asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the fact that the enlarged electorate will add considerably to the price of copies of the Parliamentary register, an arrangement will be made under which each candidate will be entitled to receive free of charge from the registration officer or returning officer a definite number of copies of the register?

I have been asked to answer this question. The Local Government Board have been informed by the Treasury that they are not prepared to sanction the supply of free copies of the register to political agents. The Local Government Board are however, in communication with them as to a reduction in the scale of fees to be charged for copies of the register.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now say that a reduction will be made in the price of the electoral registers?

I have been asked to answer this question. As I have to-day informed the hon. Member for the West Division of County Cork, the Local Government Board are in communication with the Treasury as to a reduction in the scale of fees to be charged for copies of the register.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state the latest date after the Royal Declaration dissolving Parliament by which candidates are to post their election addresses to naval and military voters on the absent voters' lists; and whether he will guarantee that such election addresses, if posted by that date, will be delivered to absent voters before they receive their ballot papers?

Communications intended for delivery to naval and military absent voters should be posted as early as possible, and in any case not later than two days after the issue of the Royal Proclamation. The best arrangements possible will be made to deliver such communications to absent voters, but it is impossible to guarantee delivery before the receipt of the ballot papers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that the damage done by enemy air raids to public works, sewers, etc., has varied greatly in different districts, he will reconsider the Treasury decision to throw the whole cost of repairing such damage upon local authorities?

The matter has been further considered, but I have felt bound to adhere to the previous decision. I do not think that it would be right to transfer this expenditure from the local authorities to the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the feeling and dissatisfaction both in the House and the country in reference to the treatment of British prisoners of war by the War Office, and more especially by Lord Newton and General Belfield; and whether he will take steps to appoint a Committee of this House to investigate and report upon the matter?

I do not know what complaints my hon. Friend has in his mind, but if he will bring them to my notice I will at once have them investigated by the Interdepartmental Committee on Prisoners of War. I do not think that at the present stage an investigation by a Committee of this House would be of advantage to the prisoners.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is intended to present to this House a Report upon the work entrusted to and performed by the Ministry of Information since its constitution as a separate Department, together with a statement showing, under various heads, the total amount of public money which has been expended in this connection?

There is no present intention of presenting such a Report to the House.

asked the Food Controller whether he is aware that cattle now fit for slaughter must be held by the owners for several months is an impossible position in the case of Ireland where the cattle now stand on the fast disappearing pastures, and that there is no housing or food accommodation in Ireland like there is in England or Scotland whereby these cattle can be kept for the period named by the Food Controller, and that the consequent loss from their deterioration will be one not merely to the actual owners but to the English consumers of meat; whether he is aware that cattle bought and booked for shipment on Thursday, 17th October, for Holyhead from Dublin, while these cattle were in transit the new Order restricting same was issued without previous notice to the consigner, and in consequence of that Order most of these cattle failed to be graded and the Ministry of Food authorities charged the consigner with cross-Channel freight and insurance thereon, and subsequently these cattle had to be removed to a farm with the alternative of selling them as store cattle or reintroducing them after fourteen days for grading with loss to the owner of their keep in the interval and of the cross-Channel freight and insurance; and whether, seeing that these cattle were consigned in good faith under the then existing law, the Ministry of Food will be prepared to favourably consider an application for a refund of the loss so inflicted on the consigner?

It is hoped that it may be possible within the next few weeks to remove the present restriction on the numbers of Irish fat stock to be accepted at English ports, although no definite assurance can be given. I regret that the imposition of this restriction at short notice should have interfered with transactions already made, but the urgency of the position prevented the giving of longer notice. The fact that the numbers were to be restricted on Sunday, 20th October, was announced in Ireland on the previous day. The Ministry of Food is unable to accept liability for loss sustained by-consigners.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the loss caused to the farmers of the Vale of Clwyd through the restrictions imposed upon the sale of fat cattle and sheep, and to the inconvenience involved in their return to the upland farms; whether he is in a position to make any statement as to the arrangements which have been made for releasing for sale a certain proportion of such stock; and whether he can give an assurance that there will be an improvement in the position in the near future?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am glad to be able to assure the hon. Baronet that arrangements have been made to utilise the surplus cattle which have been coming forward in this area in the manufacturing districts of Lancashire, and that there is every prospect of an improvement in the situation in the near future.

asked the Food Controller whether he is aware that at a recent market at Petersfield four draft dairy cows were sold at auction for £2 each, in consequence of official instructions, as no butcher would take them by weight, although the cows had been graded by the committee; whether the purchaser was charged £20 8s. on the four cows by the food control office, a tax of 250 per cent. on the cost of his purchase; and whether he can say by what authority this was done?

I am making inquiries into this matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Food Controller what are the charges levied on the purchaser of cattle, sheep, or pigs sold for slaughter in cattle markets at the present time; how are such charges made up; to what purposes are the moneys received in respect of them applied; is any balance-sheet published or going to be published of the same; and, if so, when?

It is impossible within the limits of a Parliamentary answer to give in detail the information asked for by the hon. and learned Member, but I am sending him statements showing the exact charges payable by purchasers of cattle, sheep, and pigs for slaughter at the present time. These per head charges on live stock sold for slaughter are paid into the Central Live Stock Fund, and are calculated to cover the costs of distribution of live stock and meat supplies including railage, droving, sea transport (in the case of Irish and Scotch cattle) lairage, slaughtering, insurance and losses incurred owing to the difference between the buying and selling prices of home and imported meat. Balance-sheets of the fund will in due course be submitted to Parliament.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will give the names of the prisons and Borstal institutions in which trained nurses are employed, the number of such nurses, and the training and qualifications possessed by each; whether such nurses wear any distinctive uniform; what other duties, if any, besides nursing they perform; and what provision is made for sick prisoners in institutions in which no trained nurses are employed?

No professionally trained nurses are employed permanently as such in the Irish prisons. At the larger prisons and institutions warders or assistant matrons are assigned for hospital duties who satisfy the medical officers that they possess the required knowledge and skill for ordinary cases of sickness. In certain cases the medical officer has full authority to provide from outside suitably trained nurses, male or female, as he may deem necessary, or if he is of opinion the patient needs care which cannot be given in the prison hospital he may recommend the patient's removal to a hospital outside the prison under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Administration Act.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the fact that the men in Royal Irish Constabulary barracks are at present obliged to defray all the cost of cleaning the same, to purchase brushes and doormats, and pay a servant for the purpose, he will make arrangements to have all such costs defrayed out of public funds?

It has always been the practice for the members of the force to pay their barrack servants out of their own pockets and defray any other cost incurred in sweeping and cleaning the barrack premises. Such charges could not now be thrown on the public without the authority of the Treasury.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the fact that district inspectors in the Royal Irish Constabulary get an extra allowance of £1 per week and their clerks 1s. per day for work on behalf of the Food Controller, he will also consider the claims of sergeants in charge of stations to remuneration for the same work, as they are at present forced to execute additional duties under this Department without extra remuneration?

The temporary authority given by the Treasury for allowances in respect of food control work done by the Royal Irish Constabulary is restricted to the district inspectors and the members of the force assisting them as clerks. These payments are chargeable against the funds of the Food Control Department. I do not consider that there are sufficient grounds for recommending a special allowance also for the sergeants in charge of stations.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the number of district inspectors and head constables, respectively, who are at present serving in the Royal Irish Constabulary and who have completed forty years' service and attained the age of sixty years; the number of county inspectors retained at present in the Royal Irish Constabulary under similar conditions; what is the result of the circular issued some months ago to county inspectors directing them to recommend for retirement useless aged men and calling their attention to the necessity of retaining in the service only active and efficient men; what is the age and service, respectively, of the senior head constable in Belfast and county Meath; and whether he can state why district inspectors and head constables are retained in the service after they have ceased to be efficient, seeing that county inspectors are retired on reaching the maximum age and service?

None of the county inspectors at present serving in the force have completed forty years' service and attained the age of sixty years. Eight district inspectors have attained the conditions mentioned, but are not yet qualified to receive the maximum pension of the rank and class in which they are serving and their compulsory retirement is not, therefore, required by Section 4 of the Act 45 and 46 Victoria, ch. 63. Twelve head constables are still serving who have completed over forty years' service, and are sixty years of age. The cases of all head constables over sixty years of age were considered some time ago by a board of officers at headquarters, and all those who were considered inefficient were retired from the force on pension. The senior head constable in Belfast is sixty-three years and has forty-five years' service. The senior head constable in county Meath is sixty-three and has forty-four years' service. Both were reported to be active and efficient when the cases of all head constables over sixty were considered by the board of officers at headquarters some months ago. No district inspector or head constable who is reported to be inefficient is retained in the service after attaining the conditions as to age and service mentioned. It should be borne in mind that Section 2 of the Police (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1915, is still in force and the object of that Section is to prevent, during the War, the retirement on pension of members of police forces who are fully efficient in the discharge of their duties.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state how many men of the Dublin Metropolitan Police have died since the outbreak of the present epidemic; if any move has been made by the authorities to convert any of the police barracks in Dublin into a temporary hospital; if those who are at present laid up with the disease are getting proper medical attention; if the arrangement made for the treatment of these men is adequate; if it is not possible to arrange for the opening of a temporary hospital, whether he will arrange to have the fares paid to their homes of those sick members of the force who wish to return to their homes, if he is aware that, owing to the present high cost of necessaries and the pay of members of the force, those who have been stricken find it very difficult to provide adequate food and nourishment for themselves during their illness?

There were eight deaths from the epidemic. All serious cases are sent to hospital. In each barrack, rooms or wings of the barracks have been set apart for the use of those afflicted. It would not be possible to devote the whole of any particular barrack for the purposes of a hospital or to fit up, equip, and staff a separate building as a temporary hospital. The three medical officers of the force have been in constant attendance upon the sick men. All men who were willing to submit to it have been inoculated with vaccine. All barracks are disinfected daily and everything that can be done has been done. There is no fund out of which travelling expenses of those members of the force, suffering from illness and wishing to return home, could be paid. The men receive full pay during illness. Medical attendance and medicine being free, the cost of subsistence of men suffering from the epidemic in barracks entails no extra expense.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Light and Coal Saving Restrictions Order recently applied to Ireland, while imposing penalties on the licensed traders and practically ruining the trade of those of them who carry on combined businesses, affords no saving of light or coal; and whether he will modify the Order so as to enable traders to do business on market and fair days, the only days on which business is done in rural towns, or fix a uniform one-time closing hour at, say, 7 o'clock p.m. for all traders?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question of the hon. and gallant Member for East Antrim on the subject on the 31st ultimo. An Amending Order is in preparation.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the committee of management of the Maryborough District Lunatic Asylum, at their meeting held in the board room of the institution in June last, reconmended the grant of a war bonus to the superannuated members of the institution; whether he is aware that the Local Government Board has not since sanctioned the payment of the grant; whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the cause of the delay on the part of the Local Government Board in sanctioning the payment of the grant as recommended by the committee; and whether he will give directions for the payment of the grant to these superannuated officers?

It is a fact that the committee of management of the Maryborough District Lunatic Asylum provisionally granted the superannuated members of the staff a war bonus if they had power to do so. The committee were, however, informed by the inspector of lunatics that they had no power to make such a grant, and they were also advised by their own legal adviser that if they did so they would render themselves liable to surcharge. The Local Government Board have not received any communication from the committee of management of the asylum on the subject mentioned in the question. Superannuation allowances to officers of asylums are regulated by Statute, and the Board have no function in relation thereto.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give instructions for a statement of accounts of the late Private Owen M'Guiness, No. 1360, Royal Naval Division, who was presumed dead six months ago, to be sent to his father, who made application five months ago for such a statement but has been unable to get a reply?

There is no trace at the Admiralty of the receipt of the application from Mr. M'Guiness. Steps are being taken to furnish him with a copy of his late son's account, as he requests.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that his Department have made an offer to the men employed on boom defence at Milford Haven of a weekly wage of 53s. for six shifts or 62s. 8d. for seven shifts; that the men have declined to accept this offer; that they have endeavoured to find employment with private employers at the docks and have been informed that the employers had been forbidden to engage them; whether the Admiralty have given such instructions to the employers; and whether he is aware that there is danger of a stoppage of work in consequence?

It is not correct to state that the men were offered a new rate of wages. It was decided that there is no necessity to continue overtime. The men stated that they were not prepared to work on present rates without overtime pay, and gave notice to cease work. It is not true that instructions have been given to private employers forbidding them to engage these men. No stoppage of work is apprehended.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give the names of the two men who enlisted in the engineer section of the Royal Naval Division in September, 1914, under a form prescribing that their service should be for three years or the duration of War, whichever period should be shorter, were afterwards transferred to the Royal Engineers, and have now been promised a month's furlough on re-engagement?

Sappers Ratcliffe and Rose.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men of highly meritorious service in the War are being discharged as surplus to military requirements, under paragraph 392 (XVIa), of the King's Regulations; whether he is aware that this is felt by the men to be an undeserved reflection on their services in the War and deprives them of certain advantages with respect to further liability for military service, and bars them from the silver war badge; and whether, in view of these facts, he will have the wording of the discharge altered to "not physically fit for further war service" in all suitable cases?

I am aware that men of highly meritorious service in the War are being discharged as surplus to military requirements, but I would explain that no man is discharged under sub-paragraph 392 (XVIa) King's Regulations who is physically unfit for further war service. A man who is eligible for a silver war badge would not be discharged under sub-paragraph 392 (XVIa) King's Regulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can consider the transference to home service of Hairy Beamish, No. 55745, 16th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, France, in view of the fact that he is now the only support of his widowed mother, his only brother having been admitted to an asylum as the result of shell-shock sustained while on active service?

Inquiries are being made in this case, and I will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private F. C. Lewis, No. 241569, B Company, 4th Reserve Battalion, Seaton Delaval, enlistend in the 5th Gloucester Regiment in March, 1915, was severely wounded in 1916, was again wounded in 1917 very dangerously with shrapnel in the lung, was operated on, and remained nine months in hospital; whether he has been reported unfit, or whether he is in fact unfit for any further military service, and should be discharged, but whether instead of being discharged he is retained in the Army so that he may be compelled to do farm work, which he is wholly unfit for; and whether, before enlisting, he was a clerk employed on the Great Western Railway?

I am making inquiry, and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what sum was standing to the credit of Private F. Taylor, No. 12051, 8th Battalion West Riding Regiment, at the time he was reported missing three years ago; and if he will give instructions for any sum which may be due to be paid to his parents?

I should be glad if the hon. Member would furnish me with the address of the father of Private Taylor as it may enable me to have the matter settled.

asked the Minister of National Service whether, in view of the present military situation, he is prepared to suspend the further calling-up for service of married men over the age of forty-five who have families dependent upon them?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the possibilities of any relaxation of the instructions with regard to recruiting—and particularly in the case of men such as his question refers to—are kept under constant and careful consideration by the Government, and as I stated in an answer which I sent yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Sunderland we may, I think, legitimately hope that before long some relaxation will be possible.

asked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been called to the case of Private Alfred Stephens, No. 63510, 3rd Battalion South Wales Borderers, who died at Hotel View Auxiliary Military Hospital, Waterloo, Liverpool, on 14th October 1918; whether this man was totally rejected on 11th July, 1917, re-examined on 25th June 1918, and placed in Grade 1; whether his father appealed for re-examination, furnishing medical evidence as to his son's health, but his request was refused; whether his death was due to his unfitness for military training; whether there was any negligence on the part of the military authorities; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made?

If my hon. Friend will inform me where the medical examination was held in this case I will certainly have inquiries made with regard to the matters contained in the earlier parts of the question. As to the latter parts I see from the OFFICIAL REPORT for Monday last that they are being dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the conscientious objectors who were taken from Walton Prison to Wakefield recently on being taken back to prison were deprived of all their privileges for a week; whether one of these men, Mr. R. A. Jones, was asked to sign an undertaking to observe prison rules and, because he refused to do so, was put on punishment; whether he is still undergoing punishment and by what authority this punishment has been inflicted; and will steps be taken immediately to see that an end is put to it?

The prisoners in question when at Wakefield Prison refused to obey orders and were punished by reduction in stage, the special privileges which had been conceded to them being withdrawn. On transfer to Liverpool Prison, they were still under such punishment. Neither R. A. Jones nor any other prisoner was asked to sign an undertaking or punished for refusing to do so. Jones is not undergoing punishment.

asked the Home Secretary if he will take steps to have a stop put to the successive punishments which are being inflicted upon a coloured man named Hall, a conscientious objector, in Pentonville Prison; and if he will inquire why the complaints made to the visiting magistrates have been ignored?

This prisoner has been awarded punishment on several occasions by the visiting committee for refusing to work, refusing to obey orders, damage to prison property and noisy conduct. No complaints have been made to the visiting committee and the prisoner says that he has no cause to make any such complaint. It is within the prisoner's own power to put a stop to the successive punishments and I cannot interfere with the discretion of the magistrates in dealing with the case.

asked the Home Secretary if a letter has been received from Dr. J. Schlesberg, of Chatburn, about the case of his brother, a Russian subject, who was illegally taken into the Army and has been denied an opportunity of claiming exemption, and who is now in Pentonville Prison; and what action has been taken by the Home Office in the case?

I have received a letter about this man from a Mr. J. Schlesberg, in which he stated that his brother was sentenced by court-martial in June last to six months' imprisonment. I have no knowledge as to the circumstances in which he was called up for military service. Since he came to prison he has appeared before the central tribunal, who reported that he could not be said to have any real conscientious objection to military service. I see no ground for any action by my Department.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Mr. A. A. Dawson, a counter clerk and telegraphist attached to the South-Eastern District, joined the Colours on 6th August, 1914, at the age of 17 years; whether Mr. Dawson was recommended for his appointment in the Post Office in July, 1914, but that, owing to some delay, it had not been made by the date of his call for military service; whether, in consequence of the failure to make Mr. Dawson an appointed officer, he has been kept on the scale of pay proper to a learner, with the result that he has lost the cumulative value of three annual increments; and whether, having regard to the exceptionally early age at which Mr. Dawson enlisted and to the fact that his appointment had been recommended prior to the date on which he was called to the Colours, the Department will recommend the Treasury to treat this case as an exception to the rule?

Mr. Dawson was not recommended for appointment as counter clerk and telegraphist before he enlisted. His turn for appointment did not come until several months after he enlisted. There are no grounds for making an exception in this case to the ordinary regulation.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will consider the desirability of posting soldiers who work on the land to the neighbourhood of their own homes, with a view both to the comfort of the man and also to saving the nation's money; and if he is aware that at present men cannot be transferred from one county to another to their own homes without a substitute being found, which is not always possible?

It is the practice that men posted to agricultural companies for work on the land should be sent to their county of origin and employed, as far as possible, in their own districts. The transfer of men not working at present in their own county is proceeding as opportunity offers, but any general transfer without substitution would upset the fair distribution of labour, and would in many cases deprive farmers of the services of men who have been working for them for many months. New instructions as to procedure are about to be issued, which will facilitate the action desired by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that patients and convalescents in Bagdad and neighbourhood, when ordered by medical officers special diet of eggs, are unable to get such, while the messes of the officers of all regiments there have full supplies of this food; and, if so, will he see that hospitals get the preference in all foods?

I have received a report from the Commander-in-Chief in Mesopotamia, which also deals with the question of the supply of beer raised by my hon. Friend in a question on Wednesday last. Shortages in the supply of eggs for hospitals in Bagdad have occasionally occurred, owing to difficulties in ensuring punctual deliveries from the source of supply in the Hillah district, which is four and a half hours by rail distant from Bagdad, and also owing to the prevalence of poultry diseases. To obviate this shortage, efforts have been made to increase the supplies by purchases locally. As regards the supply of beer, there was a shortage in one hospital for a few days during July and August last, and in another hospital stout had to be substituted for beer on seventeen days during October. The Commander-in-Chief states in his report that the shortages of beer or eggs were not attributable to preferential treatment of regimental messes. I have asked for a definite assurance that the arrangements for the supply are now satisfactory.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War whether he is aware that great waste of petrol is taking place in the use of Government motor cars in Mesopotamia for pleasure purposes; whether the Regulation forbidding the presence of any female in such Government cars is in practice there; and will he make inquiry into this waste?

I am not aware of any waste of petrol in Mesopotamia nor that motor-cars are used for pleasure purposes. I have on previous occasions stated that strict instructions have been issued on the subject. Inquiry is, however, being made of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to secure leave for Company Quartermaster-sergeant W. Cockshoot, No. 362205800 Area Employment Company, Labour Corps, Cairo, who has had no leave for four years, and applications made by the man's wife to the commanding officer of the company having proved futile?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, with regard to the case of Private Stephen Johnson, No. 9360, D company, 1st garrison battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, aged forty-nine, whether he is aware that he has been in Egypt serving continuously since Christmas, 1914; that he has a wife and two children residing at No. 4, Maymus Street, Cross Lane, Salford; whether leave is now being given to some of the troops in Egypt; and whether married men like Private Johnson should have the first claim for consideration for leave?

In answer to these questions I would refer to my reply on the 17th October, to my Noble Friend the Member for Nottingham (South). I need hardly point out that the grant of leave is necessarily dependent on a variety of conditions which still prevail after the cessation of hostilities in a theatre of war, but I hope it may be possible to increase the transport facilities to enable a larger number of men who are serving in Egypt to receive leave in the near future. I regret I cannot take any special action in individual cases such as those referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private G. W. Harvey, No. 136656, Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport, 347th Company, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Egypt, has served in Egypt for over two years and nine months without leave; that he had applied for leave to attend to urgent private affairs; and whether he will consider the possibility, having due regard to the exigencies of the Service, of granting this soldier short home leave?

Inquiries are being made into this case, and I will write to my hon. and gallant Friend later.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the improved war situation and the fact that six months' leave in Australia is being granted to members of the Australian Forces who have been on active service since the outbreak of war, he will arrange to give the option of either six months' leave or transference to permanent home service to all survivors overseas of the original British Expeditionary Force?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that if and when the situation admits of such treatment these men will be among the first to be considered for leave.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that an officer who is appointed acting fourth-class ordnance officer does not get the pay of a fourth-class ordnance officer whilst he is discharging the duties of such an officer; and will he take the necessary steps to procure for acting ordnance officers the pay of the rank in which they are acting?

I understand that the officers to whom my hon. and gallant Friend refers are incorrectly described as acting ordnance officers, and I fear I can add nothing to my reply of the 31st ultimo.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the late Gunner Harry Dewhirst, No. 11053, 109/281 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, who enlisted on 4th April 1910, was discharged on 1st September, 1910, on joining Special Reserve, Royal Field Artillery, was called up at the commencement of the War, and was killed in action on 16th August, 1917, would have been entitled to £15 bounty if he had served until 30th August, 1917; and, if so, whether, having regard to the fact that Gunner Dewhirst lost the last two weeks' service required to entitle him to bounty by reason of the fact that he met with death whilst on duty, he will inquire into the case with a view to all or part of the bounty being paid to the late soldier's mother, who is a widow and is in need of it?

This bounty is issuable only to soldiers who are retained beyond the completion of their engagement. It is regretted that no exception can be made to this rule.

asked the Pensions Minister why the pension allowance of 10s. 3d., issued 17th July, 1918, to H. Prendergast, late Army Service Corps, No. 6715, Certificate S.F.B. 18289, has not been paid when he applied the last two weeks?

I regret to find that the new book in continuation of this man's pension was sent to the wrong post office, this causing a break in payment. The matter has now been put right.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the National Reserve bounty was denied to those men who, although they had signed the obligation card and complied with all other conditions, joined the Territorials in 1914 instead of the Regular Forces; and whether, in view of the fact that there has been practically no difference in the duties performed either by Territorials or Regulars in this War, he will consider the question of issuing a bounty to all National Reservists who complied with the conditions of the obligation card irrespective of the branch of the Service they joined?

Yes, Sir, I am fully aware of all the circumstances of this question, which has been discussed on many occasions in the course of the last four years. I am afraid I can hold out no nope that the explicit conditions of this grant will, after this lapse of time, be altered.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he received representations in August last from the hon. Member for South Carnarvonshire as to the conveyance of the workmen of the Aluminium Corporation to and from the work in the neighbourhood of Capel Curig at an altitude of over 1,000 ft. in open trucks; and whether the company has now provided satisfactory protection for the men?

Two Foden wagons and trailers are used for the conveyance of workers of the Aluminium Company to and from their depot at Llugy. Although it is understood that no complaints have been made to the firm by the men themselves, as soon as the question was brought to the notice of the Ministry by my hon. Friend the firm were approached with regard to providing covered vehicles. Some difficulty has been experienced in procuring these, but in the meantime the present wagons are being covered so as to afford the most effective protection possible in the circumstances.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is possible, either out of the existing superannuation funds or out of some other fund, to grant a small war bonus to those police pensioners who are over seventy years of age and whose pension is 15s. a week or under?

I regret that I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on the 21st October. The amount of the pensions is fixed by Statute and could not be increased without legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give an assurance that no pledge will be given to the Turkish Government with regard to the future disposal of any part of the Turkish Empire prior to the decision of the Peace Conference?

We do not propose to give any pledge of the kind suggested.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the marked reduction in street lighting, he will consider the desirability of relaxing the present Regulations for the shading of lights in the windows of shops and private houses, especially during those hours of the evening in which the streets are crowded by people returning to their homes?

I am informed by the military authorities that it is not desirable to relax the requirements as to the shading of lights in shops and houses at present, but where the police find that more light is required for safety the necessary steps will be taken to improve the street lighting. I would point out that, apart from air-raid precautions, the use of lights in shop windows is prohibited on grounds of economy by an Order of the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Education what will be the main factors of the Grant to local education authorities for elementary education for the year 1919–20?

The main factors of the Grant in question will be as follows:

Thirty-six shillings for each unit of average attendance in public elementary schools maintained by the authority;

Three-fifths of the authority's expenditure on the salaries of teachers in those schools; and

One-fifth of the remaining net expenditure, other than that on special services.

Less the produce of a 7d. rate upon assessable value in the area.

The maximum limit of this grant will be the same as the maximum limit now prescribed for the Supplementary Grant. The minimum limit will be 50 per cent. of the net expenditure instead of 40 per cent.

The Grant for the year will be calculated on the figures of the year.

asked the Home Secretary who are the present holders of the office of chief constable at New Scotland Yard; and how many of them, respectively, are civilians, military men, and retired police officers?

The present holders of the office of chief constable are: Major E. M. Lafone, previously Deputy Chief Constable of Kent; Major M. Tomlin, who had previous police experience in Southern Nigeria and with the Berkshire Police; and Mr. J. W. Olive, until recently a superintendent of Metropolitan Police.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give the names of the prisons and Borstal institutions in which trained nurses are employed, the number of such nurses, and the training and qualifications possessed by each; whether such nurses wear any distinctive uniform; what other duties, if any, besides nursing they perform; and what provision is made for sick prisoners in institutions in which no trained nurses are employed?

If the Noble Lord will put down an unstarred question, I will give him the details for which he asks.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what is the total sum expended on auxiliary scientific investigations and medical research from the establishment of the Board to the present time?

The Grant for auxiliary scientific investigations concerning the causes and processes of disease was transferred from the Vote for the Privy Council Office to that of the Local Government Board in the year 1877–78. From that year to the present date sums amounting to £77,258 18s. have been paid for those investigations. In addition, sums amounting to £15,361 3a. 3d. have been expended by the Board in respect of their Patnological Laboratory, which was established in 1910.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the result of the inquiry he promised in July last into the average amount of work actually done by the telephone operator on Sunday at Taunton for which he is paid 5s. for a nine-hour shift?

The returns of traffic show that continuous attention to the switchboard is required during very few of the nine hours' attendance. In these circumstances, I do not regard the authorised allowance as inadequate.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware of the loss caused to many occupiers of land by the recent disastrous flood due to the bursting of the banks of the River Aire, at Haddesley, near Selby and of the fact that many of the men affected are very small holders, and have lost the greater part, if not the whole, of the crops grown on their arable land; and whether the Board are able to hold out any hope of assisting them to tide over their losses?

I am aware of the serious damage referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, and I regret greatly the loss which has been sustained by so many of the occupiers in the district. The Board's Commissioner has been asked to ascertain the extent of the loss, and on receipt of his report the Board will consider whether the case is one in which any compensation from public funds can be recommended.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, when it is intended to commence the valuations of the Sussex friendly societies which, under the National Insurance Act, ought to have been completed three years ago?

No fixed date is prescribed by the National Insurance Acts for the valuation of approved societies. Up to the outbreak of war sufficient time had not elapsed to justify a valuation, and since then the exceptional conditions arising out of the War have made the holding of a valuation undesirable, while the serious depletion of the staffs, both of the Commissioners and of the approved societies, has made it impossible. The position is now being carefully surveyed with a view to proceeding with the valuation as soon as the necessary preliminary work on the part of the societies has been completed and the general conditions are such as to enable the work to be efficiently carried out.