asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have any means of enforcing the arrangement or agreement with China for the abolition of the trade in Indian opium; and will be explain what is the constitution and what are the functions of the Opium Combine?

The trade in Indian opium with China ceased with the expiration, on the 31st December last, of the agreement relating to opium concluded between the United Kingdom and China on the 8th May, 1911. His Majesty's Government would, of course, take all possible means to prevent the resumption of the opium trade between. British India and China should any attempt be made to revive it.

I have no precise information as to the firms and individuals constituting the opium combine, but I understand that it is a private and unofficial syndicate or association of merchant importers of opium at Shanghai. So far as I am aware, the functions of the combine are to regulate the price of the stocks of Indian opium in bond and generally to protect the interests of the members of the association.

Is it not the case that what has happened points to the general weakness of the policy pursued in regard to it? Is it likely that it can be carried out?

I understand—although it is a subject with which I have no great intimacy—that there is every hope that the trade between India and China is finally severed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the only jute mills on the Continent of Europe are in Germany, so that jute is useless to Spain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland except for sale to Germany; whether any harm to the legitimate trade of these countries can result from declaring jute to be contraband of war; and whether, in view of its importance as a factor in war making and of the fact that the Government of India nevertheless permitted its export to Italy, steps will be taken to formally and immediately declare it contraband of war?

According to my information there are jute mills or other means of utilising raw jute in all the neutral countries mentioned and also in Norway. His Majesty's Government have, and exercise, complete control over all exports of jute to neutral countries, so that to declare jute contraband of war would add nothing to the means at our disposal for preventing its reaching enemy countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the present position on the Murman Coast?

I cannot with advantage make any statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps the Government are taking to expedite the carrying out of the agreement for the exchange of English and Turkish prisoners of war concluded at Berne in September last?

As I stated on June 24th, we have endeavoured to hasten the execution of this Agreement by making representations through the Netherlands Minister at Constantinople, the Spanish Ambassador at Vienna, and the British delegates at The Hague Conference. I should be extremely grateful if my hon. and gallant Friend could suggest to me in private anything more that could be done. I may add that the Agreement was concluded not in September, but on the 28th December.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether, considering the mortality amongst British and Indian prisoners of war in Turkey and the difficulty in securing delivery in Turkey of food and clothing for our prisoners there, the Government will take steps, through the proper channels, to urge upon the Ottoman Government to enter into negotiations without further delay for the general exchange of prisoners, if possible upon a man-for-man basis, but, if this be not possible, to ascertain on what conditions the Turkish Government would be willing to make the exchange, such exchange not to be in terms of the Berne Agreement only, but to be applicable to soldiers and sailors in addition to civilians, doctors, and invalids?

I am afraid I can add nothing at present on the subject of a further agreement to the answer given on Monday by the Leader of the House to my Noble Friend the Member for Nottingham. With regard, however, to the terrible death-rate among our prisoners in Turkey, it must be borne in mind that the greater number of deaths occurred in the march up country from Kut, and, however deplorable the present position, the mortality has not continued on the same scale.

May I ask whether this matter of the Turkish prisoners is under the control of one Department or whether it has to go through two or three Departments, and, if so, which?

It is quite obvious, as happens in almost every question regarding prisoners, several Departments are concerned with the different aspects of the subject.

Is not that a means rather of delaying than of expediting the supplies to these prisoners of war?

No doubt it would be much better if it could be taken by one Department, but obviously, in a case like this, not only the Prisoners of War Department, but—not to speak of others—the India Office, and the War Office are immediately concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is following the resistance which the Armenians are offering to the Turkish army seeking to overthrow the Armenian Republic in consequence of the declaration of that republic that it will not accept the provisions of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty regarding Armenia; and whether the Allied Governments pledge themselves to do everything in their power when the settlement after the War comes to be made that the future of Armenia will be decided upon the principle of self-determination?

Yes, Sir; His Majesty's Government are following with earnest sympathy and admiration the gallant resistance of the Armenians in defence of their liberties and honour, and are doing everything they can to come to their assistance. As regards the future of Armenia, I would refer the hon. Member to the public statements made by leading statesmen among the Allied Powers in favour of a settlement upon the principle he indicates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Metropolitan special constables are doing five turns of duty, each of four hours, per week without pay; that these duties make it impossible for the men to earn extra wages at their own work and thus be in a better position, to meet the increased cost of living; and whether he will consider the possibility of establishing a rate of pay for special constables?

I am informed that with the exception of a very few men attached to headquarters staffs, and one special constable who has for more than two years voluntarily and regularly performed six tours of duty weekly, no Metropolitan special constable is doing five tours of duty a week. Although every endeavour is made so to arrange the duties of special constables that their means of earning a livelihood are not unduly interfered with, I am aware that service in that force entails substantial sacrifices on the part of many of those who have undertaken it; but as intimated in this House by my predecessor on the 13th December, 1915, and by me on the 8th November last, the Metropolitan Special Constabulary was enrolled upon an honorary basis, and there is no intention of making it a paid force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now given further consideration to the question of whether he will issue instructions that women charged under the new Regulation 40D of the Defence of the Realm Act shall in all cases be informed that there is no power to compel them to submit to a medical examination against their will?

I have considered this matter and have found no sufficient reason for issuing an instruction as proposed. No woman is examined without her consent.

When the right hon. Gentleman says that no woman is examined without her consent, does that mean that she is deliberately told that she need not be examined unless she wishes it? Will the right hon. Gentleman say that that is the case?

No; she is asked if she will consent before the examination takes place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the general rule laid down by him that women would not be prosecuted under Regulation 40D of the Defence of the Realm Act without the soldier or sailor concerned being summoned as a witness is being broken in a number of cases; and will he say what action he proposes to take?

The question does not correctly state the effect of the reply which I gave in this House on the 9th May, to which I beg to refer the hon. Member. I see no cause for any action on my part.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman say that as a general rule the soldier or sailor would appear, whereas in the majority of cases they are not appearing, and is not that a contradiction of the statement which he has made?

I said that as a general rule the soldiers or sailors concerned would be called as witnesses. I laid down no general rule, but if the men are called there will be no difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether Mrs. Swanwick will be permitted to speak at a pacifist demonstration in Hyde Park on Sunday next; and if she is a German by birth, only British by marriage, and a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation; (2) whether his attention has been called to a peace demonstration to be held in Hyde Park on the 14th July; whether the Women's International League is taking part; if so, whether he is aware that this society advises women to abstain from war work and from giving any sort of material, intellectual, or moral support whatever to the War; and whether he will take action to end such action?

I understand that the 14th July, the date fixed for this pacifist demonstration in Hyde Park, is being kept as the French National Fete Day, and that a demonstration of sympathy with the French nation, supported by the Alsace-Lorraine League, is being held in Hyde Park on the same day. Having regard to these facts and to the certainty that the demonstration in honour of the French nation will draw large crowds of soldiers and others to the park, I am advised by the police authorities that the holding of a peace demonstration on the same day and in the same place is likely to give rise to grave disorder and to cause undue demands to be made on the police. I have accordingly decided, in the interest of public order, to prohibit the pacifist demonstration. Having regard to this decision, the other parts of these questions do not appear to arise.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to those words in the programme of the Women's International League which appear to be seditious?

I have not taken action on that ground, but on the ground stated in the answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this matter, and see where women are urged to take no part in war work, or to give any support whatever, and is not that seditious, and might not a raid take place at the offices of the Women's International League?

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that he has already raided the Women's International League, quite unsuccessfully, several times?

asked the Home Secretary what is the scale of dietary for prisoners in Wandsworth and Maidstone Prisons, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Somerset on the 24th June. I do not think that it is desirable to publish the dietaries. They are carefully settled in consultation with the Food Controller, and are varied from time to time as circumstances require.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there are in Ireland every day protests about this dietary, and, owing to this uncertainty and the refusal——

The question on the Paper has nothing to do with Ireland. It is about Wandsworth and Maidstone Prisons.

With due respect—[HON. MEMBERS: Order!"]—the Home Secretary referred in his reply to an answer to me; and my question related entirely to Irish prisoner's in English prisons, and, therefore, this supplementary question as to protests in Ireland arises out of the question on the Paper, and is perfectly in order.

Will the hon. Member put it down if he attaches any value to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what rules have been followed as to the internment of German subjects in the following Colonies: British East Africa, German East Africa, German South-West Africa, Togoland, New Guinea, and Samoa; and whether he will call for a Report from each of these Colonies with a view to harmonising their treatment with that given to British civilians in Germany?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to European German subjects. As regards British East Africa, practically all of these subjects were removed to India for internment at the beginning of the War. The other places mentioned are occupied enemy territory, and the question of the treatment of the inhabitants of occupied territory is a general one, which affects the Allies as well as this country.

Will my hon. Friend inquire whether the treatment of German subjects in German East Africa is as he expressed it now?

I will look into it.

asked the Minister of National Service how many male medical students under twenty-eight years of age there are in the United Kingdom; and what steps are being taken to provide a supply of male doctors in the immediate future?

I regret that I cannot state how many male medical students under twenty-eight years of age there are in the United Kingdom. There are, however, at present 5,380 male medical students and 2,250 female medical students at work in the schools and hospitals. The male students freshly registered in 1917 numbered 1,378, as against 1,366 in 1914. Administrative arrangements providing for the safeguarding of the supply of male doctors for the next five years are in force, and there does not appear to be any ground for anxiety.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that the master bakers of Tottenham and the surrounding districts are unable under present circumstances with the shortage of labour to produce enough bread to feed the population; that frequently the shops are closed on Saturday and other days at one o'clock because the bread is sold out; that the journeyman bakers are working, instead of eight hours a day, sometimes sixteen hours a day, even during this comparatively slack time; whether, under these circumstances, he intends to call up any more men between the ages of thirty-five and forty-five; and what steps he proposes to take?

No, Sir; I was not aware of the facts stated in the question. On the contrary, as the result of inquiries I have made of the Ministry of Food and of the local officers of the Ministry of National Service, I am informed that no report of any shortage of bread in the Tottenham district has been received. I may say, with regard to the latter part of the question, that if the tribunal has acted, as I have no doubt is the case, with due regard to the conditions laid down in the List of Certified Occupations, indispensable bread bakers over thirty-five years of age should still be in civil life, in addition to all those of the new military ages who, by reason of their being in a certified occupation, are not called up for military service.

I may add that special arrangements have been made with the Ministry of Food to secure the protection of men who are necessary for the production and distribution of essential articles of food such as bread, and schemes of co-operation among bakers have been started under the auspices of the Local Government Board and my own Department for the concentration of the baking business in each district, so as to maintain both the commercial interests of the trade and the supply of bread to the public.

If I bring some facts before the right hon. Gentleman to show that there is a shortage, will he have the matter carefully looked into?

Most certainly.

asked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been called to the desire of a number of women that the principle of compulsory national service for women should be forthwith adopted; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Yes, Sir; I know that a certain number of women are in favour of the introduction of this principle; but although a definite shortage of women in certain categories exists there is not, at the moment, sufficient indication of any shortage of woman-power as a whole which would justify a measure of compulsory national service for women.

asked the Minister of National Service whether any special consideration is to be given to men of between forty-three and fifty years of age who have been working upon munitions since Mr. Neville Chamberlain's first call for national service; and are they to volunteer as War Work Volunteers, or is their present work to be recognised?

Arrangements are in force whereby men employed in essential occupations receive a certificate of protection. It is open to any man employed on munitions who is not qualified to receive such a certificate, to volunteer as a War Work Volunteer. The question as to whether or not his present work is of sufficient importance to justify his assignment as a War Work Volunteer to the firm by which he is employed is a matter which can only be decided after consideration of the circumstances of each case. In the meantime, no man of the new military age, registered as engaged on munitions work, is being called, even for medical examination.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to make the coal allowances for country houses more liberal than those for town houses, in view of the; difficulty of heating them; and whether in the case of gas and light being privately produced this will be counted by equivalents or by the amount of coal consumed in their production?

Except for houses over fifteen rooms which can claim to be specially assessed under Clause 12 of the Order, no difference is made between town and country. Wood or peat is generally available in country districts as an alternative fuel. Gas or electricity produced privately for consumption will be rationed in the same way as gas or electricity purchased. The allowance of fuel for their production will be fixed so as reasonably to prevent excess production.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether a deduction will be made from the coal allowance in the case of acetylene plant or oil-engines being used?

If the right hon. Gentleman will communicate with the local authority which deals with this matter I think he will find it competent to give him an answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the exempted Thames pilots, who are all over military age, have been deprived of their livelihood, he can now state what steps he proposes to take, in conjunction with the Trinity House authorities, to place all pilots on the River Thames on an equality under one body, in order that they may share the work with other Thames pilots?

I am informed by the Trinity House that of the forty men included in the class of exempt pilots, thirteen are under fifty. The average earnings of these men in recent years have been as follows:

					£
1912	…	…	…	…	301
1913	…	…	…	…	352
1914	…	…	…	…	355
1915	…	…	…	…	446
1916	…	…	…	…	357
1917	…	…	…	…	339

So that it will be seen that there has been no appreciable diminution in their average earnings compared with the pre-War earnings. In the opinion of the Trinity House, the suggestion that all pilots on the River Thames shall be put on an equality under one body, in order that they may share the work with other Thames pilots, is not practicable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases these pilots definitely state that they are not receiving these funds at all, and do not the figures apply to a few only?

No; I am not aware of that. They apply to the whole, so far as I know, but I will make inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now inquired into the fact that when the Admiralty took over and requisitioned the steamers trading in the Thames the licensed Trinity House river pilots for exempted ships were deprived of their means of livelihood and are in many cases now on the verge of starvation; and what steps he proposes to take to compensate these sufferers for the losses they have sustained?

Although the average income of this class of pilot has not appreciably declined, as compared with the pre-war income, I understand that the earnings of some of the men have been reduced from various causes, but I regret that the Board of Trade have no funds at their disposal to compensate these men for any falling off in their employment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that during the past year no less than 152,000 tons of timber, a large portion of which was for pit-props to be used in Government-controlled mines, has been hauled over the main and district roads in eighteen of the urban and rural districts of Devonshire, causing damage estimated at £24,373; as this traffic, although for Government purposes, was not carried directly by Government Departments but by private persons, will he consider in what way highway authorities are to be reimbursed for the damage done to the roads; will he also state the policy the Government propose to adopt with reference to claims in respect of damage by private timber hauliers; and whether the Road Board are to be asked to report and make recommendations upon such claims in the same way as they have hitherto done with regard to traffic for which Government Departments are directly responsible?

My attention has not been called to the particular haulage referred to, but arrangements have been made for dealing with extraordinary claims for damage to roads by timber haulage, whether by the Timber Supply Department or private timber merchants, in cases where the timber is to be used for purposes of national importance. Such claims will be dealt with by the Lands Branch of the War Office under Treasury instructions and in consultation with the Road Board.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give instructions to the Minister of Information to collect and publish facts as to good and kindly conduct by our enemies equally with facts as to crimes and atrocities, so that the information given by the Government as regards the behaviour and character of our enemies may disclose the full truth?

As the adoption of the suggestion contained in the hon. Member's question would not, in my opinion, add materially to the work of the Department, I am willing to bring it to the notice of the Minister of Information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the estimated value of the outstanding assets of the London branches of the German and Austrian banks which have not yet been placed in safe custody; and what steps have still to be taken in order to place such assets in safe custody?

No precise estimate can be made of the value of the vested securities held by the Controller as the agent of the Custodian and not yet lodged at the Bank of England, to which I understand my hon. and learned Friend to refer, but their value reaches, I am informed, several millions sterling. As regards the second part of the question, a statement as to the future arrangements for dealing with the enemy banks will be made in the course of this afternoon's Debate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what provisions of the Vote of Credit the Government consider themselves to be authorised to grant money for the erection of churches in the neighbourhood of munition works?

The Grants towards the cost of erection of churches were made as desirable in view of the conditions created by the War.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman to refer me to the terms of the Vote of Credit which he says authorises it?

These are the words of the Vote of Credit.

Is it not a fact that the Ministry of Munitions, as employers at these munition works, also spend a great deal of money in the erection of cinemas and recreation halls?

I believe they do.

May I ask whether these Grants are made only to the Established Church or to all denominations?

I must refer my hon. Friend to previous replies which have given the details.

Is it the view of the Ministry of Munitions that a Vote of Credit authorises them to spend money on any single thing which they think is desirable?

No, my hon. Friend must not understand that. The words are "desirable in view of the conditions created by the War."

Is there any right under a Vote of Credit to take a departure of policy involving the endowment of churches?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, owing to the fact that no new assessment for Income Tax has been made since 1910 on account of war conditions, his attention has been called to the burden which is falling upon the landlord of agricultural land, who has to pay still upon the assessment made before the increase in the value of tithe took place, as the surveyors of taxes cannot allow deductions which alter the existing assessment; and whether he will give instructions to the surveyors of taxes that the assessment may be varied in such cases to meet the exceptional circumstances?

My right hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. The practice already existing is to allow a reduction of the Schedule A assessment on tithable land in years other than revaluation years, if the owner shows that the assessment is excessive by reason of increased tithe being payable to a tithe owner who is directly assessed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Bill to consolidate the Statutes in regard to Income Tax will be introduced; and whether it is his intention to give it legislative effect before the House rises for the summer vacation?

It is not anticipated that the Bill can reach this House until the end of this month.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the fact that the tenure of small landholders under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Acts may be placed in jeopardy if the proprietor sells the estate in small lots so as to enable the individual purchasers to apply to the Land Court to authorise the resumption of the land for their own personal occupation under Section 19 of the Act of 1911; whether his attention has been directed to the statement in the last Report of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland that the holders of eleven full-sized holdings created by the Board in 1914 on the Middlebank estate, in Perthshire, though they would have preferred to continue as tenants under the small landholders' tenure, have purchased their holdings rather than risk the possibility of losing them in this way; and, as it was not intended when the Act was passed to enable the proprietor, by selling the estate in small lots, thus to prejudice the interests of the small landholders thereon, whether he will introduce legislation to prevent small landholders being thus adversely affected by the sale of the proprietor's estate?

My attention has been called to the matters to which my hon. and learned Friend refers. I am considering the legal position, in consultation with my advisers. I cannot at the moment make any statement regarding legislation.

Will my right hon. Friend be able to make any statement before the House rises for the Recess?

I shall endeavour to.

asked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the cases of the families of men who enlisted voluntarily in the War who are penalised, inasmuch as the rates of wages at that time are not at all comparable with the rates now being paid; and whether he is taking steps to rectify this state of affairs?

I am quite aware of the difficulty brought to my notice by my hon. Friend, and am endeavouring to meet it so far as supplementary allowances to the wives of serving men are concerned.

asked the Pensions Minister whether it is his intention to publish a short and concise statement of the pensions to which wounded or disabled or discharged soldiers are entitled and the allowances to which their dependants are entitled, in order that the information may be readily accessible to all those interested in the subject?

A small pamphlet, entitled "Soldiers' Pensions," setting out the information referred to, was issued last year. It has cow been revised to meet the amendments effected by the Royal Warrant recently issued, and copies will be issued as soon as the printers can deliver them. A similar pamphlet, applicable to the naval service, has also been issued.

To whom will these leaflets be issued, and where?

They are issued. Arrangements have been made for the distribution of large numbers at kiosks of the Government Information Bureau. A copy will also be given to each man on discharge from hospital.

Will they be accessible to Members at the Vote Office?

Yes; they will be accessible to Members of Parliament if they desire copies.

Seeing that these concessions are for the discharged people only and the Pensions Ministry know the names and addresses, will they send the leaflets instead of requiring them to be asked for at kiosks?

I have already said they are issued to each man as he is discharged from hospital.

May be!

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will arrange for a leaflet to be sent with each ring paper stating briefly the full rights of dependants in such matters as sickness grants, expectant mothers' grants, advances when draft books are missing, rent allowances, etc., and the help and advantages generally which are accorded through local war pensions committees to such dependants?

I will communicate with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions as to this, and let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Representative of the Ministry of Information whether the Bishop of Oxford is going to the United States on behalf of the Ministry?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any modification has yet been made in the scheme proposed by the Admiralty for setting up works committees of Admiralty employés in order to meet the objections raised by the trade unionists; and, if so, what is the nature of such modifications?

Our proposals of the 13th May were, as my hon. Friend knows, sent out as a basis of discussion. We have received a considerable volume of written opinion upon them, and I have met six deputations, representative of the trade unions.

Meantime, the War Cabinet, as the Leader of the House informed my hon. Friend last Thursday, has appointed an Inter-department Committee, with the Minister of Labour in the chair, to work out in detail the application of the principles of the Whitley Reports to Government establishments. We must, of course, await its decisions before submitting the proposals to the Board.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether a reduction has been made in the earnings of the Admiralty pilots at Gibraltar; what this reduction entails on the weekly earnings of these men; why such reduction was made; and whether the pilots concerned were ever consulted in the matter, or whether such reduction was simply put in force without giving the pilots concerned any other option but to accept it?

The pilots in question are the masters of yardcraft in Admiralty employment. A rearrangement of their conditions of service has been made, and I should be very glad indeed if my hon. Friend would go through the details with me. My impression is that he will agree that these employés have been quite fairly treated. As regards the last part of the question, I believe it is the fact that the employés themselves were not consulted.

asked the Undersecretary of State to the Air Ministry whether a further alteration is likely to take place in the uniform, which has been in existence about three months, of officers and men of the Royal Air Force; and, if so, whether, considering the shortage of labour, the loss of material, the cost to officers concerned, and the request of the Government to economise and not to waste labour, he will immediately give instructions that such contemplated alteration is not to be carried out during the War?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The introduction of the new uniform was decided upon by the Air Council, after the fullest consideration of all the factors involved. No additional labour will be required; no loss of material is involved, as all khaki uniform will either be worn out before it is replaced or it will be cleaned and repaired and returned to the Army for reissue; no additional cost is involved to-the State, as the new uniform costs less than the uniform hitherto worn by the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps. Officers will only be called upon to provide themselves with the new uniform when that which they are at present wearing becomes worn out, and no compulsion will be exercised to make them get it earlier.

May I ask if it is a question of economy to alter the existing uniforms for a new branch of the Service, instead of supplying them with a new uniform, and allowing those that have been made for the Air Force to be entirely worn out before there is any question of alteration?

I am afraid I did not make myself quite clear. I did say the uniform will be worn out before it is replaced.

Then it is to be understood that the existing uniforms are not to be altered for either branch of the Service? I hope the hon. and gallant Gentleman will make this perfectly plain.

I am afraid I do not quite see my hon. and gallant Friend's point. The Air Force uniform will be different from that worn by the Navy and Army. There are three different Services, but not three different branches of one Service.

Why should it be necessary, after being in existence only three months, to have an alteration in this uniform? Why were not proper steps taken in the first place?

It has not been in existence; it is only just coming out.

The present one.

What has been discovered is that khaki is not liked by sailors, and it is having a bad effect on the esprit de corps and moral to put them into khaki. That is the plain fact, and as we can both please the sailors and soldiers, without any increased cost to the State, certainly it is worth while doing so.

Knowing how all commanding officers are anxious to see all their men in up-to-date uniform, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman give special instructions that no officer is compelled to purchase a new uniform until the old uniform is worn out?

I have already said that.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of Chinamen are being employed in road-making at Edzell, in the county of Forfarshire; whether his Department have been consulted regarding the employment of these men; which Department is responsible and who are the employers; whether the recent refusal of the Forfarshire County Council to increase the wages of their roadmen has anything to do with the employment of the Chinese; and whether he will make careful inquiries into this matter and draw the attention of those responsible to the objection on the part of British labour to the employment of Chinese?