asked the Secretary of State for India whether, considering the number of officers in the Indian public services who may wish to retire in the event of the present Montagu-Chelmsford Indian reform scheme becoming law and the announcement by the Government of India that an officer finding his position unendurable should be entitled to apply to the Government of India for a proportionate pension, he will now state what are to be the proportionate pensions to which these officers will be entitled?

My hon. and gallant Friend is basing himself on assumptions and prophecies. I have come to no decision as to the Government of India's proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is now in a position to say whether Papers relating to the Karachi troop-train incident will be laid?

I have carefully considered the matter, and have come to the conclusion that the case is not one of such public interest or importance as to justify the presentation of Papers.

Will not the censure of this gallant officer continue to be based on confidential information and ex parte statements which have not been communicated to him?

That is not my fault. A new inquiry was offered on very favourable conditions. A free passage to India would have been provided, a special daily detention allowance would have been granted, and legal expenses within a reasonable amount defrayed. The offer gave him an opportunity of clearing himself. He did not accept it, and I see no necessity for laying the correspondence.

Would not this officer have had to proceed to India, with this censure upon him?

The new inquiry was offered him in order to clear him from the censure, and that was the offer which he rejected.

Is that offer still open?

It was eighteen months ago.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the abundance of paper currency in all countries at the present time and the general shortage of gold, ho could see his way to extend the terms of reference of the Indian Currency Commission so that they may be permitted to inquire into the silver question in its entirety, with a view to finding out whether more use can be made of silver as a circulating medium; and whether its position, which was destroyed by the German legislation of 1873, can in any way be restored?

The Indian Currency Committee has been appointed to consider certain questions relating to India on which an early decision is needed. The members chosen are specially qualified to deal with these ques- tions. The Committee has already taken an appreciable amount of evidence. It is not practicable to enlarge the subject of inquiry, as this would involve the reconstitution of the present Committee, would require the new body to begin work again, and would seriously postpone the date of report.

May I ask the Leader of the House, to whom the question is addressed, whether it is not possible to have any inquiry made into the last portion of the question?

Nobody knows better than my hon. Friend that complicated and difficult questions are involved in his suggestion. The answer of my right hon. Friend shows that it is necessary to get an early decision on the other matter, and that would not be possible if this were included.

May I ask for a separate inquiry to go into the matter?

I will have that considered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether British men-of-war have flown the flag of the League of Nations; and, if so, on what occasions?

My hon. and gallant Friend is mistaken in thinking that there is such a flag. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

Has the flag not been flown by transports as stated in the Press?

Not to my knowledge. My advice is that there is no such flag.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the recent in- crease of the pay of coast watchers in Ireland to 25s. 6d. per week is intended to represent the only war bonus which these men are to get; and, if so, will he say on what grounds they are being refused an adequate war gratuity in view of the services which they have rendered to the country in face of great discomforts and dangers?

The pay of the coast watchers has recently been increased, as my hon. and gallant Friend's question indicates, to 25s. 6d. a week—a substantial increase in a great many cases. It is not proposed to add to that figure. I may, perhaps, be permitted to say that the question of awarding the war medal to coast watchers and Boy Scouts with one year or more service is now under consideration.

Are we to understand that these men, many of whom have undergone great dangers and hardships in parts of the seas where submarines were very active, are to get nothing in the shape of war gratuity for all the services they have rendered to the country?

That, I am afraid, is the case. I should be very glad to hear any views the hon. and gallant Gentleman has upon it and forward them to the proper authorities.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the numerical strength of the Costs Investigation Department of the Board and the average monthly costs of its administration since the outbreak of War; whether this Department has reported any Government contractors to the Board of Admiralty since the outbreak of War for misrepresentation or other fraudulent conduct; and, if so, will he give the particulars of the fraudulent representation and say what action has been or is proposed to be taken by the Board with the offending contractors?

The staff at present consists of:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is now in a position to make any statement as to the decision of the Admiralty with regard to the pay of officers of the Royal Navy?

As my Noble Friend knows, the Admiralty it commendations are before the War Cabinet. While I am not in a position to announce a decision to-day, I think I may safely say that it will be announced at a very early date.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the intense feeling of the lower deck at the delays in connection with the officers' pay?

I quite realise the spirit of comradeship which subsists between the lower deck and the officers, and I quite believe the lower deck desires the earliest decision in the matter, but whatever delay there has been has been unavoidable. I have hope of a decision at a very early date.

The right hon. Gentleman gave me the same answer some time ago. Is he not now in a position to name a date?

No, I am sorry to say I cannot. I should be glad if I could.

As the delay is no fault of the officers will the increase be made retrospective?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman is now anticipating a decision on one of the matters which will have to be considered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any persons other than those serving or those who have served in the Royal Navy will receive any share of prize money; and if he can now state when prize money will be paid?

The forces entitled to share in the Prize Fund are the Naval and Marine Forces as defined in the Naval Prize Act, 1918, and include, as well as the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, the officers and crews of His Majesty's ships of war. Thus members of the Naval Reserves, of the Overseas Naval Forces, of the Mercantile Marine, and others who have the requisite length of service on board a ship of war at sea under the Royal Proclamation of 10th February, 1919, will be eligible to share. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the Royal Proclamation prescribing the conditions of eligibility. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by me to my hon. Friend the Member for Devonport on the 26th June.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the cost for construction of the R 34 type of airship, the cost of the housing-shed and extensions, the per- sonnel required at the shed for handling, berthing, cleaning the airship, etc., the estimated total monthly cost of the airship when in commission, including pay of persons employed in ship and shed; how many of these airships are under construction; and whether work is being continued on them?

The cost of constructing an airship of R 34 type is approximately £350,000. The cost of the housing-shed at East Fortune, together with extensions and windscreens, is approximately £166,000. Fourteen officers and 400 men are required at the station for handling, berthing, cleaning airships, etc. The estimated total monthly cost of the airship when in commission depends on the distance flown. Taking as basis 8,000 nautical miles per month at a speed of forty knots, it amounts to about £2,600 at current rates for cost of petrol, oil and gas. This figure includes the wages of crew and also one-fourth the total pay of the personnel required for handling, etc., as this latter is adequate for maintaining four airships in commission. No further airships of this class are under construction, but six of improved types have been ordered and are in varying stages of construction. Work upon them is being continued.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has any news of the ship?

I am sorry to say I have not.

Will Peace make any difference to the programme?

Speaking off-hand I should say no.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state when the Report of Captain Bather's Committee on stewards and cooks will be promulgated?

The Report is now under consideration, and any further improvements that may be granted in connection therewith will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if leave can be given to the men serving on the gunboats and monitors stationed near Russia, as in many cases men have received only thirty-one days' leave during the whole period of their service of four or more years?

Reliefs of all men who have served during the War on foreign stations are being effected as rapidly as possible. With regard to North Russia all reliefs asked for have been sent. With regard to Black Sea, many hundreds of men from these regions are now actually in process of being relieved. If my hon. Friend will give me more definite particulars as to the ships and stations he refers to, further inquiry "will be made.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if, with a view of equality being accorded to men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, their Lordships will withdraw the Regulations issued to Royal Marines which disallows grog, or money in lieu thereof, to them whilst at headquarters, bearing in mind the fact that the seamen class are not so disallowed at their Royal Naval barracks?

Royal Marines, when afloat, are supplied with naval rations, which include grog or money in lieu. Royal Marines at headquarters are victualled on the Army scale, which does not include a grog ration or money allowance in lieu. The question of allowing Royal Marines at headquarters to be victualled on Navy rations is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty why in the Jerram Report no non-substantive pay has been recommended to the musicians of the Royal Marines for fire control, having regard to the great importance attached to that position and to the fact that it is no part of a musician's ordinary duty as such, and also why the non-substantive pay has been taken away from bandmasters of the same corps for the responsibility of the care of the instruments, music, and other things entrusted to them, bearing in mind the fact that in some instances they are required to pay for the repair or renewal of those damaged or lost; and whether he is aware that much dissatisfaction exists amongst the musicians and bandmasters in consequence?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the whole question of the Royal Marine bands' pay and allowance received very careful and sympathetic consideration both by the Jerram Committee and the Board. Obviously, fire control has nothing to do with music; but, on the other hand, I think my hon. Friend will realise that every rating carried on a battleship of to-day must be trained to perform some useful work during action. It is not quite correct to say that non-substantive pay, "Instrument Allowance," has been taken away from bandmasters, Royal Marine. It has been merged in their pay, and, as I understand it, they have gained the advantage that they now receive it continuously instead of, as previously, only when they were in charge of instruments of a band.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty why in the Jerram Report the question of non-substantive pay to the sick-berth staff generally is not recommended in respect of their special ratings as operative attendants, laboratory attendants, masseurs, and X-ray attendants, and which forms no part of the ordinary duties of a sick-berth steward as such; and whether he is aware that the present limited employment of a portion of those so qualified causes general dissatisfaction, especially in view of the fact that other ratings in the Service are paid as soon as they qualify upon special subjects, and whether employed or not?

The Jerram Committee has now ceased to exist, and I am afraid it is not practicable to give information as to why the Committee's recommendations were not different from what they were. As regards sick-berth ratings generally the Committee stated that the fact that these ratings have few opportunities of earning non-substantive pay had received consideration in fixing their substantive pay. The sick-berth ratings, like other classes, will have future opportunities of bringing any requests arising out of the Jerram decisions to notice through their representatives attached to the Welfare Committee.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can make any statement as to the granting of railway facilities and assistance for those men from Northern yards who volunteered for Invergordon to bring their families back to the South now that the press of work in the North has ceased?

The men in question have been serving at Invergordon as men lent from their home dockyards, and they have been in receipt of a subsistence allowance besides being provided with single-men's quarters on the supposition that they were living apart from their families. In these circumstances the Admiralty have not been able to see their way to grant railway facilities and assistance to the men in bringing their families back to the dockyard towns.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as there is little overtime and not much work, the men are practically tied to this place?

I do not see how that can be but perhaps the hon. Member will discuss the matter with me.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if the recent improvement in the pay, pension, and war bonuses, and conditions of service which have recently been granted to subordinate officers in His Majesty's civil prisons from 1st April last will be extended to the sub ordinate officers of His Majesty's naval prison service, including those doing duty in the naval detention quarters?

My hon. and gallant Friend's question apparently relates to certain improvements in respect of the pay, etc., of the staff employed in civil prisons, promulgated by the Prison Commission a month ago. We are considering the conditions of service of subordinate officers of Detention Quarters and the Naval Prison at Bodmin in the light of the Home Office decisions in question. I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as to putting another question later.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now make any further statement as to the visit of a naval squadron to the Thames during the Peace celebrations; can he state how many boats and of what class will visit London and in about what parts of the Thames the various vessels will be moored and on view to the public?

It is proposed to assemble as many ships as possible in the Thames during the Peace celebrations. All particulars will be published as soon as the arrangements have been definitely settled. The vessels will be open to the public at certain stated hours.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the consideration promised some weeks ago, he is now in a position to inform the House whether Marshal Foch has been invited to take part in the official Peace celebrations; and whether a similar invitation is being extended to include detachments of the various units of the French Army and Navy?

It has not been found possible to adopt the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

Is it not possible to find some occasion to give London an opportunity to welcome the troops of our gallant Ally, France?

I am sure my hon. Friend realises that it is a difficult thing to make these arrangements. Everything has been considered. The French celebration is on 14th July, and it would really be impossible to have suitable arrangements made with our Allied troops the same time as our own.

Can it not be arranged that the French soldiers who are taking part at the tournament at Olympia should, take part in the procession?

I do not shut the door against such a proposal. Everyone would be glad to welcome the troops of our Allies and to do anything they could to recognise the community of fighting.

Are our troops being represented at the Paris celebrations?

Oh, yes; but it is very easy to have a complete display in Paris, because troops of all the Allies are in France. It is a very different thing to make arrangements here.

asked how many demobilised officers are registered as wanting employment and, based on the experience of the latest four weeks, what is the average number of fresh applicants registered and vacancies filled per week; and whether an unemployed officer is entitled to draw unemployed pay?

The number of applications for employment registered in the Appointments Department is 14,355, but this figure includes an unknown number of applicants who have since obtained employment without notifying the fact to the Department. In the four weeks ended on the 27th June, 1919, the weekly averages of fresh applications and of vacancies filled were 761 and 370, respectively. All these figures include not only discharged and demobilised officers, but discharged and demobilised men of similar educational promise. Discharged and demobilised officers are eligible for civilian policies under the out-of-work donation scheme, subject to the usual conditions attaching to such policies, but many ex-officers may be ruled out by the condition that applicants for civilian policies must have been employed contributors under the National Health Insurance Scheme before the 25th August, 1918.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that by this rule the great majority of officers are ruled out of participation in unemployment benefit, and that the number of unemployed officers according to the figures which he has given is being added to at the rate of 400 a week, and will he consider some scheme for giving them unemployment benefit the same as the ordinary soldier?

I believe that there are special arrangements in the case of officers with regard to civil liabilities which tend to mitigate the evil that has been referred to by my hon. Friend, but I will inquire.

if the facts are as stated by the hon. Gentleman in his answer, is not the rate of unemployment among officers increasing week by week, and what is he going to do to meet that great need?

I do not think that it is increasing week by week, though it has increased in this particular week, certainly. A great many things are being done to meet the case of the demobilised officer.

asked the Minister of Labour how many women and girls were being employed in Government Departments on, respectively, the 1st November, 1918, and the 15th June, 1919?

I hope to circulate shortly a statement showing the staff of each Government Department on 1st August, 1914, 11th November, 1918, and 31st March, 1919, respectively; under arrangements now instituted for monthly returns of the staff of Government Departments; figures showing the staff at the beginning of July will become available before long. I hope that in the circumstances the hon. Member will not press for figures for the particular dates in his question.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very strong feeling in the country that all the girls employed at temporary work in Government offices should be superseded by demobilised soldiers in the shortest possible space of time?

That is one of the reasons that induced me to have this monthly collection of figures got out.

Can the hon. Gentleman let us have the number of houses that have been commandeered since the Armistice?

That does not arise out of the question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many 1914 and 1915 men are now retained with the Colours; and whether he will take early steps to demobilise the remainder?

I have no figures as to the number of demobilisable 1914 and 1915 men still retained with the Colours. With regard to the last part of my hon. Friend's question, I would refer him to the special Army Order issued at the end of last week, of which I will send him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Corporal C. E. Turner, No. 17284, Army Pay Corps, with thirteen months' service at Lichfield, was released on the 28th January, 1919, as a pivotal man, and re instated, after demobilisation, as an acting-paymaster; and whether Corporal. Turner was in civil life assistant to an ironmonger?

This man was released on 28th January, 1919, before the promulgation of Army Order 55 of 1919, and was subsequently taken on as a civilian clerk, from which grade he was promoted to acting-paymaster on the recommendation of the regimental paymaster. Ho has now been discharged on reduction of establishment.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how a man who has been an ironmonger's assistant can have the necessary qualifications for such a position as acting-paymaster? ["HON. MEMBERS: Why not?"]

I can quite well imagine that such a man might prove a very skilled accountant.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all soldiers serving in India are being retained, irrespective of service, for the Army of Occupation; whether this is causing discontent amongst the 1914 and 1915 men, who have received no home leave since they landed in India; and whether he will make arrangements for the men who are entitled to demobilisation to be sent home at once?

Demobilisation in India has been temporarily suspended owing to the situation in that country. Men eligible for demobilisation are not retained for the Army of Occupation, and demobilisation will be reopened as soon as the situation permits. Reliefs for the garrison of India are being dispatched, and it is hoped on their arrival to be able to release some of the urgent cases. Every possible step is being taken to release those eligible as soon us it is possible to do so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he considers men who enlisted in 1911 as of the most worthy class?

I do, indeed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these men are in India now?

Yes, I regret to say it is so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider giving priority to volunteers to go out in relief of these men in India, as a matter of policy?

Twenty battalions are now in process of dispatch to India, special arrangements having been made to safeguard them in their transit through the Red Sea in the hot weather. They are starting in a week, and the ships when they get there will bring back men from India, unless the situation in India is too critical for them to be withdrawn. The first men to come home will be those from Mesopotamia who were on their way back from Mesopotamia and were stopped in India when trouble began.

Are these battalions composed of nothing but volunteers?

Yes

Coming through the Red Sea in July?

The military situation has rendered it necessary that that should be done, but special arrangements have been made in regard to the troops' accommodation on the troopships, and other medical precautions have been taken which will reduce the hardships to a minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the officers and men of the Wiltshire Regiment at present serving in India have been informed at various times that the regiment would come home in the autumn; and whether he will give a definite assurance that this date will be adhered to?

I regret I can add nothing to the reply given on the 25th February last to a question asked by the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor, to the effect that if all goes well it should be possible to complete all reliefs during the course of next autumn. I have no doubt that the unit is aware of this reply.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Wiltshire Regiment has been particularly promised release, and will he make special arrangements that this regiment, which has done so well in the War, should be sent home?

No, Sir. I do not think we ought to pick out one regiment. We must try to bring all these men back.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state when men with dispersal certificates, some of whom left England in September and October, 1914, and have had no home leave, who have been detained in India on their way home from Mesopotamia, will be brought home; and whether care will be taken that ample accommodation shall be provided on board ship for men returning through the Red Sea at this season of the year?

Demobilisation has been temporarily suspended in India owing to the existing situation in that country. I regret that no definite statement regarding demobilisaion in India can be made at present, but it will be reopened as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet re- ceived a reply to the cable dispatched on 18th June asking whether Captain J. M. Gibson, Royal Army Medical Corps, could be relieved from Salonika and sent home for demobilisation; and, if so, can he state the effect of it?

I regret that the reply has not yet been received. I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as I a in in a position to give him the desired information.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his Parliamentary Private Secretary wrote to me on 15th April last stating that instructions had been issued for this officer to be immediately released and sent home for demobilisation?

I was not aware of it until my hon. Friend mentioned it. It is possible that there may be difficulties-in releasing a particular doctor from a particular unit because of the health of the troops in the neighbourhood. As I said, I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I have the information.

Would it not be better if Members of Parliament were not sent categorical letters of this kind informing them that their applications had been acceded to without qualification?

That as so. I regret it; but we are doing our best, and I will look into this matter and see if there is any special ground of complaint.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all Regulations in regard to the release of Derby men will be made to apply equally to men whom the records show have presented themselves for attestation but were rejected on medical grounds, and were afterwards called up?

I hope to make a statement on this subject at an early date.