To ask the Postmaster-General, in view of the continuous deficit in our telegraphic system, if his attention has been called to the introduction of penny post-telegrams, i.e., telegrams sent over the wires to fall into the next delivery by postmen on reaching their destination at, say, ten words for 1d. and ½d. for each additional word; and whether, seeing that such a scheme would have large commercial possibilities and would be a boon to the public and the trader he is prepared to favourably consider the matter. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion to which the hon. Member refers. The large loss of revenue by reduction of the initial charge for a telegram from 6d. to 1d. would be only in a very slight degree recovered by any saving that might be possible in the boy messenger staff in towns. In the case of telegrams for country districts, where the cost of special delivery is somewhat more appreciable, the scheme would often be largely inoperative because the postmen start before the telegraph offices are open in the morning. The suggestion is probably based on erroneous statements regarding a system of "letter telegrams" recently introduced experimentally in France. The minimum charge for these letter telegrams is 5d. and the service is subject to considerable limitations and restrictions.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a postman's walk at Kildwick, Yorkshire, occupying seven hours or more daily, has been performed for many years by an unestablished postman who has now retired; and whether it is his intention to turn this into an established walk, in accordance with his expressed desire to reduce auxiliary labour in the Post Office, and the departmental evidence tendered to the Hobhouse Committee to the effect that a postman's duty of more than six hours a day was bound to be an appointed one. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The duty in question does not exceed six hours a day, of which about five hours are occupied in walking. Under these circumstances the duty will for the present be maintained as an unestablished post. I may, however, state that the man now7 employed is not eligible for an established appointment.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Lombard Street Post Office has been temporarily removed to other premises and that no provision has been made for any dining arrangements for the staff; and, seeing that the removal is estimated to extend upwards of six months, whether he will consider the question of making some arrangements for meals on the temporary premises during this period. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) It is not practicable to make any arrangements for meals at the temporary office, but the facilities for obtaining meals in the immediate neighbourhood are so ample that no practical inconvenience is caused to the staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now give the House the Terms of Reference of the International Opium Commission which is to meet in Shanghai in February next. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) The United States Government have communicated to us the terms of their instructions to their delegates. These instructions are as follows: (1) To devise means to limit the use of opium in the possessions of this country; (2) to ascertain the best means of suppressing opium traffic, if such now exists among the nationals of this Government in the Far East; (3) to be in a position so that when the Commission meets at Shanghai our representatives may be prepared to co-operate with the representatives of participating Powers, and with them to offer definite suggestions of measures which these Governments may adopt for the gradual suppression of opium cultivation, traffic, and use within their Eastern possessions, thus assisting China in her purpose of eradicating the evil from her Empire; (4) to be able to inform the whole Commission when it assembles regarding regulations and restrictions in force at present in this country, and to formulate and discuss proposals for amending such regulations in points in which they may be found, in the course of the joint investigation, to affect the production, commerce, use, and disadvantages of opium in the Far East." The British delegates are being furnished with instructions on similar lines, but it is not known how far this basis has been accepted by the other participating Government for the guidance of their delegates.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether men are being engaged at the South-Eastern Parcels Office, Union Street, E.C., at wages less than 24s. per week; and whether he will take steps to bring the wages of these men in harmony with the promise given by the Prime Minister on 26th October last. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The only officers at the South-Eastern Parcel Office to whom the hon. Member's Question can refer are the Christmas casual sorters during the short period of training. These men have to acquire some knowledge of sorting before any practical use can be made of their services. For a few day's they are paid at the rate of 20s. a week. After passing the test, they are paid at the rate of 24s. a week.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if, having regard to the continued depopulation of the country districts owing to the dearth of cottage accommodation, he will state the number of dwelling-houses that have been erected by virtue of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1907, and in what districts. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The following table gives the information for which my hon. friend asks—

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been directed to the official Budget for the Congo issued by the Belgian Government, in which the estimated yield from the taxes on rubber and other natural products levied upon the natives is shown to be equal in amount to the revenue derived from the same source under the former administration, which the Secretary of State has described as slavery; and whether he can say if it is to be inferred from these Estimates that there is no intention of diminishing the crushing burden imposed upon the native population. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) My attention has been directed to this point, but it would be premature to draw any inference from it as to the policy which the Belgian Government intend to pursue in the matter of reforms before the discussion on the Congo Budget in the Belgian Parliament, which will give the Belgian Government the natural opportunity for explaining their intentions.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have decided to take any action as a result of the recommendations of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the hours of labour and other conditions of factory life in India; and will the recommendations of Sir Hamilton Freer-Smith's Committee, on the same subject, be also taken into consideration by the Government of India. (Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) The Government of India are awaiting the opinions of the local governments, to whom the Report of the Commission has been referred, before deciding as to the action to be taken on the recommendations contained therein. The recommendations of Sir Hamilton Freer-Smith's Committee will undoubtedly be considered in connection with the Commission's Report.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the number of Chinese coolies convicted of crime in the Transvaal during the past two years; whether those sentenced to long terms of imprisonment are allowed to go free before the completion of their sentences at the date on which their engagement for the mines expires; and, if so, whether, in view that such acts as an encouragement to the committal of crime, he will take steps for the discontinuance of the same, and will he state the number of those so liberated. (Answered by Colonel Seely.) I am not in possession of the figures asked for, nor am I aware that any Chinese have been liberated in the way suggested. Under the labour importation laws the Government has power to send back to China labourers convicted of any offence, and sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine, either during the period of imprisonment or on the expiration thereof, and this power has, I know, been exercised in many cases.

To ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he will consider the expediency of establishing within the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in Ireland a special section under an independent board of business men and manufacturers, with adequate funds at their disposal for the development of industries, the carrying out of experiments on the raw material available in Ireland, the formation of a foreign inquiry office with a view to securing markets for the existing industries, the establishing of a central technical institute where instruction might be given in industries capable of development, and also inviting the co-operation of the Irish industrial development associations. (Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell.) Many of the operations referred to in the Question are, to a considerable extent, already carried on through the agency of the Department and the various technical institutions in connection therewith. The establishment of a special section of the nature referred to depends largely on financial considerations. The Department have, at present, no funds for the purpose, all the moneys at their disposal being fully hypothecated.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether any, and, if any, how many, women general inspectors or examiners in the elementary education branch, the training of teachers and higher elementary schools division, or inspectors of elementary schools, secondary schools and technical institutes, and evening schools, are employed in his Department; and will he give the number in each branch. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I must refer my hon. friend to the Answer I gave to this Question on 11th November last, to which I need only now add that the services of the women inspectors are not restricted to any one branch of the Board's work or to any particular grade of schools. There are no women examiners at the Board of Education.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that in 1892 the Chancellor of the Exchequer fixed the proportion of education grants for England, Scotland, and Ireland as £80 11s. 9d.; whether this proportion was sanctioned by the Treasury and the House of Commons, and when it was found in 1895 that Ireland had not received her equivalent the arrears due were paid; whether in 1902, on the passing of the English Education Act of that year, an equivalent was acknowledged to be due to Scotland and Ireland, and the amount voted to these countries; whether by the Act of 1892 school fees were almost entirely abolished in Ireland and the Act of 1898 prevented Poor Law unions from contributing any money from the rates to education, thus, by these Acts of Parliament, taking away all local support from schools; whether the Government alone has power to give Ireland authority to raise money locally for education; and, having thus assumed entire responsibility for Irish education, what steps will be taken to give Irish children equal educational facilities with children in Great Britain. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The Irish school fee grant under the Act of 1892 was originally fixed roughly on the basis stated. It is true that "arrears" were subsequently granted calculated on another basis. The additional grant to Scotland for the year 1903–4 and the Ireland development grant, corresponding to the additional English grant under the Act of 1902, were calculated on the basis of population. The Ireland development grant was given as a final settlement of Ireland's claim under this head, and was fixed by the Ireland Development Grant Act, 1903. I have no information on the remaining points raised in the Question, which concern my right hon. friend the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant.

TO ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the transfer of the duties in connection with local taxation licences from the Inland Revenue to municipal bodies, whether, in case of the grant made by Parliament not being sufficient to cover the cost to such bodies, he is prepared to give consideration to such cases by making an increased grant, and so as to make up any deficit. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) As I stated in my reply to a Question by the hon. Baronet the Member for the Uxbridge Division on the 7th instant, if the grant which is at present made to county councils is found, after due trial, to be inadequate, I shall be glad to consider any representations on the subject which may be made to me.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the respective total production during the years 1904, 1905, 1906, and 1907, of the distilleries of England, Scotland, and Ireland, classifying the distilleries of each, country under the headings of distilleries using pot stills only, distilleries using patent stills only, and distilleries using both pot and patent stills. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.)—Table showing the Total Production of Spirits in the Distilleries of England,

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, applies to the office of Clerk of the Crown and Peace in Ireland; whether the Treasury are empowered, when any person holding such office retires, to add a certain number of years to those actually served in the situation in computing the amount of superannuation allowance; whether any precedent exists whereby a person holding the office of Clerk of the Crown, Clerk of the

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the practice of the Board of Inland Revenue, after the death of a person owning a dog for which a licence had been duly taken out, to require the executor who has become the owner of the dog to take out another licence for the same dog for the current year. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Dog licences, which are not on the same footing as establishment licences, are not transferable. The law requires the person keeping a dog after the death of the owner to obtain a fresh licence.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government propose to make any provision in the new Irish Land Bill for the purpose of giving effect to the recommendations made in Section 296 of the Final Report of the Royal Commission on Congestion in Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The recommendations in question are under consideration.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can now say how soon the promised statement on the finance of the Mullingar District Lunatic Asylum will be available. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I hope to be able to furnish the statement in question to the hon. Member within the next few days.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any, and, if any, how many, women are inspectors in the Departments of the Local Government Board, Department of Agriculture and Technical Education, Royal College of Science, National Education Board, and General Prisons Board, Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Two women are employed as temporary inspectors under the Local Government Board, one woman has recently been appointed as inspector of national schools, and there are three women inspectors under the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland. There are no women inspectors on the staff of the Royal College of Science or of the General Prisons Board.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Mr. James M'Cullagh, evicted from a farm in Innishmore, County Fermanagh, Ely estate, and will they soon be in a position to comply with the application; have they agreed to purchase untenanted lands on the Ely estate; and, if so, how soon is it expected the lands will be vested. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received this application, and will consider it in connection with the allotment of such untenanted land as they may acquire. The farm referred to is in the occupation of another tenant. The Commissioners are in negotiation for the purchase of untenanted land on the Ely estate, but cannot at this stage say when they may be vested.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many National schools, with an average attendance of twenty and upwards, have either been struck off the rolls during this year or have been notified that they will be struck off at the end of it; how many of these are under Roman Catholic management; and how many have Protestant managers. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that forty-seven such schools, twenty-eight under Roman Catholic and nineteen under Protestant management, have been struck off, and that six, three under Roman Catholic and three under Protestant management, have been notified that they will be struck off or suspended from 31st December, 1908. In the great majority of cases the schools struck off are amalgamated with other schools.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland where a National school under charge of a schoolmaster is closed and its pupils transferred to a school presided over by a schoolmistress, will he request the Commissioners to make arrangements whereby the disemployed schoolmaster will be transferred to the

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of cases and of persons boycotted in Ireland on 30th November, 1908, in the same form, in which the information was given in Parliamentary Paper No. 89, of last session.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in cases where national schools notified for striking off the rolls at the end of the year have shown substantial increases in attendance during recent months he will ask the Commissioners to waive these notices until it is seen how attendances are maintained in these schools during a further period. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education are not prepared to give a general consent such as is asked for, but, if the facts of any case are brought under notice, their they will consider the question of continuing grants to the school on its merits.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state, by order of counties, the number of cattle-drives reported by the Royal Irish Constabulary to have taken place in Ireland for the months of October and November, 1908.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if, in view of the statements that all the untenanted ranch land in Ireland is insufficient for the relief of evicted tenants and of congestion and is the excuse for withholding relief, he will explain why the Estates Commissioners continue giving parcels of that land to grabbers of evicted farms and to graziers of large tracts, and disregard complaints o evicted tenants and of congests, whether made directly or through this House; and whether he will give any assurance that well-founded complaints on specific cases of this nature will in future receive attention. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Advances for the purchase of untenanted lands are made by the Estates Commissioners in accordance with the law, and all representations received by them are duly considered.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether an application for reinstatement has been received by the Estates Commissioners from William Logan, an evicted tenant, who formerly held a farm on the estate of Colonel Irvine, near Omagh, County Tyrene; and whether any steps have been taken to restore him to his own or an equivalent holding. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have not received any application for reinstatement from William Logan.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a Return ordered by this House on 24th February last states that out of 14,398 National school teachers in Ireland, who signed agreement forms with managers, only 845 executed forms providing for a referee, and that the referee in almost every one of these cases was chosen by the manager; if he can say how often he has referred this question to the National Commissioners, with a recommendation to provide a remedy, and with what result; and what steps, if any, does he propose to take to insure security of tenure to those teachers who are liable to unjust and arbitrary dismissal. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The number of cases in which agreements providing for the appointment of referees had been executed up to the date of the Return is correctly stated. I have no means of ascertaining how the referees were chosen. I have repeatedly stated the Commissioners of National Education are of opinion that it is desirable that a referee should be available in the case of dismissal of teachers, and two of the four forms of agreement between managers and teachers provide for the appointment of a referee. The Commissioners, however, have no power to compel the adoption of a form of agreement which contains that provision.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the inspectors in Circuit (8) are urging that cookery and laundry work be added to the present curriculum in national schools, and if they have authority from the Commissioners of National Education to threaten the withholding of increments and promotion if these subjects are not introduced by teachers; and whether the Commissioners have made any provision for equipping schools for these subjects, or if it is intended to impose this monetary obligation upon the teachers who have already many such burdens to bear. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education are not aware that the inspectors in Circuit (8) have been making exceptional efforts to secure the teaching of cookery and laundry work. In cases where cookery is not taught, and where prima facie there seems to be no reason why it should not be taught, inspectors have been requested to say whether they have brought the provisions of the rule on the subject under the notice of the managers but they have not been instructed to threaten the withholding of increments or other penal action. Under the Commissioners' rules increments may be withheld from the teaching staff of schools in which cookery is not taught, unless special sanction has been obtained for the omission. As regards the concluding portion of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question asked by the hon. Member for East Kerry on the 10th instant.

To ask the Secretary of State for war whether his attention has been called to the fact that the lands of Cappantimore and Glenagross, situate within two or three miles of Limerick, were inspected some time since by the military authorities with the view of establishing a range for military purposes; was the report in every way favourable and was it approved of; is he aware of the fact that a range so situated would be of considerable advantage, and that money would be saved to the Government owing to the facilities afforded by the central position in which Limerick is placed, both by land and water, for the conveyance of troops and stores; and whether, having regard to those facts, due consideration will be given to the claim put forward to have a range established at this place. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The proposed range is within four miles of Limerick, but is five miles from the barracks. It is unsuitable for field practices but in other respects is favourably reported on. As, however, the terms asked for a lease are considered excessive, it is doubtful, unless they can be modified, whether any saving would result to the Government by establishing a range there.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of submarines built or building for the French, German, and British Navies.

According to statements published in the respective countries, the numbers are—France built, forty-nine; building and projected, fifty-six. Germany built, two, building and projected, ten. For England the number of submarines built is forty-five; for those building and projected I am not prepared to give the figures.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the greatest number of armoured vessels manœuvred under the command of Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson at one and the same time.

The Answer to the hon. Member's Question is forty-six.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the difference in export opinion on the subject, he will consider the possibility of substituting a heavier anti-torpedo armament than is now carried by H.M.S. "Warrior," H.M.S. "Natal," H. M. S. "Achilles," and H. M. S. "Cochrane."

The Admiralty do not propose to make any change.

DO the Admiralty consider the present armament heavy enough to resist the attack of big torpedo vessels?

I have explained that the Admiralty do not consider it in the public interest to give the information asked for.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in asking for tenders for earthenware and china for use in the Navy, any British earthenware and china manufacturers are requested to tender, or whether tenders are asked only from firms of middlemen who often buy the rough ware in foreign countries and have it decorated here and sold to the Admiralty as British-made goods.

There is a notice on the form of tenders for earthenware and china that manufacturers only will be accepted, and we have never had any reason in this trade to suppose that contractors have supplied ware other than of their own manufacture.

Is it not the fact that there are no manufacturers on the list, and that only middlemen are invited to tender?

So far from that being the case the information given me is that on our list we have no one but manufacturers and no middlemen at all. I shall be happy to inquire as to individual cases if the hon. Member has any information to give.

Is it not the custom of the Admiralty to expend the taxpayers' money to the best advantage by obtaining commodities in the cheapest market?

When we are asking for manufactured articles we endeavour to get them from the manufacturer himself.

Is it not the fact that the best goods at the lowest prices are got through middlemen?

I cannot say that that is the experience of the Admiralty.

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will inquire as to the experience of private firms.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the number of men employed by Messrs. Morrison and Mason, contractors for the new lock, Portsmouth, upon that work, the number of navvies who are receiving less than 6d. per hour, and the number of labourers who are paid 5d. per hour; and whether he has seen or received from the local contractors' association a protest against the contractors for the Admiralty paying any workman less than 6d. per hour, on the ground that it is the recognised minimum wage of the district.

May I also ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that Messrs. Morrison and Mason, contractors, Portsmouth, are paying 5d. per hour to men engaged in the construction work applicable to building; whether he is aware that the master builders' association have agreed to and do pay 6d. per hour for all labourers employed on work of this kind; whether he has been informed that the corporation pay 6d. per hour for all men employed on the roads in the mortar and stone yards; whether he is aware that this firm by paying 5d. per hour are acting contrary to the wishes of the master builders and the workmen's trades unions of the borough; will he take the necessary steps to ascertain the recognised rates for this class of work by making an appeal to the borough surveyor, the president of the master builders' association, and the secretary of the trades council; and will he act upon the recommendation made by any two of the above-named gentlemen should they make a recommendation, or what steps does he intend to take to support the Fair Wage Resolution of this House, which the men's unions claim is being violated.

In reply to these Questions, the lock contractors at present employ sixteen men at 5d.; eighty-seven men at 5½d.; thirty-seven men at 6d. It cannot be said that any of the men employed at less than 6d. can be classified as navvies. No protest such as is referred to in the Question of the hon. Member for Stoke has been received, but a letter has been received from the Master Builders and Building Trades' Association in the following terms: "In reply to your favour of yesterday's date as to wages of outside navvies or excavators, I beg to inform you that the rules I sent you only apply to workmen engaged on buildings, and I regret I have no knowledge of the general rate of wage for navvies and excavators engaged on other works, such as docks, bridges, piers, etc., and I am not aware of the existence of any trade union rate for this class of workmen. No doubt such firms as Sir John Jackson, Ltd., Messrs. S. Pearson & Son, Ltd., Messrs. Walter Scott & Middleton, would be able to give you the information you require." As to the other points on which I am interrogated, I have not yet received information which would enable me to reply.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the building trade generally 6d. per hour is recognised as the standard wage?

There is no dispute as to that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Portsmouth Corporation pay the labourers who are engaged by the hour at the rate of 6d?

That may be, but there is a distinction between different classes of labour employed by the council, and I understand in some cases they only pay 4½d. per hour.

Are not these contractors an enterprising Scottish firm who have encountered a good deal of hostility from other firms in the trade from whom they have taken much work?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that master builders recognise that all men employed in construction work for builders are entitled to 6d. per hour, which is paid by all contractors at Portsmouth? Does not the president of the Master Builders Society assert that these men are also entitled to 6d.?

I have read the exact terms of the letter I have received.

Is it not the fact that builders employ navvies for excavating work for foundations and pay them 6d. per hour?

I agree that for work generally done by navvies 6d. per hour is the rate paid. I will inquire into further points raised by hon. Members.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his Department invite tenders for the supply of earthenware and china goods and utensils from any British earthenware and china manufacturers, or whether only firms of middlemen are placed upon the contractors' list for this purpose by his Department; and if he can say in what other branch for the supply of war material manufacturers are prohibited from tendering, and the tenders of middlemen only are invited or received.

It is an established rule of the War Department to avoid dealings with middlemen and to limit orders for manufactured articles to actual manufacturers as far as possible. It is open to any manufacturer to ask to be invited to tender, and all such applications are most carefully considered. No competent and satisfactory manufacturer is prohibited from tendering for any article.

Would it not be better to submit these tenders to open competition, so that all manufacturers may have an opportunity of tendering?

I do not think the effect would be any more satisfactory. Manufacturers can apply for permission to tender. We scrutinise the list, and everybody who is satisfactory is allowed to tender.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, can state for what reason they increased to 2s. 6d. per day the pension to Thomas Tuohy (No. 6125), late of the 1st Connaught Rangers, for a period of three months beginning on the 19th February last; whether they can explain why they have now reduced to 1s. 6d. a day the pension to this man, although he was twice wounded at the battle of Pieter's Hill, and has still seven parts of a bullet in his right leg, which, in consequence of the wound, is one and a half inches shorter than the other leg; and whether they will consider the advisability of restoring his pension to the former amount of 2s. 6d. a day.

This man's permanent pension is 1s. 6d. a day. The increase to 2s. 6d. a day was a temporary grant allowed to him when he was admitted to the Royal Infirmary, Dublin. It is usual for the Chelsea Commissioners to grant an increase of pension in such cases for three months to cover the period in hospital and subsequent convalescence.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the difficulties in the path of capable Indians desirous of presenting themselves at the competitive examination for the Indian Medical Service held in England, and of the disadvantages under which they are placed as compared with the people of this country; and what steps he proposes to take in order to remove these disabilities from the people of India, and to afford them reasonable opportunities for rising in the medical service of their country. I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the professors of the Medical College, and the physicians and surgeons at the General Hospital, Madras, are military officers attached to the Indian Medical Service and lent to the civil authorities; whether medical gentlemen outside the ranks of this service are debarred from filling those posts, and are allowed to serve only in subordinate ranks; whether he is aware of the discontent amongst members of the subordinate service, owing to their being shut off from the higher appointments for want of a commission in the Army; and whether he proposes to make any recommendations to the Government of India on the subject.

The professors of the Medical College, and the physicians and surgeons of the General Hospital, Madras, are at present officers of the Indian Medical Service, which is recruited for both military and civil duty. Medical officers outside that service are not shut off from higher appointments, although in practice they seldom attain the highest posts. The Secretary of State does not consider the present condition of the matter to be satisfactory, and is in communication with the Government of India as to the desirability of promoting the growth of an independent medical profession in India, and of extending the employment of civil medical practitioners recruited in India.

Is it a fact that at present Indian gentlemen who wish to join the Indian Medical Service have to come to London for the examination?

If they intend to join the Indian Medical Service the candidates have all got to come to this country for their examination.

asked whether the Secretary of State for India would include some reform in regard to this matter in the general scheme of Indian reforms.

I have no doubt that is included in the inquiries of the Secretary of State.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the grave rows coming from India, and in view of the importance of giving encouragement to well-affected subjects of the King in India, he would allow to be made known without delay what measures were to be proposed for reform of government in that country.

My hon. friend may be assured that the statement will be made at the earliest possible moment.

Before the House rises?

Oh, yes. Before the House rises for the session.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he had received any information in regard to the arrests of Aswini Kumar Dutt and Krishna Kumar Mitra; and whether the arrests had been made under the ordinary law, or under the new Act passed the other day.

said the two individuals about whom the hon. Gentleman inquired had been arrested under Regulation 3 of the Act of 1818.

asked whether there had not been nine arrests.

Yes, nine in all; but the hon. Member's Question was in reference to two persons.

asked if there was any connection between the arrests on the eve of the day when the statement was to be made by the Secretary of State and the statement itself, and if the Government at home were advised that the arrests were to be made.

said that there was no connection, and he was sure that nobody deplored more than the Secretary of State that it had been necessary to put the regulation in force at the moment. The Secretary of State was aware of the arrests being made.

asked if their were any circumstances that required the regulation to be enforced at the moment, other than had existed for some time.

said it was only under great pressure and upon serious representations made by the acting Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal and of Eastern Bengal, and after very careful investigation by the Government of India of the evidence against these individuals, that it was decided to take this particular action.

asked was it a fact that this extra ordinary action—[Cries of "Order."] He was quite in order; it was extraordinary action—out of the common—this extraordinary action, the arrest of these individuals, was taken because there was no evidence to proceed against them in a criminal Court.

That is not a proper Question to ask.

asked whether a regulation similar to this existed and was enforced in all the native States in India and whether similar power existed in respect to the East Africa Protectorate.

Hon. Members should give notice of Questions that require research.

asked, were these gentlemen to be deported without trial?

said they would be dealt with under the terms of the regulation.

In the circumstances, does the right hon. Gentleman think such action is calculated to allay the unrest in India?

asked, had not certain of these gentlemen been proceeded against in a criminal Court and acquitted of the charges brought against them?

said he could not answer that Question.

asked the right hon. Gentleman if he could in general terms say what was the effect of the section referred to.

said Regulation 3 of the Act of 1818, a copy of which could be seen in the library, empowered the Government to make arrest, if it was considered necessary, for the security of the British dominions from internal commotion, to take such action.

here interposed and said further Questions should not be put without notice.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if vaccination in Ceylon is done with calf lymph or with human lymph.

The Medical Reports for 1906 and 1907 state that glycerinated calf lymph was supplied in sufficient quantities to all parts of the island from the Central Calf Vaccine Depôt at Colombo.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to an alleged case of forcible vaccination by a municipal vaccinator at Kollupitiya, in Ceylon; if the municipal vaccinators are paid according to the number of cases they vaccinate; and if he will order the prosecution of the municipal vaccinator for assault.

I have seen a letter in a Ceylon newspaper, but I have no further information on the subject, nor am I aware how the vaccinators are paid. The Answer to the last Question is in the negative, but I will communicate my hon. friend's Question to the Governor.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received the Report of the Straits Opium Commission; and whether he will lay it upon the Table.

The Report has just been received. It will be laid on the Table in due course.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can inform the House as to whether the recent riots in Hong Kong are now completely over; whether he is aware that many of the Chinese there are afraid to form anti-opium societies for fear of offending the Colonial Government; and whether he will give instructions that the Colonial Government shall encourage and aid in the formation of such societies by every reasonable means.

As regards the first part of my hon. friend's Question, I have no information of any very recent rioting, though the situation still has to be carefully watched. As regards the remainder of his Question, I would refer him to the Answer which I gave on the 19th October to a Question put by my hon. friend in very similar terms.

In view of the anxiety of the people to establish these societies, will the Government send out instructions to the officials on the spot to encourage the movement?

The local Government is fully seized of our views and appreciate them.

But will it give effect to those views?

Of course it will.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received from the Governor of Hong Kong his Report as to what action is being taken to close the opium dons there in fulfilment of the instructions to do so of the Secretary of State on 5th May last; whether anything has yet been done; and whether he will lay upon the Table the correspondence on the subject.

The Governor's recommendations are now under the consideration of His Majesty's Government. Correspondence on the subject will be laid before Parliament in due course.

Will it be before the end of the session?

I am not quite sure, but it will probably be next month.

I beg beg to ask the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to say whether his Department proposes to take any action with regard to the forced return from Canada of the Glasgow boilermakers, and of the refusal of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company through their London agents to pay either wages or damages; and, if so, will he say what action is proposed to be taken.

I am now informed by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company that the boilermakers in question were sent home at their own request, with the exception of one man named Hunter of whom the company has no record.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men have made affidavits to a contrary effect? Why is it in these matters the Government always accept the official version?

I was not aware of the fact mentioned by the hon. Member, and I will make further inquiries.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is within his knowledge that the system of stationing armed soldiers in villages to force the collection of rubber by natives still obtains in the Kasai region of the Congo; and that, owing to the demands thus made for rubber, the natives of Bakuba, Bakete, and Pianga districts have no time to cultivate their farms and are threatened with starvation, while the investigation held by the Congo authorities after the visit of the British Consul to the region was perfunctory and in part conducted by an official already involved in the charges of irregularity of administration.

I have received reports from His Majesty's Consul at Boma on the condition of the natives in the Kasai region of the Congo State, which are being considered. Information to the effect stated in the Question has reached me from an independent source, but there has been no opportunity of corroborating it officially.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will cause full information to be obtained in regard to the nature of the punishment, if any, inflicted upon European agents of the Kasai Company now under arrest; and if he will take the earliest opportunity of laving before the House the Report of the British Consul on his visit to the region affected by the charges.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I am asking His Majestys' Consul at Boma for information, I hope to lay before Parliament in the course of next month Mr. Thesiger's Report on his tour in the Kasai district, and other papers respecting the condition of the natives in the Congo State.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now give the House the terms of reference of the International Opium Commission which is to meet in Shanghai in February next.

The United States Government have communicated to us the terms of their instructions to their delegates. These instructions are as follows:—"1. To devise means to limit the use of opium in the Possessions of this country. 2. To ascertain the best means of suppressing opium traffic, if such now exists, among the nationals of this Government in the Far East. 3. To be in a position so that when the Commission meets at Shanghai our representatives may be prepared to co-operate with the representatives of participating Powers, and with them to offer definite suggestions of measures which these Governments may adopt for the gradual suppression of opium cultivation, traffic, and use within their Eastern possessions, thus assisting China in her purpose of eradicating the evil from her Empire. 4. To be able to inform the whole Commission when it assembles, regarding regulations and restrictions in force at present in this country, and to formulate and discuss proposals for amending such regulations in points in which they may be found, in the course of the joint investigation, to affect the production, commerce, use, and disadvantages of opium in the Far East." The British delegates are being furnished with instructions on similar lines, but it is not known how far this basis has been accepted by the other participating Governments for the guidance of their delegates.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to Article 36 of the Congo Colonial Law, voted by the Belgian Parliament, which provides that the decrees, regulations, and edicts of the Congo State shall retain full force of law under the Belgian administration; and if he can say whether this provision applies to the decree and regulations of 1891–2 and to the edicts subsequently promulgated under which the natural products of the soil have been appropriated by the administration and the concessionaire companies.

Until the Belgian Government have had time to formulate a scheme for carrying out the assurances respecting the better treatment of natives and freedom of trade already given, and for a more precise definition of which His Majesty's Government have asked in their Memorandum of 1st November last, which has been presented to Parliament, it would seem to be necessary that the administration should be carried on under existing regulations. The particular point referred to in the end of the Question, which is a very important one, is dealt with in the Memorandum of His Majesty's Government, to which the reply of the Belgian Government has not yet been received.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to the announcement that with one exception the whole of the executive staff of the Congo States administration has been attached to the Belgian Colonial Ministry; and, having regard to the Resolution voted by this House in February last, and to the condemnation passed by His Majesty's Government and by all parties in the House upon the Congo States administration, if he will consider the advisability of making some representations to the Belgian Government upon the matter.

The Resolution referred to in the Question dealt with the system in force in the Congo. The question of how far a change of personnel is essential to a change of system can hardly be dealt with as an abstract and general question, and in any case I cannot make further representations until a reasonable time has elapsed for the receipt of a reply to the Memorandum already before the Belgian Government.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the practice of surveyors of income-tax requiring the production of balance sheets for the assessment of income-tax in cases of private firms and private companies; whether he can state under what authority this production is required; if he is aware that their production causes anxiety to traders, inasmuch as they are sometimes placed before the local Commissioners of Taxes, who may be competitors in trade; whether he is aware that in most cases surveyors claim the right to retain these balance sheets, and decline to make the usual and proper allowances for depreciation, otherwise agreed, unless permitted to do so; and whether he will give instructions that this subject may be made a matter of inquiry, with a view to the practice being discontinued.

The matter referred to by the hon. Member has been the subject of several very full replies in this House, more especially those given on the 28th February, 1907, and the 19th of May, 1908, to my hon. friends the Members for the Thornbury division and for Ashton-under-Lyne, respectively, copies of which I shall be glad to send him.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Mrs. Fanny Royster, of Ancoats, Manchester, aged seventy-one, has been refused an old-age pension because she was sent to the workhouse hospital in May last by her doctor, owing to a severe attack of pneumonia; whether such refusal is in accordance with the Old-Ago Pension Act, if so, whether he can see his way to give her a compassionate allowance; and whether he will take steps early next session to remedy this grievance.

I have not received particulars of the case referred to, but the question whether disqualification would or would not arise in such circumstances would depend upon the precise facts of the case, upon which the decision rests with the local pension committee, subject to appeal to the Local Government Board. I have no power to grant compassionate allowances to disqualified applicants for pensions, and, until the precise application of the existing disqualification has been determined on appeal, it would be premature to consider the question of amending it by legislation.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, following the precedents of the Old-Age Pension Act and Budget, 1908 he can see his way to deal by a separate Bill to the Budget in 1909 with the £13,500,000 allocated to elementary education, so as to constitute the teachers of the elementary schools a branch of the Civil Service free from the imposition of all ecclesiastical tests, and so as to provide that the whole of those moneys shall only be expended upon those elementary schools that are completely controlled by popularly elected education authorities.

My hon. friend's Question should be addressed to the Prime Minister.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that at Brierley Hill 174 parents and guardians were summoned by the Staffordshire education committee for not sending their children to school during the hop-picking season, and that fines amounting to about £80 were imposed; that in many cases the defendants pleaded great poverty, and that in some instances the children were said to be taken hopping because they were in ill-health; whether he has observed that similar prosecutions in previous years have been ineffective in preventing parents from taking their children to benefit in health and wealth by hop-picking; and whether he can take any steps to remit or reduce these fines and discourage similar prosecutions in future.

The matter has been very carefully considered by the Staffordshire Education Committee, and I have no reason to doubt that their decision to fix the holidays for the Staffordshire schools so as to end before the hop-picking begins is not only right in itself, but is in accordance with the wishes of an overwhelming majority of the school-children's parents. This being decided, the justices have no option but to enforce the law. I am satisfied that they impose penalties for breaches of the law with discrimination and due regard to the considerations touched on in the question. No cases have been brought to my notice which call for an exercise of the prerogative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these unfortunate persons are unable to leave their children behind them and must, therefore, suffer continued prosecution or lose their employment?

was understood to reply that many parents were averse to the practice of taking the children into the hop gardens.

asked whether hopping was not regarded as a healthy occupation from which children greatly benefited?

said it was reported that the children contracted serious diseases while hop-picking. The local education authority had gone exhaustively into the question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman go into the hop gardens next season and judge of the circumstances himself?

That would not give me the information. Besides it is the local education authority whose officers are responsible in this matter.

Do the right hon. Gentleman's remarks apply to all the hop-growing districts of the country?

I replied to the Question on the Paper.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Mr. F. G. Bowsher, 161, Shirland Road, Paddington, was unable to make the declaration under the Vaccination Act, 1907, within four months of the birth of his child on account of illness which confined him to the house; that Mr. Bowsher made the declaration as soon as he was able to go out, namely, on 2nd December last, and that the Vaccination Officer refused to accept this on account of it being made eight days too late; and whether he will consider the desira-ability of the vaccination officer exercising his discretion and not prosecuting Mr. Bowsher for the non-vaccination of his child, as Mr. Bowsher is only a postman and cannot afford to pay the penalty usually imposed under the Vaccination Acts.

I understand that the child was born on the 24th July last, and that on the 4th September Mr. Bowsher himself registered the birth at the Register Office, when the notice of vaccination was handed to him. A further notice was sent to him on the 23rd October. The period during which a declaration of conscientious objection could be made expired on the 23rd November, and on the 1st December the Vaccination Officer called at the house, when Mr. Bowsher informed him that he had been ill, but he did not say for how long, though the Vaccination Officer tried to elicit information on the point. I cannot undertake to interfere with any action the Vaccination Officer may decide to take in this case.

Was the notice usually sent out at the expiration of three months sent in this particular case?

I gather so.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a farmer residing at Diddlebury, Shropshire, who is a member of the Ludlow Board of Guardians, and who was fined £10, including costs, at the Ludlow County Police Court on the 30th ultimo for assaulting an orphan and workhouse boy, aged fourteen years, in his custody and care, in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering and injury to health, viz., by entering the boy's bedroom at 5.45 a.m., pulling the clothes off him, and boating him with a knotted stick across the legs, back and arms; and whether, if he has not already done so, he will ascertain the precise terms of the arrange-meet (inter alia, the number of hours per day the boy had to work and the pay he received) entered into between the Ludlow Board of Guardians and the farmer in question as to the placing out of the boy in the defendant's custody and care.

I have made inquiry on this subject and I understand that substantially the facts are as stated in the Question. I am informed that when a boy is placed out in service by the guardians of the Ludlow Union it is customary for arrangements to be made for the payment to him by the person with whom he is placed of a small sum per week for his services, but that in the case mentioned this was not done. Nor was any arrangement made with regard to the boy's hours of work. I will give attention to the method adopted in this Union for placing boys in service.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received an application from the town council of Macclesfield for sanction to create a Distress Committee; and whether he can state if his Board is prepared to grant the application.

I received such an application on Thursday last and am in communication with the town council on the subject.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his Department can take steps to ensure support for persons who are claiming pensions but who, according to information given to the House, have been disqualified for an old-age pension contrary to the stated intention when the disqualification sections of the Act were being framed.

I am not sure what the cases are to which my hon. friend refers, but the reply to the Question must be in the negative. Claimants who are found to be disqualified of course remain in the same position as they would have been if the Act had not passed.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that at Walsoken a man eighty-three years of age, who has never cost the parish one penny, but is receiving a total of 5s. 6d. per week from three sons through the relieving officer, has been deemed ineligible for a pension by the pension officer though the revising barrister allows his vote; and whether he is entitled to be put upon the pension list.

I have no information as to the case to which my hon. friend refers, and I am not in a position to express any opinion with regard to it. I can only say generally that if a claimant has been in receipt of relief he is disqualified for a pension, even although the amount of the relief is repaid by relatives.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will inform the House how many public officials were in attendance during the sittings of the Housing and Town Planning Committee, in addition to the two clerks to the Standing Committee; what are the names of the said officials; and what offices they hold.

Besides the Committee clerks, one of the Parliamentary Counsel and three or four of the officers of the Local Government Board were usually present, and when the Scottish clauses were under consideration one or two of the officers of the Scottish Office attended. I do not think it necessary to state the names of the officers referred to.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the morning letters of the Moore Street Meat Market in Glasgow are not delivered until 8.30 to 8.50 a.m., while the letters for firms on the other side of the street are delivered between 7.30 and 8 o'clock; whether he is aware that business is done in that market amounting to about two and a half millions sterling per annum; that a large part of that business is for instant despatch to catch morning trains before ten o'clock; that the delay of his Department hampers and inconveniences the conduct of this trade; and, if so, will he take steps to expedite this delivery of letters.

Under normal conditions the morning delivery of letters in the Moore Street Meat Market, Glasgow, should be effected before 8.0 a.m. It seems possible that the employment of a postman who was new to the duty has resulted in a somewhat later delivery recently, but no complaints have reached either the postmaster of Glasgow or myself. Arrangements are being made to ensure delivery at the proper time.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if his Department, earlier than 1906, offered to the Moore Street Meat Market in Glasgow to deliver their morning letters between 7.30 and 8 o'clock instead of one hour later than that if they would agree to pay 8s. per week for such service; and, if so, will he say whether his Department still insists that that sum should be forthcoming before it will give the market proper facilities for carrying on their business.

In December, 1905, the Glasgow Wholesale Meat Traders' Association were informed that a special early delivery of their correspondence could not be afforded except under the conditions of the Express Delivery Service. It was estimated on the basis of the average amount of correspondence received at that time that the fees for the Express Service would amount in all to about £20 a year. As I have already stated in my reply to another Question of the hon. Member's, the delivery in the Moore Street Meat Market is effected by 8 a.m., and I fear it will not be practicable to afford an earlier delivery unless the firms concerned elect to make use of the Express Delivery Service.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he can now give the result of the recommendations of the classification of the Pontypridd Office.

The classification of Pontypridd is shown on page 59 of the Parliamentary Paper No. 206 issued in July last. It is in accordance with the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee, the units of work being 282, which places it in Class III., the range of units of which is 240 to 800. The index number of the cost of living as ascertained by the Board of Trade is 102. The maximum pay is for sorting clerks and telegraphists, males 48s., females 32s. and for postmen 25s. a week. In addition to these maxima the sorting clerks and telegraphists can earn an allowance of 3s. a week for technical knowledge and the postmen, after periods of unblemished service, can earn good conduct stripes of the value of 1s. each up to a maximum of six stripes 6s. a week.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if steps have yet been taken to carry into effect the promise of his predecessor in office, made to a deputation from the County Councils Association in February last, to give financial aid to local education authorities in respect of the cost of organising and carrying out medical inspection in schools; and, if so, will he state the nature of the proposals and when they will come into operation.

My predecessor's statement referred to the additional money proposed to be provided in connection with the Education Bill. I am not in a position at present to make any statement as to the possibility of giving increased Exchequer grants in aid of elementary education.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the action of the Staffordshire Education Committee in prosecuting 174 parents and guardians for not sanding their children to school during the hop-picking season; whether he is aware that these prosecutions have been undertaken annually without preventing a recurrence of the offence; and whether he will make it possible, by legislation or otherwise, for town children to enjoy this health-giving holiday without breaking the law.

No, Sir; so far as I can find out, the attention of the Board of Education has not been called to any of the matters referred to in the Question. The duty of carrying out the law of school attendance and of enforcing the local bye-laws does not rest with my Department. It is within the powers of a local education authority to make various arrangements if they think fit to do so for dealing with this matter, by bye-laws, or by arranging the time for school holidays, without any fresh legislation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the local education authorities that an extension of holidays might be given in these cases?

I have inquired into the matter and do not see any immediate necessity for my intervention.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Scotland the holidays are arranged so as to enable children to work during these seasons?

I believe it is so, and I see no reason why something of the same kind should not be done in England.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether his Department invite tenders for the supply of earthenware, china, or decorative tiles from any British firm of earthenware, china, or tile manufacturers, or whether firms of middlemen only are placed for this purpose upon the contractors' list of his Department.

Only British manufacturers are invited to tender for china and earthenware supplies in general. No foreign firms or middlemen are invited. Tiles for buildings are sometimes included in the builders' contract, but more generally are obtained direct from the makers if they are in a position to fix them, otherwise from middlemen who undertake to provide and fix. With the exception of a very small quantity of hearth and stove tiles, it is believed that all tiles are of British manufacture.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of calling for tenders by open advertisement, so that anybody can tender, instead of confining it to a small selected list?

I will consider that point.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if, having regard to the continued depopulation of the country districts owing to the dearth of cottage accommodation, he will state the number of dwelling-houses that have been erected by virtue of The Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1907, and in what districts.

The following table gives the information for which my hon. friend asks:—

I beg to ask the Hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will seriously consider the advisability of immediately increasing the staff of commissioners, sub-commissioners, and inspectors in order to deal with the numerous applicants for small holdings in those counties where great delay has occurred, which is causing widespread disappointment and dissatistion.

An increase of the staff available for work under the Small Holdings and Allotments Acts has become necessary, and proposals in that direction are now under consideration. I think it necessary the appointments should be made as soon as possible.

Will the Board bear in mind the desirability of having a report prepared by the Commissioners for every county as required by the Act?

That does not arise out of the Question on the Paper.

The difficulty in preparing the reports arises from the inadequacy of the staff.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland on what date and for what amount the Treasury guaranteed a bank overdraft in favour of parish councils in the Lews; to what extent has this advance been exhausted; and for how many weeks longer will the councils be able to meet their obligations.