To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the hours which the drivers and conductors of horse omnibuses in London are obliged to work; whether he is aware that in many cases these amount to more than sixteen hours a day and to an average of eighty-five or ninety hours a week; and whether he will make a Return showing the number of men employed, the average rate of wages by the hour, and the average number of hours of work by the day and by the week. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The information in the possession of the police does not show that the hours are so long as the hon. Member supposes; but full particulars could be obtained only by application to the companies, and I do not think that the publication of a Return is desirable. I am making inquiry into the matter, but, as I stated last week, I have no direct authority to interfere.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any further steps have been taken during this year to assimilate the shipping laws of Guernsey and Jersey to those obtaining in this country. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The law officers of Guernsey are at the present time in Jersey holding a conference with the Jersey law officers upon the subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any complaints have reached the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police in reference to insufficient policing of Primrose Hill; and whether he proposes to increase the number of constables employed there on night duty. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The police are responsible for Primrose Hill by night only, not by day. During the past twelve months only one complaint has reached the Commissioner of Police, and it is not at present proposed to increase the number of constables employed on night duty at this place.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General whether he is aware that new rules have been framed under the Land Transfer Acts, to come into operation on 1st January next, whereby the ad valorem fees payable in connection with the purchase and mortgage of property after first registration are largely increased; will he explain why higher fees are to be charged on subsequent dealings with the registered property than are charged on first registration; and whether he will postpone the introduction of the new rules until the Royal Commission at present engaged in taking evidence on the working of the registration system has reported on the working of the system and on the expediency of continuing or determining its operation. (Answered by Sir W. Robson.) I am informed that the Lord Chancellor, by whom the rules were made, was fully aware of the considerations mentioned in the Question, and discussed the matter both with the advisory committee under the Act and with the Royal Commission. The rules have been published, and it is not intended to recall them.

To ask the President of the Board of Education if the chairman of a rural or an urban district council is ex-officio a governor, and entitled to sit and act as such, of a secondary school when such school is situated within the area of such rural or urban district.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that under the existing Act the exhibition of printed notices in Metropolitan stage carriages of matters affecting the public in relation to traffic working is prohibited; and, if so, whether an amendment of the regulations in this direction will be considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has observed that, according to the Metropolitan police accounts for 1907–8, a sum of £41,658 11s. 5d. was the annual expenditure in the licensing of public vehicles and drivers and conductors in the Metropolitan area; if he will grant a statement showing fully how this total is made up; what this sum amounts to per vehicle and per man licensed; and a comparative statement in detail showing the cost of this work for each of the last ten years. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) These Questions were put to me a few days ago by the hon. Member for Hoxton. I circulated Answers to them with the Votes on Tuesday morning last, and I have caused copies of these Answers to be sent to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the practice of falsifying the taximeter on motor-cabs; and, if so, whether he will take steps to check it. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) It is a fact that in some instance taximeters have been falsified. The Public Carriage Department of New Scotland Yard have under consideration the introduction of checks, which it is hoped will prevent this in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in 1905 (the last year for which we have full statistics) 450 persons were detained in prison for twelve weeks and upwards before trial, and that of these thirty-one were acquitted; whether his attention has been drawn to the observations of Mr. Justice Bucknill, at the last Assizes at Carmarthen, on the acquittal of a young labourer tried before him, that he was almost horrified to find that the prisoner had been incarcerated for four months awaiting trial for a trivial theft; whether he is aware that another person was tried before the same Judge at the Assizes at Bristol who had been imprisoned awaiting trial for a similar period, and was discharged; and will he, as his circular letter to the Justices of August, 1906, has failed to produce the desired effect, instruct every governor of a goal to report to him at once each case in which a prisoner is committed charged with a trivial offence when a long time must elapse before trial, so that in suitable cases, by application being made for bail by the Director of Public Prosecutions, or otherwise, this state of affairs may be remedied. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I am aware of the figures mentioned, and have seen a newspaper report of one of the cases mentioned by the hon. Member. I would refer him to the Answers given by me to Questions in this House on 8th November, 1906, and 15th August, 1907. As he is aware, I have repeatedly brought to the notice of magistrates the importance of releasing prisoners on bail in proper cases, and have urged them to grant bail freely; but I fear that the suggestion made in the Question is not a practicable one. The Home Office is already overburdened with the duties which properly belong to it, and I am satisfied that it would do more harm than good if I attempted a general revision of the decisions of the Courts in matters in which they are in a much better position to judge of the circumstances than my Department can possibly be. I will make inquiry in the two cases mentioned in the hon. Member's Question, and endeavour to ascertain where the fault, if any, lies.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether all buildings or houses used as private or public schools have to be certified as suitable by the sanitary authorities. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) No, Sir.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, looking at the numerous accidents that occur through taking petrol close to a naked light, he will consider the desirability of requiring that bottles in which it is sold should be marked "highly inflammable," or "not to be used near a naked light." (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I beg to answer this Question on behalf of my right hon. friend. Under Section 6 of the Petroleum Act, 1871, all petroleum spirit sold or exposed for sale must be marked "highly inflammable," under a penalty of not more than £5 and forfeiture. I may add that I am about to appoint a Departmental Committee to inquire into the sufficiency of the existing regulations relating to the storage, use, and conveyance of petroleum spirit, and to report what further precautions, if any, are desirable.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks made by Mr. Hutton, one of the London police magistrates, in connection with a case in which a father, who was summoned before him on 24th October last for the non-vaccination of his child, pleaded a conscientious objection, to the effect that the legislature did not give the magistrates power of exemption when a conscientious scruple is pleaded on a summons; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing a Bill giving magistrates that power. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have seen a newspaper report of the case mentioned. As my hon. friend is aware, a parent who conscientiously believes, that vaccination would be injurious to his child can obtain exemption by making a statutory declaration within four months of the birth of the child. I do not propose to introduce further legislation on the subject.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that parents who were refused exemption from vaccination under the Vaccination Act, 1898, are now being fined for the non-vaccination of their children; whether he is aware that in some cases parents who have obtained exemption in respect of children born after the commencement of the Vaccination Act of 1907 may be liable to be prosecuted in respect of unexempted children born before that date; and whether he will consider the desirability of ending this state of affairs by introducing legislation with a view to exempting parents from all legal proceedings in respect of children born before the date of the commencement of the Vaccination Act of 1907. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am aware that cases of the kind mentioned sometimes occur, but I am afraid I could not undertake to comply with the suggestion of my hon. friend.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Stoke-on-Trent Poor Law Guardians have recently declared their workhouse to be overcrowded, their stoneyard to be occupied to its full capacity by the unemployed, and that the guardians are now considering a proposal to turn the inmates of the casual ward out every morning without performing any labour test, so as to be able to use their cells for stone breaking by the unemployed; and whether, under these circumstances,, orders will be issued at once for the establishment of a distress committee under the Unemployed Workmen's Act, 1905, in accordance with the repeated request of the Stoke-on-Trent Town Council. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am aware that there is pressure on the guardians, and that they are taking steps to meet it. As regards the setting up of a distress committee, I am still awaiting a reply to the letter to the town council to which I referred in my Answer to the Question put to me by my hon. friend on the 9th instant. When I receive that reply I will give the matter immediate attention.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that processions of the unemployed from the boroughs of Paddington and Kensington are daily taking place in the streets for the purpose of soliciting alms; whether the councils of these boroughs are making any provision for the relief of distress caused by unemployment; and whether he will communicate with these authorities in order to insure such steps being taken as will relieve these persons in distress from the necessity of seeking their subsistence by organised begging in the streets. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am aware that processions of the kind referred to take place. The councils of both boroughs are engaged upon special measures to provide work for the unemployed. The Kensington Borough Council have passed various schemes of work, the total cost of which amounts to £7,300, and at Paddington the borough council have not only resolved on considerable expenditure on street works, but have also put in hand work at the recreation ground to which the Central (Unemployed) Body contribute. Moreover, works of tree planting are being carried out at Paddington, and some work in repairing and painting the town hall will be commenced to-day. Active steps are being taken in both boroughs to raise voluntary funds.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether an applicant who was received in to the workhouse infirmary since 1st January, 1908, and was treated there for some months, but who has since repaid to the guardians the cost of his board and treatment at the rate fixed by them, will be disqualified for an old-age pension. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The repayment of the cost of the relief does not affect the question of disqualification; but it may be that the relief would be found to be such as under paragraphs (i.) or (iii.) of Section 3 (1) (a) of the Old-Age Pensions Act does not disqualify. No opinion on this point could be given without full knowledge of the circumstances of the case.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has been informed by the Urban District Council of Willenhall that after careful investigation they are satisfied that there are 200 men in their district willing to work who are unable to find employment; and whether, in view there of and particularly of the near approach of Christmas, he will now consent to the application of the council for the establishment of a distress committee, or if not, in what other way he proposes to assist the council in their attempts to alleviate the distress there, which is already severe and which it is feared may soon become more acute. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Information to the effect contained in the first part of the Question was supplied to me by the Urban District Council in October last. On 4th November I explained that I did not regard the information before me as sufficient to justify the establishment of a distress committee at that time. Since then no further particulars have been supplied to me by the Urban District Council.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can now definitely inform the House as to when the Reports of the Poor Law Commission and the Committee on Coast Erosion will be presented to Parliament. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) It is hoped that the Report of the Royal Commission on the Poor Law, so far as relates to England and Wales, will be presented early in the new year. Further Reports will be made subsequently as regards Scotland and Ireland. The Royal Commission on Coast Erosion contemplate presenting their Report on Afforestation in the coarse of next month; but it is not anticipated that their final Report, which will deal with the question of erosion, will be ready for some time.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that boards of guardians in different parts of the country are ceasing to pay outdoor relief to persons living with relatives whose income is £1 per week or over; and whether he will make representations with a view to preventing the infliction of this hardship in many deserving cases. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) When application is made to the guardians for relief it is incumbent of them to take into consideration all the means possessed by or provided for the applicant from whatever source they may be derived. I have not received representations to show that the guardians are acting harshly in this matter, or that it is necessary that I should take any action with regard to it.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the old-age pensions subcommittee for the Peak area of Derbyshire is composed entirely of supporters of one political party; that the area covered is exceedingly large; and that no representatives of friendly societies or similar bodies have been included; and whether it is possible so to alter the constitution of this committee as to make it more representative of the inhabitants of the district. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have received a letter containing allegations to the effect stated in the Question. The formation of sub-committees for the purposes of the Old-Age Pensions Act and the appointment of persons to serve upon them rests with the local pension committee, and I am not empowered to alter the constitution of any subcommittee formed by them.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether a woman aged eighty, who has lived for seventy-two years in this country, is not eligible for an old-age pension, even though eight out of the last twenty years have been spent in Australia. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Yes, Sir. A claimant who during the last twenty years resided for eight years or more in Australia would be disqualified for an old-age pension.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the fact that a visit of the sub-committee of the local education authority of the West Riding was paid to the Roman Catholic school at Mortomley on 17th September last, and at that visit the chairman brought to notice the case of a child named Florence Norman, a Wesleyan, attending this Roman Catholic school, stating before all the children as a reflection on the head teacher that this child's position in the school was a proof of faulty classification by the teacher, and denying and ridiculing the teacher's statement in explanation that Florence Norman was a delicate child requiring careful and special treatment; whether he is aware that a medical certificate, dated 4th November last, states that this child has been medically attended and absented herself from school at various times during the past two years under medical directions, and that she died on 26th November from an illness affecting the brain, and that the teacher has been instructed by the local education authority to visit other schools with a view of gaining additional experience at her own expense; and whether, under these circumstances, he will call the attention of the local authority to the reflection cast upon the head teacher. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) This case is under consideration, and my right hon. friend is not in a position to make any statement at present. I may add, however, that some of the statements made in the Question are denied by the local education authority.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that some local education authorities are including vaccination amongst the matters to be noted on the schedule of inspection in connection with the medical inspection of children at public elementary schools; and whether he will therefore point out to the authorities that the Board's draft schedule of inspection does not contemplate any inquiry into the vaccinal condition of the children, and that, in the view of the Board, it is not desirable that any such inuiry should be made. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I am aware of the circumstances mentioned, and in all necessary cases where it appears that the local education authority are making inquiries on the point a communication is addressed to them in the spirit of the Answer given by my right hon. friend on 14th October last.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the local education authority for the West Riding of Yorkshire, in the application of money under Part II. of the Education Act, 1902, has required in the case of the Wheelwright grammar schools, at Dews-bury, that a particular form of religious instruction shall not be given; and what steps he proposes to take to secure obedience to the law by the local education authority. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) My right hon. friend is not without hope that a solution of the difficulty referred to in the noble Lord's Question may be arrived at which will make it unnecessary to consider what if any, further action would have to be taken by the Board.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether in connection with the dispute between the local education authority of the West Riding of Yorkshire and the governors of the Wheelwright grammar schools, the Board of Education, in a letter to Messrs. Frederick Walker and Son, dated 10th August, 1908, stated that the governing body are disposed to apply to the Board for an Amendment of the scheme in accordance with the requirements of the authority; and, if so, upon what information this statement, which is repudiated by the governors and is entirely inconsistent with the terms of the agreement between them and the trustees of the Wheelwright Charity, was made. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The Answer to the first paragraph of the Question is in the affirmative. In the letter in question, the Board of Education went on to say that the governing body considered that to make such an application would be a breach of the informal agreement come to between the Wheelwright Charity Trustees and the Town Council of Dewsbury, with the assent of the Charity Commissioners, when the provisions of the scheme of 1900 were under consideration; and that to the terms of this agreement, although it has no legal force, the governors consider themselves bound in honour to adhere unless the Wheelwright Trustees should voluntarily release them from the obligation. The statement in the letter was made in the result of an interview on 25th July, 1908, between representatives of the governing body and officers of the Board, at which the governors asked for advice and assistance from the Board, and agreed to a suggestion made that the Board should take steps to approach the Wheelwright Trustees with a view to their considering the question of releasing the governors from the honourable understanding referred to in the letter.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether the Tweedmouth Committee ascertained that before the punishment of an officer in the Post Office Department the precise nature of the charge brought against him was explained to him in writing, and that he was allowed to make, on his own behalf, a written explanation; whether the recommendation of the Committee that this practice should be strictly adhered to is still in force in his Department; if so, whether he will explain why the recommendation was not applied in the case of Mr. A. Dick, compulsorily transferred from Glasgow to Manchester, in 1907; whether he will now give him an opportunity to furnish a written explanation on the charges brought against him; and, if not, whether he will state his reasons for failing to carry out the recommendation of a committee whose findings were accepted by the then Postmaster-General. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The rule referred to by the Tweedmouth Committee is still in force. The circumstances leading to Mr. Dick's transfer from Glasgow were of a kind so completely within his own knowledge that the application of the rule became a mere formality, which could not have affected the result. It should, nevertheless, have been complied with. The omission has since been repaired; and Mr. Dick has defended himself verbally and in writing without convincing me that he was treated unjustly. Mr. Dick's conduct since his transfer has been satisfactory; and he was informed more than a year ago that I was prepared to sanction, under certain conditions, his re-transfer to Glasgow.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the continued damage caused to the Atlantic cables off the coast of Ballinskelligs, county Kerry, by trawlers; and whether, in view of the representations made by the United States Government and the chambers of commerce in the United States and England on this subject, he will use his influence to have these trawlers excluded from the cable zone, within which thirteen cables are laid, to a distance of about fifteen miles from the shore. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) My attention has been drawn to recent further cases of damage to the Atlantic cables off the coast of Kerry which are attributed to trawlers. In consultation with the President of the Board of Trade I appointed a committee last summer which carefully investigated the whole question. The committee had before it a proposal made by certain of the cable companies that trawlers should be excluded from an area extending some seventy miles from the shore (not fifteen miles, as suggested in the hon. Member's Question), in which damage attributed by the companies to trawlers had occurred. The committee considered this proposal impracticable, a view in which His Majesty's Government concur. It reported, however, in favour of an alternative proposal made by certain cable companies for the inspection of trawling gear, and the practical steps to be taken to give effect to this recommendation are now under the consideration of the Departments concerned.

To ask the Postmaster - General whether, in view of the opening of the Newburgh and North of Fife Railway in the near future, he will take all possible steps to improve the postal facilities of the districts concerned. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I will have inquiry made in the matter, and will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether it is with his authority that Mr. J. W. Crawford, the assistant controller of the London postal service, uses the General Post Office, E.C., as the address for his private practice. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The question of the use of this address has not previously, so far as I am aware, been submitted for official consideration. It appears to me better that Mr. Crawford should use his private address, and he informs me that he will do so in future.

To ask the Postmaster-General what percentage of boys employed as telegraph messengers have been discharged from the service under the age limit during each of the last five years, respectively; and what percentage has been retained for permanent service in other branches of the Department. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I regret there are no Returns available for the period named by the hon. Member.

To ask the Postmaster-General what provision, if any, is made by his Department for the education of boy telegraph messengers with a view to fitting them for other occupations in the event of their being discharged from the telegraph service under the age limit or from other causes. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) For many years educational classes under competent teachers have been placed within the reach of telegraph messengers at important towns. These classes were established in connection with the institutes, or clubs, maintained partly by a Treasury grant, partly by the contributions of the boys, and partly by the voluntary labour of the staff, to provide for the physical and mental culture and the reasonable amusement of the boys. There are ninety-nine such institutes at work. At some towns it has been found advantageous to the boys to hand over the purely educational work to the local authority. In such cases the boys are assisted as far as necessary in paying the usual fees. The subject is a large one; and if the hon. Member desires more detailed information I shall be happy to give it him.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters in the Tollcross district of Glasgow, which is a district of one and a half to two miles further from the central post office than the wholesale meat market in Moore Street, are delivered as early as seven o'clock in the morning; that the late delivery of letters to the meat market is entirely due to an arbitrary division line of postmen's districts having been drawn by his Department; and whether, in view of the fact that this important industry has been agitating for years for a 7.30 delivery, and is hampered in its trade by not receiving such, he will himself intervene so as to find out that this grievance cannot be due to any postman being new to the duty. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I will have further inquiry made and acquaint my hon. friend with the result.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that extra men are being engaged for the Christmas traffic at the Bradford office at 5d. per hour, and if the sum named is lower than it has been the practice to pay at the Bradford office to extra men for similar work. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) As I have stated in reply to other Questions in this House recently, the rates of pay for casual labour at Christmas will be based, as far as possible, on the rates recommended by the Select Committee for auxiliary service. Besides the fixed rate, the men receive special pay for night work, for Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, and get overtime pay where it has to be worked. The general net result of the alteration will be an increase in the total amount of pay. Under this scale the rate of pay at Bradford is 5¼d. an hour.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the repeated expressions of opinion by the Lord Chief Justice and other Judges of the High Court that, in order to secure the full efficiency of the Court of Criminal Appeal, the Court should possess the power to order a new trial in certain eases; and whether he will consider the desirability of promoting legislation during the next session of Parliament to confer such power upon the Court of Criminal Appeal (Answered by Sir William Robson.) The question as to whether or not the Court of Criminal Appeal should have power to order a new trial is, no doubt, one which gives rise to great differences of opinion among Judges. It was fully discussed in the debates preceding the passing of the Act, and I do not think it desirable to ask Parliament to reverse the decision at which it then arrived on such experience as the working of the Act has afforded up to the present time.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that the present salaries of the Second Division clerks in the Estate Duty Office may be taken to represent, on the average, the true worth and ability of the men, and that those clerks who are selected for promotion will be the more competent and meritorious of them, he will state on what grounds it is proposed that from and after their promotion to work which has hitherto been performed largely by fully-qualified solicitors, these men should be remunerated by salaries lower in the aggregate for some twenty years than the ordinary scale of second division pay. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member for St. Patrick's Division of Dublin and the hon. Member for Clapham on 13th July last, and on the 10th ultimo, to which I would refer the hon. Member.

To ask the hon. Member for the Crewe Division, as Church Estates Commissioner, whether he is aware that the road-making proposed for the benefit of the unemployed on the Commissioners' property in Winchester will cause the ejectment of eight allotment holders and serious disturbance of seventy-four others; whether he is aware that road-making could be carried out or other portions of the property which would cause no such disturbance, and, if so, what action he proposes to take. (Answered by Mr. Tomkinson.) The Ecclesiastical Commissioners have not yet come to a decision as to the question of making roads at Winchester with a view to providing work for the unemployed, but if such a scheme is undertaken and would result in the disturbance of any allotment holders, that is a matter which has been foreseen and provided against. The allotment holders are in occupation of certain plots which they have been informed are amongst those most likely to be required at an early date for building purposes, but they have preferred to retain their tenancies of these plots until the necessity for disturbing them should actually arise, and on the understanding that in that event other land will be offered to them.

To ask the hon. Member for the Crewe Division, as Church Estates Commissioner, whether he is aware that owing to the terms imposed by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners on their building land, which almost entirely surrounds Winchester, namely, the granting of leaseholds instead of the sale of the freehold, no building development has taken place even after roads have been made; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Tomkinson.) I am not aware that the course adopted by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of granting leases for building as contrasted with selling the freehold has hindered building operations on their estates in Winchester; on the contrary, in the last few years no less than 22 acres of land have been let on leases for 999 years for building purposes; most of these lettings have been during the last two years, and I am informed that, although there is a considerable area of building land in the immediate vicinity of Winchester belonging to other owners, such building development as is taking place there is upon the Commissioners' property.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works why the building operations for the extension of the British Museum in Montagu Place have, so far as the main structure is concerned, been suspended for nearly eighteen months; and when they are likely to be renewed. (Answered by Mr. Harcourt.) The first contract for the lower storeys was completed in the autumn of 1907. The interval which has occurred between the completion of the first contract and the commencement of the second contract for the superstructure is due to protracted negotiations between the architect and the engineer which were necessary to the preparation of detailed drawings and specifications. Tenders have now been received for the superstructure and are under consideration. As soon as I am able to accept a tender the work will proceed forthwith.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, during the present quarter, the removal of officers of Excise to other stations has been stopped by order of the Board of Inland Revenue; and whether in the new year the former practice of allowing officers to proceed to vacant stations for which they have applied or to exchange stations will be resumed. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The Answers to both parts of the Question are in the affirmative.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the special payment to pension officers for the preliminary Old-age Pensions work will be made according to the number of pension claims as in the cases of postmasters and clerks to pension committees, or whether the whole circumstances of the work in the particular district will be taken into account. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The basis upon which the proposed gratuities are to be calculated has not yet been settled, but due regard will be had both to the quantity and quality of the work performed.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state if it is the practice of the Board of Inland Revenue to make deductions by way of fines from the salaries of its officers for alleged breach of official Regulations; and, if so, will he say by what authority the Board are empowered to violate the spirit and letter of the Truck Act. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Where circumstances warrant it, the Board of Inland Revenue punish breaches of Regulations by reducing the salaries of Inland Revenue officers; and I am advised that in such cases the Truck Acts do not apply.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the arrangements for the amalgamation of the Excise and Customs Departments are yet completed, and when that amalgamation will come, into force; whether there will be any reduction of the numbers of the outdoor staff of either Department subsequent to the amalgamation; and can an opportunity be given, before the details of the amalgamation are finally settled, to the outdoor officers to make representations to him by deputation. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) No Order has yet been issued by His Majesty in Council transferring (in the manner indicated in Section 4 of the Finance Act, 1908) the management of Excise duties from the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to the Commissioners of Customs. The time for the final settlement of the details of amalgamation has not yet arrived, and I am not at present prepared to discuss them. I shall, however, be happy to consider any statement which the officers to whom the hon. Member refers may wish to lay before me, but I think the best course will be for such statement to be communicated to me in the first instance by letter.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that hops are grown in Bavaria by small holders, and that these growths are purchased by a merchant and dried together and sold in England under the name of the district, the name of the actual grower being lost in the course of drying; and whether it is his intention, by the Bill now before Parliament, to insist on every bale, however small, being marked with the name of the actual grower. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I have been informed that hop culture in Germany is carried on mainly by small proprietors. The Bill now before Parliament provides that no hops shall be imported into the United Kingdom except in bags or pockets marked with the name of the owner, planter, or grower of the hops.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the anomalies that have arisen in the administration of the Old-age Pensions Act, he will appoint a small Departmental Committee to consider and report at the earliest moment what changes in the Act or Regulations, or both, will secure more reasonably the intentions of the Act, so that modified Regulations may be issued or an Amendment of the Act may be passed at the beginning of next session. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Most of the criticisms as to the working of the Act which have been brought to my notice have reference to substantive statutory provisions, which have not been, and cannot be, affected by the issue of Regulations; and the more important of them involve considerations of policy and finance which I do not think could usefully be dealt with by a Departmental Committee. These points are receiving the careful consideration of the Government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that whereas formerly the surveyor of income-tax, in settling the accounts under Schedule D, satisfied himself that the remunerations under Schedule E were properly accounted for, and was consequently the only official in possession of information regarding the latter, now such information must pass through the hands of the local assessor and staff, the clerk to the Commissioners and staff, the surveyors of taxes and staff, the Commissioners who sign the district Returns; whether he is aware that the information given under Schedule E, having to pass through so many hands, with the consequent fear of publicity, is extremely distasteful to many business firms and may lead to serious loss; and will he give an assurance that Returns under Schedule E cannot be lodged otherwise than through the local clerk, assessor, and surveyor, except in cases of a disputed assessment, the local Commissioner shall have no access to statements of profits or of emoluments of the taxpayer, and that even although the schedules of emoluments for the district have to be signed by the local Commissioner, such Commissioners cannot and do not see the contents of the volume to which they append their signatures. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Assessors, the district Commissioners of taxes, the clerks to Commissioners, the surveyors of taxes and their staff, who are all sworn to secrecy under Schedule D of the Income Tax Acts, must of necessity have access to the Returns and assessments under Schedule E, and it would be quite impossible to give the assurance asked for by my hon. friend. Any fears, however, that may be entertained as to publicity being given to the information contained in the Returns and assessments are quite groundless, effectual care being taken to safeguard the privacy of all returns made by taxpayers under Schedules D and E.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of nett income that he receives from the land tax; whether the land tax is imposed upon the whole of the land in the United Kingdom; what is the valuation of that land and when was the valuation made; what jurisdiction the Land Commissioners have with regard to this tax, and whether they can decrease or increase the rate of the land tax; in what year the land tax was first instituted; whether it then applied to the whole of the land in the United Kingdom; how the valuation was arrived at upon which it was imposed; what was the rate per cent. upon that valuation; and what year was the highest revenue ever received from this tax and what did it amount to. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The net receipt of land tax for 1907–8 was £710,000. All land in Great Britain (there is no land tax in Ireland) is liable to land tax except where the tax has been redeemed and except in certain cases of land belonging to charities prior to 1693, and of property in the occupation of the Crown prior to 1798. The valuation varies from year to year, but as a rule the gross assessment under income-tax, Schedule A, is taken. The duty of the Land Tax Commissioners is to fix the assessment and to raise the tax due under the quota for each parish by an equal £ rate. By the Finance Act of 1896 the highest £ rate was fixed at 1s. and the lowest at Id. The land tax was instituted in 1692. In that year it applied to England and Wales only; in 1707 it was made applicable to Scotland, but there had been a land tax or "cess" in the latter country prior to the Act of Union, subject to the exemptions which I have mentioned above. The rate by 4 Will, and Mary, c. 1 (1692), was 4s. in the £ on real estate assessed on the bona fide rack rent, and on personal estate 24s. per £100, or 4s. in the £ on £6 (the then legal rate of interest). The personal property to be rated was ready money, debts due, goods, wares, merchandise, or other chattels, or any personal estate in the realm. Stock on land and household goods were exempted. The highest revenue received from the tax was in the years 1760–5, when it amounted to £2,037,854 in each year. I may also refer my hon. friend to the 1st, 13th, 28th, 29th, 40th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, and 45th Reports of the Board of Inland Revenue.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give the estimated cost per cent. of collecting the revenue derived from direct and indirect taxation, respectively. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The same revenue officers sometimes collect both kinds of revenue, and the separate cost therefore cannot be given.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that certain Excise officers acting as pension officers, on request from the editor of the Civilian, furnished him with the total number of claimants in their districts, and have been fined £10 each for so doing; and whether, seeing that the total number of claimants is known to all members of local committees, has in many cases been published in local newspapers, and is generally public property, he will reconsider his action in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I must refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 3rd instant to the hon. Member for Blackburn.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the regulation under which the Board of Inland Revenue have fined certain pension officers £10 each for communicating to a service paper the number of claims received by them is a regulation common to the whole Civil Service; if so, does he propose to take any action to punish officials in other Departments for communicating similar information to the Press; whether he will issue a Treasury regulation rendering clerks to pension committees liable to a fine of £10 for giving information to the Press; and, if not, why is different treatment to be accorded to officials engaged in the same work. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) As regards unauthorised communications made to the public Press by Civil servants, I beg to refer the hon. Member to Treasury Minutes of 3rd June, 1873; 6th February, 1875; and 13th March, 1884, published in Command Paper 3951, of 1884. The clerks to pension committees are under the control of the committees, and not of the Treasury. I should add that the paper to which the hon. Member refers is a registered newspaper owned, controlled, and carried on privately, and has no official status.

To ask the Secretary of State for War what is the number of Territorial cyclist battalions recognised; where are their head-quarters located; how many members of each battalion

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the big guns in the fortification at Singapore have been dismantled; and if he can state when it is proposed to replace these guns by new ones. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The old pattern guns have been dismounted, but a certain number have been retained in their present works until new guns can be mounted. The new works for the new guns have been commenced.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state how many officers of the Territorial Force have since 1st April applied for the outfit allowance under paragraphs 404–5; and how many of those who have applied have received the grant. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) 365 grants under paragraph 404 are reported to have been applied for, and 314 have been paid. Very few grants have been applied for under paragraph 405.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the decision of the Local Government Board that advances made by boards of guardians to Army pensioners between quarterly pension days, such advances being deducted from the pension by the Army authorities, disqualify for an old-age pension, he will consider the desirability of paying Army pensions weekly. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) As I have already stated, arrangements have been made by which any pensioner who so desires may have his pension paid to him weekly through any responsible person willing to undertake the duty. This arrangement should meet the disability referred to by the hon. Member. I may remind him that I have undertaken that the general question of weekly payments through the Post Office will be further considered when the arrangements for the payment of old-age pensions are in working order.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state what difference, if any, is paid for cutting garments at the Pimlico Clothing Department when such are for stock, and also when they are special measure sizes; and whether, in the event of the cutters being paid day-work, what is the percentage of allowance, if any, allowed to the cutting of measures as compared with the cutting of stock sizes. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Cutting in the Royal Army Clothing Department Factory is carried out by time and not by piece-work. No question, therefore, of allowance arises.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended that a subaltern in the Territorial Force who has obtained as a Volunteer a captain's certificate at a school of instruction within ten years of the present time, and who has frequently in the interval had to drill, manœuvre, command, and administer a company, should be required to obtain a captain's certificate a second time at a school of instruction on promotion to the rank of captain. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) A subaltern, unless he has qualified in the corresponding arm of the Regular Forces, Militia, Imperial Yeomanry, or Volunteers within three years of his appointment to the Territorial Force, will be required to qualify under the Territorial Force regulations for the rank of captain before promotion to that rank. Subject to the above proviso, he may count towards qualification for promotion to the rank of captain any course he may have undergone previously to his transfer.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has received a letter drawing his attention to a suggestion of Surgeon N. Howard Mummery, M.R.C.S., R.N., that in the near future men, on joining the service, will be vaccinated against syphilis at the same time and in the same way as they are now vaccinated against small pox, and asking for an assurance that no man on entering the Army shall incur the risk of compulsory blood-poisoning with syphilis passed through apes; whether he gave that assurance, or, if not, whether he can state why it was withheld; and whether he is willing to lay the whole correspondence relating to this subject upon the Table. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) A letter to this effect was received by the War Office, and the writer was informed that no proposal of the nature indicated therein had been under consideration in the War Office. I have nothing to add to this reply, and I have no intention of laying correspondence of this character upon the Table of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is necessary for a subaltern of the Territorial Force who has attended a month's course at a school of instruction or depot, and satisfied the commandant and adjutant, to also attend for examination at the head-quarters of the division, of which his corps is part, before receiving his certificate and qualifying to command a company. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) It is necessary for a subaltern so situated to pass the examination for Certificate B before promotion to the rank of captain. This examination is held at times and places settled by General Officers Commanding-in-Chief of the various commands.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what action the Board propose to take with a view to carry out the recommendations of the Select Committee on the Hop Industry with a view to securing better information as to produce, prices, acreage, condition of the industry, etc., in hop-growing countries abroad, and also with a view to giving to growers the latest and most scientific information available as to the cultivation, drying, and curing of hops grown in this country. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The Board recognise the importance of the subject, and have now under consideration proposals for obtaining through our consuls and by other means information of the kind indicated by the Select Committee. They propose publishing this information in their journal, and, where the matter is suitable, in their special series of leaflets.

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 case of Mr. George Jones, a carrier, living at Drayton St. Leonards, near Oxford, who on 23rd November was threatened with eviction from his cottage, and the consequent loss of his living, on account of his having applied for land under the Small Holdings Act; whether he is aware that Mr. Allnutt, the farmer who used these threats, has already a separate farm of nearly 300 acres, in addition to the piece of land of 85 acres of which it is proposed to take a part for the purpose of the Small Holdings Act, and that, after the date of Mr. Jones' application, he made arrangements to have the cottage occupied by Mr. Jones let to him as part of his farm, presumably in order to exercise this pressure and thus prevent the working of the Act; whether he has yet made inquiries into the matter; and what steps he proposes to take. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The President has had inquiry made into this case, and he very greatly regrets to find that the facts are substantially as stated in the Question, and that in order further to intimidate this applicant for a small holding Mr. Allnutt, of Drayton, threatened to run a carrier's business to compete with the applicant's business. Steps are being taken with a view to provide this applicant with a holding without delay, and if land for the purpose cannot be obtained voluntarily the President will see that it is obtained compulsorily.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what is the number of owners of land in the United Kingdom. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) I regret that I am unable to supply the information for which, my hon. friend asks, as there are no Returns showing the number of owners of land at the present time.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, as representing the Local Government Board, whether the attention of the Board has been called to the hardship inflicted on John Jordan, labourer, Milford, County Cork, seventy-three years of age, by his claim to a pension being disallowed by the Kanturk sub-committee; that the reason alleged for disallowance was that he received 2s. 6d. medical relief for each of two weeks in July last; and, in view of the fact that this old man, who is now unable to work, was never in the workhouse and never received Poor Law help in any shape whatever, whether the Board will review the case if the 5s. received by him as medical relief is refunded to the guardians. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) This case has not come before the Local Government Board, but neither the Board no the pension committee have power to set aside the provisions of the Old-Age Pensions Act, and the repayment of the relief mentioned will not remove the statutory disqualification.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state, with regard to the estate of the Earl of Ranfurly in County Tyrone, sold under the Land Purchase Act of 1903, if the land has yet been vested in the purchasing tenants; if he is aware that prior to the sale the drains and streams on the estate were kept clean by the landlord, and that since the sale these drains and streams have been neglected, to the detriment of many of the purchasers; and does the Land Commission possess power to intervene for the protection of those injured by the present neglect. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Part of this property has been vested in the tenant purchasers, and part has not yet been vested. The cleansing of the watercourses would appear to be a matter for voluntary co-operation on the part of the tenant purchasers. The Land Commission have not, as far as I am aware, any power to intervene as suggested.

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 Lagan, an evicted tenant, who formerly had a holding near Kildress, County Tyrone, on the estate of Colonel Irvine, of Omagh; and what steps have been taken towards his reinstatement. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) This application has not yet been inquired into, as it was not received by the Estates Commissioners within the time specified in the Evicted Tenants Act.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the untenanted lands situate near Ballylongford, North. Kerry, have been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners by Mr. J. D. Crosbie; whether the lands have been inspected and reported upon; and when may the small holders and labourers of the district hope to have this untenanted land divided amongst them. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The formal proposal of the Estates Comissioners for the purchase of this estate has been accepted, and the case has been referred to an inspector to prepare a scheme for the distribution of the untenanted lands.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of holdings, acreage, valuation, rental, purchase money, and years purchase for all agreements lodged up to 31st October, 1908, under the Land Purchase Act, 1903, in the Parliamentary division of North Kerry. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The statistics of land purchase are not tabufated by Parliamentary divisions. I am therefore unable to give the information asked for in the Question.

To ask he Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the number of labourers and uneconomic holdings on the Lindsey Talbot Crosbie estate in and around Ardfert and district; and whether these people's claims have been or will be considered before any scheme is sanctioned for the division of the untenanted lands bought by the Estates Commissioners from Mr. L. T. Crosbie. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The owner has not sold these lands to the Estates Commissioners, but is selling them himself to persons coming within Section 2 of the Irish Land Act, 1903.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a committee appointed by the Newtownards Board of Guardians submitted a report on the 10th instant to the effect that no Protestant inmate will be allowed to receive from his or her friends a copy of the Bible, or from other outsiders, without the sanction of a chaplain being first obtained; and whether, in view of the character of such a recommendation, he will cause inquiries to be made with the view of having that part of the report deleted. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The report referred to recommended that no visitor should be allowed to give any literature directly to a patient, that non-religious literature intended for a patient should be delivered by the master of the workhouse, and that religious literature should only reach a patient through the chaplain in charge of him. The guardians are preparing draft rules as to visiting and the distribution of literature which will receive the attention of the Local Government Board when submitted.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland under what section of the Land Act of 1903 the Estates Commissioners advanced over £4,000 to Mr. Tiernan, to purchase land which he held on the eleven months system on the estate of the Trustees of Hussey, situate at Rathkenny, County Meath. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that Tiernan held 19 acres as a tenant on the Hussey estate. This holding with the additional land referred to were sold to him under Section (1) (a,) the first proviso of subsection (2) of the same section, and under Section 5 of the Irish Land Act, 1903.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the case of William Maher, an evicted tenant, of Ballycahill, near Thurles, County Tipperary, who has made an application for an equivalent farm, has been considered by the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, when is this tenant likely to be put into possession. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received the application referred to; but they are not in a position at present to say when the applicant will be put into possession of a holding.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Luke Caffrey, Diamor, Crossakiel, has applied for a holding on the land of Thomastown, County Meath; and whether his application will be favourably considered. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received au application from Luke Caffrey for portion of the untenanted lands referred to. They will consider the application, with others of a like nature, when the lands are being dealt with.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in the distribution of the lands of Thomastown, County Meath, the Estates Commissioners will have regard to the claims of Mrs. Anne M'Cabe and Mrs. Margaret Holden, who have lodged applications as evicted tenants. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) These applications will be considered by the Estates Commissioners in connection with the allotment of the lands mentioned.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what steps the Estates Commissioners propose to take to supply Owen Kirk, an evicted tenant on the estate of Admiral Singleton, County Meath, with an equivalent farm to that from which he was evicted; and what objection there is to acquire compulsorily the farm from which he was evicted and reinstate him. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners hope to be able to supply Kirk with a holding at an early date. As regards the concluding portion of the Question, it would be contrary to the established practice to state the reasons which actuate the Commissioners in the exercise of discretion vested in them under Evicted Tenants Act.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the intentions of the Irish Government with regard to constabulary legislation; whether members of the force have signified their disappointment with the terms of the Bill; and whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a committee of inquiry to investigate the claims of the rank and file, and to see how far the cost of the force may be curtailed in other directions in order to meet an increased expenditure. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Government are proceeding with the Constabulary (Ireland) Bill. No doubt the members of the force would like to have had better terms, but I have no reason to suppose that the force in general are disappointed with the terms of the Bill. It is not intended to appoint a committee of inquiry.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has yet received from Mr. Gerald Balfour the estimates for the cost of purchase of Irish railways by the State, and the cost of guaranteeing dividends to the shareholders for the State working and control of the railways, which Mr. Gerald Balfour, when Chief Secretary for Ireland, obtained from Mr. Thomas Robertson, late chairman of the Board of Works, Ireland; and whether he will give the figures. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The answer is in the negative.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give the House any information regarding the case of the European nurse girl who was reported to have been outraged by the native driver and guard of the mail cart while travelling in to Cashmir. (Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) The Secretary of State has no official information on the subject.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that petrol produced in Burmah in which British companies are concerned, both in the production and transport, has to pay a prohibitive duty when imported into France, whilst petrol produced in the United States, Roumania, and Russia is admitted to France at a much lower duty; and whether he will communicate with the French Government on the subject, with a view to secure to Burmah the most-favoured-nation treatment. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) Yes, Sir; and His Majesty's Government have already communicated with the French Government on the subject.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British Government has recently accepted plans for the building of a convent and schools in Singapore and have made a grant of £60,000 towards the cost of construction; and, if so, will he explain on whose representations and on what grounds such grant has been made. (Answered by Colonel Seely.) I have no information as to any such proposal, but I may say at once that it is to the last degree unlikely that a grant of £60,000 would be recommended by the Governor of the Colony, and it certainly would not be approved by the Secretary of State.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the recent famine in Uganda (as described in Cd. 4358) was largely due to the destruction of the native food crops by great herds of fierce wild pigs; whether the native hunters failed to keep them down; and whether, therefore, he will accept for this purpose the assistance (if it is offered) of English, Colonial, or American hunters. (Answered by Colonel Seely.) It seems probable that the famine was rather aggravated than caused by the wild pigs to which my hon. friend refers. The inability of the native hunters to cope with them was partly due to their enfeebled condition resulting from the famine, partly to the length of the grass at that season. The Governor reported 1 on 19th September that he was organising a crusade against these animals, and no doubt he will avail himself of the assistance of any competent persons who may offer their services.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he can state how and to what extent, if at all, the seniority of the London sorting force is likely to be affected by the transfer of the staff of the National Telephone Company to the Post Office in 1912; and, what claim, if any, has the National Telephone staff on the Postmaster-General which has caused him to issue a warning to his present staff, already civil servants, that the latter's prospects are likely to be affected. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) It is not yet possible to state how the various questions will be solved which are likely to arise in regard to the relative status and seniority of the staff now employed in the Post Office and that to be taken over from the National Telephone Company. The London sorting force, however, will be in no way affected. As it is certain that questions of difficulty will arise, I thought it right to issue a general warning to new entrants and officers newly promoted that their seniority might be affected. At the same time I stated definitely that every care would be taken to prevent hardship.

To ask the Postmaster-General if, about a year ago, he received a petition from the postmen in Holywood, County Down, Ireland, in regard to their position as to certain allowances or benefits which are allowed to postmen in special circumstances; and whether he has come to any, and, if so, what, decision in regard to the matter. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I have received a petition from the postmen at Holywood asking for a higher scale of pay. I hope to publish the classification of the sub-offices shortly.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that inconvenience is caused to the inhabitants of Achill Island owing to the non-delivery of letters on Sunday; and would he see that a Sunday delivery is established. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) There is a serious loss to revenue on the existing postal service to Achill Island, and I should not be justified in sanctioning the additional expense of a Sunday delivery.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the Departmental Committee on Post Office Life Insurance had no expert evidence from actuaries, and none of the industrial assurance companies or collecting friendly societies gave any evidence, and the Parliamentary Labour Party, although invited to give evidence, did not do so, he will, before any action is taken or recommended, make inquiries as to the effect which the conversion of the Post Office into an industrial assurance society is likely to have upon the earnings of the 80,000 men whose livelihood at present depends upon the commission which they earn in that business; and whether he has made any inquiries as to the average amount of the existing industrial policies issued by industrial assurance companies and collecting friendly societies. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The Report of Lord Farrar's Committee is under consideration. I fully recognise the importance of the questions involved in the relationship between the Post Office and the industrial assurance companies. I may add that an Act of Parliament would be necessary to give effect to several of the Committee's recommendations.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Gateshead District Committee (statutory) has applied to the Local Government Board for a grant to carry out a scheme or schemes in order to cope with the present local unemployment and distress; if so, what was the nature of the reply; and is there at present any application under consideration by the Board. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The distress committee have applied to me for a grant to enable them to assist genuine cases of distress, but they have not submitted any scheme for providing work for the unemployed. I have stated that if they submit a scheme of useful work and furnish certain particulars for which I have asked I am ready to consider their application for a grant.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether it is possible to enforce Clause 8 of the Rivers Pollution Act, 1876, without further legislation, and increase the amount of work to meet the needs of unemployment. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I think the reply to the Question must be in the negative.

To ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to the damage caused to the Atlantic cables by the fishing operations carried on by trawlers off the coast of Kerry, near Ballinskelligs; and whether he will consult with the Postmaster-General as to the best methods of protecting these cables. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I will answer this Question, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given to the starred Question which he has addressed to me to-day on the subject.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that saccharine is coming into more general use in the manufacture of many articles of food; and whether the Government proposes to take any action to safeguard the public against this drug being used in the preparation of articles of food. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Perhaps I may be allowed to answer this Question. My attention has been called to the use of saccharine in food products; but I am not at present in possession of evidence which would warrant Steps being taken with the object of prohibiting its use in all foods on grounds of public health. If, however, cases are brought to my notice in which the nutritive value or genuineness of particular foods has been materially impaired by the substitution of saccharine for sugar, I will consider the matter further.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if it is intended next year to introduce legislation amending the Cheap Trains Act, 1885, in agreement with the promise given last year by his predecessor. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I am not at present in a position to make any statement as to the legislative proposals to be made next session.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the salary grievances caused by retardation of promotion in the past and the absence of reasonable prospects of promotion in the future, as represented by deputations of examining officers, second class, to the Board of Customs on 6th November, 1907, and to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 25th June, 1908, are to be redressed by the concession of a service scale of pay; if the present classification is to be continued, what provision is to be made for the advancement of those examining officers who have performed twenty-five years service, and are still waiting for the opportunity of qualifying for the grade of examining officer, first class; whether examinations for advancement to that grade are in future to be held annually in April, as prescribed by the regulations; and, in that event, will he state the number of vacancies estimated to occur in the first class in the years 1909, 1910, 1911, and 1912, respectively. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) As I explained to the hon. Member, in answer to his Question of 13th May last, I intend to deal with these matters at the same time that the arrangements required by the transfer of the Excise staff to the Customs service come under review. I hope to be able to give my attention closely to this subject in the early part of next session, but meanwhile, I regret that I am unable to make any announcement.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the net annual expenditure for the last six known financial years of the English and Irish Agricultural Departments, respectively. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I would refer my hon. friend, as regards voted expenditure, to the Appropriation Accounts annually presented to this House, and as regards the Endowment Fund of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), to the Annual General Report of the Department.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state when Members will have an opportunity of seeing the Report prepared by the Inter-Departmental Committee recently inquiring into the manner in which the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons of February, 1891, has been observed by the various contractors for Government work. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I hope in a very few days.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury what steps the Government propose to take in accordance with the undertaking given by the Treasury in February, 1908, to propose legislation to amend the law as to superannuation in the Civil Service upon the lines recommended by the Courtney Commission. (Answered, by Mr. Hobhouse.) I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister to a similar Question on the 6th ultimo, in which he stated that he hoped that the Bill might be introduced next session.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he will state the average number of children paying fees in public elementary schools during the year ending 31st July, 1908. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The number of fee-paying scholars on the

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he will say what proportion of teachers employed in I public elementary schools during the year ending 31st July, 1908, were trained and certificated, respectively. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) 31·28 per cent. were trained certificated teachers and 58·45 per cent. were certificated.

To ask the President of the Board of Education if he will state the number of places provided in council schools on 31st July, 1908, the number of children on the register at the same date, and the number in average attendance; and if he will give the like information with regard to Anglican, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, Jewish, British, and other schools.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the failure of the attempt made in 1882 to bring about a closer union between the Customs and the Excise was due to the continued opposition of the higher officials in the former Department; whether the higher officials in the Customs receive larger salaries and have less arduous duties than the corresponding officials in the Excise; and whether he will afford an opportunity to those examining officers of Customs who believe that an Excise classification would remove most of their grievances, without any increase in the Revenue Estimates, to place before him such facts as might tend to facilitate the amalgamation of the two Departments. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I have no information before me which bears out the suggestions made in the first and second paragraphs of the Question. But I should welcome any plan which will facilitate the economical amalgamation of the Departments of Customs and Excise, and if the officers referred to by the hon. Member will place their views before me in writing I shall be happy to consider them.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the number and percentage of applications received in Ireland for old-age pensions from persons occupying land, distinguishing between the cases of the occupying tenants and occupying owners.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons owning or occupying holdings of two acres or more have applied for and qualified for old-age pensions. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I may perhaps be allowed to take these two Questions together. I am not in possession of the information for which the hon. Members ask; and, in view of the pressure of the old-age pensions work, I do not feel justified in requiring the pension officers to obtain it at the present time.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the Old-Age Pensions Act, a person having received Poor Law relief during 1908, and precluded thereby from the benefits of the Act during the following year, will be precluded from its benefits during the year 1910, if he has not received Poor Law relief during 1909. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Under the law as it stands at present such a person would be disqualified until 31st December, 1910. After that date he would be eligible for a pension.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the many companies registered in this country as limited the whole of whose business and transactions are conducted in the Colonies thus entailing upon Colonial shareholders the payment of double income-tax, first, upon the profits made in the Colonies to the Colonial authorities, and, second, upon the dividends paid in Great Britain to the authorities here; and whether, in view of the hindrance to the investment of Colonial capital in British limited companies in consequence, he will consider if any measures can be taken to remove the difficulty of double payment of income-tax. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) As regards the general point raised by the Question, I may perhaps be allowed to refer the hon. Member to my Answer of 2nd November last to a Question by the hon. Member for Donegal, East. I should, however, be happy to investigate any particular case the hon. Member may have in mind.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state under what powers the surveyors of taxes and Income-Tax Commissioners are authorised to insist on retaining balance sheets and accounts in addition to requiring the production, as explained in the reply of 28th February, 1907. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) In the event of an appeal to the District Commissioners of Taxes, all statements of accounts, balance sheets, etc., delivered in answer to their precept in the course of the prosecution of such appeal become, with the returns and other papers relating to income-tax, the property of the Commissioners.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the Return of persons paying inhabited house duty or property and income-tax, any distinction is made between men and women; and, if so, will he give the number of women paying these taxes and the amount of money paid by them.

To ask the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations on pages 29 and 30 of the Report of the

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of claims under the Old-Age Pensions Act received up to date; and whether he will give the number investigated, the number allowed, the percentage refused of those investigated, and the number still to be inquired into. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The following table shows the progress made by pension officers up to the 5th instant, the latest date to which figures are available—

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether units of Royal Engineers (Volunteers) allotted to coast defences formerly received an annual allowance of practice small-arm ammunition, at the rate of ten rounds of ball cartridge, ten rounds blank cartridge, and twenty-five rounds aiming tube, per man; whether these allowances have been withdrawn from Territorial units of Royal Engineers allotted to coast defences, so that men belonging to these units who wish to practice shooting must now pay for all the ammunition they use; and whether these units are not supposed to be capable of defending themselves, or, if they are, when it is proposed that they should receive instruction in musketry, seeing that they would be the first troops mobilised in the event of threatened invasion and would be stationed at places where no facilities for practice exist.

To ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the disappointment caused to housing reformers by the loss of the Housing and Town Planning Bill introduced during the present session by the President of the Local Government Board, he will give some assurance that a housing Bill or Bills will be included in the King's Speech next session; and whether the Government will consider the advisability of separating the housing from the town-planning portions of the Bill so as to form two separate Bills, and of drafting them in such a way that references to previous legislation can be avoided. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) I have already stated that the Government intend to introduce the Housing and Town Planning Bill, as amended, next session. I cannot give any undertaking that this measure shall be so divided as to form two separate Bills, and I am afraid that it would be impossible that the Bill should be redrafted in such a way as to avoid all reference to previous legislation.

To ask the Prime Minister whether the recent inquiry as to the functions and status of two Departments was extended, in pursuance of a promise, so as to embrace the allocation of business among several Departments with the view to more scientific distribution of duties; and whether he is now in a position to make any statement as to the scope of the inquiry and as to the time at which it is likely to be concluded, and the results announced. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) Yes, Sir, the inquiry has taken into account the problem of the allocation of business between the various Departments. I am at present unable to add anything to the information already given as to the scope of the inquiry or to say when it will be concluded.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether, in view of the transfer of the Department of Woods and Forests to the Board of Agriculture, he will consider the advisability of replacing the private firm of land agents and surveyors to the Commissioners by public officials directly responsible to the President of the Board of Agriculture. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The Department of Woods and Forests has not been transferred to the Board of Agriculture. The President of that Board is, by the Crown Lands Act, 1906, an ex officio Commissioner of Woods, and as such has been given the management of the principal agricultural estates of the Crown in England. More than one firm of land agents and surveyors are employed by the Commissioners of Woods, who do not consider that there would be any advantage, financial or otherwise, in adopting the suggestion made. I would also refer the hon. Member to the remarks of the Select Committee of 1890 (Parliamentary Paper, No. 333, of 1890, p. 7), in favour of the existing practice.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he will state, for each of the financial years 1905–6, 1906–7, and 1907–8, the total amount received, by way of fees and other remuneration of all kinds arising from their connection with the office of the Commission, by Messrs. Clutton, the land agents and surveyors to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I am informed that the total amounts paid to Messrs. Clutton for collection of rents and for their other services, including travelling and other expenses, are:—

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether, in view of the disappointment experienced by the applicants for small holdings in the parishes of Godstone and Tatsfield, in Surrey, anything can be done by the Board to assist the county council to obtain land; and whether the Board will obtain a report on the position with a view to rendering such assistance. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The Board have already been in communication with the county council as to the Tatsfield applicants. Three local inquiries have been held there, and the county council are endeavouring to obtain land for the suitable applicants. We have not received any representations from the Godstone applicants, but inquiry will be made.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board have any further information as to the case of Mr. Payne, of Oxted, Surrey, whose application for a small holding of five acres was approved some three months age, and who was visited by an agent of the Surrey County Council about a month ago, but who has not yet received any definite information as to when he is likely to get land; and whether the Board, if they have no information, will obtain a report from the Surrey County Council. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The Board are informed that the county council are endeavouring to obtain land for Mr. Payne, but as he requires it within half a mile of New Oxted, where the price of land is from £200 to £300 an acre, the county council are precluded from purchasing, and they have not yet been able to obtain any land on lease.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the number of men employed as stokers and trimmers in the Royal Navy in 1907; and how many cases of suicide, if any, occurred amongst those ratings in the same year.

The average number of stokers serving in the Royal Navy during 1907 was 30,228. There were three undoubted cases of suicide during the same period, and three others in which there was more or less suspicion of suicide, but the evidence was insufficient to enable a definite decision to be given.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is able to state the number and description of the big guns to be carried by the new German battleship "Posen;" the total weight of metal discharged in one round from all her guns; the weight of metal capable of being discharged in one broadside; the number and description of guns which can be fired straight ahead; and whether he can give the corresponding details with respect to H.M.S. "St. Vincent."

I am unable to give the information desired with regard to the armament of the "Posen," so that no comparative statement with regard to the armament of this ship and the "St. Vincent" can be prepared.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it desirable to take steps to make himself acquainted with these facts?

If the hon. Gentleman can help me to discover the armament of the "Posen" I shall be extremely glad.

It is not my job.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if, in view of the decision of the Local Government Board that weekly advances made by boards of guardians to Navy pensioners between quarterly pension days, such advances being deducted from the pension by the Army authorities, disqualify for an old-age pension, he will consider the desirability of paying Navy pensions weekly.

On the general question of the payment of pensions weekly instead of quarterly, I have nothing to add to the Answers I gave in this House on 14th and 15th October. I would remind the hon. Member that all the information in the possession of the Admiralty points to the fact that naval pensioners as a body are fully cognisant of the advantage they derive from receiving their pensions quarterly in advance, and would resent the substitution of a general system of weekly payments. The very small percentage of men who are forced to have recourse to the Poor Law authorities for reasons other than infirmity or lunacy does not justify any change of system. In cases, however, in which it can be shown that it would be an advantage to the man to receive his pension at shorter intervals the Admiralty are prepared to make monthly payments to him, or, subject to his consent, to pay the full quarterly sum to any responsible person for the purpose of issue by weekly instalments.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that no dry dock suitable for large battleships and cruisers will be ready at Rosyth until about six years hence, he will now consider the advisability of entrusting the owners of suitable dry docks on the Tyne with a portion of the docking and repairs to large war vessels.

The existing facilities at His Majesty's dockyards are considered to be sufficient to cope with the repairs and dockings of the large war vessels in His Majesty's Navy, and it is not proposed to make any arrangements for doing such work at private yards.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider it necessary to have such docks available in time-of war?

I could not discuss that subject by Question and Answer across the floor of the House.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty which of the eight battleships of the "Royal Sovereign" class have carried out quarterly practice from their 13·5-inch guns this year.

With the exception, of H.M.S. "Revenge," which carries out special duties, the ships of the "Royal Sovereign" class, which are on the Special Service list, do not carry out quarterly practices.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if the reserve for 13·5 ammunition for each of the eight "Royal Sovereign" class of the Home Fleet enumerated as first-class battleships is maintained at the same level per gun as that adopted for the 12-inch guns of the more modern battleships in the Nore Division of the Home Fleet, after deducting an amount to allow for the full quantity of ammunition for a fully-commissioned battleship being on board each ship.

It is undesirable, in the interests of the public service, to make any statement as to the scale of reserves of ammunition which is maintained.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the quantities of granite imported into this country from foreign countries where the fair wages clause is not in operation, and of the present state of unemployment obtaining in this country, he will take steps to ensure that in all future contracts for dock and harbour works British granite only shall be used.

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the matter further consideration?

I have given the matter the fullest consideration, and I regret I cannot alter my Answer.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the men of the Naval Reserve who formerly used to drill at the various stations round the East Coast of Scotland are to be transferred to the South of England, or whether there is any intention of so doing; and whether he will consider the possibility of sending a vessel round the country for three or four months of the season to enable men to take their drill.

Under the new system of training, Royal Naval Reserve men are trained in ships of the division of the Home Fleet to which their district is affiliated. In the case of the East Coast of Scotland men, the division is Portsmouth. When Home Fleet ships are cruising in the North, arrangements have been made for north countrymen to be embarked direct in these ships for training; but it is not practicable to carry out the suggestion made in the latter part of the hon. Member's Question.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that on Tuesday, the 8th instant, a gun-fitting was thrown overboard from H.M.S. "Amethyst," whilst that ship was in Fountain Lake, Portsmouth Harbour, and recovered on the following morning; whether, in consequence of its not being known who had thrown the fitting overboard, the leave for the whole of the men was stopped, and those on leave were recalled; whether the "Amethyst" is under orders to leave early in the new year and one-half of the crew were con sequently on leave; whether there has been any discontent on board; and what orders have the Admiralty given, or what do they propose to do in the matter, so as to insure that innocent persons shall not further suffer.

I have received a telegram from the commander-in-chief at Portsmouth on the subject of my hon. friend's Question, and as its terms give a full reply, I propose to read it: "Gun-fitting was missed morning of 9th instant and recovered by diver same day, and inquiry shows fitting was thrown overboard previous evening. One watch was on long leave, and no men were recalled. Leave of other watch was suspended until 14th instant, whilst investigations were proceeding. By 14th, sufficient evidence was obtained to throw strong suspicion on two men, who are now under arrest, and ordinary short leave was resumed. Am satisfied there is no general discontent on board, and that this act of insubordination was the work of two or three men only."

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty with reference to the list of over 150 ships which were alleged to have been scrapped by a decision of the Admiralty in October, 1904, and the 155 names given in a Return issued to Parliament entitled Vessels struck off the List of Effective Ships of War, whether he will state how many of the 155 vessels were not on the list of effective ships of war at the time the previous Board of Admiralty, of which Lord Walter Kerr was First Sea Lord, came to an end; how many of the 155 vessels still appear in the Navy List now that over four years have elapsed; how many still appear in the current Return of Fleets (Great Britain and Foreign Countries); and how many are in commission in one capacity or another.

The list to which my hon. friend refers is presumably that contained in Return No. 74 of 1905, which classifies the vessels in question under several headings, and implies that a large proportion of them were not intended to be "scrapped." Of the vessels contained in this list, there are now in sea-going commission, one third-class cruiser (the "Philomel"), three surveying vessels and six sloops and gunboats, of which five are for river Service on the China station. The vessels contained both in this list and in the current "Return of Fleets," are nine second-class cruisers, two third-class Cruisers, and one torpedo gunboat. The Navy List contains all vessels, effective and non-effective, which have not yet been sold, and I presume my hon. friend does not want a comparison which would throw no light on the question whether the classification of any vessel has been altered since 1905. As regards the question what ships were placed on the non-effective list before October, 1904, I would refer my hon. friend to a printed Answer given him in reply to his Question of 23rd October, 1906, which gives a nominal list for vessels of more than 4,000 tons. I do not think that the utility of giving also the names of vessels under 4,000 tons, is commensurate with the labour involved in obtaining it.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received a letter drawing his attention to a suggestion of Surgeon N. Howard Mummery, M.R.C.S., of the Royal Navy, that in the near future men on joining the service will be vaccinated against syphilis, at the same time and in the same way as they are now vaccinated against small pox, and asking for an assurance that no man on entering the Navy shall incur the risk of compulsory blood-poisoning with syphilis passed through apes; whether he gave that assurance, or, if not, whether he can state why it was withheld; and whether he is willing to lay the whole correspondence relating to this subject upon the Table.

I have received such a letter as is referred to by my hon. friend, and I replied to the effect that there were no circumstances which justified such an inquiry being addressed to me.

Does not the suggestion meet the right hon. Gentleman's, approval?

There is no ground for supposing it does.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the total sum provided in the latest published Navy Estimates of Great Britain, Germany, and the United States for the material up-keep of their fleets, so as to include the sum total of the money to be expended on shipbuilding, repairs, and armaments, and stating in each case the years for which the figures are given.

The total sum provided for material upkeep of fleets by Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom, are—

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that during 1903–4 and 1904–5 H.M.S. "Philomel" had £23,825 spent on her repairs, and that in October, 1904, she was included in the list of 155 ships purporting to have been struck off the list of effective ships of war; whether he can state the number of miles steamed by this ship with her own engines after the completion of her thorough repairs in 1904 before she was towed back in 1906 to Haulbowline to be again refitted for her commission as a cruiser attached, to the battle squadron in the Mediterranean; and whether he can state how long the repairs spread over 1906 and subsequently took, and what was the total cost.

The figures given in the first part of my hon. friend's Question, if intended to apply to Return No. 74 of 1905, are approximately correct. The ship carried out a full-power trial after refit, and steamed about 160 miles for this purpose. The last refit occupied from September, 1906, till February, 1908, and was carried out concurrently with other work at Haulbowline. The cost was £13,619, which included arrangements for magazine cooling. The "Philomel" is attached to the Mediterranean Fleet primarily to be available for particular service if requested by the Foreign Office or Colonial Office, in time of peace, especially in the Red Sea, where she has been for some months this year.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the report of a Resolution, recently passed by the signatories to the Memorial on Reduction of Armaments, in which, apparently as the result of private communications with the Prime Minister, the signatories profess to have obtained justification for the hope that he will shortly make a public announcement modifying the statements which he recently made in this House on the subject of the two-Power standard, to ask him further whether the Report in question has been published with his authority, and whether there is any justification for the suggestion that the views of the Government have undergone a change since his public announcements on 13th and 23rd November.

The views of the Government have not undergone any change, nor have I any intention of modifying the statements which I have made. My Answer to which the hon. Gentleman refers, did not announce any change of policy, but the intentions of the Government to continue to pursue a policy which has now been followed for a number of years. I indicated to some of my hon. friends my willingness to make a fuller statement on the whole subject than is possible within the limits of an Answer to a Question, and I rather deprecate these important matters being discussed in the form of Question and Answer. When the proper opportunity comes I shall hope to make a fuller statement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there would have been no disposition on this side of the House to put down Questions on this subject but for the Resolution passed by a section of his own supporters?

I do not make any complaint against anybody, but I do think that in matters of so much gravity and delicacy as the question of the two-Power standard, it is not altogether desirable that a Minister should be compelled, probably in answer to a supplementary Question, on the spur of the moment to use language which, however carefully chosen, may always be liable to a certain amount of misinterpretation.

May we understand from the right hon. Gentleman that the opportunity to which he looks forward of making a statement will be in this House?

Yes, certainly.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the results of the prevention of famine operations of the Government of the United Provinces, which have recently been summarised, can in any way be made available to hon. Members of Parliament.

Pending the presentation of the Report to Parliament, the Secretary of State, with the view of meeting the request of the hon. Member, has placed one of the copies received from India in the Library of this House.

Is it not desirable to circulate it among hon. Members, so that Indian critics may learn something from Indian administration?

It can be circulated.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give the caste in each case of the persons convicted in India of sedition, bomb-throwing, and other crimes of the like character during the present year.

As I stated yesterday the Secretary of State is unable to give this information.

I am sorry I did not hear the right hon. Gentleman's Answer yesterday—there was a noisy demonstration at the time—but does he not consider it very desirable that this should be done so that the limitations of this agitation may be made clear to the House?

I do not think it desirable to add another column to the Return asked for.

Have not all the persons punished been of the upper caste?

I am not prepared to admit that.

Have they not all been Brahmins?

I will leave the hon. Gentlemen to settle that point between them.

Will the return, when published, be brought up to the end of this year.

No doubt it will be brought up to as late a date as possible.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the reason of the arrest of Mr. Krishna Kumar Mitter, I in Calcutta, and of Messrs. Aswini, Kumar Dutt and Pulin Behary Dutt, in Eastern Bengal; what charges have been made against them; and under what law have proceedings been taken; in their case.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will state how many British subjects in India have been arrested and deported without trial, and upon what evidence; what is the charge made by the Indian Government against them; has the charge been made known to them; and have any or all of them been given any opportunity of answering the charge.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can state the reasons why it has been deemed necessary to arrest and deport nine leading Nationalists in Bengal without charge or trial under Regulation 3 of 1818, instead of proceeding against them under the ordinary law in the Courts of justice.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can inform the House on what grounds nine Indians have recently been arrested under the Regulations of 1818; and whether they will speedily be brought to trial.

I may perhaps be allowed to answer the four Questions on this subject together. Nine persons in all have been arrested under Regulation III. of 1818; under that Regulation it is not necessary to formulate charges against them, and they will not be brought to trial, but the Government of India are satisfied that their seclusion under the Regulation is necessary "for the security of the British dominions in India from internal commotion." The prisoners are, no doubt, aware of the grounds on which they have been arrested, and it is open to them to forward to the Governor-General in Council any representations they desire to submit.

May I ask whether these persons have been arrested under that portion of the regulation which declares that it is necessary to place under personal restraint individuals against whom there may not be sufficient ground to institute any judicial proceedings?

They have been arrested under the terms of that part of the regulation to which I have referred.

Why were judicial proceedings not taken against them?

reply was inaudible.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any proceedings have ever been taken in this connection against Mr. Krishna Kumar Mitter and whether Mr. Kumar Dutt, on being accused of sedition a year ago, did not successfully raise an action for damages against the official who brought the accusation?

asked for notice of the Question.

Is the regulation of 1818 the regulation under which Lajpat Rai was deported from the Punjab with such satisfactory results?

It is the same regulation.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these persons have been told what is the charge against them, and, if so, what is their answer?

I have stated that they have full opportunity of forwarding to the Governor-General in Council any representations they desire to make.