asked the Prime Minister whether, with a view to preserving the good relations and sympathy between this country and Russia and to prevent present conditions developing to imperil them, he will summon a conference or appoint a Departmental Committee of merchants, financiers, and others acquainted with Russian affairs, to consider the best means of meeting the dangers?

With every desire to ensure the best relations possible with Russia, I cannot think that the means which, the hon. Member suggests are calculated to secure the desired result.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food how many sides of beef forwarded from Birkenhead to London by the buying agents under his scheme were seized in the City of London as tuberculous, dropsical, emaciated, or suffering from other diseases and condemned between Monday, 18th, and Wednesday, 20th February; whether he is aware that under the Smith-field Wholesale Association's scheme many small salesmen who have conducted their businesses in a straightforward manner for years will be obliterated; and whether he will see that none of the firms sending these diseased goods to London are retained as active factors in the meat trade at the expense of others who have abstained from such practices?

I am informed that the amount of beef consigned from Birkenhead and condemned in London between the 18th and 20th February was fourteen sides and two forequarters. With regard to the second part of the question, I cannot agree that the formation of the London Wholesale Meat Supply Association will lead to the obliteration of any firms, however small. The diseased cattle in question were shipped to Birkenhead from Ireland, and the Food Controller is now in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland as to the terms of an Order which it is hoped will prevent further export of undesirable cattle and beef to Great Britain.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a system of profiteering has been developed by the Wholesale Association of Smithfield Market, and that, substantially, all cattle bought at 6s. 4d. per stone are disposed of at 8s. to 8s. 4d. per stone, which represents anything from 25 to 33 per cent. profit; what becomes of this profit; when this association will make up its accounts; whether they will be published; and if all persons interested in the trade will be entitled to scrutinise them?

No system of profiteering has been or can be developed by the London Wholesale Meat Supply Association, seeing that any profit or loss on the purchase and sale of cattle or meat is for the account of the Ministry of Food. As regards cattle fit only for boning, to which I understand the hon. Member to allude, the average profit is considerably smaller than that suggested. The accounts of the association will be made up annually and compliance will be made with the requirements of the Companies Acts with regard to such accounts.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether soldiers serving at home are not permitted to purchase dripping made from their own rations for the purpose of sending home to their families; whether all such dripping is sold to contractors; and, if so, whether this Order will be reconsidered owing to the shortage of both butter and margarine in the country?

It is not desirable to allow soldiers to purchase dripping for dispatch to their families. All surplus Army fats are sold to manufacturers for extraction of glycerine for propellant explosives and the manufacture of soap. Every encouragement is given to commanding officers to issue dripping in lieu of margarine for the feeding of troops, but the supply of edible dripping tends to diminish substantially as a consequence of the reduction in the meat ration, and the substitution of fish, sausages, and rabbits in the messing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state for the years 1913, 1914, and 1915 what quantity of bacon was received at Liverpool from America; how much of this was subsequently sent to Ireland; will he state what amount of American bacon was shipped direct to Ireland for the years stated; will he state for the years 1916 and 1917 what amount of bacon was received at Liverpool from America; and what quantity of this bacon was sent from Liverpool to Ireland for the two years last stated?

There were no imports of bacon at Irish ports direct from the United States of America in any of the years 1913, 1914, and 1915. In 1916 such imports amounted to 11,411 cwts., and in 1917 to 91 cwts. Particulars of the quantities of American bacon shipped from Liverpool to Ireland are not available. If, in these circumstances, the particulars of the imports of such bacon into Liverpool are desired by the hon. Member, I shall be happy to send him the information.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the average yield of potatoes per acre in the United Kingdom and Germany, respectively, in 1912 and 1913; and how the soil in the two Kingdoms generally compares, for potato growing?

The average yields: of potatoes per acre in the United Kingdom in 1912 and 1913 were, respectively, 4.74 tons rand 6.48 tons; the corresponding figures for Germany 5.99 tons and 6.32 tons. It is believed that the soil in the potato-growing districts of the United Kingdom is generally of higher quality than the soils of the potato districts of Germany. The average yield of potatoes in the latter country is increased by the cultivation of coarse varieties grown for stock-feeding and for technical purposes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the date Sir William Rowan Thomson resigned his position as director of auxiliary ships' engines in the Department of General Collard; and what were his reasons for resigning?

:Certain changes were decided upon as necessary in order to promote efficiency in the production of merchant ships, and an Assistant Deputy-Controller of Auxiliary Shipbuilding was appointed with special responsibility for progress of complete ships, both hulls and engines, in private shipyards. Sir W. Rowan Thomson, the director of auxiliary ships' engines, was of opinion that marine engineering should be dealt with independently from the hulls, and that the changes might prejudice the marine engineering side of the work. He resigned his position on the 15th February, and his resignation was accepted with regret. It need scarcely be said that the decision to appoint an assistant to the Deputy-Controller, with responsibility for progress of both hulls and engines, is due to a desire to avoid any hiatus between the production of hulls and engines respectively, and involves no lack of recognition of the relative importance of marine engineering compared with shipbuilding.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will see that immediate attention is given to the complaint made by the father of Gunner Jenkins, No. 13331, 60th Reserve Battery, Royal Field Artillery, which was addressed to the War Office on the 18th February, and formally acknowledged A.M.D. 2/4,912, on 23rd February; and will he see that a proper medical examination is made of this soldier?

Steps have been taken to expedite the inquiry which is being made in this case, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that three brothers, named Tom Allen, Peter Allen, and James Allen, are in prison as conscientious objectors, and that they have all completed, or nearly completed, two years' imprisonment; is he aware that all these men are willing to take up work of national importance; and, in view of the fact that they have proved the genuineness of their conscientious objection by submitting to this long term of imprisonment, whether he can see his way to have them released for some useful work?

These three men appeared before the Central Tribunal, but failed to satisfy the tribunal that they had any real conscientious objection to military service. This being so, I have no authority to release them or to interfere in any way in the case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many Ordnance officers of the first, second, third, and fourth classes were there on the Active List on the 1st August, 1914?

The figures are as follows:

Ordnance officer, 1st class	15
Ordnance officer, 2nd class	18
Ordnance officer, 3rd class	34
Ordnance officer, 4th class	58

asked how many officers who have been granted commis- sions as temporary lieutenants in the Army Ordnance Department since the 1st August, 1914, now hold each of the following ranks, namely, lieutenant-colonel, major, captain, and what percentage does the total number of individual promotions of these temporary officers bear to the total number of such officers?

The numbers are as follows:—

Lieutenant-Colonels	Nil
Majors	14
Captains	252

The percentage is 27.2. In addition to the promotions shown above, 30 officers are about to be gazetted to the rank of major.

asked how many temporary lieutenants have been granted commissions in the Army Ordnance Department since the 1st August. 1914?

One thousand and eighty temporary lieutenants have been granted commissions since the 1st August, 1914, of which 989 are still serving with the Department.

asked how many individual promotions to each of the following ranks, namely, major-general, brigadier-general, colonel, lieutenant-colonel, major (either permanent, temporary, or acting) have been made since the 1st August, 1914, amongst Ordnance officers of the first, second, third, and fourth classes, who were on the active list on the 1st August, 1914; and what percentage does the total number of such promotions bear to the total number of these officers?

The number of promotions is as follows:

Major-General	2
Brigadier-General	8
Ordnance Officer 1st Class (Colonel)	26
Ordnance Officer 2nd Class (Lieu-tenant-Colonel)	49
Ordnance Officer 3rd Class (Major)	12

The percentage is 77.6

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will inform the House of the countries outside the British Empire to which Commercial Attaches are to be appointed, and what further delay he anticipates before all the posts are filled?

The particulars are as follow:

—		Salary.			Local Allns.		Office Allns.	Total.
				£	£		£	£
Argentine	…	1st grade	…	1,500	1,000	(400)	1,000	3,500
		3rd grade	…	800	400		—	1,200
Belgium	…	2nd grade	…	1,100	250	(150)	500	1,850
		3rd grade	…	800	—		—	800
Brazil	…	2nd grade	…	1,100	800	(300)	1,000	2,900
		4th grade	…	600	300		—	900
Chili and Bolivia	…	2nd grade	…	1,100	450	(200)	700	2,250
China	…	1st grade	…	1,500	200	(100)	400	2,l00
Shanghai	…	3rd grade	…	800	300	(200)	400	1,500
Hong Kong	…	3rd grade	…	800	400	(200)	400	1,600
Scandinavia	…	3rd grade	…	800	300	(100)	600	1,700
		4th grade	…	600	100		—	700
France	…	1st grade	…	1,500	500	(300)	700	2,700
		3rd grade	…	800	—		—	800
Italy	…	1st grade	…	1,500	300	(200)	600	2,400
		3rd grade	…	800	—		—	800
Japan	…	1st grade	…	1,500	200	(100)	400	2,100
		3rd grade	…	800	100		—	900
Netherlands	…	2nd grade	…	1,100	500	(200)	600	2,200
Russia	…	1st grade	…	1,500	1,000	(500)	2,000	4,500
		3rd grade	…	800	400		—	1,200
Spain and Portugal	…	2nd grade	…	1,100	300	(100)	600	2,000
		4th grade	…	600	100		—	700
Switzerland	…	2nd grade	…	1,100	200	(100)	400	1,700
United States	…	1st grade	…	1,500	1,500	(750)	2,500	,500
		3rd grade	…	800	700		—	1,500
		4th grade	…	600	400		—	1,000
					10,700		12,800	51,000

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British authorities in Egypt have strongly recommended the appointment of a Trade Commissioner to Egypt; and whether he proposes to give effect to their recommendation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I understand, however, that the High Commissioner in Egypt has appointed a Committee to consider the creation of a Commercial Department in that country, and I expect in due course to receive the Committee's Report.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any sub-post offices have been closed in county Cavan; whether any further closings are contemplated; is he aware that old age pensioners are unable to travel long distances for their pensions; and will he see that in any necessary postal restrictions the old age pensioners are not penalized?

Since the outbreak of war the sub-post offices at Moylat and Ralaghbeg in county Cavan and at Virginia Road, county Meath, near the border of county Cavan, have been closed. No decision to close an office of this kind is arrived at without considering the needs of old age pensioners, but when a vacancy occurs the question of continuance necessarily arises.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Carrick-on-Shannon No. 1 Sub-Committee granted an old age pension of 5s. to John M'Ternan, No. 1698, of Aughrim, Dowra, county Leitrim, and on appeal it was reduced to 2s., and on further appeal cancelled altogether; and whether, as M'Ternan has very little means of living, an independent inquiry will be made into the source from which the information came, and justice done the applicant?

The Local Government Board inform me that there is no record of an appeal in the case referred to.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the existence of a movement to boycott, the Jews by means of scurrilous cartoons and leaflets published by Percy Ernest Hurst, Lower Markley Farm, Heathfield, Sussex; and what steps he intends to take to suppress a movement which might cause serious disturbances?

:I have seen a leaflet issued by the person referred to, but it appears to me merely to express the views and prejudices of the author and to afford no evidence of a movement of the kind suggested in the question. Mr. Hurst has been warned, and if any further publications of a similar nature should be issued the question of prosecution will be considered.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many scholars of the age of twelve years and upwards were educated in Scotland in the year 1913–14 in supplementary classes of primary schools, in intermediate schools, in higher grade schools, in secondary schools, and in continuation classes respectively?

The average attendance in 1913–14 of pupils over twelve years of age in Scottish schools receiving Grants from public funds was as follows:

• In supplementary classes, 54,889.
• In intermediate schools, 8,789.
• In secondary schools, 30,070.

The number of students in continuation classes was 151,855. The classification of schools as higher grade has reference to financial purposes only. All higher grade schools are classified as intermediate or secondary according to the course of instruction which they provide, and figures relating to them have been included under those heads in the foregoing statement.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance. Commissioners, when the Irish Insurance Commissioners began to receive notice from the St. Coman Branch, Irish National Foresters Insurance Society, members that they wished to be transferred; whether in August, 1917, the Commissioners sent out Form A. S. 174 asking for special reasons within fourteen days, otherwise the transfers would not be granted till after the War; why the Commissioners then investigated the matter, if it was necessary to wait to be registered as a friendly society, seeing that the Foresters were an approved society after the National Insurance Act was passed; and if, seeing that the branch has been registered three months, he will state definitely when those transfers will be granted in order to avoid legal proceedings, in order that those members claims can be enforced?

The Irish Insurance Commissioners first received notice in August, 1917, that certain members of the County Roscommon Approved Society desired to transfer from that society to a proposed new branch of the Irish National Foresters Society. The former society objected to the transfers taking effect, and it became the duty of the Commissioners under the National Insurance Acts to investigate the grounds of objection. As a result, it appeared that a number of the insured persons for whose transfer application had been made were willing either to withdraw their applications altogether, or to postpone them. Certain irregularities on the part of the new branch in connection with the collection of contribution cards were also revealed, and will have to be dealt with, but the Commissioners will take all possible steps to expedite the matter with a view to any transfers which are allowed taking place at the earliest possible date.