I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to public attacks by Admiral C. C. Penrose Fitzgerald and Captain F. W. Lowther, R.N., on Commodore Galloway and Admiral Sir John Fisher; and whether, in the interests of discipline in the Navy, he will state what action he proposes taking with regard to these two retired officers to prevent a repetition of similar conduct on their part.

The Admiralty would deprecate any interference with the free expression by retired naval officers of their opinions on all naval and political questions; but while they regret that retired officers have occasionally shown themselves lacking in the discretion which the responsibility of their position requires, it is not considered that the power of removing an officer's name from the list, with the consequent forfeiture of retired pay, should be exercised in any but the gravest cases.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can give the House any information as to the collision between H.M.S. "Albemarle" and H.M.S. "Commonwealth."

The collision occurred on the night of the 11th instant while the ships were proceeding to Lagos for the manœuvres. The damage to the "Albemarle" was slight, and the estimated cost of repairing her is £750. The damage to the "Commonwealth" was more serious, and will cost about £6,000 to repair. No one was injured. Both ships were able to steam to Gibraltar, and the "Albemarle" has now gone to rejoin the fleet at manœuvres at Lagos.

Will the "Commonwealth" be removed from the firing line for a long period?

No I think not.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the extent of the damage and loss caused by the recent explosions at Woolwich; and whether he proposes to offer any compensation to the sufferers by this disaster.

As I explained to the House on Thursday last,†the Government propose to contribute towards the cost of making good the damage done by the recent explosion at Woolwich, and a preliminary sum of £6,000 has been forwarded to meet the more necessitous cases.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether officers of the recently disbanded battalions are, on transfer, placed as juniors of their rank in the new regiment; and, if so, whether, in view of the loss of seniority incurred by these officers, he will take stops to discriminate between a transfer made in consequence of a reduction of establishment and a transfer made on an officer's own initiative, seeing that in the Indian Army an officer is transferred from one regiment to another without lost of seniority.

These officers have been so treated in accordance with the provisions of the King's Regulations; but no officer has been so transferred without his consent nor without a knowledge

†See Col. 299.

of this condition. Steps will be taken to discriminate between officers transferred on reduction of establishment and those transferred on their own initiative by considering the former for the offer of extra regimental promotion when their length of service appears to justify it, irrespective of their position on the regimental list. In the Indian Army promotion up to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel is regulated by the length of service from date of first permanent commission, irrespective of the regiment, and consequently promotion is unaffected by transfer from one regiment to another. In the British service, where promotion goes regimentally, such a condition does not apply.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the General Officer Commanding, Malta Command, has ordered that plain clothes are not to be worn in his command by non-commissioned officers and men granted pass or furlough; and whether, in view of the second sentence of paragraph 1955, King's Regulations, which empowers commanding officers to give permission to wear plain clothes to non-commissioned officers and men granted pass or furlough, he would give instructions that non-commissioned officers and men in Malta are to be granted the same privileges as regards the wearing of plain clothes when on pass or furlough as obtain in other commands.

The Army Council have received no report from the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief as to whether he has found it necessary to issue special instructions relative to paragraph 1955 of the King's Regulations, which local circumstances may demand. Inquiries on this point are being made.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any soldier of His Majesty's forces, serving either at home or abroad, was sentenced to death by the military authorities during the year 1906; and, if so, what were the crimes in each case, where were the crimes committed, and, in the event of the capital sentence having been carried out, were the executions held in public.

No such case has occurred in 1906.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state why no member of a Scottish medical school has been placed on the Army Medical Service Advisory Board.

When the new Advisory Board was formed it was decided that, in order to ensure prompt consideration of questions of importance, it was essential that all the Members should be in the closest possible touch with the Army Medical Administration, and, therefore, as far as possible, at hand. Experience of the methods of working the former Board shewed that, to be effective, constant personal communication, not only with the Board as a whole, but with individual Members was necessary. This is why so many of those selected are resident in London.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many eminent medical Scotsmen resident in London?

That may be so. I have to look, however, to the efficiency of the service rather than to any other considerations. I should be the last person not to desire to appoint a Scotsman.

I think it is a slur on the country to suggest that the Scottish medical men in London are not as capable as those belonging to English schools.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether experiments have been made in India as to the possibility of wireless telegraphic communication across mountain ranges; and whether, if the answer be in the affirmative, he will communicate to the House such information as may, with due regard to the public interests, be published.

I have seen a paragraph in a newspaper, stating that some such experiments have been successfully tried, but I have no other information on the subject. If I receive any Report from the Government of India, I will consider whether the information which it contains can be communicated to the House.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the special committee of the Executive Council in India which was appointed last summer to inquire into and report on the reorganisation of the Legislative Councils in that country has submitted its Report.

The Report has been under the consideration of the Executive Council, and I expect a dispatch on the subject in a very short time. Of course the hon. Member will understand that this Report, like the proceedings of a Cabinet Committee here, is entirely confidential.

Is it the intention of the Government to give the House an opportunity of discussing this question before a final decision is arrived at?

I think so undoubtedly.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position to give any information regarding the submission of the Report on the separation of executive and judicial functions in India, called for from the Government of India in 1899 in consequence of a memorial on the subject, which was signed by the late Lord Hobhouse and other distinguished retired Members of the Indian Government.

I asked the Government of India in June last to let me have their conclusions on this important question as soon as possible. The consideration of the large mass of evidence that has been collected necessarily takes time, but I anticipate that the Government of India will before long be in a position to address me on the subject.

Have the Government of India called for a fresh Report on this subject recently?

I cannot say, but I will inquire.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he has now any information regarding special grants being given by the Government of Bengal to St. Paul's School, Darjeeling, the nature and extent of such grants, and the reasons for their being given.

I have not yet received a reply to the inquiry I made on the subject towards the end of December last.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Sikhs in British Columbia have been repatriated, or provided with the necessary protection in that country prior to repatriation.

Of the 2,200 Indians who recently arrived in British Columbia, only fifty or sixty are understood to have been out of work at the beginning of this year. No destitution exists among them at present, and neither the municipal authorities nor the Government have been called upon to give support or relief, though several Indians who were allowed to land were supplied by private charity with clothing of which they were in need. No Indians were repatriated from Vancouver after being allowed to land, though about 125 were refused landing on account of disease; but forty-one were repatriated from Victoria, where there are also five Indians in gaol for vagrancy.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial Office has any Report of the use made of the Telefunken wireless telegraphy in the military operations of the Germans in South West Africa; and whether, in that case, such information will be placed before the Committee which is to sit to consider the Wireless Telegraphy International Convention.

There are references of the kind in confidential Reports made to the War Office, and the question is being considered whether any of the information will be of use to the Committee.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the position of the British Indian trading community of Ladysmith, Natal, several of whom are threatened with ruin by reason of the threatened refusal of the licensing officer to renew their store licences under the powers conferred upon him by the Natal Traders Licensing Act of 1897; and, whether, seeing that the licensing officer is the appointee of the town council, which is largely composed of merchants and storekeepers in competition with British Indian traders, he proposes to take any action in the matter. I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the agitation against British Indian traders in Natal, and the danger to those British subjects from the power of local town councils to refuse renewal of trading licences according to The Natal Traders Licensing Act, 1897, which the Secretary of State for the Colonies warned the Natal Government would lead to serious steps unless the provisions of the Act were applied moderately and impartially; and whether he will address the Natal Government on the matter.

I will answer these Questions together:—A Bill, the effect of which would have been to exclude Asiatics from trading licences, was recently introduced into the Natal Legislature, but leave to introduce it was refused. With regard to the Act of 1897 the Secretary of State is already in communication with the Natal Government. Inquiry will be made as to the case of the particular traders referred to.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the protest by the Premier of Newfoundland, in the Colonial Legislature, on Tuesday, against the humiliation of the Colony by the Imperial Government, the Secretary of State will lay upon the Table of the House all the correspondence that passed between the Colonial Government and His Majesty's Government with respect to the modus vivendi with the United States.

All the correspondence with the Government of Newfoundland respecting the modus vivendi with the United States, up to the date of the conclusion of that arrangement, having already been laid before Parliament, I presume that the correspondence which the hon. Member desires to have published is that which has taken place since the conclusion of the modus vivendi. The Government of Newfoundland recently suggested publication of certain parts of this correspondence, but were informed that His Majesty's Government did not think this expedient until the Colonial Government were in possession of the reply of His Majesty's Government to the various objections taken by the Colonial Government to their action, that the preparation of this reply was delayed by the necessity of awaiting the result of the appeal to the Supreme Court of the two fishermen convicted under the Bait Act, since it was not possible to discuss the legal considerations urged by the Colonial Government until that result was known, and that in any case it seemed open to exception to publish papers on a matter still sub judice. I am unable to say when the decision of the Supreme Court will be given, but the hon. Member will no doubt agree that His Majesty's Government can hardly be expected to lay the correspondence while it is still incomplete.

Having regard to the debate in the Newfoundland Legislature cannot Papers be laid?

It is not proposed to lay any further Papers at present, but when the transaction is completed no doubt it will be done.

When did the modus vivendi of last year lapse?

I must ask for notice of that.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the Report, recently issued in the Transvaal by the superintendent of foreign labour, showing that the Chinese coolies in the gold mines committed 736 assaults, including twenty-six murders and seven attempts to murder; and whether, in any case, and, if so, in how many cases, the sufferers from these crimes, or their families, have received any compensation from the employers of the criminals or from any other source.

The exact figures are:—

Then am I to understand that in no case has compensation been given?

I did not say that; I said I have no official information. When I get it I shall be able to inform the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the Annual Report of the Foreign Labour Department of the Transvaal for 1905–6, which shows that among 47,600 Chinese coolies working in the Transvaal gold mines during the year to which the Report relates, there were no loss than twenty-six convictions for murder, 210 for housebreaking, 307 for forgery, and eighty-nine for public violence; and whether, seeing that the proportion of crime thus shown is in excess of the proportion of the same crimes committed by the 10,000,000 of adult males of England and Wales, he will lay the Report upon the Table of the House.

The figures are correct. The Report shall be laid.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he would represent to the Government of the Transvaal the desirability of re-considering its refusal to grant a public holiday at the election shortly to be held, seeing that, owing to the nature of their employment, many miners may be far removed from the divisions in which they are registered.

The Secretary of State is not prepared to intervene in the matter. The decision of the Transvaal has no doubt been arrived at after full consideration of the suggestion on its merits.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of the Government to nominate the Members of the Upper Chamber in the Transvaal previous to the forthcoming election, or to await the result of that election.

The Secretary of State is in communication with the Governor, and cannot yet make a statement.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether in view of the wide spread distress caused by the Jamaica earthquake, the Government propose to recommend Parliament to make a free grant to assist the inhabitants towards rebuilding Kingston, Jamaica.

Inquiries are in progress, but the full materials for a decision are not yet to hand.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is in a position to give the House the names of the Colonial statesmen delegated to the Colonial Conference, the date upon which the Conference will assemble, the order of the proceedings and the subjects which will be submitted to the Conference; and if the representatives of the Empire will be received, as on previous occasions, as guests of the nation; and upon what date such official visit will commence and terminate.

the names of the Prime Ministers who will represent the self-governing Colonies at the Colonial Conference are as follows:—Dominion of Canada, Sir Wilfrid Laurier; Newfoundland, Sir R. Bond; Commonwealth of Australia, Mr. Deakin; New Zealand, Sir J. G. Ward; Cape Colony, Mr. L. S. Jameson; Natal, Mr. F. R. Moor. Other Ministers expected to be present in this country in connection with the Conference are: From Canada, Mr. W. S. Fielding, Minister of Finance; Mr. W. Patterson, Minister of Customs; Sir F. W. Borden, Minister of Militia and Defence; Mr. L. P. Brodeur, Minister of Marine. From Australia, Sir W. Lyne, Minister of Customs, and from Capo Colony, Dr. Smartt, Commissioner of Works. Papers on the subject of the agenda for the Conference will be laid before the House during the present week. The Colonial representatives present for the Colonial Conference will be guests of the nation. It is too early is yet to state the precise date of the commencement and termination of their official visit; the Conference will open on the 15th April.

Can the hon. Gentleman say if, and how, India will be represented at the Conference?

India will be represented by the Secretary of State for India, or by some one deputed by him.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the salary of His Majesty's newly-appointed Ambassador to the United States of America, and on what date it commenced to run; and if any installation allowance has been paid to him.

The salary of His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington will in future be fixed at £10,000 a year, and the new Ambassador's salary commenced to run, in accordance with the usual rule, ten days before his departure for his post; i.e., on February 3rd. The usual outfit allowance of £2,000 has been issued.

May I ask if this increase of £2,200 a year is one of the measures of economy of the present Government?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House as to the nature of the demands made by the Persian National Assembly to the new Persian monarch; whether these demands have been accepted by the Persian Government; and whether, in view of the present condition of affairs in Persia, any steps are being taken by His Majesty's Government to promote greater stability in the Government of Persia and to safeguard the lives and property of British subjects in that country.

According to the reports which have been received, the Persian National Assembly demanded a formal recognition that the monarchy is limited, and that Ministers are responsible to the Chamber. These demands have, it is understood, been accepted. His Majesty's Government desire to abstain from any interference in the internal affairs of Persia, and any action on their part would be limited to such measures as it might be in their power to take to safeguard the lives and property of British subjects, should these be in danger. No particular danger is, however, anticipated for European subjects or agents, and His Majesty's Government do not consider that any unusual steps are desirable at present. The best prospect of averting any interference with foreigners is to make it clear to the Persians that we do not intend to interfere in their internal affairs.

I bog to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in the case of persons dying between the 31st July, 1894, and the 1st July, 1898, settlement estate duty paid in respect of a contingency which has not arisen and cannot arise is not repayable; and whether he will consider the advisability of so amending the law as to make such settlement estate duty repayable, as it is in the case of persons dying after the 1st July, 1898.

The law is as stated in the first part of the Question. An Amendment of it in the sense desired by my hon. friend would be attended now by considerable practical difficulties in ascertaining the persons entitled to returnable duty and in other ways.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a speech of the Under-Secretary for the-Colonies of 18th December, 1906, imputing grave misconduct and corruption to a public body in the Transvaal, was cabled at the public cost to Johannesburg; by whose directions was this course taken; what are the expenses incurred thereby; and whether he will in the future discountenance the official dissemination during the conduct of a Colonial election of controversial literature at the public cost,

I have no direct responsibility in this matter, but I am informed that the Answer to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's Question is in the affirmative. The course taken was under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Colonies The expense of the telegram amounted to £21 5s. It was not sent during a Colonial election, nor with any view to influencing the course of such election. The telegram was despatched on 18th December. The new Constitution for the Transvaal did not come into force until 12th January, 1907, and the nominations for the elections did not take place till 9th February. The purpose for which the telegram was sent was to secure the full and accurate publication of words used in this House, instead of the condensations which are necessary in private Press telegrams. Such a practice has been found convenient and oven advantageous on various occasions during the last year, and the Secretary of State is of opinion that it is quite possible that further need for its adoption might recur.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state if ten days notices for the payment of income tax have been issued in London, or in any other town in England, similar to those which have been issued in Scotland; and whether notices threatening legal proceedings if payment is not now made, have been issued in England or in Scotland. I beg also to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state if notices have been issued in Scotland stating that unless income tax is paid within seven days the matter will be placed in the hands of the sheriff-officer, who will be instructed to recover the amount with costs.

The issue of ten day notices in both England and Scotland commenced on 22nd January. Notices threatening distraint, if payment be not made within seven days, are now in course of issue in both countries. I should add that I am making careful inquiry into the practice which prevails in the two countries, with the object of securing equality of treatment to the taxpayers in both.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the question of the date of the issue of the first notice?

I have not come to any decision yet. I desire there shall be complete equality between the two countries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the collection of income tax might not be facilitated if it were collected half-yearly or even quarterly?

asked for notice.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a discovery of smuggling on a large scale has been made at Tullamore, and that in consequence large quantities of illicitly obtained spirits have been sold throughout London and the provinces which have not paid duty to the Exchequer; whether the parties concerned have been merely fined by the Inland Revenue authorities without publicity and not brought to trial; what was the amount of the fine; what was the nature of the offence committed; and if this procedure is to be taken as a precedent when smuggling on a sufficiently large scale again takes place in this country.

The Board of Inland Revenue are in possession of evidence that suggests irregularities on a somewhat extensive scale in connection with dealings in spirits at Tullamore. Proceedings have in consequence been instituted and the whole matter will be investigated in a Court of Law. Meanwhile discussion of the subject cannot properly be admitted.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state what was the total amount of revenue received during 1906 from taxes, both excise and customs, on food and drink.

The total for the calendar year 1906, amounted to £49,475,875.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether a fee for registering Provident Societies has recently been instituted, and, if so, for, what reason; and whether, in view of the hindrance that is being thereby caused to the formation of small societies founded to promote valuable rural industries, the Government can see their way to modifying the recent regulations on the subject.

If by "Provident" Society is meant a Friendly Society registered under the Friendly Societies Act, 1896, the answer is that no fee is payable to the Exchequer. If a Co-operative Society is meant, the answer is that a fee (£5) is now payable on registry. This fee was instituted in order to discourage the registry of societies whose financial position was weak or unsound. As the Chief Registrar has power to modify the fee and an appeal, is in certain cases, allowed to the Treasury, no hardship to any bona-fide small society is likely to be caused. The Regulation in question met with the entire approval of the Co-operative Union, Limited, the Labour Co-partnership Association, the Agricultural Organisation Societies, and all recognised bodies registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act.

Can the hon. Gentle-man say when the regulation was made and to what extent the Registrar is entitled to modify the fee?

I cannot give the exact date. If an appeal is made to the Treasury every case is dealt with on its merits. If the noble Lord has any particular case he wishes to bring before me I will consider it at once.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to introduce a, Bill during the present session dealing with the inspection of laundries in connection with religious institutions.

Yes, Sir.

Will it be introduced at a period of the session when it will have a chance of passing?

Certainly, Sir.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman indicate the date?

No, Sir.

I shall repeat the question next week.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant a Return of the number of clubs selling alcoholic liquor registered in each petty sessional division in England and Wales, stating the number of such clubs registered since 1st January, 1905, and the number of such clubs which are owned by individuals and by the members collectively.

The number of clubs selling alcoholic liquor registered in each petty sessional division and borough in England and Wales is given in the volume of "Licensing Statistics," which is now published annually. The total number registered on the 1st January, 1905 was 6,554. The statistics for 1906 are in course of preparation. I have no information showing how many of these clubs are proprietary clubs and how many are owned by the members, and there is no power to require such information to be furnished. It is doubtful whether such a requirement, if enacted, could be properly enforced, but that is a point I will consider.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now appointed the four additional inspectors promised on the 1st August last for special work in connection with dock inspection; what are their headquarters and districts; and what are their qualifications and experience.

In accordance with the promise to which the hon. Member refers, four Inspectors' Assistants have been added to the staff of the Factory Department. This has enabled me to strengthen the inspection at London, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle by an additional assistant at each place, and each of these four men will, under the new scheme of duties for Inspectors' Assistants, be an assistant of the Higher Grade, and will be required to give special attention to the work of dock inspection. In Glasgow and nine other districts there will also, under the new arrangements, be assistants of the Higher Grade who will be available for dock inspection. All these assistants have had from seven to fourteen years experience in the actual work of inspection, and have been chosen, on account of their capability and experience, for inclusion in the new Higher Grade.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can lay Papers upon the Table containing a statement of the new and more important duties for assistant factory inspectors which he foreshadowed in answer to a Question on the 28th November last;†and whether he can now state if those duties include that of inspection of factories.

There are no Papers which I can lay upon the Table, but I can state, in a few words, the effect of the new arrangements which have now been approved by me. All Inspectors' Assistants of the Higher Grade will, in addition to their ordinary work of inspecting workshops, be employed on certain more responsible duties which include the inspection of factories for certain purposes, the inspection of docks

†See (4) Debates, clxvi., 51.

and the enforcement there of the Home Office regulations, the inspection of outwork with reference especially to the requirement of particulars of work and wages, and other matters. It is not proposed at present to utilise these Assistants in connection with the safeguarding of machinery, mechanical ventilation, and other matters requiring special qualifications; but otherwise they will, acting under the directions of the District and Superintending Inspectors, be called upon to perform such duties as can be most usefully assigned to them, having regard to the particular circumstances of the districts to which they are severally alloted. For example, in the cotton districts, the Assistants will be required to give special attention to time-cribbing; in districts with large docks to the enforcement of the dock regulations, and so on. The arrangements are, of course, provisional, and experience of their working will no doubt suggest developments.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can say why certain of the woman-suffragists, tried on Thursday the 14th instant by Mr. Curtis Bennett, were placed in the first, and certain others in the second, division, in view of the fact that all were convicted of similar offences.

I have communicated with the magistrate and he tells me that he carefully considered each case on its merits before exercising the discretion given him by the law, to decide whether the prisoner should be in the first, second or third division. None of those placed in the second division will be liable to more than one week's imprisonment in default of paying their fines.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the observations of different Judges and chairmen of quarter sessions, to the effect that the intention of the Poor Prisoners' Defence Act, 1903, is very largely defeated by the provision that the certificate for legal aid can be given only when the prisoner discloses some sort of defence or another before the committing justices, whereas the great majority of prisoners are entirely ignorant of this provision; and whether he will introduce a Bill to amend the Act in the respect indicated, or, in the alternative, would favourably consider such a Bill if introduced by a private Member.

My attention has not been drawn to any observations of this nature. It was not the intention of the Act that legal aid should be given to prisoners who refused to disclose their defence The Lord Chief Justice in a charge delivered to the Grand Jury at Warwick on July 1904 stated that "by a defence disclosed was meant not only a defence stated by the prisoner at the end of the hearing, but a defence disclosed on cross-examination or by questions the prisoner might ask or by remarks he interposed, or even in some cases such as might appear on the face of the evidence called for the prosecution." A circular was issued to all benches of justices in England and Wales calling their attention to these remarks of the Lord Chief Justice. Steps have been taken by the Home Office to bring the provisions of the Act to the knowledge of all prisoners. Notices explaining in simple language the effect of the Act, and the requirement that a defence must be disclosed before justices, have been affixed in all prison cells in which prisoners are detained on remand, and have been distributed to justices for exhibition at police courts and in police court cells. In the circumstances, I do not think there is any need for amending legislation.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the normal increase in the population of England and Wales, through excess of births over deaths, is more than 400,000 a year; whether he is aware that there is a large demand for British workmen and workwomen in Canada, and a growing demand in Australia; and whether he will consider the desirability of making such legislative or administrative changes as may be necessary to enable boards of guardians and distress committees to apply a larger portion of the funds under their control to assisting suitable men, women and children to emigrate from this con- gested island to the sparsely-peopled continents included within the Empire.

I am aware of the facts mentioned in the Question. I fully realise the importance of the subject to which my hon. friend refers; and am ready to consider any suggestions with regard to it. I may point out that boards of guardians and distress committees have by no means exhausted their existing resources in this matter, and I do not at present contemplate any legislative changes in the direction indicated.

Is it correct to say, according to the Question, that this is a "congested island"?

In dealing with this Question will the right hon. Gentleman have regard to the declared policy of the Prime Minister to colonise our own country?

Will the right hon. Gentleman in considering the schemes give attention to the report on the Mrs. Close's Emigration scheme which is said to have been so successful?

I cannot promise particular attention to any particular scheme, but I will consider them all on their merits.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Board has ever met; and, if so, whether he will state the date of the last meeting.

No, Sir. I understand that there has never been a meeting of the Local Government Board.

Would the right hon. Gentleman have any objection to say of whom or of what the Local Government Board consists?

It consists of the President, the Lord President of the Council, the five principal Secretaries of State, the Lord Privy Seal, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Will the right hon. Gentlemen take into consideration the expediency of at once convening a meeting of his Board?

Not if I can possibly avoid it.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the interest felt in the question of an Old-Age Pensions Bill and the close connection of that question with the matters under investigation by the Poor Law Commissioners, it is possible to accelerate the Report of that Commission.

I have made inquiry on this subject, and I find that, except for brief periods of vacation, the Royal Commission have been sitting week by week since the beginning of last year and are using every effort to expedite their investigation; but I understand that, in view of the wide scope of the reference to them, they have still a considerable amount of ground to cover. They are anxious that their Report should be made without any unnecessary delay, but they are equally anxious to secure that it should not be either incomplete or inadequate.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Court of King's Bench in the case of the "Pontypool Union v. Buck," to the effect that a married woman with ample separate estate is not liable to contribute towards the maintenance of her parents; and whether, in view of the fact that a son is so liable, he proposes to introduce legislation with a view of removing this distinction between the sexes by which an unfair burden is cast upon the ratepayers.

I am aware of the decision referred to by my hon. friend. I have taken note of the point, but I cannot promise to introduce legislation on the subject at the present time.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate when George Gourlay, the driver of the ill-fated train at Elliot Junction on 28th December, is to be brought to trial.

On the 11th March next.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he is aware that practically all the so-called foreign trawlers engaged in breaking Scottish laws by illegally trawling in the Moray Firth are British owned; and if he will consider what action it is desirable to take to ensure adequate punishment of the offenders.

It is the case that at least many of these trawlers, although registered under a foreign flag, are British-owned. The remainder of the Question will be answered by my right hon. friend the Secretary for Scotland, along with certain other Questions on the same subject.

Is it not the fact that, although the captain is a Norwegian, many of the men engaged on the boats are British subjects? Cannot the law be put in operation against them?

As a question of law I believe such men would be legally liable to prosecution.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state the reasons why orders have been given for the release of the masters of the Grimsby steam trawlers sailing under the Norwegian flag, who were convicted before the sheriff at Elgin on 31st January, and sentenced to sixty days imprisonment each, failing payment of fines for trawling within the limits forbidden under the Scottish Fishery Board bye-laws and the Fisheries Acts.

As has already been stated publicly, the men referred to by the hon. Member were foreign subjects, and their release was ordered in consequence of a representation from the Foreign Secretary at the instance of the Norwegian Minister.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that on 31st January 1907, before the sheriff at Elgin, Hans Christian Andersen, master of the Norwegian trawler "King Eric," Andreas Martinius Andersen, master of the Norwegian trawler "Plover,' and Abraham Osmundso Gjerde, master of the Norwegian trawler" "Stromo," were found guilty of trawling within the limits forbidden by the Scottish Fishery Board by-laws and the Fisheries Acts, and that they were sentenced to sixty days imprisonment, failing payment of fines of £100 each; whether he is aware that, having failed to pay these fines they were imprisoned in Inverness prison, and that, without having paid those fines, they were released from prison on 9th February, when fifty-one days of their sentence were still unexpired; whether they were released by order of the Secretary for Scotland; and what steps the Government purpose to take to enforce the law for the protection of the baiting and fishing grounds on the east coast of Scotland, and to penalise offences by foreigners against it, which jeopardise the calling and means of livelihood of Scottish line fishermen.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland, if he will state whether the masters of trawlers sailing under the Norwegian flag, who were recently imprisoned in Inverness gaol for failing to pay the fines imposed on their conviction for illegal trawling in the Moray Firth, have been released on representations made by the Norwegian Consul or other representative of the Norwegian Government; and will he state whether the Government now propose to give foreign trawlers free access to fish in the Moray Firth outside the three-mile limit, nothwithstanding the decision of the High Court of Justiciary, the losses which such trawling occasions the line fisherman, and injury to the fishing grounds in the Firth.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the number of trawlers illegally trawling in the Moray Firth; and what steps he intends to take by legislation or otherwise to prevent this.

I would propose to answer along with this Question the Question addressed by my hon. friend the Member for Orkney and Shetland to the Lord-Advocate, the Questions addressed by my hon. friend the Member for Ross-shire so far as they relate to this matter, and the Question of my hon. friend the Member for Elgin and Nairn. The facts stated are correct. The matter referred to has been under my consideration. It is my intention to introduce a Bill to apply to the rest of the United Kingdom the prohibition now existing in Scotland against landing or selling trawled fish.

Is it intended to prosecute British subjects on those vessels for breaking the law?

That will be done.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the grant for police pay and clothing to counties and boroughs in Scotland, which provided 45·3 per cent. of the total cost in 1900, now only provides 39·5 per cent.; whether the corresponding grant in England is 50 per cent. of the cost; will he explain why the grant in England increases with the number of men employed, whereas it is stationary in Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this inequality of treatment of Scottish ratepayers.

My attention has been called to this matter; the progressive reduction in the rate per cent. of the Government contribution to the cost of the pay and clothing of the police arises from the fact that while England and Scotland are treated with equality in the apportionment of the total sums assigned for local purposes to the two countries respectively, there are differences in the method of allocation of these sums. In the case of Scotland the total amount to be distributed in aid of the cost of pay and clothing of police is fixed at £180,000 per annum, and the rate per £ of expenditure which this grant can pay must go down as the aggregate police expenditure rises; the balance available in general relief of rates is not affected. In the case of England, the statutes direct a grant of 10s. per £ to be paid towards police expenditure, but this necessarily involves that as police expenditure goes up there is a smaller residue available for other local services.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will give the reasons for the extension of the appointment of the chairman of the Prison Commissioners for two years beyond the age limit.

On a full examination of the condition of the prisons service I was satisfied that this is a case to which the provisions of the Treasury Minute of 26th July, 1906, dealing with prolongation of service, peculiarly applied.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, if he will introduce, at an early date, a Bill arranging for penalties recovered for breaches of fishery statutes to be placed at the disposal of the Scottish Fishery Board.

the Answer is in the affirmative

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, if he will state why Scottish Fishery Board cruisers have recently failed to arrest foreign trawlers which they have observed to be trawling in the Moray Firth. I beg also to ask the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the fact that the failure on the part of the Scottish Fishery Board cruisers to arrest foreign trawlers observed working in the Moray Firth, enables such trawlers to trawl until sufficient fish have been caught to pay any fine which may subsequently be imposed, will he consider the expediency of giving instructions for the gear of such trawlers to be seized immediately they are detected working in the Firth.

In reply to these Questions I have to inform the hon. Member that the point submitted has been carefully considered. In omitting to arrest foreign trawlers detected trawling in the Moray Firth or to seize the gear the Fishery Board cruisers have acted under instructions advisedly given. Every detection has been reported to the authorities and in many instances prosecution has followed.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he intends to introduce this session any legislation dealing with education in Scotland.

Yes, Sir, but not of a comprehensive character.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mr. W. F. Wilkinson has, since his appointment as clerk in the office of the Irish Land Commission, acted as land agent to a Mr. Kirkpatrick, in county Dublin, and has signed legal documents dated from the office of the Public Trustee in that capacity; and if he proposes to take I any steps to prevent a State official filling these combined offices.

I am informed by the Land Commission that since Mr. Wilkinson was appointed to their service he has not acted in any way as land agent to Mr. Kirkpatrick. Some misapprehension appears to have arisen from the fact that one of Mr. Kirkpatrick's tenants served a legal notice on Mr. Wilkinson in mistake for his brother, who is in Mr. Kirkpatrick's employment. Mr. Wilkinson at once took steps to have his name eliminated from the proceedings.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of sales of land under the Land Act of 1903 in county Clare up to date, giving the amount of purchase money and the number of estates and tenants involved.

Up to the 9th instant, the Estates Commissioners had received applications for advances from 2,026 tenant purchasers in county Clare, the number of estates concerned being 100, and the total purchase money,£597,779. Of these cases, sales had been completed to 425 purchasers on thirty estates, the purchase money being £110,683.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in districts where the Irish language is regularly spoken, managers of schools will be permitted to substitute in the programme the teaching of Irish for any other subject that they may consider unsuitable to the district concerned.

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that, under their rules, the bilingual programme may be adopted in schools in which the majority of the pupils speak Irish as their home language, provided that the teacher can speak Irish fluently, and that instruction through the medium of English is given to any exclusively English-speaking pupils whose parents so desire. Irish may also be taught as an ordinary subject in other schools, but not so as to interfere with proper instruction in the school curriculum generally.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what steps, if any, he intends to take in the matter of the proper heating and general upkeep of the national schools of Ireland; and whether, seeing that the responsibility for such general repairs, heating, etc, at present falls on the teacher, he will consider the advisability of allocating a certain grant for the purposes named, viz., the heating and keeping in proper repair of the national schools of Ireland.

The obligation to provide for the general upkeep of national schools in Ireland rests, as regards vested schools, upon the Commissioners of National Education or the local trustees as the case may be, and, as regards non-vested schools, upon the patron or manager. The question of the heating of national schools, as well as the whole subject of the construction and maintenance of such schools, is at present engaging my serious attention.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what number of temporary Commissioners are now on the staff of the Irish Land Commission; how many warrants expire on the 31st of March next; and if he proposes, in view of promises made by his predecessor, to take any steps to inquire into the qualifications of those now engaged in fixing fair rents and inspection work for land purchase.

There are twenty-seven temporary lay assistant Commissioners now on the staff of the Land Commission, all of whoso warrants will expire on 31st March next. In view of the statement made by my predecessor on 18th December†, I intend shortly to consider the whole subject of the appointment of these Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the difference between the Treasury and the Board of National Education in Ireland, in reference to the new plans for schools, has yet been settled.

Communications are still going on between the Treasury and the Irish Government on this subject.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this controversy has lasted ten

†See (4) Debates, clxvii., 1288.

years and that meanwhile numbers of Irish schools are falling into ruin?

I know it has been going on a long time. I am entirely new to it. The negotiations are now proceeding with rapidity.

I have received exactly the same Answer from four or five of the hon. Gentlemen's predecessors.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the inadequate accommodation that the House of Peers affords for the important State ceremonial of the opening of Parliament by the King in person and to the inconvenience and disorder that result from the practice of summoning this House to attend in the House of Peers; and whether he will consider the desirability of employing on future occasions Westminster Hall for this ceremonial and of there providing for the occasion such seating accommodation as will enable the Members of both Houses of Parliament to assemble in an orderly manner to await the arrival of His Majesty.

No, Sir, my attention has not been called to this matter and I see no reason at present for considering the suggestion of my hon. friend. The whole question was thoroughly investigated in 1901 by a Joint Committee of the two Houses, and they expressed the unanimous opinion that a fair trial should be given to the new arrangements recommended by them. Of course, if experience should show that any serious inconvenience still arises we might have to reconsider the question.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the assurances given last session by the hon. Member for South Somerset on behalf of the Government in answer to protests against the postponement of the date of operation of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1906; whether he has observed the reports of the conduct of Lord Egerton of Tatton and other landowners regarding their agreements with their tenants; whether, seeing that it was anticipation of such conduct that led to protests against the suspension of the Act, he will, with the assistance of the President of the Board of Agriculture, inquire into the matter; and whether, if it be found that landowners are acting so as to prevent their tenants benefiting from the Act, the Government will take steps to bring the Act into force on 1st January, 1908.

To ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that certain landlords are taking steps to evade the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1906; and whether he will cause the matter to be inquired into, and, if necessary, take immediate action to prevent the will of Parliament being overridden.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to the action of Earl Egerton in giving notice to quit to the tenant farmers on his Knutsford estate, such notice expiring in June next; and whether the Government will take action to prevent Earl Egerton, or other landowners, from defeating the objects of a measure which the Government intended should benefit tenant farmers.

With regard to the notice given by Lord Egerton to his tenants, my noble friend the President of the Board of Agriculture is in communication with his Lordship with a view, if possible, to obtain information as to the precise object with which the notices have been given and the nature of the new agreements into which the tenants are to be asked to enter. We hope it will be found that the intention is merely to enter into fresh agreements which shall be more in accordance with the law as it now stands. With regard to the question which stands in the name of my hon. friend the Member for the Dartford Division, I would say that my noble friend is watching the operation of the Act very closely; and if it should appear, which I can scarcely believe will be the case, that the intentions of Parliament are being evaded, we shall not hesitate to take prompt action in the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reference to the Motion for the suspension of the 11 o'clock rule, which was down in the name of the Prime Minister, whose absence from illness they all regretted, whether he proposed to sit late that night if that Motion were assented to by the House.

replied that they hoped they might bring the debate on the particular Amendment which the noble Lord opposite was going to propose to a conclusion that night, but he trusted it would not be necessary to sit at all late for the purpose.

said it was impossible for him to forecast the progress of the debate, as he did not know how many Gentlemen desired to take part in it, but he would remind the right hon. Gentleman that there had been no case, so far as he knew, in which, the House meeting on the Tuesday, the Address had been concluded before the Thursday week following. In almost every case it had gone over to the Friday, and in some cases it had entered into the third week.

said that last year they concluded the debate in a single week. The right hon. Gentleman was not present at that time. Easter came very early this year, and it was hoped by the Government to bring the debate to a conclusion on the following night.

thought the right hon. Gentleman would agree that last year was a very exceptional one—exceptional, he meant, from the fact that hon. Gentlemen were then in the full flush of a triumph which had somewhat lost its charm. In 1905 the debate lasted for over a fortnight, in 1904 nearly three weeks, in 1903 up to the Thursday week, in 1902 it went into the third week, and in 1901 and 1900 it lasted up to the Friday.

said he preferred the precedent of 1906. He would have thought that hon. Members who had just come from their constituents would be more anxious to flesh their swords than those who sat in a somewhat jaded Parliament.

was understood to inquire if the Government had realised that their proposal would prevent a debate on the unemployed.

The whole subject has been most carefully considered.

pointed out that the closing of the debate on Tuesday night would shut out all discussion on India. For some years there had been an Amendment to the Address on Indian Questions, and if they had none this year it would form a bad precedent and create considerable irritation among our Indian fellow subjects.

said that no Member of the Government underrated the importance of Indian subjects. He had, however, expressed the desire and the hope of the Government that the debate might be brought to a close on the following night, but if—and in this respect they were very anxious to meet the views of hon. Gentlemen opposite—that should be found to be impossible they would agree to prolong it up to Wednesday. Beyond Wednesday they could not possibly go; the financial exigencies of the year would not allow them to do so.