asked the President of the Board of Trade whether granite or other material, either in the raw or prepared state, when imported into Germany for the construction of docks or shipbuilding yards, would be subject to the import duties that might be prevailing on these articles?

So far as I am aware granite imported into Germany for the construction of docks or shipbuilding yards is subject to the provisions of the ordinary-Customs tariff. Under this tariff, however, rough-hewn granite and granite sawn on not more than three sides is free of duty.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the new French tariff contemplates an increase of duty from 10 to 30 francs per 10O kilos on salmon or sea trout, which France does not produce to any considerable extent, and which are said not to compete seriously with the native river trout, the consumption of which the tariff is alleged to be intended to promote; and whether this point will be taken into account in connection with any representations for reduction of duties which are being made to the French Government?

The information at present in the possession of the Board of Trade is contained in the answer given to the hon. Member for the Horncastle Division of Lincolnshire on the 11th inst. I am, however, having further inquiry made.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether a reply has yet been received from the Army Council in regard to the proposal of the Govern- ment of India that previous commission service out of India of officers of the Indian Army should be reckoned as service towards Indian pension up to a period of five years; and, if not, when the decision is likely to be arrived at?

This question is the subject of communications between the War Office and the India Office. The Secretary of State cannot say when a decision is likely to be arrived at.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of iron ore was imported into Great Britain during each of the last three years; and what quantity of iron ore was imported into Germany, France, and Holland or Belgium in the years 1906, 1907, and 1908?

The following statement gives the information desired by the hon. Member:—

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will state what is the number of assistant inspectors of the Board who have been appointed to the animals division since 1889; what were their ages and previous employments; what was their length of service with the Board; and why and when such service was discontinued in each case?

It would not be possible to give the information asked for within the limits of an answer to a question, but I may say that the first appointment to the position of assistant inspector was made in October, 1893, and that since that date 125 assistant inspectors have been appointed, of whom 53 are still in the service of the Board, and 57 have resigned. The limits of age prescribed for these appointments is from 22 to 32.

asked whether the houses in course of erection on Crown lands at Delamere Forest are being erected under the direction and control of the Board of Agriculture; if he is aware that the contractor is paying from 4s. to 8s. per week less than the standard rate of wage to the men employed on the work; and whether he will take steps to enforce the provisions of the Fair Wages Resolution upon this contractor?

The houses to which my hon. Friend refers are being built by direction of my noble Friend as a Commissioner of the Office of Woods and Forests. He is not aware that the contractor is paying on the scale mentioned, but is causing inquiries to be made. He has given instructions that the provisions of the Fair Wages Resolution are to be strictly enforced in all cases, and he is much obliged to my hon. Friend for bringing the matter to his notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of the cotton manufactures exported from the United Kingdom to France, and the value of the cotton manufactures imported into the United Kingdom from France during each of the last three years?

, in reply, presented the following statement, showing the value of the cotton yarns, cotton piece goods, and other cotton manufactures consigned from the United Kingdom to France and from France to the United Kingdom in 1906, 1907, and 1908:—

asked what were the numbers of outbreaks of swine fever and the numbers of swine slaughtered in each of the years 1905, 1906, 1907, and 1908, and in the months of January and February of the present year?

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

asked what action has been taken by the Board of Agriculture with a view to carrying out the recommendations of the Select Committee on the Hop Industry in regard to obtaining for hop growers in this country fuller information as to produce, prices, acreage, condition of the industry, etc., in foreign countries, and as to supplying growers with scientific information as to improved methods of growing and curing?

The manner in which the information, to which my hon. Friend refers, can be obtained and published is engaging our careful attention, with a view to give effect, as far as possible, to the recommendations of the Select Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make known to the promoters of agricultural societies interested in horse-breeding the conditions under which they may apply for prizes from the War Office?

Any of these Societies are at liberty to apply for prizes; but before an award is made the conditions under which prizes will be given are always communicated.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to a recent resumption of the practice of seine-net trawling on the Ballantrae banks in the Firth of Clyde, contrary to the regulations contained in the Fishery Board's bye-laws; and whether he will give directions to have the bye-laws strictly enforced?

I am aware that complaints have recently been made with regard to seine-net trawling, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the Fishery Board are doing everything possible to secure the enforcement of the bye-law.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that many law agents in Scotland, having passed their final examination, delay enrolling or extracting under The Law Agents (Scotland) Act, 1873, and practise without having paid the necessary fees to the Crown; whether he is aware that this is on account of the fees charged to that branch of the profession; and if he will introduce legislation whereby solicitors will be put on the same footing as advocates as to payments?

No, Sir, it is not the case that many law agents in Scotland practise without having paid the necessary fees to the Crown. The cases in which law agents practise without having enrolled and paid the fees due are very rare; and the Inland Revenue authorities can quite well be left to deal with them. In answer to the latter part of my hon. Friend's question I refer him to the answers given to him on March 3rd and 26th, 1908, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, then Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Admiralty in future Admiralty contracts to omit the usual clause stipulating for the use of steel of British manufacture?

There is no intention of modifying existing practice.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will grant the Return respecting granite used in Admiralty work appearing on the Paper for Thursday in the name of the hon. Member for North-West Lanark?

I regret I am not prepared to agree to this Return. It would involve very considerable time and trouble to prepare, and its production would not be worth the great labour it would involve.

asked the Secretary of State for War if workmen at Island Bridge have been asked to voluntarily offer to pay for stores or goods reported to be missing; and will he consider the advisability of devising some means of having inquiry in such cases made in future that will give an opportunity to those suspected of being responsible for the loss of having at least a means of satisfying themselves of how the responsibility has been fixed?

Whenever investigations are made in the Army Ordnance Depot at Island Bridge as to missing goods or stores, in the deficiency of which civilian subordinates are concerned, such investigations are made in the presence of the civilian subordinates, and the results are communicated to them. In cases in which it is considered that civilian subordinates are responsible they are asked, before the case is decided upon, whether they have any objection to pay for the value of deficiency, for which they are considered, after investigation, to be responsible. A civilian subordinate may be punished by dismissal, or may be given the choice between dismissal and making good the loss.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can see his way to afford to local representatives of trade societies in Ireland, on application at the various departments, the names and quantities of articles for which contracts are being entered into, and also the names of the firms to which the contracts are given, with a view to ascertain if the conditions of the Fair Wages Resolution have been fulfilled?

Arrangements can be made, if desired, for furnishing the Secretary of the Irish Trades' Union Parliamentary Congress Committee, and the local representatives of trade societies in Ireland respectively with information regarding tenders for manufactured articles invited by the War Office in Ireland, similar to that furnished to the corresponding English officials. But subject to certain reservations the names of firms with whom contracts are placed will be published in the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette," and the information so given may be sufficient for the purpose which the hon. Member has in view.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now prepared to take any steps to equip the London Balloon Company of the Royal Engineers (Territorials) with proper appliances for training and carrying on their work in the locality where the company is raised; whether he is aware that all the men who joined on the formation of the company have left the service owing to the absence of facilities for training; and whether anything will be done to give the new recruits opportunities for learning their work?

In my reply to a question put by my right hon. Friend on 5th November, I explained fully the lines on which it was proposed to train this unit, and that it would not receive technical stores. I have nothing to add to that reply. I am not aware that the men who first joined the unit have left for the reasons stated. The figures for non-commissioned officers and men show a steady increase for the period from 1st October to 25th February, and on the latter date the strength was only one under establishment.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, during the past five years, while employed as acting overseer from time to time, the sorter, Mr. Maskell, has never had a failure on any duty he has been in charge of; if so, whether he will be allowed to see the papers in which he was unfavourably reported on; and whether the Postmaster-General will state, for the information of the staff, what are the necessary qualifications for promotion to the overseers' class?

Mr. Maskell failed to perform the duties of an overseer efficiently. He is already acquainted with the reasons for his rejection. The qualifications primarily considered in selecting a man for promotion to the class of overseers is his ability to perform the supervising duties efficiently, and this is well known to the staff.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that five officers at Southport, who have hitherto been regarded as telegraphists, have been ordered to learn postal work; and whether, as two of this number have been employed on postal duties for some time at their own request, and there is no redundant telegraph staff, he will inquire into the necessity for action?

I am aware of the circumstances of the case, and I fully satisfied myself as to the necessity for requiring the five officers in question to learn postal work before any action was taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is prepared to take into consideration the question of remunerating from the Imperial Exchequer those poor law officers who have been called upon from time to time to prepare returns and statistical matter for the information of the Royal Commission on Poor Laws, in view of the fact that the boards of guardians have declined to recognise that remuneration for this additional work should be charged upon the local rates; and whether, in view of the grants that have already been made to Excise officers and to the clerks in respect of the work involved in connection with the carrying out of the Old Age Pensions Act, he is prepared to take into consideration the question of remunerating those poor law officers who have been called upon to supply certain information to the pension officers, involving considerable research and clerical work, which boards of guardians have also declined to recognise as properly chargeable upon the local rates?

As regards the first part of the question, this matter has already received my consideration, and I propose to place at the disposal of the Royal Commission a sum of money for distribution among those poor law authorities whose officers have been called upon to prepare returns for the information of the Commission. I do not, however, propose to make any grants in respect of the work done by poor law officers in connection with the Old Age Pensions Act. The cost of such work should, in my opinion, be borne by the local authorities in view of the saving which must inevitably accrue to them through the operation of the Act.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that fees for Irish and mathematics, taught in Irish national schools as extras, are still unpaid in respect of the year ended 30th June, 1908; and whether he will inquire of the Board of National Education the reason of the delay and the probable date of payment?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the only cases in which such fees are unpaid are those in which the rules governing payment were not fully complied with. These cases are still the subject of correspondence.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Lord Chief Baron Palles, in opening the Commission of Assize in the Crown Court, at Wexford, on the 2nd instant, stated in addressing the grand jury that there was only one Bill to go before them, which was for petty larceny, and that the county was in a satisfactory state of peace; whether he is aware that this state of things is largely due to the fact that the majority of the tenants had purchased, and that there were no grazing ranches in Wexford; and whether he will see that the few remaining evicted tenants, such as the Boxwell and Boyd tenants at Duncormack and the Carew tenants at Sigginshaggard, with a few isolated cases, are restored to their homes as quickly as possible as tenant purchasers?

My attention has been called to a newspaper report of the learned judge's address to the effect stated in the question. It is a fact that a considerable part of the land in county Wexford has been sold under the Land Purchase Acts, and the Estates Commissioners will provide, as soon as possibe, for the remaining evicted tenants who have been noted as suitable.

asked whether the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) give any information to the holders of land in Ireland with regard to tree-planting by them on their holdings; if so, what is the nature of the advice; whether loans are advanced for the purpose; and, if so, under what Act of Parliament?

All the County Committees of Agriculture in Ireland have adopted the Department's Scheme of Instruction in Agriculture, and employ agricultural instructors, whose duties include, inter alia, the giving of advice to farmers as to the planting of forest trees for shelter and ornament. The horticultural instructors employed by the county committees are also available to advise farmers on this matter. Further, under the County Horticultural Scheme, arrangements are made whereby residents in a county can procure supplies of trees at a reasonable figure by bulking their orders through the County Committee of Agriculture. The Department have on their staff a forestry expert, whose services are available, on certain conditions, to give advice to those requiring it on such matters as the selection of sites for plantations, suitability of soil and choice of trees, treatment of existing woods, and draining and fencing of woodlands. The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland are empowered under the Settled Land Acts and the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881, to grant loans for tree planting. Particulars as to the conditions on which such loans are granted may be obtained on application to the Board.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what have been the costs incurred for service of summonses in respect of illegal trawling during the past three years, and what have been the costs of such services recovered on convictions?

The costs incurred amounted to £128. The Department always apply for the actual amount incurred. In some cases the magistrates did not allow such costs; in others they allowed a bulk sum for all expenses, not differentiating those of the summons server. It is probable that the amount paid by the Department is 25 per cent, in excess of the costs recovered.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what sums have been received by the Department or their solicitors for witnesses' costs in prosecutions for illegal trawling during the past three years; and what sums were actually paid to the witnesses in respect of whom those costs were recovered?

It is not possible to state exactly what sums were received by the Department or their solicitors for witnesses' expenses. In some cases a bulk sum was allowed by the magistrates to-cover all costs. In some cases the costs have not yet been recovered. An approximate estimate of the amount paid by the Department in respect of witnesses' expenses would be £130. It is possible that about 80 per cent, of this was recovered.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture {Ireland) whether the Department has received an application from Mr. Patrick Murphy, Dunfanaghy, to be allotted a motor fishing-boat on the share system; and whether he will favourably consider the application?

No application of the kind has been received by the Department from Mr. Patrick Murphy. The Department do not issue loans on what is known as the "share system." The usual form of application for a loan out of the Sea and Coast Fisheries Fund was yesterday forwarded to Mr. Murphy. If the application reaches the Department, and if it be within the scope of the rules made for the administration of the Fund above referred to, it will receive careful consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board have purchased the property of Mrs. Owens and Mrs. Brown, situated at Hollymount, county Mayo; is he aware that an inspector from the Estates Commissioners inspected this grass farm three months ago; and, if so, will he explain why the agent is demanding a half-year's rent pending the completion of the purchase negotiations?

This property was offered to the Congested Districts Board in August last, but they were, and still are, unable to proceed with negotiations owing to the want of funds for improvement works.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state, by counties, the number of grammar and other endowed secondary schools, teaching science and nature study, as applied to agriculture, under new schemes, or have had an agricultural side attached to them under existing schemes or otherwise during the last 10 years?

It is not the present practice of the Board of Education to define in the scheme under which a grammar or other endowed secondary school is governed the nature of the curriculum which the pupils are to follow. The more recent schemes made by the Board provide for the conduct of schools as public secondary schools, and leave the curriculum to be determined by the governors and head master or mistress, subject, in the case of the great majority of schools, to the approval of the curriculum by them as a condition of payment of grant. The adoption by a school of a course of scientific study specially suitable for boys who are likely to follow agricultural pursuits does not, therefore, as a rule entail the amendment of an existing scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state in tabular form the rural administrative counties .within which there are at present rural secondary schools into whose curriculum the study of chemistry, physics, and biology in their relation to agriculture have been introduced; the present number in each such county of such schools; the number of such schools which have school gardens or experimental plots attached; the number of such schools which have peripatetic or occasional courses conducted by teachers from any farm, institute, or agricultural college; the number of such schools, if any, whose scholars, or some of them, have access by arrangement to experimental farms in connection with agricultural colleges or to farms or farm operations on private lands; the number of scholars, boys and girls respectively, in such schools, classified according to ages; and the number of such schools in which domestic economy instruction is given to girls?

Either agriculture or a course of science designed with special reference to agricultural conditions is taught in secondary schools in the following counties:—

The total number of these schools is 21. Of these 15 have school gardens or experimental plots attached; two have occasional courses conducted, in the one case by a teacher from an agricultural college, and in the other by a peripatetic teacher provided by the county council; three have access to experimental farms not forming part of the school premises; and eight have domestic economy classes for girls.

The number of pupils in these schools is as follows:—

The Board of Education must not be taken as committed to the view that the relation between the science teaching in

these schools and the rural conditions is in all cases a good one.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish the recent correspondence with the French Government on the subject of the proposed French tariff?

I do not consider it desirable in the present state of this matter to make any statement on the question raised by the hon. Member. The

French tariff is still under consideration by the French Government and Parliament.