asked the Prime Minister whether a final arrangement has now been reached whereby the Russian Committee of the Commission International de Ravitaillement has been reconstituted or its work rearranged and its status and objects made definite; if so, how many persons are on the Russian staff of this Committee or Commission; whether any of those persons are ex-officials of the ex-Czar's Government; whether there are representatives of, or relations with, the present Russian Government;- and whether it is intended to operate through the present Committee or Commission or any other body for the support of any forces in Russia active against German domination?

No final arrangement has yet been reached.

asked the Prime Minister when the Scottish Education Bill will be introduced; and whether a full Parliamentary day will be given for the Second Beading?

I regret that I am not in a position to make any statement with regard to the first part of the question, and it would therefore be premature to give any promise with regard to the second part.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if audit clerks to firms of chartered accountants who have regularly been assessed for Income Tax under Schedule D, and who have joined Government Departments as temporary assistants for professional work similar to that upon which they were previously engaged, and to which they will return after the War, are now assessed under Schedule E on the grounds that their remuneration is pay able out of public funds; will he say under which Section of the Finance Act this action is taken; and will he remove the injustice thus inflicted?

As regards the rules governing assessment to Income Tax under Schedule E, reference may be made to Section 146 of the Income Tax Act of 1842 and Section 53 of the Income Tax Act of 1853. If particulars are furnished of the cases referred to in the question, the matter will be investigated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of cheques used in the last year for which particulars are available; and if he has any information which will enable him to state the number of separate banking accounts at the banks of the United Kingdom?

The number of cheques, including dividend warrants, stamped in 1917–18 was approximately 321,600,000. I have no information with regard to the second part of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the decision of the Home Office to enforce the Regulations relating to lotteries in connection with various war charities, all bond-fide charities registered under the War Charities Act can be granted total exemption from the Entertainment Tax?

The provisions in Section 1 (5) of the Finance Act, 1916, seem to me adequate to meet the case of all entertainments held in good faith for charitable purposes, and I do not think it necessary or advisable to extend them.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the paper supplies in this country is at pre sent being used by the Government Departments; and whether he will pre sent a comparative statement to the House, showing the total consumption of paper by the Government Departments year by year during the last four years?

Exact figures of the quantity of paper and board being used by Government Departments are not available, but it is estimated that about one-third of the supplies of this material in the country is used directly or in directly for Government purposes, a very large proportion being utilised in the manufacture of munitions, etc., and for J the Army in the field. The approximate consumption of paper in the form of stationery by Government Departments during each of the last four years has been as follows:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will have a small Com- mittee appointed immediately to inquire-into and revise the whole method of distribution of beer in Ireland during the balance of the War?

For the reasons given in my answer to the hon. Member last Thursday, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by the appointment of a Committee at the present time.

asked the Under secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are men, skilled and un skilled, in the Royal Marine Engineers who are being employed in building a submarine base which cannot possibly be finished inside five years; that others are preparing a foundation for an ammunition storehouse; that the rest of the corps are doing nothing but drill; and whether he-will consider the advisability of putting the skill of these men to more practical use in civil occupations if there is no better need for them in the Army 2

I have been asked to answer this question. My ton. Friend is, I think, misinformed regarding the undertaking and period referred to in the first part of his question; and as regards the work referred to in the second part of his question, a small detachment of Royal Marine Engineers is at present employed in constructing accommodation which is urgently required by the Navy, and for which it has been impossible to obtain civil labour. As regards the latter parts of the question, I can assure my hon. Friend that these units are most usefully employed.

asked the Under - Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the men in. Mesopotamia are feeling the strain due to absence of leave; whether he is aware that despite the promises in the House the men have been informed that there is no chance of leave being granted; and whether he will give an assurance that all men who have been in Mesopotamia for two years and upwards shall have early leave, if not to this country, at all events-to India?

I am unaware whether the facts as stated by my hon. Friend are correct, but the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mesopotamia, is being communicated with on the subject. The General Officer Commanding is, of course, fully alive to the desirability of granting leave whenever possible, and those who have been longest in Mesopotamia receive first consideration, but in view of the military situation it is impossible to give any definite undertaking such as is asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War if his attention has been, called to the report of the inquest held at Norwich on 13th May on Frederick Francis Cottrell, formerly a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery and a patient at the Norfolk War Hospital, in which the Royal Army Medical Corps doctor stated that Cottrell had served in the Army three and a half years, two of which were spent in France, that he was sent back to England in November, 1915, with a gunshot wound, that he was returned to France in 1916, that he was sent back to England in August, 1917, having lost the use of both legs from paralysis which occurred after he. had been blown out of a gun-pit, that he was returned to France once more in December, 1917, that he was sent back to England in December, 1917, having again had paralysis in both legs and lost the use of his left arm, and that in May, 1918, he committed suicide; and whether he will consider the desirability of making -arrangements whereby soldiers who have been severely wounded on more than one occasion should not be compelled to return to the fighting line?

I am making inquiries into this case, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the Regulation recently laid down by the competent military authority in the Swindon district of Salisbury Plain prohibiting the sale of tea, coffee, and other non-intoxicating beverages in the huts of the Church Army, Salvation Army, and Young Men's Christian Association during certain hours during which beer and other intoxicants are sold at the Army canteens; whether the effect of this Regulation on the health and habits of the troops has been fully considered; and whether steps will be taken to modify it so as to allow of the provision of tea and coffee in the huts at all hours during which intoxicants are on sale elsewhere?

The sale of tea is not permitted in Army canteens or in the canteens of philanthropic societies, situated on War Department land, in the Southern Command, until after 6.30 p.m. with the exception of half an hour during the morning. There is no restriction on the sale of coffee, cocoa, or other non-intoxicating beverages. The Order was issued because, tea being a restricted supply to the civilian population, it is not considered necessary that it should be served to soldiers at all times of the day in addition to the adequate Army ration provided at breakfast and tea-time. Owing to some misunderstanding the Order was interpreted in the Chiseldon district as including coffee and cocoa, but this has now been rectified.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether no compensation is paid to officers who have lost money through the torpedoing of vessels on which they are travelling while on duty; whether such officers are re fused compensation for the loss of personal effects until they have, at their own expense, replaced the lost articles; whether the compensation then given is only in respect of, the depreciated value of the lost articles at the time of torpedoing; and whether he will consider the desirability of giving full compensation in such cases in respect of personal effects and of cash necessarily carried?

No compensation is given in the circumstances mentioned for Iosb of cash privately held by an officer. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the principles governing the Regulations on this subject are in accordance with a well-considered policy, which I see no reason to review.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Captain Bowlby Reynolds, Royal Engineers, who has been discharged from the Army, gets no wound gratuity because he was not returned as very seriously wounded, though his skull was, in fact, fractured, as was discovered by a later diagnosis; and, if so, whether this case is to be regarded as finally settled?

This officer has been examined many times by medical boards, the last being at the War Office on 1st May, but there is no trace of any evidence or suggestion that his skull was fractured.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the War Council have considered the grievance under which the Territorial Force officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps labour in spite of all their pre-War service in receiving rates of pay and gratuity less than temporary Royal Army Medical Corps officers; whether the War Council have further considered the favourable Report of the Committee of 1917, recommending that the position in regard to pay, allowances, and gratuities of officers in the Royal Army Medical Corps belonging to the Territorial Force and Special Reserve should be equalised with that of temporary officers when they would gain thereby; and, if so, what steps the Army Council proposes to take?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on the 21st February last to my hon. Friend the Member for the West Derby Division of Liverpool.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that on 2nd May German newspapers announced the Franco-German agreement for the ex change of prisoners, about a fortnight before the news was published in this country; whether the Press Censor kept back the information from publication; and, if so, on whose directions or for what reason?

I understand that the agreement was announced in a German wireless message of the 2nd May, but was not given to the Press of this country. No directions were given to the Press Censor, but he considered that, as the arrangement concerned the French Government, and the announcement came in a German unofficial wireless statement, it was better to await confirmation by the French Government.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the action of the Chief Commissioner of Police in prohibiting lotteries, tombolas, etc., within the Metropolitan Police district whilst no action is taken or warning given against them in areas outside the Metropolitan Police district; and whether he will advise the chief con stables of counties of the illegality of these lotteries or advise the Chief Commissioner of Police of their legality?

The attention of chief constables throughout the country is being drawn to the warning issued through the public Press by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

asked the President of the Local Government Board when the Orders under the Representation of the People Act, 1918, dated 5th March, 12th March, and 9th April, will be delivered to the Vote Office, and be obtainable by Members there; and what is the reason for the delay in their delivery?

The three Orders in Council issued under the Representation of the People Act made on the 4th and 22nd March were laid on the Table on the dates mentioned in the question. I understand that Papers which were laid but are not ordered to be printed are not delivered at the Vote Office, but that copies are available for hon. Members in the Library.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he pro- poses to appoint during the period of the War one or more women, other than women doctors, to permanent posts in his Department; if so, whether he will state the precise nature of such posts, the qualification required there for, and the remuneration attaching thereto; and whether, having regard to the number of women engaged on voluntary and other war work at the present time who may be suitably qualified for any such posts, he will give an undertaking that no such permanent posts will be filled during the period of the War, and that thereafter they shall be filled only after open competition?

The only permanent posts, other than those of women inspectors and typists, to which I am authorised by the Treasury to appoint women are two clerkships at salaries of £100—£7 10s.—£180 and £250—£10—£350, respectively. The appointees are required to obtain certificates from the Civil Ser vice Commissioners. As regards the last part of the question, I may say that the appointment of women to permanent posts, and the qualifications and method of filling such appointments, is subject to the control of the Treasury.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been called to the attitude of the officials who represent the Government in relation to the adjustment and settlement of claims arising under Government policies of insurance against damage by hostile aircraft or by anti-air craft guns; whether his attention has been called to the allegation that there is a growing unwillingness on the part of the Government Department charged with providing compensation to air-raid sufferers to act up to the full measure of its responsibility; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the matter generally; and (2) whether he is aware that allegations of harsh and overbearing conduct have been and are made against those officials who have the adjustment and settlement of claims under aircraft insurance policies issued by or on behalf of the Government; that legal objections are pressed, rights overridden, and current values of labour or materials ignored with the object of reducing the compensation to a minimum; whether a claim made by Mr. A. J. Frazer, in or about February last, for £250 was the subject of an offer of £85 only, though no allegation of excessive claim has or could be suggested; and whether it is the practice in these cases for the Government, where claims are carried into Court, to rely upon the rule that costs cannot be given against the Crown?

I am unaware of any such general grievances as those referred to in the two questions. No cases have up to the present been taken into the Courts, and, in comparison with the number of claims settled under the aircraft insurance scheme, exceedingly few complaints have been made as to the amount or method of the settlement. Such complaints as have been received have almost invariably been due to the insured contending that he was entitled to be paid for damage due to causes other than those covered by the policy. In the specific case mentioned by the hon. Member the claim includes items in respect of certain walls which the assessor reported were not damaged, either directly or indirectly, by aircraft. In view of the want of agreement between Mr. Frazer and the assessor, the Aircraft Insurance Committee instructed a second assessor to give them his opinion, and he has confirmed that of the first assessor.