asked the Prime Minister whether the Allied Governments at Versailles have declared their willingness to make peace with Germany on the terms of peace laid down in the Presidential Address to Congress of 8th January and in subsequent addresses to Congress; whether the Allied Governments interpret President Wilson's declaration that invaded territories must be restored as well as evacuated as meaning compensation to be made by Germany for all damage done to the civilian population of the Allies and their property by the aggression of Germany by land and sea, and from the air; and whether, in view of the crimes committed by Germany against civilisation and humanity, the Allied Governments are prepared to accept such terms of reparation and atonement, or whether they are determined, in addition to the compensation to civilians for damage done, to make Germany pay in full for all the expenditure Germany and her allies have inflicted upon the peoples of the Allied countries, including all pensions to sailors and soldiers and their dependants?

It is not possible for me to make any statement on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make an announcement with regard to the award of a Gallipoli medal or ribbon?

asked whether he has now received replies from the Colonial authorities with regard to the award of the Gallipoli decoration; and, if not, can he say what is causing the delay?

I regret that I am not in a position to make any statement to-day, but I hope to be able to announce a decision on Thursday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discount is allowed on the prepayment of Super-tax; and whether he will consider, with a view to the early collection of revenue, the acceptance of any sum prepaid on account of Super-tax at a discount equal to the interest on the War Loan?

Discount on prepayment of Super-tax, at the rate of 2½ per cent. per annum calculated for the number of days by which the tax is paid in advance of 1st January, is allowed to persons claiming such an allowance. The suggestion contained in the second part of the question has been carefully considered, but the administrative difficulties with an overworked staff would of itself make it, in my opinion, undesirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Committee appointed to inquire into the question of equal pay for equal work in the case of men and women is likely to make its Report?

As indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for the Attercliffe Division of Sheffield on 29th October, this subject is one of great complexity, calling for recommendations which may have far-reaching effects. In these circumstances much investigation is necessary, and the Committee do not anticipate being able to make a very early Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received representations as to its being no longer necessary to insure property against hostile aircraft action; if so, what reply he has made to them; and whether he can say when the Government insurance scheme will be brought to an end?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth on Thursday last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Scottish distillers are refusing to sell to certain of their old customers stocks of whisky which they hold in bond; whether such discrimination is in accordance with Orders of the Government; and whether he will inquire into the refusal of the Customs officials at Liverpool and Cardiff to release certain shipments of port wine now lying in those ports?

No person is obliged to sell whisky in bond to any other person. In order to meet the case of holders of clearance authorities, who have no clear able whisky and cannot obtain it from their usual sellers, arrangements have been made with the more important holders of stocks to release such quantities as will suffice to prevent consumers from being wholly cut off from supplies. As regards the last part of the question, I have made inquiries, and I understand that the only consignment of port wine under detention by the Customs at the ports of Liverpool and Cardiff consists of 30 pipes, for which evidence of origin is required as a condition of importation. If the hon. Baronet will furnish details of the shipments to which he refers, further inquiries shall be made and the exact position with regard to these communicated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what annual tonnage of ore has been treated at the Gwyn Gold Mine, situate on Gwynfynydd Farm, in the county of Merioneth, since 1888; what was the aggregate value of the gold and silver obtained therefrom; what has been the average value of the gold and silver per ton of ore obtained; and how does this compare with the average per ton at present obtained from the South African mines?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I will send the hon. Member a table giving the information desired.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, although established Civil servants have received war bonuses totalling 19s. per week, the temporary clerks have only received bonus to the amount of 14s. per week; can he state the reason for this differentiation in view of the fact that the bonuses have been granted to meet the increased cost of living, which is imposed on all alike; whether it is proposed to grant to the temporary clerks the bonus of 5s. awarded to established servants in July last; and whether such award will be retrospective to that date?

The war bonus granted to permanent Civil servants has been extended to temporary employés whose rates of remuneration were fixed before the War, but it is not applicable in the case of temporary employés whose remuneration has been fixed during the War on the basis of war conditions. The question whether any increase should be given to such employés must depend on the circumstances of each case.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the practice of the Treasury in regard to counting service for pension purposes in the case of men who entered the service in an unestablished capacity and were afterwards, upon the recommendation of their respective heads of Departments, promoted to the establishment?

The general rule is that unpensionable service remains unpensionable when followed by pensionable service, but to this rule exceptions have been made by virtue of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Superannuation Act, 1887. I am afraid that there is no simple formula which would enable me to summarise the variety of exceptions which have been made in different Departments to meet varying conditions of service.

asked the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury whether an advertising agent has been, or is now, employed by the National War Aims Committee who, in a case decided in the King's Bench in February, 1917, was found by the jury to have misconducted himself in relation to certain contracts by rendering false accounts; and what action he proposes to take?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what further steps he proposes to take to save further loss of food supply by the deterioration of fat cattle consequent on the scarcity of feed to keep the animals in condition; and if he is aware that at present numbers of ripe fat cattle cannot be disposed of by the methods in operation?

The possibility of providing additional feeding-stuffs in view of the changed military situation is being carefully explored, and the Food Controller hopes to make an announcement on this subject to-morrow.

asked what number of fat bullocks were slaughtered and the meat chilled and put in cold storage during the last and previous four weeks, respectively; and the number slaughtered and frozen for the same purpose during the similar periods?

All meat, whether intended for chilling or freezing, must pass through the initial process of chilling. In order to economise space, all the cattle which have been slaughtered will, if the machinery is powerful enough, be frozen, and as the process is still in operation it is not possible to say how much meat can be safely retained after passing the initial process of chilling. With regard to the second part of the question, the weights of home-produced meat chilled and put into cold storage during the periods mentioned were approximately as follows:

asked the Food Controller, with regard to the price to be paid to the producer for milk, whether the rate applies to all parts of the United Kingdom; if it is a maximum rate and obligatory on producers; and whether any penalty is incurred by selling at a lower rate?

The price fixed for wholesale sales of milk by the producer under the terms of the Milk (Winter Prices) Order, 1918, applies to all parts of Great Britain. It is a maximum price, but producers are free to sell milk at a lower rate. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Food Controller whether he is aware that coffee bought at the lowest price now ruling on the London market costs 1s. 7d. per lb., whereas he has fixed a compulsory retail price of 1s. 6d. in all shops throughout the Kingdom; whether his Department was approached by the home trade section of the London Coffee Association some six months since and asked to fix a wholesale price for superior Santos which would allow retail sales to continue at the price he had fixed; why he did not adopt this course; and whether he will now fix such a price for superior Santos coffee, giving the legitimate trade an adequate notice, seeing that there are forty weeks' stock available for the requirements of the country, and that the high prices have been mainly caused through outside speculation?

The lowest price now ruling on the London market for raw coffee in bond is approximately 85s. per cwt., and this corresponds to a price of approximately 1s. 4¾d. per lb. for roasted coffee, duty paid. A retailer is not compelled to sell any particular coffee at 1s. 6d. per lb. The Coffee (Retail Prices) Order, 1917, enables a retailer to sell roasted and ground coffee up to 2s. 6d. per lb., so long as he is able and willing to supply the reasonable requirements of any customer for coffee at 1s. 6d. per lb., and displays a notice in his shop to that effect. This Ministry was not approached by the home trade section of the London Coffee Association as suggested, but it has from time to time consulted the Coffee Trade Advisory Committee (which includes the secretary of the home trade section) as to the advisability of fixing wholesale prices for all coffee. After careful inquiries, it was not thought desirable to fix wholesale prices, as, although prices were rising, the rise was considered to be due to the legitimate expenses of keeping coffee in the country and not to speculation. In the course of the last few weeks, however, the wholesale prices of coffee have tended to rise beyond what is considered to be due to legitimate charges, and there is some evidence that this is caused by speculation. Steps have already been taken with a view to eliminating speculation, and it may become necessary for wholesale prices to be fixed. In any case, adequate notice of any action proposed to be taken will be given to the trade.

asked the Food Controller how much bacon imported by the Ministry of Food since the 1st January last has been sold for soap-making and for purposes other than human food, and the cause which rendered it necessary to condemn this bacon for food purposes and to sell it for other purposes?

Claims made and allowed to the trade for heated and tainted pieces of bacon represent approximately ¼ of 1 per cent. of the total deliveries. A reasonable estimate of the portion which might have found its way to soap boilers through the trade is not more than 15 per cent. of this proportion, or approximately 1/25th of 1 per cent. of the whole. This is rather less than the usual loss incurred by the trade in pre-war days. Owing to delays in transit arising from war conditions, such as the priority required to be given to troops and munitions, certain parcels of bacon have reached this country in a tainted condition. Portions of cargoes from torpedoed ships also arrived in a condition only suitable for rendering purposes, and were disposed of accordingly.

asked the Food Controller whether his Department have issued a notice that the existing control of the tea trade will be continued until the 25th January, when a new system will be introduced for the succeeding six months; and whether the trade is to understand from this notice that the Government have decided that the importation and distribution of tea is to remain in the hands of the Food Controller until this period terminates, irrespective of whether the War is concluded?

The Ministry of Food has issued a notice to the effect that the existing scheme of tea distribution covering the period to 28th December, 1918, will be continued for a further period of four weeks—that is, until 25th January, 1919; and that as from 26th January, 1919, certain modifications of the existing distribution arrangements which experience has shown to be desirable will be brought into operation. The altered distribution arrangements will have currency for a period of twenty-four weeks from 26th January, 1919, unless the situation becomes altered in the meantime. As concerns importation, existing contracts with the growers have currency till 31st May, 1919.

asked the Food Controller whether he is aware that California sardines and pilchards were bought and paid for continuously from the autumn of 1917 to the late spring of 1918, and latterly under the direct authority of the Department of Import Restrictions; whether full information was supplied to the Ministry of Food as to the commitments of importers not only by the importers themselves, but by the London Chamber of Commerce; whether an embargo was placed in June last upon shipment of such goods for private account, and whether such embargo was placed secretly without notice to the importers concerned; and whether he has received a protest from the chambers of commerce of London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Gateshead, Glasgow, and Bristol, and the Imperial Commercial Association, pointing out that the course pursued in this and other matters has decreased the supplies of food for the people of the country, increased its cost, and inflicted damage upon the national revenue?

As to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on the 5th instant. A list was supplied early in February by the London Chamber of Commerce of consignments of canned pilchards and canned salmon awaiting shipment in the United States of America. No embargo, secret or otherwise, has been placed on the shipment of goods so licensed in uncontrolled tonnage; but, as indicated in the previous answer, owing to the demands made on tonnage for the shipment and supply of American troops, it was not possible to allot controlled tonnage space for the carriage of sardines and pilchards. With regard to the last part of the question, there is no record of any protest having been received from the bodies mentioned on the subject of the importation of Californian sardines and pilchards.

asked the Food Controller whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in order to safeguard against loss farmers who winter feed cattle, it has been calculated that, owing to the present price of feeding-stuffs and farm produce, the price of beef on 1st April would need to be 15s. per cwt. live-weight more than the live-weight price paid for store cattle on 1st November or five months winter feeding; and whether farmers who are endeavouring to prevent a beef famine in the spring months will be assured against a loss?

I have considered the calculation which the hon. Member was good enough to send me. It estimates the cost of a bullock on 1st November at 70s. per live cwt. I am advised that 68s. would be a more accurate estimate, but, taking the Kildare Farmers' Association's own figures, in view of the fact that the price for first-grade fat cattle in April has been fixed at 83s. per live cwt., it would appear that farmers will be sufficiently compensated for their endeavours to prevent a beef famine in the spring.

asked the Food Controller whether his attention has been called to the fact that an all-round increase in the price of sheep during the spring months penalises all the long-wooled breeds of heavy sheep, such as Roscommons, etc., and differentiates in favour of the short-wooled varieties of light sheep, Roscommon wethers two years old in March weighing 120 lbs. per carcass, and short-wooled hoggets 60 lbs., the all-round increase working out at twice as much per lb. in favour of the light-weights and handicapping the heavyweight sheep?

The increases in the price of sheep during the spring months are average increases, varying with estimated weight of the animal. I cannot agree that the prices fixed penalise heavyweight animals.

asked the Food Controller whether a calculation has been made showing how much weight a fat grass-fed bullock, 12 cwt. live weight, fit for slaughter from 15th October to 5th November, will lose per month or week when obliged to be kept on bare pasture during November and December, no cake or other feeding-stuff being available to keep the beasts in condition; and can he say what deterioration in grade will take place?

The calculation suggested is of too hypothetical a character to be usefully made.

asked the Food Controller if a controlled price has been fixed for malt; and what are the particulars?

No controlled price has been fixed for malt manufactured during the 1918–19 season, but at the request of the traders concerned a committee of brewers and maltsters has been set up to consider any complaints of excessive prices.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will arrange that an equal ratio of cattle feeding-stuffs will be immediately supplied to Ireland in view of the continued embargo, which necessitates out-feeding for grass-fed cattle?

The Food Controller is not prepared to depart from the agreement whereby Ireland is allotted 12 per cent. of the available supply of cattle cake. This agreement was made after thorough discussion of the requirements of the three countries with representatives of the three Departments of agriculture, and the question cannot now be reopened.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the Army, despite the fact that their own requirements are less than one-ninth of the average yield of hay, have taken possession of the whole of the 1918 crop of hay and straw, and that the administrative member of the Forage Committee has abolished direct dealing between producer and consumer and set up a scheme of allotment and distribution through county committees in spite of the Army Order of 17th July, 1917; whether he proposes to place the lifting of civilian supplies of forage entirely under Army control; whether protests against such a scheme of military trading and control have been received from merchant retail distributors, railway companies, and other large consumers; and, if so, whether the Government will restore free bargaining at controlled prices as regards all forage not required for the use of the Army?

Such changes as have recently been made in the control and distribution of hay and straw are due not to any action on the part of the Administrative Member, Forage Committee, but to a scheme propounded by the recently appointed Central Council for Civil Supplies, upon which body producers, dealers, and consumers are equally represented.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state exactly what powers are possessed by county war agricultural committees to enforce either the ploughing up of further grass land for the production of cereals or the cropping of existing arable land with cereals instead of soiling crops, or other crops designed to meet the shortage of feeding-stuffs?

The powers of the Committee are contained in the Cultivation of Lands Order, 1918 (No. 2), made by the Board under Regulation 2 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, as modified by the Corn Production (Amendment) Act, 1918. I shall be glad to send a copy of the Order to my hon. Friend. It authorises Committees to serve notices on occupiers requiring them to plough up grass land or to grow corn on existing arable land, but in either case the occupier or the owner of the land can require the reference to arbitration of the question whether it is desirable in the interests of food production that the requirements of the notice should be carried out.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has made or intends to make any Order under the Defence of the Realm Act purporting to extend the season in which black game may be legally killed?

The Board of Agriculture for Scotland have already extended the period for shooting black game by advancing the date for commencement, and have now received my authority to the issue of an Order further extending the season for killing grouse and black game from 10th December to 20th January next.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the reasons which have caused him to refuse to issue an Order giving farmers and crofters the right to destroy winged game engaged in damaging or consuming crops on their holdings; and whether, in the interest of the conservation of food, he will reconsider his decision in the matter and thus place winged game in the position of deer and rabbits in this respect?

It is not the case that sanction to the issue of an Order enabling farmers to destroy winged game which are damaging or consuming crops on their holdings has been withheld. I refer my hon. Friend to the Winged Game (Scotland) Order, 1918, which authorises district agricultural executive committees, in cases where they are satisfied that damage is being done to corn crops either standing or in stook or in stack, to give permission to the farmers concerned to shoot or snare grouse, black game, and pheasants. The power to destroy winged game is not conferred on farmers unconditionally, as in the case of deer and rabbits, but I am not satisfied that any hardship has resulted.

asked the Secretary for Scotland specifically the terms of the Orders issued on his instructions for the slaughter of deer in the Highland counties for the purpose of increasing food supplies?

"The occupier of any agricultural holding in Scotland is hereby authorised to kill by any means available deer that are trespassing on his grazings or causing injury to his crops.

"Provided that, where the Board are of opinion that the powers conferred by this Order are being abused by any such occupier, they may by notice served upon him suspend the operation of the said powers as regards his holding."

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what was the charge made against Shaun Haughey, who was arrested on 4th October in Londonderry; whether he was brought before a magistrate or court-martial or was granted any form of trial; if he will state his present whereabouts; and will he see that he is sent back to Ireland for trial and that his friends be given an opportunity to make arrangements for his defence?

John Haughey was arrested on 4th October on suspicion of being connected in raids for arms at Beechhill, Londonderry. He was remanded by the resident magistrate for two days. The military failed to identify him during his remand, and it transpired he was a military absentee. On being questioned he refused to answer, and was handed over to the military authorities. For any further particulars, I would refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether national school teachers promoted to first-of-first grade between 1st April, 1917, and 1st December, 1917, are to be recouped the temporary financial loss consequent upon promotion or only those so promoted after 1st December, 1917?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that under the arrangement sanctioned by the Treasury in August last, teachers in first division of first grade are entitled to be paid in each case—without regard to the date from which promotion to that Grade was sanctioned—such an amount of war bonus as may be necessary to secure that the emoluments from Grade salary and bonus combined shall not be less than the emoluments under these heads received by the teachers in question when recognised in second division of first grade. Arrears are payable under this arrangement for service given on and after 1st December, 1917, the date from which the system of fixing the amount of the war bonus Grant according to the grade in which the teacher was serving was brought into operation.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland to what extent Rule 121 of the Code of the Commissioners of National Education affects the award of increments and promotion to teachers of bilingual schools?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that in accordance with the terms of the last sentence of the Rule, a somewhat lower standard of efficiency is accepted by the Commissioners when making awards of increment or promotion to teachers of bilingual national schools and due regard is had to the special difficulty of teaching under such conditions.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a section of Irish national teachers, who are not married to teachers, and who have to support large families on a salary which amounts to only 7d. or 8d. per head per day of their families, have asked for a war bonus for each child in their families similar to that granted to children of the Irish police force; and whether it is proposed by the Government to concede the request?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, the question of the rates of war bonus to national school teachers was recently under the consideration of the Conciliation and Arbitration Board. The decision of this Board has been received and steps will be taken to pay arrears accruing to the teachers under the new rates as soon as possible. No special provision is made for the class of teachers referred to in this question.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) why the seventeen temporary employés in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, who perform the same class of work as those who are termed permanent, have not been paid the award of 1st July, 1918, which has been paid to all Government employés under the same Schedule?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension in the matter, as the award in question dealt only with the cases of permanent and quasi-permanent Civil servants. The Department, however, some time ago forwarded to the Treasury an application, asking that sanction might be given for the extension of the war bonus in question to various classes of temporary employés, including those referred to by the hon. Member, and the decision of the Treasury in the matter is awaited.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the number of national schools in county Donegal in which the bilingual programme was in operation during the school year 1917–18; the number of such schools in which fees of 8s., 6s., and 4s., respectively, were paid for such instruction; the number in which payment of fees was refused; and the number in which a lower fee was paid in respect of 1817–18 as compared with previous school years?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will consent to grant the Return standing in the name of the hon. Member for the College Green Division of Dublin?

The information asked for in the Return is not available, and cannot be procured without an expenditure of time and labour out of all proportion to its public utility.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has read Mr. P. C. Cowan's Dublin Housing Report; if he is aware that 27,000 families are in urgent need of sanitary and comfortable houses; and what proposals the Government intend to take to deal with the matter, and when they will be carried out?

I have read the Report. I am aware of the urgent need of houses. It has not been possible to move in the matter during the War.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland who were the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests in Ireland who recently submitted their resignations to the Government, and which of these Commissioners persisted in resigning in spite of his request to them to retain their office; when these resignations took effect; if they were announced in the "Gazette"; if the vacant posts have yet been filled; if those resigning stated that in so doing they were protesting against an unqualified Treasury refusal to give effect to a carefully considered, reasoned, unanimous, and reiterated opinion of the Board; if he will state whether it is proposed to persist in the reduction by small amounts of the salaries of officials with important, responsible, and constantly increasing duties in face of the fact that this reduction has resulted in the loss of the unpaid public services of Commissioners of such long standing and repute as those Privy Councillors, judges, and prominent commercial and professional men who have lately resigned their office?

The following members of the Board submitted their resignations to the Government—namely, the Right Hon. Mr. Justice Ross, the Right Hon. Mr. Justice Pim, the Right Hon. Mr. Justice Dodd, the Right Hon. Laurence Waldron, Mr. Denis Henry, K.C., M.P., Mr. Frederick Pilkington, D.L., and Mr. Henry P. Goodbody. I pressed all of them to reconsider the matter, and the following have kindly withdrawn their resignations—namely, Mr. Justice Dodd, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Pilkington. The resignations will be announced in the Dublin "Gazette" as soon as their successors have been appointed. The reason for the resignation of these gentlemen is that stated in the question. I deeply regret the resignations, and the Government is greatly indebted to those gentlemen for the valuable services rendered by them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the number of Government Boards and Departments of which the Chief Secretary for Ireland is ex-officio a member, the constitution of each Board, and its powers?

The Chief Secretary, as such, is a member of three Boards, namely, the Local Government Board, the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, and the Congested Districts Board. He is ex-officio the President of the Local Government Board by virtue of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1872 (35 and 36 Victoria, c. 69). The Board consists of the Chief Secretary and Under-Secretary for the time being, the Vice-President, and two other Commissioners, one being qualified in like manner as the medical Commissioner under the Medical Charities (Ireland) Act. He is also President of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland by virtue of Section 1 of the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899 (62 and 63 Victoria, c. 50). Subject to the provisions of this Act the powers and duties of the Department may be exercised by the President or Vice-President, or by any person appointed by the President to act on behalf of the Vice-President during the temporary absence of the latter. The Chief Secretary is also a member of the Congested Districts Board by virtue of Section 44 of the Irish Land Act, 1909. The Board consists of fourteen members. Of these three are ex-officio , namely, the Chief Secretary, the Under-Secretary, and the Vice-President, Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland; two are paid members, and the remaining nine are appointed by His Majesty to hold office for five years.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a representation has been made to him by the prison warders of Ireland requesting an increase in pay; and whether he can now inform the House what the intentions of the Government are regarding this request?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question of the hon. Member for the College Green Division of Dublin on this subject on Thursday last.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether requests have been made by the Royal Irish Constabulary for an increase in pay to cover the increased cost of living; and whether he is able to announce that the Government are prepared to give such an increase?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Order Paper for to-day, on which he will see the Preliminary Money Resolution for the purposes of the Bill dealing with this matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state what action the Estates Commissioners have taken in reference to the claims of Mrs. Michael Rogers, formerly of Dunboyne, county Meath, but now of Carnans, Relaghbeg, county Cavan, to be reinstated or supplied with a new holding; and is he aware that this woman's husband was evicted as far back as 1885 from his farm in Tullnaskneagh, Bailieborough, county Cavan?

The Estates Commissioners have no power to interfere with the present occupier of the holding formerly in the possession of Michael Rogers, deceased. The application of Mrs. Rogers has been provisionally noted by the Commissioners for consideration in the allotment of such land as may become available for distribution by them under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many evicted tenants have been reinstated or given new farms in county Cavan; what is the date of the last transaction of this nature; how many evicted tenants are at present awaiting reinstatement in county Cavan; how many inspectors are dealing with this branch of work in the Estates Commissioners' offices; and what is the present prospect of the county Cavan evicted tenants being reinstated or supplied with new holdings?

105 Cavan evicted tenants have been reinstated in the former holdings or provided with other holdings. The date of the last transaction of this nature is April, 1917. This work is part of the general work of Inspectors when dealing with estates. Five persons seeking reinstatement as tenants evicted from holdings in county Cavan are provisionally noted by the Commissioners for consideration in the distribution of such untenanted land as they may acquire under the Land Purchase Acts, and their cases will be considered when the Commissioners have lands available for distribution.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Thomas Smith, Balloughly, Kingscourt, the son of Mary Smith, who was evicted in 1883 on the Blake or Fleming estate, Cormeen, Moynalty has yet been given a farm; will he state the cause of the refusal or delay; and will he fully investigate this case with as little delay as possible?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question of the hon. Member for North Meath on the subject of the 19th April, 1917, and to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mrs. Fitzstratton, of Banagher, King's County, aged seventy-two, has been refused an old age pension by the local pension sub-committee on the grounds that, although born and brought up in Banagher, she spent some years in Belgium, from which she returned home seven years ago; and whether her temporary residence in Belgium disqualifies her for an old age pension?

The Local Government Board have no knowledge of cases dealt with by local pensions committees, except such as are referred to them on appeal, and there is no record of an appeal in this case. Under Section 3 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, it is enacted that it shall be a statutory condition for the receipt of an old age pension that the person must satisfy the pension authorities that for at least twelve years in the aggregate out of twenty she has resided in the United Kingdom. It would appear, from the question, that Mrs. Fitzstratton has only spent seven of the last twenty years in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the Congested Districts Board for Ireland will be able to resume the purchase of congested estates; and by what authority the Treasury have suspended the operation of the Land Purchase Acts by refusing to advance to the board or the Estates Commissioners the funds necessary for the purpose?

The operation of the Land Purchase Acts has not been suspended, and advances have continued to be made to the Estates Commissioners for this purpose throughout the War. Of these advances the Congested Districts Board has received the proportion allocated for their requirements by the Irish Government; and the Treasury has taken no action in regard to this allocation. In 1915, however, the Congested Districts Board approached the Treasury for a special loan for improvement of estates already in their hands, and in connection with this loan it was agreed that no fresh agreement should be entered into by the board until they had arranged for the resettlement of the very large number of estates already taken over in anticipation of purchase.

asked the Home Secretary if he will make inquiries into the treatment of Stephen Jordan, now in Birmingham Prison; if he is aware that on 21st August this man petitioned for clothes and boots, he having no soles on his boots except those he made himself out of cardboard; if he will say what is the diet scale of this prisoner; and if he will see that he receives better treatment?

Stephen Jordan petitioned on 21st August for civilian clothes and civilian boots. He refused the clothing then supplied to the interned prisoners, namely, the clothing prescribed for untried prisoners. The rule was subsequently altered and he was supplied with the boots and clothing he had asked for. As regards his diet, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 9th July last to the hon. Member for North Somerset on this subject. The conditions of his internment have been made as liberal as the circumstances will permit, and I do not think that any further modifications are either necessary or practicable.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that on the 4th instant fifty-seven men of the Motor-boat Reserve were discharged at Southampton at one day's notice and four days' pay; that these men had seen much service, one of them having been acting during his later period of service as an instructor; and whether the policy that is to be put into force during demobilisation by way of tiding men over a period of unemployment can be applied in this case?

The facts are as stated, but my right hon. Friend must not confuse this discharge with demobilisation. This particular discharge was in consequence of an urgent call for manpower in other forces. Most of the men had been at the depôt for at least three years, but have not seen very much sea service. One of these was an instructor, but as very few men are now under training in this particular depôt, it was found possible to dispense with his services. It may be as well that I should state at once that on demobilisation each man will receive at least twenty-eight days' leave with pay and allowances, and that he will be fully insured against unemployment for a period of not less than twenty weeks during the first year.

asked the Minister of National Service at what stage in the national demobilisation it is intended to release men of low medical category over forty-one years of age who have been ordered to take up work of national importance?

As already announced in the Press, the Government has decided that all recruiting under the Military Service Acts is to be suspended, although those Acts remain in force. The Government intend very shortly to issue an announcement dealing with the question raised by my hon. and gallant Friend, and I trust he will find this satisfactory when he sees it.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction if he can state which Committee or Committees are considering the question of the demobilisation of women warworkers; whether any of the Committees have reported or are ready to report; and what steps are being taken to put into operation the recommendations of the Committees?

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether any scheme has been elaborated for continuing as State or other manufactories large munition and the like factories, employing many thousands of workers, as soon as the War ceases; and, if not, whether such action is required, in view of the inevitable results of suddenly closing establishments upon which so many citizens directly or indirectly depend for their livelihood?

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether it is the fact that there are at present employed on the making of munitions of war 250,000 lads under military age; and will he say what scheme is under the consideration of the Ministry to prevent the danger that may be caused by numbers of these lads being thrown out of employment on the termination of hostilities?

I hope later in the day to make a comprehensive statement on reconstruction questions, particularly with regard to demobilisation, and I will endeavour to deal fully in my statement with the points raised in these questions.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the duty of the Medical Department of the Admiralty to supply ambulances for the conveyance to hospital of naval officers on leave who are taken dangerously ill in London; is he aware that a well-known London doctor reported to the Admiralty on Sunday morning last that his patient, a naval lieutenant, was suffering from acute pneumonia with a temperature of 104, and should only be removed to hospital by ambulance; that, after promising the doctor that an ambulance would be sent, the Department telephoned to the patient that this could not be done; and that this officer had to get up, go downstairs, and be taken to hospital in a cab, to the imminent danger of his life?

On Sunday morning, 3rd November, Dr. Des Vœux notified us by telephone that a patient of his, a naval officer, was ill with influenza; that he was probably suffering also from commencing pneumonia at the base of one lung. The telephone message from the doctor did not lead us to understand that it was his view that the patient should only be removed by ambulance. Our Medical Department replied that the matter would be immediately taken in hand and that an ambulance would be sent if possible. They at once endeavoured to secure an ambulance from two organisations, but were refused on the ground that the case was infectious. So far as our own Medical Department is concerned—and our Medical Director-General has one ambulance attached—the lady who drives the ambulance was on leave and he failed to get into touch with her by telephone. As it was essential that the patient should be immediately removed to hospital this was done, as described by my hon. Friend. The medical officer who dealt with the details of the case reported the matter the next day and arrangements were at once made to have available the services of a second ambulance and to provide a standby driver. I am happy to say that the patient does not appear to have suffered from the circumstances of his removal and is reported this morning to be doing well.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what grants, loans, advances, or gifts have been made during the War by his Department to employers or manufacturers for the purchase, repair, or upkeep of plant, machinery, or factories, or for other purposes, and on what conditions?

It has been necessary for the purposes of the War to extend the plant and works of certain manufacturers who, while having no need or desire for their own purposes to undertake work beyond their pre-existing capacity, had been pressed to expand their production of purely war material or of merchant shipping tonnage. Extension of existing works where practicable was considered to be more speedy and economical than the erection of entirely new factories or yards. In some of these cases contributions towards the greatly increased cost of carrying out such extensions under war conditions have been made out of naval funds. The conditions imposed vary to meet the circumstances of each scheme. It should be remembered that where a firm carries out such an extension without direct assistance, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have power to make a rebate of the excess cost due to war conditions in assessing the sums liable for Excess Profits Duty; and where direct grants are made, the facts are reported to Somerset House to prevent any undue allowance being made by that Department. When the whole cost of the extension has been borne by the Admiralty, the plant and works remain Admiralty property, the firms paying interest, or rent, or making an allowance in the contract price fixed for work made on the plant in question.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that executive petty officers of the Portsmouth Port Division are being promoted to chief petty officer at seven and a half years' seniority as petty officer, whilst the executive petty officers at Chatham Port Division are being promoted at eleven and a half years' seniority; and whether he will inquire into this question with a view to equalising these promotions, so that the period of time served shall count equally and fairly to all concerned?

Owing to variation of vacancies for chief petty officer, the time which petty officers have to serve for advancement rises and falls periodically at the three depots, but rights itself. At other times Chatham men have had the advantage. The conditions of service of these ratings have been and are now under consideration, and they have been improved recently by a decision which allows time over eight years served as petty officer to count as chief petty officer time for pension and towards increase of pay in the chief petty officer rating.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if the separation allowance given to the wife of a sailor is less than that given to the wife of a soldier; and, if so, what is the reason?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of Command Paper No. 7619, which explains fully the reasons for the differentiation. He will, of course, recollect that in the case of ordinary seamen, A.B.'s, and privates, R.M., and equivalent ratings and ranks, if the man allots a sum which leaves him with not more than 10s. 6d. a week, and his wife or dependant then receives less in separation allowance, allotment, and allotment concession, than the wife or dependant of a private in the Army would receive, a supplementary separation allowance to make up the difference is paid by the Admiralty.

asked whether the new scale for increased separation allowances for the dependants of soldiers has been applied to the dependants of sailors?

Yes, Sir; subject to certain small variations in procedure due to the different conditions of pay and service in the Navy and the Army. I much regret that in Navy cases, owing to lack of accommodation and staff, it will not be possible to pay arrears of the increased children's allowance before Christmas. But arrangements have been made to start the weekly payments as from Thursday, the 2nd January, 1919, on which date all arrears will also be paid.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that James A. Lauder, late lieutenant and quartermaster of the 84th Training Reserve Battalion, is very much dissatisfied at the refusal of the War Office to grant him a war gratuity of £124 for three years' service in His Majesty's Forces; whether he is aware that under paragraph ( b ), 497, Warrant for Pay, the man is entitled to a war gratuity and that he is still suffering from neurasthenia on account of his service overseas; whether he is prepared to reconsider the whole case again with a view to a gratuity being granted to him; and, if not, will he allow James A. Lauder to appear before a member of the War Council to state his case in full?

The grounds on which Mr. Lauder was called upon to resign his commission preclude the issue of the gratuity; the case was very carefully considered at the time, and I am unable to reopen it now.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private William Garner, No. 3671, late Notts and Derby Regiment, was awarded a Service pension of 6d. a day some years ago on his discharge; that this pension was stopped in January, 1917; and that he rejoined and has served in this War and is in receipt of a conditional pension for disability at the present time; whether, under the Regulations, Service pension should not continue to be drawn as well as disability pension; and whether he will make inquiries into the reason why this man's Service pension has been stopped?

This pension of 6d. a day was not a Service pension but a disability pension, and it has been merged into the disability pension which has been awarded to him in respect of his service in the present War.

asked the Pensions Minister if he will inquire into the case case of Arthur H. Wade, late bugler, No. 10637, D Company, 6th Service Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, enlisted in August, 1914, and having contracted tuberculosis while on active service, was discharged on 9th February, 1915, and who, after various attempts at earning a livelihood, was recently discharged from employment as writer in the inspection department at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, as unfit for further service, and has now been offered a gratuity of £37 10s. in final settlement; and, in view of the fact that this man is often unable to work, will he reconsider the amount of the gratuity or the grant of an alternative pension, in order to place him in the same position financially, within reasonable limits, as he enjoyed before the War, after making allowance for his greatly diminished capacity for earning a living?

"This man has been examined a number of times since discharge, and the conclusion of the examiners, including a specialist on the throat, is that his condition is not due to tuberculosis. His condition has improved to some extent, and is now adequately compensated for by a final gratuity."

asked the Pensions Minister if he can explain the delay which has occurred in the award of a pension to Squadron Sergeant-Major T. Reilly, No. 20342, 6th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, who was discharged from the Army on 21st September last; whether the pension of this soldier was assessed as far back as 5th August, 1914; and whether, seeing that he has made repeated applications without success to the Ministry for payment of the pension, he will give instructions for an immediate settlement of the case?

The hon. Member is presumably referring to the "Service pension" of 34d. a day for life, with effect from 5th August, 1914, which was awarded to this soldier under Army Order 1 of 1918. The question of the delay in payment of his pension is a matter for the War Office, but from inquiries which have been made I understand that payment, with full arrears, will be immediately issued.

asked the Pensions Minister whether any provision, gratuity, or donation of any kind has ben granted to Mrs. Margaret Lehane, of Keelavoy, Banteer, county Cork, whose two sons have been killed in action, Private Richard Lehane, Royal Welsh Regiment, on the 12th August, 1915, and Private Michael Lehane, No. 9293, Irish Guards, killed 30th March, 1918; and if any inquiry has been made into the circumstances of Mrs. Lehane, who in her old age is wholly dependent on the old age pension?

No notice appears to have been received in my Department of the death of the first-named son, in respect of whom separation allowance was presumably not paid. With regard to the second son, investigation proves that there was no pre-war dependence, but in view of Mrs. Lehane's circumstances inquiries are being made of the local committee with a view to the award of a parents' special pension.

asked the Pensions Minister whether it has now been decided to make officers and men of the Mercantile Marine and their dependants eligible for assistance from the King's Fund?

The trustees of the King's Fund have decided to extend the benefits of the fund to those classes of the Mercantile Marine who are under naval discipline and as such have been recently brought within the pensions schemes of the Ministry.

asked the Pensions Minister if his attention has been called to the case of Mr. A. Croppe, late No. 33328, gunner, 86th Battery Royal Field Artillery, who met with an accident while on duty resulting in the loss of his right arm, and was discharged on 17th July, 1908, but is not eligible for consideration under the Royal Warrant for the pensions of soldiers partially disabled in former wars; and will he consider whether steps can be taken to remedy this omission by adjusting the pensions of men so situated to the same rate as that issued to men who have been similarly disabled during the present War?

The accident which led to the discharge of this soldier was sustained while he was on ordinary military duty in time of peace, not during a former war, and he is therefore not eligible for increase of pension under the Royal Warrants. I do not consider that there is any ground for bringing former disability pensions not awarded for war service into line with the pensions of the present War.

asked the Pensions Minister if his attention has been drawn to the award of £26 a year pension to the mother of the late Lieutenant John M'Kenzie, Royal Garrison Artillery; and whether, seeing that Mrs. M'Kenzie has no other income and that she is, according to medical evidence forwarded by her doctor, a confirmed invalid, he will cause inquiry to be made into her case?

The pension awarded is £36 a year, not £26. No medical evidence was forwarded by Mrs. M'Kenzie, but, if she will now send it, the question of increasing her pension somewhat will be considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that an application, supported by a petition from over a hundred farmers in the Ashbourne district of Derbyshire, has recently been made to the War Office through the Food Production Department by the Derbyshire War Agricultural Executive Committee for the discharge of Saddler F. Lowndes, No. 820168, Royal Field Artillery, in the interest of food production and on compassionate grounds; whether this soldier has served continuously at the front since early in 1915; whether he received his time-expired leave of one month before rejoining in July of this year and special extension of leave until 28th September on account of the death of his father, who carried on a business in saddlery; whether he is aware that his only brother has been killed on active service; that his mother and two young sisters are left alone; that it has been found impossible to obtain any male assistance to carry on the business, except that of German prisoners of war, which in the circumstances of the family is undesirable; and whether, in view of the change in the general situation, he will take further action in this case?

A petition for the release of Saddler Lowndes was submitted, as stated by my hon. Friend, and as a result his leave was extended until the 20th October. In view of his high medical category, and the fact that he was employed at his trade in the Army, where his skilled services were required, it is regretted that his leave could not be further extended or his release from the Army sanctioned. Inquiries have, however, again been made as to whether his services can now be spared from the Army in France.

asked the Minister of National Service whether men over forty-nine years of age are still being called up; and whether, in the case of a kitchen gardener of that age in sole charge, whose appeal to the tribunal was rejected last August prior to the issue of official circular R 232, recommending the exemption of kitchen gardeners, and who has been called up for 9th November, the man can now be released?

asked whether he received a letter from the hon. Member for Rotherhithe referring to the application for release from military servce of Private Fermor, No. 801361, 30th London Regiment; and whether anything has been done in the matter?

I should like to take this opportunity of informing the House that my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Service is making arrangements for the Demobilisation Department of the Ministry of Labour to take over as early as possible the control of all work on the civil side in connection with release from the Colours, so that all matters relating to demobilisation may be under a single control. I will see that my hon. and gallant Friend is informed as to the particular case to which he refers in his question.

asked the Minister of National Service whether, in view of the inconvenience and loss of time caused by the calling up of agricultural workers for medical re-examination, this practice can now be discontinued?

As my hon. Friend will have seen from the announcement in the Press this morning, all notices calling men up for medical examination have been cancelled.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that at recent medical examinations at Exeter men were kept for a considerable time in a semi-nude condition, thereby contracting pneumonia, which has resulted in the death of two young agriculturists aged thirty-one and thirty-three, respectively?

I was not aware of the matter referred to by my right hon. Friend, but I am having inquiries made; and would be glad if he would assist me by informing me of the dates of the examinations and the names of the two cases. I may add that I have been in telephonic communication with Exeter, and am assured that every possible precaution is taken to avoid delays and to secure the comfort of those examined.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service if, in view of the improved military position of the Armies of the Allies in the field and the inconvenience and irritation caused by the calling up of the one-man shopkeeper, he will consider the desirability of suspending the calling-up papers of all one-man shopkeepers over forty-one years of age?

As my hon. Friend will have seen from the announcement in the Press this morning, recruiting is suspended.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he will inquire into the circumstances under which an order was made on the 27th September last by the Appeal Tribunal at Ayr giving to John Inglis, a grocer and provision dealer, of Titchfield Street, Galston, Ayrshire, one month to get someone to take over and manage his business, and practically entailing the ruin of his business if he failed to do so, although the Glasgow food office had made a recommendation for his exemption with a view to the preservation of the business, which has over 900 registered customers, of whom 312 are registered for all rationed goods, and which recommendation is alleged to have failed to obtain the consideration of the tribunal by neglect or mistake of officials; and whether he can and will intervene to prevent the calling up of John Inglis and the ruin of the business, in the public interest and in justice to Inglis, who has a wife and child and parents dependent on the business?

The calling up in this case had already been suspended, and in view of the decision of the Government as announced in the Press this morning, no further action will be necessary.

asked the Minister of National Service whether the recent additional war bonus awarded to established and unestablished Civil servants is to be extended to discharged soldiers and civilians not eligible for military service at present employed in the various sections of the Ministry of National Service; whether any war bonus has been given to men temporarily employed in his Department; whether the Committee appointed to inquire into the work of Government offices has power to recommend increases of salary, where necessary, in the case of individuals doing highly responsible work; and whether, in view of the conditions which equally affect temporary workers and established Civil servants, he will consider the possibility of including temporary workers in the recent Civil Service award?

The recent war bonus granted to the Civil Service has been extended to temporary employés who are paid at rates of remuneration fixed before the War, but it is not applicable to those whose wages have been fixed during the War with reference to war conditions. The staff of the Ministry of National Service are not entitled to the bonus as their rates of remuneration have been fixed during the past year; but in the case of the clerical staffs adjustments have been made to meet the alterations in conditions since these rates were fixed. The Committee on Staffs are empowered by their terms of reference to inquire into the rates of remuneration of the staffs of temporary Departments and to report what measures should, in their opinion, be taken to effect economies in numbers and cost and to prevent overlapping.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of a conscientious objector, named Shapley, who was allowed by the Home Office to work on a farm at Westbury and has observed all the terms of his engagement, and has recently been required by the Home Office to relinquish his work in this locality; and what is the reason for this action?

The Committee considered it undesirable that this man should be permitted to remain at work in the neighbourhood of his ordinary residence, and they have therefore required him to submit for their approval, within a certain period, employment of national importance at a distance of not less than 25 miles from his home. This is a condition which it is found necessary to impose in a good many cases.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Private G. H. Parsons, No. 372502, Post Office Rifles, who, after being severely wounded in the left arm at Bullecourt in May, 1917, was a patient in Dublin and Brighton Hospitals till the 12th March, 1918; whether he is aware that, on discharge from hospital, he was classified B2, afterwards transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps and then to a labour unit, and found in each case unfit for service; that he was sent by the regimental medical officer to the discharge centre, Aldershot, with a recommendation that he be discharged; that, notwithstanding this record, he was declared fit for service overseas and sent home on draft leave; that, although attention had been drawn to the case by the hon. Member for Merioneth, the soldier was sent overseas; that, on landing in France, he was examined by a medical officer who referred the case to a medical board and that such board found Parsons to be unfit, ordered him to hospital at Boulogne, and, after two days, sent him back to England; whether he is aware that he is now at the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester; and what action it is proposed to take to inquire into the conduct of the officers who were responsible for sending this soldier abroad and their fitness for the duties of their office?

I regret that my inquiries are still not complete.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will order that the same promotion to temporary medical commissions shall be given to non-commissioned officers and men of the Territorial Force, Royal Army Medical Corps, as is given to those ranks of the Regular Royal Army Medical Corps under Army Order 293, of 1918?

The scheme of promotion to commissioned rank was instituted to provide a limited number of officers to replace medical officers in field ambulances. The candidates required are those who have long experience, not only in this War but also in peace, of the technical and skilled duties connected with the appointments, and it is not, therefore, proposed to extend the scheme to non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that until recently there was a very well-built and equipped camp accommodating about 1,400 men, all the huts being on concrete blocks, on the west side of Bidston Hill, near Birkenhead; that this camp was recently dismantled and taken up, including the concrete foundations, and the equipment removed; that the military authorities have now again requisitioned the site for use as a camp for German prisoners of war and are now engaged in rebuilding it; and whether he will give full particulars of the causes of this waste of public money and see that those responsible are held to blame?

Owing to the difficulty in obtaining supplies of new hutting, it became necessary in August last to transfer some of the sectional hutting at Bidston to provide accommodation for American troops. Recently, at the urgent request of the National Union of Railwaymen, it was decided to give up the occupation of the Convalescent Home at Leasowe Castle belonging to the union. To enable this to be done, it is necessary to transfer a number of German prisoners of war, and as there was no other accommodation available for them, it was considered that the most economical arrangement was to use what was left of Bidston Camp and provide additional accommodation required by the erection of some hutting which was available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office is responsible for damage done and property stolen by a soldier billeted on civilians when the soldier decamps, is posted as a deserter, and is not found again; to what person or office persons so suffering should apply; and whether he will compensate Henry Hunt, of Rock House, Pill, Somerset, from whose house a soldier billeted there stole £49 in cash and then deserted?

I am having inquiry made into the case referred to by my hon. Friend, and will let him know the result. At present I can accept no liability.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the fact that skilled masseuses, members of the Military Masseuses Corps, who have gone through a long and expensive training, are only being paid a salary of £2 10s. a week which, having regard to the present cost of living, is wholly inadequate for their requirements, while officers of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, who may have joined without any previous special training, are in receipt of £3 a week; and whether he will take steps to remedy this inequality and grant the skilled masseuses a minimum of £3 a week with a rise after a certain term of service?

As stated in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Christchurch on the 4th instant, the recommendations of the new Advisory Council are at present under consideration, and I hope to arrive at an early settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether there are any regiments or units now in India who have been retained there for garrison duty during the whole period of the War; if so, how many; and whether arrangements are now being made for their relief?

There are a certain number of regiments and units which have been retained in India for defence and garrison duties during the whole period of the War, though that does not mean that all the personnel have served in India during the whole of this period. The units in question belong to the Regular Army and it is too early yet to publish their number. The question of their relief is under consideration in connection with the post-war garrison for India.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Crown Agents for the Colonies have entered into direct trading relations with the natives in the West African Colonies as regards the supply of certain implements essential for native agriculture, called machetes, in competition with the British merchants who have hitherto supplied these articles, and if it is with the sanction of His Majesty's Government that this has been done; if preferential rates of freights for export of these articles are accorded to the Crown Agents as compared with the rates that ordinary shippers have to pay; whether he can explain if it was at his request that the Ministry of Munitions granted priority facilities last year and this year for the manufacture of machetes to the order of the Crown Agents, whereas manufacturers in this country have been unable to execute orders for machetes placed by British merchants as far back as 1915 and supported by priority assistance certificates from the Nigerian Government; and whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to continue this system of State trading on privileged terms in competition with private traders?

The question seems to be based on a misapprehension of the facts. The Crown Agents for the Colonies have not entered into any trading relations with West African natives, but have acted as agents for the Governments of Sierra Leone and Nigeria in the following circumstances: Machetes are essential to the natives for agricultural purposes, and the Governors of the Colonies concerned represented to the Secretary of State that the firms from whom they were normally obtained were unable to supply them, and that the situation was serious. The Ministry of Munitions agreed that a certain proportion of the normal number of machetes exported should be permitted to be manufactured, and the Governors undertook the business of distribution. The matter was not brought to the notice of the Colonial Office by the merchants, and it was only after their failure to obtain the machetes that this was undertaken, purely as an emergency measure, by the Governments concerned. The orders were placed through the Crown Agents and the usual freight rates on Government shipments were paid. There was no question of competition with the merchants, but the Colonial Governments took the necessary action, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, to meet the urgent requirements of the situation.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether he is aware that an applicant to the Permit Office is subjected to interrogation by a junior official who, on the completion of the examination, refers him to the Foreign Office, without specifying any particular branch thereof, with the result that the applicant may be sent by the Foreign Office to the War Office and by the latter to the Passport Office, where he is in turn required to call again after an interval of three days; (2) whether he is aware that the serious illness of a son in hospital in Holland is not deemed by the Permit Office to be adequate reason for the grant of a permit to enable his father to visit him, and that the parents are kept in a state of suspense and anxiety while the officials determine by whom the application should be dealt with; and whether, having regard to the improved political outlook, he will direct that existing rules for the granting of passports should be reviewed and revised; and (3) what are the respective functions of the Permit Office in Downing Street, the Department of the Foreign Office for granting the visé to passports, and the Passport Office at 58, Victoria Street; whether he is aware that the existence of these separate offices imposes on members of the public seeking passports at a time of tribulation perplexity and loss of time; and whether he will consider the practicability of grouping the three separate Departments together to secure uniformity of practice and the supply of adequate information with reasonable dispatch?

Passports and visas required by British subjects proposing to leave the United Kingdom for any destination are issued by the Passport Office, 59, Victoria Street, which is the only Department of the Foreign Office concerned. A permit from the Permit Office, Downing Street, or one of the branch Permit Offices in the provinces is required by any person, whether British or alien, who desires to proceed from the United Kingdom to Holland, among other countries. The functions of the Passport Office and the Permit Office, though performed in close co-operation, are directed to different objects and could not be combined. I do not think that the public are put to undue delays and difficulties, having regard to the importance of strict control of passenger traffic from this country, and the time has not yet arrived for any such relaxation of the rules as is suggested. In the case which, I think, the hon. and learned Member has in mind, and with regard to which he appears to have been misinformed, the applicant presented himself at the Permit Office with an out-of-date passport and was referred in the usual way to the Passport Department. Renewal of his passport was, I understand, refused by the Passport Office, and a permit was also refused by the Permit Office on the advice of the competent military and other authorities to whom the application was referred. As regards the reasons given for the proposed visit to Holland, the applicant produced letters from his son there, showing that the doctors at the hospital at which he had attended assured him that his condition gave no cause for anxiety. I am satisfied that the application in question received every consideration and was properly refused.

asked the Home Secretary whether any relaxation of conditions or special concessions may be made, in approved cases, to Austrian prisoners of war, seeing that hostilities with Austria have ceased; whether it is intended to keep all Austrian prisoners in their present conditions till the end of the war with Germany, or till peace with the dual monarchy or such new governments as take its place is finally ratified; and whether he has considered the case of a man who has a son serving in the British combatant forces since he enlisted voluntarily in 1915, and who is himself in a position of trust in the Censor's office in the Alexandra Palace camp?

I have considered this matter, but I think that the existing conditions under which Austrian subjects are now restricted and controlled in this country must remain as they are for the present. As regards the person referred to in the last part of the question, he is not an Austrian, but a German, who before his internment was a hairdresser in London. He was interned on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee in 1915, and I see no sufficient reason for authorising his release.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division), as representing the Prisoners of War Department, whether he will state the present dietary scale for German officer prisoners of war in this country and the scale as it existed three months ago; and how the present scale of rations compares with the rations allowed to civilians in this country?

I am informed by the military authorities that the following is the present dietary scale for German officer prisoners of war in this country. The scale in force three months ago is also given:

Officer prisoners of war are not allowed to purchase from canteens or elsewhere, or receive as presents from anywhere in the United Kingdom or Channel Islands any other foodstuffs than those above-mentioned or any quantities in excess of those authorised by the above scale.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Home Department whether he is aware that a number of men employed at the waterworks, Llangadock, South Wales, who are qualified for exceptional employment, have submitted proposals but experience months' delays in getting these passed, with the result that, when the permission is received, posts approved are no longer available; and whether he will expedite the present procedure or whether the staff dealing with these cases will be increased, preferably by discharged soldiers?

The Committee have in many cases to make local inquiries, and these sometimes occupy a week or two; but I think that, where there is a delay of months or even of one month, the hon. Member will find that it is always due to the conscientious objectors submitting proposals for employment of such a nature that the Committee cannot approve them. The staff is temporarily reduced by illness, but I believe that in normal circumstances it is sufficient.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of names of persons claiming to be entitled to be placed on the register for the Parliamentary borough and city of Manchester, and whose claims were allowed by the registration officer or by his deputy, are omitted from the Parliamentary and local government registers; whether he is aware that such names include a number of persons who claimed to be registered as naval or military voters and who are either omitted altogether or not marked on the register as such; whether he is aware that the names of some of such persons are included in the register with an a marked against their names, but that such names do not appear on the absent voters' list; whether he will inquire into the causes leading to so many mistakes; and if he will take steps to ensure that all such persons shall be allowed to vote at the forthcoming General Election?

I have communicated with the registration officer of the city of Manchester, who states that he is not aware that the facts are as set out in the question. The names of some electors marked a in the register were not included in the absent voters' lists as originally printed, but supplements containing the names have since been printed and sent to the record offices. If my hon. Friend has evidence that the names of persons claiming and entitled to be placed on the registers are not included in the registers I shall be glad if he will supply me with a list of the names, when I will communicate again with the registration officer.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the following is the scale of charges for one copy of the Parliamentary Register for the ten divisions of the Parliamentary borough of Manchester, namely: Ardwick, £3 2s. 4d., absent voters' list 14s. 6d.—£3 16s. 10d.; Blackley £2 1s. 8d., absent voters' list 8s. 4d.—£2 10s.; Clayton £2 18s., absent voters' list 11s. 10d.—£3 9s. 10d.; Exchange £2 17s. 10d., absent voters' list 10s. 8d.—£3 8s. 6d.; Gorton £2 15s. 10d., absent voters' list 9s. 6d.—£3 5s. 4d.; Hulme £3 3s. 10d., absent voters' list 15s. 4d.—£3 19s. 2d.; Moss Side £2 14s. 10d., absent voters' list 12s. 8d.—£3 7s. 6d.; Platting £3 5s. 2d., absent voters' list 16s.—£4 1s. 2d.; Rusholme £2 11s., absent voters' list 10s. 2d.—£3 1s. 2d.; Withington £2 6s. 4d., absent voters' list 9s.—£2 15s. 4d.; making a total of £33 14s. 10d.; and whether, in view of the Report of the Speaker's Conference, which recommended that the expenditure at elections should be materially reduced, a recommendation which was subsequently adopted by Parliament when framing the Fourth Schedule of the Representation of the People Act, 1918, he proposes to take any action in the matter.

I have been in communication with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer who has sanctioned the proposal that an Order in Council should be issued prescribing a fee of 1d. per 100 names for a copy of the register or of so much of the register as relates to any registration unit or units, for the purposes of or in connection with the first General Election under the Representation of the People Act, the question of a revision of the present general scale being left open for consideration hereafter. My right hon. Friend has also agreed to authorise the supply of one free copy of the register to each duly nominated candidate at the next election, or if he has already purchased one the repayment to him of the price of one copy.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will arrange with the War Office that persons serving abroad or at home who are candidates or agents at the election should have leave at least three weeks before the nomination day, to give them reasonable time to make the arrangements necessary to cope with the increased electorate?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. I have telegraphed to the distant theatres of war asking that leave should be given to prospective or adopted candidates.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what means have been provided for the election addresses of candidates to reach soldiers who have recently joined the Colours and been posted to home stations, many of whom are in Reserve battalions and whose addresses are not traceable from their last place of residence?

An Order in Council has been issued under which the registration officers will place on the absent voters' list registered electors who have joined the forces since the register was prepared, on receiving an application for the purpose from the elector; and the registration officer will record the address furnished by the elector for the purpose of the dispatch of the ballot-papers. These addresses will be open to inspection by the candidates' agents for the purpose of forwarding election addresses. The Department sent a circular yesterday to the registration officers explaining the matter fully.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will communicate with the Fuel Controller as to the release of a certain amount of fuel and lighting for the use of candidates in their respective committee rooms at the forthcoming General Election?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The local fuel overseers will be instructed to make such reasonable allowances of coal as may be necessary to prevent hardships to candidates and those engaged in the work involved by the election.

asked the President of the Local Government Board when the Government propose to introduce a Housing Bill on the lines already indicated, thereby giving Parliament an opportunity of discussing this matter?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any definite announcement on this point. I can only state that it is receiving the earnest attention of my right hon. Friend and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that no birth occurring in England or Wales can be registered after seven years from the date of such birth; and what remedy a boy has, to whom on occasions a birth certificate is necessary, when his parents neglected to register his birth?

In 1875 the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown was given that it would be reasonable that the Registrar-General should make a general Regulation prescribing seven years, after which the registration of a birth in England and Wales should not be allowed. A Regulation of the Registrar-General has been in existence since then, which has the force of Statute, prescribing this time limit. In cases where this time limit has expired, the remedy suggested by the Registrar-General has been a statutory declaration as to the facts, supported, if possible, by a baptismal certificate or a written statement from the doctor or nurse who attended the mother of the child. Such declarations, produced as occasion required, have, so far as the Registrar-General is aware, been accepted as evidence of birth, but if the hon. Member has any evidence that hardship has resulted from the operation of the Regulation, I shall be pleased to bring it to the notice of the Registrar-General.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the dissatisfaction of the Vaynor and Penderyn Rural District Council and the Merthyr Tydfil Corporation and the inhabitants generally with the car service of the Merthyr Electric Traction Company owing to the inconvenience caused by the suspension of through-running on this route; is he aware that the coal saving is practically nil as the street is level all the way and is 666 yards; will he take steps to ensure that the Merthyr Electric Traction Company operates the Cefn car service so as to run to the Graham Street terminus, Merthyr, as before; is he aware that the company have no waiting-room at Pontmorlais terminus, although under the company's order of 1899, Section 48, they have to provide and maintain a waiting-room, and that this Order has not been carried out?

Representations on the subject have been made to the Board of Trade by the rural district council, and I am sending to the hon. Member a copy of these communications which have been sent to the council and the company respectively by the Tramways (Board of Trade) Committee, by whom the question has been investigated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received an application from the Prudential Assurance Company and its staff for a State subsidy to meet excess War claims and to thus enable the business to pay an adequate living wage; whether he accepts the findings of the War Bonus Inquiry that the war burdens imposed upon the business have prejudiced their ability to pay; is he aware that the Prudential employés have not received any War bonus and that the failure to meet their demands will leave them no alternative but to organise for a general strike, which will not only affect the policy-holders but dislocate the administration of the National Health Insurance Act?

The answer to the first part of this question is in the negative. The inquiries contained in the remainder of the question should be addressed to the Minister of Labour.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether preferential rates for imported goods and produce are continued under the unified Government control of the railways in the three Kingdoms?

I do not think that I can add to the reply on this subject given to my hon. Friend on the 7th November, except to say that I shall be happy to investigate any cases of preferential rates for imported goods if I am furnished with particulars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has come to a decision as to the partial or total removal of the restrictions of the lighting of streets is the London suburbs, apart from restrictions necessary in the interests of fuel economy?

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is replying to another question on the same subject, and I may refer my hon. Friend to that reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether inspectors of horses in mines only receive a salary of £175 per annum, a less amount than horsekeepers in mines; whether any application for an increase has been received; and whether it will receive favourable consideration?

The horse inspectors are on a scale of salary of £125 to £175. Last year, in order to meet the increased cost of living, they were all given a special increment of £25 within their scale and are now at the maximum. They have also since been given (in accordance with the award applicable to the Civil Service generally made by the Conciliation and Arbitration Board for Government employés) a war bonus of £36 19s. 4d. per annum. Bearing in mind that they are established Civil servants and are entitled to pension and other advantages, their remuneration compares not unfavourably with that received by head horsekeepers at large collieries. No recent application for an increase of salary has been received and as matters stand I doubt whether any grounds could be shown for their receiving more than the bonus given to all Civil servants.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government has come to any decision as to the future of the National Factory at Nottingham and the National Shell-Filling Factory at Chillwell?

No definite decision has yet been reached as to the use to which these factories will be put. I am sending my noble Friend a copy of the official communication which appeared in the Press yesterday, giving particulars of the organisation which has been set up in the Ministry for dealing with the whole problem and the principles on which that organisation is working.

asked the Minister of Munitions what grants, loans, advances, or gifts have been made by his Department to employers or manufacturers for the purchase, repair, or upkeep of plant, machinery, or factories, or for other purposes, and on what conditions?

The information asked for by my hon. Friend is being prepared. As soon as I am in a position to answer I will let him know.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any statement as to the progress which has been made in the adoption of the principles of the Whitley Report by various industries; and whether he can state the industries in which schemes have been completed and those in which the matter is in progress?

National joint industrial councils have been established and have held one or more full council meetings in the following seventeen industries, namely, baking, bedsteads, bobbins, building, chemical trade, china clay, furniture, gold, silver, horological and allied trades, hosiery, leather goods, matches, paint and varnish, pottery, rubber, silk, vehicle building, woollen and worsted (Scottish section). In the case of each of these councils the members are showing considerable eagerness to get to grips with the important reconstruction and other problems which are facing their industries and very satisfactory progress has already been made in many directions. In four other industries, namely, municipalities (non-trading services), waterworks, saw-milling, and surgical instruments, the dates for the first meeting of these councils have been fixed. Twelve other industries, namely, boot and shoe, cable-making, commercial road transport, electrical contracting, electricity (power and supply), needles and fish-hooks, newspapers, paper-making, printing, roller engraving, tin mining, woollen and worsted, have already established provisional committees to draw up constitutions for joint industrial councils and the proceedings have reached an advanced stage in many of these cases. In a number of other industries the Ministry of Labour is giving assistance in setting up councils. The Government have approved a scheme dealing with the application of the Whitley Report to the industrial establishments of the Government, and immediate steps are being taken to place the scheme before the trade unions and Departments concerned A Sub-committee of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Application of the Whitley Report to Government Establishments is considering the question of its application to the clerical and administrative classes of the Civil Service. Arrangements have been made for hearing evidence from representatives of Civil Service Associations, and the first meeting for this purpose will take place on Thursday, 14th November, 1918.