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 on vessels in Admiralty employ; and when the new scale will be operative?

I am glad to inform my hon. Friend that it has been agreed that as from this date grants and allowances to the widows and dependants of officers and men, and disablement grants and allowances to officers and men of the mercantile marine who have signed on or may sign on in the Service and pay of the Admiralty for the period of the War on vessels to which the provisions of Section 90 of the Naval Discipline Act have been applied, will be placed upon the Service scales as administered by the Pensions Ministry. There appears to be some doubt as to whether under statutory authority that Ministry is entitled to apply the sums voted to it by Parliament for this particular purpose. That point is being cleared up. But if it be found that the Ministry is not so empowered, steps will be taken to regularise whatever expenditure may be necessary under the concession which I have now announced.

Do I rightly understand that this fresh arrangement will have no retrospective effect, and that widows whose husbands have lost their lives before this date will not get the Service rate of pension?

It is not retrospective as regards arrears certainly, but already the widows and orphans of men who have signed on for the period of the War are getting the Service rate, though widows and orphans of officers are not; neither are men nor officers themselves as regards disability. They will all be on the Service scale as from this date. The hon. Member had better put a question down, and I will make the point quite clear.

asked the Pensions Minister what steps, if any, he proposes taking to relieve the position of men who were invalided from the Services prior to the War on account of accidents or from being found medically unfit, and who were granted pensions entirely inadequate to meet the cost of living during war-time?

In response to a general public demand I have, as my hon. Friend is aware, secured an increase of pension to soldiers and sailors who are totally incapacitated by reason of disabilities incurred in former wars. It is not, how- ever, proposed to increase other disability pensions granted before the outbreak of the present War.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the justice and advisability of so increasing, for the time of the War, the pensions of the men referred to as to bring them up to the same purchasing value of the sovereign they were before?

I am afraid the hon. Gentleman must address that question to the Admiralty and the War Office.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the separation allowance granted to wives and dependants of soldiers resident in London amounts to 16s. a week, while in other large cities it amounts only to 12s. 6d. weekly; will he say why this substantial difference is made in these allowances; and whether there is any proposal to raise the lower figure?

This difference arose from the fact that the soldiers' lodging allowance, before the War, was 6d. a day higher in London than elsewhere. There is no intention of raising the rate outside London, as the supplementary rent allowances issued by local war pensions committees take account of the difference in the War Office grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is now intended to appoint an Ambassador to Russia?

The answer to this question is in the negative.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that both France and the United States now have Ambassadors in Russia?

The Ambassadors of France and the United States may be in Russia, but how far they are accredited to the Bolshevik Government I do not know.

Inasmuch as we recognise the Russian Embassy here, why should not we have a British Ambassador in Russia?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the Bloemfontein declaration of the Nationalist party in South Africa; that this declaration, made in July, 1917, by the leaders of a great party in South Africa, has not been reproduced or even referred to in the British Press till 17th April, 1918, and that it advocates a larger independence for South Africa; whether he has had communications on this subject with Lord Buxton; whether, by his orders or at the instigation of the Government, the British Press were warned against reference to this subject; and whether the British Press are now at liberty to disclose the facts?

I do not think it necessary or desirable to discuss the matters raised by the hon. Member's question. He appears to be wrong in his facts, and I am not aware that there is any foundation for his suggestions with regard to the British Press.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he intends to consult representative native opinion before appointing a new Governor of Ceylon?

No, Sir.

As this country is fighting for self-determination, could not we make a moderate advance by consulting native populations?

The hon. Member had better put down a. further question.

asked the Under secretary of State for War whether, under the new Regulation 40 d of the Defence of the Realm Acts, in cases where a woman is accused of soliciting or having inter course with a member of His Majesty's Forces while she is suffering from venereal disease, the man alleged to have been solicited or infected will be called upon to give evidence before she is convicted?

I am unable to anticipate what course the magistrate would follow in such a case, but, as it appears to me that the infected soldier would be one of the most material witnesses, I doubt if any magistrate would convict without his evidence being available and the opportunity given of careful cross-examination. A defendant in a case of this kind will have the same right as in other cases to secure the attendance of any person whose evidence is likely to be material in her behalf. If such a witness will not attend voluntarily, he can be compelled to appear, and give evidence on oath under Section 7 of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1848.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will say how many women and girls have been brought up under Regulation 40 d of the Defence of the Realm Act; how they have been dealt with; and whether, in the case of those sent to prison, any attempt is being made to keep the young girls apart from the other prisoners?

Cases occurring under the Defence of the Realm Regulations are not in ordinary course reported to the Home Office, and I cannot say how many persons have been charged under this Regulation, but I believe they must be very few. Care is taken at all prisons to prevent the association of prisoners under twenty-one years of age, and especially those of respectable antecedents, with offenders of a worse class.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to a case tried on Friday last in Manchester, when a young girl of seventeen years only was sentenced to six months' imprisonment under this Regulation?

No, Sir; I have no report of it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask for a report, as this case has excited a considerable amount of comment and some indignation?

was understood to indicate assent.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if the design of the medallion to be granted to the next-of-kin of our fallen soldiers has been agreed upon; what relations are entitled to the same; what its size is; is the medallion made of substantial metal, such as copper or bronze; and when will they be distributed, and by whom?

The design has been approved and particulars have been made known to the public through the medium of the Press. The plaque is circular in form, 5 ins. in diameter, and is to be made of gunmetal. It will be issued to next-of-kin. In view of the present strain in manufacturing resources it is impossible to say when the plaque will be ready for distribution. When it is, information as to mode of issue will be made public.

Will the hon. Gentleman be good enough to fix one up in the neighbourhood of the House, so that Members may look at it?

I will certainly consider that, and see what I can do.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he is aware that there is discontent existing among the rank and file of our Army owing to the lack of proper dental facilities; if his Department will see that every battalion has a full staff of qualified dentists, so that our soldiers of every grade shall have their teeth attended to, and that artificial teeth shall be supplied gratis to the men whilst serving in any branch of His Majesty's Service; and will his Department consider this reform and remove much of the cause of ill-health among our troops?

The number of dentists in the Army has recently been considerably increased, and is now being still further increased, in order to provide adequate dental facilities. Artificial dentures are supplied to troops in categories A and B1, and to those in lower categories when required to fit them for service overseas.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether the Regulations of his Department give the right to any soldier, feeling himself aggrieved, to see his commanding officer; if not, will he say on what occasions, if any, a soldier has this right?

The soldier, as was stated in this House the other day, has his "Charter" in Section 43 of the Army Act, which sets out his right, if he feels himself wronged, to make a complaint to his commanding officer. It is, moreover, the custom of the Service for the commanding officer to see daily at the orderly room any men who wish to prefer complaints.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he could give any information regarding Private J. Hazell, No. 23068, C Company, 10th Platoon, 2nd Wilts Regiment, as this man is officially (Exeter) reported to be still with his regiment but private letters state that he has been missing since 29th March?

No casualty to Private Hazell has been reported recently; but, under the conditions of the fighting in France, reports of missing men are sometimes delayed. This is due to the fact that, as a general rule, the evidence is all negative.

asked whether any decision has been come to with regard to war service counting as double for the Territorial long service medal; and, if so, whether the ribbon will be issued as it becomes due?

This proposal is still under consideration. The answer to the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is in the affirmative.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us if the issue of the ribbon is still held up, as it was some time ago, and whether, in view of the great value with which this ribbon is regarded by the Territorial soldiers, it will be issued soon?

I answered that question since the beginning of this Session, and I explained to the House then the large increase in the yards of ribbon distributed. I hope that by this time most of the Territorial regiments will have theirs

asked the Under secretary for War whether C. Catchpool, now at Ipswich under a third sentence of imprisonment with hard labour, has been awarded the Mons Star; whether he was twice recommended for the Croix de Guerre; whether in the first year of the War he distinguished himself by gallant conduct under fire with the Friends' Ambulance unit; and, if so, will he say for what reason this man, who is perfectly ready to give his services to ambulance work, is repeatedly imprisoned by successive courts-martial?

If my hon. Friend will furnish me with Catchpool's regimental number and the name of his regiment, I will have inquiry made.

asked whether 25,000 barrels of Kentucky whisky have been ordered by the British Government for the use of the men at the front; and, if so, whether this liquor is to be served out in addition to, or in substitution for, the rum ration?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The latter part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether any further speeches on the War which soldiers are compelled to attend, such as that recently delivered at Blackpool, have been or are being arranged in any other military centres?

I regret that I have no further information on this subject.

asked the Pensions Minister whether any home has been provided for sailors and soldiers discharged from the Army suffering from consumption where they can be kept for more than three months; and, if not, whether he will consider the necessity of providing such a home for men with this disease, and in view of the fact that men sent home are liable to infect other members of their family with the disease?

The responsibility for securing the necessary treatment in cases of tuberculosis falls primarily on the National Health Insurance Commissioners, but in cases of advanced disease, in which the danger of infection referred to by the hon. and gallant Member specially applies, I have undertaken to defray the entire cost of treatment for whatever period it may be required, and I have taken steps to secure additional accommodation for cases of this class.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the season ticket holders who secured their tickets at the commencement of the year are to be charged any increase by the railway companies; if the circumstances of season ticket holders will be considered by the Government; if he is aware that many of the season ticket holders are not able to afford any increase; and are their tickets to be cancelled if they cannot pay?

The points raised by the hon. Gentleman are being borne in mind in connection with the question of the restriction of railway facilities, which is now under consideration. My right hon. Friend hopes shortly to be able to make a statement on the subject, and in the meantime I can only say that every effort compatible with the object in view will be made not to impose avoidable hardship on essential travelling.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a feeling amongst the discharged soldiers in Shropshire against the high wages given to Finns working on timber in this country; can he say what wages these men are receiving; and whether there are discharged soldiers who could be employed and who are now out of employment?

By arrangement with the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union, a certain number of Finns, mostly seamen from torpedoed ships, have been engaged by the Timber Supply Department, under contract, at wages of 9d. per hour, in addition to food and hutting; this is less than seaman's wages. These men are well fitted for timber work, both physically and by early training in their own country. Any discharged soldiers capable of doing timber work, which is heavy, should have no difficulty in finding employment, and I am not aware of the dissatisfaction referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department have agreed with the French Government that all exports of iron and steel from this country to France be en trusted to the Comitédes Forges; and whether he will take steps to prevent the collection of information which would allow it after the War to effectually control all such exports, to exclude British merchant firms, and to restrict this country's exports to France?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a body called the Comité des Forges, consisting entirely of French manufacturers, has been granted a monopoly to buy British tinplates for French consumers, and if this monopoly has been granted by the French Government at the request of the British Government; whether he is aware that the Comité des Forges is a private association of French iron mine owners and of iron and steel producers and that therefore its interests are in opposition to the interests of British producers and merchants; and will he take steps to protect British firms interested in the iron and steel export trade?

Owing to the shortage of steel and tinplates in this country, only limited supplies are available for France, and the French Government were invited to set up machinery for deciding how the limited supplies could best be allocated. All exports of these goods from the United Kingdom are consigned to the body appointed by the French Government to act as a distributing channel between the producers here and the consumers in France. The French Government have selected the body referred to in the question for this purpose. Whilst it is recognised that this arrangement has certain inevitable drawbacks, my right hon. Friend is not prepared in the circumstances to interfere with it.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why he cannot allow these supplies to proceed through the ordinary channels of business instead of applying to the French Government in the matter or consigning them to one rival firm in France?

This is an arrangement with the French Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that in the chief towns of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark Deutscher Hülfsverin are readily available to give information as to hotels, boat sailings, etc., and financial help in case of necessity; and if he will consider whether some similar service can be organised to help British people who are stranded in those countries?

The work performed by the societies named is undertaken by British Consular officers, who arc always most ready to give their assistance to British subjects when it is asked for.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the War Cabinet does not contain any members with any practical knowledge of war by sea or land, and in view of the mistakes made by the various Cabinets during the War, he can see his way to add to the War Cabinet Admiral Lord Jellicoe and General Sir William Robertson?

The Government is not prepared to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

What is supposed to be the use of a War Cabinet with nobody on it who understands anything about war?

That is a rather difficult conundrum, but I thought that the charge against this Government was that they imagined that they did understand something about war.

It is all imagination.

The principle on which we have always carried on the Government of the country is that the heads of the Departments were not supposed to be experts in the sense of my hon. Friend.

Is it not quite time that this was changed?

asked whether an opportunity will be afforded to debate the question of expenditure on a permanent war museum before any scheme is adopted; and what, if any, expenditure of public money for this purpose is intended?

No decision as to a permanent building has been reached, and an opportunity for discussion will certainly be given before action is taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is now the practice to assess the allowances paid to children of officers in respect to the payment of Income Tax; and whether he will favourably consider exempting these allowances from assessment, especially in cases where the number of children in the family exceeds four?

As I have already stated, these additional emoluments payable to officers are assessable to Income Tax equally with the rest of their emoluments. The statutory Income Tax allowances in respect of children apply, of course, in the case of officers as to any other taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the insertion in the Finance Bill of a Schedule showing the amount of Income Tax and Super-tax combined to which the subject is liable for every £100 of gross income and the deduction allowed?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of including in the Finance Bill of this year a Schedule in scale showing the net rate per £ of incomes payable from Income Tax and Super-tax on incomes of £130 to £20,000, so that all persons may know the true graduation of the tax?

Such information as it is practicable to give is contained in Table VII. of the recent White Paper. But in view of the great variety of circumstances on which the liability in any individual case depends, it would not be possible to draw up a Schedule giving the net rate of liability as suggested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this White Paper, or any White Paper, is not current throughout the country and available for taxpayers in the same way as the Finance Act is, because an Act can be obtained by any taxpayer? Therefore would he not think it desirable, in view of the great complications of the present Income Tax and the Super-tax, to have set forth exactly what the liabilities of each taxpayer are?

As I have pointed out, it is impossible to give the net liability of any individual taxpayer, because there may be circumstances not connected with the general rate of Income Tax or Super-tax which affect him. I am afraid that for that reason the suggestion is not practicable.

Could he not see his way to combine the incidence of the two taxes and leave out the special exemptions to which he is referring?

That surely is all on the White Paper. I fancy that taxpayers are as likely to have a copy of the White Paper as of the Finance Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before proposing to double the assessment on which farmers are to pay Income Tax or come under Schedule D, he took into consideration that 90 per cent. of them will not be able to avail themselves of the alternative and will have to pay on the increased assessment; that the prices of all farm produce were fixed by the Food Controller in advance of his, the Chancellor's, present proposals and on the basis of a fair profit to the producer, and that the rate of wages for agricultural labourers has increased and is increasing since those prices were fixed; and whether he will, in the interest of the nation's food supply, further consider his proposals?

Every farmer who is assessed under Schedule B, in the ordinary course upon the basis of double the rental value, will, if he proves that his actual profits for the year—that is, the year of assessment, pot the three preceding years as in Schedule D—are less than the sum assessed, be entitled to a reduction of the charge to the amount of his actual profits, and all possible assistance will be afforded him if he finds any difficulty in establishing his claim. I have every reason to believe that such cases will form a very small proportion of the number of farmers assessed.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the question of food production is more important than the question of extra revenue, and that the farmers in connection with the production of food have better work to do than to start keeping accounts?

In making this proposal we took into account—as, indeed, I mentioned to the House—the question of the national need, and I do not believe that the farmers will relax their exertions in producing food by anything we ask of them that is obviously fair.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the word "dependant" in his Budget statement would include a child over sixteen mentally or physically defective or an entirely dependent invalid relative?

The answer is in the affirmative.

Does it apply to a son maintaining an invalid father?

Yes, I think so.

Does it apply to an adopted child?

The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether final notices for Income Tax, House Duty, and Land Tax have been sent out on 2nd April in some parts of Scotland, threatening costs if not paid in seven days; if so, will he say whether such have been sent out in any part of England or Wales, and at what date it is proposed to send them out in London; and will he in future see that his Department treats all parts of the United Kingdom alike in the way of taxation?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in suggesting that thero is preferential treatment in particular areas as regards the collection of these duties. I am informed that in all parts of the country the issue of final notices has been in process since the latter part of February.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether, in consideration of the hardship imposed upon British residents in Belgium by the absence of any arrangement to enable them to interchange cor- respondence with friends and relatives in the British Empire, His Majesty's Government will endeavour to obtain some concession in this matter from the German Government on conditions similar to those which have been extended to prisoners of war and other interned persons in the belligerent countries?

The action suggested by my hon. Friend was taken many months ago, and on their continued refusal to allow correspondence with British subjects in Belgium, the German Government were informed early last year that a similar prohibition would be enforced on German subjects in German territory in British occupation. This prohibition is accordingly now in force.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that the present Grant to day nurseries outside munitions areas of 4d. per attendance is inadequate to meet the increased cost of maintenance, and seeing that the amount allowed to day nurseries in munitions areas is 1s. per attendance, he will increase the Grant to other day nurseries to 8d. per attendance in order to ensure the continuance of this valuable work?

I recognise the difficulties in which these institutions are placed, and I am considering the position.

asked the Postmaster-General if Civil servants who have completed their term of service, and by their contract are entitled to retire, are bound to continue serving when asked to do so on patriotic grounds or are punished for deciding contrary to the wishes of the Postmaster-General by not being recommended for the Imperial service medal awarded for good and long service already performed?

In view of the need for men at the present time, Civil servants of sixty years of age whose efficiency and health are unimpaired, are requested to postpone their retirement. I do not recommend for the Imperial service medal any officer who is capable of rendering further service, but insists on retiring during the War contrary to the express wish of the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a naturalised German called E. A. Meyer is permitted to reside in London and daily conduct his business in the employment of other naturalised Germans, Schiff and Company, Throgmorton Street, notwithstanding the fact that lie was ordered out of Westcliff-on-Sea by the police there, because of his pro-German leanings and conversation; and, if so, will he say why this man is allowed in London when he is not allowed in Westcliff-on-Sea?

I find that this man was required to leave Westcliff in October, 1914, by an Order made by the Competent Military Authority under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, after consultation with the police, and that no objection was taken to his residing in London. No reason has since appeared for his removal from London.

Are we to understand that the man who was ordered out of a seaport town can come to London and live there with impunity?