asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a wife's income under the Income Tax Acts is treated as part of her husband's income?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to him on the 7th instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the gross assessment brought under the review of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the financial years 1913–14, 1914–15, 1915–6, and 1917–18?

The gross income brought under the review of the Commissioners for Income Tax purposes in each of the years mentioned was as follows: £ 1913–14 1,167,184,229 1914–15 1,238,313,397 1915–16 1,322,684,843 1917–18 (estimate) 2,000,000,000

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the bonus paid to those forming the Armies of Occupation in lieu of increased pay is exempt from Income Tax; and, if not, whether he is aware that such taxation will result in certain officers and men who have been previously exempt having to pay Income Tax on their pay, and others will have to pay increased rate, which will result in their being worse off than before on account of the bonus?

The "extra remuneration for those retained on military service" is not exempt from Income Tax. Any person, in whatever employment, who receives extra remuneration, and whose income is thereby brought beyond the exemption limit, is necessarily subject to the operation of the Income Tax law by reference to the amount of his real income; that is, the income as so increased, but the hon. and gallant Member is under a complete misapprehension in supposing that the effect of the Income Tax charge can possibly be to make any such person actually worse off by reason of his additional remuneration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that should a tax be imposed on bachelors it will not be applied to those who properly refrain from marriage on account of disease?

I have noted my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of Excess War Profits Tax that was budgeted for in the financial year 1917–18; and the amount that the Excess Profits Tax has realised?

The following are the figures of Excess Profits Duty and Munitions Levy for the year 1917–18: Budget Estimate £200,000,000 Exchequer Receipt in the year £220,214,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the effect upon those engaged in the manufacture of sweetened table waters of the double taxation to which they are subject, first upon the raw ingredients and then upon the finished product, and whether he will take steps to alleviate this hardship in the forthcoming Budget?

In fixing the rate of duty of sweetened table waters at 4d. per gallon, as compared with 8d. per gallon on unsweetened, the fact that duty was charged on the sugar used in its production was taken into account. The margin of difference is more than sufficient to compensate for the duty on the raw materials used in the manufacture of the sweetened article, and I cannot admit that any hardship exists.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Inland Revenue officials refuse to stamp letters of allotment in respect of new issues of capital in cases where no part of the proceeds is to be applied for capital purposes outside the United Kingdom, or to replace money which has been so applied, except upon the production of the original or of a copy of the Treasury licence for the issue in question; and, in view of the fact that such licence is not now required, he will give immediate instructions that this practice is discontinued?

My Noble Friend has been misinformed. When it is clear that the undertaking is local to this country, the letters of allotment are stamped without question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the reorganisation of the staff of the Board of Trade has been delayed by the action of the Treasury; whether he is aware that this delay is causing serious concern to tie commercial community; and whether he can state the date on which the Treasury will be able to sanction the increased and reorganised staff required for the reconstruction of our trade and industry?

No, Sir, I am rot aware of the facts alleged by the hon. Member. Practically all the proposals as regards staff put forward by the Board of Trade have now been agreed to.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Grant of £600 which is awarded annually to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and employed by it for the publication of scientific researches, is now entirely inadequate owing to the great increase in the cost of publishing; whether a proposal to increase the amount has been rejected because increased Grants have not been given on these grounds in other cases; and whether, in view of the fact that a large amount of work of high scientific value will in consequence remain unpublished, and a serious check be imposed on the prosecution of scientific research in Scotland owing to the difficulty in obtaining proper facilities for its publication, he is now prepared to reconsider the proposal?

Representations have been made to me in the sense of the first part of the question. I regret that in existing financial conditions I am unable to reconsider the decision that no further provision of funds can be made at the present time.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the last list of registered friendly societies was supplied to registrars of births and deaths; and whether, in view of the existing unemployment, the Registrar-General will take immediate steps to issue a supplementary list of all societies registered since the last issue, with a view to remove the cause of the frequent overcharges in the issue of certificates of death in respect of members of registered friendly sacieties?

It has not been found practicable to supply registrars of births and deaths with complete lists of registered friendly societies, but they are supplied annually with a selected list of the more important societies. They can, however, satisfy themselves whether a society is registered or not by inquiry of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies. It is hoped to issue the revised list early in May. No complaints of overcharges for certificates have reached the Registrar-General for a considerable time.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the cause of the delay in issuing Civil Service Estimates, Class II., whether the missing Estimates will be circulated before Easter; whether all Civil Service Estimates should be presented to the House within ten days after the opening of the Committee of Supply; and whether this Order of the House can be considered to be complied with if the Estimates are only presented in dummy?

Class II. of the Civil Service Estimates is now in the hands of Members. The delay, which I regret, is mainly due to the complete recasting of many of the Estimates which has been necessitated by the discontinuance of Votes of Credit.

asked the Food Controller if he can state the amount of profit that the Wheat Commissioners are making upon every sack of flour which the biscuit makers in this country are purchasing through them, without in any way taking into account the 36s. per sack Licence Duty, and if he will take action in the matter?

If the Licence Duty of 36s. per sack payable by wholesale biscuit manufacturers is not taken into account there would be no profit made on the sale of flour to biscuit makers by the Wheat Commission, as suggested by the hon. Member, but a substantial loss. The question whether any reduction can now be made in the amount of the Licence Duty is under review.

asked the Food Controller if he will state the average cost per animal of freight, insurance, lairage, and feeding charges paid by him to the owners of Irish fat cattle shipped from Ireland to this country; whether such charges were prior to 1918 borne by the owner; what was the reason for the Government taking on these costs; whether he is aware that the result of this policy is to artificially raise the price of Irish fat cattle at the cost of the English taxpayer and reacts on Irish store cattle and causes their price to be prohibitive to the graziers of the Midlands and East Anglian markets; and whether he can see his way to abandon it and revert to the old practice?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Horncastle on 10th April. The charges now paid by the Ministry of Food in respect of Irish fat cattle imported into Great Britain were, prior to the institution of control in June, 1918, paid by the owners of the cattle; but it should be pointed that as most of the cattle were at that time sold in Ireland to English dealers, these charges did not necessarily fall upon the Irish farmer. The Ministry of Food undertook to pay these charges in order to give the owners of Irish fat cattle equality of treatment with the farmers of Great Britain, on whose stock freight and feeding charges are paid, under the present arrangements for control of the sale of live stock for slaughter. I cannot agree that this policy has the effect described by the hon. Member, and am not prepared to adopt the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

asked the Food Controller whether any maize was imported into the United Kingdom during February and March; if so, what quantity and who were the persons to whom it was allotted; whether any was allotted for feeding horses; and when will a further supply be available for this purpose?

The total quantity of maize imported into the United Kingdom for the months February and March for all purposes amounted to 156,000 tons, and was allotted through the usual trade channels to yeast distillers, manufacturers, and cattle feeders in the priority named. No maize has been specially imported for the feeding of horses, but certain quantities of maize, primarily imported for industrial and general feeding purposes, have recently been made available for this purpose. It is not, however, anticipated that arrivals during the next few months will be sufficiently large to permit any appreciable quantity being available for horse feeding. I may add that large quantities of home-grown oats are still available for horse fodder.

asked the Food Controller what are the duties of the cattle and sheep dealers in removing stock from the producing areas to the distributing markets supplying the industrial centres, their scale of remuneration, and the amount paid to these dealers in the six counties of North Wales to the 31st December, 1919?

Dealers from Manchester and Birmingham are commissioned by the Ministry of Food to attend the markets of North Wales in order to collect any surplus supplies of live stock for consumption in these industrial areas. Their remuneration is based on the following scale: Cattle— Five shillings per head on the first twenty. Two shillings and sixpence per head on the next twenty. One shilling per head on any excess over forty. Sheep— Ninepence per head on the first 100. Sixpence per head on a further 200. Threepence per head on any excess over 300.

The amount paid to these dealers in respect of all the markets in the six counties of North Wales to the 31st December, 1918, was £1,328 4s.

asked the Food Controller if he is aware that Messrs. Bulloch, Lade, and Company, whisky distillers, are refusing to supply the merchants that they deal with with the 75 per cent. of the 1916 delivery because some of the wine and whisky merchants have stock in hand; and if he intends taking any action in forcing the hands of the various distillers to supply all their merchants with the full 75 per cent, of the 1916 delivery?

I am advised that the firm in question have complied with their obligations, either by delivering supplies or giving certificates which may be presented to another trader, for the quantity which they fail to supply. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the withholding from retailers of the ordinary supplies of spirits by the wholesale dealers owing to the fear of increased duties which may be imposed in the coming Budget, and what steps he proposes to take to prevent this shortage to the public and the exploitation of both retailer and the public by the larger dealer?

My attention has not been called to the matter referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, dealers who themselves hold authorities to clear spirits from bond are required as a condition of such authorities to distribute the spirits cleared by them fairly amongst their licensed customers, having regard to the quantity delivered to each in 1916. Failure to comply with this condition may involve forfeiture of the authority and refusal to renew it.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can give the number and cost of houses and tenements built in Ireland out of public funds by the Estates Commissioners, the Congested Districts Board, and the local authorities, and the total or annual loss?

The amount expended by the Estates Commissioners from the commencement of the Irish Land Act of 1903 to 31st March, 1918, on erection of new buildings (including out-offices) and repair of existing buildings (including out-offices) was £355,521 9s. 6d., of which £210,270 14s. 5d. is repayable in the Purchasers' Land Purchase Annuities and the balance of £145,250 15s. is not repayable. The Commissioners are not in a position to state the number of new buildings so erected or existing buildings so repaired. With regard to the operations of the Congested Districts Board I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement furnished in reply to the question of my lion. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth on the 10th March last. Under the Labourers Acts 47,868 cottages and plots were provided up to 31st March, 1918. As regards the costs and losses connected with the buildings and the plots I would refer my hon. Friend to the last printed Parliamentary Returns prepared in the matter (House of Commons Papers, Nos. 280 and 281 of the year 1915). The following are the particulars as regards the operations in county boroughs, urban districts and towns under the Housing of the Working Classes Acts: Total number of Houses built. Cost. Annual Loss. £ 9410 and 2 common lodging houses 1,983,590 No particulars available, but in Dublin City it amounted to £9,812 for the year 1912–13 on 1,385 houses, or about £7 per house.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if ho can make any statement regarding the recent reception of the Sinn Fein deputation by M. Clemenceau?

My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary has no information whatever on this subject.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the coast watchers on the South Wexford coast are being paid a lesser wage than ordinary agricultural labourers, though these men do duty in all weathers and during any hour of the day or night; and will he consider granting them a gratuity or bonus for services rendered during the War, having regard to the large amount of property and wreckage safeguarded by them during that period?

The coast watchers in question are being paid at the rate of 25s. 6d. a week, and I am advised that the ordinary agricultural labourer in the district is receiving 25s. a week, except in a few instances, where as much as 28s. a week is being paid. In the circumstances, and as the coast watchers receive monetary rewards from the Board of Trade for salvage of property and wreckage, it is not considered necessary, I am advised, to grant bonus or gratuity to the coast watchers.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that hostility writers engaged on ships clearing the seas of mines off the coast of Ireland are at present working as much as 100 hours per week, and are only paid £l 5s. 8d. per week, and whether he can see his way to grant them increased pay, having regard to the fact that the officers and men engaged on the ships are getting extra pay ranging from £2 to £4 per week each?

I am not aware that there are any such cases as those referred to. If, therefore, my hon. Friend knows of any such cases, I hope he will let me have the details.

The rates of pay now authorised for writers in the Mine Clearance Service are: Per Week. Third writers … … £2 10 9 Second writers … … 3 3 0 First writers … … 3 17 0 Chief writers … … 4 5 9 In addition, mine clearance allowance is paid of £3 3s. a week to chief petty officers, 2½ guineas a week to petty officers, and 2 guineas a week to other ratings.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that at 4.25 p.m. on 8th April a number of male and female clerks in a temporary building named Birdcage House, purporting to be the offices of the Accountant-General, were leaning out of the windows and waving handkerchiefs and Government papers; and whether, in view of the insufficiency of work that such a state of things would indicate, he would suggest to the Accountant-General that the number of clerks in his employ should be reduced?

The occurrence to which my hon. Friend refers appears to have arisen in connection with the departure of two women clerks whose service at the Admiralty had terminated owing to the return from the Army of members of the permanent staff. These two clerks had called at the Admiralty after their departure to receive small balances of pay due to them, and it is a fact that three men and two women clerks waved a farewell to them from the windows as they left the building. I am bound to say that any suggestion of insufficiency of work in this Department is entirely unfounded. The section of the Department in question has had very heavy demands made upon it recently in connection with the increased work resulting from the termination of the War, and the pressure will continue for a considerable time.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an application has been received from Mr. James Leckie, of 6, Earl Street, Stafford, for parent's allowance for his son, James P. Leckie, No. 554, T.C., Royal Naval Reserve, of His Majesty's Mail Steamship "William Cowling"; and whether the allowance will be granted?

Mr. Leckie's claim has been received, and an allowance of 5s. a week was awarded on the 12th instant, with effect from the 3rd October last. I regret the delay that has occurred in the examination of this claim. Some such delays have been inevitable by reason of the very large number of claims received and the extreme pressure of work occasioned by demobilisation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Territorials who were serving on Army engagements when the War commenced, and who completed their four years' service, and then continued their service, and who would be entitled to a bounty of £15 for the fifth year of service, but who were demobilised before the end of such fifth year, can now be awarded a proportionate monthly part of the £15 bounty to which they would have been entitled had they completed a full fifth year of service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his similar question of Thursday last. The bounty is not payable in respect of the extra year of service for which a Territorial soldier is liable under Section 9 (5) of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, 1907, but in respect of the further service beyond that year for which he became liable under the Military Service Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will authorise the immediate payment of one month's salary to all nurses on their arrival in this country from overseas service?

Instructions have been given for the issue of a year's gratuity as an advance to all nurses sent home for demobilisation from overseas. Payment will be made before they start for home.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the question of basing the gratuity payable to a Territorial Force officer upon his war record and upon the appointments which he has held during the War, in order that junior officers who have held appointments carrying a much higher rank than their substantive rank for a considerable period, but who have given up such appointments through sickness or for some other reason, through no fault of their own, and have in consequence reverted to their substantive rank and only held that rank at the end of the War, may receive a fair reward for these services, more important than those of their permanent rank, and which they have performed during the course of the War?

The method of calculating the gratuities of Territorial Force as well as of all other officers has received very careful consideration of the Army Council, and it is not proposed to modify the arrangements as they now stand.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the question of granting temporary pensions to apprentices who have been serving in the Army, in view of the fact that many have been serving for years, and now on return to civil life they find their wages as apprentices totally inadequate to meet the increased cost of living?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on the 31st March to the hon. Member for the Drake Division of Plymouth, which outlined the scheme for assisting those persons whose apprenticeship was interrupted by service in His Majesty's Forces.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether timeserving members of the naval forces who have been prisoners of war are entitled to their final discharge in consequence thereof, or only on grounds of physical unfitness; and, if the latter, what provisions are made for such men to appear before medical boards?

Returned prisoners of war are not entitled to discharge unless the period of service for which they engaged has expired. It is the duty of the medical officer of each ship or naval establishment to bring forward for survey by a medical board any men, who on joining a ship or establishment is not considered fit for further service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private W. J. Blackley, No. 41295, 12th Royal Scots, who was taken prisoner on 3rd May, 1917, in France, was informed on his return to this country by the com- manding officer of Glencorse Camp, Edinburgh, that if he was willing to relinquish the furlough which was due to him and filled in a form and returned his railway warrant he would be demobilised at once; and whether it is with his sanction that the promise given to Private Blackley, who complied with the specified conditions, has been broken?

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

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will order the demobilisation of Sergeant William Sievewright, No. 658639, now attached to the Chinese Labour Corps, who has been in France since August, 1914, is time expired, has a situation open to him, and is in every way entitled to demobilisation according to Regulations?

Inquiries are being made into this case, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether men serving far from home who have had no leave will have special preference in demobilisation; and whether the one-man business men are still allowed special consideration on account of the great loss they have suffered?

Dispersal drafts are made up in accordance with the instructions in force as to priority, which provide, that a certain proportion of each draft will include men who have had long service overseas. As I stated in the House last Tuesday, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Frome, large drafts have been placed under orders for Egypt and Constantinople. These will relieve a corresponding number of personnel who have served long periods in these theatres without leave. As regards Mesopotamia and India, no drafts can be sent to those places until climatic conditions permit. With regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's question, it is regretted that special treatment cannot be accorded to the proprietors of one-man businesses. Their demobilisation is dependent on whether or not they are eligible under Army Order 55 of 1919.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received an application for the discharge on com- passionate grounds of Private Charles Thomas, No. 66455, 6th Northumberland Fusiliers, who was repatriated after spending some months seriously ill in German hospitals, after being gassed, and who since his return to this country has been seriously ill, and is certified by medical authorities as being unfit for further military duty of any kind; and whether, in view of these facts and of the private circumstances of Private Thomas, he will order his immediate discharge?

Private Thomas is not registered for special release, nor is there any trace of an application on compassionate grounds having been received by the War Office. If, however, he is eligible for demobilisation under existing Regulations he will be released as soon as circumstances permit. The question of his health is one for the medical authorities to deal with, and the private circumstances referred to by my hon. Friend are not known to the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Private John Lorimer, No. 41343, 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers, was used as a ploughman in France after the Armistice; whether his demobilisation was sanctioned on 5th February last; whether he was asked to remain for a few days after this date until a suitable substitute could be obtained to do his work; whether he was then told that he would be finally demobilised on 12th February; whether subsequently new Regulations were issued which prevented his demobilisation; and whether, if the above facts are substantially accurate and considering that Private Lorimer enlisted voluntarily, he will take steps to secure this soldier's early release from the Army?

Private Lorimer is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, nor is there trace of any application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. I am not aware of his demobilisation having been sanctioned as stated, and no orders to that effect have been issued by the War Office. If he is demobilisable under current instructions he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary of State for War if Lance-Corporal E. Johnson, No. 10467, Military Foot Police, Army Post Office S. 10, British Expeditionary Force, Prance, who enlisted in 1915 under the Derby scheme, and was called up in 1916, age forty-one, can now be released, in view of his employers badly wanting him and having applied for him in November, 1918, and getting no satisfaction?

Lance-Corporal Johnson is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, nor is there trace of any application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If this soldier's age is as stated by my hon. Friend he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, he will no doubt be released as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Sapper C. Perryman, No. 494724, 61st Division, 479th Field Company, Royal Engineers, who enlisted in July, 1915; what are the reasons for his retention in spite of the Regulations; and whether the fact that his former employers require his services as cutter in order to make suits for discharged soldiers will be treated as an additional reason for his immediate discharge?

Sapper Perryman is not registered either as pivotal, demobiliser, or for special release, nor is there trace of any application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. If his date of enlistment is as stated by my hon. Friend he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, he will no doubt be released in due course. With regard to the last part of the question, the fact that he has a situation open for him does not entitle him to immediate release, but gives him a certain priority if he is eligible for demobilisation and has been applied for by his employers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in respect that Corporal R. Shepherd, No. 307108, Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorials), 31st C.C.S., B.S.F., joined up on 25th May, 1915, was sent to Salonika early in 1917, is still retained with the Salonika forces, never having had any leave, and that he has had two brothers killed in this War and one so seriously wounded as to necessitate his being put on home service, instructions can now be given for his demobilisation?

If Corporal Shepherd's date of enlistment is as stated by my hon. Friend, he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, he will no doubt be released as soon as circumstances permit. If, however, the hon. Member will submit a statement, giving full particulars of this case and showing this soldier's dependants, vouched for by himself, a clergyman, justice of peace, or a doctor, it will receive consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Company Sergeant-Major J. Forbes, M.M., No. 269263, No. 6 Light Railway Operating Company, British Expeditionary Force, France, has not yet been released; that this man enlisted in January, 1915, has four children and a wife dependent on him, and work awaiting him; and whether, in view of the fact that Company Sergeant-Major Forbes belongs to Group 34, to which, according to British Expeditionary Force General Routine Order No. 6,486, of 18th March, preference in demobilisation should be given, he will take steps to have this man released without further delay?

My hon. and gallant Friend has not quoted this General Routine Order quite accurately. The portion of General Routine Order 6,486 referred to was to the effect that in selecting personnel for dispersal under paragraph 4 ( c ) (vi.) of General Routine Order 6,179, preference should be given as far as possible to personnel belonging to the group referred to. Men sent for dispersal under paragraph 4 ( c ) (vi.) could in any case form only a very small proportion of each draft. If, however, Company Sergeant-Major Forbes' service is as stated he will no doubt be demobilised in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now give a decision in regard to the release, on compassionate grounds, of Private Thomas Mack, No. S.29,703, 53rd Gordon Highlanders?

This case was personally investigated by the Officer Commanding, 53rd Battalion, Gordon High- landers, and it was found that Private Mack had an offer of employment at £1 16s. 9d. a week. He is aged eighteen years seven months, and it was pointed out to him that he was now drawing £1 1s. a week from the Army and being clothed, housed, and fed, and that if he were to send 10s. or 15s. a week to his parents he would be doing them more good than by returning to his home. He was making an allotment of 3s. 6d. per week (which is made up to 12s. per week in accordance with Dependants' Allowance Regulations); and he further promised to increase his own allotment by 10s. a week. This would give his parents an allowance of £1 2s. per week, which is more than the lad could allow at home, paying for his clothing, board, and lodgings, and it is therefore not proposed to release him on compassionate grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give instructions for the demobilisation of Private Arthur Paterson, No. 307085, Port Sanitary Section, care of Base Commandant, Batum, Russia, who joined up in May, 1915, was sent to Salonika in March, 1917, and who there contracted malignant malaria and dysentery, which caused him to be put from Class 1 A to Class 2 B, and who was sent from Salonika to Batum on 12th February, 1919, never having had leave since leaving this country?

Private Paterson is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If, however, his date of enlistment is as stated by my hon. Friend, he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, he will no doubt be released as soon as circumstances permit. With regard to this soldier's health, the medical authorities concerned are the judges as to his fitness to serve abroad, and I am afraid I cannot give any special instructions for his immediate release on this ground.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to secure the early demobilisation of Sergeant E. C. Keeley, No. M2/031866, 281 G.B.A.O., attached Royal Garrison Artillery, who volunteered for the duration of the War only in December, 1914, and whose educational and business prospects are being ruined by his retention?

If Sergeant Keeley's service is as stated, he will no doubt be demobilised in due course.

asked the Post-master-General whether two priority lists for the release from the Army of about 300 Post Office servants have been sent to general headquarters, France; whether he is aware that of this number the great majority are men who enlisted subsequent to 1914, and that about sixty are men who are available for the Army of Occupation, whether he can give the reasons for excluding from these lists men who enlisted in the very early days of the War; and whether he will explain the method employed in deciding which men shall be included in these priority lists?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar question by the hon. Member for Kings-winford on the 9th instant. As was stated then, the schedules are being revised in consultation with the military authorities in France.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that noncommissioned officers and men who have been registered for demobilisation are being sent to England on leave for various causes and on the expiration of their leave have to report to their unit to be demobilised; and, in view of the expense incurred in carrying out this order, whether he will consider the possibility of demobilising these men in this country?

Soldiers on leave from France are not demobilised whilst on leave, but must return to their units on the expiration of their leave. Soldiers on leave from other theatres who are eligible for demobilisation are demobilised if they embarked prior to the date set out in the Regulations governing the demobilisation of men on leave from overseas. The unit the men rejoin in the latter case is the Reserve unit at home, where the necssary documents are prepared. Since the date set out in the Regulations referred to, only men ineligible for demobilisation are being granted leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private T. Hubbock, No. 35535, 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, British Expeditionary Force, France, who is a miner, is still being retained; and, in view of the order that all miners were to be released, will he have inquiries made into this case?

The demobilisation of miners is dependent on whether or not they are eligible under Army Order 55, dated 29th January, 1919.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the discontent of the men of the 1/4th Devon Regiment who, having joined the Army at the outbreak of war, are still being retained at a refugee camp at Bagubah, Mesopotamia; and if he can say when these men will be released?

I am afraid I can add nothing to the statement which I made on this subject on the 25th February last in answer to questions put by my right hon. Friend the Member for South Molton and my hon. Friend the Member for Brecknock. These men will, I hope, be brought home as soon as possible after the hot season, provided they are eligible for release under the existing Army Orders.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether demobilisation has been refused or delayed in a large number of cases solely on the ground that circumstances do not permit, and who is the judge of such circumstances; whether this qualification of the otherwise explicit regulations leads to inequality and misunderstanding; and whether he can see his way to lay down a rule that the regulations are to be applied without any such qualification except in special emergencies?

I would remind my hon. Friend that Army Order 55, of 1919, provides that men who are eligible for demobilisation may nevertheless be retained if temporarily required for the military machinery of demobilisation until they can be individually substituted or their services dispensed with. This is more particularly the case with certain staffs and departmental corps whose services are-essential to demobilisation, e.g., Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, personnel of Record Offices, Army Pay Offices, etc.

I would also refer him to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Midlothian and Peebles (Northern Division) on the 1st April, 1919, from which it will be seen that the decisions of officers commanding units as to the retention of personnel under their command must be referred to higher authority in the case of men in certain categories. Men detailed for release as pivotal men are retained for military duty only under written authority of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief concerned, and for most exceptional reasons. Men whose special release is ordered, or men who are demobilisable under Army Order 55, of 1919, and for whom release slips have been received, or who have received contract offers of employment, are not retained for military duties without the written sanction of an officer not below the status of a brigadier-commander.

Apart from this the decision as to whether it is necessary to retain demobilisable personnel until they can be replaced or their services dispensed with rests with officers commanding units, and I am of opinion that they are the best fitted to judge as to such necessity. These officers are in possession of full instructions governing demobilisation of personnel under their command, and there is no reason to believe that they do not limit the retention of demobilisation personnel to the strictest necessity. Their decisions are, of course, subject to review by higher authority should necessity occasion it, and inspections are being made regularly.

It should also be borne in mind that it is necessary to maintain our garrisons and armies of occupation at adequate strength. These are maintained at the minimum adequate strength compatible with security, and in some cases it may be necessary to retain demobilisable personnel until reliefs can be sent out. This is more particularly the case with regard to the troops in Eastern theatres and commands. These reliefs are being collected as rapidly as possible, but there are other considerations which must be taken into account, the principal of which are the questions of shipping accommodation and the danger to health which would result in moving troops in the tropics during the hot weather. This was fully dealt with in the statement I made in the House on the 25th February, relative to troops in India and the East.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an explanation of the fact that, while 44.78 per cent, of other ranks have been demobilised since the signing of the Armistice, the services of only 4.75 per cent, of general officers have been dispensed with; and whether these 40.03 per cent, of general officers now in excess of establishment are in receipt of full pay and allowances, and what duties they are performing?

The explanation is that a general, a brigadier for example, has to superintend the dispersal of his command, and is therefore naturally one of the last to be demobilised. The rate of release of general officers is, however, increasing rapidly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the shortage of dental practitioners, he will issue instructions that dental students who have completed all but their last year of training should be released immediately from the Army, even if they are not eligible for demobilisation under the terms of the Army Order of the 29th January, 1919?

I regret that my hon. Friend's proposal cannot be entertained. Dental students are in the same position as other students, and their demobilisation is dependent on their eligibility under Army Order 55 of 1919.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Italians who were resident in this country, and who were called up under the Military Service Acts and Conventions with Allied States, are eligible for release if enlisted after 1st January, 1916, or whether the same rules of demobilisation apply to them as to British subjects?

The same rules apply as in the case of British subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a draft from East Africa arrived by the "Field Marshal" on the 24th February and a further draft arrived by the "Cawdor Castle" on 5th March; that both these drafts proceeded to Bedford and are still stationed there, with no apparent prospect of demobilisation; and that two further drafts arrived in England on the 7th March and 19th March by the "Durham Castle" and "Marathon" and were distributed to dispersal centres, from which the men have been demobilised irrespective of length of service or age; whether the men of the two earlier drafts had more service and were older than the men in the later drafts; and, if so, whether he will endeavour to secure uniformity of treatment between the men concerned?

Inquiries will be made, and I will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the results as early as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are 500 teachers or more (Group 43) at the Kantara Camp, Egypt, awaiting demobilisation; that many of them have been there for four, five, or six weeks and are apparently stranded; that during that period some thousands of men in other groups have passed through the camp on their way home; whether he is aware that the teachers in question have posts waiting for them and that they are urgently needed in their schools; and what steps he proposes to take to hasten their immediate return?

The present state of unrest in Egypt has to a certain extent delayed demobilisation. Apart from this whilst demobilisation is in progress men are sent home as shipping facilities permit, and according to the instructions in force as to priority. I do not think there is any reason to believe that teachers are being treated on any different, footing to other men who are eligible for demobilisation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has circularised men formerly employed by his Department advising them that men whose release has been specially asked for by the Post Office are not liable for compulsory retention in the Army of Occupation, and will not be allowed to volunteer for further service under any circumstances; and, if so, why such men are not only being compulsorily retained in the Army of Occupation, but in some cases being drafted to posts so remote that it will be difficult to relieve them?

A Circular in the terms stated by the hon. Member was issued on the 4th March, but since that date it has become necessary to review the lists of men specially asked for by the Post Office and preference is now given, as far as possible, to men who are over thirty-seven years of age or who enlisted before 1st January, 1916. The allocation of the men to the various theatres of war is decided by the military authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information as to the present position of the l/9th Hants Regiment; and whether it will be possible to arrange the relief of this unit in the near future?

The l/9th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, is at the present time serving in Siberia. It is regretted that it is not possible to arrange the relief of this battalion in the near future, although arrangements to do so at the earliest possible moment are in train.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private Evan Davies, No. 31690, 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, who after being detained in hospital at Poonah, suffering from pneumonia, from 7th October, 1918, till the 13th January, 1919, was medically examined at Kirkee on the 14th January and classified C 3, and was on being demobilised at Prees Heath on the 2nd March classified A 1 without any medical examination whatsoever; and whether he will cause the soldier to be examined and placed in his proper category?

Inquiries are being made as to the facts of this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Army Regulations prohibit a Volunteer battalion attending a church parade at a Nonconformist church?

I am informed that there is no Army Regulation bearing on this subject except paragraph 1333 of the King's Regulations, which lays down that no soldier may be compelled to attend the services of any religious body other than his own, and so far as I am aware it has never been the practice to exercise such compulsion in the case of the Volunteers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction expressed by representatives of all sections of the population of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in regard to the closing of the Northumberland War Hospital, and to representations made to the War Office by the local medical committee, advocating the retention of this hospital for the treatment of medical and pensioner patients for at least six months, to prevent unnecessary suffering for civilian patients by the overcrowding of the Royal Victoria Infirmary; whether he is aware that the civil hospitals are unable to cope with any increase of work rendered inevitable by the simultaneous closing of the 1st Northern General Hospital and the Northumberland War Hospital; and whether, in view of the desirability of relief being granted at the earliest moment to the civil population, who are suffering severely through the shortage of beds, that there is no local demand for the closing of the Northumberland War Hospital, and that the visiting committee of the city council are not only willing but anxious that this hospital should be kept open, in the interests of soldiers and pensioners, until the Orthopædic Hospital now building is in working order, the War Office will reconsider their decision?

The representations made to the War Office advocating the retention of the Northumberland War Hospital were received on the 11th April. As it was owing to the very urgent request of the Board of Control authorities that the orders to close the hospital were given, the question of the possibility of retention, in view of the local medical committee's appeal, will be taken up with the Board of Control. The whole situation will be considerably eased when the Military Orthopædic Hospital, now in course of erection, is ready for occupation. This may be ready in a few months. The number of beds allotted to military patients in the Royal Victoria Infirmary has been recently reduced from 150 to 56.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and soldiers were at the time of the Armistice reported missing; how many have since been found; and what further steps are still being taken to discover the others?

The number of missing at the time of the Armistice were given in answer to a question in the House on the 19th November last. They were roughly 5,000 officers and 103,000 other ranks. These figures were approximate only, and have since been subjected to constant revision. I may say that, with few exceptions, the only missing officers or men found alive have been those who were captured too late to allow reports that they were prisoners being received from the enemy country before their release. These reports were much delayed in some cases. A considerable amount of evidence has been received from many sources as to the death of the missing, and this evidence is being investigated. No exact statistics exist as to the numbers of officers and men included in the two classes referred to, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question asked by the hon. Member for South Hackney on the 18th March, where an approximate figure of 64,800 was given as the number missing whose fate remains to be determined.

As regards the last part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the same reply to the hon. Member for South Hackney, in which it was explained that, with a view to ascertaining the fate of the missing during the War the wounded were examined in hospital by the Red Cross Society, and since the cessation of hostilities released prisoners are being examined. The battlefields have always been searched as far as possible, and a systematic search is being undertaken by the units of the Director-General of Graves Registration and Inquiries, now that the whole area is open.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the Carrington, Berridge Road, Scotland Road, Sneinton Dale, and Carlton Road schools in Nottingham, now in military occupation, will be vacated; and whether he can arrange to vacate before 30th June, failing which, inasmuch as three months are required to refit the buildings for teaching work, it will not be possible to have them ready for school work after midsummer?

I am informed that Carrington and Berridge Road schools will be vacated before 30th June. As, in response to appeals by the education authorities, the Trent Bridge and West Bridgford Schools are being closed, it is regretted that it is necessary to retain for the present Scotland Road and Sneinton Dale schools. The occupation of the Carlton Road school is also as yet indefinite, but the urgency of the release of all educational premises is constantly borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that every soldier demobilised in France on 1st April was presented with a folding pocket-case, upon the outside cover of which are printed prayers and hymns, together with a small metal token bearing the design of a cross and the figure of Britannia apparently weeping, and on the back of which is a text from the Psalms, under which are the words "Made in Germany," and whether such pocket-cases were distributed by the authority or with the consent of the War Office?

I have no information regarding this at present, but I am having inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Private C. McDonell, No. 1048273, 3rd Canadian Machine Gun Corps, now in No. 7 Military Prison, Vendroux, Les Attaques, was court- martialled at Tournai in January last and given five years' penal servitude for participation in a mutiny among certain battalions of the Canadian Corps at Nivelle; whether he has since been sentenced to death by a further court-martial and, if so, for what reason; and whether an inquiry can be made into the circumstances, of which his wife and mother in Canada are in complete ignorance?

Inquiries are being made regarding this question, and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War if it is convenient to state whether the Territorial Force will be re-organised in brigades of three battalions; and whether divisional ammunition columns will be complete units or be split up into brigade ammunition columns and a small-arm ammunition company?

The Territorial Force is about to be reconstructed on prewar lines, but the actual organisation is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the feeling that prevails among the men of the Regular Army with regard to the greatly improved conditions laid down for men joining the New Army and to the recently published instructions that the present-day time-serving soldier will receive only one month's furlough, irrespective of the number of years' unexpired service he may have to complete, whereas men in the New Army receive from two to three months' furlough for not more than four years' service; and whether any action will be taken in the matter?

The Regular soldier does not receive any furlough in respect of his unexpired service. He receives twenty-eight days' furlough in consideration of absence from home during the War. This is the same as the furlough granted to other soldiers on demobilisation for their service during the War. As an inducement to men to re-enlist, a scheme for bounty and two or three months' furlough was drawn up. This is not a reward for past service, but part of the terms which it was considered necessary to offer, in the present state of the labour market, in order to attract trained men to continue their military service when under no obligation to do so. The position of the Regular soldier is not affected thereby, nor is his contract altered.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether any Regular non-commissioned officers of the Royal Engineers (Signal Section), who during the War obtained acting rank as sergeant or warrant officer, will on the termination of the War have to revert to the same position they held in 1914, whereas men of the New Army have had their acting ranks substantiated; (2) whether, in view of the fact that Territorials and men of the Signal Section, Royal Engineers, who joined the New Army and held acting ranks prior to 1916 have had their ranks substantiated, he can state why these conditions have not been applied to the non-commissioned officers of the Regular Army, many of whom had held acting ranks for a considerable period before the New Army men enlisted, and who in consquence of this distinction now find themselves junior to New Army non-commissioned officers whose total service in many cases does not equal the period in which the Regular Army men have been performing the duties of non-commissioned officers?

The promotion to substantive rank of Regular soldiers in the Royal Engineers is carried out on a Corps roster to fill vacancies on the peace establishment as in the case of the promotion of Regular officers. They have also been eligible up to the 1st January, 1919, if serving overseas, to obtain temporary rank higher than their substantive rank for the duration of the War, and, if serving at home, acting rank when filling a vacancy higher than their substantive rank. It is not possible to substantiate this temporary or acting rank, as if this were done it would mean wholesale supersession, a complete upsetting of the Corps roster, and a redundancy of warrant officers and non-commissioned officers at the end of the War. Since the 1st January, 1919, soldiers of both Regular and New Army Royal Engineers are eligible for acting rank to fill vacancies overseas or at home. The promotion of men in the New Army is for the duration of the War to fill vacancies on the War establishment. Should a non-commissioned officer serving in the New Army Royal Engineers desire to join the Regular Army Royal Engineers, he can only be accepted in the rank of sapper, and no hardship is caused thereby to Regulars on the Corps roster in the matter of promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many time-expired warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of the Royal Engineers (Signal Section) are still holding positions on the corps general promotion roster, instead of being put on to a supplementary one, and that the promotion of younger Regular non-commissioned officers has thereby been blocked; and whether he will say what action he proposes to take to deal with this state of affairs?

I am having this point looked into, and hope to be in a position to reply to my Noble and gallant Friend later.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that numerous officers, non-commissioned officers, and men who threw up their positions in India and the East are now awaiting repatriation, and that owing to the delay in their repatriation many of them are incurring serious losses; and whether he can take steps to provide for the early repatriation of such officers and men?

This matter is governed entirely by the shipping situation. The position as regards shipping for the Far East and India is very difficult at present owing to the shortness of accommodation. A fair proportion of all available space is being allotted for War Office purposes, and it is hoped that the shipping position will be easier next month.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that A.F.B. 2,079, A.F.W. 3,555, is in certain cases being issued to discharged men marked "confusional insanity," and phrases of a similar character, which absolutely prevent the holder obtaining employment; and whether he will give instructions for less alarming phrases, such as "weak nerves," to be used?

It is quite contrary to all instructions to mark Army Form B. 2,079, the discharge certificate, in the manner stated, and if my hon. and gallant Friend will give me details of any specific cases where this has been done, the matter will immediately be taken up. Army Form W. 3,555 is a treatment card on which the nature of the man's disability is inserted. The object of this card, which is provided at the request of the Ministry of Pensions, is to ensure that the man obtains continuity of the treatment required for his condition, and this object would be largely defeated if the description of his condition were in any way disguised. The card is made out in duplicate, one copy being given to the man, and the other sent to the local war pensions committee. No employer has any right to demand to see Army Form W. 3,555.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether 106 Royal Army Medical Corps men are employed solely in whitewashing wails in the Isle of Sheppey for purely civil purposes; whether sixty of them are eligible for demobilisation; and whether he will consider the advantages of releasing the latter to civil life and of handing the work over to the local sanitary authority?

The Royal Army Medical Corps men referred to are not employed solely in whitewashing walls for purely civil purposes. They are employed on special duties for the suppression of malaria in areas in the neighbourhood of military encampments. Whitewashing is a part of the precautions during the spring, but the men are being used for other and much more important antimalaria work as the season advances. A large number of malaria oases will be returned from abroad, and it is necessary that stringent precautions be taken, and these are being conducted in association with the Local Government Board. The figures given in the question are approximately correct. The men eligible for demobilisation will be released as soon as reliefs are available, but it should be understood that large numbers of Royal Army Medical Corps other ranks mutt be retained for the care of sick Slid wounded.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of all ranks who were under treatment by the Royal Army Medical Corps personnel at the time of the Armistice and the number under treatment at the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will state the strength of the Royal Army Medical Corps in doctors, nurses, and other ranks for the same two dates:

The figures are as follows: 11th Nov., 1918. 4th April, 1919 Numbers of all ranks under treatment (excluding Native Labour Corps and Indian troops overseas) … … 412,482 152,739 Strength of Royal Army Medical Corps — 11th April, 1919. Officers (not including 980 Dominion and U.S.A. medical officers serving with Imperial forces, and now demobilised) … … 11,193 6,517 9th April, 1919. Nurses, trained and untrained (including 2,894 Dominion and U.S.A. nurses serving with Imperial forces, and now demobilised) … … 23,931 13,481 31st March, 1919 Other ranks (including men on demobilisation furlough and re-enlistment and re-engagement furlough) … … 127,831 72,731

asked the Secretary of State for War if men serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps have the same rate of pay as men serving in the Infantry; and, if not, what is the difference in the rate of pay, and is there any difference in pay between men serving in India and men serving elsewhere?

The daily rates of pay (including proficiency or corps pay) are as follows: Royal Army Medical Corps— Privates, 1s. 6d. to 1s. 10d.; Corporals, 2s. 9d. Sergeants, 3s. 8d.; Staff-Sergeants, 4s. 3d. Warrant Officer, Class II., 4s. 6d. Warrant Officer, Class I., 5s. 6d. Infantry— Privates, 1s. 6d. to 1s. 9d.; Corporals, 2s. to 2s. 5d. Sergeants, 3s. 1d.; Company Quartermaster-Sergeants, 4s. 3d. Warrant Officer, Class II., 4s. 9d. Warrant Officer, Class I., 5s. 9d.

Soldiers of British units serving in India draw the same rates of pay as those serving elsewhere. Soldiers of the Royal Army Medical Corps do not serve in India.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any distinction is made between quartermasters and other officers of similar rank in the payment of the special allowance made under the Army Order of November, 1914, in regard to lodging, fuel, and light; and, if so, why officers holding the same rank cannot be treated equally in this respect?

The primary object of Army Order 501 of 1914 was to give assistance to officers who had to provide accommodation for their families at home. To the extent to which quartermasters were already in receipt of such assistance they were, of necessity, excluded from the benefit of the Army Order.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the pay of Infantry quartermasters holding the rank of captain after three years' service could be increased to 13s. 6d. per day, that being the normal rate of pay of an Infantry captain; and, if not, whether he can state the reason?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my Noble Friend the Member for Aldershot on the 3rd April, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any alteration can be made in the period of commissioned service necessary to qualify for the increase in the pay of quartermasters?

The question of the pay of quartermasters will be considered together with that of other officers in connection with the post-war Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether quartermasters with the rank of captain could receive the same rate of bonus as given to other captains with similar length of commissioned service?

The conditions governing the issue of the bonus are laid down in Army Orders 54 and 84 of 1919.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a Commission similar to that established for the Navy to consider and report on the pay and pensions of time-serving men in the Regular Army?

A Committee has been appointed to consider the question of the pay and pensions of the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that since acting rank does not increase a non-commissioned officer's pension many Regular non-commissioned officers, on the expiry of their service, will only receive pensions for the rank they held prior to the war, and whether, in fixing a noncommissioned officer's pension, regard will be had to the rank he occupied during the War?

Service pensions are based on permanent and substantive rank, and I am afraid that no departure can be made from this rule.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the possibility of raising the pensions of Regular officers, warrant officers, noncommissioned officers, and men, in view of the diminished purchasing power of the sovereign?

All these points will be fully considered in the general review of pensions which is being taken in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the effect of Army Order 119 of 1919, published on the 15th March, 1919, is that during the period from 1st February to 1st May, 1919, soldiers who joined the Army before 1st January, 1916, and are retained with the Armies of Occupation pending their discharge, do not receive the bonus granted under Army Order 54 of 1919, whereas soldiers who joined the Army after 1st January, 1916, do receive the full rate of that bonus during the same period and while performing the same services?

Men enlisted before 1st January, 1916, are relieved from retention with the Armies of Occupation, unless they are required for the machinery of demobilisation or certain administrative services. If they are so required, they get the bonus from 1st February. If they are not so required but volunteer for the Army of Occupation, they get the bonus from date of volunteering. Otherwise, being exempted from retention, they only get the bonus if their demobilisation is not possible before the 1st May. Men retained for the Army of Occupation get the bonus from the 1st February.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he has been aware of the arrangement entered into between the proprietors of the Victoria Street Hall, Kirkwall, and Major W. H. B. Davidson, commanding officer, Orkney, Royal Garrison Artillery; and if the War Office will see that that arrangement is duly implemented?

I am having further inquiries made as regards this case, and will write to my hon. Friend on the subject as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the case of Moses Johns, of the 18th Machine Gun Guards, now in Wandsworth Prison; whether he was court-martialled at Pirbright for threatening to assault a superior officer; whether, after hunger-striking for three days in Wandsworth Prison, he had been forcibly fed for twenty-two days; and whether he is to be removed to Epsom Asylum in consequence?

I have made inquiry and find that this prisoner was received in Wandsworth Prison on the 8th March and at once refused to take food. He was fed artificially from 11th March to 4th April, when, having been certified to be insane, he was removed to Brookwood Asylum. I am advised that there is no ground for the suggestion that his insanity was caused by the artificial feeding, but rather that his refusal to take food was the result of insanity.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the time taken to get letters to and from the troops on the Russian front; whether this is due to censorship or to irregularity of communication; and whether steps will be taken, by notifying the dates of sailings in the Press, to secure quicker communication?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Mails for the North Russian Expeditionary Force are dispatched by all available means from this country; the number of dispatches during the last two months has averaged about two a week, but the sailings are made at irregular intervals. Mails are forwarded from North Russia by all available opportunities. There is no avoidable delay in getting the mails to Murmansk, but owing to difficulties of communication there may in the case of certain units be considerable delay before they can be sent up from the base, particularly to units stationed at or based on Archangel. I fear that it is not practicable to announce the dates of dispatch of mails in the Press, as dates of sailing are liable to be altered at short notice.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the anxiety felt by the relatives and friends of our soldiers serving in North Russia, he is able to make any statement as to the position there?

All information that can possibly be given at present without endangering our own forces has already been given to the Press, and such information will continue to be issued as it becomes available. The fullest possible communiqués are being issued at frequent intervals.

asked the Secretary of State for War how the gratuity is calculated for equipment of officers who joined as such prior to the issue in 1916 of H.C. 1 193; and whether these officers are entitled under their contract to the gratuity as laid down in Article 226 of the Pay Warrant?

Army Council Instruction 193, of 1916, was issued with a view to making clear which officers of the Special Reserve of the Royal Flying Corps were entitled to gratuity under Article 226 of the Army Pay Warrant. At the time this Article was framed the appointment of "equipment officer" did not exist, and the special gratuity of £150 per annum provided under it was designed only for flying officers and not for those engaged on ground duties. Officers appointed as equipment officers accordingly have no contract entitling them to gratuity under Article 226 B, but they are eligible, under Article 497( b ) of the Pay Warrant, for gratuities of 124 days' pay for the first year and 62 days' pay for each further year, or part of a year, of service, based, subject to certain conditions, on the highest rate of pay they have drawn at any time during their service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Air Ministry whether it is still the policy of the Government to allow private enterprise at first to operate the easier of the great air routes, the more difficult being operated by the State; and whether such decision has been changed in view of the statements to the effect that the Cairo to India and beyond route is to be operated by the Government?

The policy of His Majesty's Government is broadly that stated in the first part of the question. Strategic considerations enter largely into the route between Cairo and India, and it would, therefore, be premature to make any precise statement at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he will state the nature of the goods which are being stored at the national factory, Rotherwas, Hereford; whether this necessitates repairs being executed; and, if so, whether this work is being done on the spot; will he state the number of officials and operatives employed at this factory at the present time and the total salaries and wages paid to them during one month and give the corresponding figures for the same period last year; and will he further state whether it is still the intention of the Government to retain the whole of this factory for national purposes?

The work which is at present being done at the Hereford National Factory does not involve any repairs, but consists of the emptying of high explosive shells and bombs; to this work has recently been added the removal and separation of the driving bands and other valuable metal portions. It is proposed shortly also to break up shrapnel shells at this factory, and to recover the steel, brass, lead and resin contained in them. The number of officials and operatives at present employed are respectively 99 (52 men and 47 women) and 923 (550 men, 373 women). In this return foremen and forewomen are classed among the officials. The corresponding figures for March, 1918, were: 178 officials (81 men, 97 women), and 4,398 operatives (1,229 men, 3,169 women). The total salaries and wages paid uring the four weeks ending 31st March were: £10,339 for March, 1919, and £58,993 for March, 1918. It is the present intention of the Government to retain the whole of this factory for national purposes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he can state the nature of the work now being carried on at the National Munition Store, Credenhill, Herefordshire; and if it is the intention of the Government to retain this store for national purposes?

The ammunition store at Credenhill is a War Department ammunition depot and is administered by the War Office. The work being carried out in the depot consists of receiving and issuing ammunition, and laboratory operations, i.e., proving, testing, etc. As far as can be foreseen, this store will be retained permanently by the Department as an ammunition depot.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that only low-grade basic slag is allowed to be sent to South-East Scotland, while high-grade slag is sent to Ireland; that a higher price is being charged in Scotland for the low grade than in Ireland for the high grade; whether he will explain the calculations on which these prices are based; and whether steps can be taken to adjust the quality and prices of slag in Scotland?

I have been asked to reply to this question, as the control of the distribution of slag was handed over to the Departments of Agriculture following the issue of the Fertilisers Prices Order, 1918. That Order fixed maximum prices of basic slag for the year ending 31st May, 1919, and I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy. The prices and the basis on which they are calculated are shown in the Third Schedule to the Order. As, according to my information, the maximum prices are those generally charged, I think the hon. and gallant Member must be misinformed as regards the second part of the question. The position as to distribution is that practically the whole of the Irish supplies had to be drawn from Great Britain; and as transport difficulties between the Irish ports and the slag works were extremely acute at the time when contracts were being made, it was agreed to release a large proportion of the quota of supplies for Ireland in high grade slag—thus considerably reducing tonnage. The slag works in Scotland could not produce the full quota for Scotland, and the balance had to be drawn from England. Most of the high-grade slag from England, again owing to difficulties to transport, had to be shipped to Aberdeen, and the Southern parts of Scotland were largely dependent on the lower-grade slag available from the Scottish works. Since the signing of the Armistice, however, arrangements have been made to distribute over the Southern and Midland counties of Scotland (in addition to the extreme Northern counties) a higher grade of slag from English works. I may add that the average quality of the total slag drawn from England into Scotland will be, if anything, higher than that of the slag forwarded to Ireland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the Government have any Army huts for sale or intend to sell any shortly; and, if so, what steps intending purchasers should take?

The first auction sale of huts will take place at Hursley Park Camp, near Winchester, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday the 15th, 16th, and 17th instant. Particulars may be obtained on application to the Controller (Hut Section) Disposal Board, Artillery Mansions, S.W.I, and from the auctioneer, Messrs. Gudgeon and Sons, Winchester. The sale has been widely advertised. A small number of huts at other places have been notified to the Disposal Board as available for disposal. Applications should be addressed to the Controller (Hut Section) at the address already given.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he can state the precise arrangements that have been made for transferring the duties of training disabled and discharged Service men from the Ministry of Pensions to the Ministry of Labour; whether certain classes of cases will be retained to be dealt with by the Ministry of Pensions; and whether, in view of the urgency of this question, and of the necessity that local war pensions committees should know the precise position as early as possible, he will give full instructions to the local war pensions committees at the earliest possible day?

My right hon. Friend is fully alive to the urgency, in the interests of disabled men, of completing the transfer of training to the Ministry of Labour. Arrangements have been made by which that Department will assume responsibility for both training and employment on the 1st May. The local organisation of the Ministry of Labour is not yet fully complete, however, and it is necessary to ask the local war pensions committees to assist the Ministry of Labour by temporarily carrying on their present work under that Department. A Circular explaining the arrangements is being issued to local committees to-day. The Ministry of Pensions will continue to deal with all disabled men in whose cases, while some training can be provided, medical treatment is still the primary consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that there are numerous officers, non-commissioned officers, and men who have been demobilised, and who are suffering serious losses owing to long delay in their repatriation to India; and whether he will take early steps to see that all who have employment waiting for them in India will be repatriated at the earliest possible moment?

The India Office is only responsible for the repatriation of demobilised officers of the Indian Army Reserve of Officers. In these cases I am not aware of any delay, and no complaints have reached me. I will investigate any case which my hon. and gallant Friend communicates to me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that German missionaries in Hong Kong are reported to be actively engaged in undermining British interests; and whether he will take steps to repatriate all Germans from Hong Kong?

The only German missionaries in Hong Kong are eight women, who have been in charge of charitable institutions under supervision. They are now being sent back to Germany. All other German subjects have long since been removed from the Colony, with three exceptions, two of them only technically German subjects, and the third a man of British sympathies whose exemption was specially requested by the military authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can make any statement regarding the future government of Rhodesia; and whether it is to be incorporated into the Union of South Africa or given a responsible government of its own?

I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the total estimated cost of new schools, and additions and alterations to existing schools, proposed to be carried out by county and local education authorities during the present year; and whether he will take steps to expedite the execution of these works, in view of the large number of skilled unemployed workmen?

I am not able to give the hon. Member the figures for which he asks. I am sure, however, that the local education authorities have every desire to expedite these works as much as it is practicable, in view of local conditions and the supply of material.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that ordinary horsekeepers in coal mines are paid higher salaries than the Home Office inspectors of horses in mines; whether he has received an application from such inspectors for an increase of their salaries, and whether, in view of the valuable work which is being done by these inspectors in regard to the proper care and treatment of horses and ponies in mines and of the increased cost of living, he will recommend an increase in their salaries?

Careful inquiry has been made as to the present rate of remuneration both of head horsekeepers and ordinary horsekeepers at large collieries in different parts of the country, and the result clearly shows that the remuneration of the horse inspectors who are receiving a substantial war bonus in addition to salary, compares, on the whole, not unfavourably with the remuneration of the head horsekeepers and is considerably better than that of other horsekeepers. I appreciate the excellent work done by the horse inspectors and should have been glad if I could have seen my way to recommend them for an increase of salary, but in the circumstances I have mentioned, and bearing in mind that these inspectors are entitled as Civil servants to pension and other advantages, I regret I do not feel able to support their application.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that W. H. Richards went on hunger-strike in Ipswich Prison on the 26th March and, when examined by the doctor on 30th March, was discovered to be too weak to be forcibly fed; and whether he will say it this man is still in prison and what is his present state of health?

This prisoner refused food for two meals only and is now taking food. He is in good health except for having cut one of his fingers in breaking the glass of his cell.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons are interned at the present moment under Regulation 14B of the Defence of the Realm Act; and whether he will state their names, nationalities, and the dates of their respective arrests?