asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he can state the amount of land which, during the present year, it has been arranged to acquire in Kent for small holdings, the situation of such land, together with the acreage and the number of applicants who will be satisfied thereby?

The amount of land which the Kent County Council has acquired, or arranged to acquire, during the present year for the purpose of small hold- ings is 260a 1r. 21p. The situation and acreage of this land is as follows:— Parish. Acreage. a. r. p. Tenterden and High Halden 56 3 39 Woodnesborough 4 3 8 Northbourne 20 0 0 Snargate 6 2 21 East Malling 34 0 13 Marden 95 0 32 Sturry 20 0 5 Ripple 5 2 19 Willesborough 7 0 4 Charing 10 0 0 The number of applicants which will be satisfied by the above-mentioned land is 19.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, under what section of the Old Age Pensions Act is the Local Government Board for Ireland empowered to cancel on appeal, on the strength of the record of age in the Census Office, the pension of an old age pensioner, where the committee or sub-committee on the question being raised by the pension officer refuse to cancel such appeal; under what section of the Old Age Pensions Act are pension officers in Ireland entitled to call on old age pensioners, as they have been doing for some months, asking them for particulars as to their parentage and place of residence, for the purpose of search in the Census Office; and why should the Census of 1841 and 1851 be taken as a criterion in such a matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is that the power is given by sections 7 (1) (c), 8 (3), and 11 (2) of the Act. The answer to the second part of the question is section 7 (1) (b) of the Act. In answer to the third part of the question, under article 26 of the Old Age Pensions Regulations, the Local Government Board, or any Committee, may have regard to any such evidence or information as, in the opinion of the Board or the Committee, is sufficient for the purpose, and is the best evidence which it is reasonably possible to obtain.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will present to the House at an early date a Return for the whole of Ireland, based upon the Returns which section 30 of The Labourers (Ire- land) Act, 1906, requires district councils to furnish?

A Return up to 31st March, 1908, was presented to Parliament on 16th July last (House of Commons Paper 232 of 1908). The Returns under section 30 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906, for the year ended 31st March last, need not be furnished by clerks of district Councils until the 30th instant. A general Return for all Ireland will be made out as soon as possible after that date, and will be included in the Annual Report of the Local Government Board for 1908–9.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will ascertain and state for comparison the number of purchase agreements signed and lodged with the Estates Commissioners from 1st December, 1907, to 31st March, 1908, and from 1st December, 1908, to 31st March, 1909?

The number of purchase agreements in direct sales lodged with the Estates Commissioners from 1st December, 1907, to 31st March, 1908, was 7,106, and the number lodged from 1st December, 1908, to 31st March, 1909, was 3,330.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the amount of land in statute acres now in the Land Judge's Court for sale; the earliest year in which any of that land became subject to that court for sale; and, having regard to the temporary purpose of sale for which that court was established, its tendency not to sell but to become a permanent land-owning institution, and the general desire that sales of land should proceed rapidly and at fair prices, whether the Government will arrange for the immediate sale of all the land subject to that court for sale and the termination of the expense which the continuance of that court entails?

I am informed by the Registrar of the Land Judges Court that the statistics asked for by the hon. Member could not be supplied without undue interference with the public business of the court. He also informs me that drastic steps have been taken since the appointment of the present Land. Judge to clear the court lists, and that there are now only 204 agricultural estates remaining in court unsold. The answer to the concluding portion of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will furnish the House with a statement showing the rate in the pound and the amount of the county cess and poor rate, either separately or together, including all statutory local charges, and also all deductions from local taxation grants in connection with land purchase, in each county and borough in Ireland in the standard financial year 1896–7 and in the financial year 1908–9, showing the net increase or decrease of amount and of rateage and how the balance of burden is affected as between landlord and tenant?

It would not be possible to give the exact particulars asked for, nor, having regard to the changes introduced by the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, would the figures which could be procured for 1896–7 and 1908–9 be properly comparable. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the Local Taxation Returns for 1897 for the amount of county cess lodged with the treasurers of counties and counties of cities and towns in that year, and to Appendix D to the annual Report of the Local Government Board for the amount of poor rate lodged with treasurers of unions. Both these Papers have been presented to Parliament. Particulars of the poor rate struck in rural districts for the year 1907–8, and in urban districts for the year 1908–9, will be found in the Local Taxation Returns for 1907–8, which have also been presented to Parliament. The net deductions made from sums payable out of the local taxation account in respect of land purchase liability in the financial year ended in 1897 amounted to £2,133. The shares of boards of guardians in the estate duty grant from which the deductions were made were then paid direct to the guardians, and it would be most difficult to ascertain the actual amount withheld from each county and borough, as a great number of unions were included in more than one county. For the deductions from grants payable in each county during the past financial year I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for Waterford on the 25th February last. There are no means of ascertaining the relative burdens of landlords and tenants in 1896–7. At present the poor rate is paid by the occupier in practically every case.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will ascertain and state the number of purchasers of land who are paying interest in lieu of purchase annuities; and the aggregate amount of the excess over the annuities per year in each county and in the whole of Ireland, as shown by the accounts at 31st March, 1909?

The Land Commission inform me that the number of tenant-purchasers who, having signed agreements for purchase under section 1 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, are liable at the date mentioned in the question to pay interest in lieu of rent is, in round numbers, 158,000, representing applications in respect of purchase money of £49,673,000. In 90 per cent. and upwards of the agreements lodged the rate of interest agreed to be paid is 3½ per cent. The difference between that rate of interest and 3¼ per cent., the present annuity rate, approximately represents the excess referred to in the question, or about £124,180 for the whole of Ireland. I cannot ask the Land Commission, whose staff is already fully occupied, to work out the figures for each county separately.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will ascertain and state the amount of compensation for malicious injuries awarded against the ratepayers in each county and borough in Ireland in each year during the last 10 years, and the totals, in non-riotous cases, such as would give no right to the recovery of compensation from ratepayers in England; whether the court gets the assistance of a jury or of a competent valuer in measuring compensation when the alleged injury is slight, sentimental, or incapable of exact measurement; and, if not, by what method is the claimant's estimate checked and the compensation determined?

The amount of compensation for malicious injuries awarded in each county and borough is shown in the Return of Proceedings in respect of claims for such injuries published annually in the Judicial Statistics of Ireland which are presented to Parliament. The information asked for with respect to non-riotous cases could not be obtained without imposing undue labour on the officials of the county courts. On an appeal from the county court the judge of Assize has power to empanel a jury to try any issue of fact, but there is no special power to employ a valuer. The Court determines the amount of compensation on the evidence offered on both sides.

asked whether Messrs. Hynes and Dermody, two untried prisoners under arrest in Galway Gaol, were refused the right of seeing their relatives who called to see them recently; whether the rules of the prison forbid such visits; and whether the governor of the prison has the right to deprive untried prisoners of the privilege of being visited by their relatives pending trial?

The answer to the first part of this question is in the affirmative. I would refer the hon. Member to Rule 208 (2) of the Local Prison Rules (House of Commons Paper 129, 1902) under which the permission to see visitors was withheld in this case.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the practice as regards payments when permanent officials of Irish Departments act as arbitrators; whether they are paid fees and expenses as part of, or in addition to, their regular salaries and expenses; what is their rate of payment when acting as arbitrators; whether the amount paid to them in that capacity becomes a local charge, increasing the local burden, or a general charge included in the expenses of the Department to which they belong; "whether he will state the name of each unofficial arbitrator who acted in the financial year 1908–9; the subject of arbitration; the time it occupied; the amount of fees and of expenses paid; whether this is to be a local charge; and, if so, the name of the local body at whose instance the charge was incurred?

So far as I am aware the only permanent official of an Irish Department who acts as an arbitrator is the Commissioner of Valuation, who has been appointed by the Board of Trade on the recommendation of the Irish Government to act as arbitrator in the case of certain guaranteed railways. The work, which is done during his annual leave, occupies from two to three days in the year. His fees and expenses, amounting in all to £12 12s. a year, are paid by the railway companies. Persons other than permanent officials are appointed from time to time to act as arbitrators under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, the Tramways (Ireland) Acts, the Railways Clauses Act, and for other purposes. The particulars asked for with respect to such unofficial arbitrators could not be furnished without imposing undue labour on the Departments concerned.

asked when the fees payable to extern teachers of Irish for work done during the year 1907–8 will be paid?

As I stated in reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for West Donegal on the 5th instant, the Commissioners of National Education have received Treasury authority for allowing either full or pro rata payment of fees for the past school year for Irish and mathematics in all cases where not less than 40 hours' instruction was given in each of these extra branches, commencing not later than 1st January, 1908, and where all other essential conditions were fulfilled. The Commissioners inform me that fees have now been paid in practically all such cases, but a few are still held over for necessary inquiries.

asked why the evicted tenants on the Ormathwaite estate, North Kerry, including Thomas Walsh, of Coola-clarig, have not been reinstated?

The Estates Commissioners will not be in a position to reinstate the evicted tenants until they acquire the lands in respect of which proceedings are pending under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907.

asked when the untenanted land bought from Miss Brown, at Caherdown, Listowel, will be divided by the Estates Commissioners among the poor people of the district?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that a scheme is being prepared for the distribution of these lands.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the grazing farm of Feigh, in the parish of Doniry, Loughrea, the property of Mr. John O'Kelly, Fairfield, Portumna, has been sold to the Estates Commissioners; when was the inspection made; and can he state when the Commissioners propose to deal with this farm?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that proceedings are pending under the Irish Land Act, 1903, for the sale of Mr. O'Kelly's estate. The estate has been inspected, but has not yet been acquired by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that dissatisfaction prevails in the district of Kilmeen, etc., Loughrea, owing to the length of time the estate of Captain T. G. Burke and others, Ballydoogan, Kilmeen, Loughrea, has remained in the hands of the Commissioners without being dealt with; will he explain how many acres of the untenanted land have been purchased; and when do the Commissioners intend to deal with the estate?

The Estates Commissioners have not yet acquired this estate. Proceedings in respect of it are pending under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and it will be dealt with in its order of priority.

asked whether the claim of Mrs. John Donohue, New Town, Carra, as an evicted tenant on Sir Henry Burke's estate Ballinakill, Loughrea, will be considered in relation to her former holding, now in possession of James Shiel, when the Estates Commissioners are preparing a scheme to deal with the untenanted lands on the estate; whether any steps have been taken to reinstate this evicted tenant; and what is the cause of the delay?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Mrs. Catherine Donohoe for reinstatement in a holding on Sir Henry Burke's estate, at one time occupied by her husband, and now in the occupation of another tenant. The Commissioners have decided after inquiry not to take any action on the application.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the estate of Mrs. Gowing and others, Dartfield, Kilrickle, Loughrea, has been purchased by the Estates Commissioners; can he state approximately the date when the Commissioners may be able to deal with this estate; is he aware that the district is a congested district; and, having regard to the urgent need of assisting the small tenants, will he urge on the Commissioners to deal with the estate immediately?

The Estates Commissioners cannot identify this estate from the particulars given in the question as pending for sale under the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked whether an originating request was served on the Estates Commissioners by Mr. M'Namara, of Gort, to purchase from him the grazing farm of Coxtown, Ardrahan, county Galway; whether the Commissioners caused an inspection to be made of the farm; have they agreed as to price; and, if so, when do the Commissioners intend taking over the farm with a view to dealing with it?

No originating request has been lodged with the Estates Commissioners in reference to these lands, but negotiations are pending with the owner, and the Commissioners have directed an inspection to be made with a view to estimating the price.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of cases of Malta fever, and also of simple continued fever, which has occurred among the civil population of Malta during each of the years from 1897 to 1908 inclusive?

The number of cases of Mediterranean fever and of simple continued fever in the years mentioned is as follows:— Year. Mediterranean Fever. Simple Continued Fever. 1897 568 107 1898 510 125 1899 822 114 1900 642 80 1901 624 60 1902–3 (financial year) 589 66 1903–4 (financial year) 573 35 1904–5 (financial year) 663 26 1905–6 (financial year) 822 22 1906–7 (financial year) 714 42 1907–8 (financial year) 501 5 1908–9 (financial year) 463 11

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the many attempts now being made to evade the Children Act, whereby children are left in charge of potmen and nurses while their parents are taking intoxicants inside the public-house, or sit with their parents in the porches, passages, and other portions of licensed premises; whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent the evasion of the spirit of the Act; and to what extent the efforts now being made to compromise the Act, by providing private rooms on licensed premises where parents may be supplied with drink when accompanied with their children, has the sanction of the police authorities?

There appears to be some misapprehension as to the provisions of the Act. As I have already pointed out, the Act does not wholly exclude children from licensed premises. Section 120 prohibits the presence of children only in an open drinking bar, or any part of the licensed premises exclusively or mainly used for the sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor. If a private room is mainly used for the sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor, a child cannot legally go there; if it is not so used, a child can be admitted, and there is no ground for action by the police.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give the terms of reference to the Committee which has been appointed, and of which he is chairman, to inquire into the conditions of the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments; and whether, in compliance with a request from the National Excise Federation, he will place upon that Committee a supervisor and officer of Excise to represent the officers who will be most nearly affected by the amalgamation?

The terms of reference are: To consider the conditions under which the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments, rendered necessary by the Finance Act, 1908, can best be carried out with regard to the particular classes of officers affected by such amalgamation. While there appears to be no sufficient reason for adding to the Committee, as suggested by the hon. Member, the officers affected by the amalgamation will be afforded every opportunity of giving evidence.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the officers of the London County Council have recently reported that, owing to the delay in providing school accommodation, there is pressure and often children out of school in 70 sub-divisional districts in London; and whether he will state the number of new schools opened and accommodation provided in them in London during each one of the last 10 years?

I am informed by the London County Council that no report has been made to the Council by its officers stating that, owing to the delay in providing school accommodation, there is pressure and often children out of school in 70 sub-divisional districts. On the 19th January, 1909, there were in the administrative County of London only 17 children between the ages of five and 14 out of school for want of accommodation. The following table gives the number of schools opened in each of the last 10 years:— Year. No. of Schools. Accommodation. 1899 … … 9 6,115 1900 … … 9 4,333 1901 … … 10 6,475 1902 … … 14 6,817 1903 … … 11 8,150 1904 … … 9 6,176 1905 … … 9 12,405 1906 … … 4 3,832 1907 … … 10 4,498 1908 … … 5 4,661 A permanent school opened in place of a temporary school has not been counted as a new school, but the additional places so provided have been included in the year in which the permanent school was opened. Enlargements have not been included.

asked the Secretary of State for War what were the names of the officers who, during the year ended 31st March, 1909, have been employed by the War Office to set papers on military subjects in the examinations for promotion and at the military colleges?

The examiners were selected by the General Staff at the War Office. It is not considered to be in the interests of the Service that the names of the examiners should be published.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the case of the claim of an officer to the long-service medal, such officer having joined under the old Volunteer regulations, such service being as private, lance-corporal, corporal, sergeant, colour-sergeant, and captain, and extending to a period of 20 years?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that public inconvenience has been caused by the closing of the Balham Post Office at 9 p.m.; and whether, in view of the fact that a large number of the public are prevented from transacting important business after that hour owing to there being no post office open between Clapham and the county boundary, he will cause the old hours of attendance to be resumed?

I am assured that the change referred to by the hon. Member has given rise to very little com- plaint, and it is believed that no serious inconvenience will result when the public are accustomed to the present arrangements.

asked the Lord Advocate if the Secretary for Scotland will state the amount expended by the Congested Districts Board since its formation in acquiring land in each Highland crofting county, the number of acres thus acquired in each county, the name of the parish in which such land is situated, the amount paid for each estate, the amount loaned by the Board to crofters or cottars on each estate for the purpose of building houses, and the amount otherwise expended by the Board in the formation of crofter holdings or the extension of existing holdings in each county?

Most, if not all, of the information desired by my hon. Friend is already accessible to him in the published Annual Reports of the Congested Districts Board, to which I would now beg to refer him.