asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of possible consequences from the rise in the price of bread, he will without delay issue a circular calling attention to the necessity of strictly enforcing the provisions of the Bread Act of 1836, and requiring all bread, except fancy bread, to be sold by weight?

Apart from the rise in the price of bread, the Board of Trade have recently had under consideration the question of the issue of a circular calling the attention of local authorities to the provisions of the sale of Bread Acts with regard to sale by weight and the desirability of their enforcement. I propose to issue such a circular immediately.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the value of the British trade with the Philippine Islands during each of the past three years?

The following statement shows the value of the trade of this country with the Philippine Islands and Guam during each of the years 1906–8:—

Years.	Imports into the United Kingdom consigned from places in Philippine Islands and Guam.	Exports from the United Kingdom consigned to Philippine Islands and Guam.
		Produce and manufacture of the United Kingdom.	Foreign and Colonial merchandise.
	£	£	£
1906	1,689,230	1,513,642	36,040
1907	2,115,832	1,334,289	34,50
1908.	1,693,710	1,058,216	26,906

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now consider the advisability of rearranging the American mail service so as to secure the despatch of mails by the fastest steamers, irrespective of the lines to which steamers belong, and at such intervals as will result in the mails being delivered in the United States in more regular and punctual succession; and whether he will favourably consider the proposal that the faster steamers shall not call at Queens-town?

I have given, and continue to give, careful consideration to the points raised by my hon. Friend. Mails for the United States of America are at present despatched by the most regular services available, namely, the contract services of the Cunard and White Star lines. It would not be possible, under present conditions, to send mails by the fastest ship on every occasion, without sacrificing the regularity of the service. Correspondence specially addressed for conveyance by foreign steamers is, however, always sent as addresed; and it is thus open to the public to ensure the despatch of their correspondence by any steamer. The proposal which has been made for the omission of the call at Queenstown in the case of the faster steamers would necessitate the posting of correspondence for the United States of America on Friday night or very early on Saturday morning throughout the United Kingdom, with the exception of Liverpool or places in the immediate neighbourhood; while even under the most favourable condition, the correspondence so sent would not be delivered in New York until late on Thursday afternoon. Under the present arrangement, letters can be posted on Saturday at mid-day or later in London and most parts of the country, and, when conveyed by the faster steamers, should usually be delivered on Friday morning. It appears, therefore, that under present circumstances, the alteration would, on the whole, be disadvantageous to the public.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, since the date when the Hobhouse Committee's Report was issued, certain sub-engineers, who had already been awarded second-class engineers' certificates in the departmental examination, have been compelled to again submit themselves for examination; and will he state if others in the engineering branch, of equal service, but who have failed to obtain the certificate of qualification, have been promoted to the higher rank without re-examination?

It has been thought advisable that certain sub-engineers who had passed a qualifying test examination of the standard formerly in force should enter for an examination of higher standard. There are officers who have been promoted in the past without passing the examination now imposed in all cases; but no officer has been promoted who was not at the time regarded as qualified.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the number of sergeant-instructors allowed for each battalion of the old Volunteer force; what is the number allowed for each battalion of the Territorial force; whether, in view of the fact that there is such a large number of recruits under the new system, and that in the country districts, especially, the men are living far apart and often at great distances from their headquarters, arrangements will be made to allow extra instructors to each battalion where the officer commanding the battalion desires it for the next few months, or even the next two years; whether any of the battalions are actually short of the number of instructors at present allowed?

Under the Volunteer Regulations instructors were allowed at the rate per battalion of 1 for 1 to 3 companies, 2 for 4 to 7 companies, 3 for 8 to 11 companies, and so on, at the rate of 1 per 4 companies; and extra instructors were allowed when companies were at a greater distance than five miles from headquarters or from another company. The numbers allowed per Territorial unit are generally speaking calculated in accordance with the rules which governed the allowance of instructors for the Volunteers, but detailed, questions are still under consideration. In view of the temporarily large number of recruits, General Officers Commanding-in-Chief have been authorised to allow temporary instructors. As regards the last part of my hon. Friend's question, the information can only be obtained by reference to the Record Offices.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state how many men who have been over three months in the Yeomanry regiments and in the infantry battalions of the Territorial Force are still without their walking-out uniform; and whether he will state a date by which it may be hoped that this delay in providing these uniforms will have been over come?

The provision of walking-out uniforms rests solely with the county associations. No information, therefore, is available at the War Office to enable me to reply to the question.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he can now state when the new Fishery Board cruiser will be at the disposal of the Fishery Board for Scotland?

The cruiser is expected to make her preliminary trial trip before the end of the month.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will furnish a statement showing the names of Government Departments which have invested money in Irish Land Stock, the amount invested, and the net result to each in profit or loss, to the end of March, 1909?

The names of Government Departments holding Irish Land Stock and the amount held in each case will be shown in the Return relating to the British Government Securities held by Government Departments for which I moved on the 19th inst. The other particulars asked for cannot be given.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if teachers occupying residences erected under the Teachers Residence Act in Ireland, and in connection with which they have signed agreements as caretakers, are liable for income tax in respect of such residences?

The residences in question are with certain exceptions charged with income-tax Schedule A on the poor law valuation, under the rules laid down in section 13 of the Income-tax Act, 1853. The duty is primarily payable by the landlord or immediate lessor, but in default of payment by him it is recoverable from the occupier, who, if he pays rent for the premises, is entitled to deduct the tax from his next payment; if, however, he occupies them rent free, the ultimate incidence of the duty is a matter for arrangement between the parties concerned.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the reason why the Board of Works (Ireland) did not advertise for tenders to heat and ventilate the Law Library, Dublin; whether he is aware that the specification precluded Irish firms from tendering for the ventilation portion of the contract; whether he is aware that the Sirocco fan, patented by a Belfast firm, is acknowledged by experts to be most suitable for this class of building; and whether he can state if it is the practice of the Board of Works in Ireland to place contracts outside of Irish contractors without giving Irish contractors the opportunity of sending in tenders?

The first part of the question has already been answered by me in reply to questions put to me on the 5th instant by the hon. Members for South Down and Mid-Armagh, to which I beg to refer the hon. Member. The answer to the second and fourth parts of the question is in the negative. In answer to the third part of the question, I am informed that the Sirocco Fan is a good one, but the question of what is the most suitable fan for a particular building must naturally be determined by the special circumstances of each case.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will introduce legislation to extend the Public Trustee Act to Ireland this Session?

I should be quite ready to introduce such legislation if I had reason to believe that there was any general demand for it in Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can on the present occasion favourably consider the claim made for the appointment of some person with the experience and knowledge gained in the teaching profession for appointment to the existing vacancy on the Board of National Education in Ireland?

There are obvious difficulties in appointing a teacher in the service of the Board to a seat upon the Board; while to restrict the selection to teachers who have retired from the service of the Board would unduly limit the range of choice.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Estates Commissioners can be induced to make a statement as to what they propose to do as to the making of grants to evicted tenants on the Kenmare Estate, County Kerry, seeing that the claims of these evicted tenants have been several times investigated by the Commissioners' representatives within the past two years; whether the Commissioners have taken any steps on the several representations made to them as to the making of seizures and the carrying out of legal proceedings by Lord Kenmare to coerce tenants who have been unwilling to sign purchase agreements on the land- lord's conditions; and whether the Commissioners will take any steps to enforce the written agreement signed by the landlord and his agents as to evicted tenants, congested districts, turbary, game rights, and other matters, on the strength of which the sale was agreed upon?

The Estates Commissioners are at present in communication with the owner as to the prices of the evicted holdings. They are not prepared at this stage of the negotiations to make any statement as to the grants they may make to the evicted tenants. As regards the remainder of the question, I have nothing to add to my replies to previous questions on the subject asked by the hon. Member.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what has been the amount of money subscribed by the Royal Irish Constabulary in response to the Inspector-General's invitation in connection with a memorial to the late Constable Goldrick; and what is to be done with the money?

The Inspector-General informs me that about £620 has been subscribed. The officers and men of the force will decide themselves how the money is to be applied.

asked whether District-Inspector Rogers, of Enniscorthy, holds a farm in the county of Kildare; whether constabulary officers are exempt from the prohibition that applies to the rank and file with respect to trafficking in horses, cattle, etc.; whether District-Inspector O'Shee, of Clonmel, acts in the capacity of land agent; and whether county and district inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary are at liberty to embark in commercial enterprises, farming, horse-jobbing, and the like?

The Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary informs me that District Inspector Rogers holds some land in County Kildare. There is no objection to his holding it as he has no official connection with the county. All members of the Royal Irish Constabulary are by the regulations of the force forbidden to traffic in any way with the people of the county or district in which they are serving. District Inspector O'Shee, of Clonmel, has, with the sanction of the Inspector-General, been acting, under power of attorney, as the representative of his brother, who has been absent in Africa, and in that capacity has been directing the management of his brother's estates in the counties of Kilkenny and Waterford.

asked whether District Inspector Rogers, of Enniscorthy, keeps his horse at his farm in county Kildare; how many horseback inspections he has made since being appointed to Enniscorthy; does he employ a man servant at Enniscorthy for the care of his horse; and what is the object of allowing £95 a year for the upkeep of a horse and the wages of a groom if Mr. Rogers performs his inspections on foot, by bicycle, or by car?

The Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary informs me that District Inspector Rogers has been keeping his horse at his farm in Kildare, as he states that he has been unable up to the present to obtain suitable stabling at his station. The action of the District Inspector is irregular, and the Inspector-General is taking steps to secure the due observance of the regulations in future. Since his appointment to Enniscorthy a year ago District-Inspector Rogers has performed 27 turns of duty on horseback, three of these being inspections. Besides employing a man servant to look after his horse in Kildare, the District Inspector also has a man servant employed at Enniscorthy.

asked whether inspectors of national schools, who have been refused the usual increment of salary because the necessary certificate has not been given by the chief inspectors, are afforded an opportunity of having their cases brought before the Commissioners of National Education; and, if not, will he arrange for this being done in future?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that a chief inspector if he refuses his certificate must satisfy them that he has valid grounds for doing so. There are adequate facilities for inspectors, who so desire, to bring their cases under the notice of the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state when the 80 acres at present in the hands of the grazier on the Major Vesey Estate, Clon- berne, county Galway, will be divided amongst the tenants who signed agreements for purchase in May, 1906?

The Estates Commissioners cannot identify the land from the particulars given, but if the hon. Member will furnish the name of the townland and of the present occupier the matter will be further looked into.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a world's corner in wheat has been engineered since last autumn by certain American speculators through the system of international gambling in options and futures, and that as a consequence the price of this cereal has been advanced fictitiously many shillings a quarter, with a sympathetic rise in the price of a loaf; whether he is aware that a further rise in the prices of all foodstuffs may lie in the hands of this powerful syndicate; and whether, in view of this fact, he will consider what steps the Government propose to take to prevent any further artificial inflation of prices in the prime necessities of life, with the object of protecting consumers generally and also to safeguard the position of foodstuff supplies in case of any sudden international crisis?

I do not think that this is a matter in which the Government could usefully take action.

further asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the effect upon the trade, finance and agriculture of the three Kingdoms through option and future gambling operations, he will consider the advisability of increasing and extending the stamp tax on all such option and future contracts which only terminate in the buying of differences, and are thereby gambling operations in fictitious shares or commodities, whether they be entered into on the stock, cotton, produce, metal, or share exchanges, with the intention of increasing the revenue for Budget purposes?

I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), what is the money value of Irish manufactured articles exported from Ireland during the last year for which the figures are available; what are the countries to which such articles are exported; and what is the value of such exported articles to each of those countries?

The value of manufactured goods, other than food and drinking stuffs and tobacco, exported from Ireland during 1907 amounted to an estimated total of £20,849,294. In addition to this amount the value of manufactured food and drink stuffs and tobacco exported from Ireland during 1907 may be taken at approximately £11,000,000, the main items being as follows:—

Manufactured Tobacco	£1,151,521
Whiskey	£2,304,874
Porter	£1,954,858
Aerated Mineral Waters	£252,667
Butter	£4,008,220
Condensed Milk	£348,220
Biscuits	£338,290
Yeast	£264,755

Almost the whole of these manufactured exports are consigned from Ireland to Great Britain, and it is known that the larger part is retained in Great Britain. It is not possible, however, to say from the existing materials of information what quantities and values are exported to the Colonies and foreign countries. Such particulars of information as can be obtained with regard to the different articles exported from Ireland to the Colonies and foreign countries have been stated in notes in the remarks columns, pages 41–69, of the Report on the Trade in Imports and Exports at Irish Ports for the year 1907, and in Appendix I. of the same Report. viz., "Extracts relating to Irish Trade with Foreign Countries taken from Consular Reports."

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether it is proposed that the new grant of £19,000 per annum to be placed at the disposal of the Department will be allocated entirely to the county committees and so enable them to give increased facilities to students under their care?

It is premature to make any statement on this matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the number of serious accidents reported to the inspectors of mines during the years 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, and 1908, and the number of non-serious accidents during 1908?

The figures of fatal and non-fatal accidents reported to the

Year.		Number of Accidents reported.
		Fatal.				Non-Fatal.
		Coal Mines.	Metalliferous Mines.	Quarries.	Total.	Coal Mines.	Metalliferous Mines.	Quarries.	Total.
1903	…	1,036	25	90	1,151	3,606	250	1,373	5,229
1904	…	1,017	31	110	1,158	3,512	232	1,278	5,022
1905	…	963	43	97	1,103	3,380	245	1,193	4,818
1906	…	1,065	33	92	1,190	3,592	214	1,337	5,143
1907	…	1,162	33	88	1,283	5,599	281	1,459	7,339
1908*	…	1,137	36	90	1,263	5,588	247	1,515	7,350
* Preliminary figures, subject to correction.

The total of fatal and non-fatal accidents reported were:—

In 1903	…	…	…	6,380
In 1904	…	…	…	6,180
In 1905	…	…	…	5,921
In 1906	…	…	…	6,333
In 1907	…	…	…	8,622
In 1908	…	…	…	8,613

I have no information as to non-serious accidents in 1908. I should point out as regards the figures of non-fatal accidents that in the case of certain classes of acci- inspectors of mines during the years mentioned are as follows:—dents (