I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it would be possible, in the case of a prisoner against whom several warrants of commitment have been issued, to have sentences under such warrants carried out consecutively, thus obviating the necessity of a re-arrest, or successive re-arrests, at the prison gate?

Yes, a warrant of commitment runs from the date on which it is received in the prison where the prisoner is confined, unless the court has made an express order otherwise. If it is lodged there while the prisoner is undergoing a previous sentence, there is no occasion for his rearrest at the prison gate.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is intended to introduce a Bill this Session to reform the administration of Irish prisons on the lines of the Prisons Act, 1898.

I have directed a Bill to be drafted of the nature indicated in the Question, but I cannot say whether it will be possible to introduce it this Session.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the cause of the prolonged delay in arranging for the provision of lights in the southern part of the Red Sea, now dangerous to navigation?

Her Majesty's Government have submitted proposals to the other Maritime Powers that lightships or lighthouses should be established by the Egyptian Government. The Governments so addressed have accepted these proposals, with the exception of France and Russia. The French Government stated in February 1898 that they could not support the scheme, as they had already approached the Porte with a view to the construction of lighthouses. No result has been obtained hitherto from the French negotiations at Constantinople, which have now lasted for more than 12 months, but we have not yet succeeded in obtaining the consent of the French Government to our proposal that the lighthouses should be constructed by the Egyptian Government, with the consent of the Sultan.

Will Her Majesty's Government press this matter forward?

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the reason of the delay in erecting one or more lighthouses for the safety of navigation at the eastern end of the Gulf of Aden, in view of the terrible wreck of the "Aden" steamship in 1897, and of other casualties detailed in a Return made to this House in 1898?

As I stated in my reply to the right honourable Baronet last year, Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that it would not be advisable to approach other Governments on the subjects of lights in the Gulf of Aden until some settlement has been arrived at with respect to the Red Sea lights. I understand that negotiations as regards the Red Sea lights are still proceeding, though, so far, without any satisfactory result. It is hoped, however, that some progress may shortly be made.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the fact that the School Board for London and other school boards in the country are providing swimming baths at the cost of the ratepayers; whether such expenditure is legal, and, if legal, is it encouraged by his Department; whether such swimming baths are intended for the exclusive use of the children attend- ing the Board schools, or whether children attending Voluntary schools within the School Board areas, the supporters of which contribute to the School Board rates, are to be allowed to participate in the use of the swimming baths; and whether, in case the School Boards are unable or unwilling to allow children educated in Voluntary schools to share in the privilege of using the swimming baths, he will endeavour, by legislation or by alteration of the Code, to provide for their admission equally with the School Board children?

The answers to paragraphs 1 and 2 are in the affirmative. Swimming is recognised as a subject of instruction under the Code. The School Board will decide in each case whether Voluntary school children are to be admitted to the baths. If any extra expense were caused thereby, the auditor would determine its legality. No alteration of the Code would provide for the compulsory admission of Voluntary school children to such swimming baths. The Government could not undertake at present to legislate on the subject.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can inform the House what is the total number of votes recorded at the recent local government elections in Ireland, and how many of them were by illiterate voters; and whether he will assent to a Return, if moved for, showing the following details, viz., the number of voters and particulars of votes recorded in each constituency?

I have no official information as to the number of persons who voted at the recent local government elections in Ireland, or as to the proportion of electors who voted as illiterates. In 1896 a Return was presented to Parliament showing the number of persons who voted as illiterates at the General Election of 1895 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. I hardly think any useful purpose would be served by the preparation, so soon after the Return of 1896, of the further Return suggested by my honourable Friend, and which, I am informed, would occupy a very considerable time in compiling. Moreover, I am not aware that a Return of literate and illiterate voters has ever been laid on the Table in respect of local government elections in Great Britain, and to lay such a Return on the Table in respect of Ireland alone would appear to me to be open to an invidious interpretation.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether there has been any falling off in the subscriptions of the supporters of Voluntary schools in England since the Voluntary Schools. Act, 1897, was passed; and, if so, whether he can state the total amount of the diminution?

Yes. The amount of the diminution in the year ended August 31st, 1898, as compared with the previous year was £46,961 in Church of England schools, £21,174 in Roman Catholic schools, £2,607 in Wesleyan other undenominational schools—total, schools, and £7,185 in British and £77,927.

Can the right honourable Gentleman say whether he attributes the decline to the effect of the Voluntary Schools Act, 1897?

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether all, and how many, settlers at Killarney, Manitoba, are now leaseholders under the Colonisation Board; and will he state for what term leases have been arranged, the acreage, rental, and the entire amount collected in respect of rent for the year 1897–8?

Practically all the Killarney crofters are now leaseholders under the Colonisation Board. The leases cover eight annual payments, at the conclusion of which the leaseholders become proprietors of their lands. Each holding is 160 acres. The annual payments fixed in the leases vary in amount according to the existing liabilities of the lessee at the time of making the lease. The Colonisation Board has not yet received the Report of the last year, and it is not, therefore, known how much of the rental of 1897–8 has yet been paid, but the latest advices are not very satisfactory.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, having regard to the statement contained on page 15 of the Report of the Congested Districts Board for Scotland relative to the need of minor lights in the congested area, will he state at what points the Board consider such lights should be fixed?

The Congested Districts Board have not arrived yet at any final conclusion on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that on Friday, the 14th April, a cab driver who had been engaged to call at Romano's, in the Strand, at 3.30 in the afternoon to take up a fare, was prevented by the police from driving along the Strand, and told that he must either go down on to the Embankment or up into Covent Garden; and whether he will modify the new cab regulations in such a way as to prevent such action on the part of the police?

Drivers of empty cabs are not prevented from passing along the Strand for the purpose of keeping engagements there. In the particular case referred to the cabman did not inform the policeman who stopped him that he had an appointment at Romano's, but left his cab in the Strand and went to Bow Street to complain of the action of the police. When it was found at the station that he was engaged, an officer was sent with him to facilitate his reaching his destination.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the case of the "Jeannette"-"Falkenberg" collision is settled; if so, whether there is any appeal, and to whom should the appeal be made; and whether Her Majesty's Government will make further inquiries from the German Government on this case?

The case was tried before the Marine Court at Bremerhaven, and judgment was given on the 3rd May 1898, in favour of the "Falkenberg." The master, who was also the registered owner of the "Jeannette," declined to appeal from this decision on the ground of expense, and Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin, who was consulted, stated that in these circumstances it would be useless to make any representations to the German Government on the subject, as he was confident that the reply would be that the master might have appealed, but that, having failed to do so, the German Government could not interfere administratively in a matter which had formed the subject of a judicial decision.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the action of the Carlisle School Board in closing the Brook Street Board School and refusing to admit to the same the son of Mr. John T. Hill and the sons of several other ratepayers residing in the vicinity, to their great inconvenience; whether such action is sanctioned by the Education Department; and whether he can take any steps to amend the grievance?

The Brook Street Board School has not been closed; but the number of children for whom accommodation can be provided has had to be reduced, because an unsatisfactory classroom is to be closed in October next. It is on that account that applications for admission have been refused. The Education Department is informed that accommodation can readily be obtained elsewhere.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether Her Majesty's Government intend to bring in a Bill to deal with the recommendations respecting feeble-minded and defective children contained in the Report of the Departmental Committee who reported in January of last year; and, if so, when the Bill will be introduced, and in which House?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative; the particulars asked for in the latter part are still under consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Annual Report and Returns respecting the administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, for the year 1898 will be laid upon the Table and distributed?

The Report and Returns referred to are now in the hands of the printer; and when they are completed, I will lose no time in laying them upon the Table.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to a statement sworn to by Major Spilsbury in the course of his trial at Gibraltar, to the effect that the same Foreign Office warning that was conveyed to him with respect to the expedition of the "Tourmaline" was also conveyed to the directors of the Globe Venture Syndicate; and whether there is any foundation for this statement; and, if so, whether the Government propose to proceed criminally against the directors of the syndicate named?

The directors of the Globe Venture Syndicate were warned against the "Tourmaline" expedition, but it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to take criminal proceedings against them.

Is it not the case that the men who have been prosecuted by the Government were merely servants carrying out the orders of the directors of the company?

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the recent acquittal of Major Spilsbury, after a full trial by jury before the Chief Justice of Gibraltar, the Government will reconsider their decision to abstain from demanding, compensation from the Moorish Government on behalf of Mr. Henry Grey and his fellow prisoners for the cruelties to which they were subjected in captivity?

As at present advised, Her Majesty's Government see no grounds for reconsidering their decision in the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the cost of obtaining exemption under the Vac- cination Act of 1898, both by fees charged and by the demand for the production of birth certificates, which is so high that it makes it almost impassible for a working man to obtain an exemption; and whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that conscientious objectors shall not be prevented from obtaining the exemptions to which they are entitled under the Act, and free of charge?

The honourable Member for the Loughborough Division of Leicestershire asked me an almost identical question on the 9th February last, and I would refer my honourable and gallant Friend to my answer—a copy of which I have sent him—only adding that I have no power to require these certificates of exemption to be given free of charge.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if the Secretary for Scotland will consider the advisability of instructing the consulting engineer for the Congested Districts Board to report as to the best site for a harbour in Broad Bay, Isle of Lewis, and the cost of construction?

The Western Highlands and Islands Commission of 1890, one of the members of which was Sir J. Wolfe Barry, a distinguished engineer, reported that the most suitable site for a harbour in Broad Bay was at Portnaguiran, and that the cost of such a harbour would be about £30,000, a sum greatly in excess of anything the Congested Districts Board can ever give. The Secretary for Scotland therefore cannot undertake to make such a demand on the time of a fully-employed officer as to call on Colonel Gore-Booth to prepare plans and estimates for so extensive a work, in view of the unlikelihood of its being carried out. Within the last few years a pier has been built we the other side of Broad Bay, just about six miles from Portnaguiran, at a cost of £1,900, of which Government gave £1,625.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he can state when the Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland will be laid upon the Table of the House?

I am informed by the Fishery Board that Part I. containing their General Annual Report for the year 1898, will be presented to Parliament to-day.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the discussion of the Muscat incident has now closed, and when the Papers will be laid before Parliament?

Some local details are not yet definitely settled, and I fear no date can at present be fixed for presentation of Papers.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the British Consuls at Florence and Milan did, in conjunction with the mayors of those places, sign or countersign the contracts of the foreign plasterers imported into England during the present dispute in the plastering trade, and, if so, whether they were acting within their right as representatives of the British Government?

No information on this subject has reached this Department, but Her Majesty's Consuls have been requested to report what took place.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, is any daily or weekly account kept of the quantity of margarine delivered in Dublin; are the names of the consignees recorded; and whether it is entered in the Dublin Custom House list as margarine, or under some other name?

I will answer this Question. No daily or weekly account is kept of the quantity of margarine delivered in Dublin, nor are the names of consignees of this article recorded. Margarine imported into Dublin from abroad is entered as such in the daily bill of entry list, but, when received coastwise, is entered in that list under the general term of "merchandise." The only coastwise goods which are entered under their separate denominations are dutiable goods and those as to which any particular person or firm may have applied to have their consignments so treated.

Is any record kept of the countries from which the margarine comes?

I understand it is usual, but I will inquire.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the Secretary for Scotland is aware that since Colonel Sitwell purchased the estate of Strathkyle, Culrain, Ross-shire, in July 1894, the tenants on the estate have been constantly subjected to ejectment proceedings, four only out of 15 crofters on the estate being left undisturbed. Is he aware that William Macleod, one of these tenants, who received notice to quit in 1896, appealed to the Crofters' Commission, who heard the case at Ardgay on the 4th May 1897, sustained the competency of the application, and fixed a rent for the holding; that, notwithstanding this decision, Colonel Sitwell appealed to the Court of Session, and that Lord Kincairney, in giving judgment on the case on the 14th July 1898, quoted the finality clause, of the Crofters' Act, 1886, and held that there was no escape from the conclusion that the decision of the Crofters' Commission was final, and dismissed the action with costs; and that Colonel Sitwell has now appealed to the second Court of Session; and, in view of the fact that repeated actions of this character seriously cripple crofters in the exercise of their calling and cause great expense to them, will the Secretary for Scotland consider the expediency of taking such steps as will admit of appeals from decisions of the Crofters' Commission being defended by the Government?

The Secretary for Scotland has no information which enables him to make any statement in regard to the matters referred to in the first and second paragraphs of the honourable Member's Question, and in reply to the third paragraph he does not intend to take any action of the kind suggested.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can explain why in the Trade Returns it is the practice to classify confectionery and jams under the head of pickles; and whether he will change a practice which misleads all persons except experts as to the real extent and value of the sweetmeat trade?

It is true that confectionery and preserved fruits are enumerated along with pickles and condiments in a joint heading in the trade accounts, but it is not possible to show separately the exports of every article without an amount of labour and cost which could not be justified. It is, therefore, the practice to group together articles of secondary importance as regards aggregate value, the composite headings relating so far as possible to the articles dealt in by a single trade. This practice has been followed in the present case, but in view of the interest taken in the exports of articles containing sugar, the question of the classification of these exports will be referred to the Committee for the Revision of the Trade Accounts which meets in the autumn.

Cannot the House, for the purpose of the forthcoming discussion, have a Return of the amount of confectionery and refined sugar exported from this country to India during last year?

I should think it possible we might be able to get that out; it would be of great interest.

Certainly.

I will endeavour to see if it can be done.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether there are to be any Line regiments on Salisbury Plain during the month of July this year; and, if not, what is the object in the country being put to the expense of moving a Militia brigade from the North Eastern District to Salisbury Plain for training by itself during the month of July?

During July, as at present arranged, there will be on Salisbury Plain eight battalions of Regular troops, including a battalion of Royal Marine Light Infantry, and eight battalions of Militia. The Regulars and Militia will be formed into two divisions with Artillery and Cavalry.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, having regard to the unsatisfactory results of the present method of dealing with the disease of sheep scab, he will consider the advisability of adopting a system of obligatory dipping of sheep at certain seasons of the year?

Local authorities are already empowered to require sheep affected with or suspected of sheep scab to be treated with some suitable dressing or dipping, or other remedy for the disease, and I do not think it would be practicable to go beyond this and to make it compulsory upon every owner of sheep, whether the sheep be affected with or suspected of disease or not, to apply such a dressing or dipping at certain stated intervals throughout the year, however useful or desirable such treatment may be, and in any case legislation would be necessary for the purpose.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the categorical declaration concerning the Pacific Cable made by the Canadian Government, and the equally favourable declarations made by the Australasian Colonies, he can now state the intentions of the Imperial Government with regard to this project?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement upon the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the attention of the Colonial Office has been directed to the urgent necessity for remedying the condition of affairs which has arisen in the Fortress of Gibraltar through overcrowding, the insufficiency of the police force, and the insanitary state of the Government buildings; whether he can hold out any hope of being able to remove the evils of which complaint is made; and whether he will communicate to the House the Report of the Government Committee which col- lected evidence in Gibraltar last year with reference to the health and comfort of the inhabitants?

The questions referred to are engaging my attention and that of the Secretary of State for War, and I hope that it may be found possible to take some action in regard to them. The Report of the Committee to which the honourable Member refers is a Confidential Report to the Secretary of State for War, and it is not intended to publish it.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to a fully reported speech delivered by Mr. Cecil Rhodes in South Africa, on the 17th of August last, in which he said that he wished to earn dividends on the Mafe-king-Bulawayo line, so as to get a guarantee from Her Majesty to go on to Tanganyika, and whether this line forms any part of the security which Mr. Rhodes proposes for the Imperial guarantee which he is trying to persuade Her Majesty's Government to grant; whether the Government, before pledging the Imperial credit, will have an independent investigation made to ascertain whether the dividend has been actually earned and is likely to be maintained; and whether, in view of the facts that assertions have been freely made that the line was badly built, and that part of it was actually washed away shortly after its construction, the Government will also have a careful survey of the railway made by competent engineers, totally unconnected with Mr. Cecil Rhodes and the British South Africa Company, before coming to any final decision?

The earnings of the Mafeking-Bulawayo line form part of the security proposed. The Government, before pledging Imperial credit, would, of course, satisfy themselves on the points mentioned in the second and third para graphs, and as the line is worked by the Cape Government, they could provide evidence of receipts and expenses. Portions of the line were very rapidly built to meet the exigencies of the Matabele rebellion; but the defects had to be made good before the Government engineer would grant his certificate for the line as far as Palapye, to which the contract of 1894 applied. The line from Palapye to Bulawayo would require independent inspection.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the fact that in consequence of the action of the Parish Council of Kilmalcolm Parish in assessing the orphan homes of Scotland for poor and school rates, Mr. Quarrin has called upon the school board of the district to take over the education of the 1,000 children of school age hitherto gratuitously educated by him; whether the school board has refused to take over the education of the children in question; and whether the Scottish Education Department purpose taking any steps to compel them to do so?

Mr. Quarrin has forwarded to the Scotch Education Department a copy of the correspondence between himself and the school board, in which the board decline to hold themselves responsible for providing education for the children in question. The Department cannot enter upon the question unless it is proved that there is a deficiency in the school provision of the district, based upon information that children for whom the school board is bound to make provision have been refused admission to the public school.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Lieutenant Watts-Jones has discovered a good railway route to Tung-Chang-Fu viâ Mongkyeng to Tinchau, which can be reached by Kunlon Ferry without difficulty; and whether this discovery will enable the railway to be made from Burmah to Yun-nan?

The Reports of the officers engaged on the Survey are addressed to the Yun-nan Company, in whose services they are at present, and Her Majesty's Government, have no particulars. It is, however, understood that what is considered a practicable route into Yun-nan has been found.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state when he will introduce the Irish Tithe Rent-Charge Bill?

I am unable to assign a date for the introduction of this Bill, but I should hope it might be introduced before Whitsuntide.

Will the right, honourable Gentleman undertake to give us reasonable notice?

If the Bill be introduced before Whitsuntide it will have to be under the Ten Minutes Rule.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the language used by Mr. Bagwell at the annual dinner of the land agents of Ireland on Thursday last, when he is reported to have said "he had been called in to administer an Act of Parliament which of all Acts of Parliament ever drawn was the worst; the Land Act of 1896 was pretty bad, but the Act of 1898 would puzzle anybody, etc.; so long as the people who asked for impossibilities got half impossibilities they would never be satisfied"; and whether, if such language was used by Mr. Bagwell, he will be continued in his office as a member of the Local Government Board?

I am informed by Mr. Bagwell that the report of his speech, which was obviously much condensed, gives a totally wrong impression of what he said, and that his observations in reference to the Local Government Act applied only to the manner in which it was drafted, and not to the policy of it, which he has always strongly supported. The subsequent remarks were mere generalities, and had no reference to the Local Government Act or to its administration by the Local Government Board. Under the circumstances, I do not consider that anything has occurred which would justify the strong step suggested in the second paragraph.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department will he explain why, in Ireland, the factory inspectors refuse to recognise the Roman Catholic holidays, and, by so doing, compel some mills managed by Roman Catholics to give a number of holidays far in excess of statutory requirements?

The Factory Acts require holidays to be given on Christmas Day and St. Patrick's Day, and either on Good Friday or Easter Monday. The choice of the other holidays required to make up the prescribed total for the year lies entirely with the factory owners. The Roman Catholic holidays may be, and usually are, chosen by them, and are recognised by the inspectors. The holidays fixed by statute must be given; but I feel certain that no inspector insists on holidays "far in excess of the statutory requirements."

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is in a position to make some re-arrangement of the filling up of the Pink Paper; whether any agreement has been made with the contractor of the "Parliamentary Debates" for a continuous supply of the daily parts to honourable Members who sign one Pink Paper for the whole of the Session; and if he will make such arrangements with the contractor as shall secure to honourable Members the delivery of back numbers and indexes?

I beg at the same time to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has seen his way to do something to relieve Members from the necessity of signing the Pink Paper every day in order to obtain a complete record of the proceedings of Parliament by means of the "Parliamentary Debates"?

In accordance with the understanding, arrived at when the matter was discussed on the Vote on Account, it has been arranged that the number of volumes in an ordinary Session will not exceed eight, as was the rule until last Session; and all future numbers of the "Debates" will be issued to Members on giving a general order instead of signing the Pink Paper daily.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet made inquiry why men of Bernera, Island of Lewis, have for some years past been refused admission to the Royal Naval Reserve at Stornoway; and will he give instructions for any restrictions against men from this district to be withdrawn?

It is necessary to limit the number of Reserve men entered at Stornoway, so as not to be disproportionate to the total number raised in the United Kingdom; and as the number allotted to this district can be recruited from those living within an easy distance of the port, it is not considered desirable to pass over such candidates in order to enter men living in the remote parts of the islands, whence it would be difficult to draw them quickly in the event of mobolisation.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in some cases the authorised person before whom the declarations prescribed by section 6 of the Marriage Act, 1898, are to be made has been appointed by the members of churches at church meetings or by the deacons of churches; whether such appointment is a sufficient compliance with the provisions of the Act; whether, in addition to such appointment, it is necessary that the trustees or governing body of the registered building in which the marriage is to take place, or of some registered building in the same registration district, should authorise the person in whose presence the marriage is to be solemnised and certify him as having been duly authorised for the purpose; and whether a marriage solemnised in the presence of a person who has not been so authorised and certified would be valid?

The person must be certified as being duly authorised by the trustees or other governing body of the building. The Act does not require any particular mode of previous selection. A marriage solemnised in the presence of a person not authorised and certified would not, in my opinion, be valid; but no general answer can be given to such a Question, as the circumstances of each particular case would have to be considered.

What Estimates will be taken on Friday?

I propose to take the Education Estimates on Friday, subject to any change which may occur in the next two days.