asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps that the old or infirm persons who were members of approved societies at the date of the passing of the National Insurance Act be put in possession of the vouchers entitling them to medical attendance and treatment on the same terms as to remuneration as those arranged with respect to insured persons, as required by Section 15 (2) (e) of the National Insurance Act?

The Regulations issued by the Commissioners provide for the issue of the vouchers referred to.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet made any arrangements for giving extra remuneration to Post Office servants in respect of the extra work and responsibility imposed upon them under the provisions of the National Insurance Act; and if he can now make a statement on the subject?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the replies given to questions on this subject on the 6th and 16th instant.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury in how many instances existing medical institutions or associations have been approved under Section 15 (4) of the National Insurance Act; and in how many cases medical treatment is provided by the rules of such associations for dependants as well as for insured persons?

One hundred and nine systems and institutions have been approved. With one exception, the rules provide for the treatment of dependants.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the estimated total acreage of land in Ireland now subject to the jurisdiction of the Land Judge?

The registrar of the Land Judge's Court informs me that this information is not available, and to supply it would involve an investigation into the area of land comprised in every order of the Court for sale made since the institution of the Incumbered Estates Commission in 1849 down to the present time. The value of the information when obtained would be out of all proportion to the trouble and expense involved.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, previous to the purchase by the Congested Districts Board of the Hayes estate, county Donegal, the tenants had entered into agreements with the landlord, with the knowledge of the Board, for an immediate sale at a reduction of 7s. in the £; and, if so, will he explain why the Board do not regard this arrangement as subsisting between the tenants and themselves?

The Congested Districts Board have no knowledge that the tenants on the estate of the late Sir E. F. Hayes had entered into agreements with their landlord for the purchase of their holdings on the terms mentioned. Before the Board agreed to purchase the property three-fourths of the tenants signed an agreement to purchase their holdings at prices that would mean a reduction of 7s. and 8s. in the £, but that, pending the sale of their holdings to them, the present rents and conditions of tenancy should continue. The tenants in occupation of agricultural holdings will, notwithstanding this agreement, receive, after the payment of one year's full rent, certain abatements of subsequent demands for rent.

asked the Chief Secretary if the principal teacher of the Irish national school, Roll No. 4,414, whose promotion to first division of first class dates from the 1st April, 1892, has been admitted to the establishment of first of first class in the pension office; if this teacher, on being promoted to the first section of first grade last year, was informed that, owing to the rule relating to standard numbers, no increase of salary could be given; if teachers with less service than the teacher in question, who were promoted to the same grade from 1903 to 1908, received an immediate increase in salary according to Rule 105 (a); and, if the Treasury allowed this rule to be observed during the years mentioned, can he state on what principle it is now violated as regards the teacher referred to in the question?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that Mr. Michael Quigley, the teacher referred to, was placed in the first division of the first class from 1st April, 1891. He qualified for promotion to the first section of the first grade on 1st April, 1912, but owing to the limitation of the number of masters entitled to receive salary at the rate attached to that grade, and as the number fixed has now been reached, it has not been possible for the Commissioners to grant him the corresponding increase of salary up to the present. The other teachers referred to who were promoted between 1903 and 1908 received immediate increases of salary under the terms of Rule 105 (a) because there were then vacancies in the first section of the first grade.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the South Dublin Rural District Council with reference to the housing of the labourers in certain portions of that district, namely, Palmerston, Crumlin, Rathfarnham, and Clondalkin; whether many houses in those places are overcrowded and are, in consequence, a menace to the health of the inhabitants of the localities generally and have been so described by the medical officers of health; if so, whether that circumstance has been taken into account by the Local Government Board for Ireland in refusing to hold immediately an inquiry into the scheme for the provision of additional dwellings formulated by the district council; and whether, if the entire scheme appears to the Local Government Board to be too large to be inquired into at once with a view to immediate action, so much at least of it as proposes the replacement of insanitary dwellings by new cottages will be immediately considered?

My attention has been called to the resolution referred to, and the council have been informed that in view of the fact that 476 cottages have already been provided in the South Dublin Rural District, and having regard to the limited fund provided by the Act of 1911, the Local Government Board are unable at present to direct an inquiry into any portion of the council's scheme. In order to secure an equitable allocation of the additional million provided by the Labourers Act of 1911 due regard must be had to the extent to which the Labourers Acts have already been put into operation in the different rural districts the councils of which are applying for authority to provide additional cottages. The order, therefore, in which inquiries will be held into schemes lodged with the Board will not be regulated by the dates of lodgment but by the necessities of the different districts for housing accommodation, taking into account the number of labourers' cottages already provided in each district and the total number of agricultural labourers in the district.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether in July last the Admiralty granted nine days' leave to chargemen of three years' service; and, if so, whether this concession I may be granted to chargemen of the Works Department at Portsmouth?

The answer to the first part of the Noble Lord's question is in the affirmative. The case of the charge-men in the Works Department is under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the cost or the approximate cost per head per day of the messing allowance to the men of the lower deck?

The men receive either (a) a daily ration (value, including rum, about 6d.) and a messing allowance of 4d. a day; or (b) a victualling allowance of 9½d. a day plus spirit ration. In either case they can receive grog money in lieu of spirit ration (a little over ½d. a day).

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that none of the money offered by the Federated Malay States will be spent until this House has had an opportunity of accepting or declining that offer?

The offer has, as the House knows, already been accepted by the Government, the contract has been settled, and the construction of the vessel will be at once proceeded with. I am confident that the House will support the Government in taking these steps.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been directed to the fact that the postmaster at Northampton has asked the parish council of Earl's Barton to consent to the proposal to close the post office at that place for half a day on Thursdays, and that the council has protested against this proposal; if he is aware that Earl's Barton has about 3,000 inhabitants, and that it would therefore inconvenience a number of people, especially poor people, if it were made impossible to purchase postage stamps on part of one day of the week; and if he will consider the protest of the Earl's Barton council on the subject which has already been addressed to the North-ampton postmaster?

The Earl's Barton post office has been closed from 1 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Thursdays since April, 1911, with the consent of the parish council. The council were recently consulted about continuing the half-holiday after 5.30 p.m., but as the sub-postmaster wished to keep his shop open from 5.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. the arrangement made in 1911 has not been extended.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the question of a reduction in the cable rates to the West Indies is under consideration; and if not, whether he will look into the matter?

The question is receiving consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the embargo on Irish hay has yet been removed; and, if not, when the restrictions will be withdrawn?

An Order has been issued and will come into operation tomorrow removing the restrictions at present imposed upon the importation of Irish hay and straw into Great Britain.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many rating authorities in Scotland have decided to grant exemption from payment of rates on the ground of poverty under the House Letting and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1911; and if he can state the names of the various rating authorities, so far as he has the information in his possession?

I have not official information which would enable me to give an authoritative and complete list of rating authorities which have decided to grant exemptions from rates on the ground of poverty to occupiers of I small dwelling-houses which fall under the j House Letting and Rating Act, but I understand that a number of authorities have so decided, including the Town Councils of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the County I Council of Lanarkshire, and parish councils in that county, and the parish council of Paisley.