asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended to introduce a Bill to prevent the ground holders from confiscating the property created by leaseholders in Great Britain at the end of their term; and whether, in view of the taxation on houses, he will consider the advisability of increasing the rates upon site values?

As regards the first part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dartford by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the 22nd of October. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Hanley on the 23rd of January and the 13th November last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a Civil servant serving in the forces will be entitled to stand as a Parliamentary candidate under the same conditions as any other soldier?

Under the provisions of Clause 16 of the Order in Council of the 10th January, 1910, a Civil servant seeking a seat in the House of Commons is required to resign his office so soon as he issues his address to the electors, or in any other manner publicly announces himself as a candidate. This regulation is binding on members of the Civil Service whether serving in the forces or not.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that in some constituencies where a contest is probable the local authorities are asking the political agents to ascertain the addresses of the thousands of absent voters in each such constituency: whether steps are being taken by the Local Government Board or any other authority to ascertain the addresses of absentee voters; and whether in any contest each candidate will be supplied with a copy of such particulars?

I am not aware of any such request having been made to political agents. In an answer which I gave on the 17th instant to the right hon. Member for North St. Pancras, I explained the procedure by which it was hoped to supply the addresses of absent voters who are entered on the books of record offices and in reply to the hon. Member for West Newington on the 28th instant I indicated a plan by which naval or military voters temporarily absent from their units can readily supply their addresses to the Registration Officers. Any addresses so furnished or otherwise obtained will be duly recorded by the Registration Officers and will be available for inspection by the candidates and their agents.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the political agents of candidates who are imprisoned are allowed to interview those candidates and discuss with them arrangements for the coming election?

So far as Scottish prisons are concerned, I am aware of only one instance of the kind referred to. In that case I have not seen my way to make any exception to ordinary prison rules.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention had been called to the case of Mark Hood, Aged Miners' Homes, Ebchester, county Durham; whether Mr. Hood was in receipt of an old age pension prior to 3rd May this year; whether on that date the pension was stopped on account of Mrs. Hood receiving a pension of 15s. a week in respect of a son who was killed in the war; and whether he will take steps to see that the payment of the old age pension is recommenced and that arrears from the 3rd May are paid?

The facts are as stated. The old age pension was revoked by the Local Government Board on the ground that the total means of Mr. and Mrs. Hood exceeded the statutory limit of £63 a year. In these circumstances no arrears are due to Mr. Hood, and payment could only be resumed if he were again to become entitled to and to be granted a fresh pension.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that retail confectioners and the Confectioners' Association view with alarm the continued shortage in supplies, which is causing hardship to a necessary industry, and call upon the Food Controller so to regulate the supplies of chocolates to the Navy and Army and other canteens in this country, and so to divert the supplies from such traders as sell sweets and chocolates only as a side line, that better supplies may be obtainable by those shopkeepers whose living depends solely on the sale of confectionery; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. It is recognised that the existing shortage of sweetmeats caused by the inadequacy of the supplies of raw materials, particularly of glucose, occasions much hardship to small retailers. The Sale of Sweetmeats (Restriction) Order, 1918, was, in fact, issued with the object of affording relief to traders, whose living depends upon the sale of confectionery, by diverting supplies from those to whom it is a side line. The experience gained in the administration of that Order has demonstrated the need for amending its provisions, with a view to effecting a further improvement in the distribution of sweetmeats, and this matter is at present receiving consideration. The value of chocolate as a food for men who are undergoing exceptional fatigue is so fully recognised that it would be undesirable to diminish the present issue of chocolate to His Majesty's Forces.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that an account for oats of bad quality supplied for food-production horses used by the Derbyshire War Agriculture Executive Committee was recently sent by the Northern Command to that committee at the rate of 64s. 6d. per quarter, subsequently reduced to 62s. 6d., amounting to £87 1s. 8d.; whether he is aware that it has been pointed out to the Northern Command that the price charged exceeds the price permitted by the Grain Prices Order, and that the committee has declined to pay more than the control price plus 2½ per cent. for Departmental charges; and what action he proposes to take?

As I have already informed my hon. Friend privately, the oats were sold to the committee at the price of 62s. a quarter, which represent the cost of the oats. These oats were American, and I have no reason to believe that they were of bad quality. The Grain Prices Order does not affect the price of foreign oats.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that, with a view to increasing the food supply of the district, the corporation of Brighton is anxious to lay on a supply of water to allotments adjoining mains; that application has been made for a priority certificate for 130 yards of lead pipe and refused; and whether, permission having been granted for the purchase of the necessary taps, he will now grant permission for the purchase of the lead pipe also?

I am aware that the waterworks engineer to the corporation of Brighton applied in June last for 140 feet of ¾-in lead piping for use in connection with certain allotments. Owing to the shortage of lead for urgent war purposes lead piping had to be refused in this as in other cases. A priority certificate was, however, issued for gas piping, and upon it being explained by the engineer that that class of piping was too weak for the purpose required, the engineer was requested by letter on the 1st August last to state the type of iron pipe required and was promised a priority permit for the same. No reply to this letter has been received by the Ministry. I have no knowledge that any permission has been granted for the purchase of the taps referred to in the question, and am unable to trace that any application for such a permit has been made.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the concessions of pay, etc., granted to the prison services of England and Wales to take effect from 18th September last, have not been extended to the Irish prison service; and whether he or the General Prisons Board have yet received a deputation representative of the prison warders?

The Chief Secretary received a deputation from the prison officers on Monday last, and their representations are engaging attention.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in the Irish country prisons a system exists whereby the clerk, warder and storekeeper warder relieve each other when either is absent through illness, or on annual leave, or any other reason; that this results in the duties of the two important posts of clerk and storekeeper being thrown upon the shoulders of one officer; that little relaxation is allowed to these two officers, who receive no remuneration for the extra duties they perform; whether he is aware that in country prisons, when a Class II. officer is absent for any reason his duties are discharged by a Class III. officer; that the latter officer receives no extra remuneration for discharging the duties pertaining to a Class II. officer; will he state why in these cases Class III. officers are not promoted to Class II., or at least receive the pay of the higher class while they are performing the duties of that class; and whether he will make inquiries into these matters, which are causing discontent in the service?

In the smaller prisons the Governor who is personally responsible for the administration of his prison is allotted a certain number of warders of different ranks to assist him. The Governor, in his discretion, assigns these officers to perform special duties, such as office work, storekeeping work, hospital work, etc. Generally, he assigns senior officers who are specially qualified for the performance of the more important duties, and these officers relieve one another as occasion demands. The selection by the Governor of a Class III. officer temporarily to perform the duties usually done by a Class II. officer gives the Class III. officer an opportunity of acquiring special knowledge which would be considered amongst his qualifications for promotion to Class II. when opportunity arises. There is no authority to grant extra pay for the performance of such temporary work.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the prices charged for sods of turf in Dublin city; and whether he will make inquiry and arrange a fair retail price for poor purchasers?

My right hon. Friend is aware that excessive prices are being charged for turf. The matter is engaging constant attention.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if any orders have been placed for the building of a ship to take the place of the Royal Mail steamship "Leinster"; if the mail steamers to and from Dublin are now being escorted; and, if not, will he take immediate steps to provide an escort?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the information given on 24th October, by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller, to the hon. Member for Dublin North. As to the remainder of the question, I do not think I can usefully add to the replies on this subject which I have given to various members since 15th October.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that it is the rule of his Department that no soldier who has been wounded for the third time is sent back to the firing line, he is aware that a soldier named Urquhart, at present stationed at Invergordon, who has been thrice wounded, is again under orders for active service; and will he see that such orders are countermanded?

No such rule, as is suggested, exists, and I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on the 23rd October to a question on the subject asked by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Sunderland. The present military situation is such that all men fit for combatant service are required overseas.

asked the Minister of National Service whether a man who after being exempted by a local military service tribunal so long as he remained in the same occupation, and it remains in the national interest, and who has not since been decertified by any new list of certified occupations, but who on receipt of a circular from the tribunal at a later date stating that he must sign on under Section B and drill with the Volunteers, did sign on and drill, will, if men in his occupation and at his age subsequently became decertified, be unable to plead that they have conscientious objections to military service on the ground that they have already consented to military service, and therefore be treated as deserters?

A man who holds a certificate of exemption on the ground that his occupation is a certified occupation and whose certificate ceases to be in force owing to an alteration in the List of Certified Occupations may apply for renewal on the ground of conscientious objection to undertaking combatant service, but in deciding his application the tribunal would be entitled to take into consideration the fact that he had served in the Volunteer Force.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Stanley Turner, a conscientious objector, in Wandsworth Prison, is desirous of having his case reconsidered, with a view to taking up work under the Home Office Committee; and, if so, whether he will now give instructions for Turner to appear before the Central Tribunal?

This man appeared before the Central Tribunal in May last, but their report was not such as to enable the Committee to offer him the opportunity of working under them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an officer who was given a temporary commission as captain without previous military experience has recently been allowed to retire, and has been granted the honorary rank of major for life after a few months' service entirely spent on the Staff; whether officers who are granted acting rank to command fighting troops and subsequently revert on the arrival of a senior officer will be entitled to a similar privilege for their temporary higher rank; and whether steps will be taken to ensure that honours of this kind shall be restricted to cases of full combatant service?

Any officer who held the rank of major for six months, and whose service throughout the time he was in the Army was satisfactory, would on ceasing to hold a commission be granted permission to retain his rank. I am afraid I cannot accept the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend in the last part of his question. That would exclude from the rule all officers whose entire service had not been in the capacity of regimental officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a Regulation recently issued in military hospitals in Scotland prohibiting soldiers from being absent from these hospitals after 5.30 p.m.; whether he is aware that this prevents convalescent soldiers attending any of the many entertainments instituted for their enjoyment; and whether it is possible to get this Regulation relaxed for some hours at least on Saturday evenings?

My attention bad not been drawn previously to this matter, but I am making inquiry, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the supply of petrol in Mesopotamia is abundant owing to the proximity of the Persian oilfields; whether a force acting under Major-General Dunsterville in the region of the Caspian Sea was recently unable to proceed further owing to a depot there being short of petrol, only four gallons being in stock; whether it was found necessary to give fifty Ford vans to the Bolsheviks in exchange for sufficient petrol to enable the expedition to proceed; if so, what officer's duty it was to keep that depot supplied with petrol; and whether he is still in charge there?

The Persian oilfields supply an ample amount of petrol to the Army in Mesopotamia, but if my hon. Friend will refer to a map he will find that the oilfields in question are a considerable distance from the shores of the Caspian Sea. In this particular instance the main depot of supply was at Bagdad, which is 500 miles by a river from the refineries and the distance from Bagdad to the shores of the Caspian is 550 miles by a very difficult road, in many places unfit for motor traffic. Along this road not only petrol but every kind of supplies and ammunition for the troops had to be carried in the least possible time. On one occasion it became necessary to obtain petrol in the manner stated, but I am bound to state that the fact that so much was accomplished under the conditions prevailing reflects great credit on those concerned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the erection of a large new ordnance depot has been commenced some miles from Havre and how much has been expended on it up to date; whether all the principal ordnance officers at Havre had advised against the erection of such depot; whether the erection of such depot has now been stopped; and, had such depot been completed and put in use, would it have necessitated the double handling of all the tonnage coming to the ordnance depot at Havre?

An inland depot has been contemplated some miles from Havre, and so far nothing more than a survey of the site has been carried out, and the scheme has now been abandoned. It is not the case that principal ordnance officers have advised against the erection of such a depot. The establishment of such a depot has been considered, under pressure from the French authorities, with a view to clearing the hangars at the docks for their usual use, which is, as in the case of all storage accommodation, situated in docks at home and abroad, to receive stores exship, in transit for installations in the interior.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the cases of men who voluntarily enlisted for general service at the beginning of the War, some of whom were old soldiers and had served in the South African War; and whether, having regard to the fact that time-expired Regulars and Territorials receive a month's leave and bounty at the termination of their period of service, the Army Council will make similar concessions to those who volunteered at the commencement of the War on the conditions referred to?

The men referred to are not entitled to leave. As regards bounty, I would refer to the answer given to my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary, on the 12th July last, to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Sunderland.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Private A. J. Kirby, 2/2nd London Regiment, and to the allegations made as to his treatment in hospital; and whether he has caused or will cause a full inquiry to be made into the case?

My hon. Friend has already been in correspondence with me about this case, and various medical reports have been seen by Private Kirby's father. The regimental records were unfortunately lost at La Fere during the rapid retreat, but every inquiry has been made, and I am unable to obtain any evidence of neglect; I regret that there is nothing to be gained by any further inquiry into the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the facts that time-expired men who have been wounded are exempt from further military service so long as they accept work of national importance and the recent decision of the Minister of National Service to grant total exemption from further military service to all time-expired men who are in receipt of disability pensions, he will consider the extension to these classes of the silver war badge?

All men who are sent to a discharge centre for discharge as time-expired are medically examined Those who are placed in Grade 4 are then discharged under paragraph 392 (xvi.) King's Regulations, i.e. , no longer physically fit for war service, and if they have served for at least seven days with the Colours during this War they are eligible for the award of the silver war badge. On the other hand, those who are placed in Grade 1, 2, or 3 by the medical board and are discharged under paragraph 392 (xxi.) King's Regulations, i.e. , as time-expired, do not comply with the requisite conditions governing the award of the badge, namely, as being no longer physically fit for war service, and consequently are ineligible. The badge is in no sense a commemorative medal awarded to all who have served during this War but is a distinctive mark for those who-have been compelled to return to civil life owing to physical disabilities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the possibility of making any inquiries through neutral countries as to prisoners in Germany who have lost their memories or speech; whether he is aware that it is deeply believed in many quarters that numbers of our prisoners have never been recorded; and whether any further steps will be taken to get details of these cases?

This matter was discussed at the recent conference at the Hague, but it does not appear that in any ease the notification of capture was withheld. I will certainly have further inquiry made if my hon. Friend can supply me with any data on which to-proceed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether temporary officers commissioned under paragraph 425 of Pay Warrant and subsequently promoted to be acting captains whilst employed as ordnance officers, fourth class, receive whilst so employed the pay and allowances of fourth-class ordnance officers, or, if not, why not?

Such officers draw the pay of their rank at Infantry rates with an addition of 5s. a day, as provided under the Article of the Royal Warant referred to. They are not ordnance officers, fourth class, and consequently do not draw pay as such.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Army Council will reconsider the question and recommend the alteration of the Royal Warrant of August last with a view to the payment of gratuities to widows of officers who have lost their lives by dysentery and other diseases contracted on service as well as to the widows of officers who have been killed or who died of wounds received on service?

All these questions have been very fully considered during the present War and decided by supreme authority. The Army Council do not propose to recommend that they should be reopened.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a, recently issued Army Order permits service in temporary but not acting rank to be reckoned for such purposes as retired pay; whether the effect of such an Order would be that while regimental officers who receive acting rank for the temporary command of troops in the field are ignored those officers who receive temporary rank for Staff and other appointments, or for command of troops at home, will benefit; and, if so, whether he can state the reason for this discrimination?

I am not aware of any such Army Order nor of any discrimination between temporary and acting rank as regards retired pay. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will give me more particulars

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to secure the same pay and allowances for British soldiers as that paid to the Australian forces?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 23rd October to the hon. Member for Bradford West.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that Mr. Tennant, a contractor for carrying out certain alterations and repairs to the Castle and other buildings used by the military authorities at Cape Town, South Africa, is not paying any of the men employed on the work the standard rate of pay of the district, that the officer commanding the district states that he cannot compel the contractor to pay the standard rate, and that this is causing discontent among the workmen; and whether he will at once give instructions that the proper rate of wage must be paid?

Inquiries will be made into this matter, and I should be glad if my hon. Friend would be good enough to let me have the detailed information which I presume is in his possession.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that Private James Keaney, No. 16821, 5th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, made an allowance of 3s. 6d. per week to his father when going on active service in July, 1915, and that no dependant's allowance was granted to his father when calculating the amount due, owing to Private Keaney being transferred from the 8th Battalion to the 5th Battalion while serving at the Dardanelles and Salonika for the term due from July, 1915, to March, 1916; and whether the amount of arrears will now be paid?

This case was fully investigated over a year ago, and I would refer the hon. Member to the letter addressed to him on the 7th September, 1917, by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War. No arrears are due for the period July, 1915, to March, 1916.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware of the case of Private C. Carroll, No. 7487, signaller, Connaught Rangers, who allowed £5 out of his deferred pay to be forwarded to his wife from the Egyptian Expeditionary Force and the same has not been received by her or otherwise accounted for; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into this case?

I would refer the hon. Member to my letter sent to him of the 29th instant, which shows the result of the inquiries made into this case.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he has yet taken steps to deal with the cases of men of His Majesty's Navy who are entitled to their long-service pensions and also to a disability pension for war injuries; whether he is aware that F. W. Fryman, C.G.R.A. 7769, is entitled to a long-service pension amounting in all to 25s. 1d.; that for injuries received in the War his disability pension has been assessed at 8s. 3d. together with 33s. 4d. a week, yet he only receives 31s. 6d. a week, but that his Department has stated that the full amount of service pension is not at present payable concurrently with the disablement pension; that his life pension of 22s. 9d. a week has been increased to 25s. 1d. a week in respect of his mobilised service, and that he will revert to this pension when his disablement ceases; and if he will take steps to end this state of affairs and see that the men are paid both pensions in full with all arrears that have accrued?

The facts of the particular case are correctly stated. In naval cases long-service pensions cannot be drawn concurrently with disablement pensions, but the latter carry allowances for service. In the result, seamen with from six to twenty-one years' service are treated more favourably than if they came under the Soldiers' Warrants, but with twenty-two years' service or more they suffer some loss. The question of revising the present arrangements with regard to long-service pensions is now under consideration by the Admiralty, and it is hoped that this grievance will shortly be removed.

asked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that the rate of pension to childless widows is still inadequate; and, if so, when and by how much it will be increased?

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Pensions Minister whether any provision is being made by his Department for discharged soldiers who, by reason of their being called to the Colours, have entirely lost their former businesses, but who are now left with the debts of these businesses, such as moneys borrowed to carry them on, or payments due to former partners, or to the relatives of former partners?

I am now conferring with other Departments on this matter, which affects not only the disabled man, but all serving soldiers who were formerly in business.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that, according to a ruling issued by the county of Devon war pensions local committee, the amount of a husband's voluntary allotment is taken into consideration in assessing the wife's income in connection with any claim she may make for a supplementary grant under the civil liabilities scheme; whether this is strictly in accord with the spirit of the Regulations, inasmuch as it inflicts hardship on those whose allotments are made public as compared with those who make allowances to their wives privately; and whether he proposes to take any action to remedy this matter?

I do not understand how this ruling came to be given, and I am taking the matter up with the local committee concerned. In considering an application for an allowance under Regulation 7 (1) ( a ), the amount of any voluntary allotment made by the husband should be disregarded.

asked the Pensions Minister if he will say how many discharged men are at present employed on the staff at the Ministry of Pensions?

The number of the permanent and temporary male staff at present employed by the Ministry of Pensions is 502, and of these 226 are invalided officers and men. In addition, 104 officers medically fit for light duty only have been seconded temporarily by the War Office for light duty to the service of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been called to a circular letter issued by the Incorporated Municipal Electrical Association, in which it is stated that a close connection exists between the principal staff of the Ministry of Munitions and large private electricity undertakings, which has resulted in a want of impartiality on the part of the Government Department concerned in granting permits for power-station and plant extensions of large electricity supply undertakings; and whether he proposes to take any and what steps to refute such charge?

My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the circular letter referred to in the question, and has asked the association to supply him with the specific grounds on which the charge of a want of impartiality is based.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether the Medical Administrative Committee has been dissolved; and, if so, why?

Under a reorganisation of the medical arrangements of the Royal Air Force, now under consideration, the administrative functions of the Medical Administrative Committee will cease, and it will become purely advisory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, in consequence of the increased cost of living, the pensions paid by members of the police force under the old scheme are inadequate for their maintenance; whether it is a fact that many of the men are of advanced years; and whether, under the circumstances, he can see his way to grant them an increased allowance?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for the Tottenham Division on the 21st October.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has now any trace of the man Gootman, who alleged himself to be a Russian resident in London, who entered himself as a student of medicine at St. Thomas's Hospital, and frequented hotels in the Metropolis dressed in khaki coat; for how long a time did he continue his medical studies; and in what town is he now resident?

I have no recent information as to this man, but I understand that he joined His Majesty's Forces in the course of the year, 1917.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that after the 1st November the night train from Stranraer is scheduled to arrive in London before 5 a.m.; and whether he will represent to the Railway Control Committee the necessity for giving consideration to the inconvenience that will be suffered by travellers engaged on work of national importance who are compelled to arrive at such an hour and who will have difficulty in obtaining an evening meal on the journey from Belfast?

I am communicating with the London and North-Western Railway Company on this matter, and I will inform the hon. and gallant Gentleman of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that some companies supplying electric light and power continue to enforce their minimum charges, whether current to their value is supplied or not, and that sometimes this amounts to 50 per cent. more than the actual value of the current consumed; is he aware that this course is acting as a direct inducement to consume electrical energy unnecessarily; and if he will direct that during the coal shortage consumers of electric light and power be charged only for their actual consumption?

I am aware that some electric supply bodies are enforcing a minimum charge. The right to make this charge is a Statutory one which is commonly conferred on electric supply bodies whether companies or local authorities who are under the obligation to maintain a general supply sufficient for the use of all consumers, and the object of the provision is to ensure to them a reasonable return for the expenditure incurred. The charge is as a rule small, and I should be sorry to think that there are many persons to whom it acts as an inducement to consume energy unnecessarily. I am taking steps to suspend the charge as far as possible when application is made for a revision of price under the Statutory Undertakings (Temporary Increase of Charges) Act of this Session, but to do it generally would require further legislation which I am not prepared to recommend to the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry has been or will be held under his Department into the precautions taken previous to her being torpedoed on the Royal Mail steamer "Leinster," and, if so, whether the Report will be published?

I am satisfied from reports received that the provision of lifeboats, rafts and other life-saving appliances on the steamship "Leinster" was adequate, and as at present advised, I doubt whether a formal investigation would serve any useful purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount of salt exported from Great Britain from January to September this year, and what were the principal destinations to which it was forwarded with particulars of the export in each instance; whether he will indicate to which of these destinations he proposes to apply the new restrictions as to export; whether these restrictions will also apply to saltcake as to salt; and whether he will take action in the matter?

The total amount of salt exported from Great Britain from January to September this year was 207,000 tons. Of this quantity 41,000 tons were exported to Norway, 29,000 tons to Nigeria, 20,000 tons to Canada, 15,000 tons to the United States of America, and 14,000 tons to India. The remaining exports were very widely distributed, the greater part being sent to British Possessions. It is not anticipated that it will be necessary materially to restrict exportation to British Dominions and Colonies, but it is probable that only very limited quantities will be available for other destinations. Exportation of saltcake is prohibited only to certain European countries, and licences are issued freely for safe destinations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the net earnings and dividends of the Salt Union, Limited, and Brunner, Mond, and Company, respectively, for the years 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1917; whether he will state what was the average price per ton of salt exported from this country for the above four years, respectively; and whether he will take action in the matter?

The net earnings of Messrs. Brunner, Mond, and Company, Limited, for the year ending 31st March, 1914, were £769,347, for 1915 £799,322, for 1916 £1,011,590, for 1917 £1,117,153, and 1918 £1,111,848. The dividend paid by this firm on the ordinary shares in 1914 was 27½ per cent., in 1915 25 per cent., in 1916 27½ per cent., in 1917 27½ per cent., and in 1918 11 per cent. on a considerably increased capital. Dividends were also paid on the preference shares at the rate of 7 per cent. in each year.

The net earnings of the Salt Union, Limited, after deducting debenture interest of £54,000, were, in 1914 £35,443, in 1915 £86,524, and in 1916 £326,555. The figures for 1917 are not yet available.

The dividends paid in 1914 were 3s. per £ share on the preference shares, and nothing on the ordinary shares; in 1915 10s. 8d. per share on the preference shares and 1s. per £ share on the ordinary shares, and in 1916 and 1917 14s. per share on the preference shares and 12s. per share on the ordinary shares.

The average price per ton of salt exported from this country was 18s. 6d. in 1914, 21s. in 1915, 29s. in 1916, and 44s. 2d. in 1917.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, before making any restrictions operative as to the export of salt, he will have full local inquiry made as to the number of men likely to be stood off in consequence, and will set up machinery either to draft the excess labour into fit occupations, or, if the limitation is only likely to be temporary, to adopt the method like that of the Cotton Control Board, to apportion the available work in such a manner as to retain the average staff of salt workers in regular employment; and whether he will take action in the matter?

The restriction of the exportation of salt has been introduced to meet the consequences of reduced output following upon diminished supplies of coal. I am advised that there is no likelihood of an excess of labour in this industry. I will, however, bear in mind the hon. Member's suggestion in the event of circumstances arising which should render it necessary to take action of this kind.

asked the Secretary for Scotland why the concessions of pay, etc., granted to the prison services of England and Wales to take effect from 18th September last have not been extended to the Scottish prison service; and whether he will take steps to have these concessions so extended and receive the deputation of prison officers at an early date?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. The concessions referred to have been extended to the Scottish prison service. A notice indicating their effect appeared in the Press last Monday.

asked the Minister of Blockade if his attention has been drawn to the large increase in the exports from the United Kingdom to neutral countries adjacent to Germany of both raw and manufactured wool and cotton during 1917 compared with 1913; and can he say that this conforms to the declared policy of His Majesty's Government in blockading the enemy?

The figures referred to receive attention. The hon. Member has, however, fallen into the error of considering exports from the United Kingdom only, and has drawn an erroneous conclusion therefrom. A proper understanding of the effects of blockade can be obtained by comparing the imports into neutral countries adjoining the enemy retained for home consumption in 1913 with similar imports from all countries in 1917. Such a comparison shows that on the average the imports have not been increased as the hon. Member seems to fear, but have been reduced by about 33 per cent. I am circulating the detailed figures with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following are the figures mentioned:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he would say under what flag the city of Damascus now lives; whether its local government is carried on under civil or under military authority; and to which government its local authority it amenable?

General Allenby was authorised on 1st October to allow the Arab flag to be hoisted at Damascus, and this has presumably been done. In accordance with the laws and usages of war the occupied territory is under military administration. The Military Governor of Damascus, Ali Pasha Ridi E Rikabi, is responsible to General Allenby.

asked the hon. Member for the Westbury Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he will state whether wages or compensation is paid to the kitchen staff during the periods when the House is not sitting; and, if not, will he now take into consideration the increase in the cost of living and pay an increased wage to the staff, and also a retaining fee during the period when the House is closed?

It is the practice of the Kitchen Committee to pay the sessional staff full wages for the Easter and Whitsun vacations, and a certain number of the older employés are paid a retainer during the long Recess. I am informed that our employés readily obtain seasonal employment elsewhere during the long vacations. I would point out to the hon. Member that the increased cost of living falls in the main upon the Department when the House is sitting, as the staff receive their food and allowance for refreshment. A Sub-committee of the Kitchen Committee considered the question of wages in January last, and it was found that our rates of pay are above the average for such work.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can now see his way to allow the whole of the unestablished service of promoted Civil Service writers to count for pension purposes and thus adopt the proposal made in connection with the superannuation of teachers whose service in a non-grant-aided school is to be counted towards pension?

I regret to be unable to adopt the course suggested in the question.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, if a person employed as a printer-in-charge and earning, with special war bonus, over £160 per annum ceases to become a compulsorily insured person under the National Insurance Act as long as his earnings exceed such sum of £160; and, if so, may he become a voluntary subscriber?

Under the National Insurance Act, 1911, a person whose rate of remuneration exceeds £160 a year is not disqualified for insurance as an employed contributor unless he is employed otherwise than by way of manual labour. If any question arises as to whether the rate of remuneration of a given individual, not employed on manual labour, does or does not exceed that limit, any extra receipts in respect of the employment, by bonus or otherwise, of a permanent nature would have to be included.

If any question arises as to whether the employment of a particular individual, or whether some class of employment, remunerated at a rate exceeding £160 a year, must be treated as employment by, way of manual labour, it may be referred to the Insurance Commissioners and determined by them under their special powers and procedure as provided under Section 66 of the Act. It is, therefore, impossible for me to give any answer to the general proposition indicated in my hon. Friend's question. If he has a particular individual case in view I shall be happy to have it investigated if he will cause it to be referred to me.

In reply to the concluding paragraph of the question, any person who has been insured as an employed contributor for at least two years may, on ceasing to be so insured, continue in insurance as a voluntary contributor.