asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give the latest information in his possession with respect to the present position of Russian industries, including what has happened to the up-to-date factories which were established before the War by British capital?

Owing to the suspension of relations with Russia, no reliable information is available.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in certain Government journals quotations have appeared giving these facts as correct, and that the Soviet official journal is quoted?

I am aware of what the hon. Gentleman says, but my answer is that no reliable information is available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any reports from the politico-economic organ of the Russian Soviet Government showing that, owing to lack of discipline and order in the Russian factories, the works councils and factory committees have been abolished and dictators appointed with unlimited powers over the lives of the workers?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the report that a force of Finnish troops has recently been concentrated on the Finnish-Russian border, with orders to attack Petchenga and Kola; and whether His Majesty's Government will intimate to Finland that any action by them in the Petchenga area will not be countenanced by the Allies?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the matter has not been considered by the Allied Governments, and His Majesty's Government could certainly not take official action alone in the matter.

Might I ask whether our attitude towards Finland is the same as towards the other border States, as explained by the Prime Minister recently?

A question on anything contained in a statement of the Prime Minister must be put to the Prime Minister himself.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state what assistance or otherwise was given to the North Russian Provisional Government at Archangel after the withdrawal of the British forces; whether this assistance was given with a view to relieving the civil population; and, if so, whether the relief for the civil population will now be continued, or whether, as a result of the withdrawal of the anti-Bolshevik faction, the Archangel population has forfeited any claim to consideration?

No assistance was given to the North Russian Provisional Government at Archangel after the withdrawal of the British forces. The remainder of the question therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British officers and men are serving in the Military Mission with General Denikin, K.C.B., including airmen; how long it is intended to retain them with General Denikin; and what is the approximate monthly cost to the British taxpayer?

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the strength of the British Military Mission still with General Denikin; whether any British officers or men are engaged in fighting, or what other services they are performing; and whether the pay of these officers and men, with separation allowances, pensions, and other charges, is being borne by the British taxpayer?

From the latest strength return (dated 10th January) 394 officers and 1,529 other ranks are serving on the strength of the British Military Mission with General Denikin. Included in this number are 93 officers and 291 other ranks of the Royal Air Force. A fixed sum of money has been allocated from that approved as a final contribution to General Denikin for the payment and maintenance of the whole of the Mission, which is being gradually reduced accordingly, and will terminate when this sum has been exhausted.

Owing to the uncertain situation in South Russia, no definite restriction has yet been placed on its size or period of retention, apart from the proviso that the sum allowed for its maintenance is not exceeded. No additional expense will therefore be borne by the British taxpayer on its behalf.

As regards the second part of the question by the hon. Member for Wigan, the duties of the British Military Mission with General Denikin are to keep the War Office in touch with the situation, to supervise the distribution of stores supplied by His Majesty's Government, and to give instruction in technical uses of our munitions of war. So far as is Known no British officers or men have been engaged in actual fighting, with the exception of a few airmen and tank corps personnel who, earlier in the operations around Tsaritsin, asked to be allowed to accompany the Russians whom they had trained.

I observe that the hon. and gallant Member for Hull refers to "General Denikin, K.C.B." If that is intended to be a sneer, I can only say it is a singularly ill-conditioned one.

In view of the recent successes of this gallant General, is it intended to confer on him any higher military decorations?

Give him an O.B.E.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any reports have been received as to the state of affairs at Murmansk and Archangel; what amounts of stores were there; and if there is reason to think that they have all fallen into the hands of the Bolsheviks?

Various reports have been received as to the state of affairs at Murmansk and Archangel, most of which have appeared in the public Press. The anti-Bolshevik troops holding the Murmansk front were apparently on the 25th February still making a good resistance to the Bolsheviks, but at the town itself (300 to 400 miles north of the fighting front), a revolution appears to have broken out on or about February 21st. At Archangel a revolution broke out on February 23rd, and the Bolsheviks are now in possession of the town and surrounding country.

A certain amount of stores were left behind when the British evacuated North Russia in 1919, and it appears probable that the unexpended portion of these has fallen into the hands of the Bolsheviks, but no information is at present available to show the quantity or nature of such stores remaining in Archangel and Murmansk on the 23rd and 21st February respectively.

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman has received any expression of gratitude from the Bolshevik Government for the gift of these stores?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received from British military representatives with General Denikin's forces any reports as to the use made of the supplies of all kinds provided to General Denikin by the British Government at the expense of the British taxpayer; and, if no such reports have been received, whether he will call for full reports from responsible officers and will publish them when received?

Reports have been received from General Holman, Chief of the British Military Mission with General Denikin, giving an account of the work carried out by his Mission. This work includes the supervising of the distribution of stores supplied by His Majesty's Government to the Russian Forces, and giving instruction in the employment of these stores. It is considered that General Holman and his Mission can be relied on to ensure that the best possible, use is made of the stores, and that no useful object would be gained fey publishing these reports. It should be remembered that £11,000,000 of the £15,000,000 allotted as a final contribution to General Denikin consists of surplus and non-marketable stores which would otherwise have been scrapped or disposed of at a tenth of their value.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether 83 men belonging to B Company, 4th platoon, 6th Royal Marine battalion, are at present serving terms of imprisonment as a result of court martial when serving in Russia in September, 1919; whether he can state the nature of the offence with which they are charged; whether they had acted under instructions from their superior officers; and, having regard to the strong feeling that exists regarding this and similar cases, he will take the necessary steps to secure an amnesty for such prisoners?

I have been asked to answer this question. My hon. Friend will perhaps remember the full statement made by the First Lord on December 22nd. In any case I am sending him forthwith a copy of that reply. The First Lord dealt fully with these most regrettable occurrences, stated the sentences imposed in the first instance by the Field General Courts Martial and reviewed by the General Officer Commanding in the Field, and gave particulars of the remissions which, in the exercise of their proper duty of revision, the Board of Admiralty had approved.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these men served on four different fronts in the War previous to going to Russia without any offence being recorded against them, and, having regard to the fact that there was no declaration of war against Russia, might this case be given further special consideration?

My hon. Friend had better read the very full answers on the case given on December 22nd.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign affairs if he can state the approximate number of persons suspected of socialism and communism now interned or imprisoned in Hungary; whether any visits have been paid by Allied officials to the internment camps; and whether reports on the camp conditions have been received?

The answer to all parts of this question is in the negative.

May I ask whether any steps are being taken by H.M. Government to mitigate the White Terror in Hungary, and whether the hon. Gentleman can find out whether there are not 40,000 people interned there?

The hon. and gallant Member should put that question down.

It is oh the Paper, Sir.

Then the hon. and gallant Member has got an answer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a Memorandum sent by four leading Hungarian liberals to Sir George Clerk in which the responsibility for the terrorist régime of the present Hungarian Government is placed on the British representatives in Hungary; and whether any action is being taken to put a stop to the excesses of the present Hungarian Government and its supporters?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. It is not clear to what excesses the hon. Member is referring in the second part.

May I ask whether steps will be taken by H.M. Government to inquire into these excesses in Hungary and to lay on the table of this House some sort of report as to what is going on in that country under our sanction and approval?

No excesses, in Hungary or anywhere else, are carried on with the approval of H.M. Government. In answer to the other part of the question, I am sorry I cannot add to what I have already stated.

Is it not possible for H.M. Government to communicate with our representatives in Hungary asking them to make a report on these concentration camps, where these people are being slowly done to death by the new Hungarian Government?

In answer to these supplementary questions, may I point out that it is not clear to what excesses the hon. Member and hon. Members refer, and I must say, on behalf of the Foreign Office, that it does not help the Government to allege excesses against the Hungarian or any other Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affiairs if he has any information as to what decision the Government of the United States has come to with regard to the question of compulsory military training for its army?

I understand that the proposal is still under consideration by the United States Congress.

Is it not a fact that nothing definite has been settled in regard to this matter, and is not the statement of the right hon. Gentleman the Minister for War that America has retained conscription very premature, if not to say completely false?

The Minister for War is on the front Bench, and that question should be addressed to him.

Is it not the case that the Military Affairs Committee has rejected the proposal?

Might I address my question to the Minister for War?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman should give notice of it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider his decision not to allow service with the Territorial Force Reserve to count towards the Territorial Force decoration, for while the rule might properly apply to officers voluntarily placing themselves on the reserve for their own convenience it inflicts a great hardship on officers compulsorily placed on the reserve owing to wounds or illness contracted on service, and especially where an officer on recovery applies to be restored to the establishment but is unable to find employment?

The Regulations do not admit of time served on the Territorial Force Reserve counting towards the qualifying period of service for the Territorial decoration, unless the officer is actively employed. I regret that no exceptions can be made to this rule.

May I ask whether it is a fact that an officer who served in the Territorial Force before the War and went on the Reserve a few months before the War and afterwards rejoined the Territorial Force cannot count war service as double towards obtaining the Territorial decoration, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some hardship is caused by that ruling?

I was not aware that that was the case, but I will investigate the facts now I am informed of them by my Noble Friend.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I made an application on those lines? I served 13 years in the Territorials before the War, left it for the Reserve three months before the War broke out, and rejoined, and was not entitled to any decoration.

This is not a moment for autobiography.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state to what allowances married officers are entitled under Army Order No. 324, 1919, whilst on leave; and does the order, Table XIV., paragraphs 5, 6, 7, and 8, in terms entitle all officers fulfilling the conditions therein stated to furniture, lodging, and fuel and light allowances whether on leave or not?

Army Order No. 324, 1919, Table XIV. (Allowances) varies the rates of lodging, fuel and light allowances in favour of married officers, but not the conditions under which these allowances are drawn. Paragraph 4 (General Conditions) attached to the Army Order states that allowances will be drawn by officers under the normal conditions. These conditions, under which lodging and fuel and light allowances either cease at once during leave, or are continued for limited periods, are not therefore at present affected by the Army Order. The conditions are, however, under consideration.

Will my right hon. Friend refer me to any paragraph in the Order that does deprive an officer of these allowances?

I should like to have notice of that question.

But that is what I have asked in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the amount of pension due respectively to the widow of a lieutenant-general, of a major, and of a private soldier, who died before 1914; and whether, in view of the present cost of living, His Majesty's Government has any intention of raising the amounts?

As all cases of pensions where the death was due to war are dealt with by the Ministry of Pensions, I conclude that the reference is to cases where the husband died from natural causes. In such cases a compassionate grant is made to the widows of officers, if their pecuniary circumstances justify an award. The rate is: for the widow of a lieutenant-general, £120; for the widow of a major, £70.

Could not facilities be given at an early date for a discussion of the whole of this problem of military emoluments, and as to the way they were assessed before 1914?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman must give notice of that question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the total number of unmarried wives who have received separation allowances during the War; and, if there is difficulty in giving these figures, can he give the numbers in each at any given date before 31st December, 1918?

This information is not available as it has never been necessary, for statistical purposes, to distinguish between Class A and Class B dependants. Moreover, it cannot be obtained without an exhaustive review of over a million dead accounts, and even if this were practicable, the cost of the scrutiny would, I submit, be out of all proportion to the value of the information secured. The War Office have only been interested in details of these irregular unions from the point of view of assessment—such as whether the parties were free to marry, period of cohabitation, number of children being maintained, and whether any or all were result of union, &c., &c. Further, it would not be possible to strike an average on the figures of any one selected pay office as the proportion varies in areas and in periods.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the selection of regimental officers is in the hands of commanding officers of Territorial battalions subject to confirmation by the War Office; and whether those whose names now appear in the Army List on the strength of such battalions, and who are not selected, will automatically revert to the Territorial Army Reserve.

The selection of regimental officers rests primarily with the officer commanding the unit, who may ask the Territorial Force County Association for their co-operation if he so wishes. The list of selected officers will be sent through the usual military channels to the War Office for approval. Officers who are supernumerary will be transferred to a Reserve if they are willing.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will direct that the Committees appointed to select commanding officers of Territorial battalions shall include at least one member who served in the front line during the late War?

A member of the Travelling Board served in the front line during the late War and, further, the Divisional Commander concerned is always present to represent his views.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Travelling Board will finish its labours, as until the commanding officers are announced we cannot get on with recruiting?

I went into this question yesterday, and I am assured that the greater part of the work is already done and that very large numbers of officers will be appointed in the course of the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can see his way to issue an invitation to public bodies in this country to co-operate in securing recruits for the Territorial Army?

The Territorial Force County Associations are responsible under present Regulations for recruiting for the Territorial Force, and they are no doubt alive to the advantage of securing the co-operation of public bodies as suggested. The Army Council have no desire to interfere with the County Associations in the performance of this duty, but are anxious to assist in every possible manner.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the amount of the unclaimed credit balances awaiting distribution; and, with a view to assist in tracing the next-of-kin, can he see his way to have lists with all available particulars supplied to local pension committees, and displayed at all public libraries and similar places?

The amount of the unclaimed balances awaiting distribution cannot be given with any accuracy, as the amount is constantly changing as claims are disposed of. The average amount handed over to the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation for the benefit of relatives of deceased soldiers, or invested by the Department preparatory to handing over, on account of the unclaimed balances during the past six years was £4,360. Of course, the claims of a deceased soldier's heirs hold good and are recognised by the War Office, even though the actual money due may have been invested or handed over, I will consider whether it is possible to extend the various means of publicity already used, which include publication of lists in the "London Gazette," the Army List, and the Press.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the people who are likely to be beneficiaries do not see the "London Gazette," and can he take other means of bringing the facts to people of humble circumstances?

I have already stated that I will consider whether it is possible to extend the publication of the lists.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state if a special medal will be awarded to members of the Territorial Force who were mobilised in August, 1914, and volunteered for service overseas; and whether members of the Indian Volunteer Force, who were at home on leave and who Were mobilised at the same time as the Territorial Force, would be eligible for the medal in question?

Yes, Sir; as I stated in reply to the hon. Member for East Cardiff on the 12th February, a special medal has been approved for members of the Territorial Force who undertook to serve overseas in the early part of the War, provided they fulfil certain conditions. As regards a medal for the Indian Volunteer Force, this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India, who, I understand, can add nothing at present to the answer which he gave the hon. Member on the 17th February.

Is this same medal going to be given to the Special Reserve?

No, Sir; this medal at present applies to the Territorial Force.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the Special Reserve is not in identically the same position?

I do not think it is.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long it is intended to continue the employment of women in the Women's Legion, Army Service Corps, Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps: and what are their present rates of pay and allowances and conditions of service?

The Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps will cease to exist on the 30th April next, on which-date all contracts will expire. It is intended to dispense with the services of the Women's Legion Motor Drivers by the 31st May; all drivers at present serving have signed on to the 30th April, but they can be retained or discharged at a month's notice. I will arrange to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the rates of pay and allowances at present drawn by those now serving.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the consideration of the conditions of service of inspectors of ordnance machinery is yet completed; if so, what improvements are to take place to enable men to sit for examinations qualifying for promotion: what are to be the conditions of first appointment; and whether armament artificers of the, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, who are properly trained men, having served an indentured apprenticeship and holding two science certificates, are covered by any decisions arrived at?

This question is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether any steps are being taken to make use of the war training and experience of the many young captains and subalterns who have relinquished their temporary commissions in the new armies created during the War, and to encourage them to join the Reserve of Officers by holding out some advantages that are compatible with their civil occupations; if this action has been taken, what is the nature of the inducements held out; (2) How many officers of the new armies, Special Reserve, and Territorial Army have been specially selected by the Commander-in-Chief in the field and recommended for appointment to permanent regular commissions; whether under present circumstances there is room for these officers in the Regular Army; if any steps are being taken to encourage these officers to join the Reserve of Officers; if so, what particular inducements are being offered; (3) Whether, in view of the fact that pages 2,333 to 2,373 of the January Army List contain the names of over 400 infantry captains and subalterns who have been given permission to resign their regular commissions on the condition that they join the Reserve of Officers, he will take steps to make public the future terms of service in the Reserve of Officers, since it is important to encourage officers to remain in that Reserve, from which they can under present Regulations resign on the very day on which they are gazetted unless there are certain definite advantages known to be obtainable by remaining in the Reserve of Officers?

The conditions of service in the Reserve of Officers are under consideration, and until a decision is reached it is not possible to make any announcement of the terms of service or the nature of the inducements which it may be possible to offer to encourage officers to join the Reserve.

As regards the first two parts of Question 25, the number of non-Regular officers who have been recommended for permanent Regular commissions is 3,741, and applications and recommendations are still being received.

In some of the technical arms of the service there is a deficit of Regular officers, and arrangements are being made for permanent commissions in these arms to be given to a certain number of non-Regular officers who are qualified to perform the requisite duties. In the artillery and infantry there is a surplus of Regular officers over the probable requirements, and the question of how many permanent commissions can be given in these arms is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the grave discontent among the Special Reserve and Territorial Force officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps in Mesopotamia owing to the fact that they cannot get leave, some having spent two, or even three, hot seasons in Mesopotamia without leave; and, especially in view of the prospect of having to spend another hot season there, will he take steps to give relief to these men?

Many of these officers, in common with those of the Regular Royal Army Medical Corps and the Indian Medical Service, have leave due to them. This is a matter for the local military authorities, but I would remind my hon. and learned Friend that the granting of leave must necessarily interfere with the release of officers eligible for demobilisation. Regular officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps are being sent out as they become available to replace officers of the Special Reserve and Territorial Force whose demobilisation has been applied for.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not also a fact that the Coalition is going through a hot season?

asked the Secretary of State for War if the new Army is to be equipped with a sufficiency of automatic rifles as well as machine guns?

It is proposed to equip the whole Army, Regular and Territorial, with both Vickers and Lewis machine guns. We cannot face the expense of the introduction of an automatic rifle at the present time. Experiments will be continued, and better models will be available in a few years.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the Netheravon School has been re-opened for the training of cavalry recruits; and, if so, could the Curragh, with its large area, cope with all the cavalry training?

The Cavalry School at Netheravon was re-opened in May last. The object of the school is not to train Cavalry recruits but to train in equitation officers and non-commissioned officers-who have some years' service. It would not be convenient, nor economical, to have this school at the Curragh.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that some yeomanry regiments which have undertaken to become regiments of Special Reserve have only done so because they wish to preserve their cavalry traditions; and whether he can say that the possibility of the continuance of such regiments as Territorial yeomanry will not be prejudiced by the undertaking they have given?

The whole question of the future of the Yeomanry, including those regiments which have signified their acceptance of Special Reserve conditions, is at present receiving my personal consideration, and a decision covering all cases will be given very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that under Army Order 324, of 1919, the pay of the regular officers of the staff for the Royal Engineers is relatively, to the pay of other officers, lower than before the issue of that Order; and will he take steps to improve their position by granting them conditions of rank, pay, and retirement equal to that given to veterinary officers?

The conditions of the staff for Royal Engineer services-were carefully considered before Army Order 324 was drawn up, and they have recently been again reviewed. It is not proposed to make any change in the basis, but the question of granting a further war bonus is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total number of members of His Majesty's forces now imprisoned on account of disciplinary offences committed prior to the Armistice and subsequent to 4th August, 1914; and if there is any intention to remit the remainder of the sentences for these offences?

I am having figures prepared to show the number of men now undergoing imprisonment or detention for military offences committed between the outbreak of war and the Armistice; also the number undergoing sentences of penal servitude for military offences committed during the same period. These will be published as soon as they are compiled. With regard to the last part of the question, I can only refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply on Thursday last to the hon. Member for Montrose.

asked the Secretary of State for War if all war stores in France for which he has been responsible have been handed over to the Disposal Board; were they listed and checked before being handed over; and, if not, what is the approximate value of such stores now held in France by the War Office and the Royal Air Force?

All stores in France surplus to Army requirements and surplus to necessary requirements for local maintenance have been declared surplus to the Disposal Board. All such stores have been listed and checked, except about 2 per cent. which are now being dealt with. All Royal Air Force stores other than those retained for post-war stocks have been declared surplus to the Disposal Board, and it is anticipated that all such stores will have been handed over to the Board by the end of this month. All stores transferred have been either listed and checked or valued by the Board s valuers.

May I ask whether, if it can be shown that there really is unnecessary delay in disposing of War stores in France, it rests now with the Disposal Board and not with the War Office?

Yes, Sir, the War Office handed over the enormous bulk of the stores to the Disposal Board, and they are getting rid of it on the best terms possible in the shortest time.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is a fact that these tenders which are invited for these goods are open tenders and not sealed tenders; and, if not, why?

That question should be addressed to the representative of the Ministry of Munitions.

He says he has nothing to do with it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any steps have been taken to raise and train native levies in Mesopotamia; and, if so, what progress has been made?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. There are 13 units of levies sanctioned, each under a British commandant. There are 6,228 non-commissioned officers and men, nearly half being mounted, and 67 officers. There are two more units under consideration.

Can the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that this excellent policy will lead to a very great reduction in the near future of our troops in Mesopotamia?

I take it that is one of the objects.

Are these native levies local Arabs?

They are Arabs and Kurds.

Are Indians being used to officer the corps?

Will the hon. and gallant Member give notice of that question?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can give the number of men, prior to the passing of the Military Service Act, who disposed of their businesses at a loss in order to serve the country; what was the average amount of the loss incurred; what steps, if any, have been taken to recoup such men as far as possible; if he will give the number of men who have been compensated, and the average amount given; and, in the event of no such compensation having been made, what allowance, over and above that granted to ex-service men generally, is being given to these ex-business men?

I regret that I have no information as to the first and second parts of this question. The Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Committee was set up to give assistance in such cases, and as regards the remaining parts of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he an explain the conditions under which soldiers were recruited by the Canadian Government for service during the War, with special reference to the case of men who had left this country prior to the outbreak of war and were settled in Canada; whether he is aware that gratuities were promised by the Canadian Government, varying with the length of service; and, if so, will he state what action can be taken by the Home Government to provide that such gratuities as were due to soldiers who have either died or been killed on service will be paid to their parents or other relatives in this country?

I have not sufficient information on the subject to be able to make any statement, and I have no power whatever to intervene in a matter which is one entirely for the Canadian Government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman let us know what is the position?

I do not think this is a matter at all for the War Office. The hon. Member had better enquire through other channels.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell me through what channel I should make the enquiry?

I would suggest the High Commissioner for Canada might perhaps be a suitable source of information. The War Office has no power.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers seconded from the Army on whom higher substantive rank has been conferred by the King in recognition of distinguished service in the Royal Air Force have been deprived of their reward no reverting to their Army unit; and, if so, whether it is possible to arrange that such officers should be gazetted to the equivalent rank in the Army, by brevet or otherwise, and so retain an honour, the loss of which they feel very deeply?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on the 23rd December last to the Noble Lord the Member for Aldershot. It has been decided that Army officers who return to the Army from the Royal Air Force, in a lower relative rank than that held by them in the latter Service, may resume their Royal Air Force rank upon final retirement from the Army, if such rank is higher than that to which they are entitled under their Army Commissions.

asked the Under-Secretary of. State to the Air Ministry if he will state how long is required to convert a bombing, observation, and scout machine, respectively, from war to peace purposes, and vice versâ?

The time necessary for the conversion of a war machine to use for peace purposes depends entirely on the degree of comfort required by the pilot and passengers, as the removal of war fittings can be effected within a few hours. I regret that I am not able to furnish a detailed reply to the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question as the time would vary with each particular type and design of a peace machine.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied that every step is being taken by the Air Ministry to encourage civil aviation, and thus to provide an adequate reserve of machines for use in time of war?

That hardly arises out of the question on the Paper.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he can hold out any hope that the aerodrome which spoils the beauty of Stonehenge will be pulled down?

The retention of the aerodrome at Stonehenge has been the subject of very careful consideration, as the Air Council are in full sympathy with the desire that existing disfigurements in the neighbourhood of Stonehenge should be removed at the earliest moment possible. This station is, however, of great importance to the Royal Air Force owing to its proximity to Larkhill and other artillery camps, and until an alternative arrangement can be found the aerodrome will have to remain. Every endeavour will be made to provide suitable accommodation elsewhere, and when this has been done the buildings will be removed.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman see his way to remove the disfigurement in the neighbourhood of Silvertown?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction that is being felt throughout the country with regard to the treatment of ex-service men and soldiers detained in mental hospitals; whether he is aware of the serious allegations which are being made against the Lord Derby Hospital, at Winwick, in particular; and whether, in the interests of both hospitals and patients, he will arrange for an impartial inquiry to be held into the whole question?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on the 18th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Ashford, and to the statement made by my right hon. Friend (Sir A. Williamson) on the 23rd February during the Debate on the Army Vote on Account.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are no less than 3,700 of these men suffering from shell shock, and cannot something be done for them?

asked the Secretary of State for War if the United Services Fund no longer makes grants to ex-soldiers; and what is the amount remaining in the fund and how is it proposed it shall be distributed?

Grants to individual soldiers have ceased, but grants to institutions concerned with the welfare of ex-service men and their dependants are being continued. The total sum of money available for the Fund cannot be stated pending the realisation of the surplus assets of Army Canteens. I may add that information regarding the United Services Fund, which is an organisation independent of Public Departments, can be obtained on direct application to Lord Byng, at the offices of the Fund, 29, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, S.W.7.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot say how much remains, can he say how much has been expended?

That is not in the question, but if the hon. Gentleman will apply to the officers of the Fund they will give all the information possible; it is very important to keep this matter detached from the Government Departments.

Should questions affecting this Fund be addressed to the War Office?

At present they should be addressed to the War Office; it is not yet finally settled whether or not some other Minister shall be responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the serious dissatisfaction which exists among the soldiers in the concentration camp, Heidar Pacha, Constantinople, Army of the Black Sea; whether a large number of these men are in hospital suffering from frost bitten feet; whether some have committed suicide in consequence of the bad state of affairs in this camp; and, if not, will he cause inquiries to be made into the same?

No information of this nature has reached me, but I have cabled for a report, and will acquaint the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Secretary of State for War if 10 British officers are now at Shanghai in charge of repatriated coolies of the Chinese labour corps; when will these officers be able to return to this country; and what sum is fixed by the Government for their maintenance while at Shanghai?

Authority has been given for these officers to return to England either via Suez or via Canada, and it is not anticipated that any considerable delay will occur in their embarking as soon as their duties in China are completed. Arrangements have also been made for the Command Paymaster at Hong Kong to issue advances of pay and detention allowance to them while waiting at Shanghai.

What is the amount of the detention allowance allowed to these officers?

I have not got the amount with me, but I shall be very glad to communicate it to the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

asked the Prime Minister what policy the Government pursue in selecting Committees of Inquiry; and why, on the Standing Committee on Trusts, half the members are Socialists?

I have been asked to reply. The members of the various sub-committees appointed for the purpose of conducting investigations under the Profiteering Act are selected from the Central Committee and also from others possessing a technical knowledge of the trade to be investigated. I am not aware that half the members of the Committee on Trusts are Socialists.

asked the Prime Minister what is the value of all foodstuffs which His Majesty's Government has already sent to Germany, and the value of foodstuffs which are still under contract for delivery?

The value of all foodstuffs, which are duly paid for, actually delivered to Germany on February 13th, 1920, was £15,149,667, while the value of the contracts still to be delivered on the same date was £655,473.

Do the figures for foodstuffs include linseed oil and all other fats?

I presume so; but I dc not know.

How is this £15,000,000 paid, and in what form is it received?

As the House knows, by the conditions of the Treaty, liberty was given to Germany to use a certain amount of assets to procure the necessary commodities, and this is paid for out of those assets.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take an early opportunity of informing the House as to the stocks of meat, sugar, and butter now held by the Government of this country or by the Governments of other countries on its behalf, and the reasons which pre vent these stocks being made immediately available for consumption?

I have been asked to reply. The total recorded stock of butter in the United Kingdom on the 1st February was 12,000 tons. Of this, 10,900 tons was m the hands of the Ministry of Food, the balance consisting chiefly of butter In Ireland. The stock of imported meat on the same date was 142,000 tons, of which 115,000 tons were in the hands of the Ministry of Food or the Board of Trade. The stock of sugar in bond, as returned by His Majesty's Customs, was 286,000 tons, but the amount now held by the Sugar Commission is considerably under this figure. Stocks of meat awaiting shipment from the Colonies are large, and at the present moment supplies are ample. Butter, when obtained, is brought to this country as speedily as possible. Sugar supplies require to be carefully husbanded in view of the present high prices and the uncertain outlook.

Would the hon. Member answer the last part of the question?

Answer.

I cannot answer without notice.

Is it not a fact that there are thousands of tons of frozen meat at present in ships lying in the ports of this country, that those ports are congested, and that there is a large available supply of frozen meat in the Colonies awaiting shipment; and why cannot this supply be released for home consumption?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will address that question to the representative of the Food Controller when he is able to be present.

I will put a question to-morrow about it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Prime Minister, to whom the question is addressed, and ask if he will endeavour to be in his place on Wednesday next week?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that at the present time there is active speculation in business property in all parts of the country: that shops and warehouses and other properties are being sold at inflated prices without the knowledge of the tenants, who are being compelled to remove, often unnecessarily, at great expense, involving considerable dislocation in the business of many communities; and whether, having regard to the prejudicial effect of this speculation on the revival of trade and commerce, he is prepared to introduce legislation to deal with the question?

I cannot add anything to what has already been said on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister if the Allied Governments will consent to the publication of the Report of the Commission on the events following the Greek landing in Smyrna; and, if not, will he state the reason?

It is considered that the publication of the Report would increase the difficulties connected with the Smyrna situation.

Will my right hon. Friend consider whether this House is not deserving of being put into possession of that information, which every native in Smyrna has got?

I was not aware that the natives of Smyrna had that information. I do not believe the report which has been circulated.

In view of the varying accounts of what took place, would it not be much better to say that we should have an authentic report of what actually took place?

The answer which I have given expresses the view of the Government. In the meantime, in view of the difficulties connected with a settlement of Smyrna, the publication of this Report is not advisable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since the decision come to by H.M. Government and the Allied Governments not to publish the Report an alleged account of the incident has been issued by Moslem propagandists and has been distributed throughout the Moslem world, and does that not affect the decision originally come to by the Allied Governments?

I was not aware of what my Noble Friend has said; but if it is the case that incorrect statements are being circulated to the Moslem world, it is only right that we should consider it.

I will send the right hon. Gentleman a copy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of Members of this House have received an account, sent them from Moslem sources, regarding these atrocities, and we do not know whether they are true or false?

That may be so, but it does not affect the wisdom of the Government's decision. The settlement of Smyrna is one of the things that is being decided now by the Supreme Council, and in the view of the Allies the publication of that report would make the position of the Allies more difficult.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what Foreign Powers loans have been made, and in respect of each loan the amount loaned, the rate of interest, the conditions of repayment, the amount repaid, and also, if any further loans are contemplated, the amount in each case?

With regard to the earlier parts of this question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle North. No further loans are contemplated except in special cases for urgent relief, but some further sums may be required under existing commitments in respect of War purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the reasons why he has approved of the Government taking 1,450,000 of the British Cellulose Company's preference shares rather than insist upon the company's property being sold and the Government's investment therein, made during the War, repaid; what justification the Government has for taking part in the industry of film producing; (2) under what circumstances the Government became financially interested in the British Cellulose Company, Limited, and to what extent and upon what terms?

Under agreements made during the War with the British Cellulose Company for the production of acetate of cellulose the Ministry of Munitions contracted to advance to the company a proportion of its expenditure on plant and buildings for the purpose. Towards the end of 1918 arrangements were made to secure these advances, amounting to £1,250,000 in addition to a loan of £200,000, on the security of the company's power plant, by debentures on the understanding that the company would make an issue of preference shares in order to provide itself with the necessary working capital for the development of its peace business.

Experience has shown, however, that in these circumstances it would not be possible for the company to raise the necessary funds to continue its undertaking, and accordingly, after very careful consideration and as part of a scheme for the reconstruction of the company, I approved the proposal of the Minister of Munitions to take 1,450,0007½ per cent. accumulative participating preference shares in place of the existing mortgage and debentures. It is a condition of this arrangement that in case of war the Government shall have the right to take control of the management of the factory for the purpose of producing munitions, and that the company unreservedly abandons certain large claims put forward by them in connection with their transactions with the Government during the War. The alternative suggested by the hon. Member, namely, the liquidation of a new industry, which is essential in war and which under peace conditions may, I hope, prove to be of great benefit to this country, would not, in my opinion, have been in the best interests of the nation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the fact that two Government directors applied for 1,450,000 shares is being used by the company as a means of inducing other people to take shares?

We took the shares in view of our prior lien charge. We believe that will be in the interests of the country both as a creditor of the Company and because it will facilitate the establishment of this industry here. We put two directors on the company to watch over the public money which has been invested.

Has not this company made large profits during the War, and could the right hon. Gentleman not consider the possibility of the company paying off its liabilities to the Government?

We considered that, arid we found it was not possible for the Government to do it.

Is there any precedent for the action which the right hon. Gentleman took?

Yes, certainly. There are other cases during the War where similar action has been taken.

Is it not a fact that they are starting operations and manufacturing goods made by competing firms in this country?

I should be much obliged if the hon. Member would address a question of that kind to the Minister of Munitions, who is primarily responsible, although he could not act without the Treasury consent. I have acted on the advice of the Minister of Munitions, and I have satisfied myself that this advice was well founded.

What as to the profits of the company?

I inquired as to the profits of the company, and satisfied myself, in conversations I had with the Minister of Munitions and others, that it was not possible for the company to pay off our debentures or to raise capital with our debentures as a prior charge.

How much cash did the vendors and promoters take out of the company, and if they could take cash out, why could they not pay the Government?

Obviously the hon. Member ought to give notice of that question.

I did yesterday put it, and got no reply.

If it is put down to the Minister of Munitions, I see no reason why it should not be answered.

I put it to him yesterday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the total sum received by the Government from the various football clubs in the United Kingdom by way of entertainment tax since the 1st day of September, 1919; whether such sum has been collected by the clubs from the public and paid over without any cost to the Government; whether he is aware that the collection and subsequent preparation of accounts entail considerable additional clerical labour on the clubs; and Whether, having regard to the circumstances and the large amount of revenue received, he will favourably consider whether some small percentage, say 2½ per cent., can be allowed to the clubs to cover the, additional expenses to which they are put in collecting and remitting the, tax and preparation of accounts?

I regret that the figures requested in the first part of the Question are not available. I see no reason to depart from the invariable rule that no payments of commission should be made in connection with the collection of Excise revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the shrinkage of capital sustained by a large section of the population who obeyed the Government's appeals to transfer their investments from private and public companies to Government loans, and who have suffered loss as a reward for their patriotism; arid if he will say what action he proposes to take?

Government securities cannot be exempt from temporary fluctuations of market value, which also affect securities generally. It can hardly be regarded as surprising that during the early stages of reconstruction the demands for money and the consequent high interest rates which borrowers are willing to pay should reflect themselves in a fall in the market quotations of stocks and bonds with a fixed yield.

Will the Treasury or any other Government Department accept payment in these bonds at their face value?

We will accept payment in those loans of which that was a condition of the issue.