asked the Secretary to the Treasury to if how many persons revised forms Nos. n 269/A. G. D., 269 (a)/A. G. D. 269 (b)/A. G. D., r and 301 (M)/A. G. D., have been issued by the s National Health Insurance Commissioners; the total cost in connection with the same, e including the cost of the issue of the t original forms before revision, and of similar forms issued on behalf of other approved societies; and what steps are taken to insure the suitability of the particular approved society recommended to insured persons in form No. 269/A. G. D. revised and corresponding forms?

The forms referred to (including the revised forms which were necessary in consequence of the expiry of the prescribed time for joining an approved society) have been issued to about 19,000 foreign going seamen, whose cards had been sent to the Commission, to "enable them to state what societies they had joined or whether they wished to become deposit contributors. The forms cost about £18. They were not issued "on behalf of" or with a view to "recommending" any particular society. Form; 269 (original and revised) informs (he seaman that he has a "right to become a member" of the special society formed under Section 48 of the Act, but that "he may join any other approved society if he prefers to do so."

asked how many insured persons live in the districts of Chatteris and Wisbech under the jurisdiction of the Isle of Ely insurance committee, for whom four doctors have undertaken complete responsibility; and whether in these districts the four doctors are allowed to dispense?

The number of insured persons living in the urban district of Wisbech is estimated at 3,607, and in the urban district of Chatteris at 1,753. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked whether insured persons are allowed to make their own arrangements under Section 15 (3) of the National Insurance Act by the insurance committee of the Isle of Ely; and what limits of time within which applications for permission to make private arrangements can be made have been fixed by such committee?

The Isle of Ely insurance committee will exercise the powers conferred on them by Section 15 (3) of the National Insurance Act in the same way as other insurance committees, except in the areas in which the panel system has been suspended. In those areas all the sums available for the medical treatment of insured persons will be paid by the committee to the doctors who have undertaken complete responsibility for their treatment, I am not aware that any limits of time such as are referred to in the second part of the question have been fixed by the committee.

Are the insured persons going to have any free choice at all in the matter?

Well. I think that they will have free choice amongst the doctors who are willing to act under the Act.

asked on what terms Messrs. Morgan and Dimmock have been engaged as doctors for the Isle of Ely under the National Insurance Act; and whether any assurance has been given to them that the panel will be closed or not adopted for two years or any other period, and by whom such assurance was given?

Dr. Morgan only rendered service pending the completion of the committee's arrangements for medical service in the Chatteris district. Dr. Dimmoek and the other doctors who have undertaken the attendance and treatment of insured persons in the Chatteris and Wisbech districts will be remunerated on the same terms as panel doctors elsewhere, and they have entered into agreement with the local insurance committee to take complete responsibility for the insured persons in those districts for a period of two years, subject to three months' notice on either side.

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer the question whether any assurance has been given to the doctors that the panel will be closed or not within the two years?

As I understand, the arrangement is that the panel system is suspended for two years, subject to three months' notice on cither side

asked if the Government are prepared to help, financially or otherwise, those members of friendly societies over sixty-five years of age, who are insured persons, and therefore, eligible for sickness benefit, to get medical benefit?

Yes, Sir. The Supplementary Estimates laid on the Table of the House on Friday include provision for a Capitation Grant of 2s. 6d. in respect of those insured persons, whose societies elect to provide medical treatment, as one of the benefits to be given under Section 49 of the Act.

May I ask whether any similar or analogous benefits will be given to those over seventy, members of friendly societies, who tinder the Act get no benefit?

The provision is entirely limited to insured persons.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether an insured per son preferring to pay his doctor's bill in the usual way can claim from the local committee the sum allowed under the National Insurance Act for medical ser vices; and, seeing that this is allowed in the case of insured persons suffering from cancer, will he explain why this should not be allowed in cases of insured persons desiring to retain their own doctor?

In cases where the insurance committee allows an insured person to make his or her own arrangements for medical attendance and treatment, a contribution towards the cost of that treatment will be made by the committee, in accordance with Section 15 (3) of the Act.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Perth Burgh Insurance Committee have fixed a £2 limit for medical benefit under the National Insurance Act on the ground that a panel of doctors could not otherwise have been set up; whether this action, which is causing dissatisfaction amongst insured persons in Perth, is in order; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Under Section 15 (3) of the Act, the question of whether an income limit above which persons must make their own arrangements for receiving medical attendance and treatment and receive a contribution towards its cost, instead of receiving medical benefit under the ordinary arrangements, is one to be determined by the insurance committee. Paragraph 14 (2) of the Medical Benefit Regulations requires that before such an income limit is fixed the committee shall give public notice of their intention and shall consider the representations of any societies with members resident in the area. I am informed that the Perth Insurance Committee had given public notice accordingly, and that a meeting will be held at which representatives of societies will have an opportunity of expressing their views before a final decision is arrived at.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of the representatives of the societies are under the impression that no public intimation was given; has he received any information1?

No. I have not personally received any; I will make further inquiries.

asked (1) how many cards for voluntary contributors were issued in the first and second quarters since the commencement of the National Insurance Act, and how many of such cards have been returned; and (2) what was the number of voluntary contributors under the National Insurance Act expected by the Government, and how many have in fact joined to the latest available date?

The actuaries estimated that 829,000 persons would join approved societies as voluntary contributors. This estimate was, as they pointed out, necessarily very conjectural, as the actual numbers depend upon the exercise of individual options. Six hundred and sixty-one thousand first quarter's and 249,000 second quarter's cards were issued to societies for distribution. The number of voluntary contributors who joined during the first quarter, based upon the number of cards of that quarter returned, is about 25,000. The second quarter's cards are still in the hands of societies, and I have no exact figures. For the third quarter two hundred thousand cards have been applied for.

Would the right hon. Gentleman tell me what was the total number of people eligible to become voluntary contributors?

I am afraid I cannot say whether or not I have an estimate: if the hon. Gentleman gives me notice I will try and supply the figures.

asked how many insured persons are under treatment for tuberculosis; and how many of them are receiving their treatment in institutions?

It is hoped that the Return promised to the hon. Member for Plymouth on the 20th November will be laid on the Table of the House this week.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in cases when warmth is of importance to the patient, coal will be supplied as part of the sanatorium benefit; and what are the articles which will be supplied as part of domiciliary treatment for tuberculosis?

As I have previously stated, the articles which may be supplied as part of the domiciliary treatment of tuberculosis are such articles as may be ordered by the doctor, and are ancillary to the treatment, such as special food and warm clothing. I am advised that the necessaries of ordinary life, for the cost of which an insured person's sickness benefit is available, do not fall within the definition.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me why coal is excluded as an article that can be supplied warmth is said to be necessary, and why a person who would receive warmth in an institution should not receive it in his home, and whether that is giving him proper treatment under the Act?

It is a difficult question, and brings us back again to the old difficulty often felt in this House as to the difference between medical relief and Poor Law relief. So far as they are ancillary to medical treatment, undoubtedly they should receive the article; so far as they are ordinary poor relief, there is sick pay to cover that.

Is warm clothing considered ancillary and not coal?

I think that is the difference between medical and Poor Law relief.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not solving this question by giving very poor medical relief?

No! I think it is the best possible medical relief.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a number of unemployed workmen entitled to benefits under the National Insurance Act were delayed at the Labour Exchange at Woking in obtaining their benefits, and that a number of men so entitled had deposited their cards at the Labour Exchange on the 8th of January instant, where they were accepted and forwarded to head-quarters for instructions; whether he is aware that these cards were not returned to the Labour Exchange at Woking until the 22nd of January on the alleged ground that the cards were not signed, and that the men were then informed that they could not receive payment until the 31st of January instant, thus occasioning inconvenience, and, in some cases, suffering to insured persons and their families entitled to benefits under the Act; and will he say what steps he proposes to take to prevent such delays?

Owing to the great pressure of work in connection with the first payments of benefit, there has been a certain amount of inevitable delay in adjusting questions arising out of claims. Instructions have, however, been issued to all local officers, which will, I hope, prevent any repetition of such cases as those referred to in the question by securing that the men sign their books at the time when the claims are first made. I may add that the signature of the book is absolutely necessary in order to verify the signature on the claim for benefit.

Is it true, as stated in the question, that the men were informed that they could not receive payment till 31st January, and was the money, in fact, not available?

I have stated that there was inevitable delay in regard to the first rush of cases. I am not sure as to the exact dates, but we do not desire to deny that there was a little delay at the outset.

Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to prevent such delay in future?

The words of the answer are: "Instructions have, however, been issued to the local officers which will, I hope, prevent any repetition of such cases."

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will state who adjudicated on the application of R. G. L. (whose full name and address have been forwarded), an insured painter, for unemployed pay; whether, before the decision to refuse benefit on the ground that he had lost his employment through misconduct, he was given an opportunity of stating the facts of the case; whether the facts show that the misconduct consisted of wasting about two minutes of time talking with a mate; and what was the previous character and record of the man in question?

The claim to unemployment benefit to which the hon. Member refers was, in accordance with Section 88 (1) of the National Insurance Act, referred to one of the insurance officers appointed for this purpose, and "was disallowed by him. The workman was duly informed that it was open to him to require his case to be referred to a Court of Referees, who, had he done so, would have gone fully into the matter. He has not yet adopted this course, and I am therefore unable to supply any further information with regard to the merits of the case.

Can the workman appeal at any time?

Yes; a form is given for that purpose.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, after referring to the proceedings on the Committee stage on the National Insurance Bill, 1911, he still maintains that it was the intention of the Government that Section 109 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, should not apply to Scotland?

The answer is in the affirmative. On the Committee stage the hon. and learned Member advocated the extension of Section 109 to Scotland as well as to Ireland. Between the Committee and Report stages the question was carefully considered, and it was decided that in Ireland, where as in England, outdoor relief was administered by boards of guardians, and the relief is subject to control by the Local Government Board, the Section might properly be applied. In Scotland, however, the Scottish Local Government Board were of opinion that, in view of the differences in the Poor Law system, which is administered by parish councils instead of boards of guardians, and does not provide for the relief being subject as in England and Ireland to control by order of the Local Government Board, the extension of the Section was not desirable and would indeed, in the absence of such control, have been ineffective.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Amendment I moved in Committee was with a view of placing the three countries on the same footing; that the Attorney-General acceded to the reasonableness of the arguments I put forward, and said that he would take steps to see that the proper Amendments were inserted; that no opportunity whatever was allowed on the Report stage to consider the Amendment?

The Attorney-General said that the observations of the hon. and learned Gentleman were deserving of consideration—with which everyone will agree—and that he was willing, if any hon. Member could show that there was injustice, that he would put it right on Report. The matter was very carefully considered by the Scottish Office, and on reconsideration the Scottish Office thought it was undesirable to make a change.

Is there any reason why persons in Scotland should be treated on a different footing; why in their case should the provision be that any payment not exceeding 5s. should be taken into account under the Act on account of outdoor relief; and why should the provision not apply to Scotland as well as England and Ireland?

I cannot go back upon the decision of the House of Commons; all I can say is that it was carefully considered by the Scottish Local Government Board, and we acted on the advice of the Scottish Local Government Board.

If that is so, why was it necessary for the Secretary for Scotland to state that he was making further inquiries as to the views and practice of parish councils in the matter—why was it necessary if the matter was all settled?

It might be necessary; if there is any grievance such as the hon. Gentleman suggests, it is very desirable that there should be further inquiries.

asked for the total population of the Island of Canna, and who is the panel doctor for that island?

The nearest doctor is on the island of Eigg. The total resident population of the Island of Canna, as shown by the last census, was twenty-nine.

Who is the panel doctor for these twenty-nine persons?

There are not twenty-nine; I do not think there are anything like twenty-nine insured persons.

Are these insured persons entitled to a doctor?

They are certainly entitled to have a doctor, or the equivalent cost of a doctor.

asked whether the boilermakers, blacksmiths, bricklayers, and stonemasons employed at Deacon's Works, Widnes, are insured under Part II. of the National Insurance Act; if not, whether the Umpire has given decisions in the cases of these men; what is the name of the firm or company employing these men; and have any letters or communications passed between the Board of Trade and the employers concerning the inclusion or exclusion of these men?

I am informed that contributions under Part II. of the National Insurance Act are not being paid in respect of the workmen referred to in the question. The Umpire has not given any decisions specifically relating to these men, but certain decisions, of which I am sending copies to the hon. Member, relate to workmen employed in works of a similar character. I understand that the name of the company employing these workmen is the United Alkali Company, Limited. No correspondence and, so far as I am aware, no other communication appears to have passed between the Board of Trade and the employers concerning the inclusion or exclusion of these men.

What steps does the hon. Gentleman propose to take to treat the United Alkali Company, Limited, in the same way as the employes in other firms similarly situated?

I am not aware they are being treated differently. Any representations made to the Board will be considered.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the Umpire's decision, No. 374, which includes these men as people open to pay the insurance?

Yes, but a great deal depends upon the nature of the work being done; the details of the work may vary. Any information the hon. Member may give will be carefully inquired into.

How can the hen. Member tell there is any difference if no inquiry has been made in the matter?

If the workmen do not apply to be enrolled it is rather difficult to get the information. The information here given will no doubt result in further inquiry.

Has the inspector made further inquiry?

One must first have something to inquire about.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the misunderstanding which has arisen as to the intentions of Ministers in regard to important provisions of the National Insurance Act, as evidenced by verbal undertakings in speeches delivered during the progress of the Bill, he will reconsider his recent refusal to arrange for official Reports of the proceedings of Standing Committees?

The answer is in the negative.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if the Government hold the view that any alteration would tie the hands of the Members of the Government in regard to the promises they have entered into?

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman will give Government time for discussion of the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Colchester that an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying His Majesty to disallow certain Regulations issued by the National Health Insurance (Joint Committee) under the National Insurance Act?

I do not think it necessary to give special facilities, in view of the fact that an opportunity may arise for discussing the matter in connection with the Supplementary Estimates.

Has the right hon. Gentleman in mind the fact that hon. Members are deprived of the only method of asking for the Regulations to be annulled? The Act provides that an Address may be presented within twenty-one days, and as the Government have taken the whole of the time no private Members' Motion can be heard unless the Government give facilities, and unless they do that these Regulations automatically come into force as part of the Act without any discussion.

I am most anxious not to burke discussion, but I think it would be more convenient to take it on the Supplementary Estimates. If that is not considered satisfactory I will reconsider the hon. Member's question.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any complaints from any of the approved societies working under these rules against the Regulations?

I do not know.

Will it be possible on the Supplementary Estimates to move that these Regulations be annulled?

No, but the whole question can be ventilated.

The right to move anything will be gone after a certain time.

As I have already stated, if necessary I will reconsider the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any alternative scheme has been submitted by the Insurance Commissioners to approved societies or insurance committees under which insured persons over the age of sixty-five can obtain medical benefit; and, if not, will he consider the advisability of enabling persons over the age of sixty-five to get medical attendance?

The Commissioners are preparing, and will issue this week, a table for the guidance of societies in determining the benefit which may be given to members who were over sixty-five on 15th July last who decide to give medical attendance and treatment for such members as one of the benefits to be given under Section 49 of the Act.

Will there be any compensation paid to those members who up to the present have been unable to receive medical attendance?

No. The discretion is absolutely in the hands of the approved societies. They can at any time include them in medical benefit.

What about the case of the deposit contributors?

I should like notice of that.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any intention of granting a portion of the money which will be left aside for the purposes of medical benefits or certificates in Ireland, under the National Insurance Act, to the carrying out of any other specific project?

I can add nothing at present to the answers given by me to the hon. Members for Waterford and Dulwich on the 9th and 21st January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a man who has been injured in the course of his employment, and who has had to lay up for one week, can obtain sickness benefit after the first three days under the National Insurance Act, since he is not entitled to compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act because he has not been ill for a fortnight?

Yes, Sir; sickness benefit is payable when the necessary conditions are satisfied for any period of incapacity in respect of which the insured person is not entitled to compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that a number of men and women have fallen into the class of Post Office contributors through ignorance, he will consider the advisability of issuing a circular calling attention to the conditions upon which they would be entitled to qualify for some approved society?

I will consider the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will lay upon the Table of the House the letter from the Board of Inland Revenue of October last relative to the reproduction or illustration of postage stamps; if he will give the reasons for the issue of this letter; and if he will cause it to be withdrawn or else held in abeyance until the House has had an opportunity of discussing the question?

A copy of the Regulations of the 16th October will be laid on the Table of the House. The reason for their issue was given in my reply to the question put by the hon. Member for the Isle of Thanet Division on the 27th November last. With regard to the last part of the question, the Regulations which have now been in operation for over three months are working smoothly, and I am not aware of any ground for their withdrawal or suspension.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is now in a position to make his promised statement relating to the recent arrest of a young mother at the instance of the Samford Board of Guardians?

I have made further inquiries in regard to this case. The guardians appear to have acted upon information which, in their opinion, afforded some justification for the conclusion that Kate Tilbury intended to evade responsibility for the maintenance of her child. They, understood that she was aware that the child had been taken to the workhouse, and I am informed that they did not communicate directly with her lest she should abscond. The statements as to the regularity of payments made to the stepmother for the child's maintenance are conflicting; but, in any case, I think it very unfortunate that application for a warrant should have been made. I have, of course, no jurisdiction as to the issue of the warrant and the circumstances of the arrest. I will communicate my view to the guardians, with a suggestion that they should repay to Kate Tilbury any expenses incurred in connection with the arrest, and that I am prepared to sanction such expenditure. I will also request my inspector to confer with the guardians as to the future arrangements to be made for the care of this afflicted child.

asked what was the total emigration from Great Britain and Ireland in the year 1912; and what were the chief destinations of emigration?

Returns in which emigrants are distinguished from other passengers leaving the United Kingdom are not available for the whole of the year 1912. The information available is contained in the Return Cd. 6070—XI., circulated about a fortnight ago, a marked copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

Have any steps been taken to endeavour to keep the emigration at present going to the United States within the British Empire?

I must have notice of that.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to an advertisement by the Salford union for a foster-mother at the cottage homes, Culcheth, near Warrington, specifying that she must belong to the Church of England; whether this sectarian restriction has his sanction; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take?

I have made inquiries in this matter. I understand that the foster-mother referred to is required mainly to take charge of homes to which Church of England children are sent. The appointment does not require my sanction, and in view of the large preponderance of Church of England children in these homes, I do not think I could properly interfere with the discretion of the guardians in the matter.

Are the homes for Church of England children alone?

No! On investigation I find that 90 per cent, of the children are Church of England and 66 per cent, of the foster-mothers; 10 per cent, of the children are Nonconformist and 33 per cent, of the foster-mothers.

Are there no foster-mothers at all for the Scottish children?

Oh yes, certainly!

asked whether the West Derby Board of Guardians have declined to follow his advice that children temporarily remanded to the Belmont Road workhouse should not be vaccinated; whether those guardians can require such children so on remand to be vaccinated without their consent or the consent of their parents; whether the medical officer is paid a fee in each case of the vaccination of such children; if so, from what sources such fees are paid; and whether he proposes to take any further steps in the matter?

The West Derby Board of Guardians inform me that the children in question are usually admitted from surroundings and under conditions that admit of very serious danger of contagion, and that they are not prepared to take the responsibility of altering their present practice. I am advised that the guardians are acting within their powers, and I do not propose to take any further steps in the matter. The position as to fees was explained in the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on 13th January.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the guardians have the right to cause children who have come from outside and are on remand to be vaccinated, although not in that Poor Law area?

The children so situated are within the guardians' jurisdiction.

asked the number of children at present maintained in the workhouse by the Brecon Board of Guardians; if he is aware that the guardians have been asked on three occasions by his Department what steps they were taking to secure the children's removal from the workhouse; that their reply has been that they are considering the question; and that at a recent meeting of the board members openly stated their intention of doing nothing in the matter; and if, under these circumstances, he will take steps to dissolve the union?

The number of children maintained in this institution on the 1st January last, including one in the infirm wards, was seventeen. As regards the latter part of the question, the facts are generally as stated by my hon. Friend. The inspector for the district will be making a report to me on the subject at an early date, when I shall consider what further steps are to be taken.

asked why the report of the inquiry into the conduct of the late board of guardians of the Hammersmith union has not been published?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the inquiry held in the latter part of 1907 with respect to the expenditure on the new workhouse and infirmary. It is not the general practice to publish such reports, and I saw no reason to depart from the ordinary rule in this case.

asked whether Labour Exchange managers have the power to advance train fares to work men not in a scheduled trade who are found employment by a Labour Exchange manager, especially when such a work man has been unemployed for a consider able number of weeks and the employment found is some considerable distance from the town in which the workman resides?

Managers are empowered to advance fares, subject to certain conditions, to applicants for whom employment at a distance has been found through a Labour Exchange. This power arises out of the Labour Exchanges Act and is, therefore, not confined to workmen in the insured trades included under Part II. of the National Insurance Act. The rules relating to advances are embodied in No V. of the General Regulations made under the Labour Exchanges Act of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

Have these regulations been withdrawn?

I am not aware of that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will cause an inquiry to be made as to the conduct of the affairs of the St. David's Mining Company, Limited (1908), with a view to the prosecution of those responsible for what the facts show to have been a bogus flotation?

The Board of Trade have no jurisdiction to cause an inquiry to be made into the affairs of a company except upon an application made by a proportion of the shareholders under Section 109 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, or upon the making of an order for compulsory winding-up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the Report of the Royal Commission on Vivisection with regard to Dr. Pembrey and Dr. Klein, to the effect that it appeared to the Commissioners that to grant a licence or certificate to any person holding such views as those formerly expressed by Dr. Klein, and as those entertained by Dr. Pembrey, is calculated to create serious misgiving in the minds of the public; whether, notwithstanding such expression of the unanimous opinion of the Commissioners, both Dr. Pembrey and Dr. Klein have been granted by the Home Office licences and certificates for vivisection; if so, what certificates are now held by each of them respectively; and whether he proposes to disregard the opinion of the Commissioners with regard to these gentlemen?

I am well aware of the passage of the Report of the Royal Commission to which my hon. Friend refers. At the present time Doctors Pembrey and Klein both hold licences with the following certificates:—Dr. Klein, one certificate for inoculations; Dr. Pembrey, two certificates for inoculations; one certificate authorising the administration by inhalation of gases without anæsthetics; two certificates authorising the licensee to permit the animals to recover from the anæsthetic for the purpose of subsequent observation under stringent conditions; two certificates authorising the performance of experiments under anæsthetics in illustration of lectures. The licences were renewed at the beginning of March, 1912, before the Report of the Royal Commission was issued, and they remain in force until the 28th February, 1913. No application for the further renewal of these licences has yet been made. When such application is made I shall, of course, consider the views expressed by the Commissioners before coming to a decision.

Can the right hon. Gentleman foreshadow his intention of carrying out the recommendations of the Commission?

I cannot go beyond the answer I have given.

asked whether paragraph (f) of the new Clause on com mutation proposed in the Established Church (Wales) Bill gives a curate any right to compensation for loss of employment sustained in consequence of the operation of the Bill?

The paragraph does not give any right of compensation. Its object and effect is to ensure that any rights a curate may now possess will not be impaired by commutation.

asked whether such appointments as those of chaplains to His Majesty's prisons and county asylums will be affected by the passing into law of the Established Church (Wales) Bill; and, if so, in what manner?

The subject of this question is not dealt with in the Bill, but I am taking advice as to what, if any, Amendments will be required in the Prisons and Lunacy Acts.

asked whether he is aware that information as to the Endowments of the four Welsh bishoprics based on facts, which the Ecclesiasistical Commissioners refused to disclose to the Royal Commission on the Welsh Church, was furnished privately to certain hon. Members of this House for the purposes of debate arising on 28th January; and what steps will be taken in order to secure that information in the hands of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners shall be fairly accessible to all Members requiring it? May I add that no reflection was intended on either of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners sitting in this House?

My hon. Friend should address this question to the representative of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in this House.

Has the Government or this House any such right to receive or obtain information from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners?

I should like notice of that question.

If the right hon. Gentleman appoints any new Ecclesiastical Commissioners will he give them a hint upon this point?

That is rather beyond my promise.

asked whether the Committee now sitting on imperial and local taxation has received an application from the guardians of the West Ham Union asking to be allowed to submit evidence of the increased burden of Poor Law and local rates; and whether it is the intention of the Government that, the Committee should refuse to hear such evidence before making their Report?

I understand that such an application has been received by the Committee, and that the guardians were invited to submit a memorandum. The question as to what evidence should be received is one for the decision of the Committee, and I have no power to interfere with their discretion.

asked whether it is proposed to proceed with the Agricultural Holdings Bill [Lords] and the Irish Creameries and Dairy Produce Bill [Lords], or either of them, this Session?

I fear facilities cannot be given to proceed with either of these Bills this Session.

asked whether the Land Inquiry Committee formed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer has reported upon the question of the merits and practicability of the single-tax principle?

I am told that the Committee will shortly publish a Report, which will give the hon. Member the information he desires.

Does the constitution of the Committee preclude them from dealing with that aspect of the case?

That I cannot say, but I should think not.

Is this a question of considering the advisability of taxing the farmer for everything, and giving him nothing more for what he sells?

I really know-nothing about it.

asked whether, when a private Member's Bill is introduced next Session for giving votes to millions of women, it is the intention of the Government to allow the guillotine to be Used for the purpose of passing it, and if it is to be allowed to come under the Parliament Act and to be passed into Law before the judgment of the people has been taken on the question of giving votes to women?

These questions were fully dealt with on Monday last in the speeches of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Foreign Secretary, and myself. It would be premature now to add anything to what was then stated.

Can the right hon. Gentleman not give us "Yes" or "No" to these very straight questions?

They deal with a prospective and contingent future.

asked when the Committee, Report, and Third Reading stages, respectively, of the Railways (No. 2) Bill will be taken in this House, and how much time it is proposed to allocate to each of such stages?

Perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to renew his question to-morrow.

asked whether, in view of the admitted grievances of traders with regard to owners' risk rates and other matters in connection with rail way charges and facilities, and of the omission from the Railways (No. 2) Bill, owing to lack of Parliamentary time, of the provisions relating to such matters contained in the Government's former Bill recently withdrawn, he will give an assurance to the House that the Government will intro duce a Bill early in next Session dealing with such matters?

I am afraid I cannot give any undertaking as regards next Session; but, as I have already stated, we should hope at an early opportunity to introduce a Bill dealing with many of the matters dealt with in the Bill recently withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the practice in his Department for clerks engaged upon overtime to be required either to forego the usual Saturday half-holiday or to sacrifice the pay for the first three hours of any overtime they may work; and, if so, when this practice was introduced?

There has been no such practice in the Home Office. The grant of the half-holiday on alternate Saturdays is, by the Order in Council, conditional on the state of business permitting it, but this has not been understood in the Home Office as limiting overtime pay for special work done out of ordinary office hours.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been called to a trench accident by which three men were killed and others injured by a fall of earth at the works near the Paddington Great Western Railway station; and whether, in view of the fact that it is alleged that the trench was untimbered and other suggestions of serious negligence, he will order a Government inquiry into the cause and circumstances of this accident under the Acts providing for the same?

My attention has been drawn to the case, but the matter is not one that comes within my jurisdiction, as the accident arose in connection with a work of railway construction. The question of holding a special inquiry in regard to it is a matter for the Board of Trade.

In view of the fact that an exactly similar accident happened on Friday at Brighton, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is possible to get the Opposition to allow the Departmental Bill dealing with these matters to pass next Session?

I know the Bill to which the hon. Member refers, and I can only express the same hope that the Bill may pass as soon as possible.

asked the Post master-General whether he can now state the result of his inquiries into the wages paid and hours worked by mail van drivers in Belfast, and as to how such wages and hours compare with those of drivers in the employ of private cartage contractors in the same city?

I do not find that any mail van drivers in Belfast received as little as 17s. 9d. a week or worked as much as eighty hours. But since a scale of wages and hours for mail van drivers was settled with the contractors in 1910, there has been a rise in the rate of remuneration of men in similar employment, and I have therefore arranged that there shall be a similar rise in the wages of the mail drivers forthwith.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman has received a representation from the town council of Cromarty asking that the mails for any of His Majesty's ships which lie off Cromarty should be delivered at the Cromarty Post Office instead of being diverted to Invergordon and thence sent to the vessels in question; whether he is aware that inconvenience, delay, and unnecessary expense result from the present system; and whether he will, in these circumstances, favourably consider the representation referred to?

I have received the representation to which the hon. Member refers. Cromarty is not served by railway, but receives its mails by steamer from Invergordon, which is on the main line of the Highland Railway Company. Mails for His Majesty's ships in Cromarty Firth are sent from Invergordon by motor launch direct to the ships, thus securing earlier delivery than if sent by steamer from Invergordon to Cromarty and thence by launch to the ships. The present arrangement is approved by the Admiralty, and an alteration would involve serious disadvantages.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Admiralty have expressed a desire for an improved postal service to Cromarty?

I am not aware of that. I know that the Admiralty were consulted as to the present arrangements, and they expressed their approval of them.

asked how many telephone wires were broken during the snowstorm in Nottingham on Saturday, 11th January; how many were still unrepaired on Saturday, 18th January; how many were still unrepaired on Saturday, 25th January; and how many men were employed on the repairs?

On Saturday the 11th January 1,200 subscribers' circuits in Nottingham City and more than 500 circuits in connection with neighbouring exchanges were broken, while main lines also suffered severe damage; and on Monday, the 13th January, many wires already strained during the snowstorm were broken by the frost which followed. The work of repairing the damage was begun on Sunday morning, when poles were removed from roads, roofs and other dangerous positions. Main lines, fire wires, public service wires and doctors' circuits were the next to receive attention, but a thick fog on Monday delayed the work. In Nottingham City 500 subscribers' circuits were still unrepaired on the 18th January and 170 on the 25th January, by which date nearly all the circuits connected with neighbouring exchanges had been put right. Altogether 130 men were engaged on the work of restoration in Nottingham and the neighbourhood, of whom the number employed in Nottingham City varied from thirty-eight on Sunday, the 13th January, to seventy-six on Saturday, the 25th January.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that on the occasion of the last great storm sufficient labour was got in and the repairs to the telephone under private management promptly and satisfactorily executed?

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly satisfy himself of that, and would he say whether any consideration other than that of the speedy repair of the telephones influences him in dealing with this matter?

No other consideration is taken into account. The hon. Member must remember that telegraph and telephone wires were broken down over a very large portion of the country, and that which occurred at Nottingham was only a sample of what occurred elsewhere. It was impossible to concentrate the staff at Nottingham.

asked what is the percentage of the total revenue and of the Post Office revenue of the United Kingdom contributed by Scotland; what is the percentage of the total expenditure on the underground telegraph system spent in Scotland; and whether there has been any similar expenditure in Ireland?

Scotland contributes 10.12 per cent, of the total revenue of the United Kingdom and 9.40 per cent, of the total Post Office revenue, as shown in House of Commons Paper, No. 190. The expenditure in Scotland on the main underground system is 10.4 per cent, of the total expenditure on this system. If the expenditure which ought to be received is to be regarded as proportionate to the revenue contributed, Scotland has already received rather more than her due share of the money spent on underground cables. In addition, Scotland shares in the benefit of the expenditure on the underground system in England and Wales in so far as communication to and from Scotland is protected. There has been no corresponding expenditure in Ireland.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in the island of Eigg mails should be delivered every Tuesday and Friday, but are often not delivered until Wednesday and Saturday, and that the outward mails are dispatched on the same day as the inward mails arrive, thus giving no time for reply; and, seeing that within the last two months the steamers only landed mails once in the course of ten days and on another occasion once only in the course of twelve days, whether he will consider the advisability of continuing the telegraph to the island without guarantee from the proprietor?

I am having inquiry made into this matter, and will communicate with the Noble Lord.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the telegraph service in the island of Eigg is used by the crofters as well as by the proprietors; that the beacon light is apt to get extinguished; that the telegraph has been used a number of times for the benefit of this beacon light; whether the proprietor of the place guaranteed in 1899 to pay one-third of the total loss for seven years; whether this guarantee expired in 1907, and no further demand was made until the beginning of last year; and whether the proprietor in Eigg has paid as his share of that guarantee the sum of £375?

The telegraph service in the island of Eigg is used by crofters as well as by the proprietors, but the latter make much greater use of it. I can find no trace of any recent telegrams about the beacon light. The office was opened, together with those at Rhum and Canna, in 1899, under an arrangement whereby the proprietors guaranteed to pay for seven years one-half of the amount by which the expenses exceeded the revenue. In the year 1906, in consequence of a general change in the system of guarantees, one-third only of the deficiency was required. Since that year the offices have been maintained at the sole cost of my Department. The expenses, however, have been increasing, and the revenue falling off, and a renewal of the guarantees has been sought. The guarantors' share of the deficiency for the three islands was paid every year in one sum, and I have no knowledge of the share of this sum paid by the proprietor of Eigg.

May I venture, as one who was present when the wreck occurred at Rhum last year, to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he really proposes such a very serious course as the slopping of this communication, unless the proprietors are screwed up lo the sum he at present thinks proper?

I am afraid that course is under consideration, but no decision has been arrived at; and I hope some arrangement will be come to.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the wreck that took place? I can assure him the loss of life and property would have been enormous but for this communication.

The existence of the telegraphic service did not prevent the wreck.

May I ask whether in such a case communication takes place between the Board of Trade and the Post Office?

No, Sir. I am not aware the Board of Trade has any status in this matter, but I will inquire. Communications are, however, now passing between the Scottish Board of Agriculture and the Post Office on the subject.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not advisable in the interests of humanity that telegraphic communication should be continued where there is any chance of there being a wreck?

That is a general question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if Messrs. A. and P. Stevens, hoist manufacturers, Glasgow, who have the contracts for magazine hoists for His Majesty's ship "Queen Alary," do not observe the conditions of the fair contracts Clause; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the conditions of work at present obtaining there?

No communication has been received on this subject. If particulars of the alleged infringement of the Fair-Wages Clause are furnished, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the practice in his Department for clerks engaged upon overtime to be required either to forego the usual Saturday half-holiday or to sacrifice the pay for the first three hours of any overtime they may work; and, if so, when this practice was-introduced?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The practice was introduced into the Admiralty consequent on the terms of Clause 7 of the Order in Council of 21st March, 1890, which states that a half-holiday on alternate Saturdays shall be allowed provided that the heads of the Department are satisfied that the state of public business will permit.

asked whether an application is contemplated by Messrs. Easton, Gibb and Company, contractors at Roysth, to the Dunfermline Burgh licensing bench for a full licence for a canteen for their workmen at Rosyth in connection with the huts which the firm propose to erect; and whether the Admiralty have sanctioned such facilities for the sale of intoxicating liquors being provided close to the works and upon the Admiralty's ground?

Yes, Sir. It is the firm's intention to seek authority to provide a canteen in connection with the housing accommodation contemplated. The proposal is to run the canteen solely in the interests of the men. I understand that Messrs. Easton, Gibb propose to devote the profit, if any, accruing to them out of the rental of the canteen exclusively to the purpose of improving the amenities of the community. The contractors will give an undertaking to relinquish the licence directly the operations at Rosyth are completed. After very careful consideration, we have come to the conclusion that, on these lines, the proposal should not be opposed by the Admiralty.