asked the Secretary to the Treasury the amount of Grants actually made and promised, respectively, from the appointment of the Development Commission up to the, present date on behalf of forestry, including education, in England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland respectively?

The advances from the Development Fund sanctioned for forestry purposes are: England and Wales, £18,435; Scotland, £11,150; Ireland, £28,050. The actual amounts issued from the fund to date are £1,800, £198, and £5,365, respectively. It is impossible to state the precise amount of the advances indicated as probable, because they are frequently conditional on the satisfactory preparation of detailed estimates and schemes which are not yet available; but I am informed that the Commissioners have provisionally given it to be understood that they would, if necessary, support schemes for the provision of a certain number of experimental and demonstration forests in England and Wales, and would supply funds for the afforestation of about 15,000 acres in Ireland. As regards Scotland, the Commissioners have agreed to consider the provision of a demonstration area. The Commissioners have also sanctioned certain Grants for education, research, advisory work, minor forestry experiments, and administrative expenses in England and Wales, which are estimated to cost hereafter about £5,700 a year. They are now considering proposals from Scotland for similar purposes. They are also in negotiation with certain municipal authorities for the afforestation of water catchment areas under their control.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that is cases where the owner has made full returns on Form IV. the valuation officers are making inquiries of tenants as to the rent they pay; whether there is any authority, and, if so, under what Section of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, for that course of action; and whether it is being pursued with the approval of the Treasury?

The amount of rent paid by a tenant is, no doubt, one of the matters on which a valuer sometimes makes inquiries at the time of inspecting property for the purpose of valuation. No authority is required for a mere request for information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will ask the British South Africa Company for regular reports as to the progress of sleeping sickness in Rhodesia; and what remedial measures are being taken to combat the malady?

I receive information regularly from the British South Africa Company on the subject. With regard to remedial measures I would refer to my answer of 14th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any cases of sleeping sickness have, within the last three years, been recorded in the territory now forming the Union of South Africa; whether he can in that case give the dates when such outbreaks were recorded and the number of persons attacked; whether he has received any Reports indicating the steps being taken by the Government of the Union of South Africa to prevent sleeping sickness crossing their borders from Rhodesia; and, if so, will he communicate such information to the House?

I am not aware of any cases of sleeping sickness in the Union; at present, the infection is confined to the neighbourhood of the Zambesi, and Ministers have not as far as I know taken any special steps in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any reports from South Africa respecting the condition of the lepers on Robben Island, off Cape Town; whether he is aware that strictures have been passed in medical circles upon the administration, certification, and prophylactic methods employed; and whether he can state what steps are being taken in the direction of the curative treatment of the disease?

I have not received any reports on the present condition of the lepers on Robben Island, but I observe from the proceedings of the Union Parliament that proposals have been made for holding an inquiry.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that Mr. Flaxman, contractor for repairs at the Southend-on-Sea post office, is paying the joiners employed by him ½d. per hour less than the rate current in the district; and whether he will compel this contractor to observe the Fair-Wages Resolution or cancel the contract?

The First Commissioner wishes to thank my hon. Friend for calling his attention to this case. It is found that the contractor is not strictly observing the Fair-Wages Resolution, and steps are being immediately taken to secure that all workmen engaged on the contract shall receive the wages to which they are entitled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the exports of living animals from the United Kingdom during the year 1911 (or 1912, if available), given under the heads of cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, total?

The following statement gives the information desired:—

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the automatic system of exchange for telephone service which is used at Munich; and whether he will consider the advisability of introducing such a system into this country?

The automatic telephone exchanges installed at Munich have been inspected by officers of the Post Office, and I hope shortly to be in a position to proceed with a trial installation of the type of equipment in use in that city. Other types have already been tested with satisfactory results.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will give for England and Wales the estimated number of children between five and six years of age in the year 1903 and the years 1912 and 1913?

The numbers of children living between the ages of five and six years in England and Wales on 1st April, 1903, 1st April, 1912, and 1st April, 1913, are estimated to have been as follows:—