asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he can state the position of the men who, without seeing overseas service, were discharged from the Army through medical unfitness and were granted passports allowing them to proceed to America; whether the American authorities can now send these men notices calling them up for re-examination; and whether, on the strength of an examination by American doctors, they can be returned for service in this country?

The Convention which has been concluded between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States of America secures to His Majesty's Ambassador in the United States power to grant certificates of exemption to British subjects in the United States. His Majesty's Ambassador is being informed of the procedure governing cases of discharged soldiers in this country, with a view to securing uniformity of practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that every man concerned in the demonstration at Dartmoor settlement on 8th February received a charge sheet on 10th instant; that on 9th February these men were confined after labour hours to the settlement precincts and are still being so confined, although no decision had been come to on the charges made; whether it is regular for the Home Office Committee to impose punishments before the case is decided on; and whether he was aware of this detention when he replied in the House on 14th February to questions on this matter?

On the 8th instant 569 of the men employed under the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors at Prince-town refused to do any work, and as there could be no question that a serious offence had been committed by these men the manager, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Committee, confined all the men concerned to quarters after labour hours. The Committee subsequently had before them the explanations of the men concerned, and the report of an inquiry held at their request by the hon. and learned Member for Gloucester. After consideration, they approved the action of the manager, increased the period of confinement to quarters to fourteen days and reduced all the men concerned to Class E for a period of six weeks. In addition, they requested the Army Council to recall to their units two of the men's leaders who were chiefly responsible for the strike, and these men have now been recalled.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he stated in this House no punishment would be taken until the inquiry had been complete, and that punishment was taken in spite of that?

No; on the contrary. It appeared from the statement made in the House on the same day. that the men were temporarily confined to quarters.

But was that not in contradiction of the Home Secretary's own assertion?

Certainly not. An hon. Member asked what disciplinary action would be taken, and I said that must depend upon the result of the inquiry.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this punishment, which it was understood would, at any rate, be deferred until after the inquiry, has caused the greatest ill-feeling and discontent even amongst those who have willingly accepted and carried out the Home Office scheme previously?

I am not aware of that. As a matter of fact, the whole period of confinement before the inquiry has been reckoned as part of the period of confinement awarded as a result of the inquiry.

Did the right hon. Gentleman — [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]. I beg to give notice that I will call attention to this matter on the Vote on Account or on some other suitable occasion.

asked the Home Secretary whether any inquiry has been made as to the death of H. W. Firth at Prince town work centre; whether attention was called to the state of his health while in prison and while at the work centre; and whether he can state up to what date before his death he was still at work under the direction of the authorities?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Dr. Battiscombe admitted in his inquest evidence on the ease of H. W. Firth, who recently died at Dartmoor settlement, that when the deceased complained of cold and requested that he might have some eggs for nourishment, he told him that it was colder in the trenches, and that all the eggs were wanted for the soldiers; whether it is in accordance with the traditions of the public service that a dying man should be subject to taunts at the hands of public officials; whether H. W. Firth was dead when the eggs were subsequently supplied; and what action he proposes to take?

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of H. W. Firth, a conscientious objector to military service, who died at Prince-town on 5th February; whether he is aware that this man, when in a state of extreme weakness, was compelled to work in the quarries, and when he complained was accused of malingering, was refused special diet when in hospital until within two days of his death, and was not allowed to telegraph for his wife, on the ground that it was unnecessary, on the evening before his death; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received any request from the Dartmoor settlement to hold an impartial inquiry into the treatment of conscientious objectors in the hospital there; what reply does he propose to make to this request; and whether complaints have been made in the past concerning the hospital treatment at the Dartmoor settlement?

The facts as reported to me are as follows: Shortly before his release from Maidstone Prison, Firth was passed by the medical officer as fit for either class of labour, and there was therefore no occasion for sending a medical report with him from the prison to the work centre. On arrival at Prince-town he was put to winding the quarry winch with three other men. This is work which was formerly performed by two convicts, and when performed by four men it is light work. He asked to be transferred to other work because of the cold. The medical officer was not satisfied that a change of work was neces- sary, but Firth was allowed to wear his overcoat while at work. He was subsequently put on to indoor work—whitewashing. He was admitted to hospital, suffering from a cold in the head, on the 24th January, and was discharged on the 26th January. He was carefully examined during that period, but no serious symptoms were found, except that he appeared to have lost flesh. On the 30th January he complained of weakness and excessive thirst. He was admitted to hospital. Diabetes was suspected, but on examination no sugar was found. On re-examination on the 5th instant sugar was found in large quantities. He then rapidly became weaker, and died on the 6th instant.

Shortly before his death deceased asked for eggs. The medical officer informed him that they were difficult to obtain as they were wanted for military hospitals, but ordered three, which were obtained after some delay. As regards telegraphing to Firth's wife, I am informed his condition was not regarded as serious until very shortly before his death, and it did not therefore appear necessary to the medical officers to summon Mrs. Firth from Norwich. It was, of course, open to any of his friends to do so, and they did in fact send a telegram. Owing to the suddenness of Firth's death, Mrs. Firth did not arrive at Prince-town until after he was dead. An inquest was held in this case on the 8th instant. The verdict of the jury was that the deceased died from natural causes, and they expressed themselves satisfied with the treatment of the deceased by the doctors who had charge of the case. I have no reason to doubt that this verdict and rider were found by the jury after an impartial inquiry, and I can see no ground for any further inquiry into the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that those persons interested in the deceased—his representatives— were refused any opportunity of challenging the jury, and that, being only admitted at a comparatively late stage of the inquiry, they consider the whole of the inquiry by the coroner a put-up job?

I believe that no right of challenge exists at all.

I suppose it is not possible, is it, to discover medical men who are unprejudiced against these unfortunate men?

I resent that question very much. Medical men employed in prisons, as the hon. Gentleman knows, do their very best to attend to the health of those under their care.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether, in view of the sad circumstances attending this case, and the allegations made, he proposes to hold an independent inquiry himself as head of the Department of Justice in this country, particularly with reference to the failure of the medical officer to discover the serious state of the man's health?

:That is quite a fair question. As a matter of fact, there is no more independent tribunal than a coroner and coroner's jury. As the hon. Gentleman knows, they are not dependent on the Home Office or any other Government authority at all. The hon. and learned Member for Gloucester went down to Prince-town and made careful inquiry into this matter, and he entirely confirms the finding of the coroner's jury.

Is the right hon. Gentleman completely satisfied with the capacity shown by, and the conduct of, the medical officer, Dr. Battiscombe, in this matter?

Yes, Sir.

I will raise the case on the first opportunity.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a request from Dartmoor settlement asking that an impartial inquiry should be held into the hospital administration and the death of Harry Firth; whether the letter draws attention to two grave irregularities in the inquest proceedings in that the representatives of the conscientious objectors were not admitted to the inquest till the jury were sworn, which prevented the exercise of the right of challenge, and that the Press, the solicitor for the widow, and all conscientious objectors were excluded from the room while the jury deliberated, and that the prison doctors and officials were allowed to remain with the jury; and what action he proposes to take?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received representations from the Dartmoor settlement concerning the irregularity of the proceedings at the inquest held on H. W. Firth; whether the men's representatives in- structing the solicitor for the widow were not admitted until the jury had been sworn, when the right of challenge was gone; whether the Press representatives, the solicitor for the widow, and the representatives of the conscientious objectors were excluded from the room in which the jury deliberated, but the coroner, the two doctors whose conduct was impugned, and the prison officials stayed behind with the jury; and, if so, whether he will inform the House what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I am making inquiries of the coroner as to these points, and will inform the hon. Members of the result.

asked the Minister of National Service how many Royal Army Medical Corps officers are now serving as presidents of recruiting medical boards; and will he give the names of such officers and indicate the boards over which they preside?

There are no Royal Army Medical Corps Regular officers serving as presidents of recruiting medical boards under the Ministry of National Service. There are ten retired officers Royal Army Medical Corps who are employed entirely in a civilian capacity by the Ministry. There are, in addition, eighteen officers who hold commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps Territorial Force. All these gentlemen have returned to their civilian status.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether the presidency of the Camberwell Board has been changed recently?

Dr. Moir, I think, is the president.

Is he not a Regular Royal Army Medical Corps officer?

No: he is retired.

Have Territorial or retired Royal Army Medical Corps officers who sit as presidents of these medical boards the same voting power as the other members, or merely a casting vote in the event of the really civilian medical men being equally divided?

I must ask my hon. Friend for notice of that question.

asked the Under secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the scale of dietary allowed to German prisoners is still largely in excess of what can be obtained by a citizen of London under the ration scheme now in operation; whether, for instance, the meat ration weekly is all but 2 lbs. and bread and biscuit 6 lbs.; and will he say whether this scale is given alike to prisoners of war and enemy aliens in internment camps, and is any discrimination made between those on active work of any description and those engaged in sedentary occupations or doing nothing?

asked why German prisoners of war in this country are now receiving, and as at present arranged are to continue to receive, more meat than our own people are now able to obtain, or than they will be allowed to receive under the forthcoming compulsory scheme of meat rationing?

I am circulating with the OFFICIAL REPORT the new scale of dietary for German prisoners of war, bringing it into line with the compulsory ration scheme now in force for London and the Home Counties, so far as that is possible. The meat ration is reduced to l ½ lbs. weekly, and the bread ration is 2 lbs. 3 ozs. weekly, with 30 ½ ozs. of broken biscuit. It should be borne in mind that the civil population are free to purchase substitutes, whereas the prisoner of war is restricted to a definite scale, which is the minimum prescribed by the medical authorities. All prisoners draw the same meat ration, but those doing hard work draw extra quantities daily of bread (4 ozs.), oatmeal or rice (1 oz.), cheese (1 oz.), and maize meal (½ oz.). The scale for interned civilians is a matter for the Home Office.

When will this come into force?

I believe it is in force now.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that when it does come into force the German prisoners of war will not be better off in this respect than our own women?

I would point out to the House that what I did say in answer to the question was that the scale allowed them now is the minimum prescribed by the medical authorities.

Does that mean that German prisoners cannot purchase anything in the dry canteen?

No; what I did say was that they could not purchase anything in the nature of substitutes.

Is it not a fact that Donington Hall still have a fairly free hand to purchase outside the dietary scale?

I think not. I answered that point quite recently.

May I ask why, if they were given equal rations of meat, other substitutes could not be given them instead, so that German prisoners should not have more meat than our own people?

Can the Home Secretary tell us if his scale is ready yet?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the amount of meat per week allowed for a German prisoner doing hard manual work and for a British workman doing the same kind of work; and what is the amount of meat per week allowed for an interned German not doing hard manual work and the amount allowed for a British man doing clerical work?

The ration allowance for military prisoners of war and for civilian internment camps is now being revised. The hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that in no case will the amount of any rationed foodstuff be in excess of that prescribed for the civilian population.

Could the hon. Gentleman either say now or have publicity given at an early date to the amount of extra food to which persons suffering from tuberculosis and persons requiring extra feeding are entitled, and is he aware that doctors do not know if they are within the pale of the law in prescribing such extra food?

This is a question relating to German prisoners.

Does the hon. Gentleman's reply cover also the rations given to British criminal prisoners, lunatics, paupers, and all other classes of non-productive citizens, and could he say whether any of them receive any larger ration than that allowed to the civil population?

The reply that I have given may be so interpreted. There will not be any difference.

Is there now a larger ration for any of the classes that I have enumerated?

That is the reason why the subject is now under revision.

Would the hon. Gentleman allow me to put my question as a Private Notice question?

Certainly.

I have been asked to postpone my question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received a communication from a group of statutory small tenants at Kintail, Ross-shire, complaining that, when they proposed to take up further grazings for food production in Kintail deer forest, they were authorised by the Board of Agriculture (Scotland), under Defence of the Realm Regulation q2, to kill deer trespassing upon and eating the crops of their grazings, but that, after the crofters had taken up and stocked their grazings, the Board of Agriculture warned them in a written communication that, as certain deer had been killed, such killing was illegal and the killing of deer must be left to the shooting tenant; whether it is part of the duty of the Board of Agriculture (Scotland) to interpret the Defence of the Realm Act Regulation; and whether these conflicting interpretations were made with his knowledge and consent?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. He has received a communication of the nature referred to and hag replied to it. The tenants were apparently under a misapprehension as to the scope of the Order regarding the killing of deer made by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland under the Defence of the Realm Regulation 2q. The Board have accordingly pointed out to the tenants that the Order authorises them to kill deer only on the agricultural holdings of which they are statutory small tenants, and not on the additional grazings which they hold from the Board under the powers of the Defence of the Realm Regulation 2 m. As regards the last two parts of the question, the Board did not attempt to interpret the Defence of the Realm Regulations, but they explained the effect of their own Order when a misconception arose regarding its operation. In these circumstances no question of conflicting interpretations arises.

Did not the Board of Agriculture first state a certain right of action, and thereafter gave a refusal to the same right of action? Will the right hon. Gentleman explain why the Board of Agriculture constantly give conflicting interpretations?

I think in this case there was no conflicting interpretation. The statutory small tenants got additional ground under the Defence of the Realm Regulations after the Order as regards the killing of deer was issued. That Order does not apply to the new ground that these tenants received.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Duke of Argyll has taken proceedings to interdict crofters of Tiree from cultivating and producing food upon suitable but entirely idle land near their homes; and, in view of the present food situation and the thousands of acres of suitable land lying unused on the Duke of Argyll's estates, whether he will take steps to enforce the cultivation of these areas under the Defence of the Realm Act?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. He is aware from reports in the Press that a petition for interdict at the instance of the Duke of Argyll and Mr. Thomas Barr, farmer, Balephetrish, Tiree, has been pre seated to the Sheriff-substitute at Oban, and that perpetual interdict has been granted against certain cottars and others taking possession of the farm of Balephetrish and part of the farm of Kenovy, Tiree. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland are making every effort by arranging for an increase in the area of land under the plough to make up for the present shortage in the food supply, and they will exercise their powers under the Defence of the Realm Regulations in any case where, in their opinion, it is expedient so to do.

Why have the Government missed so many opportunities of cultivating land in this country and in Ireland? Is it not the fact that the people are of more importance than the game of the Duke of Argyll—or even than the Duke of Argyll himself?

asked what use is intended to be made of the increased quantity of straw which will result from the increased acreage under oats and wheat?

Much of the increased quantity of straw will be oat-straw, which will be directly used in stock feeding. With regard to the remainder, the Board are supervising experiments at various centres as to the best methods of converting straw into fodder and manure, and the preliminary results of these are satisfactory. The Board understand that the Ministry of Munitions are developing a scheme for the utilisation of straw in the manufacture of strawboard and paper, an outlet which may require a large quantity of raw material.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Government have commandeered all the oaten straw in Ireland, and that there is now none left for the feeding purposes for cattle?

I am not sure, but I think that is only for Army purposes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether Messrs. Spillers and Baker, of Cardiff, when supplying Kerry traders with flour, recently charged freight from Cardiff to Cork by their own steamers 50 per cent. higher than ordinary rates; whether, under those circumstances, flour cost Kerry traders at least 52s. per sack, and had to be sold at this price; and whether Messrs. Spillers and Baker will be asked to refund this overcharge, which is at least 16s. per ton?

Consignments of flour for Kerry are normally shipped by the Fishguard-Ross-lair route at a through rate of 34s, 10d, a ton. In order to meet an urgent demand for supplies in excess of the quantity which could be sent by this route, a steamer was specially chartered at the current rate for flour, namely, 30s. a ton; the additional charges for marine and war risk and insurance and port dues, haulage charges, and railway freight made the total cost of delivery 44s. 10d. a ton.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether persons at Wick and Doynton, Gloucestershire, living in the district of the Chipping Sodbury Food Control Committee, are refused tickets for butter and margarine by this committee and that application to the adjoining food control committee at Bath is met with the statement that the latter committee has no power to grant tickets to persons outside their district, although such persons and many others are supplied with sugar from Bath; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

I understand that the Bath Food Control Committee has now made satisfactory arrangements for the supply of butter and margarine to the inhabitants of the Chipping Sodbury district referred to in the question.

asked the Minister of National Service what steps he proposes to take in order to provide the labour of all classes necessary to harvest the produce of the increased arable land which has been recently ploughed up under Government Orders?

As the hon. Member is aware, the interests of agriculture are specially safeguarded in connection with recruiting under the arrangements by which men whole-time employed on farm work are vouched by county agricultural committees. We are also endeavouring to secure that agriculturists are not withdrawn for constructional work, as explained by my hon. Friend the Undersecretary to the Air Ministry. Reinforcement has also been effected by releases from the Colours, in which the Canadian, South African, and New Zealand military authorities have co-operated; and, so far as the military situation permits, it is hoped to secure the temporary release of soldiers for harvest. Prisoners of war with agricultural experience have also been employed in larger numbers than hitherto, and the number will be further increased. The strength of the Women's Land Army is being increased. Special arrangements are also being made again to secure at harvest the services of boys from the public and secondary schools and from the Boy Scouts. Part-time committees will be encouraged to assist in providing additional labour for farmers within reach of the large towns. In all these attempts the Ministry of National Service is throughout acting in close co-operation with the Board of Agriculture and the War Office.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when harvest time comes it is not only unskilled labour that will be required, but also smithies, wheelwrights, saddlers, and all kinds of labour, and will the Ministry of National Service take that fact into consideration?

I can assure my hon. Friend that it has been already carefully considered and is being acted upon.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) the annual quantity of Danish and other butter imported into Ireland for a period of five years preceding the War; and whether any steps are being taken in connection with the tillage scheme to encourage winter dairying in Ireland?

The quantities of butter imported into Ireland during each of the five years mentioned in the question were:

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what similar measures are being-taken in Ireland to promote beet growing and found a sugar factory according to the proposal taken up by the Board of Agriculture in England; whether the ratio of saccharine in Irish-grown beet is higher than that of most other countries; and whether the yield of roots per acre is greater?

Pending the result of the experimental measures adopted by the Board of Agriculture, no steps are being taken to promote beet growing or to found a sugar factory in Ireland on the lines of the scheme adopted in England. The Irish Department of Agriculture are of opinion that farmers would be well advised to produce the staple food crops on as large a scale as possible rather than attempt to raise comparatively untried crops. I am informed that sugar beet grown on experimental plots in Ireland was found to compare favourably in yield and sugar contents with beet grown in most other countries. I would further refer the hon. Member to the very full answer given by the Chief Secretary to a question by the hon. Member for North Westmeath on this subject on 17th April last.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, in the numerous places where it has been tried in Ireland, Ireland has been found most suitable for the production of sugar beet; and is it not a fact that there is no need for further experiment in beet sugar manufacture because we have the evidence of the whole world?

I said in my answer that Irish sugar beet had been found to be very satisfactory in its composition, and I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to answer to the question given on 17th April by the Chief Secretary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the fact that, owing to the number of soldiers applying yesterday for emergency meat cards queues were formed, and, owing to delay in some cases, soldiers were unable to obtain their cards; and whether the Food Ministry will take steps to expedite this issue, in view of the short time in this country at the disposal of officers and men on leave?

As my hon. Friend is aware, yesterday was the first day for beginning the new system, and our reports show that in some places considerable numbers of soldiers applied at the same place at the same time for emergency cards, and necessarily some delay was experienced. I can assure my hon. Friend that every possible step is being taken by the Ministry of Food, with the assistance of the food control committees, to avoid delay in this and in other matters connected with the introduction of the rationing scheme.

Is it not a fact that most of the soldiers now on leave were issued with sugar cards when they left their units, and, if that is so, why could not this inconvenience have been avoided entirely by the issue of meat cards to them?

The sugar cards issued to them could have no relation to the inconvenience arising yesterday with regard to other articles of food.

I have not made myself quite clear. I wish to ask the hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware of the fact that these sugar cards were issued and that this inconvenience caused to these men, some of whom are men from overseas who perhaps are ignorant of the ways of London and their way about London, would have been avoided if they had had their meat cards issued to them by their commanding units abroad?

Particulars have already been given to the House that not only soldiers but a considerable section of the civilian population suffer inconvenience in the commencing stages of this scheme, but I have no doubt that the suggestion made by my hon. Friend will receive consideration.

What steps are taken to tell these men where they can get their meat cards?

I cannot say what steps were taken on the other side of the water. That depends upon the military authorities.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a great number of men coming over yesterday did not know where they were to get their meat cards?

Will the hon. Gentleman arrange with the War Office that in future these men, when they come on leave, shall receive their meat cards with their sugar cards?

Why not give them their meat on their sugar cards?

I have no doubt that the War Office will take this point into consideration, if the matter has not already been settled. I would ask the House to remember that they together with the general public insisted that the Food Ministry, without delay, should bring this system into force, and necessarily in the speeding up and getting the system into working order as quickly as possible inconvenience is unavoidable.

asked the Pensions Minister if any arrangements have yet been made to enable discharged soldiers to enter military hospitals for any purposes; and, if so, will he state to what extent previous restrictions have been cancelled or modified?

Arrangements have been made with the War Office to place 300 beds in the military orthopædic hospitals at the disposal of the Ministry for discharged men, and the Army Council have agreed to admit cases of facial and jaw injury to their special hospitals. In addition, instructions have been issued to the commands to make arrangements for the release of over 2,000 beds now reserved by the military authorities in civil hospitals as a first step towards the general release of all accommodation in these hospitals, and I am pressing the War Office to use all expedition possible in the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller the amount of monthly hire paid by the British, French, Italian, and American Governments, respectively, to a vessel of their own nationality of 4,800 tons gross, 12 knots speed, and 7,500 dead-weight capacity when requisitioned by them?

The rate and conditions for a British vessel of the class described are £3,420 a month for the first two months and £3,300 thereafter, the Government bearing the heavy liability of war risk on current value and the cost of wages of crew in excess of pre-war rates, in addition to the ordinary time charterers' liabilities. As regards France and Italy, the terms of requisition have not, so far as I know, been published, but I am communicating with the respective Governments on the subject, and will let my hon. Friend know the result. I understand that the terms allowed by' the American Government for a vessel of the class described would be about £10,600 per month, the American Government taking the war risk on a basis of valuation not defined in the charter party, and owners paying wages in full at the rates current on 1st August, 1917.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether he is aware that there are long delays in London cargoes that have been landed at the port of Liverpool reaching London; and whether, in view of the necessity of complete cargoes reaching London as soon as possible, he will take all steps possible in order to ensure that these cargoes shall be dispatched from Liverpool and delivered in London with the least possible delay?

The important point referred to by my hon. Friend has had, and is having, most careful attention. The Shipping Controller is doing everything in his power to expedite transport, in spite of inherent difficulties. I should be obliged if my hon. Friend would give me any specific instances of undue delay which are brought to his notice.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) what are the present arrangements between this country and Germany as to the exchange of officers and men of the mercantile marine who are prisoners of war, either for repatriation or for internment in a neutral country; and whether he can give the numbers of the officers and men, over and under forty-five, who have been so exchanged?

Officers and men of the mercantile marine are entitled to benefit by the various agreements for the repatriation of civilians over forty-five and invalids. They are also entitled to benefit by paragraph 12 of The Hague Agreement, under which 400 British invalid civilians are to be transferred to Holland. To give the total number of seafaring men repatriated during the War would involve much research, but I understand that 210 members of the British mercantile marine and British fishermen have been repatriated since January, 1917. Some British seafaring men may have arrived in Holland this week for internment, but we have not yet received the list; also forty-six have been transferred to Switzerland.

May I ask, not what they are entitled to, but what they are getting? Are we to infer that since The Hague Agreement there have been no merchant officers repatriated except those said to be arriving this week, and is it not a fact that the German Government are waiting to know if we are going to send any of their officer prisoners of war, certified men, before they allow any of ours to leave?

I must ask for notice of that question.

Will the hon. Gentleman do his utmost to effect an exchange of these men of the mercantile marine who have deserved so well of the country?

My hon. Friend may certainly be sure of that, though I am afraid that my answer docs not go very far.