asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the case of Miss M. E. Garratty, 26, Clarke's Orchard, Rotherhithe, S.E., to whom a letter was sent by the Royal Army Clothing Department (Boot Depot) on 22nd April, 1918, stating that a further payment of 3s. 3d. per week for a period would be granted to her by the Treasury from 26th March last; and whether this amount can be augmented, in view of the fact that, owing to the original accident, she is still incapacitated from work, possessing a doctor's certificate to that effect, and has no other means of support?

I have caused further inquiry to be made as to the present con- dition of this worker, and will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member in due course.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the circumstances under which John J. Cassidy, retired from the prison service at Cork, was deprived of his pension; whether Mr. Cassidy had completed thirty-two years' meritorious service and had been presented with the Imperial Service medal in recognition of his long and devoted attention to duty; whether, he having in response to the Government call volunteered for and obtained a position at Woolwich Arsenal in 1915, the prison authorities thereupon withdrew his pension; whether he can state the reason for this; and whether the authorities, taking into consideration this apparent act of injustice will restore his pension and make it retrospective as from the date on which it was cut off?

Mr. J. J. Cassidy was retired from the situation of ordinary warder in the General Prisons Service, Ireland, on 10th July, 1915, on the ground of permanent infirmity of body at the age of fifty-four. He had served thirty complete years, and was awarded a pension of £33 9s. 9d., and an additional allowance of £100 0s. 4d., and the Imperial Service Medal. After his retirement he was re-employed first by the Admiralty, secondly, by the Ministry of Munitions. As his earnings now greatly exceed the pay which he received in his former office his pension has been suspended in accordance with the express provisions of Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what has been the result, if any, of the private inquiry by the Army Council into the charges made against Surgeon-General J. G. MacNeece in connection with the campaign in Mesopotamia?

The Army Council have received and considered a statement by Surgeon-General MacNeece in regard to the findings of the Mesopotamia Commission in his case, and they have formed the opinion that no blame can be attached to him in regard to the manner in which he carried out his duties in connection with the medical services during the campaign.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private A. Rigby, No. 7806, Grenadier Guards, was wounded at Loos; that he was discharged from hospital about ten days before his discharge from the Army; that his discharge certificate shows that he was discharged under Paragraph 392 (XXI.), King's Regulations; that he has received neither pension or gratuity; and whether he can state the reason why this soldier was not discharged under Paragraph 392 (XVI.)?

I hope my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with the further information for which I have asked him privately, in order that Private Rigby may be medically boarded and his case submitted to the Ministry of Pensions.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction if he will state the terms of reference to the Committee which he has set up under the chairmanship of Lord Hunter; and if one of its objects is to consider the extension of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (War Restrictions) Act beyond the period of six months after the War specified in that Act?

The terms of reference of the Committee, as already announced in the Press, are as follows:

To consider the legislation embodied in the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (War Restrictions) Act, 1915, as amended, in relation to the housing of the working-classes after the War, and to recommend what steps, if any, should be taken to remove any difficulties which may arise in connection therewith.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that in certain aerodrome works in Hampshire agricultural labourers are being attracted to this work under the promise of high wages, with a result that agriculture in the neighbourhood is being seriously affected; and what action he proposes to take?

I am aware that at one time cases occurred in which labourers in Hampshire were taken on in aerodromes, and if the hon. and gallant Member can supply me with any recent cases I will have an inquiry made into them. The hon. and gallant Member is probably aware of the Instructions recently issued by the Air Ministry, which have been quoted in this House, namely, that all contractors shall engage labour only through Employment Exchanges, and that these Exchanges shall not send forward for work on aerodrome construction any applicant whose last employer was a farmer, or who is known to be an agricultural labourer.