asked theSecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any of the Allied representatives in South Russia have officially recognised the independence of the Ukraine?

The answer, so far as His Majesty's Government are aware, is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Finnish officers have recently been for bidden to wear Allied military decora- tions—for instance, the Military Cross and the Legion d' Honneur—and are permitted by the Finnish authorities to continue wearing the German Iron Cross?

I have no information on the subject, but will make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has with regard to the massacre of Albanians by Serbian troops in the North of Albania?

I fear I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on this subject on the 13th instant.

Has the hon. Member since then had a report that Plava and Goussignéare being laid in ruins by Serbian bombardment, and can he get a further report on the subject?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the almost total cessation of movement in the cotton trade, and the consequent growing scarcity of work alike for the operatives and the handlers of cotton goods, and also in view of the fact that our principal customers in the countries adjacent to enemy countries are harbouring feelings of resentment against this country owing to the manner in which they conceive that their interests are being sacrificed by the continuance of the Blockade Regulations, a resentment which is manifesting itself by numerous inquiries and tentative arrangements for the supply ofcotton goods from rival countries, he will so far abrogate the blockade arrangements as to permit of the free entry of cotton goods into Scandinavia, Holland, and Denmark, ignoring, for the sake of the benefit to our own people, the risk of certain of suchgoods eventually reaching Germany?

An abrogation of the existing blockade arrangements, such as my hon. Friend suggests, could only be carried out by His Majesty's Government with, the consent of their Allies and of the United States of America. His Majesty's Government and the Associated Governments consider that it is necessary for the moment, for reasons of policy, to maintain the blockade, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that they are fully alive to the feeling of irritation which it not unnaturally arouses in this country, and that, as soon as it has served its purpose, as a most important lever for obtaining the enemy's acceptance of such terms as the Allies intend to impose, and the execution of those terms, His Majesty's Government will welcome the possibility of removing the existing blockade restrictions.

Does the answer mean that these blockade restrictions are to be kept on until we get the indemnity paid by Germany?

Oh, no; I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Pensions Minister whether a reduction of 20 per cent. is made from the pensions of soldiers whilst inmates of a sanatorium, as also the sum of 7s. a week towards the cost of their treatment; and whether any reduction is also made in respect of national insurance benefit?

A disabled soldier tinder treatment in a sanatorium or other institution for an attributable disability receives an allowance at the maximum rate of pension, from which a deduction of 7s. a week is made, not for the cost of treatment, but for maintenance. The bonus of 20 per cent. is not added to the man's allowance, the reason of the exclusion of this class of case from the grant of bonus being that the deduction made for maintenance is so small as largely to relieve the man of the burden of the high cost of living which the bonus is designed to meet. With regard to the insurance benefit, I would refer my hon. Friend to Section 1 of the National Insurance (Part. I. Amendment Act), 1917.

asked the Pensions Minister whether any soldiers have to forfeit half their pensions for refusing sanatorium treatment, and in how many cases this has been done?

Under Article 4 of the Royal Warrant half the pension awarded to a disabled man may be subject to the condition that he shall undergo medical treatment in an institution or otherwise where it is certified thatsuch treatment is necessary in his interests. Statistics of refusals have only been kept since July of last year. During the eight months between 1st July, 1918, and 28th February, 1919, 1,477 cases of refusal of treatment for tuberculosis have been brought to the notice of the Department, of which 71 are now under consideration. Of the 1,406 refusals dealt with it was only found necessary to impose the penalty in 99 cases.

Will my right hon. Friend state whether it is a fact that in London last year there were no less than 500 men who refused treatment on account of the unsatisfactory condition of the sanatoria?

No, I cannot confirm that statement. I am not aware whether that is so or not.

Is it the best treatment for tuberculosis to diminish the food supply by one-half?

May I ask if here is provision made for soldiers at the present time?

That does not arise out of the question, but I have said already that I am not satisfied with the provision made and steps are being taken to improve it.

asked the Pensions Minister whether the committee to inquire into the question of sanatorium provision for soldiers has yet been set up; and, if so, whether he can state its terms of reference, and who compose the committee?

I hope the announcement will be made within a few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will order an inquiry into the state of health of E. W. Harby, now in Wandsworth Gaol, with a view to his discharge, in view of his broken appearance when giving evidence before the recent inquiry?

This prisoner is reported to be in good health, and of sound mind. He makes no complaint, states he feels quite well, performs his full task, and has not required medical treatment at any time.

In view of the fact that this prisoner has made serious complaints against the Governor, and which are at present being investigated, would it not be possible to consider whether he could not be placed under some other supervision than that of the present Governor? [HON. MEMBERS: "No, no!"]

asked the Home Secretary if he still considers forcible feeding to be a necessary medical measure to be applied only for the purpose of preventing self-imposed starvation; whether he is aware that after men have been forcibly fed for a few days it has been found necessary to release them temporarily on health grounds; and whether this indicates the uselessness of forcible feeding for any purpose other than punishment?

Forcible feeding is used only as a necessary medical measure to prevent death by self-imposed starvation. In some cases prisoners have been released if on account of their state of health or for any other reason it was difficult to continue the forcible feeding. In no case and in no circumstances has forcible feeding been used at a punishment.

Was not the "Cat-and-Mouse" Act passed to avoid forcible feeding, and why is it not being used for this purpose instead of after it has been used?

asked the Home Secretary how many aliens previously resident in this country have been deported from the United States and Dominions and allowed to land in this country; and whether, if it has not been found practicable to send them on to their own country, they are allowed complete freedom of action while waiting?

I cannot give figures in answer to the first paragraph of the question as separate records of the cases have not been kept, but I am advised that the number is small. All such persons haveto register with the police and are subject to all the restrictions imposed on aliens during the War, and the police have had authority to impose additional restrictions in any special cases where they appeared to be called for.

asked the Home Secretary when he proposes to take into consideration an extension of the hours within which tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars can be sold to the public; and whether has attention has been called to the similar modification of the law in respect to the sale of alcohol?

I see no reason at present to consider any extension for this trade of the hours fixed by the general Early Closing Order for shops. No request to do so has reached me from any quarter. On the contrary, representations have been recently received at the Home Office from tobacconists'associations in London, Manchester, and Torquay in favour of the present restrictions being made permanent.

Is not this grandmotherly legislation becoming intolerable, and has not the working man the right to buy tobacco whenever he likes?

The tobacconists have some rights in the matter too.

Has the public any rights at all?

asked the Home Secretary whether the authorities still have orders to prosecute in all cases of treating in respect of the consumption of drink; how many successful and unsuccessful prosecutions, respectively, there have been in the last six months; whether he will now consider the desirability of the complete revocation of the Order; and whether he will state the views of his police advisers on the subject?

It is the duty of the police to enforce the No Treating Order. Separate statistics in regard to its enforcement are not available. It does not lie with me to revoke the Order, but I am informed that the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) are watching very carefully the working of this, and they are in close touch with the police.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this unnecessary legislation is causing a great deal of dissatisfaction in the country?

I have no information.

Does this Order apply in the House of Commons?

I think not.

asked the Home Secretary whether any of the member now forming the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the conditions of police pay and pensions have any practical acquaintance with police law and practice; and, if not, whether he will now consider the desirability of adding to their numbers two chief constables who have previously served in the ranks of a county or borough police force, respectively, with a view to making the Committee representative of the men whose interests are chiefly concerned?

So far as I know, none has been actually engaged in a police force. The Government decided that this Committee should be constituted entirely of Members of Parliament. It would, in my opinion, be undesirable to include any police officers in the Committee. Chief constables will have an opportunity of putting their views before it by way of evidence.

asked the Under secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Nigeria are entering into negotiations with private individuals for the sale of the Nigerian coalfields or a portion of them; and whether, before disposing of and denationalising all or any of the coalfields, he will give due attention to the wishes of the general trading community of Nigeria that the Government should continue to work the mines as at present, so as to avoid creating anything in the shape of a private monopoly?

No such negotiations have been reported to the Colonial Office.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will consider the question of providing self-working lifts in thestaircases on the western side of the House during the coming year?

In view of the expense involved—which is 50 per cent.greater than when the question was last raised by the hon. Member—I do not feel justified in recommending the provision of such lifts.

Will the right hon. Gentleman promise that the provision of these many necessary articles, such as lifts and staircases, will synchronise with the removal of the restrictions on the sale of alcoholic liquors?

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the æsthetic and historic value to the public, in general, and horticulturists in particular, of the flower beds and Dutch garden attached to Hampton Court Palace, he will revoke the instructions stated to have been given for the abolition of the flower beds and garden in question?

No instructions have been given for the abolition of the flower beds and the Tudor Garden at Hampton Court. Such alterations as have been contemplated are entirely with a view to the improvement of the gardens. Changes have been repeatedly made in the lay-out of these gardens since they were first designed by London and Wise in the reign of William and Mary, and there is no intention of impairing their historic association.

asked the Minister of Labour if it is still the policy of the Ministry to refuse to grant a permit to French governesses to come to this country when they are urgently required to instruct young people in the French language?

The hon. and gallant Member has apparently been misinformed as to the position. It is not, and never has been, the policy of my Department to refuse to grant permits to French governesses to come to this country when it was clear that the primary object was the instruction of young people in the French language.

Will the hon. Gentleman go into a case I will give him where the permit was refused?

Certainly, with pleasure.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received a letter from the Woolwich Branch of the National Federation of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors with regard to the discharges now taking place at Woolwich Arsenal; Whetherhis attention has been drawn to the allegation that whilst disabled ex-Service men are being discharged, temporarily engaged employés, both male and female, are being retained on light work which could be performed by disabled men; and whether he will favourably consider the request in the letter that a deputation be received to discuss the situation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. A representative deputation of the federation was received on the 11thJanuary last, and their proposals were considered by the Government, who decided that no disabled sailor or soldier employed in the State-owned factories or establishments shall, other things being equal, be discharged until after the dilutee and ex-Service man of the same class of skill. The disabled sailor or soldier will, therefore, have last priority of discharge in his class. Instructions to this effect were immediately issued to all Government establishments; and recommendations in the same sense were sent to all controlled establishments. At the same time an undertaking was given that any cases of individual hardship that might be put forward by the federation should be inquired into. Many such cases have been and are being investigated, with the result that the Government are satisfied that the instructions are being carried out at the Arsenal and elsewhere. In these circumstances I do not think it necessary to receive a further deputation.

asked the Food Controller whether his attention has been drawn to the Board of Trade monthly Foreign Commerce Report, which indicates that the value of American bacon exports is under 1s. 2d. a lb. for the first eight months of last year and not 1s. 4½d. as stated by his Department; whether he observes that the Board of Trade maintains that this figure is correct; whether he can explain the difference between the two Departments; and what are the items and particulars of the same which constitute the difference between 1s. 2d. per lb. f.o.b. at New York and 1s. 6d. c.i.f. at Liverpool?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is calculated by the Ministry of Food that the actual f.a.s. cost of imported American bacon to the Ministry over the first eight months of last year is 1s. 4½d. per lb. I am now in communication with the President of the Boardof Trade as to the explanation of the difference to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, but it is clear that it is to some extent to be accounted for by the fact that the Board of Trade figures include exports to countries other than Great Britain.As regards the last part of the question, the items constituting the difference between the f.a.s. price of 1s. 4½d. and the c.i.f. price are freight, insurance and landing charges, administrative charges and loss of weight.

asked the Food Controller whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Messrs. Hamond and Company, of Tanfield, near Bedale, in which skins from the identical consignment of sheep sent for slaughter to a Government slaughter-house at Starbeckon the 24th February were subsequently distributed between two firms for disposal, where they were not only differently graded but different prices were paid for skins in the same grade; and whether, in view of the uncertainty arising from such action, he can take steps to revise the administration of the control exercised by his Department in this matter or else remove it altogether?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The disposal of sheepskins is not one of the operations of the Ministry of Food.

If I send particulars of this case, will the hon. Gentleman look into it?

Certainly.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that large numbers of property owners in the United Kingdom are desirous of owning the land on which the houses they have already purchased are built; will he at an early date introduce a Bill for the enfranchisement of leaseholds; and is he aware of the desire on the part of leaseholders for a method enacted by law enabling them to purchase the land at a fair price on which their dwellings are built?

The matter to which the hon. Member draws attention is only a part of a much larger question involving a general consideration of the law of real property. This larger question is and has for some time been under the consideration of the Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the city of Cardiff leases are falling in on which the original ground rent was £5, and the ground landlord now demands £400, and payment of Reversion Duty of £1,500 or £2,000?

I am not at all aware of those facts, but as I have already said, the subject is being considered.

I must ask the Noble Lord to postpone both these questions.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, through the usual channels, inform me when it will be convenient to raise this matter on the Adjournment?

I will arrange that with my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister what are the duties of the Directorate of Lands, War Office, Ministry of Munitions, Air Ministry, and Ministry of Shipping; and, in particular, whether they include any duties in connection with compulsory acquisition of lands?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to take this question. I will circulate the reply, giving the duties in detail, with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Prime Minister whether, notwithstanding the amendment of the Rules of Procedure, the Government intends to adopt the recommendation of the Select Committee on National Expenditure and to set up one or more Estimates Committees?

Having regard to the new Rules of Procedure and to the re-appointment of the Select Committee on Public Expenditure, His Majesty's Government do not propose to adopt my Hon. Friend's suggestion this year. The matter, however, will be reconsidered before next year in the light of the further experience which will then be available.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the recommendations of the Select Committee were based upon advice received from many of the principal officials of the House, and some of the most experienced members of the Committee do not regard the new Rules of Procedure as at all meeting the recommendations which they have made?

I am very familiar with the recommendations of the Committee and, as I stated, what we have done is to set up the Select Committee on Expenditure, but we have concluded that from this year the course suggested is not practicable.

Will the new Committee on Public Expenditure cover the same field as the Select Committee of last year or a wider field?

I have not looked at the terms of reference, but I think it will be pretty well on the same basis as the last Committee.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the extensive German propaganda now being carried out in the United States of America; and what steps, if any, are being taken to see that this propaganda does not lessen the present good will existing between the people of the United States and the people of the United Kingdom?

I think my lion. Friend must have put down this question by mistake. Reply was given yesterday to a question put by him which differed only verbally from this, and I fear that I cannot add anything to that reply.

asked the Prime Minister whether a civilian who has lost a limb as a consequence of enemy air raids is entitled to the provision of an. artificial limb at the public expense; and, if so, will he state the procedure necessary to obtain the limb?

Grants from the National Relief Fund are available for this purpose. Application should be made to the local representative committee of the district in which the applicant resides.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether, before consulting the French Government with reference to the proposed Channel Tunnel, the opinion of the Army Council was obtained as. to the strategic advantage or disadvantage of such a tunnel; if so, whether a White Paper may be published putting forth in general terms the advantages of such a tunnel from a military and commercial point of view; (2) whether he is aware that it has been estimated that about 2,000 labourer would be required at each end to construct the Channel Tunnel; if this figure is approximately correct, will he state why it is necessary to spend £20,000,000 or £30,000,000 of public money in order to find employment for 2,000 men; and whether, other things being equal, he will consider the desirability of employing these men on the other useful work of reconstruction, such as housing, canals, etc., in our own country?

I cannot at present add anything to the answers I have already given on this question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not consider the setting up of a Select Committee to consider this question before the country is involved to any greater degree, in view of the great change in all the armaments which has taken place since the last Committee?

I cannot make that definite promise, but I think my previous answer was entirely misunderstood. I gave no answer which implied that a decision had been taken. My answer was that I thought it was time we should come to a decision, and that I was communicating with the Prime Minister about it. That is exactly the position.

asked whether, in view of the danger to the industries and trade of this country through the menace of lightning strikes which would provide an opportunity for Bolshevist agitation, he will be willing to receive at an early date a deputation from the National Security Union and other institutions formed to combat this specific danger?

The Government are fully alive to the dangers indicated in the question, and I do not think that any Useful purpose would be served by seeing such a deputation as is suggested.

What are the credentials of the National Security Union—who are they?

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House what is a lightning strike?

I certainly cannot give the hon. Member any information, but I should think that it meant a strike that occurred without notice.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state whowas responsible for initiating the policy of the national shipyards at Chepstow; whether further expense is being incurred there and why were those yards transferred to the charge of the Minister of Shipping?

The principle of establishing national shipyards was ap- proved by the War Cabinet in 1917 on the recommendation of the then First Lord of the Admiralty. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I can add nothing to the answers already given on this subject by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping on the 25th and 26th of February last, and to the very full statement made on behalf of the Government in Debate by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping on the 14th of November last.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any truth in the rumour published, I think, in the "Times" this morning, that these national shipyards had been transferred to the Office of Works?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether any responsibility rests upon the British Government or upon the Governments of the Allied nations for the character or denomination of the religious services held or to be held in the church of St. Sophia, at Constantinople?

As regards the services at present held in St. Sophia, the answer is in the negative. Whether any responsibility will rest on His Majesty's Government or the Allied Governments, or any one of them, after the conclusion of peace is a question that remains to be determined.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can give any information as to the proposals made for the future of St. Sophia's Church in Constantinople; whether it is to be handed over for the exclusive use or control by any sectional or national Christian community; and whether, in the event of its being no longer under Mahomedan control, it willbe placed in trust for Christendom as a whole and not for any particular Church or creed?

My hon. and gallant Friend was invited by the Foreign Office not to put his question, on the ground that the public ventilation of the matter at the present stage can be attended with no advantage. I can give no information as to proposals for the future of the building in question, since all such proposals are addressed to the Peace Conference at Paris, with whom the solution will lie.

Are we to understand that the Foreign Office realises that we are the principal protectors of the Mahomedan religion in the world; and are we to understand that the Foreign Office is looking after their interests and seeing that no unnecessary outrage is done to their feelings in the matter?

Does the Foreign Office also realise that the Moslem community in Constantinople is more than double that of the Greek community?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can announce the result of the conference of the Metropolitan borough councils referred to in paragraph 13 of the Road Board's circular letter of the 17th December, 1918?

The Road Board have not been informed of any conference of the Metropolitan borough councils having been held. Each application received is being dealt with, and provisional indications have been made to several authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total estimated cost of the schemes submitted for the approval of the Road Board by highway authorities in connection with the road and bridge programme for 1919–20 as detailed in the Road Board's letter of the 17th December, 1918, and give the total cost of the schemes actually approved by the Board and authorised by them for execution; whether he can also give the total amount of the Grants recently made for bridge work; and if he will consider the expediency of modifying paragraph 10 of the above letter, with a view to larger Grants being available for bridge work, and thus encourage highway authorities to submit further schemes of bridge reconstruction?

The total estimated cost of the schemes submitted by highway authorities up to and including the 11th instant is £3,409,840 for road works, and £139,544in respect of bridge works. Grants amounting to £2,814,644 have been indicated to works estimated to cost £3,258,349. Grants provisionally indicated towards the cost of bridge works amount to £21,577. In view of the large amountof road improvement works requiring to be done, it is not anticipated that the funds available at present will allow of Grants being made in excess of the estimated figure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has under consideration any scheme for the revision of tax clerks'salaries; and, it so, will he consider the advisability of setting up a national and departmental Whitley Council to advise him on the subject?

Very considerable improvements have been made in the emoluments of male clerks in surveyors'offices in the course of the last fifteen months, and the question of any further change in the organisation in this branch cannot be dealt with apart from the consideration of Civil Service conditions as a whole, and in anticipation of the establishment of a general system of Whitley Councils for the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the present state of national finance and as a purely temporary measure, the Government will consider instituting the totalisator on every racecourse and levy a charge on the use of each?

My right hon. Friend cannot anticipate his Budget Statement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether assistant clerks in the Customs and Excise Department who are ex-Service men are eligible for second-clerk clerkships in the Ministry of Pensions; and, ifso, whether their cases will be carefully borne in mind when nominations are made by the Customs and Excise Department for these clerkships in the Ministry of Pensions?

I would refer my hon. Friend tothe last sentence of the reply I gave him on the 13th instant. Further appointments to second-class clerkships will be made under the pooling arrangements instituted by the Treasury Circular of 29th January last.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that orders have been issued to all sub offices instructing those in charge to revert to the pre-war times of opening and closing; and whether, in view of the labour now available, it is necessary for these officials to work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.?

Instructions have been given that scale payment sub-offices should be open at 8 a.m., and that the normal hour of closing should be 7 p.m. Sub-postmasters are not themselves compelled to be in attendance during all these hours if they provide other suitable persons to attend to post office business.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that four civilians attached to the shore wireless service were asked in April, 1918, to volunteer for service in Italy under civilian conditions as to pay and privileges similar to those they were enjoying; whether these men were required to proceed from Ancona to the Bosphorus and kept on board His Majesty's ship "Cæsar" under naval routine and conditions; whether he will say why payment has not been made in accordancewith the agreement under which the men accepted this service; and will he make arrangements for them to be released by naval ratings?