To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the minor stall officers serving in the Income-Tax Repayments Branch of the Inland Revenue Department, on a scale of £200 to £300 per annum, are receiving, as a result of promotion, less salary than if they had remained Second Division clerks under the new scale of pay established by the Order in Council of 21st December, 1907; and whether, in view of the fact that they must serve further periods, varying from ten to sixteen years, before they receive any benefit from their promotion, as compared with, the salary they would have received as Second Division clerks, he will take steps to arrange that these officers be given the salary they would have received if the scale for their posts had been £250 to £350. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative as regards the majority of these officers at any rate. The object of the Order in Council was to allow members of the Second Division the option of a present benefit in place of a future benefit, and those who took advantage of that option must necessarily appear to be placed in a better relative position than others to whom the Order in Council does not apply, when their immediate emoluments only are compared. The reasons for allowing this option did not apply in the case of the officers in question, but the maximum of their scale has recently been increased from £300 to £350. I am not prepared to make any further concession in their case.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasure if he can stare how many licensed public-houses in Ireland are valued at less than £1 and £3 respectively for the Poor Law valuation. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I have not got this information and I do not think the considerable expenditure of labour and money which its preparation would involve would be justified.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the question of recruiting the telephone staffs by open competition, in the same manner as the telegraph department. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Burton.) The question of recruiting telephonists by means of open competitions has been fully considered. Candidates for such employment, besides having the prescribed educational knowledge, must possess certain qualifications, such as pitch of voice and clearness of enunciation, which cannot be tested except by personal examination; and the substitution of open competition for the present method of appointment by selection and nomination would not appear to be satisfactory.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of the extra police in County Galway and the amount charged for them against the county council; the number transferred from other counties and what counties they have been transferred from, as well as the number sent from the depot in Dublin; what is the legal quota allowed for the county and when if was filled up: whether any of the cost of the men required to fill it has been charged to the comity council; and whether any expenses for extra police were incurred by the county council be ore the quota was filled up. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The extra force in County Galway consists of one head constable and 345 sergeants and constables, and they are charged for at the following rates, viz.: Head constables £43 6s. per man per annum; sergeants and constables, £34 9s. 3d. per man per annum. The amount payable and due by the county council for extra police in respect of the year ended 30th September. 1908 is £8,055 10s. 9d. When the county

To ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) by whom was Mr. Carroll appointed as creamery instructor for the Cookstown district, and on whose recommendation; whether he underwent an examination for the position, and, if so, who were the examiners; whether, notwithstanding the dissatisfaction created among creamery owners and managers by this appointment, as evidenced by the fact that over three-fourths of the creameries withdrew from the 1907 summer surprise competitions, the Department has renewed the appointment in 1908; and whether, with a view to restoring the confidence of the trade in this portion of the Department's work, he will consider the advisability of having such appointments made in the future from among qualified creamery managers and by competitive examination. (Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell.) Mr. Carroll, after having been examined and recommended by the responsible officers of the Department, was appointed by Sir Horace Plunkett as instructor in dairying and was assigned by the Department to a northern district, with head-quarters at Cookstown, a position which he still holds. In reply to the concluding portion of the Question, I have merely to repeat the statement which I made in response to previous Questions of a like character, viz., that the Department are not prepared to confine the appointment of instructor in dairying to creamery managers, nor are they of opinion that appointment by competitive examination would secure the best men.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to notices issued in provincial offices asking the staffs to recommend respectable men for temporary employment for Christmas pressure, and in which it is stated that men over fifty years of age should not be recommended; whether he will state why these men are barred from the Post Office portion of the proposals for the relief of unemployment; and whether he will take steps to have this proviso withdrawn.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he can give any figures showing the extent to which correspondence between this country and the United States of America has increased since the introduction of the penny postage between the two countries. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The Returns in the case of the homeward mails are not sufficiently complete for an estimate to be made of the increase in the American postings. With regard to the mails sent from this country, the net weight of letters and postcards for the first four weeks of September last was 35,600 pounds and for the first four weeks of October it was 45,340 pounds.

To ask the Postmaster General whether in the engagement of the extra stall for Christmas work, preference has been and will be given to men who are genuinely out of employment over those who are taking their holidays at that time or who are in receipt of a pension, seeing that many such persons have been employed in previous years. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The instructions issued provide that preference should be given to men who are genuinely unemployed; a man on holiday would not be regarded as eligible. A small number of places in London are allotted to ex-Army men who are supplied by the chief recruiting staff officer; and inquiry is not made whether any of these men are in receipt of pensions or on furlough preparatory to leaving the Colours.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the advisability of introducing a Bill to amend the Bastardy Laws, empowering boards of guardians, on paternity being proved, to obtain an order against the putative father of any bastard child born in the workhouse, charging such putative father with the cost incurred by the ratepayers for the maintenance both of the child and of the mother during the whole period of her residence in the house, such cost being limited to 5s. per week as in the case of ordinary bastardy orders.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received a communication from the Central (Unemployed) Body asking him to sanction a scheme for the establishment of a model yacht lake in Hackney Marshes; and, if so, whether he has been able to consider favourably this application. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The reply to the first part of the Question is in the negative. In the circumstances the second part of the Question does not arise.

To ask the President of the Local Govern- ment Board whether he has received an application for a grant from the Croydon Distress Committee; whether he is aware that the financial resources of this committee are nearly exhausted, and that, consequently, it is only finding employment for a small number of men; and whether his Board will sanction the grant asked for without further delay. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have received an application in this case, and I informed the town council on the 4th instant that if they would carry out a proposed improvement scheme at Addiscombe Road I should be prepared to give £1,000 to the distress committee towards the cost of unskilled labour to be supplied by the committee. I am ready to make the payment at once on hearing from the town council.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will furnish the House with particulars as to the loans sanctioned by his Board up to date, in continuation of the White Paper recently published. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I will send my hon. friend particulars on this subject. I do not think another Parliamentary Paper need at present be issued with regard to it.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he can give the number of emigrants, with their dependants, sent out by the Central (Unemployed) Body for London and by the provincial distress committees for the complete year 1907, together with the cost to the Central Body and the provincial committees, respectively. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The Returns which I have received are for the half year ending 30th September, 1907, and 31st March, 1908. The total number of persons assisted to emigrate during the year ended 31st March, 1908, by the Central (Unemployed) Body for London was 4,397, including 3,076 dependants, and by provincial distress committees 1,669, including 1,232 dependants. The cost incurred in the emigration of these persons by the Central (Unemployed) Body was £30,996 and by the provincial committees £11,784.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state how many special committees have been, set up in accordance with the Unemployed Workmen Act in those counties and county boroughs where no distress committees have been created; and if he will state in how many, and what, counties and county boroughs this provision of the Act has not been complied with. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Returns have not been received as to these cases. I regret, therefore, that I am not in a position to give my hon. friend the particulars for which he asks.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received communications respecting the extent of distress amongst unemployed women in Manchester; whether he is aware that no work has been found for the majority of the registered women; and whether he can, by a grant of money or by other means, assist in meeting the urgent necessities of the unemployed women. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I received a communication on this subject from the town clerk of Manchester in April last, but at that time there was no Parliamentary grant available for the purposes of the Unemployed Workmen. Act. I do not find that I have since received any communication, with regard to the matter, and hence I am unable to express any opinion, with regard to it. If any application is made to me by the distress committee it will receive my consideration.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if the nine weeks old female child of Mr. Edward Johnson, of 14, Albert Street, Runcorn, was vaccinated on 29th September last when the mother was suffering from an abscess on the breast, which led to the death of the child within about sixteen, days of vaccination; and if he will institute an inquiry with a view to the prosecution of the medical man for negligence and breach of Section 4, Clause 1 of the Vaccination Act, 1898. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The mother appears to have been suffering from an abscess when the child was vaccinated, but the public vaccinator informs me that he was not aware of this. In any case, Section 1 (4) of the Act of 1898 does not apply in this instance. That subsection only deals with cases where the child cannot safely be vaccinated owing to the condition of the house in which the child resides, or to the recent prevalence of infectious disease in the district.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is prepared to tike steps whereby the senior abstractors of the Statistical Department of His Majesty's Customs may be able to count the whole of their unestablished service in qualifying for pensions. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I must refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my predecessors to Questions on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of factory inspectors of all classes; and what are the corresponding numbers for the year 1905. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The total authorised strength, of the factory inspectorate is now 200. In 1905 it was 154.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the danger to the public arising from the fast motor traffic, on the Embankment and to the apparent futility of appeals to Government Departments to cheek the excessive speed of cars; and if he will give the necessary instructions to have policemen stationed on point duty at intervals along the roadway to insure that at such points at any rate pedestrians can make the attempt to cross the Embankment under the protection of a constable. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The Commissioner of Police is endeavouring to secure the provision of more refuges on the Embankment, but he docs not think the volume of traffic there is so heavy as to justify the stationing of a number of constables for the purpose suggested. I am having inquiry made, and will inform my hon. friend if I find any further steps are necessary and practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, previous to issuing Orders Nos. 806, 807, 808, and 809, relating to florists' workshops and Scottish hospital laundries, he consulted the employees engaged in the trades. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) Before making the Orders I had received

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether his Department has advised local education authorities that they themselves must attempt to raise voluntary funds for the provision of meals before applying for authority to put the provisions of Clause 3 of the Provision of Meals Act into operation. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I beg to refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave to a similar Question on 22nd October.

To ask the President of the Board of Education if he can give the number of single voluntary school areas in Wales for the year 1907–8. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The number was 307 on 31st March last.

To ask the President of the Board of Education if he can give the number of council and voluntary public elementary schools, respectively, in Wales; and the number of scholars on the school registers attending at such schools, respectively, for the year 1907–8. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The figures for 1907–8 are not yet available. Those for 1906–7 are as follows—

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether his statement that the Government is determined, in any arrangement agreed to by them for a settlement of the education question, that passive resistors' grievances must be finally wiped out, is to be taken as meaning that the Government propose that in future no public money derived either from rates or taxes shall be used for denominational teaching in elemental schools. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I must ask my hon. friend to await the publication of the proposals of the Government on the education question.

To ask the President of the Board of Education if, in view of the public interest taken in his proposals for a settlement of the education controversy, and the conflicting reports of the tenour of the arguments used by him in his address to Nonconformist Members of this House, he will now publish the official note taken during the delivery of the speech. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) No, Sir. The address referred to was given at a private meeting, and it is not proposed to publish the report.

To ask the President of the Board of Education if, in his efforts to arrive at a settlement of the education controversy, he proposes to concede what is known as the right of entry within school hours subject to certain reservations, including a provision that the cost of giving sectarian teaching shall not fall on public funds; and, if so, whether he proposes to include in such cost a due proportion of the expenditure on the school building and of the general maintenance and administrative charges. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I must ask my hon. friend to await the publication of the proposals of the Government on the education question.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the statement issued by the representatives of the authorities in the educational areas adversely affected by the substituted scheme of distribution of the balance of the education fund; if so, in view of the statement of the Government as to the education fund being distributed according to the educational necessities of the districts, can he see his way to re-arrange or modify the distribution of the education fund on the prin- ciples laid down in the statement referred to. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) I am fully acquainted with the views of the authorities in question, as these have been presented to me by two successive deputations. I am also aware that these views are strongly opposed to those of the representatives of a greater number of districts. The distribution of the fund, as shown in the Return ordered to be printed on 3rd June, conforms to the instructions of Clause 15 (2) of the Bill, and I do not see my way at present to propose any other mode of distribution.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland what will be the average increase in the amount of Government grants to elementary schools in Scotland after the second scheme of allocation is effected; and what will be the increase in particular to Lanarkshire. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) While it is confidently anticipated that there will be a substantial increase in the amount of grant to elementary schools generally under the provisions of the Bill, it is not possible at present to estimate the amount of increase with any exactness, and it is inexpedient to give figures which might possibly be misleading.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he can say why it has become necessary to destroy the open space at the western side of the Law Courts by erecting additional Law Courts upon it; and what will be the estimated cost of these proposed erections. (Answered by Mr. Harcourt.) To open space on the western side of the present Law Courts has always been reserved for the purpose of erecting additional ones. These being now required, the work has been put in hand at an estimated total cost of £95,000, of which £5,000 was voted in the Office of Works Estimates in this House on 2nd April this year.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the list of successful applicants under the Old-Age Pensions Act in the Carnarvon pension officer's district and the Swaffham pension officer's district, published in the Carnarvon Herald and the Eastern Daily Press; and whether the Government are prepared to take any steps to prevent the publication in future of the names of successful applicants in the Press.

I have no knowledge of the source of the information published in the cases referred to. So far as the pension officers are concerned, the Board of Inland Revenue have issued a circular directing that, except as laid down in their instructions to pension officers, no officer in their service shall communicate any information or statistics relating to old-age pensions otherwise than to his official superiors or to the pension committee with which he is connected. There is, however, no statutory obligation to secrecy upon the local pension committee, and it is within the discretion of that committee to publish a list of the pensions awarded, if they think proper to do so. I do not think it is at all desirable that the names of successful applicants should be made public, and I hope that the pension committees will, as a rule, abstain from issuing them to the Press.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the intention of the Government that the administration of the Old-Age Pensions Act was to be dissociated directly and indirectly from the administration of the Poor Law, whether his attention has been called to the administration of the Act in the urban district of Wellington, Somerset, where the pensions subcommittee holds its meetings at the union workhouse, the clerk to the committee is clerk to the guardians, and six members of the sub-committee are guardians; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps to secure that the intention of the Government shall be carried out.

I agree with the hon. Member that it is highly undesirable that a pensions sub-committee should hold its meetings at a union workhouse, but there are no provisions in the Act which would prevent them doing so if they think fit. I hope, however, that this practice will not become general. The members of sub-committees are appointed, under subsection 2 of Section 8 of the Act, by the local pension committee, and I have no power to interfere in the matter.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether supervisors have been appointed to verify and check the reports and proceedings of pension officers in pursuance of the instructions issued by the Board of Inland Revenue in September last; and, if so, how is it that no mention is made of these supervisors in the regulations recently issued. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) All supervisors and officers of excise have been appointed by the Treasury to be pension officers under Section 10 of the Old-Age Pensions. Act. The term "pension officer" in the regulations, therefore, includes the supervisor. All pension officers of a rank below that of supervisor are required by Departmental instructions to submit their reports to the supervisor for approval before they are forwarded to the pension committee.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have decided that Poor Law relief granted to a husband for the use of his wife disqualifies the husband but not the wife for receipt of an old-age pension; whether the effect of this decision is to annul the pauper disqualification in the case of all married women, seeing that Poor Law relief is always granted to the husband, whether for his use, for the use of his wife, or for the use of both; and whether, in view of the importance of this decision, he will take immediate steps to instruct the Commissioners to bring it to the notice of pension officers and local pension committees. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The question is one of law, upon which no authoritative decision can be arrived at until it has been settled by the Local Government Board upon an appeal. In cases in which pension officers have sought legal advice through the Board of Inland Revenue they have been advised in the sense indicated in the Question. But I do not think it would be desirable to issue any general instructions until the question has been decided upon appeal.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the instructions issued to pension officers on 1st September last purported to be issued under the authority of the old-age pensions regulations; and whether there was anything on the instructions to show that they were confidential. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Article 34 of the old-age pension regulations requires pension officers in the execution of their office to observe and follow the orders, instructions, and directions of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. The instructions given from time to time to pension officers by the Board of Inland Revenue are issued through the ordinary departmental channels under the general powers possessed by the Board, in common with other public Departments, to give directions to officers under their Departmental control. Officers are required by the ordinary rules of the public service to treat all instructions so issued as confidential in character, and it is not regarded as necessary, nor is it usual, that the communication in which the instruction is given should be specially so marked.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the object of the publication at the present time by His Majesty's Treasury of the Memorandum by Processor Marshall on the fiscal question; that was the cost of it; under which Vote will it be included; and will the Treasury publish and circulate in the same way a reply to it and to the arguments and disputed statements contained in it. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Professor Marshall's Memorandum on the Fiscal Policy of International Trade, which was prepared for the late Government, has been published now in consequence of a pledge given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Dulwich on 2nd June last in the course of the debate on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill. The hon. Member had challenged certain figures which I had quoted in regard to the cost of living in Germany, and, in accordance with the invariable custom of this House, we immediately agreed to lay upon the Table the document from which they had been extracted. The cost of printing the Memorandum is £12, which will be included under the Stationery Office Vote. The same reasons would not apply for incurring the cost of publishing further Memoranda on the same subject.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if sums of money contributed out of annual profits by employers of labour and handed over to trustees to be invested and used for the purpose of pensions for their old and disabled workpeople are liable to income-tax duty. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) It is not the practice to charge with income-tax sums of money contributed by employers and handed over to trustees for the purpose of providing pensions for their old and disabled workpeople.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can see his way to arrange that in future the figures relating to income-lax and death duties issued by his Department shall be given for Wales and Monmouth separately from England. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) It is not possible under existing arrangements to separate the figures relating to income-tax and death-duties for Wales and Monmouth and for England respectively. Several of the collecting areas, such as Chester, Hereford, and Shrewsbury, include districts on both sides of the border, and, moreover, the duties are not necessarily paid locally, but are in many cases collected in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the fact that many volunteer shooting ranges in Scotland are put in charge of well-paid artisans, while many Army pensioners in the neighbourhood are quite competent and willing to fill these positions; and if he will by circular or otherwise bring pressure to bear on the authorities so that a preference may be given to those who are not in receipt of an artisan's wage. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The War Office has received no representations on this subject. This is entirely a question for the County Associations, and it is not considered desirable to interfere with their discretion in the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state the number of emigrated reservists up to 1st November last, and how many of these belong to the Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, cavalry, and infantry, respectively. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) On 1st November 5,948 Army Reservists had permission to reside abroad, including over 1,000 who were at sea. Of this number there were 327 Royal Engineers, 642 Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, 506 Royal Garrison Artillery, 548 cavalry, and 3,407 infantry, including Foot Guards.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to lay upon the Table a statement showing the conditions under which ammunition will be supplied to rifle clubs at reduced rates. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The question is still under consideration.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired any land for restoration of evicted tenants near Clonelly, County Fermanagh, in connection with which they could consider the claim for restoration of Mr. John Graham, of Banagh, Clonelly, an evicted tenant whose claim has been favourably noted by the Commissioners; and can he state how many (if any) evicted tenants in County Fermanagh have been restored under the Evicted Tenants Act and otherwise, respectively, through the intervention of the Estates Commissioners. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners do not appear to have acquired any land near Clonelly for the restoration of evicted tenants. They have noted John Graham's name for consideration in the allotment of such untenanted land as they may acquire. Up to the present, twenty-nine evicted tenants or their representatives have been reinstated or provided with holdings in County Fermanagh.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired or agreed to purchase any untenanted lands on the estate of the Marquis of Ely in Fermanagh; and, if so, what is the acreage thereof; and will the Estates Commissioners, in dealing with the untenanted lands, consider the claims of evicted tenants of the county, inasmuch as there is very little land in the county that could be acquired under the Evicted Tenants Act. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Proceedings have been instituted under the Irish Land Act, 1903, for the sale of over 700 acres of untenanted land on this estate to the Estates Commissioners, but the Commissioners are not yet in a position to enter into a formal agreement to purchase. If the Commissioners acquire the land, they will consider in its allotment the applications of the evicted tenants in County Fermanagh who have been noted as suitable.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application for restoration, under the Evicted Tenants Act, from William M'Cullagh, of Drumcose, on the Ely Estate, whose grandfather was evicted from the lands of Corsicon on that estate in 1876; and if, as appears, the applicant is not within the benefit of that Act, the Commissioners will, in the pending sale of Lord Ely's estate, provide a holding for the applicant under Section 2 of the Purchase Act, 1903, as the son of a tenant of a holding on the estate, on which basis he appears to be qualified to receive an advance. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) M'Cullagh's application as the representative of an evicted tenant does not come within the provisions either of the Evicted Tenants Act or of the Irish Land Act, 1903. His application for an allotment under Section 2 of the latter Act, as the son of a tenant on the Ely estate, will be considered by the Estates Commissioners when the estate is being dealt with in its order of priority.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether an alternative holding has yet been found for Mrs. Maher, evicted tenant, Kilburryhut, County Tipperary; and if so, how soon is she likely to be placed in possession. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners report that they have not yet been able to provide a holding for Mrs. Margaret Maher, but her case is at present in the hands of an inspector with this object.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Local Government Board for Ireland issued an Order, entitled the Roscrea (No. 1) Rural District Labourers (Unopposed) Order, 1907, which authorised the building of thirty-nine labourers' cottages under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, 1883 to 1906; that the council of the Roscrea (No. 1) Rural District, on 14th October last, decided to apply to, and did subsequently apply to, the Local Government Board for sanction to a loan of £7,430 to acquire the necessary land and build the thirty-nine cottages authorised by the Order mentioned, the loan being at the rate of £190 10s. 3d. per cottage and plot; and, seeing that the loan is based on prices for building, fencing, and other expenses approved by the Local Government Board, and for land at prices fixed by the arbitrator appointed by the said Board, will he explain why the Local Government Board have written to the said rural district council sanctioning a loan of £6,825 only, being at the rate of £175 per cottage; is he aware that this decision of the Board practically blocks the working of the Labourers Acts in this rural district, where the labourers are living in houses condemned as unfit for human habitation, and are living in misery waiting the provision of suitable and sanitary dwellings under the Labourers Acts; and, under these circumstances, will he arrange that the necessary sanction will be given to the full amount of the loan, which is the lowest possible sum at which these cottages and plots can be provided. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The facts are as stated in the Question. The loan which the Local Government Board have sanctioned is £5 per cottage above the usual amount. Should it prove insufficient, the Board will consider the propriety of authorising the district council to obtain a supplemental loan in the open market. The Board are anxious to provide as many cottages and plots as possible out of the limited fund available for the purpose and cannot, therefore, sanction loans at high rates to some district councils to the prejudice of others having equal claims.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether 153 applications for 2,284 acres have been sent in to the county council of Derbyshire under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act; why no information is forthcoming as to the steps taken to meet these applications; and whether the Board of Agriculture can do anything to assist the county council to satisfy the applicants. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The county council have not quite completed their inquiries into the applications received, but so far as they have gone it appears that the majority of the applicants are suitable and the county council are endeavouring to obtain land. One of our inspectors has recently conferred with the council, and we hope to receive several schemes in the near future.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury when the Report of the Permanent Advisory Committee on University College Grants was received by the Treasury, and when it will be published. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The Report was received by the Treasury on 25th July last. The Committee's' recommendations affect the Board of Education as well as the Treasury, and are still under consideration by the former Department. It is not proposed to publish the Report until decisions have been arrived at upon the various recommendations contained therein. It is not yet possible to say definitely how soon that will be.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether a loan was sanctioned for the purchase of the land behind the Hammersmith guardians' office;" and whether, when the land was obtained, there was any stipulation that it should not be used for sand extraction or in a manner to depreciate the land as a building site. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) A loan was sanctioned for the purchase of a piece of land which includes that referred to in the Question. The land, which is freehold, was conveyed to the guardians free from any restrictive covenants whatsoever.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether a person who is in receipt of Poor Law relief from the guardians, the amount of which relief is entirely recouped to the guardians by the relatives of such person, is, on the ground of the receipt of poor relief, disqualified under Section 3 of the Old-Age Pensions Act, 1908, for receiving an old-age pension; whether, in calculating the means of married couples under subsection (2) of Section 4 of the Act, the pension officers are entitled, in those cases where the wife possesses no means whatsoever, to bring in half the amount of the weekly wage earned by the husband for the purpose of calculating the means of the wife; whether the course adopted by the pension officers is correct when they take the full wage of a workman for the purpose of depriving him of his right to a pension and then take half of the same wage for the purpose of reducing the wife's claim for a pension; and, if the view adopted by the pension officer is correct, whether the Government will forthwith take steps to sweep away this anomaly. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The first part of the Question is among the points upon which I am awaiting the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown. The procedure in cases to which the second and third parts of the Question relate is governed by subsections (1) and (2) of Section 4 of the Old-Age Pensions Act, 1908. The effect of these enactments is that the means of a person being one of a married couple living together in the same house are calculated in precisely the same way as the means of a person who is not married, viz., at the amount received or enjoyed by him or her individually, with this exception, that the means of such a person cannot be taken as being less than half the joint means of the couple. Thus if the means of a husband are £50 a year and the means of the wife are nil, the husband's means are to be taken at £50 a year and the wife's at not less than £25 a year. The Government are not proposing to amend this provision.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a widow of a foreign subject, although she has never been out of this country, is disqualified for receiving an old-age pension. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The Answer is in the affirmative, unless the claimant has subsequently recovered her British nationality by naturalisation and resided in the United Kingdom for at least twenty years since such naturalisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to give prizes or other rewards for efficiency in shooting to members of the national Territorial Forces, or in any way to encourage target practice by the rank and file of these forces. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The grants to associations are calculated to allow of expenditure in giving prizes for rifle shooting, in the same way as expenditure was permissible under the Vounteer conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether officers of the Territorial Forces are eligible for the grant of the Territorial Force efficiency medal; if so, whether a Territorial officer is entitled to reckon half the time he has served in the ranks as qualifying service for the award of such efficiency medal; and whether, if an officer of the Territorial Forces has received the Territorial efficiency medal, he is thereby debarred from receiving in the future the long-service medal. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) A Territorial officer if awarded a decoration, not a medal, for long and meritorious service; and service in the ranks reckons towards the qualifying service at the rate of half the time so served. The conditions for the grant of this decoration were published in Army Order 268 of this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether officers in native regiments at Poona, in India, have been inhabiting houses where rats had died of plague; whether these houses were vacated in order to have the flooring repaired; and whether, when the officers returned from camp, they found the flooring in exactly the same state as before, although they pay over £40 a year rent for the lodging; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take. (Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) The Secretary of State has not received any information from India regarding the condition of the houses occupied by officers of the native regiments at Poona. These are private houses rented by officers, and if there is any complaint of their being in an insanitary condition it would be dealt with by the cantonment authority under the Cantonments Act.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now state what reply is to be given to the application for compassionate allowance made by the widow of the shipwright who was engaged on H.M.S. "Diadem" at Chatham Dockyard, and died from enteric fever.

A compassionate grant of £10 will be made.

In consideration of the fact that this workman contracted the disease which caused his death while working in a very unhealthy confined space on this ship, cannot the right hon. Gentleman see his way to give a greater compassionate allowance?

The Board of Admiralty do not admit the facts stated by the hon. Member.

But did not the inquiry prove the case to a certain extent?

I do not admit that was the result of the inquiry.

Is it not the case that on the morning of the inquiry special workmen were employed in cleaning out the ship prior to the arrival of the inspectors?

There is no evidence at all that the disease was contracted by this man on board this ship.

On behalf of the hon. Member for South West Ham, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a number of sailors were sent ashore recently at Portland to do labourers' work on the naval recreation ground, which has usually been done by ordinary general labourers; and, in consequence of hundreds of men being out of employment there, whether he is prepared to stop such work being done by sailors.

The recreation ground has been largely made by the employment of fleet labour over a long period, and no sufficient provision has been made in the Estimates to permit of the work being done otherwise. It is not proposed to make any change in the practice in such cases.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can now state the number of vessels of the different types that have been placed in the hands of the builders, specifying the names of the firms; and, in view of the numbers of workers unemployed, will he use his influence with the firms to expedite the work on hand.

The whole of the orders have not yet been placed, although it is expected that the remaining vessels will be ordered very shortly. In view of this fact, it is not desirable at present to give the names of the firms. I understand that the firms will expedite the work as much as possible, in view of their anxiety to give employment to their men.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us a definition of the word "shortly"?

I hope to-morrow.

Will the firms be allowed to expedite those vessels to any extent they wish?

We are willing to take the vessels as soon as the firms are ready to hand them over to us. We do not pay extra on that account.

Has work been commenced on any of the contract vessels mentioned in the Question?

I should like notice of that Question.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can now state whether he has received the Report of his officials who have visited Dundee with regard to the suitability of Dundee as a base for submarines; if so, whether the report is favourable to the adoption of Dundee for such a purpose; and, in view of the prevailing unemployment, whether he will consider the advisability of making an early commencement with the necessary work connected therewith.

The report in question has been received and is under consideration, and a decision will be reached at the earliest possible date. It cannot be said that the utilisation of a dock or basin at Dundee by vessels that might happen to be there can materially reduce the present unemployment, as no works are contemplated by the Admiralty at Dundee.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of workmen employed in His Majesty's dockyards at the end of 1906, and the number employed at the present time.

The numbers borne at the end of 1906 were, 27,346. The numbers borne on the 7th November, 1908, were 32,984.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state when the replies will be given to the petitions which were presented in June last by the various grades and trades of workmen employed in His Majesty's dockyards.

It is anticipated that it will be possible to announce the replies to the large number of petitions which have been presented this year by the various classes of dockyard employees some time in February next.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, at the Government Torpedo Factory, Greenock, about forty masons have been suspended from work for an indefinite period; and whether he will inquire into the matter, with a view to reinstating these men, and so to that extent relieving the state of unemployment now prevailing in Greenock.

The Admiralty have let this work to contract. Unless we are of opinion that the contractor will fail to carry out his obligations, for which we have at present no grounds, we are not in a position to interfere with the contractor's discretion.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that at the Admiralty works in connection with the National Harbour of Refuge, Peterhead, several batches of workmen have been dismissed; whether he will state the reason for these dismissals; and whether he will have the discharged workmen reinstated and also have as many men employed on the works as possible in view of the present state of unemployment.

It is the invariable custom at Peterhead Harbour Works to discharge workmen when the weather conditions prevent certain work being continued. I am glad to say, however, that the discharges this year have been fewer than usual. The work is intended chiefly to be carried out by convict labour. It is not feasible to employ more free labour at this time of year.

Why is convict labour used at this time of unemployment to the disadvadvantage of the honest industrial artisan?

Convict labour is employed because it is very desirable to give the convicts something to do.

; I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state whether any announcement of the measures of reform in India which are foreshadowed in His Majesty's gracious proclamation will be made to the House during the present session.

The Secretary of State expects to be in a position to make a statement before the end of the session.

Cannot the hon. Gentleman give me a more definite Answer?

I have answered the Question on the Paper.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the revelations of police corruption and perjury at Midnapur and elsewhere in India, and of the effect of this in bringing Courts of law into contempt amongst the natives, it is proposed to cause a searching inquiry to be made into this and similar cases. I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can communicate to the House the facts concerning the collapse of the conspiracy case at Midnapur; whether the chief witness in the prosecution stated in the Court that his former evidence had been a concoction given at the instigation of the police; whether the charge against the accused was thereupon withdrawn; whether the Rajah of Narajole and twenty-three others, many of them leading citizens of Midnapur, were discharged; whether he can say how long these men had been kept in prison on a false charge; and what compensation it is proposed to pay them.

I will answer the hon. Member's two Questions on this subject together. On the 9th November twenty-two of the accused in the Midnapur conspiracy case were released after periods of detention averaging about a month. The informer who was the principal witness against them retracted his former statements, which he said had been elicited by threats and promises on the part of the police. There are three prisoners still under trial. When the judicial proceedings are concluded full inquiry will, no doubt, be made by the local Government into this case. It is not proposed to pay compensation to the accused who have been discharged. I may add that there was a comprehensive review of police administration in 1902.

Were these accused arrested on the strength of the concocted evidence of these so-called informers, and does not a claim for compensation therefore arise?

I do not quite understand the word "claim," but I gather from the newspapers that one or more of these men who were prisoners will raise an action in the Courts.

May I ask whether the police who were guilty of corruption and perjury in this case were Europeans or natives of India; and, if the latter, whether admiration for native methods of administration can logically stop short of approval of native police methods?

Are these three prisoners still on trial the three men who were informers in the first instance?

I am not aware; I should like notice of that.

Will the hon. Gentleman cause a searching inquiry to be made into this and similar cases?

The hon. Gentleman assumes guilt in a large number of cases which are not yet proved. With regard to the general investigation as to the conduct of the police, such an investigation was held a very few years ago, and the Secretary of State does not propose to institute another general inquiry.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the last twelve months there have been four cases almost identical with the one here referred to, and does not that justify an inquiry of some kind?

The hon. Member must not assume that in this particular case the allegations are proved.

Were the police concerned Europeans or natives of India?

I think they were natives of India.

Is it the fact that the principal informer in this case who retracted his confession said he did so under the influence of torture by the police?

I am not aware of that.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can inform the House whither any bounty or bonus was offered by the Belgian authorities to the firm which recently secured a contract for screws required for the Government railways of India.

The Secretary of Sate has no knowledge whether the Belgian firm referred to is in the receipt of any bounties from the Belgian Government.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the sedition which prevails in Bengal, the Government will postpone the announcement of measures of reform in India till after the conclusion of the present session.

The Answer that I have just given to the hon. Member for East Nottingham is, I think, at the same time a sufficient answer to this Question.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India proposes to take any steps in order to strengthen its own hands for the suppression of sedition and the punishment of crime.

The question is under the consideration of the Government of India. The Secretary of State is unable at present to make any statement on the subject.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a number of students of geology from the Presidency College, Calcutta, went for practical training to the Singhbhum district under Professor Das Gupta, and at Chaibasa were taken by Mr. Carey, the district magistrate, for a band of Anarchists, and, despite the explanation of the professor as to the purpose of the students, a cordon of police was placed round the Zilla school, and the names, addresses and thumb prints of the students demanded; and whether, in view of the fact that every year these students makes a short tour during the Poojah recess for practical training at the expense of the Government, he will suggest to the Government the necessity of the district magistrates in particular being informed of the practice of the Presidency College respecting its students, so that such annoyance and disgrace may not again be perpetrated.

The Secretary of State has no knowledge of the incident referred to. If the facts are as stated, the college authorities will no doubt, take whatever action is necessary.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial Office has been made aware of the gratification consequent on the visit of a portion of the Fleet to South Africa; is the advantage of visits to British Dominions over the sea of ships of His Majesty's Navy being considered by the Colonial Office; and, if not, will they endeavour to arrange with the Admiralty for such visits from time to time as may be deemed desirable in the interest of the Empire.

The Secretary of State is well aware of the gratification with which the visit of the second cruiser squadron to Durban has been received in South Africa, and he fully appreciates the advantages of periodical visits to the Dominions of ships of His Majesty's Navy. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty share his views on the matter but the visits must necessarily be subject to the exigencies of the service.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government have any information respecting the progress of the investigation which, on 18th September last, Sir M. Nathan reported to be then proceeding into the allegations that had been made by Miss Colenso as to the flogging of Zulus; and has the attention of the Secretary of State been called to the letters which were addressed by her to the Natal officials on this subject, dated 3rd September, 3rd, 5th, and 20th ultimo, in the last of which she represents I its urgency to the Attorney-General of Natal, on the ground that the recent thrashings and threatenings of Zulus under martial law have a vital bearing on much of the alleged evidence against Dinizulu.

No, Sir. I regret that I am not at present in a position to add anything to the information given in the last Blue-book, Cd. 4328, but further inquiry shall be made of the Governor by cable.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the case of an employer of Indian indentured labour in Natal, named Armitage, who last month was convicted of knocking down one of his coolies, jumping upon him, and deliberately cutting off the lobe of his right ear with a penknife; whether he is aware that the defendant justified his action by pleading that the Government allowed the cutting of sheep's ears, and that the penalty imposed was a fine of £20; and what steps His Majesty's Ministers propose to take to secure a more efficient protection of His Majesty's Indian subjects domiciled in Natal but unrepresented in the Parliament of that Colony.

I have seen a short account of this case in the Press, which does not give all the details contained in the Question, but I have no official information as to its accuracy. The Secretary of State has, of course, no power to interfere with the sentences of the Courts, but as it is alleged that the prisoner was an employer of indentured labour, he is making inquiry of the Natal. Government with regard to the case.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if spirits are imported into Southern Nigeria from the United Kingdom and from Germany on the same terms of payment of duty; and if they can be imported into German East Africa and into the Cameroons on the same equal terms.

The answer to both parts of the Question is in the affirmative.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Report of the Opium Commission of the Straits Settlements has yet been received at the Colonial Office; and if he is prepared to make it public.

The Report has not yet been received.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received from the Governor of Hong Kong his proposals for dealing with the opium traffic there; and whether anything has yet been actually done by way of suppressing the opium dens there, as called for by His Majesty's Government in their telegram of May last.

Further investigation has led the Governor to modify his proposals, and I understand that his final recommendations are now on their way. Meanwhile it has not been possible to take action.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the Annual Budget of Hong-Kong for the coming year, introduced in September last, any provision whatever was made to take the place of revenue hitherto coming from the opium dens there.

No, Sir; the Colonial Government could hardly be expected to take the action suggested pending the consideration of the Governor's proposals, which are, as I have explained already, on their way.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that an attempt was made in the last session of the Legislative Council of Rhodesia to abolish trial by jury and that a further attempt is to be made in the next session; and whether he can and will take action to prevent such an infringement of the rights of British subjects.

Owing to a very disgraceful failure of justice in a case in which a white farmer in Southern Rhodesia was charged with the murder of a native, it was found necessary to amend the jury law by substituting the principle of a majority verdict for that of a unanimous verdict. I am aware that doubts were expressed in the Council with regard to the possibility of retaining the jury system at all, but this amendment providing for a majority verdict met with general acceptance and I am not aware that it is proposed further to amend the new Ordinance which is now in operation.

May we hope that this is a precedent for what will shortly be done in Ireland?

The noble Lord is, no doubt, quite aware that this precedent has already been created in Scotland.

Then you might try it in Oxford University.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the amount of the yearly grant to the Emigrants' Information Office; whether, in addition to such grant, free postage and free printing are given; and what is the estimated money value of such addition.

The grant is £1,700 per annum, to which figure it was raised from £1,500 per annum on 1st April last. The office enjoys free postage and free printing. The money value of these privileges cannot be ascertained exactly without further inquiry, which will be made if the right hon. Gentleman desires it; but, on the basis of the present volume of work, it is estimated, roughly, that the value of the free postage is about £200 per annum, and the net value (that is, deducting the returns from the sale of handbooks) of the free printing and the free supply of stationery is about £1,550 per annum.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received a reply from the Russian Government to his application for compensation to Mr. Luxenburg for wrongful arrest and imprisonment; and whether, in view of the serious harm occasioned Mr. Luxenburg, he will respectfully press for a satisfactory settlement of his claim.

The reply of the Russian Government has been received. They admit no responsibility as of right, but intimate that some compensation may be accorded in an unofficial manner, and as an act of grace. Mr. Luxenburg is being communicated with on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can inform the House when it is likely that he will be able to present to Parliament the despatch lately sent by His Majesty's Government to Belgium in reference to the transfer of the territory of the Congo State to that Power.

It is proposed to lay the despatch on the 23rd instant.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the claim of the owners of the "Agnes Donohoe" against the Uruguayan Government, arising out of the illegal detention of the ship in February, 1904, has yet been met; and, if not, what steps, if any, have been taken by His Majesty's Government in the matter.

The claim for compensation which His Majesty's Government presented to the Uruguayan Government on behalf of the owners of the "Agnes Donohoe" was rejected by the former in May, 1907. As the "Agnes Donohoe" is a Canadian vessel, His Majesty's Government have throughout consulted the Canadian Government in dealing with the question, and they are at present awaiting the views of the Dominion Government on the situation created by the Uruguayan Government in refusing to entertain a claim for compensation. His Majesty's Government do not propose to take any further action in the matter without the concurrence of the Dominion.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the terms of Reference of the International Commission on Opium which is to meet in Shanghai in January next; and whether the inquiry will cover the use of morphia and cocaine.

The terms of reference are still under consideration, but they will be communicated as promised to the hon. Member as soon as they have been definitely settled.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is intended to invite to join the International Commission on Opium any other Powers besides Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Holland, Portugal, China, and Japan.

Besides the Powers mentioned by the hon. Member, Russia, Turkey, Persia, and Siam have been invited to join the Commission.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any inquiry has been made, in accordance with an undertaking given by Earl Beauchamp on 23rd June, as to what legislation in other countries has taken place on Sunday labour or a weekly day of rest; and, if so, will he make known the result of the inquiry by either publishing the correspondence or making a Report to the House.

His Majesty's representatives in certain foreign countries were instructed last July to report on the subject. The correspondence will be published as soon as all the information asked for has been received.

When may we expect it?

We are only waiting for the reply from the United States.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as to the losses sustained by the British community at Trinidad through the closing of the Venezuelan ports.

The unsatisfactory position of commercial relations with Venezuela has for some time past occupied the attention of His Majesty's Government and of His Majesty's Minister in Caracas, and the latter has adopted, and may be relied on to adopt, any practicable measures to improve matters. We cannot, however, hold out much hope that these efforts will be immediately successful.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the pledge given on behalf of His Majesty's Government during the Committee stage of the Licensing Bill that the names of the three Licensing Commissioners proposed to be appointed should be announced on the Report stage of the Bill, he will now make the announcement.

I beg to answer this Question on behalf of my right hon. friend. The following are the names approved by His Majesty: The Right Hon. Henry Hobhouse, to be Chairman of the Commission, and Mr. Arthur W. Chapman, J. P., and Mr. F. H. Mellor, K.C., to be members.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that the Dorset County Council have decided that as regards obtaining land for small local holdings they will negotiate to meet such needs by voluntary agreement, but are not prepared to apply for compulsory powers (except in exceptional cases) where in their opinion the sub-division of land would seriously damage the value of existing holdings; and whether, in view of the demand in Dorset for land in the neighbourhood of the applicants' residences, and the fact that this demand cannot be satisfied without interfering with existing holdings, the Board of Agriculture will take any steps to prevent the failure of the Act in that county.

The Board are informed that the policy of the county council is substantially as stated. The council expect, however, to obtain sufficient land by voluntary agreement to satisfy the demands of all suitable applicants, and I can assure my hon. friend that the Board will not fail to take any necessary action if there is any undue delay on the part of the county council.

Are not this county council now refusing many applications on the sole ground that there is no vacant land?

I am not aware of that.

If the Board are satisfied that the county council are not doing their duty, will it take steps to compel them to do so?

Yes, Sir.

Arising out of that reply, whatever it was, will the Government consider the propriety of furnishing the Treasury bench with a megaphone?

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that at Sturminster Newton and Marnhull, in Dorset, co-operative small holdings associations have been formed upon the financial basis and under the rules approved by the Board of Agriculture, and that these associations have applied for land to the Dorset County Council repeatedly without response, the last application being dated 17th August, although suitable vacant land exists or has existed in the neighbourhood of each place during the period covered by the said applications; and whether the Board of Agriculture propose to take any steps in the matter.

We have been in communication with the county council, and we are informed that they are now negotiating for the acquisition of a farm of 235 acres at Sturminster Newton with a view to sub-letting it to the Sturminster Newton Association. With regard to the Marnhull Association, the county council are in communication with the association with reference to its financial position.

Have the county council left unanswered the application of the association for over three months, and are they not repeating questions which the association has already answered, so far as it can be expected to do so?

The information that I have is that the association has not up till now satisfied the county council as to its financial position.

Have the county council given any indication when it is likely its inquiry will come to a definite conclusion?

They inform me they will act as soon as they are satisfied with the result of the inquiry.

And they have been saying that ever since the Act was passed.

Has not the application of this association been before the county council for over three months, and have not the questions now being asked already been answered, so far as such an association can reasonably be expected to answer them? Is there any definite complaint as to any portion of the answers?

I think notice should be given of some of these Questions.

Will the Board of Agriculture call upon the county council to furnish it with a copy of the correspondence with the association so that it may judge if the county council is attempting to do its duty?

Certainly.

Will the Board recommend to the authority the advisability of putting into force the compulsory powers of the Act?

That Question has: already been answered.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the black scab potato disease can be introduced into a district by the purchase of affected seed; and, if so, what steps are being taken by the Board to warn growers accordingly.

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The Board are doing all they can by the issue of a leaflet and by visits of inspectors, to bring to the notice of growers the danger of purchasing affected seed.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, in what counties in England and Scotland the black scab potato disease is known to exist; what steps have been taken by the Board, since the order of 18th June last making the disease a notifiable one, for the purpose either of lessening the area of infection or of checking its spread.

The wart diseases of potatoes is known to exist in the following counties of England and Scotland: Berkshire, Cheshire, Cumberland, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Salop, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Yorkshire, Ayr, Clackmannan, Dumfries, Dumbarton, Fife, Perth, Stirling. The Board have sent their leaflet on the disease to those concerned. The leaflet explains the causes of infection and the preventive and remedial measures to be adopted. Their inspectors have also visited the affected districts and have taken all possible steps to bring to the notice of growers the nature of the disease and warned them of the results of neglecting the remedial and preventive measures recommended by the Board.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether nurserymen and growers who have gooseberry bushes affected with the American gooseberry mildew have recently been allowed to move or sell such bushes after they have been pruned but have received no other treatment; if so, in how many cases and in what counties this has been permitted; and whether any Memorandum has been issued by the Board on the subject of the conditions under which diseased bushes may be moved or sold.

Gooseberry bushes that have been affected with the disease mentioned can only be removed on a licence of an inspector who has examined and declared them free from disease. In no case has such a licence been granted for removal to premises outside an infected area. No Memorandum on this subject has been issued, but full information is supplied to any one asking permission to remove bushes. Only a few such licences have been issued at present in the Isle of Ely and Kent.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if the Board can now give a report as to the cause of death of the seven horses, the property of Mr. John Parton, of Bennett's Bank, Wellington, Salop, in July last; and, if so, will he supply the report.

From inquiry made there seems no doubt that the horses died from poisoning, but it has not been ascertained how they came in contact with the poisonous substance. I shall be happy to show the hon. Member a copy of our inspector's Report on the matter.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the recent outbreak of contagious mammitis at Wirral, in Cheshire; and whether the Board are going to schedule the disease under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, as the outbreak has created much alarm in the district.

The Board made full inquiry into this outbreak, but on the information available they are not prepared to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member.

Seeing that thirty horses died, is there no grave danger for the whole district and ought not the Board of Agriculture to take immediate action?

I am informed by our experts that there is not the danger which, the hon. Member appears to fear.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if his attention has been called to the way in which the Irish Board of Agriculture are now dealing with the outbreaks of black scab in Ireland; and, seeing that this disease is worse in Great Britain, if similar action can be undertaken in Great Britain.

The Board have so far only seen newspaper reports as to the methods adopted in Ireland, but they are obtaining official information on the subject, and will then consider whether action on similar lines would be practicable in Great Britain.

Cannot the hon. Gentleman see and read the Irish Order, and cannot he realise that if with only two cases in Ireland they are thus able to tackle the disease in a most effective manner, the example is one he should follow?

That is a matter for argument.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to the tact that out of ninety-two samples of milk sampled by the officials of the London County Council last week, 23·9 per cent. were found to be tuberculous; and what steps, if any, the Government propose to take to deal with the disease.

The Board have seen a copy of the Report of the public health committee of the London County Council to which my hon. friend is perhaps referring. It would appear that the samples examined were taken at various times during the last quarter. The Board are carefully considering whether they can take any action to deal with the matter.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he is aware that the Shropshire County Council have decided to hire certain land on lease for the purpose of small holdings and to borrow and spend £500 for providing buildings, dairies, etc.; if he will state in what number of years the loan must be repaid; if the interest on such loan and the sinking fund for the repayment thereof are included in the rent to be paid by the small holders; and to whom the buildings will belong when the land reverts to the owner.

The Shropshire County Council have agreed to rent 160 acres for thirty five years and propose to spend £350 on alteration of existing buildings. The term of the loan will be fixed by the Local Government Board, but no doubt they will have regard to the life of the improvement. The rent must be fixed to cover all expenses. The buildings will belong to the owner when the land reverts to him.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will state the names of the four small holdings co-operative societies which have been formed; in what localities they exist; whether they are formed for the joint cultivation of the land by the members themselves or are syndicates founded for the purpose of acquiring land by sale or hire from county councils and sub-letting the same to small holders; and, if the latter, whether he will state the rules of such societies as regards capital, shares, profits, etc., and whether such rules have been approved by the Board of Agriculture.

The four co-operative societies to whom land has been let are those at Mere in Wiltshire, Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, and Clipston and Rushden in Northamptonshire. The rules of the societies have been approved by the Board. The nominal capital of the associations is equal to three years rent of the land let to them. The societies are formed for the purpose of acquiring land from county councils and letting it to their members in small holdings. I shall be happy to send the right hon. Member a copy of the model form of rules approved by the Board.

Is there any limit to the profit which these middlemen may make out of these holdings by charging extra rent?

Yes, it is limited to 5 per cent.

Which the tenants have to pay.