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Written Answers

Volume 4: debated on Wednesday 12 May 1909

Barley Crop (Scotland).

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what acreage was under barley crop last year in the counties of Banff, Elgin, Nairn, Inverness, Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney, Aberdeen, Kincardine, Forfar, and Perth; what was the number of bushels of barley produced last year in those counties; and whether he is aware that the whisky distillers in those counties purchased more than half the barley produced there?

We have no information as to the amount of barley purchased by distillers in the counties named. The acreage under barley and the quantity produced was as follows:— County. Area. Production. 'Acres. Bushels. Banff … 8,051 274,466 Elgin or Moray … 11,261 370,087 Nairn … 3,026 81,051 Inverness … 7,158 182,632 Ross and Cromarty … 10,785 348,390 Sutherland … 784 25,190 Caithness … 936 26,776 Orkney … 4,386 156,617 Aberdeen … 20,061 678,752 Kincardine … 12,348 395,137 Forfar … 27,430 1,045,425 Perth … 10,278 405,542

Small Holdings, Buxton.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what steps have been taken by the Derbyshire County Council to obtain land for applicants for small holdings at Buxton; and whether the Board will send down an inspector to see if there is any way in which the county council can be assisted to obtain suitable land?

We have no information as to this matter, but we will at once make inquiry, and render any assistance in our power to the county council.

Vaccination Officers.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has ascertained what effect the Vaccination Act, 1907, and the Vaccination Order, 1907, have had upon the incomes of vaccination officers; whether he is aware that certain boards of guardians have refused to entertain an application from their vaccination officers that the board should apply to the Local Government Board for permission to pay a gratuity to the officers in order to recoup them for their loss of income arising from the operation of the Vaccination Act, 1907, and the Vaccination Order, 1907; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received representations with regard to the effect of the Act of 1907 upon the incomes of vaccination officers. The matter does not appear to be one for any general action; but in some instances the guardians have, with the consent of the Local Government Board, made additional payments to the officers affected, and in some others, where complaint has been made to the Board, they have communicated with the guardians, and have made such suggestions as in the circumstances seemed to be desirable.

Old Age Pension Refused (Pudsey).

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that Mrs. Conway, of Lower Allcoates, Pudsey (who is now 83 years of age), has been refused a pension on the ground of having received poor law relief; whether he is aware that since the year 1901 all she has received is 3s. a week from her son paid to her by the relieving officer, and that she has never been chargeable on the rates; and will he give instructions to pension officers in cases of this kind that the pension shall be allowed?

I do not find that I have received any appeal or any communication in reference to this case. I have no authority to give instructions to the pension officers in the matter.

Nucleus Crew Ships (Engine-room Staffs).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the stokers in the nucleus crew ships are working in two watches instead of in three, as in other ships; and whether he can state what reserve of stokers there is in the Home ports to supplement the crews of the nucleus and skeleton crews in the event of war?

The arrangements for working the engine-room staff are left to the discretion of the officers of the ship; but there is no necessity for stokers in nucleus crew ships to work in two watches except when the ships are at sea steaming for more than a short time at considerable speeds. It is not desirable to give the information asked for in the last part of the question.

Post Office Assistant Supervisors (Women).

asked the Postmaster-General whether the assistant supervisors (women) in London have had their maximum salary raised to £170 per annum; whether the same class in the large provincial cities are remaining at £130 per annum; whether a class of female overseers has been created at the latter offices with a maximum salary of £135 per annum; and whether the new regulations will enable the provincial assistant supervisors (women) to proceed to the maximum of £135 per annum?

The maximum salary of assistant supervisors in London was raised from £160 to £170 under the Parliamentary Committee Revision. A class of female overseers was created in the provinces, with a maximum of £135 at the largest offices, to take the place of the assistant supervisors, with a maximum of £130, formerly employed at those offices. The existing staff of assistant supervisors were given the option of retaining their old titles and scales, and some of them elected to retain the old conditions. The assistant supervisors represented to me that they much preferred to retain for the class the title of assistant supervisors rather than be designated overseers, and as I saw no material objection to this proposal I have been glad to accede to it. Those assistant supervisors who elected to retain the old conditions will be allowed to revise their choice.

Post Office (Weekly Half-Holiday).

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that Treasury authority was necessary to bring into operation the recommendations of the Tweedmouth Committee, the sanction of the Treasury was sought or was necessary to rescind that part of the Committee's recommendations which granted to sorters a compensating duty allowance of rate and a quarter for all time worked in excess of 16 hours in 48 hours?

The Hon. Member further asked the Postmaster-General, in view of his answer to a branch of the Fawcett Association that the granting of the time allowance of rate and a quarter for all excess of 16 hours worked within 48 hours was incompatible with the granting of a half-holiday, whether any of the men deprived of the compensating allowance are in receipt of the weekly half-holiday?

I will answer these two questions together. The maintenance of the Tweedmouth Regulation, under which attendance in excess of 16 hours in two days was reckoned at rate and a quarter, was incompatible with pronouncements of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants on the subject of attendances and the weekly half-holiday. General Treasury authority was obtained for this as for other parts of the Parliamentary Committee Revision. A weekly half-holiday is granted so far as circumstances permit.

Belfast Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that an increase of salary has been recently made to the staff of sorting clerks in the Belfast office without a corresponding increase to overseers; and whether, in view of the fact that work formerly performed by overseers is at present being done by sorting clerks, he will consider the advisability of increasing the number of the former?

I am having inquiry made, and will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can now state definitely when the services of the temporary sorting clerks at present employed in the Belfast office will be dispensed with?

Post Office (Clerical Duties).

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the recommendations of the Hobhouse Committee with reference to the rotation of officers on clerical duties are not being carried out in the case of overseers in the postmaster's and surveyor's offices at Belfast; and, if so, will he say what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Squares and Spaces (London).

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he has considered, or is doing anythng to promote, the opening for the benefit of children and the aged and infirm poor any of the squares and spaces now constantly locked against them in crowded neighbourhoods in London; and whether he is in a position to report progress or a prospect of progress in this matter?

I have no jurisdiction whatever over the squares and similar spaces in London. Playgrounds for children are especially reserved in the Royal parks.

Yeomanry (Arms).

asked the Secretary of State for War what numbers of Yeomanry regiments are at present armed with sword-bayonets in addition to rifles; and whether it is proposed to issue sword-bayonets to all Yeomanry regiments?

The whole of the Yeomanry regiments are at present armed with sword-bayonets in addition to long rifles, and will retain sword-bayonets for the present. The Yeomanry are to be re-armed shortly with a short rifle similar to that in use with the Regular cavalry. It is not the intention to issue sword-bayonets to the Yeomanry when the short rifle is issued to them.

Officers' Lodging List (Rates and Taxes).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make arrangements to refund, out of moneys to be included in the annual Army Estimates, payments made for inhabited house duty and rates by officers and non-commissioned officers on the lodging list who become liable to these payments owing to there being no room for them to live actually in barracks, so that although they are, by the terms of their appointments, entitled to free quarters, they do not actually enjoy them?

The reply is in the negative. The lodging allowance to officers who provide their own accommodation must be held to cover the charges mentioned.

Territorial Force (Quarterly Army List).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Official Army List, published by authority, omits all mention of combatant officers of the Territorial force on the active list, while including medical officers of the Territorial force, officers of the Colonial Militia and Volunteers, officers of the Indian Volunteers, and retired officers of the Territorial force; and whether he will take steps to rectify this omission in future issues of the Official Army List?

On account of the growing size of the Quarterly Army List the Army Council decided that no lists which appeared in the Monthly Army List should be reproduced in the Quarterly Army List. In consequence the regimental lists connected with British and Indian regular forces, the Special Reserve, and the Territorial force, together with other duplicate lists, have been omitted from the Quarterly Army List. The list of officers of the Colonial Militia and Volunteers and of officers of the Indian Volunteers had appeared only in the Quarterly Army List, and were therefore left in that book. The medical officers of the Territorial force are not yet included as regimental officers, but they are included in a seniority list. The list of certain retired officers of the Territorial force is included in the non-effective portion of the Quarterly Army List, which includes officers of all branches.

Army Entrenching Tool.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Sirhind pattern, or any other small entrenching tool, has been finally decided upon for equipment of the Army; and, if not, will he state what is the present position in regard to the same?

The Sirhind pattern entrenching tool has been approved by the Army Council for use in the Service.

Army (Breaches of Ordinary Law).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, when persons are removed from the Army for breaches of the ordinary law as distinguished from military discipline, they are turned among the public with no punishment beyond loss of position, or whether the facts are communicated to the civil Government; and whether records of such cases are kept?

When an officer is removed from the Army a notice to that effect appears in the "London Gazette." Removal in these cases is considered to be an adequate punishment. The notification in the "Gazette" is held to be the best form of publicity. Records of all such cases are kept in the War Office.

Territorial Force (Rifle Battalions).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Territorial battalions which are rifle battalions will be entitled to carry regimental colours?

The reply is in the negative. My hon. Friend will be aware that in the Regular Army rifle regiments do not carry colours.

Stobs Camp.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total amount hitherto expended under the present or late Government on Stobs Camp, including purchase of land, road, bridges railway sidings, sheds, kitchens, tent floors, etc.; how many tenant farmers and cottagers were dispossessed at the time of purchase; what number of regular or volunteer troops have been stationed there, either temporarily or permanently, during the past three years; what, if any, are the reasons for such partial or complete non-use of the camp; and whether, in view of such expenditure and dispossession, and the waste of money involved in such non-use, he will take the necessary steps, by improvements to the camp or in other ways, to ensure that the camp shall be occupied by a suitable number of troops during the coming and future summers?

The detailed information regarding expenditure and the occupiers disturbed at the time of purchase can only be obtained by reference to the Command, and is not available at the War Office. If the hon. Member desires it, I will cause it to be rendered. The following troops were encamped at Stobs:— Regulars. Volunteers. 1906 … … 550 10,000 1907 … … 700 3,700 Officers Training Corps. 1908 … … 700 48

About 60 Regulars are permanently quartered there in charge of the War Department property. The ground at Stobs is very suitable for training, and it is hoped that more use will be made of it by the Territorials in the future; but, it will be understood that it is necessary to give full consideration to the convenience of the members of that force in the matter of the selection of sites for training.

Cavan and Leitrim Light Railway.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of the joint committee of the Cavan and Leitrim Light Railway, held at Mohill on Saturday, 17th April, 1909, with reference to having all trains on this line stop at Derreen Station for the convenience of passengers; and if instructions will be given to have this done?

I have been in communication with the railway company on this subject, and am sending the hon. Member a copy of their reply.

Sale of Bread by Weight.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take the necessary steps to compel local authorities to more rigorously enforce the law which requires that all bread shall be weighed on delivery, having regard to the fact that since the recent increase in the price of flour the 2-lb. loaf in several districts of London has been rapidly growing smaller?

In reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for East Northamptonshire on the 21st ultimo, I stated that I proposed to issue a circular letter 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. This Circular was sent out on the 1st instant.

Steamship "North Gwalia" (Crew).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state at what port the "North Gwalia" engaged her crew on her last outward voyage; whether at the mercantile marine office or on board; how many deck hands were signed on; how many produced continuous discharge books; how many had three years' previous sea service; how many ordinary seamen were carried, and what previous sea service, if any, they had; whether the boatswain and carpenter were able to prove three years' previous sea service; how many firemen and trimmers produced discharge books, and what previous sea service, if any, they had; and whether he can state if the crew were supplied by agents of the Shipping Federation?

The ss. "North Gwalia left Sunderland on her last outward voyage on 24th April, 1909. Her crew were on a running agreement opened at Middlesbrough on 7th January, 1909, and had been engaged at a mercantile marine office, and not on board the vessel. At the time of her departure from Sunderland the vessel carried a carpenter, a boatswain, three duly qualified A.B.s, a sailor, and two ordinary seamen; two firemen and trimmers; and five firemen. Only three firemen, one A.B., and one ordinary seaman were engaged at Sunderland, the remainder having been engaged previously. The seamen produced discharge books at the time of engagement, thus proving previous service, except the two ordinary seamen, who, however, were in addition to the minimum number of six effective deck hands. No records of the seamen's previous service are immediately available, but both the carpenter and boatswain are known to have had at least fifteen years' sea service. I was informed that the crew were not supplied by agents of the Shipping Federation.

Purchase of Town Holdings (Ireland).

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will be prepared to favourably consider Amendments to the Land Bill in the direction of further facilitating the transfer of town holdings to the tenants where the town is part of an estate under sale?

The Estates Commissioners make advances under the existing law for the purchase of town holdings comprised in estates mainly agricultural or pastoral, when they consider the security to be sufficient. Amendments of the nature indicated in the question would not therefore appear to be necessary.

Award to Head Constable, Sligo.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a reward of £12 has been given from the Constabulary Force Fund to Head Constable Donovan, Sligo, on the alleged ground of his courage, coolness, and determination in ordering the police under his charge to fire on the crowd at Riverstown, as the result of which young Stenson was shot dead?

The constabulary authorities have awarded to the head constable a first-class favourable record, with a reward of £12, for courage, coolness, and determination on the occasion in question. I have already expressed my opinion that the police, who were in charge of the head constable, acted with great discretion, and were completely under control.

Knox Estate, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board intend to complete the purchase of the Knox estate in Ballyhaunis, county Mayo, so as to include the town tenants, in order that the latter may make arrangements for the purchase of the interests of the middlemen on the property?

The Knox estate, near Ballyhaunis, of which the Congested Districts Board purchased a portion, does not include any part of the town of Ballyhaunis, and pending the increase of their funds the Board are unable to negotiate for the purchase of further properties.

Small Farmer Pension Claimants (Ireland).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to make any further statement of the nature suggested in the question asked by the hon. Member for Waterford in December, 1908, as to the assessment by the Local Government Board of small farmer pension claimants' incomes in Ireland; whether he was aware that there is dissatisfaction in Ireland with the decisions of the Board in cases of this kind; whether he will procure for the information of the House a detailed statement of the considerations governing the Board in assessing such incomes; whether he considered the large number of pension claims already admitted in Ireland afforded any ground for refusing just claims of other Irish claimants; whether he is aware that the possession of a small farm of capital value of £50 to £300, the productiveness of which is wholly on the labour of children, with such assistance as the aged claimant could give, is held to be a sufficient reason for debarring such claimant from the benefits of the Old Age Pension Act by attributing to him as income the whole income of the family working on the farm; whether he is aware that, in cases where deductions were actually made in respect of the labour of sons and other members of the family, such deductions were regarded as inadequate by all familiar with the manner in which these small farms were owned and worked; and whether he will take steps to remedy the alleged grievance?

With regard to the first part of the question, I do not see that anything can usefully be added to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer to a question asked by the hon. Member for East Clare on the 21st December last. Each case is dealt with by the Local Government Board on its merits, regard being had to its particular circumstances and to the provisions of the Old Age Pensions Act. It cannot be expected that the Board's decisions, when they involve refusing pensions, could be regarded as satisfactory by disappointed claimants. The method adopted by the Board was explained in my reply to the first portion of the question asked by the hon. Member for North Meath on 25th March last. There is no foundation for the suggestion that the large number of pension claims already admitted in Ireland exerts any influence on the consideration of the just claims of other Irish applicants for pensions. The net income derived from a farm possessed by a claimant, after making allowance for the expenditure necessarily incurred, whether the labour is done by his relatives or other persons, must, in accordance with the Act, be reckoned against the claimant in calculating his means under the Act. Adequate allowance is made by the Local Government Board in each case under the head of labour. The Board cannot admit that any grievance exists as alleged.

Irish Church Temporalities.

asked the Irish Chief Secretary whether he will state to what public purposes the appropriated funds of the disestablished Church of Ireland have been allocated; and what unexpended balances, if any, remain?

I would refer the hon. Member to the accounts of the Irish Land Commission in respect of Church Temporalities in Ireland for the year ended 31st March, 1908, and also for the period from 26th July, 1869 (the date of the Irish Church Act) to 31st March, 1908, which have been presented to Parliament pursuant to section 37 of the Irish Church Act, 1869. (H.C. Paper No. 51, of 1909.)

Pollock Estate (Galway).

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is proposed to divide amongst the tenants on the Pollock, county Galway, estate any part of the 700 acres held by Mr. Hubert Satchwell; whether it is proposed to advance purchase money to a son or other relative of Mr. Satchwell in connection with these or other lands on the estate, and, if so, how much; and for what reason part of this land is not to be divided amongst the smaller holders?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the lands in question are tenanted, and are not available for distribution. An advance of £5,000 will be made to Hubert Satchell for the purchase of his holding on his lodging in cash £1,305, and a similar advance will be made to W. and R. J. Satchell for the purchase of their holding on their lodging £1,265 in cash.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Skahard farm on the Pollock estate, county Galway, which it is proposed to retain as demesne land for a Mr. Payne, has been let as grazing land for 20 years on the 11 months' system; on what ground is this farm to be turned into demesne land; and whether the proposal to do so will be reconsidered and the farm divided amongst the small holders?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Stehaggard is a demesne with a substantial residence, and is to be repurchased by the owner under section 3 of the Irish Land Act, 1903. The reply to the concluding portion of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state on what grounds it is proposed to leave Mr. M. Neary about 1,400 acres of the Pollock estate, county Galway, while there are 147 tenants on the estate whose holdings are under £5 valuation?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Mr. Neary holds as a judicial tenant 850 acres of the lands on this property which are being purchased by the Commissioners under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Commissioners are acquiring a very large tract of untenanted land on the property for distribution amongst the occupiers of small holdings.

South Lodge Property (Dunmore).

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the grounds on which the Estates Commissioners have refused to sanction the purchase by the tenants of the South Lodge property of Mr. F. McDonnell, near Carantilla, Dunmore, county Galway?

The Estates Commissioners are unable to identify the matter referred to from the particulars given in the question.

Sale of Poisonous Substances.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the uncertainty existing among various local authorities in the country in considering applications for licences to sell the poisonous substances referred to in the Poison and Pharmacy Act, under section 2, sub-section 2, especially in boroughs which are to a large extent agricultural, and where there are several chemists carrying on business, he will consider the advisability of issuing a circular to local authorities with reference to their powers in granting licences to agricultural merchants and seedsmen who had for many years dealt with the various poisonous substances in the way of their business?

The regulations recently made under this section of the Act appear to cover the point mentioned with sufficient clearness, and they have been communicated to all the local authorities concerned. The Secretary of State has no reason for thinking that the issue of such a circular is necessary.

Old Age Pensions (Ireland).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any instructions have been issued to pension officers in Ireland with regard to the verification of the age of applicants under the Old Age Pensions Act, and, if so, whether he will communicate their nature to the House; whether Government officials are at present engaged in Ireland in holding secret inquiries and searching for information against persons already in receipt of old age pensions; whether, for the purpose of having admitted claims disallowed, reference is being made by these officials to the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851; whether he is aware that these Returns are incomplete, and, in most cases, inaccurate as to age; that the ages noted in these Returns were taken from viva voce reports of heads of families, and not from authoritative registers of births or baptisms; whether the pension officers themselves have acknowledged, in some instances, that they found the Census Returns defective and misleading; and whether the attempt to deprive Irish claimants of their pensions on the strength of these Returns will be persisted in?

In certain cases where claims for pensions have been admitted without documentary evidence of age pension officers have been instructed to refer the cases to the Census Office for verification of the age? I am aware that in some quarters doubts have been expressed as to the accuracy of the Census Returns for the years in question, but I see no sufficient reason for ceasing to use them as one of the means of checking the ages of pensioners in the cases referred to.

Motor Car Tax (Ministers of Religion).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the advisability of including ministers of religion in the rebate of half the tax in the same way as doctors' cars?

I have already explained that I do not, as at present advised, see my way to extend the privilege of the rebate to persons other than doctors.

Foreign Fertilisers (Ireland).

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he will see that lecturers or instructors under the Department will not recommend foreign fertilisers in preference to fertilisers produced in Ireland?

My right hon Friend the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture informs me that the Department's lecturers and instructors do not recommend foreign fertilisers in preference to fertilisers produced in Ireland. The Department's instructions to their officers on this point are simply to recommend the cheapest manures consistent with quality and condition.

Motor Car Tax (Veterinary Surgeons).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the same abatement of taxation will be allowed to veterinary surgeons owning motor cars as is proposed to be allowed to doctors?

I must refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on this subject on the 10th instant to the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth.

Customs and Excise Officers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that the majority of pensions officers are second-class officers of Customs and Excise, rising to a maximum salary of £160, and often remaining at that maximum for five or six years waiting for promotion, and having regard to the importance of their work in safeguarding the Treasury against undue expenditure under the Old Age Pensions Act, he will consider the possibility of improving their salaries by raising the maximum of their class or by removing the artificial block in promotion from which they at present suffer; and, considering that the future promotion of these officers is likely to be adversely affected by the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments, whether their position will be considered by the Committee which has been formed to consider certain questions arising out of that amalgamation?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for the Hoxton Division of Shoreditch on 28th April.

Distilleries in Great Britain and Ireland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many distilleries there are in Great Britain and Ireland; what has been their total average output for the past five years; what would be the produce in money of a duty of 3s. 9d. per gallon calculated on that average annual output; what are the figures for Scotland and for the pure Highland malt distilleries in the counties north of and including Perthshire respectively; how much of the sum estimated as the produce in money of the 3s. 9d. extra duty on spirits will be paid on spirits or whisky distilled in distilleries in Scotland and in the pure Highland malt distilleries in counties north of and including Perthshire; what is the estimated decrease of output in gallons of spirits or whisky distilled in Great Britain and Ireland for this year below the average annual output for the last five years?

The number of distilleries in Great Britain and Ireland is 201. The average annual output ( i.e., the average number of proof gallons distilled) for the five years 1904–5 to 1908–9 was 49,195,973 proof gallons. Assuming that the output remains the same, the total annual produce of the additional 3s. 9d. per gallon would be £9,224,245. The figures for Scotland are:—Average annual output, 24,208,445 gallons; total annual produce of the additional 3s. 9d., if the output remains the same, £4,539,083. The output of pure Highland malt distilleries 13 not separately recorded, and cannot be stated. The produce of the extra duty of 3s. 9d. has been estimated on spirits as a whole, but as there are no records of the quantities of spirits of Scotch origin that are duty paid (some of them being blended with other British spirits before payment of duty), the incidence of the tax cannot be estimated on the production of pure Highland malt or other distilleries in Scotland. There are no materials available for a reliable estimate of the output of the United Kingdom distilleries for this year, which depends not only on the home, but on the export trade, and on the stocks that may be kept in bond.

Consumption of Spirits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average amount in gallons of spirits or whisky consumed in Scotland, Ireland or England, respectively; what is the average amount of Excise duty on the same paid during the last five years in Scotland, Ireland, and England, respectively; how much does this duty work out per head of the population in Scotland, England and Ireland, respectively; and how many proof gallons of whisky are lying in the Excise bonded warehouses at the various pure Highland malt distilleries in the counties of Scotland north of and including Perthshire?

The average number of gallons of "spirits or whisky"— i.e., British spirits, consumed in England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively in the five years ended 31st March, 1908, was:— England … 22,343,688 proof gallons Scotland … 6,894,053 proof gallons Ireland … 3,715,513 proof gallons This is on the basis of the Parliamentary Paper, Sessional No. 216, of 1908—Revenue

PRESENT RATES England. Scotland. Ireland. Spirits— Wholesale … £10 10 0 *£4 4s. to £13 13s. £10 10 0 Retail … 3 3 0 † £9/18/5 to £14/6/7 Wine — Wholesale and Retail … 10 10 0 £2 4 1 £10 10 0 Beer — Wholesale … 3 6 1 (Included with Spirit Licence) 3 6 1 Retail … 1 5 0 1 5 0 * According as annual value is under £ 10 or is £50 or above. † According as annual value is under £25 or is £50 or above.

This licence only authorises sales in a quantity not exceeding two quarts.

and Expenditure, England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The average amount of Excise duty paid on the same was— England … … … £12,289,028 Scotland … … … 3,791,728 Ireland … … … 2,043,531

This average duty on British spirits works out per head of the average population of the five years ended March, 1908, as follows:— s. d. England … … … 7 1.36 Scotland … … … 16 0.53 Ireland … … … 9 3.86

There are no records from which the information asked for in the last paragraph of the question can be given.

Grocers' Licences.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of duty at present paid by a grocer who sells spirits, beer, and wine, both retail and wholesale, under off-licences, and the amount it is proposed he should pay under the new Excise licences, specifying the respective cost of each licence in both cases?

The amounts of duty at present paid by a grocer who sells spirits, wine and beer by retail and wholesale varies considerably in the three parts of the United Kingdom. The amounts that it is proposed that he shall pay under the new Excise licences are uniform throughout the United Kingdom.

The cost of each of the licences respectively is as follows:—

PROPOSED RATES FOR UNITED KINGDOM. Wholesale Licences. Retail Licences. Annual value under £30. Annual value, £30 and under £50. Annual value, £50 and under £100. Annual value, £100 or above. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Spirits … … 15 15 0 14 0 0 20 0 0 30 0 0 50 0 0 Wine … … 10 10 0 3 10 0 5 0 0 7 0 0 10 0 0 Beer … … 10 10 0 3 10 0 5 0 0 7 0 0 10 0 0