asked the Secretary of State for War upon what basis release is given to members of the Non-Combatant Corps; and whether such will be released, similar to date of joining up, as those of the fighting forces?

Age and length of service arc the main considerations governing demobilisation. With regard to the latter part of the question, the demobilisation Regulations at present in force apply equally to all men, whether combatant or otherwise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private H. Jones, No. 39624, 1/4th Northants, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Egypt, attested in June, 1916; that no leave has been given him for twenty-three months; and that he has been transferred to another regiment without his consent; and when may his release be expected?

I am afraid I can add nothing to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on Tuesday last, except that, owing to the present unrest in Egypt, a definite date cannot be given when. Private Jones will be sent home.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state how many quartermasters are attached to the Royal Army Medical Corps in Egypt who have been overseas four and a-half years without leave to the United Kingdom, how. many of them had their wives and families with them; whether any of these quartermasters have had more than one leave to the United Kingdom within the period referred to; in what proportion they are being given leave at the present time in the Army of Occupation and Regulars; whether there any quartermasters attached to the Regulars who have not left England during the War; and, if so, whether it is proposed to send any of them to Egypt to relieve the temporary men?

Inquiries are being; made regarding the first tour parts of the question, and my hon. and gallant Friend will be informed of the results as soon as possible. As regards the last two parts of the question, there are a certain number of quartermasters who have not left England during the War, but the majority of them are unfit for service abroad. All the temporary quartermasters in Egypt, will be relieved as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there are a largo number of competent officers holding temporary commissions who have served abroad during the War who are anxious to obtain subalterns' commissions in the Regular Army; and, if so, will he see his way to limit the number of commissions granted from Sandhurst and Woolwich until such officers have been absorbed?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the statement made to-day in reply to an oral question by my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that members of C Battery, Royal Field Artillery, 113th Brigade, now in Germany, have been informed that the brigade, or portions of the brigade, are to be sent to Russia; and whether members of this brigade will only be sent to Russia of their free will and choice?

I am unaware of any such information as is suggested by the hon. and gallant Member having been given to members of "C" Battery, 113th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. There is no intention of sending this or any other unit to Russia, and the last portion of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total number of British casualties in Russia since the commencement of the campaign, differentiating between killed, wounded, and missing?

The figures, including all Russian theatres and comprising men of the Regular and Territorial Forces, Canadians and Royal Marine Light Infantry, are as follows:

	Killed (including deatus from wounds)	Wounded.	Missing (including prisoners).
Officers	33	50	19
Other ranks	168	455	171

The above figures do not include the Caucasus, where the casualties of British troops of the Regular and Territorial Forces since the Armistice amount to:

	Killed	Missing.
officers	—	—
Other ranks	1	1

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to recent statements in the Press to the effect that, according to General Mannerheim and other leading Finns, inducements are being held out to the Republic of Finland by the Allies to intervene in the civil war in Russia; and, if any inducements have been held out to Finland, what these inducements are?

The answer to the first part of the question is that the statements are unfounded, as far as His Majesty's Government are concerned; the second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the French Government have, or did have, a representative in the Ukraine; whether there is a British representative in this important State which is friendly to His Majesty; if so, who is he; and, if not, whether it is intended to send a representative?

A representative of the French Government was accredited to the Ukranian Government in 1917, but there has been no French representative since 9th February, 1918, when the Ukraine signed a separate peace with Germany. With regard to the second part of the question, there is no British representative attached to the Ukranian Government nor in existing circumstances do His Majesty's Government contemplate appointing one.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will inquire into the delays which occur in supplying relatives of deceased soldiers with photographs of their graves; if he is aware that in certain cases relatives have been endeavouring for nearly two years to obtain photographs from the Director-General of Graves Registration; and if he will take steps to ensure a more speedy compliance with requests for photographs?

Considerable delay in supplying some of the photographs of graves in the various theatres of war is unavoidable. During the War many of the applications received referred to graves so near the front line that photography was out of the question, and from March, 1918, to the date of the Armistice, the work had to be practically suspended; and again after the Armistice nearly all the existing staff of photographers had to be demobilised, and for some time difficulty was experienced in replacing them. The work is being carried out as quickly as circumstances permit, and the total number of photographs supplied up to date for all theatres of war is 137,877, of which 62,875 have been supplied since the Armistice. There are 31,632 requests still outstanding, and it is hoped that these will be completed during the next few months. If my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with particulars of any cases which have been outstanding for nearly two years, I will cause special inquiry to be made as to the reasons for the delay.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the 10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, is being sent to Crowborough Camp on its disembarkation from India; and, if so, why is it not being sent direct to its own headquarters, where it could be comfortably and suitably dealt with?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and it is regretted that after careful consideration, my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion in the second part cannot be entertained. It would involve additional expense and cause delay in demobilisation arrangements and it could not be adopted without giving rise to similar applications from other units. In the circumstances it has been decided that no exception can be made to the normal procedure laid down.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the gratuities due to the relatives of deceased soldiers who fell in 1917 are now being paid; and, if not, can he state the approximate dates they are now dealing with?

The gratuities due to the relatives of soldiers who died in 1917 are now being paid. The greater number of issues are in respect of those who died during the third quarter of 1917, but a start has been made with the cases of those who died in the fourth quarter.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, hiving regard to the amount of gratuity which is being paid under Article 497 of the Pay Warrant to officers who are Civil servants, he will re- consider his decision that the rank and file may not be paid the war gratuity on discharge?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am unable to trace any general decision to the effect stated. Perhaps my hon. Friend will indicate his point more precisely.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, despite the instructions contained in paragraph 5 of the Treasury Letter, 7,017/19, dated 5th March, 1919, the Postmaster-General is endeavouring to compel Civil servants who served in the Royal Enginers to refund the War gratuity which has been paid to them because they were not in receipt of full civil emoluments; whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction and unrest among the demobilised men who have been deprived of or who are being called upon to refund this war gratuity; and whether, having regard to the Standing Army practice in respect of over-payments of less than £50, he will issue instructions that the men who have received the gratuity, and who have in most cases spent it on civil clothing on demobilisation, are not to be pressed for repayment?

I Have been asked to reply to this question. No representations on this point have reached the War Office, the matter of the recovery being one with which the paymaster would in the first instance deal direct with the Post Office. If my hon. Friend has reason to think that the operation of the ordinary rules of the Service relating to over-payments is leading to hardship in any individual case, and will furnish me with full details, I will inquire into it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office how it is that acting paymasters in the Army Pay Department who served as civilians at Home have on demobilisation received gratuities, whereas acting paymasters, with commissioned rank, with expeditionary forces, and many of them demobilised over six months, have not received any gratuity whatever?

I think my hon. Friend is misinformed. No acting paymaster, civilian or commissioned, has so far received a gratuity.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any steps have been taken to carry out in the Indian Army a system of education somewhat similar to that inaugurated by the Imperial Conference convened at the War Office by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff for the British Army and the Dominion Forces?

A scheme for applying the Army Education System both to the British Garrison of India and to the Indian Army is at present under the consideration of the Government of India. A British Staff Officer with practical experience of the work has recently sailed for India.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will furnish returns showing the development of the imports of manufactured goods from Japan into India during the past five years?

The total value of the imports into India from Japan during each of he five years ending 31st March, 1918, of articles wholly or mainly manufactured excluding food, drink, tobacco and miscellaneous and unclassified articles, was as follows:

	£
1913–14	3,063,000
1914–15	2,745,000
1915–16	4,551,000
1916–17	8,208,000
1917–18	11,540,000

Complete figures for the year ending 31st March, 1919, are not yet available.

asked the parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what has been the gross expenditure of the Department between the 1st of April and the 1st of October last and the gross receipts between those dates distinguishing between the moneys due or receivable from other Government Departments and the moneys received from the public; and will he state the total amount which has been appropriated in aid of his Department and the total amount paid over to the Treasury between the above dates?

circulated the following statement:

PAYMENTS
(1st April, 1919 to 30th September, 1919.)
	£	£
Ministry of Munitions Vote	121,125,000
Trading Accounts—
Vote of Credit services outside the Ministry of Munitiens Vote	35,200,000
		156,325,000
RECEIPTS
(1st April, 1919 to 30th September, 1919.)
	£	£
Ministry of Munitions Vote—
Government departments	5,806,000
Allied Governments	17,115,000
Sales of surplus stores, etc.	22,845,000
Miscellaneous	2,336,000
		48,102,000
Trading accounts		86,292,000
		£134,394,000

Whilst £22,845,000, as shown above, has been received in cash on account of sales of surplus stores, the total sales (excluding trading accounts shown above) which have been effected in this financial year amount to £53,188,000, made up as follows:

	£
Cash Receipts	22,845,000
Trade debtors	6,213,000
Government debtors	5,37,000
Non-ferrous materials	9,636,000*
Sales transacted by other Government departments and repayable to the Ministry	9,122,000
	£53,188,000
*This figure presents sales of various non-ferrous materials, but excluces sales of others on behalf of the Board of Trade. An analysis of the total cash receipts has nut yet been completed.

The payments specified have been met from the receipts shown above, plus a sum of £40,000,000 gross advanced by the Treasury from the Civil Contingencies Fund, of which amount £10,000,000 was returned by the 30th September, 1919, and a further £15,000,000 has since been repaid.It is expected that a, considerable surplus balance will be available for handing over to the Treasury by the end of the. financial year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the Central Control (Liquor) Board has still the power to alter or revoke any Regulations previously made with regard to the consumption of liquor; if so, is it his intention to remove the restrictions compelling the public to purchase beer at licensed premises, thereby penalising the business of family-trade brewers; and can he say why these Regulations are maintained in force when the necessity of a state of war no longer exists?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; with regard to the rest of the question, I understand that there will be no change in the policy of the Board pending the establishment of the new Authority which it is proposed to create by legislation.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of the ex-Service man Channell, of 126, I field Road, West Brompton, who, with his wife and five children, has been ejected twice from their lodgings; if he is aware that the man, wife, and children have had to seek shelter in the workhouse; and whether he proposes to take any steps to remedy this and similar cases?

My attention has not been drawn to the case referred to by the hon. Member, and I have no information of the circumstances in which the tenant was ejected. Only the Court to whom application is made for an ejectment order is authorised to decide whether possession of the premises should be given or not. I have no power to intervene.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the position of clerk to the Crook Urban District Council, county Durham, became vacant in August last; whether seven ex-Service men applied for the post; whether of these one was a. certified auditor and chartered accountant, and the other a, solicitor's clerk of twelve years' standing, and studying to become a solicitor; whether the only civilian who applied for the position. was appointed, having failed to join, the Service during the late War, though of military age; whether this man already held and still holds the paid appointments of local food controller, and was till a few days ago local representative of the Ministry of Labour; and what steps he proposes to take to bring pressure to bear on this council to carry out the Government's policy of preference to ex-Service men?

I have been in communication with the council referred to, who made the appointment in question in the exercise of their discretion. I am informed by the council that eight applications, of which six were from ex-Service men, were received for the post, and that the successful candidate had had a long experience of the technical work requiring to be done. The council also state that all the other applicants have found employment in their pre-war occupations. While I have no power to give or withhold sanction to this and similar appointments, I have recently, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, issued to local authorities a circular, of which I will send the hon. and gallant Member a copy, urging that in filling vacancies on their staffs authorities should do their utmost to give preference to competent disabled ex-Service men, and that employment should also be given wherever possible to ex-Service men who are not disabled.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is his intention to use the many Army and Navy lorries still in possession of the Government for the transport of goods under the direct control of his Department in order to relieve the congested railways or whether he prefers to let such lorries out by contract to big firms; and, in the latter event, if he will give the terms of such contract?

The hon. Member is no doubt aware of the emergency measure under which Government-owned motor lorries have been placed at the disposal of local committees of certain ports for the purpose of relieving congestion at those ports and on the railways. Under this arrangement haulage contractors may obtain the use of Government lorries on hire, subject to the approval of the local committees. The rates of hire vary in different localities, but will generally conform to the rates of hire prevailing in each district. Except under this arrangement, it is not the intention of the Ministry of Transport to let out Government-owned lorries to haulage contractors. Surplus Government lorries can be purchased from the Disposal Board. The lorries referred to are additional to the large number previously hired to the railway companies by the Ministry of Munitions, which are still at work.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can state what delivery of new railway trucks has been made each month to the railways since November, 1918; what steps have been taken to expedite deliveries; and how many wagons are on order?

The Minister is taking steps to obtain information on the points raised by the hon. Member, but the returns, which necessarily take some time to collect, are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the dissatisfaction created by the inability of people whose ranges and stoves have been fitted for the consumption of anthracite coal to obtain anthracite; and whether, seeing that inability is caused by the sale of anthracite for export at double the price obtainable under the control in the home market, he will take steps in the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the latter part of the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the Torquay Division of Devonshire yesterday (Colonel Burn), in which it was explained that the difficulty is one of transport, and that the Ministry of Transport have the matter in hand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Barrow Paper Mills Company have temporarily had to discharge a large number of workpeople owing to their inability to obtain an adequate quantity of coal, with a consequent increase in the number of unemployed in Barrow-in-Furness: and whether he will consider the claims of home industries before sanctioning the export of coal to foreign countries?

I understand that the firm made an application to the Coal Controller on the 18th October for a large additional supply of fuel to meet their increased requirements, and that certain fuel was offered to them, but that the difficulty is that they demand washed nuts. The supply of this type of fuel from the districts concerned is very limited, and none is being exported, but the matter is being further investigated with a view to supplying the firm with coal that will meet their requirements.

asked (1) the Prime Minister whether he has received a petition from the representatives of the whole of the local authorities in the Isle of Wight in reference to the price of coal; whether he is aware that it is proposed that all coal should new be sent to the island by sea and that the price will be advanced to 75s. per ton; and whether nothing can be done in the matter;(2) the President of the Board of Trade whether the Coal Controller in November, 1917, in reply to a petition from the Isle of Wight, promised to make definite arrangements to send 1,200 tons per week of rail-borne coal to the island, and that the price was to be £2 12s. 6d. per ton; whether he is now insisting upon sending such coal by sea, thus raising the price to £3 15s.; whether the cost of cartage by sea has risen from 4s. in pre-war days to £1 4s. 6d. at the present time; and whether he can take any steps to alleviate this position?

The petition to which the hon. Member refers has been received. It has been necessary, owing to difficulties in regard to the supply and transport of coal from the Midlands, to arrange that coal supplies for the Isle of Wight shall again be transported by sea, as was the case prior to November, 1917, and it is understood that the price will be about 75s. per ton. I would point out, however, that 10s. of the difference between the two prices which the hon. Member quotes is due to increases which have been made in the pit price of all coal since November, 1917. The Shipping Controller is fully aware of the high freights which are now charged for coastwise transport, and has the matter under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the great increase in the price of soap since the Armistice and the fact that recent purchases of soap manufacturing companies have brought the manufacture of soap in this country almost entirely under one control, that of Messrs. Lever, Limited, he will appoint a Committee to inquire into the exercise of that control and report as to the desirability of the State taking any action towards the regulation of the price of this essential commodity?

A Sub-committee of the Central Committee has already been established under the Profiteering Act, and is at present engaged in investigating and inquiring into the manufacture of soap.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that illustrated postcards are coming into this country from Germany in sheets with the words "Printed in Germany" on the margin, and that the words "Printed in Germany" are being trimmed off before publication of the cards in this country;(2) whether any steps can be taken to secure that the country of origin should be marked on articles as sold, and not as imported?

I am aware of the facts referred to by the hon. Member, and my right hon. Friend has recently set up a Committee to consider the whole question of the marking of goods of foreign origin. I may add that before such a practice could be stopped legislation would be necessary.

asked the President of the Hoard of Trade whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the National Produce Traders' League urging that, now Peace has been signed, all existing embargoes on imports should be removed and the trades connected therewith be conducted with the same freedom as before the War; and, if so, what does he propose to do in the matter?

Yes, Sir; I have received a copy of the resolution referred to, but I cannot add anything to the statements already made in this House as regards the trade policy "of His Majesty's Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports of the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1919, and in each of the months of July, August, and September, of broad stuffs, wholly of silk, distinguishing exports of produce of the United Kingdom and exports of foreign and Colonial produce, to France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Roumania, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, China, Japan, the United States of America, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Union of South Africa, respectively?

The following statement shows the value of the registered exports of broad stuffs, wholly of silk, from the United Kingdom, in the first six months of 1919, and in each of the months of July, August, and September, 1919, distinguishing exports of produce of the United Kingdom and exports of foreign and Colonial produce to the undermentioned countries:

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the telephone line already constructed between Long Sutton and the aerodrome at Tydd St. Mary comes within 300 yards of the telegraph line connecting Tydd Gate and Sutton St. James; and will he take this proximity into consideration and provide the important agricultural and fruit-growing centre, Sutton St. James, with telephone facilities?

A portion of the aerodrome circuit has already been utilised to afford a much-needed improvement of the telephone service in the neighbour-hood, but I am making inquiry as to whether anything can be done for Sutton St. James, and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a number of ex-Service men who are endeavouring to start or restart business have been refused telephone installations by the Post Office on the ground of lack of plant or congestion of exchanges; and whether, in view of the fact that it is almost impossible to carry on a business in these days without a telephone, he will state what steps he proposes to take to remedy this hardship, and to reform the telephone Department of the Post Office?

The provision of telephone installations is not refused in any case in which plant is available, and more exchange telephones have been provided during the present year than during any previous period of equal length. The suspension of construction work during the War has created a serious shortage of plant in certain areas which it will require a considerable time to make good. Exchange accommodation and new underground lines are being provided as rapidly as contracts can be completed, and special efforts are being made to meet the requirements of ex-Service men who are starting in business.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if Herr Ludwig Becker, the German professor of astronomy at Glasgow University, has been absent from his duties for four years; if he is still in receipt of his full salary from the public funds; and whether it is at present possible for students of Glasgow University to obtain instruction in astronomy?

Professor Becker has been absent from his duties since March, 1916, but arrangements were made and are still in force whereby the university lecturer in astronomy and a temporary lecturer provide instruction for students. I understand that Professor Becker has been in receipt of his full salary since his departure from the Observatory. The question of the professor's position is at present the subject of correspondence with the university authorities.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Parliamentary Grant which has been made to the Scottish universities this year was made without knowledge of the specific purposes to which it would be applied; whether it was made plain to the universities that the Grant for this year was entirely of an emergency character, and that it ought not to be applied to permanently recurring objects of expenditure without the sanction of the Secretary for Scotland; and whether he proposes to renew the Grant next year for these recurring items of expenditure?

The universities were informed that there was no desire to lay down precisely the way in which the increased Grants were to be spent. But before the Grants were made each university submitted a statement of its most immediate and pressing needs, which were found to relate chiefly to the urgency of increased payments to the members of the teaching staffs in view of the present higher cost of living. The Grants were intended to assist the university in meeting these needs. The universities wore further informed that the Advisory Committee in making their recommendations had been careful to keep in view the emergency character of the Grants in question, and that the Grants were, therefore, to be understood as implying no approval of new scales of salary. Grants for the next financial year will be made on the recommendation of the University Grants Committee which has recently been appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.