asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has seen the text of the secret Russo-Japanese Treaty of 3rd July, 1916, recently published at Petrograd; whether the Foreign Office had knowledge of this Treaty when made; and whether, in view of Article 3 of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1911, he will say whether the British Government was consulted before the Russo-Japanese Treaty of 1916 was effected?

The Treaty referred to was communicated to His Majesty's Government confidentially by de Japanese Government before signature.

asked whether the Governments of France and the United States, or either of them, continue to have diplomatic representatives at Petrograd; and, if so, whether such representatives are in diplomatic relations with the present Government of Russia?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; that to the second in the negative.

asked whether Sir George Buchanan is returning from Petrograd; and, if so, whether in any future appointment the area of selection will be so greatly widened that such posts may become available to capable and distinguished men of the world whose ideas have not become limited by the official groove: and whose minds are alive to the movements of a new time?

Sir G. Buchanan is only home on leave. As regards the second part of the question, I will give the hon. Gentleman the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he makes no reflection on this most able and distinguished public servant. On the subject of appointments to ambassadorial posts I am giving an answer to the hon. Gentleman in connection with Question No:8.

asked whether Russia is still an Allied State for the purposes of the War?

As far as treaties can make her so, she is.

Is the position taken up by Russia at the present time with reference to the Pact of London a matter which has made no difference in this respect?

It has not affected the validity of the treaties so far as I know.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether any Russian subjects now remain interned without trial in this country; if so, how many; and whether the release of any of these persons in the near future is under consideration; (2) whether Mr. Sairo, a Russian subject, is, or has been, interned. without trial in Brixton Prison; if he is still interned, why was he not returned to Russia with Mr. Tchitcherine; (3) whether Mr. Hasse, a Russian subject. is, or has been, interned without trial in Reading gaol; and, if he is still interned, why was he not returned to Russia with Mr. Tchitcherine?

Four persons, claiming to be Russian subjects, are at present interned under Defence of the Realm Regulation 143, namely, three men and one woman. They have all been offered the choice between being sent to Russia or remaining in internment in this country. One of the men, Sairio, refuses to state which he would prefer; it is proposed to send him to Russia. The other two, Hasse and Natenbruk, have now chosen to go back to Russia; the woman, Witcop, declines to go unless she can be accompanied by a German prisoner of war who cannot be released from internment or sent to Russia. Arrangements will be made to send Sairio, Hasse and Natenbruk to Russia as soon as possible.

With regard to the question of Witcop, is it not a fact that her husband, who was exiled from Germany, was a well-known writer against German militarism for many years, and that she has been offered by the Advisory Committee an opportunity of going to Russia with her husband?

I do not know whether the person whom the hon. Member refers to as her husband is married to her.

Is it not a fact that she has been married to this man, though not by English law, for many years, and has a grown-up son, and does the right hon. Gentleman think it a fine thing to insult a woman like this?

I say nothing at all against her, but if she is married to this man, of course, she is a German subject, and cannot be sent to Russia at all. We have no power to send a German to Russia.

Is it not a fact that Mrs. Petroff was declared by the Home Office to be a German subject, and has she not recently been sent to Russia?

That may be so, but different considerations apply in the case of a German man and a German woman.

asked whether all Germans have now been cleared out of the- British Concession at Shameen, in China; and whether their buildings have been taken over and their leases terminated?

When China declared war upon Germany His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton informed all the Germans in the British Concession on the Island of Shameen that they could only remain there if they closed their businesses and reported to him at the British Consulate-General every fortnight. As a. result seven enemy subjects left the Concession, and the twelve who remained, all males, have observed. the conditions imposed by the Consul-General. I am informed that, pending a decision in regard to the legal questions involved, no buildings belonging to Germans have been taken over, nor have their leases been terminated, but further inquiries will be made as to this point

What legal decision. does my right hon. Friend refer to? Are we at war with Germany or are we at law with Germany?

Undoubtedly at war with Germany, so that I do not see the relevance of that observation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the importance of the position of permanent Ambassador at Washington, he will, in considering the qualities demanded by that post, avoid the selection of any man incrusted in official routine or out of sympathy with democratic ideals, and will consequently select from outside the present limits of the Foreign Office a forward-looking man of wide culture and democratic style?

I feel sure that when the occasion arises the Prime Minister of the day will take a broad and statesman- like view of all the considerations which should influence the advice he will give to the King.

Is it the case that no man can be appointed to such a position as this unless he is in possession of a private fortune of a certain figure—one of the rich?

I am not aware of any rule of that sort. If the hon. Member wants further information he had better put a question down.

Even if it should break with the tradition of the Foreign Office, will the right hon. Gentleman not follow this excellent advice?

The advice that I have suggested to the Prime Minister is in exact conformity with the traditions of the Foreign Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will grant passports to a mother and daughter who desire to nurse a daughter of the former who resides in the United States and is stricken with an incurable disease, and has no other relatives there to attend to her?

In the circumstances stated by the hon. Member, applications for passports would no doubt receive the fullest consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether any Report or public statement will be issued by the Milk Production and Distribution Committee showing what this Committee has done in the matter of the milk supply?

The Committee on the Production and Distribution of Milk have already issued two Interim Reports, dated the 8th June (Command Paper No. 8608) and the 30th November (Command Paper No. 8886), in last year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will sanction the request of the Brixham Fisheries Development Committee to have two lights fixed at Tor Cross to safeguard the Brixham fishermen from trawling in the restricted area of Start Bay?

I regret that on naval grounds the fixing of lights as suggested in the question cannot be sanctioned.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not mark a chart, painted in dark blue, so that the Fisheries Development Committee may keep it, and show it to the fishermen, who are only too anxious to catch fish, but who do not desire to transgress the Regulations?

I will submit that proposal of a marked chart to my naval advisers. Obviously lights are out of the question. They would disclose the full situation to the enemy submarines.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the great difference between the price given to fishermen for sprats caught, namely, 3s. or less for 100 1bs., and the retail market price of 6d. per 1b.; and whether, seeing that sprats are an important article of food, especially at the present time, he will fix the market price without delay to prevent undue profits being made?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that herrings are still sold at 5d. and 6d. apiece in the London shops, whereas at the coast they have been sold at the rate of 1?d. apiece; and whether the issue of the Order for the regulation of fish prices can be expedited, seeing that he stated on 20th December that it was being considered?

The F sh (Prices) Order, which comes into operation on Wednesday next, will, it is hoped; remedy the grievances to which attention has been called.

Will the hon. Gentleman take care that sprats and herrings do not disappear from the market, like rabbits?

What steps will the Department take to see that these high prices in the Order just issued will mean adequate remuneration to the fishermen, who have to take great risks catching the fish?

I cannot reply in detail to that question. The prices have been fixed and they will be issued on Wednesday next. When the hon. Member has seen them he can put another question on the Paper, if he requires further information.

I have seen the prices in the statement issued. I am anxious in regard to the fishermen in this industry that the hon. Gentleman will see that the prices fixed will secure adequate remuneration to the fishermen and not the middlemen.

Can the hon. Gentleman say if the price paid to the fishermen is 3s. per 100 lbs., while the retail price is 50s. per 100 1bs.?

I cannot go into any details, but I will direct the attention of the Ministry of Food to the matters which have been raised

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, (1) in view of the statements that householders may not have in store more than a fortnight's supplies, what is the position of the householder who is paid monthly and gets in his supplies monthly; (2) what is the position of the housewife who saves the household ration of sugar for the purpose of jam preserving, though not a grower of fruit, when the preserving season commences and in consequence thereof may have sundry pounds of sugar in hand; (3) what is the position of the housewife, in the event of a visit from an officer of the Food Controller, who is found to have possession of a plentiful supply of jams of her own preserving, bearing in mind the fact that no more than a fortnight's supply of rood, controlled or uncontrolled, be kept in hand?

No statement has been authorised as to whether a person may or may not have in store more than a fortnight's supply. Whether the quantity of food in a householder's possession at any one time exceeds the quantity required for ordinary use and consumption is a question of fact to be determined in each case. The Food Hoarding Order does not apply to any home-produced or homemade article of food in the possession of the producer or maker, or to the materials necessary in the ordinary course for such production.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the purpose of the excavations going on and of the bricks collected in the garden in St. James's Square; what is the nature and height of the structure presumably to be erected there; and what is its object and when is the structure to be completed?

The building referred to by the hon. Member is not being erected by my Department, nor have I any information on the subject beyond the fact that I understand it is being erected by the United States Young Men's Christian Association.

Do we understand that it has nothing to do with the Commissioners of Works? Is it the War Office?

As far as I know, it is being erected by the United States Young Men's Christian Association.

Are there not large mansions in St. James's Square and in the neighbourhood which are unoccupied and which might have been used instead of this building?

As I have told the hon. Member, I know nothing at all about it. It has nothing to do with my Department.

Have they not to get sanction for building from some Department of the Government?

I have no doubt they have to get sanction from some Department—I do not quite know which.

Is it not His Majesty's Commissioners of Works?

No; not at all.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he has been informed that the shipyard employés in Dumbarton received from their employers a promise on the 20th December last that an increase of 12 per cent. would be paid on the 22nd if the Ministry of Munitions agreed that the firm was in communication with the Ministry on the subject; that the Ministry sent, under date of the 11th December, a letter which arrived on the 21st and which was too late to permit of an amicable settlement of the claim; whether he is aware that, after delays and continued unsettlement owing to the indefinite replies made by the Ministry of Munitions, a large number of men quitted work; and whether he has yet been able to settle this dispute?

I will answer this question if I may. It is a fact that the employés received a promise from their employers on 20th December that the per cent. bonus to plain time workers would be paid on the 22nd if the Ministry of Munitions agreed, and that firms concerned were in communication with the Ministry on the subject.

The Order is dated 11th December, and a very large number of copies had to be issued. Finding from the printers that the prints could not be returned to us by the 18th, we set to work ourselves on the 17th, duplicating copies of the Order and a covering letter which were posted by us on the 18th. These were not delivered by the post office to some of the Dumbarton firms till the 21st. On the 20th, some of the employers on the Clyde informed their men that unless the Order was received that day, it would be impossible to pay the bonus to all men entitled to it on the 22nd, and a notice to this effect appeared in the local Press. The copies arrived too late to enable the employers to make up the pay sheets so as to pay on the 22nd, and the bonus was paid the following week before the New Year holidays.

It is possible that this incident contributed in some degree to the decision of the men to "down tools," but my hon. Friend is, of course, aware that other questions were involved. The whole question of the strike has since been in the hands of the Ministry of Labour. I understand that most of the men affected in this particular case undertook to return to work this morning.

Are we to understand that in any case this advance will be retrospective from the 22nd?

I should like to see the terms of it, but I have no doubt in my own mind that that is the ease.

asked the Vice-President. of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), what relaxation has been made regarding the export of horses from Ireland which are not required for agricultural or business purposes in Ireland, but are wanted in Great Britain; and whether he is aware that many complaints have been made on this subject, and that those idle horses arc consuming oats and hay and so depleting food supplies?

Light trappers and hunters have been added to the classes of horses for which licences for exportation from Ireland were previously given. Careful consideration was required to secure the retention in Ireland of sufficient horses suitable for agricultural purposes, with a view to the carrying out of the Compulsory Food Production Scheme, but the Department of Agriculture hope to be in a position before long to announce the withdrawal of the Order restricting the export of horses.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that, with the exception of the Wrexham garden village training centre, there is at present no technical training centre or orthopædic institution for special treatment available in North Wales; and whether he will consider the advisability of amalgamating the two Joint Statutory Committees of North and South Wales, so that the requirements of discharged soldiers in Wales may be dealt with by one Committee, who will have regard to the provision of training and treatment for the whole of Wales?

I have no power to amalgamate the two Joint Committees, which are voluntary associations of local committees formed under the Act of 1915, and I doubt whether any suggestion for such amalgamation would be acceptable to either body. The fact of this separate existence of the two sub-committees is not, however, a bar to the common use of institutions and training centres in Wales. The hospital at Llandridod Spa, which I am arranging should take 150 cases, will be available to the whole country, as is already Wrexham, for orthopædic treatment. The general arrangements for training include the transfer of a man from one area to another u here this is necessary.

asked the Pensions Minister whether the suggested alterations have now taken place at Chelsea; and whether one can now expect a reply to letters within a reasonable period?

The reorganisation of the Award to Soldiers Branch of the Ministry at Chelsea is progressing, under the direction of Sir Woodburn Kirby, as rapidly as can be expected, having regard to the immense and quickly increasing volume of work in the branch, which has to be carried out by a growing and inexperienced staff. The dealing with letters received at Chelsea from soldiers and their friends constitutes a large part of this work and retards rather than accelerates awards. If correspondents would make more use of the local committees, the accredited agents of the Ministry, it would give the branch at Chelsea better opportunities of discharging its primary function of awarding pensions.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether his intention to have Chelsea reorganised in Christmas week has fallen through? Can he say how soon now it will be reorganised; this is a very important matter?

It was intended to have closed a week at Christmas for the purpose of adopting the new filing system. Previous to that I secured the services of Sir Woodburn Kirby, who is one of the best organisers that we have in London. He has taken personal charge. We are having an addition made, so far as office accommodation is concerned. The last report I had from the gentleman in charge was that he believes that in March he will have the thing completed. At the present time everything has been very greatly expedited as the result of his care.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he can state the number of pensions awarded up to 31st December, 1917, or other date, giving figures for life, temporary, widows, and dependants, respectively?

I will communicate with the hon. Member on the subject of this question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not rather circulate his information in the OFFICIAL REPORT, so that everyone can see it?

In the course of a few weeks it will be necessary, under the Act of Parliament, that a complete Report should be made. Then, of course, full information will be given, not only as to the number of pensioners, but the amount of money spent by the Department; and I hope it will also contain a statement showing the system of treatment and training, and a variety of other matters which come under the control of the Department.

If the right hon. Gentleman is going to communicate with me, cannot he, at the same time, communicate with the rest of us by publishing the Reports?

The only object I had in saying what I did was to consult with the hon. Member as to what form this information should take.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not put other Members of the House who are interested in the pensions question—as the hon. Member for East Edinburgh has suggested—in possession of the facts and consult them also?

Absolutely!

asked the Pensions Minister whether he can see his way to give widows with pensions the same privileges as are accorded by the local war pensions committees to the wives of serving soldiers?

I am in some doubt as to what "privileges" the hon. Member has in mind, but any inequality of treatment which now exists will, I think, be largely remedied by the amended Regulations of the Special Grants Committee, which will shortly be issued. Under 13 (a) of Part II. of the amended Regulations the sickness grant will be payable to a widow as well as to the wife of a serving soldier; and with regard to rent allowance, the new Regulation 1 (of Part I.) will, it is hoped, be found sufficiently liberal to meet the widow's needs. Under this Regulation, as amended, the supplementary allowance will be payable where, owing to exceptional circumstances, the pension seems to be inadequate, without the pensioner being under the necessity of pleading "serious hardship," and a further allowance of not exceeding 2s. 6d. a week may be granted in respect of each child previously supported by the deceased soldier.

I am very glad to hear that. Is, however, my right hon. Friend aware that when a widow has exhausted the twenty-six weeks' separation allowance she is no longer entitled to get the same grant as the wife of the serving soldier, either for herself or her children; and can he see his way to make these grants accessible to the widow and children who receives less in pension than the wife who receives more in separation allowance?

I understand that the alterations in the Regulations are designed for the purpose the hon. Member has in view.

asked the Prime Minister why separation allowance is now to be paid to the children of officers up to the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, respectively, for male and female children, instead of fourteen, as in the case of the children of private soldiers, or whether it is proposed to extend the allowance in the latter case?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The decision of the War Cabinet follows the lines already adopted for allowances to children of deceased officers. The separation allowances of soldiers' children do not terminate at age fourteen, as stated, but at age sixteen in the normal case, and these allowances also ere extended to the age of twenty-one in eases of apprenticeship, continued higher education, or invalidity.

Is not my right hon. Friend confusing the allowance for diseased children and for live children? Is he aware that in the case of children of private soldiers the allowance ceases at the age of fourteen, and is only increased to sixteen and seventeen in very special cases and never extends to twenty-one even in the case of mentally afflicted children?

I think my hon. Friend is entirely wrong. I know it is very unusual in his case, but if he will refer to a very excellent pamphlet or guide-book by the hon. Member for East Edinburgh (Mr. Hogg:), he will be able to refresh his memory.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that it is because I did refer to the guide-book, which he says is excellent, that I am putting this accurate information to him?

Perhaps my hon. Friend would ask the hon. Member for East Edinburgh to revise his publication.

What reason is there for allowing any difference between the ages of children of private soldiers and the ages of children of officers at which you Fay separation allowance? Is it not equally desirable that you should encourage the education and care of the children of private soldiers as of the children of officers?

Yes, Sir; and, as I have said, the separation allowance of private soldiers does not terminate at the age of fourteen but at the age of sixteen in normal cases, and is extended in cases of apprenticeship, continued higher education, or invalidity, to the age of twenty-one.

Will the right hon. Gentleman then kindly state what is the difference made in the case of children of private soldiers and in the case of children of officers?

Why should the wife of a serving soldier have to make application for a separation allowance beyond the age of fourteen in the interests of education or apprenticeship when it is not necessary in the case of an officer?

That raises another question.

I will write another edition.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he has come to any agreement with the London civilian hospitals as to the terms and conditions on which discharged disabled men will be treated by these institutions; and, if so, whether he will have such terms published immediately?

Arrangements have now been made with both London and provincial hospitals, and the terms will be communicated to all Local War Pensions Committees forthwith.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware of the difficulty which is being experienced in London in obtaining in-patient treatment for discharged disabled men, which is largely due to the sudden withdrawal by the War Office of facilities for such treatment in military hospitals; whether he is aware that many beds in civil hospitals are occupied by soldiers; and whether he proposes to take steps to have these beds made available for discharged disabled men and to supplement the inadequate accommodation in London, having regard to the claims of ordinary civilians?

I am fully aware of the difficulties referred to, and have represented the matter to the War Office. In response to my representations it has been arranged that the War Office, recognising the prior claim of the Ministry to the accommodation in civil hospitals, will refrain from requisitioning further beds in those hospitals, and, further, will release the accommodations now occupied by them as rapidly as possible.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the matter is a very urgent one, and that a considerable number of men are now waiting for treatment, some of them have only been discharged from military hospitals on the express understanding that they would receive further treatment from these hospitals, which is now denied them; will he also answer the last part of the question: "Whether he proposes to take steps to have these beds made available for discharged disabled men and to supplement the inadequate accommodation in London, having regard to the claims of ordinary civilians," and quite apart from the military beds?

I may say, in reply to the hon. Gentleman, that I have just instituted a Medical Department, presided over by a very eminent surgeon. They have the whole of the matter in hand. I am hopeful, under their expert advice, that the difficulties referred to will be rapidly swept away.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that more than 1,600 beds have, since the beginning of the War, been added to the accommodation of the voluntary hospitals in London in order to meet the case of the admission of military patients?

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether he has received the resolutions dealing with the constitution of the Sub-committee which has been appointed to consider and report upon the steps to be taken to ensure the better co-ordination of public assistance in England and Wales and upon such other matters affecting the system of local' government as may from time to time be referred to it; arid whether he proposes. to remedy this defect by appointing representatives of the Association of Poor Law Unions in England and Wales upon this. Sub-committee?

I would refer my lion. Friend to the reply given to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Dartford Division on the 16th January, to which I have nothing to add, except to say that the Sub-committee has already reported.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Sir Alexander Gibb, K.B.E., C.B., R.E., who has been appointed Civil Engineer-in-Chief to the Board of Admiralty, belongs to the Institute of Engineers or any other technical institute of similar character; whether he is a director of the North-Eastern Railway Company; whether he is. a member of the firm of Easton, Gibb, Son, and Company, Government contractors; whether it will be within his. province to supervise the work of contractors; and whether he will retain his directorship of the North-Eastern Railway Company and a financial interest in Messrs. Easton, Gibb, Son, and Company?

Sir Alexander Gibb is a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, as well as of other technical institutes and societies. He is not a director of the North-Eastern Railway Company, and has never had any connection with that railway except as a contractor, but he is a member of the firm of Easton, Gibb, and Son, Limited.

As Civil Engineer-in-Chief it will be within his province to supervise the work of contractors. As from the date when Sir Alexander Gibb entered upon his duties, his firm has discontinued its business as contractors for the period of the War. All existing contracts are cancelled as from that date, and Brigadier-General Sir Edward Raban, K.C.B., R.E. (late Director of Works at the Admiralty) has been appointed by agreement between the Admiralty and the firm to assess any outstanding accounts between them. The Admiralty are much indebted to Sir Alexander Gibb for the readiness with which he has set aside all his business interests in order to assist the Public Service.

Have arrangements been made, or will they be made, to finish the work entrusted to Messrs. Easton, Gibb and Company?

Yes, as regards the main contract that practically is now completed. There are, however, a number of matters to clear up and values to adjust. They will be dealt with by the respective surveyors by agreement if possible, and, if not, referred to Sir Edward Raban for assessment. The firm has another contract upon which a considerable amount of work has yet to be done, and that will be cancelled and the firm paid off. We shall then either do the work ourselves or get it done by other contractors.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how enemy submarines can operate regularly in the Mersey whilst British submarines are unable to operate close in to enemy ports in the North Sea?

The Admiralty are not prepared to admit that British sub- marines are unable to operate close in to enemy ports in the North Sea. But it must be clear to my hon. Friend that the conditions obtaining in the vicinity of enemy ports are wholly different from those which obtain in the case of British ports. The absence of mercantile traffic from German ports in the North Sea renders practicable the use of extensive minefields by the enemy. On the other hand, the volume of mercantile traffic using British ports renders it necessary for the approaches to be kept clear of mines.

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that enemy submarines have not been inside the Mersey bar?

I cannot discuss that at all.

asked. the Secretary to the Admiralty if his attention has been drawn to advertisements inserted in English newspapers offering employment for women in the torpedo factory, Greenock; is he aware that there' are many women in Greenock awaiting employment; and, in view of the present housing conditions in Greenock, will he take steps to employ women resident in. Greenock and the neighbourhood?

My hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. No advertisements have been inserted in. English newspapers offering employment to women in the factory at Greenock. I may say, further, that in the course of the last three months, of the forty women who have been entered only two were last employed in England. One of these really belongs to the locality and applied from. her home, near Greenock. The other is the wife of a soldier whose father is, employed in the factory.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that if further women are wanted for the factory, other things being equal, preference will be given to the women resident in Greenock?

Obviously that is most desirable.

asked the Secretary for Scotland,(1) whether he is aware that one result of the recent level of flars prices in Scotland has been to reduce to about one-third of their previous annual amount certain funds providing for the teaching of Divinity subjects in the university of Edinburgh; whether he proposes to take any action in the matter; (2) whether any progress has been made towards legislation on an agreed basis on the subject of fiars prices in Scotland?

I am aware of the effect of the increase in fiars prices upon the income of the Divinity chairs referred to and upon landed property in general. The whole question is engaging my serious attention, in consultation with the interests concerned. I am not without hope that some agreement may be possible.

Will he say if the agreement which the right hon. Gentleman hopes to reach is one which will take effect merely temporarily, or has he in view a permanent settlement?

That is just one of the questions which will have to be discussed.

asked the Minister of National Service, whether 'he is aware that conscripted men are being sent to Maidstone for re-examination and being posted elsewhere, that they are there housed in the Agricultural Hall, an old cattle market, which is unheated and cold, and that, mattresses being insufficient, men are sleeping on the bare ground in this wintry weather; and whether he will immediately stop sending men to these conditions?

In one of the buildings used at Maidstone the heating arrangements were not satisfactory, but steps have already been taken to remedy this. Recently there was a temporary shortage of mattresses owing to the arrival of a large number of men, but the men were given six or more blankets instead. The battalion in question will be moved as soon as suitable accommodation can be found elsewhere.

asked whether the officers who have hitherto acted as military representatives at Appeal Tribunals are still not notified as to whether they are to be retained by the Ministry of National Service; and, if they are to be retained, will they be in charge of a department for tribunal work or merely represent the Ministry at Appeal Tribunals?

A general Instruction was issued on 15th November containing the following paragraph:

"The appointments of Military Representatives (who now become National Service Representatives) will remain in force as though they had been made by the Minister of National Service, unless or until they are in any case revoked or varied by the Minister of National Service."

These officials are at the present moment performing the duties of their offices. Returns and recommendations are being made by the Directors of National Service in the regions with a view to the definite settlement of the regional establishments. The matter of the organisation of tribunal work in the regions has not been finally determined. It is probable that no uniform system can be made to suit the requirements of all regions, which differ widely in character. It may, however, be stated that in general the work of the Appeal National Service Representatives will not be confined to representing the Ministry at Appeal Tribunals.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether that transference to the National Service Department includes those military representatives who are of military age and military fitness and who have never yet been out of the country?

Yes; it includes all military representatives, but the whole question is being considered.

Will any steps be taken to have their protection certificates withdrawn?

Our regional directors are advising on the whole of these questions.

Will that include men who have been simply engaged as recruiting officers in khaki?

They are not necessarily under the Ministry of National Service.

asked the Minister of National Service (1) if he can state the proportion of the one million or more administrative protection certificates issued, protecting their holders from military service, which have been issued by Government Departments to men in Government offices; (2) whether steps have been taken to cancel any of the administrative protection certificates, numbering over 1,000,000, and which are at present subject to cancellation by order of the Director-General of National Service; how many of these certificates have been cancelled during the past year; and how many men holding such certificates, it is estimated, could be at present obtained from Government offices and other protected vocations?

The administrative protection certificates to which my right hon. Friend referred in his speech on Monday, 14th January, are those issued under the Munitions Area Recruiting Scheme, and do not affect men of military age employed in Government offices, who are exempted under the provisions of Section 2, Subsection (2) of the Military Service Act, 1916. During the past year, under the M.A.R.O. Scheme, the number of men whose certificates have been withdrawn and who have been posted for service, is about 50,000.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the depressive effect upon the soldiers of favouritism or the exercise of undue privilege, he will take steps to clear all the Government offices in Whitehall of men of military age able to bear arms?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. If the hon. Member suggests that men of military age are retained in Government Departments owing to favouritism or the exercise of undue privilege he is mistaken. As stated in the reply given on 31st December to the hon. Member for South Moneyhan the Civil Service has already supplied its full quota of men of military age and fitness for service with the Colours, and I am satisfied that many Departments are seriously handicapped for want of skilled staff, and that the course suggested by the hon. Member would be neither practicable nor in the public interest. The matter receives the constant attention of the Ministry of National Service, and no man is retained without the concurrence of this Department.

Has the Government considered not merely the military value of these men but the profound moral effect of encouraging embusqués in the Government offices?

Yes, but the Government have also to consider the profound moral effect of a break-down of the staff in all Government Departments.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before the House goes into Committee on the Military Service Bill, he can announce the decision of the Government with regard to discharged men now subject to re-examination and recall under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act; and whether it has been agreed that such men shall be given the alternative of engaging in work of national importance and, so long as they remain engaged in the same, shall not be subject to recall unless and until a national emergency warrants it?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. The Government propose to make the following further concession with regard to men at present in civil life who have served in His Majesty's Forces and have been discharged in consequence of disablement or ill-health, and who are now, or who may become, subject to re-examination and recall for service under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917. It is proposed that any such man who has served in the Forces and who is not for the time being engaged on work of national importance shall have an opportunity which it is proposed to fix as a standard at the period of one month, but for good cause shown in any individual case this will be extended, in which he may engage in work of national importance. The period would run from the coming into force of this arrangement in the case of men already discharged, and from the date of discharge in the case of men who may be discharged hereafter. The work of national importance would be in an industry contained in a list to be settled and revised from time to time, such as shipbuilding, iron ore mines, munitions, agriculture, public utility undertakings and the like. Each man himself must take steps to apply for employment, but every facility will be given through existing Government machinery to enable him to obtain such employment. Special arrangements are already in force to enable soldiers now being discharged to obtain civil employment. The arrangement will apply to men already engaged on work of national importance. These will on application be given a protection certificate to show that they are rightfully continuing in civil life. In order to secure the smooth working of these administrative arrangements, it is absolutely essential that all discharged sailors and soldiers should keep the local officials of the Ministry of National Service fully informed as to their whereabouts and the nature of their employment, and I venture to express the hope that all associations interested in their welfare will co-operate.

Arising out of this extremely important answer, is my right hon. Friend aware that men who are now in the condition which he has explained who have served overseas are entitled now to their final discharge without the answer he has given, and does his answer mean that all men who have been discharged disabled and who have not served overseas will, first of all, be given the alternative of work of national importance, and so long as they are engaged in that, according to the list he has explained, they will not be subject to re-examination?

Yes, that was what I intended my answer to be.

Are you quite clear about it?

Will the hon. Gentleman have the answer corrected in the OFFICIAL REPORT, because, as the answer at present stands, it is a limitation on the concession granted by the Under-Secretary of State for War in July last, when he conceded the point that all men who had served overseas would not be called up?

I think if my hon. Friend reads the answer—

I have read it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the late Bombardier, John Golding, No 77844, Royal Field Artillery, killed in action in France in August last, had been medically classified as C 3; and, if so, whether he will investigate the circumstances in which he was sent to France?

I am inquiring into this case, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Service if he can state the proportion of the 450,000 men of military age which he proposes to obtain from each of the various essential industries, respectively, including the coal-mining, engineering, and iron and steel industries under the provisions of the Military Service Bill; whether any arrangements have been, or are about to be, completed with the employers and trade organisations for the release of a certain proportion of the men engaged in each of the industries referred to; and what methods will be adopted to secure the number of men required from each separate industrial district?

As large a proportion of the men required will be drawn from nonessential industries as is possible.

The number of men to be withdrawn from the various essential industries is determined in consultation with the Government Departments responsible for the maintenance of those industries, and, as my hon. Friend is aware, not only is the Ministry of National Service in close and constant touch with the representatives of employers and employed on all questions of recruiting, but the other Government Departments concerned are also in a similar position.

It is not intended to withdraw all the men in one day, or one week, and as the withdrawals proceed, their effect on each industry is noted, and the rate of withdrawal is adjusted accordingly.

Can the hon Gentleman, say whether, before the Military Service Bill is passed, the Government will be in a position to state the proportion generally which it is proposed should he withdrawn from each of the various essential industries?

I do not think that that is at all necessary. There is the closest cooperation between ourselves and these industries.

Is it not the case that figures have been suggested to the various trade unions concerned, and is the House of Commons not entitled to know what those proposals are?

I do not quite know to what the hon. Gentleman refers, but it would be most undesirable to bind people down to figures.

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will answer the point I put to him. I am asking what proportion of men it is intended to withdraw from these particular industries, and surely the House is entitled to know what essential industries are to be affected, and what are the proposals which have been made to the trade unions concerned?

It is really pressing an unnecessary point. It has been fully explained to the industries and to the trade unions that industries will be combed out, the output of which admits of their being combed out, and most elaborate arrangements have been made for informing the trade unions as to the actual men and their ages and occupations.

Will the hon. Member give the House the arrangements made with the trade unions?

Cannot the hon. Gentleman say whether estimates have been made as to the proportion affecting the various industries, whether these estimates have been actually given to the various trade unions themselves, and whether the House is not to be put in possession of the figures given to the trade unions?

That really shows how undesirable it is to raise so elaborate a 'question in this way. There is a Third Reading Debate, when these things can be adequately dealt with.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Third Reading.

asked the Minister of National Service what steps he has taken to give effect to the policy laid down by him at the Aldwych Club on the 14th November, 1917, that in recruiting the State must first of all draw from the internal luxury trades and trades which are continuing to provide unnecessary and wasteful articles; and whether he proposes to utilise for the Army and for work of national importance the man-power at present still absorbed in the luxury and non-essential trades specifically referred to by him at the Aldwych Club and at Plymouth as great organisations which existed to encourage waste before withdrawing men from the essential war industries of the country

The policy of drawing men from the luxury trades is being steadily pursued, and since the speeches referred to in the question many thousands of men have been drawn from them for the Army. If the powers under Clause 2 of the Military Service Bill are obtained, many more will be recruited. Through the restriction of imports the supply of raw material to these trades is being cut down, and employés who in this way become surplus to the requirements of the industries are being found employment in work of national importance in large and steadily increasing numbers.

Is it intended to withdraw men of military age from nonessential trades before the essential trades are affected?

I have told my hon. Friend, in answer to question No. 42, that as large a proportion of the men required will be withdrawn from non-essential industries as is possible.

Could the hon. Gentleman tell us what, if any, conclusion has been arrived at as to what is a non-essential trade?

That raises a very wide point, which, I think again, is a matter for the Third Reading.

asked the Prime Minister the nature of the inquiry in connection with the military operations at Cambrai, the composition of the Court, and whether its findings were reported direct to the War Cabinet or were subject to the revision of the Secretary of State for War or the Army Council?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for North-West Lanarkshire on the 15th of January, except to say that all the documents in connection with the inquiry were submitted to the War Cabinet. General Smuts, at their request, went through them, and his Report, which was approved by the Cabinet, was not subject to revision by Lord Derby or by any member of the Army Council. It therefore follows that the decision in connection with the publication of the results of this inquiry was taken by the War Cabinet, who are responsible for it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a very great deal of dissatisfaction is being expressed outside this House as to the withholding of the result of this inquiry from the public?

I am aware of that fact to a certain extent; but, as I stated in answer to a question previously, after carefully considering it, the War Cabinet have come to the conclusion that it is not in the public interest to give more information than has been given.

Will the dispatch from the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief describing the events at Cambrai be published?

I have no doubt that it will, but that point has not been considered, and I cannot say.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to prevent the truth being told by soldiers who return on leave from Cambrai?

If the hon. Gentleman is judging by representations similar to those which reach me, it is not always the truth which is being told.

I refer to statements by fellows who have been fighting.

asked the Prime Minister whether the proposals for the State purchase of the liquor traffic will include the purchase of distilleries now engaged in the manufacture of intoxicating liquor for beverage purposes; whether it is proposed that after they have been purchased they should be used for the production of alcohol for industrial, surgical, and medical requirements; whether alcohol can be manufactured at Is. a gallon as compared with the present price of 3s. 6d. per gallon for petrol; and whether, in view of the saving of money which may be effected, he will introduce at an early date a measure for the State purchase which will include the taking over of all the distilleries in the country?

I am unable to make any statement at present.

asked the Prime Minister when the Committee of business men who are to inquire into the expenditure of Government Departments will be appointed; whether any new public building will be necessary for its accommodation; whether the members of this Committee are to receive any salaries; and what office staff is to be allowed for the work of the Committee?

The Committees set up by the Treasury in accordance with the recommendations of the Select Committee on National Expenditure have been appointed, and the names of the members and their terms of reference are being circulated to-day in reply to a question by the right hon. Member for the Cleveland Division. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the negative. It is not anticipated that any office staff will be required, beyond a secretary to each Committee.—[See Written Answers this day.]

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether, as a check on the land hunger in Ireland and the undue inflation of land values in that country, he will take steps to remove the block against the operations of the Estates Commissioners so as to enable them to take over land for distribution among those who are willing and eager to till the same; (2) whether his attention and that of the War Cabinet have been called to the inflation of the price of land in Ireland and the amount of letting rents of grass lands, in both cases often from five to ten times pre-war figures; and, having regard to natural requirements for food at reasonable prices, he and the War Cabinet have considered the advisability of restraining this inflation in the interests of economical food production

I have been asked to reply to these questions. The Department of Agriculture are taking steps with a view to increasing the food supply in Ireland during the coming year by increased tillage. Even if it were possible to take steps to enable the Estates Commissioners to distribute estates under the provisions of the Irish Land Acts, no arrangements could be made in time to increase the food supply this season. The Irish Government have no information as to the extent to which the price of land and the rent of grass land have risen since the beginning of the War, but there is little doubt that they have increased considerably, though probably not to the extent suggested in the question. I may remind the hon. Member that if powers were granted to control prices of land and rents in the hope of reducing prices of food-stuffs, this would involve the necessity of further control over the prices paid to farmers for their produce.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware from publications in the newspapers that the price of land in Ireland has gone up to the extent mentioned in the question; and does lie not think it is a matter of State policy that these lands should be sold at prices as will enable food to be produced at a reasonable rate? At the present prices in Ireland it is absolutely impossible to do that.

I have no control over prices fetched at auctions of Irish land, but I do not suppose a buyer pays more than he is likely to be remunerated.

asked the Prime Minister whether contractors employed in the erection of aerodromes in rural districts are taking men from agriculture to carry out their work; and whether, in view of the importance of increasing the food supply of the nation, he will take steps to prevent this

I am aware that this is a matter in regard to which some complaints have been received, and I am considering whether it is possible to take any further measures to meet them.

Will the Government take steps to prevent agricultural labourers being induced to leave their employment?

It is very difficult to secure that altogether. These cases do not occur under the direct employment of the Government but in the cases of contractors, and, it may be, sub-contractors. It is not altogether easy to stop it.

asked the Prime Minister whether it has been brought to his notice that the no-majority in the vote on Conscription in Australia has been due in some measure to the treatment on the part of the Secretary of State for the Colonies of the sentiment of the Australian people with regard to the interference of a State governor in the politics of the country and also by the desire of the Secretary of State to introduce a system of imperial federation which is obnoxious to Australians and by the antidemocratic spirit which he manifests in all his pronouncements; and whether, in view of the magnitude of the loss of man-power which has followed from the pursuit of such policies, he will reorganise the Cabinet so that the affairs of the Dominions may not be dealt with at the Colonial Office?

On a point of Order. Before the question is answered, may I ask your ruling, Mr. Speaker, whether it. is not the case that the proper object of questions in this House is to elicit information on matters of fact; and, if that. be so, whether it would not be possible, before such questions are printed upon the Order Paper, to eliminate from them assumptions which impute improper motives to the Secretary of State?

The object of questions is to enable facts to be elicited, and also the views of the Government with regard to present and future policy. Some hon. Members make use of the Question Paper not so much to obtain the opinion of the Government as to ventilate their own. That is not in accord with the proper principle of questions, I think the object of the hon. Member's question is correct. There is no harm in its object, although it appears to have a good deal of embroidery about it which might be dispensed with. If we had had time on Friday before the House rose to correct the questions, I think there would have been some exercise of the pruning knife.

On a point of Order. May J ask, as the point has been raised on my questions, may I have an opportunity of offering a defence of my questions, or rather a vindication?

That is not a point of Order. If the hon. Member has any point of Order to raise, I shall be glad to hear it.

There is no embroidery in the answer. The answer is in the negative.

Is not this a case where a question is asked to obtain information of the very highest value, involving really the transference of nearly 500,000 men from one side to the other? Why are the Government authorities always like the Bourbons, who forget nothing and learn nothing?

There is too much embroidery in that question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a small Committee of competent men to review the main operations on the Western Front during the last year, with a view of ascertaining the nature of any cases in which the cost of men was out of proportion to the objects gained or the prospects of success; whether such a Committee, if appointed, will be given full powers of inquiry and be instructed to proceed to work without delay and eventually to recommend retirements irrespective of persons; and whether, in that case, the War Cabinet will proceed to give immediate effect to its findings?

The answer is in the negative.

What is the policy of the Government? Is it to win this War by the most effective methods or to protect the reputation of the great?

That -does not arise on this particular question.

asked the Prime Minister who was responsible for the appointment of Mr. Kupferberg as head of a shell factory in this country?

The factory to which I assume my hon. and gallant Friend refers belongs to a private company. The Ministry of Munitions did not appoint Mr. Kupferberg to any post. Criminal proceedings are pending against Mr. Kupferberg.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation depriving persons convicted by Courts of Law upon criminal charges of defrauding the Exchequer of large sums of taxes of the right to vote at elections of all kinds, so that they may not enjoy privileges denied to conscientious objectors?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The question of disfranchising persons convicted of misdemeanour was discussed in this House during the pas-age of the Representation of the People Bill, and has, I understand, been also discussed in another place. The Government cannot undertake to propose legislation on the subject.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether members of the staff of the Board of Inland Revenue who resigned at the beginning of the War in order to join the Colours, and who now come under the Order that at the end of the War they will be reinstated, will be restored without delay to the staff in respect of pay and thus be on the same footing as those who joined later with the approval of the Board?

Steps are being taken to deal with this question generally, and I hope to issue directions to Departments in the course of a few days.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether R. D. Gray, a New Zealand soldier, conscientious objector, recently taken to France, a member of a religious sect, the Testimony of Jesus, whose tenets forbid participation in war, has been returned to this country or is he still in France; (2) whether a New Zealand soldier named Private H. Patton, No. 53863, has recently been sentenced in France to twenty-eight days' field punishment No. 1 for refusing to parade; and whether Private H. Patton has disobeyed military orders in New Zealand, England, and France on the grounds that he has a conscientious objection to military service; (3) whether Alexander Baxter, William Little, Daniel Maguire, Garth C. Ballantyne, L. J. Kirwan, H. Patton, T. P. Harland, and Mark Briggs, New Zealand soldiers, conscientious objectors, were taken to France from Sling Camp, Salisbury, about three months ago; whether they have refused to obey military orders in New Zealand, England, and France on the grounds that they claimed to have a conscientious objection to military service; and will he give particulars of all sentences passed on any of these men while in France?

There are no records in the War Office of the men to whom my hon. Friend refers. I can add nothing on the subject generally to the answers already given on the 31st October to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leeds and to my hon. Friend himself on the 26th November.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, with a view to render anti-typhoid vaccination free from the usual temporary disturbances of health which reduce the efficiency of the soldier, he has studied the method introduced into the French Army following on the researches of Dr. Le Moignic, and which is known as lipo-vaccination; and whether, if not now actually employed in the British Army, this system will be adopted?

The method to which my hon. Friend refers is known to the British medical authorities, and is being investigated.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, concerning men who are time-expired and have served overseas in combatant units since the War began, including service during the retreat from Mons and the first battle of Ypres, whether he will, or he will not, give them the option of transferring to Home service or to non-combatant units?

I regret that I can add nothing to the answer given to my hon. Friend on 22nd November.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, concerning men who enlisted in the early days of the War and are now approaching fifty years of age, who, therefore, have not been classified into any medical category, whether he will allow them to claim on their own application to be examined by a medical board with a view to their being transferred to units more suitable to their physical condition?

I regret that I can add nothing to the answer given to my hon. Friend on December 19th.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will define what class or classes of soldiers receive the silver badge on discharge from the Army?

I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the relevant Army Order.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of a man who has been badly wounded and placed in a hospital at a distance beyond the means of his nearest relatives, he can see his way to issue, say, two return tickets per week at a nominal charge, not exceeding 5s., for bonâ fide visits of his near relatives, to be issued through the local war pensions committee or the chief constables in order to prevent abuse?

There is great difficulty in going beyond the existing concessions, but the transfer of soldiers to hospitals as near as is practicable to their homes is to be given still further consideration in the future.