asked the Secretary of State for War if he will release these two young men on compassionate grounds, Sergeant M. Hindmarsh, No. 761034, A Battery, 317th Brigade, R.N.D.A., British Expeditionary Force, France, aged twenty-three, four years' service, three in France, and Private E. Hindmarsh, No. 35886, C Company, 9th Platoon, 24th Duke of Wellington's Regiment, British Expeditionary Force, France, aged twenty, one year's service, as their father has had his back broken in the mine and the doctor says he has only a few days to live?

It is not considered that the compassionate grounds put forward are strong enough to release these men. From the information given Sergeant Hindmarsh would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, will no doubt be released in due course. Meanwhile, a wire has been sent to France requesting that they may be granted special leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, under date 4th February, 1919, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland addressed a letter to Mr. Alexander Youngson, Bowbutts, Strachan, Banchory, stating that the Board had made application for the early demobilisation of Mr. Youngson's son, Private R. J. Youngson, No. 24486, D Company, 4th Reserve Battalion Gordon Highlanders, as a pivotal man; whether he is aware that Private Youngson has not yet been demobilised; and can he see his way to make inquiry with a view to the early release of this soldier?

Instructions have already been issued for Private Young-son's release. I will have inquiries made, and will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Lance-Corporal Robert Morburn, No. 301925, 465th Agricultural Company, Glencorse, who joined the Service in November, 1915, and who has been severely wounded, may now be demobilised in order to take up his old occupation as a horseman on a farm on which his father lives, and for which he is urgently required?

It Lance-Corporal Morburn joined the Colours for continuous service before the 1st of January, 1916, he will no doubt be demobilised in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of Captain James Keesley Gray, of the 2/6th Royal Sussex Regiment, attached temporarily to the 16th Indian Division, 43rd Brigade, who joined the Army in 1915 and was recommended for demobilisation early in January by the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour on business grounds; and whether this application for demobilisation, which can be supported also on compassionate grounds, may receive the consideration of the War Office?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War why William Rees Davies, late No. M2/153391, C.S.M., Royal Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport, who enlisted on 6th December, 1915, in London, Ontario, Canada, wounded and in Canadian hospital, Basingstoke, discharged thence 22nd July, 1918, category B 3, unlikely to be raised at the end of six months, sent to Upper Norwood to await a passage to Canada, waited seven weeks, then, tired, took his discharge 29th November, 1918, applied for repatriation three times, the last time about 6th February, 1919, when he enclosed a cablegram from his employer requesting him to return to his post at the earliest date, is still detained in England; and when he will be sent to London, Ontario?

Inquiries will be made, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that a number of horses required for the Army were originally taken from the Howe of the Mearns, one of the best agricultural districts in Scotland, and that while surplus Army horses are being disposed of at various centres throughout the country this particular district has been ignored in this connection, he will consider the advisability of establishing a disposal centre at Laurencekirk, where every facility is available?

I am informed that great care was taken in selecting convenient centres for the sale of surplus Army horses, and it was found to be uneconomical to dispose of them other than in main towns. Army horses are being sold constantly by public auction at Aberdeen and Elgin—the former being within half an hour's journey and the latter within an hour's journey by rail from Laurencekirk.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether married soldiers whose families were living in married quarters at the time of the outbreak of war and were evicted from their quarters by the military authorities, have been refused all compensation by the Civil Liabilities Commission, whereas soldiers with families who were married off the strength, and who were evicted from their homes, have received compensation; and, if so, whether any steps will be taken to remove this inequality of treatment?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am not sure how far, if at all, the matter referred to comes within the scope of the Civil Liabilities Committee. If the Noble and gallant Member will send me the details of any of the cases to which he refers, I will have inquiry made into them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry how many yards of linen are now in the possession of the Aircraft Disposal Department?

The total stocks of linen in the possession of the Ministry of Munitions and available for disposal is 31,970,725 yards.

asked the Pensions Minister what is the position with regard to dependants' pension of the widows of Colonial soldiers killed in action when these widows subsequently return from the Colonies to this country?

With regard to the pensions payable under the Warrants of the Ministry, arrangements can be made for payment in any country in which the pensioner is residing. Pensions awarded by Colonial Governments are not administered by the Ministry of Pensions, but I understand that arrangements are made for payment in this country through the Agents of the Government concerned.

asked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that many discharged sailors and soldiers who have contracted tuberculosis during their service are anxious to proceed to warmer climates as their only hope of recovery; and if he can arrange that facilities may be provided for these men since all application for passages are at present refused?

I have no knowledge of the fact stated in the last part of the question, and in any case it would not be possible for my Department to secure passages for discharged men desirous of emigrating. In those cases where disabled men have, been able to make arrangements for emigrating they can be temporarily assisted by a three months' advance of pension, and they can also apply to the King's Fund for free passages for themselves and their families if it is medically certified that for reasons of health emigration is desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the number of firms or companies, and the number of persons employed, in which profit-sharing was practised for the latest available year as compared with the figures of sixty-two firms and 73,297 to 79,660 persons for 1909; and how many of these undertakings were gas manufacturers?

I have been asked to answer this question. The latest complete figures appeared in the "Labour Gazette" for November, 1915, and relate to the 30th June, 1915. At that date there were 153 firms in the United Kingdom (other than co-operative societies) which had some form of profit-sharing or co-partnership in operation. These firms had an average of 141,112 persons in permanent employment during the twelve months preceding the declaration of profits in 1914, while the maximum number of casual employés on any one day was 4,892. The number of gas companies included in this total was forty-one, of which three have since been merged in other profit-sharing gas undertakings, one has been terminated in consequence of the municipalisation of the undertaking, and one has been abandoned owing to the dissatisfaction of the work-people.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much whisky has been released from bond during the month of March and how much is in bond to-day; (2) what was the amount of whisky exported in 1917 and 1918; and whether the Exchequer would have lost or gained if this whisky had been sold at home?

I have been asked to answer these questions, but I regret that I am unable to give the desired information since the records of the Board of Customs and Excise do not distinguish whisky from other forms of British plain spirits.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is making any plans for the training of demobilised soldiers no longer able to take up their old careers; and whether, in that case, what progress has been made with the scheme?

I understand that the reference to demobilised soldiers no longer able to take up their old careers refers to men who have been disabled. Arrangements are in progress with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions for the Ministry of Labour taking over from the Ministry of Pensions the industrial training of disabled soldiers whose disablement will not prevent them from entering some form of industry. The necessary arrangements are being pressed forward as quickly as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the inadequate facilities and accommodation provided by the existing General Post Office at Middlesbrough; and if he will say how soon this establishment can be enlarged so that its service may be increased to meet the growth of the town?

I am aware that the public portion of Middlesbrough Post Office is at present somewhat congested, owing to the additional work which has arisen as a result of the War. Measures are in hand, however, which it is hoped will relieve the difficulty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if he will state what facilities, if any, exist in the case of soldiers of the Canadian forces who have been killed in action to enable their widows and families to come from Canada and settle with the parents of their late husbands; and to whom application should be made in order to-obtain such facilities?

I am not aware that any special facilities exist in such oases, but there is no lack of passenger accommodation eastward. The arrangements for passages of officers and men of the Canadian contingents and their dependants are made by the Dominion Government, which, if it desires to obtain special terms in such cases as those referred to by the hon. and gallant Member, will doubtless approach the shipping companies.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Peace Conference proposes to apply the principle of self-determination to Albania?

In delimiting frontiers in South-Eastern Europe the delegates at the Peace Conference are in all cases endeavouring to ascertain and carry out the wishes of the populations concerned.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether advantage will be taken of the Peace Conference to arrive at an international agreement regarding the landing of immature fish and the reservation of the Moray Firth and other Scottish inlets to line fishermen, and also to bring about a rectification of the present three-mile limit, so as to provide for a British limit of at least thirteen miles?

I fear it is unlikely that an opportunity will arise for discussing any of these questions at the Peace Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a Committee has been sitting at the Foreign Office to consider the post-war appointments in the Consular Service; and, if so, whether any recommendations have been made?

Several Committees have been sitting at the Foreign Office in order to consider various aspects of the Consular Service. The majority of the recommendations made by these Committees have been embodied in the new scheme of Consular re-organisation to which reference was made in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea on 25th March.