asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, how many of the men students of Marlborough Training College were examined in July, 1919; how many failed at the examination; how many new students were admitted in September, 1919; and of these how many had passed the King's scholarship examination in the first division, how many in the second division, how many in the third division, and how many had passed in no division?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that 42 men (King's Scholars), 25 second year, and 17 first year of the Marlborough Street Training College were examined in July, 1919: 4 failed, 2 on the final year programme, and 2 on the first year programme. 19 students entered the Marlborough Street Training College in September, 1919, for the commencement of their course, 3 of these had passed in the first division at the King's Scholarship examination, 5 in the second division, and 8 in the third division, 2 were ex-intermediate students who qualified for admission under Rule 165 (a) 3 of the Code, while the remaining student was one of a number of candidates for admission to the Marlborough Street and other men's colleges who had at first failed by a small margin but were subsequently declared eligible for training in consequence of the abnormal conditions of the preceding year due to illness and epidemics.

asked the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the public of Dublin and its suburbs are extremely inconvenienced by the withdrawal of a night collection of letters; and will he give an assurance that the present proposals are tentative only, and are open to revision if he is satisfied that they do not meet with the reasonable requirements of the public?

The last collection of letters in Dublin has been fixed at about 9 p.m. in order to give the staff more convenient hours of attendance. The last collection in Dublin is not earlier than in Manchester, Liverpool and other large cities in England, and is, in my opinion, sufficiently late to meet the reasonable requirements of the public. But if there is any evidence to the contrary my right hon. Friend will be prepared to consider it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will cause inquiry to be made with a view to improve the postal service in the West of Ireland, which is at present in a very backward condition?

The postal service in the West of Ireland is administered in the same manner, and is subject to the same standards, as in the rest of the United Kingdom, except that it benefits by the somewhat more generous treatment accorded to remote and sparsely inhabited districts. If the hon. and gallant Member will communicate with me as regards any specific places which he has in mind, I shall be happy to cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what is the number of the Army of Occupation at present in Ireland, and the approximate cost per week?

The number of troops at present employed in Ireland is 41,000, and their weekly cost, on the basis shown on page 9 of Army Estimates, 1919–20, is £186,000. The number of troops normally employed in Ireland before the War was approximately 25,000.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it is his intention to remove from the Education Bill those clauses which have aroused the strongest opposition; and, if he intends to proceed with the measure in its present form, can he state whether it will be postponed till the House has disposed of the Home Rule proposals?

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the introduction of the Bill. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many men who are telegraphists in civil life are still being retained with the 18th divisional signal company in Mesopotamia; whether these men are compelled to handle civil work, with the result that the military machinery is being used to retain them for civilian purposes; and whether he will issue instructions that the whole of these men shall be demobilised as rapidly as possible;(2) whether men who enlisted for the period of the War are being compulsorily retained in Mesopotamia for the transmission of ordinary commercial telegraph traffic; whether he will state the number of men so employed and the date on which they attested; and whether, in view of the Government's decision that all soldiers employed on civilian work must be paid the civilian rate of pay, he will issue instructions that all Post Office telegraphists compulsorily retained to handle commercial traffic between London and the East shall be paid the rate of pay proper to civilian wireless operators in the employment of private companies?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Sapper Walter Williams, No. 127,997, of the 2nd Wireless Signal Squadron at Baghdad, who attested on the 10th December, 1915, is still being retained with the military forces in Mesopotamia; whether he is being employed on civilian work; and whether he will issue instructions that no man shall be retained in Mesopotamia under the Army authorities for the purpose of dealing with civilian work?

I would refer the hon. Members to my written reply on this subject on the 17th November last. I have, however, telegraphed for a further report on the matter generally, and also with regard to the particular case referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Corporal H. W. Hider, M.M., No. 198,120, of the Royal Engineers Wireless Signals, served in the pre-war Army from the 17th August, 1897, until he was transferred to the Army Reserve on the 11th February, 1905; that he re-enlisted into Section D Army Reserve on the 28th January, 1910, and was discharged on 28th January, 1914; that on the outbreak of war he was allowed to join the Post Office Rifles, with which unit he served two years, at the expiration of which he was transferred to the Royal Engineers (Signals) on the 15th September, 1916; and that Corporal Hider is being regarded as ineligible for the war gratuity for the whole of this service; and whether, having regard to Corporal Hider's re-enlistment at a time of need and to the service which he rendered, the Secretary of State for War will reconsider his decision not to pay him a war gratuity on discharge?

I am having enquiry made into this case, and will let the hon. Member know the result in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that Sapper N. Carr, No. 36,179, of the 14th Divisional Royal Engineers (Signals) had served eight years with the colours and four with the reserve prior to the outbreak of war; that his application for re-engagement in section D was met with the statement that the section was full up; that Sapper Carr re-enlisted in the Cameronians in September, 1914, but on the grounds of health was transferred to the Royal Engineers (Signals) and served in France as an operator from August, 1915, until demobilisation in March, 1919; that Sapper Carr was never out of shell-fire except when in rest; and whether he will cause the decision not to pay a war gratuity to Sapper Carr to be reconsidered?

I am making enquiry into this case and will acquaint the hon. Member of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Thomas Caddis, late private 11th Royal Scots; whether he is aware that this man, owing to a breakdown in health aggravated by military service, is unable to resume his calling as a miner and is precluded from employment because of the form of his discharge certificate; whether payment of his war gratuity is refused; and whether any steps can be taken to mitigate the hardship to this man and his aged parents?

Enquiries are being made into this case, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the widow of an officer who died prior to the war as the result of disease contracted whilst taking part in military manœuvres is entitled to an increased pension; and, if not, whether he can see his way to raise the scale of pensions to widows of officers who died previous to August, 1914, whilst on the active list, but whose death was not attributable to actual war service, to enable them to meet the higher cost of living?

The answer to both parts of the hon. Member's question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether masseuses of the military massage service are entitled to receive gratuities on the termination of war service; and, if not, why there should be any differentiation between them and other nursing sisters?

This subject was dealt with on more than one occasion last session. I can only confirm the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil by my predecessor on the 24th November, which was as follows:—War gratuities, broadly speaking, are given to commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers, and are not given to the very large numbers of civilians, men and women, who in various ways worked for the Army during the war. An exception to this rule was made in the case of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service and other staff performing similar duties, for special reasons and in accordance with precedent; but after very full consideration I am not prepared to extend this exception.

asked the Minister of Pensions, whether, in regard to war pensions committees, medical men can be paid for services rendered in connection with appeal cases?

Under the new procedure detailed in Circular 201, which was addressed to local war pensions committees on the 23rd December, the services of Medical Referees are no longer required in con- nection with the forwarding of appeals to the Pensions Appeal Tribunals. The question of payment, therefore, does not now arise.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that considerable hardship is caused to applicants to the Military Service Civil Liabilities Department for resettlement grants by reason of the delay in dealing with such applications; and whether he will arrange for more power to be given to local war pensions committees by delegating to them the making of grants up to a fixed amount in urgent cases?

It is the fact that, owing to heavy pressure and insufficient staff, the work of the Civil Liabilities Department fell into arrears during the middle and latter months of last year. I am glad to say that these arrears have now been, to a large extent, overtaken, and there is, therefore, no reason for adopting the suggestion made by the hon. and gallant Member on the ground of "removing delays."

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is any regulation under which applications for resettlement grants from the Military Service Civil Liabilities Department over twelve months from a man's discharge, and subsequent to the 30th September, 1919, are refused; and, if so, whether he will consider the modification of such regulation, in view of the fact that many pensioners receive treatment for the period of twelve months or more, while others receive training for twelve months after discharge, and such cases do not apply for grants until the expiration of such treatment or training?

The possibility of an extension of time for application in respect of disabled men has been engaging my serious attention for some time past. I have now been able to arrange with the Treasury for an extension upon the following terms:—(1) In the case of disabled men who have had to undergo medical treatment since demobilisation, the time limit for application has been extended as follows:—

asked the Minister of Pensions why the application made on behalf of Sapper Herbert Fernay, No. 33,002, 56th field company, Royal Engineers, by the Pensions Committee, Wigan, for a grant to enable him to commence business has been so long delayed, seeing that he lost a leg during the war, which precluded him from following his own employment as a carpenter, and has learned boot and shoe repairing, and was given permission by the Secretary of the Pensions Committee to order the necessary materials to commence business as the grant would come through in a few days; and that this was about nine months ago, but no grant has been received by him, and the people from whom he purchased the goods are now pressing for payment?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The cause of delay in this ease has been due to the fact that in general it is not possible, under the rules approved by the Treasury, to assist applicants out of the Civil Liabilities Fund, who have already received training at the public expense. Certain special exceptions have been recently approved and in accordance with that decision a grant of £25 has been made to Mr. Fernay, and notification to that effect was sent to the Wigan War Pensions Committee on the 6th instant. Payment will take place upon their reporting that Mr. Fernay has the premises in which to carry on business as a shoe repairer.

asked the Minister of Labour, whether his attention has been called to the extreme hardship involved owing to the Civil Liabilities Commissioners having refused applications by ex-soldiers on the ground that they were received more than 12 months after the date of discharge from the Army; and whether he is prepared to advise the modification or withdrawal of the regulation under which the Commissioners have so acted?

asked the Minister of Labour, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that under Treasury regulations applicants for grants from the Civil Liabilities Department are required to make application within a year of the date of demobilisation; whether he is aware that this requirement has operated hardly in the case of men undergoing hospital treatment, who are consequently not in a fit condition to make application; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The possibility of an extension of time for application in respect of disabled men has been engaging my serious attention for some time past. I have now been able to arrange with the Treasury for an extension upon terms which I am circulating with the Official Report in reply to an unstarred question by the hon. and gallant Member for the Northern Division of Norfolk.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, with regard to his statement in the House of Commons on 31st July, 1919, re widows' and dependants' pensions, if the cause of delay in respect of the payment of these has now been removed; and if his attention has been called to cases of hardship still existing owing to non-payment to parents of deceased soldiers?

There has been considerable improvement since last July in the state of the work in the Widows' and Dependants' Branch of the Ministry, and this improvement is being maintained. Delays in the award and payment of parents' pensions still occur, but I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the great majority of these cases can only be settled after local inquiries, and the collection of evidence of dependence or means, which is often difficult to obtain.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the determination of the rate of pay set out in the Army Order of the 13th September, 1919, in which a brevet major is given 2s. a day in addition to captain's pay, whereas no additional pay is given to a major holding lieutenant-colonel's rank by brevet, due consideration was given to the fact that brevet ranks are usually given as a reward, and should primâ facie be treated on the same footing as regards pay?

The rank of brevet major was the only brevet rank which carried extra pay under the Royal Warrant prior to the issue of Army Order 324 of 1919, and after due consideration this principle was continued in that Army Order

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that Sapper A. C. Hussey, No. 27,059, L signal battalion, Royal Engineers, St. Omer detachment, was demobilised on 25th March, 1919, when he was due to have 59 days' leave; that the other men in this unit received a retention bonus from the 1st February, 1919, whereas Sapper Hussey was granted a bonus from the 1st May; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made into his case.

Bonus was only issuable from 1st February, 1919, in the case of officers and men who were defi- nitey selected for retention in the Armies of Occupation or the Military Machinery of Demobilisation. All others received the bonus from 1st May, 1919. As Sapper Hussey was not definitely retained for such further service, he was eligible for bonus from 1st May only.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether troops who served in the North Russia Expeditionary force between September, 1918, and July, 1919, are entitled to one month's furlough in addition to 28 days' furlough on demobilisation?

The instructions at present in force provide that all officers other than Staff Officers, who have at any time served in North Russia (Archangel and Murmansk), East Russia (Siberia) and South Russia (except units under command of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, the Army of the Black Sea) are entitled to 28 days' leave on final return to the United Kingdom. All soldiers who have at any time served in the above theatres are entitled to 61 days' furlough on return to the United Kingdom. This furlough of 61 days is to be inclusive of the ordinary 28 days' demobilisation furlough, but where soldiers have already had 28 days' demobilisation furlough, or a portion of it, before proceeding to any of the theatres mentioned above, they will still be entitled to the full 61 days' furlough on final return to the United Kingdom from Russia. These conditions are applicable to all officers and other ranks irrespective of the nature of commissions or terms of service and are restrospeetive.

asked the Secretary of State for War, if it is proposed to re-equip the Guards Regiments in pre-war dress; and, if so, what is the estimated expenditure, and for what reason is this being carried out?

A proposal to re-clothe the Brigade of Guards in pre-war full dress, subject to certain slight modifications recommended by the recent Committee on Dress and Uniform, is at present under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a start has been made in the distribution of prize money from the War: and what is the amount of the pool to be distributed?

So far as the Admiralty is concerned, the individual records of service qualifying for Prize Money have been prepared with all possible expedition, and will be fully completed in order to permit of a distribution commencing early in the spring, as stated by the. First Lord on December 17th. The collection of the proceeds from the various Courts is, however, dependent on the progress of the Court accounts, and it is anticipated shortly to obtain large advances on account in respect of proceeds accruing to the Prize Fund in order to commence distribution as stated. The final figure of the pool cannot at present be estimated.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that when men employed by the Admiralty, and who come under the Government scheme of compensation, are injured and are granted hurt pay, there is a practice in vogue in these cases of waiting for several months before the case is submitted to a higher authority so as to ascertain what further benefit the man is to receive under the Government scheme; whether he is aware that these men are left entirely without the means of sustenance from the date of submission of the case to decision, which in most cases amounts to several months, whether his attention has been drawn to the specific cases of Benjamin George Sharp, 2, Ruskin Road, Hove, employed at the Admiralty works, Southwick injured on the 28th April last: Edward James Reeves, 34, Stoneham Road, Hove, employed at the Admiralty works, South-wick, injured on 30th March, 1919; John Routhan, 46, Islingword Place, Brighton, employed at the Admiralty work South-wick, injured on 23rd May last; and John Thomas Goldie, who was injured on 3rd August last, whilst at work in the Naval Ordnance depot, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich; and what steps he proposes to take in view of the fact that, whilst waiting for the decision of the Admiralty, these men are faced with the prospect of seeking shelter in the workhouse.

I am aware that under present arrangements there is some interval between the cessation of hurt pay and the award of compensation, and steps are at present under consideration by the Treasury with a view to removing all cause for complaint. In the cases specifically mentioned by my hon Friend I may inform him that an interim allowance was issued pending the award of compensation by the Treasury, except in the case of J. T. Goldie, whose claim required further investigation.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that warrant officers, second class, Royal Marines, are not permitted to join either the Reserve of Officers or the Royal Fleet Reserve; whether he is aware that a Royal Marine on being discharged to pension and joining the Royal Fleet Reserve is entitled to an increase, on reaching the age of 50, of 5d. per diem, but that if he does not join the Royal Fleet Reserve he does not receive this increase until he is 55 years of age; whether he is aware that a warrant officer, second class, is not allowed to join the Royal Fleet Reserve, and is therefore unable to get the increase of pension of 5d. per day until he reaches the age of 55; and if he will see his way to bring about a change in the regulation which has the effect of penalising them financially?

The answers to my hon. and gallant Friend's questions are in the affirmative. I am advised that it is not proposed to change the existing Regulations. As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, it is not intended to promote any more Warrant Officers, Class IL, the rank being allowed to die out as vacancies occur.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether ho is aware that a man serving in the Royal Navy under an engagement which terminated after 31st December, 1919, is held not to be entitled on demobilisation to 28 days' leave with rations and allowances, whereas a man who was discharged prior to 31st December, 1919, is entitled to such leave and rations and allowances, and whether he will take steps to remove this difference of treatment.

Active service ratings discharged subsequent to 31st December, 1919, owing to expiration of engagement, will receive twenty-eight days' leave with pay and allowances on discharge. Such men are entitled to this benefit up to the official date of the termination of the war period. The misunderstanding on the point arises out of a misreading of Admiralty Orders, and a further Order will shortly be issued with a view to making the matter clear.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the award of the Transport Medal for service in merchant ships engaged in the last South African War was limited to the master, the three senior officers, two senior engineers, and the chief steward, although a large part of the work in connection with the carriage of troops was done by the junior officers; and whether, out of regard for these services and of the services of the Mercantile Marine during the late war, he will consider the desirability of the South African Transport Medal being granted to all the officers who served in those British merchant ships which took an active part in connection with the war in South Africa?

The Sea Transport Medal, instituted in 1903, was awarded for service on board chartered troop transports in connection with the South African War and the China Expedition. Its issue was not quite as limited as my hon. and learned Friend indicates, though nearly so. It is not proposed at this date to extend eligibility as suggested by my hon. and learned Friend. Perhaps I might add, as regards the late war, that, in view of the fact that the Mercantile Marine, including the Transport Service, is eligible both for the British War Medal and the special Mercantile Marine War Medal in respect of services during the late war, the Sea Transport Medal is not being awarded.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been drawn to the case of an assistant foreman, named A. K. Heb-ditch, who was summarily dismissed from No. 1 stores depot, Kidbrook, for alleged inefficiency; whether he is aware that this assistant foreman had to visit another group in the course of his duties and during his absence the men under him were found preparing to leave their work five minutes before time, and that the assistant foreman explained that his absence was unavoidable and the action of the men was in no way authorised by him; and whether he will have inquiries made into this case with a view to the reinstatement of the assistant foreman or, alternatively, the payment to him of wages for 14 days or a month in lieu of notice?

I have caused enquiries to be made into this case, and am satisfied that Hebditch was rightly dismissed on account of slackness in the discharge of his duties after previous warning had been given him. I am therefore unable to authorise his reinstatement, but have given instructions that he is to be paid the week's wages in lieu of notice, to which he was entitled in view of the grounds on which he was dismissed.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the average increase in the cost of living in India to-day as compared with pre-war conditions; and will ho give a comparative statement of the increased wages amongst railway employees in India and railway employees in this country?

Statistics of the cost of living in India are not available, but the average increase since 1914 in the prices of the principal articles of food in Calcutta at the end of November, 1919, was 50 to 60 per cent. I have no particulars of the most recent increase in the salaries of Indian railway employees, but I am asking the Government by telegram to supply them.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that officials who have held high and responsible positions in Indian Government Departments and have retired on a pension have accepted the directorship or position of management of foreign commercial companies in India; whether he is aware that such a course tends indirectly towards the preferential treatment of such companies by the Government of India; and whether his attention has been drawn to the Report on the Conditions and Prospects of British Trade in India at the close of the War, page 13, sub-paragraph (b)?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part of the question does not, therefore, arise. I have seen the Report referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether miners are entitled to a 7s. advance in wages on account of the increase of the average selling price of coal, which has been stated to be 52s. 6d.; and, if so, when may the miners expect to receive such an advance.

I am not aware of any arrangement operative at present in the coal mining industry by which miners' wages automatically vary with variations in the average selling price of coal.

asked the Minister of Pensions, whether he is aware that there is considerable delay in making provision for the industrial training for disabled sailors and soldiers; and whether arrangements can be promptly made to expedite this most necessary undertaking.

I have been asked to reply to this Question. Arrangements have recently been made to expedite the provision of training facilities for disabled ex-service men and the number of men in training is steadily increasing at the present time.

asked the Postmaster General, whether the branch secretary of the Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association, now the Union of Post Office Workers, recently made an application to the local authorities for a copy of the acting list; whether this application was refused; and, if so, for what reason?

If the hon. Member will give me the name of the office to which the question refers I will have enquiry made.

asked the Postmaster General upon what grounds he has decided not to recognise the Head Postmen's Association (Provincial); and whether there is any hope of his reconsidering this question?

The members of the Head Postmen's Association (Provincial) are postmen with allowances for supervision, and are eligible for membership of the Union of Post Office Workers. It would be contrary to practice to recognise a separate Association in such circumstances. I see no ground for modifying the decision.

asked the Postmaster General whether he will consider the expediency of giving members of the National Association of Temporary Postal Employees the status of permanent unestablished staff?

Members of the temporary staff are necessarily on a temporary footing, and cannot be granted the status of permanent unestablished staff.

asked the Postmaster General whether it has recently been decided at Exeter that war bonus is part of wages for a day of leave; whether, in the case of the special sections, full civil pay was held not to include war bonus; and whether he will have these decisions reviewed with the object of bringing them into line;

It is the fact that war bonus is paid during periods of leave to officers normally entitled to it. This does not appear to me to have any bearing on the case of the men of the special sections, to whom no war bonus has ever been awarded.

asked the Postmaster General whether the acting list on the telegraph side at Bristol contains seven names whose respective positions on the staff seniority list are 20, 25, 27, 30, 32, 36, 53; and what technical and practical qualifications are possessed by these men to warrant their selection over their fully qualified seniors?

I will make enquiry into the matter referred to in the hon. Member's question, and communicate further with him on the subject.

asked the Post master General whether he is aware that dissatisfaction still continues in Cardiff at the telephone service which is being given; whether this service is largely due to the overloading of operators in the Cardiff trunk exchange; whether he is aware that on the 15th January an operator was compelled to work from 9.30 a.m. until 8 p.m. and could only get a ten minutes' grace relief after difficulty; whether he is aware that operators on clerical duties are being compelled to perform overtime, with the result that they are working in some cases from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.; that on the 27th January one operator was compelled to work eight Swansea lines from 2.30 until 5 p.m., with 20 minutes delay; that on the 28th January seven Bristol trunk lines, four Bristol local lines, three Gloucester lines, and three Evesham lines were worked by one operator from 1.35 to 2.15 p.m.; that after 6 p.m. all local lines are concentratd in the local exchange under the charge of three operators, who are called upon to work nine and ten lines, respectively, and that learners in the telephone school have been put on positions in the local exchange with only two or three weeks' training; and whether, having regard to the effects which this overloading is having upon the health of the staff, as well as upon the efficiency of the service, he will do everything possible to expedite his promised inquiry and to secure an improvement in the local working.

I am making enquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether there are many vacancies for postmen in the Manchester district; whether, under the regulations, 50 per cent. of such vacancies should be given to ex-soldiers; whether the local Post Office authorities are retaining temporary postwomen as an alternative to filling the vacancies by the appointment of ex-soldiers; and whether he will cause immediate inquiries to be made and expedite the appointments as much as possible?

I am having enquiry made and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether five additional supervising appointments are likely to be made in the Bristol telegraph office at an early date; and whether, having regard to the importance of removing any ground for allegations of favouritism, he will instruct the Bristol authorities to take very special care in the examination of the technical and practical qualifications of the whole of the senior men on the telegraph side at that office?

Five additional supervising appointments have been authorised in the Bristol telegraph office. The qualifications of all officers eligible for promotion are invariably considered with great care before a selection is made, and

asked the Minister of Transport what notice or document authenticated by the seal and signature of the Minister of Transport is available to the public as evidence that the increases in the railway rates announced by the Clearing House to come into force on 15th January, 1920, have been authorised by him under Section 3 (1) (e) of The Ministry of Transport Act, 1919?

The railway companies of whose undertakings possession has been retained or taken were given the necessary statutory directions as to the increased rates to be charged on and from the 15th January. The Ministry of Transport Act docs not provide that these directions shall be available to the public, but for the general information of the hon. Members of this House I will have a copy of one of such directions printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT as part of this answer.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received representations from rural district councils on the subject of their non-representation on the Roads Advisory Committee appointed under the Ministry of Transport Act; and if, in view of the fact that these councils administer nearly 100,000 miles of roads, he will give favourable consideration to those representations?

The Minister of Transport has received the representations mentioned, and proposes to accede to the request made on behalf of the rural district councils and to add one of their representatives to the Roads Advisory Committee. My right hon. Friend considers it essential, in order to secure the efficiency of the Advisory Committees appointed by him, that they should be small in number, and he does not wish his assent to the present request to be taken as establishing the precedent for exceeding the statutory minimum.

asked the Minister of Transport whether ho is aware of the serious national loss still occurring from the stoppage of industry in the North of England through the failure of the North-Eastern Railway Company to supply sufficient wagons; whether he can state in detail what steps His Majesty's Government have taken to remedy the shortage, and in particular what orders have been placed for new wagons and when delivery is expected; and what has been done to hasten the repairing of wagons and locomotives and their return from France?

I am aware of the position on the North-East Coast and am in constant communication with the North-Eastern

asked the Minister of Transport whether 13,000 railway trucks are being sold or have been sold to Belgium recently?

I have been asked to answer this question. So far as the Disposal Board is concerned, the number of wagons sold to Belgium is 5,662, and I these were all unsuitable for use on British railways. I understand that about 3,000 were previously sold to Belgium by the War Office.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the assault upon Miss Florence Nightingale Shore while travelling on an express train from London to Hastings, resulting in Miss Shore's death, what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, to prevent such criminal assaults upon women and children travelling alone and unprotected; whether, in the provision of new rolling stock for the railways, he will see that on each train a special carriage for women and children only, or at least one corridor carriage, for long journeys, is provided; and whether he will, until such provision is made, issue such instructions to all railway officials and employees as may be necessary to prevent the opportunities for assaults upon unprotected women and children passengers.

I am of opinion that the safety of women and children is best secured by the practice of allocating compartments on long distance trains for ladies only, a practice which was followed in the case of the train on which the deplorable outrage occurred to which my hon. Friend refers. I have already called the attention of the railway companies generally to the importance of taking steps to ensure that separate accommodation is provided, and that ladies travelling alone should, as far as possible, be made aware that it is available.

asked the Minister of Transport, if the committee set up to raise money for the upkeep of roads has considered the proposal to tax motor tyres, and, if such proposals have been rejected, whether he can state the reason?

I presume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the committee set up to advise and report on the taxation of vehicles This committee is considering the possibility of raising revenue from all sources including motor tyros, and will report in due course.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he is aware that Civil Service pensioners retired since 1st March, 1915, receive an increase of 40 per cent. on their pensions, whereas those of them why retired previous to March, 1915, receive no increase whatever, and whether he will give any reason for this discrimination?

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the arrangement under which War Bonus is allowed, under certain conditions and subject to certain limitations, to reckon for pension. The figure of 40 per cent. which he mentions is not a flat rate of increase, but represents the maximum extent to which War Bonus may be regarded as pensionable under the existing regulations. There is no legal power to grant an increase of pension to officers who retired before the 1st March, 1915, whilst not in receipt of War Bonus.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can give the approximate cost to the State of the education of a child of a disabled soldier or soldier's widow in the case where such child avails himself of all the means of education open to him, including board school and higher education?

I regret that I can give no figures which would not be misleading.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any protest against the recommendation of the Hatfield Board of Guardians to amalgamate the offices of the master of the institution and of the relieving officer, thereby terminating the appointment of one of the existing officers and putting the whole responsibility on the other; whether he is aware that both the present officers are ox-Service men; and what action has been taken in the matter?

I understand that the Guardians have decided, after a discussion with the General Inspector of the district, not to proceed with this proposal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the order of discharge from Woolwich Arsenal of labour surplus to requirements has yet been determined; whether the workers have been classified under a number of headings; what are those headings; in what order the classes are to be discharged; and how many men it is intended to discharge?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether, in discharging men from Woolwich Arsenal, ex-Service men are to be given preferential treatment over men who entered the Arsenal during the War without having served in the forces?

The answer to the first two parts of the Question put by the hon. Member for Wednesbury is: Yes, Sir. It has been decided that the order of discharge shall be as follows:—

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether any decision has yet been, come to regarding the future of the Royal Gunpowder Factory. Waltham Abbey; and whether, in order to relieve the anxiety of the employees of this factory and the community in the district, he can now make a definite statement on the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is yes, Sir. A portion of the factory will be retained as an annexe to the Enfield establishment and the remainder will, in due course, be announced for disposal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether any representations have been made by the Board of Agriculture to the Ministry of Public Health or to the London Housing Board, with the object of preventing the London County Council from acquiring the whole of the estate in the neighbourhood of Dagenham scheduled by that council for housing purposes.

Yes, Sir. The Ministry of Agriculture are in consultation with the Ministry of Health with a view to the reservation on or near the proposed Dagenham Housing Estate of an acreage for the settlement of ex-service men on the land at least equal to the acreage of the estate now occupied by the Essex County Council for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any Red Russian prisoners were captured by the British troops operating at Archangel; whether these prisoners were turned over to the White Russians; whether any stipulations regarding the treatment of these prisoners was made before they were transferred to the White Russian authorities; whether he is aware if any of these prisoners have since been executed; and if any representations have been made to the White Russian authorities concerning this matter.

The answer to the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question is in the affirmative. All prisoners taken by the British troops were handed over to the North Russian Government with the exception of one hundred who were brought to the United Kingdom as hostages. These form the subject of negotiations which are being carried out with a view to obtaining the release of British subjects in Russia. The answer to the remaining parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give a rough estimate of the outlay upon Dunstall Priory Camp, near Shoreham, Kent, including that on huts and buildings, drainage, installation, and roads; if he will state how long it was occupied and by how many troops; and what is the acreage that has been diverted from agricultural use by the maintenance of this camp since 1916.

Enquiries are being made, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as I have received the information asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any Turkish or German guns or ammunition still remain in the Turkish forts on the Dardanelles and the Gallipoli Peninsula; what amount of arms has recently fallen into the hands of the Turkish Nationalists; who was responsible for the safe custody of the arms stolen by the Turks; and what steps are being taken to get them back?

Guns still remain in the fortresses on the Dardanelles and Bosphorous Peninsulas, but these have been rendered useless by the removal of all breech blocksandessential mechanism, which are kept under Allied guard. The ammunition is also guarded. 8,500 rifles, 30 machine guns, and 500,000 rounds of small arms ammunition were removed from the dump at Akbash, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, by a band of armed Turks. A French guard was in charge. In conjunction with the French Air Force efforts were being made to cut off the convoy, but the result has not yet been reported.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a large number of Yeomanry regiments and other units of the Territorial Force, who were mobilised and who volunteered for foreign service immediately at the outbreak of the war, were sent to guard the East Coast of England and were not sent overseas until early in 1919 and are therefore not entitled to the 1914–15 star through no fault of their own, and have nothing to distinguish them from the conscripts; and if he proposes to give these Territorials some distinctive recognition for their invaluable service on the East Coast of England during the first 18 months of the war?

As announced in the Press this morning, His Majesty has been pleased to approve the issue of a special medal to all members of the Territorial Force who were serving on the 4th August, 1914, and to all ex-members of the Territorial Force who had served for a period of not less than four years prior to the War and who rejoined the Force on the outbreak of War, provided that in both cases they undertook to serve overseas on or before the 30th September, 1914, and were passed as physically fit and accepted for service overseas, and provided that they are not entitled to the award of the 1914 Star or the 1914–15 Star. The officers and men referred to in my hon. Friend's question will be eligible for the medal, provided they were passed as physically fit and actually accepted for service overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can see his way to reconsider his decision and let the mother of the late Lance-corporal H. E. Smith, No. 320,259, Royal Sussex Regiment, have her son's gratuity and effects, which have been refused to her on the grounds that as he died intestate his father is entitled to have them, seeing that his father is a Gorman, that he has in no way contributed towards his wife's support for over five years, and is now in Germany, where his address is unknown?

As the hon. Member was informed in December last, my Department has no power to dispose of the estate otherwise than as the law provides.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether any special responsibility rests upon the British, as distinguished from other Allies, for the relief of Armenian refugees; whether for any particular, and, if so, for what, reason such refugees came under British protection; if no such reason exists, why the camp at Bakouba is still maintained; and how long it will be so maintained at the cost of the British taxpayer?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply on this subject which I gave him on the 3rd December last. The question of the repatriation of these refugees has been receiving careful consideration and Inter-Allied negotiations on the matter are in progress.

asked the Minister of Labour, what is now the considered policy of the Government with respect to the payment of unemployment benefit to ex-service men, and especially if it is proposed to extend the period, when the need is urgent, in cases where the payment is about to expire?

The policy of the Government is represented by the Out-of-Work Donation Scheme under which ex-service men if unemployed are entitled to donation during the year following their personal demobilisation up to a number of weeks which may amount to a total of 46 in the case of disabled men and 39 in the case of non-disabled men; in addition a further nine weeks may be drawn during the period ending 31st March next. I am afraid that I cannot now give any undertaking to extend the grant of donation to ex-service men who have exhausted their right to donation before the 31st March next.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the hardship involved in the case of men who have been imprisoned for military offences, in that their discharge certificates are crossed in red type with a caution relating to men discharged from the Army with disgrace; whether this form of certificate renders it impossible for such men to obtain employment; whether such men are deprived of war gratuity and are left without means of subsistence; and whether he will consider sympathetically cases of special hardship brought to his notice?

In accordance with King's Regulations, paragraph 415, soldiers who are discharged in consequence of court-martial sentences are provided with a discharge certificate on Army Form B. 264. It is true that this discharge certificate contains a caution to the man against attempting to re-enlist by concealing the circumstances of his discharge. Men so discharged are not deprived of their war gratuity if they have already received it: but if they have not received it they are ineligible. As the cause of discharge is also shown on the certificate, the presence of this caution (to the man) does not affect its value.