asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Insurance Commissioners have decided that those insured persons who are exercising their right of a free choice of doctor and have made private arrangements with doctors off the panel are not entitled to receive medicine free from chemists on the panel; whether he is aware that such persons are paying from their own sources for the services of these doctors; and can he state under what Section of the National Insurance Act Parliament decided that insured persons who chose to exercise the right of a free choice of doctor would have to pay both for doctor and medicine from private sources and continue to pay their usual contributions under the Act for benefits which include both doctor and medicine?

Under Section 15 (3) of the National Insurance Act, and under the Regulations made by the Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of that section of the Act, the insurance committee may allow insured persons, in certain circumstances and under certain conditions, to make their own arrangements for receiving medical attendance and treatment (including medicines and appliances), and in such cases the committee must contribute towards the cost of medicines as well as attendance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision has been made for the accommodation of insured persons requiring sanatoria treatment from Eastbourne; how many beds have been retained; how many persons have applied for such treatment; how many have been accommodated; and at what distance from the town is the sanatorium to which patients have been sent or offered to be sent?

Arrangements are made as occasion requires for the accommodation in existing sanatoria of insured persons recommended for such treatment. Out of twenty-five applications for sanatorium benefit from insured persons twelve were recommended by the medical adviser for treatment in sanatoria. Of these two have been accommodated at St. Leonard's-on-Sea, and six at Nayland, Colchester, two were considered unfit to travel, one was considered an unsuitable case by the institution, and the remaining patient is being sent to Nayland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the National Health Insurance Commission (Ireland) holds that it has no power to authorise the payment of the expenses of the removal of the dead body of a patient sent by an insurance committee to a sanatorium and dying while under treatment, and that, in the case of many patients, this will mean their burial as paupers; and if the Government will empower the Insurance Commission to authorise the payment of the expenses of removal in the event of the death of destitute patients?

I am advised that the expenses of removal or of burial of a dead body cannot be regarded as part of the expenses of sanatorium treatment, and that the Commissioners have no power to authorise insurance committees to defray such expenditure out of their funds.

asked the Postmaster-General whether provisional payment, at the rate of one unit for every £1 worth of insurance stamps sold, has been promised to the sub-postmasters, which approximates to less than one halfpenny in the pound at the average sub-post office; and whether this rate has been decided upon without an interview with the representatives of the sub-postmasters, although such an interview would appear to have been promised by him on 7th July, 1911?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to an answer given yesterday to a question on this subject by the senior hon. Member for Blackburn. I have seen the deputation referred to in that answer and am considering the representations made.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, if he will say of whom the Treasury, given extensive powers under many Acts of Parliament, now consists; whether meetings are held in cases in which the approval of the Treasury is required by statute; if so, by whom, and at whose instance convened; how many constitute a quorum; and whether minutes of the proceedings and a record of the decisions are kept?

The Board of Treasury consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and four Junior Lords. The practice of holding formal meetings at regular intervals was discontinued in the middle of last century. (When it prevailed, one formed a quorum.) Meetings are now held only on special occasions, when the Board is generally convened by the First Lord. On those occasions minutes of the proceedings are of course kept. The Act 12 and 13 Vict., cap. 89, provides that warrants and other instruments, required to be issued by Act or otherwise under the hands of the Commissioners, must be signed by two of them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that, owing to the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments, officers of Excise origin who, under the old conditions of service, would by now have been promoted to supervisorships, are suffering financial loss without any immediate compensation, he can yet state the approximate date of the next examination for surveyorships in the amalgamated service; and, if not, whether steps will be taken to hasten in any way the promotion of the officers concerned?

The date of the first examination for surveyorships in the amalgamated service cannot yet be definitely stated, but the Board of Customs and Excise anticipate that it will be possible to hold an examination about the end of the present year.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on what grounds Mr. William Coyle, of Magherabuoy, Killygordon, county Donegal, was deprived of the pension which was granted to him by the Stranolar sub-committee; and why the Local Government Board will not accept the two statutory declarations as to Mr. Coyle's age which have been submitted by him?

William Coyle's claim was rejected on appeal on the ground that he failed to prove that he was the statutory age. In the 1851 Census Return he was recorded as being three years of age, which would make him only sixty-five years of age now, and the statements contained in the statutory declarations referred to by the hon. Member could not be regarded as conclusive evidence.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what steps, if any, he has taken towards giving effect to recommendations of the County Court Judges and the Incorporated Law Society re proposed reforms in County Court procedure in Ireland; if he has received the resolutions passed by the Associated Chambers of Commerce in Ireland on the same subject; and what steps he intends taking to give effect to them?

I have received the resolutions referred to. The report in question is under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been directed to a resolution passed by the Armagh Rural District Council and other public bodies in Ireland urging upon the Government the immediate necessity for providing an additional sum of at least £1,000,000 to enable rural district councils to complete their schemes for the housing of rural labourers; and if it is intended to make provision for this purpose in the present Session?

I am aware that a number of resolutions of the nature referred to by the hon. Baronet have been passed by public bodies in Ireland, and I would refer to the reply which I gave to the question addressed to me on the subject yesterday by the hon. Member for North Wexford.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been directed to the need for additional Grants in aid of municipal housing schemes in Ireland; and if it is intended to provide funds for this purpose this year?

I would refer the hon. Baronet to the reply which I gave yesterday to a similar question on this subject addressed to me by the hon. Member for North Wexford.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the principal teacher of Irish national school, Roll No. 13,883, was informed by the Commissioners of National Education on 17th July, 1911, that he had been promoted to the first grade (second section) from 1st April, 1911, for efficient service; that he has not yet received the salary attached to the higher grade which, according to Rule 105 (a), should have been paid on promotion; and whether the satisfactory service given by him since 1st April, 1911, is not allowed to count in awarding his next triennial increment; did this teacher qualify for promotion under Rule 104 (a); was this rule sanctioned by the Lord Lieutenant; and, if so, will he take steps to ensure that the vested rights of this teacher be respected?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that Mr. Joseph Mills, principal teacher of this school, qualified for promotion to the second section of the first grade from 1st April, 1911, under Rule 104 (a) of the Commissioners' Rules, but he cannot receive payment of salary at the rate attached to that grade, nor can his service begin to count towards his next triennial increment until a vacancy occurs. Rule 104 (a), which was approved by the Irish Government and the Treasury, lays down the conditions of promotion, but such cannot take place unless there are vacancies.

asked when the Estates Commissioners expect to be able to deal with the Cullen estate, at Ballyhatten, near Horseleap, county Westmeath, and with the Berry estate, near Loughnagore, Kilbeggan, in the same county?

The Estates Commissioners are unable, from the particulars given, to identify the Berry estate referred to by the hon. Member. The estate of Hugh Cullen, county Westmeath, comprising some 150 acres of untenanted land situate on the townlands of Ballyhatten and Kilnagalliagh, is the subject of proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts to the Estates Commissioners, who hope to deal with it in order of priority at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary when the purchase agreements were lodged on the Jones estate, E.C. 7,608?

The purchase agreements in this estate were lodged on 19th October, 1908.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in the case of Mrs. Margaret Kerin, assistant teacher in the Knockeenahone school, county Kerry, the manager, the Right Reverend Monsignor O'Leary, has refused to sign the agreement form with her; whether he is bound by the Rules of the Commissioners of National Education to sign it; whether he has also refused to sign her salary claim, although the Commissioners definitely ordered the reappointment of this teacher; and state what steps will be taken in reference to both these matters?

The Commissioners of National Education have not yet received the communication from the manager of this school referred to in my reply to the hon. Member's question on 20th January last. They are reminding him of that fact.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that it has been brought to the notice of the Commissioners of National Education that the Right Reverend Monsignor O'Leary, P.P., Castleisland, has written, as manager of the Knockeenahone national schools, to the principal teacher of the girls' school, informing her that he cannot give his consent to the appointment of an assistant teacher until the averages in the male and female schools are equalised to the same extent; whether the Commissioners have already sanctioned the appointment of an assistant teacher since 1st October last; whether the manager made it a condition of his adopting Mrs. Kerin as assistant teacher that the principal teacher, Mrs. Cronin, should send some six or seven boys to Mr. Tanquey's school; whether he furthermore forbade her to receive any more boys into the girls' school; are these commands of the manager in direct contravention of the Rules of the Commissioners of National Education; and, if so, what action will be taken in the matter?

It has been represented to the Commissioners of National Education by the principal teacher of these schools, that a communication has been received by her from the manager in the terms mentioned in the question. The Commisioners have already sanctioned the appointment of an assistant teacher since the 1st October last, but they understand from Mrs. Cronin that the communication received by her from the manager implied the condition referred to and forbade her to enrol any more boys in the girls' school. The Commissioners have not yet considered the communication received from Mrs. Cronin, and they are therefore unable to say what action will be taken by them in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the teacher of the school. Roll No. 7443, was informed by the Commissioners of National Education that he had been promoted to second division of first grade on 1st April, 1909, for efficient service; that this teacher had to wait until 5th September, 1910, before he received the salary attached to the higher grade, which according to Rule 105 (a) should have been paid on promotion; that the violation of this rule caused the teacher a loss of £18 11s.; that the satisfactory service given from 1st April, 1909, to 5th September, 1910, is not counted in awarding his next triennial increment, thereby casuing a further loss to this teacher during the six years ending 31st March, 1915, of £14 6s.; whether this holding up of service violates Rule 108 (b); and whether, if this teacher is qualified for promotion under rules sanctioned by the Lord Lieutenant, he will recommend that his vested rights be respected?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that Mr. John O'Farrell, who was principal teacher of Ballymore Boys' National School, county Westmeath (Roll No. 7443), until 13th June, 1912, qualified for promotion to the second division of the first grade from 1st April, 1909, but as there was no vacancy available at the time he did not receive the salary of that grade until 5th September, 1910. Rule 104 (a) of the Commissioners' Rules, which was approved by the Irish Government and the Treasury, lays down the conditions of promotion, but such promotion cannot take place unless there are vacancies.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Mr. R. Judge, principal teacher of the Poyntzpass mixed national school, promoted by the Commissioners of National Education to a higher grade for efficient service from 1st April, 1910, had to wait two years before he received the salary attached to the higher grade which, according to Rule 105 (a), should have been paid on promotion; whether he is aware that by the violation of this rule this teacher was deprived of £16 5s. of salary, and that the service given by this teacher from 1st April, 1910, to 30th June, 1911, is not allowed to count as service rendered for his next triennial increment, whereby he has suffered a further loss during the six years ending 31st March, 1916, of £12 10s.; if he is aware that this is a violation of Rule 108 (b); that the cancellation of his first promotion notice was contrary to Rule 104 (c); and that this teacher qualified for promotion under Rule 104 (a); and will he say if in this rule there is any mention made that promotion to the higher grade is conditional upon the existence of vacancies; if this rule was sanctioned by the Treasury in 1901; and if he will recommend that the rights of this teacher be respected?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that Mr. Robert Judge, principal teacher of Poyntzpass mixed national school, county Armagh, qualified for promotion to the second section of the first grade from 1st April, 1910, but he did not receive payment of salary at the rate attached to that grade, nor did his service begin to count towards his next triennial increment until a vacancy occurred on the 1st July, 1911. Rule 104 (a), which was approved by the Irish Government and the Treasury, lays down the conditions of promotion, but such promotion cannot take place unless there are vacancies.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to the deductions from the capitation Grant towards the cost of maintenance of lunatics in asylums, which entail loss upon county councils; and if he will take such steps as will ensure the payment of the full amount of 4s. per head per week?

I am aware that for some few years past the income of the Local Taxation Account, Ireland, has been unable to meet payments out of the account. The whole question of local taxation is under the consideration of the Local Taxation Committee, and I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the intentions of the Admiralty in regard to increasing the numbers of Royal Naval Reserves; and how is the shortage for the year 1911–12 accounted for?

The numbers of the Royal Naval Reserve for next year will be shown in the Estimates, shortly to be presented. There was a small shortage at the end of 1911–12, due to waste being larger than anticipated. Recruiting generally was satisfactory.

asked whether any investigation of the sanitary conditions prevailing on board His Majesty's ship "Conqueror" has been conducted, with the view of tracing the origin of the occurrence of small-pox amongst the crew; and, if such an inquiry has been held, will he lay the result before the House?

A careful inquiry has been made respecting the contracting of small-pox by three members of the crew of His Majesty's ship "Conqueror." It is impossible definitely to arrive at any conclusion as to the origin of the disease.

asked the names, ages, and places of birth of those members of the crew of His Majesty's ship "Conqueror" who have contracted small-pox; what were the dates of their respective vaccinations and revaccinations; whence were the vaccines with which they were inoculated whilst serving in the Navy obtained; what was the nature of the original virus from which the vaccines in question were derived; and was any guarantee given by those who supplied these vaccines of their freedom from variolous taint and of their effectiveness for the prevention of small-pox?

The names, ages, and places of birth of the men referred to are as follows: Joseph Alfred Little, 23 years of age, Heckmondwike, Yorkshire; Cecil Webb, 19, Edford, near Bath; James B. Lingard, 19, St. Peter's, Rochdale, Lancashire. The men were revaccinated on entry into the service in 1905, 1911, and 1912, respectively. The vaccines were obtained from the Local Government Board, to which Department I would suggest that my hon. Friend should address the latter part of his question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a French Parliamentary Committee has been appointed to report upon aviation from a military standpoint; and whether, having regard to the importance of an adequate organisation to this country, he will appoint a Select or Departmental Committee on the subject?

In France there is a Special Commission for the study of military aviation and the Budget Commission has a sub-committee for the study of æronautics. As regards the second part of the question, these matters are dealt with by a special sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence and by Lord Rayleigh's Advisory Committee on Aeronautics.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in consequence of the Report on aeroplane accidents by the Committee appointed by him, he is permitting the renewed use of monoplanes to the Royal Flying Corps; and whether he intends to use both kinds of machines in the future?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any of the Flanders. Deperdussin, and Martin-Hendasyde monoplanes delivered during the past four months for the Military Wing, Royal Flying Corps, are in flying order; if so, how many of each; and, if not, in what state they are at present; and whether the Nieuport, Blériot, and Bristol monoplanes, bought for the Military Wing, Royal Flying Corps, prior to October, 1912, are in flying order; if so, which of them are fit to fly; and, if not, will he say why they are not so fit?

In reply to this question and number 110^*, I may state that all the machines referred to are in flying order but are not being flown pending some alterations in conformity with the recommendations of the Monoplane Accidents Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the total effective aeroplane strength of the Military Wing, Royal Flying Corps, is made up as follows: No. 2 Squadron, two "B" biplanes and three Maurice Farman biplanes, at Montrose; No. 3 Squadron, one "B" biplane and two Maurice Farman biplanes, at Lark Hill; No. 4 Squadron, two Bregnet biplanes and two "B" biplanes, at Farnborough; if any of these squadrons possess any more aeroplanes, what such aeroplanes are; and whether they have been flown by officers of the Royal Flying Corps?

It is not considered to be in the interests of the public service to publish the detailed distribution of aeroplanes. I will make a full statement as to the total numbers on the introduction of Army Estimates, but I may say at once that the statements in the question are not accurate. All the machines now with the Royal Flying Corps have been flown by officers of the corps.

asked the Secreeary of State for War whether it is intended that the Military Wing, Royal Flying Corps, shall have any new dirigible balloons this year; and, if so, whether these are to be of the rigid or non-rigid types; and whether, in the event of airships of either type being produced in this country, the War Office is prepared to purchase them subject to their passing tests previously set by the War Office?

I propose to deal with this question on the introduction of Army Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether, under the regulations governing the promotion of sergeant-instructors of a Territorial Force unit, Royal Garrison Artillery, the experience of two sergeants who joined the permanent staff before 1st September, 1910, one with eighteen years' service and two years' seniority as a sergeant, the other with sixteen years' service and eight years' seniority in the rank of sergeant, would be as follows: on completion of twenty-one years' service the man with eighteen years would be promoted over the head of the man with sixteen years' service, thereby becoming a staff-sergeant, although the sixteen years' man is very much his senior in the rank of sergeant; can he say whether the disability imposed on the man of senior service is unintentional; is it proposed to take any steps to remove it; and (2) whether an Artillery sergeant-instructor who joined the permanent staff of a Territorial Force unit before 1st September, 1910, has no further chance of promotion until he has completed twenty-one years' service, and then only if he is allowed to continue in the Service beyond twenty-one years, whereas a sergeant-instructor to a Territorial Force unit, probably junior in rank, but with longer service, gets promoted staff-sergeant on reaching twenty-one years' service over the heads of sergeants senior in rank, but with less service; and, if so, will steps be taken to remedy these uneven conditions?

The facts are as stated in the questions. As regards the general question involved, I am afraid I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to similar questions put on this subject by the hon. Gentleman on Wednesday, the 12th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the number of non-commissioned officers and of men of the Territorial Force who will have become time-expired between 1st October, 1912, and the 1st of January, 1914?

The returns received in the War Office only show those due to go in yearly periods from 1st October to 30th September. The numbers due to go between 1st October, 1912, and 30th September, 1913, amount to 114,621.

asked the Secretary of State for War the deficit on 1st March, 1913, or, if the returns are unavailable for that date, on the 1st February, 1913, of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, respectively, in the Territorial Force?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given yesterday to a similar question put by the hon. and gallant Gentleman the junior Member for Bath.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the estimate for wastage in the Territorial Force for causes other than termination of engagement or transfer to other units between 1st October, 1912, and 1st January, 1914; and, having regard to the Return published in the General Annual Report on the British Army for 1912, page 121, which gives the information that for the period under review 28,256 non-commissioned officers and men left the force for causes other than termination of engagement or transfer to other units, if it is necessary to add the estimated amount of wastage for causes other than termination of engagement or transfer to other units for the period between 1st October, 1912, and January, 1914, to the number of non-commissioned officers and men due to become time-expired in the same number of months in order to obtain the full total of wastage from the Territorial Force between these dates, namely, 1st October, 1912, and 1st January, 1914?

As in the case of question No. 113, the period 1st October, 1912, to 30th September, 1913, has been taken for calculation. On the assumption that the recruits for the current year are the same number as last year, the estimated waste for this period for causes other than termination of engagement or transfer to other units is about 27,600. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative, because the method proposed for calculating the total wastage makes no allowance for re-engagements.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Territorial Force for the year ending 30th September, 1910, numbered more than 267,096 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, and the number absent from camp fewer than 25,995; if more or if fewer, respectively, if he will say how many; if he will say whether, for the year ending 30th September, 1911, the numbers of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men were more than 264,163, and the numbers of absentees from camp were fewer than 33,542; and if more or if fewer, respectively, if he will say how many; and whether, if the force in 1912 numbered 261,742 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men (Official Report, House of Commons, 21st October, 1912), and the absentees from (Cd. 6505) numbered 34,712, he will say what steps are taken, as the force annually decreases in numbers while the number of untrained men annually increases, to prevent the efficiency of the Territorial Force as a whole being annually diminished?

The figures are correct except those for 1912, which, as will be seen from reference to the General Annual Report, are slightly modified. The figures for camp attendance should be taken as a whole when considering the general efficiency of the force, and it will be seen from the Annual Report that the figures for attendance at camp for more than eight days have considerably increased.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the strength of the Army Reserve, Section A, Section B, and Section D, respectively, on the 1st March, 1913?

The figures are as follow:—

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that at a political at-home at Forbes House, given in honour of the Liberal Social Council, and at which Sir John Benn was one of the speakers, the band of the Scots Guards played during the reception; whether the rule formerly in force prohibiting the employment of regimental bands at political meetings is still of general application; and, if so, whether any special exception is made in the case of political gatherings promoted by Ministers?

Inquiries are being made into this Matter, and the hon. Gentleman shall be informed of the result in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the property of Mr. T. O. Bevan, 10, Paget Place, Penarth, was damaged by reason of the firing from Penarth Battery in July or August, 1912; whether he is aware that Mr. Bevan applied to the Army Council for compensation for the damage done, and that the Army Council declined to pay compensation; if he will reconsider Mr. Bevan's claim; and, if the law as it at present exists is not sufficient to allow the Army Council to meet such a claim for compensation, will he introduce legislation of such a kind and character as will permit compensation to be paid for damage clone to citizens' property by Artillery firing?

I think my hon Friend is referring to the case of Mr. T. O. Bowen, whose claim was fully considered. The claim was refused on the ground that there is no liability for damage due to the reasonable and proper use of forts and batteries unless the firing be of an abnormal character, or there be carelessness on the part of the responsible military authorities. This rule must necessarily be of uniform application, and I am not aware of any special reasons for reconsidering the case in question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether at all depots the medical officer keeps a register of all men medically examined for the Regular Army and of all men rejected on medical examination as physically unfit for the Regular Army; and if he will say whether the register of each depot medical officer records the number of men belonging to the Special Reserve at each depot who have, on application to join the Regular Army, been rejected as unfit and who are still serving at present in the Special Reserve battalions?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part of the question in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the amount of the special sum to be provided by the Government of India for the administration of the province of Fars; and whether any British-Indian officers are to be lent to the Governor-General of Fars or to the Government of Persia to assist in the maintenance of order and in affording protection to British trade?

His Majesty's Government are advancing £100,000 to the Persian Government to be devoted to the organisation of the gendarmerie under Swedish officers in Fars. A portion of the advance for general administrative purposes will also be allocated to Fars. One half of both amounts will be advanced from Indian revenues. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any progress has been made towards founding a university for the province of Burma?

The Government of India have announced that they contemplate the establishment of a university at Rangoon, and are making an assignment to Provincial revenues for next year to provide for a scheme. But it is understood that definite proposals have not yet been framed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the death of Major C. F. Connell, of the 69th Punjabi regiment, from small-pox; and whether he will state the dates of his vaccination and revaccinations?

The Secretary of State is aware that Major Connell died of small-pox, but has no information as to the dates of his vaccination or re-vaccination. No official record of such dates is kept.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the Secretary of State for India will state if the case of postal superintendents is receiving the attention of the Government of India; whether a proposal to improve their status and pay has been submitted by the head of the department to the Government of India, and, if so, with what result; whether the Secretary of State is aware that the position of postal superintendents who are gazetted officers compares very unfavourably in the matter of pay with that of officers holding similar rank in the police, surveys, and telegraphs departments; whether the Secretary of State is aware that no benefit is likely to result to postal superintendents under the amalgamation scheme of post and telegraphs, although their work and responsibility in the control of combined post and telegraph offices, which earn a revenue of 42 lakhs a year for the telegraph department, has greatly increased; whether the superintendents and assistant superintendents of telegraphs are to receive more advantages than the superintendents of the post office under the amalgamation scheme; and what are the grounds for declining to place postal superintendents on the same time scale of pay, namely, Rs. 250 rising to Rs. 800 in twenty-two years by annual increments, as the provincial branch of the telegraph department?

The position of the postal superintendents has not been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State by the Government of India, and he is not aware whether it is at present under their consideration. As regards the effect of the amalgamation of the postal and telegraph departments on the position and salaries of these officers, the scheme is at present in an experimental stage, and confined to a portion of India, and the Secretary of State has no information as to whether it will involve such additions to the duties and responsibilities of postal superintendents as to justify a revision of the scale of salaries hitherto prevailing in the postal department for this class of officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give information or will have inquiries made as to the Welsh people in Canada on the following points: Their number, according to the last Dominion Census; the districts or localities in which such are generally or specifically located, and the number of men, women, and children, respectively, of Welsh nationality in each of such districts or localities; the respective employments in which Welsh people in Canada are engaged; and any financial and other statistics, showing the progress, material and otherwise, of Welsh people generally in Canada?

The Census of 1901 only showed the number of Welsh-born persons and of Welsh immigrants, and the Census figures of 1911, so far as they have reached me, do not give any of the information asked for. Unless it is contained in the later volumes of the Census, I fear that it would be difficult to give it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the number of certificates of declaration of conscientious objection to vaccination that were lodged with vaccination officers during the first six months of 1912; and whether he can state, either accurately or approximately, the number of such certificates lodged during the year 1912?

The number of declarations of conscientious objection to vaccination received by vaccination officers during the first six months of 1912 is 136,335. The approximate number for the whole year is 276,000.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, at a public meeting held in Battersea Town Hall on 6th February, under the auspices of the National Vaccination Officers' Association, to lay before the electors of Battersea the way in which he was dealing with the question of the loss of income sustained by vaccination officers, a resolution was carried that the operation of vaccination should cease to be endowed by the State, and urging the Government to immediately repeal the Vaccination Acts; and whether he will take steps to give effect to this resolution?

My attention has been drawn to the resolution referred to. With regard to the last part of the question I cannot undertake to recommend legislation of the kind suggested, at the present time.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Southampton Board of Guardians in giving notice to Mr. and Mrs. Eastman to terminate their appointments as lodge keepers; whether the Board will make inquiry into the matter; and whether the Board will refuse to sanction the dismissal until Mr. and Mrs. Eastman are given a chance to meet the charges made against them?

My attention has been drawn to this case. With regard to the last part of the question, I may say that the determination of these appointments does not require my sanction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, how many Labour Exchange officials (managers and clerks) have served the probationary period of two years, and of these how many are on the established pensionable list and on the non-pensionable list, respectively?

Seven hundred and seventy-two officers of the rank of manager or below have now served in the Labour Exchanges Department for more than two years. Forty-one managers have already been placed on the establishment and steps are in progress for the establishment of an additional number of officers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of workmen's trains provided by the District Railway Company travelling to Aldgate East from Barking during the period of from the 2nd February to the 8th February last; and if he can state the total number of carriages provided for the use of passengers on such trains and the approximate number of passengers that could reasonably be carried?

I am asking the railway company if they can furnish this information, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend on receipt of their reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the duties on imported wheat in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, respectively, during the year 1912; what was the estimated percentage of imported wheat to the total wheat supply in each of these countries, respectively, during that year; and what was the average price per quarter in each of those countries, respectively, during that year of home-grown wheat, imported wheat, and wheat as a whole?

The following statement gives the information desired by my hon. Friend, so far as available. The information has been given for 1911, as well as for 1912, the figures available for the latter year being in some cases provisional only. The quarter referred to is the imperial quarter of 480 lbs.(1) Import Duty leviable on Imported Wheat.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) whether he has received communications complaining of the effects of the twelve hours' detention, and also of the order which prevents owners or drovers from looking after the live stock which are promiscuously herded together in various lairs; if so, what action he proposes to take; (2) whether he is aware that live stock are detained twelve hours on concreted lairs, where the different lots of cattle are confined and the owners or their drovers are not allowed to tend or milk them; and whether he will consider the advisability of immediately shortening the period of detention and allowing the owners and drovers entrance to look after animals?

I will answer these two questions together. I have made careful inquiry into the allegations to which the hon. Member refers, and I am satisfied that there is no reasonable cause for complaint. In particular, the statements that the animals are promiscuously herded together in the lairs, and that the owners or their drovers are not allowed to tend or milk them when necessary, are untrue. The entry of such persons as are necessary to tend the animals is freely allowed, and they can draw apart their own lots of cattle. Bulls, dairy cattle and fat cattle are always separated from other classes and tied up. The floors of the lairs are concreted in order that they may be thoroughly washed and cleansed after use, but litter can be obtained. According to my information, many of the animals, when landed, are so exhausted that they can scarcely stand, and I am not prepared at present to make a reduction of the period of detention, the effect of which is exceedingly beneficial.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if it is now permissible to send pigs consigned from Ireland to English inland towns for immediate slaughter through to their destination after inspection without further detention; and if, in making regulations dealing with this branch of the live stock trade his Department will bear in mind the deterioration which occurs in the value of live pigs by delays or stoppage in transit?

All swine imported into Great Britain from Ireland are required by the Order of the Board to be detained at the landing-place for a period of twelve hours. I am aware that the case of pigs intended for immediate slaughter is in some respects distinguishable from that of other kinds of stock, and I am considering whether the existing regulations can properly be modified on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has inquired into the demand that was made for a weighbridge being provided at Birkenhead; and whether it is intended to have it erected immediately?

I have made inquiries, hut, so far as I have been able to ascertain, there is no demand for a weighbridge at Birkenhead. I shall be glad to consider any representations which have been made to the hon. Member if he will communicate with me.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many acres of land have been acquired under the Small Holdings Act; the number of applicants for the same, and how many applicants have received small holdings under the Act; and what number of acres are now the subject of negotiation?

• Land acquired or agreed to be acquired to 31st December, 1912, 157,063 acres.
• Applications received, 40,842 individuals (82 associations).
• Applications approved, 22,789 individuals (51 associations).
• Number of small holdings provided, 10,192.