To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what was the number of emigrants sailing from Scottish ports during the first six months of the present year, distinguishing, as far as possible, emigrants of Scottish nationality from emigrants of other nationalities passing through Scotland.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state, by counties, the number of persons

To ask the President of the Board of Education if he will state the number, accommodation, and amount of

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the nature, extent, and value of the clothing contracts

To ask the President of the Board of Education if he will state the number of schools recognised under the Regulations for Secondary Schools; the nature of the religious instruction given in those schools, distinguishing between Church of England, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, other denominations, and religious instruction of an undenominational character; the number of scholars on account of whom grants were paid; and the amount of the grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether the National Bank of India, through its Mombasa branch, imported between 1896 and 1902 more than ninety-five lakhs of Indian rupees; and whether the profit to the Government of India on this parcel at the then gold price of silver was at least £200,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether, as the profit on the rupee coinage is at present not more than £4,000,000 sterling per annum, and that one-half of the profit is to be expended on the construction of new railways mileage in India, one-half of the estimated profit on the numbers of Indian rupees which are and have been imported and absorbed in East and Central Africa might similarly be employed in building railways in East and Central Africa.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the money voted during 1906–7 for the repatriation of Chinese coolies under the proclamation of last year was sufficient to meet the obligations involved.

To ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state how many coolies have applied for repatriation during the present financial year; and when the Supplementary Estimate will be introduced to meet the expenditure.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to carry out the proposals for a clearer demarcation in the Department between Crown Colony work and that relating to the Self-governing Dependencies; and whether progress has been made with the establishment of the secretariat to the Imperial Conferences.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of Alexander Smith, a fisherman, of Cellar-dyke, whose nets were taken, on or about 2nd February last, to the Elie Coastguard Station under the misapprehension that they had been abandoned or lost at sea; whether, when this fact was explained, the nets were not delivered to their owner, but a claim made of £4 for salvage; whether these nets were left out all night in frost and snow and suffered damage thereby; how many days and nights they were so exposed; whether these nets are now to be sold by auction; and whether, seeing that the owner, a hard-working man, has been deprived of the use of them ever since the beginning of February and has thus suffered financial loss, which, he can ill afford, ho will cause the nets to be handed over, without payment, to their owner and grant him some compensation for the loss he has sustained.

To ask the President of the Board

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the exclusion, from September, 1906, to the present date, of Ellen and Edward George from the Rolls Road London County Council School on the ground that they are suffering from ringworm; whether the certificate excluding these children from school was signed by a nurse; whether he is aware that, on the children being taken to the London Hospital for treatment, the parents were told that the children were not suffering from ringworm but steatorrhœa, a non-infective disease; whether, although the parents have given the teacher a certificate complying with Section (C,) Subsection 10, Article 3, of the School Management Code, the children are still refused admission; whether this exclusion is in opposition to the wishes of the managers of the school, who are anxious that the children should return; whether the nurse on whose certificate the children

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that during last year 238,253 persons were summoned in the metropolitan boroughs for non-payment of rates, resulting in the issue of 74,573 distraint warrants and the committal to prison of 882 out of 4,135 persons against whom warrants were issued, will he take such steps as may be be necessary to secure a uniform system in the charges made for the summons and for hearing and serving.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the cause of the delay in issuing the

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, at a recent meeting of the St. Asaph (Flintshire) Rural District Council, several members of the council took exception to some statements in the report of the medical officer of health representing parts of the district to be insanitary; and, seeing that the Local Government Board medical inspector has not visited the district since 1882, will he consider the expediency of deputing one of the Board's inspectors to report on the sanitary condition of the district.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board, in view of the fact that the last published Report of the Local Government Board shows, at page 74, that during the year 1905 the Board dealt with several complaints against district councils who had made default in the performance of their duty, as required under Section 299 of the Public Health Act, 1875, will he state how many complaints of this character have been dealt with during the year 1906; and how the figures compare with those for the previous year.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state whether any members of the Fishery Board for Scot- land are shareholders or directors of trawling companies.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he has formed any estimate as to the number, area, and rental of holdings between fifty and 150 acres in Scotland which will not be liable to sub-division under the Small Landowners Bill, and of the number of acres within urban areas that will likewise remain immune for purposes of extensive cultivation under this measure.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the late sub-postmistress of Gorton served the Post Office in that capacity for a period of twenty-five years; and that, in view of the fact that she was only on the establishment nine-years and six months, no pension was given her; whether it is the rule in some-instances that unestablished services may count towards pension; and whether, in view of the good work performed for so many years and the fact that the post mistress was compulsorily retired for reasons of ill-health, he will consider sympathetically the merits of this claim for a pension.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state when the funds will be forthcoming to enable the Secretary for Scotland to take such steps as may be necessary to meet the sanitary requirements of the townships in the island of Lewis and remedy the evils disclosed in the Report of Dr. Dittmar, the medical inspector for the Local Government Board for Scotland.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Mathias Brady, Corraho, Stradone, county Cavan, whose father was evicted in 1882 for non-payment of rent by Charles B. Marley out of his holding in Gortnakillue; will he say whether this farm is on the landlord's hands, and, if not, whether anyone resides upon it; and whether the applicant, who has returned from Scotland to get possession of his old homo, will he reinstated at an early date.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Police Inspector Cushion stated on oath, during the hearing of a licensing prosecution in the Dublin police

† See(4) Debates, clxxvii, 1165

courts on the 31st May, that the order of 13th December, 1902, instructing members of the force that Where they observed a drunken person entering licensed premises it was their duty to call the attention of the proprietor or his assistants to his condition, did not apply to constables as distinguished from officers of higher rank; and whether, having regard to the fact that the order was referred to publicly in court by counsel engaged in the case and by the magistrate, who both commented upon the neglect of duty upon the part of the constable who was examined as a witness, ho will cause further inquiry to be made into the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether any official statistics exist in regard to anti-typhoid inoculation of British troops serving in India or in South Africa; if so, will he lay them upon the Table; whether any order has been issued by the Commander-in-Chief in India in reference to anti-typhoid inoculation; and, if so, will he state its terms.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many destroyers there are on the China station, and how many of these are in full commission all the year round, and how many in reserve.

Seven, five with full crews and two with nucleus crews.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why since July, 1906, the number of destroyers has been reduced from thirteen to seven?

No, Sir. The reduction is made at the discretion of the Admiralty, who must be the sole judge in this matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many destroyers there are at Gibraltar and on the Mediterranean station; and how many of these are in full commission all the year round, and how many in reserve.

None at Gibraltar; eleven on the Mediterranean station in commission with full crews all the year round.

:asked why there had been a reduction of destroyers on the Mediterranean station from thirty-four to eleven.

was unable to add anything to his reply to a similar Question as to the destroyers on the China station.

Why are there so many de- stroyers? Whom do we want to destroy?

What has happened to the other destroyers? Have they been sent to the Kyles of Bute?

They are in home waters.

:asked the hon. Gentleman to indicate to the House what were the circumstances which had influenced the Admiralty in their reduction of the force of destroyers.

was sure that the right hon. Gentleman, having had experience of the responsibility of office, would not expect him to make a statement, in answer to a Question, on a large question of policy.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is intended to reduce the number of Coastguard stations, or merely the number of Coastguards quartered in such stations; what, substitute will be provided for the purposes of watching the movement of foreign war vessels and of maintaining signal communication with our own fleets; and what occupation will be provided for retiring seamen and petty officers of His Majesty's fleets in the place of Coastguard service.

The question of the future constitution of the Coastguard is under consideration, and a final decision has not yet been arrived at.

Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to lay on the Table the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee, which contains a full answer to all these questions?

:asked for notice.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the Question on the Paper?

I have already stated that no decision has yet been arrived at.

Will one be come to before the end of the session?

:asked for notice.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has called for any reports of experts as to whether an inspector with personal experience of foundry work might have been expected to discover the flaw in the rudder-casting recently supplied for H.M.S. "Edward VII."; and, if so, whether he will lay the reports upon the Table.

The staff of inspectors consists of persons of long and large experience in foundry work, and I am informed that this defect could not have been detected by visual inspection.

Will the Admiralty consider the advisability of calling in as experts men of practical experience?

We do not see any necessity; our inspectors are men of large experience in these matters. This was a very exceptional case.

But only last week the hon. Gentleman said the inspectors had had no practical experience.

Have they had experience in foundry work?

No practical experience in the sense that they have worked in a foundry, but they have had large experience in superintending this class of work for the Admiralty, which is perfectly satisfied with them.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that engineers in general know less about foundry work than of any other department?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can now say what proportion of each year the ships which are to cruise on the Atlantic coast and West Indian waters will be allocated to cruising in the West Indies?

This Question so entirely depends on administrative arrangements connected with the training service that a precise reply is hardly possible, but probably the Fourth Cruiser Squadron will visit the West Indies for the same period, and at about the same time of year, as the former permanent North American and West Indian Squadron.

Have any stops been taken to secure a contribution towards the cost from the Colonial Government?

:asked for notice.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the life of a destroyer is officially reckoned in Germany as twelve years, and that by the time of the submission of next year's programme no less than ninety British destroyers will belong to programmes introduced over twelve years ago; and whether the replacement of the larger number of these craft will receive the close consideration of the Government when they frame the new shipbuilding programme this autumn?

The Board in framing destroyer-building programmes consider not only the age of destroyers built but their condition, and have not adopted any time limit. This and all other questions with regard to the replacement of obsolescent vessels of war will receive close attention before the new programme is submitted to Parliament under Vote 8, 1908–9.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what have been the respective numbers of destroyers laid down or projected by Great Britain and Germany for eleven years under the programmes of 1897–8 and subsequent years, after deducting any of these vessels which were subsequently lost or struck off; and whether he will at the same time state the largest number of destroyers we have had stationed abroad at any one time.

The numbers are-Great Britain, seventy-three destroyers, of which two have been lost; Germany, seventy-two destroyers and one divisional torpedo boat. The largest number of destroyers that we have ever had stationed abroad is forty-seven.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if H.M.S. "Renown" is still fitted as a royal yacht for special service; what part of that ship's armament is now on shore; and if this ship is included in the Return of Fleets as a unit of the Fleet immediately available for war service.

The "Renown" has special fittings still remaining on board, and that part of the secondary armament which is landed can be replaced within the five days allotted to vessels in the Special Service List to be ready for war service. The "Renown" is included in this category.

What part of the secondary armament remains on board?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Commander in Chief of the Channel Fleet is held responsible for the defence of home waters; and, if so, whether, in view of this fact, the Board will reconsider its decision depriving that officer of control of the fully-commissioned torpedo flotilla in home waters.

The Admiralty are responsible for all matters of naval defence, and they arrange the responsibilities of the officers under their orders at their sole discretion.

When may we expect an invasion?

:asked if the Commander of the Channel Fleet was not responsible for the defence of home waters.

No, the Board of Admiralty must be regarded as responsible.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether some intimation could be made by the Admiralty, either through the Press or to the local authorities, of the intention of any part of His Majesty's Fleet to visit any port in the British Isles, so as to prevent any uncertainty as to the date of call, the strength of the Fleet, and the number of the officers and men employed.

I presume that the hon. Member's Question arises out of the incident at Edinburgh during the recent visit of the Channel Fleet, and it is hoped that the arrangements to be made in future will obviate the recurrence of the inadvertence on that occasion to make the necessary communication to the local authorities.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty the number of ships in full commission, excluding ships specially mobilised for manœuvres, on 15th July, 1903, 1904, 1905. 1906, and 1907.

The numbers were as follows—

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that for a number of years past representative shooting teams from Canada, Australia, and other Colonies have visited England, and that the Colonial Governments have made grants in aid of the expenses of the teams representing their respective Colonies; and whether, in view of the above facts, he will make a grant in aid of the expenses of the team representing the Mother Country which, for the first time, will shortly visit Canada and Australia.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is is aware that, for a number of years past, representative shooting teams from Canada. Australia, and other Colonies have visited England, and that the Colonial Governments have granted separation allowance to the non-commissioned officers and men forming part of such teams; and whether, in view of the above facts, he will afford similar facilities to the non-commissioned officers and men of the team representing the Mother Country which, for the first time, will shortly visit Canada and Australia.

The War Office has no information with regard to the payment of separation allowances by the Colonial Governments. The entire expense of the visit of the British team to the Colonies will be borne by' the National Rifle Association.

:asked whether the hon. Gentleman intended to answer the Question addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

I have no information on the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what is the practice of the Australian Government in these matters?

I do not know, Sir. I will see if it is possible to get the information.