asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the increases in separation allowances recently announced by him are being deducted by the civil liabilities committees from the grants made by them; and whether, in view of the fact that this renders nugatory the separation allowance increases in all cases where the recipients are being paid civil liability grants, he will take steps to put a stop to this practice?

I have been asked to answer this question. The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. No grants made by the civil liabilities committee have been reduced on account of the recent increases in separation allowances.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that writers have not yet participated in the 12½ per cent. bonus; that, although writers are supposed to receive 1s. per week over the rate paid to labourers, the non-payment of the 12½ per cent. bonus results in the writers receiving less than the labourers; and whether it is proposed to grant the bonus to the writers?

Writers and clerks are not entitled to participate in the 12½ per cent. granted to certain workmen. The claim for the extension of this or a corresponding increase to clerical classes in Government employment has been adjudicated upon by the Conciliation and Arbitration Board, and I am not prepared to depart from the decision of that Board on the matter.

asked the Food Controller whether it is now compulsory for bakers to use potato flour in the manufacture of bread; what provision has been made for the supply of potato flour, stating how many plants have been erected in England, Scotland, and Ireland; will he give the names of the persons to whom these plants were supplied; whether any Government assistance was given to any of these persons; and, if so, to what extent?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part would, therefore, not appear to arise, but an account of the arrangements made for the manufacture of potato flour is being prepared and will be forwarded to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on the Day property, North Kerry, signed their agreements to purchase their holdings in 1912; and whether any inspection of the estate has yet been made by the Estates Commissioners with a view to re-arrange fences, divide joint tenancies, and issue vesting orders to the tenants?

If the hon. Member refers to the estate of Charles Edward Day, situate in the Electoral Division of Ardagh, County Kerry, purchase agreements for some of the holdings thereon were lodged with the Estates Commissioners in August, 1908, and for others at subsequent dates. This estate is awaiting its turn on the All Cash Register of pending direct sales under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and has not yet been reached for inspection.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if any reply has yet been given to the deputation of Irish prison warders which he received on 28th October, 1918; if he will state whether the representations of the deputation were submitted to the Treasury; and whether the demands of the deputation will be conceded?

As I have already stated the representations made to me by the deputation are receiving my attention.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is proposed to distribute the prize money to the ex-Service men in the Royal Navy?

It is impossible to give any date for the distribution of prize money. The tribunal set up under the Naval Prize Act is proceeding with the duty assigned to it as quickly as possible, but until their decision has been given in each case no sum can be paid into the Naval Prize Fund, and until a sufficient sum stands to the credit of that fund to warrant a distribution none of it can be distributed. When a distribution takes place it will, of course, embrace those who, having qualified, have left the Navy as well as those still serving.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the services rendered to the country by the ships' companies of His Majesty's ship "Mariner" and His Majesty's ship "Reindeer," boom-defence ships stationed off Plymouth under the command of Commander Saul, R.N., from 2nd August, 1914, to 31st December, 1915; and whether, in view of the fact that those ships were the eyes of the Channel guarding Plymouth throughout the whole of this critical period, keeping watch nightly under arms in all weathers, lowering and raising the defence so as to allow battleships, cruisers, destroyers, etc., to pass in and out, he will recommend the ships' companies for the award of the new star 1914–15 for war services?

The conditions under which the 1914–15 Star will be given to officers and men in the Naval Service are at present under consideration. But I can give no undertaking on the point raised by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for India what arrangements have been made for the return to India of Indian prisoners of war?

Indian prisoners of war in Turkey will be sent to Egypt, where the War Office are establishing special camps for their reception. Special arrangements have been made to clothe and equip them there, and to send them on to India. Indian prisoners in Roumania will similarly be sent direct to these camps in Egypt and thence to India. The War Office have been asked to arrange, if possible, that the few Indian prisoners remaining in Germany shall be sent direct to Marseilles, and thence also to the special camps in Egypt. There are no Indian prisoners of war in Austria.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that Max Shaff-hausen is a shopkeeper in Bowness, on Windermere; whether his attention has been called to the fact that his name is not over the shop; and whether it is necessary for him to announce his name for trading purposes?

I have made inquiry and have ascertained that the man in question, who was naturalised as a British subject in 1912, carries on at Bowness, on Windermere, a business established there in 1904 which is known as "The Lakes Weaving Industry," and was so known before the War. I am informed that he has fully complied with the Registration of Business Names Act, 1914, and that particulars as to his own name, nationality, etc., are given in his bills, letters, etc., in compliance with Section 18 of the Act.

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 qualification 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?

At the male prisons shown on the attached list there are hospital officers, most of whom had previous service in the Royal Army Medical Corps or as sick berth stewards in the Royal Navy. Before being appointed as hospital officers in the prison service, they underwent a special training for at least two months in prison hospital duty at a large prison hospital and were reported as efficient and satisfactory. They do not wear a distinctive uniform. They are wholly employed in hospital duty, unless the number of hospital patients falls so that there would not be sufficient duty for them, in which case they would be employed on some discipline duty. In the male prisons in which there is no hospital staff, the average number of sick requiring special nursing is so low that the whole-time services of a nurse would not be justified. In such prisons, where the need for a nurse arises, the governor is authorised to engage an outside nurse or nurses, or, if this is not possible, nurses would be sent from some other prison.

As regards the female prisons, etc., all female offcers go through at least a month's training at the training school in simple hospital duties. Many of the female officers have had previous experience of nursing and the governors of the various prisons consider this previous experience in selecting officers to act as nurses. At the larger prisons many have been employed as hospital officers for years and are reported to be quite efficient. They do not wear any distinctive uniform. In all but a few prisons the number of hospital patients is so small, averaging less than one, that the employment of a whole-time nurse is not called for. If a case calls for special nursing which in the opinion of the medical officer could not be carried out by one of the staff, the governor is authorised to engage an outside nurse or nurses. Further, the Commissioners are now arranging for all the female officers to undergo six months' training in hospital duties at the training school.

There is, moreover, power to release to a hospital under Section 17 (6) of the Criminal Justice Administration Act any prisoner suffering from disease which cannot properly be treated in prison, or for a surgical operation which cannot be carried out in prison, and many cases are dealt with under this power.

In addition, 27 hospital officers are serving with the Colours.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade decision that during the War no man may be examined for a certificate of competency as master, extra master, or master (home trade) unless he is a British subject, and, at the time of his birth, each of his parents was a British subject by birth or by naturalisation is to be withdrawn; and, if so, will he consult the representative bodies of seamen before taking any action?

The rule in question was made for the duration of the War, and the Board of Trade do not at present propose to withdraw or modify it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Mr. T. Petersen, of Danish origin, Mr. H. J. Stenwick, of Norwegian origin, Mr. Ericson, of Swedish origin, Mr. Gjertsen, of Norwegian origin, and Mr. Hvistendahl, of Norwegian origin, have all recently been granted permission to sail either as officers or in command of British vessels; and whether the present restrictions of foreigners in the British Mercantile Marine are still in existence?

Captain C. J. (not T.) Petersen and Captain H. J. Stenwick have been permitted to serve as master of any British vessel other than a troopship, requisitioned liner carrying troops, or vessel in attendance on the Fleet. Captain K. W. Ericson has been reinstated as master in home and coasting trade only. Mr. O. S. Gjertsen has been permitted to sail as second officer in the steamship "Heronsfool," and Mr. G. Hvistendahl has been permitted to sail in any capacity other than that of master. These decisions were arrived at after full consideration of the individual cases by the Alien Masters' Committee. There has been no alteration in regard to restrictions applying to foreigners serving in the British Mercantile Marine.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a polling card printed with blanks for the voter's name and polling place is transmissible at the printed paper rate of ½d. for 1 oz. if sent in an unsealed packet after the blanks have been filled in; and whether the rules as to election communications in imitation typewriter apply to election communications in facsimile handwriting?

A printed polling card is transmissible at the printed paper rate if sent in an unsealed packet after the blanks have been filled in, unless it is printed in imitation of typewriting, in which case it must be prepaid at the letter rate or (if sent unenclosed) at the postcard rate. An election communication printed or reproduced in facsimile handwriting by any process easy to recognise is transmissible at the printed paper rate if it consists wholly of printed matter not in the nature of a letter or if it comes within the definition of a circular on page 12 of the "Post Office Guide"; and it need not, if it fulfils either condition, be handed in specially at a post office.

asked the Minister of National Service whether complaints have been received by insurance agents who refuse to adopt the block system; and whether, seeing that this block system is a form of sweated labour, what steps he I proposes to take in the matter?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am not aware that complaints of the nature referred to by the hon. Member have been received; the matter would appear to be one in the first place for consideration by the agents in the companies they represent.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the failure of many of the large insurance companies to provide a war bonus for their agents and employés, he is prepared to take any action in the matter?

My right hon. Friend is unable to add anything to the reply given by the hon. Member for Newbury on 12th June last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the possibility that by the time the bulk of the men who have been serving at the different fronts are demobilised in this country they will find it very difficult to obtain good employment owing to the fact that such posts will have been already filled by the demobilised men from munition and other Government Departments and also men demobilised from the Home Army; whether there is any remedy devised to meet this contingency in the Government scheme of demobilisation; and, if not, what he intends to do in the matter?

As has been announced already, pivotal men who are serving in the Home Army or abroad, will, as far as military necessities permit, receive priority of release, while steps will be taken to release as early as possible, according to the order of their industrial groups, those men who have posts waiting for them. These arrangements should go far to meet the point which the hon. Member has in mind, but I would add that the number of good posts available should not be regarded as a fixed quantity, but as a number subject to continuous expansion with the expansion of industry as the process of resettlement is continued and completed.

asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether he has communicated with the Labour Exchanges in Scotland with a view to facilitating the release of pivotal men for industries in which they are specially required, and, if so, whether forms have been issued; and what other steps have been taken for this purpose?

Employers who wish to ensure that men serving with the forces who desire to return to their employment are earmarked for early release, should obtain from the nearest Employment Exchange a postcard (E.D.406), enter on it each man's full name, unit, regimental number, and the theatre of war or command where he is now serving, and return it to the Exchange. These forms E.D.406 are also obtainable from Employment Exchanges throughout Scotland.