aware it will involve any such loss.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, under the Meat (Maximum Prices) Order, 1917, the wholesale price for meat (dead weight) is controlled but the live weight price uncontrolled; whether he is aware that in some towns the Order is enforced against the butchers and in other towns not enforced, and that this leads to much unfairness as between butchers when purchasing supplies; and whether he proposes to have a uniform enforcement of the Order in every town?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Lord Rhondda is aware that the enforcement of this Meat (Maximum Prices) Order has been subject to considerable local variations in practice, but he proposes at an early date to give Food Control Committees new powers of enforcement of Orders made by him, and to issue full directions on the subject, which he hopes will result in a uniformity of practice throughout the country.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that apples and other fruits which are sometimes bought by dealers at about 1d. per lb. are afterwards retailed by them at 5d. and 6d. per lb., and that this is made possible because the local food control committees have no control over these prices; and whether he will vest power in the committees to fix a price permitting only a reasonable margin as compared with the price paid to the grower?

The process of control of foodstuffs is necessarily gradual, and in deciding what kinds of food should be dealt with first the Food Controller is guided by considerations of relative food value. Apples and other fruits have for the most part a low food value as compared with many other commodities, and their inclusion in the scheme of control has consequently been deferred.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he will abolish the control price of fresh pork so that the rearer of pigs may have a fair share in the price of bacon as at present obtained?

The Food Controller does not propose to abolish the control price of fresh pork, but will, at an early date, fix maximum wholesale and retail prices for bacon on a parity with the controlled pork price.

May I ask if the hon. Gentleman will call the attention of the Food Controller to the enormous profit which is made by the wholesaler and retailer of something like 140 per cent., depriving the farmer of the opportunity of getting a fair price for what he has to dispose of, that is green pork, on which you are only allowing 133s. per cwt., while at 170s. there would be a fair profit to be made?

I shall be glad to call the attention of the Food Controller to the matter, but I hope what I have said in answer will prevent such cases in the future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in order to maintain the bread supply of this country and render it more wholesome, he will consider the advisability of issuing an order that all bread must contain at least 40 per cent. of potato flour?

There is no machinery available in this country for the manufacture of any considerable quantity of potato flour. It is, however, intended to utilise potatoes for the manufacture of bread in the form of potato mash, and a scheme is being prepared which will, it is hoped, encourage bakers to use as fully as possible this wholesome and palatable diluent. The percentage of dilution suggested by the hon. Member is, however, I think, excessive, and. the Order now in force limits the proportion of potatoes. to 12½ per cent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he will state what steps, if any, are being taken by the Food Controller to conserve the stock of potatoes in this country against waste and possible shortage next spring?

Clause 10 of the Potatoes Order, 1917, prohibits the sale, except under licence, of certain varieties of potato which, when grown in suitable soils, have good keeping qualities. This Clause was designed to meet the point raised by the hon. Member, and there is no reason at present to anticipate that there will be any shortage of potatoes next spring.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will ascertain how many employés of military age and military fitness are in the service of the members of the Appeal Tribunal of Dumfries and Galloway; and whether he will see that his military representative there will take similar action with such employés as he has taken with those in the service of the Post Office and of other employers?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply. I have at present no information on the subject referred to in the question, but inquiries are being made, and the result will be communicated to the hon. Member in due course.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this tribunal has become notorious for pushing men into the trenches, and retaining in its own employment gardeners, etc.?

No; I am not aware of that.

asked the Under-Secretary for War what guarantee will be given to men joining the Army for special work in answer to advertisements that the work which they enlist to perform will be allotted to them; if he is aware that at the outbreak of the War recruiting posters were issued offering employment to engineers, tailors, and barbers, etc., at special wages in the Army Service Corps; and if he is aware that the Government have failed to carry out the terms of the public advertisements and transferred the men to Line regiments?

I am afraid that the situation to-day is totally different from what it was under the voluntary system at the outbreak of war. At the present time, in order to carry on the War, it is necessary to use each man where his services are most required.

Am I to understand that the War Office has lost all respect for their agreements which they entered into with these men?

I cannot agree with that at all. Everybody knows that under the Military Transfer Act, 1915, it is possible to transfer men from one branch of the Service to another.

Is it fair to take men earning from 30s. to £2 a week into the Army at special rates and then reduce them to the ordinary soldiers' rates of pay?

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he will have close inquiries made into the conditions prevailing in the boys' training battalions at Colchester and elsewhere, in view of the complaints regarding insufficiency of food and withholding of leave; and whether he will do everything possible to have the promises made regarding the treatment of these boys by specially selected officers carried out?

I will have inquiry made, but there should be no grounds for complaint regarding insufficiency of food, as the Service ration, together with the commuted cash allowance, are ample to ensure thoroughly good feeding if the service and distribution are carried out in accordance with the instructions given on the matter. As to leave, it is given under existing arrangements after the first three months' training and further leave after eight months is contemplated.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been drawn to a case heard at the Rochdale Military Tribunal of a single man of military age who had procured exemption on the condition of acting as huntsman to a Yorkshire fox hunt; whether he is aware that it has been stated in Parliament that no persons of military age were employed as servants to fox hunts; and whether he will institute a comb-out of all hunting and racing establishments and remove the various persons who are evading military service in these establishments?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply. My attention has not been drawn to the case mentioned, but I shall be glad to consider any representation made to me. With regard to the second part of the question, I have no knowledge, but if the hon. Member will give me the reference I will inform myself of the circumstances. With regard to the third part of the question, no men will be left in such establishments unless he is physically unfit or holds a valid exemption from a tribunal.

asked the Home Secretary if Captain Stevenson, inspector of the Home Office camps for conscientious objectors, is the son-in-law of a member of the Home Office Committee; whether he was appointed to his present post after his relative became a member of the Home Office Committee; what his remuneration is; whether he is a person of military age; and whether he will find some better employment for him than harassing and persecuting conscientious objectors?

Captain Stevenson is not the son-in-law of any member of the Home Office Committee. He is of military age, but was selected for the post of inspector because of the ability and tact which he had shown while acting as Governor of Wormwood Scrubs Prison at a time when a large number of conscientious objectors were confined there. He receives his ordinary remuneration as prison governor (£372) with an extra allowance of £50. The suggestion contained in the last part of the question is absolutely without foundation.

Are we to understand that this gentleman is therefore himself a conscientious objector to military service?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received a copy of the resolution adopted by the executive committee of the Navy League at its meeting on the 20th July last, relating to the proposed construction of a ship canal from the Clyde to the Forth; and whether any decision has been arrived at as to the merits of the proposed alternate schemes known as the direct route and the Loch Lomond route?

Yes, Sir; the Resolution was received. The whole question is being considered by the Government, including that of the route. No decision has been arrived at.

Is there any likelihood of any further concession on the matter—it is very important for Scotland?

I cannot say that. The commercial aspect is not a matter for the Admiralty. Ours is the strategic side of the matter. But I will make representations.

Is the Department in any way committed to one of the schemes, or are both still under their consideration?

Both are still under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that four new national shipbuilding yards are to be built forthwith for the Admiralty, he will consider the advisability of opening a new shipbuilding yard or yards for Admiralty work in Ireland; whether, in view of the fact that Ireland possesses large and extensive harbour accommodation, he will proceed with the work of making the harbours and ports in Ireland suitable for utilisation as up-to-date naval and mercantile ports and dockyards, possessing ship-repairing yards and bases for naval stores and accessories; whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in Ireland owing to the manner in which that country, sharing equally with Great Britain Imperial taxation, is starved in the matter of Admiralty work and expenditure; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs by consulting Irish port and harbour authorities, so as to put into operation a scheme by which Ireland will receive a fair share of Admiralty work and contracts?

With regard to the first and second parts of the question, it is not possible to add anything to the information which I gave yesterday to my right hon. Friend the Member for Londonderry. As to the remainder of the question, I can only say that not only is there a good deal of shipbuilding and ship repairing done for us in Ireland, but we make large purchases of canvas and linen goods, warm clothing, fresh meat, bread and vegetables, flour, pork, timber, and cordage. We send samples annually of our requirements to Ireland, and I can only add that, as regards shipbuilding and ship repairing, every effort will be made to allocate to the various yards as much work as can be advantageously undertaken by them.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War why captains of the Royal Army Medical Corps, Territorial Force, who have sacrificed their practices, gone to France, and been invalided, and consequently posted on home service, receive pay at the rate of only 15s. 6d. a day, whereas medical men who have conducted their practices at home during the War, and who have recently been employed as temporary lieutenants of the Royal Army Medical Corps on home service receive pay at the rate of 24s. a day, and medical men who serve on recruiting boards receive pay at the rate of £2 a day?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply on the 19th October last to the hon. Member for Brentford.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War when it is proposed to increase the pay of the British troops?

I regret I can add nothing to my reply on Thursday last to the hon. Member for Newington West.

asked if any equivalent addition will be made to the pay of soldiers living with their wives and families to correspond with the concession announced by the Prime Minister to relieve soldiers who do not live with their wives and families of their compulsory allotment?

Yes, Sir, family allowance will be increased.

asked if soldiers who enlisted during their apprenticeship or whilst they were under training for skilled occupations and whose parents are, there fore, penalised for their previous self-denial of their son's full earning capacity by their present inability to prove pre-war dependence and claim separation allowance will be relieved of the payment of allotments voluntarily allowed out of their pay to their parents, as will be the case in regard to soldiers' compulsory allotments under paragraph 1 of the summary of decisions appended to the Prime Minister's published letter on the subject, dated 29th September?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22nd February last by my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there have been many questions since last February on this point? Half a dozen times we have heard that the matter was being considered, and that an early decision would be come to. When is the decision really going to be come to?

That is a question which should be addressed to the Ministry of Pensions.

asked whether a soldier on active service, if he has reason to doubt the accuracy of information given to him through the usual official channels as to the exact balance of his account, has the right to claim a statement giving details of his account in writing, fully dated as to the various items and showing how the balance is computed?

He can make such a claim and, if reasonable in the circumstances, it would be granted.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he is aware that there are cases of Irish soldiers who joined the Army at the outbreak of the War and have not yet received leave; if he is aware, that soldiers in the Dublin Fusiliers who were sent to the landing at Suvla Bay, the Dardanelles, and then to Salonika have recently been transferred to Egypt without one day's leave; and if he will see that leave will be granted for Christmas?

I would refer the hon. Member to what I said on this subject in Debate on 31st October.

Is it not unfair to these men in Egypt? Cannot the hon. Gentleman say that something will be done?

I have dealt fully with the question of leave for the troops in France and particularly in regard to the question of leave for troops in Mesopotamia and other theatres of war.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether it will be arranged that soldiers on leave from the front whose families are in Ireland will be allowed two extra days in view of the fact that two extra days are occupied in going to and returning from Ireland?

As I informed the House on the 1st instant, in answer to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydvil, the authorities in France have now arranged that fourteen days' leave shall be given, to include the journey to and from France, and I am afraid that this is the utmost concession that can be made in present circumstances. My hon. Friend will realise that if any further extension were contemplated it could not be limited to the cases of soldiers whose families live in Ireland.

Would it not be right that extra leave be granted to soldiers from Scotland and Ireland, seeing that extra journeys are involved in reaching those places over and above the journey to England?

It is not a question of right; it is a question of privilege. The House will recollect that the amount of leave given is four days; afterwards that was extended, so that those who had to travel to distant parts of Scotland and Ireland might have sufficient time to get home and have a few days' rest. Having gone to fourteen days, we have gone to the extreme limit.

Since when has leave become a question of privilege?

It always has been a question of privilege.

Does the hon. Gentleman not realise that by this extension he is only putting the various nationalities exactly on an equality?

No; it means raising a great many difficulties among the troops who are fighting.

asked the Undersecretary for War why the officer commanding the transport drivers, Royal Engineers, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, is refusing final leave to low category men who have finished their training whilst the A men are allowed their leave; and will he see that men of all classes, are given equal treatment in the matter of final leave?

No men from the training depot, Royal Engineers, except category A men go overseas, and I know of none who have gone without having final leave. When possible, men of lower categories are given leave after training similar to the final leave of the category A men. Recent orders for a draft of low category men to proceed to home stations necessitate the despatch of some men who have only just finished training without the possibility of the usual leave being given.

asked the Under secretary for War if he is aware that dissatisfaction still exists about the way in which leave is given to men with the Expeditionary Force in France; and whether he will inquire into the system of the distribution of leave warrants and try to ascertain whether certain regiments receive an undue proportion at the expense of others?

I am afraid that I can add nothing to what I said in Debate on this subject on the 31st October.

asked (1) whether a range-finder for aircraft is still in use in London's defences; if so, whether the type originally adopted has ever been altered; whether the guns fire according to the indications of the range-finder or at random; (2) whether the time-fuses for anti-aircraft guns are fixed to correspond to a certain height and the gunners are instructed not to alter them, though the height to which the aircraft ascend may vary and become much greater than that for which the first adjustment was calculated?

It is not in the public interest to disclose the details for which the hon. Member asks.

May I ask if the War Office will imprint upon their portals this aphorism from Carlyle?

asked the Undersecretary for War whether he is aware that a British officer, Lieutenant Gilliland, who has been put in charge of British prisoners of war at Philippopolis, habitually appropriates food and clothing consigned in bulk to the Irish prisoners and distributes them without regard to the regiments to which they are consigned; whether he is aware that this commandant also orders the flogging of British prisoners by their Bulgarian captors for the most trivial breaches of discipline, whilst prisoners of other nationalities are not subjected to such treatment; whether he is aware that Gilliland causes the floggings to be carried out in the public square and compels officers and men to attend on parade on such occasions, and that he ordered the floggings on St. Patrick's Day of five Irish soldiers, including a man aged fifty-three; who appointed Gilliland as commandant; whether statements will be invited from repatriated prisoners who have returned to this country from Bulgaria; and what action the War Office proposes to take?

A few prisoners of war repatriated from Bulgaria had made certain allegations against Lieutenant Gilliland, which are in substance as stated. This officer was put in charge of British prisoners by the Bulgarian authorities. The allegations made are entirely opposed to information regarding Lieutenant Gilliland's work derived from independent sources, and especially from the members of the United States Legation in Sofia, who have stated that he has done everything possible for our men, and that the control exercised by him has tended very much to their benefit, and especially to the maintenance of their morale. In the circumstances the Army Council are not prepared to accept the charges made against Lieutenant Gilliland as justified, and they have taken such steps as are possible to ascertain the truth of the charges.

Is there any doubt whatever about the statements in this question?

I do not know whether there is any doubt in my hon. Friend's mind. but I can only accept them as ex parte statements.

I have asked the hon. Gentleman whether he will take sworn statements from these repatriated soldiers who are now in this country, and I want to know why that has not been done.

The Department concerned is Taking the proper course of applying for information to the ordinary channels through which we get information of this sort.

Does the hon. Gentler man seriously suggest that the proper way to obtain information about Gilliland is to get it from Gilliland himself? Why not obtain the information from the soldiers who are here?

I have already said, in answer to the question, that I accept in substance the statement my hon. Friend has put upon the Paper; but what I do object to, and what the Department reasonably objects to, is that these statements should have been put upon the Paper as statements of fact before the other side of the question had been inquired into.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I put this statement upon the Paper in consequence of information received from these soldiers who have returned, and is not that as good authority as any that Gilliland will supply?

I think the proper course when the honour of a British officer is concerned is to approach, first of all, the proper Department, and, if no satisfaction is given, then the proper course might be to put down a question.

Is it not a fact that the War Office has already been approached and because of their failure to take action it was necessary to raise the question here?

I am informed that the War Office has only recently been approached and the only way we have been approached is through the medium of this question.

Is it not a fact that the War Office was approached over three weeks ago?

I agree that this is a very serious matter, and that the honour of a British officer is involved, but the honour of this country is involved also, and I want to ask why seeing that the War Office had these charges in their possession three weeks ago the soldiers repatriated from Bulgaria had not been asked for statements.

It would be the proper thing in ordinary civil proceedings to find out the other side first, and that step has been taken.

Why not hear the complaints first, and then ask for the defence?

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he will say how the amount of meat allowed to prisoners of war in this country compares with the allowance of meat made to British prisoners of war by the enemy in Germany; whether His Majesty's Government hold large stocks of cured Norwegian herrings in this country, the retail price of which is 4d. per lb.; whether any of these are utilised for the feeding of prisoners of war; if so, what is the ration thereof per head per week based on the total number of prisoners of war in this country; and whether he will consider the possibility of utilising these herrings to a larger extent for this purpose and so reducing the consumption of meat by prisoners of war?

German prisoners of war in England receive 6 oz. of meat on five days in the week, or 30 oz. in all. According to our information, British prisoners of war in Germany never receive more than 12½ oz. of meat, and in many cases much less. Our military authorities hold large stocks of salted herrings, and 10 oz. of these are issued two days a week in place of meat. It is not thought that the meat ration could be reduced without impairing the efficiency of the prisoners' work.

Am I to understand that 10 oz. of herrings is the average for prisoners of war in this country?

On two days a week the prisoners get no meat, and they get 10 oz. of herrings.

( by Private Notice ): I beg to ask whether the hon. Member for the Central Division of Sheffield has any further information as to the exchange of prisoners of war under The Hague agreement?

My hon. Friend will have read the statement made in another place yesterday by my Noble Friend Lord Newton. In addition to this statement, I may say that we have been informed this morning that the German authorities have agreed to the conditions suggested by us for the transport of exchanged prisoners to and from Holland. The date on which the first sailing will take place rests now solely on the choice of a route between Rotterdam and Boston, and I understand that this matter is now in the hands of the Admiralty. My Noble Friend desires me to add his high appreciation of the energy and zeal in bringing this settlement about shown by Sir Walter Townley, our representative at The Hague, and Lieutenant Aveling, who has been in charge of the negotiations.

Is there now any further difficulty in regard to vessels for transport?

No. I understand that the difficulty in regard to vessels is now at an end. The route, however, has still to be finally determined.

asked the Undersecretary for War if the War Office have any powers to protect the wives of soldiers serving with the Armies abroad from eviction from their cottages; and, if so, will he see that this power is exercised in the case of Mrs. Moore, the wife of a soldier now serving in France and the mother of eight children, who now resides at Murstead Rough, Witley, Surrey, whose landlady, Miss Powell, of Enton Green, Godalming, recently applied for an ejectment order against her?

No, Sir; I am afraid that the War Office have no powers in such a case. The matter is one to be determined by a Court of law. I understand that the general question is now being considered.

asked the Undersecretary for War if he is aware that Messrs. Clarke and Son, biscuit manufacturers, of Thomas Street, Limehouse, are contractors to his Department; that a petition has been presented to the firm by the National Union of General Workers for an advance of wages; that after the petition was presented the firm discharged thirty of the workpeople; that the firm have decided to reduce the wages of others by amounts ranging from 13s. to 16s. per week; and if he will take appropriate action in the matter?

Messrs. Clarke and Son hold a contract for biscuits for the War Office. No complaints have been received in regard to the points raised in the question, but the matter is being made the subject of investigations by the Department, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend when these are complete.

asked what steps, if any, are being taken to encourage partially disabled soldiers to return to rural occupations, either as occupiers or employés; and if persons desirous of engaging the latter should apply to the Labour Exchanges or the War Office?

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to soldiers who are taking their discharge, and I think that his question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions.

asked how many of the recommendations of the Supply of Nurses Committee have been carried into effect?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 5th June last to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state what are the prices at present being paid to the farmers in Scotland for Blackfaced Cheviot and Border Leicester wools, respectively; and what check his Department has on the woolbrokers when they call the wool arbitrarily broken wool and make serious deductions from the prices remitted to the farmers?

The maximum price which has been paid by the Department in Scotland for unwashed Blackfaced wool is 12¾d., and for washed Blackfaced 14¼d. For Cheviot fleeces the price varies, according to the quality of the wool and the district in which it has been grown, from 18½d. to 22¼d. For washed wools. All wools in Scotland are valued by the officials of the Department. In the case of broken wool, woolbrokers are permitted to buy this wool direct from the farmer, and it is then taken over from them by the Department. No complaints have so far been received by the Department that any woolbrokers are purchasing any wools other than the recognised broken wool.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a series of deductions made from farmers under the head of broken wool, and the responsibility cannot be fixed as between the brokers and the War Office?

My information is that no complaints have been made.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that an inquiry is to be held next week into a complaint which has been received?

No, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the military authorities compel the various householders to billet soldiers at the rate of 6d. per night for the first soldier and 4d. per night for the others; if he is aware that when the soldiers in question have week-end away the householders are not paid for the nights they are absent; if he is aware that in some cases as many as seven beds have been commandeered out of twelve; if he is aware of the complaint from the Blackpool people as to the amount allowed for billeting; and if he will take action in the matter?

The rates are as stated by my hon. Friend. As a rule temporary absence does not involve a discontinuance of the payments, and if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the case he has in mind I will have inquiries made. So far as possible, the convenience of the occupier is considered by the police when they allot billets. The complaint from Blackpool was brought to my notice by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Blackpool and it is being considered.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether it is proposed to commandeer the offices of the Metropolitan Board of Works for the use of the Air Board; will he say how many rooms and how many employés have the Air Board at present in the Hotel Cecil; whether premises other than the Board of Works can be got in Government or Council's property; and whether he will give assurances to hotel users and hotel proprietors that no more hotels in the Westminster area will be requisitioned for Government work?

The acquisition of the offices of the Metropolitan Water Board, to which it is assumed the hon. Member's question refers, is under consideration by the Cabinet Committee on Accommodation. The number of rooms occupied by the Air Board in the Hotel Cecil is 595; for information as to the number of staff employed there my hon. Friend should address a question to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Board. No suitable premises are available which are the property of the Government or the London County Council. I can give no definite assurance that no more hotels in the Westminster area will be requisitioned for Government work; it is impossible to foresee what demands for accommodation may be made by War Departments.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether he has given any consideration to the best method of disposing of or of utilising war stores and material at the conclusion of the War with a view to the avoidance of waste?

This matter has been carefully considered by the Government, and it has been decided that, acting on behalf of all the Departments, the Ministry of Reconstruction shall be responsible for the consideration of the policy and methods to be pursued, and that an organisation responsible to my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Munitions, shall be responsible for the executive work involved. The preliminary arrangements are nearly completed and it is hoped that it may be possible to make an announcement on the subject in a short time.

asked the Minister of Munitions if, when granting holidays at Christmas to munition workers who desire to go to their homes in Ireland, he will issue special privilege tickets at reduced cost or allow them to travel free; and if he will see that shipping and railway facilities are granted?

Irish munition workers in Great Britain desiring to visit their homes at Christmas will be entitled to the same privileges as regards free or reduced fares as workers whose homes are in other parts of the country. In view of the difficulties of transport, the Board of Trade, whom I have consulted in the matter, are unable to give any pledge that additional shipping and railway facilities will be provided, but every effort will be made by the companies concerned to do all in their power to carry the holiday traffic.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he is aware that on 1st October 150 female munition workers had to wait at Stowmarket Station for five hours for the last train to Bury St. Edmunds from Ipswich; if he is aware that dissatisfaction was caused in consequence among the munition workers; and if he will require the railway company to make arrangements when circumstances require it for the local train from Ipswich to Bury St. Edmunds to be run to Bury and back again to Ipswich in time to connect with the London train?

I have written to my hon. Friend about this matter.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been called to the recent dismissal of twenty-one women from a shell shop in the county of Durham; whether he is aware that the dismissals have immediately followed the hearing of an arbitration case regarding the payment of these women; whether it is intended to replace them by young girls at a lower rate of wages; whether he has considered the effect of the action on the output of munitions in view of the fact that the women dismissed are admited to be good workers and that it will take some time to train young girls to take their places; and whether, seeing that such action is equivalent to an evasion of any award given by the Special Arbitration Tribunal on the difference submitted on behalf of these women, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I am informed that the changes referred to are the result of some reorganisation in the working of the factory, and not of the pending wages award, which has not yet been issued. But there is some doubt about the exact position, and I am having further inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the out-station allowance to examiners from Woolwich Arsenal has been stopped; and whether it is to be a condition of service in future that examiners going to out-stations shall receive no allowance?

No instructions have been issued for the stoppage of out-station allowance to examiners from Woolwich Arsenal, nor is it to be a condition of service in future that examiners going to out-stations shall receive no allowance. If my right hon. Friend will give instances of stoppage of the allowance they will refully inquired into.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether any and, if so, what steps are taken to warn workmen in the Arsenal against losing time from work before summoning them before the tribunal; and whether the services of the local labour Advisory Board for the district are made use of in this connection?

In addition to the general warnings contained in the Ordnance Factory Rules and Regulations supplied to every workman, and in the rules for controlled establishments posted in every workshop, workmen receive individually, warnings from their foreman and other officials before action is taken before a munitions tribunal. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative. As the result of a conference between the authorities at the Arsenal and the Local Advisory Board, it has been agreed that the Board's intervention should not be sought, unless the difficulty related to a whole shop or a group of shops, in regard to which the Board's intervention might be effective. In cases where individual workers were concerned it was agreed that the Board should not be asked to intervene, but that the Arsenal authorities should themselves either take disciplinary action or bring the case before the tribunal direct.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the addition of 12½ per cent. to the wages of skilled men engaged on munition work should be paid from 12th October last; and, if so, what action he proposes to take with regard to those employers who have only allowed the advance from 19th October or any later date?

The bonus of 12½per cent. is payable, not from 12th October last, but from the beginning of the first full pay following the 12th October last. In any establishment, therefore, in which the 12th October was the beginning of a full pay the bonus would not begin to accrue until the 19th October. An investigation will be made into any cases in which the advance has not been allowed until a date later than the 19th October, if my hon. Friend will give me particulars.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the committee appointed by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) to inquire and report as to the effect of alcohol on industrial efficiency have yet reported; and whether their Report will be published?

The Committee have nearly completed a Report on the Action of Alcohol on the Human Organism. I have already stated—on 16th August—that the Report of the Committee will be published.

Will the hon. Member state the names of the members of the Committee?

I do not carry them in my head, but I will give them to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before recommending any person for any honour or dignity, in future he will satisfy himself that no payment or expectation of payment to any party or political agent is directly or indirectly associated with the grant of such honour or dignity?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given to a similar question by the hon. Member for North Somerset yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the cases of cruelty and hardship through the wives and families of soldiers now serving with the Armies abroad being evicted from their cottages and experiencing difficulties in finding other accommodation, he will introduce some legislation making it illegal for a soldier's wife and family to be evicted?

This question is receiving consideration.

asked the Prime Minister whether, after more than three years of war, he will now reconsider the policy of allowing enemy aliens in this country to be at large, saving in exceptional cases when their loyalty is most fully guaranteed, or in cases where they are only technically enemies, or are children or persons of advanced age; whether practically no British civilians in Germany are allowed to remain uninterned; and why we have not adopted a similar policy, with the exceptions indicated above?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in the Debate on the Vote of Credit on the 31st October, from which he will see that the policy which he recommends for adoption is precisely the policy which is being followed. The large total of exemptions in this country is partly due to the fact that we have very many aliens here who are, as the hon. Member says, only technically enemies. There are no precise figures of British civilians in Germany who are allowed to remain uninterned, but the number is believed to be considerable. In Austria-Hungary the rule is not to intern British subjects

Is it safe in the interests of the country that the large number of 13,000 enemy aliens should be at large in our midst?

That is a question I endeavoured to answer the other day, and I have referred to a part of it in my reply to-day. The remaining cases are being constantly overhauled.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn to the appointment of the Building Materials Supply Committee; if he will say whether the Government propose to include Ireland in their housing schemes and other reconstruction work; if so, why there is no Irish representation on the new Committee; and if he will say why Committees are appointed without consulting the Members of this House?

The claims of Ireland are, of course, being considered equally with those of other parts of the Kingdom in all reconstruction schemes. I am at present considering, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary, the best methods for dealing with the Irish aspects of the problems.

Does that mean that he would be a representative on the Committee?

No, not on this Committee. I think we will make special arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state generally the names of the regiments who composed the forces that captured Beersheba?

As soon as further information can be published as to the troops who took part in the capture of Beersheba and other actions in Palestine, without detriment to the public interest, it will be announced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in any eventuality, the guarantee of profits contained in Paragraph 4 of the Schedule of the Coal Mines Control Agreement (Confirmation) Bill may impose a charge upon the Exchequer, either directly or indirectly, by interception of money which would otherwise be paid as excess profits duty?