asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the special attention of neutral Governments has been called to the reports received of the ill-treatment of British prisoners of war in mines and in many of the working camps, also of officers and men throughout the 10th Army Corps district, and of prisoners behind the line on the Eastern and Western Fronts, a Report of which has been issued in the form of a White Paper; whether any general international representation of neutral Governments to the German Government on this subject has been asked for or arranged; and, if not, whether steps will be taken to invite such action on the part of neutral Governments?

:It is not thought that the particular steps suggested in the question would prove effective for the desired purpose; but the matter is before the Ministry of Information, who will doubtless take every step in their power to enlighten public opinion throughout the civilised world as to the brutalities now revealed.

Perhaps I may be allowed to say with reference, to another matter connected with prisoners raised yesterday that we have now heard that the camp at Changri has been broken up and the prisoners have been transferred to two other camps.

Are the Government taking any really definite steps to endeavour to ameliorate these conditions?

Yes, we have taken steps of different kinds, not always successfully.

Can any steps be taken, not so much to enlighten public opinion in neutral countries throughout the world, but to bring the pressure of public opinion in neutral countries throughout the world to bear upon the Governments of enemy countries?

It must be a matter of every man's judgment how far diplomatic representations to countries that remain neutral can have any very great effect.

Will the Government approach the Governments of neutral countries to get from them an expression of definite opinion in the matter?

I have just said that it is not thought that such an expression of opinion would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the weekly ration of meat, including bacon, sugar, and fats, now issued to interned civilian enemy subjects is now of no greater quantity than that permitted to our own civilian population; and will he give the scale of dietary as recently revised?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the very full reply which I gave on the 5th March to the hon. and learned Member for York. The revised scale of dietary in civilian internment camps was circulated with my reply, and there has been no change since that date.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the proceedings at an inquest held on a civilian German interned at the Alexandra Palace, Wood Green, N., on the 9th instant; whether Major Foulerton, Royal Army Medical Corps, who inquired into the circumstances of the case, reported that the dietary was extremely good, that those interned were supplied with the same food as the officers and troops, and that the supply was so liberal that those interned had more meat than could be consumed at the mid-day meal and made it into rissoles for supper; and whether, as a result of the inquiry, he has taken measures to curtail the issue of meat to civilians interned at the Palace?

:My inquiries into this matter are now completed, and I am informed that the statements ascribed to Major Foulerton were not made by him, nor by anyone else as far as is known. Prisoners of war are permitted to use the allotted ration as they think fit, and the fact that a few rissoles—not more than a dozen—were made from the meat ration of nearly 2,000 men for consumption at a meal other than the regular dinner does not indicate any excess in the ration.

Is it not a fact that in this particular ease the German who died was a civilian and not a prisoner of war?

That does not affect the case at all.

Is it not under the control of the Home Secretary?

As the prisoners of War are allowed to be autonomous in their own internal management and have some excellent cooks, may not the explanation be that they have this amount of meat over by saving the rissoles out of the rations?

I think that very likely is the explanation.

Is it not a fact that they select their own cooks from among their own number?

Yes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction has been caused through the introduction of a scheme of supplementary rationing, which attempts, upon a scientific basis, to discriminate between different classes of workmen, and between male and female workers employed upon precisely similar work; whether he is aware that such an attempt to differentiate in food supplies is likely to lead to industrial unrest; and whether, if any extra rationing can be given, he will give directions that it shall be applied generally and not sectionally?

:The scheme of supplementary meat rations was introduced in fulfilment of the Food Controller's promise that so soon as additional supplies were available special consideration would be given to the needs of heavy workers. I have always adhered to the view expressed by the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress that there should be no discrimination between different classes of workmen. As my hon. Friend is aware, I propose again to consult the Committee as to the position of women workers. I may add that I am discussing the matter now with representatives of the women on the Consumers' Council.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the judgment against the Ministry pronounced on the 30th July last by Mr. Justice Rowlatt in favour of Messrs. Hindhaugh in the beans case has been settled; if so, what was the total payment made to the firm; how many other cases have been decided in accordance with this judgment; and what was the total loss to the Ministry?

:The judgment given in the case referred to was merely a declaratory judgment; no payments have been made by the Ministry of Food on the basis of that judgment to Messrs. Hindhaugh, or to any other person. It is not known whether any other cases have been decided in accordance with this judgment.

If that were a declaratory judgment, may I ask whether the Ministry of Food have appealed against it, or whether they will obey the order of the Court?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether one price has been fixed for cheese, irrespective of quality, both for its purchase and distribution; whether the same limitation as to price and quality has been applied to other commodities; and whether, seeing that such a Regulation places a premium on inferiority of production and is for this reason contrary to the public interest, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Cheese is purchased abroad by the Ministry of Food at prices which vary according to the quality, grade and country of origin of the cheese. On being imported into this country these varieties are issued to retailers to be sold to the consumer at a flat rate. For British-made cheese there is at present no flat rate, but a scheme is in contemplation whereby British cheese, with some small exceptions, will be purchased on behalf of the Ministry of Food at varying prices according to quality and will also be sold to the consumer at a flat rate. We have standardised flour and, as the right hon. Gentleman is probably aware, we have also standardised tea. I can only repeat that these are war measures, and I think that there will be no disapproval of the steps which we are taking.

:My right hon. Friend has not replied to the latter part of the question, whether he does not think that it is contrary to the public interest to fix the same price for an inferior article as for one of good quality, especially as he admits that he buys them at different pries himself and only fixes a flat rate for the consumer?

No, I do not hold the opinion that it is contrary to the public interest to take this course. It is the policy of the Food Minister to supply as far as we can similar articles to the public at the same price. When this cannot in all cases be done it means that here and there the public in turn take their share of getting an inferior article. It means that some of us at sometime or other get an inferior article. We have to take our chance.

:May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he means to consider the question, say, of cheese, whether he has noticed a great deterioration in the quality even of the cheese supplied to this House, and whether that is not due to the fact that he is only charging the same price for inferior cheese as for good cheese?

The element of quality is not in the slightest degree affected by the policy being pursued by the Controller.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when it is proposed to fix the price of British-made cheese?

Very early indeed.

In fixing the price will the hon. Gentleman base it on the lower quality and not on the higher quality?

Will the hon. Gentleman see that it is cheese?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether satisfactory arrangements have been made by the London county and borough councils to keep and feed pigs on the kitchen refuse collected in their areas, or whether many tons of this is daily fed to the destructor furnaces?

Conferences of all local authorities in the London area have been held under the auspices of the National Salvage Council, when the necessity for conserving all organic refuse for the feeding of pigs has been impressed upon them. It is hoped that schemes will shortly be put into operation for increasing the proportion of refuse so used.

The schemes are not in operation at present?

In one or two instances they are.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the account of a small holder who sent about 5 tons of vegetables to Covent Garden Market, where the price allowed was £20, from which was deducted about £10 for railway carriage for 40 miles and for other expenses; and, in view of the fact that the consumers would have to pay about £50 for the £10 worth of vegetables, can he say what steps he proposes to take to prevent the producers and consumers from being mulcted in this way?

I have investigated this matter, and it appears that the low price realised was due to the inferior quality of the consignment. The salesmen are paid by commission; the railway carriage was just over £2; and the only unnecessary charge was for cartage from station at 10s. a ton, which would have been avoided if the vegetables had been consigned to a firm at St. Pancras or King's Cross. I can only add that in growing vegetables a certain standard of quality must be reached before any profit can be obtained.

Does the hon. Gentleman allow that half the price is taken by the railway companies and other people; was not the produce more than ½d. per lb.; and is he aware that you would pay more than that for pig food?

I am assured that the quality of the consignment was very inferior. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will read the terms of my reply, he will see that the figures in the reply are totally different from those in the question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) whether be is aware that eight cottars were, at the Oban Sheriff Court on Saturday last, sentenced to ten days' imprisonment and found liable to expenses for taking possession of 13 acres on the farm of Balephethish, Tiree, on the estate of the Duke of Argyll; that the illegality consisted in providing themselves with part of a sheep run on which to grow necessary food, and that they have already sown their crops; whether it is intended to continue the persecution of these men, who are only voicing the demand in Scotland for access to the land which has been burked by the feeble administration of the 1911 Land Act; whether he has yet any practical proposals to make for giving access to the land in Scotland for those who desire it; (2) whether he is aware of the indignation expressed throughout Scotland at the imprisonment of eight Tiree crofters for the seizure of 13 acres of derelict sheep run for the purpose of growing food; whether he is aware that the men have already cultivated the land and planted their crops; and whether he will take steps to see that these hungry men and their families, many of whose relatives are fighting for their country in France and elsewhere, are not further disturbed until their crops are reaped?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the illegal cultivation effected by the cottars in question, and of the Sheriff Court proceedings referred to. He much regrets this misguided action on the part of men who are otherwise law-abiding citizens. It has placed an additional obstacle in the way of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in their endeavour to obtain additional land in Tiree. He has no authority to give any undertaking in regard to further legal proceedings. As regards the general questions of land policy raised by my hon. Friend, it is hardly possible to discuss them within the limits of question and answer.

My right hon. Friend desires to add, in reference to this case, that the Board had had under consideration the advisability of action for increased cultivation under the Defence of the Realm regulations. The Board were prepared to draw up a scheme under those Regulations, whereby land might be offered to the applicants as a temporary measure in the interests of food production, and were about to request the assistance of the district agricultural committee when they were informed of the illegal action of the applicants. This made further proceedings on the part of the Board impracticable.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman state what in his opinion these men were going to do—were they going to starve or get off the island?

I think they might have allowed the Board of Agriculture time to make arrangements.

And the men might starve in the meantime!

How long did the Board of Agriculture delay action so as to render this illegal action on the part of the men necessary?

I cannot say, but I can assure the hon. Member, knowing how anxious the Board of Agriculture is to increase the food supply, that there was no unnecessary delay.

When were these circumstances first brought to the notice of the Board of Agriculture?

I am sorry I have not information on that point.

Were there any sheep at all on this derelict land?

I rather think the land was under sheep at the time.

How many sheep?

That I cannot gay.

As many as are in the Government?

I would ask the hon. Member for East Edinburgh to restrain himself from making these quasi-amusing observations. They do not really assist progress and stand very much in his own way when he wishes to speak. He would resent them very much if other people made them.

No; I never do!

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is proposed to cancel exemptions from liability to military service granted to civilian prisoners who have been released on parole by our enemies?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I would refer my hon. Friend to Clause 1, Section 3 of the Military Service Bill now before Parliament, and to the Debate which took place on Tuesday, 16th April. My hon. Friend will then see that it is not proposed to call up for military service civilian prisoners in cases where an undertaking which is recognised by His Majesty's Government has been given not to serve in His Majesty's Forces during the present War.

Are we to understand that prisoners who are released on parole by the enemy will not be permitted to do work of national importance in this country?

That really does not arise at all. The question concerns His Majesty's Forces.

:What is meant by recognition by His Majesty's Government, because there were cases in the Southern Atlantic where men were released on their word of honour that they would not take up arms against the enemy, and are they to be made to treat their word of honour as a scrap of paper?

:There is no question of a scrap of paper at all. A man who happens to have been for a short time in the hands of the enemy, and has given an undertaking that he ought not to have given, cannot be exempted from service for the rest of the War. My hon. Friend may be sure that His Majesty's Government will have the most scrupulous regard for any undertaking which has been properly given in this matter.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman who represents National Service in this House whether it is proposed to call up men for National Service who are recognised by the Government as having given their parole?

That does not arise on this question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Great Central Railway Company released for His Majesty's Forces some time ago all their clerks in Grade 1, although all the other companies have considered it necessary to retain for the efficient working of their railways a number of Grade 1 men over the age of thirty-one, and that a number of married men over the age of thirty-one in Grades 2 and 3 arc about to be released by the Great Central Company, particularly from their cartage department; and, if so, whether, in view of the retention by the other railway companies of men of all military service categories, including unmarried men in Grade 1, he will arrange for uniformity of treatment in regard to this matter to be accorded to all the employés on railways now under State control?

:I am having some inquiries made in the matter, and will communicate with the hon. Gentleman when these inquiries; are complete.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of setting up a Committee so that men may be called up uniformly from the offices of these companies?

I understand that the present arrangement for dealing with men who may be called up is working satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of National Service whether the National Service Instruction No. 3, of 1917 (Cd. 8834), regulating medical board examinations is still in force, or whether it has been modified or superseded by subsequent instructions reducing the minimum standards; and, if so, whether any such instructions will be published?

:National Service Instruction No. 3 of 1917 was revised and republished as M.N.S.R. 24 on 26th February, 1918, and can be obtained through His Majesty's Stationery Office by the public. The revised edition was undertaken with the object of making the Instructions regarding medical arrangements and grading more comprehensive and has in no way modified the general standards of fitness for military service. A National Service Instruction dealing with standards of vision was issued on the 6th April. This Instruction was drawn up after consultation by a Committee of Military and Civil Ophthalmic Specialists. The standards decided upon are slightly lower than before.

asked the Minister of National Service if he proposes to continue to avail himself of the services of the Advisory Committees set up under the Military Service Act, 1916, and continued under the Military Service Act, 1918?

These Committees are, I am happy to say, giving their assistance as heretofore, and my right hon. Friend hopes to continue to have the advantage of their services, subject to any changes which may be necessitated by any readjustment of tribunal areas made by the Local Government Board under the power contained in the Military Service Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister if it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to refrain from enforcing Conscription in Ireland until an Irish Parliament has been set up in Dublin?

I can add nothing to the statements on this subject made by the Prime Minister.

In view of the fact that two important statements were made last week, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the War Office may expect to get recruits from Ireland under this Bill before the 1st August next?

Most certainly. We hope to get them before that time.

Having regard to the conflicting statements of the Prime Minister, are we to understand that it is or it is not the intention of the Government to enforce the Conscription Bill on Ireland before the Home Rule Bill has passed through this House?

That is precisely the same question. I do not admit that there was any conflict of statement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what the Prime Minister wished to convey to the House?

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that considerable anxiety exists on the part of disabled and rejected men previously protected, as to whether their position is affected by the Military Service Bill; and if, for the purpose of assuring these men as to their position, he will state the classes of such men who will be excepted from liability for military service?

As regards the men mentioned in the question, the House will remember that on the Motion of my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Service, an amendment was moved lo the first Schedule of the Military Service Bill now before Parliament. The effect of this is to except from the operation of the Military Service Bill the classes of men who are set out in paragraph 4 of the Schedule to the Bill. For the purpose of informing the men concerned, I propose to read the paragraph referred to, which, I think, quite clearly states the position, and is as follows:

4. (a) Disabled men who during the present War have served outside the British Islands or at sea, or who have served in the field, or at sea in any previous War.

(b) Disabled men who, though not having served as aforesaid, have during the present War served for not less than a week in any of His Majesty's Forces (other than Reserve Forces); and men who having been officially reported as wounded during the present War, have been discharged in consequence of the termination of their period of service, if in either case they are engaged in whole-time work which is for the time being certified by the Director-General of National Service to be of national importance,

(c) Disabled men, or men who have been medically rejected after offering themselves for enlistment, if on further medical examination after the 5th day of April 1917 in accordance with the Regulation of the Army Council or as respects an examination after the date on which the Ministry of National Service Order, 1917, came in force, in accordance with the Regulation of the Director General of National Service they have been certined to be totally and permanently unfit for any form of military service?

In this paragraph the expression "disabled men" means men (including officers) who have left or been discharged from the naval, military, or air forces in consequence of disablement or ill-health.

Does that cover men who were re-examined last year under the Review of Exceptions Act and have received a certificate that they are totally and permanently unfit for any form of military service?

:To the best of my belief that is so, but my hon. Friend knows that there are very technical as well as legal points, and I do not want to be committed, but I will inquire.

Do the words "offering themselves for enlistment" cover men who were called up in the ordinary course?

I must have notice of that question.

Having regard to the question which the hon. Member for North-East Lanarkshire proposes to raise on the Adjournment in the House to-night, may I say, in reference to the attitude of a strong Minister—

Order!

The hon. Member had better reserve his speech until the matter comes on.

I certainly shall not be present to take part in the discussion.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether controlled establishments using blast, furnaces have received instructions to sell the flue dust from their furnaces to certain Government agents in various districts, to whom in their respective districts a monopoly of the sale of such flue dust as artificial manure has boon granted; whether any scale of prices was fixed by the Ministry for this flue dust so ordered to be sold, and communicated to its makers whether he is aware that flue dust sold under contract to one of these Government agents at Is. and 5s. a ton is sold by him to the user at the following prices: No. 1, potash content 2¾ to 3¼ per cent., price per ton 37s 6d.; No. 1a, potash content 3¼ to 5½per cent., price per ton 46s. 6d.; No. 2, potash content 5½to 9¾ per cent., price per ton 60s.; and No. 3, potash content 9¾to 13 per cent., price per ton 100s. 6d.; and if he will say what are the services rendered by this agent which justify these differences in price?

I am informed by the Ministry of Munitions that no instructions have been issued requiring any blast furnace owner, to sell flue dust to any particular person. Licences have been granted on the advice of the Food Production Department to a limited number of wholesale collecting agents, authorising them to purchase certain qualities of blast furnace flue dust from blast furnace owners, and to sell the dust to licensed agents who resell to farmers. These agents are required, as a condition of their licence, to sell at prescribed prices, but the price at which the flue dust is purchased by the wholesale collecting agents from the furnace owners is not fixed, and is a matter of arrangement between the buyer and seller. With reference to the inquiry in the latter part of the question, it is believed that several firms have old standing contracts, which enable them to obtain supplies at low prices. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of the contract to which he refers, inquiries will be made, and I will let him know the result. I am sending the hon. Member a leaflet which we have circulated on blast furnace flue dust as a potash fertiliser, in which the prices and other details are set out.

Will the hon. Gentleman make further inquiries? My information, from responsible people, is that instructions were received from the Ministry to sell to particular agents, and these responsible people applied to the Ministry to know if there were any scale of prices.

The hon. Member is now giving information and not asking for it.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the arrangements made by the Government in this matter have been received with much dissatisfaction by the ironmasters in the North and on the West Coast, and that representations were made to the Ministry of Munitions some weeks ago, to which no reply has been received, and should any further representations be made to his Department or to the Ministry of Munitions?

After what the right hon. Gentleman has said, I will go into the matter closely.

In view of these facts and having regard to the price of flue dust, will the hon. Gentleman reconsider the prices charged to the farmer for artificial manure?

I will take up the matter with the Ministry of Munitions without delay.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will make special inquiries concerning the position of Mr. W. Reddiough, farmer, Lower Heights, Cullingworth, Yorks, who is ill and totally unable to do any work whatever and whose farm of 73 acres, with twenty-four milking cows, four young cattle, sixty-six sheep and lambs, and 150 poultry, is left with the services of one youth in consequence of Mr. Reddiough's son, No. 240649, 59th Division, Y Battery, Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Field Artillery, British Expeditionary Force, France, being returned to his unit; and what action he intends to take to prevent the further reduction of the stock on this farm which must take place immediately if no action is taken?

Gunner Reddiough had one month's leave from France for the purpose of helping on his father's farm, and towards the end of the period an application was made on his behalf to the Board of Agriculture for their assistance in getting an extension. But owing to the present military situation in France, the War Office have suspended extensions of leave for all men in the Expeditionary Force. Thy father has been advised to apply for any additional labour or help that he may require to the agricultural executive committee for the county.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before the resignation of Major-General Sir Hugh Trenchard was accepted, the differences or policy between General Trenchard and the Air Minister came before the War Cabinet; and whether he can, consistently with the public interest, state the questions of policy upon which a. difference of opinion| arose between the Air Minister and General Trenchard?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the last part in the negative.

Docs the right hon. Gentleman not realise that great public interest is taken in this matter, find can he not see his way to make a statement which will allay some of the unrest which has arisen?

I realise that there is great public interest in it, but I think the House will see that it is obvious one cannot discuss in public questions of principle of that kind.

:Is it not the case that the question of principle is one not affecting any war policy, but simply as to the methods of organisation in which the leading expert of the Air Staff had regard to efficiency in the field and the Air Minister had regard to advertising in the Press?