asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any experiments have been made with gyroscope-compasses by the Admiralty; and whether gyroscope-compasses have been supplied to any of His Majesty's ships?

Experiments have from time to time been made, but the results have not been entirety satisfactory.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state whether provision will be made in the Shop Hours Bill which he has promised to bring in for the inclusion of those retail shops kept by sub-postmasters; and, if so, whether it will embrace the postal and telegraph business transacted in such establishments?

I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave on 30th March to a previous question by my hon. Friend on the same subject. I must ask him to await the introduction of the Bill, which I hope may take place at an early date.

asked the Home Secretary if he can say how many births took place in prisons in England and Wales during the years 1907–8; how many women were released during the same period from prison on account of their approaching confinement; and whether the birth is registered as having taken place in prison?

Forty-three children were born in prison in the year 1907, and 42 in 1908. In 1907, 73 women were released before the termination of their sentences on account of approaching confinement, and in 1908, 76. Births in prisons are reported by the governors direct to the local registrars, who have received special instructions from the Registrar-General, at the instance of the Commissioners, whereby the description of the place of birth in such cases is so entered as to avoid mention of the word "prison" in the certificate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether watermen's wherries, authorised to work, ply, and row within and without the harbour of Portsmouth, could be constructed to be driven by motor power, under the Acts of 49 and 52 George III., and be licensed and controlled by the Ferry Commissioners; or whether every boat driven by motor power comes within the authority of the Board of Trade and requires to be licensed by them?

Under the provisions of sections 271 and 743 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, every vessel propelled by mechanical power which carries more than 12 passengers must be surveyed and certificated by the Board of Trade. This requirement applies irrespective of local regulations as to licenses.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea on 31st December, 1908, of an Asiatic fireman whilst serving on the steamer "Sutherland," of Newcastle; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether the Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported on the ventilation of the stokehold; whether he can state how much coal was required to be worked each 24 hours by the stokehold hands; and whether any previous cases of disappearance, suicide, or supposed suicide have occurred on this vessel?

The man referred to disappeared in the Indian Ocean on a voyage from Calcutta to Port Said. He had been medically examined before joining the ship, and had had previous sea service. As the vessel has not been in this country since the man's disappearnce, the Board of Trade surveyors have not had an opportunity of reporting on the ventilation at the time of the occurrence, but a favourable report was made by them in 1907. The owners state that the steamer burns 24 to 25 tons of Indian coal per day, and that her engine-room staff consists of three engineers and one donkeyman, Europeans, and 22 natives. No other case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance has occurred in this vessel.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from phthisis pulmonalis, on 18th December, 1908, of an Asiatic fireman named Hatimulla Kallimolla, a member of the crew of the "City of London," of Glasgow; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether the Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported on the ventilation of the stokehold; if he can state how much coal the stokehold hands were required to work each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease have occurred on this vessel?

The man referred to died of consumption in hospital six weeks after discharge from his ship. I am not aware whether he had been medically examined or had had previous sea service, but I am informed that the ship carried a fully qualified surgeon, who had no note of the man having been ill on board. The vessel is now trading abroad, but upon her return to this country particulars will be obtained respecting her ventilation and coal consumption. The only other death from phthisis which has occurred on board this vessel was that of a passenger.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps, if any, are being taken with respect to the Census of Production Act; and when the Returns based on that measure will be laid before the House?

Schedules of questions prepared under the Census of Production Act to the number of nearly half a million were all issued before the close of last year, but the compilation of the statistics has naturally entailed, and continues to entail, a very considerable amount of examination and inquiry by correspondence and otherwise. I propose to publish preliminary figures for certain important groups of trades during the course of the next two or three months, and the remainder of the information will be published as rapidly as the nature of the work permits.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if any instruction, printed or otherwise, has been issued from his Department to poor law guardians in the county of Durham, having for their object the stopping of out-relief to old people living with their daughters, and in substitution of such relief offering them admission to the workhouse; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of encouraging the giving of out-relief to such old people, more especially in those cases where the relatives are ordinary working people?

I am not aware that any such instructions have been given. There have been some disallowances of relief in cases of the kind mentioned, but they did not involve any question of outdoor as against indoor relief, the ground of disallowance being that the persons relieved were not at the time destitute, so as to require relief from the rates.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the estimated amount of Treasury issues in the year 1909–10 from loans for works and other objects to each of the following Departments, respectively, namely, the Army, the Navy, the Civil Service, and the Revenue Departments?

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will probably make some reference to these figures in his Budget statement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the number of persons who have received old age pensions in the three months ending the 31st March last in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales respectively; the number of pensioners who died in that period; the number of persons from whom the pension was withdrawn owing to some disqualification; the actual number of persons who received pensions on 26th March; and will he give the amount paid in pensions on that date?

The available statistics are not quite adapted to the form in which the hon. Member's question is put, but the following gives, in essence, the information asked for:—

England Wales. Scotland. Ireland. Total. Number of pensions actually payable on the 26th March 369,037 24,663 70,294 183,500 647,494 Number of pensioners reported dead up to 31st March 11,846 753 2,000 3,632 18,231 Number of pensions withdrawn on questions raised up to 31st March 1,017 51 129 1,279 2,476 Sum payable on the 26th March £87,526 5s. £5,885 7s. £17,115 2s. £44,802 7s. £155,329 15s.

No statistics are readily available of the sum paid on any single day, but the following are the sums paid in the week beginning 26th March:— England and Wales. Scotland. Ireland. Total. Number of orders paid 401,318 75,208 190,490 667,016 Amount £94,904 £18,255 £46,344 £159,503

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a landowner who has redeemed the tithe on his land is still liable to the land tax charged on such tithe?

In the circumstances specified in the question a landowner would be liable to land tax on the full annual value of the land as enhanced by the redemption of the tithe.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that where county and parish boundaries are altered the rateable areas follow the revised boundaries, for all local and Imperial taxation except the land tax; and whether, as this exception leads to much difficulty and confusion, he can see his way, by legislation or otherwise, to make the land tax for parish areas coincide with the areas for poor law purposes?

The land tax parish areas are governed by the Act 38, Geo. III., c. 60, and the lands, on which the tax has not been redeemed, are required to be rated and assessed by an equal £ rate in the parishes as they were then constituted. The suggestion contained in the second part of the question could not be carried into effect without very great difficulty, and I regret, therefore, that I do not see my way to adopt it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that at the annual general meeting of the Fawcett Association a Mr. Amnion stated that since the Courtney Committee reported in 1903 a number of Post Office employés had died in harness, or shortly after retirement, thus causing a privation and suffering to the widows and dependent relatives, who were deprived of any share of the accrued pensions; and whether, as a means to lessen such distress in the future, the promised amended Civil Servants Superannuation Act will be introduced this session, and at an early date?

My attention has not been previously drawn to the statement referred to by the hon. Member, which seems to me to be somewhat misleading in its use of the words "deprived of" and "accrued." The Superannuation Bill will be introduced at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what was the total net revenue from exciseable liquors and drugs in India in the years 1874–5, 1883–4, 1894–5, 1904–5, 1905–6, 1906–7, 1907–8, and 1908–9; and what is the estimated revenue for 1909–10?

The figures of net revenue, stated in sterling at the rate of fifteen rupees to the pound, are as follows— £ 1874–75 … … … 1,561,000 1883–84 … … … 2,538,000 1894–95 … … … 3,629,000 1904–05 … … … 5,295,000 1905–06 … … … 5,621,000 1906–07 … … … 5,835,000 1907–08 … … … 6,163,000 1908–09 … … … 6,342,000 1909–10 … … … 6,717,000 For the last two years the figures are Estimates.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he bas received a despatch from the Government of India on the subject of the reorganisation of the Indian Telegraph De- partment; and whether, in view of the general dissatisfaction among the officers of the Indian Telegraph Department at the delay which has occurred in India in coming to a conclusion regarding the reorganisation of that Department, he can state when the changes will be effected?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give the names of the Members of the present Committee of National Defence?

The names of those who, for the time being, are regularly summoned by the Prime Minister to meetings of the Imperial Defence Committee, are as follows:— The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, The Secretary of State for the Colonies, The Secretary of State for War, The Secretary of State for India, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, The First Lord of the Admiralty, The First Sea Lord, The Director of Naval Intelligence, The Chief of the General Staff, The Director of Military Operations, Lord Esher, General Sir John French (Inspector-General of the Forces), Admiral Sir A. K. Wilson.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now give any definite information as to when the new Regulations governing the political activities of civil servants will be introduced?

The matter is at present the, subject of inquiry by the Government, and my right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to make a statement before very long.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware of the divergence in regulations affecting byres and milk-houses in the different counties of Scotland, and whether steps will be taken, through the Local Government Board or otherwise, to promote greater similarity as regards sueh regulations so far as these may be directed towards a common purpose?

The regulations for dairies made by local authorities in Scotland prior to 1905 display considerable divergence. In that year the Local Government Board issued a model series with the result that Regulations made since that date show greater uniformity.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state the number of acres of land dealt with by the Congested Districts Board in each of the Highland crofting counties since the passing of the Act, distinguishing land used for the enlargement of holdings from land utilised for the creation of new holdings; and will he state the amount expended by the Board in each county in connection with land schemes, in the formation of fishermen's holdings, and the erection of fishermen's dwellings respectively?

The information the hon. Member asks for as to acreage, expenditure, etc., is approximately as follows:—

County. New Holdings. Enlargements. Land in crofter occupation at time of purchase by C.D.B., or lands still undisposed of. Total Acreage. Net expenditure in each County. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. £ s. d. Argyll … — 122 — 122 35 9 6 Inverness … 41,963 17,339 44,241 103,543 159,829 17 10 Ross … 239 6,985 — 7,224 10,818 15 11 Sutherland … 12,116 — — 12,116 16,337 9 4 Caithness … 312 454 — 766 1,068 11 4 Zetland … 746 629 — 1,375 301 17 4 Total … 55,376 25,529 44,241 125,146 188,392 1 3

Many of the holdings formed, especially in the Islands, are occupied by crofter-fishermen, but the only fishermen's holdings and dwellings specially formed under section 4 (1) (e) of the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act, 1897, are the 29 at Battery Park, Stornaway. The net expenditure by the Board for these up to 31st March, 1909, is £4,970 14s. 3d., which is included in the amount stated above. Details of the Board's expenditure on each land settlement may be found in the Appendix No. X. of the Report of the Board for the year to 31st March, 1909.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether many sugar and cocoa estates of Trinidad have books recording wages paid for the past 30 years to

labourers employed on such estates; and, if so, is he prepared to state from such records the wages paid per day in 1875, 1885, 1895, and 1905 to the labourers then employed; and whether such wages included cost of food and lodging?

The Secretary of State is unable to give the figures from the information in his possession, but the Governor of the Colony is being asked if he can furnish them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of recent events as to some of the officers in the service of the Crown Colonies and Protectorates, if he can state whether it is the intention of the Government to provide accommodation suitable for such officers and their wives, and to give free or assisted passages to the wives of such officers?

The conditions of life in the various Crown Colonies and Protectorates differ so much that it is impossible to lay down any rule on this subject which would be applicable to all. In the older and more healthy colonies, where suitable accommodation can be obtained and officers usually reside for long periods, without returning to this country, free passages are provided on first appointment, within certain limits, not only for the officers themselves, but also for their wives and children. In the Colonies and Protectorates of tropical Africa, where the climatic and other conditions necessitate frequent visits to this country and are not generally suitable for European, women or children, the Government provides quarters for officers, and in some instances (when the conditions admit of it) for their wives also. In the case of these Colonies and Protectorates free passages are not provided for wives and children, but the officers themselves are granted frequent and long periods of leave of absence with free passages, home and out again.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether it is intended that the legislation proposed for Scotland as regards the future regulation of steam trawling shall be applied to Ireland?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply given by me on the 20th inst. to a similar question put by the hon. Member for Wexford North.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) how many centres for summer courses for science teachers are provided; how many teachers are employed; will he also state how many national school teachers have attended these classes during each year since they were started; and how many successfully passed their examination?

The applications for admission to summer courses not having yet been fully considered, it is not possible to say at present at how many centres summer courses will be held this year, nor how many teachers will be employed. In 1908 summer courses were held at 26 centres, and 96 teachers and assistant teachers were employed. These courses are arranged for teachers engaged by local technical instruction committees or in schools receiving grants either directly from the Department or under the provisions of local schemes of technical instruction. The courses are not intended for the teachers of national schools. In 1908, however, the Department conducted a course in rural economy to which, on the nomination of the Commissioners of National Education, 15 national teachers were admitted. Of these 14 attended satisfactorily, 10 being granted certificates of satisfactory progress.