asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what action the Admiralty propose to take about U118?

:As the position of the wreck of U 118 precluded any hope of salvage except at great expense this sub marine has been offered for sale under the usual conditions on behalf of. the Allies.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that certain Clyde employers in the electrical industry are engaging Australian soldiers as apprentices and are discharging bonâ fide apprentices; and whether his Department are aware of and encouraging this practice?

:I am not aware that any Clyde employers in the electrical industry are engaging Australian soldiers as apprentices and are discharging bonâ fide apprentices; but if the hon. Member will bring to ray notice any specific cases in which this is being done, I will cause inquiries to be made immediately.

Is there any disability on an Australian soldier?

No, there is no disability. I understand that certain arrangements were being made between the Australian authorities and some of the trade unions in this country, but of the particular arrangements that have been made I am not aware at the moment.

Is it not a fact that these arrangements were made with the view of making these men up-to-date in their work, so that they might become more useful citizen's when they return?

I think that was the idea—that pending repatriation a period of training should be taken advantage of in this country.

Rather than loaf about the country doing nothing.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men of the Australian forces are being employed in engineering establishments in this country; whether he has been party to any arrangements made in this direction; whether he is aware that men in the engineering trades are unable to find employment and that the engineering trade unions have never been consulted regarding the introduction of the Australians; and whether he will have-inquiries made into this matter with a view to the removal of the friction which is now arising?

:In the month of January the Ministry of Labour was in formed that the Repatriation and Demobilisation Department of the Australian Imperial Forces had arranged for the temporary employment in the shipbuilding and engineering industries in this country of a certain number of Australian soldiers, pending their repatriation. The Ministry of Labour did not take any part in the arrangements, but was informed of what was proposed and was led to understand that this had been negotiated by the Australian authorities with the Employers' Federation and trade unions concerned. It was not until a day or two ago that I was made aware that this arrangement had resulted in any friction, and I am now inquiring into the whole matter with a view to endeavouring to remove any trouble that exists.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a county employment committee is competent to consider and to make representations regarding the employment of British military and German prisoner labour on work for which civilian labour is available; and whether the policy of his Department is to press for the employment of available civilian labour on Government work wherever possible?

:I assume that the hon. Member's reference is to the county war agricultural committees. Instructions have, I understand, been issued by the Food Production Department that military and prisoner labour must not be employed where civilian labour is avail able, and these instructions embody the policy of my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will arrange so that the Bill to limit the hours of labour to forty-eight per week, introduced by several hon. Members, be either adopted by the Government or given facilities for its passage into law at the earliest possible opportunity?

The Government proposes to introduce at an early date a measure dealing with the same matter and the suggestion of my Noble Friend accordingly cannot be adopted.

:Will the Government Bill be introduced before Whitsuntide?

I cannot give an assurance that it will be introduced before Whitsuntide, but it will be introduced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Mr. William Ramsay, managing director of the Caledonian Oatmeal Milling Company, Aberdeen, has asked their employés to sign a guarantee that so long as they are employed by the company they will not join a union of any kind, and if any one wishes to be taken on on the terms suggested they are asked to go to the mill and see the management and have the agreement signed; if he is aware that the firm in question are Government con tractors; and if he will take action in the matter?

Yes, Sir. The firm in formed me of the position and I have instructed my local officer to call on Mr. Ramsay and point out to him that this attitude is not likely to facilitate the satisfactory settlement of any disputes that may arise with his employés. I have no information that the firm are Government contractors.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Maud Bayley, of Old Moxley, Wednesbury, was prosecuted on 13th May for attempting to obtain a woman's policy; whether she produced her birth certificate for examination by the Exchange officials; whether her age was therefore known to the officials; whether the case was dismissed by the Court; whether the Court were of opinion there was no-attempt at fraud; whether the decision to prosecute was made by the manager of the Wednesbury Exchange; if not, by whom; and whether he will take steps to prevent such vexatious prosecutions being undertaken in the future?

:I am making inquiries into the circumstances which led up to this prosecution, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend as soon as possible. I am, however, in a position to say that the prosecution was undertaken through the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether May Sheldon, of 40, New Buildings, Queen Street, Wednesbury, has had her unemployment benefit stopped; whether she was asked to take domestic service; whether she was sent on 2nd May to the St. James's Rectory, Wednesbury, and the mistress declined to engage her on the ground that she was not strong enough; whether she was sent through the Aston Exchange, on 2nd May, to 54, Frederick Road, Aston, and the mistress declined her employment on the ground of her ill-health; whether, in both cases, the mistresses supplied her with letters to the afore-mentioned effect; whether she is still attending the tuberculosis dispensary, Wednesbury; whether the medical officer recommended light outdoor employment; whether all these facts were within the knowledge of the Department; and whether he will institute searching inquiry and, if confirmed, remedy this grave injustice?

I am causing inquiries to be made into this case, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether applications for posts in the Consular Service may still be made or, if no: whether there is any likelihood that they may again be made in the near future?

There are at present no vacancies in the General Consular Service, and therefore further applications cannot at present be entertained. There are still a very few in the Levant and Far Eastern services for which candidates between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-five are being considered by the Selection Committee. A few more vacancies will be available in the general Consular service if and when the re organisation scheme comes into being.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the total number of officers now employed in the Consular service; and how many of them are whole-time salaried officials?

:The number of regular salaried Consular posts is 352. There are in addition about 120 temporary salaried posts which have been created to deal with circumstances arising out of the War. There are also 540 un-salaried Consular officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can say if the Serbs have any right to occupy Gusinje; if they have occupied Vermoshi, the summer grazing ground of the Albanian tribes; and what will be the result of such occupation?

The first part of the question is a matter for the Paris Conference. The latest information in my possession is that the Montenegrins arc in occupation of Vermoshi. I am not, in present circumstances, in a position to foretell what will be the results of such occupation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the inhabitants of Gusinje appealed to us for protection in January last; if since that date the Serbs have expelled part of the population and are I reported to have killed the rest; if a i British officer sent to Gusinje to report I was arrested by the Serbs and treated with ignominy; and what have become of his native interpreter and guides and horse boys?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, His Majesty's Government have no recent information. As to the third, a British officer went on his own account to Gusinje to investigate the situation, and, the Serbian authorities being, unfortunately, without information as to the nature of his mission, he was arrested. The arrest was admittedly due to a misunderstanding, and as soon as this was cleared up the arrest was cancelled Similiarly, on representations from the British Legation, the release of the interpreter was ordered.

Does that include the guides and horse-boys?

I am sorry that I have no specific information about that.

:Can the Government take no steps at all to safeguard the Albanians from ill-treatment on the part of the Serbians?

:Is it not the duty of the British Government to protect the Moslems in Albania against ill-treatment of this sort, in view of the fact that the British Government is the greatest Moslem Power in the world?

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Anglo-Egyptian Civil servants who have been temporarily employed in the Army in Egypt have been given indulgence passages free to come home on leave, while their colleagues, who were retained in the employ of the Egyptian Government because their services could not be spared, and who have spent four and a half years in Egypt with out leave, have had to pay the full cost of their passages home on leave; and, in view of the small pay received by Anglo-Egyptian Civil servants, especially in the middle ranks of promotion, he will communicate with the Treasury, with a view to a. part at any rate of their leave pas sages being paid for by the public?

I understand that in certain cases indulgence passages were granted by the military authorities to British officials of the Egyptian Government whose services had been lent to them, but I have no precise information on the matter.

I regret that I should not feel justified in suggesting to the Treasury that the cost of passages on leave for servants of the Egyptian Government should be made a charge on British funds.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the alternative of re presenting to the Egyptian Government that some assistance should be given; seeing that the fares have been increased without any corresponding increase in pay?

That opens up a very big question, but I will consider the suggestion the hon. Member has made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the many charges and counter-charges levelled, not only against the Bolsheviks but against Admiral Koltchak, General Denikin, and the White Guards in Finland, the Government will appoint a committee of Members of Parliament to investigate these charges and to issue from time to time impartial and trustworthy statements as to the position of affairs in Russia?

I have given careful consideration to the hon. Member's proposal, but, as at present advised, I have grave doubts whether any useful purpose would be served by the appointment of a committee of the nature he suggests.

Is it possible for the Government to issue a White Paper detailing the results of the White Terror in Finland and the Ukraine as a parallel to their White Paper on the Red Terror in Russia?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether massacres and ill-treatment of a large number of Jewish persons recently took place at Vilna and Pinsk; and what influence is being brought to bear by the Allied Governments to safe guard the Jewish population in Poland?

With regard to both the first and second part of the question, I would call the attention of the hon. Member to the answers returned to the hon. Member for Whitechapel on l5th instant, and to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on the 20th instant.

asked the Parliamentry Secretary to the Oversea Trade Department whether he is aware that Japanese operatives manufacturing silk in Japan are paid l0d. for a day of thirteen hours; and whether, before making commercial treaties with this or any other foreign country allowing free imports into this country, he will specify that foreign - operatives must be paid British trade union wages and factory conditions on the same basis?

I have no knowledge that l0d. is paid to silk operatives in Japan for thirteen hours work. With reference to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Labour Clauses of the Peace Treaty.

May I ask, Do the Government ever take any pains to ascertain the cost of production in other countries by means of cheap labour?

:Yes, Sir, they do. All I said was that I could not vouch for the accuracy of this particular statement.

:May I ask if the Japanese Government is a party to the Labour Convention of the Peace Treaty?

That is a matter for the Foreign Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Was (1) whether, with a view to laying at rest doubts which have been expressed in the public Press as to the conduct of the late Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener in France during the operations which preceded the victory of the Marne in 1914, he will arrange to lay upon the Table of this House copies of the instructions given by the then Government to Lord Kitchener when they sent him to. Paris to see Field-Marshal Lord French, together with a copy of the letter written by Lord French after the meeting of the two Field-Marshals in Paris;

(2) Whether, in the opinion of the legal advisers of the Army Council, the articles recently published in the "Daily Telegraph" dealing with military operations in 1914, contain in formation and statements, the publication of which constitutes an offence against the Official Secrets Act or the Army Act, or both; if so, whether legal proceedings will be taken against the proprietors and publishers of the "Daily Telegraph";

(3 Whether the articles recently published in the "Daily Telegraph" on the conduct of the War in 1914 contain statements at variance with the official dispatch of Lord French on those operations, more especially in regard to the conduct of General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien; whether Lord French's official dispatch was in any way altered by the War Office before publication; and whether the Army Council will now give permission to General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien to publish a reply to such charges now made against him in the "Daily Telegraph" as were not made in the official dispatch referred to above?

:In my right hon. Friend's absence in Paris, I have had no opportunity of consulting him with regard to these three questions. They appear to me to raise matters which cannot suitably be dealt with in the form of an answer to a question, more particularly in the absence of the Secretary of State. Mean while, I am not in a position to add any thing to the statement which my right hon. Friend made on Monday, the 12th instant.

May I ask whether there will be any opportunity given to discuss this?

Ormsby-Gore!

Am I to understand that these questions will be put down when the Secretary of State for War returns from Paris?

I shall be very glad if the hon. Member will do so.

May I ask the Leader of the House, as a result of this question, if the publication of these secret Acts is not an offence against the Defence of the Realm Act?

The hon. Member should give notice of that question, which is a question of law.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state any authority in international law for the continuance of the blockade after the Armistice?

So far as I know, such questions are not in any way regulated by international law, but depend upon the terms granted in the Armistice, and these terms are contained in Article 26 of the terms.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on the 9th May eight members of the Sheffield branch of the Comrades of the Great War who were employed at the Royal Army Clothing Depot, London and North Western Railway goods warehouse, Sheffield, as storemen, were handed in their notice of dismissal for the 16th; whether the officer in charge, Captain Horley, stated that these men were given notice because of untidiness in the offices, etc., of the depot; whether at least forty men used these offices in all; why these eight men were selected for dismissal and what proof there was against them; whether Captain Horley admitted in an interview with the secretary of the Comrades of the Great War in Sheffield that there was no complaint of inefficiency on the part of these men, and also admitted that he had advised men not to join the Comrades; and whether, unless the officer can justify these dismissals, he will re place him by another officer, as Captain Horley states that, as far as he is concerned, no reinstatement will take place?

I have no information as to this, but a report on the matter has been called for.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether county distribut- ing committees have ceased to buy hay for the Government; what profits, if any, have accrued from their operations; what stocks of hay are in their hands, and what is to be done with these stocks?

County distributing (forage) committees still continue to purchase hay for distribution to civilian consumers. No profits can accrue to them from their operations. The stock on the 10th inst. amounted to 125,800 tons, which are being allotted to hay traders for registered customers at approximately 19,350 tons per week.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will say when a decision may be expected with reference to the increase of Regular officers' pensions?

:I am afraid that I can add nothing to the answers which I have given to similar questions recently.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the 1915 Star has been awarded to many men who were never in the fighting line or under fire, he will consider the advisability of recommending its award to the troops who were in Malta during 1915?

It was decided, after careful consideration, that Malta should not be regarded as a theatre of war for the purposes of the"1914–15 Star," and I regret that the matter cannot be re opened.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman give any reason why this decision was made, and is it not, the case that these troops, who were in Malta, are being deprived of this 1915 Star owing to a mere technicality?

:First of all it was decided that Malta could not be regarded as a theatre of war.

Why?

:Very many questions have been asked and answered in the House, and I am afraid I cannot add any thing to those replies.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the troops in Malta at the time of the South African War received the South African medal?

The answer is in the negative. Certain troops in Malta at the time of the South African War received the Mediterranean Medal, which was of different design to the South Africa War Medal, but with the same riband.

Is it not the fact that troops in St. Helena received the South African Medal, and were they not much safer than the troops in Malta during the War?

I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to give notice of that. question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any steps are being taken by his Department to return motor-omnibuses no longer required for war purposes in France and Belgium, so that they may be returned to the motor omnibus company in London for traffic purposes here?

The War Office offered in. February last to withdraw omnibus chassis from France, but were-informed that they were not required.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make any statement as to what arrangements have been made to allow the relatives of soldiers whose lives were lost on the Western Front to visit the graves in France and Belgium; and can he state if there is any prospect of such visits being allowed during the present summer months?

As recently announced in the Press, it is not yet possible to grant general permission to relatives to proceed to France or Belgium to visit graves or cemeteries. Large areas under the British Army of Occupation are entirely closed to visitors, as the work of exhumation and concentration to central cemeteries of all isolated graves is taking place within these areas, and, until this is much further advanced, it is unlikely that the present restrictions can be removed. The removal of restrictions is also dependent upon such other factors as transport and accommodation, facilities for which in the areas in which most of the cemeteries are situated are still quite inadequate.

My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that the Minister of Transport recently announced in the French Chamber that it was not possible to grant travelling facilities at the present time for those wishing to visit the graves of soldiers who have died in France- A similar state of affairs exists in Belgium. As soon as conditions improve and it becomes possible to open up parts of the country, public announcements as to the areas accessible for such visits will be made from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state how many Labour and Agricultural Companies, non-combatant, there are in France, Belgium, and Germany, and the nature of the work they are performing?

:The number of Labour and Agricultural Companies in France, Belgium and Germany is as follows:—

	France and Belgium	germany
Labour Companies	74	11

In France and Belgium Labour Companies are employed in "clearing up." In Germany, Labour Companies are employed in loading and unloading stores and supplies and in performing the general labour duties of the Army. Inquiry will be made regarding Agricultural Companies.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether Messrs Maconochie Brothers, Limited, are still contractors to the Wax Department; whether he is aware that this company is violating the Fair-Wages Clause embodied in Government contracts; whether he is aware that, in con sequence of an attempt by the motor-lorry drivers in the employ of the company to obtain the wages and conditions agreed to between the National Transport Workers' Federation and the three principal employers' associations covering the whole of Great Britain, these men have been dismissed and their places filled from the Labour Exchanges; and whether he will give an assurance that every attempt will be made to enforce the Fair-Wages Clause and to ensure that the men dismissed will be reinstated, and the wages and conditions recognised in accordance with national agreements and awards shall be granted by the company while they remain. Government contractors?

I have been asked to answer this question. No complaints of any violation by the firm of the Fair-Wages Clause embodied in Government contracts have reached me, but I am making inquiries into the matter and will communicate with my hon. Friend on the subject in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that Pioneer P. R. Gilson, No. 23671, came from Canada on the 20th December, 1914, for the purpose of joining His Majesty's Forces, and that he enlisted on the 26th February, 1915, in the 156th Brigade. Royal Field Artillery; if he will say whether application has been made by this soldier for a refund of his passage money if so, whether it has been granted; and if not, what are the reasons for such refusal'

Under the terms of Army Order 275/1918, a copy of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend refunds of passage money are admissible only in cases in which application to join the British Army was made within a certain interval from the date of arrival in the United Kingdom. The period fixed in the Order, after much consideration, was two months, and this excludes Pioneer Gilson.

Is it not a fact that this man was only two months and six days, and considering the early period at which he joined cannot something be done to refund the amount of his passage money?

I do not think it is unfair that where a refund is asked it should be laid down that there should have been no undue delay between a man's arrival in the country and his enlistment. If there are any special circumstances of which my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, I shall be glad to look into them.

:If I can point out to my right hon. Friend that this man was desirous of joining one specific regiment, which was only formulated at that date, will he consider the matter?

Yes. What I am anxious to protect the Department against is the indiscriminate use of the Order to which I have referred. I do not think there ought to have been any undue delay between a man's arrival and his enlistment. If my hon. and gallant Friend can bring any special circumstances connected with this case to my notice I will be very glad to look into it

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he can state the reasons for the delay in the appointment of the Royal Commission on Agriculture and the publication of the list of Commissioners and the terms of reference; and whether he can now make any statement on the subject?

I have nothing at pre sent to add to the answer I gave to the question addressed to me by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Faver-sharn Division (Lieut.-Colonel Wheler) on the 13th instant.

May I ask for an answer to that part of my question which asks if he can state the reasons for the delay in the appointment of the Royal Commission?

I have nothing to add to what I have said before.

:May I ask the hon. Gentleman if it is true that there is a difference of opinion amongst the unions concerned, and that they are unable to appoint their Commissioners on that account?

I can really add nothing except this, that I have never heard that given as a reason.

May I ask if he will ever be able to add anything?

I hope so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state the number of allotments which have been created in Oxfordshire since the Armistice?

The Board will endeavour to obtain the information, but the difficulty of obtaining it is increased by the arbitrary date adopted in the question-

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the category of ex-Ser vice men includes men who have served in previous wars; and whether these will be granted the same facilities for settling on the land as men who have served in this War?

Clause 10 (4) of the Land Settlement Bill provides that preference shall be given to men who have served in the present War, but the Board would be prepared to consider amendments extending the scope of the preference to men who served in previous wars.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if l.e will state how many applications have been received from ex-Service men for small holdings; what percentage of those applications have obtained small holdings; what means have been taken to ascertain the number of men who desire small holdings; and what means have been taken to make known the Government settlement policy as declared in election pledges?

As the answer is rather long, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will, for the information of the House, have a statement printed and circulated to Members showing the moneys diverted from British farmers out of cereals, meat, and wool, in comparison with the price paid for similar articles from overseas, during the time which the above-mentioned articles have been under the control of the Food Department?

The Board are not in a position to provide the information required by my hon. Friend. The Ministry of Food fixed the prices for cereals and meat, and the Contracts Department of the Ministry of Munitions is responsible for the purchase of wool.

Would the hon. Gentleman not be able to get this in consultation with his Friend the Food Controller?

Yes, I thin it might be possibled, but it would not be possible to give it in a very full or detailed from. If there is a general wish that we should endeavour to get it, I will try to do so.

Will he try and get all the information he possibly can, because it is very valuable?

Yes, certainly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will consider the immediate issue of a Report of Proceedings under the Small Holdings Acts of 1908 and 1910 during the years 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918, bringing up to date the information given in a similar Report for 1914 (Cd. 7851, 1915) and completing for these years the tabular statements A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H contained in that Report; and if he will add to such Report a Summary of Proceedings under the Small Holdings Act of 1916?

In view of the pressure of work arising out of the land settlement scheme it is not possible to re quire local authorities to provide the de tailed information asked for by the hon. Member for the years 1915–1918, but the-Board will endeavour to meet his wishes as far as possible in the preparation of their next Report. As regards the last part of the question, a Report was issued for the year 1917 in March of last year, and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. A similar Report for the year 1918 is now in course of preparation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what is the landed cost at Liverpool of the Fordson tractors; at what price are they delivered to farmers in the locality of Swindon; and what are the items which go to make up the difference between those two amounts?

The Board are no longer importers of tractors, and so have-no information as to the first part of the question. The Board are informed that '£280, plus cost of carriage from Liverpool,. is the price at which tractors are now de livered to farmers in the locality of Swindon by Messrs. H. Ford and Son. On the last part of the question the Board have no information.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether any expression of opinion has reached him from public bodies or individuals urging alterations to the pond garden or other gardens at Hampton Court Palace; whether any scheme of alterations has been submitted to him and, if so, by whom and for what reasons; whether he has considered any scheme of alterations and, if so, what is its nature; whether any alterations at all to the Pond Garden or other gardens are either necessary or desirable; and, if so, what alterations has he in mind?

No suggestions for alterations to the Pond Garden or other gardens at Hampton Court Palace have reached me from public bodies. Inasmuch as a large number of beds had to be suppressed during war-time, on ac count of scarcity of labour and public economy, I have had certain suggestions for improving the general lay-out of the gardens submitted for my consideration. Before actually adopting any of the proposals, I have decided to appoint a small committee of horticultural and landscape garden experts to advise on the whole question.

Do any of these suggestions apply to the Pond Garden?

No.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very great and strong feeling on the part of all sections of the community against any alterations?