asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Treasury has not replied to the offer of 27th April of the Conciliation Arbitration Board to hear the claim of the Federation of Women Civil Servants for increased pay; and why it is proposed to introduce a new grade of women clerks at a salary of £140–£180 a year when there are 900 skilled second-class clerks stationary at £110 and 200 first-class clerks stationary at £140?

I would refer the hon. Member, as regards the first part of the question, to my answer to the hon. Member for Barrow on the 19th ultimo; and as regards the second part, to my answer to the right hon. Member for South Islington on the 20th ultimo.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has received a resolution from the Munster Corn Millers' Association regarding the want of maize in Ireland; whether he is aware that the Irish pig buyers passed a strong protest against the denial of adequate supplies; and whether, in view of the food production enabled by maize imports, he will endeavour to meet these demands?

The resolution from the Munster Corn Millers' Association, together with others of a similar nature, has been received. Every effort is made to make good the deficiencies of imported maize for the country as a whole. These deficiencies have been caused by the necessity, shared with our Allies, of importing breadstuffs in priority to grain for feeding stock, and it has only been possible to release for the latter purpose limited quantities of maize which are unsuitable as diluent in the loaf. It is hoped that some further release of maize for animal feeding may be made, but the quantities available during the remainder of the cereal year ending 31st August will be relatively small.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that the Belfast and North of Ireland Grocers' Association desire to put a quantity of butter into cold storage for use next winter, when the commodity will be scarce; if they inquired from the Irish Food Control Committee if they would be allowed to increase slightly the regulation profit of 2½d. per lb. to cover the cost of storage and minor incidental charges; if the Committee declined to give any assurance on the point; and if, seeing that the butter is intended to be supplied to the poorer classes in Belfast, he will have the question reconsidered?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Food Control Committee for Ireland has at present under consideration the measures necessary to secure an adequate supply of Irish butter for Ireland during the winter months, including the question of cold storage. The arrangements have not yet been completed, but the hon. Member may rest assured that care will be taken to safeguard the interests of all classes of consumers in Ireland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the local food committees have authority to dispense with, or modify, Orders as to rationing in the case of invalids; if so, would this extend to persons suffering from rheumatoid arthritis who were ordered special diet by their medical attendant; and, if so, whether he will make inquiries into the circumstances under which the Lewisham Food Committee declined to sanction any modification of the food rations in the case of a lady who suffers from this complaint and refused to furnish a form of certificate to be filled in by her medical advised?

Food control committees are empowered to grant extra rations to invalids in the case of certain specified diseases only. Rheumatoid arthritis is not one of these. They are also empowered in any exceptional case of disease, in which they are of opinion that a special allowance of meat or butter should be granted, to forward the application to the Ministry of Food for the consideration of the medical adviser. From the details given in the question it would not appear that the Lewisham committee have in any way exceeded their powers, but if the hon. Member will send me particulars of the case to which he refers I will have further inquiries made into it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that some members of the Labour Companies at the front who volunteered for the work have now been in France for nearly four years, he will consider the possibility of bringing home these men for Army work at home, and substituting them by others who have not yet crossed the Channel?

Arrangements already exist for the return to England of men who have become war worn through long service overseas, provided that such a course is considered desirable by the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, and that their places can be adequately filled.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he is aware that the Army Service Corps Labour Companies are not in receipt of the award of 6d. per day, which is still being deducted from their pay for compulsory allotment, although paid to other units, neither are they being paid the extra 1d. per day for each year's completed service; and why a distinction is made between Labour Companies and other units serving in France and elsewhere?

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the men of the Army Service Corps Labour Companies, who are in receipt of a special rate of pay. Such men are ineligible for the increases granted by Army Order No. 1 of 1918. They may, however, elect to draw ordinary rates of pay and the benefits of the Army Order, if these are more advantageous than their present special rates.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether, in view of the objections raised to recruiting medical men between fifty and fifty-five years of age and the allegations that medical men with the Army in France are insufficiently occupied, he has now further considered the desirability of making public the Report of the Committee which recently investigated the employment of medical men with the Army in France, and with what result?

There is no evidence that medical men in France are insufficiently occupied. It is not intended to publish the Report of the Committee.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether a battalion of the Leicester Regiment is being formed composed entirely of men who have been in overseas service and who, because of wounds or sickness, have been placed in home service grades; whether men are being taken from this battalion and are being sent to Aldershot preparatory to being sent into combatant service abroad; and whether he will reconsider this policy?

I cannot answer the first two parts of the question. With regard to the last part, the policy of the Army Council is to take every reasonable precaution to ensure that men will be utilised on duties for which they are fitted.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the Army has any further claim upon a soldier who has fought in the present War, been for three years a prisoner in Germany, but is now repatriated?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to questions on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester on the 31st October last and by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for the Bassetlaw Division on the 16th November last.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will consider advising His Majesty the King to grant a free pardon to all deserters from the Army and Navy, conditional that in such cases those fitted by age and fitness shall at once rejoin His Majesty's Forces, the others to take up some form of national service?

In August, 1914, His Majesty was pleased to approve of pardons being granted to deserters who surrendered before the 4th September, 1914, at home or the 4th October, 1914, if abroad. Desertion in war-time, however, is such a serious offence that I am afraid I could not be responsible for the adoption of the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he will have immediate attention given to the way in which the men of the 6th Manchester Regiment, Cowshott Camp, Brookwood, Surrey, recently transferred from the East Lancashire Regiment, and who are B2 and B3 men, are being passed by the medical officer, the men being simply marched past the medical officer in fours and passed then as fit; and will he see that all these men are given a thorough examination before being graded?

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley on Tuesday last, I am making inquiries into this matter. I regret that these inquiries are not yet complete, but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Service how many appeals have been made on the ground of wrong grading as to medical fitness for military service at the West Hiding of Yorkshire Appeal Court; and how many of such appeals have been granted?

The necessary information regarding the West Riding Appeal Tribunal is not available, but the following are the figures in respect of all Appeal Tribunals in the Yorkshire Region during the period 9th March, 1918 to. 29th June, 1918, inclusive: Number of applications made to an Appeal Tribunal in the Yorkshire Region for re-examination by the medical assessors, 1,472, of which 252 cases have not yet been heard. Number of appeals allowed, 283. It is not known in how many of these "appeals allowed" the medical assessors have altered the grading.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War on what ground Edward Gregson, of 12, Moor Street, Kirkham, aged forty-two, a married man, was arrested on 26th June as an absentee and sent to Whitchurch; whether he is aware that this man had already once been medically examined in September, 1916, and was subsequently called up for re-examination at the Guildhall Street, Preston, recruiting centre on 15th June of this year, and was passed Grade 3; that he entered an appeal against his being called to the Colours on 26th June; that on 23rd June he received a letter saying that as he had been an absentee since 31st December, 1917, his appeal was invalid; that on 24th June he presented himself at the recruiting office, Preston, and having explained the circumstances was permitted to become a munition worker at Dick Kerr and Company's works in that town, and began to work there; that on 26th June he was arrested by the military and not allowed to return home; and whether, in view of the above and the fact that absentees are not called up for re-examination, he will at once direct that the man be released from the Army, into which he was illegally drafted?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I was not aware of the circumstances of the case to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. Inquiries are being made, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been called to the case of Finlay Mackenzie, of Durnamuck, Dundonnell, Ullapool, the youngest of a family of six sons, five of whom voluntarily enlisted, and who is in charge of 20 acres of arable and 408 of hill pasture; whether he is aware that this man has been called up, and that in consequence the farm must be neglected or pass into other hands; and whether he will consider this case before taking final action?

Inquiries are being made, and I will inform the hon. Member in due course of the result.

asked the Minister of National Service whether, in calling up men between the ages of forty-one and fifty, any consideration has been given to men who have one or more sons fighting as compared with those whose sons, if any, are engaged on home work, either as engineers, shipbuilders, munition workers, or otherwise?

It is the duty of the tribunals to grant exemption on such personal grounds as they may think appropriate, and the decision rests entirely with those bodies. The Ministry of National Service has no control over such decisions.

asked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been called to the number of young men at work in the various powder manufacturing works throughout the country, and particularly in Scotland, and to the fact that men between forty-one and fifty years of age are now being taken for active service, in some cases men with large families of young children, from the neighbourhoods where these factories exist; and has any action been taken by his Department to substitute such older men in the factories for the younger ones?

As the hon. Member is aware, the release from military service of men employed in powder factories is regulated under the Schedule of Protected Occupations by the Department responsible for production—in this case the Ministry of Munitions. I am informed by the Ministry of Munitions that in no circumstances is a man of military age and fitness protected in a powder factory unless he is exceptionally qualified by skill and experience. In cordite factories the percentage of such men is extremely small, most of the work being done by women. In black powder factories the percentage of skilled hands required is far higher, but the total number of hands is very small.

asked the Minister of National Service whether members of the fire brigades being Grade 2, over thirty-five, and whose continued services to their brigades are considered essential, will jeopardise their present position by enrolling for national service under the new scheme pending the decision of the Ministry and the Home Office as to whether such men are to be exempted from military or other war service whilst they continue to be essential members of their fire brigades?

The men employed in fire brigades are already doing work of national importance. This fact is fully recognised in all the arrangements of the Ministry of National Service, and the enrolment of such men under the scheme mentioned in the question is not contemplated. Enrolments under the War Work Volunteer scheme are not accepted from men actually in employment in public utility undertakings, such as public fire brigades. I would also refer the hon. Member to my reply to-day to the hon. Member for Southwark.

asked the Minister of National Service if he will give the names of the Committee appointed to inquire into the staffing of Government offices in Scotland in respect of men of military age?

I shall be glad to give to my hon. and gallant Friend the information he requires when the gentlemen who have been invited to sit on this Committee have signified whether they are able to accept.

asked the Minister of National Service how many men have been returned from the Army to the shipbuilding and engineering trades since 1st January, 1918; and how many men have been enlisted into the Army from the shipbuilding and engineering trades since that date?

During the first half of this year approximately 12,000 men have been released from the Army for work in shipyards. It would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for in the second part of the question, but the hon. Member may rest assured that steps have been taken to give adequate protection to men engaged on essential work in the shipbuilding industry.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he is aware that before the passing of the Military Service Act, 1918, applicants for exemption could apply to the local tribunals and county tribunal in Birmingham for exemption on medical grounds stated as ground (e) on the application form, and be legally represented at the hearing, and that such local tribunals and county tribunal frequently directed or requested a medical re-examination after having heard a full statement by legal representatives; whether he is aware that the refusal of the county tribunal in Birmingham has prevented the claims of applicants on ground (e) being urged by legal representatives, seeing that the local tribunal has held that they cannot consider ground (e) and are bound by the grade card, and that the county tribunal has decided in nearly every case not to hear such legal representatives; will he say how many cases have been heard by the county tribunal in Birmingham in regard to medical re-examinations; how many applications have been refused leave to go before the medical assessors; and in how many cases has the county tribunal in Birmingham permitted legal representatives to conduct the case of the applicant for medical re-examination; and what action he proposes to take?

It is necessary to distinguish between application for exemption on the ground of ill-health (ground e) and applications to the Appeal Tribunal against the grading by a National Service medical board and for examination by the medical assessors. In the former case the man may be legally represented, both at a local and at the Appeal Tribunal, and no change has taken place in this respect. In the latter case, where the appeal is against the grading of the National Service medical board, and for examination by the medical assessors there has never been any absolute right to be legally represented, and the position is as stated by me in my reply of the 20th ultimo to the hon. Baronet. No change has been made in this respect. Up to the 25th May 19 per cent. of the applications for examination by the medical assessors was allowed. I have no information respecting the number of cases in which legal representatives have been allowed.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the fact that special constables of the new military age who have performed their duties satisfactorily are exempted under certain conditions from military service; and whether he will extend the same privilege to special constables of similar service in Glasgow and other large Scottish towns?

The answer to the first part of the question, which I presumer refers to the arrangements in London, is in the affirmative. In regard to special constables in Scotland, I am in communication with the Ministry of National Service, but, as indicated in the reply given on the 1st instant by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Bristol, the arrangements made in London are of a special character.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he can yet give any assurance that all dental examinations in the Army will in future be carried out by dental officers?

Yes, Sir; arrangements are in progress with this object in view.

asked the Lender-Secretary of State for War whether all men employed in remount camps in Ireland are paid from the War Office Vote; and if he will consider the granting of some distinguishing badge to those men who are now working in civilian clothes in remount camps in Ireland in order to recognise the fact that they are actually performing useful military service?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. If the military authorities in Ireland are of opinion that a special badge for these employés is necessary the matter will, no doubt, be represented to the War Office, when it will be sympathetically considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Von Tirpitz is still a prisoner in this country; if he is not, why he was repatriated and on what date; and between what dates was he in this country and where he was interned during that period?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Von Tirpitz was released for internment in Holland on the 9th January last, in strict conformity with the Hague Agreement of 1917. He was captured in the North Sea on the 28th August, 1914, and was interned in the prisoner-of-war camp at Redford on the 30th August. In September of that year he was transferred to the camp at Dyffryn Aled, where he remained until December last, when he was removed to Kegworth.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether German officers who are prisoners of war in this country have also had their ration of meat reduced to 4 ozs. on three days a week, and, if not, what is the quantity granted to them; and how much is allowed to English officers who are prisoners in Germany?

Officer prisoners of war in this country do not draw rations, but are allowed to purchase foodstuffs within certain limits which have been fixed by the War Office, with the approval of the Ministry of Food. The amount of meat purchased weekly must not exceed 16 ozs. of fresh meat (including bone) and 4 ozs. of preserved meat. As regards British officer prisoners of war in Germany, I regret that there is no detailed information, but I fear that, as in the case of the men, the food conditions leave much to be desired.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the attitude of the military authorities towards the Royal Regiment of Artillery in relation to appointments of officers holding commissions in the regiment on divisional, corps, and Army staffs, and to divisional, corps, and Army commands; and if he will make any statement?

I do not think that officers of the Royal Artillery have, as a general rule, been neglected in this respect. My military advisers are agreed that they have in the past received a very fair share of such appointments, and the position at the present time is improving considerably. I do not think that Artillery officers will have any real grievance in this respect in the future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Gunner H, E. Hohedge, No. 20763, who joined the Royal Field Artillery in May, 1915, has seen service in France, India, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, has now been sent back to France and has had no leave since originally going overseas; and, if so, whether, considering that his mother is dangerously ill, instructions may be given for him to be sent home on leave immediately, in order that he may have an opportunity of visiting her?

I am writing to my hon. and gallant Friend regarding this case.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he will give instructions, as leave from the French Front appears to be merely a matter of transport accommodation, that unnecessary kit, which now takes up so much room, be left behind at the base to be picked up by the men on return?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on the 18th October last to the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin, to which I would add that a soldier is only permitted to bring necessary kit with him when coming on leave.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War why so many regimental officers and men in France are still unable to have leave at least once in six months; and will he state the average number of months in which regimental officers and men have served in France without leave during the past twelve months?

As I have stated in reply to several questions on this subject recently, owing to the present military situation on the Western Front the grant of leave to officers and men serving in France is very much restricted. I have no information which would enable me to answer the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, and I do not think I should be justified in asking the military authorities in France to furnish me with such a return at the present time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the total weekly pay of married soldiers in the London area living at home with their families under the consolidated or family allowance system, including pay, family allowance, and London area allowance, is 35s. 8d., or with one child 41s. 8d.; if the corresponding amounts in the case of a soldier on the separation allowance system of payments are 42s. 3d. and 49s. 3d. respectively; and, if this difference does exist, whether the War Office will at once take steps to level up the pay of men receiving consolidated allowances at least to that of soldiers paid the separation allowance rates, having regard to the inadequacy of the weekly pay of 35s. 8d. to enable a soldier to reasonably maintain a home under the existing abnormal conditions?

I am sorry to say I am still unable to make any definite announcement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office on what date the stoppage of separation allowance to soldiers working on the land and living at home took effect; and whether any such allowances are still being paid?

The dates on which separation allowance or family allowance ceases to be paid are: 7th July in the case of wives, 8th July in the case of dependants, and 5th July for family allowance.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the War Office invariably makes a gross profit upon any, or all, leather released under its sanction for use in the making of civilian boots; and whether such gross profit, if any, is paid into the Treasury or, if not, in what manner is it disposed of?

The War Office aims at a small profit on all Government-owned leather which it sells for use in making of civilian boots. Any profit made accrues to the Exchequer. There is other leather, not Government property, of which the price is controlled, but on this no profit is made by the War Office.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether a school of art providing a course of general education combined with a more specialised course preparatory to further training for a specific trade will be deemed to satisfy the provision of Clause 10 of the Education Bill; and, if so, whether a school of art will be regarded as fulfilling the functions of a continuation school for providing a course of general and special education with an ultimate view to specific trades?

The relation of continuation schools to existing institutions for higher education is a matter to be dealt with by local education authorities in the scheme for higher education and for continuation schools to be submitted by them under Clauses 1 and 3 of the Bill. It would be premature to attempt any general statement as to the position which may be occupied by schools of art in such schemes, but I have no doubt that the possibility of such arrangements as are suggested in the question will receive careful consideration by the authorities.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the officers in His Majesty's prison service who are temporarily employed at other prisons owing to the War, when allowed leave to visit their homes, have the days which are absorbed in the journey to and from deducted from the leave allowed; if he will take steps to regulate their leave allowances so as not to include the time occupied in travelling to and from their homes; and if more adequate facilities can be given to keep them in touch with their homes?

Owing to the release of so many prison officers for Army service, the prison staff has been much depleted, and officers have been transferred to stations where their services were most required. The difficulty of finding housing accommodation has frequently prevented their wives and families from joining them, and in order to enable the officers to visit their families the authority of the Treasury was obtained for issuing a return railway warrant every two months. The time thus spent, including the time spent in travelling, is counted against their annual leave, but governors have been given a discretion to grant additional special leave where the exigencies of the service will permit.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what payments are made to the manufacturers of the salvarsan substitutes as supplied to local authorities; and from what funds are these payments made?

The payments made by local authorities to manufacturers for supplies of salvarsan substitutes are at the minimum rates prescribed by the licences issued by the Board of Trade, and are at the same rates as those charged to Government Departments for supplies of these preparations. The payments are made in the first instance from the funds of the local authorities, but 75 per cent. of their expenditure for this purpose is repaid by the Local Government Board

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it will be possible at an early date to release any carbide for acetylene gas-making for private consumers?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. In view of the improved position of supplies, arrangements are being made to release a limited quantity of carbide each month, as supplies permit. This will be available for the purpose of house lighting and will be obtainable next week.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether be has made, is making, or contemplates making, any arrangements for the importation into the United Kingdom of larger quantities of iron ore, of timber, of paper or paper-making materials, or of any of them?

The quantity of each of the articles mentioned which can be imported depends almost entirely on the amount of tonnage available. Every effort is being and will be made, both by importation and by home production, to secure adequate supplies of these commodities consistently with the supreme object of utilising tonnage and man-power to the best advantage for the purpose of the successful prosecution of the War.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the grievance on the part of the salaried Irish railway clerks re payment of overtime; whether he is aware that last August the Railway Executive, in agreement with the National Union of Railwaymen, changed the war bonus into a war wage for the calculation of payment of overtime, and that this was made applicable to railway clerks in Great Britain, and that shortly afterwards this arrangement was extended to Ireland, and from the 5th September, 1917, all men drawing weekly wages have been paid overtime at the rate of wages plus the war wage; whether he knows that this arrangement was not put into force for salaried railway clerks until 1st May, 1918, and that the arrears due have not been paid, though they amount in some cases to as much as £15 per man; and whether he will take steps to have this matter put right?

I am making inquiry into this matter, and will communicate further with the hon. Gentleman.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Perry and Company, Limited, are building contractors without experience in railway construction; whether he is aware that the plant necessary to the building of the Castle-comer Railway was not in their possession when the contract was given to them; from whom he obtained the information that they had previously inspected the route; and whether it is to be understood that Irish contractors will not be invited to put in tenders for Government work in Ireland?

My hon. Friend is, I believe, mistaken in thinking that Messrs. Perry and Company are without experience in railway construction. They have at the present moment a contract for railway extensions in England, and in consequence of the stoppage of that work owing to the War they have at their disposal plant available at once for the construction of the Castlecomer line. The information that a representative of Messrs. Perry had inspected the location of the proposed line was obtained from the engineer who visited the spot on behalf of the Board of Trade, and was accompanied by Messrs. Perry's representative. The hon. Gentleman should not adopt the view suggested in the last sentence of his question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the interest in the proposals of the Committee on the Relations of Employers and Employed, he will publish a Return of industries in which joint councils have actually been set up, showing the names and addresses of the secretaries of these councils and the names of the organisations represented, together with a list of industries in which negotiations are at present proceeding for the formation of joint standing industrial councils?

It is proposed to publish from time to time the information to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I am sending him the names and addresses of the secretaries of the joint standing industrial councils which have been established for the pottery, building, heavy chemicals, gold, silver, and kindred trades, rubber and silk industries, together with the list showing the organisations represented on these councils. In regard to the concluding portion of his question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe, which contains the desired information.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can state what progress has been made in the formation of joint industrial councils on the lines of the Whitley Report?

Two joint industrial councils for the pottery and building industries, respectively, have already held their first meetings. Joint industrial councils have also been constituted for the heavy chemicals, gold, silver, and kindred trades, rubber and silk industries, and the first meetings of these councils will be held during July. As a result of conferences, called as a rule by the Minister, considerable progress has been made in the following eight industries: Baking, cable making, commercial road transport, electrical contracting, furniture manufacture, leather goods and belting, matches, and vehicle building. Provisional committees have been appointed, and have drafted constitutions which have been sent out to the various associations concerned for their approval. A constitution for the printing industry has been drafted, but not yet sent out to the associations concerned for approval. As soon as the constitutions have been approved by the various associations, the first meetings of the councils will be arranged. In the case of the following five industries, conferences have already taken place, and have approved of the drafting of constitutions: Bobbin manufacture, boot and shoe manufacture, electricity (power and supply), roller engraving, and woollen and worsted. In the case of some twenty other industries, the associations concerned are giving careful considerations to the question of the formation of a joint industrial council, and in some of them arrangements have been made for summoning joint conferences.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, if, in virtue of the commission allowed by his Department to approved societies for working the National Health Insurance, he has any reserve power to insist that the agents so employed by these societies receive some consideration to meet the higher cost of living arising out of the war conditions now prevailing?

I have been asked to reply to this question. From his reference to "agents" it is presumed that the hon. Member's question refers not to approved societies generally, but to those which are administering national health insurance as separate sections established by certain industrial assurance companies for the purpose under Section 23 of the Act of 1911. In these cases the remuneration of the individuals referred to rests with the company; my hon. Friend's Department has not the power suggested in the question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Congested Districts Board has suggested a conference between representatives of that Board and the Treasury to discuss the drafting of a pension scheme for the Board's staff?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary how many petitions he has received from ex-Warder Milman for restoration to his former rank; was Milman reduced for the offence with which he was charged; was his reduction due to evidence secretly brought against him; was the second volume of evidence, consisting of written statements of other officers, amended or revised by the governor of the prison; has Milman been ordered to present no more petitions for reinstatement; whether officers are allowed as a matter of course to see all evidence brought against them; and will he state the offence with which Milman was charged?

Civil Guard Milman was charged with entering a prisoner's cell and giving him a quantity of tea to which he was not entitled. I am informed that this is considered a serious prison offence, pointing to some improper purpose. Milman was charged in writing with the offence, and was called upon for his reply. There is no truth in the suggestion that the statements of officers were amended or revised by the governor. Milman denied the offence, but admitted that he entered the prisoner's cell. The case was proved, and he was reduced from the rank of warder. Four petitions have been received from him for restoration to his former rank, and he has been told to present no more petitions.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it can be arranged that the postmen delivering letters in Dublin City can have their off-time in one period, so as to avoid split duties, which necessitate a long day's attendance?

A certain proportion of split duties for postmen is necessary generally in order to adjust the attendances to the work and to avoid waste of force. I cannot make any exception at Dublin to the general rule, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with the details of any attendances which he regards as unduly onerous, I will see if it is possible to improve them.