asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention had been called to the case tried before the Recorder of Dublin, on the 13th instant, in which William Lamb, late a Head Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary, sued Dr. Ashe, Resident Medical Superintendent of the Criminal Lunatic Asylum at Dundrum, to recover damages for an alleged assault committed while an inmate of the Asylum; whether, according to the evidence as reported in The Freeman's Journal of the 14th inst, Dr. Ashe stated,

"On the occasion of the bath, Lamb was stripped, his feet tied, and he was plunged in the bath for 10 seconds, and then, after an interval, for 10 seconds more;"

whether it is a fact that Lamb was plunged under the water head downwards, and held there by the warders; whether this was done as a punishment for refusing to go to church; whether a similar case occurred at the Limerick Asylum in 1873, when a patient named Danford came to his death from submersion in the bath; whether, on that occasion, as stated at page 63 of the 23rd Report on Irish Asylums, the warder who administered the bath was tried for homicide; but, as eight months had elapsed, and no Coroner's inquest had taken place, a conviction could not be had; whether the Resident Medical Superintendent who ordered the bath was called on by the Lord Lieutenant to resign, and did so; and, if the facts are as stated, what course will be taken with regard to Dr. Ashe?

(who replied) said: I am informed that the facts are not as stated in the Question. The man's head was not held downwards in the bath, and the punishment was inflicted, not for refusing to go to church, but for creating disturbances in church. He brought an action for damages against the Resident Medical Superintendent of the Asylum; but it was dismissed, with costs against the plaintiff; and the Recorder, who tried the action, made some complimentary references to the manner in which the Asylum, was conducted. The incident in the Limerick Asylum was altogether dissimilar. However, the question of punishing lunatics by plunging into cold water is under consideration.

said, it was given in evidence that this man's head was held downwards under water for 10 seconds, and again for 10 seconds a second time.

said, he understood the man's head was not held downwards; but he believed his head was held under water.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, referring to the case of Lamb v. Ashe, recently tried before the Recorder of Dublin, the rules made by the Lord Lieutenant in Council for the "good conduct and management of District and Criminal Lunatic Asylums in Ireland," sanction the employment of the cold plunge bath as a means of punishment, as stated in the evidence given in above case; and, whether the employment of such punishment is a distinct violation of Rule xviii. of said Rules?

(who replied) said: The punishment was sanctioned by the Privy Council; but the question is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Acting Administrator of the Gambia has appointed Dr. F. H. Spilsbury, Colonial Surgeon, to be the Acting Chief Magistrate of that Settlement; whether that gentleman has had the legal training necessary to perform the duties of that office; whether, when he was invested with similar functions on a previous occasion, grave complaints were made by suitors and others; whether there is any officer of the Government who has been called to the Bar; and, if so, why he was not appointed; and, whether it is true that the Assistant Colonial Surgeon is about to leave for the Gold Coast; and, if so, who is to perform his duties in the absence of Dr. Spilsbury?

Dr. Spilsbury was appointed acting Chief Magistrate; but the Administrator has since been directed to offer the post to Mr. Maxwell, the Queen's Advocate, whose office it has been found necessary, for reasons of economy, to abolish. It is not known that Dr. Spilsbury has had any regular legal training; but he has acted as Chief Magistrate to the satisfaction of the Government on previous occasions; and the Memorial which was sent in against his appointment, in September last, was not of such a character as to induce my Predecessor to alter the arrangement, which appeared to be the best possible under the circumstances of the Settlement. The selection of officers to fill acting appointments is necessarily left to the discretion of the Local Government, and in small Colonies like the Gambia the choice is very limited. I have no information of the reasons which induced the Acting Administrator to appoint Dr. Spilsbury instead of Mr. Maxwell. the Assistant Colonial Surgeon has been transferred to the service of the Gold Coast Colony; and the question of the best mode of providing for the medical requirements of the Gambia is under my consideration, and will be decided upon before any leave, if asked for, is granted to Dr. Spilsbury.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the only Export Duty levied on Indian produce is a duty of three annas per maund levied on all rice exported from India, and which, at present prices, is equivalent to 12½ per centum ad valorem on Burmah rough rice; whether the repeal, in 1873, of the Export Duty on wheat was followed by a large and steady increase in the export of wheat; and, whether Her Majesty's Government contemplate the repeal of, or any reduction in, the Export Duty now levied on Indian rice?

Yes; but according to a calculation made in the India Office, the rate is about 7 per cent, not 12½ per cent. The Secretary of State regrets that, for the present, the state of the Indian finances does not admit of a repeal of the Export Duty on rice.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If Mrs. Berry, and her illegitimate son, James Brooks, have been inmates of the Armagh Workhouse since the appointment of David Brooks to the office of Master of that workhouse on the 5th instant; if David Brooks be the same person who was decreed, at the Easter Quarter Sessions held at Armagh, for the seduction of this woman Berry or Vallely; and, if so, whether the appointment of David Brooks as Master of the Armagh Workhouse will be confirmed?

(who replied) said: Elizabeth Berry and her children were inmates of the Armagh Workhouse since the 5th instant; but they are not there at present. As regards the case of Brooks, the Local Government Board are in communication with the Board of Guardians on the subject.

asked the Lord Advocate, Whether his attention has been drawn to a Memorial, dated June, 1883, presented by the fishery officers of Scotland to the Fishery Board of Scotland, and to the reply of the Fishery Board to this Memorial, declining to recommend any improvement in the condition of the fishery officers, and also declining to allow any application to be made to the Secretary for Scotland; whether additional duties have since been imposed upon the fishery officers—namely, monthly Returns of all fish caught on the sea-board of Scotland, duties under the Sea Fisheries (Scotland) Amendment Act, 14th August, 1885, s. 7, and the administration of £20,000 for the benefit of crofter fishermen, thrown upon the Fishery Board by the Crofters' Bill; and, whether, in consideration of the facts, that no alteration in the remuneration of the fishery officers has been made since 1861 (except some minor alterations affecting some seven stations only in 1877), that the duties of the fishery officers since 1861 have greatly increased, that the cost of living has also largely increased, and that the increased duties of the fishery officers places a considerable surplus at the disposal of the National Exchequer annually, he is prepared to recommend that the position of the fishery officers of Scotland be investigated, with a view to an adequate increase of salary and allowances?

My attention has been called to the Memorial referred to, and to the answer given by the Fishery Board to it. I am not, however, aware that the Board declined to allow any application to be made to the Secretary for Scotland; I believe they only said that they did not see their way to make any recommendation to the Secretary for Scotland. With reference to the additional duties imposed by the Sea Fisheries and Crofters Acts, in the Estimates for 1887-8 there is an extra Vote, for travelling and incidental expenses, of £255. An inquiry having recently been made into this matter, the Secretary for Scotland is not prepared to recommend any further investigation in the meantime; but should it be found, after experience of the working of these two Acts, that the additional duties imposed on the fishery officers are very heavy, the Secretary for Scotland will then be prepared to consider whether the matter should not again be brought before the Treasury for their Lordships' consideration.

asked the Postmaster General, If large quantities of letters recently sent through the post, containing matter relating to the Imperial Institute, are stamped with the words "official paid;" whether ordinary prepaid letters have merely the word "paid" so stamped; whether the words "official paid" always mean that money has been actually received by the Post Office for the postage of all the letters on which these words are stamped; if not, what is the exact ordinary meaning of the words "official paid," when used by the Post Office Department; and, whether such words have not, in some cases, been used to mark letters which have been sent through the post without any money payment?

In reply to the hon. Gentleman, I beg to state that the Imperial Institute pays for its postage; but that instead of paying letter by letter an account is kept, and rendered quarterly, of the postage on the whole correspondence emanating from the office of the Imperial Institute. This correspondence is marked "official paid," to indicate that no charge is to be collected on delivery. There are two stamps in use—one being the "official paid" stamp, and the other the "paid" stamp. The latter stamp is only used when a large number of letters or circulars are posted at one time, and the amount of postage is paid at the time of posting. In the result, it makes no difference to the Revenue which stamp is used.

asked whether any quarterly account had yet been made up and paid?

said, he was not aware; but he would make inquiry if the hon. Gentleman gave Notice of a Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War, with reference to a statement made in the House on the 5th March, 1886, by the then Secretary of State for War, that there is a special reserve for Quartermasters of a proportion of the grant for distinguished or meritorious service, If he can now state to the House what is the amount reserved for the Quarter- masters of the Royal Artillery, and for how many of these officers?

At the present time, 1-14th of the sum reserved for the Royal Artillery is assigned to officers of that corps commissioned from the ranks. I do not, however, feel satisfied that this is a satisfactory arrangement, and I will undertake to make an inquiry into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the arrest of William Burch, Patsy Breen, and William Naish, Militiamen on the Island of Jersey, and reported in The Jersey Advertiser for the 16th March, 1887; whether the law provides that judgment may be given by default; and, if so, whether such arrests were legal; whether information has reached him that strong opposition prevails amongst the working men upon the Island to compulsory military service, and that a great number of the inhabitants are fined and imprisoned for refusing to attend drill; and, whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Civil Commissioner to inquire into the working of the Militia Law on the Island?

(who replied) said: No, Sir; I have no information as to the particular cases quoted, and cannot express an opinion as to the legality of the arrests. Under the Militia Law of 1881 persons who failed to attend when summoned are liable to a fine; and on the third default, if the fine is not paid, they may be imprisoned for four days. The law provides for exemption from drill in special cases. Although some complaints have been received at the Home Office, I have no reason to believe that the feeling against compulsory service is general in the Island; or that a great number of persons are fined or imprisoned for declining to serve. The present Militia Law was passed on the Report of a Committee sent by the War Office to the Channel Islands in 1879; and I do not think any further inquiry necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, "Whether the Regulations under which the labour traffic in the Pacific is now carried on are to be found in any Papers already presented to Parliament; or, if not, whether he will present them; whether breaches of those Regulations by vessels belonging to the various Australian Colonies, and other offences committed by the crews of those vessels, when committed beyond the territorial limits of the Colony, are now exclusively triable by Her Majesty's High Commissioners for the Western Pacific, or are dealt with by the Colonial Judicatures; and, whether Her Majesty's Government have departed from the intention that offences committed by Natives against British subjects should always be dealt with by that Commission, and have approved a reversion to the system of dealing with them by act of war against tribes and peoples, as in some recent cases?

Two Colonies employ Polynesian labourers—Fiji and Queensland. The Fiji Ordinances and Regulations were given to Parliament in 1878 (Parliamentary Paper, 111). Those relating to Queensland have not been given; but could be given if the hon. Member thinks it desirable to move for them. Speaking generally, Regulations made under Colonial Acts have no effect beyond Colonial waters, except as being conditions under which licenses are granted and enforceable by forfeiture of the licensee's bonds; but any acts amounting to criminal offences committed on the high seas, or elsewhere, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty by the crews of vessels belonging to the various Australasian Colonies are, by the Act 12 & 13 Viet. c. 96, triable in the Courts of any British Colony, or in the High Commissioners' Court, and some cases have been dealt with in the Supreme Court of Queensland. There has been no departure from any intention such as that described in the Question. The hon. Member will find the object of the High Commission accurately described in extracts from a Memorandum written by Sir Arthur Gordon in 1881, which were given to Parliament in 1883, C3,641 pp. 28 to 31. He will there see that the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner extends only to British subjects; and that the High Commissioner has no authority whatever to deal, whether judicially or in his executive capacity, with the offences of natives not under the dominion of the Crown; and that the Law Officers have invariably advised that insuperable obstacles exist to any assumption of jurisdiction by Her Majesty over other than British subjects.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government will submit to Parliament any Papers showing the circumstances under which the Government of the day were induced to grant a Territorial Charter to the Royal Niger Company, the extent of the territories and protectorates now claimed and possessed by that Company, the progress they have made in establishing government and jurisdiction, the fiscal system and commercial tariffs which they have established, their relations with neighbouring Native Powers, and the degree to which they have reconciled the sovereignty of a Trading Company with free trade or the contrary?

The request of the hon. Member is reasonable. I will, as soon as possible, lay upon the Table Papers on the subject. I cannot pledge myself to all the details of the Question; but the House shall be fully informed.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the County Inspector of Constabulary, County Armagh, some two years ago held an investigation into certain charges preferred against Sergeant Moloney, now of Mount Norris; and, whether the County Inspector was so satisfied of the truth of the charges that he caused the transfer of Sergeant Moloney to another station; and, if so, whether the Government will consider the advisability of having him removed from Mount Norris to some other station, having regard to former charges made against him there?

(who replied), said: It is true that in March, 1885, an investigation was held at Mount Norris into charges made against Sergeant Moloney. The charges could not, however, be substantiated; but the Sergeant was removed from that station in the interests of the Service, but not as a punishment. I am informed that Sergeant Moloney has now been sent to Mount Norris simply to take temporary charge under unavoidable circumstances.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he can state the number of the counties in Ireland, "being in a state of disturbance," in which Resident Magistrates appointed under the 6&7 Vict. c. 13, s. 31, are now doing duty; the names of the counties for which Resident Magistrates have been appointed "owing to the absence or non-residence of a magistrate in the county;" and the number of counties in which Resident Magistrates are now residing "for any other sufficient cause;" and, whether he will mention what these "sufficient causes" are?

(who replied) said: I can only say that, as Resident Magistrates at present serving in Ireland have been appointed by successive Goments since 1857, it would be extremely difficult to prepare the Return; and, as the Return would prove of no great practical utility, the Government will not undertake to give it.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, When the Select Committee on Saving Life at Sea, promised several weeks ago, will be nominated?

In answer to the hon. and gallant Member, I have to say that the Committee will be nominated immediately.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact that the Grand Jury of the County Wicklow reduced the amount passed at the Presentment Sessions for the maintenance of the Wicklow County Infirmary; whether he will inquire into the grounds for the reduction; and, whether it is a fact that the Board of Governors of the Infirmary recently refused to allow the Secretary of the Grand Jury to act as a member of the Board?

(who replied) said: The relations between the Grand Jury and the Governors of the County Infirmary are matters in which the Government cannot interfere. I have, however, been informed that the facts as stated are substantially correct; but it is not proposed to make any further inquiry into the matter.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether a Despatch was received by the Secretary of State for India, in or about September last, on the subject of the grievances complained of by the Un-covenanted Service in India; and, whether it is true that the Government of India has made recommendations for changes in the condition of the Un-covenanted Service as to length of service for pensions, leave counting as service, a graduated scale of pensions, or any other matters; and, if so, whether he will lay the Despatch, and any Correspondence which has taken place on the subject, before the House?

The facts, as indicated in the Question, are correct; but as the Correspondence is not complete, no Papers can at present be laid on the Table.

asked the Secretary of State for War, What was the original cost of the material of the Suakin-Berber Railway; for what purpose was it subsequently employed, and where; and, where is it at the present moment?

(who replied) said: The original cost of the materials for the Suakin Railway was £315,000. Of the materials returned from Suakin, or not sent out, of which the aggregate cost was about £320,000, stores to the value of £30,000 had been issued for the use of various departments. The remaining plant had been stored at Woolwich, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chatham, Lydd, and Strensall, with a view to its being employed at those stations in the construction of military railways as funds became available. One of those railways was under construction at Plymouth, and one at Chatham would be commenced this year. Steps were being taken to dispose of all surplus materials, and some part of them had been already sold.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he can now give the House any information as to the Ruby Mines in Burmah; whether any contract or arrangement has been made, or is in the course of being made, with any, and what, person or persons, and on what conditions; and, whether more than one person or firm has been permitted to inspect the mines, with the view to any contract?

No further information has been received since the date of my last answer to the hon. Member on the 17th of February, and I am not aware that any contract has been, or is being, made. There is no objection to the inspection of the mines by any persons interested; but I believe that the representatives of no firm other than that of Messrs Streeter have visited the mines.

asked whether there was any truth in the statement published in the Press, that Messrs. Streeter had entered into such a contract?

said, he was not able to say. There were so many rumours and statements in newspapers that were found to be untrue that he should advise hon. Members to suspend their judgment for the present.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether his attention has been called to an article, which appeared in The Times of the 13th instant, explanatory of a scheme submitted by Colonel Crease, C.B., E.M.A., for the conversion of the whole Royal Marine Corps into Marine Artillery; whether this proposition of Colonel Crease's is being at present considered by the Board of Admiralty; and, whether he has any objection to lay Colonel Crease's complete scheme upon the Table of the House, so that Members may have the opportunity of making themselves acquainted with a proposition which, while claiming to save some £18,000 a-year in the Naval Estimates, seems likely to prove advantageous to the Service and to the country?

A scheme for the conversion of the whole Royal Marine Corps into Royal Marine Artillery has been forwarded by Colonel Crease, and is under examination by the Admiralty. I am informed that this examination has made clear that the scheme will not fulfil the promise of economy claimed for it. It is not usual, and would not in this case be advantageous to the Service, to officially publish an inchoate scheme of this kind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether gas or electric light is the illuminant of D'Ailly lighthouse; whether the fog signal is sounded by gas, as in the Irish lighthouses of Howth Baily, Poolbeg, and Mew Island, and the Scotch lighthouses of Langness Point and Ailsa Craig, or steam; whether, if the former, it could have been sounded in one minute after the commencement of the fog, as compared with one hour required to get up steam for the latter; and, whether the facility with which gas-sounded fog signals can be put into immediate action is one of the advantages of the gas system of illuminating lighthouses?

Gas-sounded fog signals can, of course, be put into immediate action; but I would point out to the hon. Member that his Question relates to a lighthouse not under the control of the Board of Trade, but under that of the French Authorities, and that I cannot, therefore, give him any official answer. If, however, the hon. Member will call at the Board of Trade he is welcome to see any information which the Department possesses respecting this lighthouse.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether a military officer, whatever his rank, serving in India, can obtain leave of absence for three months on urgent private affairs; and, whether a member of the Executive Council of Bombay can obtain leave of absence on urgent private affairs for three months?

(who replied) said: Any military officer in India, except a Commander-in-Chief, can obtain, if the exigencies of the Service permit, three months' leave on urgent private affairs. A member of the Executive Council of Bombay cannot obtain such leave; but he can obtain six months' sick leave, if necessary.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a communication inclosing a Resolution of sympathy and condolence with the Reverend Mathew Ryan, C.C., was forwarded by the Tipperary Board of Guardians to that reverend gentleman at Kilmainham Prison, where he is at present confined; whether said communication was withheld from Father Ryan by the prison authorities; whether, subsequently, Father Ryan having learned of such a Resolution, sent an acknowledgment thanking the Guardians in reply; and, whether this communication was also withheld by the prison officials, who refused to forward it; and, if so, will he state on what grounds or by what authority the prison officials acted in withholding these communications?

(who replied) said: the communications referred to were detained under the Regulations governing the Correspondence of prisoners, who, though allowed full liberty to write or receive letters upon private matters, are not permitted to discuss questions of a public or Party character.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that Mr. Jeremiah Hegarty, a magistrate, of Mill-street, Cork, was shot at and seriously wounded on Saturday, the 16th instant; if he will narrate the circumstances that preceded the attempted murder; and, if any person or persons have been apprehended for the crime? I also wish, to know whether it is the fact, as stated in The Times of this morning, that Mr. Hegarty has written a letter in which he says—

"I have no hesitation in attributing this outrage to the slanderous attacks made on me by The Cork Herald and by Dr. Tanner."

Before that Question is answered, I wish to ask you, Sir, whether it is in Order for the hon. Member opposite to read from a newspaper, in the form of a Question, a quotation which every Member must see casts a grave reflection on a Member of this House? I ask, you, Sir, if it is in Order?

I have not seen the terms of the latter part of the Question, which is put by the hon. Member on his own responsibility. If it should prove to be in Order it ought to be put in the presence of the hon. Member for Mid Cork.

(who replied) said: I am unable to answer the latter part of the Question, which is not on the Notice Paper. But, in reply to the part which appears on the Paper, I have to say that Mr. Hegarty was shot at and wounded as stated. He had proceeded to Cork by a morning train, and returned by the train reaching Millstreet at 8.35 p.m. His son and a servant were awaiting his arrival with his conveyance. On driving out through the gates leading to the road from the railway yard he was fired upon. No arrests have so far been made.

asked, Whether it was true that a large number of policemen were on the road where Mr. Hegarty was shot?

said, he was not aware of that; but he was informed that a large number of suspicious persons were seen on the road.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any arrangements are being made for training, in the service of heavy guns, and the various and complicated stores and war material now in use, the Volunteer Artillery Corps situated at great distances from any suitable forts or fortresses; when are the field guns, promised to Artillery Volunteers, to be issued; and, how many are to be issued, and to what corps?

All Volunteer Artillery situated within a reasonable distance of a port or fortress to be defended are assigned to those posts by the new mobilization scheme. After making every provision for this service there still remain a certain number of corps of Artillery Volunteers, who are mainly assigned to the defence of London. I am disposed to agree with the statement attributed to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Sir Edward Hamley) two days ago, that for tins purpose guns of position would probably be the most useful arm with which to provide them. But I may say generally that I am in favour of arming each corps, so far as its peculiar circumstances and its resources will permit, with the arm best suited to the duties it will have to perform.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the United States of America have yet acceded to the International Industrial Property Convention; and, what States are now parties to it?

I am glad to be able to inform the House that the official notification of the accession of the United States of America to the International Industrial Property Convention was received yesterday from the President of the Swiss Confederation. The following States are now parties to the union:—Belgium, Brazil, Spain, Franco, Guatemala, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Servia, Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden and Norway, Tunis, Dominican Republic, and United States.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether Germany has been invited to join the Convention?

Yes, Sir; but up to the present she has not replied.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether Mr. Sullivan, late Senior Member of Council, Madras, was reported to the Government of Madras by Mr. Crole, then Collector of Madura, for owning an estate at Ootacamund and attempting to sell the same to a Native in the Madura District, in contravention of the Civil Service Covenant; whether Mr. Crole was suspended for one year by the Madras Government; whether the late and the present Secretary of State found, on inquiry, that Mr. Sullivan was in truth dealing in land, and that Mr. Crole was justified in reporting him; whether it was in consequence of the contravention of the Civil Service Covenant that the Secretary of State agreed to accept Mr. Sullivan's resignation; and, is it the intention of the Government to allow Mr. Sullivan to retire on full pension?

Without pledging myself as to the absolute accuracy of the phraseology of the hon. Member, I answer his Questions generally in the affirmative. I must, however, remind him that Mr. Sullivan, as a subscriber to the Madras Civil Fund, was entitled to an annuity out of this fund, on his retirement.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether any Estimate has been made of the cost of the contemplated Jubilee Service in Westminster Abbey; and, if so, whether he will inform the House what that cost will be?

Yes; an Estimate is in preparation; but it has not been definitely determined upon yet. It will be presented to the House in the course of a few days.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in view of the large amount of interest taken in the question of Emigration, the Government will allow the Business on Tuesday, 26th April, to run its ordinary course, so that the discussion upon the Motion first upon the Paper may come on?

I am sorry to say that it is not in my power to accede to the suggestion of my hon. Friend. It may be necessary for the House to proceed with the consideration of the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If, before the Chancellor of the Exchequer disposes of his surplus, the Government will make some provision for technical education, local Colleges, and Welsh intermediate education?

I am somewhat surprised at the Question. It is not usual to deal with Questions of this sort in the Budget speech. If it should appear to the Government to be necessary to make provision for those objects in which the right hon. Member and other Gentlemen take an interest Supplementary Estimates will be presented in the course of the Session on the subject.

I wish to ask the Secretary of State for War a Question of which I have given him private Notice—namely, Whether there is any truth in the statement which appears this morning in The Standard newspaper, that a grave breach of trust has been committed in the communication of official information to a Foreign Government by a subordinate official in the Office of the Ordnance Committee at Woolwich; and, if so, whether the right hon. Gentleman is prepared to give to the House any information which will re-assure it that effectual steps will be taken to prevent such breaches of trus in future?

Yes, Sir; it is a fact that a military clerk in the Office of the Ordnance Committee at Woolwich has been discharged from the Service for communicating information to persons outside the office, though not to a Foreign Government. This course has been taken, not so much on account of the importance of the information, but as a punishment for a grave breach of trust in divulging it. Every possible precaution will be taken to prevent such breaches of trust in the future.

I wish, Sir, with your permission, to ask a Question on a matter arising out of the suspension of my hon. and learned Friend the Member for North Longford (Mr. T. M. Healy). On Friday last my hon. and learned Friend sought admission to this Chamber, and was informed that he could only be admitted to the Strangers' Gallery. I wish to ask whether a suspended Member, during the period of his suspension, is regarded as a stranger, and, if so, whether he is to be regarded as a distinguished stranger; and, whether, Sir, he is eligible for admission to any part of the Chamber usually reserved for persons who are not Members of the House?

In reply to the hon. Gentleman, I have to say that when an hon. Member of this House is suspended from the service of the House, the doorkeepers, acting under general orders, exclude that Member from entering within the outer doors of this Chamber. As a matter of custom, it has been usual to allow the hon. Member so suspended to sit in the Strangers' Gallery. I can assure the hon. Gentleman there has been no distinction made between this case and other previous cases of suspended Members.