To ask the President of the Board of Education whether having regard to Article 15, Chapter 2, of the Regulations for Secondary Schools, 1907' he proposes, after 31st July, 1908, to make evidence of training a condition for the appointment of any proportion of the teachers in secondary schools receiving Government grants; and whether the Board are prepared to make grants to private institutions for the training of secondary school teachers, provided that the training is recognised by the Board as efficient. (Answered by Mr. Lough.) The article referred to will stand in the next issue of the Regulations; and the Board hope to issue at an early date Regulations prescribing the conditions upon which grants may be made in aid of the training of teachers for secondary schools, but my right hon. friend is not in a position at present to indicate their scope.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state how many education authorities have already put into operation the Education (Provision of Meals) Act. (Answered by Mr. Lough.) Except in cases where it is desired to spend money from the rates upon the purchase of food, local authorities are not required by the Act to inform the Board of Education of their proceedings under it, and I have, therefore, no complete information as to the authorities who have in one way or another taken advantage of its provisions. Twenty-nine local education authorities in England and five in Wales have been authorised by the Board under Section 3 of the Act to spend money out of the rates upon the purchase of food.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade I how many complaints of increased rates have been received at the Board of Trade, under the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1894, during each of the ten years ending 31st December, 1907; and in how many of such cases the increase has been withdrawn or modified in consequence of I action taken by the Board of Trade. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The figures for which my hon. friend asks are shown in the following Table, so far as they can be given. The cases dealt with by Mr. Pelham before the year 1899 numbered 1,938. The figures given for 1906 and 1907 are provisional. Too

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that while the Fiftieth Report of the Postmaster-General, which, in accordance with the provisions of The Savings Banks Act, 1904, omitted a valuation of the securities held by the Post Office Savings Bank Fund, did nevertheless contain a detailed statement of the Terminable Annuities held, subsequent reports do not contain such a detailed statement, but, in lieu thereof, a mere statement of the aggregate amount of annuities operating to replace stock, and annuities operating to replace cash; much stress must not be laid on the totals, as in some cases several complaints related to the same matter, and there are others in which it may be doubtful whether an actual increase of rate in the sense of the Act of 1894 was involved. will he explain why the details given in the Fiftieth Report have been omitted from subsequent Reports; and will he consider the question of giving in his forthcoming Report a detailed statement of these annuities. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The statement of the nature and amount of the securities held for the Savings Bank, which is inserted in the Postmaster-General's Report, is, as stated in the Report, an extract from the statutory Return presented to Parliament each year by the Treasury. The Postmaster-General, therefore, is not responsible for settling the form in which the statement is drawn up.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the difference between the amount of withdrawals from the Post Office Savings Bank in the year 1906, estimated by him on 11th April, 1907, as £43,804,500, and the amount stated in the Postmaster-General's Fifty-third Report, viz., £43,763,002; and will he explain how the difference arose, and why, more than three months after the closing of the books, the correct amount of the withdrawals had not been ascertained within £40,000. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The amount of withdrawals stated in the Postmaster-General's Report represents the value of the warrants issued in the course of the year. This figure is not usually made up until all the transactions for each quarter have been finally proved. The estimated figure given in reply to the hon. Member for Finsbury on 11th April, was based, as regards the last quarter of the year, on the withdrawals actually paid by postmasters in that period, a figure which is available immediately. The difference of £40,000 is due to an unusual variation between the value of the warrants issued but not yet presented at the beginning and end of that quarter respectively.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many battleships, armoured cruisers, protected cruisers, and torpedo-boats destroyers have been struck off the list of efficient fighting ships in 1907. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The only vessel struck off the effective list in 1907 was the torpedo-boat destroyer "Ariel," sunk off Malta.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether he can state how many of those who were appointed county magistrates for the County of Lancaster during the years 1906 and 1907 were borough magistrates at the time they were appointed county magistrates. (Answered by Sir Henry Fowler.) Of the county magistrates appointed in 1906 and 1907 I find that seventeen were borough magistrates at the time of their appointment.

To ask the President of the Board of Education, whether the Welsh Department of the Board of Education exercises the powers of the Board under the Charitable Trusts Act with regard to Wales; whether any officer of the Charitable Trusts section of the Board has been transferred to the Welsh Department; and whether there is any lawyer in the Welsh Department trained in Charity Commission work. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The powers of the Board of Education under the Charitable Trusts Acts are exercised by the Board and not by any department of it. The Welsh Department have the advice of the legal branch where legal questions are concerned. The Answer to the last paragraph is in the affirmative.

To ask the President of the Board of Education, upon what grounds the decision given in February, 1906, by the Charitable Trusts section of the Board of Education with reference to the Devonald endowment, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, which held the trust to be a denominational one, has been reversed by the Welsh Department of the Board, and a scheme substituted, alienating two-thirds of the endowment to secular purposes; whether an attempt to secularise this charity was made by the county council in 1896; and whether the Charity Commissioners then held the trust to be denominational. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) This endowment was founded by deed of 31st March, 1832, for the maintenance of a free school, the only reference to Church teaching being contained in a recital. The Board of Education have not reversed their decision of February, 1906, to treat the trust as denominational; but, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including the change in the conditions of public education since the date of the original foundation, and upon consideration of the numerous objections received from the local education authority and numerous other public bodies locally interested, as well as the representations made by the trustees, the Board have come to the conclusion that justice can best be done to all interests by an appointment of the endowment as follows: One-third of the income to be allotted to the rector and churchwardens of Narberth for the purposes of solely religious instruction, with liberty to apply such income to managers' purposes of the Narberth Church of England School, and the remaining two-thirds to be administered by a representative governing body, of which the rector would be an ex-officio member, for the advancement of secular education in the locality by means of exhibitions tenable at institutions of higher education without religious restrictions. The Board cannot find that any opinion as to the denominational character of the trust was expressed by the Charity Commissioners in 1896 or about that time. The foundation was the subject of communication between the Charity Commissioners and persons locally interested in 1895 with a view to a scheme under the Welsh intermediate Education Act, but no

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing proposals for a scheme were submitted by the joint education committee under that Act.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, whether the Lords of the Admiralty have considered the petitions of the workmen employed in the Royal dockyards, which were forwarded to them early in 1907; and, if so, have any of the trades had an increase of wages granted them; and what is the increase, if any, and to which trades has it been granted. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The petitions have now been considered and the Admiralty hope to be in a position to promulgate the decision some time in March.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what are the average prices of English beef and United States and Canadian port-killed beef for each of the years 1903 to 1907, inclusive. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) Prior to 1904 there are no official statistics giving the desired information. The average prices for 1904 to 1907, inclusive are:— the President of the Board of Agriculture what proportion of meat sold in Smithfield Market in 1907 was of foreign origin; and how this proportion compares with 1897, 1887, and 1877. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) We will endeavour, as far as possible, to obtain the information asked for, and we are in communication with the clerk of the market on the subject.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture whether there are special reasons for the delay in publishing the Report for the year 1906 until the present year of the proceedings under the Sale of Food and other Acts; and whether steps will be taken to publish in future the Annual Report of this Department within a few months of the year to which it refers. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The delay in the publication of the Report to which my hon. friend refers was due partly to the absence on sick leave of the officer responsible for a considerable portion of it and partly to the services of other members of the staff concerned being required for more urgent work. We fully recognise the importance of issuing our various Reports with as little delay as possible, and I hope that the Report in question for the year 1907 will be issued at a much earlier date than was that for 1906.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any difference is made in calculating the compensation under the 1904 Licensing Act, between ante-1869 beerhouses and fully-licensed houses, on account of the position occupied by the 1869 houses prior to the passing of the 1904 Act; and, if so, how is it arrived at. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I understand that, in pursuance of the provisions of Section 2 (1) of the Licensing Act of 1904, as interpreted in the judgment of Kennedy J. in re Ashby's Cobham Brewery Company, the answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, and that the method of calculating the difference may take the form of allowing a higher number of years in the case of "ante–69" beerhouses for the purpose of capitalisation. The precise details of any such calculation depend on the circumstances of every case.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of revenue collected by the Excise and Customs on alcohol during the last-known financial year. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The net receipt from the Customs and Excise duties on alcohol for 1906–7 was £36,296,988.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the applications of George Devenny and J. J. Kildea to the Strabane (No. 2) Rural District Council for cottages under the Labourers Acts, one on the farm of Mr. Cunningham, Castletown, the other on the farm of Mr. G. Hyndman, Trentagh; can be say why their applications were refused by the Local Government Board inspector; and whether he will take steps to have their cases reconsidered, so that these men, who are living in unsanitary houses, may have cottages provided for them by the rural district council under the Labourers Acts. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) In the case of Devenny, the reason assigned by the inspector for refusing the application was that the applicant had vacated the house examined by the sanitary officer, and had gone to reside in Newton-Hamilton. The applicant Kildea refused to agree to the site selected by the rural district council, and the inspector had therefore no option but to reject the application. As the inspector has completed his order in respect of the scheme, he cannot now reconsider these applications.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he could state the number of appointments to the Commission of the Peace in Ireland from 1st January, 1906, until 31st January, 1907, the number for each province, county, and county borough, respectively, and the number of Catholics appointed in each of these divisions, respectively. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) If the hon. Member should think fit to move for a Return in continuation of the Return, Magistrates (Ireland), of 1906 (House of Commons Return 136 of that year), no objection will be offered to granting it. That Return gives particulars of the magistrates appointed for each county, and it shows, among other things, the numbers of each religious denomination appointed.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the conditions necessary for advancement among the stoker ratings of the Fleet are being voluntarily accepted by the men, or is pressure, owing to the dearth of candidates, being brought to bear upon many who are unwilling.

Qualifications for advancement is purely voluntary, and I am unaware of any ground for the suggestion that pressure is being brought to bear upon men who are unwilling to qualify.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, whether it is proposed to increase the strength of the China Squadron, and to send a warship, superior to the class of a gunboat, to patrol the Persian Gulf.

The answer to both parts of this Question is in the negative. The Persian Gulf is visited from time to time by the larger ships of the East Indies Squadron.

What is the size of the largest vessel?

My hon. friend will find that in the Navy List.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the name of the gunboat detailed for duties in the Persian Gulf; whether any other vessels assist her in the suppression of piracy; and what was the speed at her last full-speed trial.

The gunboats "Redbreast" and "Lapwing" and the Special Service vessel "Sphinx" are told off for duties in Indian waters, principally in the Persian Gulf. These duties, in which they are assisted from time to time by other ships of the East Indies Squadron, include the suppression of piracy. At the latest machinery trials, with authorised natural draught power, the speeds attained were:—"Redbreast," 11·31 knots; "Lapwing," 10·12 knots; "Sphinx," 9·16 knots.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a Volunteer (non-commissioned officer or private), now serving, who continues his service by enlistment in the new Territorial Force will, on completion of twenty years efficient service, including that already served as an efficient Volunteer under the old system, be entitled to the Volunteer Service Medal or some reward equivalent to that now enjoyed in the like case by the old Volunteer; and whether such non-commissioned officer or private, on continuing and completing ten years efficient service as a sergeant, including that already served as an efficient Volunteer under the old Act, will be allowed, on completion of the terms of his enlistment, to retire with his rank and uniform with the letter R on his shoulder strap, as enjoyed under the old Volunteer Regulations.

This question is under consideration, but I hope that it may be found possible to prevent Volunteers who transfer to the Territorial Force from suffering in this respect.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War who will be the members of the Advisory Committee of the War Office to whom the new form of attestation for those enlisting in the Territorial Army will be submitted.

I am afraid I cannot at present state the names of the members, as I have not yet had replies from all the persons whom I have asked to serve on the Advisory Council; but I hope I shall be able to give the names in a few days.

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect the Committee to commence its sittings?

It is nearly complete, and I hope it will meet almost immediately.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Army Council has reached a decision upon the Report of the Paymaster-General's Committee appointed more than six months ago to consider whether benefit would result from the payment of military pensions in smaller sums and at more frequent intervals than is now the practice; what, if any, is their decision; and why has it not been communicated to the House.

The Report has been considered. It has not been held to be desirable to adopt all of its recommendations. Arrangements have been made for: (a) the payment monthly of all pensioners who desire to be so paid, or where it is clearly shown that, owing to their thriftless or drunken habits, such payment would be advisable (b) the payment weekly of pensioners in cases where they become chargeable to the guardians and the latter recommend and are willing to undertake the issue in that way; (c) the payment weekly of pensioners by responsible persons who are willing to receive the pension quarterly and dole it out weekly to the pensioner.

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman, but may I ask why we were not told this some time ago?

We have only just been able to come to a final conclusion.

Are we to understand that this applies equally to Army Reservists?

I have spoken only of pensioners, but there is no difference in principle between the two.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the increase of motor traction and the consequent gradual decrease in the number of horses in use in this country, the War Office are taking any, and, if so, what steps to secure the maintenance of the supplies of remounts available for His Majesty's Army.

The whole question of the supply of suitable horses for military purposes is at present being carefully considered by the Board of Agriculture in concert with the War Office.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take in order to ensure the proper treatment of men invalided from the Army suffering from tuberculosis.

I must refer my hon. and gallant friend to my Answer given to the hon. Member for Sunderland on the 18th instant. As my hon. and gallant friend is aware, special efforts are made to secure places for the invalids in civil hospitals, and a notification is sent to the medical officer of health of the town in which the soldier intends to reside.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the great majority of cases of soldiers suffering from tuberculosis discharged from the Army no such places are found, and that they are discharged to their homes, not only to their great discomfort, but to the peril of the civil population? And are we to understand that no steps are to be taken in this matter?

As I informed the hon. Member opposite the other day, we are quite aware that the case of the soldier suffering from tuberculosis is a hard case, but so is the case of the sailor, of the Post Office employee, and of other Government employees, and so is the case of the great mass of the civil population. The Government as a whole considered this question, and they came to the conclusion that it would not be permissible to deal with the soldier differentially.

Have the right hon. Gentleman and the Government considered that the case of the soldier is quite different from that of others, seeing that he is discharged from the Army at the end of seven years and cannot make provision to go into a civil place as in the case of other Government employees, who are enlisted practically for life.

The same difficulty arises in other cases, and to deal with the soldier in this fashion would, in the opinion of the Government, be to treat the soldier differentially.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not the fact that the Committee were unanimous in their recommendation that some provision should be made, and when the Committee's Report will be laid on the Table of the House?

It is quite true that the Committee were unanimous, but, as I say, the Government has considered this question as a whole and from a wider point of view than that of the Army merely, and the principle involved is one that is so far-reaching that the Government are not prepared to adopt the recommendation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can give the number of cavalry officers and men on the British establishment on 1st January, the number of cavalry horses on the British establishment at the same date, and the number or proportion of those horses considered fit for active service; and whether he can also state the number of officers and men and the number of horses required, apart from drafts, for the cavalry division of four brigades and other regular cavalry of the expeditionary force.

On 1st January, the strength of the cavalry on what is technically known as the British establishment, i.e., at Home and in the Colonies, amounted to 566 officers and 14,112 men; and there were on the strength 10,217 horses, of which 9,195 may be estimated as fit for service. For the expeditionary force in the field, exclusive of reinforcing drafts, 327 officers, 7,055 men, and 8,043 horses are required.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the judgment of the High Court of Calcutta in Criminal Appeal No. 509 of 1907, known as the Bloomfield case, has excited the alarm and apprehension of European planters in Behar living with their families in solitary situations, and whether he can bring the case under the review of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; and, if not, whether any steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence of what is regarded as a failure of justice.

I am not prepared to express any opinion as to the decision of the High Court of Calcutta to which my hon. friend refers, nor am I aware of the existence of the alarm which he mentions. In any case, I am advised that the decision involves no point of legal principle on which an appeal to the Privy Council could be founded.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that six members of the Indian Bar, of whom three are barristers of the London Inns of Court, were, early in May, 1907, arrested and kept in prison, bail being refused, for five months, and then released within a few days of their being acquitted at Rawal Pindi for complicity in sedition, the evidence tendered against them having been characterised by Mr. Martineau, the Judge before whom they were tried, as improbable and unreliable, false, fabricated, and malicious, the speeches which were the foundation of the charge being made in an agitation against excessive enhancement of the land revenue; and whether, having regard to the fact that these six gentlemen of position and education were kept in gaol for 153 days on a baseless charge, he will state what reparation the Government are prepared to make to them for this unmerited suffering, pecuniary loss, and personal humiliation.

I am aware of the circumstances set out in the beginning of the Question. Application for bail was refused by the magistrate. An appeal was heard by the Punjab Chief Court, and dismissed by them. Mr. Martineau did not use the epithets in the Question of the evidence as a whole, but in respect of some portions of the evidence of particular witnesses, he described them as unreliable. That he did not regard the charge as baseless, in the sense that it was a charge that did not require to be investigated by a magistrate, is shown by the fact that he did not release the accused on bail, as he had the power to do at any moment, if satisfied that no prima facie case existed. The foundation of the charge, to use the language of the Question, was that the accused instigated and abetted a riot. I do not think that reasons for such reparation as my hon. friend demands are disclosed.

I should like to ask whether a very different complexion has not been placed on the evidence in question by the judgment of the Chief Court at Lahore, on the appeal against the decision of this magistrate?

I think the hon. Member is giving information rather than asking a Question.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the number of deaths in the Uganda Protectorate from sleeping sickness during the past five years; and if the Government intend to take any action in regard to the prevention of such disease.

It is impossible to obtain accurate statistics regarding the mortality from sleeping-sickness in Uganda, but in a recent despatch the Governor has estimated the number of deaths at 200,000 during the past seven years. Every effort is being made by the Government to combat the disease by scientific investigation under the direction of the Royal Society, by local administrative measures, and by international co-operation with the other Powers whose possessions in Africa are similarly afflicted.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if this sleeping sickness is on the increase or decrease?

It is on the decrease in the locality affected, but not by reason of the means of curing it, but because of the exhaustion of the population.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total number of steam trawlers registered in Norway.

The information regarding the total number of steam trawlers registered in Norway is not at present available, but inquiry is being made, and the result will be communicated as soon as the information has been received.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the reported activity of a Central European Power in connection with the pushing forward of the Bagdad Railway scheme and of the contingency of the balance of power in Asia Minor being thereby affected, he will consider the desirability of enlightening the public mind by laying some Papers upon the Table of the House.

The Bagdad Railway Convention of 1903 has already been published in the Press; the actual progress made by the railway is known, and I do not see what further information could be given to enlighten the public mind.

was understood to ask for an assurance that this country would not be definitely committed in connection with this railway until the House had had an opportunity of discussing the matter.

I can give no such general assurance.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Foreign Office have received any representations as to the prevalence of piracy in the Persian Gulf and on the China station; and whether there is reason to believe that piracy has increased since 1904.

As regards the Persian Gulf, the answer to both Questions is in the negative. There was recently a case of piracy in the Persian Gulf, and the offenders were captured by one of His Majesty's gunboats and handed over to the authorities. As regards China, piracy has been prevalent on the Canton and West Rivers during the latter half of 1906, and during 1907; and, in consequence, a patrol of those waters was established in November last by the Commander-in-Chief on the China Station. The British vessels have since been withdrawn on the organisation by the Chinese authorities of what appears likely to be an effective preventive service of their own.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the scheme for extending the power of provincial councils in Egypt which has been issued in Arabic, will also be published in an English translation; whether the expended powers now proposed for the provincial councils are to be other than advisory, and such as can be superseded by the Ministry of the Interior or the Council of Ministers; and whether, in giving the qualification for membership of a provincial council at an animal payment of £50 in taxes on land within the province for which a candidate is elected, this being the qualification appointed form mebership on the legislative council, the measure will deprive the provincial councils of the assistance of many Egyptians otherwise competent to render efficient services as representative of their constituencies.

I have not got the information asked for, but I will make inquiries.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of a miner, Ralph Harrison, of Stoke-upon-Trent, who claimed at the local county court compensation under The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, on the ground that he was suffering from a disease called miners' nystagmus; whether this disease has been defined and scheduled as a trade disease by the Home Department under Clause 8 of the Workmen's Compensation Act; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter.

My hon. friend has been good enough to send me a newspaper report of this case from which it appears that the proceedings were taken, not under the provisions of Section 8 which relate to industrial diseases, but under the other provisions of the Act relating to accidents; that the County Court Judge held that the case was not one of an accident, but advised the applicant's solicitor to consider his client's position in regard to Section 8. The provisions of that section were extended to miners' nystagmus by my order of May last, and, if Mr. Harrison was disabled by the disease, it was clearly under Section 8 that his claim should have been made.

I bog to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the number of tons of coal raised during 1907, and the number of days per week and hours per day from bank to bank in each of the inspectors of mines districts.

The number of tons of coal raised during 1907 was approximately 267,000,000. The latest information in my possession as to the hours of work in coal mines is that which was obtained for the Departmental Committee on the Eight Hours Day for Miners. I would refer my hon. friend to the appendices of that Report.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the number of fatal accidents in and about the mines of the United Kingdom during 1907, the number of hours worked at the time of the fatal accident, and the number of non-fatal accidents during the same period.

The number of fatal accidents in and about mines during 1907 reported to the mines inspectors was for mines under the Coal Mines Acts, 1156, resulting in 1,239 deaths; for mines under the Metalliferous Mines Acts, 33, resulting in 34 deaths. Information as to the hours of the shift in which the accidents occurred is not available in a statistical form. The figures of non-fatal accidents in 1907 are not yet ready.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that at Leighton Buzzard Police Court, on Tuesday, 18th February last, a girl of thirteen years of age was sent by the magistrate to a reformatory for five years for stealing; whether he is aware that the theft was more of a childish raid; that the articles stolen were mainly of no use to her and have all since been returned; and whether, under the circumstances, he will take steps to hand over this child to its mother.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the sentence on Dorothy Downing (the only child of her mother), a child of thirteen, who has been sent by the Leighton Buzzard magistrate to a reformatory for robbery; and if he can see his way to reduce the sentence.

I have made inquiry into this case, but am not prepared to take the action suggested by my hon. friend. It appears from the proceedings in court that the girl in question was sent away from school for misconduct, including intoxication, and that she has since been running wild and associating with lads of undesirable character. A month ago the girl was found beating her mother, who has informed the police that she is quite unable to control her. When she stole the articles for which she has been convicted she had with her two little boys, aged ten and eleven respectively; she herself is thirteen, and is described as precocious for her age; she appeared to be utterly callous when in court. The bench, which consisted of six justices, considered the question of sending the girl to an industrial school, but were of opinion that in the interests of the other inmates they were not justified in adopting this course. It appears to me that in committing the girl to a reformatory school the magistrates exercised a wise discretion, and that the training and care she will now receive offer the best chance for her future. The letters on this case which have appeared in the newspapers show a total misconception of the reformatory school system. The object of committal to a reformatory is not punishment but reformation, and the result of the work of the schools has been most encouraging.

Does the right hon. Gentleman remember that last year this House with some labour passed a Probation of Offenders Act and does he not think this is a case in which the child might have been dealt with under the gentle operation of that Act?

The case was very carefully considered by six justices, who no doubt considered whether that was practicable or not.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state the present or recent number and percentage of unemployed in the mining and metal industries in Canada.

My right hon.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received complaints as to the weighing of coal trucks at Keighley and Morecambe stations by the Midland Railway Company; and whether he will forthwith institute a full inquiry into the weighing of coal trucks, either empty or full at the collieries, or at railway stations equipped with weighing-machines for such a purpose, with a view to promoting legislation for such an adjustment of The Weights and Measures Act, 1889, as to secure honest trading between colliery proprietors and their customers by placing them under the same regulations as apply to retail coal merchants in regard to having to supply the full amount of net weight of coal that is specified in their invoices.

Complaints have been received with reference to the weighing of certain coal wagons at the stations named; inquiry is being made of the railway company concerned and I will inform my hon. friend of the, result. As regards the general question of weighing of coal wagons at collieries and on rail, various suggestions have been received and will be considered when any amendment of the Weights and Measures Act is under consideration. In the meantime I might point out that the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, would appear to expose to heavy penalties any person incorrectly invoicing the quantity of coal forwarded.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the excessive hours and under-manning of the Donegal Railway, managed by the Joint Committee of the Midland and Great Northern Railway Companies, whose servants are working under no properly graded system, some in uniform and some not at the intermediate stations, and from the station master to the miles man doing all and sundry work often up to fourteen hours per day; and whether, seeing that this want of system and consequent want of responsibility expose the travelling public to risk of accident, he will take steps to bring about such change in the working of this line as will give more confidence and comfort to all those who travel by it.

The Board of Trade have been in communication with the Joint Committee on several occasions with regard to the hours of their employees, and certain improvements have been effected. The matter will be kept in view. The other points to which the hon. Member refers are questions primarily for the consideration of the Joint Committee, but I shall be happy to consider any specific cases submitted to me in which the safety of the public appears to be involved.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade can he state whether rules of court have been made for settling the procedure under Sections 12 (4), 14(6), and 35 (1) of The Trade Marks Act, 1905; and, if not, what is the reason of the delay.

So far as I am aware no rules of court have been made under the sections in question. It has been considered that no such rules have been required having regard to Rule 121 of the Trade Mark Rules, 1906, and to the established practice prevailing at the passing of the Act with respect to applications to the court for the rectification of the Register of Trade Marks.

Is it the fact that the Rules Committee have not met to decide on the issue of any rules?

I must ask for notice of that Question.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the average number of men, women, and children employed in mills and factories connected with the linen trade in Belfast during the period 1898–1907, inclusive, the average wages earned by them, and the number of hours worked by them per day respectively; and the number of men, women, and children employed during the months of December, 1907 and January, 1908, the hours worked by them per day, and the average wages earned by them respectively.

I am unable to give all the particulars asked for by the hon. Member, but I will give such information as is available respecting numbers employed and average earnings of the people employed in linen industry in Belfast. It is as follows—

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, seeing that the Vaccination (Scotland) Act, 1007, enables parents to avail themselves of its provisions whatever the age of their children may be, whereas the Vaccination Act, 1007, is not retrospective, he will introduce a measure to assimilate the law in England and Wales to that in Scotland.

The circumstances in relation to this matter were not the Same in the two countries under the Vaccination Acts in force prior to the legislation of last session. In England, as my hon. friend is aware, a parent could obtain exemption from penalties for not having his child vaccinated if he satisfied two justices or a magistrate that he conscientiously believed that vaccination would be prejudicial to the health of the child. There was no such provision in force in Scotland. Hence when exemption on the ground of conscientious objection was allowed by the Scottish Act of last year, it was necessary to provide for the case of children born before the passing of the Act; but there was no similar need as regards England. In future in both countries a parent will only obtain exemption if he makes the requisite statutory declaration within a prescribed period after the birth of the child. It does not appear to me necessary to introduce a Bill on this subject.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he can state the aggregate amount paid in rates by agricultural property in respect of charges for Poor Law services, police, main roads, asylums, and education; and the amount paid by all other rateable property.

The amount of rates levied on the occupiers of agricultural land in England and Wales has not been ascertained for any year since 1895–1896, and I am unable to give the proportionate amounts asked for. But I have had calculations made which throw some light on the subject. I may point out that the amounts raised by rates for five purposes mentioned in the Question are obtained from poor rates and other general rates and form part only of the total proceeds thereof. As regards the charges for lunatic asylums and main roads, it cannot be exactly stated how much falls on the rates as distinct from the part which falls on Exchequer Grants and other receipts. In the year 1904–1905, the expenditure under these heads amounted to £3,500,000. As to expenditure on poor relief, police, and education, the amount estimated to have fallen on rates in the year 1905–1906 was £24,200,000. Calculated on the total amount paid in the year 1895–1896 by the occupiers of agricultural land on account of poor rates, and the smaller rateable value of that property in the later year combined with the much greater rateable value of other property, the proportion of the £27,700,000 paid by them would be about £1,500,000. This calculation necessarily disregards other changes affecting the incidence of rates which have taken place in the interval.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board what was the amount contributed in rates, according to the latest Returns, for Poor Law, police, main roads, asylums, and education by personal property and real property, respectively.

It is not practicable to give the information desired. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the rates are levied on the occupiers of real property. The question of the ultimate incidence of rates is one which has been much discussed, but I am afraid I cannot deal with it within the limits of a Question. I may, however, refer the hon. Member to the report of the Royal Commission on Local Taxation and the papers published with that Report.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to an inquest held by Dr. Waldo on 18th February, 1908, on a man named Shaw, who was stated to have died of glanders contracted while shipping worn-out horses to Belgium and Rotterdam for human consumption; whether the evidence showed that such horses were returned in the shape of sausages and tinned meat, and that though such food might be cooked it was Impossible wholly to destroy the germs; and whether, under these circumstances, his Department will take immediate action with a view to removing possible danger of spreading disease.

My attention has been called to the inquest referred to. I understand that one of the witnesses thought that to some small extent sausages made abroad from horseflesh were exported to this country, but I am informed that he did not say that horseflesh was returned to this country in tins. I am advised that the bacillus of glanders if present in meat, would not be destroyed if the cooking of the meat was imperfectly carried out, but that cooking which heated the meat to 55° Centigrade for ten minutes might kill the bacillus. As I stated in reply to a previous Question the importation of sausage meat is receiving my consideration in connection with the regulations which I am pre-paring under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act of last session.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, if his attention has been called to the overcrowding at the Poplar workhouse, and to the fact that in consequence a number of the inmates are sleeping on the floor; and if he intends to take any action in the matter.

My attention has been called to the overcrowding at the Poplar Workhouse, and in consequence I assented in December last to the proposal that the buildings at Forest Gate which belong to the guardians and which were formerly used as a school should be opened as an additional workhouse. The necessary arrangements for the use of the buildings for this purpose have been pressed on with all practicable speed, and I understand that by the 8th instant seventy-eight able-boded men had been accommodated there, that the number had been increased to 132 on Sunday last, and that fifty more were to go there yesterday. I hope that the pressure will be removed at an early date.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether it has come to the knowledge of the Board that 15 per cent. of the cattle slaughtered in La Plata for exportation into Great Britain and Ireland are tuberculous; if not, will the Board have inquiries made through disinterested parties; and will the Board have extensive tests made for tuberculosis in imported La Plata beef, as it is well known that 15 per cent. is a low estimate of the tuberculous beef exported from Buenos Ayres.

Perhaps I may reply to this Question. It has not come to the knowledge of the Local Government Board that 15 per cent. of the cattle slaughtered in La Plata for exportation to the United Kingdom are tuberculous and their information would not lead them to suppose that such was the case. Perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to supply me with any evidence in his possession in relation to this subject.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether he is aware that a labourer named Pentney, in the receipt of 15s. a week, was recently adjudged to pay first 1s. and then 6d. per week by the guardians of the Docking Union towards the maintenance of his father, and upon pleading inability to pay was summoned; that four justices unanimously decided they were not satisfied as to his ability and declined to make an order, and in consequence the guardians took off 1s. per week from the old people's relief; and whether, in view of the amending Acts giving discretion to the justices, he is prepared to amend the original Acts, so as to prevent them being applied to labourers at 15s. per week and at the same time stop the guardians from indirectly overriding the decision of the justices.

My hon. and learned friend has asked me to reply to this Question. I am aware of the case referred to in it. I am informed that the son was earning 15s. a week, that his wife earned 1s. a week by washing and at times more, that he had two children, one living at home and earning 6s. a week, the other being in domestic service. I am also informed that the father came before the guardians and stated that his son never gave him anything, and that the guardians took off a shilling a week from the relief in the hope that this would induce the son to contribute to the maintenance of his parent. Such, however, was not the case, and I find that the guardians have now granted the father the extra shilling a week, and have informed the son that they hope he will contribute 6d. to wards it. As I have stated on previous occasions, the subject of contributions by relatives is before the Poor Law Commission, and, pending their Report, I do not propose to introduce legislation with regard to it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the guardians have passed a resolution that if the relief is again withdrawn the son shall be prosecuted?

I have no information as to that.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that in the official Post Office Guide for January 1908, between pages 690 and 691, there is a map showing the postal districts of London, whereon Hackney is represented as being in the Eastern (E.) district, whereas on page 658, under the heading Postal District, Hackney is described as being in the north-eastern (N.E.) district; whether he is aware that no such district is shown on the said map; whether he will explain the reason for this apparent discrepancy; and whether, for the convenience of persons having correspondence with the Hackney district and for the guidance of the Hackney Borough Council, he will state which of the two descriptions is the correct one.

The Eastern and North-Eastern Postal Districts were amalgamated for administrative reasons over forty years ago, and this arrangement is still in force. In 1888, however, in deference to the wishes of the inhabitants, permission was given to use the initials N.E., to designate places formerly comprised in the North-Eastern District. A statement to this effect will be found on page 636 of the Post Office Guide in the explanatory notes preceding the list of principal London streets, and arrangements have been made for the insertion in the next issue of a similar note on page 691, facing the map of the London Postal District.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he will place in the Library a copy of the Post Office Circular containing the recent announcement of the stops he is taking to carry into effect the recommendations of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants; and whether he will supply a copy of this Circular to any hon. Member who applies to him.

I have placed copies of the Post Office Circular in the Library, and I shall be very glad to supply a copy to any hon. Member who applies for it.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether any preliminary information has been given by the Board of Education to any local authorities as to the amount of building grants they may expect to get after the Board has decided that the proposed schools are necessary.

Preliminary information has, in some cases, been given as to the amount of grant which might be payable if the school was decided by the Board to be necessary and if the regulations were found to be complied with.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if local authorities in Wales are acquiring sites and beginning to build schools before any decision has been given, under Sections 8 and 9 of the Education Act, 1902, as to the necessity of such schools, and in some cases before the period of three months required by the Act has elapsed; and whether such action would be within the power of a local authority or would have the approval of the Board.

The Board are aware that several local education authorities in Wales entered into provisional contracts for the acquisition of sites before the expiration of the period of notice required by Section 8 of the Education Act, 1902, but they have no reason to believe that any authority started building operations before the Board's decision upon the necessity of the school had been given. In any case no such action as the hon. Member refers to would be allowed to influence the Board in deciding as to the necessity or otherwise of any school.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he can state what steps, if any, the Government have taken or have in contemplation with a view to securing improved accommodation for the Board of Agriculture. I beg also to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the inquiry promised by him into the status of various Government Departments will embrace the question of the urgent need for better accommodation of the Board of Agriculture, and the possibility of housing this Department in one building, suitable to the importance of its functions rather than, as at present, in three totally inadequate offices situate at a considerable distance from each other.

The matter is engaging my earnest attention; it is, however, a large question, and I am not at present prepared to make any statement on the subject. My right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer desires me to add, in reply to the Question put down by the hon. Member to him, that he thinks this matter had better be dealt with apart from the general subject referred to.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the scheme announced by the Government for the future arrangements as to boy clerks in the Civil Service has been under consideration for sixteen months, and when he proposes to make it known to the House; and whether he will afford an opportunity to the House of discussing it before it becomes operative.

At the same time may I ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether any reply has yet been sent to the memorial submitted by the boy clerks in the Civil Service in September, 1906; and, if not, what is the reason for the delay; and why no action has yet been taken to lessen the hardship to the boys, and the waste of time and money caused by the policy of admitting into the public service and training for their duties numbers of boys who have no prospect of permanent employment.

The question of reducing the number of boy clerks is one of great difficulty, and I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any definite statement on the subject. But the matter will not be lost sight of.

When does the hon. Gentleman expect to be in a position to give an answer? The matter has now been under consideration fifteen months.

When I have arrived at a decision, I shall be glad to communicate it to the House.

Has the hon. Gentleman no idea how long hence that will be?

No, Sir, I cannot make any promise.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, why, in view of his assurance that measures are in contemplation to reduce the number of boy clerks in the Civil Service, two examinations of large numbers of candidates for boy clerkships were held in September, 1907, and January, 1908, respectively.

The existing demand for boy clerks must be met until arrangements can be made for substituting some other kind of labour.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the expediency of imposing a small ad valorem stamp duty upon all share certificates in joint stock companies.

Certainly, Sir.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Budget will be introduced before Easter.

My right hon. friend is not yet in a position to make any statement as to the date of the introduction of the Budget.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset hire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can state the salaries and allowances, if any, of the director, assistant director, and curator of the Royal Gardens at Kew.

The salary of the Director is £1,000 per annum, with residence rent free; that of the Assistant Director is £500—£20—£700 per annum, and that of the Curator is £300—£10—£100 per annum with residence rent free.

Then I can take it there is no other remnneration?

Yes.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somersetshire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can state whether the men employed as gardeners in the Royal Gardens at Kew do the whole of the practical work in cultivation of the plant collections under glass, and also a large proportion of the hardy groups; whether the hours of such men are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer, and from daylight to dark in winter; and whether it is the intention of the Government to increase the pay of such men from 21s. per week to 24s. per week, as is paid to the labourers.

The duties and hours of work of the gardeners at Kew are practically as stated in the Question. They are employed on the average of the whole year for fifty-four and-a-half hours a week. Their work is, of course, done under close supervision. The amount of their pay was recently the subject of careful consideration, and it was decided that, regard being had to the advantages obtained by these young men from their training at Kew, the sum of 21s. a week is sufficient to attract the class of men required and to provide them with adequate means of subsistence.

Is it not the fact that large numbers of men who have been working at Kew for twenty years are at present out of employment?

I should like notice of that.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; and whether he has any evidence to justify the widespread belief in agricultural districts that the disease was imported with foreign hay or straw.

The reply is in the affirmative to both questions. I may perhaps be allowed to add that my noble friend proposes to issue an Order prohibiting the importation of hay and straw from certain countries, from which there is a danger of the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease by means of those articles. The Order will not apply to hay or straw used for packing merchandise and manufactured straw not intended for use as fodder or litter. Hay or straw landed for non-agricultural purposes will be allowed to be landed with a licence. The imports of these articles from the countries concerned are small, in the case of hay, less than half 1 per cent. of our total supplies.

Arising out of that reply I wish to ask whether it is true that a fresh outbreak as it is described in The Times of to-day of the dreaded foot-and-mouth disease was discovered in Edinburgh on Sunday night, at Balbirnie Place, Murreyfield. And whether it is the fact, as stated, that the majority of the animals at Balbirnie Place, were bought in Edinburgh on 5th February, the day after the suspicious symptoms were discovered, among Mr. Roberston's Elvanbank herd and that, so far as is known, none of the animals had been in contact with anyone working at Elvanbank. I apologise to the hon. Gentleman for the shortness of my notice, but if he can give a reply it may relieve a good deal of anxiety.

replied that it was the case that another outbreak had occurred. The disease was discovered on premises about half a mile away from where the first outbreak occurred among animals belonging to the same owner. On 5th February all the animals that had been bought on 4th or 5th February were inspected by officers of the Board and were then found to be perfectly healthy. The origin of the outbreak was uncertain at the present moment, but they knew for certain that the animals were not fed on any imported fodder. Twenty-one cows were affected. They were valued and by this time had no doubt been slaughtered.

Has the hon. Gentleman any information as to the cause of the outbreak?

It is suspected that the disease must have been carried in some indirect way.

asked whether, in view of the fact that the former outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was traced to imported hay and straw used for packing furniture, the Government would so amend the Order as to make it apply to all hay and straw imported into the country.

said that though the prohibition only applied to hay and straw used as fodder or for bedding, hay and straw used for commercial purposes must be landed under licence and regulation.

Is it not a fact that the former outbreak was traced to hay and straw imported in the packing of German furniture?

asked whether the diagnosis was based on the naked eye appearance of the disease, or whether any micro-organism had been discovered.

said it was doubtful whether any organism had been discovered.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland what is the approximate number of steam trawlers under the Norwegian flag which fish regularly from Grimsby and other English East Coast ports?

The number of trawlers answering to the description given in my hon. friend's Question fishing in the Moray Firth appear to be fourteen. They all fish from Grimsby.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether it is his intention to introduce an Education Bill for Scotland this Session.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he intends to introduce an Education Bill for Scotland during the present Session; and can he say at what stage of the session it will be introduced.

To ask the Prime Minister, what Bills it is proposed to send this session to the Scottish Grand Committee; whether he is aware that five Bills dealing with education in Scotland have been introduced to Parliament during the last seven years, and that failure to proceed with these measures has caused inconvenience to educational authorities in that country: and whether he will, under these circumstances, consider the advisability of introducing another Bill dealing with this subject and sending it to the Scottish Grand Committee at an early date.

This subject is at present under close consideration. It does not seem advisable to introduce such a Bill unless sufficient Parliamentary time is likely to be available to permit its being considered and passed into law. I hope to be able to make a definite announcement upon the matter before the Easter Recess. In reply to the remainder of the question of my hon. friend the Member for the Central Division of Edinburgh, I need only add that I believe the facts to be as he has stated: that the inconvenience to which he alludes is best met, as I have no doubt he will agree, by the course proposed, and that, as he is aware, the Standing Orders on the subject establish a general rule by which all Scottish Bills go up to the Scottish Grand Committee.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care that an equivalent is given to Scotland for the money allotted to England under the Education Bill?

That certainly will be considered.

Am I to accept this as an answer to my question which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to postpone?

If you please, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been called to the prosecution of a Hamilton butcher, in December last, for offering for sale diseased meat; whether he is aware that the meat had been passed by the Hamilton officials and that Dr. Dittmar had just previously reported favourably on the system of inspection in that town; and whether he now proposes, in view of these facts, to appoint a man with practical experience to supervise the work of the meat-inspecting officials in the different local authorities.

My attention has not previously been called to the prosecution referred to by my hon. friend, so my information is confined to what he now gives me. The Local Government Board report upon the subject of meat inspection in Scotland is now being printed and such points will be considered.

Has the right hon. Gentleman yet received the report of Dr. Dittmar?

That is the report to which I refer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman have inquiries made throughout Scotland as to the practice of offering dying cattle for sale in public yards?

I hope the hon. Member will find that subject dealt with in the report.