asked the Food Controller, seeing that the Government is enabled to buy tea f.o.b. at Colombo for 8⅛d. per lb., what profit they are making between the price quoted and the 2s. 8d. that the tea costs the public?

At the present rate of exchange the f.o.b. price of tea at Colombo is almost exactly 10d. a lb. The profit or margin between the cost and selling prices is estimated to be about¼per lb.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a certain food control committee state that, having in vain applied to the Food Ministry to permit a freer sale of bacon to avoid the waste now taking place, they have in consequence threatened not to prosecute tradesmen selling excess quantities; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

The hon. Member presumably has in mind the Bristol Food Control Committee. In view of the representations of this committee, the Divisional Food Commissioner was authorised to permit, and did permit, the sale of bacon coupon free in Bristol for a limited period, provided it was released from storage in a manner approved by representatives of the Ministry of Food. I may point out that the release of bacon generally from coupon restrictions renders the continuance of this special arrangement unnecessary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that London butchers are still having allotted to them old cow meat which, in pre-war days, would have been condemned as unfit for human consumption, and that in many cases London butchers are having delivered to them meat of inferior quality which is practically nothing but skin and bone; will he say on what grounds such meat is imported, seeing that there is no nutriment in it; and whether, considering the price that is demanded by the butchers in consequence of the cost to them, he will preclude altogether the importation into this country of such inferior meat?

The answer to this question was printed in last Thursday's OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that quantities of English plums are being put on the markets daily; and if it is his intention to control the price before the whole crop is disposed of?

Yes, Sir. An Order has been issued by the Food Controller, which takes effect from to-day, restricting dealings in and the prices for certain varieties of plums. I will send the hon. Member a copy of this Order.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, according to the Army Council's Instruction No. 650, of 10th June, 1918, a soldier, not a member of an Expeditionary Force, if granted four days' leave, is entitled to two meat coupons only, and no coupons for butter, lard, or sugar, and consequently has to live while on the four days' leave without these three rationed foods, unless his family or his friends supply him; and whether he will take steps to place the soldier on a level with the civilian by means of an emergency card?

A soldier who is not a member of an Expeditionary Force, if granted four days' leave, is entitled to four meat coupons, of which three are for butchers' meat only. The issue of half-coupons for butter, lard, and sugar, for soldiers on leave for periods not exceeding four days has been suggested to the Ministry of Food.

asked the Food Controller if any steps have yet been taken by his Department to remedy the grievances of small licensed traders in Ireland who have not been able to obtain supplies of stout and porter from wholesale traders with whom they dealt in the datum year, and who cannot obtain supplies directly from brewers; and is he aware that, although these small dealers have paid for their publicans' licences, they have been deprived of their means of livelihood by Orders of the Department depriving them of the right to obtain supplies?

I can add nothing to the answer given last Thursday to the hon. Member for West Kerry on this subject, except to repeat the Food Controller's assurance that there will be no delay in dealing with the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the representations have been received from the Dingle Harbour Board stating that no vessels have loaded or discharged at the port for over twelve months; that the Board has no revenue, no reserve, and no means of carrying on its work; and what steps it is proposed to take under these circumstances to maintain the lights so necessary for fishermen?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am aware that, owing to the War, the revenue of the Dingle Harbour Board has decreased to such an extent that great difficulty is found in maintaining the Lighthouse. So far, however, I have been unable to find any means of assisting them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many constables of the Dublin Metropolitan Police have resigned or left the force since the Clause to the Military Service Act was passed making it applicable to Ireland; whether he is aware that discontent exists amongst the rank and file of the force; and if he will grant a sworn inquiry into the administration of the police force in Dublin, including the disappearance of property placed under the control of an officer of the C Division during the week succeeding the rebellion in Ireland?

Since the 18th April twelve constables of the Dublin Metropolitan Police resigned voluntarily, two resigned compulsorily, five were dismissed, two discharged on medical certificate, and one retired on pension. Of those who resigned voluntarily, ten did so to better their position, one resigned as he found police duty affected his health, and one because he had been punished for a disciplinary offence. I am not aware that any discontent exists in the force. With regard to the last part of the question, if the hon. Member will formulate any definite charge upon which action could be taken, I will consider the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on whose instructions the legal representatives of the Crown, at the trial of Patrick O'Brien and William O'Brien at the Cork Assizes on the 23rd instant, ordered eighty special jurors to stand by in order to secure a jury to convict the prisoners, irrespective of the weight of evidence; whether it was on the grounds of religion or politics that these special jurors, comprising the most prominent and respectable citizens of Cork, were deemed by the Crown un-suited to try the charges against the prisoners; if on neither, can he state the grounds on which they were ordered to stand by; and whether it is the intention of the Crown to continue selecting jurors to constitute juries for the trial of criminal and politico-criminal cases in Cork because of the jurors' religious or political bias, and so deprive the prisoners of a fair and impartial trial?

There is no foundation for the allegation that any jurors were ordered to stand by in order to secure a jury to convict irrespective of the weight of evidence. No jurors were ordered to stand by on the ground of either politics or religion. The jurors ordered to stand by were so ordered because there was sufficient reason to believe that owing to liability to be influenced they might not be impartial or owing to bodily or mental infirmity they were unfit to serve as jurors.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in the case of aliens interned in England who leave wives and families unprovided for, the Government makes weekly grants to these people for their support, and, if so, what is the rate per head; and whether a different law is to be applied in Ireland where these people are told to apply to the local Poor Law guardians, thus imposing a burden on Irish ratepayers and securing their penalisation for a Government action for which they have no responsibility?

Allowances are made from funds provided by the British Government to the British-born wives and children of interned or repatriated aliens who are without sufficient resources. It was considered that the most effective manner of affording assistance to such persons was to make grants through the agency of a board of guardians not as Poor Law relief administered in the ordinary course of their duties, but as grants made under the authority of the Government and charged to the funds placed at the disposal of the Local Government Board. The rate of assistance is determined according to the peculiar circumstances of each case. The allowances payable in ordinary cases are 10s. weekly for the wife and 3s. weekly for each dependent child. It does not appear that the arrangements in Ireland differ materially from those in England.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that numbers of Irish National Volunteers have been called upon to surrender their rifles; if so, by whom and at what date such order was made, and also if a similar order was made with reference to the Ulster Volunteers, and on what date; whether the rifles of the Ulster Volunteers have been surrendered; if so, will he state the number and the date; whether any of the Ulster Volunteers have declined or neglected to surrender their rifles; if so, what action it is proposed to take to deal with them; if he has asked for or received the permission of the president of the provisional government of Ulster before taking any steps to take up the arms of the Ulster Volunteers, or does he intend to have a raid made on the places where the Ulster Volunteer rifles are stored and prosecute the leaders for not delivering the rifles to the Government; and whether he will postpone all proceedings against National Volunteers, and return the rifles already seized, until similar action is taken against the Ulster Volunteer leaders?

I cannot make any general statement at present with regard to the matter referred to in the question, beyond saying that steps are in progress to secure the surrender of arms throughout the entire country.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what reply was given by the leaders of the Ulster Volunteers to the request by the Government for the surrender of the arms and ammunition held by the Volunteers; whether the Ulster Provisional Government formed by the leaders of the Ulster Volunteers is still in existence; and, if so, whether it is the intention of the Government to proclaim this body as an illegal and dangerous association?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether there is in existence a body known as the Provisional Government of Ulster and, if so, who are the members of it; and whether the Government of Ireland is controlled by this provisional Council or by His Excellency Field-Marshal Lord French and the War Cabinet?

I am informed that such a body as that referred to is in existence, but I am not aware as to who are the members of it. There is no foundation for the suggestion that Ireland is controlled by this provisional council.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the prosecution in Dublin last week of William J. Warren, a member of the National Volunteers, for an alleged refusal to give information in respect of the place where rifles are stored; whether it is known to the Irish Government that several persons in Ireland in high position have rifles, small arms, and equipment in their safe keep- ing; and whether it is that Mr. Warren has been a supporter of the Irish party that he has been singled out for a criminal prosecution?

I am informed that the prosecution which is under Regulation 53 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations is still sub judice, and accordingly I can make no statement with reference to it. The answer to the last portion of the question of the hon. Member is an emphatic negative.

asked the Postmaster-General what amount of subsidy has been paid by his Department for the acceleration effected within the past twenty-six years of the mail trains on the Dublin and South-Eastern Railway line in connection with the mail boat to Kingstown; whether this subsidy is still continued; whether there would be any objection from a postal standpoint to the morning down mail train being started at the same time as the morning down mail trains on the Great Northern, the Great Southern and Western, and the Midland and Great Western Railways; whether he requires the mail trains on the Dublin and South-Eastern Railway to stop at all the small stations on the journey, or whether these stations, including those only 3 to 4 miles apart, could now be served with mails in, the same manner as before the recent changes; whether the extreme time between the arrival of the down mail and the return of the up mail for English letters for the country generally has been reduced, so that Belfast loses one hour, Cork loses one hour and twenty-five minutes, Galway loses one hour and fifty-five minutes, and Wexford loses four hours; whether the margin of time in Wexford has been reduced from seven hours to three hours; whether this reduction is virtually twice as much as that made in Galway, three times as much as that in Cork, and four times as much as that in Belfast; and whether, in view of the inconvenience suffered by the commercial, industrial, and professional classes concerned, and of the apparently unfair differentiation against Wexford, Enniscorthy, and New Ross, and provided that the special local committee appointed for the purpose of dealing with this question can produce a practical scheme which will not involve increased coal consumption and produce very slight, if any, inconvenience to the travelling public, he will order a new service by which Wexford will be treated in something like the same manner as the other terminal towns on the main lines out of Dublin?

No question of subsidy arises in this case, for the train alterations to which the hon. Member refers were necessary in the national interest and were carried out on instructions issued by the Irish Railway Executive Committee at the request of the Government. I had no alternative but to accept them. I will consider any suggestion for the improvement of the mail service which does not involve increased consumption of coal or increased expenditure.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will inquire why Private Francis A. Boyack, No. 26663, A Company, 3rd Royal Highlanders, Raith Camp, Curragh, has been inoculated against his wish and contrary to the Army Regulations; and what action he proposes to take against those responsible for this action?

I am making inquiry, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether soldiers over fifty-one years of age who are of medical categories other than A are liable to be sent overseas?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of National Service whether a protest was recently made by a discharged soldier of fifty before the Weybridge tribunal against the secretary and a member on the ground that they were both of the original military age and had not served; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter or in similar cases elsewhere?

I have been asked to answer this question. I had not previously been informed that a protest had been made, but I am making inquiries into the case.

asked the Home Secretary if he will give instructions for attention to be given to the case of Burton W. Mackay, a conscientious objector in New- castle Prison, who is suffering from his teeth and mouth and has been examined by a dental specialist who states that his case requires efficient dental treatment to avert serious consequences; and will he release this man from prison in order that he may undergo this necessary treatment?

The case has received all necessary attention. The prisoner has been seen by a dentist, and he will be allowed to have artificial teeth at his own expense if he wishes it; but his health is not impaired, and there is no sufficient reason for authorising his release.

asked the Home Secretary why an application made by a conscientious objector named Pugh, who is in Manchester Prison, to be allowed to resume work under the Home Office scheme, which he voluntarily surrendered in January, 1917, has not been granted; and whether he will see his way to grant such a request?

This man's conduct was unsatisfactory while he was employed under the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors; and, when the Committee's rules came into force on 1st January, 1917, he said that he did not intend to obey them, and absconded. He was thereupon recalled to the Army, but remained at large for three months, when he was arrested. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary if he will have an immediate and thorough inquiry made into the state of health of James Hudson, M.A., a conscientious objector in Manchester Prison, who has served twenty-one months' hard labour, and is at present confined in a damp basement cell; will he inquire into the allegations that Hudson has lost 3 stone in weight and is physically breaking up; and whether, in view of the long imprisonment already suffered and the man's state of health, he will order his temporary release under the powers he possesses?

I have made inquiry in this case and find that the prisoner is confined in a dry and well-lighted cell on the ground level. He has lost only 2 lbs. in weight since September last. The prisoner's health has not been injuriously affected by imprisonment and affords no ground for authorising his discharge.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department how many conscientious objectors are now working under the Home Office Committee at Bridge End Hut, Len Rock, Carmarthenshire, as navvies on a road-making contract; whether some of these men are housed in tents that have been condemned as unfit for use in the Army, so that their bedding and blankets are at times soaked by rain; and, if so, whether fresh arrangements can be made regarding accommodation?

Thirty-seven men employed on this contract are housed by the contractors in tents and thirteen in a hut. The Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors is in communication with the contractors and will see that proper accommodation is provided.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will have inquiry made into the case of James Boyd, a conscientious objector, now in Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow, who was released on account of the serious condition of his leg and sent to the Edinburgh War Hospital for treatment, where he remained until 12th July, when an escort appeared and took him back to Barlinnie Prison, though his treatment had not been completed, and he was and is still unable to stand on his right leg; and will he take steps to have Boyd released for the completion of his cure or discharged from the Army, in view of his unfitness?

I have made inquiry into this case. The reports which I have received do not confirm the allegations contained in the question regarding Boyd's condition. He was returned to prison upon the report of an Army medical board. The question of his discharge from the Army is a matter for the military authorities. Upon present information I am not satisfied that there is a ease for discharging him from prison on medical grounds.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to ensure that the British doctors who are prisoners in Turkey are suitably distributed among the different prisoners' camps; and whether he will arrange that our rights for exchange of doctors under the Berne Agreement shall be waived, in so far as to allow of at least one British doctor remaining at each camp, and at least one per 1,000 prisoners at camps with more than 1,000 prisoners?

This matter is under consideration, and I hope that it will be possible to make arrangements on the lines suggested by my Noble Friend.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether His Majesty's Government have requested the representatives of neutral nations at Constantinople, in co-operation with the Minister of the Netherlands, to act in concert in requesting the Sublime Porte to permit the prompt passage of food, clothing, other comforts, and money to our prisoners of war in Turkey; if not, whether His Majesty's Government will take immediate steps to make this request; and will he request the answer of the Turkish Government at the earliest possible date?

His Majesty's Government have not invited the good offices of any neutral representatives at Constantinople on behalf of British prisoners of war other than those of the Netherlands Minister, who is charged with the representation of British interests, nor are they disposed to think that the good offices of other neutral representatives could usefully be invited. It is unnecessary to add that numerous representations have been made to the Turkish Government, and that every effort has been made to secure the transmission of money and supplies to British prisoners of war.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what reply has been received from the Dutch Minister at Constantinople to the question whether he can continue to supply clothing locally to British prisoners; and whether, as the dispatch of clothing to officer prisoners is permitted and the date on which the clothing to be sent by the repatriation ship will leave Alexandria is uncertain, the War Office will sanction the dispatch of clothing and blankets overland to non-commissioned officers and men?

As it is probable that the Netherlands Minister at Constantinople will be unable to supply clothing to the men in Turkey in the future, and as information has been received that the Austrian Government have removed the restrictions on the dispatch of parcels through Austria, it is hoped to arrange for the dispatch of goods overland, as the date of departure of the repatriation ship from Egypt is still unsettled.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether the condition of British residents in Belgium has been considered at the recent conference at The Hague; and, if so, whether any arrangement has been made whereby they may receive letters and parcels from this country on the same terms as those accorded to prisoners of war?

The Agreement recently come to at The Hague, which, however, has not yet been ratified, provides for the repatriation of these persons. It is not possible to send parcels to uninterned British subjects in Germany or in territory in the occupation of the enemy. The question of correspondence is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he can state, approximately, the maximum and minimum amount of the wages earned weekly by skilled munition workers in the various trades?

The information desired by the hon. Member does not at present exist in any precise form. It would involve very considerable labour to obtain the information in respect of the very large number of trades and of classes of skilled workers engaged in each trade, and I do not feel that, with the pressure of work in the Department, we should be justified in casting this further burden upon it.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he will furnish the House with a full and detailed statement of the expenditure by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) of public money in the acquisition of licensed properties, such statement to contain particulars of each brewery and licensed house purchased, the price paid in each instance, and the cost of alterations, maintenance, and administration since the completion of the purchases?

I am advised that it would be contrary to the public interest to publish the detailed information asked for by my hon. Friend. Subject to audit, it may be estimated that after meeting all the usual trading charges, the annual return on the total capital commitments of the Central Control Board's direct control undertakings has been on the scale of about 15 per cent., or alternatively, if the total cost of reconstruction is charged to revenue, the return on the capital engaged will be about 10 per cent.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether his attention has been called to the many recent accidents through low flying of airmen over towns; and whether he can issue instructions to all air pilots to stop this practice in future?

Air Ministry Orders prohibit low flying over towns, and serious disciplinary action is taken against any pilot who is known to have avoidably infringed them.

asked the Home Secretary whether Captain Bowen-Coulthurat was promoted after he murdered the boy Coade and Mr. Sheehy-Skeffington and two other innocent civilians, when he was sent to Newry in command of a detachment a week after these murders; whether he was, after going to Newry, placed under open arrest, and up to and during his trial he was only under open arrest; whether Mrs. Sheehy-Skeffington, the widow of one of his victims, is refused permission to return to Ireland; and, if so, what is the nature of her offence?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am sorry I cannot answer the first two parts of the question without making inquiry of the military authorities in Ireland, and this is being done. As regards the remaining parts of the question, I can add nothing to the replies given to questions on the subject on the 18th and 24th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the date on which purchase agreements were entered into between the landlord and the tenant on the Fleming Estate, near Goleen, county Cork; whether their holdings have yet been vested in the tenants; and, if not, whether he can state the grounds of the delay and whether it is proposed to vest the holdings forthwith?

The estate referred to would appear to be that for the sale of which Major Henry Chavasse and Another instituted proceedings before the Estates Commissioners for sale direct to the tenants of their holdings under the Irish Land Act, 1903. Purchase agreements at prices agreed upon between the parties were lodged with the Commissioners on the 20th August, 1908. The estate has not yet been reached in the order of priority on the principal register of pending direct sales (all cash), and the Commissioners are not at present in a position to state when the purchase money can be advanced and the holdings vested in the tenants, but when reached in its turn the property will be dealt with as rapidly as practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state whether the Estates Commissioners propose to acquire for division amongst the uneconomic landholders in the area the lands formerly held by John Boswell, deceased, of Newtowncashel, county Longford; whether a grazing auction was held recently of this farm, thereby proving that it can be puchased for this purpose; and what steps he proposes to ask the Estates Commissioners to take in the case?

The Estates Commissioners understand that the lands are the subject of chancery proceedings in the Court of the Master of the Rolls. These lands are not pending for sale before the Estates Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts, and they do not propose to take any action in the matter. I am informed that no grazing auction has been held recently on these lands, but on 18th inst. there was an auction of some meadow and oat crops on the lands.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any further steps have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to acquire the untenanted lands of Bawn, Moydow, county Longford, at present used as a grazing holding by the owner, Mr. H. B. Armstrong, of county Armagh; whether this gentleman was compelled to comply with the provisions of the tillage Order this year and did he do so; how many applications for allotments of this holding have the Estates Commissioners received; and when a final decision on the subject may be expected?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 11th December last. The Estates Commissioners have received eighty-six applications for parcels of land on this property. This estate will be dealt with in its proper order of priority. I understand that Mr. Armstrong has complied fully with the tillage Regulations.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has yet appointed the committees on primary and secondary education in Ireland; and what are the terms of reference and the personnel in each case?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I hope it will be possible to make an announcement as to the personnel of the Committees and the terms of reference at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Inspector John Purcell, C Division, is endeavouring to drive the men under him into acts of insubordination by making threats and using obscene language when the constables have, not as many summonses as he thinks they should have; whether he is aware that, when Inspector Purcell was serving in the ranks as a constable in the B Division, he was himself arrested; is he aware of the nature of the charge against him and the penalty inflicted; and will he say if such a man will be retained in control over others?

There is nothing to justify the charges made against this officer, who is, I understand, one of the most efficient officers of his rank in the Dublin Metropolitan Police. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in thinking that this officer has ever been arrested.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the cause of the delay in printing Mr. P. C. Cowan's Report on Housing in Ireland, and when it will be issued; and whether he is aware that the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland are anxious to have a copy for discussion at their annual conference?

It is hoped that the publication of the Report will take place very shortly.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether any steps can be taken to utilise the waste products of fish at the various Irish curing stations in Ireland; and what assistance his Department will give in the matter?

Attempts which have been made to utilise the offal from Irish fish-curing stations have received every encouragement from the Department. The only difficulty which has materially impeded the success of these attempts has been that of collecting the offal in sufficient quantity at the places where the plant has been erected.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the Admiralty Replies to Petitions, 1914, page 13, it is laid down that yard craft ratings are to receive a triennial increase ranging from 2d. per day for stokers and seamen, 3d. a day for mates, and 4d. a day for engineers and masters; whether he is aware that this increase was due in October, 1917, and has not yet been paid; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made with a view to this matter being rectified as speedily as possible?

Scales of pay were laid down as stated in the first part of the question. These scales took effect from the 1st October, 1914. In December, 1916, the minimum rates for stokers and seamen were raised by another 2d. a day, and consequently it becomes necessary for the men who received these advances to serve for a further incremental period of three years from that date before receiving another advance in the existing scales. But I may add that further consideration is being given to the matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many cases of small-pox were notified in England and Wales in the year 1917; what was the percentage of infants vaccinated for the last year for which the records are obtainable; whether he has any information as to small-pox in Germany; and, if so, if he can say how many cases were notified in that country in 1917?

There were seven cases of small-pox notified in England and Wales in 1917. In the latest year for which complete figures are available, 50.1 per cent. of the infants born were successfully vaccinated. In regard to small-pox in Germany, I would refer the hon. Member to page 104 of the Report recently published by my Department on "the incidence of small-pox throughout the world in recent years."

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that nine crofters, including two women, one of whom is a widow, were sentenced the other day to ten days' imprisonment for breach of interdict for pasturing cattle on the farm of East Garty, Portgower; whether he is aware that the extent of the holdings of these crofters is between 3 and 4 acres arable each, and that they received from the present proprietor a promise that the grazing in question would be let to them at Whit-Sunday, 1915, and will he state the reasons for the breach of this promise; whether he is aware that application was made to the Board of Agriculture for the securing of these grazings for these crofters in 1912, and will he say what was the result of the application; whether he is aware that the accused persons were summoned from their beds at five o'clock in the morning to proceed to the Court; and whether, in view of all these circumstances, he will at once order the immediate release of these people and take steps to put in force the powers he possesses under the Landholders Act in 1911 to secure for them the land in question?

The crofters in question were sentenced, the men to a fine of £5 or imprisonment for ten days, the women to 10s. or one day. Before passing sentence the sheriff allowed them an opportunity of giving an undertaking not to trespass again, but they refused to give any such undertaking. After sentence they were offered time to pay the fine, but they declined to pay at any time, and accordingly went to prison. As regards a promise from the proprietor, I can only say that I have no knowledge of any such promise. Applications were made to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in 1912, and renewed prior to the expiration of the farm lease in 1915. They received full consideration from the Board, but, having regard to the small acreage of the farm, taken in conjunction with the limit of size for compulsory acquisition under the Landholders Act, the Board considered that it would in any case be inexpedient to break up the farm. As my hon. Friend is aware, it is undesirable to interfere with a type of holding to occupation of which small landholders may reasonably aspire. The crofters had ample opportunity to attend the Court on citation, and it was only on their deliberate failure to attend that they were arrested, brought to trial, and sentenced for contempt of Court. They were duly released on the expiry of the sentences.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the word "entertainment" in the Amendment he accepted to Sub-section (2), paragraph (3), of the Education Bill includes cinemas; and whether, thereunder, licences will be issued to children engaged in the production of cinema films?

Paragraph (3) of Sub-section (2) of Clause 13 relates to licences to take part in any entertainment or series of entertainments to take place in premises licensed according to law for public entertainments or in any circus or in any place of amusement to which the public are admitted for payment for the purpose of singing, playing, or performing or being exhibited for profit or offering anything for sale. It would be a question of fact whether any particular cinematograph entertainment falls within this description.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the boys in a reformatory are employed at neighbouring works, half on day-shift and half on night-shift, and that the day-shift for the boys is frequently twelve and a half hours, i.e., three hours more than the time worked by the ordinary staff, and the night-shift thirteen hours compared with twelve hours for the ordinary workers; whether he is aware that the work they perform is not only one of the most laborious in the works, but uneducative, and that punishment for slight offences takes the form of close cropping of the hair in prison fashion; whether he is aware that the major portion of their earnings is devoted to the upkeep of the reformatory; and, seeing that employment of this character is too laborious and the working hours too long for growing lads and inconsistent with the obligations imposed upon the directors of reformatories to provide an education which shall give the inmates a proper start in life, whether he will take steps to improve the conditions under which these boys are worked?

I would refer the Noble Lord to the reply which I gave on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester on the 15th instant. Since the date of that reply a special investigation has been made by one of the inspectors of the Reformatory and Industrial Schools Department, and I am awaiting his report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government have taken on each of the

circulated the following statement: