asked the Postmaster-General if he has received any communications as to the issue of books of insurance stamps of certain values on lines similar to those adopted in the case of ordinary postage stamps; and if it will be practicable to issue the stamps in book form or in some other manner which will assist their purchase in bulk, with due regard to the convenience of the public requiring them?

This matter is still under consideration, but a decision has not yet been reached.

asked the Home Secretary if he has had an interview with the representatives of the London motor omnibus undertakings; if so, will he state the date when the conference took place; whether it was after Sir Herbert Jekyll had left the Board of Trade and joined the directorate of the London General Omnibus Company; if at the interview he suggested that the various undertakings should combine with a view to avoiding separate working responsibilities; if at the same interview any reference was made to the question of the motor omnibus companies and the tramways joining hands; and if the recent traffic combinations that have recently been effected are the result of the advice given by him?

The answer to the first part of the question is, Yes; to the second part, the 18th of October last; to the third part, Yes; and to the remaining parts, No.

asked the Home Secretary if the Building Operations and Engineering Works Bill introduced by his predecessor in 1908 will be reintroduced this Session?

I regret that in the present state of public business it has not been found possible to reintroduce the Bill this Session, but I intend to avail myself of the first opportunity to press it forward.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his Department regards the boy scouts as a movement with which elementary schools should not be associated?

I regard the boy scout movement generally as a most useful agency for supplementing and continuing the work of the elementary schools in the formation of character and the cultivation of a spirit of co-operation and good citizenship.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to appoint any representatives of seamen and firemen on the Departmental Committee appointed to consider the question of the load line of ships; and whether the proceedings of the Committee will be public and the Press admitted to them?

The questions and calculations involved in the determination of the freeboard of vessels are of a highly technical character, and the Load Line Committee has been so constituted as best to deal with these questions. It appeared to me that it would be inconsistent with the character of the proposed investiga- tion to form a Committee representative of particular interests, and I do not therefore propose to add to the Committee representatives of particular interests. It will, of course, be open to those concerned to furnish evidence to the Committee. I am informed by the Committee that they have very fully considered the question of the admission of the Press to their meetings. Having regard to the object in view, namely, to arrive at the facts relating to the operation of the revised Tables of Freeboard of 1906, the Committee specially desire to obtain free and unfettered evidence from all classes of seafarers and others having experience in the matter. They are unanimously of opinion that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain this evidence if it had to be tendered in public, and it would be a great misfortune if valuable experiences of the kind indicated could not be freely placed at the disposal of the Committee. The Committee do not propose, therefore, that their proceedings shall be public and the Press admitted to them. I may add that in adopting this course the Committee are following the usual practice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the British steamer "Charing Cross" engaged a crew at Penarth in January last; whether this vessel is 2,534 tons gross and only engaged a crew as follows, one mate, one carpenter, one boatswain, three able seamen, one deck hand, and two ordinary seamen; whether he is aware that on the 24th February two of the original crew left and two deck hands were shipped in their places who had recently been employed on Mudhopper No. 19; whether the Board of Trade surveyors had this vessel brought under their notice; and, if so, why she was allowed to proceed to sea in such an undermanned state?

I am making inquiries with regard to the matter referred to in this question, and, when they are completed, I will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an officer has recently been promoted to the rank of overseer in the Central Telegraph Office, and that at least twenty-one men, nearly all of whom are fully qualified, have been passed over in consequence; whether an undertaking has been given by his Department that officers must have proved qualifications and experience in the practical branches of the work before being promoted; whether this man has been a confidential clerk to the assistant controller (Metropolitan), and has for many years had no experience in the galleries; and whether, in view of the discontent which this promotion has provoked, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the system of selection for promotion which is adopted in that office?

The officer in question was promoted because I was satisfied from the reports of the supervising officers in the Central Telegraph Office that he was the best qualified officer for promotion. He has, I may state, a high degree of technical knowledge. I am not aware of the undertaking to which the hon. Member refers; but after full inquiry I am satisfied that the system of selection for promotion in force at the Central Telegraph Office is such as to ensure the promotion of the best qualified officers, and I see no reason for further inquiry.