asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention had been drawn to alterations made by the Midland Railway Company in the facilities it has hitherto offered for special excursions between Leicestershire mining districts and Blackpool; whether these alterations include raising of fares, increasing the number of passengers who have to be in a compartment from eight to ten, withdrawing from an obligation to provide lavatory accommodation, and limiting the number of stops at stations on the way to one; whether the Board of Trade will cause representations to be made to the Midland Company on this subject; and whether the Board has any information showing that these alterations are owing to the working agreement arrived at between the Midland and London and North Western Companies?

I have communicated with the Midland Railway Company on this subject and am forwarding my hon. friend a copy of their reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state how many persons paid income tax under Schedule B in the financial year 1907–8?

, supplementing his oral answer to the hon. Member, submitted the following statement, showing the numbers of separate properties dealt with under Schedule B and of assessments under that Schedule:—

It frequently happens that one person occupies several properties or that there are several assessments upon one person, and sometimes an assessment to duty relates to more than one property.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to a proposal made by the Glasgow

Corporation to the effect that all their employés between the ages of 18 and 25 years must be members of the Territorial Army; and has any representation been made to the Secretary for Scotland either for or against the matter?

No such proposal, I am informed, has been made by the Corporation, nor has the Secretary for Scotland received any representation on the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of the over-issues to spending departments in the year 1907–8 available to reduce the issues of 1908–9?

I fear I cannot give this information in anticipation of my Budget speech.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the case of the four head ward-masters who are the only warrant officers in the entire medical

branch of the Royal Navy; is he aware that ordinarily they are unable to attain that rank until roughly 40 years of age, when nearing the end of their service, whilst all other branches of petty officers, with the exception of schoolmasters, for whom special provision is made, are able to get promotion to the warrant rank from the age of 25 and upwards, but none after 35, and that their pay consequently is only equal to that of the young warrant officers of other branches; and whether he will give consideration to this class?

The reply to the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what date H.M.S. "Amethyst" was first detailed for duty on the East Coast of South America; what is the nature of the defects which have prevented her proceeding; and on what date she is expected to sail for her station.

The "Amethyst" was ordered to be commissioned for this duty on 5th January. Slight cracks were discovered in the radii of the front plates of the steam barrels of five boilers. It was, therefore, necessary to renew these plates and, as a precautionary measure, to treat similarly the remaining five boilers in which no cracks could be traced. She is expected to sail on 23rd March.

asked what expenditure has been incurred on repairs of H.M.S. "Amethyst" up to the development of the recently discovered defects; and what is the estimate of the cost of the refit that she is now undergoing.

The expenditure incurred on repairs, etc., to H.M.S. "Amethyst" to the 7th November, 1908, and the estimated cost of the refit now in hand, are as follows:—

Expenditure on repairs, etc.:—

Estimated cost of refit now in hand:—

further asked what is the date on which H.M.S. "Amethyst" was completed by the builders, whether she has been in the care of a nucleus crew in the Home Fleet since May, 1907, what was the size of the nucleus crew, and whether he can state the cause of her boilers becoming defective in so short a space of time.

The "Amethyst" was completed by the builders in March, 1905. The defects were due to racking consequent on the comparatively small radius-of the flange attachment of the collector ends to the other parts of the boiler. This radius has been increased in the new ends. H.M.S. "Amethyst" was reduced to a nucleus crew of three-fifths strength for service in the Home Fleet on the 25th January, 1908, and has remained with a. nucleus crew since, except for a short period in July, when she was completed for manoeuvres. Prior to the 25th January, 1908, she was in the Atlantic Fleet with full crew. She completes today to full numbers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has considered the necessity of transferring the Irish Savings Bank accounts to Dublin, and whether, in view of the increased efficiency and greater economy which would result from this devolution of postal business, he will recommend this reform to be carried out at an early date?

As my hon. Friend is aware, this question has frequently been considered, but I cannot admit that either increased efficiency or greater economy would result from the transfer of the Irish Savings Bank business to Dublin.

asked the Postmaster-General if auxiliary postman Thomas Kirwan, of Foxrock, county Dublin, is being removed from his position as auxiliary postman to make room for a reservist; if so, whether he will say if Mr. Kirwan has given satisfaction in the discharge of his duties, how long he has been engaged in his present position, and for what cause was the reservist who previously held the post discharged; and whether he will reconsider the claims of Mr. Kirwan before throwing him on the already large number of unemployed?

Mr. Kirwan has been temporarily employed as auxiliary postman at Foxrock since February, 1908, and has discharged his duties satisfactorily. It will be necessary to dispense with his services in consequence of a revision of postal arrangements at Foxrock, which includes the creation of an established post in place of an auxiliary duty. A reservist was not previously employed on the post temporarily filled by Mr. Kirwan; nor is it intended to employ one on it, but the place will be filled by an auxiliary postman of long service, who would otherwise be displaced.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is yet in a position to state the result of the negotiations between his Department and the National Telephone Company as to the constructional work necessary to the carrying on efficiently of the telephone service till the end of the company's licence, on 31st December, 1911; whether some 6,000 men of the constructional staff are in immediate danger of being dismissed; and whether it is the intention of the Government to take action with a view to the telephone system being kept in an efficient condition in regard to the replacing of worn-out plant and the necessary provision for future subscribers?

I regret that I am not as yet in a position to make any statement in regard to the negotiations with the National Telephone Company for the continuance of the construction of plant designed for use after 1911. But as regards the second part of the question, I must point out that, inasmuch as the company have to provide for the normal growth of their system between now and the termination of their licence in 1911, they must necessarily continue to carry out a considerable amount of construction work themselves. I cannot compel the company to replace obsolete or worn-out plant; but the Post Office will undertake construction works with a view to providing for the requirements of the service after 1911, if no satisfactory arrangements can be made with the company to undertake such works. I may mention that under the purchase Agreement the condition of the plant will form a material element in fixing the price.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the reorganisation of the factories and store departments is being proceeded with; whether the representatives of the men concerned are to be consulted in the matter; and can he state an approximate date for the inauguration of the new scheme?

No general reorganisation of the Stores or the Factories Departments is contemplated, but certain central depôts are being established in the provinces and certain district depôts formerly under the Engineer-in-Chief's control are being gradually abolished. Some considerable time ago at an interview I had with the representatives of the Engineering and Stores Association I informed them in regard to this matter, that if they had any particular views on the question and desired to send them to me I should be glad to give them consideration, and so would the Controller of Stores. I have, however, not received any communication on the matter from them.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to complaints made by telephone users of serious discrepancies between their own records and the accounts sent them by the Post Office London telephone service; whether he accepts as satisfactory a system of registry of calls, the accuracy of which depends upon the action of an operator; whether any attempts are being made to discover an automatic system; and whether in the meantime he would consider a form of account to be sent to subscribers which clearly shows the number of calls at the various rates for which payment is demanded?

Over 20,000 accounts are sent out each month to subscribers of the Post Office London Telephone Service, and in only a very small percentage of cases are any questions raised. No trouble is spared either to ensure the accuracy of the accounts or to satisfy the doubts felt by subscribers. The London Chamber of Commerce recently appointed a special committee to investigate the arrangements for recording calls and keeping accounts, and I gave them every facility for carrying out their investigations. The committee reported that "the means now adopted by the Post Office for checking subscribers' calls are mechanically efficient, and that the percentage of errors, which was very small was in favour of the public and slightly against the Post Office." They also stated, as regards the method of bookkeeping, that "every possible check was made to ensure accuracy in the keeping of subscribers' accounts." I entirely agree with the report of that Committee. A purely automatic system would record not only effective calls, but also ineffective calls, for which no charge should be made, and it is therefore impracticable to adopt such a system. The accounts rendered to subscribers discriminate between local calls and trunk calls made day by day, and more detailed accounts could not be rendered without undue expense.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been directed to the report of the Port Sanitary Committee's medical officer of health describing how meat offal, liver, tongues, kidneys, sweetbreads, etc., had been imported into London in a diseased condition but packed in cases and frozen solid, so that proper inspection was difficult; whether he is aware that 25 per cent, of the 19 cases were found to be diseased, and that this stuff had passed the Customs and had the stamp of the Government of the country whence it came; and whether, in view of the opinion of a medical member of the corporation that the consumption of diseased liver might be the means of introducing cancer into the human system, he has taken measures to safeguard consumers from the diseases arising from such importation?

As I have stated in reply I to previous questions, my attention has been directed to this matter. The action reported by the Medical Officer of Health was taken under the Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations, which I caused to be issued last year for the purpose of preventing danger to the public health from the importation of diseased meat, and which I have every reason *o believe will be found effective for the purpose. I may add that I am advised that there is no reason for believing that the consumption of diseased liver is a cause of cancer.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state what was the total cost of upkeep of the main roads in England and Wales in the years 1897 and 1907?

The expenditure of county councils on account of the maintenance and repair of main roads, and of the improvement of these roads so far as it was not charged on moneys borrowed by the councils, amounted, in the year 1906–7 to £2,535,399. The corresponding expenditure in the year 1896–7 was £1,867,607. Salaries of officers are included in these figures. The borrowed moneys expended on main roads by county councils amounted in 1906–7 to £8,598, and in 1896–7 to about £11,000. The length of the main roads which the county councils were liable to maintain in the year 1906–7 was 27,600 miles. The length repairable by the same councils in the year 1896–7 was 25,700 miles.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been drawn to the importation of bacon as furniture into Ireland; and what measures he proposes to take to prevent this fraud being committed in future?

A statement to the effect that pigs' meat is largely imported into Belfast as furniture has appeared in certain newspapers, but no corroboration of the statement has been obtained on inquiry. The inspection of imported meat does not come within the province of my Department. It is a matter for the sanitary authorities acting in pursuance of regulations made by the Local Government Board.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether the trial of Mr. Murphy, of Clonmel, and 11 others, charged with conspiracy, was, on Tuesday 9th instant, adjourned on the application of the Crown, and, if so, on what ground the adjournment was applied for, and if he will explain why the Crown took this course, in view of the alleged necessity to arrest the accused in order to secure that they should be tried at the North Tipperary spring assizes?

The application for an adjournment was with the object of moving for a change of venue, and the case was adjourned with a view to enabling the Crown to move for such in the King's Bench Division. It was necessary before this could be done to have a true bill found by the Grand Jury of the County of Tipperary (North Riding). Hence the necessity for expedition in the matter.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether Clause 4 (b) of their letter of 22nd December last, with reference to the pay and prospects of assistant clerks, contemplated granting increases of salary to all officers, whether since promoted to the Second Division or not, who had been assistant clerks of the new class during the period prior to 1st April, 1905, and who received a less increment than £5 per annum during such period?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what has been the average amount of payments in pensions to presidents, professors, and officers of Queen's College, Galway, since the year 1879?

The annual average of these payments, on the basis of the figures furnished in the Estimates and in the Quadrennial Return of Civil Service Superannuation Allowances (the last Return is in H. C. No. 190 of 1908) is £639 11s.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state to what extent the funds of the Fishery Board for Scotland have been augmented under the Sea Fisheries (Scotland) (Application of Penalties) Act, 1907?

The fines paid from 1st April to 31st December, 1908, amounted to £323 9s. 2d.

asked the Lord Advocate, in view of the Secretary for Scotland's recent visit to the island of Lewis and of the fact that Dr. Dittmar, the medical inspector for the Local Government Board for Scotland, reported the condition of the townships as dangerous to the public health, will he state whether he has yet approached the Treasury in order to secure assistance towards the construction of houses on new sites.

Since the publication of the report in question, there has been steady progress in the sanitary improvement of the crofters' houses. The construction of houses on new sites is a solution which presents many administrative and financial difficulties, and I have not found it possible to approach the Treasury on the matter: but this and other questions affecting administration in the Lews are constantly before me.

asked the Lord-Advocate, having regard to the fact that the Scottish Office stated in July last that the Landward Committee of the Stornoway Parish Council had been asked to furnish the Congested Districts Board with a list of cottars willing to migrate to the mainland, as well as information in regard to the means and experience of each applicant, will he state whether these particulars have yet been sent to the Board, and, if not, the cause of the delay?

These particulars have been sent to the Congested Districts Board, and are under their consideration.