asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state when the war bonus of 6s. awarded to. temporary male clerks in the Inland Revenue Departments will be paid, seeing that four months of it are now due, and hardship is being caused by the delay?

Under Treasury Circular dated 19th March, 1918, the headquarter staff affected by the Circular became automatically entitled to the award which has been paid to them. In regard to staff not on headquarters establishments, specific Treasury authority had, under the Circular, to be obtained for the application of the award. The numerous classes (male and female) affected have been ascertained, and the matter is now under Treasury consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that a Class A man was brought from Somerset House into the Admiralty Accountant-General's Department, Branch 14, in 1915, and is still retained there; and will he state the reason for his retention?

The facts are as stated. The second division clerk in question is a married man of nearly thirty-six years of age. He has been employed since 1915 on work connected with the settlement of the naval assets of seamen and marines. These claims must be settled promptly, and in view of the great depletion of experienced staff the retention of this clerk is regarded as necessary.

asked the Minister of National Service whether, in calling up the technical and cost clerks of the various manufacturers above the age of twenty-five who have to compete in their work with the technical and costs clerks in the Ministry of Munitions, he will deal on equal principle and not limit the Department comb-out to twenty-five; and whether he is aware that, dealing with different persons of different ages for work of equal value in different ways, he is giving a distinct advantage to the Munitions Department?

My hon. Friend is mistaken in supposing that all technical and cost clerks in the Ministry of Munitions above twenty-five years of age are allowed to be retained. The staff of that Department, in common with that of all Government Departments, is constantly reviewed, and while it is true that the clean-cut is put at twenty-five, this does not imply that none above that age are released for service. As a matter of fact, I am informed that there are on the technical staff of the Costing Department of the Ministry of Munitions, including costing engineers and qualified accountants, at the most five men who would be affected by the Order of the 9th April, and their average age is thirty-three. My hon. Friend must not assume that I agree with the suggestion conveyed in the latter part of the question that all industrial establishments are of equal value with that of the Ministry of Munitions.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that Mr. E. Gambs, formerly a Russian consular official, who was dismissed by the Russian Government, is signing exemptions from military service; and what action he proposes to take?

Inquiries are being made. Perhaps the hon. Member will put down another question later on.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether special instructions in connection with Defence of the Realm Regulation 40 B have been issued to commanding officers, provost marshals, military police, chief constables, or other persons; and, if so, whether he will send ft copy of such to any hon. Member applying for one?

The War Office have issued no instructions. The Home Office issued a circular letter to chief constables. I understand that there would be no objection to giving a copy of this letter to any hon. Member who applies for it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many prosecutions of women have been undertaken in connection with Defence of the Realm Regulation 40 b; how many convictions have been the result; on whose information, whether of medical men, other women, soldiers, or others, have the prosecutions relied; and whether the results of this Regulation have proved efficacious against the evil aimed at?

No prosecution has yet taken place under this Regulation so far as I am aware. The initiation of such cases would take place locally, and the police would take charge of the prosecution if sufficient evidence is available in. every case reported to them by the naval or military authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Army allowance on account of a soldier's son is decreased by 2s. a week when the boy reaches the ago of fourteen; and whether, in view of the fact that this seriously handicaps parents who wish to keep their children at school after that age, and in view of the desire of the Government to encourage secondary education, he can see his way to promise a modification of the rule?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on this subject on the 11th instant to the hon. Member for Bolton, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the agent of the Llangadock Home Office Camp is named Howells; whether he has had special experience in the management of labour; and why, being of military age, is he retained to direct labour, for which work many men of mature years are available?

Mr. Howell is Waterworks Engineer to the Llanelly District Council, by whom the conscientious objectors at this camp are employed, and is, I understand, exempted in that capacity from military service. His medical category is B 3. His appointment as agent to supervise on behalf of the Home Office the work at this camp makes it unnecessary to have a double supervision. He has had special experience in the management of labour.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been directed to the complaint of the parish council of Stromness, namely, that a firm of contractors, Topham, Jones, and Railton, of 11, Great George Street, Westminster, undertaking contracts have imported a number of decrepit men hardly able to walk from the steamer to their lodgings, absolutely unfit for either the work or the climate, and that these decrepits have become a charge on a parish already heavily burdened, and that the contractors repudiate all responsibility; and whether he proposes to take any action on this complaint?

My attention has been drawn to the complaint referred to. I have made inquiries, and am informed that there is no ground for the suggestion that the labourers imported to Stromness include a number of decrepit men hardly able to walk to their lodgings. I am informed that there have only been from six to eight cases when the assistance of the parish council has, owing to special conditions of illness or for some other reason, been required during the past three years, and that in this period some thousands of men have been imported. The contractors take great care in the selection of men, and any men who have been certified unfit have been sent south at the expense of the Admiralty. I have had no complaint from the parish council, and on the facts before me and keeping in view the benefit accruing to the community from the contracts in question, I am not prepared to take further action.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the refusal of Mr. Green, sitting at Tottenham on 9th April, to sign a woman's declaration of objection to vaccination; and whether he will make it known to justices of the peace that they have no power to refuse to witness such declarations?

My attention has not been called to this case. If the hon. Member will furnish me with the full particulars I will cause inquiry to be made, and will let him know the result.