asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the quantity of silver imported into and exported from Ireland since 1st January, 1918; and whether arrangements are being made to supply a sufficiency of silver coins?

I have no information to suggest that any appreciable amount of silver has been exported from Ireland. The rumour recently circulated that 352 tons of silver had been exported from Cork to Liverpool was without any foundation; the consignments to which this report referred were consignments of nickel salved from a stranded vessel. Since 1st January, 1918, no less than £637,900 of silver coin has been sent to Ireland directly from the Royal Mint. This is more than the amount so sent in the whole year 1917 (£510,900) and over twice the amount sent in the year 1916 (£311,100). In addition, consignments, as to the amount of which I am not informed, have been made privately by banks, etc. There can be no doubt that the supply of silver coin in Ireland is abundantly sufficient to meet all currency requirements, and the shortage of silver coin in circulation can only be attributed to hoarding—a practice which I cannot too strongly deprecate as most prejudicial to all classes in Ireland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the advisability of extending the children's allowance to taxpayers who have up to £1,000 a year and perhaps over four of a family under sixteen years, in view of the fact that this income is equal only to £500 before the War and that such taxpayers have schooling fees to pay; and, if not willing to extend this generally, will he grant it to professional men, who have been so hard hit by the War?

As the hon. Member is aware, Clause 28 of the current Finance Bill provides for the extension of the total income limit for the children allowance from £700 to £800, as compared with the pre-war limit of £500. Moreover, the amount of the allowance is now £25, as compared with the pre-war figure of £10. In existing circumstances I cannot see my way to extend this relief further.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any advances of money have been made to the Serbian, Montenegrin, Greek, or Roumanian Legations or Ministers for the purposes of themselves or their staffs for propaganda or for other purposes other than military since 4th August, 1916; and, if so, what has been the aggregate amount advanced in the case of each of these country's Legations or Ministers?

No, Sir; no such advances have been made.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the total import of sugar in the years ending 31st March, 1917, and 1918, including supplies sent abroad either to the Army or the Navy; and what this quantity works out at on the average per head of the population?

The quantities of sugar, refined and unrefined, imported into the United Kingdom in the years mentioned were as follows:

Year ended 31st March, 1917.	Year ended 31st March, 1918.
Tons.	Tons.
1,442,000	1,386,000

As, however, these figures represent the amount imported, not the amount consumed, in the United Kingdom, to divide them by the estimated population resident in the United Kingdom would clearly give a misleading result.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that when extra food rations are asked for under medical certificates from local food committees in Scotland the invalids are requested to communicate with 29, Upper Grosvenor Street, London; that the minimum time for a reply to such request is three days, and the average time ten days; that cases have been known where the patients had succumbed before Upper Grosvenor Street found time to reply; and whether, in these circumstances, local food committees in Scotland will be granted power to give extra rations under medical certificates?

The Food Controller has been largely guided by the medical advisers to the Ministry of Food in deciding how such applications should be dealt with. Food control committees already have power to grant extra rations in the case of certain diseases and steps are about to be taken as the result of experience that will enable local food offices to deal with a larger number of cases without reference to London.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food with regard to the Milk (Summer Prices) Order, 1918, whether he is aware that in many areas in the North the producers are not prepared to continue the supply of milk at the producers' prices fixed by the Order, and that they have now, in the case of Salford, stopped forwarding milk to the retail distributers; and what remedy can he suggest?

The summer price of milk was fixed with the concurrence of the Board of Agriculture, and is thought to be adequate in most areas. In order to meet the wants of any area in which it was found to be inadequate power was taken to fix such higher prices as were proved on inquiry to be justified by the cost of production. Inquiries have accordingly been held in many areas, including the Northern areas, and the decision of the Food Controller will be announced in due course. Where the price is raised, the increase will be made to operate so as to compensate the producer for the period in which he has received a lower price.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he will state the reason of the treatment of the coastguard men of the Royal Navy who were classed as non-workers with three coupons for meat a week, subsequently increased to two coupons for meat plus three coupons for bacon per week, compared to soldiers and the rest of the Navy, who get 3½lbs. of meat a week, and the women of the Women Royal Naval Service in the coastguard, who get 2 lbs. 8 ozs. of meat a week; whether he is aware that, in many cases, the coastguard and soldiers are working side by side, and that the coastguard is a disciplined naval force with hard war work to do; whether the reduced allowance for coastguard men has ever had the approval of the Board of Admiralty; and whether he can now see his way to revise it?

Sailors and soldiers (including members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and Women's Royal Naval Service) who receive rations in kind from the naval or military authorities are outside the scope of the Food Controller's Regulations. Sailors (including coastguardmen) and soldiers who do not receive rations in kind receive the highest ration allowed to civilian workers, namely, six coupons weekly, which at present coupon values represent 1s. worth of butcher's meat plus 32 ozs. of bacon. There is not, and has not been, any differentiation between the coastguardmen and sailors and soldiers who are in the same position of not drawing rations in kind. The Food Controller has intimated to the Admiralty that he cannot agree to such differentiation.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can state the numbers of poultry exported from Ireland during the year 1917 and up to 1st May, 1918; whether he is aware that the unusual exportation will reduce the productive capacity next season of poultry and eggs; and what arrangements are being made to enable the continuance of the usual supply?

Particulars of the numbers of poultry exported from Ireland are not available. The gross weight of poultry (live and dead) exported in 1917 was 263,560 cwts., as compared with 325,936 cwts. in 1916 and 298,770 cwts. in 1915. The export for the first three months of 1918 was 70,485 cwts., as compared with 78,455 cwts. and 79,511 cwts. in the corresponding months of 1917 and 1916, respectively. The figures for April, 1918, are not yet available. The hon. Member is, therefore, under a misapprehension in believing that there has been any unusual exportation of poultry during the period mentioned in the question. The instructors employed in the various counties have been and are making special efforts to induce poultry keepers to maintain and increase their stocks of poultry.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if in the recent revision of the pay of officers the relativity of seniority of officers in the same position was generally maintained?

I do not quite understand what is intended by the relativity of seniority. If the hon. Member means that in framing proposals for revision of officers' pay regard was had to the necessity generally to maintain the existing relationships between emoluments and rank, the answer is "Yes."

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if in the recent revision of the scale of pay of officers the relativity of seniority of officers in the same position was generally maintained in the revision?

The recent changes in the scale of pay of officers introduced an overriding minimum of 10s. 6d. a day for second-lieutenants of all arms of the Service, with consequential changes in higher ranks. Neither in the case of ranks nor of arms is the proportion of the different rates of pay the same as it was.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Russian officers anxious to fight have been given commissions in the Serbian Army; whether the Army Council will offer honorary commissions in fighting units to General Yermoloff and the officers of his staff and other Russian officers available; and whether it will be arranged to make the necessary legislative or other changes by which such Russian officers may receive full commissions in the British Army?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to questions on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Maidstone on the 6th and 13th May. As regards the second part of the question, I would explain that an honorary commission gives no power of command.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the granting of the Territorial efficiency medal, earned by twelve years' continuous service, for which men qualified were invited to apply in October, 1916, has been postponed until after the War; and, if so, whether men entitled to the medal will be allowed now to wear the ribbon, as many of them may have no opportunity of wearing it after the War?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. As regards the latter part, the names of those to whom this medal has been awarded are published quarterly in an appendix to Army Orders. When the grant of a medal has been notified in Army Orders the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief may, pending the issue of the medal, authorise the wearing of the regulation riband.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state on what grounds the Censor has forbidden the transmission of copies of the "Polish Review" to the United States of America?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the oral reply which I gave to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for the Tottenham Division of Middlesex.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether German prisoners at Stoke Green, near Slough, are taken in motor cars to work on farms within 2 or 3 miles of that place; and, if so, whether they could proceed to their work on foot?

Inquiries are being made, and I will communicate with my right hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he will have inquiry made into the case of the late Sergeant G. W. Scott, No. 839, 7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, Territorial Force, who, it is presumed, was killed in action on the 16th September, 1916, and who, being time-expired in February, 1916, re-engaged, and was notified officially that his account had been credited with the appropriate bounty, payment of which to his parents has been refused on the ground that he was killed before the expiration of the period of service for which he engaged; and will he now have the bounty paid?

Inquiry is being made, and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, now that doctors up to fifty-five are liable to military service, doctors serving under contract will be entitled to the same allowance for each child as ordinary military doctors, seeing that, though they get higher pay, they draw no allowance?

These doctors are at present eligible for half the full rates. It is not proposed to disturb this.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is recalling to the Colours time-expired men over forty-one as conscripts before all men under that age who are fit to fight have been called up?

Time-expired men officially reported as wounded during the present War are freed by the recent Act from liability for further military service, conditionally on being engaged on work of national importance. Other time-expired men are called up for military service in the ordinary course if not in possession of any form of exemption. The hon. Member will remember that since the passing two years ago of the second Military Service Act, 1916, the fact that a man has been discharged time-expired has not relieved him from liability for further service. He will also recognise that an old soldier who has been already trained is of high military value. The hon. Member can, I think, not intend to suggest that all fit men up to forty-three years of age and engaged on shipbuilding, agriculture, or munitions, should be called up before any time-expired man over forty-one is summoned to the Colours.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he has considered the position of exempted men who have taken allotments for the production of food, upon whom the obligation to enrol in the Volunteers would inflict much hardship; and whether he can issue any Instructions as to the value of allotment cultivation when the obligation is being decided by tribunals?

I have been asked to answer this question. Any man who wishes to be relieved of his liability to join the Volunteer Force should put his claim before the tribunal when his case for exemption is being heard. Tribunals have been instructed to consider carefully any request to be relieved of the liability, and the cultivation of allotments was specially referred to. I have no reason to think that tribunals are not fully aware of the importance of their cultivation.

asked the Home Secretary if he will have a special inquiry made into the state of health of S. Hodgson, a conscientious objector in Wands worth Prison, and particularly in regard to his mental condition, in view of the fact that his letters from prison bear unmistakable evidence of mental unbalance as a result of his prison confinement?

I have made inquiry. The medical officer reports that no indication of insanity can be found in this prisoner, and that he has expressed his regret at having given a mistaken impression of his mental condition in a letter which he wrote home. I am having the case watched.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that in many cases the extra allowance for children under the new Warrant has not yet been paid; and, as many of the people are in want of the money, can he say whether the whole of the cases will be dealt with at an early date?

The payment of children's allowances is made by means of allowance books, which date from the award of pension, and are renewed every quarter. The question of immediately recalling these books and reissuing them to meet the conditions of the new Warrant was considered, but the administrative difficulties involved was found to be such as to make that method impracticable. It has, therefore, been decided to allow the books now outstanding to run their natural course, and then to re-issue at the new rates, with arrears from 1st May. The revisions will thus take place at the rate of some thousands daily until the end of July, when the last of the payments at the old rates will have been made.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is intended that the operation of Clause 10 of the Education Bill, 1918, which provides for the education of children in agricultural districts up to sixteen years of age, is to be postponed until such time after the conclusion of the War when the danger of the shortage of food has been removed?

I have already stated that it is not proposed that the provisions of Clause 10 should be brought into operation until after the conclusion of the War. The question of the appointed day for the commencement of the operations of the Clause would be considered in the light of the then existing circumstances.

asked the Home Secretary what were the reasons given by the police in Westcliff-on-Sea for ordering the naturalised German, E. A. Meyer, to leave that town; and did the authorities there assert that it was safe for such a man to be resident in London and daily go about in business circles?

I can add nothing to the answers which I have already given to the hon. Member in this case.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a resolution from the London Master Bakers' Protection Society in reference to the number of enemy aliens carrying on business as master bakers; whether he is aware that by the employment of un-interned German workmen these enemy aliens are placed in a more advantageous position than their British competitors, particularly since the age for military service has been raised; and what steps he proposes to take?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given to his question on Monday last.

asked the Home Secretary if he will have special inquiry made into the condition of Arthur Lewis, who is in Gateshead Prison and is said to be seriously ill, his health having been undermined by continuous imprisonment for nearly two years, he having been court-martialled and sentenced four times for the same offence?

The medical officer reports that this prisoner is in good health and fit for military service.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state the number of Russians, including Russian Jews, who have been allowed to come into this country since the 1st January this year; and if he can state the number of other aliens of friendly nationalities, not including those in navies or armies, who have come into this country since the same date?

Excluding Russian officers and soldiers passing through this country between France and Russia, 249 Russian passengers have been admitted since 1st January last. A considerable proportion of these were en route to other countries, and in all cases the alien officers were satisfied that there were good reasons for their admission. None of them were emigrants coming to settle here, and it is believed that (with the exception of one woman, who was afterwards sent back to Russia), none were Jews. For the reasons explained to the hon. and gallant Member on previous occasions, I regret that the figures asked for in the second part of the question cannot be made available.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether a man who occupies a house in one constituency but is at present working on munitions in another constituency, returning home occasionally, is entitled to be registered as a voter in the constituency where his house is; and, if not, whether his wife, who resides at her home, must be registered in the same constituency as her husband?

I regret that I cannot undertake to express an opinion upon points of law arising out of the Representation of the People Act. Such matters can only be determined authoritatively by the machinery provided in the Act, but I may say, as regards the latter part of the question, that if the man is in occupation of the house so as to be entitled to the local government franchise, the wife would seem to be entitled to be registered as a Parliamentary elector in that constituency.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he can state the number of dog licences issued in England and Wales in each of the last three years, in order that an approximate estimate of the net annual canine increase or decrease may be made?

The numbers of dog licences issued in England and Wales in each of the following years are:

Financial year—
1914–15	…	…	1,778,448
1915–16	…	…	1,772,831
1916–17	…	…	1,729,263
1917–18	…	…	1,689,000*
* Estimated figures. The actual figures are only available for the first three quarters of 1917–18.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give instructions for the immediate printing and circulation of the Report of the Committee appointed by the Board of Trade to advise as to the uniform to be adopted as the standard uniform for the mercantile marine which was laid upon the Table of the House on the 16th April?

I understand that this Report is now being issued. The delay in publishing it has been due to the colour printing.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether steamship rates of freight on oil and fish from Newfoundland to Liverpool have recently, and without warning, been increased 600 per cent., notwithstanding that the rates had already been more than doubled as the result of war conditions; whether he is aware of the feeling which exists amongst the traders both in Newfoundland and in this country owing to the losses which the application of this unexpected and unprecedented advance in freight rates will involve; and whether he will endeavour to arrange to give relief, to the extent of allowing such commodities as were sold by Newfoundland merchants to merchants in this country prior to this increase in freight to come forward at the old rates?

I am giving careful consideration to this matter. My inquiries are not yet complete, but I will communicate the result to my hon. and learned Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the concession of lower postage rates to troops abroad applies to women employed in connection with military operations, including members of Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps; and, if so, whether it applies also to women working in private hospitals, Army huts, and canteens?

The concession in favour of soldiers will apply to women serving with the forces overseas. Women working in private hospitals, canteens, etc., will be included provided their correspondence passes through the Army Post Office.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the position of clerks and others similarly employed under the interim Report issued by Mr. Whitley's Committee on Reconstruction; will it be necessary for them to form trades unions in order to obtain representation on the industrial councils proposed to be set up; and can they, if recognised as trades organisations under the Committee scheme, still maintain their positions as friendly societies, or will associations of such professional workers be put on the same basis as trades unions?

The proposals of the first Whitley Report contemplate the establishment of joint industrial councils, consisting exclusively of representatives of organisations of workpeople on the one hand and of employers on the other. If in any industry clerks or other similar workers constitute a considerable element, it will be open to them through their organisations to ask for representation upon any council which may be formed in the industry. The constitution of, and the allocation of, representation upon an industrial council are matters primarily for the existing organisations in the industry to determine by agreement amongst themselves, and the Ministry of Labour would not necessarily be approached by any council until it had reached the stage of seeking recognition by the Government. The Ministry would, of course, then require to be satisfied that every important organised section of the industry was represented on the council. Participation by an organisation of clerks, or any other class of employés in the formation of an industrial council, would not affect the position of the organisation as a friendly society or in any other way necessarily alter its status or work.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received any complaints from parents of school children in Carmarthenshire about the neglect of their education owing to the closure of schools consequent upon the refusal of the local authority to make adequate payment to the teachers; and whether the Board has taken or proposes to take any steps to bring, about a satisfactory settlement of the dispute?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The matter is receiving my very careful attention and steps are being taken which, I hope, may lead to a settlement.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the amount of the Supplementary Grant paid to the Carmarthenshire education authority in respect of the last financial year; the date at which this was paid to the authority; and the additional amount which the authority would have received if the Grant had not been reduced under the provisions of Section 2 (1) of the Regulations under which, the Supplementary Grant was paid?

The amount of the Supplementary Grant paid to the Carmarthenshire local education authority in the last financial year was £8,114. Payment was made by an instalment of £5,700 on the 13th September, 1917, and the balance of £2,414 on the 21st March, 1918. The additional amount that would have been payable but for the operations of the maximum limit was £6,872.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received a request from the National Union of Uncertificated Teachers for an inquiry into the statements made in Circulars 1024 and 709; and can he grant the inquiry?

Representations have been made to my predecessors and myself on behalf of uncertificated teachers with reference to these circulars. These representations have been fully considered, and I see no reason for instituting any special inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether members of Stock Exchanges who are chartered accountants are at present allowed to act as auditors of public companies whose shares are dealt in on that Stock Exchange; and, if so, is it proposed to alter this when the Amendments of the Companies Acts are proposed?

The appointment of an auditor of a company incorporated under the Companies Acts is in the discretion of the shareholders, but any recommendation on the matter which may be made by the Committee recently appointed to report as to amendments in these Acts will be carefully considered.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received a communication from the York National Health Insurance Committee calling attention to the impossibility of finding suitable local accommodation for sanatorium patients, and urging the immediate sanctioning of the City Council's Gate Helmsley scheme; whether he is aware there is a long list of waiting patients; and what he proposes to do in the matter, in view of the fact that the council is unable to find another site?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. One of the medical inspectors of my Department has recently conferred with representatives of the town council on the subject of further provision for the treatment of tuberculosis in York, and his report is now under consideration.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the provisions made for granting pensions to the officials of local bodies dealing with the administration of the Poor Law and the dissatisfaction which exists among those employed under the Public Health Act, he will consider the desirability of seeing that pensions are provided for the latter?

I am endeavouring to arrange for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into this subject.