asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps have yet been taken to satisfy the claims of the Ruhleben prisoners who by their internment in Germany suffered personal and financial injury; and whether, in the event of the settlement of their claims being postponed as a result of the delays incidental to the fulfilment of the Peace Treaty, some interim and provisional grant can be immediately made to them?

My hon. and gallant friend is no doubt aware that under the Peace Treaty it is the British Government and not individual British citizens who have a claim for reparation from Germany. The claims to be made by His Majesty's Government upon the German Government for reparation are in process of preparation. By the terms of the Treaty it is the Reparation Commission which will decide upon the admissibility of the claims submitted by His Majesty's Government. Until this has been done, and payment has begun to be made by the German Government, there are no funds in the hands of His Majesty's Government out of which grants of the kind suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend could be made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a great number of very hard cases—men with perfectly strong claims, which, no doubt, will eventually be met; and could he not use his influence with a fund such as the Prince of Wales's Fund or the Civil Liabilities Fund in order to get some assistance given to these people?

I do not think it is for me to apply to the Prince of Wales's Fund, or any fund of that kind. My hon. and gallant Friend himself might submit, or cause to be submitted, the class of cases he has in mind.

Is my right hon. Friend aware really that some of these cases are very hard cases, and could he not make representations of some kind?

I have no personal knowledge of these cases. I think that the representations my hon. and gallant Friend has in view would be far better met by those who have gone into the cases, and can speak with some personal conviction and knowledge.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware that the Peace Treaty stipulated that duties on goods imported into Germany were to remain the same as hitherto in force for a period of six months after the ratification of Peace, and that on the strength of this assurance British manufacturers and merchants have sent large quantities of merchandise into the occupied territory, on some of which the duty on the old basis has been paid; whether he is aware of the fact that the Peace Commission has given permission to the German Government to charge duty on a gold basis on a large quantity of goods that arrived immediately prior to the ratification of Peace or shortly afterwards, and that this has in many instances so increased the cost of the goods as to make the sale of the same impossible; and whether, in view of the hardship thereby caused to British manufacturers and merchants, he will take steps to ensure that the new duty on a gold basis shall not affect any goods which were landed in Cologne before the 1st February?

The hon. Member's reference to the Treaty of Peace is, I think, somewhat misleading. Article 269 of that instrument provides that for six months after its coming into force, and for thirty-six months in the case of certain specified goods, the duties leviable shall not be higher than those applied to imports into Germany on 31st July, 1914, at which date, as the hon. Member will be aware, duties were payable on a gold basis. It was in view of this provision that the Supreme Council authorised the collection of duties on a gold basis from January 1st in the occupied territory. The question of the treatment to be accorded to goods in areas where hardships may have been involved is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many volunteer recruits have been obtained for His Majesty's Army since the armistice with Germany; how many of these have enlisted for more than 12 months' service; and how many soldiers who are not volunteers are still retained with the Colours?

I would ask the hon. and gallant Member to await the statement which my right hon. Friend will make on the Army Estimates on Thursday next.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether recruiting for the Territorial Army has commenced or not?

I am afraid I can only answer that by saying that a notice has appeared in the papers that the lists are open.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the question of furnishing each man on discharge or demobilisation with a copy of his Army medical history sheet, as the possession of this evidence would very materially assist men in establishing their statutory right to a pension?

Army medical history sheets are confidential, and it would be contrary to the practice of the War Office to furnish copies of them to the men concerned or to other individuals. Apart from this, the course suggested by the hon. and gallant Member would involve a great amount of additional clerical work and appears to be quite unnecessary. The medical history sheets of all soldiers invalided from the Army are sent to the Ministry of Pensions, and in cases where men, discharged in the ordinary way, subsequently claim a disability pension, their medical history sheets and other documents are always obtained by the Ministry of Pensions from the Record Office.

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his good offices with the Minister of Pensions to enable men to get a copy of the medical history sheet? That is what they want, because they want to be able to say, "This is my medical history."

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care that the application is signed, and the statement made definitely that it is the man himself who requires the medical history sheet, so that it may not get into other hands and be used for an improper purpose?

I do not think I can add anything to the answer I have given that these sheets are regarded as confidential, and I do not think it would be suitable to allow others to use them.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many women are now employed by the Army authorities in England; how many in France and the occupied areas; how many elsewhere; and what duties they are carrying out?

There are at present 284 members of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps in the United Kingdom. They are employed at the headquarters of the corps and at the Records Office on clerical work in connection with the corps. There are 65 employed overseas on work connected with graves registration. In addition there are 413 women motor drivers; 889 employed in mechanical transport depots, &c.; 4,891 nurses, &c. I regret it is not possible to show separately the numbers of those serving at home and abroad.

What progress has been made, as indicated by these figures, in the demobilisation of these ladies, as compared with the answer given by the Secretary for War last Session?

I am afraid I cannot answer that; it does not seem to arise out of the question.

Is it not the fact that many of these women, after being demobilised, are being made into ordinary civilian workers?

I should like notice of that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether temporary officers who are to be given regular commissions under the Army education scheme will be eligible for staff appointments under that scheme; and whether he can give an assurance that all appointments under the scheme will be made solely in reference to the personal capability of the officers concerned and without regard to any record of purely military training at Sandhurst or Woolwich?

It is obvious that, in forming the Educational Corps of the Regular Army, efficiency can only be secured by attaching primary importance to the educational qualifications of the applicants; the hon. Member may rest assured that all appointments, whether staff or instructional, in that corps will be made solely in reference to the personal capability of the individual officer concerned for the particular post in question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to-issue any Army Order in the near future regarding the terms and conditions of Reserve service for officers and men, especially in view of the anxiety of many officers who intend to resign their commissions as soon as they are acquainted with the new regulations; and whether there is congestion and a large number of officers in excess of establishment, thus blocking promotion and discouraging young officers from continuing in the service?

The conditions of service in the Reserve of Officers are still under consideration, and I cannot say at present when it will be possible to make an announcement on the subject. As regards other ranks, it is not proposed to alter the pre-war terms and conditions of Reserve service, but the enlistment into Section D of the Reserve of a certain number of those who served in the late War is at present being considered.

Is it the policy of the War Office to ask those officers and men who have had experience in the War to remain at the disposal of the country in case of emergency, thereby effecting economy in the matter of military expenditure?

I cannot answer that question unless it is put down.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there are still remaining in France a larger number of troops than was anticipated at the time of the last Army Estimates; whether the reasons for this are chiefly due to the complications caused by the delay in concluding peace with Austria, Hungary, and Turkey; and what are the approximate establishment figures for the following services performed by troops; graves registration, lines of communication for the Rhine to Italy and to Marseilles, repatriation of railway wagons and lorries under War Office arrangements, and guarding, sorting, and loading of stores thrown up for disposal?

With regard to the first part of the question, there is no ground for the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion that delay in the reduction of the numbers of troops in France has resulted from delay in the conclusion of peace with Austria, Hungary and Turkey. Any delay that has arisen has been due mainly to the magnitude of the work of clearing up and disposal. The total establishment for the services referred to in the latter part of the question is approximately 32,000 all ranks; 11,000 of these are engaged in handling, storage, movement and guarding of surplus stores, including a proportion for the repatriation of railway wagons and for railway services for the troops. The balance of about 21,000 are employed on military duties, including principally work under the Graves Registration Department.

Will the hon. Gentleman make enquiries of the Ministry of Munitions, where he will find that the Commander says he can do perfectly well with 5,000 and does not need 11,000; if so, may the balance of these men be demobilised?

I am afraid I cannot answer for what I shall find; but I shall be very pleased to inquire if the hon. and gallant Member will indicate to me exactly what he wishes to know.

Does the cost of these men come on the Army Vote or on that of the Ministry of Munitions?

These men to whom I have referred come on the Army Vote.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the case of service pensioners under the War Office who, for the benefit of the Army and for the sole reason of their efficiency in their then capacity, were not permitted to re-enlist, as authorised under Army Order 338, of August, 1914, by the Heads of Departments and are consequently debarred from the increased scale of pensions sanctioned under Army Order 325, of September, 1919, and authorise the reassessment of their pensions accordingly?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply yesterday to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Silvertown.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Private B. Llewellyn, South Wales Borderers, Brecon Barracks, was not allowed to purchase his discharge under Section 10 of Army Order B 265A (short service), seeing that all conditions under that section, which clearly gives the right to purchase the same, had been fulfilled?

Discharge from the Army by purchase is at present suspended. Private Llewellyn, having given the requisite notice, he will be allowed to purchase his discharge as soon as discharge by purchase is reopened.

Is there not only one condition in the Clause and has it not been complied with; consequently, cannot this man legally claim purchase if he wishes to?

I think the answer is in the negative. I am told the conditions are suspended.

When will purchase be reopened again?

If the hon. Gentleman will put a Question down to the Secretary of State, I will see that he gets an answer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Q.A.I.M.N.S. nurses employed on military service receive a salary of £65 per annum and that the present pension is £32 10s. per annum after 20 years' service; and whether, in view of the present high cost of living, he will consider the question of raising the salaries and pensions of these nurses, most of whom have served during the late War and many of whom are now serving in military stations both at Home and abroad?

The rate of pay and pension for nurses of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War, if his attention has been drawn to the frequent thefts of British officers' luggage on German railways; if the losses sustained by officers are made good by this Government; and whether steps will be taken to make Germany responsible for these thefts.

I am informed that thefts of officers' luggage on German railways are not frequent, only three cases being known to have occurred during the past 10 months. Until recently, railway transport was entirely under military control and claims for loss proved to be the fault of the military authorities were accepted and refunds made in accordance with existing regulations. The German railway authorities took over control six weeks ago, since when no claims for loss have been reported. The German authorities are liable in all cases where theft is proved to have occurred on the German railways, provided the luggage was registered.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the provisions of Article 497 of the Pay Warrant, as amended by Army Order 235 of 1917, are not being applied to the cases of retired officers who patriotically came forward early in the war and accepted employment in a lower rank than they originally held in the Army: whether to adhere to this practice is not unjust to those officers who, in their anxiety to serve, made no bargain as to the terms of their appointments; and if, under the circumstances, he will reconsider his decision, more especially in view of the small number of officers affected?

If the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with details of a specific ease, I will have it inquired into, and will communicate the result to him.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Army Service Corps (Forage Department) are entitled to gratuity upon demobilisation?

The answer is in the negative. These men received civilian rates of wages.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that officers of this Corps are entitled to the gratuity?

I cannot answer that question off-hand.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office are prepared to meet the cost of medical attendance upon soldiers who fall sick while on demobilisation furlough, together with medical expenses of the soldier's family if they catch the disease from the soldier; and whether he is aware that in the case of the late Private C. D. Potter, No. 39,107, Norfolk Regiment, 9, Stunt Road, Norwich, the military authorities have refused to pay the cost of brandy ordered by the military doctor, together with the cost of medical attendance upon the man's mother who caught the disease while nursing her son?

Soldiers on demobilisation furlough are entitled to medical attendance under the same conditions as soldiers on ordinary furlough. The family of a soldier, other than a regular soldier on the married establishment, is not normally eligible for medical attendance. I will have enquiry made in the case mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether temporary officers who have been granted permanent commissions in the Army Pay Department have been given departmental grading above all assistant paymasters irrespective of service or experience; whether any assistant paymasters have been appointed paymasters; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of promoting to the rank of paymasters a number of those officers who are qualified therefor by long and honourable service in the Army Pay Corps and the Army Pay Department?

A few permanent commissions in the Army Pay Department were recently granted to certain temporary officers who have shown marked ability throughout in the discharge of their important duties. These officers were appointed to these posts, by very rigid selection, from among officers of the Acting Paymaster class. As regards the promotion of Assistant Paymasters, I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. and gallant Member on the 22nd December last.

Is there any reason why some of the Regular soldiers who rendered good service during and before the War should not be given promotion to Paymaster?

I will convey that inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what is the present strength of the Army of the Black Sea: and how the force is distributed?

The present strength of the British Army of the Black "Sea is as follows:—

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, considering that officers of the British service while prisoners of war in Germany drew full pay of their rank plus allowances during the whole time of their imprisonment, why officers of the Indian Army while prisoners of war should be given full pay and allowances for only the first two months, and after the expiry of that time should be deprived of half their staff allowances; and, as there is no provision for such deprivation in the Indian Army regulations, will he now put a stop to this differentiation between the two services and refund the money arbitrarily withheld?

My predecessor explained the position to the hon. and gallant Member on the 11th and 18th November last. I see no reason for making any change in the arrangements. As the Indian Army scale is higher than the British Army scale the Indian Army officer from Captain upwards received, even after the expiration of the first 61 days, substantially more pay than the British Army officer of corresponding rank, while a Lieutenant received practically the same pay as a Lieutenant in the British Army.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Indian Army alone have been deprived of full pay which was given to all other officers of the Army, the Navy, and Air Force?

I gather from the information I have been able to obtain that the Indian officer got in some cases more than and in every case as much as officers of the British Army.

As they have got certain fixed rates of pay, when there are no orders why did they not draw their full pay the same as everybody else?

I cannot answer off-hand.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the practical impossibility of appealing for recruits to the Territorial Army before conditions of service have been finally settled or commanding officers appointed, and before permanent staffs are installed at the various headquarters to answer inquiries and give information; and whether he will avoid unnecessary expenditure on a recruiting campaign until essential preliminaries have been cleared up?

Instructions as to procedure on enlistment and a pamphlet containing conditions of service in the new Territorial Force have been issued to all concerned. All pre-war units have officers in temporary command and in over sixty per cent. of the units the appointments of permanent commanding officers have been approved. The appointment of commanding officers for the remaining units will be dealt with, as promised, by the Travelling Board, which has commenced its sittings. Selected Adjutants are being posted to units and Permanent Staffs formed as rapidly as possible.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when a staff will be given to commanding officers? How is it possible for a commanding officer by himself to enlist recruits when he has no office and no staff?

The hon. and gallant Member is quite right. The matter is in hand. It cannot be done in one day. What the hon. and gallant Gentleman has said will be borne in mind, no doubt.

Is it not rather useless to advertise for recruits before there is anybody to give them information?

I cannot answer for the Secretary of State in a matter of this sort, but I understand the whole operation is in progress, and all the matters suggested by the hon. and gallant Gentleman will be dealt with.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Aberdeenshire and some parts of the North-Eastern district of Scotland there is considerable dissatisfaction with the proposal, and will the Territorial Association have ample opportunities of placing views before the Secretary of State?

I think that hardly arises out of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to cases of officers and men who have been abroad in Aden, India, &c, for 5½ years, but having been transferred to the Indian Army make fruitless efforts to secure release from the Army; and what steps he proposes to take to do justice to men in this position?

The number of officers holding temporary commissions in the Indian Army, to which class it is assumed my hon. Friend is referring, who are still detained is now very small, and it is probable that they will soon be released.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether provision will be made in the Territorial Army or Militia schemes for organising technical corps, composed of experts, for mechanical transport, wireless telegraphy, gas, liquid fire, and other branches requiring expert knowledge?

The Territorial Force will be composed of units which are identical with those of the Regular Army. But the future policy is, for the present, to allocate such money as may be available to research and experiment in these subjects rather than to create special technical units which may not be suitable to the developments of mechanical and chemical warfare.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether it has now been decided to award a medal to Territorials who were efficient on 4th August, 1914, and proceeded overseas before 31st December, 1914; and whether he is aware of the effect a favourable announcement will have on the recruiting campaign?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply on Thursday last to the hon. Member for East Cardiff, in which my right hon. Friend stated that His Majesty had been pleased to approve the issue of a special medal to members of the Territorial Force who undertook to serve abroad in the early stages of the War, provided they are not entitled to the "1914 Star" or the "1914–1915 Star."

Is it not a fact that, under the provision just read out, the Territorials who volunteered to go overseas in 1914 and who managed to stay at home till 1915 or later are the only ones who will get this medal? Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the conditions so that the men who really went abroad in the early stages of the War are properly recognised?

I will convey the views of the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the proper quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether his statement at the last meeting of County Association representatives that the command of units in the Territorial Army will be given only to officers who have commanded a unit with distinction in the field bars officers who have served with distinction in subordinate ranks and are next in seniority for command; and what is the correct interpretation of the War Office intentions as to the appointment of Territorial officers to command Territorial units?

The Travelling Board, which my right hon. Friend promised, has been engaged during the past fortnight in examining the recommendations for appointments to the command of units put forward by County Associations in conjunction with the General Officers Commanding the Commands. The Board, with the assistance of a representative of the County Association concerned and the Divisional Commanders, is investigating every case. The claims of all officers are being considered according to their seniority and confidential reports.

Will men who have been second in command in the War have a chance of commanding now?

Yes, Sir, I have said so.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a decision has been arrived at with regard to the increase of salaries to secretaries of Territorial Force Associations, as indicated in the reply given at the conference of the council of county associations on 1st May, 1919; and if these increases will be retrospective?

The review of the present salaries of secretaries of county associations is not yet completed, but my right hon. Friend hopes shortly to make proposals for adjusting these salaries in the future. The date from which any revision shall take effect will require consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that during the war certain Yeomanry regiments were trained and used as machine-gun battalions; and, seeing that in the reconstitution of the Territorial Force these units are all to be converted into artillery brigades and certain other Yeomanry units, formerly converted into infantry, are to be trained as machine gunners, will he give the reason why no use is being made of the machine-gun training already given to the former units?

In preparing the scheme for the conversion of the Yeomanry, the fact that certain Yeomanry units had had experience of machine-gun duties is not being lost sight of. To save expense the units of neighbouring counties are being combined to form artillery brigades and, where possible, the more senior regiments are being converted into artillery so as to remain mounted units. The units selected for machine-gun duty were either units whose location did not admit of a convenient linking with other units, or which were low on the seniority list. The whole of the allocation of duties to the various Yeomanry regiments will be the subject of a final review during the next few weeks.

During that period will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the fact that in respect of these units the machine gunners had no previous training in the subject?

I will convey the purport of the hon. Member's remarks to the Secretary of State.

Will the right hon. Gentleman circulate a statement so that we may know exactly what is going on?

I think the hon. Gentleman will probably hear it on Thursday.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the following words in the official programme at the recent investiture, Nominal role of persons proposing to be present to receive the Territorial decoration; whether he is aware that very many officers of the Territorial Force and others most strongly deprecate the use of these words; whether these words were used with the sanction of the War Office; and whether he will take steps to secure that no undue distinctions of this nature should be made in future between officers of the Territorial Force and Regular Army?

My attention had not been previously called to this matter. The programme of the ceremony of a provincial investiture, which is drawn up locally, is in no way official and is not submitted to the War Office for approval. I am informed that in one case the words complained of were used by the Civic Authorities through a misunderstanding. I can, however, assure my hon. and gallant Friend that there was no intention whatever to make any invidious distinction between Regular and Territorial Force officers.

As I have the offending document here, may I bring it to the right hon. Gentleman, as he will see from it that there is this discrimination?

I shall be glad to see it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make as to the circumstances under which General Townshend resigned his commission?

General Townshend has not resigned his commission. His application to do so was based on a misapprehension of the regulations, and he has withdrawn it. He has been informed that he is at liberty to retire on retired pay should he so desire, and his reply to this has not yet been received.

Arising out of the misunderstanding which exists in connection "with General Townshend, will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Secretary of State to take the opportunity of the Army Estimates to make a short statement on the subject?

I shall be pleased to ask him to do so.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can give an opportunity at an early date for the discussion of the Second Report of the Select Committee on Pensions?

I am afraid that it will be difficult to find time for this discussion in the immediate future. Perhaps it may be chosen for consideration in private Members' time.

If a sufficient number of the Members of the House express a desire that this Report should be discussed, will the Leader of the House give further consideration to the matter?

I am inclined to think that an opportunity for a discussion is desirable, but I do not see how it can be done in the immediate future.

In the meantime, are the Government going to pay out on the suggestions of the Committee?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts have been expended during the current financial year on the railways, coal, and bread subsidies; and what the respective totals are likely to be for the whole financial year?

I am informed that the particulars desired are as follow:—

What would be the price of the 4lb. loaf to-day if it were not for this subsidy?

I have to deal with a great many figures, and I cannot undertake to carry them all in my head. I think it is one—well, I think I had better not say.