To ask the Postmaster-General whether he has yet arrived at any decision with regard to the amount of leave to be granted to officers of the Post Office; and, if not, when his decision may be expected. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The Question is still under my consideration.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will say how many county councils and other local authorities have during the past twelve months asked for power to regulate the speed of motor cars in their respective areas. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I presume my hon. friend refers to the number of authorities by whom applications have been made to the local Government Board during the last twelve months for regulations imposing restrictions on the speed of motor cars. The number of such authorities is twenty-seven. Under the existing law local authorities cannot themselves be empowered to make regulations on this subject.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether in view of the statement recently issued by the highway committee of the Surrey County Council, that during the past twelve months of all the applications made to the local Government Board by the council to reduce the speed of motor cars only two had been inquired into by that body, he will see into the reasons of this delay. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) During the past twelve months two separate applications, and two only, have been made to the Board by the Surrey County Council for the imposition of low speed limits for motor cars. An inquiry has been held upon one of them, relating to three roads in Walton and Woking, and the Board have agreed to comply with

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the acreage of foreshore in the United Kingdom sold

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the names of all persons receiving £100 a year or more out of Subhead A., Vote 32, Class 2, of Civil Service Estimates, stating the amount paid yearly in each case and the nature of the service for which it is paid. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The following table affords the information asked for—

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board has any official information showing that at Swineshead, in Bedfordshire, notice to quit his holding has been served by a landowner on a tenant, on the ground that the tenant was an agitator for small holdings and that the owner hoped he would leave the village; and whether the Government will consider the question of providing, by legislation or otherwise, against such occurrences in future. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The President is making full inquiry into this matter, and I will be glad to inform my hon. friend of the result.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board has received a Memorandum from Mr. C. A. Fane relating to the position of affairs at Oxted, in Surrey; whether he is aware that two members of the Oxted Land Club each applied for an acre of land to the Surrey County Council, that the council kept the application for ten months and subsequently referred the men to the Oxted Parish Council, and that the parish council informed them that there was no land available nearer than Oxted village, which is a mile and a half away from the hamlet in which they live; whether, in view of the fact that the applicants have now asked for more than 1 acre of land, the Board will instruct the Surrey County Council to deal with their application and provide them with land in the neighbourhood where they live; and whether there is suitable land available in that neighbourhood. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) We received the Memorandum a few days ago and are inquiring into the matter. I will communicate the result of the inquiry to my hon. friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any, and, if so, how many persons of sixteen years of age or upwards are now imprisoned or kept in penal servitude in respect of offences committed by them when under sixteen years of age. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The number of such persons serving sentences of imprisonment is twenty-five, and one is serving a sentence of penal servitude. Total, twenty-six.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his atenttion has been called to the case of a labourer, named Dillon, who was charged on Saturday at the Tower Bridge Police Court with attempting suicide, and stated that he had seven children at home in want of food, and one of them was dying, and that he had been out of work sixteen weeks, and applied in vain to the borough council for work; can he state in what union did Dillon live; whether the guardians of the union gave medical out-relief freely to children who were ill and whose parents could not pay for a doctor, or whether they put it on loan or required the parents to come into the workhouse if they needed medical relief for their children; and whether in that union the statutory provisions, that the guardians should give employment to those who were unemployed and had no means to maintain themselves, were carried out to the satisfaction of the Local Government Board. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I understand that Dillon resides in the parish of Camberwell. Medical relief is given on loan in this parish, but I have no reason to doubt that it is given freely in cases in which it is required. The guardians do not give employment to those who are unemployed and unable to maintain themselves except as a condition of relief.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that about 200 unemployed men were given orders for the workhouse by the Whitechapel Guardians on or about 5th November, after applying to the board for work or relief; that the chairman of the board said that the guardians were powerless to give outdoor relief; and that the master of the workhouse told the guardians that the house was full, but he would do his best for the men with blankets, and accommodate them on the floor of the receiving room; whether, if the workhouse was full, the men were entitled to outdoor relief (having regard to the judgments of the Court of Appeal in the Merthyr Tydfil case) if they were ready and willing to perform any task of work which the guardians might impose in accordance with the Outdoor Relief Regulation Order, 1852; and whether, even if the workhouse were not full, the guardians could, instead of offering the workhouse, have given them employment and relief under that order. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have made inquiry and am informed that the guardians know nothing of the exceptional circumstances mentioned in the Question. During the week ended 7th November, the relieving officer gave 55 orders for the workhouse to destitute persons who were without permanent residence in the union, but not a single order was given or applied for in the case of anyone with a home in the union. In about half a dozen instances genuine unemployed residents sought the advice of the relieving officers, and these have been found work, either through the borough suveyor or through the agencies in the district. The workhouse is certified for 818 inmates and the highest number in it throughout the week ended 7th November was 642, so that there was no occasion for any such observations as those attributed to the master.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can hold out any hope of its being possible for him to make immediate grants from the fund at his disposal for the unemployed to those towns, not being county boroughs, and districts where there is no distress committee appointed under the Unemployed Workmen Act. 1905 but where there is a relief committee known as the mayor's committee. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The grant is voted for expenses under the Act, and consequently payments from it can only be made where a central body or distress committee have been set up under the Act.

To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state when the Report as to the proposed changes in regard to the coastguard service will be submitted to the House for consideration. (Answered by Mr. McKENNA.) The re-transfer of revenue duties to the Board of Customs, now performed by the coastguard, can only be effected by Act of Parliament. It is hoped a Bill for this purpose will be introduced next session, and it would be premature to make a statement in anticipation of the introduction of the Bill.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Board's inspector has, during several years, called the attention of the managers of the schools at Limps-field, Surrey, to the unsatisfactory condition of the schools and to the overcrowding that exists in them; whether the school at Limpsfield Chart was closed in June, 1907, causing additional over-crowding in the schools in Limpsfield village; whether he is aware that some of the children have to kneel on the floor to write; and whether anything can be done to remedy this state of affairs. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I am aware that the premises of the Limpsfield Church school are far from satisfactory, and that the school is seriously overcrowded. Plans for carrying out the necessary improvements were approved by the Board in July, and I propose to require that the work should be immediately put in hand if the recognition of the school is to continue. The provision of a new council school for 200 children has been sanctioned, and the Board have inquired of the local authority as to when the plans of the site will be submitted. The local authority are being urged to press on the provision of the new school with all possible despatch and to provide such temporary accommodation as is necessary in the meantime.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that, owing to the absence of statutory provision for a close time for herring fishing, quantities of immature fish have been recently caught and thrown into the sea as useless; and whether, in view of this fact, and of the results of the past season's fishing, he is prepared to introduce legislation in regard to close time. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) No complaints of recent capture of immature fish have reached me and, as at present advised, I do not see my way to introduce legislation in the sense suggested by my hon. friend.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state, of the local bodies subject to the audit of the Local Government Board, how many pay a fixed sum yearly to a solicitor and how many do not; of those who pay a fixed sum yearly to a solicitor how many make additional payments to the same solicitor, and how many do not; on what principle does an auditor allow additional payments in such cases; and by what means does he protect the ratepayers from paying twice for the same service. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board are not in possession of any information with regard to the first part of the Question. In auditing accounts the auditors have regard to the terms of the agreements made by councils with their solicitors and, by investigation of particulars of costs passed by councils, take every possible care to secure that the ratepayers are not charged twice for the same service.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if all the official local government auditors have passed a similar qualifying examination before appointment, how does he account for some of them passing accounts in which law, engineering, and other expenses are mixed beyond the possibility of subsequent segregation; whether the Local Government Board will in future appoint as auditors only duly-qualified men after competitive examination; and whether the Board will require an intelligent annual analysis of the accounts of local bodies or the keeping of the accounts in such a way that information useful to the public can be obtained when required. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) As regards the qualifications prescribed for candidates far auditorships under the Local Government Board, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question on the subject asked by the hon. Member for Kilkenny on the 9th instant. The Board are satisfied that their existing orders are quite sufficient for the purpose referred to in the last part of the Question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why the auditors of the Local Government Board for Ireland do not enforce the law of lowest tender for performance of the legal work as of the other public works of local governing bodies; if he is aware that in most cases in which an annual payment is made to a solicitor all real legal work is paid for according to scale in addition, being double payment out of the rates; and whether local bodies and auditors will be instructed to adhere in future to either one system or the other, subject in either case to the common requirement of advertising for tenders and accepting the lowest. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The hon. Member presumably refers to the law relating to the acceptance of tenders for the execution of public works, but this law does not appeal to apply to the legal work of local bodies. The Local Government Board are not aware of any foundation for the allegation that double payment is made for such legal work. There is no statutory provision which would enable the Board to issue instructions as suggested.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the town-land of Toames, parish of Macloneigh, on the estate of Lord Bandon, County Cork, has been vested in the tenants by the Estates Commissioners. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The advances for the purchase of these lands have not yet been sanctioned by the Estate Commissioners, and, until this has been done, the lands cannot be vested in the tenants.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty how many submarines are to be laid down under this year's Estimates.

It is not in the public interest to state for the present what the number is.

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect to be in a position to give the information?

Not this session, but I should hope early next year.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the purchase of the two destroyers to replace the "Gala" and the "Tiger" has been completed; and can he give particulars of their dimensions, their speed, and their names.

The purchase of the vessels in question has not been completed.

When will it be?

That does not depend on the Admiralty. It depends on the trials proving satisfactory.

Is the House to understand that the new "Tigers" will possess to the full the destroying qualities of the abandoned boats or beasts? Will they be equally effective?

I hope so.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made with the work at Rosyth.

Tenders for the Rosyth contract were invited on 23rd October; they are to be sent in on 22nd December.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty upon what date did the "Bulwark" leave Sheerness after repairs; whether she then joined the Channel Fleet; or, if not, where did she go, for what purpose, and by whose orders.

The "Bulwark" left Sheerness on 2nd October and, under Admiralty orders, proceeded to Devonport to embark part of her crew, calling en route at Portsmouth; she arrived at Devonport on 3rd October and proceeded on 6th October to Berehaven to adjust gun-sights, and thence, on 15th October, to Portland to carry out battle practice. The adjustment of gun-sights was proposed by the Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet, and approved by the Admiralty: the battle practice was ordered by the Commander-in-Chief.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether H.M.S. "Irresistible" "Swiftsure," "Triumph," "New Zealand," "Hampshire," and "Roxburgh" were refitting on 8th November; whether he has any official information to show what on that date was the estimated time required to get each of these vessels to sea; if so, what was the estimate for each vessel, respectively; and whether he can state which of these vessels have now completed refit, and the respective dates of completion.

The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part of the Question, I am not clear whether the hon. Member wishes to know the estimated date at which these vessels could be completed for sea in an emergency, or whether he wishes to know the date at which they are in the ordinary course to have their refit completed. The dates on the former basis I am not, in the public interest, prepared to give; on the latter basis, the dates are as follows:—"Irresistible," taken in hand 29th September, 1908; date for completion, 12th December, 1908. "Swiftsure," taken in hand 5th October, 1908; date for completion 30th November, 1908. "Triumph," taken in hand 7th September, 1908; date for completion, 26th December, 1908. "New Zealand," taken in hand 31st August, 1908; date for completion, 12th November, 1908. "Hampshire," taken in hand, 12th October, 1908; date for completion, 5th December, 1908. "Roxburgh," taken in hand, 17th September, 1908; date for completion, 15th December, 1908. With regard to the last part of the Question, the "New Zealand" was completed on 12th November.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the depth of water over the sills at Messrs. R. Stephenson's docks at Hepburn-on-Tyne.

The answer to the hon. Member's Question is, 29 feet over the sill at high-water springs.

Will there be this depth of water on more than two or three days a fortnight?

I assume the hon. Member correctly describes the high water springs.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty considers quotations for granite from foreign and home producers on equal terms.

The answer to the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative.

In view of the terrible state of unemployment obtaining up and down the country, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that all Admiralty requisites shall be bought here, the price being reasonable?

I can give no such undertaking.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty upon what date the "Hindustan" left Portsmouth after repairing; whether she then joined the Channel Fleet, or, if not, by whose orders and for what purpose was she sent to any other destination; and to what place was she sent.

The "Hindustan" left Portsmouth on 16th October; she did not join up with the Channel Fleet, but by the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet proceeded to Portland.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet received reports from the various Territorial Associations stating how many horses there are within their area which would be both suitable and available for the mounted branches of the force in the event of mobilisation.

Up to the present only two Associations have forwarded Reports as to the number of horses within their area. The horses, however, were not classified. The information required necessarily takes considerable time to secure.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of horses in the Remount Department and in regiments that there are in excess of actual requirements for the Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line at home stations.

There are no horses in the Remount Department and in regiments in excess of actual requirement for Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line at home.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India what are the terms of the Fair Wages Clause in contracts placed by the Indian Government in Great Britain or on the Continent of Europe; and what means are taken to secure its enforcement.

The "Fair Wages Clause "in contracts given out by the India Office is the same as that contained in other Governwent contracts in this country. When complaint is made to the Department that the clause is not being carried out, an inquiry is made, and if the complaint is substantiated the firm would be compelled to observe the clause.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Resolution of the Government of India, dated 15th August, 1907, directing that local opinion in regard to the number and sites of liquor shops should be consulted more systematically and recorded more definitely, has been carried into effect in all the provinces of India; whether he can state in how many towns and municipalities local committees have been set up for the purpose of advising the Government upon this subject, and to what extent non-official opinion is represented upon these committees.

The Secretary of State regrets that he is not in possession of the detailed information necessary for a reply to this Question, but he proposes to direct that the three points referred to by my hon. friend should receive special notice in the next annual Excise Report of each Local Government.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the trade union clause providing for rates of wages and hours of labour is included in the contracts made by the India Office, and particularly was any clause protective of wages and hours of labour included in the recent purchases of iron material from Belgian manufacturers.

I have just stated in reply to the hon. Member for Darlington, particulars of the "Fair Wages Clause," which is inserted in all our contracts. No clause relating to hours of labour is inserted in contracts made by the India Office.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Ceylon Government subsidises the Indian recruiting agency; and, if so, to what extent.

Since its establishment in 1904, one quarter of the cost of the South Indian Labour Agency has been contributed by the Ceylon Government. The subsidy for the current year is Rs.12,000. The Report of the Ceylon Labour Commission has recently been received, and we are awaiting the Governor's recommendations on it.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that notices of eviction have been served on natives in the Zoutpansberg and other districts of the Transvaal based on a law of 1895, previously stated to have long fallen into disuse; whether, seeing that under Article 7 the eviction of families hitherto permitted to reside on farms has for sanction, in case of continuing or repeated offence, the penalty of flogging on every head of such family so living without a permit, and that by Article 8 coloured persons living with permits on farms are forbidden to leave without three months notice to the occupier and also to the Commissioner, he can inform the House how far it is understood that the revival of the law in question is an alternative to the proposed Natives' Occupation of Lands Bill, of which the withdrawal was announced in the House of Commons; and whether the Government are satisfied that the revived Act will not prove detrimental to the interests of all natives except such as consent to labour on particular farms.

I have no information on the subject, but inquiry has been made of the Governor by telegram.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the gin and other spirits which were imported into Nigeria was imported from Hamburg and other German ports.

The total declared value of spirits imported into Southern Nigeria in 1907 was £385,505. Of this, spirits to the value of £139,890 were imported from Germany.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state in what other Crown Colonies besides Ceylon the Colonial Government runs its own workshops and undertakes contracts for private parties.

The arrangement referred to by my hon. friend is by no means unusual.

May I ask whether State Socialism is or is not good business, and, whether the answer be in the affirmative or in the negative, is it less suitable to Ceylon than to the British Isles and to any other British Possession?

That is rather a wide and vague question, and I am bound to point out that this is a very modified form of State Socialism.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total cost of constructing the Wesley College at Colombo, built by a contractor, with boarding accommodation for 450 boys, and the Public Works Department estimate for the new Royal College for 350 boys, without boarding accommodation; and the cost per cubic foot, respectively, of the two colleges.

I understand that the cost of the Wesley College was Rs.175,000 without the principal's house, or 43 cents per cubic foot, and that the estimates prepared by the Ceylon Public Works Department for the new Royal College involved a cost of Rs.296,260 without the principal's house, or about 90 cents per cubic foot. The Ceylon Government have, however, given instructions for the preparation of new plans for the Royal College at a cost not exceeding Rs.125,000.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Government of Ceylon in November, 1907, accepted proposals submitted by a local firm for the construction of workshops at the graving dock at Colombo; and why the Government cancelled the arrangement on 23rd May, 1908, after the firm had made extensive preparations to carry out the contract.

The Answer to the first part of my hon. friend's Question is in the negative. With regard to the second part, the negotiations broke down because the local firm required the whole available frontage of the harbour.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in Ceylon at the Government's interference with private enterprise in repairing merchant ships and undertaking other private and public works, and that the competition of the Government workshops is considered very unfair to traders who contribute largely to the revenue of the Colony, whereas the former pay no rates, taxes, or duties on imported materials; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

No representations have been received from Ceylon on the subject. As I informed my hon. friend on 10th November, the Ceylon Government have only proposed to undertake ship-repairing work because they failed after prolonged negotiations to arrive at satisfactory terms with local firms for the provision of the necessary workshops. The answer to the last Question is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of the Government to guarantee the loan for £1,500,000 asked for by the Orange River Colony Government; and whether it is their intention to attach any conditions to the grant of that guarantee.

I am unable to add anything to my reply to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Graves-end on 19th October.

May I ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman whether he will take care that there are no conditions to the grant of the guarantee which will make it incumbent on the Government to do away with British employees in preference to Orange River Colony employees?

I do not think that implication is merited, and, if I may respectfully say so, I do not think it should be made ii this Parliament in reference to a self-governing Colony. But, in any case, the request for the loan has not yet been officially received.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Mr. Joseph Edelstein, a well-known and respected citizen of Dublin, was granted a passport, signed by the Secretary of State, to visit Russia and other places abroad, bearing date 20th October, 1908; whether he is aware that the Russian consuls refused to allow Mr. Edelstein to enter Russian territory, although he produced his British passport; whether he can say under what conditions British or Irish subjects are permitted to visit Russia; on what grounds was Mr. Edelstein refused admission; and what steps he proposes to take to secure due respect from Russia for passports issued under his name.

A passport, worded in general terms for travelling on the Continent, not specifically for Russia, was issued to Mr. Joseph Edelstein on the date mentioned. I have no information beyond that given in the Question as to the difficulties he encountered in entering Russian territory. British subjects are permitted to visit Russia on the same conditions as the subjects of other countries. The Russian Government retain, as the Governments of other countries do, the right to make regulations respecting the admission of aliens. I have no information as to why Mr. Edelstein was refused admission; but I am quite ready to receive any which is forthcoming, and to inquire into it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fresh outbreaks of brigandage in Egypt, and the admission in Sir Eldon Gorst's Report for 1907 of the need for improvements in the existing police system, he will urge upon the Egyptian Government the expediency of establishing a committee of public security, in which experienced natives of the administrative and other classes may take part and suggest new measures.

I am not aware of the recent occurrence of any events in Egypt which would render the establishment of a committee of public safety necessary or desirable. Sir Eldon Gorst has pointed out that the degree of insecurity prevailing is greatly exaggerated. He has also stated, in his Report, that the effect of the measures taken for the gradual improvement of the present system for dealing with crime will not be apparent for some time to come, and we see no reason for making any further recommendations.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to recent reports of brigandage?

I have not seen the reports. If the hon. Gentleman has any information perhaps he will forward it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the refusal to extend the legislative powers of the Legislative Council and General Assembly in Egypt, he will recommend to the Egyptian Government the expediency of appointing a committee to inquire into the working of the judicial, police, educational, and other departments of the administration, with a view to their amendment.

The hon. Member will see from Sir Eldon Gorst's recent Report on Egypt and the Soudan that the questions to which he refers are occupying the serious attention of the Egyptian Government; and I do not think that in the present circumstance any useful purpose would be served by making the particular proposal suggested in the Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to give any information in reference to the steamers sunk and destroyed by the Russian Government during the Japanese War; and, if not, what steps he intends to take to enforce the rights of British subjects whose property has been destroyed.

My right hon. friend has nothing to add to the Answer he gave to the hon. Member for Boston on the 15th ultimo. Cases in which British subjects are interested, either as owners or underwriters, are still pending before different Russian Courts. His Majesty's Government greatly regret the delay that has occurred in the hearing of these cases, and it has formed the subject of several representations by His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg; but they understand that the Russian Court will now deal with them very shortly.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Arthur Jones, a traveller, who was convicted of stealing a lace scarf and was sentenced at the Middlesex Sessions to six years penal servitude and two years police supervision; and will he say what action he intends to take in the matter.

I have received a petition from the prisoner for a reduction of sentence, but, in view of the character of the offence charged, and of the offences of which he has been previously convicted, I see no reason for interference on my part. It was, and still is, open to the prisoner to apply to the Court of Criminal Appeal.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that at the Northallerton Quarter Sessions the chairman ordered twenty lashes to be administered to a so-called incorrigible rogue, to be given on two separate occasions, the first a week from that day and the other as soon after as the doctor certified that he was fit to receive it; and whether, in view of the Criminal Appeal Act of 1907, which provides for a ten days' grace for appeal, and of the provisions of the Vagrants Acts as to a whipping being inflicted by two instalments, and seeing that this is the first double flogging since Sir M. W. Ridley put a stop to such sentences in 1900, he will say what action he intends to take in the matter.

I am aware of this case. The conviction was for living on the earnings of prostitution, and it was proved that the man had grossly ill-treated the unfortunate woman. He had three previous convictions of the same offence. In accordance with the regular practice of myself and my predecessors, one of the two instalments of corporal punishment has been remitted. The other, consisting of ten lashes, was carried out after the time allowed for appeal had expired, the prisoner having decided not to appeal.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether His Majesty's Government recognise the class of political prisoners; whether the suffragists now imprisoned in Holloway were committed under 34 Edw. III., because they refused to find bail; if not, whether he will state the nature of their offence.

The reply to the first Question is that His Majesty's Government is necessarily guided by the law, which does not recognise political motive as giving rise to any claim to special treatment in prison on the part of offenders against the ordinary law. As regards the second, I am advised by the chief magistrate that in requiring the suffragists to find sureties to keep the peace, the magistrates were acting under the general powers vested in them by virtue of their commission. These powers originated in part from the Statute of Edw. III., but the procedure for their exercise has been regulated by Parliament so recently as in the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1879.

Is it within the recollection of the right hon. Gentleman that he and the present Prime Minister and the Liberal Party went into the Division Lobby as a protest against the arrest and prosecution of the senior Member for the City of Cork on 1st July, 1889?

That has nothing to do with this Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Mrs. and Miss Pankhurst, now imprisoned in Holloway Gaol, were deprived of exercise and put on bread and water because they spoke to one another when they met in the exercise yard.

Mrs. and Miss Pankhurst were not put on bread and water. They were both awarded one day's confinement to cell for taking part in a disturbance in the exercise yard. I may add that I have received satisfactory reports of the health of both Mrs. and Miss Pankhurst, and that directions were given on Friday last that they should be allowed to exercise together in the hospital yard without any restrictions as to talking.

Are these ladies wearing their own garments?

They are now in the second division.

Would it not be better for exercise if the right hon. Gentleman allowed them to walk outside the prison?

Is it not a fact that Mrs. Pankhurst and Miss Pankhurst were put into solitary confinement for one day because the mother and daughter met one morning and spoke, and were reported for doing so by the wardress?

I am informed that there was an offence against the prison rules concerning talking.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the suffragists now imprisoned in the second and third class at Holloway Gaol have been required to take exercise with women serving sentences for theft, drink, or soliciting; whether any of the suffragists have refused to exercise with criminals and have been deprived of exercise and placed on bread and water in a punishment cell; and whether, if the suffragists have been allowed to take exercise by themselves, he will state the terms of any instruction issued by the Prison Board to the prison authorities directing them not to require certain female prisoners not to take exercise with criminals.

The suffragists now imprisoned at Holloway are in the second division. There are none in the third division. None of them has been required to take exercise with women serving sentences for theft or any other offences, nor have any of them been placed on bread and water, or confined in a punishment cell. The obligation to keep second division prisoners apart from other classes is imposed by the Prison Rules (Rule 232), and does not require any special instructions from the Prison Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether no books but a Bible and Prayer Book are allowed to a prisoner committed to gaol in the second or third class during the first month of imprisonment; whether during the second month's imprisonment a second book may be obtained from the prison library, but cannot be changed during the month; whether the prisoners are deprived of all writing materials during the first month's imprisonment, and whether the writing materials supplied in the second month consist of a slate and slate pencil; and whether persons detained because they have refused to find bail come under these regulations.

Prisoners of the second division are allowed a library book and books of secular instruction, as well as devotional books, from the beginning of their sentences; those of the third division are allowed books of secular instruction and devotional books from the day of their admission, but are not allowed library books until they enter the second stage, i.e., at the end of twenty-eight days. In the second stage the library book is changed once a week, and in the third and fourth stages twice a week. All prisoners receive slates and slate pencils on admission, but are not allowed other writing materials, except for writing letters to their friends or petitions to the Home Secretary. Female prisoners in the second division have their library books changed at more frequent intervals. Unconvicted prisoners detained in default of finding sureties are, under the Prison Act, 1898, treated in accordance with the rules for the division, whether first or second, in which they are placed under the order of the Court.

Will the right hon. Gentleman arrange that the third book, in addition to the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, provided for these ladies in gaol shall be Blackstone's "Commentaries on the Laws of England."

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the import duty in France on limes or lemons which are the produce of Spain and the British West Indies respectively.

Limes and lemons, the produce of Spain, imported into France are dutiable under the "minimum tariff" at the rate of 5 francs per 100 kilograms gross weight. The produce of the British West Indies does not in general enjoy the "minimum tariff" rates on importation into France, and limes and lemons imported therefrom are dutiable under the "general tariff" at the rate of 15 francs per 100 kilograms net weight.

asked what steps would be taken to get the most favoured nation treatment for British West Indies?

asked for notice.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that more than half the railway stock of the United Kingdom is held in parcels of £500 and under, and that the average return is 3¼ per cent.; and whether in view of these facts, and of the serious results to multitudes of small investors from interference with the rights of the railway companies to make combinations and mutual arrangements, he will take into account and consider their case on each and every occasion on which he is urged by other interests to disapprove or disallow such combinations or mutual arrangements.

If my hon. friend means that half the separate holders of railway stock are holders of stock not exceeding £500, I have no reason to doubt the approximate accuracy of his figures. As regards the last part of the Question, I cannot add to the Answers I gave to his Question of the 11th instant, and to that of my hon. friend the Member for Dudley of the 4th instant.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if the working agreement between the Caledonian and North British Railways has received the sanction of the Railway and Canal Commissioners in accordance with Section 25 of the Railway Clauses Act, 1863, and amending enactments thereof.

I will answer the hon. Member's four Questions together. The Reports of the Railway and Canal Commission show that three applications were made to them for the approval of working agreements in the years 1905, 1906, and 1907. Of these three working agreements one was sanctioned and another was sanctioned in part, but the proposed working agreement between the Great Northern and Great Central Railway Companies was, as stated by the hon. Member, not approved. The other Agreements referred to in the Question have not been submitted for the approval of the Railway and Canal Commissioners, but I should explain that Section 25 of the Railways Clauses Act, 1863, does not apply generally to all Agreements between railway companies, but only to such as are made under the provisions of a special Act incorporating Part III. of the Clauses Act in question. I understand that an Agreement between the Great Northern, the Great Central, and the Great Eastern Companies will be submitted for the consideration of Parliament.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that the agreements which are now in force between the London and North-Western and Midland Railway Companies and the other agreements to which I have referred do Dot come under the Act of 1863?

Yes, Sir; that is the purport of my Answer.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in regard to the plates and sheets of iron and steel consigned to this country from Germany and Belgium during the year 1907, he can state the amount of royalty per ton levied in each of the countries named; whether such royalties are paid to the State or the individual; if he can state approximately the royalty per ton levied in this country on similar articles; and, if not, whether he is prepared to obtain such particulars, and have some tabulated.

No, Sir, I am not able to give the information desired, and I do not think it would be possible to define with precision in the case of particular articles, like those mentioned by the hon. Member, the proportion of the cost of production which may be due to royalties on the raw material.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can recommend, with a view to discovering the genuine unemployed, that a column should be added in the register of applicants on distress committees showing for what reason each man left his employment.

The Regulations already require record papers to be kept, showing as regards each applicant the nature of his last employment and the date and cause of termination of that employment. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the Regulations.

What I want is the reason for leaving the employment of the distress committee. Cannot that be secured?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down an unstarred Question.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is yet in a position to say whether an old-age pension may be given to a woman who is fully qualified to receive a pension but whose husband is in receipt of outdoor Poor Law relief.

The reply is in the negative. I am expecting to receive the opinion of the Law Officers on the point very shortly.

asked a further Question.

I shall be obliged to hon. Members if they will postpone Questions on this subject until I am in possession of the definite views of the Law Officers.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have already decided that relief given to a husband for the sole use and benefit of his wife disqualifies him and not his wife; and whether, in view of the fact that the proceedings of a number of pension committees are being delayed owing to the need of an authoritative interpretation of the law, he will do his best to expedite an official pronouncement on the subject?

Certainly. The question is practical and, I think, urgent. I will do my best as early as possible.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether any steps are being taken or will be taken to group localities with a population of less than 10,000, in order that a distress committee may be created for the district.

I can only refer my hon. friend to the Answer which I gave on the 13th instant to a similar Question which he put to me.

Are we to understand that nothing is to be done for any section of the unemployed, in accordance with the scheme laid down by the Prime Minister, where the population is less than 10,000?

Perhaps it may be convenient for me to read my previous Answer: "The Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, does not admit of the grouping of districts with a view to establishing in the grouped area a distress committee who would be enabled to provide or to contribute towards the provision of work for the unemployed. I am afraid, therefore that it would not be practicable to give effect to the object which my hon. friend appears to have in view."

What we desire to know is whether, in accordance with the scheme set before this House and the country by the Prime Minister for the temporary relief of the unemployed, it is not possible to group the smaller districts so that the committees could cover a certain radius.

Not in that particular way, but in another way. The best plan is by setting up distress committees, of which I have set up a number this week.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, looking at the fact that the Cheshire authorities have declared that tar macadam, when once laid down on roads, is only one-fourth the price of ordinary macadam to renovate, he can see his way to advising that the initial expense, which is much greater than that of ordinary macadam, should be provided for out of the Imperial Exchequer, to be repaid by the yearly saving with a view to doing away with the dust nuisance created by motor cars.

I am afraid there is no probability of effect being given to the suggestion of the hon. Member. I may, however, point out that it is the practice of the Local Government Board to sanction loans for laying down roads with tar macadam, and to allow a period of five years for the repayment of the loan. Assuming, therefore, that the view attributed to the Cheshire authorities is correct, it would seem that the local authorities could recoup themselves the additional initial expense within the period of the loan.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he will give the number of education authorities that are availing themselves of the provisions of the Education (Provision of Meals) Act; and whether, in view of the existing state of unemployment, he will inform the different education authorities of the desirability of making the necessary arrangements so that during the winter schools may be provided with the required equipment to meet the necessity of feeding children in accordance with the Act.

I have no complete statistics as to the number of authorities who have in one way or another taken action under the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, but information is now being collected as to the proceedings of local authorities under the Act during the year ended 31st March, 1908. Seventy authorities have been authorised by the Board under Section 3 of the Act to spend money out of the rates upon the purchase of food. The Board are not empowered by the Provision of Meals Act to make representations to local authorities urging them to adopt its provisions, but shortly after the passing of the Act the Board issued a circular calling the attention of local authorities to their powers under it and to the advantages that might be obtained by exercising them.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if in the next General Report of the Board he will include the inspectors' reports, thus reverting to the practice which in former years was always adopted.

For the reasons to which I referred in answer to the right hon. Gentleman's previous Question, I am unable to adopt his suggestion.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the publication of these reports afforded almost the only means by which the general public obtained independent information as to the working of the schools throughout the country? From that point of view will he reconsider this matter?

asked for notice.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the attention of the Board has been drawn to the result of recent experiments carried on at the farm attached to the University College of Aberystwyth, when it was found, by the application of the tuberculin test, that 24 per cent. of the milch cows on the dairy farm were suffering from tuberculosis and were disposed of at a serious loss; whether the Board has reason to suppose that tuberculosis exists to the same degree in the country generally; and whether, with a view to stamping out the disease, the Government will pay to the owners the value of cows destroyed as being affected with tuberculosis in any form.

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. Such evidence as is available goes to show that a very considerable proportion of animals in dairy herds might be expected to react to the tuberculin test, and a percentage of reaction such as that quoted would probably not to be found to be unusual. The Board as at present advised would not be prepared to undertake operations against tuberculosis in animals on the lines suggested.

Why do the Government take less interest in tuberculosis in England than in Ireland?

I am not aware that they do.

Have not these tuberculin tests been proved to be utterly useless?

Why are more stringent regulations in extended to England?

Ireland is not my Department.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, how many applications under the Small Holdings Act, 1907, have been applied for in the county of Durham; the amount of land obtained and asked for; the number of applications acceded to; and the parts of the county in which the land is situated.

There have been 350 applications for 6,452 acres and 314 of the applicants are regarded as suitable. A farm of 170 acres at Brafferton, near Darlington, has just been purchased, but it has not yet been divided up into small holdings.

I beg to ask tn3 hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that the Radnorshire County Council, after dividing the land acquired by them under the Small Holdings Act into twelve small holdings, have had to let ten of the holdings as by-takes to large farmers, no small holders being found to take them at the rents asked; and if he can say how many other county councils have had the same experience.

What was the original rent of the farm, and at what rent was it offered to small holders?

I am not able to say. The Board are informed by the county council that the facts are not as stated. One of the holdings has been let temporarily till Lady-Day next to an applicant who already held forty-six acres, but none of the other tenants held more than fifty acres including the land held from the council.

Did not most of the applicants already hold over fifty acres?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will state, by counties and as a whole, the amount of land let to small holders or agreed to be let from 2nd February, 1909, as compared with the amount of land acquired by county councils for the purpose.

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will refer to the reply I gave on the 12th instant to my hon. friend the Member for South Oxfordshire. It is not possible to say how much land will be let from the date mentioned.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he will consider the possibility of depositing in the public library or some other convenient place in each county town the sheets of the 25-inch Ordnance survey of that county, so that applicants for small holdings may be referred to the numbers on the map of the fields that are offered to them, and the necessity of drawing plans in every case be avoided.

The cost of one complete set of the 25-inch maps of England and Wales is over £6,000, and it would not, therefore, be practicable to adopt the suggestion made.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether His Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests have now selected any works of public utility on the Crown estates on which to give extensive additional employment with a view to giving relief to the unemployed in the present emergency, thus showing an example as great landowners, and meeting the recent appeal of the Prime Minister; and, if so, whether he will state where; these works are situated, and if they comprise the repair of roads, much wanted and long neglected in the New Forest.

The Commissioners have arranged for some road-making to be specially undertaken during the ensuing winter at Oxshott, near Esher, also at Alice Holt, near Farnham, if the requisite labour is available. Owing to the refusal of the New Forest Rural District Council to pay any part of the expense, a proposal to make a road in the Minstead District, stated to be much required in the interest of the local public, but which would be of only slight advantage to the Crown property, has been abandoned.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that all the second division clerks in the Estate Duty Office who have accepted promotion to the first division accompanied with a reduction of salary have been men located in the branch offices in Edinburgh and Dublin, where greater inducements to acceptance prevail than in the head office by reason, inter alia, of the larger proportion of superior posts likely to become available to the promoted men; whether the fact has been brought to his notice that, even in these cases, the promotion was only accepted under protest, and in view of the alternative being transfer to a London office and consequent separation from relatives and friends; and whether, seeing that a clerk on promotion will be required to perform superior duties, he will consider the advisability of granting an immediate benefit in salary rather than a benefit deferred for twenty years, and subject to a substantial loss in the meantime.

I am informed that the Answer to the first part of this Question is in the affirmative, inasmuch as no offer of promotion accompanied by reduction of salary has been made to second division clerks in the head office. In each case in which in the branch offices the offer has been made it has been accepted, and I am not aware of any instance in which this has been done under protest. As regards the remainder of the Question I must refer the hon. Member to my previous replies.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that certain second division clerks in the Admiralty, promoted to the first division concurrently with the introduction of the new scale of pay for second division clerks under the Order in Council of 21st December, 1907, were given the benefit of the immediate increase of pay under that Order, he will say in what special circumstances the principle applying not only to the Estate Duty Office but to other offices was in this instance departed from.

The cases of second division clerks in the Admiralty were not parallel to the others mentioned, e.g., those in the Estate Duty Office. In the latter case the conditions of promotion were settled before the passing of the Order in Council of 21st December, 1907. The readjustment of salaries under Clause 6 of that Order was intended to apply to second division clerks remaining such and was given in consideration of their accepting the reduced maximum of salary also provided for in the same Order. It would have been unjustifiable to allow the clause to be used merely for the purpose of increasing initial salaries in the case of the Estate Duty Office and other Departments where not only is there no reduction of maximum but there are prospects of promotion to a higher class. The second division clerks in the Admiralty, on the other hand, elected to come under the new scale before the question of their promotion arose; and when they were afterwards promoted exceptionally for special merit, and not in accordance with any pre-determined scheme, it was not considered equitable to require them to enter at a salary less than their readjusted salaries.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the amount of overtime done in the Statistical Department of His Majesty's Customs, he will abolish all Saturday overtime, and afford facilities for as many men as is consistent with public business to leave at 1.30 p.m.

I have looked into this matter very carefully. It appears to be impossible, in view of the public demand for information as to Trade Returns at the end of every month being supplied at the earliest possible moment, to do without overtime. But I think it may be reduced, and I am considering steps to be taken at once to that end.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as tobacco used to be grown for profit in the county of Roxburgh, he has made any regulations to encourage the experimental growing thereof; whether he will consider the expediency of making an allowance in experimental cases in respect of the duty for the time being; and whether he is in a position to state what Excise duties will be imposed on tobacco in Scotland, manufactured or unmanufactured; and what will be the cost of a licence to manufacture tobacco in Scotland.

I may refer my hon. friend, to the replies given by my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 27th ultimo to my hon. friend the Member for Sutherland, and on the 28th ultimo to my hon. friend himself, in which he indicated the present position in regard to the cultivation of tobacco in Scotland. In answer to a further Question by Sir John Jardine,

said no application had yet been received from Scotland for permission to grow tobacco.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if the number of applications for pensions received already exceed the total number of pensions anticipated in the figures placed before Parliament on the passing of the Act.

The total number of applications received up to 24th October was 562,171. No estimate was made of the probable number of applications, but the number of original pensioners was estimated by my right hon. friend in the course of the Second Reading debate before the introduction of the sliding scale, at 572,000. The adoption of the sliding scale was expected to raise the total to well over 600,000. On the other hand it was not expected that the full number would come on to the list of pensioners until some time after the beginning of the year 1909.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if the pension officers are instructed to regard a certain portion of the sum paid by a son or daughter for board and lodgings to an aged parent as profit, and to take it into account as income received by the parent, and whether, if the pension officers have such instructions, these instructions entitle them to take 2s. as profit to the parent out of a total sum of 8s. a week paid for board and lodging for an adult daughter.

Pension officers have instructions to regard a portion of the sum paid by an adult son or daughter to an aged parent for board and lodging as part of the means of the parent only where profit actually arises and to the extent of such profit. Each case has to be considered upon the facts and the final decision rests, of course, with the pension committee, subject to appeal to the Local Government Board. The proportion (if any) of a payment of 8s. a week by an adult daughter which might be regarded as profit in any particular case would depend upon the standard of comfort in the household and the cost of living in the locality in which the case occurred.

Does the hon. Gentleman consider that any decent standard of comfort can be secured for 6s. a week?

8s., not 6s.

How is the standard of comfort for the home arrived at?

By a consideration of the circumstances of the family.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer why the financial instructions of the Treasury to pension committees and sub-committees, which were laid upon the Table on 16th October, have not been printed; why the order to print these instructions which was given on 16th October was withdrawn on 19th October; and whether these instructions may now be printed for the information of the House.

The financial instructions issued by the Treasury on 20th August for the guidance of pension committees and sub-committees are not "regulations" within the meaning of Section 10 (3) of the Old-Age Pensions Act, and could not, therefore, be laid before the House under that Act. It was, however, intended to present them by Command of His Majesty. On this being explained to the authorities of the House, the order to print was discharged, as the House does not give the order to print Command Papers. The printing of the Instructions as a Command Paper has been delayed because it was expected that they would at once be superseded by amended instructions, but the revision, the scope of which has since been widened, will take longer than was anticipated. They are, therefore, being circulated this week, for the information of the House, in the form in which they were originally issued.

When shall we have these financial instructions?

Within the next week.

Why are they printed as a Command Paper while the instructions to pension officers are withheld from the knowledge of the House?

The instructions to the officers are confidential as between the Department and its servants.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer under what authority the Treasury have called upon the clerk to the appointing council to perform duties and to correspond with the Treasury under the Old-Age Pensions Act; whether any provision exists for remunerating such clerk, and, if not, how it is proposed to remunerate him; and whether instructions of the Treasury, as distinguished from regulations under the Act, have any validity or binding force.

The duty of accounting for the expenses of pension committees falls upon the appointing councils under Regulation 25, and the instructions were addressed to the clerk to the appointing council as the responsible officer of the council. No provision is made in the Old-Age Pensions Act for any expenses incurred by the appointing councils, and if the council should think it necessary to assign to the clerk any special remuneration in respect of this duty, such remuneration would be payable out of the council's fund. The Treasury Financial Instructions have validity only in so far as they determine under Section 10 (4) of the Act the amount which may be charged to moneys provided by Parliament on account of the expenses of pension committees and the conditions subject to which amounts advanced to meet such expenses are to be repaid. The present arrangements will remain in force only until the approaching annulment of Regulation 25 takes effect.

But is it not the fact that there is no provision for the remuneration of these clerks?

I have dealt with that in my Answer.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that at the rate at which the claims for old-age pensions are now being settled a considerable number of the claims already made will be undecided on 1st January; and can he give an assurance that all persons claiming before the end of November shall, if their claims are finally established, not lose any weekly pension on account of administrative delays.

My right hon. friend's information is that very good progress is being made, and he sees no reason, as matters at present stand, for thinking that a considerable number of the claims already made will be undecided by 1st January.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of the Question?

That is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and I will consult my right hon. friend upon it.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in London, at any rate, there is not the least prospect of the pensions being adjudicated upon and the pension-books delivered before 1st January?

That is not the information which reaches the Chancellor of the Exchequer from the responsible Department, though it may be the opinion of the noble Lord.

It is an opinion founded upon information.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that out of a classification of twenty-six superintendents in the Customs service only eight have been promoted since the beginning of the year 1899; that some of them have been for years marking time at their maximum salary; that through changes which took place in 1899 some are actually receiving a smaller income to-day than they were ten years ago, though performing the same duties; that 69 per cent. of the superintendents entered the service by open competition and have spent an average of about sixteen years in charge of the smaller ports, he will explain why there is withheld from them a reasonable flow of promotion and less generous treatment than is shown to any other grade in the Department who entered the service under similar conditions.

I will endeavour to get the information if the hon. Member will put the Question down again tomorrow.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of income received from capital invested abroad as shown by the Income-Tax Returns for each of the separate financial years from 1900–1901 to 1907–8; and if he can give similar figures showing the amount of income remitted abroad to persons who have capital invested in this country.

Statistics of that portion of the income received from British capital invested abroad which can be identified from the Income-Tax Returns for the years 1900–1 to 1906–7 are to be found on page 183 of the 51st Report of the Board of Inland Revenue [Cd. 4226]. For 1907–8 the figures are not yet available. I may also draw the hon. Member's attention to the text on pages 182 and 183 of the Report, where it is explained that a large amount of income from abroad cannot be identified.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the amount of Consols and other Government stocks held by foreign investors or by persons resident abroad.

No, Sir. The information is not available.

Cannot it be obtained from the. Income-Tax Returns?

I am informed it is not available. I cannot go beyond that.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer when the promised Bill dealing with the superannuation of civil servants will be introduced; and, if it is not possible to pass it this session, will the Government introduce it early next year, and endeavour to pass it into law without delay.

I must refer the hon. Member to my right hon. friend's reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton West on the 5th instant, in which he expressed the hope that the Bill may be introduced next session.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any knowledge concerning the Edinburgh and Leith Gas Commissioners who have given notice to their pensioners that they will reduce their pensions from 10s. per week to 8s. per week in order that they many receive the full 5s. per week from the Government; and whether he intends taking any action in the matter.

Under their Provisional Order of 1902 the Edinburgh and Leith Corporations Gas Commissioners are authorised to grant allowances to aged and disabled employees, the amount of such allowances being left in the absolute discretion of the Commissioners, subject to the proviso that it shall not exceed one-half the amount of the wage paid to the employee at the time of Ms retirement or disablement. My right hon. friend is informed that the Commissioners have now reduced the allowances of five or six of their beneficiaries, who are over seventy years of age, from 10s. to 8s. a week, and in one other case from 8s. 6d. to 8s. a week, so as to enable the men to obtain the full pension of 5s. a week from the Government. The Commissioners appear to be acting within their rights in the matter.