asked the number of houses constructed by the Congested Districts Board in the counties of Argyle, Inverness, Boss and Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness, and Orkney and Shetland, respectively; the total sum expended in each county in the construction of such houses; the total rentals from each county; and the percentage of houses occupied in each county?

The only houses in the enumerated counties which the Congested Districts Board have constructed are in the island of Lewis, in the county of Ross and Cromarty. They are as follows: 32 houses for crofters at Aignish; these have cost £4,985 9s. 7d. The annuity charged to the crofters for repayment of principal and interest on the portion of this amount counted as a loan is £142 2s. 8d. The Congested Districts Board have constructed 29 "fishermen's dwellings" at Battery Park, Stornoway, Lewis. The cost has been £3,694 18s. 10d., and the annuity as above, £117 10s. All these houses are occupied except three in Battery Park.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can make the assistance of the police available for the discovery in the United Kingdom, in British Dominions, or in a foreign country of a bankrupt in this country who has not surrendered; and, if not, whether placing in his hands particulars on which primâ facie an independent criminal charge could be based would enable him to make the assistance of the police available for the purpose mentioned?

It is impossible to give a complete or positive answer with regard to hypothetical cases. Primâ facie bankruptcy is not a matter which gives the police any ground for action. If, however, a criminal charge is made, they give the same assistance in tracing and arresting the offender as in other criminal proceedings. Whether a bankrupt who has escaped abroad can be brought back depends, inter alia, on the nature of the criminal charge against him, and, in the case of escape to a foreign country, on the terms of the extradition treaty with that country.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a motor taxicabdriver named George Henry Towers, badge 1919, residing at 200, Royal Mint-square, Minories, was charged with being intoxicated on Sunday, 2nd August, 1908, about 7.45 p.m., and taken to John-street, Edgware-road, police-station, and after being examined by the doctor was let out on his own recognisances; that on the following day he appeared before Mr. Plowden and was discharged, and continued to follow his occupation until his licence expired on 28th February, 1909, and that when he applied for it to be renewed it was refused by the authorities at Scotland Yard; and would he grant this man another mechanical licence, in view of his character previous to his being a licensed driver, or see that his case is thoroughly investigated?

I am aware of the facts mentioned. In granting and renewing cabdrivers' licences, the Commissioner of Police has to take into consideration the whole of the facts relating to a man's fitness to hold a licence. This was done in Towers' case. The decision did not turn merely on the conduct which led to the charge mentioned in the question; and on full consideration I see no ground for any interference with the decision.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the average cost incurred by rural district councils in acquiring one-acre plots of land and erecting labourers' cottages thereon; what is the amount of contribution made towards such average cost, and how much has to be found by the councils; at what rate of interest can rural district councils borrow for this purpose, and what are the number of years over which repayment extends; what is the estimated cost of repairs and collection of rent, and what is the estimated annual charge to be levied by the rural district councils in orlder that no charge should fall upon rates?

The Local Government Board do not possess statistics enabling them to state with certainty the average cost of providing a labourer's cottage with an acre allotment attached, but they consider that £170 may be taken as a fairly approximate figure. The amount of contribution towards such cost is 36 per cent., leaving 64 per cent. to be found by the local authorities. The rates at which rural district councils can at present borrow for this purpose are those specified in the Irish Land Act of 1903, namely, 2¾ per cent. interest and ½ per cent. sinking fund, making a total annual charge of £3 5s. for every £100 advanced, the period of repayment being 68½ years. Precise figures regarding the cost of repairs and collection of rent cannot be given, but about £2 per cottage per annum should be sufficient to cover these items and insurance. Taking the above figures, the annual rent per cottage and plot which the district councils should require the tenants to pay, so that no portion of the charge should fall on the rates, would be about £5 10s., or 2s. 2d. per week. It was not, however, contemplated that the labouring class should bear all the cost, as provision is made in the Labourers Acts that the charge on the rates may be high as 1s. in the pound, and in exceptional cases 1s. 3d. in the pound.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the St. John's (Westminster) Improvement Company have not carried out any part of the improvement scheme for which they obtained compulsory powers from Parliament in 1906, although it is now two and a-half years since the Act came into operation; whether he is aware of the bad condition of this property, and of the fact that heavy motor-omnibus traffic is being sent down Marsham-street, the widening of which street is part of the improvement scheme put forward in 1906; and whether he proposes to take any steps to secure a beginning being made in this work, in accordance with the terms of the Act of Parliament sanctioned in 1906?

I may refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a question put to me on this subject on 23rd November last by my hon. Friend the Member for the Brixton Division, a copy of which I will send to him. I have no power to take action with a view to secure that a beginning be made in the work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exenequer why no provision is made in the Estimates for 1909–10 for a grant to the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester?

The Treasury were unable to agree to increased provision being made in the Estimates for the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1909-10, under Sub-head E (Grants for Agricultural and Dairy Education) pending the settlement of certain questions of principle affecting the organisation under which such grants are distributed.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he can now give a Return of the particulars as to the progress of the operation of The Small Holdings Act, 1908, based upon the figures furnished by the local authorities to the Board by the 20th March in response to the circular of inquiry issued under section 59 of the Act?

I think the following table will give the information for which my right hon. Friend asks:—