asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the refusal of the Government to pay a war gratuity to Post Office servants has been based on the belief that these men occupy a favourable position because they are in receipt of full civil pay; whether he is aware that a man in receipt of full civil pay is frequently receiving less money than a man to whom this privilege is denied; whether he is aware that a man whose pre-war Post Office wage was 54s. would receive money payments as follows: civil pay 54s.; war bonus nil, Royal Engineer Army pay, 15s. 2d.; retention bonus, 10s. 6d.; separation allowance, 12s. 6d.; deductions, nil; total, 92s. 2d., whereas a man with the same pre-war wage who was not entitled to full civil pay would be in receipt of the following payments: civil pay, 54s.; war bonus, 34s. 10d.; Army pay, 14s.; retention bonus, 10s. 6d.; separation allowance, 12s. 6d.; total, 125s. 10d., less deductions by the Post Office of 7s. in lieu of Army pay, and 12s. 6d. separation allowance, making a total of 106s. 4d.; whether an adverse financial balance of 14s. 2d. is a justification for denying to the Post Office signaller the war gratuity which is paid to all other soldiers; and whether he will have the figures examined and reviewed with a view to the adjustment of this injustice?

The war bonus of 34s. 10d. used in this calculation has only very recently taken effect, and the average weekly receipts of a man over the whole period of his service would show a very different result. I will have the figures more closely examined and communicate the result to my hon. Friend, but I cannot hold out any hope that the decision about the gratuity will be revised.

askd the Minister of Food whether quantities of salvaged pro- visions are now on the market being sold to the public; what these articles are, and their method of handling by the retailer; and, at the same time, if he will give some idea as to how the actual work of salvage is being carried on?

It is not possible within the limits of a Parliamentary answer to deal fully with the hon. Member's question. I may say, however, that under the Damaged Foodstuffs Order, 1918, issued by the Food Controller jointly with the National Salvage Council, damaged salved provisions can only be sold to persons licensed by the National Salvage Council; and upon purchasing the goods the dealer gives an undertaking that they shall not be used either in a crude or manufactured state for human consumption. Further, this undertaking must be carried out to the satisfaction of the Sanitary Inspector of the local authority concerned. Damaged salved provisions are, generally speaking, rendered down into fats for use in cattle feeding stuffs, lubricating oils, etc., or are used in the production of manure. I shall be very glad to place at the disposal of the hon. Member all facilities for obtaining any further information which he may wish to have on the work being carried out by the Ministry of Food and the National Salvage Council in this matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the number of convicted male and female prisoners, respectively, undergoing penal servitude in the council prisons in Ireland on the first Sunday in March in the years 1907, 1913, and 1919?

The number of convicted male and female prisoners respectively in custody in local prisons in Ireland on the first Sunday in March, 1907, 1913, and 1919, excluding inebriates, was as follows:

			Males.			Females.
1907	…	…	1,306	…	…	398
1913	…	…	1,343	…	…	344
1919	…	…	491	…	…	195

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the number of convicted male and female prisoners, respectively, in custody in local prisons in Ireland on the first Sunday in March, 1907, 1913, and 1919?

The number of convicted male and female prisoners undergoing penal servitude in the convict prisons in Ireland on the first Sunday in March for the years 1907, 1913, and 1919, was as follows:

			Males.			Females.
1907	…	…	222	…	…	16
1913	…	…	289	…	…	19
1919	…	…	50	…	…	2

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the number of male and female convicts, respectively, in preventive detention in Ireland on the first Sunday in March, 1919?

There were two male convicts in preventive detention on the first Sunday in March, 1919.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been called to the case of French v. Crockett, in which the Recorder of Derry decided that, though the loan for the building of the teacher's residence was repaid by the National Board and by the teachers who had lived in it, the principal was legally bound to pay to the landlord a rent equal to the local moiety of the redemption instalment, a decision which was confirmed on appeal by His Majesty's going judge of Assize at Londonderry; and if he proposes to introduce legislation which will secure that a residence erected by public money shall not revert to a private individual after the loan has been repaid, but shall remain in perpetuity as a free residence for the teacher for whom it was built?

The attention of my right, hon. Friend the Chief Secretary has been; directed to the decision in the case referred to in this question, and he is at, present considering the desirability of introducing legislation securing the continued use of such buildings as residences for national school teachers.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any step will be taken to indemnify the owners of the fishing boats "Glad Tidings" and "Sea Bird," which boats were sunk by German submarines off the coast of county Down?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for South Down on the 5th August last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the members of the engine-room artificer and electrical artificer classes who appeared before the Jerram Committee requested that more opportunities be given to the engine-room artificer and electrical artificer classes for promotion to the higher ranks, as at present the promotions given are regarded as being inadequate to encourage men serving in these classes?

The requests of the engine-room artificers were based on toeing made officers on entry, and no mention, so far as I know, was made of improved facilities for promotion to higher ranks. Electrical artificers put forward a request that promotion to higher rank through the rank of mate should be open to them. The whole question of advancement in this branch, and also in the new Ordnance Artificer Branch, is under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why only one chief artificer-engineer has been promoted to engineer-lieutenant since the 26th January last to fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of six engineer-lieutenants since the date mentioned; and if the failure to promote these officers is causing them disappointment and is considered by them as a breach of faith?

Of the six engineer-lieutenants apparently referred to, two reached their age for retirement in 1915 and 1918, respectively, and two chief artificer-engineers were then promoted in the vacancies, although the engineers-lieutenants continued to serve until the end of the War. Of the other four vacancies, one has been filled, an officer has just been selected to fill another, and the other two are reserved for young warrant officers who have to pass a qualifying examination before promotion. This reservation of a proportion of promotions for younger warrant officers is, I am advised, in accordance with the general Regulations on Promotion of Warrant Officers which were promulgated to the Fleet in September, 1918.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state why Chief Artificer - Engineer Frederick Hubert Williams has been passed over for promotion, seeing that this officer has served with credit in the Royal Naval Air Service, and is at present serving with the rank of flight-captain in the Royal Naval Air Force, Technical E, and that when volunteers were called for the Royal Naval Air Force a promise was given that such service should in no way interfere with his promotion in the Royal Navy?

Officers of the Naval Service who are attached to the Royal Air Force are not eligible for promotion while so serving, as they are not available for duty in the Royal Navy in the higher rank. But in the event of their returning to the naval Service they will be regarded as eligible for promotion from the date on which their turn arrived.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a petition has been handed to the signal-officer-in-chief, 1st Echelon, Egypt, which called for the early demobilisation of all eligible men; whether the petitioners stated that they desired the reply to roach their appointed delegates by the 11th instant in order that it might be submitted to an executive representing all units and which was chosen at a mass meeting held at Kantara; whether 10,000 men from all units are solemnly pledged to adopt any measures necessary to enforce a satisfactory reply; whether a reply has been given; and whether this situation has been fully considered by the Cabinet?

I am not aware of the petition referred to, but understand that there has been a certain amount of unrest as regards demobilisation. This is being dealt with, and 1914 and 1915 men are being dispatched from Egypt approximately as follows:1914 men, 14,000 in May, and 12,000 in June; 1915 men, 12,000 in June, and 18,000 in July.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any steps are being taken to withdraw the 1914–15 men of the l/4th Northamptonshire Regiment from Egypt, and also men of similar service in the Far East; and when they may be expected back?

Men who enlisted in 1914 and 1915 and who are serving in Egypt and the East are being brought home as rapidly as possible. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House on this subject on Thursday last in my speech on the Army Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the announcement that special scrutiny is to be made by senior officers of the claims of men who consider themselves eligible for demobilisation, he will also instruct them to take into consideration whether these men could not be performing in civil life more useful and urgent duties than are entrusted to them under military routine?

I am informed that no man who is eligible for demobilisation is retained unless he is considered essential for the machinery of demobilisation, i.e., his services are necessary to carry out efficiently and smoothly the speedy demobilisation of the Army, a matter of vital importance. Those who are temporarily retained for this purpose are being released as soon as others who are not eligible for demobilisation can be trained to carry out the required duties satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the men in the Post Office service, almost without exception, attested under the Derby scheme; whether he is aware that generally they were released according to age and medical category; whether those who enlisted after January, 1916, were either important to the Post Office service, of the higher ages, or in poor health; and whether, in view of the discontent which exists, he will release the Derby men in accordance with the terms of their enlistment?

The release of Post Office employés is governed by the same Regulations as those governing the release of other men, i.e., they must be eligible under current Instructions. If they were certified by the Postmaster General as "pivotal" or "civil demobilisers," and registered as such by the War Office prior to the 1st February, 1919, or are otherwise eligible under the Regulations, they are being released as rapidly as the exigencies of the Service permit. I regret, therefore that I can authorise no departure from this procedure at present. I would at the same time refer my hon. Friend to what I said in my speech on the Army Estimates on the 29th May regarding the Derby men, when I explained that it is hoped, as soon as conditions permit, to begin to release them in order according to the month in. which they joined up.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether many men who volunteered in 1914–15, and who have been through the Palestine and other campaigns, and in India and Syria, are not yet demobilised, while many who did not volunteer, but came under the terms of the Military Service Acts in 1916 and afterwards, have been demobilised; whether he will issue instructions that no man will be demobilsed of the latter description until the whole of the 1914–15 men have been demobilised; and whether he will preferably call up new recruits so as to enable the long-service men to get their discharge?

Men who enlisted in and 1915 and who are serving in the East are being brought home as rapidly as possible. They are given a certain priority over other men who are eligible under Army Order 55, but as I have often pointed out to this House it would be inadvisable to release the whole of the men of one class to the exclusion of men in other classes. I therefore regret that I cannot issue the instructions suggested by my hon. Friend. With regard to the last part of the question, the men to whom he refers are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation. On this subject I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement in the House on the Army Estimates on Thursday last, when I explained that we shall endeavour by every means in our power, if peace is signed this month, to send home at the end of June for release all men, except those in India, who joined in 1914, and by the end of July all the men, except those in India.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will explain why Driver J. W. Niklas, No. 310801, Royal Engineers, No. 1 Area, Signal Company, Headquarters, France, is still being retained in the Army, as he enlisted voluntarily in December, 1915, has a one-man business, and has made repeated applications for release; and whether a man employed in a signal company is required for the machinery of demobilisation?

Inquiries are already being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result as early as possible. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative. Demobilisation could not be carried out without the signal service, the strain upon which has been heavy.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the reason why no prospects of demobilisation are held out to Private R. Bownas, No. 121994, Army Service Corps, motorcycle orderly, Base Headquarters, Boulogne, France, seeing that he enlisted in September, 1915?

Private Bownas is is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If he joined the Colours for continuous service prior to 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. Personnel of the Royal Army Service Corps, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained until their services can be spared or they can be replaced. Men so retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation. Senior officers have been appointed to inspect registers of units with a view to ensuring that no officer or man who is eligible for demobilisation is being retained without good and sufficient cause.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Private D. Baldwin, No. 92735, 1st Company, 3rd Reserve Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, No. 12 Durrington Camp, Salisbury Plain, has been refused release from the Army, notwithstanding that both his parents are almost seventy years of age, that his father is blind, that his mother is at present in bed sick, and that he is his parents sole support; and whether, in these circumstances, he will consider the justice of treating the case as sufficiently compassionate to entitle this soldier to release?

Inquiries are already being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is possible, in view of the shortage of transport by rail and sea, for small care and maintenance parties to take charge of guns, wagons, and equipment of divisions in France, in place of the divisional cadres that are kept at full strength in Franco for this purpose; and, if this plan is adopted, could the great majority of the men now kept in France with the cadres who are available for demobilisation be brought home with the existing transport and the guns and wagons follow at a later date?

Orders have already been issued that in future cadres are to be sent home as personnel without equipment, and that only a small guard of one officer, one warrant officer, and six men are to be retained to bring home the equipments. These cadres commenced to arrive in this country last week.

asked the Secretary of State for War in what way a corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps employed in a hospital in France which receives patients from the Army of the Rhine is engaged within the machinery of demobilization?

A corporal who is employed with a hospital in France has to deal with the sick and wounded, the care and evacuation of whom is an essential part of demobilisation, and his services cannot be dispensed with until he can be replaced by a man who is not eligible for demobilisation. In the majority of cases the latter has to undergo a course of training before he can perform the required duties satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether certain soldiers in Bombay, Karachi, and Poona awaiting embarkation to the United Kingdom volunteered unconditionally to remain in India until such times as their services can be dispensed with; if so, what proportion volunteered; and whether this will affect the scheme of demobilisation previously promised or arranged?

I believe this to be the case, but I cannot say what proportion of the whole numbers at the stations referred to have volunteered. The only effect on demobilisation would appear to be to reduce accordingly the numbers of men to be sent to the United Kingdom during the next few months.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Indian Telegraph Department, being unable to obtain volunteers at 250 rupees per month, is compulsorily retaining on civilian work in Mesopotamia postal telegraphists who enlisted voluntarily for the period of the War; whether he has received a petition from these men; and whether he will secure their speedy demobilisation?

I am not aware that the military authorities, are retaining compulsorily men in the (Signal Service in Mesopotamia who are eligible for demobilization; but I have received a petition from them and will ask the War Office to inquire into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the 12th Cadre Battalion Royal Scots left Germany according to orders on the 3rd April for Binche; whether they are still there, with little or nothing to do; and, if so, how long it is proposed that this cadre stays there before it is sent home for demobilisation?

The cadre of the 12th Battalion Royal Scots is under orders to return to the United Kingdom. The rate of movement of these cadres must depend upon transportation facilities throughout the journey.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether nothing has been heard from or officially about Driver F. Fellows, No. 168892, Royal Field Artillery, since he wrote to his family that he was embarking at Salonika en route for England in April; that his family have subsequently heard unofficially that Fellows got as far as Havre but was then ill and was therefore obliged to be left in some hospital; that a request for information, addressed to Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery Records, Woolwich, by Driver Fellows' family, produced no prompt reply; and that, answering a subsequent letter from a Member of this House, the Records Office wrote on 29th May that all they knew was that Fellows had embarked at Salonika on 11th April; and whether there is any machinery whereby the Records Office or some other department can act in this case and give some satisfactory information to Driver Fellows' family?

Inquiries are being made, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War why James Goodwin, No. 206004, 3rd Battalion, Lincoln Regiment, has not been awarded a wound stripe for wounds received by being blown up by a mine and buried, resulting in a serious operation, on 1st January, 1917?

No report of any such casualty to Private Goodwin has been received in the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the services rendered to the wounded by certain medical officers engaged in medical and surgical research during the War; and whether, in consideration of the final list of honours, he will bear in mind the claims of those who, although not engaged on active service, have contributed so largely to the comfort and recovery of the wounded by scientific research?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirma- tive. As regards the remainder of the question, my hon. and gallant Friend will find that those he refers to have not been overlooked in the "Peace Honours Gazette," in which a very large number of medical officers are included. Rewards for home service will appear in the Press on the 5th June, and other higher honours on the 10th June.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the figures of recruiting and re-enlistment since the Armistice?

The figures are as follows:

Normal engagements(up to the 24th May)	24,402
Re-enlistment of ex-soldiers for short service(up to the 24th May)	3,668
Men for garrison duties (up to the 24th May)	235
Men for Labour Corps (exhumamation of bodies, etc.) (up to the 24th May)	2,736
	31,041
Re-enlistments of serving soldiers for periods of two, three, and four years (up to the 30th May	71,465

These figures do not include re-enlistments from the Army of the Rhine, which up to the 25th May amount to 22,977.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men are being demobilised who are in a state of complete physical incapacity and who should properly be discharged as unfit for further military service with a full disability pension; whether the effect of substituting demobilisation for discharge will be to give such a man a month's. Army pay in place of a month's full pension; whether such a procedure is contrary to the policy of the Government; whether he will give instructions that it should at once cease; and whether he will make inquiries of the National Health Insurance Commission, (England) on the subject?

All men who are unfit for further military service are discharged under King's Regulations paragraph 392 (xvi.). The latter part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the present rate of enlistment for the post-war Army warrants the belief that by the end of the period for which the Military Service Act of 1919 is operative, sufficient men will have enlisted to establish the Army required on a peace basis; and whether, in the event of further compulsory military-service still being necessary, steps will be taken to ensure that those men who Have not yet served their country in a military capacity shall be compelled to serve in preference to those men who have?

My Noble Friend's question is hypothetical, and it is premature to attempt to forecast what the requirements of the situation will be at the end of the period referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the opinion of the Overseas Dominions has been asked regarding the principle that there shall be equal treatment of the graves of all British soldiers; whether they have expressed approval of this principle; whether, owing to the small amount of space between each grave, it is impossible to allow the relatives of the fallen to erect their own memorials; and whether, if this were permitted, it would lead to an invidious distinction between the graves of the rich and the poor?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. Among those whom Sir Frederick Kenyon consulted before presenting his Report to the Imperial War Graves Commission were representatives of the Dominion Forces in the field, and their opinion was preponderatingly in favour of the principle of equality of treatment. With regard to the third part of the question, there are undoubtedly serious practical difficulties involved in allowing any wide departure from the scheme of uniform memorials, owing to the conditions under which the bodies of our dead are buried in France and elsewhere. In all cases the graves are close together, and in many instances two, three, four, or even more, bodies are buried in a single grave. Differentiation of treatment would in many cases be impracticable, and in all cases would result in incongruity, which the Commission believe would be unacceptable to any relatives when realised. The consideration mentioned in the fourth part of the question is one which has had great weight with the Commission in deciding on a scheme of equal treatment for all graves. They feel that if personal memorials are allowed to be put up by those who could afford the expense, the cemeteries would lose their impressive character as symbols of the comradeship of all ranks and of the common sacrifice made by rich and poor alike. They believe that this expression of the sense of comradeship appeals strongly to officers and men who have served.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Sergeant-Drummer Peter Madigan, No. 5891, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who was discharged on 15th February after twenty-two years' service, having won several medals and who, since 1906, has had military quarters for his family at Stirling Castle, paying 6s. per week rent, but who is now warned out on 1st June; and whether, in view of his fine record of service and of the impossibility of getting another house, permission to remain on in his quarters will be granted?

I am making inquiries into this case, and will write to my hon. Friend later.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers on draft-conducting parties are in receipt of special allowances when engaged on these duties?

I am not sure whether my hon. Friend refers to officers solely engaged on draft-conducting duties or to regimental officers who may on occasion be employed in taking charge of a draft. In either case the officers when travelling receive, when they are not rationed or, billeted at the public expense, an appropriate allowance under the Regulations to meet the extra expense to which they may be put.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the recommendation of the Distributing Forage Committee of the Army Council to discontinue the control of hay was passed without the consent of the consumers' representatives on that Committee; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The whole question of the decontrol of hay is under consideration, and I am unable to make any statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Second-Lieutenant J. Edmond, 6th Highland Light Infantry, who went a missing in Palestine on 20th August, 1917; whether he is now officially reported as dead; and whether, in order to get his account closed up which has, till now, been refused, he will authorise this to be done so that this officer's affairs can be closed up?

The balance of this officer's account was issued to the persons entitled on the 24th instant.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether officers, on transference from the Royal Naval Air Service to the Royal Air Force, lose their right to a Service funeral unless death is due to a flying accident; whether this is contrary to Air Force Memorandum No. 1, Paragraphs 6 and 7, which provides that no financial loss should be incurred on trans- ference; and whether he will have inquiries made in the ease of Second-Lieutenant A. W. Benfield, who transferred from the Royal Naval Air Force to the Royal Air Force, died in hospital at Norwich last November, and whose funeral expenses are still unpaid owing to the refusal of the Air Ministry to allow the same and the fact that the next-of-kin are not in a financial position to meet the obligation?

Officers of the Royal Air Force who die in this country are not entitled to- a funeral at the public expense unless they are killed as the result of a flying accident. This rule applies equally to officers transferred from the Royal Naval Air Service as to those transferred from the Royal Flying Corps, and, as my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate, no discrimination could be made in this matter between the two classes. As regards the particular case of the late Second-Lieutenant Benfield, I shall be glad to consider whether an ex gratia allowance allowance can be made towards the funeral expenses, if my hon. and gal-land Friend will furnish me with information as to the financial circumstances of the deceased officer's next of kin.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the high prices now being realised for obsolete and old motor-cycles and cars being sold by Government Departments, it would be desirable to offer some of the new aeroplanes, now being broken up, to the public by auction sale so as to test the market on this matter?

No aeroplanes have been broken up by the Disposal Board except those which have been declared by the Air Ministry to be obsolete for Service use and unsuitable for civil aviation, and such machines as, by reason of their condition, could not be made safe for flying without unprofitable expenditure. The Disposal Board is offering aeroplanes and engines to the public by the various recognised methods of sale, including sale by auction. An auction sale was held at Hendon, yesterday, after having been widely advertised for the past two weeks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware of the desire existing on the part of many discharged and demobilised men, soldiers and sailors, to have facilities afforded them by the Government for the purchase of Government motor lorries; and whether he will endeavour to meet their wishes by granting the necessary credit providing that guarantees are forthcoming that the lorries are to be used by the purchasers and to remain Government property until such time as the balance due on them has been paid?

This question has been carefully considered on more than one occasion by the Disposal Board. As I have previously explained, the Board cannot deal with individual purchasers of motor vehicles under any scheme of payment by instalments. If, however, any approved organisation interested in the welfare of discharged soldiers is willing to undertake the responsibility of the disposal of motor vehicles in the manner suggested, I should be glad to consider allocation of a number of surplus vehicles to such an organisation, always provided that the interests of the Exchequer are safeguarded.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Indian Government has all the aeroplanes it needs for the conduct of operations against Afghanistan?

All the aeroplanes that the Indian Government have asked for have been or are being sent out.

asked the Secretary of State for India what are at present the working hours per day and the average rate of wages of the operatives in the textile mills of Bombay?

Under the Indian Factories Act of 1911 the maximum time in any one day for which a person may be employed in a textile factory is twelve hours. For women the maximum time is eleven hours and for children six. In no textile factory may mechanical or electrical power be in use for more than twelve hours in the day, and after an interval of six hours: all work is discontinued for not less than half an hour.A statement of wages current in a representative Bombay cotton mill in 1917 will be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Since then wages have risen considerably, but the Secretary of State is without de-tailed information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Isaac Mansfield, of 58, Swan Street, Manchester, has been ordered by the police to abandon his adopted name and to resume his former name; that the said Mansfield is a long-naturalised British subject and by birth a Pole; that he has acquired property in the new name, and that his son is allowed to retain that name; what are the reasons for this discrimination; and whether he will give instructions to the Manchester police to desist from their proposed course of action?

The first paragraph of the question does not accurately represent the situation. If Mr. Isaac Mendelson is continuing to use the name Mansfield which he adopted in February, 1918, he is committing an offence, and the police are justified in taking all necessary steps to enforce the law. Under Defence of the Realm Regulation 14H Mr. Mendel-son is prohibited from using his adopted name without the permission of the Secretary of State for the Home Department. He applied for permission and was, after due consideration, refused. His son being a natural-born British subject, is not subject to the Regulation.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been drawn to the forcible ejection from his home by the police, on 24th May last, of Mr. J. H. Lawrence, I, Lower High Street, Stourbridge, in order to provide accommodation for a. foreman of the owner, a coal dealer, notwithstanding the fact that exhaustive search of several weeks' duration and appeals to the local authorities for help in procuring another habitation had been unavailing; that the ejectment not only involved Mr. Lawrence in expenses incurred by the police in re-moving his furniture under their own supervision to licensed premises selected by themselves, but would have left the man and his family of eleven persons homeless in the streets had not sympathetic neighbours received them, and among whom they are now dispersed; whether he can see his way to advise the police authority to refund to Mr. Lawrence any charges they may have called upon him to meet which he neither desired nor incurred, and to ask the responsible officers of the town why they permitted the ejectment order to be enforced in view of his failure to secure other accommodation of any sort or kind, and to state what steps they took to meet the housing requirements of this large family; and whether, in order to prevent the infliction of similar hardships upon other families, he will consider the desirability of advising local authorities throughout the country to endeavour to suspend the enforcement of ejectment orders in all cases until suitable accommodation has either been found by the persons concerned or been provided by the local authorities themselves?

My attention has been called to the case. Under the Increase of Rent, etc., Acts a landlord may obtain from the Court an order for possession of a house which is required for occupation by himself or someone in his employment. My Department have no administrative functions under the Acts, and I am not in a position to take steps suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that ex-pensioners of the county police force pensioned prior to September, 1918, have received no increase in the pensions by way of war bonus; and will he consider an amendment of the Police Force Act of 1890, so that all living pensioners should benefit by the new pension scales lately granted and so remove an invidious distinction on men who throughout their service performed their work loyally and without complaint?

My right hon. Friend has asked me reply to this question. The Home Secretary regrets that he does not see his way to propose legislation for the increase of pensions which have been granted in the past.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of railway trucks which is hampering trade and industry in the Middlesbrough district and which, if not remedied, will result in the throwing out of employment of a number of men; and what steps he is taking to remedy this serious shortage?

The question of the supply of wagons to this district is receiving the special attention of the Railway Executive Committee, and steps have been taken by the North-Eastern Railway Company to meet the demands as far as practicable. Every effort is being made to cope with the situation, but I am informed that in consequence of traders not emptying wagons as quickly as they might do the railway companies are not getting the same effective user out of them as they did formerly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the imports into this country of manufactured silk goods (fabrics and yarns) from America, France, Italy, Japan, and Switzerland, respectively, for the first four months of 1914 and of 1919; and whether it is probable that there is any further amount included in the Board of Trade Returns, under miscellaneous and unclassified, which is not covered by the classified Returns?

The values of the imports of manufactured silk goods (fabrics and yarns) into the United Kingdom, consigned from the countries specified, during the first four months of 1914 and 1919, respectively, were as follows:

Consigned from	Jan.—April (inclusive), 1914.	Jan.—April (inclusive), 1919.
YARNS
	£	£
United States	—	—
France	14,276	66,427
Italy	83,043	90,202
Japan (including Formosa and Japanese leased territories in China)	13,885	13,950
Switzerland	36,136	51,279
FABRICS.
United States	36,489	236,361
France	2,409,751	2,518,234
Italy	298,194	1,170,613
Japan (including Formosa and Japanese leased territories in China)	402,367	2,762,174
Switzerland	1,215,684	732,180
TOTAL (YARNS AND FABRICS).
United States	36,489	236,361
France	2,424,027	2,584,661
Italy	381,237	1,260,815
Japan (including Formosa and Japanese leased territories in China)	416,252	2,776,124
Switzerland	1,251,830	783,459

It is possible that a small quantity of manufactured silk goods imported through the be medium of the parcel post has been unavoidably included among articles classed as "Miscellaneous and Unclassified." Such imports, however, are known to be small and would not materially increase the amounts given above.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in releasing gold for the use of the jewellery trade, care will be taken to regulate its distribution under such conditions that it will be available to small jewellers, a number of whom are demobilised or wounded soldiers, as well as to the larger firms and associations?

Should it be decided to release gold for the use of the jewellery trade, consideration will be given to the point raised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if a licence is required for the export of building materials from this country; and, if so, whether any licences have been issued for the export of bricks since the signing of the Armistice, and, if so, the quantity of bricks for which the authority has been given for export subsequent to that date?

No, Sir; no licence is required.

asked the Postmaster-General if it is the intention of the Department to reinstate those servants who were granted exemptions by the tribunals on the condition of doing work of national importance; and, if so, when?

I cannot at present add anything to the answer which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member on the 10th April. I hope, however, that a decision will be reached shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Winn, widow of the late postmaster at Sandwich; whether he is aware that Mr. Winn was for thirty years in Government service and has left a widow and two children totally unprovided for; whether there is any fund from which a pension or compassionate allowance can be granted in such a case; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of seeking statutory powers to grant relief in cases of this kind?

Mr. Winn's legal representatives were awarded a gratuity of about £200 in respect of his Post Office service. This sum was at the maximum rate payable on death under the Superannuation Acts, which apply to the whole Civil Service, and I regret that there is no fund from which a pension or further gratuity could be awarded to Mrs. Winn.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will state (1) the number of convicted male and female prisoners, respectively, undergoing penal servitude in the council prisons in Scotland on the first Sunday in March in the years 1907, 1913, and 1919; and (2) the number of convicted male and female prisoners, respectively, in custody in local prisons in Scotland on the first Sunday in March in the years 1907, 1913, and 1919?

I am informed by the Prison Commissioners for Scotland that the particulars asked for in these two questions are not available in the Commissioners' office for the exact dates specified, but the following are the figures for the first Tuesday in March in the years referred to:

CONVICT PRISONS.
		Males.		Females.
5th March, 1907	…	310	…	8
4th March, 1913	…	426	…	10
4th March, 1919	…	169	…	9

The figures for 1913 and 1919 exclude prisoners undergoing sentences of preventive detention under Part II. of the Prevention of Crime Act, 1908.

LOCAL PRISONS.
		Males.		Females.
5th March, 1907	…	1,836	…	558
4th March, 1913	…	1,486	…	433
4th March, 1919	…	576	…	123

The figures for 1913 and 1919 exclude inmates of Borstal institutions sentenced under Part I. of the Prevention of Crime Act, 1908, and prisoners undergoing sentences of preventive detention under Part I. of the same Act.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if the entire Hayfield estate in Shetland is now to be purchased, and that it comprises the most suitable land in Shetland for small holdings; that it is comparatively unpopulated; that its acquisition has been very strongly recommended by the local agricultural com- mittee; and, in view of the number of demobilised men in the island anxious to get on to the land, he will give the matter his very earnest consideration?

The reply to the question is generally in the affirmative. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland are at the moment in negotiation with the owner with a view to arranging for the settlement of smallholders on the estate.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a staff of forty-one persons is maintained in the Yorkshire district, and corresponding staffs in other districts, for the sole purpose of considering applications for licences to open retail businesses; and, if so, whether this work could be more economically provided for in some other way?

The total staff engaged in the administration of the Retail Business (Licensing) Order in the Yorkshire and East Midlands Division is forty-two, divided among ten separate centres and covering the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. The staff was recently taken over, with the work, from the Ministry of National Service. I have already given instructions for an investigation of its future requirements; and if any reduction of staff is found practicable it will be made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether large numbers of German prisoners are still being employed on farms; whether the presence of these prisoners is giving rise to friction with our own workmen; and whether steps can be taken to remove these prisoners without delay with a view of providing employment for a large number of demobilised men now out of work?

I am aware that a number of prisoners of war are at present employed on farms. It is a condition of their employment that no suitable British labour shall be available in the locality, and machinery has been provided to secure that this condition is observed. I shall be glad to inquire into any case where friction with British labour is said to exist, if the hon. Member will give me the facts.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the action of the local employment committee, 92, Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush, in withdrawing unemployment benefit from Mrs. Jessie E. Gates on the ground that she was a married woman not normally in employment; whether he is aware that her husband was discharged from the Army in 1915 with no pension and suffering from tuberculosis; that he is consequently unable to work regularly; and that his wife has been for some time compelled to work in order to supplement the family income; and whether he will take steps to have this injustice remedied?

It is now the practice for claims to out-of-work donation made by married women to be scrutinised by the local employment committee, which is a body consisting in the main of representatives of local employers and employed, in order that they may be satisfied that the applicant is normally in employment, is genuinely seeking work and is unable to obtain it. In accordance with this procedure, Mrs. Gates claim came before the local employment committee, which, after interviewing her, decided to recommend that further donation should not be paid. On the information before me, I see no reason to differ from the conclusion reached by the committee. If, however, it is contended that there are any relevant facts which have not been brought already to the notice of the committee, I shall be glad, on being furnished with a statement of these facts, to consider whether there is ground for asking the committee to rehear the case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the certain shortage of labour on the land both for the hay and corn harvests, he is making provision to utilise for the purpose some of the unemployed labour which exists, even if it may not be of an expert quality?

The Board have communicated with the Ministry of Labour with a view to farmers being supplied promptly with the labour they will require at harvest time. The county agricultural executive committees have been asked to assist the Employment Exchanges in supplying the labour required.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that a piece of land in Church Fields, South Wood-ford, was rented by the chairman of the Woodford Allotment Association from Christmas, 1917, at a yearly rental of £6 and allocated as allotments; that this land was taken by this gentleman because the local council failed to put into operation the powers they possessed regarding allotments; and that he has now received notice to quit at Michaelmas next; and whether the Board will take action with a view to retaining this land for allotments?

The Board have no information with regard to these allotments, and, if as stated, they were brought into existence by private enterprise, the Board have no power to arrange for the retention of the land for use as allotments.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether and for how long it is intended to retain the allotments now tenanted by about 200 plotholders at Ealing Park Gardens under the Ealing Borough Council?

The Board understand that the land will shortly be required for building purposes and a notice warning the allotment holders to this effect has been put up on the site. The land will not be relinquished by the local authority, however, until they are satisfied that the owner is in a position to commence building operations immediately.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the age limit of twenty-five years of ex-members of His Majesty's Forces may be temporarily suspended in making appointments in the Consular Service in view of the advisability of securing men with necessary qualifications and commercial experience?

The age limit originally fixed for candidates for the Consular Service was forty-one and several appointments have been made amongst candidates between thirty and forty. There were no further vacancies in the general service on its existing basis, and the age limit of twenty-five, which was only recently laid down, was primarily intended to apply to candidates for the Levant and Far Eastern services, where it is essential that candidates should be quite young in order that they may undergo a course of training in Oriental languages. The reorganisation scheme has now been sanctioned by the Cabinet with certain modifications and limitations, and the situation is now being considered with a view to throwing open a certain number of posts to older applicants.