asked the Secretary to the Treasury if pressure is being exerted upon country officers of Customs and Excise to use cycles all the year round for travelling in the performance of their duties; whether he is aware that the amount of sick leave granted to country officers suffered a reduction following upon the institution of the present system of travelling in February, 1909; and whether, seeing that a return to cycling will possibly necessitate an increased amount of sick leave, and will tell upon the constitutions of men bordering on or over forty years of age, and tend eventually to premature superannuation, he will give instructions that will leave officers free to select their own method of locomotion subject to the existing checks as to its reasonableness in cost?

Country officers of Customs and Excise have for many years been in the habit of using cycles in the performance of their duties, although there have been no Departmental Regulations requiring them to do so. So far as I am aware, there has been no pressure put upon these officers to work their districts by the use of cycles exclusively. There was no alteration in February, 1909, in the system of travelling. It was found necessary at that time to institute a different system of payment for travelling expenses, but there is no reason to suppose that this has affected the amount of sick leave taken by officers. I cannot admit that cycling is an unhealthy form of travelling, and it is obviously convenient and economical in country districts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated total amount for Sinking Fund purposes under the various Land Purchase Acts which will come in course of payment by the purchasers during the present financial year; what is the sum available for Sinking Fund purposes in respect of each £100 issued under the Birrell Act, and at what date a loan of £100,000,000, issued in five equal annual instalments beginning in 1914, could be redeemed at par if the existing and future Sinking Fund payments, calculating the future payments on the basis of the Birrell Act, were appropriated for the redemption of that loan, assuming a yield on the Sinking Fund investments of £3 per cent., £3 5s. per cent., and £3 10s. per cent., respectively?

Excluding the Sinking Fund payments in respect of advances prior to 1891 which are payable to the Local Loans Fund, the estimated total amount receivable in the present financial year is £460,000. The Sinking Fund payable in respect of each £100 advanced under the Act of 1909 is 10s. per annum. The redemption of £100,000,000 under the conditions stated could be effected as under:—

• With investments at 3 per cent. in 1963
• With investments at 3¼ per cent. in 1961
• With investments at 3½ per cent. in 1960

asked whether Patrick Keane, Kilarda, Liselton, an evicted tenant on Ormathwaite, has made an application for a grant to enable him to work his farm; and how soon the grant will be made, in view of this tenant's circumstances?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the expenditure sanctioned by the Commissioners has been entrusted to one of their inspectors, who will deal with the matter as soon as practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will give particulars, including the names and location of their former holdings, of the eleven evicted tenants on the Pratt estate, near Crossmolina, county Mayo, whose claims for reinstatement have been considered by the Estates Commissioners, showing how each case has been disposed of and the reasons for the claims of six of the applicants being rejected; and if further consideration can be given to these cases either by the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board?

Of the eleven evicted tenants referred to in the question the Estates Commissioners, after inquiry and in exercise of the discretion vested in them by Statute, refused to take any action in regard to the application of six of them, and they are not prepared to depart from the decision they have come to in these cases. One of the evicted tenants has been allotted a holding elsewhere and the application of another is under consideration. The remaining applications were not lodged by the date specified in the Evicted Tenants Act and have not been inquired into. The Commissioners do not think it desirable to furnish the names of the evicted tenants or to give the further detailed information asked for in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the old age pension claim of Pat M'Nulty, Creevy, Crossmolina, county Mayo, has been refused; is he aware that M'Nulty has produced as proof of his age a copy of the 1841 Census record showing him to have then been three months old; that he is without means of any sort; and that he can produce ample evidence of neighbours that he is the Pat M'Nulty described in the 1841 Census record; and on what evidence his identity is challenged?

Patrick M'Nulty's pension was discontinued on a question raised by the pension officer that he was under seventy years of age. This man's name did not appear in the Census Return of 1841, as stated, and from the information as to his family supplied by the pensioner it would appear that he is not the Patrick M'Nulty who was recorded in that Return as being three months old.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin possesses, in addition to some thirty or forty Irish vellums, a unique collection of considerably over 1,000 paper manuscripts in the modern Irish language, which are invaluable for the literary and social history of modern Ireland; that the only thing in the nature of a catalogue available to students of these manuscripts is a fifty-year-old manuscript catalogue of less than half of the entire collection; that, although the Royal Irish Academy has issued some hundreds of volumes of publications, it has never published or printed a catalogue of a single line of these valuable modern manuscripts; and whether, seeing the importance of these manuscripts as materials for the study of Irish history, he will take steps to impress upon the Academy the necessity of providing students of its manuscripts with all reasonable facilities for utilising them as well as of beginning forthwith the publication of a catalogue of its manuscripts, such as the British Museum and other libraries have already published?

The Secretary of the Royal Irish Academy informs me that the existing manuscript catalogue has been completely revised up-to-date, and there is now no Irish manuscript in the Academy's collection which is not included in the catalogue. This catalogue is available whenever required by students. The Academy would gladly see this manuscript catalogue printed if funds for the purpose were available.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the estate of Mr. E. K. Supple, of Ballyhennessy, in the county of Kerry, has yet been vested in the tenants; have the Estates Commissioners made any Grant towards the building of out-offices in the farm on this estate held by the late Thomas Griffin and now in the occupation of his wife, seeing that the farm was an evicted one for a period of twenty-two years, and that the out-offices consequently got into a very dilapidated condition, and are so still; and, if such Grant has been made, what steps, if any, have been taken to see that it has been properly applied?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The Estates Commissioners are not prepared to sanction any Grant in the case referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that several tenants on the Blackwood estate, situate at Croughcroonen, Lixnaw, have been recently processed for their rents, which they were unable to pay owing to the flooded conditions of their lands continuously; and whether the Estates Commissioners will compel the landlord to take immediate action in making up the embankments so as to save the tenants from ruin?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale by the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903, direct to the tenants, and purchase agreements have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners at prices agreed to by the parties. In their agreements to purchase the tenants contracted to pay interest on the agreed prices until the holdings are vested, and the Land Commission are under statutory obligation to collect this interest, which is less than the rent otherwise payable, and if not paid to institute legal proceedings for its recovery. Having regard to the position of this estate on the principal register of direct sales and the claims of other estates in priority thereon, this estate will not be reached by the Commissioners to be dealt with for some time. They have no knowledge of the condition of the embankment, but they will communicate with the solicitor for the owner in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary the number of small tenants and also sub-tenants on the Miss Oliver estate at Kilmoiley South, North Kerry, who have been allowed to purchase their holdings; and whether he is aware of the feeling amongst all classes of people that the small holders of land ought to have the same advantages of land purchase as those occupying large holdings?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that there are over 100 holdings on this estate which was sold by the owner direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and these holdings have been vested in the purchasing tenants. The Commissioners considered, when dealing with the property, the cases of the sub-tenants, and in ten cases decided, under Section 15 of the Act of 1903, to deem the parcels in the exclusive occupation of the sub-tenants to be holdings for the purposes of sale, and such parcels have been vested in the occupiers as separate holdings. As regards the remaining sub-tenants, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 7th August last.

asked what steps, if any, have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to acquire the estate of Mr. R. Wade-Thompson, in the parish of Kilgarvin, county Mayo?

The estate referred to has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board, and a decision will be arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable.

asked the grounds on which the old age pension claim of Mrs. Catherine Guinan, Ballymayock, Lahardane, county Mayo, has been disallowed; have the authorities, in arriving at their decision, taken into account the fact that she was entitled to only one-third of the property of her late husband, and that the applicant is completely invalided

Catherine Guinan's claim was disallowed on the grounds that her means exceeded the statutory limit. She resides with her unmarried son on her deceased husband's farm of 13½ acres, which carried five head of cattle in addition to sheep, pigs, and fowl, and which was also well tilled. The Local Government Board are not aware that she is entitled to only one-third of the property, but a statement was furnished to them that she was an invalid.

asked what steps, if any, have been taken by the Congested Districts Board with the view to purchase the estate of Mr. Charles Downing, in the parish of Kilgarvin, county Mayo; and is he aware of the willingness of the tenants to purchase and of the need for dealing with the congestion existent on their holdings?

The Congested Districts Board have been in communication with Mr. Charles Downing regarding a sale of his property in county Mayo, but the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection have not been lodged. The Board have been informed that the tenants desire to purchase their holdings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the statement that during the period covered by the correspondence with Messrs. Lever Brothers, Limited, no concessions, privileges, or rights in British West Africa were applied for by any other parties, concessions obtained from the natives are not taken into account; if so, what leases or concessions of this nature have come to his notice up to the present time, whether they require validation, and what, if any, assurances have been given with regard to them?

I presume the "statement" to which the hon. Member refers is that contained in the answer which I gave him on 17th April. If so, he does not quite correctly state the terms of that answer, which were, "During the period referred to I received no application for any concession in British West Africa similar to that made by Messrs. Lever Brothers." Three applications of a somewhat similar kind have since been made in Sierra Leone. Two of these are by persons who have not yet visited the country and who have not asked for any definite area, and the third needs further inquiry before it can be dealt with. All of them will require validation if they are proceeded with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the public importance of the case, he can make arrangements for full notes of the action now pending in the courts of British East Africa between the Masai tribe and the Attorney-General and others to be taken and published, whether in a White Paper or otherwise?

I regret that I am unable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion, as I do not see sufficient ground for going beyond the ordinary practice of the court. I have no doubt that I shall be supplied by the Governor with an adequate report of the proceedings.

asked the Home Secretary the scale of weekly pay, giving the commencing rate and the maximum, for constables, sergeants, and inspectors, respectively, in the Metropolitan police force, with the corresponding scales in the City of London, Liverpool, Bradford, and Bristol police forces?

The information asked for is as follows:—

asked the number of summonses issued in the years 1905 and 1912, respectively, for non-payment of that portion of the general rate struck for the purposes of education by any local authority; and the number of cases in which distraint on goods or imprisonment were consequent on such summons?

I cannot give this information. The summonses for failure to pay rates do not distinguish between cases in which the failure is only with regard to that portion of the rate which is raised for education purposes, and others.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what has been the total cost borne by this country on account of the International Council for the Exploration of the North Sea since the inauguration of this body in July, 1902?

The expenditure up to the end of the year 1911–12 was £129,237. To this must be added the cost of stationery, printing, etc., including Parliamentary Reports, amounting to £4,300.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many times the International Council for the Exploration of the North Sea has met since the date of its first meeting in July, 1902?

I understand the International Council have met for full sittings on eleven occasions, and there have in addition been numerous special meetings in sections and committees.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of farm servants who have emigrated from Scotland during each of the last five years; and whether he has any information as to how far this emigration is caused by the lack of proper housing for farm servants throughout Scotland?

I am informed that the classification in past years has not been so arranged as to admit of separating Scottish passengers from other British subjects. During the nine months, April-December, 1912, when persons intending to reside permanently in countries abroad have been distinguished in the passenger lists, 2,857 males of eighteen years and upwards (in addition to 243 other males over twelve whose precise age was not specified), whose occupations show them to belong to the agricultural class, left permanent residence in Scotland to reside permanently outside the United Kingdom. The figures apply to British subjects only, and do not include aliens. Some of these are no doubt agriculturists other than farm servants. On the other hand, a certain number described merely as "labourers" may have been farm servants. This number cannot, however, be large, since during the nine months in question there were less than 1,900 emigrants from Scotland classed as labourers. I have no information as regards the last part of the question, but as my hon. Friend is aware, a Royal Commission is now investigating the whole question of rural and other housing in Scotland.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the housing of crofters, crofter fishermen, and cottar fishermen comes within the purview of the inquiry of the Royal Commission on Housing (Scotland); and, if not, whether he can see his way to extend the reference of this Committee to include the housing of these classes?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the explanation given in the Report of the Scottish Board of Agriculture for the failure of a demand for small holdings in the Lowland counties of Scotland, namely, the ignorance of the benefits conferred by the Act, he will say what steps are to be taken to popularise the Act in the Lowland counties; and whether other reasons for its failure have been brought to his notice?

Various reasons for the limited demand for small holdings in the Lowlands have been suggested, but it is believed that the principal reason is that stated in the first Report of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, page xiv. The Board has issued various explanatory leaflets, and the Commissioner and Sub-Commissioners have paid visits to the Lowland counties.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many new small holdings have been created in the crofting counties and in the Lowland counties of Scotland, respectively, since the coming into force of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act?

An exact reply cannot be given to my hon. Friend's question, because most of the schemes in respect of which the Board of Agriculture have applied to the Land Court are still sub judice. The hon. Member is referred to the statement given on pp. xiv. and xv. of the first Report of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland issued recently.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that the Scottish Board of Agriculture report that the demand for land settlement is far in excess of the present resources of the fund at the disposal of the Board, it is proposed to take steps to augment the fund to an extent which will admit of the objects of the Act being attained?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what proportion of the annual fund of £206,000 which is at the disposal of the Scottish Board of Agriculture was spent last year in investigating the claims and circumstances of the applicants?

The work of investigating the claims of applicants is done chiefly by the three Sub-Commissioners for small holdings, who are not paid out of the fund, but whose salaries are borne on the Board's Parliamentary Vote.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the ratio of suitable to unsuitable applicants for land among the 3,370 persons who applied for holdings under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act; and what were the main grounds of unsuitability?

I regret that I am unable to answer the question in the form suggested by my hon. Friend. All the circumstances of each case have to be taken into careful consideration.