asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the National Health Insurance Commissioners have received complaints of the difficulty experienced by deposit contributors in obtaining their medical tickets; why this difficulty has occurred; and whether they are taking steps to remedy it?

I am not aware that any difficulty in obtaining medical tickets is being experienced by deposit contributors who are entitled to medical benefit, but there have been numerous applications for tickets from deposit contributors to whom, owing to failure to notify their change of address or to furnish the necessary particulars, it has been impossible to deliver tickets until application was made. If the hon. Member has any such cases within his knowledge I should be glad if he would give me particulars.

also asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the National Health Insurance Commissioners have received many complaints from insured persons who are now prohibited from employing their favourite doctor under the National Insurance Act because such doctor has not seen his way to join the panel; and how long it is proposed to restrict the free choice of doctor in such cases?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to the full statement which I made on this subject on 12th February.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether an insured person is required to pay his own and his employer's contribution, or to be debited with arrears of contributions, for the period during which he is incapacitated from work owing to an accident in the course of his employment, and during which he would have been receiving sick benefit but for the fact that he was receiving compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act?

The answer is in the negative. No contributions need be paid and no arrears accrue in respect of such periods

also asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the risk of theft of insurance stamps, employers are permitted under the Act to perforate their insurance stamps in the same way as postage stamps are now perforated by private persons, or whether such a mark would be contrary to the provisions of the Act?

It has been the object of the Government to avoid creating a system under which the contribution card could be used as a record of the employment of the contributor, and such perforation as is suggested has not been permitted. If, however, the hon. Member can suggest any means by which employers can identify their stamps which is not open to the objection stated above, I should be happy to consider it in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, who is also concerned in the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Section 13 of the Finance Act, 1910, has been so construed in Ireland that 10 per cent. Reversion Duty has been exacted on the renewal of leases for more than twenty-one years in towns where the improvements were made by the tenant, although the landlord exacts no fine and only a small increased rent; whether the 10 per cent. Reversion Duty is levied on the difference in the value of the town site, including the value arising from the buildings erected by the tenant; and whether, where landlords have encouraged, under a town tenant-right custom, building by not exacting fines or rack rents for renewal leases, he will amend the law so that the 10 per cent. duty shall be solely calculated on the actual value of the reversion measured by the increased rent or fine received by the landlord?

The law and practice in Ireland, as also in Great Britain, is as suggested by the hon. and learned Member in the first and second parts of the question. With regard to the last part, if a lessor voluntarily relinquishes in favour of a tenant a benefit to which he is legally entitled, it would not be difficult for him to do so under conditions which would leave him in no worse position than if the transaction had taken place prior to the passing of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the prospects of promotion of the Excise service have been impaired by the amalgamation of that service with the Customs service; that objection is raised by those concerned to the adjustments of salaries made in certain cases, such as that of the surveyors and the officers' salary scale; that the extra rates of remuneration for the performance of new duties under the National Insurance Act cannot be realised till 1914; and whether any and, if so, what steps are being or will be taken to remedy these grievances?

These matters were carefully considered by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer before he announced a series of concessions to the Customs and Excise staff in May last. I see no reason to depart from the terms of that announcement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received any complaints of the hardship occasioned to the travelling public from the absence of any heating arrangements in the carriages of the Lough Swilly Railway Company; and whether, having regard to the fact that under its agreement with that company the Treasury receives a sum estimated at £2,000 per annum from the receipts of the Burton-port and Carndonagh extensions, the Treasury will be prepared to make a small grant towards the first cost of equipping the railway with some form of heating apparatus?

I understand that one complaint has been received by the Board of Works in the last fifteen months. The provision of heating arrangements is entirely a matter for the Lough Swilly Railway Company.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the municipal associations and various urban district councils in Ireland have passed resolutions asking that loans for housing purposes in towns should be granted on the same terms as loans made to the rural district councils in Ireland for housing; and whether he will favourably consider this request so that housing conditions in towns may be improved by the local authorities?

I am unable to add anything to the answer given yesterday the hon. Member for Cork by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the principal teacher of Irish national school, Roll No. 1674, was informed by the Commissioners of National Education on 15th september, 1910, that he had been promoted to the first division of first grade from 1st April, 1910, for efficient service; if this teacher had to wait one year and nine months before he received the salary attached to the higher grade which according to Rule 105 (a) of Commissioners' code should have been paid on promotion; if the violation of this rule caused the teacher to lose £21 of grade salary; whether the satisfactory service given by him from 1st April, 1910, to 1st January, 1912, is not taken into account in awarding his next triennial increment, thereby causing a further loss to this teacher during the six years ending 30th April, 1916, of £21 more; if this holding up of his service violates Rule 108 (b); did this teacher qualify for promotion under Rule 104 (a); was this rule sanctioned by the Lord Lieutenant; and, if so, will he recommend that the vested rights of this teacher be respected?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that Mr. Peter Donnelly, principal teacher of this school, qualified for promotion to the first section of the first grade from 1st April, 1910, under Rule 104 (a) of the Commissioners, 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. Awards of increment are made under Rule 108 (b) as stated, but these increments of good service salary can only be granted to teachers already in receipt of their grade salaries for at least three years. Rule 104 (a), which was approved by the Irish Government and the Treasury, lays down the conditions of promotion, but such promotions cannot take place unless there are vacancies

asked why occupiers of holdings in Ballyknock and Culmullagh, Castlebar, county Mayo, portion of the Palmer estate, which has been purchased through the Congested Districts Board, have not yet been allowed reductions in rents or annuities payable in respect of their holdings, the striping of which has been completed by the Board?

The tenants referred to did receive abatements on the recent annual collection of their rents in accordance with the settled procedure of the Congested Districts Board, but they cannot be sold their holdings until the estate is vested in the Board.

asked the cause of the delay in the completion of the sale of the Ardress estate, county Armagh, of E. C. Ensor; and why no vesting declaration has yet been made in the case of Mr. Joseph A. Wilson, whose agreement to purchase was signed seven years ago?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and has not yet been reached in order of priority on the principal register of direct sales. The Estates Commissioners anticipate that it will be reached early in the ensuing financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present deficiency in the establishment, if any, according to the latest available Returns for 1913, of captains, lieutenants, and second lieutenants, respectively, in the following branches of the British Army, namely, the Regular Army, Army Reserve, Special Reserve, Extra special Reserve, and Territorial Force, respectively.

The information required is as follows:—Regular Army.Cavalry and Infantry.Vacancies in the rank of captain and lieutenant are at all times temporary, and are always covered by pending promotion. The present deficiency in second lieutenants amounts to 131, but this will practically disappear when the two next batches of candidates have been gazetted.Army Service Corps.There is at present a deficiency of six subaltern officers. There are no deficiences in the other branches.Special Reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that new colours were presented on 30th January, 1912, to the First Battalion Sherwood Foresters at Secunderabad by the Commander-in-Chief in India; what has become of the colours received by the regiment in 1839 to replace the colours of 1815; and whether he will take steps to have such colours made over to the city of Nottingham for deposit in St. Mary's Church, or such other treatment as the corporation of the city may think fit and proper under the circumstances?

I am referring this matter to the India Office for inquiry, as the War Office exercises no supervision over the disposal of old colours of battalions serving in India.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give the number of deserters from the Regular Army for each year from 1903 to 1912?

My hon. Friend will find the statistics he requires on page 33 of the General Annual Report for the year ending 30th september, 1912 (Cd. 6656).

asked the Secretary of State for War the estimated annual number of recruits required to keep the Territorial Force up to its full establishment?

The force has not been in existence sufficiently long to enable me to give more than a very rough estimate, but a calculation has been made, which is necessarily imperfect, to the effect that about 68,000 are required annually to maintain the present establishment of 302,056 non-commissioned officers and men.

asked the Secretary for War what is the number of recruits asked for from the railway companies to be enlisted in the Reserve forces; what are the duties which would devolve upon such recruits; and whether they would be available for only military or national emergencies, or could be called upon in case of an industrial dispute?

The establishment of the Railway Reserve will be 345 non-commissioned officers and men. There are at present twenty-four Reservists, and the railway companies have been asked to find the balance. The men will be transferred to the Reserve immediately on enlistment, and will not be required to undergo any military training. They will be used to supplement those Regular troops forming part of the Expeditionary Force who will be employed in connection with railways. They will be liable to be called out under exactly the same conditions as the rest of the Army Reserve, in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the objection taken by many of the ratepayers in the locality to the erection of a police station at Halton, near Leeds, in view of the probability of Halton being before long included in the proposed extension of the Leeds borough boundary, which would render this burden on local rates unnecessary?

My attention has not been drawn previously to this matter. It is clearly a matter which should be adjusted by the local authorities concerned. I have no authority to interfere.

asked the Home Secretary if be is aware that at the inquest on the Barnsley main fatality it was stated by Mr. John Keensmith, miner, working at the colliery, that he inspected the working place on behalf of the men, and, in his opinion, a bar should have been set before the accident, and it would have prevented the fatality; that the props he saw in the working place were not suitable owing to the excessive length; that there were no flat bars in the working place; and that the said complaints had been made previously to the under-manager about unsuitable timber, particularly round bars, being sent into the pit; and, seeing that the jury, on returning a verdict of accidental death, expressed the opinion that flat bars should be used in the future in such places, will he say what action he now proposes to take?

I have seen a newspaper report of the inquest, from which it appears that Keensmith, who inspected the place of the accident on behalf of the men, gave evidence to the effect stated in the question. I am advised that if a bar had been set the accident might not have taken place, but the fall which caused the accident was due to a slip or smooth parting in the roof, which unfortunately was not noticed beforehand. The management have undertaken to see that bars are both provided and used in the future, and at a recent inspection the inspector found that both flat and round bars were being supplied to and used by the miners. I should add that the management deny that complaints had been made about the timber.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will state what is the number of subscribers and pensioners of each rank on the rolls of the old Indian Army Military Funds, as they stood at the date of transfer in 1873; the number of these two classes who are still subscribing to or receiving pensions from these funds; what is the number of these pensioners residing in and out of India; and whether the Secretary of State will ascertain from the pensioned widows and daughters of such subscribers how many would elect to reside in India if given the option of doing so without thereby suffering loss in respect of their pensions?

When the old Indian Army Military Funds were transferred in 1866 (not 1873) there were approximately 7,169 subscribers and 4,507 incumbent pensioners. Now there are 833 subscribers and 5,212 incumbent pensioners. Particulars of rank at the date of transfer could not be given without a very large amount of labour, which, as at present advised, the Secretary of State regrets that he cannot undertake. Pensioners in receipt of pension in India on 1st January, 1912, the latest date on which information is available, were:—Bengal Military Fund, 6; Bengal Military Orphan society, 33; Bombay Military Fund, 7; Madras Military and Medical Funds, 20. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give the number of deserters from the Navy and Royal Marines for each year from 1903 to 1912?

The numbers of deserters were as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he would state the present position of the six-Power group loan with China; and whether Great Britain still insists on terms which are not acceptable to the borrowers and many of the lenders; and whether it is the intention to continue the policy of preventing any other arrangements for loan however they may be agreed between lenders and borrowers?

The negotiations for the Chinese Reorganisation Loan are still in progress and are therefore still confidential. No terms have been proposed to the Chinese Government which have not received the unanimous approval of the six Powers interested, and, as a matter of fact, terms are now under the consideration of the Chinese Government that have the unanimous approval of the six Powers. Pending the negotiations with regard to the issue of the Reorganisation Loan, his Majesty's Government will continue to give their exclusive support to the groups who are negotiating that loan.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can state the number of certificates of declaration of conscientious objection to vaccination lodged in the year 1911, and what percentage of the births they represented; whether he can state the number of such certificates lodged 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?

I am informed that the figures for the years 1911 and 1912 are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the British delegates at the international conference on the load-line regulations of ships will be instructed to insist on the heightened Plimsoll line or whether they will be free to revert to the original Plimsoll load water-line; and whether the British delegates will be instructed to support any proposal for a light load line with the object of increasing the safety of ships that go to sea in ballast?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to-day to another question from him bearing on this subject. As at present advised, I do not propose to refer the question of a light load line to the Committee which I am setting up.

asked the Postmaster-General when the work of extending the Cork post office will continence?

The plans have now been finally approved, but I regret that it has been found impracticable to make sufficient provision in the Estimates for the ensuing financial year for beginning the work before next autumn.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that the firm of Gutteridge and Sons, builders, Peterborough, who are executing work at the post office at Peterborough, are paying less than the standard rate of wages to the joiners employed by them; and whether he will take steps to compel this firm to observe the Fair-Wages Resolution or remove them from the list of firms invited to tender for Government work?

The First Commissioner has investigated the matter and has satisfied himself that the firm in question are loyally observing the terms of the Fair-Wages Resolution.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of complaints received since the taking over the telephones by the state of faults and failures to give an efficient telephone service?

The number of letters relating to line and apparatus faults, service difficulties and complaints in connection with the telephone service received by the Post Office is as follows:—