To ask the President of the Local Government Board if it is within his knowledge that total incomes of married couples of £33 16s. per annum or over have been held to be incomes of one or the other of such married couples, thus barring the husband or wife, as the case may be, from receiving a pension; and, if so, whether this is a correct interpretation of the Old-Age Pensions Act. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) No case has been brought to my knowledge in which the Act has been interpreted in the manner indicated in the Question. As I am advised, although a husband and wife may live together, the means of each must, for the purposes of the Act, be considered separately, except that the means of either of them must not be taken to be less than half of the total means of the two together.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Commissioners of Income-Tax have given notice of their intention of sitting for the purpose of hearing appeals from the county of Donegal in the court-house at Strabane on the 13th instant, and that the proposed arrangement will entail on appellants resident in the county of Donegal the expense, inconvenience, and loss of time incident to a long journey from their residences or the abandonment; and, having regard to the diffi-

† This Answer is in substitution for that published on Nov. 5th.

culties thus created of attempting to appeal, since the expense necessitated by so doing under these circumstances would be in many cases greater than the reductions in the sums assessed, for which the appeals are undertaken, an appellant being compelled to travel under the proposed arrangements from Glencolumbkille to Strabane, directions will be given that the Commissioners will attend at convenient centres in Donegal such as Stranorlar, Donegal Town, Ballyshannon, and Killybegs, where there are commodious courthouses, in order to facilitate appellants in bringing their claims before the Commissioners instead of obstructing them from so doing, which will be the result of the present arrangement if unmodified.(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) Should it be found that appellants who have been summoned to attend at Strabane on the 13th instant have been prevented from doing so by reason of their living in parts of the County Donegal remote from that town, opportunity will be given for the subsequent consideration of their cases, provided the accounts called for by the Special Commissioners are supplied on or before the dates named in the precepts for accounts already issued.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any, and, if so, what, steps to acquire, for purposes of distribution amongst the labourers and others, the non-residential farm of John Jeffcott, on the M. V. Blacker-Douglas Estate at Ballylongford, County Kerry; have agreements to purchase been filed in respect of this estate; if so, is there an agreement from Patrick Dineen in respect of Jeffcott's holding; and is he aware that Mr. Jeffcott offered, through Canon Hayes, to sell his interest to the Estates Commissioners, but that they refused to move in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners do not propose to take any steps to acquire the farm in question. Agreements for the purchase of the estate have been lodged, including one signed by Jeffcott for the purchase of this farm, which he has since assigned to Patrick Dineen. Jeffcott had first offered through Canon Hayes to sell his interest to the Estates Commissioners, who refused to take any action in the matter.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether the staff at Bexhill have complained for nearly two years of the unhealthy condition of the instrument room; whether the room was condemned by the chief medical officer to the Post Office in November, 1907; and whether, in view of the fact that there is an abnormal amount of sickness among those using the room, he will consider what improvements can be effected. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I am not aware that there is an abnormal amount of sickness among the staff occupying the instrument room at the Bexhill sub-Post Office, but the room is admittedly cramped and difficult to ventilate, and the question of improving the accommodation of the office generally has been for some time under careful consideration. Difficulties have arisen, however, in regard to the acquisition of the additional land required for the purpose, with the result that some time may elapse before the scheme for permanent enlargement can be carried out. In the meantime I propose to authorise a temporary improvement of the accommodation for the instrument work, etc., by means of the appropriation for office purposes of part of the residence which has been vacated by the sub-postmaster.

To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any of the sixteen destroyers provided for in the current naval programme have been ordered from Messrs. White and Co., at Cowes; and whether any steps will be taken to prevent the discharge of large numbers of workmen from this and other yards having special facilities for building torpedo craft, which must inevitably follow any considerable curtailment of Admiralty orders. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The tender of Messrs. White and Co., with those of other firms, is still under consideration. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, the action of the Admiralty is necessarily limited to the allocation of the orders of the year's programme.

To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the firms of John Stones, Limited, Ure Mills, Ulverston, and John Stones, of Rosside Works, sliding partition and revolving shutter, etc., manufacturers, who advertise themselves as contractors to the Admiralty, only pay the joiners in their employ from 6¼d. to 7¼d. per hour., whilst the current rate of wage in the district, vide Board of Trade Returns, is 8d. per hour; whether he will take steps to induce those firms to pay the current rate of wages; and, failing which, whether he will remove them from the list of firms invited to tender for Admiralty work. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) So far as can be ascertained, this firm has not had any dealings with the Admiralty.

To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men in excess of 30,500 voted this financial year are to be employed in the home dockyards as the result of the Government's effort to relieve unemployment. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The number of men who will receive employment in the dockyards as the result of the special effort made to relieve unemployment is estimated at about 2,100. Their employment is to last until 31st March, 1909.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that, owing to the staff for dealing with income-tax repayment claims not being sufficiently large to deal with them without delay, claims are left in abeyance for four months without being attended to; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consider the advisability of provision being made to pay claimants interest on the money to which they are entitled at the time of making their claim. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I beg to refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by me on the 28th ultimo to the hon. Member for East Down. Under the present law interest cannot be claimed or allowed, and I do not think it necessary or advisable that the law in this respect should be altered.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if a weekly payment voluntarily made is to be counted as a source of income for old-age pension purposes. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George) I see no warrant in the provisions of Section 4 of the Old-Age Pensions Act for excluding such contributions from the calculation for the purposes of the Act of the means possessed by the recipient.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the grounds upon which the Government have been advised that the term borough in the Old-Age Pensions Act does not include a Metropolitan borough. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The term "borough" is defined by the Interpretation Act, 1889, to mean a municipal borough; and a municipal; borough is defined as a borough that is subject to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, and therefore, does not include a Metropolitan borough.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will ascertain from the Inspector-General the proportion of the total number of cases of cattle-driving reported by the police down to the end of September, 1908, which have been recorded in the official statistics of crime, distinguishing the headings under which they have been so recorded. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I am unable to add anything to my reply to the Question on the subject asked by the hon. Member for Belfast North on 27th October.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many evicted tenants in the County of Meath have been reinstated in their former or obtained equivalent holdings; and how many applications from the same county remain to be dealt with. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that 273 applications were received from persons seeking reinstatement as evicted tenants or the representatives of tenants evicted from holdings in County Meath. After inquiry the Estates Commissioners decided not to take any action in 118 cases; fifty-five applicants have been reinstated or provided with other holdings and thirty-one applications have been noted for consideration in connection with the allotment of untenanted land. The cases of the remaining sixty-nine applicants cannot be dealt with under the Evicted Tenants Act, but will be inquired into when the estates on which they were tenants are being dealt with under the Irish Land Act, 1903.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mr. Hopkins, an evicted tenant on the estate of Colonel Lyster Smythe, Nobber, County Meath, has applied to be reinstated in his former holding; and, if so, whether, as the farm from which he was evicted is still in the occupation of the landlord, they will compulsorily acquire it in order to effect his restoration. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Francis Hopkins, and will consider it in connection with the distribution of untenanted laid in County Meath which they hope to acquire. His former holding cannot be acquired compulsorily under The Evicted Tenants Act, 1907.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have purchased the estate of Admiral Singleton, Drumconrath, County Meath; if Thomas Kirk, an evicted tenant on the estate has applied to be reinstated in his former holding; and whether the Estates Commissioners will exercise the powers vested in them to acquire for him his former holding, which is still in possession of the landlord. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate belonging to Admiral Singleton, which was sold under the Irish Land Act, 1903, did not, include Thomas Kirk's former holding, and the Commissioners do not propose to acquire it compulsorily, but they have noted Kirk's application with a view to his being provided with another holding on untenanted land to be acquired by them.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Ternan, an evicted tenant on the Balfour estate, Townley Hall, Progheda, applied to the Estates Commissioners for reinstatement in his former holding, and that the inspector who visited the estate promised him a portion of the untenanted land; will he explain why the promise was not fulfilled; and whether the Commissioner will take early action to secure him a farm. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the lands on the Balfour estate referred to in the Question were, with their approval, allotted by the owner to a former occupier. Their inspector had no power to promise them to anyone. The Commissioners will consider Ternan's application when they are distributing untenanted land elsewhere.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Miss Rose A. O'Reilly, who was evicted from the lands of Gibbonstown, on the Wade, estate, County Meath, has applied to the Estates Commissioners to be reinstated in her former or an equivalent holding; and, if so, what action has been taken in her case. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners received an application from Philip O'Reilly and his daughter, Rose O'Reilly, for reinstatement in a holding on the Wade estate, which is now in the occupation of another tenant. The Commissioners have provided Philip O'Reilly with another holding in County Meath, and they do not propose to take any action in reference to Miss O'Reilly's application.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Eugene Farrelly, an evicted tenant on the estate of Philip Smyth, Kilmainham Wood, County Meath, has applied to the Estates Commissioners to be reinstated in his former holding, which is still on the hands of the landlord who evicted him; and, if so, what action has been taken in his case. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) This application was not received by the Estates Commissioners within the time specified by The Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Act, 1907. The estate is not pending for sale before the Commissioners, and they have not therefore been able to take any action in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what action has been taken to secure her former or an equivalent holding for Miss Margaret Clarke, Possers-town, Nobber, County Meath; whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired land in the neighbourhood of Kells; and whether, in the distribution of the land, they will consider the advisability of dealing with the claims of evicted tenants in County Meath before bringing tenants from other counties. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) As regards Miss Clarke's application I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar Question asked by him on 1st April last. The Estates Commissioners are acquiring land compulsorily in the neighbourhood of Kells, and will no doubt exercise due discretion in its distribution.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what action the Estates Commissioners propose to take with a view to the enlargement of uneconomic holdings on Kellet's estate, County Meath. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the owners of this estate arranged to sell 100 acres in their occupation for the purpose of distribution. The Commissioners approved of the allotment of these lands amongst the smaller occupiers, but the latter refused to accept the portions offered to them.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners will reply to the letter dated 28th ultimo addressed to them by the hon. Member for North Meath. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received the hon. Member's letter, and will reply to it as soon as they are in a position to do so.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that the great majority of the 908 cases of cattle-dirving reported to the end of September last are not included in the Statistical Returns of Outrages, which therefore afford no trustworthy record of the volume of overt crime committed in Ireland, there is any reason why cattle-drives should not be included under the heading of intimidation. (Answered by Mr. Birrell) I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar Question asked by him on 28th October.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether any, and, if so, what, limit of maximum breech pressure was imposed by the War Office when firms of ammunition manufacturers were invited to submit high-velocity ammunition with pointed bullets for testing experiments; whether any of the ammunition exceeded this limit; and, if so, was such ammunition rejected on this ground. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) As regards the first part of the Question the condition was that the mean pressure should not exceed 19·5 tons at 120° F., and that no round should exceed 20 tons. The reply to the rest of the Question is in the affirmative.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will institute an immediate and complete series of tests and experiments upon all patterns and types of existing ·303 ammunition, without restriction as to pressure, chamber space, or magazine length, in order that a correct decision may be formed as to the best type of ammunition for a ·308 rifle. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I am afraid that I cannot undertake such an investigation. For the purpose in view a sufficient and complete investigation is being made.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will submit to the Small Arms Committee, or to a Committee of independent experts specially appointed for the purpose, the question whether, in what ways, and at what cost, the fighting efficiency of our service rifle and ammunition can be improved. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Will the hon. Member kindly refer to my replies on this subject to Questions put by my hon friend the Member for the West Division of Hull on Thursday last?

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state which, if any, of the agricultural tenants of the proposed extension of the artillery ranges on Salisbury Plain received formal notice to quit, from or on behalf of the War Office, on or before Michaelmas of this year. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) In some cases owners with whom the War Office has been in negotiation have by agreement with the War Office given notice to their tenants to quit at Michaelmas, 1909, but, as I have already explained to the House, the tenants will not be disturbed until the beginning of June, 1910. As the negotiations for purchase are still pending, and the matter is at present one which concerns the owners and their tenants, it is not considered that any more specific information can properly be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in considering the merits of various automatic rifles, the War Office has taken advantage of the investigations of the Automatic Rifles Committee of the National Rifle Association; and, if not, whether, in order to minimise the cost of future inquiries on this subject, he will now consult this committee before undertaking any further expensive investigations. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The War Office has no knowledge of the committee mentioned or of its investigation. The hon. Member may rest assured that the War Office will secure all information available in regard to automatic rifles.

To ask the hon. Member for the Barnstaple Division, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether there is a scheme for out-pensions in connection with the Waddington Hospital Charity, and, if so, when was it first put into practice; how many out-pensioners are there; how much do they each receive weekly; whether the out-pensioners are confined to persons who are married, unmarried, widows, or widowers; whether there is any age limit; whether there are any vacancies amongst the out-pensioners of the charity, and, if so, how many, and when did they occur; whether there has been any vacancy since 20th December, 1907, when the trustees promised to consider the case of William Coulthurst of West Bradford; whether Coulthurst's case has since been considered, and what was the decision arrived at; who are the present trustees of the charity; and whether there are vacancies on the board of trustees; and, if so, how many. (Answered by Mr. Soares.) The Waddington Hospital Charity is regulated by schemes of the Charity Commissioners, dated 4th August, 1885, and 21st October, 1887, which came into operation on those dates respectively. The pensions, which are payable out of the surplus income after providing for the other objects of the charity, are regulated by the scheme of 1885, and the number is fixed from time to time by the trustees, "with due regard to the amount of income available for their payment and the other circumstances of the charity." The number of pensioners has varied from thirty-two to twenty. At the present time there are twenty-six. The pensioners receive £20 per annum, i.e., 7s. 8¼d. per week. The pensioners must be poor persons of good character, either married or single, and possessing the qualifications as to residence specified in the scheme. There is no age limit. On 13th December, 1907, there were twenty-nine pensioners. Three have died since that date, two in March and one in May last. William Coulthurst's case has not been considered since 20th December last. The present trustees are Colonel Parker, R. J. Aspinall, H. W. Worsley Taylor, K.C., W. Peel, the Reverend F. Parker, R. C. Assheton, E. LcGendre Starkie, A. C. M. Redhead, and W. King Wilkinson. There are no vacancies in the body of trustees. The trustees have recently incurred a considerable expense in connection with new sewerage works undertaken by the rural district council.

To ask the Postmaster-General when the new Post Office will be built at Machynlleth; and whether the new site has been finally selected. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton). Premises have been selected, which the owner will adapt and partly rebuild for the purpose. I hope that it will be possible to have the work begun shortly.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether the Post Office factories are intended or used primarily for manufacturing purposes, or are intended or used primarily for repairing purposes; whether the factory buildings are utilised to their full capacity; and whether it is proposed to extend the use of the factories, more especially in view of the fact that the Post Office will shortly become the sole consumer of telephone apparatus in this country. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton) The Post Office factories are intended and used primarily for repairing purposes. I do not think it would be expedient largely to undertake in present circumstances at the factories the work of telegraph and telephone manufacture. Of recent years British manufacturers have, with Post Office encouragement, put down plants for telephone apparatus construction. It is to them I look for assistance in telephone development. My endeavour is to keep employment at the factories at a constant level. For this purpose I entrust certain items of construction work to them normally and others from time to time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is an official regulation for the Metropolitan Police Force that every constable shall present his rent-book each month for inspection by the station officer; and, if so, whether he can state if this regulation is enforced in each division. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone). An allowance in aid of rent is given to constables in the Metropolitan Police Force, and it is necessary for them to present their rent-books for inspection in order to show that the conditions on which the allowance is given are observed.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the total amount that has been expended on capital and on maintenance, respectively, out of pubic funds for the establishment and upkeep of the Imperial Institute; and what are the public services now rendered by the Institute, apart from its use as a museum and exhibition, to the self-governing Colonies, India, and the Crown Colonies. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse). The figures asked for, so far as regards the upkeep and maintenance of the Imperial Institute buildings, are given below. In addition a grant of £500 has been made from the Board of Trade Vote to the Institute for cotton-growing investigations, but this grant was only sanctioned for a term of four years and comes to an end in March next. A contribution is also made from the Vote for Colonial Services, up to a maximum of £1,500 in respect of any one year, equal in amount to one-half of any sum which might be contributed by such Colonies and Protectorates as are not in receipt of a grant in aid from Votes of Parliament. In respect of this contribution, which is paid to a fund for the maintenance of the scientific and technical department of the institute, £1,400 was voted in 1906–7, and the maximum of £1,500 in each of the two succeeding years. As regards the last part of the Question, I understand

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board is aware that the Surrey County Council is referring applicants for small holdings of one acre to parish councils, and that in certain, parishes the councils are hostile to the Small Holdings and Allotments Act; and whether he will

To ask the Secretary for Scotland, having regard to the fact that the families of the landless cottars in the Island of Lewis represent a population of 7,500, equivalent to 25 per cent. of the inhabitants, and that there are 19,631 acres of farm lands in the island, not under lease, the bulk of which were scheduled by the Deer Forest Commissioners as suitable for new holdings, and that on 21st July last he undertook to ascertain the views of the proprietor as to the expediency of breaking up these farms for occupation by the people, will he now state the result of his inquiry. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) I am informed that, in view of the heavy burden of local taxation in the Lewis, the proprietor is not willing to consider any proposals which might possibly have the effect of increasing expenditure or local burdens.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if his attention has been called to the petition of the carpenters and joiners of the Admiralty Works Department; whether he is aware that their petition, dated 1st January, 1907, has not yet been answered nor their prayer granted; whether the joiners in other departments have in the meantime received increases of pay; and whether the Admiralty can see its way to extending similar or proportionate privileges to the joiners of the Works Department. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The whole subject is receiving consideration, and it is hoped that a decision will be arrived at shortly.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works if he can say when Stirling Castle passed under the control of His Majesty's Office of Works; and what steps have since been taken to preserve the buildings, to continue the military traditions, and to maintain the historic associations of the castle. (Answered by Mr. Harcourt.) Stirling Castle passed under the control of His Majesty's Office of Works in December, 1906, when immediate steps were taken to rescue the ancient historic buildings from the condition of decay and defacement into which they were rapidly falling. Interesting original work of an architectural character has been discovered and preserved, and serious structural defects threatening the ruin of the actual fabric have been repaired. The military traditions remain undisturbed, the Castle being occupied by a garrison.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has yet been asked to sanction any work of a useful character proposed to be given by the Metropolitan borough of Stepney to the unemployed. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The reply is in the negative. I understand that the Central (Unemployed) Body have been in communication with the borough council on the subject, and that the latter have expressed their regret that at this juncture they are unable to submit a suitable scheme.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a quarter of the total old-age pension claims have been sent in from Ireland; and can he say what proportion of the Excise staff have been told off to grapple with the Irish claims. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) From the Returns already furnished, more than a quarter of the total pension claims received have been sent in from Ireland. As a large proportion of the Excise staff are engaged upon duties other than or additional to those relating to old-age pensions the proportion which have been told off to grapple with the Irish claims cannot be given. At present 230 pension officers are employed in the actual investigation of claims in Ireland, aided in the clerical work by a large staff of assistant officers.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state whether the claim of John D. M'Manus, son of John M'Manus, formerly tenant on the Brackenbridge estate, Florencecourt, or his mother the evicted tenant, will be dealt with in distributing

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say when the Government will introduce a Bill dealing with Poor Law reform in Ireland, based on the Report of the recent Viceregal Commission; and in what way it is proposed to deal with the grievances of which Poor Law officers complain. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I understand that the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress will probably report before the end of the present year, when the whole question of Poor Law reform in England and Ireland will have to be considered.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state whether there has been a new rule made by the Local Government Board for Ireland which makes it impossible for any person to be appointed as Local Government Board auditor except he be either a barrister, solicitor, a chartered accountant, or must have been in the accounts department of a public office of State; and, if so, whether he will say whether this rule will extend to Poor Law and other local officers whose experience and ability qualify them for promotion to Local Government Board positions, and whose promotions to such positions would only be in accordance with the rules of other Departments of the State. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The qualifications prescribed for the post are substantially as stated in the Question. Any person who fulfils them is eligible for appointment.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the total number of applications under the various Labourers Acts in the Banbridge Union; the total number of cottages erected; the number of cottages in course of erection; and the number now under consideration. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board inform me that the total number of cottages proposed to be erected in the Banbridge Union under the Labourers Acts was 214. Of these 117 have been authorised, and there are eight with regard to which appeals are pending. Twenty-two cottages authorised under the Orders of 1903 and 1904 have been erected. There has been a difficulty in obtaining tenders for twenty-three cottages authorised under the Order of 1906, for which a loan was sanctioned in November 1907, and the Board hive suggested to the district council the advisability of having some of the houses built by direct labour as an experiment. As regards the remaining seventy-two cottages authorised under the Order of 1908, the Board await the council's application for sanction to the necessary loan.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what steps, if any, have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to provide Mrs. Delany, now of 49, Marlborough Road, Donny-brook, Dublin, the representative of the late John Delany, who was evicted in 1884 from a farm of 111 acres Irish, on the estate of the late John George Adair, situated at Roskeen, Queen's County, with a suitable holding, as the evicted farm is in possession of a planter, the estate being now owned by Lord Digby, who has lately sold to the tenants. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Mrs. Delany's application has been noted by the Estates Commissioners for consideration in connection with the allotment of untenanted land.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application made on behalf of the occupiers of uneconomic holdings and labourers in the neighbourhood, requesting that the untenanted grazing farm of Turfarney, the property of the late A. J. Owen, J.P., Shanavahy, Queen's County, situated near Rathdowney, should be purchased by them for redistribution; and can he say what course the Commissioners propose taking in this matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received the application referred to, and have informed the applicant that if the owner institutes proceedings for sale under the Irish Land Act, 1903, they will have the property inspected in due course.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a claim has been received by the Estates Commissioners from Patrick Cronin, a sub-tenant to Timothy Mulcahy, Ballydaly, Millstreet, County Cork, on the estate of Major Nash, requesting that he should be admitted to the benefits of purchase on the same terms as the other tenants on this estate; and will he state what action is going to be taken in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners will consider Patrick Cronin's application when they are dealing with the estate in its order of priority.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state whether the Estates Commissioners have considered the report of their inspector upon the case of William Bullman, an evicted tenant on the estate of Mrs. Sarah Hyde, Ballindangan, County Cork; and if they hope shortly to effect his reinstatement. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that their inspector's report in this case is under their consideration.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, with a view to relieving the distress consequent upon unemployment, the Irish Govern- ment propose to undertake any public works of permanent utility, such as those recommended by the recent Commissions upon Arterial Drainage and Reafforestation. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The matter stands in the position outlined in my reply of 30th October to a Question on the subject asked by the hon. Member for North Kildare. The inquiries which I undertook to make on that occasion are proceeding, and it is not possible to make any further statement at present.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from the representatives of the late John Derry, who was evicted from his holding in Inniscoo Island, County Donegal, about nine years ago, to be reinstated in his former holding; whether the application has been rejected, and, if so, upon what grounds; and whether the Commissioners will now favourably consider the claims of Derry's representatives to reinstatement under the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Mrs. Sophia O'Donnel, daughter of John Derry, deceased, but they cannot see their way to depart from their decision not to take any action in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can now state when he hopes to be in a position to proceed with the Royal Irish Constabulary Bill; and does he intend it to become law before the end of the present session. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I trust that the necessary financial resolution will be passed by the Committee on Monday next, the 16th instant, and in that case the Bill will be introduced at the earliest possible moment, and will, I hope, become law before the end of the session.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty why the request of the Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet, on the conclusion of the naval manœuvres, that the fleets might be combined for tactical exercises, was refused by the Admiralty.

I can only repeat the reply I gave to my hon. Friend in answer to a similar Question on 1st August. I must decline to answer any Question relating to the manœuvres, the subject of which can only have been communicated to the hon. Member by a breach of confidence.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the request was made to the Admiralty by wireless telegraphy, and that the message was published in the Naval and Military Record, a journal which was often inspired by the Board of Admiralty.

No, sir, I am not aware of that fact.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I communicated the fact to him by letter, to which I received no reply.

I am not aware of that fact either.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty on what occasions have the fully commissioned ships of the Home Fleet comprised in the six battleships of the Note division, or the eight battleships with nucleus crews in the Portsmouth and Devonport divisions, been placed under the present Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet for tactical exercises in conjunction with the Channel Fleet of fourteen battleships; and whether the "Dreadnought" has ever been so exercised.

So far as it is in the public interest to reply to my hon. friend, I have already done so in my reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Croydon, on 3rd November.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if the usual average amount of new work has been placed with Messrs. White's yard at Cowes during the present year; and if about 700 men will be out of work very shortly at East Cowes owing to the lack of Admiralty work.

I cannot recognise that the term "average" is applicable to the allocation of Government work to private yards. The placing of Government orders must depend upon considerations of price and quality. I have no information which would enable me to reply to the last part of the Question.

What orders have been placed this year?

I have not the figures. I will inquire.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that the firm of Messrs. Morrison and Mason, Government contractors at Portsmouth, are not observing the Fair Wages Clause in the payment of their labourers; and whether he will take action in the matter.

The matter is being investigated, and I must ask the hon. Member to be good enough to defer his Question for a fortnight.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state if the 4,700 men qualified for, but not in receipt of, the Greenwich Hospital age pension are dealt with in order of precedence as vacancies occur and funds admit, or is it necessary to bring interest to bear on the Admiralty in order to have a man's name added to the list; is there a register of names of those eligible preserved; and can he state the average number of men added to the list of pensioners during the past five years.

Pensioners eligible for Greenwich Hospital age pensions are entered in the register of candidates as such when they make application. Awards are made as vacancies occur by selection from the oldest and most necessitous applicants, and not in order of precedence. It is not necessary to bring interest to bear on the Admiralty in order to have a man's name added to the list, and no regard is paid to such interest. An average number of 439 per annum has been added to the list of men in receipt of the Greenwich Hospital age pension during the five years ended 31st March, 1908.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that the large number of 4,700 men were discharged under the impression that they were entitled to these pensions and whether they had no chance of getting them unless pressure was brought to bear upon the Admiralty.

replied they had every chance. It was only a question of money. Each case of necessity would be dealt with as soon as possible.

Are those who are entitled to pensions advised to apply to the Admiralty if they desire to have them?

A record is kept of everyone qualified for a pension and where the case is necessitous a pension is awarded as soon as funds will allow.

If I send him the names of men in twenty necessitous cases will pensions be granted?

If they are qualified and I have funds at my disposal they will receive pensions.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Andover Division of Hampshire. I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether a man enlisting in the new Special Reserve is liable, whenever the Army Reserve is called out, to be sent abroad to his regiment and retained abroad for one year if hostilities are still in progress.

Yes, Sir. This liability is set forth on the attestation paper and on the notice paper served to intending recruits prior to attestation.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Andover Division of Hampshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether the unemployed Special Reservist will receive 7s. per week clear, while the ordinary Special Reservist can only receive 4s. 11½d. clear of stoppages.

The hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. There is no such person as an unemployed Special Reservist. All Special Reservists draw pay alike according to the branch of service to which they belong and the rank they hold therein.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Andover Division of Hampshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what percentage of men have been refused enlistment in the unemployed Special Reserve owing to not being able to pass the health standard.

Statistics of medical rejections for the Special Reserve are received quarterly. A general percentage worked out from these Returns would only be misleading, and therefore I have not attempted to compile figures showing the percentage of medical rejections.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state how many men there are at the present time who are under three months' notice to be discharged from the Army Ordnance Department, and if any further discharges are contemplated; and whether, considering the present depressed condition of trade in Woolwich and elsewhere, he will reconsider the age limit of sixty.

There are sixteen men in the Army Ordnance Department at Woolwich Arsenal at present under three months' notice of discharge, and about twenty-five further discharges are contemplated before June next. Many of these men are entitled to pensions, and of the sixteen all but one are either pensionable or eligible for gratuities. Civilian subordinates may be called upon to retire at the age of sixty, but if fully able to discharge their duties properly may, in very exceptional circumstances, be retained from year to year to sixty-five. These discharges will make way for a number of younger men waiting to be taken on.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that special qualifications are necessary for giving first-aid to the injured and sick in the battalions of the Territorial Army, he will discontinue the present arrangements under which the musicians in the band of the battalion are called upon to render this assistance, whether he is aware that bandsmen dislike having this duty put upon them, for which they have no special qualifications; and whether he will instruct commanding officers of territorial battalions to provide an independent section to give first-aid to the injured and sick.

The hon. Member has apparently lost sight of the fact that the bandsmen in the Regular Army are trained as stretcher-bearers and in first-aid to the wounded. I am not aware of any reason why the bandsmen in the Territorial Force should not be competent to carry out similar work.

was understood to ask if the present position of Territorial bands was the most suitable one for this purpose.

replied that the Territorial bands were on the same footing as those of the Regular forces, and it was not deemed expedient to make a new departure in this matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to keep troops stationed during the coming winter in the Beresford barracks, at the Curragh, Ireland, in view of the fact that these barracks are stated in the Army Medical Department Report for the year 1907 to be rapidly decaying and getting beyond repair, the rooms being draughty, cheerless, and very cold in winter.

It appears on inquiry that the barracks in question, which are huts of concrete and as such inferior to permanent barracks, are not rapidly decaying or beyond repair, with the exception of the commanding-officer's quarters. Provision is made for the extra issue of fuel in Ireland in unusually damp or cold weather. The barracks will be occupied if necessary during the winter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to have the official Report for 1907 corrected?

We are quite aware of the fact.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the barrack accommodation in Ireland is very inferior to that in England?

A great deal has been done in recent years to improve it, and in some cases the Irish barracks are better than the English.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed in future to give free travelling allowance to officers' wives and families, by land as well as by sea, in the event of such officers being moved from a station of permanent duty, in view of his statement in Committee of Supply on 8th March, 1906, that the officer's wife and family will in future have free conveyance if the officer is sent away on duty.

The promise to which the hon. Member alludes, only referred to conveyance by sea. There is no present intention of extending the concession in the manner suggested in the Question.

If it is right to give free conveyance by sea, why not by land?

We may consider that hereafter.

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman will take the earliest opportunity of extending the privilege to land conveyance?

One must consider the needs of the service first and arrange accordingly.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can say whether any regimental canteens are bound by any agreement or undertaking or is otherwise under any obligation to obtain a supply of any intoxicating liquor from any particular person; and, it so, can he state how many canteens are so bound.

The contracts for the supply of articles to the regimental institutes are managed regimentally, and the War Office has, therefore, no information on the subject raised in the Question. It may be added that the Regulations lay down that no contract shall be for a longer period than six months, and also that in order to secure to the soldier the combined advantages of low prices and good quality, a sytsem of competition should be adopted.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state if it is the intention of the Army Council to exempt officers and men of the Special Reserve, whether on full pay or not, from serving on any jury, as is the case with officers and men of the Territorial Force; and, if not, can he state why the privilege is extended to the junior branch of the service and denied to the senior.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to a Question put on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member on 27th July last.

asked for an answer to the last part of his Question.

said there was no analogy between these officers and those of the Territorial Force.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the character and efficiency of the pointed bullets of some foreign nations and of the fact that much more serious wounds would be caused by them than by the bullets used by British troops, he will say what steps he proposes to take to secure that British troops shall be as effectively armed as any possible enemy.

The whole question of improving the ammunition is now under consideration, and I am not, therefore, able to make any statement as to the steps which will be taken in regard to pointed bullets.

Is it not the case, and has it not been the case for some time, that the British soldier has only been able to drill quite a small hole into the enemy, while the enemy has been able to inflict a large, jagged wound upon the British soldier? How long is this to continue.

I am not aware that it is so. There are a great many pros and cons to be weighed in connection with these bullets, which, I would point out, have only been adopted by foreign countries in principle. We are not far behind other nations in these matters.

asked for information as to the attempt upon the life of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal.

The Secretary of State has learned with deep concern that a criminal attempt, happily unsuccessful, was made on the life of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal on Saturday. The information supplied to the Secretary of State does not give any details beyond those contained in this morning's newspapers.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet had an opportunity of inspecting the working model of Mr. Brennan's Gyroscope Mono-Railway at Chatham, with the view to its application in opening out country in East and West Africa.

I understand that my predecessor has inspected the model, and it has also been inspected by officers with experience of the conditions of tropical Africa. Until the invention has been tested in a practical manner, in this country, it is not possible to obtain a definite report as to its suitability to those conditions.

asked whether the model in question was a full-size working model, and whether the hon. Gentleman would afford facilities for Members of the House to see it.

It is a most interesting invention, and I will consider whether it will be possible to provide facilities for hon. Members to see it.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary for the Colonies if the Act of the Natal Parliament providing for the better administration of native affairs is now under the consideration of the Colonial Office; is he aware that its provisions are strongly objected to by influential friends of the natives and by local newspapers in the Colony; and, in these circumstances, will be consider carefully before advising that the Crown shall give assent to this measure.

The Bill has not yet reached the Colonial Office in its final form. When it is so received from the Governor, it will have careful consideration.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that as recently as 10th October there were under detention at Barberton, in the Transvaal, seventeen boys, from nine to fifteen years of age, the children of some of the fifty-eight British Indians then in gaol at Barberton for not having applied for registration certificates before entering the Transvaal; whether these British-Indian parents were all holders of permits under the Peace Preservation Ordinance, 1903; and what has become of these children.

According to an official Report fifty-nine adult Asiatics, accompanied by seventeen minors entered the Transvaal at Komati Poort on 29th September. Fifty-eight adults were on 1st October convicted at Barberton of being prohibited immigrants, and sentenced to a fine of £25 each, or in default to undergo simple imprisonment for two months. The fact that they held permits under repealed legislation did not entitle them to enter. The children are presumably being cared for, but inquiry shall be made.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to an appeal signed by ten ministers of religion in the Transvaal, and addressed to the Transvaal Government, complaining of the treatment of a large number of Indians on their way from Delagoa Bay to their home in the Transvaal, and appealing for careful inquiries, and praying that the religious objections of Asiatics on certain elements of prison diet might be respected; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter.

No, Sir. I have not seen the appeal referred to. As to the dietary, scale I would refer my hon. friend to a full Answer on the subject which I gave to the hon. Member for Preston on Tuesday last.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Asiatics Registration Amendment Act of 1908, passed to validate the voluntary registration of certain Asiatics and to make further provision for Asiatic registration, was intended and understood by His Majesty's Government to supersede Act No. 2, of 1907, of the Transvaal; whether he is aware that since the sanction of the new law a number of British-Indians within the Transvaal have been prosecuted and sentenced under the old one, and that British-Indians claiming the right to re-enter the Transvaal are being kept out pending application for registration under the new law, while Indians within the Colony are being prosecuted and deported under the old one; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

The Act of this year was intended, and was understood by His Majesty's Government, not to supersede but to amend the Act of 1907, as is, I think, clear from the Governor's telegram of 24th August, printed at page 32 of Cd. 4327. Some Asiatics were registered under the old Act and others come under the new.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State is aware that the resources at the disposal of Dinizulu for his defence are exhausted; and whether, in view of the special obligations which have been incurred by the Imperial Government towards this chief, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to see that his defence is adequately provided for.

The Secretary of State has telegraphed to the Governor of Natal for further information as to the facts, and I am not, therefore, at the moment, in a position to make any statement in reply to my hon. friend's Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Sir Eldon Gorst's statement that Egypt already had a constitution that had been laid down by the organic law, and that the British people were quite ready to co-operate with the Egyptians for its gradual extension as fast as the intellectual standard of the population warranted such a course, is an official declaration of the British Government being ready so to co-operate. I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Sir Eldon Gorst's statement to the effect that there was absolutely no truth in the report that Great Britain would shortly proclaim a protectorate over Egypt or was considering the question of annexation, and that Great Britain had given solemn pledges to Turkey and to the European Powers to respect the Sultan's rights in Egypt and did not desire to go back on that engagement, may be taken as an official declaration of the British Government's pledges and its policy in regard to Egypt.

My right hon. friend begs to reply to the hon. Member's two Questions on this subject together. The language used by Sir Eldon Gorst is correctly quoted, and is approved by His Majesty's Government.

asked whether Sir Eldon Gorst's statement was to be taken as a declaration of policy on the part of the Government.

I have really answered that Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any reason to believe that the Russian officers employed in the Persian service have acted other wise than according to orders received from the Persian authorities; and whether the internal independence of Persia is a fundamental condition of the Anglo-Russian Convention.

The Answer to the first Question is in the negative. The second Question is answered by the text of the Agreement referred to.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the different treatment meted out in the British Consulate at Lorenzo Marques, Mozambique, to British-Indians as compared with Europeans; whether the offices of the British Consul are the only public buildings in the town into which British-Indians have to enter by the back way; and, if so, what action he proposes to take.

My right hon. friend had not heard before that there was any such practice at the British Consulate, nor would he have thought it probable. If the hon. Member will forward the information which has led him to make the statement, inquiries shall be made.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that the Inter-Parliamentary Union, although a non-Party organisation, represents only one class of opinion, he will reconsider the expediency of subsidising its operations out of public funds.

I do not agree with my hon. friend that the Inter-parliamentary Union represents only one class of opinion, nor do I understand to what class of opinion he refers.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that income-tax is charged here on money drawn from a current account in a bank in a Brinish Colony, but is not charged on capital; and whether he will state when and where such moneys become capital and where and when such moneys cease to be capital.

The question whether remittances from a Colony are to be regarded as remittances of profits or of capital is a question of fact, which in any case of doubt would be decided on appeal by the District Commissioners of Taxes.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will shortly lay upon the Table of the House, in accordance with the promise which was understood to have been given, the document to which he referred in the Debate on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill on 1st June last, as prepared by one of the ablest masters of political economy, and from which he quoted figures in regard to the relative cost of living in Germany and the United Kingdom.

The Paper in question, a Memorandum on the Fiscal Policy of International Trade, by Mr. Alfred Marshall, until recently Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge, is now ready for issue, and I propose to lay it at once upon the Table of the House. The paper was originally prepared in 1903, and Mr. Marshall, when consenting to its publication, kindly undertook to revise it, which has caused a slight delay in its presentation to Parliament.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue surveyors demand income-tax on the estimated profits of a firm established in Ceylon, and entirely directed, controlled, and managed by the partners residing there; whether the profits are liable to income-tax owing to the senior partner residing here but taking no part in the management of the firm in Ceylon, any money received by him having already paid income-tax in the Colony; and, if not, whether he will take immediate steps to end all such demands.

If the hon. Member will inform me of the name of the firm to which he refers, and the name and address of the senior partner, I will investigate the case. In the absence of this information, it is impossible to answer the Question.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Patriotic Fund Commissioners have given notice of their intention to raise the amount of the pension to persons over seventy so that they will be disqualified for an old-age pension; that this involves a loss of £2 5s. a year to each pensioner; and what action does he propose to take in the matter.

I am informed that the allowances to certain widows from Patriotic Funds have been increased from £26 to £31 11s. a year, thus disqualifying them for old-age pensions. These widows, I understand, are widows of able seamen or private soldiers, or equivalent ranks, on special funds, which are in a financial position to admit of such increase. I am also informed that the authority for this action, having been taken is the Committee of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation charged with the administration of those funds under the direction of the Corporation, and that they adopted this action because they considered that the State should not be taxed to provide old-age pensions in the circumstances and that the widows will be adequately and generously provided for by such an allowance as £31 11s. a year. On other funds which are not in a financial position to allow of similar allowances being granted, the widows have been informed that they should apply for old-age pensions and notify the committee of the result of their applications. I do not propose to take any action in the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board how many persons in London have been sent to prison in the year 1907 for non-payment of rates; and can he give the totals for England and Wales, for Scotland, and for Ireland.

I beg to answer this Question on behalf of my right hon. friend. I can only repeat the Answer I gave last Tuesday to a somewhat similar Question by the hon. Member for Darlington—that the figures are not available, and that even if it were possible to get accurate returns, their collection would, I fear, give the local authorities more trouble than the result would justify. The prison records do not distinguish rate defaulters from ordinary civil debtors. As regards Scotland and Ireland, the question is one for the Secretary for Scotland and the Chief Secretary respectively.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of John Hay, who was convicted at the Central Criminal Court on 28th May, 1883, on a charge of receiving stolen goods and sentenced to seven years penal servitude, was released on ticket-of-leave on 8th November, 1883, and received a free pardon from Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, on 9th May, 1885; whether he is aware that in consequence of his wrongful conviction and imprisonment John Hay has suffered heavy pecuniary loss; and whether he will consider and advise whether compensation may be properly granted to him, as was recently done in the case of Adolph Beck and in many previous cases of wrongful conviction.

This case has been repeatedly considered by my predecessors since 1885. They decided that there were, no sufficient grounds for granting compensation out of public money. I regret that I cannot re-open the question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that the fact that the misfortune has been suffered by this man since 1885 is a reason why he should not receive compensation?

Having regard to all the circumstances I am afraid I can add nothing to my Answer.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any official information showing that the motor omnibuses which bear the inscription of "Union Jack" are of a faulty type and are specially liable to cause noise and nuisance in the streets; and, if so, why these omnibuses are licensed, to the discouragement of companies which provide better vehicles.

I am informed that three different types of motor omnibuses run under the name of "Union Jack." It cannot be said that the types are faulty, but individual vehicles may, of course, become objectionable through not receiving attention in good time.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been directed to the case of Mr. George Gamble, who was assaulted by Police Constable Edwin Ashford, of the H division, Metropolitan Police, on 25th August, 1906, consequent upon which the matter was investigated by the recent Police Commission, resulting in Ashford being indicted at the Central Criminal Court on 23rd October last and sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour; whether he is aware that Gamble has been taken by Detective Sergeant Derrent and another officer to the office of Mr. Muskett, a solicitor, who offered Gamble £100 as maximum compensation on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, that Gamble declined this on the ground of inadequacy, but upon being led to believe that if the offer was refused he would get nothing he verbally accepted; whether the proceeding was irregular; and whether he will have the matter re-opened with a view to the merits of the case being fully considered and ampler compensation awarded, especially as Gamble is permanently injured and incapacitated from regularly following his employment as a result thereof.

No compensation has been tendered to Gamble, the police authority not being liable for the misconduct of the constable. A sum of £100, however, was offered purely as a compassionate grant. No pressure whatever was brought to bear beyond advising him to allow this money to be held in trust for him. I am informed that Gamble, as yet, has neither accepted nor refused the offer. I must add that Ashford has now applied to the Court of Criminal Appeal for leave to appeal against his conviction.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Miss Mary Manning, who was among the twelve suffragists who were committed to one month's imprisonment in the third class by the Westminster Police Court magistrate last Thursday, is the daughter of a clergyman and a graduate in honours at the London University; is he aware that this was her first offence and was committed without any criminal intent; and does any power reside in the Home Office to modify the sentence or the prison treatment to which she is subjected.

This lady has already been transferred to the second division by order of the magistrate.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of the Question. What are the limits of the Home Secretary's power in modifying sentences or treatment?

That opens up a large question, but my hon. friend will know that I have jurisdictions regards Prison Rules, but statutory Prison Rules when made have to be observed.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to an accident which occurred in the Walworth Road on Wednesday last, when a motor omnibus collided with a ladder killing one man and seriously injuring two others; and what steps he proposes to take for the better protection of the people of London against these dangerous vehicles.

It appears that the death and the injuries resulted from the overthrow of a ladder, caused by the omnibus; an inquest will be held to-day. I fear that no steps can be taken which would remove the risk of the occurrence of an accident of this nature.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the number of deaths caused by motor-vehicles within the Metropolitan Police District has risen steadily from six per annum in 1902 to 123 per annum in 1907, and that the number of persons injured has increased in the same period from 319 per annum to 5,362; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent further loss of life and limb from this cause.

I am aware of the figures which the hon. Member quotes. I must point out that he includes accidents from tramcars driven by motor-power, which accounted for 22 of the fatal accidents and 2,119 of the non-fatal for 1907; and that, owing to the great increase in the number of motor vehicles, an increase in the number of accidents caused by them was inevitable. But the number of accidents is very serious, and the subject receives the constant attention of the police, who do all in their power to prevent them, and, when they are the result of dangerous or negligent driving, to bring the offenders to book.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has any control over London County Council tramcars, and if he is aware that they sometimes exceed the speed limit?

No, Sir. That rests with the Board of Trade.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a man was killed in Whitehall the other day by a motor-car which was admitted by the driver to be going at sixteen miles an hour?

Perhaps my hon. friend will supply me with particulars of the case.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many on-licences have been suppressed under the 1904 Act; how many of these were tied houses; and how many were free houses.

During the years 1905, 1906 and 1907, 2,805 on-licences were extinguished under the compensation provisions of the Licensing Act, 1904. I have no information as to how many of these houses were tied; and I am not yet in possession of the figures of extinctions in 1908.

Have the Government no statistics as to the number of tied houses?

No, Sir, but it is known that something like 90 per cent. are tied.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman get the actual figures?

Not with accuracy.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, on several occasions recently, gentlemen of position have grossly insulted the Metropolitan Police when their chauffeurs have been stopped for the offence of driving motor cars at an excessive speed; and whether he will issue instructions to the Metropolitan Police that when a chauffeur is charged with such an offence, committed when his master was on the car, they shall carefully consider whether the circumstances were such as would just proceeding also against the master for aiding and abetting or counselling and procuring the offence.

My attention had not previously been drawn to this matter, except by observing some newspaper reports. I understand from the Commissioner that, in cases of the nature indicated in the hon. Member's Question, the police would be prepared to proceed against the owner for abetting, should the circumstances justify such a course.

Have the Metropolitan Police in any single instance prosecuted the owner as well as the driver?

I cannot answer that Question without notice.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the police instructions as suggested?

The police are at perfect liberty to take action if they think it advisable to do so.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the amount of compensation paid to the houses suppressed in 1905–6 which were assessed under Schedule A at £20,145; and what amount of compensation these houses, now assessed under Schedule A at £14,442, would have received in each of the thirteen years reduction period of the Licensing Bill.

I am informed by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue that the total amount of compensation awarded by them in the years 1905 and 1906, in respect of the houses assessed in the aggregate to Schedule A at £20,145, was £455,117. To answer the second part of the Question would involve complicated calculations which, in view of the provisions of Clause 45 of the Bill, could not, in my opinion, be made with any approach to accuracy.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman try it and thus enable us to discuss the Raport stage of the Bill with some knowledge of the facts?

replied in the negative.

Cannot we have the figures for the first of the thirteen years' reduction period?

It is hardly a matter for me to deal with.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the present number of on-licences, of off-licences, of on-licensees who brew and sell their own beer, and on-licences in Kidderminster who brew and sell their own beer in Kidderminster.

The latest available statistics as to licensed premises in England and Wales show 97,554 on-licences and 25,143 off-licences. I am informed by the Inland Revenue Commissioners that it would be a matter of considerable difficulty to determine the number of on-licensees throughout the country who brew their own beer, but that it has been ascertained that in Kidderminster, where there are 131 on-licences and twenty-nine off-licences, fifty-two licence-holders brew their own beer.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister how the calculation proposing to reduce the on-licences from about 97,000 to 68,000 is arrived at; whether it professes to give to each of the licensing districts exactly the maximum number of licences permitted by Schedule I of the Licensing Bill; and, if not, to state the deviations.