asked the Prime Minister when the Government will be in s position to issue a statement as to the responsibility for the Halifax disaster, having special regard to the dangerous inflammable cargo carried with the high explosives in the munitions ship; the admission of such a ship for a number of days to a crowded portion of the port; the precautionary rules as to the movements of other ships when a ship with dangerous explosives as cargo is under way in the channel; the instructions given to such ships as to flooding arrangements in the event of fire; and finally as to the manning of neutral ships which have access to our ports and whose crews are brought into indirect contact with the enemy through the work of relief in territories conquered by the Germans?

It is not possible to make any statement on the subject pending the receipt of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry appointed by the Canadian Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that there has been in some quarters a flagging of enthusiasm in the prosecution of the War, and having regard also to the refusal of Australia to introduce Conscription, he will appoint a small Committee of two or three men of energy and competence, giving them full powers to demand all documents and to obtain possession of all required information in order to ascertain throughout the whole scope of the constitution and of the administration all the cases where any principle of exceptional prerogative or unfair privilege exists or any condition, such as, for instance, the protection of embusqués in Government offices, inconsistent with the democratic formula of liberty, equality, and fraternity; whether, if appointed, the Committee will have instructions to proceed to work quickly and report with as little delay as possible; and whether, on the production of the Report, the Government will give full effect to all recommendations in accordance with the spirit of true democracy?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will prepare a statement showing the amounts paid ultimately directly or indirectly from the British Treasury, whether by way of pensions, salaries, or other emoluments, or in any manner whatsoever, to persons of German birth related to the Royal Family, or to any Royal or princely German family, or to persons who, if not so related, arc now members of the House of Lords, or to persons closely connected by marriage to anyone who comes within any of these categories; whether he will in each case indicate the reason for the payment; and whether, in view of the policy of bombing German businesses, he will advise any action in any of these cases?

I am not prepared to take the course suggested.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that since the Department fixed a retail price for rabbits the supply of rabbits to the markets has almost ceased; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The decrease in the:supply of rabbits is not solely attributable to the Rabbits (Prices) Order. Supplies always tend to decrease from the beginning of the year until the season ends in March, and the weather of the last fortnight has made trapping very difficult. There are, however, signs of improvement in local supplies, and it is hoped, now that the weather has changed, that there will be increased supplies in the central markets.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that rabbit coursing is still being carried on in some parts of the country, and that the animals after being mauled and killed are often given to the dogs; and whether, having regard to the importance of rabbits as food for the people, he will take steps to put an end to this practice?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is not clear that the loss of food involved would warrant interference with this rather cruel form of sport.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware. that by the terms of the Ice Cream (Restriction) Order, 1917, the manufacture of what is known as water ice, which consists of water, to which arrowroot is added to whiten it, liquid saccharin to sweeten it, and fruit essence to flavour it, no sugar or milk being used, is wholly restricted; that water ice mixed with temperance drinks is sold at a price of 1d. to numbers of the working classes of this country; and whether, under these circumstances and with the view of encouraging the public to drink temperance drinks, he can see his way to amend this Order by excluding from its operation the manufacture of water ice?

Iced drinks are in the nature of a luxury. I should have thought that the temperance drinks referred to could be made sufficiently attractive without the addition of water ice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, in view of the shortage of meat, especially in Burnley and other Lancashire towns, what steps he is taking to ensure a fair and equal distribution as between different districts and localities?

Arrangements are being made by the Food Controller for the distribution of supplies of meat in every district on the basis of the consumption of meat in that district during a normal period.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the difficulties that are caused by the fixing of different maximum prices for meat in different localities; and whether he will now fix uniform prices for the whole country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The fixing of a scale of maximum retail prices for meat for the whole country is now receiving the consideration of the Food Controller.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in order to encourage the production of beef during the coming summer and to enable farmers to make their plans, he will at once withdraw the Order which fixes the price of beef after 1st July next at 60s. per cwt.?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. There is no Order now in force which fixes the price of beef at 60s. per cwt. after the 1st July, 1918.

asked the Parliamentary Secretry to the Ministry of Food whether the Irish Food Control Committee and the Food Controller are agreed as to the necessity of pooling the food resources of the two Islands; is he aware that meat is plentiful and flour scarce in one Island and. the reverse the case in the other; end what immediate steps does he propose to equalise the supplies of meat and flour among the two populations?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As I informed the lion. Member for Dublin Harbour yesterday, care is taken to secure that Ireland gets her fair share of imported supplies. The export of milch cows (except under licence) or of young heifers has been prohibited by the Irish Department of Agriculture, but in other respects the export of cattle is following its normal course.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the refusal of the Ministry of Shipping to place premier jus on the priority list of shipments from the Argentine, though such premier jus is urgently needed in this country; and whether he will see that this state of affairs is rectified without delay so that the premier jus available for shipment may be brought to this country?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. Priority of freight space has already been secured by the Ministry of Food for the importation of a certain amount of premier ins during the year 1918, and every effort is being made to arrange for its shipment from the Argentine during the coming months.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that his Department has commandeered for making margarine quantities of fats which were intended for the manufacture of prepared suets; whether he is aware that this change of use does not increase the supply of foodstuffs in any way, while it diminishes the supply of prepared suets which, not requiring oil or milk for their preparation, are essential as foodstuffs; and Whether he will reconsider the position so that the manufacture of prepared suet can be continued in order that the supply may be maintained to hospitals, canteens. etc., as well as for domestic consumption?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In view of the decreased importation of margarine, and of the greatly increased demand for this commodity, it has been found necessary to increase as far as possible the output in this country. When the necessary allocations for this purpose and for the fried-fish industry have been made, the claims of manufacturers of prepared suets will receive consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) whether, in view of his promise that the claims of those who abstain from eating flesh should have consideration in any rationing scheme, he will appoint to the consumers' council one or more representatives of societies familiar with food questions, and especially with the needs of vegetarians; and (2) whether, in any scheme of compulsory rations, he will make provision whereby those who abstain from flesh of animals may obtain the equivalent of the meat thus saved in the form of fat, pulse, and cereals other than wheat; can he state the exact amount of such substituted allowance; whether special cards will be issued to enable non-flesh-eating consumers to obtain such extra non-flesh ration; and, if not, what other method will be adopted?

The composition of the consumers' council has been left entirely to the decision of the national bodies representing organised labour (both men and women) and representing the co-operative movement. No local or separate society of any kind has been approached. The needs of vegetarians are not being lost sight of in the framing of ration proposals, but. it would be premature to make an announcement on this matter at the present stage, and I do not. think that representation upon the consumers' council in the manner suggested by the hon. Member is necessary to secure full consideration of the point raised.

asked whether, as stated on Saturday last in the announcement of the issue of the Fish Prices Order, London has been getting too large a share of the available fish; and, if so, whether under the scheme which has been arranged a greater proportion of the supplies will go to the industrial areas of the country

Care will be taken to secure that the industrial areas of the country obtain their due proportion of the available supplies of fish.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the decision with regard to the refusal of sugar supplies to fruit growers will be reconsidered with a view to avoiding the waste of labour and transportation involved in a system of collection of fruit to centres and redistribution in the form of jam; whether he will see that the public are advised at an early date that such sugar as may be available will be distributed equitably between growers of fruit and manufacturers of jam; and whether he will consider, in order to avoid discrimination in favour of fruit growers, a system requiring the marketing and distributing all jam made above a certain fixed ration per member of the household?

The problem of preserving the largest possible quantity of homegrown fruit is being closely investigated by the Food Controller, in consultation with the Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply. Lord Rhondda hopes to make an announcement on the subject in the course of next week.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, having regard to the shortage of milk and the fact that the cost of milk production is certainly as high and probably higher in April than in any month of the year, he will now fix a price for April milk of at least 1s. 9d. per gallon, and thereby treat April as a winter month?

The Food Controller is not prepared to adopt the suggestion made by the hon. Member, since the average cost of production of milk during April is riot as high as in the winter months. It is proposed, however, to fix a higher price for April milk than for that produced during the period from May to September.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps are being taken to more quickly liberate for the use of stock damaged grain in the hands of farmers; and if he is aware that because of delay much deterioration of feeding properties is taking place and stock suffering?

I am aware that the method at present adopted for deciding on the fitness or unfitness of damaged grain for milling purposes occasionally involves delay, and every effort is being made to obtain these decisions as rapidly as possible. In view, however, of the multiplicity of cases throughout the country, some time must elapse before the organisation required to deal with them becomes complete.

asked the Parliamentary to the Ministry of Food (1) whether he is aware that the Lamb Order, which prevents the slaughter of lambs prior to 15th June, will keep from the public a supply of meat which in past years has gone into the market in April, May, and early June; and, in view of the shortage of animal food, will he take steps to prevent this further decrease of supply; and (2) if he is aware that the Lamb Order, by compelling the breeder to keep his fat lambs instead of sending them to the market, will prevent the fattening of the dams which are too old for further lambs; is he aware that keep. will thus be consumed which is required for the use of store draft ewes from standing flocks and prevent their purchase for the provision of next year's lambs; and will he say what action he proposes to take?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a number of farmers carry on as a branch of their industry the regular yearly purchase of a flock of draft ewes for the breeding of early lambs there from, and the quick sale of both ewes and lambs at early maturity as mutton and lamb for human consumption, that this practice provides a profitable and quick method of the production of meat and frees the land in good time for the feeding of cattle or other kinds of sheep, which will make more meat in the same time than the ewes and lambs if kept longer on the land; that the Lamb Order of 1917 will put an end to this branch of the farming industry, cause a decrease in the total amount of meat produced, and deprive the corn lands of a most effective application of manure; and whether he will modify or rescind the Lamb Order of 1917 or give reasons for its continuance?

The whole matter is under reconsideration in view of changes in the position with regard to feeding-stuffs. An announcement will be made in the course of a few days.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the fact that there are a great number of tenants with about 10 acres of land each on the F. Y. Westby estate, Kilballyowen, West Clare, and that there are 1,000 acres of land on the estate available for tillage, he will expedite the striping out of this estate, if only in view of the urgency of the food question?

On the 14th January I promised the hon. Member I would look into the facts of the case. I have received a Report from the Estates Commissioners, before whom proceedings for direct sale of the estate under the Irish Land Act, 1903, are pending. The property has not yet been reached in order of priority, and the Commissioners cannot take it out of its proper order. As regards food production, the Regulations under the Defence of the Realm Act for increased tillage will of course apply to the occupiers of the lands on the estate.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he will state the names of the representatives of the producers and exporters of Irish butter who attended the meeting held at his office under his chairmanship in December last to meet members of the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Food, together with the interests, firms. or localities represented by each?

I will supply the hon. and gallant Member with a list of the names of the representatives of producers, ex porters, and other interests who were present at a conference held at the offices of the Department of Agriculture on the 27th November.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the rations of bread, meat, cheese, tea, butter, or margarine at present allowed to the forces in the United Kingdom and those to the forces in France?

The rations are as follows:

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the intention of the Government in regard to temporary clerks in Government Departments who volunteered for service at the outbreak of the War and who arc still in receipt of civil pay; and whether, as a reward for their services, they are to be placed on a permanent pensionable basis in the Department to which they originally belonged on their return?

Temporary clerks who have been allowed "civil pay'' have their civil posts kept open until their return from service with the forces, and the period of absence will count for increment of salary and for gratuity on retirement. I see no reason for any further concession.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if men discharged from the Army by medical boards while in hospital may he forthwith returned to their homes by the hospital authorities when requiring no further hospital treatment?

By general agreement with the Ministry of Pensions men are retained for twenty-one days after the decision has been made that they are unfit, in order that the arrangements for pension may be completed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has made inquiry and arrived at any decision concerning the case of Private G. M., No. 68651, 87th Training Reserve Battalion, to which his attention was drawn by the hon. Member for Skipton on 28th December last?

I regret the decision in this case cannot be. reviewed at the. present time, but Private Macdonald may resubmit his application for the recommendation of his new commanding officer after proceeding overseas.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that the carpenters employed at the Army Ordnance Department at Haul-bowline have not yet received the 12 per cent. increase of wage that the men in the other departments in the Royal yards are receiving; and whether he will give instructions that these men be paid the increase, with arrears of pay as from the date the increase was given to the men in the other departments?

The question is under consideration in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour, and I hope a decision will be announced shortly.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether it is intended under the Munitions Act, 1917, to increase the remuneration of women time-workers?

An advance in wages for women on munitions work has recently been authorised, with effect from the first full pay after 15th December. The amount is 3s. 6d. per week for women and 1s. 9d. per week for girls. No distinction is made between time- and piece-workers. The advance will apply to the same establishments as previous advances.

asked the Minister of National Service whether the officers taker. over from the War Office by the Ministry of National Service are to be paid salaries equivalent to the emoluments that they received from. the War Office, taking into account the increased rate of pay for officers recently announced?

The salaries paid to officers who have been transferred to the Ministry of National Service are commensurate with the positions occupied by such officers. As stated in my reply to my lion. and gallant Friend the Member for Enfield on the 6th December last, in any ease where such salary would not adequately compensate an officer for the loss of the military privileges in respect of Income Tax and Army gratuity, he receives an allowance which brings his aggregate income received from the Ministry up to a level which is fair in the circumstances of his case at the date of his transfer. The question of increasing this allowance on a scale corresponding with the increased rate of pay recently announced is under consideration. I may add that. the increase referred to has not yet come into force in the Army.

asked the Home Secretary who are the present commandants of Knockaloe and Alexandra Park internment camps. respectively; how long has each held his present post; and what qualifications has each for the position now held?

Lieutenant-Colonel Metcalfe-Smith and Lieutenant-Colonel Luscombe are the commandants at Knockaloe and Alexandra Palace; they have held these positions for about six and seven months, respectively. They were selected for these posts on account of their suitability.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if there is free trade in wool in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada; if he will state the prices paid for the wool in these countries; whether the Government have commandeered the wool in any of those countries; and, if so, will he state the price paid for the article?

By arrangement with the Governments of the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand, His Majesty's Government purchased the balance of the 1916–17 Australasian wool clips and the whole of the 1917–18 clips on the basis of the 1913–14 prices, plus 55 per cent. No similar arrangements were made in Canada or South Africa.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state whether the Advisory Committee gave any advice or suggestion in the case of Mr. George Tchitcherine which was not acted on?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether a Russian subject named Silin is still interned in Brixton Prison; whether lie is aware that Silin served with the Serbian Army as a volunteer and came to England with an officer and other Serbians, and that the others being no longer here Silin cannot prove facts which would clear him; why was Silin originally interned; and whether he will now be released?

This man is not interned. He came to this country on the same ship as certain Serbians, but I have no reason to believe that he served with the Serbian Army. As the result of the examination of his case, I decided that he ought not to be allowed to remain in the United Kingdom, and I made a deportation order against him. He is being detained until his return to Russia can be arranged.

asked whether a Russian subject, named Kovalenko, is or has been interned in Brixton Prison; on what grounds has he been interned; is he subjected to isolation or other disciplinary or restrictive conditions; and whether his internment has been reported to the Russian authorities

This man is not interned. A deportation order has been made against him under Article 12 of the Aliens Restriction Order, and he is being detained until his return to Russia can be arranged. He is not isolated or subject to any special disciplinary conditions.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that police authorities have no power to award pensions or make grants to the dependants of unmarried policemen killed on duty, even when death is the result of war conditions such as air raids; and whether he will consider the possibility of amending the law in this respect?

Police authorities have power to make grants to the widows and children of constables who are killed, but not to other dependants, and I do not see my way to propose legislation on the subject; but I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in this House on 28th June last by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Dependants of police constables not otherwise provided for are eligible for grants under the scheme then referred to in the same way as the dependants of other victims of air raids.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the Press Bureau has refused permission for the circulation of a pamphlet criticising the practices of vaccination and inoculation in the Army arid Navy; whether questions of health and medical practice on which opinion is divided are included as propaganda in relation to the present War or to the making of peace; and, if not, whether he will revoke the prohibition and allow the pamphlet referred to to be circulated?

On 6th December a pamphlet, entitled "Our Armies and Navies and Vaccination—Inoculation," by Arnold Lupton, was submitted to the Press Bureau under Regulation. 27 c as it then stood. The pamphlet was not passed, on the ground that it was intended and likely to prejudice the training and discipline of the forces. Regulation 27 c has since been amended by omitting the provision as to leaflets being parsed by the Press Bureau; but, as this particular leaflet infringes Regulation 27, steps are being taken to prevent its circulation.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the resolution passed unanimously by the executive of the North Staffordshire Miners' Federation and, with one dissentient, by the North Staffordshire Trades and Labour Council protesting against the cancellation by the Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent of the letting of Victoria Hall, Hanley, for a meeting to be addressed by the Member for the constituency on Lord Lansdowne's letter; and, in view of the fact that this action w as taken on representations made by the chief constable, will he state whether representations were made by his Department?

I have received a copy of this resolution, but I have no authority in the matter to which it relates. The first I. heard of it was in a question put to me by the hon. Member in this House on the 12th December, and no action has been taken by my Department beyond obtaining information for the purpose of answering this question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied with all the railway arrangements and administration which obtain at the present time, or whether, considering the new conditions brought about by the stress of war, he is prepared to remodel that side of the railway system that is concerned with the scientific solution of the problem of the most efficient transport?

My right hon. Friend is confident that every effort is being made to provide efficiency of railway transport in circumstances of great difficulty, and he does not propose to attempt to remodel the existing system at the present time.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether the Report of the Committee on the Reconstruction of the Poor Law recommends the scheme outlined by Lord George Hamilton; whether the Report has further been communicated to various persons, including Members of the House; and, if so; why the Report has not already been made accessible to Members of this House as a whole and to the general public?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to similar questions on the 16th January, and to the terms of the Committee's Report, of which copies should be available to Members to-morrow.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is by his instructions that postal servants in Glasgow who have been exempted from military service on the ground of conscientious objection and who are performing work of national importance in the Post Office are suffering a reduction of wages to the rate paid to temporary assistants, which is equal to a reduction of 20s. 6d. a week from wages already low; whether he is aware that these men only took advantage of a right given them in an Act of Parliament; and whether he will alter this instruction at an early date?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for Blackburn on the 16th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General what war-risk allowances postal employés who are engaged on the Irish mail boats receive; if he will see that they are paid the usual amounts allowed to other employés on the same boats; whether their lives are insured and, if so, for what amounts; and, if they are not insured, will he take steps to have them insured for not less than £1,000?

The Post Office servants employed on the Irish mail boats are specially provided for by means of the Injuries in War (Compensation) Act, 1915. This Act provides for a pension of one-third pay to widows in the event of death and a maximum disablement pension of two-thirds pay in the event of personal injury or sickness arising out of warlike operations. These pensions are in addition to the ordinary benefits arising out of the Superannuation Acts. I do not consider that any further provision in respect of war risks is called for.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) if, under The Hague Agreement, civilian prisoners of war in Ruhleben are included, so that all who have been prisoners for eighteen months and over will reach Holland at an early date?

The provisions of The Hague Agreement, which have been fully explained in Parliament, respecting the transfer to neutral country of officer and non-commissioned officer prisoners of war who have been in captivity for eighteen months and over, do not apply to civilian prisoners of war. Paragraph 12 of The Hague Agreement, however, provides for the transfer to and internment in Holland of 400 invalid civilian prisoners of war, the choice of whom rests entirely with the medical authorities of the captor Government, and is to be made in accordance with the new and more lenient schedule of disabilities applicable to combatant prisoners of war. The agreement further provides for the resumption of the repatriation of civilians over forty-five years of age and of those unfit for military service. Three hundred and seventy-eight British civilian prisoners have already arrived in this country from Germany.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the prevailing practice regarding the pay of a British prisoner in Germany; whether his Army pay continues to be credited to him; and, if so, whether such amount is liable to any deductions for maintenance in Germany when adjustments are made between the two Governments after the War?

Army pay continues to be credited to the soldier's account while he is a prisoner of var. No deduction will be made to cover the cost of his maintenance in Germany.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what steps, if any, have been taken to set up advisory committees in Ireland to carry out the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee's. Report on the Blind of Great Britain and Ireland?

The Irish Local Government Board have now appointed an advisory committee on matters relating to the care and supervision of the blind in Ireland. The chairman is Sir Thomas Stafford, Bart., C.B., and the members include representatives of various bodies interested in the welfare of the blind.

asked the Chief Secretary fur Ireland who is responsible for the forcible feeding of two prisoners in Mountjoy Prison; if he is aware that Sir Thomas Myles and Sir Arthur Chance, in giving evidence at the inquest on the late Thomas Ashe, stated that forcible feeding was dangerous to life even in the most skilled hands; if he will state the present condition of the prisoners; and if he will order their release?

Two prisoners in Mountjoy Prison have lately been artificially fed. Two eminent surgeons did, as suggested in the question, express opinions adverse to what is called forcible feeding. One of the prisoners has been temporarily released under the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge. for Ill-Health) Act. I am informed that the condition of the other prisoner is satisfactory. The prisoners in question were the ringleaders of a mob which made a savage attack upon a small force of the Royal Irish Constabulary at Listowel, and caused bodily injuries to several members of the force. They were sentenced to terms of imprisonment, and the sentences were confirmed upon appeal. On being imprisoned they resorted to a hunger-strike. In view of the seriousness of the attacks upon the police, and of the fact that criminals of various classes in Ireland have lately refused food in order to obtain release from prison, I am unable to advise interference in such a case as the present with the ordinary course of prison discipline.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the exact meaning of the word "efficiency" as used in regard to the allocation of the Grant recently given to local education authorities, namely, whether the Grant is to be expended wholly or principally in raising existing salaries of teachers, or whether it may be spent in raising salaries, improving the staff status or number, and improving equipment?

The Regulations for the payment of Supplementary Grant, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy, do not contain specific directions as to the manner in which that Grant is to be expended, but the Board have expressed the view that the improvement of teachers' salaries is a matter of pressing importance at the present time. The efficient provision of education involves in the Board's opinion the establishment of the teaching service of the country on a sound basis, and every local education authority will be expected to contribute to that end by adopting such measures as are necessary in its area.