asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a reenlisted pensioner non-commissioned officer of the Royal Marines who was given a temporary commission during the War is granted on demobilisation retired pay at £250 a year, with an addition of for each year served as a commissioned officer, whereas a re-enlisted pensioner non-commissioned officer of the Army, commissioned under the same circumstances, is permitted to draw on demobilisation his pre-war pension as a non-commissioned officer only, with no consideration either for years served or rank attained in the War, except that he is eligible for reassessment of his prewar pension under Army Order 325 of. 1919; will he state the reason for this difference of treatment; and whether he is prepared to take any steps to put an end to it?

In settling the new scales for Army and Navy, regard was paid to the general desirability of assimilation. As, however, the circumstances of the two Services differ so much, complete identity cannot be expected.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Military Service Act of April, 1918, imposed alike on all pensioners below the age of fifty-one, whether naval or military, the obligation to come forward and serve their country, he will state why military pensioners who were called up under that Act and were considered more useful in a semi-civilian capacity under the Government than in the ranks, being in consequence employed in Record Offices, Pay Offices, Recruiting Offices, and the like, have been denied the privilege of having their pensions re-assessed under Army Order 325 of 1919, although naval pensioners similarly employed have had their pensions re-assessed?

I can add nothing to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in reply to similar questions on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, with a view to relieve the uncertainty in which commissioned interpreters are placed owing to the delay in deciding the question of their gratuities, he can see his way to announce a decision before Christmas?

It is hoped to issue the necessary instructions before Christmas.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will explain why the members of the late military Massage Service have received no recognition of their work, and have been refused the gratuity granted to other war-workers, including the Voluntary Aid Detachment, who are also civilians?

I would refer my hen. Friend to the reply on 24th November to a question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for Yeovil.

asked the Pensions Minister whether there will be any vacancies open to women applicants in the regional office of the Scottish Pensions Department?

Vacancies in the Scottish Regional Headquarters, as in fact in all regional headquarters, are open to women who are war widows or dependants of deceased or disabled ex-Service men. As a general rule, other women will not be appointed to fill vacancies in the clerical staff

asked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been called to the case of a Brighton man only drawing 7s. 7d. a week, although he lost his leg owing to a gun explosion on one of His Majesty's ships, and to cases of totally disabled sailors and soldiers drawing only 17s. 6d. a week; and whether, in view of these facts, he will further consider the claims to increased pension of men injured in peace time during naval or military work?

I am aware of the facts stated. The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been called to the case of Private William Watson, No. 18726, 2nd Yorkshire Regiment, who enlisted on 22nd December, 1914, and was discharged on 8th February, 1915; and whether this man is entitled to a pension?

I regret that Mr. Watson is not entitled to a pension, the Pensions Appeal Tribunal having decided that his disability was not caused or aggravated by military service.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when the Government intend to introduce a Compensation for Subsidence Bill?

I am not at present in a position to state when the Bill will be introduced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the raising of the rate of interest on Savings Bank deposits from 2½ per cent. to 5 per cent.?

I am not prepared to adopt this suggestion for reasons which were indicated by me in a recent debate.

asked the Food Controller if he is going to bring in an order that cattle sent to market and not put in grade one are to be branded; and, if so, is he aware that this will be in full opposition to the ideas of the feeders of stock?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many conferences each of the officers appointed to command Territorial divisions have personally (that is to say otherwise than in writing) had with their Territorial Force Association or with the War Office?

These officers have been in constant touch with their respective Territorial Force Associations, and many of them have attended all the meetings. They have also been constantly in consultation with the War Office, both officially and semi-officially, since they were appointed. I regret it is not possible to give the exact number of conferences attended by each officer without special inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War what number of women belonging to the Women's Legion and Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps are at present serving in France and Bel- gium and with the British Army of Occupation on the Rhine; and how soon these women will be demobilised?

There are no members of the Women's Legion or Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps with the British Army of Occupation on the Rhine. As regards the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps in France, I would refer to my reply on Wednesday last to the hon. Member for Stratford. There are 350 members of the Women's Legion employed in France; these will be considerably reduced in January next, and the whole of them will be demobilised by the end of March

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the house named St. Catherine's, the property of two maiden ladies, in Lundin Links, Fife, was commandeered by the War Office, in February, 1915, on twenty-four hours' notice; whether an undertaking was given that not more than thirty-five men would be billeted there; that a promise was given that the house would be restored in good condition; that the house and furniture were totally destroyed by fire on 12th February, 1916; that ammunition was stored in this house; and that in an arbitration held in Chambers in Edinburgh it was decided that the insurance company were not liable, mainly owing to the fact that explosives had been stored in the house unknown to the insurance company; whether the Realm's Losses Commission decided in favour of the owner's claim to compensation and gave as their considered judgment that the military authorities were entirely responsible and liable for the loss; whether he is aware that the War Office still decline compensation; and will he now state what action he proposes to take?

The house was taken over under the Defence of the Realm Act in February, 1915. Nothing is known as to any undertaking hawing been given to limit the number of troops quartered in the premises, nor with respect to the restoration of the premises on vacation. The house, with some of the furniture, was destroyed by fire in February, 1916. Evidence was subsequently given before an arbitrator, to whom the question of the Insurance Company's liability under the policy was referred, that ammunition had been stored in the house, and the arbitrator held for that reason the policy had become invalid.The Defence of the Realm Losses Commission, to whom the matter had been referred by the Department, had previously expressed their opinion that the local military authorities were responsible for the fire. The owners' solicitors are understood to be about to apply to the Commission for their decision as to what amount should, in the circumstances, be awarded by way of compensation for the loss sustained.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department has yet settled the claim of St. Margaret's Hall Company, Limited, Dunfermline, against the War Office?

The local military authorities have now been authorised to make payment of the sum provisionally agreed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now give any information as to whether soldiers serving in the home units during the War are to receive any medal or other recognition of the services rendered?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply on the 9th December to a question on this subject asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Bradford East.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Shropshire Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion, is to be sent to Egypt at an early date on another tour of foreign service after sixteen years in India immediately before the War; and, if so, whether there is any foundation for considering this as a punishment for the trouble that took place at Fermoy?

The Second Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry, in con- junction with other battalions, is being sent to Egypt for temporary duty in that country. It is not being sent on a tour of foreign service, and will be brought home as soon as circumstances permit. Battalions for this duty were selected strictly in accordance with the foreign roster, those battalions with the longest term to serve at home being selected first for this temporary duty. There is no foundation whatsoever for considering this as a punishment for the trouble which took place in Fermoy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been directed to the pecuniary loss inflicted on British officers serving in Mesopotamia and in the Persian Gulf by their rate of pay being fixed at British rates instead of, as formerly, at Indian rates; and whether any compensation will be awarded?

With the exception of a small number of Staff officers, the pay of all British officers in Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf is fixed in rupees and not in sterling. Compensation is granted to Staff officers on account of the rise in the rupee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that officials in Nyasaland are being refused home leave; whether the term of their service is from twenty to thirty months and that some of the officials who are being refused leave have served over six years, with bad results to their health; and whether he will take immediate action to remedy this state of affairs?

The Governor of Nyasaland has drawn attention to this matter and is most anxious that the officials overdue for leave should be relieved as soon as possible. Owing to the War there are several vacancies on the establishment which are being filled up as quickly as possible, and the return to duty of those who have already been granted leave is being expedited as far as practicable. The number of cases in which the tour of service has exceeded six years is small, but there is no doubt that the tours of service have been unduly long. Pending the restoration of normal conditions I am confident that those whose health demands leave are not being kept in the Protectorate.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Private John Granger, 978, Garratt Lane, Tooting, late No. 642798, Labour Corps, who was discharged from the Army on account of tuberculosis contracted whilst serving, and was given an appointment under the Ministry of Health, after undergoing treatment in a sanatorium, has been dismissed because of the nature of his disability; whether he is aware that on discharge from the sanatorium Granger was certified non-infectious, and that medical evidence at the present time confirms this opinion; and whether he will have the man reinstated in his position?

I will have the case looked into, and will communicate with the hon. Member.