asked the Prime Minister whether he will direct the Minister of Information immediately to issue a comprehensive reprint of President Wilson's war speeches and declarations for free distribution to the public?

The National War Aims Committee, in whose hands the publication of matter of this kind in this country rests, have published all President Wilson's more important utterances, in whole or in part, as they have been delivered. The President's speech of 4th July was issued as one of the "Message" series of pamphlets; the "Fourteen Points" have been published as a leaflet; two pages of the handbook, "Aims and Efforts of the War," are devoted to President Wilson's declarations; and quotations from him appear in twelve numbers of "Reality."

asked the Prime Minister whether the dispatch of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force in France, which appeared in the Press on 22nd October, was published in its original form; and, if so, what is the reason for the delay in its publication?

Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig's last dispatch involved matters which it was necessary for the Government to discuss with him. During the heavy and continuous fighting of the last three months it was difficult to find opportunity for such discussion. It is true that some alterations were made, but they were made with the full approval of the Field-Marshal.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the case of a pensioner going back to work in a dockyard during the War, the Paymaster-General, in arriving at the amount to be deducted from the pension, treated the war bonus as wages, and consequently deducted from the pension a larger sum than he otherwise would; whether this course was altered on 1st April last and the war bonus excluded; and if, under these circumstances, the Government can see their way to authorise the repayment to pensioners of the amount of pension deducted prior to April, 1918, on account of the war bonus having been included in the calculation?

I am afraid that I cannot undertake to give further retrospective effect to the liberal concession already made in this matter by the Treasury.

asked the Food Controller if he can state how much extra freezing plant has been erected since this time last year and how many additional carcases it is able to freeze per week; if adequate cold storage has been provided to store these additional cacases of British beef and mutton; and what proportion of the carcases in cold storage at the moment are English?

In the autumn of last year a portion of a cold store belonging to the Cardiff Railway Company was adopted for freezing home-killed meat to the number of 125 carcases a day. No new freezing plant has been erected since that time owing to the shortage of skilled labour and the difficulty of obtaining the requisite machinery either here or in the United States. The efforts of the Department have been concentrated on cold storage and, as a result of these efforts, there is adequte cold storage space for meat in the country at the present time. I am unable at such short notice to state the proportion of British and foreign carcases in cold store, but at present the amount of British meat forms a very small percentage of the whole.

asked the Food Controller if, considering that this Department is now asking farmers, in the interest of the consumers, to keep their fat stock as long as possible on the farms, he will immediately rescind the Order which makes it necessary for the farmer-producer to obtain leave from a Government official and middleman to use his surplus fodder and damaged corn to feed his stock?

At the time when the Cereals (Restriction) Order was passed the situation as regards the use of damaged grain was considered in all its bearings, and the Food Controller is not prepared to rescind the Order. Instructions have, however, been given to facilitate the granting of licences and certificates in every possible way, and the figures which I quoted last week show that these instructions have been carried out.

asked the Food Controller if he is aware that, after farmers have sold their cattle at market, an official collects an extra charge per animal amounting to as much as £10 per beast, more or less; if he is aware that at a small Midland market town about £1,900 was so collected on one market day; and what is the exact destination of this forced tax and for what purpose it is used?

To the price paid to the farmer for live cattle there is added, before sale to the butcher, a per head charge to cover the cost of railage, droving, sea transport (in the case of Irish and Scottish cattle), lairage, slaughtering, insurance, and the general costs of distribution, which are pooled for the whole Kingdom, so as to secure a flat and steady price for meat. At present prices a beast would have to weigh nearly a ton for the charge to amount to £10.

asked the Food Controller whether it is proposed to apply the new Potato Bread Order to Ireland; whether the opinion of any expert authority on diet in Ireland has been obtained as to the suitability of using potato flour in this way; whether he is aware that under existing Orders the war bread supplied in Ireland is already of a very inferior quality, and has materially injured the health especially of the poor using the war bread; and whether, in view of the increase of tillage and the extension of the wheat area in the three Kingdoms, he will consider the possibility of making the present war bread better, instead of proposing a substitute the utility of which has to be proved?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The use of a small percentage of potatoes in the manufacture of bread was favoured by the late Sir Henry Thompson, Professor of Physiology in the University of Dublin, and Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Food. The quality of bread supplied in Ireland is the same as that supplied in England; it is perfectly wholesome and of high nutritive value, and the utility of the proposed admixture has already been proved.

asked the Food Controller whether he is aware that dissatisfaction has been caused by the Order restricting the exportation of fat cattle from Ireland; and whether, seeing that a large number of live stock were fattened in order to meet the food control requirements this season, that grass-fed cattle will lose weight and quality if kept over the usual time for sale, and that the stoppage will dislocate the trade and discourage production, he will modify or withdraw the Order?

I cannot within the limits of a Parliamentary answer explain in greater detail the increments of price which I announced yesterday on the Motion for the Adjournment of the Debate, but full details will be published in the Press as early as possible.

asked the Food Controller how far arrangements have been made by the Government for cattle ready for slaughter to be utilised for the Army; and whether purchases are now being made specifically for this purpose?

Steps have now been taken to supply the military forces in England with fresh meat in lieu of frozen beef, mutton and rabbits; an arrangement which will result in the issue of a ration of fresh meat on six days a week. Purchases of cattle for this specific purpose are now being made by the Ministry of Food, and it is hoped that it will shortly be possible to dispose of as many as 5,000 or 6,000 beasts per week in this manner.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether he can state if it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill to give security of tenure to plot-holders in Ireland with a view to continuous increased food production in the neighbourhood of cities; and whether he will arrange that the grant per acre given to English allotment cultivators will be immediately extended to Ireland; and (2) whether he can state when it is intended to extend the grant per acre already paid to plot-holders in Great Britain to Irish plot-holders; and whether he will bring in a Bill to give security of tenure to Irish plot-holders and so continue the increased food supply?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which have been given to previous questions on the subject. As regards the second part of the hon. Member's first question, arrangements have been made by the Department of Agriculture for the distribution in Ireland of a grant of the same nature as in England, but I would remind the hon. Member that neither in England nor Ireland does the grant go direct to the plot-holders.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has received resolutions from the National Union of Railwaymen (Dublin District Council) and the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades requesting the appointment of an Irish committee to consider and report on the cost of living; and if he will take steps to secure the appointment of an Irish committee?

The resolutions referred to have been received, and are having my careful consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has yet inquired into the claim of Major C. H. Honey in respect of his design of 1914 Infantry equipment adopted by the War Office and used in the Army; and whether Major Honey's right to a fair reward for this design is now admitted?

Yes, Sir; I have inquired closely into the matter, but I am not at the moment able to give a definite reply to the latter part of the questions. I hope to be able to do so shortly.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that Private H. Brown, nineteen and a half years of age, a skilled engineer of over five years' experience, has been gazetted to a Labour company, the 19th Queen's Westminsters, having been certified by the doctors, on 4th July at Fulham Military Hospital, as suffering from valvular disease of the heart and many other serious disabilities; whether he was re-examined by a medical board at Woolwich for a few minutes and was graded B2 (No. 49776, 19th Queen's Westminsters), where he is employed scrubbing floors and washing plates and dishes; and whether, seeing the shortage of skilled workmen, be will take steps to have this man released and placed at work of greater national importance?

This man was regularly called up, but in view of the fact that his medical category has been reduced to B2 and that he is not employed in a technical unit in the Army, and of his previous skilled experience in civil life, his release has been recommended, and orders have been given for him to report for work with Messrs. H. M. Hobson, Limited, if willing.

asked the Minister of National Service whether, in view of the improved war situation, he will refrain from calling to the Colours time-expired discharged soldiers and sailors above the age of forty-five, so long as they are engaged on work of national importance?

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on Thursday, I am unaware of any ground for relaxing our effort to maintain our forces at full strength. I might, however, refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service on 24th June to the hon. Member for Peckham, and on 8th July to the hon. Member for Tavistock.

asked the Home Secretary why A. Sassoon, No. 1427, a conscientious objector in Pentonville Prison, has not been given an opportunity of appearing before the Central Tribunal?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. If my hon. Friend will furnish the name of Sassoon's regiment, and the approximate date of the trial, I shall be happy to have inquiry made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Coal Controller has applied to the War Office for the release of Private James Whalley, No. 1341, a skilled coal miner, aged forty-three and graded B2; is he aware that this man has been employed while on leave from Salonika by his former employers, the New Moss Colliery, and that the War Office, while granting him three months' home service on compassionate grounds, have ordered him to leave the colliery and join a home unit; and will he state the number of coal miners of inferior medical category who have been applied for by the Coal Controller or colliery owners and refused by the War Office?

The answer to the first three questions is in the affirmative. This man's demobilisation was asked for on compassionate grounds, the man not falling within any general scheme of release which has been arranged up to the present. No case is known where the War Office has refused to release an eligible man whose release has been asked for, who is willing to be released, and whose employer can re-employ him.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has given instructions that all men above the rank of sorting clerk are to be protected from military service; whether he is aware that many of the men so protected secured their posts owing to the absence of their colleagues overseas; whether he considers the military requirements are best met by allowing men of forty-eight and forty-nine to be called while Grade 1 men of the earlier military age are retained; and whether he will cancel the instructions referred to and release the remaining men according to age and medical fitness?

No such instructions have been issued. Men on the supervising classes of the old military age are being released as far as possible, while, as regards the new military age, no men, whether on the supervising or manipulative classes, are being released at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Article 3 of the agreement between this country and Greece respecting liability to military service gives the British Minister at Athens absolute power to grant exemption from military service to any British subjects in Greece; if so, will he say to how many has this exemption been given; and what is the status, professional or social, of the men to whom such exemption has been granted?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have no information with regard to the last two parts of the question.

asked the Minister of Munitions what number of discharged men is employed in each of the national shell and fuse factories in Ireland; and what proportion this number bears to the total of employés?

I shall be glad if my hon. and gallant Friend will repeat his question in a few days, as I have not yet been able to obtain all the necessary information.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he will lay upon the Table the agreement entered into between the Government and Messrs. S. Pearson and Sons, Limited, relative to their employment as petroleum development managers for the Government in the United Kingdom?

This agreement will be laid on the Table of the House to-morrow.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he can state the number of workpeople employed in the engineering and shipbuilding trades, respectively, whose wages or other conditions have been raised by awards of the Committee of Production?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The number of men and boys (exclusive of those serving with His Majesty's Forces) insured under the National Insurance Act of 1911 is about 975,000 in engineering and ironfounding and about 255,000 in shipbuilding, and from the information available it is believed that the wages of nearly all these workpeople have been raised, either directly or indirectly, as a result of the awards of the Committee on Production. The general awards of the Committee on Production do not apply to women and girls in the engineering and shipbuilding trades, but women and girls generally, who are employed on munitions work, have been granted advances in wages under the Orders issued by the Ministry of Munitions.

asked the Pensions Minister whether a special grant to a dependant, made under 7, 1A, of 5s. a week for rent, insurance, etc., is reduced to 2s. 6d. on the birth of her expected child, so that, in spite of the normal increase of 3s. 6d. due to the additional child, the total income is diminished; whether, should the child die, the grant of 5s. would be reinstated; and whether he will cause the general instructions to be revised so that special grants under 7, 1A can be continued after the birth of a child?

I do not follow the hon. Member's figures, but it is true that the birth of a child may lessen the grant under Regulation 7 (1) ( a ). Allowances under the Special Grants Committee Regulations 7 (1) ( a ) are governed by the disproportion between the present income of the household and the "pre-enlistment" income after allowing for the saving resulting from the man's absence. If as the result of an addition to the present income (whether by an increased separation allowance following the birth of a child or otherwise) the disproportion becomes less than the allowance in issue, a reduction in the allowance must be made. If the income should again fall, as by the death of the child, the former allowance would he restored. I may remind the hon. Member that the purpose of this Regulation is to put the wife as far as possible in the financial position she would have been in if her husband had remained in civil life, and that normally the income of a civilian does not rise with each increase in his family.

asked the Pensions Minister if he will take steps to see that pensions are paid for children up to the age of eighteen years; and if he is aware that in many cases children have not finished their education until they reach that age?

Provision already exists in the Royal Warrant (Articles 2 (2) and 12) for the continuance of children's allowances beyond age sixteen in cases where the children are being educated at secondary schools, technical schools, or universities. The allowances may also be continued between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one in cases of children in-incapable through mental or physical infirmity of earning a living.

asked the Pensions Minister whether, in the case of young married women whose husbands are gone to the War and who are given a 12s. 6d. per week separation allowance, complaint is made that this sum is wholly insufficient for the support of the wife; whether it is proposed to increase this amount, and, if so, when; and what the increase will be?

I must refer the hon. Member to the announcement recently made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and published in the Press, of the new scales of separation allowances which include increased provision for the childless wife who is unable to work. No further increases are at present under consideration.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he has arranged for the distribution with ring-papers of a full statement of the rights of dependants of sailors and soldiers?

The rights of dependants of deceased soldiers and sailors are explained in a pamphlet which is issued with each dependant's ring-paper. With regard to the dependants of serving soldiers and sailors, I am arranging for the distribution through the post-offices to all dependants of a notice (of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy) explaining in summarised form what assistance can be given to them by the local war pensions committees.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that, under present regulations, a discharged soldier who is under treatment in a lunatic asylum is counted as a dead man and his wife treated as a widow under Act 6, Royal Warrant, but only so far as allowances are concerned; and, if so, whether this regulation will be withdrawn and the wife allowed the same allowances as if her husband were under medical treatment?

The hon. Member's statement is substantially accurate, and I am now considering the question of diminishing the present inequality of treatment between lunatics and other discharged men in hospitals and institutions.

asked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that a number of disabled men, especially in the North, after having their scale of pensions fixed, are unable to find employment; whether he will undertake to see that all disabled men who cannot get employment shall receive full-rate pensions of 100 per cent. until employment is found for them; and whether it is his intention to propose without delay legislation to secure employment for disabled men?

I am aware that in some districts a certain number of disabled men are finding difficulty in obtaining suitable employment. The local war pensions committee are working in close co-operation with the local advisory committees and Employment Exchanges of the Ministry of Labour with a view to obtaining suitable employment for such men. The Pensions Warrant does not provide for an increase of the pension payable to a disabled man by reason of his inability to obtain employment, and I think that the solution of the difficulty must be sought in other directions. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by me yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for the North-East Division of Derbyshire.

asked the Home Secretary whether game licences are now required to legalise the shooting of game; if so, whether the relevant dates remain applicable; and, if not, what dates are applicable?

The ordinary close seasons for game remain in force and game licences are required except in those cases where occupiers of land are authorised by an agricultural executive committee under the Destruction of Pheasants Order to shoot pheasants. In such cases the close season does not apply, and no game licence is required.

asked the Home Secretary when the German delegates at the Hague first raised the question of the Germans in China; whether Lord Newton and General Belfield expressed any opinion upon the demand; and why they assented to the addition of the German reservation to the treaty?

The question of the Germans in China was first raised by the German delegates at the Hague on the 24th June, when they were informed that this matter was outside the scope of the Conference and would not be discussed. The question was again raised by the Germans on several later occasions, but in each case the same reply was given. Ultimately the German delegates refused to sign the Agreement, unless they were allowed to add after their signatures an expression of their personal opinion that the ratification of the Agreement should depend upon the settlement of this matter; and Lord Newton and General Belfield felt that it would not be justifiable by refusing this request to endanger the signature of an Agreement which, if carried out, would be of advantage to the British prisoners of war.

asked the Home Secretary how many Germans there are in China; and what is involved in the German claim regarding them?

The number of civilian enemy subjects in China is about 3,290, of whom 1,724 are women and children. The German claim is to make ratification of the agreement of exchange dependent on the undertaking of the Chinese Government not to intern or deport these persons. For reasons which have been given His Majesty's Government are unable to assent to this condition, though they are willing that the aliens in question should be repatriated.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will publish the correspondence with the German Government in regard to the ratification of the Hague Treaty?

A further communication has been sent to the German Government on this subject, and a reply has not yet been received. The question of publishing the correspondence will be considered as soon as a conclusion has been reached.

asked the Home Secretary whether Clause 1 of the Hague treaty closing Holzminden and Clausthal camps was agreed to because it was admitted by the German delegates that these camps were unfit for officers' prisons; and whether the Government has since made any demand for the closing of these camps?

No such admission as is mentioned in the question was made by the German delegates. The Article referred to was the result of complaints, not so much against the material conditions at these camps as against the conduct of the general in command of the district and the commandants of the camps. It is understood that the officer in question has now been removed from his command, and His Majesty's Government has informed the German Government that unless the provisions of this Clause are put into force at once and the commandants at Holzminden and Clausthal are in future excluded from contact with our prisoners of war, measures of reprisal will be adopted.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the discontent among the workers of the country in consequence of the compensation paid to injured persons under the Workmen's Compensation Acts; and whether the Government has any intention of amending the Workmen's Compensation Acts with a view to providing a standard of compensation more commensurate with the present cost of living?

An Act was passed last year by agreement with the representatives of the employers and the workers which provides for an increase of 25 per cent. in all cases of total disablement for the period of the War and six months after. It was made a condition by the employers that the agreement, which was specially arranged to apply to all past cases in which compensation was still running, as well as to future cases, should be regarded as a final settlement for the period of the War. I would also point out that within the maximum limits fixed by the Compensation Act, as amended by this Act, the amount of compensation has automatically increased with the increase of wages. Since the passing of the War Addition Act I have received very few representations on the subject, and unless there should occur some serious change in the situation I do not think the Government could reopen the question. As I stated in reply to the right hon. Member for Woolwich on Monday, it is proposed shortly to have a general inquiry into the working of the Act, and the whole position, including the scales of compensation, will then be reviewed.

asked the Home Secretary whether, with a view to save fuel and light, he will give instructions to modify the lighting restrictions under which many churches, chapels, and public buildings have darkened their windows and thus rendered necessary the use of artificial lighting in the hours of daylight?

It is very undesirable to use artificial light in the daytime, and if in any case the method of obscuring lights at present adopted makes this necessary I would suggest that the arrangements should be reconsidered by the persons responsible for the place of worship, in consultation with the local police. The Order allows considerable latitude as to the methods which may be adopted to comply with the requirements, and I do not think any amendment of the Order is necessary.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether, in the case of a man who had served twenty-five years in the Metropolitan Police Force and had to retire on account of physical disability caused by active service with the Colours in Burma, and who, therefore, was not in a position to rejoin the force during the War, he will favourably consider the eligibility of his wife for a pension under the new scheme;

(2) whether, in the case of a retired officer who had served twenty-five years in the Metropolitan Police Force and who, as he was an old soldier, rejoined the Colours instead of the police force, his wife will be considered eligible for pension under the new scheme; and

(3) whether, in the cases of pensioned officers of the City of London and Metropolitan Police forces who have been sworn in as special constables to guard munition works and perform 12 hours' work per day, the wives of such men will be eligible for pension under the new scheme?

I am sorry that I cannot include these cases. The scheme of widows' pensions is confined to men now serving in the Metropolitan Police.

asked the Home Secretary when he proposes to make a full statement as to the circumstances which led up to the police strike in August last?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to questions on this subject yesterday.

asked the Home Secretary what action he has taken to secure the disinfection of dangerous wool since he received the Report of the Departmental Committee which reported on 23rd November, 1917, that at a very small net cost infected wool could be rendered free from danger from anthrax?

The hon. Member refers presumably to the preliminary Report of the Disinfection Sub-committee of the Departmental Committee which was received and presented to Parliament last spring. That Report dealt only with the results of the investigation into methods of disinfection—it contained no proposals for applying its conclusions, and in the covering letter submitting the Report the Committee expressly advised that no action should be taken pending their final recommendations. The final Report, which is being issued to-day, was only received last month. It makes a series of far-reaching proposals involving the erection of disinfection stations abroad as well as in this country, the establishment of a special authority, and international co-operation. These proposals will be considered, and the necessary action taken without delay.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will instruct returning officers at the next General Election to arrange for the fixture of polling compartments at polling stations on the basis of one for every 150 electors in accordance with the provisions of Rule 16 of the First Schedule of the Ballot Act, 1872?

My Department has been for some time in touch with the Office of Works with a view to the provision by that Department of a sufficient number of polling compartments. The acting returning officers have been communicated with as to their requirements and where it has appeared that the Rule referred to in the question has been overlooked the attention of the acting returning officer has already been drawn to the point. I may mention that there has been great difficulty in obtaining the supplies of timber and ironmongery needed for the construction of these compartments.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether all the results, both borough as well as county, at the next General Election will be declared on the same day, and, if so, how long after the polling will this be; whether the declarations will be made in the morning, afternoon, or evening; and whether, in view of the dislocation of the telephone service which will occur if the results are declared in the morning only, some more appropriate hour—say 4 p.m. and onwards—will be fixed?

The time subsequent to the close of the poll to which the counts may have to be postponed has to be fixed by Order in Council, and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General on the subject. I shall be happy to bear in mind the considerations to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the President of the Local Government Board (1) whether he can inform the House fully of the process by which it is proposed to take the votes of soldiers in the event of a General Election; among other points, who will be responsible for the ballot papers reaching the individual voters; what precautions will be taken that the voting shall be secret; what record there will be that a soldier has recorded his vote; and how his vote will be transmitted to the returning officer; and (2) what arrangements have been made for the transmission of the election addresses and election literature of all candidates to soldiers in the event of a General Election?

The points referred to by the hon. Member in this and the succeeding question, together with others relating to the taking of votes of soldiers and sailors in the event of a General Election, have been considered by my Department in co-operation with the Admiralty, the War Office and other Departments, and I hope to give some information to the House at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Order of the Coal Controller providing additional coals for schools in order that the children may receive the full benefit of education, which the Coal Controller recognises cannot be achieved unless the children are warm and comfortable, applies to all schools?

All schools are dealt with on similar principles and there is no discrimination. The standard of fuel and lighting allowed is believed to be adequate for reasonable comfort and efficiency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that complaints are being made regarding the insufficiency of fuel supplies in Dublin city; whether he can arrange that a fair ration of imported coal will be delivered to citizens; whether he can state when the working Irish coal mines will be connected with the main lines; and whether any transit facilities have been provided to enable further supplies of turf and timber; and (2) whether he is aware of the position in which the poor of Dublin are placed regarding fuel supplies; whether he can state what measures are being taken to provide a sufficient quantity of coal, turf, and timber to meet their requirements; and whether he can say when the Irish coal mines will be connected with the main railway lines?

Instructions were given about a fortnight ago that bellmen and hucksters, who supply the poorer classes, are to have preference and to receive, as far as possible, their 1917 quantities. The recent gale has, however, interfered with shipping, and consequently reduced available supplies. I will endeavour to ascertain whether any steps can be taken locally to increase the supplies of timber and turf. As regards the connection of certain collieries with the railways, the position is that the Athy and Wolfhill line is completed with the exception of the sidings at the collieries, and the Castle-comer and Arigna extension railways are being constructed as rapidly as circumstances permit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the coal situation in Belfast, where the working classes are suffering hardship owing to the shortage of coal; whether it is the fact that, although there is sufficient coal arriving in the city to meet the requirements of all classes if there were equitable distribution, the working and poorer classes are unable to procure oven a bag per week; whether he is aware that the wealthy people have been hoarding coal supplies for some time and still continue to order supplies, although, according to the reports of carters, they have their cellars already so full that supplementary accommodation has in many cases to be improvised for the new supplies they are receiving; whether, under existing conditions, the coal merchant has no power to censor fresh orders from customers, with the result that the bellmen are unable to procure supplies for sale to the poorer and more needy section of the community; and whether, in view of this condition of things, he will take immediate action to secure that the coal supplies arriving in Belfast are distributed in such a manner as will meet the requirements of all classes of the community?

Reports have recently been received from Belfast of shortage of coal, which is mainly due to the bad weather which prevailed for some three weeks and interfered with shipping. Instructions were given about a fortnight ago that, in case of shortage in supplies, preference must be given to bellmen and hucksters, to enable them to supply the poor, in preference to those who already have stocks of coal in their possession.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the discontent of the inhabitants of Cwmaman, Aberdare, South Wales, caused through the Great Western Railway Company refusing to grant proper and reasonable motor service to and from Aberdare; if he is aware that if only two men more were employed by the railway company the service could be readjusted and the people's convenience be met; whether he is aware that the Aberdare Trades Council, the Chamber of Trade, the Miners' Federation, and other societies are demanding the attention of his Department to the unreasonable action of the railway company concerned, and that the miners threaten to strike unless something is done in the matter, and that the output of coal is threatened; and if he will, therefore, give this matter his attention?

I regret that the withdrawal of the motor service referred to should lead to local inconvenience, but, as I have previously informed the hon. Gentleman, I do not think that I should be justified in asking the railway company to restore the service under present conditions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Brighton express train is provided with Pullman sleeping and luncheon cars; and whether, in view of the increased haulage and decreased passenger accommodation, if the company has not already discontinued these luxuries, he will take measures to prevent their continuance?

The question whether it is necessary and desirable in any particular case to discontinue Pullman car services on railways can, I think, be best determined by the railway company concerned after taking into consideration the local conditions. I will, however, bring the hon. Gentleman's suggestion to the notice of the Brighton Company.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that inconvenience is caused to numbers of people, many of them women and young children, by the manner in which they are treated on the arrival of the mail steamers at Holyhead from Ireland owing to the train arrangements between there and London; that numbers of soldiers, many of them with their wives and families, and also numbers of civilian passengers, men, women, and children, are kept in Holyhead for more than two hours after arrival there before the train leaves for London, and that consequently the train that should arrive in London some time about midnight, when the tube and underground trains are running, does not get in until somewhere about 3 a.m. in the morning, thus causing inconvenience to all those passengers; whether these inconveniences are due to some action taken by the Board of Trade through the committee of general managers or otherwise; and, if not, whether the Board of Trade will call the attention of the railway company to the present grave inconveniences?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the sanction of his Department, through the committee of general managers or otherwise, has been obtained by the London and North-Western Railway Company for their present train service to and from Ireland; whether he is aware that passengers from Ireland are landed at Holyhead at 5.30 p.m. and detained for 2½ hours on the platform before starting for London, which is not reached till 3 a.m., when no conveniences exist for travellers getting to hotels and even the waiting-rooms at Euston Station are closed; and will he call the attention of the railway company to the present inconvenience?

I have asked the London and North-Western Railway Company to consult the postal authorities with a view to making arrangements, if possible, for the arrival of the mail train in London before midnight.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now say what is the new and amended date of the commencement of the period for calculating gas and electricity supplies to consumers under the Household Fuel and Light Order, 1918; and whether he will take steps to make this alteration known to consumers in all parts of the country?

The period referred to commences on the date of the meter readings for the quarter ending approximately 30th September last. Steps have have already been taken to make this alteration known by publication in the Press throughout the country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when compensation will be paid to the dependants of those poisoned on the steamship "War Cypress" at North Wall, Dublin, six months' ago?

I have been asked to reply. The inquiry into this lamentable calamity promised by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade has taken place, and the result is to establish that there was no negligence on the part of those responsible for working the ship and no blame attaching to anyone. The occurrence was, therefore, pure accident, and the claim of the dependants of the men who unfortunately lost their lives must be dealt with on this basis and in accordance with the provision of the Workmen's Compensation Act. I am advised that their claim lies in the first instance against the firm of stevedores by whom the men were employed. I understand that some technical difficulties have arisen which have delayed the matter, but the Ministry of Shipping will do their utmost to ensure that a prompt and equitable settlement is arrived at.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that local agents under the Ministry of Labour have received no advances of remuneration since the War began; whether he has considered the information laid before him on 6th June, 1918, when he attended a conference with the representatives from local agent's association; and what action he proposes to take?

The question of increased remuneration to local agents of the Employment Department in respect of the increased cost of living as a consequence of the War, has been under the consideration of the Department, and authority has now been given for the grant of a war bonus to local agents. This bonus is payable as from the 15th January, 1917, with an increase of bonus as from the 15th January, 1918, and is graduated according to the payments received annually by individual agents. Payment is being made under this authority forthwith, and the question of a further increase in bonus as from the 15th July, 1918, is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention had been called to the fact that atrocities have been falsely attributed to the Bulgarian military authorities, who have placed themselves at the Allies' disposal; and whether steps will be taken to prevent the publication of such false statements in the British Press?

The subject will I hope be soon investigated; and until the results of the investigation are known I hope all statements in reference to it will be made and received with the utmost reserve.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) if he will take steps to ascertain where Lance-Corporal Dudley Yeoward, of the West Yorks Regiment, who was taken prisoner on 25th April last and sent a postcard to his relatives from Hamburg in June following, but has not been heard of since, is now located; and whether he has any evidence that prisoners of war in Germany are not being allowed to communicate with their relatives?

Full inquiry will be made into this case. Yeoward is probably one of those prisoners who are employed behind the lines in France, and there is, unfortunately, abundant evidence that they are not allowed to communicate with their relatives, save for a single postcard announcing their capture. The proper and humane treatment of these men is one of the conditions of the communication in the nature of an ultimatum which we recently addressed to the German Government.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction (1) if any machinery has been set up, or is in process of being set up, to decide the priority of allocation of paper and envelopes among the users and sellers of the various descriptions of paper and envelopes after the War, and the nature of such machinery; and

(2) If any machinery has been set up or is in process of being set up to decide the priority of allocation of paper-making materials, paper-making machinery, envelope-making machinery, etc., after the War; and if special facilities will be given to manufacturers who have been successful in securing business in neutral markets formerly dominated by alien enemies and manufacturers who have temporarily lost their export trade owing to war conditions?

The Government has, upon my advice, appointed a Standing Council upon Post-War Priority to consider all questions connected with priority and the allocation of materials and machinery where a shortage is to be anticipated.

The Council will consist of representatives of industry and commerce and of labour, together with representatives of certain Government Departments, and upon broad questions of policy will be under the direction of a Committee of Ministers presided over by General Smuts. Representative bodies of the industries concerned will be consulted by the Council. It is hoped that the Standing Council will hold its first meeting at a very early date.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether, in allocating the mileage grants for medical practitioners in Scotland for the current year, the pre-war basis of allocation will be adhered to; and whether he can give an assurance that there will be no alteration meantime in the present system of allocation of the grants?

The mileage grants for insurance practitioners practising in sparsely populated areas in Great Britain have always been distributed between England, Scotland, and Wales on a basis of allocation determined in 1913. That basis, has been adhered to for the current year, an increased grant for war conditions having been made available, as in 1917, for distribution by means of a uniform percentage addition to the doctors concerned— i.e. , 42 per cent. in England, 42 per cent. in Scotland, and 42 per cent. in Wales.

In addition, a small grant has been obtained for both years for:

( a ) Rural districts not hitherto within the "sparsely populated" definition, but in which there is considerable travelling outside the 3-mile limit.

( b ) Extra payments under the scale for treatment of temporary residents.

( c ) Extra payments under the scale for treatment of discharged soldiers.

In the case of this extra grant, as in the case of an extra grant obtained in 1915 for Scotland only, no question of the reapportionment of the original grant arises by the provision of the additional sum, in view of its purpose to meet circumstances other than those for which the original mileage grant was provided.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state the amount of hops imported into this country for the years 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1914, and the countries of origin?

presented the following statement:

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the amount of production of hops in this country for the years 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1914, respectively?

The production of hops in this country in each of the years 1907 to 1914, was as follows:

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a petition of the Royal Irish Constabulary in the county of Meath asking for an increase of pay and pension, with an increased allowance for lodgings, etc.; whether, in the memorial, the men complained of the method of promotion to the higher grades; and, if so, what action he purposes to take in the matter?

The petition referred to has been received from the Royal Irish Constabulary force of county Meath and is under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will embody in the Constabulary (Ireland) Act, 1918, by way of amendment, some Clauses dealing with grievances of the Royal Irish Constabulary with regard to pay and promotion?

I must ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of the Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that William Burke, old age pensioner, No. 1540, was admitted from 7, Emmett Street, Haroldscross, to the South Dublin union for medical or surgical assistance on 10th April, 1918, and thereupon disqualified by the pension officer on 25th July, 1918, and died on 4th August, 1918; and, if so, what were the grounds for stopping his pension, seeing that the Local Government Board for Ireland, in the month of February, 1911, decided on an appeal by a pension officer in the Claremorris union district that an infirm inmate or old age pensioner might enter a workhouse and pay for his maintenance without the penalty of disqualification?

The Local Government Board have no record of the case of William Burke, 7, Emmett Street. Haroldscross, referred to in the question as having come to them for decision. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of the Claremorris case referred to I will have inquiries made.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the reason for the delay in dealing with the application of Mr. F. Pescud, of 19, Henwood Street, Rotherhithe, for an old age pension; whether he is aware that this application was forwarded in May of this year and that several inquiries were subsequently made without any result; and whether, therefore, he will settle the matter without further delay?

The pension officer (who, I should explain, is not one of my officials) was requested several months ago to obtain some information necessary for the determination of the appeal. In spite of several efforts my Department has not been able to obtain the information until two days ago. The appeal has now been determined.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of complaints against the management of the convalescent home at Letchmore Lodge estate, Herts; and that the mothers of certain of the children who were sent there have complained of the treatment of the children in the home; and whether he will make inquiries about the matter?

I will cause inquiry to be made.