asked the Secretary of State for India when he expects to give an account of his recent visit to India, and to state what changes are proposed in connection with the Government of India?

I would ask the hon. Member to be good enough to defer his question until the Secretary of State for India's return from India. He is expected back next month. I am sorry not to be able to be more precise as to the date.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the money that has hitherto been deducted from the deferred pay of unemployed officers of the Indian Army of thirty-two years' service and over who have undertaken work as censors at the Central Telegraph Office and other places has been credited to the revenues of India or to what?

The hon. and gallant Member presumably refers to the difference between the unemployed pay of Indian Army officers and the amount issued to them by the India Office when they are employed by the War Office as censors. The difference in question accrues in the first instance to Indian revenues, but is eventually credited to Imperial funds in connection with other financial adjustments.

asked undo what warrant, rule, or Regulation commissioned officers of the Indian Army, compulsorily retained in the Service after their full pensions have become due, can not draw that pension?

There is no warrant, rule, of Regulation under which an officer holding His Majesty's commission can claim retirement at any particular time, and the power of the Secretary of State to suspend or limit retirement temporarily whenever it may appear to him necessary to do so in the interests of the public service is indicated in paragraph 710 of Army Regulations, India, Vol. 1.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now state the terms on which pensions and allowances will be granted to widows and dependants of officers and men in the mercantile marine serving in vessels in Admiralty employ; and when the new scale will be operative?

I had hoped to have been in a position to have given my hon. Friend a definite answer to-day. I am sorry that is not possible. The matter is still the subject of discussion between the Departments concerned. I think I may safely promise a final reply this day week.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he has now considered the question of the awarding of a pension to the mother of Private E. H., No. 46,127, West Yorkshire Regiment, who was shot for desertion, and who, prior to her son's death, was receiving 8s. 9d. weekly (ring paper No. V 33,241); if such pension has been refused, is it because although the widow of a soldier who has been shot is entitled to a pension a mother under similar circumstances is not; and how he justifies such a distinction?

The regimental paymaster reports that separation allowance will be paid in this case till the 16th September next. The question of pension will therefore be dealt with in August, and any pension admissible will be paid from the 17th September. No distinction is drawn in these cases between widows and other dependants.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Government to work the Chepstow shipbuilding yard under their own control or whether it is to be worked under private enterprise; and, if it is to be worked under Government control, will he state how it is to be managed, and whether the men to be employed are to be soldiers or civilians?

It is the intention of the Government to work the Chepstow Yard during the period of the War under their own control. Mr. Noel Peck, late managing director of Messrs. Barclay, Curie, and director of Messrs. Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Limited, and the North of Ireland Shipbuilding Company, has been sent down to Chepstow as Director of Shipbuilding to manage the yard, and will have associated with him other experienced shipbuilders. The question as to the status of the personnel has not yet been definitely settled.

Is it proposed after the War to hand these national ship yards over to private owners?

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the answer I gave on 15th November, he will see that the last paragraph answers his question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very strong rumour about that the men who are going to be employed here will be soldiers; if that is so, are we to understand that they will get the full and proper rates of the men employed in the other shipyards?

The yards, that is the slips, are being built by prisoners of war and soldiers. As to ship construction, perhaps the hon. Gentleman would put a question down.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the Admiralty has taken over a shipbuilding yard at Chepstow from a company of which Lord Inchcape was chairman; whether that company arranged to have two ships laid down last October and two more in March last; who are the officials responsible for preventing a private company from utilising this yard and placing its resources under the influence of Government control; and whether such officials are still managing the shipbuilding facilities at Chepstow?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Whatever the company's intention may have been with regard to laying down ships in October last, when the Admiralty took over on the 31st August, 1917, all prospect of having two slips ready by October, 1917, had vanished, as only 620 piles out of the 1,350 required for them had been driven. The company's own engineer, on the 25th July, 1917, stated the dates for completion of the two most forward berths as three months and four months respectively, and the rest as six, eight, and twelve months, from the time when an additional 200 men should be obtained. That additional labour had not been obtained in July, 1917, and was not obtained until after the Admiralty had taken possession. The principal reason that influenced the Government in taking over the yard was that; the contractors could not get sufficient men on the work. Since the Admiralty has taken over, the difficulty of housing the labour has been taken vigorously in hand, hutting accommodation for 1,600 men has already been completed. Berths Nos. 1 and 2 are complete, and other work in the yard is progressing satisfactorily. As regards the third part of the question, I must take exception to the implication that by our action progress in new merchant output has been prejudiced. From the earlier part of my answer my hon. Friend will see that this is not so. As regards the final part of the question, I have just stated the facts in the answer I have given my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, South.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Lord Inchcape sent a letter to the "Times," which was published on 25th March, stating distinctly that work had been delayed, and also that he would have had two ships laid down in these slips in October last?

Yes, I saw the letter, and, if my hon. Friend will forgive me, I recognize the question as, in substance, based on that letter. The letter is receiving attention, and I believe the First Lord will, if he has not already done so, reply on the facts to Lord Inchcape.

asked whether the Admiralty proposals for the publication of shipping losses through marine risk and enemy action have been approved by the War Cabinet?

Yes, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the present value of the Greenwich Hospital Fund; whether this is used in any way for the advantage of seamen; and, if so, for what purpose?

The. estimated income of Greenwich Hospital for the year 1917–18 was £219,235, of which £194,068, or 88½per cent., was appropriated for the advantage of seamen and marines under the following heads:

Age pensions	£114,000
Special pensions, and maintenance in naval hospitals, etc	23,800
Pensions to widows and gratuities to other dependents relatives	6,100
Education and maintenance of children in schools and homes	50,168
	£194,068

The remaining 11½ per cent. was utilised as follows:

Pensions to officers and allowances to their children	£9,320
Greenwich Hospital Estate expenses, etc., and superannuation allowances	15,043
Surplus income	804
	£25,167

Am I right in understanding that substantially the whole of Greenwich Hospital Fund is allocated to officers and men of the Navy, and will the right hon. Gentleman consider, bearing in mind the sources from which the fund comes, that some share of it should be devoted to pensions or analogous benefits to men of the mercantile marine?

Is it not a fact that the whole of this money was subscribed by the seamen themselves?

My hon. Friend raises a very interesting question. I will send him a copy of the original charter of the foundation in 1694. Before I can say that we shall apply any of this money to those most admirable objects mentioned perhaps the hon. Gentleman will read the original charter and the purposes to which the money was to be applied; then he can put another question.

It is not the question of the charter to which I was referring, but the sources from which the money originally came.

Obviously we can only spend the money under the authority given to us; we cannot possibly vary the benefaction.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether naval officers employed at the Admiralty are on the same footing as regards rations and allowances as military officers employed at the War Office; if not, if he will state the reason; and if he will put a stop to all differentiation in this respect?

The allowances issuable to naval and military officers are governed by distinct and different Regulations, and based on definite considerations. As regards officers attached for duty, respectively, to the War Office and the Admiralty, some are on consolidated pay, some on full pay and allowances. It would be of assistance to me in going into the differentiation between the two Services, which my hon. and gallant Friend obviously desires to have dealt with, if he will state more explicitly the precise point to which he desired to call our attention.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that officers of the British Service who belonged to General Townshend's force were placed on British rates of pay when they were captured, and that this means a serious reduction of money; whether it is intended to continue this reduced pay; and whether he will consider specially hard cases?

British Service officers in receipt of Indian rates of pay retain them for sixty-one days after they become prisoners of war. After that they draw exactly the same emoluments as any other British officers who are prisoners of war, namely, pay, lodging, fuel, light, and field allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the feeling against the creation of hereditary titles in British self-governing Dominions; whether he has considered the announcements and speeches made in the Canadian House of Commons on 8th April; and what action he proposes to take?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply yesterday to a similar question by the hon. Member for West Clare.

Have definite communications passed between the Canadian Government and the Colonial Office on this subject?

If the hon. Member will refer to my answer, he will see that his supplementary question is already replied to.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is aware that, as the result of the War, many thousands of marriages between overseas soldiers and British women have taken place, and that there is evidence that some hundreds of these are bigamous; that the War Office have declined, and so have the various Dominion troops' record offices, to furnish copies of Dominion soldiers' records, furnishing addresses, etc., of the soldiers, to enable inquiries to be prosecuted, even if application for such copy of the record is made by the soldier himself; that the expense of a suit for nullity of marriage is out of the power of most of the women affected; will he consult the Agents-General of the various Dominions and seek ways to make such bigamous marriages less easy, and arrange for official help from tine Dominions to reduce the expense of nullity proceedings; (2) whether he is aware that since the War commenced many thousands of marriages between overseas soldiers and women in the United Kingdom have taken place; that evidence exists which shows that in some hundreds of cases such marriages have been bigamous; that no means of annulling such marriages are open to the aggrieved women except applications to the High Court requiring legal evidence procured in the Dominions; that the expense of such applications is outside the power of the majority of women so married; and that it is the opinion of the Registrar-General that a change in the law is required to make such bigamous marriages less easy; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

As I fully explained to my hon. Friend in reply to a question on this subject on 5th February last, bonâfide inquiries as to whether overseas soldiers are already married or not are always answered by the Record Offices concerned so far as the documents show. I have no information as to the number of marriages which have taken place between overseas soldiers and British women, but I hope that the number of such marriages which my hon. Friend alleges to have been bigamous is exaggerated. I understand that a bigamous marriage is void ab initio, and that no proceedings in the High Court for nullity are necessary. It is not practicable for the War Office to promote legislation on this matter or to facilitate the obtaining of legal evidence from the Dominions.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that requests have been made to the War Office and various Agents-General that a record of each soldier in those offices should be given, and those requests have been refused; and will the hon. Gentleman explain why it is not possible, if the soldier asks for it, to satisfy the relations of the woman he proposes to marry that a copy of the document should not be given?

I am told that the Dominions authorities, as well as the War Office, will give any information, provided it is asked for bonâfide.

Is there any objection to giving a copy of the whole record if the soldier himself asks for it?

:I cannot see why, if the soldier himself asks for it, a copy should be refused. There is no case for refusal, and we guard with extreme care the confidential documents of any soldier.

Is it not possible for the soldier to obtain the information through his commanding officer?

I think there is a good deal in the hon. and gallant Member's point. All we want to be assured of is that the application is bonâfide, because we are the custodians of the man's confidential documents and there might be something in them that he might not like to see revealed.

Is the hon. Member not aware that although it is the fact that a bigamous marriage is no marriage, yet in regard to property and children of a bigamous marriage it is necessary that it should be annulled by an application to the High Court? Does the hon. Gentleman not realise that this is very costly and out of the power of the woman to do, and does he not think legislation should be passed to put these women into a better position?

It is obvious that it is not for the War Office to promote such legislation, and all inquiries ought to be addressed to the Dominion authorities.

asked whether any and what inquiries were made as to the past history of Private E. H., No. 46127, West Yorkshire Regiment, before he was sentenced and shot for desertion on 17th February last; whether it was known that this man was considered by his employers and townspeople, previous to his becoming a soldier, to be mentally weak, and that whilst a, soldier he gave considerable anxiety and trouble to the doctors and his officers; whether such doctors had made any report, and, if so, what report of his mental condition; whether, after he deserted, he wrote his mother several letters, the envelopes of which she sent on to his regiment to enable them to discover his whereabouts, and that it was by means of these envelopes that he was found, and, as a consequence, shot; and will he call for a full report on this man's health and conduct record previous to his death?

I have made inquiry, and find that this man was specially examined by the medical authorities both before and after his trial by court-martial, with the result that he was found to be in a perfectly normal state of health. I have no information as to the other suggestions raised by my hon. Friend.

asked whether Private E. H., No. 46127, West Yorkshire Regiment, was sentenced and shot for desertion on 17th February last, whether information to this effect and with no other information and no preliminary letter was sent on 16th March to his mother by the Infantry Record Office, York, No. 2; and whether he will explain why such method of proceeding was adopted in view of the pledge given by him?

It is much regretted that an error was made at the Record Office, and steps have been taken by the officer in charge to prevent a recurrence.

As this has caused very great pain and also injury to the health of the mother of this young man, will the War Office send some recognition of their error to this woman?

I think that is a very reasonable suggestion, and if the officer in charge of Records has not done so I will see that it is done.

asked whether H. Parsons, late 5/1st Bedford Regiment, has been transferred to the 7th Northants and sent abroad, although not yet eighteen and a half, and, if so, why; will he be at once returned to England; whether he volunteered for, and was claimed by his brother for, the Royal Garrison Artillery, and has not yet been transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery; and, if so, will he say why?

Inquiries have been made, and it has been ascertained that this man was eighteen and a half years of age on the 13th March, 1918, so he was included in a draft in compliance with the instructions issued to meet the present emergency. There is no trace of an application for his transfer to the Royal Garrison Artillery, but if an application had been received it would not have been sanctioned, as all such transfers are in abeyance for the period of the War.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the information given as to the age of this young man is incorrect, and that he is not eighteen and a half years of age now?

I have no doubt that the age supplied was taken from his papers.

Is it not a fact that a good many young men have been sent over to France before they were eighteen and a half years of age?

Yes. I answered that question fully yesterday. The national emergency has been very great, indeed, but we have guaranteed that as far possible no man of eighteen and a half years of age shall be sent abroad, unless he is physically fit and well-trained.

asked what arrangements, if any, will be made so that men called up for service under the new Military Service Bill who, from their qualifications in civil life, would be eligible for officers can obtain commissioned rank?

The matter is at present under the consideration of the Army Council.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what are the qualifications in civil life necessary for commissioned rank? Must he have a banking account?

No, not necessarily.

Social status?

No, not necessarily.

asked whether time expired men, who when they left the Army had obtained non- commissioned rank, if called up under the provisions of the new Military Service Bill, will take the rank they occupied when they obtained their discharge?

The point raised by my hon. Friend in his question is still under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary for Wax whether he can make any statement as to the position of officers now serving in the Volunteers when the new Military Service Bill passes into law; will a Volunteer officer who comes under the new age limit be given a commission in the Army, or will he be required to pass through the ranks, or will he have the opportunity of joining an. officers' cadet corps?

asked whether it is intended to use the men in the Volunteers who are affected by the provisions of the Military Service Bill as units or draft them as individuals into the Army; and whether officers holding Volunteer commissions will be taken under the Bill as privates?

The position of Volunteer officers is being considered by the Army Council. Members of the Volunteer Force will be called up in the same way as other members of the general public affected by the Bill.

asked the Minister of National Service if he will grant a Return setting forward the number of men in the different Government Departments who, on the 31st March, were between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, the number of men between the ages of twenty-five and forty-one, the number in each class that would be eligible for either Grade 1 or Grade 2 and the number in each class who have been on active military service and have been discharged on account of physical disability?

A full statement regarding the personnel of the Civil Ser vice is being prepared by the Ministry of National Service, and will shortly be issued as a White Paper.

asked the Minister of National Service (1) if he will give the number of men fit for active service under thirty years of age engaged in agriculture who have been exempted from military service; and (2) if he will give the number of men fit for active service under twenty-five years of age engaged in agriculture who have been exempted from military service?

It is estimated that there are 120,000 men engaged in agriculture in Great Britain who are under thirty years of age. Of these, approximately, 63,000 are under twenty-five. They have not all been medically examined, but allowing for the fact that the men recruited from agriculture during the earlier part of the War were mostly fit for general service, it is considered that at least 33 per cent. of these numbers would be in that category.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many men engaged in agriculture under the age of thirty have gone to the War either voluntarily or under compulsion?

The hon. and gallant Member must give notice of that question.

asked the Minister of National Service whether the term "house agent" in his recent order cancelling exemptions on occupational grounds is meant to apply to house factors in Scotland, part of whose duty it is to collect local rates and Imperial taxes along with rents of houses and business premises, or whether it applies only to house agents there who combine with other businesses that of letting furnished houses or apartments generally for short periods?

Yes, Sir; the term "house agent" is meant to include house factors of the class referred to, provided that they fall within the prescribed conditions as to age and medical category.

Is not the collection of local rates and Imperial taxes a work of national importance?

I do not think my hon. Friend is right. Some of these men collect local rates as part of their work in connection with the arrangements made by local landlords; they do not collect on behalf of the Government.

My question was whether the collection of Imperial taxes is a work of national importance?

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the pledge that attested men should not be at a disadvantage with unattested men, he will amend Regulation 175 of the Instructions to Tribunals as to voluntary attested men, so that attested men may apply for exemption on the grounds of ill-health or infirmity equally with unattested men?

:Attested men, alike with unattested men, are examined as to their fitness for military service by National Service Medical Boards, and I would remind the hon. Member that attested men have the same rights as unattested men, under the Rules which have been issued by my Department, of applying to the Appeal Tribunal for leave to be examined by the medical assessors, if they are dissatisfied with their grading by the National Service Medical Board.

Am I to put that construction upon the Order issued in February last, which says that attested men cannot appeal on the ground of ill-health, and does that agree with the general Order under the Act of 1915 which was issued to the tribunals?

Under the present practice everyone, whether attested or unattested, will be able to make an appeal to the medical board, and can apply to the Appeal Tribunal to be examined by medical assessors. That affords to unattested men every protection they can desire to have on medical grounds.

After the passing of the Bill which left this House yesterday is there to be any change in the Regulations regarding medical examination and appeals on medical grounds to tribunals?

No. As far as I am responsible for the issuing of Regulations, I do not contemplate taking away any of the rights as regards appeal on medical grounds which men have at present.

Will the right hon. Gentleman modify the circular which says that attested men are not to apply on the ground of ill-health or infirmity?

There is no need to modify it at all. They can now, and I hope will always, be able to appeal on medical grounds to the Appeal Tribunal if they like for leave to be examined.

Why are these words in the circular?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister, in introducing the Military Service Bill, announced that rights of appeal were to be Limited, and can he give an undertaking that that intention has been departed from?

I am not aware that my right hon. Friend made any such statement. I have made my statement. So far as I am responsible, I have no intention of taking away the rights which at present exist of appealing on medical grounds to the Appeal Tribunal.

May I take it that the tribunals, irrespective of this circular, will treat attested men on just the same lines as unattested men?

The hon. Member must not put an interpretation on my words different from what I myself put. They have definite rights now of appealing to Appeal Tribunals on medical grounds, and they have no further rights. The tribunals must not take it that they have any further rights, or that their position has been in any way altered.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if his Department will consider the advisability of fixing a fair rate per acre for all allotments, to discourage the profiteering instincts of some landowners and to stimulate and encourage the production of our national food supplies by the workers of this country?

The Board have no power to regulate the rents charged for allotments provided by private land owners. No sufficient evidence has been brought to the notice of the Board to lead them to suppose that legislation should besought for the purpose of regulating such rents. As regards allotments provided by local authorities under the Cultivation of Lands Order, the Order provides that the rent payable to the owner shall not exceed the rent previously received by him for the land.

Are there any cases where the charge of land let lay private owners for allotments is three or four times more than that for similar land adjoining?

Not since the War, I think.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he or the Food Controller is responsible for maintaining the supplies of milk and for its production?

The Food Controller is responsible for fixing the prices of milk. The prices and distribution of the feeding stuffs not produced upon the farm also rest with the Food Controller. In other measures concerned with the production of milk the Board is responsible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when the price of bread was reduced to 9d. per loaf, biscuit manufacturers were granted a licence on which they were entitled to buy flour on a payment to the Government of 18s. per sack, which was regarded as the equivalent of the subsidy on bread; whether he is aware that the Food Controller at the end of March imposed a charge of an additional 18s. per sack on biscuit manufacturers; what is the reason for this new tax; and under what authority has it been levied?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The cost of flour to the State has continuously increased, and, as the Cabinet decision to subsidise the price of bread did not extend to biscuits, Lord Rhondda decided to raise the amount of the licence so as to cover the whole margin between the present cost and the fixed selling price of flour.

Has the price increased to the extent of 18s. per sack, and will the hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of the question?

It is not intended to make any profit on this transaction so far as the Food Ministry is concerned.

Will the hon. Gentleman say under what authority this is done? Does it not require the authority of this House to levy a tax?

This is not strictly in the nature of a tax as we know taxes, and it was done on the authority of the Food Minister.

On what ground does the Food Controller allow biscuits to be manufactured at all? Is it on the ground that they are a necessity or a luxury?

They are still believed by many people in the country to be a necessity.

asked the Minister of Munitions why his Department are offering for sale by tender seven Canadian agricultural tractors; if these machines have been offered to the Board of Agriculture; and, if not, why this has not been done?

The tractors in question already belong to the Food Production Department of the Board of Agriculture, and having been found unsuitable for their purposes are being sold by them by tender. The Ministry of Munitions were first of all requested to dispose of them, hence my hon. Friend's misunderstanding of the position.

Are they having any more tractors made by the same firm?

I think not.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what are the approximate weekly and total numbers during the last three months of cattle bought in Ireland for killing and export to England, Scotland, and Wales; what has been the average price of purchase of the above; and what has been the average weekly and total loss during the same period to the Treasury incurred by reselling them in England at the prices fixed by the Food Controller; and in what proportion this loss to the taxpayer was as an extra profit shared between the producers and middlemen concerned?

I am sending the hon. Member such figures as are available on this subject, and these will be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Walsall on Thursday, 11th April.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether that guarantee, admitted yesterday, is still in force and whether payments are still being made under it?

Yes; I think I can say that.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why women have not been asked to assist the Ministry in deciding on and forwarding its policy of Betting up national kitchens; is he aware that the proportion of women cooks to men cooks in this country is estimated as 10,000 to one; that many competent women in the Large cities have done much pioneer work in starting public kitchens of various kinds; and will the Ministry seek the assistance of, and give responsible powers to, women in the matter of national kitchens?

The Food Controller has constantly sought the assistance and advice of women in forwarding his policy of setting up national kitchens. The actual administration of these kitchens is in the hands of local authorities, who are already employing women in administrative work. The National Kitchens Branch of the Ministry are training both women inspectors, supervisors, and cooks, and, generally speaking, the whole of the staff of the kitchens will be women.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the delays in delivering bacon stocks in the port of Bristol recently from vessels discharging in that port; and what steps his Department are taking in order to ensure that the stocks of bacon now in course of landing at United Kingdom ports will be delivered in fit condition for consumption?

I am aware that there has been some congestion at Bristol and else where, due to transport difficulties arising from various causes. This matter is receiving the constant attention of my Department, in consultation with the Ministry of Shipping, the Railway Executive Committee, and the importers, and measures have already been taken to secure the prompt clearing of the quays and the transport of the bacon to the ware houses and stores. No bacon has become unfit for consumption after landing through any delay in handling it.

Can the hon. Gentleman arrange that his Department should have particulars of the cargoes of vessels before they arrive, so that they can give delivery orders for use immediately a cargo arrives at the port?

We have such particulars, of course, but there are certain delays which cannot be foreseen—the available labour and machinery may not be ready at the actual time of arrival. I can assure my hon. Friend that we are giving the closest attention to the matter, and that I have been this morning in consultation with the parties concerned.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he can make any statement as to the revision of the scale of pensions to widows of men who lost their lives in the Boer War, and as to the date from which the new scale will operate?

The pensions of the widows of men who lost their lives informer wars are about to be increased by such an amount as will ensure to each widow a total sum of 13s. 9d. a week (including any pension or allowance she may receive from the funds of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation or other funds raised by public subscription). A further sum of 1s. 3d. a week is added when the widow attains the age of 45. Any allowances for children which are still in course of issue will be continued under former arrangements.

At the same time, the pensions of soldiers or sailors who were discharged as unfit for further service on account of disabilities incurred in former wars, and who are now by reason of such disabilities totally incapacitated from earning a livelihood, will be raised to the level of the minimum pensions for the highest degree of disablement which are payable under the Warrants relating to the present War, according to the rank of the soldier or sailor at the time of his discharge.

The increases of pension will be payable as from the 1st of next month.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what will be the total cost of this increase?

No; I could not say, but I will be very glad, if the right hon. Gentleman puts down a question, to give the approximate cost.

Are we to understand from the answer that officers are not to participate in these revised pensions?

This Warrant does not deal with officers. I really could not say what the practice has been so far as officers are concerned in respect of former wars; but if the hon. and gallant Gentleman puts down a question, I will endeavour to obtain any information that he desires.

Can the right, hon. Gentleman say when the new Royal Warrant for the revised scale of pensions will be available?

From the first of next month.