I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether, before finally sanctioning the adoption of the Belleville boiler for battle ships and cruisers now under construction or contemplated, of which the total cost will exceed £10,000,000, he will order a practical test to be made of the efficiency of these boilers under all conditions, as compared with other boilers; and whether, with this object in view, he will attach the "Canopus," on completion, to the Channel Fleet, and will send a vessel of the "Diadem" class and of the "Edgar" class respectively to carry out Naval reliefs in company.

The efficiency of the Belleville boiler has been practically tested under various conditions. My hon. friend does not seem to know that vessels with Belleville boilers have already been attached to the Channel Fleet, or that the "Powerful" has been doing excellent and regular service among the cruisers of the China Station. The adoption of the Belleville boiler for the battleships and first class cruisers now under construction has been definitely decided on, and the question so far as these ships are concerned cannot be reopened. The "Canopus" will be commissioned as soon as she is ready, and attached to the Mediterranean Fleet. I cannot make any definite statement in reply to the third question, but the Admiralty are taking advantage of every suitable opportunity to test these boilers to the fullest extent with a view to further possible improvements.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty how many the "Sharpshooter" has run on her boiler trials, how many tubes has she in her boilers, and how many tubes have been renewed during these trials.

The number of miles run on boiler trials, exclusive of distance run during contractors' trials, was 8,698. The number of tubes in boilers is 1,080. No tubes were renewed during these trials.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state if the medical authorities were consulted in connection with the recent appointment to Haslar Hospital; and whether the appointment made was in accordance with their recommendation.

The qualifications of all the officers whose seniority might en- title them to consideration for the appointment in question were thoroughly and exhaustively sifted in consultation with the Medical Authorities. The responsibility for the ultimate choice rested, as I have stated before, with me. Neither as regards executive, medical, or any other officers am I prepared to say on whose recommendation I act. I must say I think the hon. and gallant Member is somewhat ill-advised in pressing this question.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question as to whether the appointment was in accordance with the recommendation of the medical authorities.

I have answered the question. I said that the responsibility rested with me and not with the medical authorities, or any class of officers. I am not prepared to state on what recommendation I acted.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty when the Naval Works Bill will be introduced.

The Bill is in the hands of the printers, and I hope to be able to arrange with the Leader of the House to introduce it early in the coming week.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the space of four months, between 1st January and 29th April, the crew of H.M.S. "Jackal" were allowed twenty-three days' leave of absence; and whether, in future, the "Jackal" will be more regularly on duty.

No, Sir. During the period in question, the crew of the "Jackal" have had only their ordinary leave for the night or for the Sunday when in harbour, besides the usual fourteen days' leave at Christmas, which was given by watches in accordance with custom.

Does the right hon. Gentleman dispute the accuracy of the statement made by the Lord Advocate?

Order, order.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it would be possible that workmen employed upon Plymouth Breakwater should be conveyed to and from their work on the steam-tug lately provided for in the Estimates instead of in open boats.

This is now being done. The Superintending Engineer gave notice to the workmen of the new arrangements in April last.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, during the present summer, there have been, or will be, issued to Volunteer battalions going into camp tents of the pattern known as "Mark 2," many of which are worn out and unserviceable, and quite unfit to withstand rain.

The General Officer Commanding a District is responsible that all tents issued in his district are serviceable. It may therefore be taken that no "Mark 2" tents will be issued unless they are serviceable.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some of these tents have been already issued this year?

If so, then, in the opinion of the General Officer Commanding, they are serviceable.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the rapid assimilation of the uniform of Volunteer Infantry battalions to that of their territorial regiments, he is prepared, in the case of Volunteer battalions clothed in scarlet, to amend paragraph 221B of the Volunteer Regulations, so as to permit of such Volunteer battalions using the manual exercises used by Infantry of the Line and amend Section 865 of the Volunteer Regulations, so as to permit the wearing of the Infantry sash by officers and sergeants.

The question of assimilating the manual of exercise of Volunteers to that of the Regular forces is now under consideration. The question of wearing the sash has been carefully considered, and the Secretary of State does not think it advisable to make any change.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that great hardship prevails amongst Volunteers who are working in Government factories owing to the fact that these men cannot attend annual camp drill without losing their pay; and whether, with a view to the further efficiency of the corps, he can hold out any prospects which are more likely to induce the men to put in more regular attendance at drills and camp.

This question has been considered, and it has been found impossible to permit absence without forfeiture of pay or equivalent overtime, but, with these reservations, every effort is made to facilitate attendance at drills and camps.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the attention of the Commander-in-Chief has been drawn to the urgent necessity of remedying the sanitary conditions of the barracks and huts occupied by the troops stationed at Gibraltar; whether he is aware that in consequence of the grants of leases to private persons of Crown lands in the city of Gibraltar there is a dearth of house accommodation at reasonable rents for officers and their families stationed there, and that the military medical officers have expressed an opinion that the congested condition and overcrowded state of the quarter occupied by the civil population is dangerous to the health of the troops; and whether the Secretary of State, having regard to the public interest, will take steps in conjunction with the Colonial Office to prevent further encroachments by building speculators and syndicates upon the few remaining sites available for the erection of defence works, naval and military storehouses, quarters for officers and dockyard officials, and recreation grounds for the troops.

The barracks at Gibraltar, though leaving much to desire, are not now insanitary. In the past five years some £26,000 has been spent on improving their sanitation. There is a scarcity of houses available for officers' quarters, and there is some overcrowding which is bad for the health of all the inhabitants, including the troops. All these points have been considered by the Committee on the condition of Gibraltar, and it has been decided that in future no Crown lands which may be required for any of the purposes stated in the question will be let on building leases.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, whether his attention has been called to the case of Edward knight, charged on 28th June at Worthing with an assault on a girl; that the evidence being insufficient to convict, the accused was discharged, but the Chairman stated that his character was bad, and that if the charge had been proved he would have been severely punished, and that the best thing he could do was to enlist in the Army; and, whether, in view of the necessity of attracting respectable young men to the ranks, the attention of the Lord Chancellor will be directed to this obiter dictum of the Chairman.

Any remark such as that which the Chairman of the Worthing Bench is reported to have made when discharging Edward Knight, is, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, most reprehensible and injurious to the Army. It cannot be too clearly understood that the Army is not a penitentiary for bad characters, and the Secretary of State will consider what steps can be taken to induce magistrates to refrain from suggestions of so mischievous a nature.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if the War Office has now succeeded in arranging with the several companies to convey Volunteer corps proceeding to camps of instruction upon Saturdays as heretofore, in order that full advantage may be taken of their holiday for the national defence.

I am glad to be able to inform my hon. and gallant friend that satisfactory arrangements have been made with all the railway companies concerned for the conveyance of Volunteers to camps on Saturday the 5th August next. I hope that this arrangement will be continued in future years.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether any regiments have yet applied for permission to resume their historical facings; and, if so, whether they have received the desired permission, and under what conditions.

Three regiments only have applied for restoration of their old facings, the Northumberland Fusiliers, the Yorkshire Regiment, and the Seaforth Highlanders. In each case the application has been granted. As I stated to the House on the 2nd of March, this alteration will apply to the tunic only.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of recruits for the Army obtained this year in the Highlands of Scotland, and the average number recruited there during the preceding five years.

The recruits obtained in the Highlands of Scotland during the first six months of the present year have been 566. The average number recruited yearly during the last five years has been 1,035.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is able to give an assurance that the Committee on War Office Reorganisation, of which he is chairman, will consider the advisability of recommending that the claims of officers wounded in action and rendered unfit for military service, but not incapacitated from performing secretarial and administrative duties at the War Office, shall be favourably considered for appointment to the clerical staff in the Adjutant General's Department, Quartermaster General's Department, and Ordnance Department on vacancies occurring in those departments.

Officers who have been wounded in action, and whom it is possible to retain on the active list, have from time to time been employed at headquarters upon such duties as they are competent to perform, but the Secretary of State is unable to give an undertaking that such officers will be employed in large numbers at the War Office.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the paragraph in The Times of 5th July, with regard to military preparations for South Africa, and the despatch of special service officers, was communicated to other newspapers as well as to The Times , and if so to which; and whether the officers despatched to organise residents and local forces will act independently of the Ministers of any self-governing Colonies in which the said residents and local forces may be.

The answer to the first question is in the negative. The officers selected for special service in South Africa will report themselves to, and act under the orders of, the general officer commanding Her Majesty's forces in that country. Their position in relation to the civil authorities of the colonies concerned will not differ from that of other officers already serving in the same command.

Can the hon. Gentleman state on what principle the information was given to The Times newspaper and not to other papers?

I have no idea. I suppose they asked for it.

I do not think that is a sufficient answer. I do not think the hon. Gentleman has answered my question.

Order, order.

It is the Pigott relationship.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the Mark IV. missile is affected by temperature in its initial action, and is liable to develop an abnormal pressure and to detonation within the barrel, instead of exploding; and, if so, whether he will consider the propriety of not supplying this ammunition for Volunteer rifle competitions in hot weather. I beg also to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the Mark IV. missile had to be replaced by another bullet at the Bisley shooting on Tuesday owing to the danger which was involved in the use of this newly adopted service cartridge by the Volunteer marksmen; and whether he can see his way to place samples of the missile in question in the Tea Room for the inspection of Members of this House. I beg further to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he will institute an inquiry into the alleged bad behaviour of the Mark IV. missile at the Bisley rifle ranges, and particularly into the statements that such a cartridge would be most dangerous for those using it in tropical regions; and whether the War Department will reconsider its action in supplying this bullet to the troops now serving in South Africa.

Perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to answer his three questions at the same time. The Mark IV. ammunition was used by several battalions of British troops at Omdurman, and was reported on favourably. There is, therefore, no reason to believe that the bullet is affected by temperature in its initial action, or that the cordite charge is liable to detonate. A report has been called for on the accidents which occurred at Bisley, and in the meantime other ammunition has been supplied to the Volunteers. This bullet has been proved by the firing of many thousands of rounds at Woolwich, and will continue to be issued unless the present inquiry should reveal some unsuspected defect. I shall be happy to place some of these bullets in the Tea Room.

Is it a fact, as stated in The Times , that the bullet which is intended to expand only on striking has shown an inconvenient tendency to expand before leaving the rifle?

The hon. Member had better wait for the report of the inquiry.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether thirty machine gun carriages were despatched yesterday for shipment at Southampton for South Africa; and whether Mark IV. bullets, which expand on impact, are to be used with these machine guns.

No machine gun carriages were sent to South Africa yesterday. If any machine guns should be sent to South Africa, Mark IV. ammunition would be sent with them.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether another battery of Royal Field Artillery has been selected for service in the Cape; and whether this is the fifth battery now under orders for the Cape.

Three batteries are under orders to proceed to South Africa, viz., 18th, 62nd, and 75th.

Arising out of that answer, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman purposes to answer all questions with regard to the movement of troops, in view of the fact that such questions may possibly be asked in the interests of the enemies of the country?

(No answer was given.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has arrived at any conclusion upon the case of the senior Cooper's Hill Engineers, which some few months ago he stated was under consideration by the Government; and whether their complaint that their careers had been ruined by the terms of their engagement being broken, and that they are reduced towards the close of their service into a position of great anxiety and distress, can in any way be met and alleviated; and whether he will lay upon the Table, and cause to be circulated, the Government of India's despatch, No. 15, Public Works, dated 28th January, 1890, containing that Government's views upon the whole question; also copy of a Minute by Sir George Chesney written in January, 1890 (referred to in that despatch), and its enclosures.

I stated on the 15th of June in this House that a despatch conveying my decision on this subject was then on its way to India. Since then it has, no doubt, been received and acted upon in the manner which I described. A motion for the publication of the correspondence referred to in the question was put down in 1895, but my predecessor declined to agree to it, and I see no reason for departing from that decision.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to urge upon the Signatory Powers to the Treaty of Berlin the necessity for executing the reforms in the Balkan provinces of the Ottoman Empire, in accordance with Article 23 of that Treaty; and whether, in view of the reports recently received from Macedonia, the Secretary of State will consider the desirability of inviting the Ambassadors of the Great Powers at Constantinople to re-examine the proposals made by the noble Lord now Member for Cricklade and the other European Commissioners in their memorandum of the 23rd of August 1880, on the introduction of administrative reforms into European Turkey.

Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople has joined the representatives of other Powers on several occasions in urging the introduction of reforms in the Balkan provinces, but it is not considered that such action as is suggested would in present circumstances be opportune.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what have been the figures of trade (imports and exports separately) for each of the ten years 1889 to 1898 between the United Kingdom and the territory administered by the Niger Company; whether any expense has been borne by the Imperial Exchequer in relation to that Protectorate since the grant of the charter; and in that case what has been the total sum so charged and for what purpose.

I am informed by the Niger Company that no separate account of trade as between the United Kingdom and Nigeria has been kept. A certain portion of the Nigeria trade is with the Continent. No expense whatever has been borne by the Imperial Exchequer in relation to the Protectorate since the grant of the charter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any remonstrance has been addressed to the Colonial Office by the Government of British Columbia, or any of its citizens, against the vetoing of the Provincial Act which prohibited the employment of cheap Japanese labour in the mines of the colony; whether the labour party of the colony has protested against this interference with the legislative privileges of the people of British Columbia, on the ground that the action of the Dominion Legislature has been influenced by the capitalists of the colony, whose interests favour the employment of cheap Asiatic labour in the mines; and whether he is aware that the labour organisations of Canada are in active sympathy with the views of similar bodies in British Columbia, and demand that some adequate safeguard shall be provided for the protection of Canadian labour throughout the whole of the Dominion against the influx of cheap labour from the East, which it is alleged this vetoing of the Act of prohibition will precipitate to the injury of the white workers of all the Canadian provinces.

The answer to all three questions is in the negative. I have received no protests on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will explain on what grounds, at the recent celebration of the Queen's Birthday in Natal, the children of natives of British Africa were forbidden by the authorities to view the festivities in company with the children of white people.

I have no information on the subject.

The statement has been published in the papers.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government will lay before Parliament papers containing a full account of the Bloemfontein negotiations, and relative communications with the Governments of Cape Colony and Natal in regard to the position of affairs in the South African Republic.

I beg at the same time to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now see his way to lay upon the Table of the House the despatches from Sir A. Milner giving an account of the proceedings at the Bloemfontein Conference.

The papers relating to the Bloemfontein negotiations will be given. As to the communications with the Cape and Natal Governments I will consider what papers can be given—I may have to consult the Colonial Governments.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has formed an approximative estimate of the number of British-born white subjects of Her Majesty now domiciled in the Transvaal Republic; and, if so, whether he will communicate it to the House.

No census of the Transvaal has been taken since 1890. Sir J. de Wet estimated in 1894 that of a total Uitlander population of 70,000, 63,000 were British subjects. The total number of Utilanders now in the Republic has been estimated roughly at 200,000, of which the same proportion as in Sir J. de Wet's estimate would be 159,000 British subjects.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the law as to the education of children of English-speaking parents in the elementary schools in the Transvaal remains the same as described wit- nesses before the South African Committee, i.e. , that in elementary schools at Johannesburg and elsewhere education was only allowed to be given in the Dutch language, although it was admitted that there were plenty of competent English-speaking teachers available; and, whether the taxation of food and other necessaries of life continues as onerous and stringent as reported by witnesses before the Committee, and whether any change has taken place with regard to such taxation.

The law remains unaltered. Under it the Superintendent of Education may make arrangements for the education of non-Dutch speaking children on the Goldfields, and at present English is allowed to be the medium of instruction in the lowest standards, but more and more Dutch is required until Dutch becomes the only medium. The Uitlanders, being unable to avail themselves of the State-aided education, for which they have to pay, have voluntarily subscribed about £100,000 as a fund for providing education for English children on the Rand. I believe that the taxation on food and necessaries, though some alterations have been made in the customs tariff, remains substantially the same.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these taxes are above or below the same taxes in Cape Colony?

If the hon. Gentleman will give notice of the question I will give him a reply.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the case that under the resolution of the Volksraad in 1896 five schools have been established on the Goldfields of the South African Republic; that of the fifteen teachers ten are English and five Dutch; and that the maximum time required to earn the highest grants in these schools is five hours per week for the senior scholars.

I understand that a few such schools have been established, but I am not in possession of details as to the staff and the hours. I believe that a condition attaching to the grant is that the children must pass an examination in South African history and in the Dutch language. (See page 77 of C. 9345.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture how many appointments of district agricultural analysts under the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1893, by county councils and councils of county boroughs respectively, have been approved by the Board of Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of that Act.

Appointments of district agricultural analysts have been approved for all administrative counties, with but two exceptions, and in fourteen county boroughs.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will specify respectively the rates referred to in Clause 4 of the Tithe Rent-charge (Rates) Bill as rates which the owner of tithe rent-charge is liable as compared with the occupier of buildings to be assessed to or to pay on the proportion of one-half and of less than one-half; and if he will name the enactments by which the rate is in each case imposed in the proportion mentioned.

The object of the exception in Clause 4 of the Bill is to exclude from relief those rates in respect of which owners of tithe rent-charge have already been placed by Statute in as good or better position than that in which they will be placed under the Bill. The most important rates which fall within this category are the general district rate in urban districts, and the special expenses rate in rural districts which are levied in conformity with Sections 211 and 230 of the Public Health Act, 1875, and rates levied for the expenses arising under the Lighting and Washing Act, 1833, in conformity with Section 33 of that Act, as extended by the Tithe Rating Act, 1851.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will state the aggregate amount of the deduc- tions which will be made under the Tithe Rent-charge (Rates) Bill from the sums now payable to the local authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire.

The aggregate amount of the shares of the counties and county boroughs in Wales and Monmouthshire in a sum of £87,000 distributed in the proportion of what are known as the "discontinued grants" would be £3,982.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will state the amount which will be deducted from the sum payable to the County of Carmarthen out of the Local Taxation grant under the Tithe Rent-charge (Rates) Bill.

The share of the County of Carmarthen in a sum of £87,000 distributed in the proportion of what are known as the "discontinued grants" would amount to £277.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will consent to the motion for a Return relating to the amounts to be deducted in respect of the Tithe Rent-charge (Rates) Bill from the sums receivable by local authorities on account of the Estate Duty Grant, standing on to-day's Paper.

It would not be practicable to give the Return asked for without a detailed investigation of the circumstances as they at present exist in each parish in which tithe rent-charge is attached to a benefice, and even therefore if the value of such a Return were equivalent to the cost and labour of its preparation, which we do not think would be the case, it could not be made available until long after the Bill will, as we hope, have passed into law.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to a proposal made by the managers of the Central London School District to spend about £250 in establishing a printing office at the large barrack schools at Hanwell; and whether he will undertake to refuse to sanction such expenditure in accordance with his stated intention of not adding to the existing Poor Law children's institutions, in compliance with the recommendations of the Poor Law Schools Committee.

I have not received any proposal from the managers of the Central London School District on the subject referred to in the question. I understand that a proposal made by one of the managers to establish a printing press was referred to a committee, but that nothing more has been done in the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the County Council of Cambridgeshire made an order on 11th May for acquiring four acres of land at Steeple Morden for a public recreation ground; and whether, as the confirmation of the order has remained unopposed, the Local Government Board will issue at an early date an Order confirming the order of the County Council.

The formal Order is in preparation and will very shortly be issued.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has recently promised or agreed to the appointment of a Committee to inquire into and report upon the colouring of margarine and the addition of preservatives to butter and milk.

I have appointed a Committee to inquire into the use of preservatives and colouring matters in the preservation and colouring of food generally. My right hon. friend the Member for Wigtownshire has consented to act as Chairman, and the other members of the Committee will be Professor Thorpe, of the Government Laboratory, Dr. Bulstrode, one of the Medical Inspectors of the Local Government Board, and Dr. Tunnicliffe, of the Physiological Laboratory, St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

Are we to understand that the Government intend to drop the Sale of Food and Drugs Bill this session?

Nothing of the kind.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the increasing quantity of smoke and fumes that are emitted from the pottery and drain-pipe works on the river nearly opposite this House; whether he is aware that on Tuesday Lambeth Bridge was invisible in the afternoon from this cause, and that the Committee Rooms, the Terrace, and the dining-rooms were filled for hours with most unpleasant fumes; and whether he can take steps to require the owners of these works to consume their own smoke and not contaminate the neighbourhood with these fumes.

The Local Government Board have no control over the owners of the works referred to in the question, but I have communicated with the Clerk to the Lambeth Vestry, in which parish the works are situated. I am informed that the Vestry have made and are still making daily observations with respect to the emission of smoke from the works of manufacturing firms in the parish, and particularly from the two leading pottery and drain-pipe works on the Albert Embankment, three inspectors having been specially told off for this purpose. Proceedings have already been taken in several cases, and convictions obtained in respect of the emission of black smoke. Several notices have been served upon the pottery and drain-pipe firms in question, awl summonses will be issued whenever any nuisance under the Act can be substantiated. It is understood that large sums have been expended by the two pottery firms in altering their furnaces and appliances, so as to minimise the smoke and fumes arising in the course of their manufacturing processes, and they have expressed their willingness to make any further alterations of a practical nature if any such can be suggested.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the late permanent Secretary of that Board, who retired from the office on the 31st December last with a large pension, still retains the appoint- ment of Receiver of the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund at a salary of £500 a year; and whether it is the intention of the Government that Sir Hugh Owen should continue to occupy the latter post for an indefinite period.

The salary of the office in question is £400—not £500 a year. It is quite distinct from that of Secretary to the Local Government Board, and the salary is not paid out of Imperial funds. The office is still held by Sir Hugh Owen, and I see no reason whatever why he should not continue to retain it.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the work of the Country Holidays' Fund, the Children's Fresh Air Mission, and similar organisations for sending children from London to country cottages for two or three weeks during the summer; whether he is aware that the number of children thus sent away annually is approximately 55,000, and is increasing, and that it is admitted on all hands that the benefit to the children, both physically and educationally, is very great; is he aware that the bulk of the children are sent away during the school holidays in order not to interfere with their school attendance, and that consequently there is constantly increasing difficulty in placing so many children with country cottagers during this short period; and whether, having regard to the immense advantages the children obtain, he will consider the possibility of this fortnight's visit being reckoned as school attendance on the ground of its educational value, or will in some other way propose a remedy for this difficulty.

The answer to paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 is in the affirmative. In reply to paragraph 4, it would be impracticable, in the opinion of the Committee of Council, to reckon these holiday visits as school attendance. But there is nothing to prevent the London School Board and the Voluntary school managers from making such arrangement that all the elementary schools in London will not have their holidays at the same time.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Mansion House Association on Railway and Canal Traffic may expect to receive a reply to their letter to the Board of Trade with reference to the neglect of the railway companies to supply on their sectional maps information as to their running powers. I may add that the date of the letter was 11th May.

The Board of Trade have not lost sight of this matter, and as recently as the 3rd of July the Department received a letter from the Clearing House intimating that the subject was to be brought before a meeting of general managers on the 25th instant, and that after that date a further communication would be addressed to the Board.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether lodges in the country which are let to labourers are liable to inhabited House duty.

The question is one of law, which can be authoritatively decided only by the courts; but the opinion of the Board of Inland Revenue is that a lodge belonging to and occupied with a dwelling-house is chargeable with Inhabited House Duty under the Act 48 Geo. III., Cap. 55, Schedule B., Rule 2.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has given his sanction to the execution of Mary Ansell on the 19th July; and will he state how many men and how many women have been executed in the years 1896, 1897, 1898; and in how many instances have memorials for mercy been refused.

As to the first paragraph, I must decline to answer any question in the House as to the advice which it will be my duty to tender to Her Majesty. Thirty-five men and one woman were executed in the period referred to. In the great majority of these cases applications in some form for mercy were made.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consent to introduce the Bill which has been prepared for the transference of the control of Scottish reformatories and industrial schools to the Secretary for Scotland, on the distinct understanding that it shall not be proceeded with this session unless it can go through unopposed.

I am afraid that I cannot do this. There are several points of detail to be settled before the matter can be ready to be laid before Parliament.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is intended to be made for young persons sentenced to detention in reformatory schools between their conviction and their reception into such schools, now that it will be no longer lawful to detain them in prison; and whether he proposes to send any circular to the various Courts of Quarter and Petty Sessions on the subject.

The Reformatory Schools Amendment Act, to which, I suppose, my right hon. friend refers, provides merely that a juvenile offender shall not be sentenced to imprisonment in addition to being committed to a reformatory. There is nothing in this to interfere with the provisions of Section 2 of the Act of 1893, under which the offender can be sent for a short time to a prison, or any other place, until a fit school willing to receive him is found. I am about to issue a circular respecting the new Act.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government intend to bring in a Bill during the present session to give effect to the recommendations of the Select Committee on Burial Grounds, as contemplated by them on 9th February.

No, Sir; I am afraid it will not be possible this session to bring in a Burials Bill.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the observations of Mr. Justice Mathew at the Kent Assizes, in the case of the Queen against Ryle, in which the prisoner had been six months in prison awaiting her trial owing to the refusal of the committing magistrate to admit her to bail, as he thought he had no power to do so; and whether he will take the necessary steps to inform magistrates as to the powers they possess under recent legislation of admitting prisoners to bail.

I have seen a newspaper report of the observations of the learned judge. I have no reason to suppose that magistrates generally are unaware of their powers with regard to bail, and no evidence to this effect has reached me with the exception of this one case.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the custom of attaching cradles with infants in them to barrel organs and piano organs in the streets of London; whether some time back instructions were given to the police to put a stop to this practice; and whether he will take steps to have those instructions carried out.

My attention has not been recently drawn to this matter, but I will look into it.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, what encouragement has been given by the Congested Districts Board for Scotland to the breeding of horses and cattle in the congested area.

I am in- formed by the Congested Districts Board that they have made grants in aid of premiums for good stallions, and have supplied bulls in approved cases.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, having regard to the fact that under Section 5 of the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act, the board may accept gifts of property for any of the purposes provided by the Act, will he state whether any Highland landlords have yet made gifts of land to the board.

The answer is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the material required for conducting water to the Peddieston Public School and the farm towns of Ardivall and Muirton (Black Isle), Ross-shire, has yet been delivered; and can he state when the pipes will be laid and the work completed.

I am unable to add anything to the answer I gave on the 27th of last month to the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the attention of the Scottish Local Government Board has been called to the change of practice recently introduced in Glasgow in dealing with cases of debility and injury brought to the police offices and subsequently removed to the parochial hospital, whereby pauper patients are removed to that hospital without any certificate from the parochial medical officer of their fitness for removal; whether the criminal authorities have sanctioned the inspection of the private police books by the parochial officers; whether the removal of a moribund person on the data contained in these books, and without certificate from the parochial medical officer, would be held to satisfy the requirements of the Poor Law Act; and on whom, in case of mishap occurring in connection with a removal so conducted, would legal responsibility rest.

The answer to the first paragraph of the hon. Member's question is in the negative. From inquiries made by myself through other channels, I find that some changes have been recently made in Glasgow in connection with removal. In the meantime, I have communicated with the Local Government Board in order that inquiries may be made; and if the hon. Member will repeat his question after an adequate interval, I shall be happy to reply on the subject.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the large farm, referred to in paragraph 6, page 10, of the Report of the Congested Districts Board for Scotland has yet been secured for the purpose of creating holdings for crofters and cottars.

I am informed by the Congested Districts Board that as the farm referred to is not out of lease until 1902 they have not yet secured it.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that the Parish Council of Bothwell have recently prosecuted two gentlemen for the non-vaccination of their children; and whether the Government intend to amend the Law so as to afford the same relief for the conscientious objector in Scotland which has just been provided by statute for similar objectors to vaccination in England.

The fact stated in the first paragraph of the hon. Member's question is, I am informed by the Local Government Board, correct. The answer to the second paragraph is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, in view of the statement on page 6 of the Report of the Congested Districts Board for Scotland that difficulties have arisen owing to the divided nature of the responsibilities of the County Local Authorities and the consulting engineer, will he state whether those difficulties have been overcome; and, if so, in what way.

The statement to which the hon. Member refers was not made in the report, but in a note by the Under Secretary for Scotland, drawn up for the information of the Congested Districts Board. It applied to cases of works subsidised out of the Vote for West Highland and Island Works, but as that Vote ceased on the 31st March, 1898, there seems no object now in reopening these discussions. They were all arranged excepting the case of the Port Ness Harbour, about which the hon. Member was lately informed.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he will state what efforts have been made to encourage spinning and weaving in the congested area of the Highlands of Scotland since the Congested Districts Board published their Report?

I am informed by the Congested Districts Board that the instructor referred to in the Report has been for some time at work under the local committee.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether any steps have been taken with a view to enforce the liability of the guarantors of Mr. Bussy in regard to the non-delivery of the issues of The Parliamentary Debates to those who have prepaid for their delivery during the present session.

I am advised that the guarantors are not liable in this case. Their liability applied where the Government itself suffered by the action of the contractor, or where he broke any portion of the contract. The arrangements for repayment were no part of the contract.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that Members can now by means of a single order receive The Parliamentary Debates from 24th April to the present date, he will give instructions for the privilege, viz., by means of a single order, to be extended to the commencement of the session, as Members have in many cases either used or mislaid the necessary Pink Papers, they having been issued to them months ago.

Apart from the fact that the proposal of my hon. friend goes beyond the arrangement agreed upon, I find that there are practically no sets of back numbers available beyond those already purchased by the Stationery Office to secure copies for subscribers who had paid in advance.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury when the Report of the Royal Commission on Licensing, from which copious extracts have already appeared in the Press, will be in the hands of Members.

It will be ready for delivery on Tuesday next.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has observed that in the case of Patrick MacNeill, Pink Schedule dated 16th February, 1899, 15 per cent. is added to the rent for proximity to Moy, County Tyrone; and in the case of A. M'Kenzie, Pink Schedule dated 19th July, 1898, no percentage is added for proximity to Moy, although both farms are equi-distant from the town of Moy, which has less than 1,000 inhabitants; and whether he can explain this difference of procedure in fixing fair rents.

The question refers to matters which came before the Sub-Commissioners judicially, and the Land Commissioners decline to require the Sub-Commissioners to explain the grounds of their judicial decisions. The parties, if they feel aggrieved, have the right to require the cases to be reheard on appeal before the Land Commissioners, and in one of the two cases referred to I understand that notice of rehearing has been served by both landlord and tenant.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when it is proposed to hold meetings of the Sub-Land Com- missioners and of the Chief Commission in Waterford for hearing of cases in the Waterford Union.

No sittings of either the Chief or Sub-Commission for the disposal of cases from the district mentioned have, as yet, been arranged for. Sittings will be fixed at as early a date as possible, having due regard to the claims of other districts. There are only twenty-six cases from this district in which appeals are pending, and only eighty cases awaiting hearing before the Sub-Commission.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received further information regarding the unsafe and dangerous condition of the Belfast wharves; and if he can now see his way to address a remonstrance to the Harbour Commissioners on the subject.

Further information has been furnished to me by the hon. Member relative to deaths from drowning in the docks at Belfast, which have occurred since I replied to questions previously put to me on the same subject last year. With regard to the second paragraph, the Government have already been in communication with the Harbour Commissioners of Belfast as to the alleged unprotected state of the docks, and have been informed by the Commissioners that they have, in all places, erected protection railings a walls where they considered such could be done without materially obstructing the trade and traffic of the port. The docks and quays in the harbour have, I am assured, been constructed by the Commissioners in strict accordance with Parliamentary authority, and if that is so, they are not liable, in the absence of negligent user, for any accidents that may occur.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that no Land Sub-Commission sat at Waterford for the South Kilkenny district since October, 1898: and when will a Sub-Commission sit at Waterford.

The fact is as stated in the first paragraph. A sitting of the Sub-Commission at Waterford will be arranged at as early a date as possible, having due regard to the claims of other districts. There are only fifty two cases awaiting hearing from this district at present.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been called to the unanimous resolution of the Urlingford (county Kilkenny) Board of Guardians, to the effect that no rearrangement of the dispensary districts of the union involving the abolition of any one of them could be made that would not inflict great hardships on the sick poor in many districts of the union; and, whether he will have personal investigation made into the matter, with a view to the withdrawal of the recent sealed order and the replacing of the dispensary districts in their former positions.

My attention has been drawn to the resolution referred to in the first paragraph. I have given this matter my own personal consideration, but see no sufficient reason to alter the decision which has already been arrived at after careful investigation by the Medical Inspector of the Local Government Board in respect to the re-arrangement of the dispensary districts. The Board do not consider that the re-arrangement of these districts will inflict any serious hardship on the sick poor; they believe, on the contrary, that the new arrangements will conduce to a better attendance on them.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to Rule 250 of the proposed Rules of the Supreme Court (Ireland) 1899, now lying upon the Table of the House, referring to the qualification of official assignees for acting as liquidators in the winding-up of public companies; whether he is aware that a similar arrangement to that now proposed was brought forward in 1893, and was abandoned in deference to the strong protests of the Chambers of Commerce of Dublin, Belfast, and Cork, and other representatives of Irish traders; and whether, in view of the fact that the mercantile community in Ireland is still strongly opposed to the contemplated change, he will refuse to sanction the rule in question.

The rules referred to in the first paragraph of the question have not been laid on the Table of the House, nor is it necessary that they should be so laid, at present. They are now draft rules, and were so published in the Dublin Gazette , with a notice under the Rules Publication Act, stating where copies could be obtained, and that representations and suggestions made in writing by any public body interested would be taken into consideration before the rules would be finally settled. I am not aware of the circumstances under which the Bill of 1893 was not proceeded with, but assume, from the terms of the question, it was because of some opposition. I cannot admit that the mercantile community in Ireland is opposed to the rule as now drafted by the rule recommending authority, which includes all the Judges of the High Court in Ireland; but any public body which is now opposed to them can send in objections, which will be duly considered before the final settlement of the rules. I have not the power suggested in the last paragraph of the question, and I have to remind my hon. friend that the Rules in their final shape must be laid before Parliament, and may on Address be annulled.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will fix the Third Reading of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Bill after it has been reprinted and at such a time as will afford opportunity for discussion on the Bill.

I understand that there are not many gentlemen who desire to take part in the discussion on the Third Reading of the Bill, but I will endeavour to bring it on at such a time as he suggests.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether, having regard to the highly contentious character of the Sale of Food and Drugs Bill, and the strong objections expressed to several of its clauses by chambers of commerce and by large numbers of manufacturers and traders, he will consent to postpone the Bill until next session.

The following questions also appeared on the Paper:—

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can state when the Sale of Food and Drugs Bill will be taken.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Sale of Food and Drugs Bill will be further proceeded with this session; and, if so, when.

.—To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government have decided not to proceed further with the Sale of Food and Drugs Bill, but intend to refer it for further examination and inquiry to a Departmental Committee.

There are a good many questions on the Paper in reference to this Bill, and I have to say that I propose to take the Report stage on Monday next. I do not wholly agree with the statement of fact made in the last part of the question of the hon. Member for the Blackfriars Division.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he has received a memorial signed by a large number of Members on both sides of the House asking the Government, in view of the great benefit which the Money-Lending Bill would confer on the poorer industrial classes of the community, to pass the said Bill this session; and whether he can see his way to meeting the wishes of the memorialists.

I have received the memorial to which my hon. friend refers, but I cannot hold out any very sanguine hopes as to the prospect of carrying the Bill this session. Perhaps my hon. friend will wait for a final answer until Monday.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can now make a statement as to the further legislative business of the session?

I hope to make the statement next Monday.

Lea Bridge District Gas Bill [Lords]

Reported, with Amendments; Report to lie upon the Table.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 15) (RE-COMMITTED) BILL

Reported from the Select Committee, with Amendments [Provisional Order confirmed]; Report to lie upon the Table, and to be printed [No. 277].

Bill, as amended, to be considered To-morrow, and to be printed [Bill 268].

Message from the Lords

That they have agreed to—

Birmingham Corporation Bill

Midland and South Western Junction Railway Bill

Lincoln and East Coast Railway and Dock Bill

WOKING WATER AND GAS BILL.

LOWESTOFT PROMENADE PIER BILL.

With Amendments.

That they have passed a Bill, entitled "An Act to amend the Law relating to Youthful Offenders and for other purposes connected therewith." [Youthful Offenders Bill [Lords].