Questions And Answers Circulated With The Votes Position Of Mr Maull, Sub-Postmaster At Kingstnon-Thames Ms. CAVE (Surrey, Kingston) To ask the Postmaster General whether Mr. S. Maull, stationer, of Clarence Street, Kingston-on-Thames, was authorised, in the year 1898, to open a sub-post office at that address, and has since carried on such office to the satisfaction of the postal authorities; whether, at the time of his appointment, Mr. Maull informed the authorities that he was acting as local secretary to the National Deposit Friendly Society, but no objection was then taken on that ground; whether he has recently been required to resign his position on the ground that he holds the same office of local secretary to the above society; whether a petition for his continuance as postmaster has been signed by a large number of tradesmen and residents, and forwarded to the Postmaster-General; and whether he will inquire into the circumstances and will consider whether it is possible to retain Mr. Maull in an office which he has held without objection for nine years. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) This matter has already been brought to my attention and was receiving my consideration. In all the circumstances of the case I have decided to allow Mr. Maull to withdraw his resignation on the understanding that he ceases to hold an agency for a life insurance company. Sea Training Of Boys In The Navy MR. NIELD (Middlesex, Ealing) To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what proportion the boys sent to the Nore Division of the Home Fleet for their seagoing training under the present system bear to those sent to the other divisions and to the fourth cruiser squadron of that fleet; and whether he will state what proportion the boys sent to the Nore Division bear to the normal numbers allowed by the complement of ships of that class. (Answered by MR. Edmund Robertson.) All youths on completing their shore training are sent to the battleships of the Nore division of the Home Feet for sea-going training. On completing their training at Shotley and in the "Impregnable," all boys undergo their sea-going training in the fourth cruiser squadron; but, while waiting embarkation, those from Shotley (about 50 per cent. of the total number entered) go to the fifth cruiser squadron, and those from the "Impregnable" (about 30 per cent.) to the Devonport division of the Home Fleet. The advanced class (about 20 per cent.) remain in the "Impregnable" to await draft to the fourth cruiser squadron. The number of boys borne in the fifth cruiser squadron exceeds the normal boy complements by from five to eight per ship; and the number of youths in the battleships of the Nore division has been as much as twenty in excess of the normal boy complements. Sale Of The Singleton Estate, Drogheda MR. NOLAN (Louth, S.) To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in the negotiations for the sale of the Singleton estate, Mell, Drogheda, it is proposed by the landlord to reserve a portion of the property; and whether, in this case, the landlord will be entitled to the bonus under the Act. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) In the proceedings for sale of this estate, which have been instituted before the Estates Commissioners, the owner proposes to exclude from the sale a portion of the property which appears to consist mainly of residential holdings. The proposed exclusion will be inquired in to when the estate is being inspected. If the Commissioners should sanction the advances applied for a bonus would be payable. Discussion Of Scottish Estimates MR. WATT (Glasgow, College) To ask the Prime Minister whether he will arrange to give another day for the discussion of the Scottish Estimates, so that the local affairs of Scotland may be Considered. (Answered by Sir H. Campbell-Banner-man.) I am afraid it will not be possible to provide an opportunity. The Channel Fleet MR. NIELD To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the relative strength of the Channel Fleet in 1906 as compared with the present time was in battleships seventeen to fourteen, and in armoured cruisers six to four; and whether the total force in all classes in 1906 was sixty-seven as against twenty-one in 1907. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The Answer to both. Questions is in the affirmative. In the total of sixty-seven vessels belonging in 1906 to the Channel Fleet were included the "Sapphire," "Tyne," three scouts, and thirty-six destroyers, which, as I have already stated, were transferred with full crews to the Home Fleet, and are always available for exercise with the Channel Fleet, us was recently the case. MR. NIELD To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what length of notice would be necessary to enable the Channel Fleet to be fully manned and equipped for active service, and, if necessary, for action; and what would be the available strength in vessels of all types and in men upon an emergency summons, if issued at the present time. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The Channel Fleet is now fully manned and equipped for active service, and, if necessary, for action. The available strength is shown on page 269 of the current issue of the Navy List; but the first cruiser squadron, the "New Zealand," "Triumph," and "Juno," are absent from the flag. All have full crews except the "Juno," which recommissions to-morrow, July 16th. MR. NIELD To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what are the names, tonnage, and engine capacity of the scouts and torpedo craft attached to and permanently incorporated with the Channel Fleet; whether all such vessels are ready for active service; and whether they or any and which of them have at any time, and, if so, when, taken part in manoœuvres as portion of the Channel Squadron or Fleet. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The torpedo craft with their attendant scouts which have full crews will be found on page 270 of the Navy List; these are ready for sea and are available for service with the Channel Fleet when required. Details of torpedo craft and scouts with four-fifth crews will be found on page, 270a of the Navy List. Their tonnage and horse-power will be found in the body of the Navy List and also in the Return of Fleets. In April, four scouts, two torpedo gunboats, twelve destroyers, and one torpedo boat took part in exercises with the Channel Fleet; and in June and July, three scouts and forty destroyers were similarly employed. Manœuvres Of Channel, Mediterranean, And Atlantic Squadrons MR. NIELD To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty on how many occasions and when the Channel, Mediterranean, and Atlantic Squadrons, or any two of them, have, during the last five years, manœuvred together, and whether under one commander; if so, under whose command were such manœuvres carried out. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The information desired is as follows: —July, 1902.—Channel, Home and Cruiser Squadrons. Combined operations in the Channel. Under Vice-Admiral, Channel Squadron.September,1902.—Mediterranean, Channel and Cruiser Squadrons. Combined exercises in the Mediterranean. Under Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean.August, 1903.—Mediterranean, Home and Channel Fleets and Cruiser Squadrons. Manœuvres and tactical exercises in the Atlantic. Under Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean.May, 1904. — Mediterranean and Channel Fleets and Cruiser Squadron. Exercises in the Mediterranean. Under Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean.August, 1904.—Home and Channel Fleets and Cruiser Squadron. Combined tactical exercises in Home waters. Under Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet.August, 1905.—Mediterranean and Atlantic Fleets. Combined battle exercises at Lagos. Under Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean.February, 1906.—Channel, Atlantic, and Mediterranean, with attendant Cruiser Squadrons. Combined exercises at Lagos. Under Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet.June andJuly, 1906. —Grand Manœuvres. Channel, Atlantic, and Mediterranean Fleets, with Cruiser Squadrons, were engaged in combined manœuvres, the Channel and Mediterranean Fleets being opposed to the Atlantic, each side under its own Commander-in-Chief.February, 1907.—Channel, Atlantic, and Mediterranean Fleets, with attendant Cruiser Squadrons. Combined exercises at Lagos. Under Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet. Shortage Of Officers In London Yeomanry Regiments MR. T. R. BETHELL (Essex, Maldon) To ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state what is the shortage of commissioned officers in the London Yeomanry regiments now going into camp for their annual training. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The shortage of commissioned officers in the regiments mentioned amounts to twenty-six. Arming Of Essex Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers) COLONEL LOCKWOOD (Essex, Epping) To ask the Secretary of State for War, how much, if any, of the Essex Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers) have been allotted to moveable armament; whether the guns of moveable armament have been removed from Grays; if it is proposed to transfer two 15-pounder breech-loading guns from Romford, leaving a company which usually parades seventy strong with only two guns; and, if so, how many 15-pounder breech-loading guns are available from other sources. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Eight companies and one heavy battery of the 1st Essex Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers are allotted to moveable armaments. The distribution of the guns rests with the General Officer Commanding concerned. The numbers cannot be increased. Connecting Post Offices By Telephones MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury) To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will, as quickly as possible, connect up every post office in the Kingdom by telephone. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) A large number of post offices are con- nected with the telephone system, either as call offices or for the receipt and despatch of telegrams and express letters, and the number is being increased from day to day as opportunity offers. In many cases, however, there would be no advantage in connecting post offices with the telephone system proportionate to the very considerable expenditure involved in providing the necessary telephone lines. Ordinary telegraph circuits either cannot be used at all or only to a very limited extent for telephone purposes. The Companies Bill MR. RENDALL (Gloucestershire, Thornbury) To ask the President of the Board of Trade upon what date it is proposed to proceed with the Companies Bill. (Answered by Mr. Kearley.) I cannot give the hon. Member any exact date, but my right hon. friend still hopes to proceed with the Companies Bill this session. Board Of Education—Functions Of The New Medical Board MR. ALDEN (Middlesex, Tottenham) To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he can state the nature and work of the medical board whit h it is proposed to form in connection with his Department; what will be the number of doctors which will compose that board; how many of them will be women; and whether their duties will be of a purely advisory character. (Answered by Mr. Lough.) When the duty of medical inspection of children in public elementary schools has been imposed by statute upon local education authorities, the Board of Education propose to establish a medical staff to assist them in advising local education authorities in regard to certain points arising under the Bill, to collect and correlate the information obtained through the medical inspection carried out by the authorities, and to issue periodical Reports based upon that information. In making appointments regard will, of course, be had to the possession of special knowledge of such branches of medicine as bear upon the medical treatment of children, hygiene, public health, including sanitation, and kindred subjects. It would be premature to enter into greater detail at the present time. Revision Of The Records Of Orissa MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs) To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the statement made in the Bengal Administration Report for 1905–6 to the effect that it has been decided to have a general revision of the records of Orissa done by a paid staff under the control of the settlement officer; whether he is aware that the settlement of Orissa was effected ten years ago for the ensuing thirty years; whether this revision of records is ordered in contemplation of an earlier revision of the existing settlement; and, if not, whether he will explain why it is proposed to subject tenants, landlords, and Government ryots to vexatious inquiries until the time arrives for undertaking a new settlement of this part of India. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) For some years proposals have been under consideration for keeping up to date the record-of-rights prepared at great expense in the last resettlement of the temporary settled districts at Orissa. It has now been decided to provide for the continuous maintenance of the record by means of a permanent staff of revenue inspectors such as exists in other provinces. As a preliminary to this, it is proposed that the entries in the record-of-rights of each; village shall be corrected where necessary and brought up to date by a settlement officer and a suitable staff. The land revenue will not be revised and the term for which the assessments have been sanctioned will not be disturbed. A correct record of proprietary and tenancy rights has been found in Bengal and elsewhere to be beneficial to owners and occupiers of land. It is not anticipated that the revisional operations will be vexatious to the people. Similar operations have been carried out in other districts without such consequences. Belfast Labour Dispute And Poor Law Belief MR. J. DEVLIN (Belfast, W.) To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieu- tenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the increase in the number of provisional admissions into the Belfast workhouse in consequence of the labour dispute now existing in that city, and the extra expense involved to the ratepayers thereby; whether he is aware that; a number of cases were refused admission on the sole ground that they were victims of the dispute; and whether the Local Government Board will issue any instructions to the guardians in this matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board have ascertained from the clerk of the Belfast union that there has been some increase in the number of provisional admissions to the workhouse, and this increase has been attributed to the local labour dispute. The chairman of the admission committee has represented that in no case has admission been refused on the ground that the application was the result of the labour dispute, but all applications have been dealt with on their merits in the ordinary course. The Local Government Board do not propose to interfere with the responsibility and discretion of the guardians in the matter.