To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that certain landlords in King's County, notably Colonel Williams, owner of an estate at Clonmacnoise, have issued writs against tenants for practically irrecoverable arrears of rent, with a view to compel the said tenants to purchase their holdings; whether Colonel Williams in particular has demanded an average of twenty-four years purchase, he having offered to sell the same holdings a few years ago at an average of eighteen years purchase; and whether he will take any steps in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Land Commission have no information as to the alleged proceedings to recover rent on the estate referred to, and no steps have been taken to initiate purchase proceedings in the case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the established relations between malaria fever and mosquito attacks, he will cause inquiry to be made as to the expediency of erecting mosquito-proof sleeping rooms for the employees on our West African railways. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The quarters provided for railway employees in Sierra Leone and Lagos include mosquito-proof rooms. As regards the Gold Coast I have no information, but I will make inquiry. I may add that mosquito nets have also been supplied by Government, but I understand that some change has recently been made in Lagos, and I will inquire about it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what period of the year 1906 will the proposed Colonial Conference take place; whether the instructions to be given to the British representatives will be the same as were given at the last Conference; and whether any opportunity will be afforded to this House of discussing the proposed instructions. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) No date has yet been fixed for the Conference, and no decision has yet been taken as to the subjects referred to in the Question of the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state how many machine-drills worked by white men have been replaced by hand-drills worked by Chinese labourers in the Van Ryn and other mines of the Rand; how many white men previously engaged in this occupation are now unemployed; and how many have been transferred to other work at lower wages. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I am not in possession of the details desired by the right hon. Member. The information which I have received is to the effect that machine-drilling can only be properly employed in broad seams, and that resort to it in narrow seams is undesirable in the interest of the safety of the mines and the economic working of the ore. I am further informed that the change from machine to hand working under such circumstances is not likely to lead to a reduction in white skilled labour.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give a reference to the authority under which Departments are given full discretion to call upon efficient established clerks in the Civil Service with less than forty years of service to retire at the age of sixty, and whether any such power was in existence in 1871; or when the Treasury Minute of December, 1886, was issued requiring temporary copyists to forfeit any gratuity earned by them when promoted to the establishment; also whether he will state if the destination of these forfeited gratuities as well as the sums to be confiscated by the exercise of this power of discretionary retirement at the age of sixty, while efficient and with less than forty years of service, was laid down; whether this power of discretionary compulsory retirement at the age of sixty was made known to these temporary copyists at the time of their proposed beneficial promotion; and whether one of them was officially informed in 1894 that he could not, under the regulations then existing, and would not, if efficient, be called upon to retire before the age of sixty-five. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) Discretion has always rested with the head of a Department to call upon any of his officers to retire at the age of sixty; and attention was expressly called to this power in the Order of Council of August, 1890. No question arises as to forfeiture of gratuity in the circumstances referred to in the Question. Gratuities were only payable upon retirement, and a temporary copyist when promoted to the establishment became eligible for a pension instead. I have no knowledge on the point raised in the last sentence of the hon. Baronet's Question.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether any intimation was given, in or about February, 1903, to the Irish Agricultural Department that recurrent applications to the Treasury on behalf of their officers should cease, and that the sanctioned scales of pay should be left to their operation; and, if so, whether any such intimation was intended to apply generally; and, if not, to what particular officers or class of officers such intimation had reference. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) The letter to which the hon. Member refers related to the Estimates submitted by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for the year 1903–4, and was of a confidential character. I cannot undertake to discuss the terms or purport of such a document in reply to a Question in this House.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury when it is expected that a reply will be given to the memorial submitted to the Treasury by the Association of Assistant Clerks in December, 1903. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) I hope to be able to give a reply very shortly.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he can state the names of towns sold under The Land Act, 1903, and the number of purchasing tenants. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) Early in 1904 the Estates Commissioners undertook to purchase portion of the town of Boyle, the houses in which portion were held by yearly tenants direct from the landlord. With this exception no towns or villages have been purchased by the Estates Commissioners under the Act of 1903. In some few cases advances have been made for the purchase of houses in villages by the tenants of such houses where the village formed part of an estate mainly agricultural or pastoral in character.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he will state what are the statutory rights of county and district inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary which forbid their reduction in proportion to that of the rank and file of the force. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) Under the Acts relating to the Royal Irish Constabulary officers cannot retire on pension, except on the grounds of ill-health, until they are sixty years of age and have completed forty years service. The rank and file of the force can retire on pension at twenty-five years service, and they attain their maximum pension at twenty-nine years service.

To ask

To ask the President of the Local Government Board how many houses for the working classes have been built or provided by the councils in rural districts under The Housing of the Working Classes Act. 1890, and the Acts amending it; and what are the names of the parishes and counties in which they have been built or provided, and the number of houses so built or provided in each of such parishes. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I have no information as to the number of houses actually provided in rural districts under these Acts, but the following table gives particulars of the cases in which loans have been sanctioned for the purpose:—

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether at any time any portion of the Bahr-el-Ghazal territory was leased to the King of the Belgians; and, if so, on what terms and for what time was such lease made; and whether such lease is still in existence, or whether it has been cancelled; and, if so, when was it cancelled. (Answered by Earl Percy.) Particulars with regard to the lease of a portion of the Bahr-el-Ghazal territory to the Sovereign of the Congo State will be found in the Parliamentary Paper, Treaty Series, No. 15, 1894. The lease was made subject to a reservation of the rights of Egypt, which revived on the reconquest of the Soudan.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Admiralty, considering the improvement in naval shooting by the use, in the naval gunnery schools, of Admiral Percy Scott's inventions, will order the immediate equipment of all Naval Reserve drill ships, batteries, and Volunteer Reserve drill premises with these instruments. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The general introduction of these instruments for use in the naval service is necessarily a costly proceeding, and the sea-going Fleet is the first consideration in the order of supply. Some of these instruments, moreover, are not considered necessary instructional appliances for Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve men, and in other cases are not suitable for use with the drill armaments of the establishments in question. Such, however, as are suitable and considered necessary are being supplied when available.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether rules have now been made and are in force with respect to all the subjects mentioned in the schedule to The Railway Employment (Prevention of Accidents) Act, 1900; if not, which of the subjects are still without rules, and at what stage is the action necessary to make or complete the rules respecting it or them; and whether any application has been made to his Department under the provisions of Section 14 of the same Act. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) Rules have been made with respect to all the subjects in the schedule of the Act referred to with the exception of those numbered 1,7, and 8, and the rules are in force except those relating to boilergauge glasses and water gauges on engines, which come into operation next August. The subjects in the schedule not yet dealt with by rule are "brake levers on both sides of waggons," "the position of offices and cabins near working lines," and "the marking of fouling points." As the hon. Member is aware, the Board of Trade were desirous that the brakes to be used should be capable of being both applied and released from either side of a waggon, and proposed a rule to that effect; but so far no form of brake that has been tested has proved altogether satisfactory. Further trials will, however, be made, and it has been arranged to hold such trials at the beginning of next month. As regards the other points the Board are advised that they can be dealt with, as occasion may arise, more conveniently than by general rule under Section 1 (1) of the Act. No application has been made to the Department under Section 14 of the Act.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade under what circumstances it has been found necessary to issue a circular marked C. 893 proposing to invite the Permanent Sugar Commission to include golden syrup in the Sugar Convention; and whether, seeing that the proposal would necessitate all syrup manufacturers working in bond to the detriment of the small manufacturers, he will consider the advisability of withdrawing the circular. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) No circular making any proposal of the kind suggested has been issued. I suppose by the reference number quoted that allusion must be intended to a confidential inquiry made by the Board of Trade as to the opinion of syrup manufacturers not working in bond with regard to the classification of syrup for the purposes of the Sugar Convention. It is evidently important that the Board of Trade should know the views of the trade on a matter affecting their interests, and there can be no question of withdrawing the inquiry.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in 1899 an arrangement was entered into at Exeter between the Department and the staff with reference to annual leave, and that the staff made certain sacrifices, and in consideration thereof the Department agreed to send a certain number of the staff on holidays throughout the season of annual leave; and, seeing that the holidays for 1905 have been altered by the Department without reference to the staff, whether the Postmaster-General will slate the reasons for the Department departing from its part of the compromise of 1899. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) In 1899 the Department arranged that the Exeter telegraph staff should receive the greater portion of its annual leave in the eight better months of the year, and this arrangement is still in force. Owing to pressure of work in the summer it cannot be arranged for the same number to be away in July, August, and September as in the remaining five months of this period.

To ask the Postmaster-General

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade what were the numbers out of the totals of 410 railway servants killed, and 3,882 railway servants injured, in 1904 from train accidents and movement of trains and vehicles, of goods guards and brakesmen, permanent way men, and shunters, respectively. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The numbers, subject to possible slight alterations before the Returns are published, are as under:—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has issued a Provisional Order under the provisions of Section 152 of The Metropolis Management Act, 1855, giving to the London County Council powers to compulsorily acquire lands for the treatment of sewage in connection with their northern outfall system at Barking; and, if so, whether he will suspend such Order until such time as the local authority within whose district such lands are situated shall have been heard in accordance with the request contained in their letter of 7th March, 1905; whether, seeing that the land available for such purpose in the immediate neighbourhood is limited in area, and surrounded by densely-populated districts, the requirements of the Local Government Board as to the area of bacteria beds for the treatment of sewage on the lines proposed will be complied with. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) No, Sir. What is required of me by the Metropolis Management Act is, not to make a Provisional Order, but merely to give or withhold my consent in writing to the compulsory acquisition of land by the London County Council. I have not yet given this consent, and I will not give it without full and careful consideration of the objections urged by the Barking Urban District Council.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been, or will be, taken for preventing the fraudulent admixture with port, sherry, and claret, of British wines made from currants and raisins paying a very low duty (and in a lesser degree made from foreign grape-must paying no duty), in view of the injury caused to the revenue. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) Only two days ago I received from the Board of Inland Revenue a Report on this subject founded on such information as the Board have been able to procure. I propose now to consider the whole matter carefully; but the hon. Member will understand that some time must necessarily elapse before I am able to announce what steps, if any, I may find it advisable to take for the better protection of the revenue derived from imported foreign wines.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is yet in a position to state briefly the result of Mr. Dane's Mission to Cabul. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.): The Mission is still at Cabul, and it would not be in the public interest to make any statement at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is now prepared to lay upon the Table the scheme for removing the Coopers Hill School of Forestry to Oxford, and the correspondence relating thereto. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) I am prepared to lay Papers upon the Table.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received applications from Mrs. Johanna Bowler, Mr. Denis Healy, and Mr. Patrick Sullivan as evicted tenants on the McCartie Estate at Headfort, county Kerry; and if the Commissioners have done or propose to do anything in connection with the applications, as the sale of the estate is now proceeding. (Answered, by Mr. Atkinson.) The Estates Commissioners have received applications from the persons named, whose claims will be inquired into and reported upon by the inspector when he visits the estate. A request to the Land Judge, under Section 7, has been issued in regard to this estate, but the particulars have not yet been furnished.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how is it that Mr. Sinnott, of Ballinaclash, Enniscorthy, county Wexford, has been sued by the Irish Land Commission for £4 11s., tithe rent, in respect of his holding of fifty-four acres which he purchased under the former Land Purchase Acts, and under which purchase the proportion of the original tithe rent-charge due on his fifty-four acres should have been redeemed by the vendor, and in view of the fact that the total tithe rent for the 128 acres comprised in Ballinaclash was only £3 a year, and that seventy-four acres of that townland have been purchased by other tenants. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) Before the purchase Mr. Sinnott, and not his landlord, was liable for payment of the tithe rent-charge, as he held under a lease made in 1798 for 999 years. Since the purchase by Mr. Sinnott the question of the liability has been the subject of litigation, and by an order of Mr. Justice Ross, made 7th March, 1904, Mr. Sinnott's future annual liability has been fixed at £4 11s. l0d. per annum. The £4 11s. mentioned in the Question represents unpaid arrears.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the recent appointment of a Mr. Caffery to the head-mastership of Armagh Technical School, he can state what the qualifications of this gentleman are; was his name upon the register according to the Act of 1902 which dealt with secondary teachers; and in what papers, if any, was the vacancy advertised. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) Mr. Caffrey holds advanced certificates from the Board of Education, South Kensington, and the City and Guilds of London Institute in building trades subjects and possesses practical experience of a character such as to fit him for the duties of the post. The Department are not aware whether Mr. Caffrey's name is upon the register of teachers formed by the Teachers' Registration Council under the Order in Council of the 6th March, l902, as they do not require that persons holding posts of this character should be on the register. The vacancy was advertised by the local committee in the following papers, Irish Times, Freeman'sJournal, Manchester Guardian, and the Scotsman.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill this session for the compulsory education of the blind under similar conditions to that at present existing in England and Scotland; and, if not, will any steps be taken to give effect to any of the recommendations of the Royal Commission of 1885. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) The recommendations of the Royal Commission can only be given effect to by legislation. The question of the introduction of legislation in the present session is under consideration by my right hon. friend.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the date upon which agreements for purchase of the Comyn Kenny and Longworth Estates were entered into by the Congested Districts Board; and whether the land has yet been given to the tenants in the district; and, if not, why. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) In the case of the Comyn Kenny Estate the agreement for purchase with the vendor, in pursuance of Section 79 of the Land Act of 1903, has not yet been entered into owing to certain requirements under the rules not having been complied with, but it is expected that the agreement will shortly be completed. In the case of the Dames Longworth Estate, the agreement for purchase was executed on the 1st February last, but the estate has not yet been vested in the Board. The Congested Districts Board are not in a position to divide lands amongst the tenants until the property is legally vested in them.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Comptroller and Auditor-General that the Director of Supplies in South Africa from October, 1902, to December, 1903, disposed of stores which realised £474,000 to three firms, two of whom were forage contractors to the Army; what was the loss to the Government by these sales; who these contractors were; whether they are still on the list of Government contractors; why oats and oat-hay, which had been purchased during January, 1903, at 17s. 11½d. and 17s. 8½d. per 100 1bs., were sold to the same contractor who supplied this forage for 11s. and 10s. per 100 1bs. respectively between January and March, 1903; and whether the amount of £21,232 allowed for deterioration was in respect of forage supplied by the selfsame contractor; and why the contracts asked for in reference to these transactions have not been transmitted to the Comptroller and Auditor-General. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The names of the contractors are E. Stepney, of Standerton, South Africa; Messrs. Meyer and Co., of Pretoria; and Messrs. Wilson and Worthington, of Pretoria. Two of these contractors hold contracts for the year 1904–5. The copies of the contracts called for were, on receipt of the audit query, obtained from South Africa; they have not yet been forwarded to the Auditor-General, as they are at present detained for the special inquiry at the War Office to which I alluded yesterday. The other points raised can hardly be dealt with within the limits of an Answer to a Question. They will form part of the reply which will be sent to the Auditor-General after the inquiry has been held.

To ask the Secretary of State for War why the requests made by the Comptroller and Auditor-General during 1904 for copies of certain contracts for supplies of stores, etc., for the South African War have not been complied with; and whether it is the intention of the War Office to supply copies of these contracts to the Auditor-General. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The copies of the contracts, for which the Auditor-General asked, were at once called for from South Africa. These contracts have been under investigation by the Committee which is now sitting at the War Office, but I have given orders that they shall be forwarded at once to the Auditor-General.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that some discontent has been caused among Civil servants in Northern Nigeria, who were engaged on the understanding that they were to receive a local allowance of 5s. a day until permanent houses were provided and the high cost of living was reduced, and whose allowance is now to be curtailed to 2s. 6d. a day in the provinces and 1s. a day at Zungeru and Lokoja, although many of these officers are still unprovided with proper houses, and the cost of living has rather increased than declined; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The High Commissioner has received representations from several Civil officers of Northern Nigeria on the subject of the reduction of the "local allowance" which has recently been made in certain cases. This reduction is in accordance with the conditions, of their appointment, in which it was explained that an allowance of 5s. a day would be granted as a temporary measure in view of the inconvenience to which they would be exposed through there being no permanent houses and of the comparatively high cost of living under the conditions prevailing when the administration was being established, but that the arrangement would be subject to revision when these conditions were improved and permanent quarters had been provided. The reduction of the allowance which, with the concurrence of Sir F. Lugard, is now being made, is confined to cases where permanent quarters are provided, and the reduced allowance is being fixed at rates varying according to the cost of living at the different stations. Officers who are not provided with permanent quarters will continue for the present to receive the allowance at the rate of 5s. a day as before.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the royalty on diamonds in Cape Colony is 1 per cent. on the value of diamonds, whilst it is 60 per cent, of the profits in the Transvaal; and whether he will, in the interests of the newer colony, consider the advisability of assimilating more nearly these royalties. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) No comparison is possible between the two colonies in this matter, as in the Transvaal the right of mining for and disposing of all precious stones was under the law of the late South African Republic, and is also under British law vested in the Crown, and there is no such law in the Cape Colony. I may add that in the Cape an income-tax has been introduced to which the mines contribute largely. I am not prepared to contemplate altering the Transvaal law.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government intend to take any steps to promote an International Conference with the object of securing a stable basis of currency and exchange between the leading commercial Nations. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) The Government do not contemplate taking any steps in the direction suggested in he Question.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury when he proposes to introduce the Redistribution of Seats Bill. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) In the present condition of public business I cannot fix a date for introducing proposals in connection with redistribution.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the names of the firms supplying the 1,034,532 emergency rations and the 4,537,090 meat and vegetable rations, stated at page 257 of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General as having been destroyed in South Africa; whether his attention has been called to the statement in the Report in question that of the 1,034,532 condemned emergency rations 955,727 were supplied by Messrs. Maconochie, and to the statement that this firm substituted 365,600 rations on account of condemned supplies, many of these substituted rations being also subsequently found to be unsound; and whether he will state the nature of the final claim against this contractor recently submitted to the Treasury, as described on page 258 of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) As regards the first part of the Question, the names of the firms, so far as they can be traced, are as follows:—Maconochie Brothers; Poulton and Noel; London Canning Company; Moir and Wilson; Moir and Sons; Davidson, R. and W.; Sturton Brothers; Bruce, W.; Aberdeen Preserving Company; Duhamel and Company; Milne and Son; Morton, E. and C.; Bovril, Limited; Chamberlain, H. R.; Woolwich. The reply to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative. The final claim on Messrs. Maconochie is for £2,500.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty when H.M.S. "Grafton" returned home; and if she is to be paid off at Portsmouth or Chatham, and when.

The "Grafton" reached Portsmouth from the Pacific Station on December 30th, 1904. She will be paid off at Portsmouth on April 3rd.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if it is possible to arrange that the chapel at Greenwich Hospital shall be open to the public on Saturday afternoons at a later hour than 3p.m., in order to enable a larger number of people to enjoy an opportunity of visiting the interior.

The chapel at Greenwich Hospital is closed on Saturdays at 3 p.m. in order that the men whose duty it is to prepare it for the services on the following day may be enabled, on the completion of this work, to take the few hours leave to which they are entitled. In these circumstances I regret that I am unable to arrange for the chapel to be kept open beyond that hour.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the treaties which it is alleged compelled us to undertake the expeditions into the interior of Somaliland will be considered as abrogated now that it has been decided to undertake no more such expeditions, and, by restoring arms to the tribesmen, to return to the condition before these treaties were agreed upon.

No, Sir, the Answer is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House of the extent of the massacre of Armenians by the Russians at Baku.

I presume that the hon. Member refers to the disturbances which broke out on Sunday, February 19th, between the Tartar and Armenian inhabitants of Baku. From a report received from His Majesty's Consul at Ratum it appears that the fighting lasted for four days, during which Armenian houses were burned and pitched battles look place between the two parties. Members of several leading Armenian families were besieged in their houses and put to death, the number thus killed being estimated by some at over 500 and by others at nearly 1,000. The total loss of life is stated to have been nearly 2,000. Order was at last restored by the joint intervention of the Governor and the ecclesiastical authorities of the Mussulman and Armenian communities.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue officers (Excisemen) are being employed to collect the arrears of income-tax in Scotland; and whether this is also being done in England and Wales.

In Scotland practically the whole of the income-tax is collected by Inland Revenue officers. In England and Wales, Inland Revenue officers are employed for the collection only in certain of the urban districts, and only for tax under Schedules D. and E. Wherever the collection is entrusted to Inland Revenue officers, those officers are employed to collect arrears as well as the rest of the tax. In reply to a further Question, the right hon. Gentleman said the nomination of collectors rested in England mainly with the District Commissioners, and it only fell to the Inland Revenue when they failed to nominate or nominated one who could not give security.

Is it not the case that only within the last two years this practice has been adopted in Scotland?

I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman has personal experience of the practice more than two years back. I understand it has been the practice for many years, but if a Question is put down I will inquire.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many animals were inoculated with the rabies virus in the performance of the two experiments carried out by Mr. R. M. Buchanan, at the Veterinary College, Glasgow, under The Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, referred to in the Government Inspector's Report for 1903; and will he state the number of animals used for the purpose of vivisection under the above Act for the years 1903 and 1904.

In the two experiments in question two rabbits were inoculated, not with rabies virus but with emulsion of the brain of a dog which had been killed by the police on suspicion that it was rabid. The experiments were carried out at the Glasgow Public Health Laboratory, not at the Veterinary College. In answer to the second part of the Question, I have to say that the Returns for 1904 are not yet complete. In 1903 the number of experiments performed was 19,084, of which nearly 17,000 were inoculation or feeding experiments. The number of animals used for the purpose of these experiments cannot be precisely stated, but it is slightly less than the total number of experiments.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he hopes to be able to introduce the Workmen's Compensation Act Amendment Bill.

This Bill will be introduced in another place, probably to-morrow.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state whether any cranks or tread-wheels are still in use in His Majesty's prisons; and whether any form of unproductive labour still exists.

No form of unproductive labour now exists in His Majesty's prisons. At two prisons the machinery of wheels and cranks is still in use as a means of pumping water, but employment on this duty is for ordinary prison service, and is no longer a prescribed form of hard labour.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take into consideration the desirability of appointing a woman inspector charged with the special duty of inspecting the women's department in His Majesty's prisons.

My Answer to this Question must be the same as that which was given to the hon. Member by my predecessor, the right hon. Member for Croydon, on the 31st January, 1902,† namely, that the appointment of women inspectors of prisons was fully considered on the Report of the Prisons Committee of 1895, and it was determined to meet the want by an extension of voluntary aid. There is now no prison in which women are confined without a staff of duly appointed lady visitors. The work of these lady visitors is very well and thoroughly performed under the auspices of the Lady Visitors Association, whose President is the Duchess of Bedford.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is any official list of establishments belonging to various religious societies where laundry work is carried on; and whether the Government propose to introduce legislation to make such laundries subject to the ordinary law.

Yes, Sir, there is such a list. It was prepared after the passing of the Factory Act of 1901, in fulfilment of the promise made by my predecessor at the time. I do not contemplate introducing legislation such as the hon. Member suggests. I may add that about half these laundries have consented to be inspected, and are, at the present time, regularly inspected by His Majesty's Inspectors of Factories and Workshops.

† See (4) Debates, cii., 28.

Including those belonging to the Roman Catholic Church?

Certainly; that is the whole point.

No, it is not the whole point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give a list of the institutions inspected?

I do not think there will be any objection to that; but if the hon. Member will put down a Question I will consider it.

Also of those that refuse to allow inspection?

Is it not a fact that when proposals were before the House for inspecting these institutions, many Protestant institutions objected to inspection on the same ground as Catholics did?

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board what steps he proposes to take with regard to the taking of a census of London in 1906 similar to that taken in 1896; whether he proposes that the census should include ages, and any other information, beyond a mere enumeration of the population; and whether it will extend to Greater London and the county boroughs.

The census taken in London in 1896 was obtained for the purposes of the London Equalisation of Rates Act, 1894, and I am in communication with the Registrar-General and the London County Council on the question whether a census should be taken for a like purpose in 1906, and if so, what it should contain. A census for this purpose would obviously be limited to the Administrative County of London.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Govern ment Board why the Older for winding up the South Metropolitan School District, which was dissolved by the Board in 1898, has not been issued, all the parties being in agreement.

It was found necessary to obtain legislation to provide for the transfer of property and other matters consequent upon the dissolution of districts of this kind, and an Act was obtained for the purpose last year. There were still some difficulties as to the transfer of stock belonging to the district in the books of the Bank of England, but an Order has now been made with the concurrence of the Bank which is expected to put an end to these difficulties, and to enable the affairs of the district to be wound up without further delay.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he can say if the system of rebates granted by steamship owners to shippers, as it exists in this country, has been declared illegal in the United States; and, if so, whether this was done by a decision of the Law Courts, or by legislative enactment; and, if by the latter, can he give the reference number of the statute.

I am not able to say definitely whether any final decision has yet been arrived at in the United States Courts with regard to the legality or otherwise of the system of rebates, but I am aware that the question has been raised under an Act of Congress of July, 1890, cap. 647.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Conference Lines of steamers sailing to South Africa grant preferential rates to the United States shippers as compared with those which they grant to shippers in this country; and whether, in view of this handicap to British export trade, he proposes to take, or has taken, any action.

The attention of the Board of Trade has been called to the matter to which the hon. Member refers, and it is receiving careful consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he can state how the rate of wages at present paid to seamen in our mercantile marine compares with the rate paid in 1890.

Rates of wages of seamen vary considerably according to the class of man, class of vessel, voyage and port. The average rates of money wages of A.B's shipped at five large ports in Great Britain on steamships engaged in four of the principal foreign voyages are now between four and five per cent. lower than in 1890, which was a year of maximum wages. Particulars of recent changes in seamen's wages were published in the Board of Trade Labour Gazette for December, 1904.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he can state how the number of British seamen employed in our mercantile marine in 1903 compares with the number employed in the same service in 1888; also if he can give similar information with reference to foreign seamen employed in our mercantile marine.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he can state the present number of foreign seamen employed in our mercantile marine, and the number of British seamen employed in the same service.

In 1888 the number of British persons, not including lascars, employed in vessels belonging to the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands engaged in the home and foreign trades was 179,969, and in 1903 the number was 176,520. The number of foreign persons so employed was 25, 277 in 1888, and 40,396 in 1903. This information answers also the Question put by my hon. friend the Member for Limehouse.

Is it not the fact that a large number of the seamen in the British mercantile marine are engaged in British ports?

I should like to have notice of that Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the practice of foreign gun makers of sending to this country gun barrels, gun actions, and complete guns for the purpose of having the English proof marks placed upon them, thereby concealing the foreign origin of the goods, and that these foreign guns, after being so marked, are sold at home and abroad as British-made arms, sometimes with English makers' names on them; and whether he will take steps in the interests of British gun-workers under the Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887–1891, or by some other means, to put a stop to this practice.

The attention of the Board of Trade has been called to this matter, and they have stated that they are prepared if any specific case of infringement of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, with regard to the marking of foreign made guns is brought before them in accordance with their regulations under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1891, to consider carefully the question of instituting proceedings.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the majority of guardians who govern the proof house are men who import foreign guns in a more or less finished state, mark them with the British proof mark and sell them everywhere as British goods, although there is only a few shillings' worth of British labour in such goods and in some none at all? Will he make inquiry into this matter?

Do the Government themselves purchase from private firms any goods manufactured in this manner?

I cannot now answer the Question of the hon. Member for Woolwich. With regard to the Question of the hon. Member for Bordesly, I am aware of the general facts. The secretary of the association which represents the gun-workers has promised to furnish a specific case, and until that is done the Board cannot take any further action.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the advertisement issued on behalf of the Devon Education Committee, for a certificated headmaster for Brendon, average about fifty, also supplementary teacher, Art. 68, salary £20 to £35, harmonium church, extra, choral service; and whether he will call the attention of the committee to Article 15 of the Education Code, which states that the teacher is not to be required to perform any duties except such as are connected with the work of the school.

I have no information as to the case referred to by the hon. Member. The action of the Board in such cases must necessarily depend upon the circumstances of each particular case.

Will the hon. Gentleman call the attention of the committee to the fact?

If the hon. Member will furnish me with the necessary information I will consider the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he hopes during the present session to introduce legislation dealing with the feeding of children in public elementary schools.

It is not intended to introduce any such legislation during the present session.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, when the main approach from Charing Cross to Buckingham Palace is to be completed.

It is impossible to forecast the date of completion at present; it is not only a question of making a street but of completing the building which is to be placed at the end of it, of which an elevation will within a few days be exhibited in the tea-room of the House.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Chorley Division of Lancashire, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether any design has been prepared for finishing off the blank wall left by the demolition of the two houses in Cockspur Street to make room for carrying the continuation of the Mall through to Charing Cross; and when it is expected that the works for opening out the road opposite to the entrance to Drummond's Bank will be commenced.

I think I can only refer the hon. Baronet to the reply given to the last Question.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether special water supply districts in the Highland crofting counties which have been formed under the Public Health Acts since The Agricultural Rates (Scotland) Act, 1896, was passed, will be brought within the scope of the Act when it is renewed.

The Secretary for Scotland does not contemplate the introduction of a Bill to amend the Act referred to by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate if he will state on how many days last year H.M.S. "Jackal" was employed on the International North Sea investigations; and was any application made to the Admiralty for the services of a cruiser to take up the sea police duties for which the "Jackal" was originally detailed.

During the year 1904 the "Jackal" was employed in connection with the North Sea Investigations for a total period of twenty-seven days, on three different occasions of nine, eight, and ten days each. No relief ship was applied for.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether he is aware that the steamer engaged by the Congested Districts Board to convey fish from Ullapool and other ports en route to Kyle has broken down on several occasions since the middle of February; and will he state whether arrangements can be made for the employment of a more efficient steamer.

I am aware that the steamer engaged to carry fish from Ullapool to Kyle broke down. The cause of the breakdown has now been removed, and there is no reason to believe that an efficient service cannot be maintained.

It has broken down on several occasions.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate if his attention has been directed to the numbers of cases of dismissal of medical officers in Scotland, and the hardships suffered thereby by the poor, and to the Report of the Departmental Committee of the Local Government Board to inquire into such cases, and to the fact that the Medical Association has publicly advertised warning applicants against accepting appointments in certain parishes; and if, under all the circumstances, he will bring the urgency of the case before the Government with a view to immediate legislation.

The matters referred to have been considered by the Secretary for Scotland, but the Government cannot undertake to legislate on the subject this session. The hon. Member has himself introduced a Bill on the subject, and, as he is aware, the question is a very controversial one.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that practically all the Scottish non-official Members are in favour of the right to appeal, and have signed a memorial to the Secretary for Scotland to that effect.

I am not.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate if, in view of the nuisance caused by the manner in which certain whaling stations ended their operations in Shetland, the Government will introduce at an earlier date a measure providing for the regulation of these operations.

The Secretary for Scotland has already introduced a Bill entitled the Whale Fisheries (Scotland) Bill, and the Local Government Board are in communication with the local authorities concerned as to the framing of by-laws to regulate the industry.

Where will the Bill be introduced?

It has been introduced in another place.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate if he can state the reasons why, in the scales of general precedence in Scotland, published in the London Gazette of March 14th current, precedence in Scotland is given to Dukes of England over Dukes of Scotland, whilst Dukes of Great Britain come last, and similarly with regard to other titles, the holders of English titles taking precedence of holders of Scotch titles; and whether such table of precedence in Scotland is compatible with the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to Article 23 of the Act of Union, which clearly defines the order of precedence between members of Scottish, English, and British Peerages in the sense of the scale of precedence which has been recently issued.

Is there not this important difference in the case of Scotch Peers who by the Treaty of Union become Members of the House of Lords, that they sit in England and attend Court in England, whereas in the present case we are dealing with precedence limited to Scotland alone?

Before the Lord-Advocate answers, may I ask where do the Irish Dukes come in?

I have enough to do with Scotch Dukes. According to the right construction of the statute, I think the view of the hon. Member is not sound, and that the procedure adopted in the scale of precedence published is the right one.

Can you explain why it is that the question of precedence should be broken up into nationalities, and not be made applicable to the United Kingdom as a whole?

Order, order ! The hon. Member will no doubt find other opportunities of arguing this question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will explain for what reason the teaching of experimental science under the Board of Education in Ireland is now being stopped for want of funds; and whether, in view of the fact that the teaching of experimental science in Irish national schools has the approval of all creeds and classes, he will renew the grant required to meet the necessary expenditure.

At the request of my right hon. friend I will reply to this Question. The period for which the original grant for the science training of teachers by the Board's organisers was made expires on the 31st instant. It is not correct to say that the teaching of elementary science has been stopped for want of funds; on the contrary, instruction in elementary science is progressing in the schools and there is no reason to anticipate that it will diminish in the future.

Why has the renewal of the grant been refused?

The period for which it was made has not yet expired.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland, did the teachers under the Irish National Board who failed last July to obtain certificates of competency to teach Irish receive notification of their failure from the Education Office; and will those teachers who heretofore taught Irish successfully, and were certified by Irish-speaking inspectors as competent, receive results for the teaching of Irish in the future, though having no formal certificates.

The results of the last July Examinations in extra branches (Irish included) have been notified to the principals of the training colleges or to the managers in the cases of all those who were successful. It is not the practice to issue notification of failure except upon special application from the manager or teacher concerned. Every teacher of an extra branch is required to produce a certificate, or other satisfactory proof, of his qualifications to teach that subject.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that applications for the sale of the Gascoigne Estate in and around Kilfinane, in the county of Limerick, have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners; and that a petition has been lodged with the Commissioners by the Town Tenants' Association of Kilfinane on behalf of the inhabitant occupiers of that town; and whether, seeing that untenanted land previously in the occupation of the landlord and situated at Spa Hill, near the town, has been lately broken into small applotments and assigned to the estate bailiff, thus creating a new tenancy and frustrating the intention of the Land Act of 1903, while other applotments have been advertised for sale by public auction, so that the landlord may have two profits, one from the tenant right, and the other from the purchase money to be advanced by the Estates Commissioners, he will say what action the Commissioners will take on the petition.

I regret to have to ask the hon. Member to postpone this Question till to-morrow. I have to make the same request of other hon. Gentlemen who have Questions on the Paper. Owing to the storm there has been a telegraphic breakdown and it has been found impossible to obtain from Ireland the necessary information to enable Answers to these Questions to be given.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether, in view of the forthcoming debate in connection with the administration of the Lands Act, 1903, he will take steps to have the Report of the Estates Commissioners dealing with that Act immediately laid upon the Table of the House.

Every possible effort is being made to expedite the preparation of this Report.

As the right hon. Gentleman is aware, the first Vote to be discussed on Monday is the Land Commission Vote, and on the following day there is to be a debate on almost the same subject, and we cannot discuss these matters properly without information.

I will do my best to hasten its presentation.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he can now state what course the Estates Commissioners propose to adopt with reference to the contemplated sale of the Caldbeck Estate, Ballacolla, Queen's County, in view of the fact that the landlord and his agent have parcelled out 241 acres of untenanted land amongst a few business men, large graziers, and the bailiff of the estate, to the prejudice of thirty-four small occupiers on this and neighbouring estates whose holdings require enlargement.

The inspector's report on this subject has not yet been received by the Estates Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in case of schools where a bilingual programme is adopted and approved of, arrangements will be made that inspectors competent to examine children orally in Irish will be sent to examine and report on the progress and proficiency of the pupils; and whether teachers of such schools will be eligible for promotion to the highest grade.

Schools in which the bilingual programme is adopted with the approval of the Commissioners will be inspected from time to time by the inspectors competent to judge of the progress made by the pupils The teachers of such schools will be eligible for promotion to the highest grade under the usual conditions prescribed in the rules.

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 Kerry County Council, at a special meeting on December 28th, condemning the partisan manner in which Mr. Cyril Browne referred to the officials of the Kerry County Council; and, if so, having regard to his partisan reports, the injury he tried to inflict on the ratepayers, and the dissatisfaction he has given to public men in the county, this officer will be still retained in the public service.

The Local Government Board have received the resolution referred to. They consider that then is no ground whatever for the accusation contained in it. The auditor in his report pointed out, as the fact was, that the accounts of the county council were in some respects kept in a slovenly and inaccurate manner and the bonds and other documents improperly filled up. This, though true, is styled in the Question "partisan" conduct. The Local Government Board consider that the auditor faithfully and fearlessly discharged his duty, and they will continue to avail themselves of his valuable services.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will explain why the auditor, Mr. Cyril Browne, who recently audited the accounts of the Kerry County Council did not include his objection to the manner in which the accounts are kept or to the way in which the public moneys are apportioned in the accounts or estimates in his report to the county council instead of making a private report to the Local Government Board as to the manner in which the purchase price of the Limerick and Kerry Railway was apportioned in accounts and estimates of the Kerry County Council.

The auditor's report to the county council contains all the criticism which he found it necessary to make on the items in the account before him. His confidential communication to his superiors merely had reference to the manner in which he should examine into this exceptional matter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in connection with the printing contract of the Kerry County Council, the auditor, Mr. Cyril R. Browne, was made aware that an action was pending in the superior Courts in connection with this contract; and, if so, will he explain why this auditor issued a separate report on this matter a month in advance of his general report, and directed that a copy be at once given to the plaintiff, so that it might reach him in time for the trial; whether he is aware that, when evidence was tendered by the county secretary, showing the unsatisfactory manner in which this contractor had discharged former printing contracts, the auditor failed to take down this evidence or include it in his report, and to make any reference in his report to the affidavit of the county secretary showing the reductions in the cost of printing and advertising in the different boards of the county by the competition recently introduced; whether the auditor submitted this evidence to the Local Government Board; and, if so, what action, if any, they will take; and whether the auditor in disputing the contention of the county council that printing is not a public work has been authorised to do so by the Local Government Board.

The facts are not accurately stated in the Question. The contract before the auditor was for the printing for the year 1903–4. That which was the subject matter of litigation was for the succeeding year 1904–5. The auditor did not issue any separate report on the contract before him. Application was made to him under the 12th Section of the Local Government Act 0f 1871, and 15th Section of the Act of 1902, to annul the contract and surcharge all the payments made thereunder, on the ground that the lowest tender had not been accepted and that the county council in accepting it had acted mala fide. The auditor decided in favour of the county council, holding that their conduct was not mala fide. He gave that decision in writing as he was bound to do under statute. The objector was entitled to be made aware of his decision and hence the auditor communicated with him. The final payment under the contract for 1903–4 did not come before the auditor at all. That will be included in the accounts to be submitted for the next audit, when the evidence referred to will become pertinent, and if offered will, if legal, be received and considered. Until the next audit the Local Government Board have no power to interfere in the matter. The auditor is bound to determine questions of law raised before him, independently, according to the best of his ability and without communication with his superiors, who sit as a Court of Appeal on his decision.

Was not the auditor's report used by the plaintiff as evidence in an action which arose out of the matter?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what degree of proficiency is necessary in Irish national schools to entitle a teacher to an increment within the second division of first grade, and not obtaining promotion to the first division of first grade; and how many teachers whose records were three "goods" for the three preceding years have got such increments since the introduction of the new rules.

In the case of teachers in the second division of first grade awards of continued good service salary are made triennially to the teachers of schools with an average attendance of not less than fifty pupils, when the work done in the school shows merit, and the general condition of the school is satisfactory. The Commissioners form their judgment of the merit of the work and of the condition of the school from the reports of their inspectors and the official records. The Return asked for cannot be furnished, as three good reports, though forming an important element in the circumstances for consideration in connection with the award of increments, would not necessarily secure such award.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Edward Scanlon and his son Michael, of Laccaroe, Tulla, county Clare, applied to the Land Commission, sitting at Ennis in December, 1902, to have a fair rent fixed; that the Scanlons lodged appeals against the rent fixed; whether he can say if this appeal is listed for hearing by the Land Commission about to sit at Ennis on the 21st instant; and, if not, can he say what has become of them; and, if it should be found that their absence from the list is due to any mistake on the part of the Land Commission, will he see that the tenants concerned are not put to any further delay and loss by directing that their appeal shall be heard at the next sitting of the Commission.

Two applications to fix fair rents in respect of portion of the lands of Lecarrow, in which Edmond Scanlan is described as tenant, and Daniel O'Connell as landlord, were received by the Land Commission, and subsequently listed for hearing before a Sub-Commission at Ennis on the 9th December, 1902. Orders were made fixing judicial rents in these cases on the 9th May, 1903. Applications to have these cases reheard do not appear to have been lodged on behalf of either party. The case of Michael Scanlon, tenant, cannot be traced.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will inquire if appeals lodged by two tenants on the Marquess of Conyngham's, county Clare, Estate, named Stephen Collins and Mary Landers, against rents fixed by the Sub-Commission, are listed for hearing at the coming sitting of the Land Commission, to be held at Ennis on the 21st instant; and, if not, can he explain why they are not on the list; and will he see that they are listed, so as not to put those tenants to the loss and inconvenience of further delay.

In the case of Stephen Collins and Mary Landers, tenants, Marquess of Conyngham, landlord, in which judicial rents were fixed by the Sub-Commission, it does not appear that any notices have been lodged on behalf of the tenants to have the cases reheard before the Land Commission. The applications for a rehearing in these cases, which appear in the list of fair rent appeals to be heard at Ennis on the 2lst instant, arise out of the landlord's application for rehearing.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the County Council of Galway have as yet approved of the plans of the Board of Works for the improvement of Kinvara Harbour; and, if so, what is the cause of the delay in having the works commenced at once.

The county council have signified their approval of the plans, but before the conveyance of the harbour from the present owner can be accepted it is necessary that the county council should obtain evidence of title, and negotiations to this end are proceeding. It is hoped that the matter may shortly be satisfactorily arranged.

In view of the fact that money is available and that great distress exists in the district, will the right hon. Gentleman make strong representations to the Government in favour of the work being put in hand at once?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of Civil Service clerks at present employed in the office of the Royal Irish Constabulary; has any reduction taken place since the force has been gradually reduced; and, if so, to what extent.

The number of Civil Service clerks at present employed in the Royal Irish Constabulary Office is nineteen. No reduction has taken place in the number of clerks since the reduction of the Constabulary commenced, as there has been no reduction in the clerical work to be performed.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a petition signed by the chairman of petty sessions, who is a deputy-lieutenant of the county Wicklow, by all the magistrates and by ratepayers, irrespective of creed or politics, against closing the police barrack at Batiboys, county Wicklow; and whether it is his intention to accede to the wishes of the inhabitants of the district in this matter.

The petition in question has been received. No sufficient reason is shown in it for varying the decision to abolish the police station at Baltiboys. The district is peaceable, and the police requirements of the locality can be adequately met from the adjacent stations, of which there are three within a radius of four miles.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Dr. Gill, of Westport, county Mayo, who until lately held the position of dispensary doctor and surgeon to the police at Newport, in the same county, was asked by the police authorities to resign the latter appointment on changing his residence to Westport; and can he state why he was compelled to give up the police appointment.

I beg to refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave to this Question yesterday.†

But why was the appointment given to a doctor in West-port?

I said yesterday that the last holder of the office took the post of dispensary doctor at Westport, necessitating his daily attendance there, and he could not therefore fulfil the duties of police surgeon.

Surely it is as impossible for a doctor to do it who lives eighteen miles from the police barrack?

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government will refer the Report of the Departmental Committee on Physical Deterioration to a Select Committee of the House of Commons.

† See page 36.

In answer to my right hon. friend I have to say that, so far as the Report to which he refers relates to public elementary schools, a Departmental Committee has been appointed to obtain precise information as to the extent of the evils complained of, and I think, in the meanwhile, the course he suggests would not be desirable. I should like to reserve judgment on that until the Departmental Committee has reported.

Has the Committee only just been appointed?

It has not been appointed long. If the right hon. Gentleman will put down that Question it shall be answered.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will give an early day for the discussion of the Report of the Public Accounts (1904) Committee and of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on South African War Expenditures, issued last Friday.

The hon. Gentleman asks two Questions. One relates to the Public Accounts Committee of last year. On that I do not think I can at present add to what have already stated. I should certainly yield at once, not only willingly but gladly, to a generally expressed wish of the House that the Report should be taken on one of the days allotted to Supply, but I do not exactly exclude the idea of taking it on an unallotted day; but it is quite impossible for me, until I see my way much more plainly with regard to general business, to give any pledge on the subject. With regard to the second half of the Question, in my opinion this matter of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General is of a very serious character and requires to be thoroughly sifted. What the best method of sifting it is I do not at present say. The very last thing I desire is that the House should be excluded from any legitimate opportunity of probing the matter to the bottom.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to expedite the setting up of the Public Accounts Committee, to which reference has been made from the Treasury Bench as the proper tribunal to deal with this Report?

I do not think that properly falls within the functions of the Executive Government. In so far as I properly and legitimately can, I will do everything to meet the views of hon. Gentlemen.

I would call the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury has had a notice on the Paper for some time for the setting up of that Committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the Public Accounts Committee on Army Appropriation did not report last year until after the House had risen. Will he therefore expedite the setting up of the Committee?

I am afraid I am not fully informed of all the technicalities of the matter, but I will do all I can.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he is now in a position to inform the House when the Bill for the restriction of alien immigration will be introduced.

I am afraid I cannot name a day for the introduction of the Bill for the restriction af alien immigration, but I hope it will not be a late one.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the number of petitions presented to this House with regard to juvenile smoking; and whether e will consider the advisability of introducing legislation on the subject. May I explain that when I put down the Question was not aware that the hon. Member or North Camberwell was introducing Bill on the subject. Perhaps, therefore, the right hon. Gentleman will only consider it necessary to reply to the first part of my Question.

My attention has been called to the petitions on the subject. I do not know that I can with advantage add to that bald statement of act.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give facilities for the discussion of my hon. friend's Bill. As it only deals, with juvenile smoking there is probably general agreement in its favour.

I do not think I can promise facilities for a private Bill, out if the principle is generally accepted, there should be little difficulty in passing it. It being 2.55, the SPEAKER proceeded to interrupt Questions.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War an urgent Question, of which I have given him private notice, arising out of an Answer which he gave yesterday, viz., whether he will state who were the contractors who supplied 1,350,816 tins of jam for South Africa, each containing twelve ounces instead of sixteen ounces, as per contract?

The Question I have had from the hon. Gentleman refers to another set of contracts. The hon. Member's Question asks for the names of the contractors who supplied the emergency rations, and the meat and vegetable rations. Is that the hon. Member's present Question?

No, Sir. What I am asking is for the information promised yesterday.

A Question on the Paper, not yet reached, cannot be answered. I understood the hon. Member was asking a Question which was important, in view of the Army Estimates coming on, and of some pledge that an Answer should be given to-day.

I did undertake to give an Answer to-day. I saw the hon. Member this morning, and I understood that he desired me to anticipate the Question on the Paper. I will give him this Answer now, and the other Answer the moment the Question on the Paper comes before the House.

I now ask for a fulfilment of the pledge which the right hon. Gentleman gave, viz., that he would state the names of the contractors in respect of the jam supplied.

As a matter of fact, we made no contracts for jam. I believe that they were made in Australia. I did understand the hon. Member to ask me for the names of the contractors mentioned in his Question on the Paper to-day, and I have the names in my hand, and I will give them to the hon. Member.

Well, I will take them.

I hardly follow what is going on. If the right hon. Gentleman is proceeding to ask at 3 o'clock a Question on the Paper which has not been reached, that will be out of order.

With great respect, let me explain that I am asking for the redemption of a pledge given here yesterday, that we should have the names of the contractors in respect to the supply of 1,350,816 tins of jam, which are alleged to have contained twelve ounces instead of sixteen.

That I understood was a Question different to the one on the Paper.

Hon. Members know well enough that I have no desire not to answer any Question that is asked. The hon. Member was good enough to see me this morning, and he told me that the Question he had put down in reply to my suggestion yesterday could not come on until Monday. I understood that was the Question on the Paper to-day, and I have been furnished with the particulars. We did not, as a matter of fact, give any orders with regard to the jam; but if the hon. Member desires to ask the Question down for Monday I shall be glad to answer.

The Question which I put now agrees substantially with that which I propose to ask on Monday.

If I had been aware that the Question the hon. Member was putting was already on the Paper for Monday I should not have allowed him to ask it. The subject cannot be pursued; it is five minutes to three o'clock.

On a point of order, Sir, yesterday the Secretary of State for War promised to answer to-day my Question as to who were the contractors for the jam supplied to the Army in South Africa. I wish to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is prepared to answer it now.

It is not on the Paper.

I did not put it on the Paper because the

Order, order! This discussion cannot proceed.