asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the feeling in Hong Kong on the subject of the retention of Germans in the British concession on the Island of Shameen; and whether, considering that His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires in China sanctioned the proposal of the Consul-General to allow these Germans to remain on Shameen on his own initiative without any orders from the Foreign Office, he will now direct His Majesty's Minister in China, who has since returned to his post, to inform these Germans that they can no longer remain in the British Concession, and direct them to remove elsewhere?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. His Majesty's Government do not, in existing circumstances, propose to take the action suggested in the second part of the hon. Member's question, as they consider that the Germans who have been allowed to remain in the British Concession on the Island of Shameen under the supervision of the British municipal police, and subject to the observance of the strict conditions imposed on them by His Majesty's Consul-General, will have less opportunities for making mischief or for engaging in plots and intrigues against His Majesty's Government and their Allies than they would if they were turned out of the Concession and allowed to remain at large in Canton or elsewhere in the interior.

Can the Noble Lord give us any ground for that opinion of his? Most people think exactly opposite.

I cannot give any ground except that which appears on the surface of the answer, that a German under supervision is less harmful than a German who is not.

Does the Noble Lord realise how much depends on supervision, and that when you have all these Germans celebrating the "Lusitania" and other things in the British Concession to the annoyance of other inhabitants there, the latter do not like it?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has on behalf of the Allies approached President Wilson with the suggestion that he should inquire of those in Russia who, in his opinion, best represent public opinion there whether they would welcome American intervention viâ the East, with the aid of such of the forces of the Allies as were immediately available, in order to save Russia from German invasion, domination, and exploitation?

Discussions are constantly in progress between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States, as well as the other Allied Governments with the objects referred to in the last part of the hon. Member's question. His suggestion will be noted, but it will no doubt be understood that I am unable to make any definite statement at present.

Is there any way by which this subject can be discussed in order to impress on the Government the necessity for immediate action in this matter?

I should think the hon. and gallant Gentleman is as good a judge as I am of how best to discuss the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the arrest recently of two men as well-known leaders of the Irish Republican movement in the district of Nenagh who were employed in the county surveyor's office in that town; and will he say what steps he is taking to ensure that no Irish Civil servants who are paid out of Imperial funds are active and avowed supporters of the revolutionary movement in Ireland?

I have seen reports as to the arrests of the persons referred to; they are employés in the county surveyor's office, and are not Civil servants. Proceedings have been taken against them. With regard to the latter part of the question of the hon. and gallant Member, a Civil servant who was an active and avowed supporter of the revolutionary movement in Ireland would not be retained in the public service.

Would the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether a single Irish Civil servant has been dismissed his position because he is an avowed revolutionary? Can I have an answer?

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman give notice? It is obviously a question which the Attorney-General cannot possibly answer without notice. It requires immense research.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will inquire into the antecedents and connections of the chief inspector of the Navy and Army Canteen Board in the South of Ireland; are the near relatives of this official known to the Irish Government as leaders in Cork of the Irish Republican movement; has this man free access to every camp and fortress in Ireland; and will be ascertain if he has filled the canteens with young men of military age and revolutionary activities?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Careful inquiry has already been made, and it was found that there was no justification for the suggestion contained in the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question.

Is it a fact that this man has access to every camp of importance in Ireland?

I believe that within his own territorial jurisdiction he has access, but the inquiries made have shown that he is a most honourable and patriotic official.

Is the last part of the question true—that he has filled the canteen with young men of military age?

No; that is expressly denied.

If I send the right hon. Gentleman a case of a man of military age, and believed to be of revolutionary tendencies, and who is in charge of a canteen, will he look into it, and take the necessary steps?

I will look into any particular case the hon. and gallant Gentleman brings before me, but the question is whether this man has filled the canteen with men of military age.

Have any representations been received from the competent military authority about this man?

I believe so. It is the military authorities who have made the inquiry.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the reason why the Local Government Board for Ireland forwarded a recommendation to the Lisburn Board of Guardians suggesting that the salaries of the chaplains ought to be reduced; and whether he is aware that Sunday services entail precisely the same amount of labour be the congregation large or small, that their week-day work is in no way diminished, that they are dependent on fixed salaries, and that the cost of living has greatly increased owing to the War?

The healthy inmates of the Lisburn. Workhouse have been transferred to Lurgan Union, and the Lisburn guardians proposed to dispense with the services of the chaplains. The Local Government Board would not consent to this proposal, and they suggested reductions in the salaries of the chaplains who objected. A conference between the chaplains, a committee of the guardians, and an inspector of the Local Government Board, with a view to effecting a settlement of the matter, is under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that certain aliens of enemy origin are stall permitted to reside on the coast of county Antrim; and whether he will say upon what date the naval and military authorities were last consulted as to the desirability of the removal of these people to more suitable areas?

A few aliens of enemy origin are allowed to reside on the coast of county Antrim. Consultations have recently taken place as to the question of withdrawing residential permits from alien enemies. I cannot give the precise dates.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state definitely that the presence of these particular aliens has been brought to the notice of the naval and military authorities; and, if not, why?

I have no further information at present that I can give in reply.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this is the third question I have put on this subject?

Why are aliens of enemy origin permitted to reside on the coast? That is a question very much exercising the public.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give permission to the Ulster people themselves to turn out these aliens?

Consultations have been taking place about the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that at a place called Carrigartha, near Castleblayney, in the county of Monaghan, a civilian, by name Patrick Duffy, died as a result of gunshot and bayonet wounds inflicted in the early morning of the 4th instant by two soldiers named, respectively, Sleight and Rodgers; that the two soldiers referred to, although summoned by the police, failed to attend the first inquest on the deceased; if he can state the cause of such absence; and if he will say whether, having regard to the verdict of the jury that the military were not justified in their action, any inquiry has been, or will be, held into the circumstances of the occurrence?

My question is addressed to the Chief Secretary, and I want an answer from him. Why is he not here?

I understand the hon. Member desires to postpone the answer till the return of the Chief Secretary.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether clergy have threatened the penalty of eternal damnation on members of their Church if they obeyed the law in Ireland in relation to compulsory military service; and whether prosecutions of clergy for this offence have been, or will be, undertaken?

I am not aware that any one has made a statement attributing to clergy a threat that persons in Ireland who obey the law in relation to compulsory military service would be liable to the penalty of eternal damnation. Statements of a different character, to which I presume the hon. Member refers, were made in regard to persons who assisted in enforcing the law as to compulsory service. As to the last part of the question, I decline to make any statement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these words, "threatened the penalty of eternal damnation," are taken from a speech delivered by a member of the War Cabinet in another place, who said at the time that he was correct in his quotation?

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the letter in the "Times" to-day from Lord Curzon about it?

I have seen the letter in the papers to-day, and it speaks for itself. As to the question of the hon. Member for North Somerset (Mr. King) regarding the use of the words "eternal damnation," I have seen them in the quotation, but the hon. Member misrepresents the collocation of them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman confer with the Noble Lord upon the subject?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether members of the Royal Irish Constabulary are eligible for membership in the various grades of the Order of the British Empire; and, if so, will he say what appointments to the Order have been made among the officers and men of the force, in view of the devotion to duty and loyalty displayed by the force as a whole, and the conduct of individual officers and men in circumstances of difficulty and danger?

Members of the Royal Irish Constabulary are eligible for the Order of the British Empire, and the Inspector-General is a Knight of the Order; the Commissioner of Police Belfast, a Commander; and County Inspector Holmes, a member of the Order.

What distinction is given to the rank and file of this corps?

I am sure that honours or appreciation which can be given for the fidelity, discipline, and perfect way in which the Royal Irish Constabulary have been discharging their offices in very difficult circumstances would be approved by the House. I am sure honours of this character are merited.

asked the Home Secretary who was the Home Office official who on two occasions, as reported in the Canning case, wrote a personal letter to the officer commanding at Loft-house Detention Camp asking for permission for visitors to see German prisoners, which visits were regarded as special facilities?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Southampton.

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman's reply yesterday contained the name of the man who signed the pass, and will this foe allowed again?

I should like notice of that question.

Who are the officials of the Home Office who are protecting these German prisoners?

Mr. Waller was the name of the official that I gave yesterday, and he is a very distinguished Civil servant.

Will the Home Office give an undertaking that in future no preference will be given to anyone in Government Departments, or to anyone associated with Government Departments, and that no social distinction will bear weight with the Home Office in enabling people to fraternise with these enemy aliens?

It must not be understood that I am accepting any of the statements of the hon. Member.

So undertaking, though.

asked the Home Secretary if he will say what are the respective weekly rations of German prisoners of war in this country and of British prisoners of war in Germany under the heads of meat, bread, butter or margarine, jam, tea, milk, and sugar?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this ques- tion.As regards the scale of rations for German prisoners of war in this country, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement which I circulated on the 16th April last in reply to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Enfield. Since then, the meat ration has been reduced to 4 ozs. on three days a week. No butter, margarine, or milk is issued. As regards the ration supplied to our prisoners of war in Germany, I am afraid I can add nothing to the reply given on Tuesday last by my hon. Friend the Member for Central Sheffield, in answer to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Faversham.

May I ask if steps can be taken to find out exactly how our prisoners of war are being treated in Germany, and whether the German prisoners here will be treated in exactly the same manner and no better?

I am afraid I cannot usefully add anything to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Member for Central Sheffield (Mr. James Hope), who said he regretted to have to say that there was much to be desired in the treatment of our prisoners of war in Germany.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government will consider the advisability of an arrangement being come to for joint representations to be made, and action taken, as regards the treatment and exchange of prisoners of all the Allied countries, instead of continuing the present arrangement under which each country conducts separate negotiations, with the object of taking more effective measures against the possibility of Allied prisoners of war being ill-treated and neglected, as has often been the case in the past?

The Government will continue to act as far as possible in consultation with the other Allied Governments in any measures necessary for the improvement of the conditions of prisoners of war in enemy countries. I fear, however, that the proposal of my hon. and gallant Friend would involve so much delay that I am not prepared to adopt it.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if leather boots are supplied to German prisoners of war in this country; whether English prisoners in Germany are generally furnished with wooden clogs as footwear when their boots need renewing; and if, in view of the shortage of leather, he will consider as to adopting the same practice in the case of German prisoners?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. The boots issued to German prisoners of war are old Army boots which are unfit to be repaired for issue to the troops. New boots, or boots which can be made serviceable for Army purposes, are never issued. Clogs are issued whenever the supply of old Army boots is insufficient. This arrangement is more economical than to issue wooden clogs on all occasions.

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the fact that it has been decided that Grade 2 men who are liable under the last Military Service Act and are special constables are not to be called to the Army, he is taking any and, if so, what steps to prevent similarly graded men who are members of greatly reduced fire brigades in munition and other areas from being taken into the Army?

asked the Home Secretary whether, as a result of a conference between the Ministry of National Service and himself, he has issued a circular to town clerks asking for particulars as to the strength and responsibilities of fire brigades throughout the country; whether, pending the receipt of such information, he intends to take any steps to prevent Grade 2 men who are members of fire brigades from being called up for Army service under the new Act; and whether he is aware that unless he does so many fire brigades will be depleted far below the margin of safety?

By arrangement with the Ministry of National Service, I have obtained from a large number of local authorities returns which give full information as to the reduction of strength of the fire brigades and the classification and duties of men who remain, and I am now in communication with the Ministry of National Service on the question of what exemption can be given to men belonging to the fire brigades who are classified in the lower grades. I should add that I understand the arrangement as to special constables to which the hon. Member for Dartford refers in the first part of his question is limited to the Metropolitan Special Constabulary.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman or the Minister of National Service will try to get firemen who are in Grade 2 exempted, because many of them are doing service of the greatest national importance in large munition areas?

I shall be glad to consider the point raised.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what course local and Appeal Tribunals ought to take pending final arrangements between his Department and the Ministry of National Service, having regard to the fact that there are now before these Appeal Tribunals men who are members of fire brigades and who are likely to be called up any day?

It is difficult to answer a question like that right off. Will my hon. Friend be good enough to put it down?

Will the right hon. Gentleman at least make some suggestion to the tribunals that they should delay coming to a final decision in these cases whilst he is obtaining the necessary information?

I shall be very glad to consider it and see what can be done.

asked the Home Secretary whether equality of treatment is meted out to Scotsmen in the three settlements of Princetown, Wakefield, and Knutsford for conscientious objectors in sending these men to Scotland when vacancies occur there in establishments; and, if so, will he say how many have been so sent from the first-named settlement?

I cannot give the figures asked for. The selection of conscientious objectors for employment does not depend on their place of origin, but on their capacity for the work, the distance to be travelled to the place of employment, and other circumstances. I may add that I am not convinced that Scotsmen invariably prefer to be employed in their native country.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that hopes were given to these men that they might return to Scotland, and that, they have been working all the better in consequence, and that therefore his implied promise ought to be carried out?

If either of the conscientious objectors desires to make an application, he may do so direct.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has had a petition from the Scotsmen amongst the conscientious objectors in the Princetown settlement asking that they should have the privilege of a Presbyterian service in the same way as is given at Wakefield and at Knutsford; and, if so, will he say whether any and what action has been taken to provide this?

No, Sir; but the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors received a petition in May last from five Scotsmen employed at Prince-town asking that a centre for Scotsmen might be established in Scotland. The Committee were at the time negotiating with employers in Scotland for the employment of a large number of men, and these men were noted for transfer to this work. The negotiations, however, fell through, owing to the repugnance of other men to work with conscientious objectors. It is not practicable to make special arrangements for these men at Prince-town, but the matter will be borne in mind.

asked the Prime Minister whether the hon. and gallant Member for West Clare has accepted a post in connection with the voluntary recruiting campaign in Ireland, and has received a commission as colonel in His Majesty's Army; and, if so, whether he will be permitted to continue his propa- ganda in favour of a republic in this country in association with his recruiting efforts?

The hon. Member for West Clare has not accepted a post in connection with the voluntary recruiting campaign in Ireland, but has undertaken to raise a battalion by his personal efforts, and for that purpose has received a commission as colonel in the Army. The hon. Member, I am confident, may be relied upon to conduct his recruiting campaign without introducing into it any political propaganda.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service whether he is aware that the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives affirm that 50 per cent. of their male members have now been enrolled, and that the manner in which it is proposed to deal with calls for service upon the remainder is so resented by the men that a strike is threatened; and will he say what steps it is proposed to take to avert such trouble?

asked the Minister of National Service (1) whether he intends to issue his contemplated Order to take the pivotal men engaged in the boot and shoe industry; if so, what does he propose to do to allay the feeling of revolt which the officials of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives say is likely to follow; does he still refuse to meet a deputation of employers and trade union representatives on the matter before he acts; (2) whether he is now prepared to meet the employers and workmen in the boot and shoe trade and consider with them the desirability of further drafts of men from this trade being provided by a special committee representing the trade instead of by official orders which gravely jeopardise the trade and irritate the workers?

A deputation was received at the Ministry of National Service this morning at which the points raised in the questions of my hon. Friends were discussed. I am happy to state that a satisfactory understanding was arrived at. An assurance was given that before any new Order was issued a further conference with the representatives of the employers and operatives would be arranged. There is, I understand, no dissatisfaction with the Order now in force.

asked whether the Prudential and other English assurance companies' superintendents are receiving any preferential treatment over those of Scottish assurance societies in the matter of exemption under the Military Service Act, 1918?

No, Sir. The same arrangements are being made for Scotland as for England.

asked whether assistant overseers engaged at present in the preparation of the lists of electors under the Representation of the People Act, 1918, are exempt from the operation of the new Military Service Act until the completion of their work?

Assistant overseers engaged in the preparation of the lists of electors under the Representation of the People Act, 1918, are not exempt as such from the operation of the Military Service Acts, and the question of their exemption is a matter for the decision of the appropriate tribunals. Under present instructions, however, full time officials of the professional, administrative and clerical staffs of local authorities are not called to the Colours if in low medical grades or categories, and assistant overseers, if employed full time as Local Government officers, are accordingly protected in that capacity.

asked whether men, after passing the examination of the National Service medical board and receiving a classification card stating the grade they are placed in, are entitled at once after receiving the printed notice to join as soldiers to make any application that on the ground of age or special fitness they may be attached to service on the land or in a munitions or other factory; and, if so, will he say to whom such application should be made and in what manner, and how much time is allowed for such an application?

asked why men who have received their calling-up notice but are not yet in the Army and who, if in Grade 1 are over forty-five, and if in Grade 2 are over thirty-five, are not allowed to volunteer for war work under the new scheme?

Men of the new military age under call for military service will, if of the appropriate age and grade, be permitted to enrol under the War Work Volunteer Scheme or the War Agricultural Volunteer Scheme up to and including the 6th July. In such cases the man's calling up notice will be suspended for a sufficient period to allow him time to apply for a protection certificate after taking up the work for which he was enrolled.

Instructions have been given that calling-up notices shall not be issued to men of the new military age until ten days after their medical grading. This affords such men after their medical examination an opportunity of offering themselves for enrolment under the War Work Volunteer Scheme or the War Agricultural Volunteer Scheme before receiving a calling-up notice for military service.

Particulars of this scheme can be obtained from Employment Exchanges, but it must be clearly understood that no man can be enrolled under the War Work Volunteer Scheme until he has been offered to an employer for a definite vacancy and accepted by him.

Will the hon. Gentleman state if we can get a copy of the statement referred to at the Vote Office?

It may not be at the Vote Office, but it will be in the Library shortly. The instruction has been given, but I do not know whether it has reached the Library yet.

When will the notices for provincial recruiting be sent out? Will he explain what is the position of men between forty-four and fifty-three who wish to be enrolled and go to the Labour Exchanges and find there is no work for them; will they be safeguarded until work can be found for them?

As regards the latter part of the question, certainly not. It would be impossible to have a number of men who have enrolled for work of national importance and afterwards find that they were not available for military service.

Will the Ministry find them work?

Telegraphic instructions were issued to the Employment Exchanges yesterday.

Will it be the duty of the Employment Exchanges to find work, if possible, for these men?

No; there are certain vacancies which urgently require filling in order to enable this work of national importance to be done. Certain opportunities are offered to men of the older ages and of low medical categories, but there is no question of finding work for the men, and thus depriving the Army of their services.

Can the hon. Gentleman say where those lists of vacancies can be obtained?

At the Employment Exchanges.

(by Private Notice) asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether it is the fact, as stated in the Press to-day, that further calling-up notices of men engaged in agriculture have been postponed till after the harvest, and whether this postponement applies to notices which have already been sent out, but where the men to whom the notices apply have not been posted?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; that to the latter is in the negative. I understand that men who have already received their calling-up notices must obey them.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the date of issuing the calling-up notice, in order that men may be posted by 30th June, has already expired in cases where the war agricultural committees have done their best to get their required quota by the desired time, and that in those cases no advantage will be given to agriculture by this so-called concession?

The reply that I have given was given after consultation with the Minister of National Service.

Will the hon. Gentleman postpone altogether the calling-up of agricultural men, in view of the fact that we were officially informed by the Government that there were not sufficient men over here to supply the deficiency?

That is a qustion which must be addressed to the Minister of National Service.

Has the hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the statement in the Press yesterday that the Cardigan farmers are handing back their calling-up notices as the result of meetings held throughout the county, and—

The hon. Member had better give notice of that question:

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has any information showing that tribunals have improperly protected men because their fathers are friends of members of those tribunals and are improperly exempting them; and, if so, whether he proposes to hold any inquiry with a view to the dissolution and reconstitution of such tribunals under the powers contained in the Military Service (No. 2) Act, 1918?

My right hon. Friend is not in possession of any such information.

Has the hon. Gentleman read the speech of the Director of National Service?

Yes; I have read that speech, but it has nothing to do with this answer.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. George Ames, of Elham. Kent; if this woman's husband, a builder with a small one-man business, died since the beginning of the War, leaving her a widow with a family of fourteen children; that her three eldest sons joined the Army by voluntary enlistment, of whom one has been killed and one wounded; that after the father's death the business was kept alive by the fourth son who was under military age until August of last year, when he became of military age; that this fourth son was then exempted from service, in view of the circumstances of his family, but has now been called up owing to the tribunal having no power to continue the exemption under the present rules; and whether, having regard to the military record of the family and the circumstances of the case, he will discharge one of the sons from the Army to enable him to carry on the business for the support of the family or, at all events, will grant him sufficient leave to enable him to make arrangements for the disposal of the business?

This case has already been carefully considered, but in view of the present urgent need for men, I very much regret that it is not possible to take the action suggested.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the chairman of the tribunal and another member of it, a Member of this House, stated that they would have granted an exemption if it had been in their power to do so, and that they had expressed a wish that one of the other sons might be temporarily released to look after the business?

No; I was not aware of it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman comb out some of the A1 men in the Government Departments?

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether an Order in Council has yet been made under Clause 4, Sub-section (6), of the Military Service (No. 2) Act, 1918; and, if not, will he say when such Order will be made?

Yes, Sir; the Order in Council was made on Tuesday last.

Will an opportunity be afforded to the House for discussing the Order?

That is a matter purely for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, but personally I should be glad if the arrangement were made.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether instructions have been given to tribunals and directors of National Service not to order or call up for service with the Colours members of the Volunteer Force who have volunteered for service in special service companies, and that the position of these men as regards exemption and right of appeal will not be prejudiced by reason of such special service; and what is the position of a man who has volunteered for special service and has subsequently received a calling-up notice or been refused a further period of exemption by a tribunal?

Public announcements have been made to the effect that exempted men, thirty-five years of age or over and in Grade 2, who volunteer for service in special service companies, are not to be prejudiced as regards their tribunal position, and detailed formal instructions are in preparation. There was, however, no intention to exempt from ordinary military service men already liable to be called up before being actually embodied for the Special Volunteer Service. As certain men's offers for special service have now been accepted instructions have been issued that a calling-up notice issued on or after the 25th instant to a man in Grade 2, thirty-five years of age or over, accepted for Special Volunteer Service, is not to be enforced. A man to whom a calling up notice had been issued on or before the 24th instant must respond to that notice, although he may previously have offered himself for Special Volunteer Service.

asked the Home Secretary if he will introduce an Amendment to the law regulating the naturalisation of aliens to secure that every alien shall, on receiving his certificate of naturalisation, declare the name by which he will be known, and that it shall be a penal offence for him to use any other during his period of naturalisation?

I will bring the hon. Baronet's suggestion to the notice of my right hon. Friend on his return.

Will the Home Office consider the advisability of making it a criminal offence to change one's name in this country unless it is done by deed-poll?

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a list of all members in and employés of his Department who are of enemy origin or birth; and, in cases where their names have been changed, will he state their name at birth and also, if naturalised, the date upon which they were naturalised?

The hon. Member had given notice of questions in similar terms addressed to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, the Minister of National Service, the Minister of Pensions, the Postmaster-General, the President of the Local Government Board, and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping.

I can add nothing to the reply which my night hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to similar questions yesterday.

Will the hon. Gentleman devote the time he has saved in answering these questions collectively to considering the advisability of interning all Germans in this country?

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the policy of his Department to allow all naturalised Germans who have been ordered out of certain areas by the military and police because of their well-known pro-German leanings, conversation, and actions to take refuge in London, in the same way as is permitted to E. A. Meyer, ordered out of Westcliff-on-Sea by the police and military, who is now employed by Schiff and Company, Austrian stockbrokers in Throgmorton Street, and who daily goes in and out about his business there, getting all information from London city conversation; and, if not, will he say what he proposes to do in such cases?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given him by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on the 24th April and 1st, 13th and 15th May which dealt fully with this matter.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say why the Home Office have not taken the view of the Chief Constable, who takes a very serious view of the conduct of this man?

The Home Office have taken the Chief Constable's view.

Why is it that a man who is driven out as being undesirable in one place is allowed to go to the very centre of the City?

I will consult my right hon. Friend upon his return.

Will the Home Office give an undertaking not to give him Government employment?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that businesses which at the commencement of the War were carried on by naturalised Germans in close association with German subjects or German companies, and were wholly or mainly under the control of German subjects, cannot be wound up under the Trading With the Eenemy (Amendment) Act, 1916; and whether, having regard to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee of the Board of Trade, he will at once introduce legislation to amend that Act, so as to enable such businesses to be wound up?

I presume that the hon. and learned Member refers to cases where the outbreak of war had the effect of dissolving a partnership existing between partners in this country who are naturalised British subjects and partners in Germany. These cases have generally been dealt with by vesting the enemy interest in the custodian, in order that it may be realised by him. I am looking into the matter, with a view of deciding whether it is necessary to take further powers in such cases. I shall be glad to confer with the hon. and learned Member on the matter.

Would me right hon. Gentleman also look into the case where the only remaining partner is a naturalised German, who seems to carry on the business as if it were an English one?

We shall take that very wide view in making an investigation.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that the Committee in their Report referred to Ettlinger and Company, and recommended that further legislation should be passed in order to enable the Committee to deal with this case and cases of a similar character?

Yes; my attention has been called to that particular recommendation in the Committee's Report, and I think answers have been given in the House bearing upon it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman avoid consulting the Home Office if he wants to get any results?

Do I understand legislation will be introduced to give effect to the unanimous recommendations of the Committee?

May I be excused from giving a definite answer without consulting my right hon. Friend?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House an early opportunity of discussing this question?

asked the Undersecretary of State to the Air Ministry whether any persons associated with the control of the Royal Air Force and of its equipment have any financial interest in companies supplying machines or material for their construction: and, if so, will he give the names of these persons and state the positions they hold?

The only person in the Air Ministry to whom the hon. Member's question applies is the Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force, and as regards the position of my right hon. Friend, I would refer to the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 16th of November, 1917, which still holds good. Control of supply of equipment for the Royal Air Force is a matter in which the Ministry of Munitions is largely concerned, and the statement already mentioned deals with the position of the Ministry in this matter.

asked the Undersecretary of State to the Air Ministry how many officers and men of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force have been killed by accident in this country during the past six months; and whether at the coroners' inquests that have been held in connection with these accidents expert evidence has been given as to their cause?

It it not in the public interest to give the figures asked for in the first part of the question. As regards the second part of the question, a Court of Inquiry by senior officers as to the cause of any accident is immediately held, and these officers give evidence at the coroner's inquest. In any case where it appears possible that the construction of the aeroplane was at fault a further inquiry is made by a special accidents committee responsible directly to the Air Ministry.

Why is it that the figures asked for in this question have been given on previous occasions and now cannot be given? Is it because there has been a great increase in the number of accidents?

I am not aware on what occasion those figures were given. I am quite prepared to tell the hon. Gentleman in private why they cannot be given. Indeed, there was an answer to a question not put explaining that these figures would be misleading unless they were accompanied by the statement of the number of pilots under instruction and training, and it is impossible in the public interest to give that information, for the simple fact that the Germans do not give us that information.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman, at any rate, bear in mind the concern that is felt about the large number of accidents that are taking place?

I am informed that is so, but if the hon. Member attended the meeting addressed by the Secretary of State upstairs he will recollect that my right hon. Friend went very fully into this question, and, in view of the additional circumstances to which I have referred, there is no justification for alarm on the ground that there is an undue number of accidents.

Is it not a fact that the great proportion of accidents have happened in machines Known as the R.E.8?

Oh, no; certainly not.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman give any assurance—

We had better pass on. There are over 100 questions to-day.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his Department has in contemplation granting an extra ration of food to the girls of the nation between thirteen and seventeen years of age in the same way as it has been granted to boys; and, if not, will he say the reason of this, in view of the necessity of preserving the health and strength of the future mothers of the race?

Yes, Sir. I am consulting my advisers on this matter.

asked whether any provision has been made for the full representation of co-operative societies on county central food committees?

The original instructions issued to local authorities by the Food Controller asked them to consider the desirability of appointing representatives of the co-operative movement as members of the food control committees in their areas, and I understand that such appointments have been generally made. I shall be glad if the hon. and gallant Member will inform me of any instance in which further representation appears to be required.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that certain food production committees in Scotland are remitting to one of their number to decide whether there shall be permitted or otherwise all appeals of agricultural workers between eighteen and twenty-three; who, therefore, has the final say, after a certain point, as to whether these men shall serve or not; and, if so, will he say whether this mode of action has the sanction of his Department?

For the purpose of considering whether applications on occupational grounds lodged by agricultural workers under the Proclamation of the 20th April should be certified by the Board of Agriculture, the Board, acting with my approval, asked each district agricultural executive committee to appoint a member or officer to act as the Board's local representative in the matter. The Committees were also asked to arrange for obtaining the services, where necessary, of any other members of the committee to assist the Board's representative with their local knowledge in considering any given case or set of cases. In cases where, after discussion with the representative of the National Service Department, there was disagreement as to whether certification of the application was justified, reference was made to Edinburgh for discussion between the Board and the Director of National Service and for final decision of the point. The work is now complete.

asked whether national kitchens have any advantage over caterers for working-class consumers in respect of finance, rent, rates, taxes, and supplies of provisions?

The only advantage that the national kitchens have over caterers for working-class consumers is that advances are made from Imperial funds to local authorities in respect of the full capital outlay on approved schemes. These advances are free of interest, but the capital is repayable in ten equal yearly instalments.

asked whether any large firms of caterers for the working classes with establishments in all parts of London have offered to place these establishments, without profit, at the disposal of the Department for use as national kitchens, with their experienced staffs, thus avoiding the need of costly new premises and of engaging large staffs of inexperienced persons who would have been available for other work of national importance?

A deputation of catering firms recently put forward the suggestion that their establishments should be utilised as national kitchens, and they have been requested to submit definite proposals for consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if, under the recent Order with reference to fruit prices, no restrictions are imposed as to the price for sale by retail of 5lbs. of fruit or less; whether local food committees have power to prosecute food retailers who make excessive charges in cases in which food prices are not controlled; and, if they have no such power, will the Department consider the question of conferring upon the committees authority to prosecute in cases in which extortionate prices are sought to be charged?

The answer to the first part of the question is that no such restrictions are imposed except in the case of strawberries, for which a maximum retail price of 9d. per lb. has been fixed. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The answer to the last part of the question is that the Food Controller is constantly considering whether it is in the public interest that the price of any particular foodstuffs should be fixed. He does not, however, consider that it would be practicable to conifer on food committees the indefinite powers suggested in the last part of the question.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the local food committees are, at all events, capable of judging the best steps to be taken, and, under the circumstances, does he not think such authorities might reasonably be left in the hands of the local committees?

Well, as I have already said, we do not think that the authorities should have the indefinite powers suggested, but we do seek their judgment, and in collecting that judgment try to arrange that the decisions shall be uniform so as to cover all local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether any steps have been taken to secure roadmen for harvest work?

The Road Board have been approached for the assistance of roadmen on farms during harvest. The Ministry of National Service are also bringing to the notice of all local authorities the urgent need for men to assist with the ingathering of the crops, and requesting them to release as many of their employés as possible for harvest work.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that this question is hurried up, as time presses?

I will.