asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the effect of the Department of the Food Controller having commandeered the stocks of margarine manufactured in this country by the Maypole Dairy Company at the price of 10½d. per lb. has been the retailing of such goods to the public by the traders competitors of the company to whom supplies have been allocated at 1s. per lb. as against the sum of 11d. which was the price at which the Maypole Dairy Company retailed their product; and whether he considers that the alteration in the method of distribution has justified the increase of the price to the consumer?

As an emergency measure to avoid the formation of queues, it has been necessary in various localities to redistribute supplies of margarine among the retail provision shops available and consequently to provide for the cost of handling, and for a reasonable profit in respect of the margarine so distributed. The prices named are in accordance with those prescribed in the Orders issued by the Food Controller, and it is thought that the improved distribution justifies the small additional cost.

asked whether the use of potatoes for the manufacture of industrial alcohol has been sanctioned by the Food Controller; and, if so, on what grounds?

Yes, Sir. It is intended after the experimental stage to use for this purpose only such potatoes as are unfit for human food. The manufacture of industrial alcohol from potatoes will save grain and increase the amount of alcohol required to meet the demands of the Ministry of Munitions in connection with the manufacture of explosives.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) why, in the Order prohibiting the catching of sea trout and salmon in tidal and territorial waters in Ireland, the owners of adjoining lands were unfairly discriminated against as compared with owners of lands nearer the source of the river, who are allowed to use nets for the capture of the same species of fish; and (2) why the catching of salmon and sea trout is prohibited in tidal and territorial waters in Ireland; whether he is aware that, in con sequence of the prohibitory Order, tons of food are lost for human consumption; and whether the preservation of rod-fishing for a few individuals here and there through Ireland is to be allowed to interfere with the duty of obtaining the greatest quantity of human food?

I have been asked to reply to these questions. I am informed that the Department of Agriculture are not aware of the existence of any such Order as that referred to by the hon. Member in the first question. The catching of salmon and sea trout is not prohibited in tidal and territorial waters, save during the weekly and annual close seasons, which are statutory provisions in the general interest of the fisheries, and are not brought about by any Order of the Food Controller. The concluding inquiry in the second question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in the instructions which he is issuing to the war agricultural committees, he is emphasising the desirability of sowing potatoes as an alternative to spring corn on newly-turned pasture where the conditions are suitable, seeing that they yield, with greater rapidity and much less risk from weather conditions, nutritious food of larger volume and weight which is of similar composition to and can be used as a substitute for bread?

The agricultural executive committees are being urged to stimulate by every means the increased production of potatoes. A circular is being addressed to them setting out the prices offered by the Food Controller for the 1918 crop, and pressing for increased production on newly-ploughed grass land.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the growing scarcity of meat and fats, the difficulty of maintaining the importation of bacon, and the fact that meat is much more rapidly reproduced through the medium of the pig than of any other animal, he will consider the desirability of promoting a large increase in the rapidly dwindling pig population of Great Britain and the sowing in the present year of a considerably extended area of land with potatoes and parsnips, to be specially earmarked for consumption by pigs in place of cereal grain and meals?

The Board are fully seised of the importance of the subject raised by the hon. and gallant Member, and have under consideration schemes for getting pigs raised on such foods as do not involve that waste of the national resources which would be brought about by the usual methods of feeding pigs upon meal.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he will urge upon the War Office the need to employ coloured men in the fighting line and so release skilled workmen from the Army for employment in the shipbuilding yards, engine-shops, and mercantile marine; whether he is aware that as there are many coloured men from Africa in the labour battalions in France it has been proved that they can stand the climate; and whether he is aware that many coloured men are anxious to fight for the British flag, but have not been permitted to do so?

My hon. Friend has pressed this question on more than one occasion, and I can assure him that the question of the employment of coloured men in the fighting line has received, and is now receiving, the most careful consideration. Every possible use is being made of their services in the various theatres of war.

asked whether Alfred Peter Catherall, a conscientious objector, who has been at work at Princetown but constantly in very bad health, has been arrested and sent to France; and, if so, whether he will be returned at once to this country?

As my hon. Friend does not state the regimental number and unit of A. P. Catherall, I am unable to furnish him with the information he desires. On receipt of this information I will make inquiry, provided that my hon. Friend can establish a primâ facie case that A. P. Catherall has been improperly or irregularly sent to France.

asked the Home Secretary if he will inform the House of Commons if and when it is proposed to institute different treatment for the conscientious objectors serving penal servitude as distinguished from the present condition of affairs under which they are treated as ordinary convicts?

There are practical difficulties in the way of allowing to men under sentence of penal servitude the advantages which can be given under Rule 243 A to men under sentence of imprisonment, but I will consider the matter further.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the complaints as to the general conditions of the 1st Infantry Labour Company attached to the Middlesex Regiment in France, he will cause inquiries to be made and the matter investigated?

I have no particulars as to the matters suggested by my hon. Friend, but I will inquire of the military authorities in France and let him know the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a soldier who attested before the Military Service Act was passed but was not called up until after the Military Service Act came into operation, and was then attached and afterwards served in the Royal Field Artillery, is entitled to the pay of an Artilleryman if he has since been transferred against his will, and through no fault of his own, to an Infantry regiment?

The question of whether a soldier who is transferred from the Artillery to the Infantry retains his Artillery rate of pay depends broadly upon whether he is or is not transferred in the interests of the Service and through no fault of his own. If the hon. Member knows of a case which he considers calls for inquiry, I shall be glad to have particulars.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, under the recent revision of the rates of pay, a man in receipt of proficiency pay is stilt entitled to this over and above the ordinary rate of 1s. 6d. per day, or whether proficiency pay has practically ceased to have effect; and will he state the proper pay now for an artificer who formerly received 1s. 2½d. per day as a gunner, 9½·d. per day trade pay as a fitter, and 3d. per day proficiency pay?

The lower (3d.) rate of proficiency pay is merged in the minimum rate of 1s. 6d.; but a man qualified for the higher rate receives 1s. 9d. instead of 1s, 6d., and is eligible for this rate after six months' service instead of after two years. The fitter in Field or Garrison Artillery receives 2s. a day as regimental pay, not 1s. 2½d. regimental pay, with 9½. as "trade pay"; and his emolument., are not in any way affected by the recent changes.

asked the Minister of National Service whether the new Government scheme includes the withdrawal of certificates of exemption from any men now engaged in agriculture?

If the Military Service Bill now before the House passes into law any decision as to the withdrawal of certificates of exemption from men in particular occupations must depend upon the conditions prevailing at the time of the' decision. The maintenance of sufficient agricultural labour throughout the' country is fully recognised as of the' highest importance, but if at any time in the future in any particular quarter there were a surplus of agricultural labour, it would be possible under the provisions of the Bill to deal with that surplus in so far as it was exempted on occupational grounds. Vouchers issued by county agricultural executive committees to men engaged in agriculture are not exemption certificates, and can therefore be dealt with apart from the powers to deal with, exemptions contained in the Bill.

asked the Under Secretary of State for War (1) if he is aware that there are complaints from convalescent wounded officers who have been sent to their battalions that they have been the first to be sent to the front again, a permanent lot of officers remaining behind; and whether these latter have all been passed unfit for service abroad or are over age; and (2) whether appointments to transport and embarkation staffs are now made from convalescent wounded officers; whether some of these appointments have been held by officers of military age since the beginning of the War; and whether there are now any officers fit for service in Labour Battalions and in the Remount Service who have not been to the front

In order to provide for the efficient performance of the important duty of training the men before they are sent abroad it is essential that the instructors should be carefully chosen and that there should not be constant changes. For these reasons a fixed period has been laid down for which officers on the permanent establishment of training units retain their appointments, and it, therefore, follows that some of these officers are retained in this country for a time after they become fit for general service. I am making inquiries about the particular appointments referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend in his second question, and will let him know the result later.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether there are a number of undischarged men awaiting treatment, fitting of limbs, training, etc., for whom at present there is no accommodation at Roehampton or elsewhere; and, if so, how many; and (2) whether, in the case of undischarged men waiting in their homes for admission to Roehampton or other centre, he will consider the desirability of making provision for their training, especially when the waiting period extends over many months; and whether arrangements can be made between the War Office and the Pensions Ministry with a view to carrying out this proposal?

All the men referred to are receiving treatment, but there are some 3,000 awaiting artificial limbs. The question of training is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions, and I understand he is making suitable arrangements. The Army medical authorities are, of course, always glad to help in any direction which my right hon. Friend may indicate.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether what is known as the Mons medal is to be restricted to the Army serving in France, and, if so, why; and whether the 42nd East Lancashire Territorial division which embarked for the East on 4th September, 1914, being the first Territorial division to leave the country complete, is entitled to some similar recognition?

The "1914 Star" is a distinctive decoration granted in recognition of the services rendered by His Majesty's military forces under the command of Field-Marshal Lord French, in France or Belgium during the earlier phase of the War. As regards the latter part of the question, the claims of all who have participated in any military operations against the enemy will receive suitable recognition in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, with a view to assisting Members of Parliament and also to relieve the War Office of unnecessary correspondence, he will issue a revised edition of the Memorandum issued to Members on 19th December, 1916, containing instructions as to how to act in cases of individual soldiers applying to them on various points?

This Memorandum is now being revised and will be issued very shortly. I hope that hon. Members will find it both convenient and helpful.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the 17th Gloucestershire Regiment stationed at Clacton-on-Sea were sent home on six days' leave on 10th December and told they were going to Ireland; whether the medical board sat at Clacton on 14th December and these men returned on 16th December; whether they were then sent to France about the 22nd or 23rd December without medical examination; whether it is nearly four months since they were before a medical board, and many men sent were actually ill and included men ruptured and with heart disease; and were they sent abroad without the medical board's knowledge and contrary to Regulations?

A draft of men in category B 1 was sent to France recently from this battalion for service compatible with that medical category. No man is drafted overseas unless the medical officer is satisfied that his physical state is up to that of his medical category; otherwise he is kept back pending the visit of a travelling medical board.

asked what London regiments were represented at the official entry of General Allenby into Jerusalem?

No official information has been received as regards the designations of units represented at the entry into Jerusalem. General Allenby mentioned, in describing his entry, that detachments representative of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, India, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Italy were present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, of the 893 military and naval cases of enteric fever reported by the Local Government Board as having occurred in this country in 1916–17, of which forty are naval, the balance, 853, are military; if so, are these cases reported to the Local Government Board by the medical superintendents of military hospitals; if not, by whom; and will he obtain from the proper authority and furnish the House with particulars as to the number of cases and the number of fatalities, inoculated and uninoculated, respectively?

All cases of infectious disease are reported by officers commanding hospitals to the local medical officers of health. I regret that the information requested in the last part of the question is not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there is any regular system of granting leave to men in the Royal Engineers Inland Waterways and Docks Construction Corps; whether he is aware that men in this corps now stationed at Sedbury Camp have had no leave for many months, and that, although the shipyard at Chepstow was closed for ten days at Christmas, very few of these men were granted leave; whether he is also aware that up to a few days ago no refund of allotment had been made; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the matter?

The same leave is granted in this as in other arms of the Service, but, in view of the number of newly-enlisted men employed at Sedbury, a large majority are not eligible for leave. For some time, however, an average of 2.5 per cent. per week-end have received leave. The shipyard was closed on Christmas Day only. Full Christmas leave was given, and 10 per cent. of the strength approximately proceeded on Christmas and New Year leave. I am not clear as to what my hon. Friend refers to in the last part of the question, but if he has in mind the recent changes in pay and separation. allowance, the matter is receiving the closest attention and will be adjusted as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if a soldier on home service who has not had a service leave since 1914 will be granted another service leave, as provided by Army Council Instructions, if he has in the interval had a special leave until three months has elapsed since the date on which he was granted a special leave?

I am afraid my hon. Friend's question is not quite understood. Soldiers on home service may be granted short leave during the week, but not on Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays if railway journeys are involved. In exceptional circumstances, and provided men can rejoin their unit immediately if recalled, there is no objection to leave being granted on any day to any individual if circumstances warrant it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) if he will have inquiries made into the case of Private Walter Waite, No. 44189, Royal Army Medical Corps, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, who has now been on active service abroad, including service in Gallipoli, for over three years without any leave whatever, and in particular if he will ascertain whether during this time this man has undergone an attack of enteric fever, from which his health has suffered; and, if so, whether he will advise that some leave of absence should be granted him; and (2) whether his attention has been called to the complaints that come from the more distant theatres of war as to the refusal to grant leave after long and arduous service; whether he is aware that in many cases men have been on active service for two and even for three years without any leave whatever; and whether there is any prospect of improvement, so as to ensure a fair equality of treatment for these men as compared with the men serving in France?

The grant of leave rests in the discretion of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, and I am afraid it is not practicable to make inquiries in individual cases. I can assure my hon. Friend that the military authorities are most anxious to arrange for leave to be given in such eases as far as transport facilities will permit of it, and I hope that the position will improve as time goes on.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any progress has been made with the question of the granting of leave to men with the Salonika, Egyptian, and Mesopotamia Expeditionary Forces; and whether he can now hold out any hope that men who have been in these distant theatres of war for over two years will be given leave to visit their homes?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers which I gave yesterday on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Secretary of State's list published in the "Times" newspaper of 26th February, 1917, as a supplement to the "London Gazette" of 24th February, 1917, constitutes a mention in dispatches for the purpose of honours and rewards to those whose names appear in that list?

The list referred to by the hon. and gallant Member was not published in the "London Gazette." It was issued to the Press as an official communique and appeared in the "Times" in two instalments on 26th and 27th February. The insertion by the "Times" of the words "Supplement to the London Gazette,' "was inadvertent and the words were omitted in the second instalment. Publication in the "London Gazette" is necessary to constitute a "mention in dispatches" for the purpose of honours and rewards, but the public recognition of services announced in these official communiques is recorded in Army records of service where applicable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether second lieutenants serving overseas have in many cases completed two years' service and more without receiving the promotion to rank and pay of lieutenant which was to have taken effect at the end of eighteen months; and if so, whether he will take steps to expedite such promotion and to date the same back to the completion of eighteen months' service?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on 26th November to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lewisham. Since then a large number of promotions have been made, but delay is caused by difficulties in obtaining the recommendations when officers are serving apart from their units. No officer loses pay or seniority because of delay in gazetting.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a brigadier appointed to command a brigade in 1917 or 1918 becomes senior in the field to a brigadier whose appointment dates from 1914, 1915, or 1916 if the former was senior to the latter in the Army List prior to the War; and, if not, when the alteration was made in the Regulation affecting such seniority?

Brigadiers rank according to their substantive rank and not according to the date of their appointment. This Regulation was in force several years before the outbreak of war.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the question of the 4d. a night billeting rate has now been under consideration for three months; whether the further evidence which the hon. Member for Blackpool placed before him on 14th December has been gone into; and what action he proposes to take to relieve a particular section of the public of a burden which is justly a charge on the general taxpayer?

I hope that it will be possible to announce a definite decision shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether reduction or loss of pension, gratuity, or other benefit to which they would otherwise be entitled will be inflicted on officers or men who, after treatment by registered practitioners have failed to cure their injury or disease, seek health and restoration by consulting unregistered medical men?

The War Office is only concerned as regards gratuities or pensions to severely wounded officers. The only deduction that might be made would be in connection with any improvement in their condition. Instructions as to the conditions under which officers and soldiers may consult unqualified practitioners have been issued recently and I will send my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the wife and children of a reservist who marries whilst he is a reservist and who rejoined the Army in India, are entitled to separation allowances; and, if not, why they are not?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Mrs. Betty Landau, the wife of a Russian sent back to Russia under the Military Service (Convention with Allied States) Act is entitled to 12s. 6d. weekly as subsistence or separation allowance; that there are now arrears of three months in the payments due; that Mrs. Landau, now living at Gwydyr Hotel, Dolwyddeln, is informed that she must go weekly a journey of nine miles to receive this payment from the guardians; and whether he will inquire into this case with the objects of paying up arrears, making future payments in a different way, and mitigating grievances tending to estrange loyal Allies from fighting for our cause?

Inquiries are being made in regard to this case.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether lie is aware that anthropometers, instruments designed by Madame Montessori for use in Montessori schools for weighing and measuring children, requiring only 8 oz. of brass and 20 lbs. of iron, 4 ft. of boxwood, and a stand of deal, and of which few are in demand owing to the fact that the Montessori system is only in its early stages in this country, cannot be manufactured during the War, whilst trains and other mechanical toys, trinkets, etc., manufactured from the same materials, are still manufactured here; and, in view of the importance of raising our educational standard and safeguarding child life, will he direct that this prohibition against the manufacture of these anthropometers be withdrawn?

There is no prohibition of the manufacture of anthropometers, and any applications for such instruments would be carefully and sympathetically considered. If the hon. Member has any specific case of a refusal in his mind and will let me have the details, I will have inquiries made into the matter.

asked the Minister of National Service what trades are regarded by his Department as luxury or non-essential trades, and what estimate he has formed of the number of men and women which could be secured from these trades for work of national importance

It is not practicable to classify trades absolutely or comprehensively in the manner described by my hon. Friend. The national importance of trades, whether from the point of view of producing articles necessary for the prosecution of the War or for the use of the population or for export, can only be relative, and must vary according to changing circumstances.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that applicants belonging to the professional and business classes who have applied to the Ministry of National Service for work of national importance have had their services declined; and whether he proposes to take any steps to utilise the services of applicants, who may not have the necessary physique to enable them to undertake work in the shipyards and munition works, in connection with other work of national importance suitable to their training and qualifications, and wherever possible to substitute them for men of military age at present engaged in such work?

My hon. Friend is incorrect in supposing that these offers of service have been declined. Special arrangements have been made for dealing with this by means of the professional and business register maintained by the Minister of Labour, in order that advantage may be taken of such offers to fill substitution or reinforcement vacancies of a suitable character. Directors of National Service in regions under the decentralisation proposals of the Ministry of National Service will ill make the fullest possible use of this register. In this way it is hoped that fuller use may be made of the public-spirited offers of service of the character indicated.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the practice of rabbit-coursing at Keynsham, near Bristol; whether he is aware of the opposition of the residents to this practice and to the numbers of taxicabs and motors bringing persons to this sport; and whether he has taken any action in the matter?

I have received representations from the Keynsham Parish Council on this subject, and have forwarded them to the Chief Constable. The use of motor cars for attending such meetings has been prohibited by the Motor Spirit (Consolidation) and Gas Restriction Order, which came into force on the 10th instant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Cadet officers under the age of eighteen who have to travel first-class by the Metropolitan, District, and other railways between their homes and the headquarters of their corps are allowed the privilege of buying season tickets at half-rate, which is enjoyed by scholars, students, pupil teachers, apprentices, and junior clerks of similar age; and, if not, why this privilege is not. granted to them?

I doubt whether there is a good case for extending to Cadet officers, who can travel at reduced rates on producing the necessary Army Form, the privilege of obtaining season tickets at the reduced rate for scholars, etc., but the matter would appear to be primarily for the consideration of my right hon. and Noble Friend the Secretary of State for War, to whose notice I will bring the suggestion.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the frequent sales of houses in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and elsewhere in Scotland where munition workers and soldiers' families have to live; whether these sales, as a rule; are preparatory to evictions of the tenants, which increase the difficulties of finding house accommodation and the evils of overcrowding; and, if so, whether he proposes to do anything to check this grievance?

Various representations on this subject have reached me, from which I am led to suppose that the exception contained in the Rent Restriction Act in regard to houses sold by the owner does in some cases operate so as to constitute a grievance, and I am in consultation with my colleagues as to the best means of dealing with the situation so created.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many years ago Irish Members of Parliament were enabled to get season tickets at a low rate, and that now the granting of a free ticket does not involve the railway companies in any loss; whether he is aware that the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company are quite willing, although not in the favourable position of the railway companies, to agree, so far as they are concerned, to the issue of these free tickets; and if he will in these circumstances have the matter re-considered, and free travelling facilities granted to the Irish Members of Parliament at least during the Session?

I am afraid that I cannot add to previous replies on this subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the temporary postmen are receiving an allowance for boots and clothing; and, if not, whether he proposes to place them on an equal footing with the established postmen by granting them an allowance?

Temporary postmen do not receive a separate allowance for boots. The wages paid are regarded as covering any necessary expenditure for footwear, and it is not proposed to alter this arrangement. Temporary full-time postmen, however, and, within certain limits, part-time postmen are provided with uniform.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can give the number of schools of each denomination and the average attendance, so as to bring up to date Table 23 of the Return of Day Schools published in 1912?

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, in the recent Debate in the Legislative Council of Ceylon with regard to the suppression of the riots, the unofficial members who voted for the Motion expressing the opinion that in view of the recent disclosures it is dangerous to allow Mr. H. L. Dowbiggin to continue to hold the office of Inspector-General of Police were the representatives in the Council of over 90 per cent. of the population of Ceylon; that all the Tamil members, representing 25 per cent. of the population, which took absolutely no part in the riots, supported the Sinhalese in this Motion; that these representatives of 90 per cent. of the population of the Colony all condemned in their speeches the methods adopted by the Administration for dealing with the disturbances; and whether, in view of these facts, it is the intention of the Government to allow the Administration to continue to act contrary to the wishes of over 90 per cent. of the population constitutionally expressed through their representatives on the Legislative Council?

If by "acting contrary to the wishes of the population" the hon. Member refers to my refusal to withdraw this officer from Ceylon, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to his question of the 19th of December, except that I do not admit that the elected and nominated members who supported the Government do not also represent the general interests and wishes of the community.