asked the Food Controller whether he is aware that the price fixed for live stock per cwt., which in theory is intended to work out at an equivalent to the dead carcase weight, does not, in fact, do so; that the committee appointed by the butchers of Brighton and Hove, with the approval of the corporations, to manage the local meat supply made between 21st January and 17th August a loss of over £4,000, being the difference between the price paid at market and that received from individual butchers; whether the Government will make, good this loss in whole or in part; and whether steps are being taken to ensure a more equitable adjustment of the prices for the future?

I was not aware of the loss sustained by the Brighton and Hove Butchers' Association, nor can it be expected that the Government will make good any such loss. I cannot agree with the suggestion made in the first part of the question with regard to relation between the prices of live stock and of dead meat, as, if the grading is correctly carried out, the former method of purchase is more profitable to the butcher than the latter.

asked the Food Controller whether he is aware that the Regulation that beasts for slaughter are to be weighed after fasting for not less than five hours is habitually ignored; and whether if it is not practicable to enforce it, a fair allowance to the butchers will be made either in weight or in price?

I am not aware that the Regulation referred to is being ignored to any appreciable extent. Instructions have from time to time been issued to the market officials that the utmost vigilance should be exercised in regard to this matter, and every effort is made to see that these instructions are carried out. Further instructions have recently been issued to the effect that where it has been found necessary, owing to the congested state of the markets, to weigh stock insufficiently fasted, the graders shall make allowance for the condition of the animals by assessing the estimated yield of meat at a correspondingly lower figure.

asked the Food Controller whether he is aware of the severe losses occasioned to farmers by the present prices and methods of paying for cattle and sheep; and whether he is prepared to take any action in the matter?

I am not aware that the present prices and methods of paying for cattle and sheep occasion severe losses to farmers. If the Noble Lord will give me particulars of any instance in which serious loss has been incurred, I will cause the matter to be investigated.

asked the Food Controller whether, having regard to the dearth of suitable feeding material, he will release dredge corn and barley for feeding pigs?

Divisional Food Commissioners are empowered to permit farmers to feed to dairy cows and working horses specified rations of dredge corn in cases where no other concentrated feeding-stuffs are available, but the limited supply precludes the possibility of extending this concession to the feeding of pigs.

asked the Food Controller if he has received resolutions from the West of England protesting against the flat rate of 2s. 3d. per gallon for new milk; and whether he will permit local food committees the discretion to fix prices, which would be lower but still ample to secure a sufficient supply of milk?

"To consider whether, after the machinery for controlling the wholesale distribution of milk has been put into operation, it will be possible to vary the prices to producers in different districts, or on any other basis, and, it so, to make recommendations in detail at an early date."

I may add that in the interests of consumers in areas where production is cheap it would be impossible to admit local variations in producers' prices except as part of a general scheme of control.

asked the Food Controller what steps, if any, his Department has taken to secure an adequate supply of milk during the coming winter for the Dublin people?

I understand that the Irish Food Control Committee has come to an arrangement with the Dublin Cow-keepers' Association with regard to the price of milk during the winter months and that there is no reason to fear that this Association which supplies the greater part of the milk consumed in Dublin will reduce its output. A special committee has also been set up under the chairmanship of the Lord Mayor of Dublin with a view to obtaining additional supplies from the country districts. It is hoped that these efforts will make it possible to sell milk at reduced rates during the winter.

asked the Food Controller who is responsible for the payment to Irish creameries for cheese after it has passed through the pool board; whether he is aware that several cases have occurred in county Limerick where creameries who sent no cheese to the pool board received cheques and creameries which did send cheese have been refused payment, and allegations made that no cheese was sent; and if he will look into the matter and have some remedy applied?

Payment for cheese consigned to the Caerphilly Cheese Committee by Irish creameries is made by the factors in charge of the Caerphilly cheese pools at Cardiff, Highbridge, and Newport, respectively. I am aware that in one case some difficulty has arisen over the payment for a consignment of cheese forwarded in one lot by two different creameries, without proper advice being given as to its origin; this matter has now been satisfactorily arranged. If the hon. Member will inform me as to other cases of which he may have received information, the matter will be investigated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state bow many tenancies were determined in Great Britain because of the tillage schemes; and what was the nature of the compensation granted to the owners in such cases?

The number of agricultural tenancies determined in England and Wales under the Defence of the Realm Regulations up to the 15th instant was 667. In a large number of these cases the tenancies have been determined in accordance with the wishes or with the acquiescence of the owners and no claim for compensation has been made against the Board, but in cases where executive committees are in possession of land of which the former tenancy has been determined the nature of the compensation paid to the owner has been an annual sum in respect of loss of rent.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will say when the award of the 9th August to take effect from 1st July will be paid to the temporary staff of his Department?

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of temporary clerks in the employment of the Department of Agriculture who had not been paid the war bonus of 5s. per week awarded by the Conciliation Board to take effect from 1st June last; and why it was being withheld.

The number of temporary clerks (male and female) at present employed on the Department's staff is 161. The Department have made representations on the question of war bonus in their case to the Treasury, with whom the decision in the matter rests.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he proposes to take any steps to carry out the recommendations in the Report of the Irish Licensing Commission?

I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if any compensation has yet been paid to the cottagers at Beachley, Gloucestershire, who were ejected by the Government at eleven days' notice in September, 1917, or to the farmers at Tidenham, Gloucestershire, for the land commandeered by the Government for which the farmers have paid rent, or to the actual owners of the land thus commandeered for the Beachley docks; and whether this land will be retained by the Government after the War or be sold to private shipbuilding firms?

No payments have yet been made to the evicted cottagers at Beachley or to the farmers at Tidenham, but compensation has been paid in respect of Tutshill House and of another farm owned by a Mrs. Curre. After repeated efforts to induce the agents acting for the various applicants to submit their claims, a letter was ultimately received from them confirming the settlements which had been arrived at, but it was found to be incorrect in many particulars. The agents were interviewed by an officer of the Director of Lands, and finally submitted a further letter of confirmation, and on this it is hoped that the settlement of all claims in respect of the occupied cottages, farms, etc., will be arrived at and payment made. With regard to the second part of the question, I have already stated that it is not possible to say what policy will be pursued with respect to the national shipyards until after the declaration of peace.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, considering the effect upon officers who have been retired on pension owing to sickness or disability contracted on service by the deduction of 10 per cent. from the pay of any civil employment they may afterwards obtain in any public Department under Section 6 of the Superannuation Act of 1887, he will now take steps to obtain the necessary powers to amend the Act so as to remove this injustice and to place these officers on the same footing as the men in this respect?

Proposals will be laid before Parliament to enable this concession to be made.

asked the Minister of National Service whether, having regard to the loss, both individually and nationally, the military situation is such as to require the calling-up of men over forty-five years of age?

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on this subject last Thursday to the hon. and gallant Member for New-castle-under-Lyme.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that Mr. S. H. Schneider and Mr. F. C. Bovenschen are still employed in the War Office; what are the ages of these gentlemen; whether they have been exempted from military service; and, if so, for what reason?

Yes, Sir; their ages are thirty-six and thirty-four respectively. Both have been exempted on grounds of indispensability which satisfied the Special Committee set up by the Ministry of National Service to review the exemptions of men of military age in Government Departments?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can see his way to remove Private Thomas Mowbray, No. 6559, No. 2 depot company, Yorkshire Regiment, a skilled joiner, but at present employed as a clerk in the record office at York, to munition work either at Birtley or Newcastle-on-Tyne, so that in his leisure time he may assist his father in a wood-carving business at Durham?

Capable clerks and skilled carpenters are both urgently required in the Army at the present time, and I regret, therefore, that Private Mowbray's release cannot be sanctioned. In view of my hon. and gallant Friend's statement that Mowbray is a skilled joiner, I am having inquiry made to ensure that the best possible use is made of his services.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether attention has been paid by the authorities in charge of the military works at Cippenham, near Slough, to the recommendations of the Select Committee on Expenditure as regards carrying out the work in sections, or whether the whole construction is being completed as rapidly as possible?

The recommendations of the Select Committee have been carefully considered, and are being attended to.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any motor transport lorries have yet been repaired at Cippenham, near Slough; how long the depot has been ready for repairing lorries; whether any lorries have been, or are being, brought from France for repair to this new depot; and whether he can say if any new depots for the repair of motor-transport lorries have been started in France since the beginning of August?

No motor lorries have been repaired at the new repair shops at Cippenham. The depot is not yet ready for the repair of vehicles. Considerable numbers of lorries have been evacuated from France which will be repaired at Cippenham when the shops are ready. No new repair depots have been opened in France.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that light-horse breeding in Great Britain and Ireland is rapidly declining because of the prices paid by the military authorities; what advance has been made on the prices paid in 1914 as against the prices paid now; whether, in view of the cost of feeding-stuffs and the expense incurred in every way by the breeding of this class of horse, an advance in price will be made; why no such thing has occurred; and why, whilst every other essential thing required to meet the country's needs have been increased in price by over 100 per cent., the price of this class of horse remains at a standstill?

I believe that it is true that light-horse breeding is momentarily declining, but not mainly for the reason which my hon. Friend suggests. My hon. Friend is wrong in thinking that there has not been any advance in prices since war broke out. On the contrary there there has been a substantial all-round increase, amounting in some cases to 100 per cent. The Government buys horses without compulsion in the open market.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what action will be taken to carry out the promises to restore the trade union customs and regulations; whether it will be necessary to proceed by legislation; and, if so, will a Bill be introduced at an early date?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Leader of the House to my hon. Friend the Member for York on Thursday last.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether his attention has been called to the number of fatal accidents which have recently occurred in the Royal Air Force at Oxford; and whether, in view of the danger to the civil population likely to arise from such accidents, he will give orders that the instructional flights shall be directed over the open country and not over the city?

There have been three fatal flying accidents at Oxford in the past three months. Ordinary flying instruction is given over the meadows, and strict orders prevail against low flying over the city.

asked the Secretary of State for India when the Report of the Rowlatt Committee is likely to be available; and if he will state the reasons for the delay in its publication?

I hope that the Report will be ready by the end of the month. As regards the delay in making it available here, I would beg to refer my hon. Friend to my answer on the 17th instant to my hon. Friend the Member for Roxburgh. There was no avoidable delay in the publication of the Report in India.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, with a view to economy in domestic gas consumption, he will take steps to increase the supply of matches?

Arrangements have already been made by the Board of Trade for the importation of a supply of matches, which will very materially increase the number of matches available for use by the civil population.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Inter-departmental Committee appointed with the view to securing the provision of additional accommodation in Lancashire and other areas for sanatorium treatment of military and civilian tuberculous patients has reported; and, if so, whether the Report will be printed and circulated?

It was not intended that the committee referred to should make any formal Report, but only that they should advise in what way additional accommodation for the treatment of tuberculosis could best be secured in present circumstances. I am about to issue a circular on the subject.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the Liverpool City Council on 4th September in regard to the insufficiency of sanatorium accommodation for discharged men and others suffering from tuberculosis; and, if so, what steps have been taken to remedy the state of affairs referred to?

I have seen the resolution referred to. As was stated in reply to a previous question, the Local Government Board have been, and are, doing all they can to expedite the preparation of the Fazakerley Sanatorium for the reception of patients.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can see his way to exempt preparatory schools from the coal rationing Order as well as public elementary schools, seeing that both are attended by children of tender years, of similar ages, and liable to illnesses from exactly the same causes of cold, physical discomfort, and neglect of necessary precautions?

Preparatory schools which consume a reasonable quantity of coal are not being curtailed. Certain schools are not reasonable in their consumption, and must be curtailed. The standard set is adequate for comfort and efficiency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in order to secure equal distribution of coal in Ireland, he will recommend the adoption of the rationing system now in England; and if he will see that Dublin shall receive its fair share of coal in and going to Ireland?

It is not thought necessary at the present time to arrange a system of rationing coal in Ireland. Every endeavour is being made to secure a fair distribution of the coal which reaches Ireland, and the Coal Controller's representative in Ireland is taking special steps to see that Dublin receives its fair share.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the high cost of living and the consequent difficulty experienced by parents of small incomes to pay the necessary educational expenses of their children, he can see his way to grant railway passes to children going to and from their schools by railway at the pre-war rate of pay?

It is regretted that it has not been found practicable to exempt school-children from the increases that have been made in railway fares, but season tickets are issued to day scholars at half the present rates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the output of coal in Great Britain in each of the years ending the 31st December, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1917?

The output of coal in Great Britain in the calendar years 1913 to 1917 was as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the percentage of men released from the Army to work in the coal mines who are actually working as coal-getters at the coal face?

There are no available figures on this point, but I have reason to believe that the percentage of coal-getters amongst the miners released since the 1st May, 1918, is a considerably lower figure than the normal percentage prevailing at the average colliery. This is in the main due to the fact that the bulk of miners so far released are mostly men of low medical category who, by reason of sickness or disablement by wounds, are unsuited to the more arduous work in the mines. Recently, however, men of higher categories have been made eligible for release, and this fact will tend to improve the percentage of men capable of working at the coal face.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of disabled men, especially in the North of England, are unable to find employment; and whether any, and, if so, what, steps are being taken to mobilise employers with a view to supplying employment for such men?

I am aware that in some districts, including districts in the North of England, a certain number of disabled men are finding difficulty in obtaining suitable employment. The local advisory committees of the Ministry of Labour and the local war pensions committees are working in close co-operation with a view to obtaining suitable employment for such men. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions to the hon. Member for North Galway.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in a case tried at the Marylebone Police Court on 29th June, in which certain persons were accused of an indecent assault upon a little girl nine years of age, when the case was heard the child's mother was ordered to leave the Court and two Policewomen also, the child being left in Court with no one of her own sex; whether this is in accordance with the directions of the Home Office; and whether he has taken, or will take, any action in the matter?

I made inquiries about this case and found that the magistrate was not aware that the girl's mother was present, otherwise he would have allowed her to remain in Court. In a Circular issued by the Home Office to Justices in 1909 attention was called to the desirability of arranging that a girl should not be examined in a case of this kind without the presence of a woman, and I am proposing to issue another Circular on this subject.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether substantial economies have been effected in the Edinburgh Register House by the use of typewriting instead of manuscript; and whether any portion of the saving has been, or will be, used to compensate clerks with long service at their credit for being thrown out of the only work for which they are fit?

Certain economies have been effected by the introduction of typing so far as it has gone. No clerks, however, have been thrown out of work. I can assure my hon. Friend that in any changes which may be made, the interests of the engrossing clerks will not be overlooked.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the accommodation provided at the York Place sub-post office, Brighton, is inadequate to the requirements of the neighbourhood; that the space available for postal business measures only 12 ft. by 10 ft., the portion open to the public being only 7 ft. by 7 ft.; that this small area is continually congested by persons seeking to do business at the counter; and that, owing to the consequent closeness of the atmosphere, the postal employés work in conditions which would not be permitted in any ordinary business; and whether he will take steps to provide sufficient and more suitable accommodation?

The premises are provided by the sub-postmistress, not by me. She also provides the staff to work the office. I do not think the facts of the case are such that I should be justified in calling upon her to provide better premises, or—as an alternative—in closing the office.