Sitting of 7 December 1916

Preamble
The House being met, the CLERK AT THE TABLE informed the House of the unavoidable absence of Mr. SPEAKER from this day's Sitting.
Whereupon Mr. WHITLEY, Chairman of Ways and Means; proceeded to the Table and, after Prayers, took the Chair as Deputy-Speaker, pursuant to the Standing Order.

DISEASES OF ANIMALS ACTS.
Copy presented of Order No. 9,808, dated 29th November, 1916, postponing the operation of the two Orders described in the Schedule thereto until the 1st February, 1917 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.
Copy presented of Order No. 9,806, dated 23rd November, 1916, withdrawing the United States of America from the Second Schedule to the Foreign Animals Order of 1915 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.
Copy presented of Order No. 9,805, dated 23rd November, 1916, entitled the Liverpool (Birkenhead) Foreign Animals Wharf Order of 1916 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.

DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS AND PESTS ACTS.
Copies presented of Orders numbered D.I.P. 421 and 422, inclusive, declaring the respective areas described in the Schedules thereto to be infected with Wart Disease and infected areas for the purposes of the Wart Disease of Potatoes (Infected Areas) Order of 1914 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.
FOOD SUPPLY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
Copy presented of Report of the Physiology (War) Committee of the Royal Society on the Food of the United Kingdom [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
POTATOES (GROWERS' RETURNS) ORDER, 1916.
Copy presented of Order of the Board of Trade, dated 21st November, 1916, made under Regulation 2 G of the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulations, 1914 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.
WASTE OF WHEAT ORDER.
Copy presented of Order of the Board of Trade, dated 25th November, 1916, and made under Regulation 2 F of the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulations, 1914 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN POLICE.
Copy presented of Statistical Tables of the Dublin Metropolitan Police for the year 1915 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
POST OFFICE (FOREIGN AND COLONIAL POST).
Copy presented of the Foreign and Colonial Post (Cash on Delivery) Amendment (No. 13) Warrant, 1916, dated 14th November, 1916 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.
POST OFFICE (MONEY ORDERS).
Copy presented of the Postal Order (Foreign and Colonial) Amendment (No. 1) Regulations, 1916, dated 22nd November, November, 1916 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.
EAST INDIA (INDIAN STUDENTS DEPARTMENT).
Copy presented of the Report on the Work of the Indian Students Department, July, 1915, to June,. 1916 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.

ALIEN ENEMIES IN PROHIBITED AREAS.
Copy presented of Report of a Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for the

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Home Department to review the permits under which Alien Enemies are allowed to reside in prohibited areas, and to advise whether any should be withdrawn [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.

MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.
That they have passed? Bill, intituled, "An Act to make provision for framing a Special Register of electors and to facilitate voting by persons engaged on war service or on munition work at elections of Members of Parliament during the present War." [Parliamentary Register and Elections (War Facilities) Bill [Lords.]

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS.
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I presume that in the existing circumstances, hon.

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Members will not desire me to go through the list of questions in the usual manner. If that be so, I propose to give instructions that the questions appearing on the Order Paper to-day shall be set down for the day on which the House next meets.
Mr. E. HARVEY: On that point can you indicate whether there will be any extension of time on that day, in order—[HON. MEMBERS: "No, no!"]
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: It does not He within my power to alter the existing rule.
Mr. GINNELL: Can you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, give any indication whether the unstarred questions down for that day will be answered in the ordinary course?
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I presume that that depends upon whether or not there is anyone in a position to answer them.
Mr. GULLAND (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury): I beg to move "That this House do now adjourn until Tuesday next."
Question put, and agreed to.
Adjourned accordingly at Seven minutes before Three o'clock until Tuesday next, 12th December.

ENEMY BANKS.
  POSITION OF CREDITORS.
  POSITION OF CREDITORS.