asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the increase in the rate of the Excess Profits Duty to 80 per cent. may, in certain cases where the trading results in the later years have shown a marked improvement, result in the four years' accounting to date make a taxpayer liable on balance to make a net payment of Excess Profits Duty, although as a matter of fact he has on balance made no excess income whatever during the four years in question; and whether, in these circumstances, he will introduce legislation, as he did in the case of Excess Mineral Profits Duty, or take administrative action resulting in limiting the liability of the taxpayer under the Excess Profits Duty to pay only on the total excess income actually earned during the whole period under review, without prejudicing the right of the Government to a complete final reckoning when the Excess Profits Duty comes to an end?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave on the 4th and 25th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Everton. I am sending him copies.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the case of an increased war bonus for women clerks in the Civil Service, especially second-class female clerks, has been considered; and, if so, whether he can state what action he proposes to take?

A claim for an increased war bonus on behalf of these women clerks has recently been heard by the Conciliation and Arbitration Board, and an award is expected at an early date.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury to what extent and in what particulars are local war pension committees empowered to act in assisting soldiers' wives, with or without children, and parents who, on account of non-pre-war dependence, now find themselves in need?

Local war pension committees are given large powers, under the Regulations (Part II.) of the Special Grants Committee, to issue supplementary and special separation allowances and grants to soldiers' wives and to parents who are in need, and I am sending my hon. Friend a memorandum containing a short summary of these Regulations, in the hope that it will afford him the information he desires.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a resolution passed by the St. Patrick's Division of the United Irish League requesting the hastening of the connection of Irish coal mines with main railway lines and asking him to take measures to secure adequate supplies of fuel for Dublin city; and what arrangements have been made, or are intended, to supply coal and turf, especially for the poor?

The resolution referred to has been received. The connection between the Great Southern and Western Railway and the Wolfhill Colliery is nearing completion. The construction of a railway connecting the Castlecomer Colliery with the same railway has been taken in hand. The question of the further development of the Arigna mining field is under consideration. The supply of coal for Ireland has been necessarily reduced owing to the reduced output from the mines in Great Britain and the demands for coal of the Allied countries. But I am informed that fair supplies have been coming into Ireland, and that the whole question of its allocation is receiving special attention from the Departments concerned. For some time past special steps have been taken to bring before all concerned in Ireland the importance of using turf as a substitute for coal. It is believed that much more turf is now being cut than heretofore.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that time-expired discharged soldiers, with the necessary qualifications, who join the Navy or Royal Marines on being recalled to the Colours under the Military Service Act are denied the war bounty granted under Army Order No. 209, of 1916, to men who rejoin the Army under similar circumstances; and whether he will consider the issue of a Regulation placing the Navy on the same footing as the Army in respect to the war bounties?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes." As regards the second, we have not found it necessary to offer the bounty indicated in order to maintain the requirements of the naval service. Neither do we think, in view of the difference in the conditions of service, pay, and so on, of the two forces, that it can be admitted that particular payments in one must necessarily have their counterpart in the other.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office to whom children's allowances are paid when an officer is reported missing?

The allowances are credited to an officer's account in the same way as his pay. The actual disposal depends upon the instructions left by the officer with his agents.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will consider the cases of National Reservists who were not able to sign, through no fault of their own, the obligation card for service overseas before 11th August, 1914, and have consequently been denied the £10 bounty, even though they offered their services at the first possible opportunity when the War broke out, and have actually served overseas?

The National Reserve gratuity was issuable on enlistment in respect of the fulfilment of the obligation undertaken by National Reservists (Class I. and II.) during peace. It was exceptionally extended to cover the cases of men who signed the obligation before 11th August, 1914, but I fear we cannot at this date reverse the instructions issued on 10th August, 1914, that men signing after that date would not be eligible for the gratuity.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the nature of the difficulties which make it impracticable to furnish a Return of the time and tonnage lost by reason of ships lying in harbour laden or partly laden, ships making passages only partly laden, ships making one port and having to discharge at another port, and delay in discharging or loading of ships?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies given to similar questions on the 8th and 16th May, in which I thought I had made it clear that the preparation of such a Return is considered impracticable on the ground that it would involve a vast amount of labour without serving any useful administrative purpose.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a man over forty-one years of age who enlisted on the 27th December, 1916, in the road construction company for service overseas and has received pay at the rate of 3s. a day, with the usual family allowances, is entitled to 6d. per day extra under the new Warrant of 29th September, 1917, or whether he is deemed to be a specially enlisted man within the meaning of the Act; and if such a man is entitled to 1d. per day for each year's service as war pay?

The man referred to is in receipt of a special rate of pay, and is, consequently, ineligible for any increase of pay under the Royal Warrant of 4th December, 1917, including war pay.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware of the lack of institutional accommodation for discharged men needing treatment; that in the West Riding alone there are some 792 men who are unable to obtain treatment owing to lack of accommodation; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs?

I am aware that there is still in some parts of the country a lack of accommodation for the treatment of discharged men, and various measures to meet the need are being taken. The reports from the local war pensions committee, which are in substantal accord with the figures quoted by the hon. and gallant Member, show that the deficiency in the West Riding area is more marked than in other parts of the country, and I am having a special investigation made with regard to it.

asked the Home Secretary whether interned enemies at Hackney who are working in various factories are allowed to go free one Saturday a month?

The interned enemies referred to do not work in various factories, but are employed on skilled work in the internment camp. There is a system under which leave can be earned by good conduct and industry, and a man may be allowed out for a few hours once in every two and a half to three months. If the hon. and gallant Member knows of a case in which leave has been granted at shorter intervals, it must have been due to exceptional circumstances.

asked the Home Secretary whether a British citizen may ascertain from the police if a man or woman suspected to be an enemy alien or a naturalised alien is such; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of such information being supplied in defence of the realm?

The police are authorised to inform inquirers who show good reason for their inquiry whether or not a particular individual is registered as an alien or an alien enemy. As regards aliens who have been naturalised as British subjects, their names can be obtained from the published lists of naturalised British subjects.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received a copy of the resolution passed by the London Insurance Committee in June making certain stipulations as to the practicability of a comprehensive scheme for the treatment of tuberculosis in London; and whether he has summoned a conference of representatives of the committee to meet those of the county council?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. The conference was held this morning.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that a certain big firm in Leeds advertised in the newspapers that they were prepared to pay all return fares of the country customers attending their sale, which commenced last Monday week; and whether he will take steps to prevent such an incentive to increased railway travelling?

I am not aware of the circumstances of the case referred to, but it would hardly appear to be one in which the Board of Trade could intervene.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a resolution passed by the St. Patrick's Division Urban District Council protesting against any further delay in renewing the mails contract to the City of Dublin Steamship Company; and what are the intentions of the Government?

I cannot trace receipt of the resolution in question. I can make no statement other than that negotiations with the company are still proceeding.