asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he would say by how much the value of capital upon which estate duties have been paid has increased or diminished during the 10 years commencing with the financial year 1899–1900 and ending with the year 1908–9?

presented the following table showing the capital upon which estate duty has been paid during each of the past ten years:— Year. Capital upon which estate Duty paid. 1899–1900 … … £288,695,000 1900–1901 … … 262,277,000 1901–1902 … … 272,570,000 1902–1903 … … 275,584,000 1903–1904 … … 269,401,000 1904–1905 … … 264,001,000 1905–1906 … … 273,852,000 1906–1907 … … 299,422,000 1907–1908 … … 281,083,000 1908–1909 … … 271,500,000 (approximate)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state under what sections of the Income Tax Acts foreigners residing abroad have hitherto obtained a refund of tax deducted from foreign coupons of Government loans and from the dividends of Colonial and foreign companies from which coupons and dividends English income tax has been deducted when they were cashed in England?

The dividends of Colonial and foreign companies conducting their business abroad do not come within the purview of the British income tax, except to the extent that they are received by residents in the United Kingdom. The relief accorded to foreigners residing abroad in respect of coupons of foreign Government loans cashed here is based upon an administrative concession dating as far back as the re-imposition of the income tax in 1842.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the quantity and descriptions of spirits imported into Ireland from all sources, including Great Britain, for each of the past three years, and on which he in future proposes to charge a duty of 3s. 9d. per gallon; what was the quantity of the same description of spirits exported from Ireland during the same period; and whether he will state what was the average annual number of barrels of beer manufactured in Ireland for the past three years, and the quantity annually exported and imported from all sources during the same time? The hon. Member further asked the right hon. Gentleman how many distilleries there are in England, Ireland, and Scotland, respectively, the average annual output of the distilleries in each country for the past three years, and the total annual produce of a tax of 3s. 9d. per gallon upon the combined annual output of the three countries; and whether he will give the total export of spirits to places outside Great Britain and Ireland and the total imports to the same countries from all outside sources?

The quantities of British and foreign spirits imported into Ireland from all sources, including Great Britain, in the years 1906, 1907, and 1908, and the quantities exported from Ireland during the same periods were as follows:— 1906 1907 1908 Gals. Gals. Gals. Imports— British spirits 392,096 431,418 612,224 Foreign spirits 589,369 660,432 553,048 Total 981,465 1,091,850 1,165,272 Exports— British spirits. 7,601,794 8,510,304 8,108,157 Foreign spirits 41,542 51,996 47,455 Total 7,643,336 8,562,300 8,155,612

(The separate descriptions of duty-paid foreign spirits interchanged between Great Britain and Ireland are not available.)

The average annual number of barrels of beer produced in Ireland during the years 1906, 1907, and 1908, after deducting 6 per cent. for waste, was as follows:— Bulk barrels, i.e., barrels of 36 gallons, irrespective of gravity 2,908,900 Standard barrels, i.e., barrels of 36 gallons at standard gravity 3,393,700

There is no record of the quantity of beer interchanged between Ireland and Great Britain, and, therefore, the exports and imports from all sources cannot be stated.

The number of distilleries is as follows:— In England … … 9 In Scotland … … 162 In Ireland … … 30

The average annual output, i.e., the average number of proof gallons distilled in each country, for the past three years was:— Proof gallons. England … … 13,194,859 Scotland … … 23,808,813 Ireland … … 12,105,499

Assuming that the output remains the same, the total annual produce of the additional 3s. 9d. per gallon would be £9,207,970.

The total exports of spirits from the United Kingdom to places outside the United Kingdom, and also the total imports into the United Kingdom from all outside sources, in the year 1908, were as follows:— Exported— Proof gallons. British and Irish spirits 8,247,701 Foreign and Colonial spirits 1,302,326 Total 9,550,027 Imported— Foreign and Colonial spirits 7,876,319

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that Yeomanry are to be used as cavalry in connection with the Territorial Army, and the consequent possibility of their being required to pursue a defeated enemy, it is proposed to provide them with a sword in addition to the rifle which they now carry; and, if not, whether any other weapon is to be issued to them?

The Yeomanry will be armed, as at present, with rifles and sword-bayonets. They will not be armed with the sword.

asked the Secretary of State for War what has been the financial result of the present method of charging officers for the use of furniture in their quarters in barracks, and also in the mess; and whether all wear and tear is paid for by officers?

The rental charged is certainly not more than sufficient, on the average, to cover capital charges and the replacement of articles worn out by fair wear and tear, together with the annual replacement of breakages of crockery and glass up to 15 per cent. per annum of the total value of crockery and glassware. Ordinary wear and tear is not paid for by the officers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to cases in which officers and non-commissioned officers entitled to free quarters have been required to pay rates and taxes in connection with the dwellings they occupy; and whether he will take steps to relieve them of this charge?

My hon. Friend is apparently alluding to the officers and noncommissioned officers on the lodging list who are liable to payments for income tax, inhabited house duty, and rates. Questions of exemption from such payments do not come within the sphere of the War Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of horses that would be required to complete the war establishment of the artillery of the first and second line armies, respectively; and whether this number of suitable horses is definitely available in the United Kingdom?

The number of horses required to complete the Royal Artillery of the United States battleships of the line 35,346. There is no reason to suppose that the total number of suitable horses required is not available in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for War what amount of money has been spent by the military authorities in connection with aeroplanes and dirigible balloons and other types of flying machines during the last three years?

The sum of £9,649 has been spent in the last three years on dirigible balloons and aeroplanes out of a total of about £19,000 from 1902–3.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish the details of the regulations for the farming-out of horses for the Army when they are issued?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the proportional amount of contribution made by his Department towards the full amount of money required towards the clothing of an individual member of the rank and file in the Territorial Force?

The grants made to county associations from Army funds to provide the necessary clothing for the rank and file of the Territorial Force are sufficient to enable them to do this.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what will be the armament of the United States battleships of the current year's programme, and what will be the weight of their broadside; and what proportion their broadside will bear to that of the British "Dreadnoughts" down to and including the "Neptune"?

The battleships of the current year's programme in the United States will have an armament of 10 12-inch guns and 16 5-inch guns, with a weight of broadside fire of 9,100 pounds. The weight of broadside fire for the "Dreadnought" is 7,034 pounds, for the "Bellerophon" class 7,110, and for the St. Vincent class 7,172. It is not desirable to give the information as regards the "Neptune."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state why the breaking-up condition is not to be insisted on in the sale on the 11th inst. of the gunboat "Snap," while it is to be enforced in the cases of the "Collingwood" and "Rodney," to be offered for sale the same day?

The difference is due to the relative importance of the ships—the "Collingwood" and "Rodney" are obsolete armoured battleships, while the "Snap" is a small unarmoured gunboat not likely in any circumstances to be of any fighting value.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is a breaking-up condition attached to the engines of the "Collingwood" and "Rodney" to be sold on the 11th inst.; and whether he is aware that these engines, if sold entire, could be utilised for merchant vessels?

The breaking-up clause refers to the ship, her guns, and mountings. The engines are not referred to therein. The Admiralty is not aware that the engines referred to could be utilised for merchant ships. The general experience of shipbreaking firms is that there is no market for battleships' engines except as scrap.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will consider the advisability of placing a floating dock in Cromarty Harbour, in view of the continuous use of that harbour by one or other of the divisions of the main battle fleets, having regard to the fact that, in the case of a calamity to a "Dreadnought" in the North Sea, she would have to reach Portsmouth to go into dry dock, and whilst proceeding south would be exposed to torpedo attack?

There are no facilities in the way of workshops in Cromarty Harbour capable of dealing with repairs to a battleship.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having regard to the statements alleged to have been quoted from a private letter of three years ago to the First Sea Lord, the Admiralty have ever regarded Vice-Admiral Sir Hedworth Lambton as an agitator in the naval service?

The Admiralty have never regarded Admiral Lambton as an agitator. His record is most distinguished, and the high appreciation in, which his services, both in peace and war, have been held by successive Boards, is shown by his rapid advancement and long succession of important appointments. I may add that no statement in the private letter can be reasonably interpreted as an allegation that Admiral Lambton was an agitator.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the unarmoured cruisers "Bahia" and "Rie Grande do Sul," now building in this country for the Brazilian Navy, have a displacement of 3,400 tons, an armament comprising ten 45-pounder quickfiring guns, and a speed of 26.5 knots, he will state why the British unarmoured cruiser "Boadicea," of 3,300 tons, now completing, has an armament of only six 25-pounders and a speed of 25 knots?

Comparisons including only two or three of the principal features of the respective designs are misleading. All the qualities possessed by both ships need to be taken into account. The actual speed on trial of the "Boadicea" was, however, 25¾ knots, and the weight of projectile exceeds that stated in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that there have been negotiations for the purchase of the estate of Mr. D. C. O'Connell, in the parish of Dromod, county Kerry, and whether, in view of the present state of those negotiations, the Estates Commissioners will use their influence in bringing about a satisfactory settlement?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that nine agreements for the purchase of holdings on this estate have been lodged. When the estate is being dealt with in its proper turn, the cases of such tenants as have not signed purchase agreements will be inquired into.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the records of the recent Spring assizes reveal the fact that in the 32 counties of Ireland the number of indictments only reached a total of 138, or about 35 per million of the population; and whether, in view of this marked immunity from crime in this part of the United Kingdom, the Government will consider the wisdom of repealng The Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, 1887?

The number of indictments at Spring Assizes for 31 counties in Ireland and at the February Commission for the county of Dublin was 224, or about 60 per million of the population of these counties. These figures are exclusive of the cities of Dublin, Belfast, Cork, and Londonderry. As regards the concluding portion of the question, I have nothing to add to the opinions which I have already expressed in Debate as to the wisdom of retaining the Act referred to permanently on the Statute Book.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mount Dillon River, in the county Roscommon, Curraghroe district, is unable to carry off the surface water in the autumn and winter, with the result that for several months in the year the low-lying lands of Killavackan, Culleenora, Tullyvarran, Curraghroe, Mount Dillon, Granaghan, Monagh, Drinagh, etc., are under water; whether he is aware that as a consequence the tenants who have bought their holdings complain that, owing to the damage sustained, they will be unable to pay their instalments; and whether, under the circumstances, a competent engineer will be sent to the district to report upon its present condition and to recommend a remedy?

I am informed that the lands referred to are often flooded in wet seasons, but that the water does not usually remain for long. The lands would no doubt be improved by drainage, but there is no reason to suppose that their condition is worse now than it has always been. As I have explained to the hon. Member, in reply to a question asked by him on 26th May last, it does not seem possible to undertake a drainage scheme for the locality at present. No useful purpose, therefore, would be served by sending an engineer to report.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have under consideration the purchase of the untenanted lands on the estate of Mrs. Fanny Pyne, Castlelyons, county Cork, consisting of about 700 acres; and what is the present position of the negotiations, if any are taking place?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that proceedings for the sale of this estate under the Irish Land Act, 1903, were only instituted on 30th October last. The estate will be dealt with by the Commissioners in its order of priority, but some considerable time must elapse before its turn comes.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state the decision of the Estates Commissioners, and the grounds thereof, in the case of Patrick McMeel of Killyreack, county Monaghan, an evicted tenant reinstated on the sale of the estate of Charles Montray, and who applied for a grant to enable him to commence farming?

The Estates Commissioners cannot see their way to make any grant in this case. It would be contrary to the established practice to state the grounds of the decision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Great Northern Railway Company of Ireland are denying railway facilities to the inhabitants of Ballydougherty, Poyntzpass, county Armagh, by refusing to erect a platform there; whether he is aware that the inhabitants of the district have offered the railway company the necessary land for the purpose free of cost, and have proposed to erect the platform at their own cost if the railway ocmpany would contribute £100 towards such cost, and have further offered to guarantee 10 per cent. per annum on the outlay for 10 years; and whether, in view of the fact that some such accommodation is needed, he will call upon the railway company to carry out their duty of serving this district through which their line runs?

The Board of Trade have communicated with the railway company on the subject, and have received a reply, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether an application made to him by the Central (Unemployed) Body for a grant of £516 19s., to be expended in the making of a sewer on Osea Island, off the coast of Essex, was granted; who was the owner of the land benefited by the making of the sewer; and how much did he contribute towards the cost of this improvement?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The sewer was provided in connection with a convalescent and holiday home erected for the very poor of the East End of London by Mr. F. N. Charrington, to whom the land belonged. The estimates supplied to me showed that his share of the cost of the sewer would be £342.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the value of joinery work imported into the United Kingdom from the Colonies and foreign countries during the years 1906, 1907, and 1908, giving the imports from the Colonies separately, and distinguishing between doors, windows, and other framed work, and wrought material such as match-boarding, mouldings, etc.?

The following statement shows the value of the imports of "house frames, fittings, and joiners' work" into the United Kingdom in each of the years 1906, 1907, and 1908, distinguishing the value of the imports from British possessions:— Whence consigned 1906 1907 1908 £ £ £ From foreign countries 251,590 200,126 191,996 British Possessions 21,359 24,470 17,636 Total 272,949 224,596 209,632

These figures include the imports of doors, windows, and other framed work, which, however, cannot be stated separately. Wood mouldings (other than those for picture frames) are included in the Customs records in a miscellaneous group of "Wood manufactures, other sorts." Match boarding is included with other planed wood under the heading "Wood sawn or split or dressed." No separate particulars as to imports of wood mouldings or match boarding can be given.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Vacant Land Cultivation Society has provided means whereby a number of families have got opportunity to grow their own food on land within the metropolitan area which would otherwise have been unused; and whether this method of reducing unemployment has the approval of the Local Government Board?

further asked whether an application made to him by the Central (Unemployed) Body for a grant of £298 8s. to be expended in the clearance of unoccupied pieces of land in Westminster, loaned by the London County Council to the Vacant Land Cultivation Society, has been refused; and, if so, on what grounds?

The Local Government Board have not had occasion to express any opinion on the method of providing work adopted by the society to which my hon. Friend refers; but I am always glad to hear of any suitable means whereby unemployment may be reduced. In the particular case mentioned in the second question I found that the London County Council, though willing to let the society have the use of the land temporarily, did not propose to make any payment for the work of clearing it, the cost of which they considered would in ordinary circumstances be borne by the lessee and not by them. I did not feel able to authorise the payment of money from the Parliamentary Grant for work of this character.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state when the Milk Bill will be introduced?

I cannot at present fix the date, but I shall introduce the Bill as soon as I can do so.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a notice issued by the proprietor to the villagers on his estates at Rostherne, Ashley, and Mobberley, Cheshire, forbidding any cottagers to receive any person whatsoever in their cottages for the purpose of the sale or consumption of any refreshments, under penalty of instant notice to quit; and if he will consider the advisability of inserting a clause in the Housing Bill to give cottagers some security of tenure?

I have seen a newspaper statement containing a notice to the effect mentioned. I should hope that the proprietor may see his way to relax the prohibition referred to; but I doubt whether it would be practicable to insert in the Housing Bill a clause dealing with the difficult subject alluded to by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the West Riding Rivers Board, in order to administer the West Riding of Yorkshire Rivers Act, 1894, applied to him, upon 29th July, 1907, in two cases, and on 4th January, 1908, in 16 cases, under section 6 of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876, for his sanction to take proceedings for alleged pollution of river or stream; whether he will say in which of these cases he has decided to grant or to withhold such sanction; and when he will acquaint the Rivers Board of his definite decisions concerning the remainder, if any?

The facts are as stated. The two cases first mentioned involved a question of the liability of the local authority for the alleged pollution of streams caused by the discharge into them of trade effluents by means of sewers. The Local Government Board, on the information before them, were not satisfied that they could properly sanction the proposed proceedings. As regards the other cases, I stated on 22nd March last, in reply to a question put to me by my hon. Friend, that if in any particular instance the Rivers Board regarded the case as one of such urgency that it ought not to await the legislation which is contemplated, and would inform me of the facts which led them to this conclusion, I would further consider it. I have since received a communication from the Rivers Board, but it does not contain facts as to any particular case of the kind above referred to. Hence I am not in a position to give a decision with regard to these cases.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Bill promised in the King's Speech to amend the Law in regard to inebriates will be introduced before the Whitsuntide recess; and, if so, whether any date has been fixed for its introduction?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The Secretary of State said, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division on 29th April, that he hoped this Bill would be introduced soon, but was not yet in a position to name a day. I regret that there is nothing to add to that answer at present.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a case tried at the Radcliffe, Lancashire, police-court, when three boys were sent to industrial schools for a period of five years for stealing three eggs from a farm; whether he is aware that on the 3rd instant the father of one of the boys applied to the magistrates to reopen the case, stating that he had evidence to show that the lads found the eggs; that the chairman suggested that he should appeal to quarter sessions; and that the magistrates' clerk pointed out that it was too late to do this; and whether, under these circumstances, he can see his way to inquire into this case with the object of setting the boys at liberty?

The Secretary of State has made inquiry into this case, but is sorry that he does not find any ground for interference on his part. The boys had all been charged before with larceny, and they are reported to have been members of a gang who were continually committing petty thefts. He agrees with the justices that removal from their previous surroundings and a period of training in a certified school is in the best interests of the boys.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that on Monday, 26th April, the chairman of the Sittingbourne bench of magistrates announced that in future the magistrates for that division would refuse to grant exemptions from vaccination unless the applications were made at a sitting of the court; and whether, in view of the fact that this decision will cause great inconvenience and hardship on the poorer class of people who do not wish their children to be vaccinated and who live a long way from the place where the court is held, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Secretary of State is informed by the justices that their decision was that applicants, in all but exceptional cases, should be requested to come to the court on Monday mornings, and that the intention was to prevent the occurrence of irregularities due to informalities in the applications. There is nothing to prevent justices coming to such a decision, but it does not override the power of any justice to act individually by taking a declaration at his own house if he thinks fit, and the Secretary of State thinks that, where the distance is considerable, few justices will wish to put poor persons unnecessarily to the expense and trouble of attending the court by refusing to take their declarations. Moreover, a statutory declaration can be made before a commissioner for oaths, or other officer authorised for that purpose, as well as before a justice.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can state how the decreased number of 637 Church of England schools in 1907–8 compared with the year 1903–4 is accounted for, specifying how many of the schools were privately owned; how many were held under trusts, express or implied; and how many were closed because the average attendance was under 30?

Particulars as to the number of Church schools closed and transferred since the Act of 1902 came into operation were given by me in an answer on the 29th ultimo. The residue is made up of (1) schools which, although included in the returns for the year 1903–4 were closed or transferred before the Act of 1902 came into operation in the area in which they were situated; (2) schools which have since been amalgamated; (3) schools which were formerly included as Church schools, but have since been reclassified in consequence of inquiries which the Board instituted as to the nature of the religious instruction given in voluntary schools, and the deeds under which they are held. I regret that I have no collated information as to the number of schools coming under each of these categories.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he can amplify the information furnished by him on 26th March regarding the number of hundredweights of herring landed within the five Clyde fishery districts severally, so as to distinguish the quantity and the value of fish caught within the area of those districts from the quantity and value of fish caught outside that area.

With the exception of 16,870 hundredweights of herrings, valued at £6,732, caught off the Irish coast and landed at Glasgow by steam trawlers, very few herrings landed at Clyde ports were caught outside the Clyde districts.

asked the Lord Advocate, seeing that the farm of Mangersta, in the parish of Uig, Island of Lewis, consisting of 1,920 acres, is not held under lease, will the Congested Districts Board approach the proprietor with a view to breaking up the farm into new holdings, especially bearing in mind that the Deer Forest Commissioners scheduled the pasture of this farm, as well as 42 acres arable, as suitable for new holdings?

The Government have for some time been in communication with the proprietor, with a view to forming crofter tenancies on this farm, which comes out of occupation presently, but the details of the scheme have not yet been adjusted.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the case of about 70 Scottish workmen who were engaged by the American Exploration Company, and had paid to the company about £100 each as security for faithful service and were sent abroad in three groups; whether he is aware that the first lot received little or nothing in wages, and after privations were stranded in Dutch Guiana, and, with the exception of three who had died, were sent home at the expense of the Government, that the second lot sent abroad in December and the third lot sent in March have likewise been stranded without means in Mexico, and that the said company now professes to be unable to pay the sums due to the men, or any part thereof; and what action, if any, he is taking to bring to justice those who are responsible?

My attention has been called to the circumstances referred to in this question. They are at present being investigated under my directions, and I am not meanwhile in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of head offices that have been reduced to sub-offices during the past two years, and what effect it will have on the number of established officers displaced, and how many unestablished employés will staff the offices reduced in status?

For administrative reasons the status of 36 small head offices has been altered during the last two years. It is the intention to avoid introducing unestablished staff at salaried sub-offices except to a small extent in particular cases.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the post of controller's messenger in the Dublin Post Office, which has hitherto been an established post and a promotion for Dublin postmen, has now been degraded to an unestablished post, the salary being reduced from a maximum of 38s. a week to 22s. a week and given to a pensioned police officer; whether he will explain why this has been done, in view of the understanding that unestablished labour shall only be employed where it is impossible to avoid it; and what compensation is to be given to the Dublin postmen for this lessening of their prospects of promotion?

The appointment to which the hon. Member refers was peculiar to the Dublin Sorting Office, and it was decided when an opportunity offered to adopt at that office the same arrangement as is in force at other large offices, and on a vacancy to employ an unestablished doorkeeper in place of an established messenger.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state how often during the past 12 months the sluice gates at Meelick, on the Shannon, near Athlone, have been raised, and for what period of time were they kept raised on each occasion; and if he will furnish particulars of the rainfall and floods in the district referred to prior to and since the sluice gates were put in?

There are 30 sluices at Meelick in the main channel and new cut, which are opened and closed in whole or in part in accordance with the state of the river above and below. The sluices were open in greater or less degree on 304 days in the year, 3rd. May, 1908, to 2nd May, 1909 (the latest date for which the records are available). On 61 days they were entirely closed. The particulars are as follows:— Days. Average open. 3rd May to 3rd July 62 8½ 4th July to 25th August 56 0 29th August to 30th August 2 2 31st August to 2nd Sept. 3 0 3rd Sept. to 6th Sept. 4 2 7th Sept. to 8th Sept. 2 0 9th Sept. to 9th Dec 92 12 10th Dec. to 9th March 91 26 10th March to 2nd May 53 19½

Average for the whole "open" period of 304 days, 14½ sluices out of 30 sluices.

It would take a very long time to get together the information asked for in the last paragraph of the question even approximately, and when collected it would be of little use, as the floods at Meelick are not caused solely or mainly by the rainfall in that district.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state what action the Government of India have decided to take as a result of the recommendations of the Royal Commission and of Sir Hamilton Freer-Smith's Committee to inquire into the hours of labour and other conditions of factory life in India?

A despatch from the Government of India dealing with the whole subject has recently been received by the Secretary of State, and is under consideration. He is not in a position at present to make any announcement as to the nature of the action which will be taken.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether anything has yet been done towards satisfying the demands of applicants at Westerham, in Kent, for small holdings; and, if not, whether the Board of Agriculture will send down an inspector to investigate the position?

We are sending down an inspector to make inquiry, and when we receive his report I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether the visit of the Board of Agriculture's inspector to Limps-field and Oxted is likely to result in any of the applicants in those villages obtaining land; and, if not, what further steps do the Board propose to take?

We are in communication with the county council in reference to the suggestions made by our inspector, but I am not as yet able to make any further statement on the matter.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board can in any way assist the Surrey County Council to obtain suitable land for the members of the Redhill Small Holders Society?

If my hon. Friend will be good enough to supply me with detailed information as to the application of the Redhill Small Holders Society, inquiry shall at once be made.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset what steps have been taken by the Surrey County Council to obtain land for applicants for small holdings at Godstone and South Godstone; and whether the Board will send down an inspector to see if there is any way in which the county council could be assisted to obtain suitable land?

We are informed that there is only one approved applicant for land in the parishes mentioned. He already holds 15 acres, and, inasmuch as the land for which he has applied is part of an existing small holding, it cannot be acquired compulsorily.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether there are any county councils that propose to debit against their leasehold tenants under the Small Holdings and Allotment Act, 1906, the Sinking Fund charges incurred under the terms of the Act?

We understand that all county councils have decided to include Sinking Fund charges in the rents of holdings.