asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any changes have been made in the conditions of admission of candidates to the Consular Service since 1914; and, if so, what?

The usual Civil Service examination for the Con- sular Service was suspended during the War, but it will be re-established as soon as circumstances permit. In the meanwhile a Committee of Selection has been set up, by whom candidates for the Consular Service are interviewed after a preliminary interview at the Civil Service Commission. The Committee of Selection recommends suitable candidates to the Secretary of State for appointment in the Service.

Are there any written conditions in accordance with which these interviews and selections take place, and, if so, would my hon. Friend send me a copy?

Candidates of all classes have to fill in certain particulars on a form which they send in, but I do not think there are any rules under which the interview takes place.

Could anyone apply or is a selection made? Is it open to anyone to be selected?

Provided that the rules as to his nationality are right in the first instance, anybody can apply as a candidate. He then sends in a form, and he is seen by one of the Civil Service Commissioners, and if he passes that preliminary test then he comes before the Selection Committee.

asked how many temporary appointments have been made to the Consular Service since August, 1914; whether it is intended to make any of these temporary appointments; and, if so, which?

The following are the numbers of the temporary Consular appointments made during the War:

These appointments have been made for two reasons: (1) To create temporary salaried Consular posts as a war measure at places where before the War an unsalaried officer was posted; (2) to strengthen the staff at Consular posts where, as a result of the War, a large increase of work necessitated a corresponding increase of staff.

All temporary officers have been given the opportunity of applying for permanent employment in the Consular Service on the recommendation of their superintending officers. The question of retaining, as salaried posts, posts created as a war measure has been considered in connection with the reorganisation scheme for the Consular Service.

Are all these appointments made under the same conditions as those which have just been described by the hon. Member, namely, after consultation with the Civil Service Commission?

I think not, but perhaps my hon. Friend will put down that question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if any reward was offered to the inventor of the Reid targets beyond the payment of his experimental expenses?

I am informed that in January, 1915, Mr. Reid was offered £250 in full discharge of all claims against His Majesty's Government and in full recognition of his services rendered in connection with target frames, and that the offer was accepted.

asked what were the number of Reid targets used by the War Department during the War; what was the contract price paid; and what was the average cost for targets and erections of some of the types previously used, respectively, i.e., Jeffrey and Carey or Hythe patterns?

Five thousand five hundred wooden target frames similar in pattern to the old Reid frame were used as an emergency measure on rifle ranges during the War; the contract price was £3 7s. 6d. per frame. This was a special contract for 1914 only, and could not be repeated now.

The War Department standard pattern "Hythe" iron target frame manufactured by the late Mr. Jefferies is still in use on permanent War Department ranges. The contract price was £6 17s. 6d. per frame complete, which has since been increased by 57½ per cent.

It is difficult to give the average cost for erection accurately, as a considerable number were put up by military labour, but it would be about 25s. to 30s. per frame.

Did not the inventor's contractor offer to supply these targets with metal frames for £2 2s. each at the outbreak of war?

I am afraid I cannot answer that question without inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of providing gunmetal or other suitable material derived from guns or other munitions captured from the enemy for the purposes of county or city war memorials; and, if so, whether he will make an announcement on the subject?

I am informed that all captured guns are likely to be required for disposal as trophies of war. Should any such guns or other stores be found not suitable for use as trophies, the possibility of utilising them for the purpose suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the serious position of the farmers in the county of Montgomery with regard to agricultural labour; if he will state the number of men belonging to agricultural companies now working on the farms in that county; how many are to be recalled to military service immediately; and how many are to remain at their work in the county?

I am informed that the number of men in agricultural companies in Montgomeryshire now working on farms is 140. Twenty per cent. of these will be allowed to remain at their work if required, as I announced yesterday to the Members' Agricultural Committee, and, in addition, any men whose application for demobilisation as pivotal men had been sanctioned by the Ministry of Labour before the 1st February last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether men who are being retained in the Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport) are being kept employed in overhauling and repairing motor lorries prior to their dismissal; whether many of these men have work awaiting them in the building trade; and whether it is in harmony with the demobilisation scheme that men who are eligible for demobilisation should be retained in the Army on work of this character?

The men of the Royal Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport) who are being retained are employed solely on the maintenance of such vehicles as are essential to meet the current needs of the Army. I regret I cannot accept the suggestion contained in the latter part of my hon. Friend's question.

Cannot trade union labour be obtained to do this work any longer?

No, Sir. I gather that these men are required for the handling of these lorries on which the Army depends.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this system is causing a great deal of discontent among civilian workers?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state how it is that so many men of no possible pivotal value, and who joined the Colours considerably after January, 1916, have obtained release from the Army; whether he is aware of the discontent caused by this fact to the relatives of many men who joined up before 1916 and yet are not released, and for whom important work in this country is waiting, and whether he can take any action in the matter?

Men who joined the Colours after 1st January, 1916, are not being released unless they are eligible under the regulations governing demobilisation, or were certified by the Ministry of Labour as pivotal men in industry and registered by the War Office prior to 1st February, 1919.

Is it not the fact that there are a large number of these men apparently of no pivotal value who have been released?

Did not the right hon. Gentleman a week ago promise to give his personal attention to the case of the men who joined in 1914–15? What steps have been taken to release them?

I am doing my very utmost to relieve these men by sending out battalions and drafts to take their places.

But cannot any of them be demobilised at once by other methods?

Under the original demobilisation scheme a great many people slipped through, and that is the cause of the discontent in the Army to-day. But now we have reverted to a much simpler if rougher method which, to some extent, affords a remedy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether upon the signing of the peace terms one-man business men and others, whose circumstances call for early release, will be permitted to return without any avoidable delay to their businesses, homes, and families?

The Regulations governing demobilisation have been so framed as to release those classes of men who, from the point of view of long service and commercial requirements, are most entitled to demobilisation. I regret that, at the present time, I can give no undertaking to widen the scope of such Regulations in respect of men who are not eligible for demobilisation under the said Regulations.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the instructions he has given are carried out. A feeling exists that these men are not being released?

I hope they will be carried out.

asked what number of military motor cars are now being employed in London; and how many of these are allotted to persons who are neither War Office officials nor military officers?

The number of military motor cars now employed in London is 119. The number allotted to persons other than War Office officials or military officers, namely, to the Cabinet, Allied Missions, etc., is twenty-six.

Are these people who use the cars entitled to use them for purposes not connected with their official duties?

No, Sir. A question was put on this subject, I think, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and I think he gave a general answer that the whole matter was under consideration.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform me whether, apart from the Minister responsible for the War Office any members of the Government are using these public cars?

Yes, Sir. I believe that the heads of several Departments are supplied with cars. That arose during the period of the War when communication was so very difficult. The Prime Minister gave a long answer, which I think my hon. and gallant Friend would do well to consult, that the whole matter is the subject of reconsideration at the present time with a view to seeing what steps should be taken to return to the normal.

Does the number given in the answer include the cars assigned to the Air Ministry?

No; I do not think it does.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us a list of the privileged people who have these cars?

All these matters are accessible to hon. Members, and perhaps this question had better be put to the head of the Government.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give his reasons for taking that action?

I have not taken any action, and I find it difficult to expatiate on the reasons.

Has my right hon. Friend taken one of the cars himself?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many conscientious objectors are in guardrooms or barracks awaiting re-court-martial; and whether these men are to be re-court-martialled and sent back to prison in spite of his statement of 3rd April; (2) whether F. W. Treherne, No. 60618, 3rd Essex Regiment, was court-martialled for the third time as a conscientious objector on 3rd May, a month after the official statement that conscientious objectors who had served imprisonment would be discharged from the Army; whether this is the second time this man has been court-martialled since the Armistice; and whether he will now order his immediate discharge?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my statement of the 3rd April which related solely to release from prison of men who had completed a total of two years in the aggregate in this country. I would also refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my statement of the 1stMay, in reply to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland. The principles laid down in that reply have been applied to soldiers with their units awaiting disposal, and in consequence thirty-one such soldiers who have completed twenty-four months in the aggregate have been discharged and seventeen soldiers who have completed twenty months in the aggregate are at the present moment awaiting their discharges and will not be re-court-martialled. If the facts are as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend, Private Treherne will be discharged from the Army.

Has my right hon. Friend's attention been called to the court-martial which only the other day sentenced a man to two years' penal servitude?

That may be quite true, but it may not be at all contrary to the policy which I have announced to the House. If a soldier had not completed twenty-four months in the aggregate, or twenty months, assuming that there had been a revision for good conduct, he would be liable to be re-court-martialled, and, if convicted of several offences, he would probably get a severe sentence. That does not mean that in the aggregate he would serve more than twenty-four months or twenty months subject to the revision for good conduct.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether members of Non-Combatant Corps who were granted non-combatant service on conscientious grounds are being still retained in the Army, notwithstanding that their service was stated to be for the duration of the War only; and whether he will state the objections to their being released on the same conditions as that applying to the other members of the Army?

The Regulations at present in force qualifying men as eligible for demobolisation apply to the Non-Combatant Corps, and I am not aware that any men who are eligible for demobilisation are being retained unless their services are temporarily required.

asked the Secretary of State for War if cadets belonging to the Artists' Rifles (Officers' Training Corps) were after the Armistice compulsorily transferred to the 5th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, now stationed at Rugeley Camp, Staffs; whether the majority of the cadets had nearly completed their course of instruction; and why they should have received different treatment to officers' cadet battalions, which have been demobilised, and Colonial cadets of the officers' training corps, who were given commissions prior to demobilisation?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all Officers' Cadet Battalions have been demobilised; whether recruits who were selected to join the Artists' and other Officers' Training Corps, on the understanding that unless they were found incompetent or unsuitable they would be granted commissioned rank, are now compulsory and permanently transferred as privates to the 5th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps or other units; whether Colonial members of the Officers' Training Corps were posted to No. 11 Officers' Cadet Battalion and demobilised with commissions; and will he take steps to remove this anomaly?

I will reply to these two questions at the same time. All officer cadets serving in Officer Cadet Battalions have been demobilised. Members of the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps were ordinary enlisted soldiers, and, as such, were liable for service in the Army unless they could be demobilised under the Regulations in force. The Colonial members were under an agreement as to repatriation under a scheme made with the various Governments. It was for this reason and for the better organisation of repatriation that these members were collected and placed at the Officer Cadet Battalion mentioned. I should point out that Officer Cadet Battalions were not the same as Officer Training Corps. The former were composed of those who had been selected from Officer Training Corps and other units, and were, in fact, a higher step in the organisation.

Will any preference be given to these cadets in the granting of commissions?

I should like to have notice of that question.

Is it not a fact that these men joined these units on the understanding that they would get commissions if they proved competent?

I gather that the War came to an end before the process of their training was completed.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the establishment of a proposed maternity and child welfare centre at Watford is being seriously endangered by the refusal, or neglect, of the War Office to give up possession of the house and grounds known as Little Nascot, at Watford; and whether he will take steps to see that possession of this property is given up at an early date?

The retention of the property known as "Little Nascot," Watford, has been recently under consideration, and arrangements are now in hand which, it is hoped, will enable the War Department's occupation of these premises to be terminated before the end of this month. The matter is being pushed forward with all possible speed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is now possible that arrangements can be made or facilities afforded whereby relations of men who have fallen in France can be given an early opportunity of visiting their graves?

As I stated yesterday, I am not yet in a positon to make any statement on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many recruiting meetings, for the encouragement of voluntary recruiting, were held during the month of April; and what means, apart from such meetings, he is taking to encourage voluntary enlistments in His Majesty's Army?

No recruiting meetings were held during the month of April, as such a method of recruiting was not suitable to the existing circumstances, and would have served no useful purpose. Many and various efforts to encourage enlistment have, however, been made. With the hon. Gentleman's permission, I will circulate a statement in the Official Report, as it is rather too lengthy to read out.

The following is the statement referred to :

No recruiting meetings were held during the month of April, as such a method of recruiting was not suitable to the existing circumstances and would have served no useful purpose.

Many and various efforts to encourage the voluntary enlistment of men of the several classes required have, however, been made during the past few months, and conditions now render it possible and desirable to adopt further measures in this direction.

The conditions and advantages of service in the Army have already been extensively advertised—a wide choice of period of service has been given and generous bounties have been offered to induce men to re-enlist. Compulsory transfer of men now re-enlisting is to cease.

A considerable number of recruiting agents have been appointed throughout the country, and the number is to be increased in the near future; moreover, the assistance of civil organisations has been asked for and freely given.

Regular units which are now forming for service abroad are taking active steps to promote recruiting in their districts, and opportunities are to be afforded to units on the Rhine to supply officers and non-commissioned officers as recruiting agents who can describe the conditions of service in that Army.

The foregoing indicates a few only of the measures already adopted, or to be adopted in the near future, to stimulate voluntary enlistments.

Could it not be widely proclaimed that volunteers are urgently required to replace men who have given two, three, and four years' service to their country and who cannot be demobilised until volunteers are forthcoming?

I do not at all exclude the possibility of the inauguration of a campaign similar to that which was started when the War Loan was floated, but up to the present we have relied upon the regular methods of recruiting.

Would it not be an incentive to men to come forward?

The hon. and gallant Member is dealing with a rather different state of affairs from that which existed in the earlier stages of the War. People have had a great deal of military service, and there is a great desire to take advantage of the unemployment benefit and this great period of labour now that the War is over.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the delay by the War Office in removing the barbed wire entanglements and the filling-up of the trenches dug in valuable agricultural land, he will favourably consider the using of German prisoners of war for these purposes so that the land, which, owing to these obstacles, cannot now be cultivated, may be available for cultivation before the spring season has passed?

Prisoners of war have been used in the removal of barbed wire entanglements and filling in of trenches since the end of March, 1919. There are now about 3,000 so employed. Prisoners of war labour for this purpose is being supplied by the War Office on the application of local military authorities, but it is only used with the concurrence of the Ministry of Labour, and only where local civilian labour is not available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of delay in this matter, and that a great many orchards and valuable agricultural land cannot be got at by the farmers on account of this delay? Could the matter be expedited?

There are difficulties in other respects. There are those who wish the German prisoners to be sent out of the country for fear they take the bread out of the mouths of our own people, and I am very short of labour for tidying up after the War as well as for ordinary military needs.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, with a view to the encouragement of the personnel and the general improvement of the Army, he will consider the advisability of so amending the present system of granting commissions in the Army that half of the commissions yearly awarded or some considerable proportion are reserved for serving soldiers?

I will consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion in connection with the general question of the number of commissions to be granted to candidates from the ranks and of the system of instructing such candidates, which is at present engaging the attention of the Army Council.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the county distributing forage committees' operations for the War Department are to be brought to an end before the harvesting of the 1919 crop?

Yes, Sir. It is not intended that the distributing forage committees shall have anything to do with the 1919 crop of hay.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether interpreters at prisoner-of-war camps who are unfit for service in the field have been and are being required to perform duties in excess of those for which they were originally appointed; whether at many camps they take entire responsibility for finance, take their turn as orderly officer of the day, take command of the parades of German officers, perform the duties of adjutant, and act on occasions as officer commanding guard; whether interpreters, having been refused children's allowance, field allowance, ration and mess allowance, have now been informed that they are not eligible for the post-war gratuity; and what representations have been made by the War Office to the Treasury, and with what result?

An Army Council Instruction was issued yesterday granting a higher rate of pay to interpreters with two years' satisfactory service. Interpreters are eligible for the Army of Occupation bonus. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the Army Council Instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, under paragraph 11 ( f ), Schedule of Warrant, Army Order 17, of 1919, Post Office servants serving in the ranks and conscientious objectors are the only two classes not entitled to receive war gratuity; and will he say why this exception has been made in the case of Civil servants in the Post Office serving as privates?

asked the Secretary of State for War why Post Office servants who have served in the ranks during the War are debarred from receiving the full war gratuity?

I will reply at the same time to both these questions. I am afraid I cannot add anything to the answer given on the 10th April to the hon. Member for Burnley.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange for the early publication of any important dispatches which have been received with respect to the work and position generally of the North Russian Expeditionary Force; what is the total number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men who have been recommended by the commanding officers concerned for military decorations for their achievements in the campaign and the total number of decorations that have been actually given; and if he will take steps for particulars of the work of the force to be communicated in more detail to the Press so that the public may be aware of the importance attaching to the campaign and the hardships and dangers incurred by those participating in it?

As regards the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, the publication of dispatches will be made at the earliest moment compatible with the public interests. As regards the second part of the question, the total number of awards actually conferred on British personnel in North Russia to date, exclusive of recommendations under consideration at the present moment, is 88. This total covers both the Murmansk and Archangel forces. The number of officers and men who have been recommended by their commanding officers for decorations are not known. But the immediate powers of award held both by General Maynard and General Ironside are considerable, and there is no reason to fear that any deserving cases recommended go unrewarded. As regards the third part of the question, frequent and full communiqués are given to the newspapers and, in addition, verbal communications are made to Press representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Gunner D. Griffiths, No. 82330, 102nd Company, Royal Garrison Artillery, now of 22, Lovers' Walk, Wednesbury, was transferred to the Reserve on 26th March; whether he received a gratuity of £4; whether he was entitled to a gratuity of about £17; and whether he will have inquiry made so that Griffiths may receive the correct amount?

Inquiries are being made, and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the words "on the termination of his war service," contained in paragraph 14 in the Schedule of the Royal Warrant of 17th December, 1918, as to war gratuity, are to be construed as meaning the date when the soldier was disabled from further war service or the date of his discharge; whether a soldier who in October, 1914, held the paid acting rank of company quartermaster-sergeant, and lost an arm on active service in France and received the pension appropriate to that rank, is entitled under the Royal Warrant to receive the gratuity appropriate to that rank; and whether his gratuity is liable to be reduced to the gratuity of a sergeant because on his return to England after his disablement he reverted to his substantive rank of sergeant?

War service means service with the Colours during the War, not service in the field. The gratuity is assessed on the rank held on discharge.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is now in a position to state the weekly sum, including separation and all other allowances, paid to the military guard employed on protection duty at the explosives stores, Dinas Mawddwy?

The information desired has not yet been received, but I will furnish it to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the very great increase in the cost of living since the Victoria Cross was first instituted, £10 a year for a Victoria Cross recipient in normal circumstances, or £50 a year for one who is quite unable to earn a livelihood in consequence of age or infirmity, is inadequate; and, if not, whether he is prepared to consider an increase of 50 per cent. to those amounts?

The awards referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend are honorary grants and have no relation to the cost of living, but the question shall be taken into consideration in the general revision of the terms and conditions of service of the future Army.

Does the right hon. Gentleman remember that the old soldier who won the Victoria Cross before the War only got £50 to live on? He is not very handsomely rewarded by the State.

I am not sure I can accept that from my hon. Friend. He leaves out of account the disability pensions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that special pensions are awarded to recipients of the Victoria Cross, if they be warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, or privates, but not if they be officers; and whether he will consider a modification of this Regulation so as to admit of the grant of a Victoria Cross pension at least to those Victoria Cross officers who received their commissions from the ranks for services in the War?

A Victoria Cross annuity awarded during service in the ranks continues to be drawn if the holder is subsequently commissioned. It is not proposed to extend such annuities to officers awarded the Victoria Cross, and it would be quite impracticable to make a distinction in this respect between different officers according to whether they had served in the ranks.

Cannot some addition be made in respect of an officer whose financial position is obviously of a meagre character?

The question is whether or not the Victoria Cross was gained while the man was serving in the ranks or as a commissioned officer. If he gained it as a commissioned officer I think he must abide by the rules relating to all commissioned officers.

Are not many of the now commissioned officers poor men?

We shall, I hope, deal with them in the revision of their pay.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Committee as soon as possible to consider the question of the conditions and scales of pension at present awarded to serving officers of the Regular Army on their retirement; and whether the existing scales are inadequate in view of the increased cost of living?

These matters are already under consideration.

When will that consideration be completed?

I am afraid I cannot name a definite date. My hon. and gallant Friend must realise it is an elaborate and complicated process.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many discharged men suffering from tuberculosis are at present being trained in Wales; how many are awaiting training; and what provision has been made to meet the needs of those men awaiting training?

The provision of facilities for the training of men discharged for tuberculosis, but sufficiently recovered to take part in industrial life, is now a matter for the Ministry of Labour. From the latest returns available, it appears that there are twenty-one men discharged for tuberculosis under ordinary industrial training in Wales, and between sixty and seventy awaiting training. Men awaiting training and not receiving wages can be given the usual training allowances for a period of four weeks or longer in special cases. I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that the general question of the residential treatment and training of tuberculosis discharged men is now being considered by an inter-Departmental Committee over which my hon. and gallant Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board, is presiding.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the amount that has been collected on behalf of the King's Fund, including His Majesty's donation of £78,000; how much has been distributed; and what has been the total expenses incurred in connection with the fund?

The amount collected for the King's Fund is £1,041,374 13s. 6d. Other voluntary funds amount to £88,122 18s. 8d. The total amount distributed from these funds is £568,490 7s. 6d. The expenses incurred, including cost of propaganda, amount approximately to£25,000.

Is this fund not administered both by the Ministry of Pensions and by the Civil Liabilities Department, and in these circumstances cannot one Department administer it and thereby save a large proportion of the expense otherwise incurred?

No, Sir. The King's Fund is administered by a Committee of Trustees. The Ministry has very little to do with it.

Is the King's Fund now available at all for discharged and disabled men, or only for widows and dependants?

Widows and dependants. The other was taken over by the Special Grants Department.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether it is a fact that the Civil Liabilities Committee administer any of the King's Fund?

No; the King's Fund is distributed by the Trustees.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he will give an increase of pension to men who were partially disabled by the loss of a limb, etc., in past wars, so that they may come under the terms of the present Royal Warrant?

Men who have incurred specific disabilities, such as the loss of a limb, in a previous war, already have their pension raised to the level of the present War. The question of similarly increasing the pension of partially-disabled men suffering from disease or unspecified injuries is under consideration.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that the widows of warrant officers and non-commissioned officers who were killed or died in wars prior to the Great War are only in receipt of the 13s. 9d. per week pensions given to private's widows; and whether he will consider an extension of the pensions warrant so as to bring all widows' pensions up to the scale appropriate for their husbands' rank as laid down for this War?

I am aware of the fact stated. Although the widows referred to are not treated so generously as those whose husbands were killed in the present War, their pensions have been substantially increased, and they also get the benefit of the 20 per cent. war bonus. I will call the attention of the Select Committee to the facts.

asked the Pensions Minister if he can state under what Regulation the advance of pension to tubercular men wishing to emigrate is limited to three months' pension, in view of the fact that the War Office financial instructions admits of an advance to approved emigrants of six months' pension in the case of a permanent pensioner and nine months' of the unexpired portion of pension in the case of a temporary pensioner?

As my right hon. Friend is advised, the period of an advance of pension is limited to three months by the terms of Section 1 of the Army Pensions Act, 1914. It is proposed to seek statutory powers to amend this provision so that advances may be made for longer periods in suitable cases.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will say what are the pensions at present granted to naval officers; when were they fixed; whether, owing to the increased cost of living, it is intended to increase them; and whether, in the event of such increase being made, it will be made retrospective to officers who have already retired from the Service?

The scales of pensions of naval officers will be found on pages 2264 to 2280 of the Quarterly Navy List. They are lengthy and complicated. I will send my hon. and gallant Friend copies of the pages in question. The scales were originally laid down in 1870, and form the basis of the present rates, though improvements have since been made in certain respects. The question, generally, has engaged the attention of the Officers' Pay Committee.

Do the Government propose to make any increase in these pensions?

The Committee of the Board will meet to-morrow. I cannot anticipate any decisions they may arrive at.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman and the Admiralty are going to bring forward any question with regard to the pre-war pensions that were fixed for these naval officers, and whether, in consequence of what is stated in my question, they will propose any increase?

I must ask for notice of that. I cannot give any undertaking.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the construction of the aerodrome at Cramlington, Northumberland, is still being proceeded with; what number of men are being employed in such construction; what rates of pay and travelling allowances are being paid them; and whether it is the policy of the military authorities to establish a permanent station at this place?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, but twenty-two men are at present employed in clearing up materials. The rates of pay are those fixed by the Tyne and Blyth Conciliation Board for Building Trades. It is not intended to establish a permanent station.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether full consideration has yet been given to the various matters raised in the petition from the members of the military massage service; and, if so, what decision has been arrived at?

Several of the points raised in the petition have been dealt with in Army Council Instructions No. 215 of this year, of which I will send my hon. and gallant Friend a copy. The remaining points are under consideration, and it is hoped that a decision upon them will be arrived at very shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has recently received certain communications from the civil subordinates of the War Office at York, or from any persons on their behalf, in reference to the conditions of employment of these men; and whether these communications are receiving attention, and how soon may a decision be expected?

The only recent communication of which I am aware refers to certain women. In that case I am issuing instructions for an advance in the bonus.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that by the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1918, the Home Secretary has, before revoking a certificate of naturalisation, to be satisfied that the person to whom the certificate was granted has done certain acts or things specified in the Act, or was not of good character at the date of the grant of the certificate; whether, in order that the Home Secretary may be so satisfied, it is essential that he should know the result of the inquiry held by the Committee mentioned in the Act and the grounds of their decision; and whether, when this Committee make their Report to the Home Secretary, they communicate to him not only their decision but the grounds of their decision and a note of the evidence on which that decision is founded?

The answer to all these questions is in the affirmative so far as regards cases under Section 1 of the Act of 1918, in which some act of disloyalty is alleged; but in cases under Section 3 of that Act—that is, cases of enemy subjects naturalised during the War against whom no such act is alleged—the final decision rests with the Committee, and they answer "Yes" or "No" to the question whether the certificate of naturalisation should be revoked without giving their reasons.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to afford assistance to farmers and others, telephone systems which have been erected by the military authorities during the War may remain in districts where they are required and be converted for civilian use?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The question whether wires erected by or for the naval or military authorities during the War will be useful for civilian purposes is being considered before such wires are recovered.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state when legislation will be promoted to give relief to leaseholders who are being called upon to carry out repairs under their leases, but who are unable to do so on account of the shortage of materials and labour?

I regret that I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Greenwich on the 20th of March last.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, if he will say whether, in view of the retention by the American Government of the German interned vessels for a consideration of £20,000,000, the vessels were valued before being taken over; and, if so, by whom?

I can add nothing to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend yesterday.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if the Government intend to distribute German captured tonnage among the Allies proportionately to their losses of tonnage due to enemy action?

I cannot make any statement at present on this subject.

When does the right hon. Gentleman think it likely he will be able to make the statement on a matter which is of tremendous importance to the Mercantile Marine?

Yes, it is very important. It appears, I believe, in the Summary, but there is to be some revision and the terms are not yet altogether settled.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in connection with the claim made by the British South African Chartered Company, in the event of this matter being seriously considered with a view to any payment, he will consider the advisability of taking as a first step the appointment of a Select Committee to make a thorough inquiry into the whole matter?

As at present advised, His Majesty's Government do not consider that an inquiry by a Select Committee would be a suitable method of procedure, but they are considering in what manner the nature and extent of any financial obligations arising out of the recent judgment of the Privy Council can best be ascertained. As I stated in reply to questions by the right hon. Member on the 16th of April, the Government will not commit themselves to any payment in respect of this claim without the sanction of the House of Commons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can inform the House whether any and, if so, what payments have been received up to date from the German Government, either for food supplies, cost of Army of Occupation, or reparation; and what further sums it is estimated will be received during the current year under these heads towards the relief of the British taxpayers?

Approximately, £6,000,000 has been received from the German Government for Food Supplies, and certain advances have been made towards the local expenditure of the Army of Occupation. I am unable at present to make any estimate of the amount likely to be received from indemnities in the current year, but the amount appropriated in aid of Army Votes for the charges of the Army of Occupation is £70,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will say how much war expenditure has been incurred by each of the self-governing Dominions, the Indian Empire, and by the Crown Colonies?

As regards the self-governing Dominions the following particulars are available: Total War Expenditure (partly estimated) up to 31st March, 1919 (in the case of Newfoundland up to 30th April, 1919):

It would be impossible to set out the expenditure of each Colony and Protectorate separately within the limits of an answer, but the total direct expenditure of the Colonies and Protectorates has been estimated at some £10,000,000, to which must be added contributions amounting to over £15,000,000 to the War expenditure of His Majesty's Government, and some £12,000,000, the ultimate incidence of which, as between this country and the Protectorates concerned, has not yet been determined.

As regards Indian expenditure I suggest that a further question should be put on the Paper, and addressed to the Secretary of State for India.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the possible closure of coal mines in the Tipton, Old Hill, and Kingswinford districts of South Staffordshire through flooding; whether he has ascertained the views of the persons concerned as to this danger; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in relation thereto?

asked the Home Secretary if and by whom a committee of mining experts was recently appointed for the purpose of inquiring into the flooding of the mines in South Staffordshire; and whether it is proposed to issue a Report as to its findings thereon, and when?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer these questions. My attention has been directed to the possible closing of coal mines in certain districts of South Staffordshire through the flooding of the Tipton area, and the Controller of Coal Mines has the matter in hand. He recently appointed three mining engineers of high technical qualifications to visit the district and advise him as to the best course to pursue. He is now acting on the advice of these gentlemen and has appointed a highly qualified engineer to carry out arrangements with a view to securing the neighbouring areas of Oldbury, Old Hill, and Kingswinford districts of South Staffordshire from inundation. It is not proposed to issue as a Report the conclusions arrived at by the experts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the payments received up to date and from whom, either in the shape of interest or repayment of principal, in connection with the £1,700,000,000 of loans to our Allies and Dominions; what further payments are expected before the end of the current financial year; and whether these have been taken into consideration in framing the Estimates of the present Budget?

The total amounts received from the Dominions are approximately £27,000,000 and from the Allies, approximately, £12,000,000. These figures are exclusive of the adjustment under the special arrangements mentioned in the Budget speech whereby £80,600,000 was set off between the Imperial Government and the Dominion Government of Canada. I should add that the greater part of these sums are payments for interest by the Dominions. No regular payments are at present made by the Allies. The estimated amount of receipts for 1919–20 is approximately £8,500,000, the greater part of which arises from interest payments by Dominions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, and to what extent, provision to meet the estimated loss of £100,000,000 in the current year in connection with working our railways under Government control has been included in the Budget now under consideration?

Provision is made in my Budget Estimate and in the Civil Service Estimates Vote 18 for £60,000,000. This represents the best estimate which the Board of Trade are able to form of the net charge to be borne on the Votes this financial year.

Am I to understand that the estimate of £100,000,000 loss made by the Minister of Ways and Communications has therefore been found to be an over-estimate to the extent of £40,000,000?

There has been great difficulty in making an estimate of the probable loss this year, but the figure of £60,000,000 is, I am advised by the Board of Trade, the best figure which they can give me.

Is it not true that the figure of £100,000,000 is a pure fiction, and that no facts or figures can be produced to sustain anything like it?

If my right hon. and learned Friend wants further information about the figure of £100,000,000, he will perhaps address a question to my right hon. Friend.

I have done so, and could get no answer.

What my right hon. Friend cannot answer I cannot answer.

Does the figure of £60,000,000 exclude the cost of carrying troops, Government transport, and merchantmen?

Yes; I think it does certainly.

For the convenience of the Transport Committee which is sitting to-day and every day, may I ask my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would amplify the answer he gave this afternoon with regard to the estimate of the loss to the railways? Will he say whether that estimate is arrived at after debiting the various Government Departments with the cost of carriage for those Departments, and will he say when that system of debit began? Was it three months ago, or within the last six weeks?

The answer I made was in answer to a supplementary question. It is very easy to put those questions, but it is often rash of Ministers to answer them. But, having further investigated the matter—my statement was challenged immediately after it was made, and I therefore sought to ascertain the facts to see whether I was correct or not—I am informed that the £60,000,000 is, as I said, the net deficit after debiting the Government with the charges for services rendered during the year. That arrangement came into operation, I think, on 1st April this year, and I believe, though I am not absolutely certain on this point, that the charges of each Department are met out of the Votes of the Department. At any rate, the £60,000,000 estimate—if the right hon. Gentleman and other hon. Members will refer to it they will see—is outside the payment for Government services.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer to the Railway Executive the appeal of the commercial travellers of the country for the restoration of week-end facilities, even at the higher fares; and whether he is aware that, as matters now stand, commercial travellers, to see their families at the week-end, have often to pay fully 200 per cent. more than in pre-war days?

This matter has already been fully considered, but it has not been found practicable, in present circumstances, to resume the issue of any class of special week-end ticket.

Am I to believe that it is the settled policy of the authorities to make commercial travellers pay 200 per cent. advance on pre-war rates, whilst ordinary passengers are only called upon to pay 50 per cent. increase? If so, how can that be justified?

I am not aware how the hon. Gentleman arrives at his figures of 200 per cent. If he will give me them in greater detail I shall be glad to submit them to the Railway Executive Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state to the House the conditions of repayment of the principal of the 1,000 millions borrowed from the Government of the United States of America, and the rate of interest payable on the same; and what provision has been made for these purposes in the estimate of expenditure for the current year included in the Budget?

The rate of interest at present payable to the American Government is 5 per cent. on advances amounting on 31st March last to rather over $4,000,000,000. Provision is made for this interest in the Debt Charge for the current year. No arrangements have at present been made as regards the date of repayment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the exemption from the special tax on menservants in the case of all men who have been disabled from heavy work by service in the fighting forces?

I am afraid I cannot adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion. The Licence Duty for a male servant is only 15s. and is payable not by the servant, but by the employer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether superintendents of the Board of Trade holding honorary commissions as paymasters in the Royal Naval Reserve are assessed for Income Tax purposes at Service rates; and, if so, why the same concession cannot be extended to Customs officials who are also superintendents of the Board of Trade and holding similar commissions in the Royal Naval Reserve?

The Board of Trade officials to whom my hon. and gallant Friend refers were from the outbreak of War either entirely or mainly occupied in duties of a naval character and were accordingly entitled to the Service rates of Income Tax. In the case of the Customs officials in question their Royal Naval Reserve duties, where they had any, formed a comparatively small portion of their Departmental duties as a whole.

If I can show my right hon. Friend that they really did a great deal of work, will he reconsider the matter?

I will consider any information my hon. and gallant Friend can put before me.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Committee at present inquiring into the pay and conditions of service of the police is competent under its terms of reference to consider and report upon the present unrest existing amongst the Metropolitan police; if so, whether it is proposed that the Committee should take this action; and whether, in the event of the Committee not being competent to do so, he will appoint a special Committee to inquire into the whole matter with a view to coming to some satisfactory settlement of the present trouble?

The Committee in question is appointed to consider and report whether any and what changes should be made in the method of recruiting for, the conditions of service of, and the rates of pay, pensions, and allowances of the police forces of England, Wales, and Scotland. So far as the present unrest among the police has any bearing on these questions, it comes within the scope of the Committee's inquiry and will be considered by them. I do not think it is necessary or desirable to appoint another Committee.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the statement of the Government that the Order in Council to be made under the Aliens Restriction Bill was in draft and their undertaking that it would be placed in the hands of Members as soon as possible, he will now place copies of such draft Order in Council in the Library or the Vote Office, where they will be accessible to Members?

I shall be glad to comply with the hon. Baronet's suggestion as soon as the draft Order is ready. There are, however, certain points I wish to consider further before issuing the draft.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree not to bring the Bill before the Committee upstairs until, say, a week after that draft Order is laid?

Really, I cannot agree to that.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman see that it is impossible to discuss the Bill upstairs until we have this draft Order?

asked the Home Secretary if forty-three members of the Exeter City Asylum are on strike owing to the dismissal of an old servant of twenty-eight years' service, who is a trade union official, on a charge arising from a dispute between this servant, in the exercise of his duties as a trade union official, and the medical superintendent of the asylum; whether a public meeting of Exeter citizens held on Sunday, 4th May, after hearing the strikers' statement of their case, unanimously declared its belief that the dismissal of P. Glanville, the union official, was unjustifiable; and that the Exeter Trades Council has recommended its affiliated unions to refuse to handle goods for the asylum until Glanville is reinstated; and what action he proposes to take to secure an amicable settlement of this dispute?

I am informed that the cause of this strike is the dismissal by the Visiting Committee responsible for the management of the asylum of a member of the staff for insubordinate conduct when fault was found with his work, and that at the time of the dismissal neither the Visiting Committee nor the medical superintendent were aware that the man in question was an official of the trade union. The facts have been reported to the Ministry of Labour, which is investigating the dispute.

asked the Home Secretary if he is in a position to state the result of his investigations into the increased omnibus fares; and whether he has power to order their reduction?

No, Sir. The investigation is now proceeding, and must necessarily occupy a little time. I have no power to order a reduction of the fares.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House how the Government propose to reduce the omnibus fares and tram fares if they are found to be excessive?

That will have to be considered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman put an end to the advertisements now appearing in all the papers saying there are no increased fares?

I have no power.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether he can state the number and gross tonnage of passenger liners and the number and deadweight tonnage of cargo vessels lost through enemy action by Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and the United States?

As the full reply contains a large number of figures, I am circulating in the Official Report a statement showing the number and gross tonnage of Allied merchant vessels (steam and motor) lost through enemy action, and the number and gross tonnage of British passenger vessels so lost.

Information is not available as to the deadweight tonnage of the vessels or as to the proportion of passenger tonnage other than British.

The following in the statement referred to :

Merchant vessels (steam and motor) lost through enemy action have been as follows:—