National Insurance Act Outworkers 64. Mr. HANCOCK asked whether any Order has been issued that modifies or eliminates Sub-section (j), Part II., Schedule 1, of the National Insurance Act? The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. J. M. Robertson) Yes, Sir. By a special Order which came into force on 15th July last, the class of outworkers specified in paragraph (j) of Part II. of the First Schedule to the National Insurance Act has been brought within the scope of the compulsory provisions of the Act. The Order is No. 921 in the series of Statutory Rules and Orders, 1912. Medical Benefit 65. Mr. NEWMAN asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it has been brought to his notice that insurance committees, in refusing applicants desirous of making their own medical arrangements, are in the habit of assigning no reason for their inability to comply with the request of the insured person, but merely warn the applicant that, failing making a selection by the 31st ultimo, he will be liable to distribution among doctors on the panel; and whether, in view of the fact that each application is considered on its merits, he will explain why the reason for refusal is not stated in the reply? Mr. ROBERTSON An insurance committee is under no obligation to explain in each individual case the reasons for refusing an application from an insured person for permission to make his own arrangements for medical attendance and treatment. The general policy which I believe is guiding insurance committees in dealing with such applications is indicated in the Memorandum on the subject issued by the Commissioners, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. Mr. NEWMAN Surely, as a matter of courtesy, the insurance committees might give this information to insured persons; it would not cost anything. 71. Mr. THOMAS asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether an approved member claiming insurance benefit, declaring sickness on a Monday and declaring off on the following Saturday, thereby only being entitled to three days' sick pay, is compelled under the National Insurance Act to provide three medical certificates for the period; and, if so, whether he will take steps to stop such proceeding, which can only have the effect of preventing members from receiving the benefits to which they are entitled? Mr. ROBERTSON The question of the evidence to be required in connection with a claim for sickness benefit must be determined by the society administering the benefit, subject to an appeal to the Commissioners under Section 67 of the Act. I see no reason why in any case in the circumstances stated a society should require three medical certificates. 72. Mr. C. BATHURST asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, owing to the delicacy of the panel doctors' position in relation to persons insured under the National Insurance Act, it is being found increasingly difficult in Gloucestershire and elsewhere to check malingering, and that in Bristol a medical referee has been appointed with this object by the insurance committee with the approval of the approved societies in that city; and whether the Insurance Commissioners favour the same course being adopted in other administrative areas? Mr. ROBERTSON The matters referred to in the hon. Member's question are receiving the careful attention of the Commissioners. Workmen's Compensation Act 70. Mr. BRIDGEMAN asked the Secretary to the Treasury if, when a workman is in receipt of 10s. a week from his employer under the Workmen's Compensation Act on account of an accident, he is precluded from receiving sickness benefit under the National Insurance Act; and, if so, seeing that the employer has had to pay twice over for one benefit, whether, in the Act for amending the National Insurance Act, it is proposed to remedy this injustice? Mr. ROBERTSON The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirma- tive. It is not, however, the case that either employers or employed contributors are paying twice over for one benefit. The relief to the funds in the cases referred to was a factor in the actuarial calculations, and if sickness benefit were allowed, in addition to payments under the Workmen's Compensation Act in respect of the same accident, the contributions would require to be increased. There would then be justification for complaints that payments were being made twice over, as there is no obvious reason why an insured person requires to receive more when the illness is due to accident than when it is due to other causes. Maternity Benefit 6. Mr. JOWETT asked if married men in the Navy are required to give three months' notice of the approximate date of the expected confinement of their wives in order to comply with the rules governing the payment of maternity benefit under the National Insurance Act, 1911? Mr. LAMBERT The provision referred to by my hon. Friend was made not as an essential condition of payment, but solely in the interests of the men and their wives as being, under the exceptional conditions of naval service, the only means of ensuring payment of the benefit immediately after the confinement takes place. The advantages of this procedure have already been proved in several cases. When it is not possible to give the full amount of notice the claim is in no way prejudiced thereby. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of payment to the wives of seamen? Mr. LAMBERT That is for what the regulation is framed. Unemployment Benefit 83. Mr. O'GRADY asked whether secretaries of trade union branches have had their claim to unemployment benefit under Part II. of the National Insurance Act contested by Labour Exchange officials on the ground that such secretaries are receiving a remuneration or profit greater than that they would derive from the receipt of unemployment benefit under the Act; and, if so, will he state whether Labour Exchange officials have been instructed not to pay benefit under these circumstances? Mr. ROBERTSON It is provided by Section 107 (1), paragraph 5, that "a workman shall not be deemed to be unemployed whilst he is following any remunerative occupation in an insured trade, or … any other occupation from which he derives any other remuneration or profit greater than that which he would derive from the receipt of unemployment benefit under this part of this Act." I have no information as to the particular cases which my hon. Friend has in mind, so that I am unable to say if the trade union secretaries referred to are covered by the provision I have quoted. Post Office Employés (Remuneration) 91. Mr. FELL asked the Postmaster-General if he has made better arrangements with the Insurance Commissioners or the Treasury to secure more adequate remuneration for the employés of the Post Office who have had such onerous work thrown on them by the National Insurance Act? The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel) As regards scale payment Sub-Postmasters I beg to refer the hon. Member to the replies given to questions on the subject on 24th and 27th March; and as regards other officers, to the reply given to a question on 6th January. Mr. FELL Are there not numerous cases where they are receiving absolutely nominal pay for really very serious and onerous work? Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL The pay that is so far being given is only payment on account, and the ultimate amount to be received has not yet been settled. Mr. OUTHWAITE Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction over this matter and cannot he get money out of the Treasury? Sanatorium Benefit 96. Mr. T. M. HEALY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the county and city of Cork can now reckon on receiving their share from the Sanatorium Grant on the basis of population stated in October to be approximately £13,000; whether, as the Cork Joint Hospital Board made temporary provision for insured persons suffering from tuberculosis from other counties, they are entitled to receive an additional amount from the Sanatorium Grant; why are counties which have not joined with the Women's National Health Association kept ignorant of the sum they are to receive and thus debarred from proceeding with their schemes; is he aware that this delay in giving information is availed of by the Women's National Health Association to canvass county councillors to induce support for schemes by which beds are to be taken in their sanatoria; has any of the £25,000 been expended, and, if so, how; do the Local Government Board usually estimate each bed will annually cost about £140; has the Women's National Health Association or its patrons suggested that about half that figure would suffice; and, if not, what are the respective estimates? Mr. BIRRELL The county and city of Cork can reckon on receiving their share of £120,000 immediately their schemes receive the final approval of the Local Government Board. As explained in my answer to the hon. and learned Member's question on 17th October last, such part of the remaining £25,000 as is expended by the Women's National Health Association on behalf of particular counties will be recovered from the shares of these counties, calculated on the population basis, and will be available for distribution on the same basis as the £120,000. The remaining portion of the £25,000 representing expenditure incurred in the interest of the country generally in respect of temporary provision for the counties which are contemplating building sanatoria for themselves and in respect of accommodation, whether for adults or for children, which will be available in the future for any county insurance committee which may apply for it will be a final charge against the £145,000 Grant as a whole. The share of Cork county and city in the Grant will be ascertained in this way, and will not be affected by the fact that the Cork Joint Hospital Board has provided temporary accommodation. County councils have been apprised of their respective shares of the £120,000, and will be informed as to the allocation of the £25,000 as soon as practicable. I am not aware that the Women's National Health Association have taken any steps to obtain support for their sanatorium other than such as might naturally be made by the managing authorities of similar institutions in similar circumstances. By far the larger portion of the £25,000 has been expended, but the exact amount cannot be made up at present. The Local Government Board do not understand what is meant by the annual cost of beds. The capital cost is arrived at by dividing the total expenditure by the number of beds, but I am not at present in a position to name any figure as the usual cost. The Women's National Health Association, who enter into their own agreements with county councils, have quoted £70 as their charge per bed. Mr. T. M. HEALY Can the right hon. Gentleman say how soon a decision will be come to in the matter? Mr. BIRRELL I am pressing for it, and I hope it will be come to very soon. Small Holdings 66. Mr. OUTHWAITE asked the President of the Board of Agriculture why, out of 495 applicants for small holdings in Herefordshire, 271 of whom have been approved, only 104 have been satisfied. The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman) The Small Holdings Commissioner for the district is inquiring into the causes of delay in satisfying the demand for land in Herefordshire, and everything possible will be done to effect an improvement. Foot-And-Mouth Disease 67. Mr. CHARLES BATHURST asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Government have informed the Dutch Government that they may be compelled to take severe measures against the importation of goods coming from countries infected with foot-and-mouth disease or anthrax if such goods are proved or suspected to have occasioned such disease in Great Britain; and, if so, what articles have the Government in mind in this connection, and what is the nature of the restrictive measures contemplated? Mr. RUNCIMAN The Government have not so informed the Dutch Government, but the report made last May by the Departmental Committee on foot-and-mouth disease has recently been circulated to His Majesty's representatives in foreign countries, and I surmise that the rumour to which the hon. Member refers, has arisen from the publication of a recommendation made on page 12 of the Report. With regard to the latter part of the question, no restrictive measures have at present been decided upon. Sheep Disease 68. Mr. CHARLES BATHURST asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the intestinal parasitic disease known as strongylus contortus is again very prevalent among sheep in the south-eastern counties and is causing considerable mortality; whether, in the opinion of the Board, doses of turpentine prove an effective cure for this disease, or, if not, whether there is any other drug that does; and whether the Board will publish in the provincial papers some advice as to its treatment in those counties where it is most prevalent? Mr. RUNCIMAN I am aware of the prevalence of the disease to which the hon. Member refers. In the opinion of the Board's veterinary advisers the use of turpentine in sufficient doses to have a therapeutic value would be very dangerous, and the Board are unable at present, pending the result of investigations now in progress, to advise a remedy for the disease. Factory And Workshops Act (Trade Regulations) 74. Mr. SNOWDEN asked if, in view of the fact that in trades regulated under the Factory and Workshops Act there were 656 cases of poisoning last year of which fifty were fatal, he has considered how far the regulations made for all these trades are, by Section 79 of that Act, not only reasonably practical but such as meet the necessities of the case; and whether, and by what section, when regulations declared by His Majesty's inspectors to be necessary are resisted, and he appoints an arbitrator instead of himself amending them, he deems it his duty to accept the arbitrator's advice without appeal in any case to Parliament? Mr. McKENNA The records of poisoning in the different industries, and, where regulations have been made, the working of the regulations are closely watched by the Department. New codes and amendments of existing codes are prepared from time to time as experience shows the need for further precautions; for instance, recently the rules for the manufacture of pottery have been completely recast; a code for lead smelting has been made, and a Departmental Committee is now engaged in considering the coach building trade. As regards the last part of the question, I must point out that when objections are taken, whether by employers or workmen, to regulations proposed by the Home Office, and, in pursuance of the Factory Act, a competent person is appointed to inquire into and report on the objections, a thorough inquiry is made, the evidence of the representatives of the Department and of all parties interested who desire to be heard is taken, and the Commissioner reports the conclusions at which he arrives on a consideration of the evidence. No express obligation is placed by the Act on the Department to accept the conclusions of the Commissioner, but it is obvious that conclusions arrived at by an independent Commissioner after an exhaustive inquiry of this kind is bound to carry, and I think was intended by Parliament to carry, very great weight. Glamorgan Police (Exchequer Grants) 75. Mr. CLEMENT EDWARDS asked the Secretary of State whether his attention has been called to the statements of the chairman of the Glamorgan County Council regarding the alleged withholding by the Home Office of certain certificates upon which the Exchequer Grants to the Glamorgan police depend; whether the communications upon this matter between the Home Office and the Glamorgan County Council are in writing; and, if so, whether he will lay the same upon the Table of the House? Mr. McKENNA Yes, Sir. I have no objection to laying the correspondence on the Table if my hon. Friend will be good enough to move for it in the usual way. Criminal Law Amendment Act (Convictions) 76. Mr. WEDGWOOD asked whether any, and, if so, how many white slave traders, as distinct from souteneurs or bullies, have been convicted and sentenced under Section 1 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of last year in England and Scotland, respectively? Mr. McKENNA Proceedings under the Act are not reported to the Home Office, and I am unable to give my hon. Friend the information he desires. I would point out that Section 1 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of last near creates no new offence, but merely amends the procedure for bringing to justice offenders against the Act of 1885. Mr. WEDGWOOD Are we to understand nobody has been brought to justice? Mr. McKENNA No. If my hon. Friend reads the answer he will see he would not be justified in coming to such a conclusion. Mr. WEDGWOOD Can the right hon. Gentleman inform me whether any single white-slaver was arrested under the Act? Mr. McKENNA The first part of my answer must have escaped the attention of my hon. Friend. Ponies In Coal Mines 77. Mr. HANCOCK asked how many coal mines there are in the United Kingdom; and in how many of them ponies are used? Mr. McKENNA The number of mines under the Coal Mines Act at work in 1912 was 3,315, and the number in which ponies were used was 2,164. The figures are subject to revision. Suffragist Prisoners 78. Mr. F. HALL asked how many women suffragists are at the present time doing the hunger strike; and how many of these women are being forcibly fed? Mr. McKENNA Fourteen women suffragist prisoners are refusing their food at the present time, and five of these are being forcibly fed. Mr. KEIR HARDIE I beg to ask the Home Secretary a question, of which I have given him private notice: Whether Mrs. Pankhurst is still hunger striking; whether she is being forcibly fed; whether her own medical adviser is allowed to visit her; whether the prison doctor does not now consider that her further detention may be dangerous; and, if so, whether he proposes taking immediate action to secure her release? Mr. McKENNA I have received no notice of this question, but, so far as my memory goes, I think I can answer my hon. Friend. Mrs. Pankhurst is not taking food; she is not being forcibly fed; the medical officer does not advise that she should be released; her own medical officer has not been allowed to see her, and I have nothing to say upon that point. Mr. KEIR HARDIE With regard to notice, it was sent this morning, and it was delivered at the Home Secretary's room in the House before mid-day. Mr. McKENNA I was at the Home Office this morning until I came down here. Mines Act (First-Aid And Rescue Work) 79. Mr. KEIR HARDIE asked whether any decision has yet been reached concerning the memorandum of the education committee of the Glamorgan County Council asking that certificates issued by that body for competency in first-aid and rescue work, which are already recognised by the Board of Trade and the War Office, should also be recognised by his Department for the requirements of the Mines Act; and, if no decision has been reached, whether he will expedite the consideration of the matter in order to enable working men students who desire to sit for their certificates as mine managers at the forthcoming examination in May next, and who already hold the Glamorgan qualification, to do so without further delay or waste of time? Mr. McKENNA I am afraid I cannot add anything to the answer which I gave my hon. Friend on Monday. I have the matter under my consideration and will see that there is no unnecessary delay. Mr. KEIR HARDIE Can the Home Secretary say whether he will come to a decision in time to enable those students to sit at the forthcoming examinations? Mr. McKENNA I have already told my hon. Friend I can add nothing to the answer I gave on Monday. Mr. KEIR HARDIE Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is causing great inconvenience to young colliers holding those certificates who will be debarred from sitting? Mr. McKENNA The statements reported to me are that the colliers in general would prefer the existing system. Ss "Olympic" 80. Mr. JOWETT asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state whether the alterations made to the steamship "Olympic" include a rearrangement of the accommodation for third-class passengers to give them access, in case of necessity, to the boat decks as readily and freely as the first-class passengers have? The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton) In view of the finding of the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the "Titanic," that there was ready means of access from all the principal accommodation decks to the boat deck, no rearrangement of the third-class accommodation on the "Olympic" has been considered necessary. Two additional emergency doors have, however, been fitted, affording direct communication between the third-class quarters and the first and second-class quarters. I understand that by means of these new exits and the existing doors and staircases the third-class passengers can enter the first-class and second-class quarters freely, and thence reach the boat deck as readily as the first-class and second-class passengers. Mr. JOHN WARD Is it not a fact that the report of the inquiry stated definitely as one of the findings of the Court that why so large a proportion of the third-class passengers were drowned was their inability to get to the boats? Mr. BUXTON I do not think it was a question of inability. I understand that question was most carefully considered, and those new emergency doors will enable them to have as free access to the boat accommodation as second and first-class passengers. Mr. CHARLES DUNCAN Will these doors be open all the time or only occasionally? Mr. BUXTON They will be open whenever it is necessary. I do not say they will be open all the time. Loss Of Ss "Titanic" 81. Mr. J. P. FARRELL asked whether out of the sum of £430,000 contributed by the public for the relief of sufferers by the "Titanic" disaster a sum of barely £2,000 has been granted to the relatives and dependents of third-class Irish passengers lost in the "Titanic"; whether he intends to call for an inquiry into the method of ascertaining the amounts allotted to each case by the several committees acting under the Public Trustee; and whether the latter official will be allowed to keep in his hands the unexpended balance of this fund, and, if so, for what purpose? Mr. BUXTON As I informed my hon. Friend in reply to questions put by him yesterday, the Board of Trade have no authority over the Public Trustee. In regard to the administration of the "Titanic" Fund, I am informed by the Public Trustee that two reports and accounts have been presented to the Mansion House Committee, who retain control of the fund, and under whose auspices the appeal to the public was made. A scheme for the permanent administration of the fund has, I understand, been approved by this committee and embodied in a deed of trust. The examination of claims and allocation of grants to claimants on the Mansion House "Titanic" Fund has been in the hands of local committees, including an Irish committee, reporting for confirmation to a sub-committee of the Mansion House General Committee. Specific provision is made in the trust deed for the disposal of any unexpended balance of the fund on the completion of the administration. Wages Census 82. Mr. SNOWDEN asked when the final summaries of the wages census taken in 1907 will be published? Mr. BUXTON A volume dealing with wages and hours of labour in about forty trades will be issued next week. This will complete the publication of the series of detailed Reports. It was at one time intended to include in this volume a general survey of the whole inquiry, but it has now been decided to await the publication of the results of the Census of Population of 1911 as regards occupations and trades, as it is anticipated that these figures will be of considerable advantage in summing up the wages inquiry. Mr. SNOWDEN Are the Board of Trade conducting another wage census, and, if so, will they endeavour to supply the figures a little earlier? Mr. BUXTON Perhaps my hon. Friend will kindly give me notice. Helmsdale (Sutherland) Harbour 85. Mr. MORTON asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will send an independent expert officer to hold a local inquiry as to the state and present condition of the Helmsdale (Sutherland) Harbour, with a view to seeing that the lives of those who have to use the harbour are properly protected? Mr. BUXTON I propose to instruct one of the Board's professional officers, who will be in the North of Scotland shortly, to take that opportunity of visiting Helmsdale Harbour and conferring with the fishermen and others interested. I will communicate to my hon. Friend as soon as I can the date of this visit. Telephone Service 86. Mr. DELANY asked the Postmaster-General if he can say what is the cause of the delay in connecting Durrow, Queen's County, with the telephone system; whether he is aware that the necessary guarantees are forthcoming, that the request has been made more than four years ago, and that the trunk line at Attanagh railway station is only two miles distant; and whether he can now say when the connection will be carried out? Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL I am sorry to say that, notwithstanding the protracted efforts which have been made, the necessary amount of support to justify the establishment of a telephone exchange at Durrow has not yet been obtained. I will cause further inquiry to be made, and will then write to the hon. Member. 87. Mr. J. P. FARRELL asked the Postmaster-General if he will say when he hopes to begin the work of installing the trunk telephone in Longford as already promised? Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL The work of erecting the trunk line to Longford will be begun at the end of this month. Central Telegraph Office 88. Mr. W. THORNE asked the nature of the terms of reference to the Norton Committee appointed to inquire into certain changes made in the organisation of the Central Telegraph Office; whether the recommendations of that Committee includes the abolition of light refreshments in the Central Telegraph Office galleries between 9 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.; whether that question has been made the subject of complaint by the staff or discussed by the staff's representatives before that Committee; and whether he is now in a position to reply to the memorials on this subject forwarded to him by the staff of that office? Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL The Committee were appointed to consider whether recent improvements in the organisaton of the Central Telegraph Office had been unduly burdensome to the staff, and to advise whether, having regard to the efficiency of the service and the proper consideration of the staff, any further changes were necessary or desirable. The Committee did not regard as satisfactory the practice under which various articles of food and beverages were brought into the galleries to be consumed at the instrument tables at all hours of the day, and they recommended that this privilege should be restricted to the hours between midnight and 9 a.m. and between 2.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. I have received representations from the staff on this matter, and hope to reply to their memorials shortly. Hull Telegraphist's Claim 90. Mr. FERENS asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the request of a sorting clerk and telegraphist at Hull for the inclusion as a pensionable period of his service between 1889 and 1908, during which time he performed full-time unestablished duty in the engineering department of the Post Office; whether his attention has been called to Section 3 of the Superannuation Act of 1887 as covering such cases as these; and whether he will state if this officer's claim has been represented on these grounds to the Treasury? Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL The case of Mr. Ball, sorting clerk and telegraphist, Hull, to whom this question apparently refers, has been considered on more than one occasion; and Mr. Ball has been informed that full particulars of his service will be represented to the Treasury on his retirement in the ordinary course. Sunday Post (Sheffield) 92. Mr. SAMUEL ROBERTS asked whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been called to the fact that in certain districts of the Ecclesall Division of Sheffield there is no delivery after 4 p.m. and neither collection or delivery on Sunday, while less than a mile away the residents receive all the services; why one part of the city of Sheffield should be treated differently to another; and whether he will see that these complaints are attended to? Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL The postal arrangements at Sheffield are engaging my attention at the present time, and the hon. Member may rest assured that the matters to which he calls attention will not be overlooked. Milk Preservation 94. Mr. C. BATHURST asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that in the borough of Kensington and elsewhere dairymen are being prosecuted under the Public Health Acts for using derivatives of boron for the preservation of milk, although in strict compliance with the milk and cream Regulations recently issued by the Board; and whether, if these Regulations are deemed to be contrary to the provisions of an Act of Parliament, he will, in fairness to the dairymen, bring in an amending Bill to legalise such Regulations? The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns) I am not aware of any such prosecutions, but I may point out that the Regulations prohibit the use of any preservatives in milk. Tuberculous Children (School Accommodation) 95. Mr. HOARE asked the President of the Board of Education how many schools, residential and day, there are for tuberculous children; and how many receive Grants from the Board of Education or local education authorities? The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Pease) There are seven residential hospitals or sanatoria, providing accommodation for 451 children, which are certified by the Board of Education and receive Grants under the Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Act, 1899. These hospitals provide almost exclusively for the treatment of children suffering from surgical tuberculosis. There are nine non-residential open-air schools certified and receiving Grants under the Act referred to, which make provision for 810 children, of whom the majority are tuberculous. All the open-air schools and five out of the seven hospitals or sanatoria are provided by local education authorities.