asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of aeroplanes and hydroplanes which Italy and Austria possess; whether the Admiralty proposes to make provision for an aerial service for co-operating with the Mediterranean fleet; and if any steps have been taken for the construction and equipment of an airship station or stations for this purpose?

My right hon. Friend does not wish to make any statement on this subject.

Are we to understand that the House is not to be informed what is to be done?

Certainly, if it can be done with safety.

asked the number of vessels of the pre-"Dreadnought," "Dreadnought," and armoured cruiser types composing the present Mediterranean fleets of Italy, Austria, and Germany, the additions which will have been made by 1915, the number of vessels now comprising this country's Mediterranean Fleet, and the number of vessels now under construction or about to be laid down which are ear-marked for Mediterranean service, over and above the numbers requisite for securing a 60 per cent. superiority in Home waters?

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the information contained in the Dickinson Return circulated to the House on the 20th March last; and wishes me to say that it is neither good strategy nor appropriate terminology to "ear-mark" ships of war to particular stations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether, in the event of a sufficient sum being raised by public subscription to defray the cost of erecting along the North side of Trafalgar Square small platforms properly constructed to facilitate open-air speaking, he will confer with the other Departments interested as to the possibility of permitting the erection of the platforms suggested; (2) seeing that the scenes which occurred on Sunday, 4th May, in Trafalgar Square were to a great extent due to ignorance on the part of the public of the Regulation that in its own interest speaking cannot be permitted from the South side of the Nelson Monument, whether he will consult with the other Departments interested as to the desirability of erecting along the North side of the square a series of small platforms, properly constructed to facilitate open-air speaking, in order that on occasions of public interest the crowd may be attracted by natural means away from Cockspur Street and the other thoroughfares on the South of the square?

I will consider whether such an arrangement as is suggested is practicable and desirable, and will consult the First Commissioner of Works.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Orders issued by the President of the Local Government Board prohibiting the use of open cut-outs are not infrequently disregarded by motorists and motor cyclists within the Metropolitan area; and whether he will issue further instructions to the police in this matter?

As I stated in answer to a question on the 1st May, the Order of the Local Government Board has been communicated to all ranks of the Metropolitan police, with an explanatory memorandum; and they will endeavour to enforce it so far as this can be done by persons not possessing technical knowledge. I stated then that I proposed to address a circular on the subject to police forces in England and Wales. This has now been done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department wehther his attention has been called to the jury's verdict and the coroner's comments in connection with the death of a crane signalman while working for the General Building Company on 24th April in High Holborn; if he is aware that the jury expressed an opinion that inspectors should have the power to inspect the Scotch derrick cranes and should always be fitted with a double chain; if he is aware that the chairman of the London County Council Building Acts Committee stated that for the past ten years representations have been made from time to time to the Home Office to have such cranes properly inspected; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 8th of this month to a question on the same subject by the hon. Member for the Westhoughton Division of Lancashire. I have not seen any such statement by the chairman of the London County Council Building Acts Committee, nor am I aware of any such representations having been made to me by the county council.

Is there any prospect of the Public Works and Engineering Bill being introduced this Session?

My hon. Friend knows that the state of public business at the present moment is very crowded, and that I am unable to make any statement as to the introduction of any further Bills.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries of the Opposition to see if they will regard this matter as non-contentious, as it is purely for the defence of the workmen engaged in the special industry?

I will consult with my hon. Friend on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many men of the age of twenty-one years or over employed on all the railways of the United Kingdom are at present in receipt of earnings of less than 20s. per week; (2) what increases in passenger rates have been generally instituted by the railway companies of the United Kingdom since August, 1911 and whether he has any official information that would enable him to state the increase in the annual income of the companies resulting from these increased rates; (3) whether he has any official information showing what additional income per annum will accrue to the railway companies of the United Kingdom from an increase of 4 per cent. in goods rates; and (4) what is approximately the total amount paid by the railway companies of the United Kingdom per annum owing to increased rates of wages since October, 1911?

The Board of Trade have no official information which would enable me to answer the hon. Member's inquiries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain how his Department or the Railway and Canal Commissioners are going to see that the Act passed last March will be carried into effect, and that the increases in rates are confined to meeting improved labour conditions?

The increase must be due solely to the improved conditions of labour of the men in the employment of the company.

Have they already proved that before the Railway and Canal Commissioners before notifying the increases in rates which are to come into force in July?

Persons who have any complaint to make can bring it before the Railway and Canal Commissioners, and then the companies will have to prove their case.

Is it a fact that, although they have all given notice of an increase of 4 per cent., they have not given a general increase of 4 per cent. to the men?

They have got to justify the increase in each case separately.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recent breakdown at the London County Council power station at Greenwich; if he is aware that the breakdown was caused by overloading the machinery in consequence of there not being enough machinery to generate the amount of power required for general use; and if he will cause an inquiry to be held in connection with the recent breakdown?

I am informed by the London County Council that the breakdown in question occurred in consequence of a cotter falling out of the high-pressure piston rod of one of the engines, and that there is no foundation for the suggestion that the mishap was caused by overloading the machinery. I hardly think that an inquiry such as my hon. Friend suggests would serve any useful purpose.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is yet in a position to make any statement in regard to the prohibition of dazzling headlights on motor cars in well-lighted streets?

I have arranged for some investigations on the subject of glare from headlights being conducted by the National Physical Laboratory. The investigations are still in progress.

asked whether, in view of the varied nature, of, the noises, made by warning instruments on motor vehicles, he can hold out hopes of steps being taken to obtain so far as possible, uniformity of sound?

Some sort of uniformity is secured in the case of public carriages in London, where the Commissioner of Police requires the use of a horn emitting a deep toned note. As the law stands, I have no power to require the general use of one form of warning instrument by all motor cars, but I am considering whether anything can be done to secure some greater degree of uniformity than at present exists.

With an alteration in the existing law or without an alteration?

I find it very difficult to make an alteration without amending the existing law. As the hon. Member knows, a Bill has been suggested, and I am afraid I cannot make the alteration required unless an opportunity to amend the Motor Car Act occurs.

asked if the attention of the President of the Local Government Board has been called to an inquest held at Camberwell on Tuesday, 6th May, on two aged persons of the Newington Workhouse; if he is aware that a nurse stated at the inquest that there was only one nurse at that institution to 112 aged persons; if he is aware that the jury stated that there should be more nurses at that institution; and if he will make inquiries into the matter?

I have seen a newspaper report of the inquest. I understand that the aged persons at this institution are not in a condition necessitating medical or nursing treatment, being able to wash, dress, and generally look after themselves, and that the duties of the attendant entail no actual nursing. All cases that require skilled nursing are at once removed to the infirmary. I have, however, directed one of my medical inspectors to visit the workhouse and see whether the arrangements are satisfactory.

asked whether the President of the Local Government Board is aware that the appointment of unqualified persons without a knowledge of the duties of the office as relieving officers inflicts hardship and suffering on the poor who are compelled to seek relief; that a hardship is inflicted on the selected candidate if his appointment cannot be confirmed, in that he has often given up his previous occupation and thus finds himself out of employment; that, should his appointment be confirmed, hardship is inflicted on the many qualified persons who, acting upon the recommendations of the Royal Commission, have given time and money to qualify and then find themselves passed over for unqualified persons; and whether, considering the doubt that exists amongst boards of guardians as to the proper interpretation of the Local Government Board's circular letter on the subject, he can see his way to adopt the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the matter and make an Order that no person be appointed relieving officer who has not had previous experience in the duties or obtained the certificate of a recognised examining board?

I have given a good deal of consideration to this question, and have issued two circular letters on the 18th March, 1910, and 25th March, 1912, impressing on boards of guardians the necessity of appointing suitable and well-qualified persons to the responsible office of relieving officer. I am not aware that doubt exists among boards of guardians as to the views of the Department in the matter, and I do not think it is either necessary or desirable at present to make any such rigid regulations as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he has given directions for the issue of a circular through the Irish Constabulary Inspector-General, requesting information as to the drilling of sections of the loyalist Protestant population in Belfast and the North of Ireland; and, if so, whether he can indicate the nature of the information received?

My right hon. Friend has given no such directions, but the police in the ordinary course of their duty keep the Government informed upon such matters. It would be contrary to practice to publish police reports which are absolutely confidential.

asked whether the Chief Secretary will have further inquiry made as to the possibility of providing Jeremiah D. Shea, Rossmore, Tahilla, with a holding on some untenanted land in compliance with the memorial forwarded to the Congested Districts Board?

The Congested Districts Board have had inquiries made in regard to the application of Mr. Jeremiah D. Shea, and they cannot provide him with a holding.

asked whether the holding of Michael Sullivan, Cannig, Mastergeehy, on the D. C. O'Connell estate, was valued by the inspector of the Estates Commissioners at £120; and whether, in view of the fact that this estate has been bought by the Congested Districts Board and that Sullivan did not sign any purchase agreement, the holding will now be taken over at the price fixed by the former inspector and that this tenant will be treated on the same fair terms already granted to the other tenant who had not purchased?

The price placed upon the holding of Michael Sullivan on this estate by the inspector of the Estates Commissioners was £140, and not £120, as stated in the question. The Congested Districts Board will be prepared to sell the holding to the tenant in its unaltered condition at this price.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that two years expired on 10th May since the landlord of the Jermyn estate, near Caherdaniel, accepted the purchase price named by the Congested Districts Board; and whether, in view of the fact that no improvement works have been carried out since last January, he will state when the sale to the tenants will be definitely completed?

The estate referred to was vested in the Congested Districts Board in November last. The necessary drainage works have been completed on the estate, but at present some of the tenants are improving their dwelling houses and erecting new out-offices, with assistance from the Board. The estate is being resurveyed with a view to resale to the tenants, but it cannot be definitely stated when the resale will be completed.

asked what was the average number of years' purchase valued for the townland of Laharan South, on the Colomb estate, near Cahirciveen, by the inspector of the Estates Commissioners; how many years' purchase was demanded by the landlord; and whether, in view of a possible arrangement and the approaching inspection of this estate by the Congested Districts Board, the tenants will be saved any further expenses by legal process for the recovery of rent?

The owner instituted proceedings before the Estates Commissioners for the sale of this property direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The terms of sale were a matter of arrangement between the owner and the tenants, and the Commissioners were not parties thereto. The Commissioners refused to declare the lands fit to be regarded as an estate for the purposes of sale, and the owner is now in negotiation with the Congested Districts Board with a view to the purchase of the property. The Board have had the estate inspected, and hope to consider the question of making an offer for its purchase at their next meeting. They cannot interfere in any legal proceedings instituted by the owner for the recovery of rent or interest due by the tenants.

asked what was the date fixed for the year 1912–13 before which the notices for Income Tax which contained threats of costs in seven days could not be sent out; and is the system of the Treasury that, after that date, it is entirely in the option of the collector of a district whether he thereupon sends out the threatening notices or waits at his discretion?

No special instructions as to the date of issue of the final notices for payment of Income Tax were given for the year 1912–13. Under the Standing Instructions, the earliest date at which such notices would be issued is 2nd February. As the hon. Member was informed in my answer of 7th May, the actual dates of issue of final notices vary only within narrow limits, and depend on circumstances which are not entirely within the control of the collector.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the doubts as to the legality of certain marriages performed at Holy Trinity, Sloane Street, owing to their having been solemnised by a certain Bishop Matthews, alias Pavoleri, who was never in the holy orders of the Church of England; whether he will give facilities for a Bill legalising these marriages, on which doubt has been cast; and whether, to prevent the recurrence of similar cases, he will introduce legislation for a uniform system of civil marriage?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. Any doubt as to the validity of these marriages can be removed by a Provisional Order, and I am now in communication with the Registrar-General and the Bishop of London in the matter. As regards the last part of the question, I can add nothing to previous answers given on this subject by the Prime Minister.