asked the Prime Minister whether any of the recommendations of the Select Committee on National Expenditure contained in the ninth Report of that body, especially in regard to the proposed appointment of a new officer of the House of Commons, to be called the Examiner of Estimates, have received the approval of the Government?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given on the 20th March to the hon. Member for Oxford, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the course of the Peace negotiations, he has asked President Wilson to propose to his people that the American people should contribute, per capita, penny and penny about, with the Allied peoples, to the total cost of the War from the start, which was waged on behalf of all, leaving the indemnities to be credited to joint account; if not, why he did not so propose, and will he now ask him to put it before his people?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I do not think that my hon. Friend's suggestion would be likely to produce any practical result.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the War bonus of 29s. 5d. approved by the Treasury for messengers in the Government services has been paid in every case; and, if not, which are the Government Departments in which it has not yet been paid and what is the reason for their not having paid it?

Authority was given by the Treasury Circular of 17th April, 1919, for the payment of full War bonus (29s. 5d.) to pensioner messengers as from 1st April, 1919. I could not say without exhaustive inquiry from all Departments whether the bonus has in fact been paid in every case, but I have no doubt that payment in full either has been or will be made to every member of the class entitled thereto.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed to substitute a permanent wage in place of the present wage, temporary increase and war bonus that is now given to messengers in the Government services; if so, when the arrangement will come into force; and what is the amount of the permanent wage?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Kettering Division on Thursday, the 3rd April last.

asked the Food Controller if he is aware that considerable quantities of South African, Manchurian, and Brazilian beef have recently been refused by the London retail butchers as unfit for their customers; whether such meat had been rejected by the Army as unfit for the troops; what amount of this class of meat has the Ministry still in stock or bought; what price has been paid for it; and who are the buyers who are responsible for the purchase of this class of meat?

I am aware that at a recent meeting of retail butchers in London a resolution was passed, protesting against the allocation of South African, Manchurian, and Brazilian beef. In fact, however, the only meat of the description which had been included in the compulsory allocation to retailers was South African. This meat had been purchased by the Board of Trade for the use of the Army, and was handed over to the Ministry of Food, since, owing to the reduction in the forces, it was not required for Army purposes. The quantity of South African meat in question was not more than 650 tons, and stocks are now practically exhausted. No Manchurian or Brazilian beef is at present being placed upon the market. I am unable to supply the information asked for in the last two parts of the question, since the meat to which the hon. Member refers was purchased not by the Ministry of Food but by the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is intended to reintroduce shortly discharge by purchase from the Navy?

Yes, Sir!

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Corporal H. D. Sexty, No. 14837, 16th Expeditionary Force, France, who joined the Army on 27th August, 1914, and served the full period of the Palestine Campaign, has not been demobilised, although application has been made for his release; and whether, in view of this record, and that he is the only son living at home and is willing to assist his father, who is farming 300 acres, he will take steps to secure the immediate release of this man who under the Army Regulation is eligible for demobilisation?

Corporal Sexty is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his length of service is as stated by my hon. Friend, he is eligible for demobilisation unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible, he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is possible to grant the immediate release of Private E. A. Bushnell, No. 151,808, 603rd Mechanical Transport Company, Army Service Corps, Malta, having regard to the fact that he joined the Army in 1915, that he has been abroad for three years without leave, and that an application has twice been made by Messrs. Passey and Hall, Ross, Herefordshire, his former employers, for his demobilisation?

Private Bushnell is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, nor is there any trace of any application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. If he joined for continuous service prior to the 1st January, 1916, he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon, as the exigencies of the Service permit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that Driver J. Daw, No. 219821, Royal Engineer Depot, Gaza Camp, Bangalore, India, who joined the Army in July, 1917, aged forty years, and who has had two brothers killed and has another brother still serving in Belgium, can be immediately released from the Army under the Regulation as to age?

Driver Daw is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his age is as stated by my hon. Friend, he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible, he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.

asked the Minister for Labour whether his attention has been called to the case of Private H. Nelson, No. 304529, Royal Army Medical Corps, Mechanical Transport; whether he is aware that Private Nelson was invalided home from Mesopotamia in December, 1918, after having been in hospital at Basra suffering from dysentery, and having previously been treated frequently for malaria at the Base Mechanical Transport Depot, Makma, and that he also underwent an operation on the eye; that Private Nelson's presence is urgently required in his father's business, Messrs. H. J. Nelson and Company, organ builders, Durham, as the business has suffered greatly during the past two years on account of Mr. H. J. Nelson's ill-health and his son's absence; that an application for Private Nelson's release was made by the firm and stamped by the Labour Exchange on 16th January, 1919, but that as he was then in hospital in England he was unable to hand the application to his commanding officer until February, who then informed him that it was no use then; and whether, since the delay was apparently due to the fact that Private Nelson was in hospital, he can now be released?

As the hon. and gallant Member has already been informed, this soldier has not been registered as a pivotal man; and I regret I am unable to move in the matter of his release. The question of his health and fitness for military service is one for the Army medical authorities.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the case of Gunner F. A. Morgan, No. 49966, 203rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, British Expeditionary Force; whether he is aware that this man joined the Army on 3rd November, 1914, that he has work awaiting him at the Elemore Colliery, county Durham, where he was employed before the War, and that he has a wife and five children dependent upon him; and whether, in view of the date of this man's enlistment, instructions may be given for his immediate release?

If this soldier joined the Army in November, 1914, he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and will no doubt be released in due course. I do not think there are any special circumstances in the case as stated which call for special treatment. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War has already announced the appointment of senior officers to inspect unit registers to ensure that no officer or soldier eligible for demobilisation is retained without good and sufficient cause.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the fact that Private M. Downes, No. 52220, Royal Army Medical Corps, has not yet been released; and whether his release will be expedited?

The answer given to the hon. and gallant Member on 19th March still holds good. I regret that I see no special circumstances that would enable me to ask for this soldier to be given exceptional treatment. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War has already announced that senior officers have been appointed to inspect unit registers to ensure that no soldiers eligible for demobilisation are retained without good and sufficient cause.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private G. W. Sparrow, No. 148237, 96th Siege Battery, Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport, Royal Garrison Artillery, British Expeditionary Force, France; whether he is aware that Private Sparrow enlisted in 1915; that he has a building business at Hetton-le-Hole, county Durham, which has been closed for three years, but that papers have been signed on behalf of the men previously employed by him stating that if Private Sparrow can be released the men would be re-engaged; that they have all been discharged, though Private Sparrow has not; that the local advisory committee stamped the application for Private Sparrow's release, and it was then sent out to him and handed by him to his commanding officer, who told him he would attend to it, but that nothing further has been heard as to his demobilisation; and whether instructions may now be given for this man's immediate release?

The hon. and gallant Member had already drawn my attention to this case. As he was informed on 28th April, there is no record of this soldier having been registered as pivotal prior to 1st February. It would appear that the application endorsed by the local advisory committee was a contract offer of employment which secured his registration as a "slip" man, and entitles him to release only as soon as military conditions permit. I have, however, asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to cause inquiries to be made as to the possibility of his early release.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that members of police forces, who are otherwise eligible for demobilisation, are being retained in the military police, although their chief constables have applied for their release; that many of these men joined up in 1914 and 1915, and after being wounded were transferred from Infantry regiments to the military police; and, if so, in view of the fact that there is a difficulty in obtaining a sufficient number of recruits to bring up the police forces to pre-war strength, whether these men could be more usefully employed at home than in France and Belgium?

All men in the Corps of Military Police who are eligible for demobilisation are being released as rapidly as the exigencies of the Service permit, but I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that they are liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation until their services can be spared or they can be replaced. Such men as are retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that members of police forces who are otherwise eligible for demobilisation are being retained in the military police although their chief constables have applied for their release; that many of these men joined up in 1914 and 1915 and, after being wounded, were transferred from Infantry regiments to the military police; and whether, in view of the fact that policemen who were called up in 1917 and 1918 are now back in their forces, he is prepared to recommend the immediate release from military service of these long-service men?

All men in the corps of military police who are eligible for demobilisation are being released as rapidly as the exigencies of the Service permit. I would, however, remind my hon. and gallant Friend that they are liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation until their services can be spared or they can be replaced. Such men as are retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, although men who joined the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps were given to understand that unless found incompetent or unsuitable they would be granted commissions in due course, the bulk of the corps have now been compulsorily and permanently transferred to the 5th Battalion King's Royal Rifles, now stationed at Rugely; whether all Colonial members of the corps were sent to No. 11 Officers' Cadet Battalion, Pirbright, given commissions, and then demobilised; and whether, in view of the fact that all officer cadet battalions have been demobilised, he will reconsider the action taken with respect to the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps, and treat these men similarly?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to similar questions asked by my hon. and gallant Friends the Members for Epping and Finchley.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the interest aroused by Lord French's revelations with regard to the early conduct of the War, he will consider the advisability of permitting all officers on the active list, of whatever rank, to publish their experiences and criticisms?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement which my right hon. Friend made on Monday last in reply to questions on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all recent nominations to the Staff College have been secured by officers who served for long periods in Staff appointments during the War; and whether he will give an assurance that a fair proportion of nominations will be secured to regimental officers who have fought for long periods in the frontline, and that the Regulations compelling Staff officers to perform periods of regimental duty will be adhered to?

The officers recently nominated to the Staff College were selected either because they had done brilliant service on the Staffor had distinguished themselves as commanders. The same principle of selection will be adhered to as regards future nominations. The Regulations compelling Staff officers to perform periods of regimental duty between periods of Staff employment has been, and will be adhered to as far as circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Sir Cyril Jackson, on 11th January, 1918, in granting an award of war bonus to the civilian subordinates of the Army Ordnance Department at Aldershot to date back from 1st November, 1917, at the same time assured the deputation who waited upon him that the said award would affect the minimum and the maximum concurrently; and why it was only the minimum who received the full award from 1st November?

I do not trace the award referred to, unless it is that of Sir Cyril Jackson, dated 14th January, 1918, which took effect from the pay day next after 21st November, 1917. Full effect was duly given to this award as officially issued, and I have no knowledge of any assurances affecting it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at the Field Stores, Aldershot, there is a fully-equipped engineering works, under the control of an inspector of ordnance machinery, which was called upon during the War to manufacture munitions for the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and that in these works a very considerable amount of war material in a minor stage of manufacture was continuously received from Woolwich to be completed at Aldershot, and that specifications are constantly placed before the foremen in various shops in these works with instructions to produce engineering work of any description required; and whether, under these circumstances, the same scale of pay as at Woolwich will be paid to civilian subordinates of the Army Ordnance Department at Aldershot?

No, Sir. The Aldershot rates, like the rates at other Army Ordnance Department Depots, are settled in accordance with the rates prevailing locally, under the Fair Wages Resolution of this House.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Royal Army Ordnance Department at Chitlington are paying a higher rate of pay to labourers than is being paid to foremen at such places as Aldershot, where large stocks of explosives are kept and daily handled by civilian subordinates, and whether he will state the reason for this differentiation?

I regret I cannot identify the depot mentioned by my Noble Friend, but if Chattering is referred to, I may say that this temporary depot was until recently No. 23 National Filling Factory, and the rates paid are a continuance of those fixed by the Ministry of Munitions owing to the special conditions, etc., existent there. These considerations are not applicable to Aldershot or other stations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, up to September last, after four years' war service, the emoluments, including all increases of pay and war bonus, in the Army Ordnance Department at Aldershot, of a foreman, with five children under fourteen years of age, who was supervising 200 women, twenty-four military tailors, and six storemen, was only £2 10s. per week; that a principal foreman, who throughout the War has been dealing with stocks of high explosives, received only £2 17s. per week; that foremen writers who occupied chairs vacated by warrant officers upon declaration of war, and had efficiently carried out their work, received only £3 per week; that a temporary principal foreman, who during the period of six months ending 30th September, 1918, had a turnover of £750,000, in charge of stores of an easily removable nature, for which he was supposed to be held personally responsible financially, received only £2 15s. per week; whether he is also aware that there are other cases of responsible civilian subordinates who throughout the War were continuously supervising men receiving more pay than they themselves were, and who in addition were held responsible for the safety of the stores passing through their groups, and who in many instances were called upon to work greatly in excess of the twenty-four hours' limit overtime paid for; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consider the desirability of granting the responsible civilian subordinates of all grades a gratuity for their services during the War?

The classes concerned have since received a further advance on their wages. In many cases they have put in heavy overtime, and in recognition of that fact they have received substantial payments for overtime to which they were not entitled under their conditions of service. I cannot hold out any hope of a gratuity.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the foremen writers were compelled to work during the four years of the War three hours' overtime every week without pay before any overtime was issued, and that the same system applied to storeholders, principal foremen, and foremen from August, 1914, to August, 1916; and whether any action will be taken in this matter?

Foremen writers, under their terms of service, are not entitled to extra pay for overtime; but, in view of the prolonged strain of the War, special payments have been made in respect of overtime in excess of three hours a week. The liability to give three hours, making in all forty-five hours in the week, without extra payment attaches to all writer staff. The storeholders and others work forty-eight hours a week before overtime begins to reckon. It is not proposed to make any change.

asked the Pensions Minister whether the medical board which examined Driver R. Brough, No. 73628, Royal Field Artillery, reference number of the Ministry M.R.E. 122332, at Middlesbrough, on 22nd February, 1919, recommended that his percentage of disability was 100 per cent.; if not, what was the percentage recommended; and what was the decision of the Ministry and the pension awarded on the said recommendation?

I will have inquiry made into this case, and will inform the hon. and gallant Member of the result.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any provision has been made to give financial assistance to those men whose lives were insured prior to the War and who, owing to their having joined the Army, were put to considerable expense in additional premiums to cover war risks?

I have been asked to answer this question. The payment of insurance premiums is among the contractual obligations towards which the Civil Liabilities Department is authorised to make grants in cases of serious hardship arising out of service with His Majesty's Forces. But it has been decided that no such grants can be made in respect of extra premiums to cover war risks for which the Government themselves have made provision by other means, e.g., by pension or gratuities in cases of death or disablement in the service of His Majesty's Forces.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he is aware that, in spite of the fact that the Women's Royal Air Force are asking for more drivers, women of long experience are being dismissed from Kennington; why it is that such action is being taken atKennington alone; whether the employment of newly-enlisted men without previous experience, costing the State 14s. and 29s. a week more for light and heavy cars respectively, is in any way equitable or economical; whether he will take steps to see that the general management of the Kennington garage be investigated, both from the point of view of its attitude towards members of the Women's Royal Air Force and economy generally in personnel?

Any recent recruitments of women drivers have been for the Mobile Division of the Women's Royal Air Force. The dismissals at Kennington have been of women belonging to the Immobile Division, who can only be employed in the neighbourhood of their own homes, and they have been replaced, so far as possible, by demobilised Service men. I am advised that, taking all factors into account, this action tends to economy. With regard to the last part of the question, I am having special inquiries made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he will publish the names of the officers concerned in the revelations in the management contained in the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report, recently published, for the Ministry of Munitions, 1918; whether any officials have been dismissed in consequence, and, if not, what action has been taken?

The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General is being considered by the Public Accounts Committee, who are examining the accounting officer of the Ministry regarding the matter to which attention is called. When the Committee has reported, such action will be taken as is called for by the nature of the Report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, following upon the introduction of preferential treatment as a definite factor in the relationship between Great Britain and the overseas Dominions, His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of making representations to the Governments of the various Crown Colonies that some measure of preference should be extended towards British manufactured goods entering those Colonies, and more particularly in the case of manufactured goods entering India, Jamaica, British Guiana, Barbados, Windward Islands, Leeward Islands, British Borneo, and Mauritius?

Preference is already given by some of the Colonies named to certain goods imported from the United Kingdom, a list of which will be found on page 17 of Cd. 6092. I believe that the question is under consideration elsewhere, but the matter is one primarily for the consideration of the Colonial Governments concerned. As regards India, I must refer my hon. Friend to the Secretary of State for India.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the announcement that Sir George Newman, the new principal medical officer of the Board, is to have the status of a secretary of the Board, he will indicate what duties have been assigned to Sir George Newman; and whether those duties contravene the rule which has hitherto prevailed by which the position of professional and administrative advisers of the Departments of State have invariably been separately held?

The organisation of the Board's staff, both medical and administrative, and the allocation of duties, are under consideration pending the establishment of the Ministry of Health, and it would be premature to make any statement thereon until Parliament has passed the Bill for setting up the new Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of waste paper has been sold from Public Departments between 1st January, 1916, and 1st January, 1919; and what sum the sale has brought to the Treasury?

The quantity of waste paper sold by the Stationery Office during the period from 1st January, 1916, to 31st December, 1918, was 25,900 tons and the amount thereby realised was £215,634 16s. 3d. In addition, waste paper was collected and sold by the Admiralty, War Office, and Post Office. I have endeavoured to get out the figures for these Departments for the hon. Member, but have as yet only ascertained that the sums realised by the Admiralty and the Post Office for the period in question were £600 and £61,635 8s. 10d. respectively. I will furnish the hon. Member with the War Office figures and the Post Office figures for quantity in due course, but I understand that the extraction of the Admiralty figures for quantity may involve a disproportionate amount of labour and as the amount in the case of that Department is so small the hon. Member will perhaps not press for that information. If he desires to do so perhaps he will put down a question on the point to the Admiralty. Waste paper is also collected and sold by factories under the Ministry of Munitions. These sales were made by a large number of individual factories and no separate account has been kept which would show the total quantity of waste paper dealt with and the sums realised.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the "Parliamentary Debates" are transmissible at newspaper rates; and, if not, whether he will register the "Parliamentary Debates" as a newspaper, and transmit them for a halfpenny?

I will consider the suggestion, and communicate with the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an applicant for the installation of a telephone in his house at Whickham-on-Tyne was refused and told to apply again in three months, the reason for the delay being given as shortage of staff; and whether, in view of the cessation of hostilities, he will insist on the demobilisation of enough efficient engineers to obviate the necessity of such delays?

The work of providing the telephone in this case will involve the services of a gang of workmen who cannot be spared at present without prejudice to other more urgent works. The demobilisation of men of the Post Office engineering staff is, I am informed, being proceeded with as rapidly as possible in view of military requirements.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the reasons which have caused him to deprive the township of Skerray, Sutherlandshire, of its daily post, a privilege which it has enjoyed for forty years and which was taken away during the War on the score of economy; whether he is aware that this small community sent over 100 men to the War; and whether he will for this and for other reasons restore this elementary privilege?

The frequency of the mail service to Skerray was reduced to four days a week in 1916 because the contract was given up and no one could be found to maintain a service on six days a week. In 1917 the contract again fell vacant, and the frequency was reduced to three days a week in order to avoid excessive increase of cost. I am inquiring whether it is possible to restore the pre-war frequency at a cost not wholly out of proportion to the number of postal packets conveyed by the mail van.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether the Russian ships in the Black Sea were taken over by his Department, and whether full transport facilities have been put at the disposal of our Russian Allies in the Black Sea as and when required for the purpose of fighting the Bolshevists?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, As regards the second part of the question, all demands made by the British War Office for the transport of war material for the Russian Volunteer Army in the Black Sea have been met by the Shipping Controller.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a Mr. Tyack has been appointed as controller of the Claims and Record Office, Kew; whether Mr. Tyack has seen no previous service in the Ministry of Labour; what qualifications he possesses for the post; on what grounds many Civil servants already serving in the Ministry of Labour and who have good qualifications for the controllership have been passed over in favour of Mr. Tyack; and whether, if Mr. Tyack has not been appointed as controller, it is the intention to appoint him in the immediate future?

It is the fact that Mr. E. J. Tyack has been appointed to take charge of the Claims and Record Office at Kew as Assistant Accountant-General. Mr. Tyack has had no previous service in the Ministry of Labour, but he is a Civil servant whose abilities and experience make him specially suitable for the position in question. Before Mr. Tyack was appointed, the claims of other officers in the Ministry of Labour were carefully considered.

asked the Minister of Labour why schemes of training in electrical installation and retail bespoke tailoring submitted by the Willesden War Pensions Committee to the Ministry of Pensions for sanction on 2nd January and 14th February, respectively, have not been sanctioned; whether he is aware that since the War Cabinet announced some six months ago that training of discharged men was to be transferred to the Ministry of Labour, few schemes of training have been inaugurated throughout the country, and that consequently it is almost impossible for a discharged man to obtain training at the present day; and what steps the Government are proposing to take in the matter generally to provide adequate training facilities for the thousands of men who have been waiting for months to take up training?

The two schemes referred to have been sanctioned. The delay was due, in one case, to difficulties as to accommodation, and in the other case to delay in setting up a local technical advisory committee as is required under the agreement between the Government and representatives of the industry. The transference of training to the Ministry of Labour only took place on 1st May. In the interval the Ministry of Labour has been making necessary preparations, and setting up the appropriate organisations for instituting and carrying out schemes of training. The Ministry of Labour and their local representatives are taking every means to provide facilities for training as rapidly as possible. Amongst the resources at their disposal will be the Instructional Factories set up by the Ministry of Munitions during the War, and the National Factories, in regard to which the claims of training have now been granted specially high priority by the Government. They will also work in close touch with the local education authorities, and will endeavour to ensure the fullest possible use of technical schools and institutions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the case of Lieutenant H. L. Cowell, of the 7th London Regiment, attached to the 5th Middlesex Regiment, at Clipstone Camp; whether he is aware that Lieutenant Cowell, before joining the Army and serving in France, had been, employed in a shipping office, and is now anxious to obtain his demobilisation papers and take up civilian occupation; whether he is aware that Lieutenant Cowell applied to the Appointments Department for tuition in motor engineering, and for the grant that is made to officers in like circumstances; that he has applied to the London office, and has been referred to Nottingham; that on applying at the Nottingham office he was informed by those in charge that it was not a charitable institution; and whether he will see that Lieutenant Cowell's application is given early and proper attention?

There is no record of any application by Lieutenant Cowell to the Appointments Department in relation to his demobilisation. He has, however, applied to the Department for a training grant, and I am informed that efforts are being made to find him a suitable vacancy with a firm engaged in the business for which he desires to train. The question of a grant will be duly considered as soon as the vacancy is found. Meanwhile, I am assured that the officer who interviewed Lieutenant Cowell at Nottingham did not make such a remark as is attributed to him in the question.

asked the First Commissioner of Works why no steps have been taken to repair the playing fields and cricket pitches in Regent's Park so that they may be again used for games; and will he take such immediate steps as may be possible to repair them for the present season?

The condition of the ground, owing to the wet spring, has hitherto made it impossible to commence any work of restoration. Steps are now being taken to repair these grounds, but owing to the way in which they were cut up by the troops which drilled in the park, no games can probably take place there for several months.