asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether officers of the Indian Army are eligible for the post of military attache; and, if so, whether he will consider the propriety of more frequently enlisting the services of such officers who have acquired special proficiency in the languages in use at the Courts of the great Powers to which military attaches are appointed?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. At the present moment the attaches at Sofia, Tehran, and Peking all belong to the Indian Army. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, as a general rule, appoints the officer who is nominated by the Secretary of State for War. In the selection of an officer due weight is attached, I understand, to the possession by him of the special qualifications required for the particular post, one of which is, of course, a knowledge of the language of the country or countries in which his duties will lie.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken towards bringing about the assembly of a European Conference to deal with the situation created by the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and whether he is now in a position to state approximately when the Conference may be expected to assemble?

Communications have constantly been passing between the Powers with the object of promoting a general settlement; but, as the interests of other Powers are intimately concerned, I cannot at present make any further statement. Negotiations are not sufficiently advanced for me to be able to say when a Conference is likely to meet.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information regarding the present position of the Fakumen Railway question?

I have not yet heard of any Agreement having been arrived at on the subject between China and Japan.

asked whether, during his stay in Paris, King Edward will have a meeting with M. Pichon, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs; and, if so, will the King be accompanied on this visit by a Minister of the Crown; and by whom will any conversations or exchanges of views which may take place on the occasion of the King's visit and which have any official character be reported and recorded at the Foreign Office?

His Majesty is travelling incognito. Any conversation, therefore, which His Majesty may have during his stay in Paris will not have any official or political character.

Had the conversations that His Majesty had on his tour in Germany and Russia any official character; and, if so, why was he not accompanied by a Minister of the Crown responsible to this House?

All official business is transacted in a constitutional way through the King's Ministers.

I beg to give notice that on the first occasion I will direct attention to the advice given by the Foreign Minister to the King to go abroad without a Minister of the Crown responsible to this House for the King's transactions in international politics.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can obtain information as to the annual percentage of profit on the State forests of France and Germany respectively?

I will make inquiries, but I doubt if it will be practicable to get the precise information asked for. We are dependent on the official information published by other countries, and I will obtain as much as is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can furnish any information as to the condition of affairs at Tabriz, Ispahan, Teheran, and other towns in Persia; whether the interests of British subjects are in any danger, and whether His Majesty's Government intends to take any action?

I can add but little to the telegrams which have recently appeared in the public Press. Outward calm is maintained at Tehran, but Tabriz is in a state of civil war, and Ispahan is in the hands of the Baktiaris, who are maintaining order. Bread and provisions are becoming scarce at Tabriz, and I have warned the Persian Government that we shall hold them responsible should any harm befall the Consulate owing to the action of the Shah's troops. The situation at Resht is also causing anxiety. The interests of British subjects are, of course, adversely affected by the anarchical state of the country, and, as has already been stated, we shall continue to use our influence on behalf of such measures as seem likely to improve the situation.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether it is true that the Shah's troops have cut the Indian telegraphs in Persia?

Yes; I understand that happened two or three days ago.

asked whether the public appeal issued by Mr. Krishna Mitra shortly before his deportation, urging his fellow countrymen to avoid crime, terrorising, and wrong-doing, was regarded by the Government of India as unlawful or criminal, or whether he committed any other act forbidden by the law of India before his deportation was authorised; and, if not, upon what ground was he deported?

As I have stated on several occasions, Mr. Mitra and others were arrested under the Regulation of 1818 because the Government of India were satisfied that their seclusion was necessary "for the security of the British dominions in India from internal commotion." The Secretary of State considers it undesirable to make any statement as to the particular grounds on which action was taken in each case. The Government of India were aware, as I stated last week, of the newspaper article referred to in the question.

May I ask whether it is peculiar to Europe to deprecate appeal to the pump?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he could state to this House specifically whether any complaint has ever been lodged against this gentleman as a newspaper editor, or against his newspaper or against him in relation to any public pronouncement that he has ever made in India?

I am not able to answer that question; but one on similar lines will be referred to later on in the paper.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that this regulation of 1818, under which he is acting, was made by a knot of irresponsible officials in the old bad days of the East India Company, and before the Mutiny?

I am not aware of that. It is the law at the present moment.

May I ask whether a similar regulation does not exist at the present time with regard to our Protectorates in Africa?

I do not know about that, but it exists in the Presidency of Bombay and Madras.

Is it the fact that when this gentleman was arrested it was publicly cabled by Reuter that his paper had been consistently advocating peaceful means and methods?

I am not responsible for Reuter's telegrams.

Has not this paper always been conspicuous in advocating peaceful measures, and denouncing resort to force?

I cannot vouch for the accuracy of statements communicated to my hon. Friend.

asked whether any of the nine British subjects in India who in December last were deported without charge or trial and are still in prison had ever been previously convicted of any crime, or had committed any breach of the law; and, if not, whether this circumstance was taken into consideration by the Government of India before authorising their deportation?

The Secretary of State is not aware whether any of the nine persons had ever been convicted of any crime or breach of the law; if any of them had been so convicted, the fact would be undoubtedly known to the Government of India.

May I ask whether in determining the length of this arbitrary imprisonment those facts will be taken into consideration by the Secretary of State?

I think all the facts and considerations will be taken into consideration by the Government of India when occasion arises to revise the action they have taken.

May I ask whether these gentlemen are not deported rather on account of their convictions than on account of their previous convictions?

asked whether it has been decided by the Secretary of State to prohibit the British subjects in India, who have recently been deported without charge or trial, from serving on the provincial councils to be established under the Indian Councils Bill; and, if so, upon what ground such a prohibition is based?

As the Secretary of State announced last week, the question of the qualifications for membership of Legislative Councils is still under consideration.

asked whether Mr. Satish Chatterjee, who has recently been deported from India without charge or trial, is a professor at the Braja Mohun Institution at Barisal, a college affiliated to the University of Calcutta; whether he has been alleged by the university authorities to have taught anything of an illegal or objectionable character; and, if not, what conduct on his part has been held by the Government to justify his being deprived of his liberty.

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative; as to the second, the Secretary of State has no information. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have just given to a similar question about Mr. Mitra.

Is it the intention of the Secretary of State at any time to give information to the House of Commons on what grounds these deportations have taken place?

I cannot on behalf of the Secretary of State make any promise of that sort.

May I ask whether the real cause of the deportation of these gentlemen and of Mr. Dutt is that they have interested themselves in what is known as the boycott of British goods, which has led to great friction between themselves and Europeans, and on that account they have been interned in prison?

No; I cannot accept that interpretation of my hon. Friend.

May I ask whether any of these gentlemen were ever suspected of being criminals until the agitation in connection with the partition of Bengal, and whether that was not the cause of these men taking part in public life?

I may safely say that I do not think the partition of Bengal had anything to do with the action of the Government.

Is it laid down as the future policy of the British Cabinet that the House of Commons is not to be informed as to the actions of the Executive in India? It is an exceedingly important constitutional question. No such pronouncement has ever been made.

On behalf of the Secretary of State I have given the fullest possible information to the House of Commons which it is in his power to do in the interest of the good government of India.

I must press this point. Is this novel policy of denying the House of Commons any knowledge of the motives and acts of the Executive in India to be adopted or no?

I have denied no information to the House of Commons which it is in my power to give.

May I ask whether Barisal and its educational institution have not of late been notorious centres of sedition and disaffection, and whether Satish Chatterjee was not one of the many seditious professors?

Is it not the case that the reports of the Government inspectors in regard to this institution have always shown the highest possible results?

Is it not the usual Parliamentary practice merely to give the House of Commons the information which is consistent with the public interests?

That is what I endeavour to do. With regard to the question of the working details of the work of the Barisal educational institution, I should like notice.

I think other questions should not be put without notice.

I wish to ask the leave of the House in a matter of definite urgent importance—

This is not the time to do that.

asked whether Mr. Ashwini Kumar Dutt, who has been deported and imprisoned in India without charge or trial, is a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Laws of the University of Calcutta; whether he is also the founder of a large college with a high school section at Barisal, which is affiliated to the university; whether he has been several times elected chairman of the municipality of Barisal; whether he has frequently been engaged in organising measures for relief in times of cholera outbreaks and other public calamities; and, if so, whether these matters were considered by the Secretary of State before he sanctioned his deportation?

The Government of India was doubtless aware of Mr. Ashwini Kumar Dutt's position and attainments when he was arrested under the Regulation.

asked whether it is the intention of the Government of India to attach any electoral or civil disqualification to the British subjects in that country who have been imprisoned and deported without charge or trial; and, if so, what is the nature of the disqualification, and upon what grounds it is to be imposed?

As I stated just now, the question of eligibility for the Legislative Councils is under consideration, and the Secretary of State is not prepared at present to make any announcement on the subject.

May I ask if the hon. Gentleman and the right hon. Gentleman he represents are aware that the course they are pursuing is one calculated to breed disloyalty and disaffection?

That is a question of opinion.

Are we to understand that the answer given in another place by the Secretary of State that the gentlemen who had been deported were not to sit on the new Provisional Councils is a statement of fact or not?

I think the hon. Gentleman cannot have read closely the Debate in another place, or he would have seen that it is not accurately reported.

asked whether, in cases of deportation under the Regulation of 1818 by the Governor-General in Council in India, any information is conveyed to the persons deported beyond the statement contained in the warrant, to the effect that for good and sufficient reasons the Governor-General in Council has seen fit to place such person or persons under personal restraint; and whether the grounds of the determination, which from time to time must come under revision, are made known to the person deported, so as to enable him to exercise the right provided under the Regulation in question freely to bring to the notice of the Governor-General in Council any circumstances relating to the grounds of his deportation?

No information beyond that contained in the warrant is given to the person arrested. He is also aware that action has been taken under the Regulation, which provides that such arrests can be made in order to secure a portion of His Majesty's dominions from internal commotion.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the value of the right secured under the Order of 1818 freely to make representations as to the ground of their deportation if they are not informed what the grounds are?

Under the limitations of the information conveyed to them, they have full and ample opportunity, of which I believe they avail themselves, of making communications.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in Laj Patrai's case he twice asked the grounds on which he was deported, and in neither case was information given?

I cannot answer that.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a series of house searches are being carried out by the police in Calcutta, and that these raids are on the houses of some of the most respected residents in the town, many of whom are large landowners whose stake in the country is enough to prevent them having any association with crime or against authority; and whether, in view of the annoyance, indignity, and loss incurred, he will suggest to the Government of India that when the police apply for search warrants they shall give an undertaking that should a raid fail to provide material for legal prosecution the parties suffering shall be indemnified if they pray for same?

The Secretary of State has no official information to enable him to answer the first question. He cannot undertake to suggest to the Government of India the peculiar amendment of the law contained in the second question.

Am I to understand that the acts which occurred in Calcutta were undertaken by the authorities without the knowledge of the Government of India?

The hon. Gentleman's question is couched in very general terms. We are not aware of the particulars to which he refers, or of any general police searches being made at the present moment. If he can give me any particulars I shall be happy to inquire.

Would not the suggested course reduce the Indian police to absolute impotence?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that some 12 boys, mostly schoolboys, aged 13 years and upwards, have been arrested from seven villages under warrants issued by the sub-divisional officer of Madaripur, Mr. Soames, and that when the district magistrate was applied to on behalf of the boys for bail he stated he knew nothing of the matter, and sent on the application to Mr. Soames; if so, can he state the reasons why these boys were arrested; why it was that the head officer of the district did not know the arrests were to be made; and whether the boys are on bail or still in prison?

The Secretary of State has no information on the subject. Sub-divisional magistrates are authorised to act independently of district magistrates in ordering arrests.

Am I to understand that the Secretary of State is without knowledge of this fact, that the chief officer of the district did not know why the arrest took place and for what the lads were arrested, neither did the parents and guardians, and neither did the lads themselves?

We do not get full reports of every police case in India. There was no report with regard to this case. In regard to the substance of the question, I am informed that the sub-divisional magistrate is a first-class magistrate, and there will be no appeal from him to the chief magistrate of the district. He was within his rights in acting as he did.

Under what Act were the lads arrested? Was it the 1818 Act, and may they be sent to Courts in Man-delay and elsewhere for trial?

No.

asked whether the order to suppress the Nagpur Congress, issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Nagpur, was in the first place submitted to the higher authorities, with reason for the suppression; if not, has a Deputy Commissioner power, on the evidence of the police, to decide as to whether the resolutions to be discussed at a public congress are seditious; and whether, in view of the danger of all public meetings being proclaimed because a Government official may disagree with items on an agenda, the Government of India will take steps to issue an instruction in such matters for the general guidance of the police and officials?

The Secretary of State has no official information to enable him to answer the first question. From the terms of the proclamation it is clear that the magistrate acted, not on the grounds indicated in the question, but under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which deals with meetings that it is believed might endanger human life, or lead to riot or serious disturbance. The higher judicial authorities could have been appealed to, if those responsible for the meeting considered that the magistrate's action was not covered by that Section.

asked whether there is any information showing the progress of the gold industry in the Transvaal during the year 1908; what dividends have been paid by the producing mines; how far the supply of native labour has developed; whether the working costs have fallen; and how many of the Chinese labourers were repatriated, and within what period the remainder of them will go?

A certain amount of the relevant information available in the Colonial Office regarding output of gold, native labour, and profits, was given in reply to a similar question addresed to me yesterday by my hon. Friend the Member for North Bucks. To that information I would add that I have observed a statement made by the President of the Transvaal Chamber of Mines at the end of last month to the effect that there has been a fall of 2s. 4d. per ton in the working cost of 67 of the principal producing mines. The number of Chinese labourers decreased during the year by 21,574. The last Chinese are due to return in January next year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, having regard to the difficulties that have arisen and continue to arise in connection with the immigration of Asiatics into the self-governing Colonies of the Crown, he will consider the desirability of enlarging the scope of the reference to the Committee that has recently been appointed to consider the question of the emigration from India to the Crown Colonies, so as to embrace the larger problem, and with a view to the establishment of a general policy for the Empire?

No, Sir; it is not proposed to enlarge the scope of the reference as the question of Indian immigration into the self-governing Colonies involves considerations of a much larger character. I may add that none of the self-governing Colonies have asked for an inquiry of the kind proposed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been directed to the fact that, while the cost of a second-class season ticket on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway between Norwood and London Bridge is £8 per year, the cost of a third-class season ticket, which is only issued monthly, is 15s. per month, or £9 per year, while the company charge 5s. for a packet of six third-class return tickets, which comes to £13 per year; if he is aware that all these charges are much higher than those charged upon nationalised railways for similar services; and if he will take such measures as are necessary to deprive private railway companies of the power of thus taxing the public?

I understand that the facts are as stated by my hon. Friend. I believe that in some countries where the railways are State-owned the scale of charges for season tickets is lower than that in force on the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, but the issue of season tickets by a railway company is a purely voluntary proceeding, and the Board of Trade have no statutory powers with regard to the terms on which they are issued. I am, however, communicating with the company with regard to the apparent anomalies referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the practices of a company known as the Provincial Homes, Limited, of Mount Street, Manchester; whether he is aware that this company sells certificates to would-be householders, who then pay a weekly sum on the understanding that a loan will be advanced to them to enable them to purchase a house; whether he is aware that in many cases the loan has not been advanced, and that in many actions judgment has been given against the company for misrepresentation; and whether, in view of these facts, he will take steps to secure the compulsory winding-up of the concern?

My attention has been called to the Provincial Homes, Limited, and I am quite aware that there have been decisions in the county court at Manchester which justify in no small measure the suggestions made in the hon. Member's question. With regard to the last paragraph of my hon. Friend's question, I have no power whatever to take any steps to secure the compulsory winding-up of any existing company. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the answer which I recently gave to a question addressed to me by the hon. Member for North-West Manchester as to the action taken and proposed by the Board of Trade with regard to companies of this kind.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that other companies of this kind are in existence, and if he has not powers will he seek powers in order to prevent the public being fleeced in this manner?

In such cases in which the business is not carried on in all respects in a satisfactory manner I have contemplated a further guarantee being required in order to prevent what is complained of; but as to new legislation I cannot say anything at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the census of wages of railway servants being compiled by his Department will be presented to this House?

The railway companies have readily responded to the application of the Board of Trade for information as to the earnings and hours of labour of railway servants, and the returns are now being compiled. It is not possible at this stage to state definitely when the Report will be presented to the House, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that there will be no undue delay.

asked the Lord Advocate what is the area of ground which is being obtained by the Glasgow Corporation from the Duke of Montrose for the Loch Arklet water scheme; what is the price fixed by the arbitrator; and what was being taken as the annual value of that property for rating purposes at the time of the arbitration?

The area of ground taken was 379 acres, 2 roods, 8 poles. The price fixed by the arbiter was £17,087 14s. 11d. The land taken formed part of a larger area, and was not separately shown on the valuation roll. The rental of the larger area was £590 per annum.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to a case of alleged assault committed by a police officer during an unemployed procession in Glasgow on 29th October last; whether the Procurator Fiscal was instructed to inquire into the case; whether the complainant's agent supplied the Fiscal with the names and addresses of six witnesses to the assault; whether the Fiscal neglected to call any of these witnesses; and what was the nature of his report upon the case?

My attention has been drawn to the case of alleged assault mentioned; by the hon. Member. The Procurator Fiscal was instructed to inquire into the case, and he was supplied by the complainer's agent with the names and addresses of certain witnesses, and with their precognitions. The Procurator Fiscal inquired fully into the case, and came to the conclusion that there was not sufficient evidence to support the charge of assault. The matter was subsequently brought under the notice of my predecessor in. office, who ordered the Advocate Depute on the circuit to investigate the case. The Advocate Depute, after careful inquiry, came to the conclusion at which the Procurator Fiscal had arrived, and my predecessor in office expressed his concurrence with the conclusion reached by the Procurator Fiscal and the Advocate Depute. I may add that I have given the matter independent consideration, and, after careful perusal of the precognitions, I have come to the same conclusion as my predecessor in office.

May I ask is it a fact, as stated in the question, that the Fiscal neglected to call any of the six witnesses who saw the assault, and, if so, how could he come to a conclusion as to the evidence without seeing the witnesses?

He had the precognitions which were taken by the complainer's agent before him, and they were thoroughly reliable.

asked whether the special committee to be appointed by the Secretary for Scotland under the Education (Scotland) Act to inquire into the applications of the University courts in Scotland for financial assistance to the Universities out of the Education (Scotland) Fund will be the same committee now being constituted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to investigate as to the grants made to Universities in Scotland as compared with those made to England, Ireland, and Wales?

No, Sir. No application by the Scottish Universities for financial assistance out of the Education (Scotland) Fund can be considered till the result of any action taken upon the report of the Committee now about to be appointed has been fully ascertained.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that an old lady who applied for a pension in Arbroath has been refused, on the ground that her income exceeds £31 10s., the facts being that this old lady lives with a married daughter whose husband is in receipt of more than £200 per year, and for the domestic services of the mother the daughter gives her board and lodging; whether he is aware that board and lodging for women in Arbroath is valued at 6s. per week; and whether he can take any action in this matter?

An appeal has been taken to the Local Government Board for Scotland in a case which appears to answer to the description given in the question, and the case is now under the consideration of that Board.

asked when it is proposed to issue new regulations for secondary schools; and whether it is proposed to alter, amongst others, Article 43, which deals with the opening of new schools?

The Secondary Schools Regulations are under consideration, but I cannot yet say when they will be issued. I am unable to forecast what alterations will be made.

Is the right hon Gentleman aware that the Regulations last year were contained in the Memorandum dated the 10th of April, and can he say whether they are likely to be issued this year on a corresponding date, or will they be later?

I am afraid I cannot say at the present moment. I shall try to avoid any unnecessary delay.

I shall repeat the question in a week's time.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the method of history teaching adopted in one of the council secondary schools in Birmingham; and whether he will initiate an inquiry with a view to ascertaining the facts of the case?

The hon. Member has sent me a copy of an anonymous letter appearing in a newspaper, but I regret that the information given therein is not sufficient to enable me to institute an inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the Burnley education authority has tendered notice to a female teacher to terminate her engagement with the authority, on the grounds that she has given expression to her personal opinions on subjects of a controversial character relating to religious, political, or social questions; whether he is aware that she denies the allegations and asserts that she has not been confronted with her accusers or allowed to bring forward evidence to refute the charge; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received no information as to the case referred to. The Board have no power to inquire into or reverse the decision of a local authority to terminate the engagement of a teacher employed by them.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board have received a petition from Silk-stone, signed by 96 per cent, of the inhabitants, against the proposal of the West Riding Education Committee to build a new school; and whether he will hold a local inquiry into the circumstances before assenting to such proposal.

The Board have received the petition referred to. The proposed school was, however, decided under Section 9 of the Act of 1902 to be necessary as long ago as October, 1905, and a Provisional Order for the compulsory acquisition of a site was confirmed by the Education Board Provisional Order Confirmation Act, 1906. In these circumstances I regret I am unable to reopen the question as to the necessity of the school.

Is not it a fact that new circumstances have arisen which make the particular site undesirable?

I have no official information to that effect. As far as I know, the circumstances have not arisen.

Is not it a fact that the objections came from the people in the locality who have been making these experimental borings and have discovered the unsatisfactory character of the site?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state what progress has been made towards the establishment of a teachers' registration council; and whether, having regard to the fact that the principal teachers' associations are agreed as to the necessity of such a council being at once formed, and generally, also, as to its constitution, the Board will proceed to make appointments to the council of persons representing the teaching profession who shall be qualified to act in a judicial capacity with respect to the claims of applicants for admission to the register?

From communications which I have received from various important sections of the teaching profession, which, under the recent proposals for a registration council, would not have received representation, I gather that there is no such general agreement as to the composition of the council as is suggested in the hon. Member's question. I am, however, not without hope that if further time be allowed for interchange of views and of expert knowledge amongst the associations of teachers, on a comprehensive and not on an exclusive basis, a scheme may be arrived at for the establishment of a new council so constituted as to be really "representative of the teaching profession" as required by the Statute.

Will the Secretary of State for the Home Department state whether, in view of the opinion of the Departmental Committee on Industrial Diseases that fibroid phthisis exists amongst workmen in slate quarries, any effort has been made to protect the workers in the trade from the effect of dust inhalation by special rules or otherwise, as has been done in the Potteries and in the mines of Cornwall and Devon?

I find that the Committee on Industrial Diseases reported that the incidence of fibroid phthisis in slate quarries had been established in some instances. In the case of the Cornish mines, to which my hon. Friend refers, special rules were established after an exhaustive inquiry, which showed extensive mischief owing to the use of machine drills. In the case of the slate mines and quarries, there is no evidence that the disease prevails to a serious extent, and much of the drilling, I understand, is done by hand, involving much less exposure to dust. The question, however, of extending the precautions adopted in the Cornish mines to all cases in which dust of an injurious character may be produced by rock drilling, has not been lost sight of, and the working of the existing rules is being carefully watched. The Royal Commission on Mines are, I believe, shortly to reach that part of their inquiry which has to do with conditions of health and safety in metalliferous mines and quarries, and I think it would be desirable that the matter should be considered by them.

I desire to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there is any police regulation which prohibits the licensing of a motor omnibus capable of going at a greater speed than 12 miles an hour; and, if so, what steps are taken to give effect to this regulation?

There is a regulation, which is enforced by the Commissioner of Police, and which requires that motor omnibuses should be so geared that their highest normal speed shall not be in excess of 12 miles per hour. This does not mean that a motor omnibus conforming to the regulation cannot exceed this speed when running down hill or with undue acceleration of the engine. My hon. Friend may recollect that the Report of the Select Committee on Cabs and Omnibuses, as well as that of the Royal Commission on Motor Cars, agreed in not recommending such a regulation as that referred to in his question. I may refer my hon. Friend to page 13 of the Report of the Select Committee.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last paragraph of my question.

I think I have answered it. I referred him to the Report of the Select Committee on that point.

What measures are taken to give effect to the regulations which actually exist.

The police have taken action in many cases where they have obtained satisfactory evidence, and they have prosecuted. The police are always on the watch, and they take proceedings when they get the necessary evidence.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he will lay upon the Table copies of the correspondence which has passed between him and Judge Rentoul, K.C., in reference to the number of aliens tried by the learned judge at the Old Bailey?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that a firm of manufacturers of lamps for motor-cars are advertising a swing light, by the use of which it will be possible to maintain a speed of 40 miles an hour while examining the road past severe curves, while with a fixed light it is necessary to slow down at curves; and whether he will require the withdrawal of the licence from cars furnished with such a light, or seek powers to effect this object?

I have seen an advertisement of a lamp of the kind referred to. Article II. of the Motor Cars (Use and Construction) Order, 1904, provides that the lamp carried by a motor car "shall be so constructed, fitted, and attached as to prevent the movement or the use as a searchlight of the light exhibited by it." If in the case of the lamp referred to by my hon. Friend this regulation is infringed, the offender will be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding £10.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state whether the definition of destitution given by Mr. Adrian, the legal adviser of the Local Government Board, and quoted at page 597 of the Majority Report of the Poor Law Commission, has been communicated to all the poor law inspectors and poor law auditors to the Board; if so, when it was communicated; and, if not, whether he will communicate it to them forthwith?

I am not aware of any need for calling the special attention of the inspectors and auditors to the definition referred to; but I may say that a copy of the report of the Royal Commission was sent to each of the inspectors when it was issued.

Is it not a fact that the Royal Commission recommended the term "necessitous" instead of "destitute"?

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, how many men have applied for small holdings in East Suffolk and West Suffolk separately; how many applications have been granted; and how many are actually in possession of the holdings?

The information for which my hon. Friend asks is as follows:

I desire to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the total cost in coal supplies, pay, etc., of the recent cruises of the Admiralty yacht to Scotland and to Malta; and for what purpose these cruises were undertaken?

My right hon. Friend has asked the hon. Member to put this question down for to-morrow, when he hopes to be in the House.

I beg to ask whether there has been, or is likely to be, any delay in the construction of the new cruisers and destroyers of the 1908–9 programme, owing to changes in their design introduced since the contracts were awarded, or to any other cause; and, if so, what is the anticipated extent of such delay and its financial effect?

There has not been, nor is there likely to be, any delay in the construction of the new cruisers and destroyers of the 1908–9 programme. As a matter of fact, there will be a much larger expenditure on these vessels in the financial year than was forecasted in the Estimates for the year.

Can the hon. Member give us any idea how much larger this expenditure is likely to be?

I cannot give that information off hand. I know it is a very considerable addition.

Will the First Lord of the Admiralty inform me what were the numbers of hired workmen employed in the home dockyards and victualling yards on 1st March, 1893, and on 1st March, 1909?

The figures are not quite complete, and I should be glad if the hon. Member will postpone his question until Thursday.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether at the present time the victualling storehouses of Plymouth and Gosport are practically empty of such stores as sugar, tea, and flour; and whether any substantial stock is being kept at the Royal Victoria Victualling Yard?

The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative, and to the second part in the affirmative.

Will the Secretary to the Treasury say whether there is at present a vacancy in the second-class of the Probate Registry; and, if so, why the same has not been promptly filled according to precedent by the automatic promotion of a third-class clerk; and whether it is intended to fill the position by promoting a clerk from another office, and thereby depriving the clerks in the office of promotion?

I am informed by the President of the Probate Division that there is at present a vacancy in the second class in the Probate Registry. No decision has yet been reached as to how the vacancy shall be filled, as the President requires time to consider the matter.

I desire to ask whether the expenditure under the Old Age Pensions Act will be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General?

Yes, Sir.

asked whether he proposed to remove the Customs duty upon raisins, currants, and dried fruits?

I think the hon. Member must have forgotten that it is impossible for my right hon. Friend to make any statement at this period as to what provisions will or will not be included in the Finance Bill of 1909.

Will the hon. Member draw the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the great disappointment this will cause to the children of Liverpool unless the tax is removed?

Surely the hon. Member realises that it is impossible to give details of the Budget beforehand.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been directed to the improvement in the accuracy and speed of production of the Parliamentary Debates which has ensued upon their being taken out of the hands of private contractors; and whether, having regard to this fact, he will take measures that the printing of all parliamentary papers is in future carried out, in the public interest, by properly paid public servants.

The hon. Member appears to be under some misapprehension. The printing of the Official Report of the Parliamentary Debates is carried out by a private firm under contract with the Stationery Office, in the same manner as other printing required for public departments.

Will the hon. Member suggest a still further improvement, namely, that in the printing the time at which each member begins his speech should be inserted. Perhaps that would be the means of inducing some hon. Members to curtail their remarks?

I should be glad to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion if I thought it would have the effect he desires.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the usual practice for departments such as the Army and Navy to place orders for the supply of canned provisions with Australian firms; and, if this is not done, will he be good enough to say why?

Speaking for the War Department I have nothing to add to the information which I gave to the hon. Member on this subject yesterday.

Has the Prime Minister's attention been directed to the resolution passed unanimously by the Association of Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday, 3rd March, urging the Government to give immediate attention to the question of afforestation; and if he can now state whether the Government intend to take any action upon the Report of the Royal Commission recommending the adoption of a systematic scheme of State afforestation.

My hon. Friend may rest assured that this matter will not be lost sight of; but at the moment I am not in a position to make any announcement as to the steps which the Government may take.

asked the Prime Minister whether in view of the importance of the issues raised by the introduction into Parliament of the Great Northern, Great Central, and Great Eastern Railways Bill he can see his way to afford facilities for its discussion by giving a day for it, in order that it may not be inadequately dealt with after 8 o'clock?

I am quite alive to the importance of the issues raised by this Bill; but I must point out to my hon. Friend that the time at the disposal of the Government is so limited that I cannot give any special facilities for private Bills.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister on what day it is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair for Navy Estimates?

Perhaps my right hon. Friend would wait until Thursday, when I hope to make a statement on the course of public business.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the licence duty payable by the brewer who during the year ending 30th September, 1908, brewed less than 100 barrels of beer; what was the licence duty payable by the brewer who in the same year brewed more than 1,000,000 barrels of beer; and how many persons or firms there were in each of these categories?

It would not be in accordance with practice to furnish information with regard to individual cases.

Perhaps I should have said "a brewer" instead of "the brewer."

inquired of the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state his reason for refusing to print on Income Tax demand notes the provision of the Revenue Act of 1889 as respects discount for prepayment; whether it has been brought to his notice that in some cases collectors have refused to allow discount on the ground that they had no instructions; and whether he will see that at any rate Inland Revenue officials are properly informed upon the subject?

As regards the first part of the question, I have nothing to add to the replies given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member on the 2nd instant. In regard to the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend has every reason to believe that Inland Revenue officials are properly informed upon the subject, but he is inquiring into the cases which have been brought to his notice privately by the hon. Member.

Does the right hon. Member not think that, considering the present condition of the Treasury, and the chance that it will be rather in a worse state, that it would be advisable to give the taxpayers every information to induce them to pay?

The whole of the sum involved is only £51 10s.

It was £4,000,000 last year.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners impose upon some evicted tenants onerous conditions, either by fixing an unpayable price or offering an inadequate substitute for an evicted farm, and punishing by neglect those who do not accept their conditions; and whether he can arrange that, when a difference as to value arises between people who know the land from experience and an inspector who has never lived by farming, the opinion of a second inspector or independent valuer shall be taken, and the law passed for the relief of those people be allowed to operate?

The Estates Commissioners do not impose onerous conditions on evicted tenants. In providing for a person without means who has been evicted from a large farm, the Commissioners may consider it best to offer a moderately sized farm suitably equipped. If the offer is refused, they take no further action. In any case in which the Commissioners have a doubt as to reasonableness of the price estimated by their inspector, they direct a second inspection.

inquired of the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, after an eviction has been aggravated by the death of the evicted tenant from exposure, his widow and children are further punished by the refusal of the Estates Commissioners to acquire the evicted farm compulsorily, though untenanted and within their powers; and if he does not consider that a reasonable exercise of the Commissioners' discretion, whether he will ask them to reconsider the claim of Widow Riggs and her children?

I have nothing to add to my reply to a question in reference to this case asked by the hon. Member on the 15th May last.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Government contemplate the introduction of legislation on arterial drainage in Ireland or the making of any financial provision for that purpose; and, if not, what steps they propose to take, and when, to reform and restore the efficiency of the existing drainage boards, rendered necessary by the extensive transfer of the ownership of land subject to drainage rates?

I am not now in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners and their inspectors disregard duress practised by vendors upon embarrassed purchasers unless furnished with legal evidence; whether they will investigate the case of Widow Maria Early, a distressed tenant on the Chapman estate, at Corolanna, Lismacaffy, Westmeath, who has, under the bailiff's threat of eviction and seizure, signed an agreement, witnessed by him, to buy her holding at a price which she knows it can never repay; and, in addition to making the price equitable, whether they will protect her from punishment of any kind for having made this complaint?

The Estates Commissioners will inquire into the allegations of duress in this case, when the estate is being inspected in its order of priority.

inquired of the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners receive and treat as regular and valid purchase agreements signed under duress and witnessed only by the persons practising the duress; whether, this being an instance of persons profiting by their own fraud, he will have instructions given, under Section 23 (8) of the Land Act of 1903, that signature as a witness by a servant or dependant of a vendor, or by any person for or in expectation of reward in cash or kind or other consideration from a vendor, shall be treated as an offence on the part of such servant, dependant, or person, and shall be null and void; and whether, in all the otherwise completed transactions vitiated and nullified by this abuse in which the prices have not yet been actually paid, those prices will be revised before payment?

The Estates Commissioners make full inquiry into any case in which duress is alleged. The answer to the remainder of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, with a view to enabling him to carry out this month, on its merits, the annual revision of the staff of land valuers and inspectors employed by the Land Commission and Estates Commissioners, he has furnished himself with a report showing in connection with each valuer and inspector the rents and prices respectively estimated by him which have not been punctually paid and have led to cost and trouble, and showing instances of partiality, incompetence, or mismanagement in other respects, with its consequences; and, if not, these being matters now affecting the general public, whether he will furnish himself with such a report and lay it upon the Table of the House?

No, Sir.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the evicted tenants have now been reinstated in their holdings on the Maybury estate, near Kenmare, county Kerry; can he state what are the grants which have been allocated to each of these tenants; and can he state when these grants will be given?

The Estates Commissioners have directed one of their inspectors to arrange as soon as possible for the expenditure of the grants which they have sanctioned. The Commissioners will furnish particulars of the grants to the hon. Member.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will call the attention of the Estates Commismissioners to the urgency of reinstating the evicted tenants of county Clare; if he can say how many cases have been dealt with; and how many still remain to be dealt with?

The Estates Commissioners are using their best endeavours to effect the reinstatement of evicted tenants. Up to the present 129 have been reinstated in county Clare, and 31 others have been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land. No inquiry has yet been made in regard to applications not lodged within the time specified by the Evicted Tenants Act.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland is he aware that the tenants of the Roberts estate, in the parish of Cashel, barony of Rathcline, county Longford, have been in treaty with their landlord and his agent, Mr. Robinson, 119, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, for the past four years for the purchase of their holdings; and, as a request has been lodged with the Estates Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts, will he call on the Estates Commissioners to expedite this sale, as it will tend to the peace of this district in county Longford?

The request for the sale of this estate will be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners in its order of priority.

inquired of the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will explain why the evicted tenants, Heslem and Farrell, off the Stafford King-Harman estate, Lisnanagh, county Longford, have not been reinstated as yet, though these tenants were promised at different times during the past year to be reinstated; is he aware that their farms are completely derelict through the mismanagement of the receiver for the past two years and a complete loss to the landlords; and will he call on the Court of Chancery to have these tenants reinstated at once, as the property has been sold?

Proceedings are pending for the sale of the property comprising the farms in question to the Estates Commissioners. Until the Commissioners acquire the property they cannot reinstate the evicted tenants. As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question asked by him on 1st April last.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can say whether the Estates Commissioners are taking any action to have Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and Mrs. Hayes reinstated in the farms at Aughanish, in the county of Limerick, from which they were evicted; and how long will it be before they get back their farms?

The Estates Commissioners cannot reinstate the evicted tenants until they acquire this estate. Proceedings for its sale are pending.

inquired of the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that there are over 200 acres of grazing lands at Kilgulvan, Knockaderry, in the county of Limerick, the property of Major Sheehy, of Cherry Grove, Croom, from which tenants were evicted; that from part of these lands the Scanlan family were evicted; can he say to whom Scanlan's farm was let as a judicial tenancy, and what was the date of the letting; was it since the passing of the Land Act of 1903; and will he propose to the Estates Commissioners to make fuller inquiries concerning these lands with the view to acquiring them compulsorily for the evicted tenants?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the lands in question are held, under fair rent agreement I dated 11th November, 1903, by Major B. P. Sheehy, from Harriette L. Hennessy, B. E. Sheehy, and another, owners. The lands cannot be acquired compulsorily. As the hon. Member has already been informed, the Commissioners have provided Mrs. Scaman with another holding, and do not propose to take any further action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a resolution has been received by the Local Government Board, passed by the Mountmellick Board of Guardians on the 13th ultimo, with reference to the remuneration of poor law officials for supplying Returns to the Royal Commission, and requesting that the Treasury should be called upon to pay those expenses instead of having them come out of local rates; and can he say what decision the Local Government Board have come to in the matter?

The Local Government Board have informed the Mountmellick Guardians, in reply to their resolution, that they have no funds at their disposal, and are not aware of any other Government Funds, out of which the officers of the union could be remunerated for this work. On the general question of payment for such Returns I would refer the hon. Member to the reply of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a question asked by the hon. Member for South Wexford on 26th November last.

Is it not a fact that the Royal Commissioners have funds supplied for the payment of these expenses?

No, Sir.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can say what is the obstacle in the way of the Estates Commissioners preventing them reinstating the Dunworth family in the farm at Garryfine, in the county of Limerick, from which they were evicted?