asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the railway concessions provided for the officers of British merchant ships on taking leave will now be extended so that officers may take advantage of these concessions in purchasing first-class tickets, should they so desire, in place of third-class tickets to which they have previously been restricted?

I have been in communication with the Railway Executive Committee, and I hope it will shortly be possible to allow mercantile marine officers to purchase first-class tickets at the rates in force prior to the 1st January, 1917, in the cases where at present they are given warrants enabling them to purchase third-class tickets at the old rates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, in reference to the issue of the torpedo badge for the merchant service, he will now consider toe desirability of instituting some special form of recognition in the case of officers and crews of merchant ships who, through skilful seamanship and courage, have avoided torpedoing or sinking through gunfire, or other enemy action, and who have thus been instrumental in saving their ships; (2) whether he is now prepared to authorise the wearing of war chevrons by the officers and men of the merchant service as in the case of the officers and men of the naval and military forces; (3) whether officers of the merchant service who have been granted commissions in the Naval Reserve forces and Army since the outbreak of War will now be permitted to wear on their uniforms chevrons for the time they served as officers in the merchant service from the outbreak of war in addition to those chevrons which they are entitled to wear from the time that they received their commissions?

I entirely sympathise with the object which the hon. Member has in view, namely, the recognition of the services performed by the officers and men of the mercantile marine whether they have been torpedoed or not; but I am very doubtful as to the wisdom of multiplying special badges and distinctions, and, as at present advised, I do not propose to add to their number.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that the torpedo badge is in red worsted, which is quite unsuitable to be worn on any uniform, and that it is in exactly the same form for men and stokers as for officers? Does he not consider that contrary to the interests of discipline on board ship?

I am very much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for drawing attention to that. I thought the design and general character of the badge had been agreed to by the various interests concerned, but I shall be very glad to take it into consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to enable those merchant captains and officers, who, having been interned in enemy countries, have now been transferred to Holland and Switzerland, to meet the expense for living which they necessarily incur?

All the merchant captains and officers who have been transferred to Holland and Switzerland are being provided with board and lodging by the officers in charge of the interned in those countries. The majority of the captains and officers are already receiving "officer" treatment, and steps have been taken to secure that all captains and officers shall receive "officer" treatment.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give his attention to the terms of the question, which relate to meeting the expense of living? When they do receive "officer" treatment tinder the House of Lords decision they do not receive any pay. What they do get is not enough to meet the cost of living in the neutral country.

I gather what the hon. Gentleman has in mind is that the allowance now is not adequate to meet their real needs, and that aspect of the question is now engaging our attention.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has yet been reached on the question of an increased scale of pensions to the widows and dependants of officers of the mercantile marine who have lost their lives through enemy action during the present War?

Considerable progress has been made with this question, but no decision has yet been arrived at.

When is a decision likely to be arrived at on that point?

I hope it will not take any very great length of time. We have to discuss it with the Treasury and other interests, but I will hurry it up as much as I possibly can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date he expects to bring in the Bill to give effect to the findings of the Committee appointed by the Board of Trade to consider the question of a standard uniform for the merchant service?

I am afraid there is little possibility of introducing the Bill before the Adjournment.

Will this be an early matter in the business of the House after the Adjournment, and is the drafting of the Bill being proceeded with?

If I remember rightly, the Bill has been drafted, but its introduction is a matter for the Leader of the House. I will consult him with regard to it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he has any knowledge of Wambach and Company, manufacturers of catgut and sausage-skins, and with businesses in their own or other names at Barking, Colchester, Ipswich, Glasgow, and, before the War, at Harwich and Yarmouth; has he been able to ascertain if the owners are naturalised or not; and have any of them been interned since the outbreak of hostilities; (2) if he will ascertain the nature of the business carried on at Barking, either for himself or another person, by Wilhelm Wambach; is Wilhelm. Wambach a naturalised citizen; and was he at one time interned at the Alexandra Palace?

The businesses carried on under the name of Wambach and Company were inspected by order of the Board of Trade made in April, 1917. The businesses at Barking, Colchester, and Ipswich are owned by four brothers of German origin, three of whom have been naturalised, while one, referred to as William Wambach, is a German subject. The business at Glasgow is owned by one of the brothers who is a naturalised British subject. These businesses have all been placed under supervision. I understand that the partner who is a German subject was interned in July, 1915, but has subsequently been released on licence. My information does not show in what camp he was interned.

Have all these businesses been acquired since the War or were they in the possession of these people before the War?

I think it would be correct to say, though I say it with some reserve, that all were in their possession prior to the outbreak of war.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this particular firm is trying to acquire more businesses of the same nature in order to get a combine?

Yes; I am quite aware of it. If I remember rightly, the hon. and gallant Gentleman raised the question a day or two ago, and we took all steps to prevent it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state on what date the 24 per cent. of the share capital in Messrs. Holzapfels, Limited, held on the 18th October, 1916, by two naturalised British subjects of enemy birth was transferred to British-born subjects, also the names of the British-born subjects; and what relationship, if any, existed between the transferors and the transferees of the shares in question?

The shares referred to have been transferred this year, and, as the majority have been sold in small lots to numerous purchasers, it is not possible to give the exact dates and names of the purchasers without a considerable amount of labour. The 89,856 shares formerly belonging to Max Holzapfel were transferred to persons who were not connected with his family. Of the 22,410 shares belonging to A. C. A. Holzapfel, 17,885 were transferred to eight persons who are his children, and one person who is his son-in-law. Their names are Ward, May, and Aston, the name of Holzapfel having been changed to Ward. At the present time the capital of £450,000 is distributed among about 1,200 shareholders, and I should be pleased to show my hon. Friend a list.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if any precautions have been taken to prevent these shares from being retransferred back again after the War is over?

I shall be very glad to make inquiries, and if the hon. Member will put down a question I will give him an answer.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether any priority permits were granted in 1917 to Messrs. Holzapfels, Limited, for copper or other raw material; if so, the dates and amounts of materials granted per month or otherwise; and whether any of the permits were granted with the approval either of the Admiralty or of the Board of Trade?

During 1917 Messrs. Holzapfels were granted the usual stock permits enabling them to order materials for use upon ships and floating craft only. The materials procured are ingredients for paint and compositions for fishing vessels, trawlers, and ships' bottoms. The permit is issued on condition that all orders and all supplies ex such orders shall previously be certified as approved by the local Board of Trade surveyor. The firm also holds the usual repair and maintenance permit for spare and repair parts. Those permits have been arranged in consultation with the Admiralty, and are subject to the supervision of the Board of Trade surveyors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a British company, the Columbia Navigation Company, entered into a contract with a German firm in Bremen in August, 1913, for the delivery of steamers and boilers, and that one of the conditions of the contract was that the full amount of same £7,000 was to be deposited with the Deutsche Bank, London, which was done, and that of this amount the bank have paid over to the Bremen firm £2,567 up to date, against which no delivery of goods has been made; whether he is aware that, as the contract cannot now be carried out, the Columbia Navigation Company have applied to the liquidator of the bank here for the refund of the balance of the deposit, £4,432, which is still here, and that special permission was given for the bank to apply to their Bremen office for permission to repay the balance, who refused consent on the probability of the contract being completed after the War; whether he is aware that the instructions of the Government to the liquidator of German banks does not allow him to return British companies moneys in the case set out; whether it is the intention of the Government that German contracts should be maintained in this manner until after the War; and, if not, will he forthwith issue new instructions to the liquidator of the German banks that all British money retained here by the Deutsche Bank, London, as in the case of the Columbia Navigation Company, and any similar cases, shall be returned to the British owners at once?

No instructions have been given by the Government prohibiting the return of the sum in question to the company. I understand that certain arrangements were proposed under which the money would have been repaid but that they were not agreed to by the company. It will be the duty of the controller appointed under the Trading With the Enemy Amendment Act, 1916, to apply to the Court for directions whether the money deposited with the London agency of the Deutsche Bank should be refunded to the company.

asked the Home Secretary (1) if he will circulate, as soon as may be, a Parliamentary Paper indicating precisely the changes, other than legislative changes, and administrative methods to be adopted in dealing with aliens and persons not the sons of British-born subjects announced by him in his statement on Thursday last; and (2) if he can give the names of the members of the Committee which is to be appointed to consider the cases of persons in Government Departments who are not the sons of British-born subjects; if he can give the terms of reference to this Committee; and if he can say whether all persons occupying any position in any Government Department who are not the sons of British-born subjects will have to present themselves before this Committee and have their claims for exceptional treatment adjudicated on?

I do not think it necessary to circulate a Parliamentary Paper as suggested. The proposals of the Government as to changes of name and identity books can be carried out by Orders in Council, which will be made at an early date. The proposals as to the review of exemptions, and as to the employment in Government offices of persons who are not British born, require the appointment of Committees, and I hope that it may be possible very shortly to make an announcement as to the constitution of these Committees. The order to wind up the enemy banks will, I understand, be made forthwith. The remaining proposals will require legislation, which will be introduced, and, I hope, passed before the Recess.

May I ask whether any terms of reference will be given to either or both of these Committees?

Certainly.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman tell us explicitly what is meant by "persons occupied in Government offices"? Does it apply also to Ministers of the Crown?

The expression is easy to understand. I should certainly think it applies to Ministers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the fact that on Friday last train-loads of salmon arrived at Billingsgate in such a condition that they were taken down the river in barges in carbolic tanks; can he account for this waste of foodstuffs; and will he say what arrangements have been or will be made to prevent its recurrence?

I have been asked to reply. The total quantity of salmon condemned at Billingsgate on Friday, 5th July, was 5 stone, an Irish consignment spoiled by delay in transit. It is impossible to prevent an occasional occurrence of this kind in warm weather.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will have complete statistics collected and made public from each county in England and Wales of the acreage of grass land ordered to be ploughed, the acreage actually ploughed, and the cropping, as well as the result, whether good, moderate, partial, or total failure?

The collection of the full statistics and details to which my hon. Friend refers will not in any case be possible until after harvest, and will necessitate an exhaustive inquiry, the time and labour for which are not at present available. If it appears that any valuable information can be obtained from such statistics as are asked for, the Board, after examining the detailed figures of the production of this year's crops, will consider how the figures can be best obtained.

Are we to understand from the reply that the necessary labour will be available after harvest to collect these statistics, and that the Board of Agriculture will have the figures before them; and, if so, is it not simply a question that one county may know with what success another county has had in carrying out the policy?

The Board recognises the importance of the question. It is only a question of the particular time at which it can be done.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his Department employs ninety-seven men in Scotland at salaries over £200 a year; whether one is paid £1,000 a year, one £900, three £800, six £600, nine £500, five £450, seven £400, one £365, and seven £350; and, if so, whether it was found necessary by his Department to pay such salaries in war-time to get the duties of his Department in Scotland satisfactorily performed?

The statements in the first two parts of the question are substantially correct. It does not appear to me that the salaries are excessive or the appointments too numerous, having regard to the variety, extent, and importance of the duties to be performed.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether those salaries are included in the £1,750,000 of salaries paid per annum, as indicated by the representative of the Department in another place?

I cannot say. The hon. Member had better put a question down.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether of the ninety-seven men employed by his Department in Scotland at salaries of from £1,000 to £200 per annum seventy-six are of military age; if so, whether any attempt was made by his Department to get men to fill these posts over military age or who had served in the Army, had done their share of fighting, and had been discharged; and was this attempt unsuccessful?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, taking the military age as under fifty-one. Every effort has been made to fill the necessary posts with men not available for military service, but in view of the onerous nature of the duties to be performed, the special qualifications needed, and the urgency of the situation, it was not always possible to avoid the employment of men liable to some form of duty with the forces. The entire provincial staff of the Ministry is being drastically reviewed by the Committee appointed by the Minister of National Service, whose operations are expected to be complete in two or three weeks.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the Department have tried to get discharged men who have done their fighting?

I cannot say as to that, but the hon. Member will realise from the answer I have read out that this matter is being carefully looked into.

Could not all these men be taken into the Army and given commissions as Staff captains, and so be employed at a lower rate of pay?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the fact that the freight on the cargo of linseed which was laden on the "Oberon," bound from Buenos Ayres to Rotterdam and ordered into the Falmouth River in November, 1916, owing to submarine danger, and which was requisitioned by Government Order on 1st December, 1917, has not yet been paid; is he aware that the delay is caused by his Department, which requires the assent of the former owner to the payment of freight although, having lost the goods and handed the bills of lading to the Ministry, the former owner has no means of checking the accuracy of the freight account; that no payment on account of the amount due has been made although the Ministry offered, on 29th December, 1917, to pay £28 a ton, less 1 per cent. brokerage, which was afterwards reduced by the Ministry to £ per cent., to be paid to a firm of brokers employed by the Ministry; and that this offer was refused only because the London agents of the former Dutch owner of the linseed refuse to pay ½ per cent. brokerage to brokers whom they had not employed and who had done nothing for them; and will he take such steps that will ensure the prompt payment of the freight to the ship-owner and the net value of the goods to the firm from whom they were requisitioned?

I am informed that instructions have now been given for the payment of the freight referred to, and that payment will shortly be made on account of the price of the linseed requisitioned. With regard to the question of brokerage, I understand that a representative of the charterers has been asked to meet the Chairman of the United Kingdom Brokers' Association with a view to the appointment of a trade arbitrator to settle the outstanding points of difference, and it is hoped that an agreement may be reached at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the position of the Bridge Sollars and District Dairy Society, near Hereford, in connection with the British Cheese Requisition Order No. 5, under which all surplus cheese has to be forwarded to a distant market, while there is a large unsatisfied local demand for the cheese; and whether he will appoint a local tradesman as the approved factor for this society?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Equitable distribution of home-produced cheese must involve the transfer of a certain proportion of the output from producing areas to consuming centres, even if this leaves part of the demand in the producing areas unsatisfied. The Food Controller cannot undertake that all the cheese produced in the Hereford district shall be retained for consumption locally, and he is not, therefore, prepared to appoint a local tradesman to act as approved factor for the society in question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why it is necessary that all the output of the factories should be transferred to London?

If it is my hon. Friend's suggestion that that is being done, I will draw the attention of the Food Controller to it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he can give a Return of all the varying rebates granted to different distributors of tea?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the latest instructions on the subject of rebates, which will, I think, give all the information required. The paragraph on the subject of van delivery rebates will require some modification in view of the new distribution scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the failure of the hard fruit in the United Kingdom this year, he will relax the restrictions on the importation of apples, pears, peaches, and like products from our Dominions and Dependencies overseas and also from the countries of the Allies; and, if so, whether he will see that such relaxation and relief is promptly made, in order that the people of the United Kingdom may receive the fruit now ripening abroad during the approaching autumn and winter?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I have this matter now under consideration, in consultation with the Ministers of Food and Shipping.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, seeing that in the three and a half years before the War nearly 19,500,000 cowhides were exported from India to the ports of Hamburg, Bremen, and Trieste, and this important Indian trade had practically passed into German hands, he will now state what measures have been taken, or are being taken, by the Government of India or the Home Government to prevent the possibility of this German monopoly ever being re-established, and to ensure that in future the industry shall be wholly British and Indian?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave on the 10th July to a question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford.

Is there any reason why there should be any further delay in settling this matter definitely; why is it still under consideration?

It is not under consideration. I gave a complete reply, showing that the German influence in this trade has been completely and permanently removed.

Were not the words which the right hon. Gentleman used, "The Government of India have the future regulation of this trade under consideration"?

Yes; that refers to the after-the-war policy. I think all the steps possible for the moment have been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for India what improvements have been effected in the conditions of service of British officers of the Indian Army since the commencement of the War; and whether the question of increasing the pay of the British officers of the Indian Army will be considered by the Government of India at the same time as they are considering the question of increasing the pay of the Indian officers and soldiers?

The following improvements have been effected since the outbreak of war:

Promotion has been accelerated in accordance with a scheme which has been publicly announced. The system of acting promotion in force for the British Army has been extended to the Indian Army. When invalided from the field Indian Army officers now receive pay of rank plus half staff pay of their substantive Indian Army appointment up to a maximum of six months after the expiry of three months on full pay and it is only after the end of the ninth month that they are placed on sterling rates of leave pay. The Pensions Warrant of 1st August, 1917, has been extended to officers of the Indian Army. The rates of temporary non-effective pay have also been improved, and hospital stoppages waived where illness is due to military service. No further increase of pay in the case of Indian Army officers is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any steps are being taken to embody in draft bill form the proposals for Indian reform, or if that stage must await Cabinet approval of the scheme in detail?

Yes, Sir; the steps to which my hon. and gallant friend refers are now being taken.

When does the right hon. Gentleman propose to set up a Standing Committee of this House on Indian affairs?

I cannot answer that question until the Government have decided what policy they will adopt.

That is part of my right hon. Friend's policy?

It is a part of the policy which his Excellency the Viceroy and I recommend to His Majesty's Government.

Will my right hon. Friend recommend it to his right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and suggest that what is good for the India Office is also good for the Foreign Office?

That is rather a long way from the question on the Paper.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether this draft Bill will or will not be finished within three months' time?

I cannot say yet. My hon. Friend will realise that it is a very complicated Bill to draw up, but it is being proceeded with as quickly as possible.

May I ask whether the Bill for giving Home Rule to India is considered a war measure?

I do not understand that. I am not drafting a Bill for Home Rule for India.

Will it be done as expeditiously as the Bill for Home Rule for Ireland?

asked the Minister of Munitions (1) if he will now state the names of the three firms with Which the Ministry have been negotiating agreements for boring for oil; what are the terms of the agreements; what, if any, effect upon these terms will the new Petroleum Bill have if it becomes law; (2) the number and names of the British firms which, subject to obtaining certain priority certificates, are now in a position to commence boring for oil in the United Kingdom?

I cannot usefully add anything to the reply given by my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend on the 21st March last except that the negotiations are not yet completed. Any terms arranged will, however, be subject to any legislation that may be passed.

What are the reasons which have delayed the completion of these agreements?

There are some difficult points to settle.

asked the Minister of Munitions if any subsistence allowances are given by his Department to persons who give honorary services; if so, what is the amount of these allowances; and the number of persons in his Department who receive such allowances and the number for each scale of allowance?

Yes, Sir. The amount of the subsistence allowances paid to persons on the headquarters staff who give honorary service in the Ministry is £13,460. These allowances are at the rate of £1 per working or calendar day, and are paid to forty-one persons. As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member for West Ham on 18th March, they are professional and technical assistants holding positions of considerable responsibility, for which the Ministry would normally have to pay salaries much in excess of the allowances named.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many Members of this House derive such assistance from his Department?

I have not that information, but I will give it to my hon. Friend if he will ask for it.

asked the Minister of Munitions how many cheap return fares have been arranged with the London General Omnibus Company in South-East London for munition workers, and can he give an example of these cheap fares; what system exists in order to secure that these fares are only given to bonâ-fide munition workers, and what checks or control the company have on the persons applying for such tickets; and is it a condition of the financial Grants that the company have to give preference to munition workers on all services over all other passengers?

Cheap return fares have been arranged on ten routes in the South-Eastern district of London, as, for example, the route between Bell Green, Catford, and Woolwich, for which the return fare charged is 6d., which is comparable with an ordinary double fare of 11d. The cheap fares are issued only to Arsenal workers on production of an identity disc, which also shows the limit of travel required.

asked the Minister of Munitions if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in certain shell works from eighty to ninety boys from a reformatory are employed each day on the day and night shifts and used for general labouring work, much of which is of a specially heavy kind, including the pushing of trucks with weights of 6 cwt. and 7 cwt.; whether, whilst the shifts of the ordinary workers in this factory are of twelve and twelve and a half hours during the night, that of these boys is thirteen hours, and for the day nine and a half for men and ten and a half and sometimes twelve and a half for the boys; whether he has received any guarantees before sanctioning the employment of these boys that they will not be called upon to do reformatory work in addition; whether he can say if this guarantee has been and is being observed; whether he has made arrangements with the institution which will protect adequately the rights of the boys in their wages, and not make their employment of special benefit to the institution rather than to themselves; whether he is aware that cropping of the hair after the manner of criminals is imposed for trivial offences upon these boys; and whether he is fully satisfied regarding the general conditions of their employment in view of their character and good work?

I presume my hon. Friend refers to the boys from Kibble Institution, who are employed at certain munition works in Scotland. Some eighty-four boys are so employed, their work being general labouring work. I am informed that the work includes the pushing of trucks, the carrying capacity of which is 7 or 8 cwts., but that the lads fill the trucks to suit their own convenience, and push either 4 cwts. in two runs, or 2 cwts. in four runs. Each truck is manned by two boys. The average number of hours worked on the night shift by the boys is ten and a half, and on the day shift nine hours, except in the case of a few senior boys who have worked ten hours. The work is, of course, not continuous either on the night or the day shift, regular and ample intervals being, according to my information, allowed for rest. The boys employed on munitions work do not do any work in the school. As regards the earnings of the boys, an instruction was given to all reformatory and industrial schools that not less than one-third of the earnings should be allotted or credited to the boys themselves, the balance being retained for their maintenance, clothing, etc. I am informed that this instruction is followed at the Kibble Institution. Cropping of the hair is, I understand, not employed as a method of punishing trivial offences. The school is regularly inspected, and will be inspected again shortly, when particular attention will be paid to the questions raised by my hon. Friend.

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take any steps to reduce the hours of labour worked by these boys, seeing that this long number of hours is only the average number?

All these matters will be reconsidered after the inspection is made.

When is it to be?

At an early date.

asked the Minister of National Service whether men of the new military age who were given grade cards during the week prior to Monday, 8th July, will be entitled to have the new classification distinctly marked on their grading cards in the same manner as on the cards of men who were graded after that statement was made; if so, what procedure is necessary; and, if not, will he explain what difference of treatment will result before the tribunals in connection with appeals made by men graded before and those graded after 8th July?

Any man of the new military age who was graded before 8th July and is still in civil life can, if he so desires, have his grade card altered to conform with the new instructions by presenting it, and his birth certicate, at a National Service area office. There is, however, no necessity for him to do so, and his disposal when he comes up for posting will be similar to that of men medically graded subsequently to last Monday. With regard to the last part of my hon. Friend's question, tribunals have received full directions from the Local Government Board or the Scottish Office, and their decisions will be given with full knowledge of the current arrangements.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made by the Army Council for observing the special grading of men above the age of forty-three instituted by the Minister of National Service?

Instructions for the alteration of medical categories to meet the new grading will be issued in the course of the next day or two.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that the older men at the present time are being subjected to a training equally rigorous with the younger men?

My information is quite to the contrary. If my hon. Friend will bring a case to my notice I will consider it.

I certainly will.

asked the Secretary for Scotland why Scotland's quota of men recently taken from agriculture for enlistment was fixed at 5,500, while England, with a population eight times that of Scotland, was only asked to provide 30,000 (since reduced to 27,000)?

The figures were based, not on population, but on the relative numbers of male agricultural workers in the two countries. On that basis, according to the most recent estimate, the figures are as nearly as possible proportionate.

Is it not the case that the figures per 100 acres of arable land in Scotland were only 3.1, and that they now are 3.8?

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he has received a request from the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture for a statement of the number of men actually taken from agriculture in England and Scotland and in each county subsequent to the date of the Royal Proclamation affecting men from nineteen to twenty-three years of age; and whether he intends to take steps to obtain this information?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Service on the question whether the figures referred to can be given.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the youths of eighteen and a half called to the Colours are the equivalent of the French 1920 Class; whether the French have yet put into the trenches their 1920 Class; what is the age at which the Americans are calling men to the Colours; and whether the Army Council is prepared to revert to the former practice and not send men overseas until they reach the age of nineteen, now that such large reinforcements have arrived from America?

The French 1920 Class consists of all youths whose eighteenth birthday occurs during 1918, and I understand that no lads of this class have yet been put into the trenches. The minimum age for service in the United States Army is twenty-one years. As regards the last part of my hon. Friend's question, I regret that the circumstances do not admit at present of any alteration in the existing conditions under which men are drafted overseas.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very strong feeling about this matter in the country, and will he give some indication that these men shall not be put into the front line even if they go to France and are employed on the lines of communications?

I regret to say that I can give no such undertaking, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the speech which the Prime Minister made on 9th April last.

asked the Prime Minister the result of his inquiries into the question of the position of women with reference to admission to this House?

A conference is being held this week to discuss this question.