asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any other copies of letters from Captain Bacon, R.N., to the First Sea Lord were printed at the taxpayers' expense, in addition to the one officially admitted; and, if so, how many copies were printed in each case?

also asked whether any other letters written to the First Sea Lord and containing observations on the views of their superior officers, besides that written by Captain Bacon, parts of which have already been published, have been printed for the convenience of Lord Tweed mouth or any other First Lord, or of any one connected with the Admiralty; and

asked whether more than one letter written by Captain Bacon has been printed by authority; and whether he will lay copies of all these letters upon the Table of the House.

It would be inexpedient and contrary to usual practice to give information with regard to confidential documents.

Are we to understand that documents are confidential which have been printed and circulated outside the Admiralty?

Yes, Sir; these particular documents are confidential, and many confidential documents are printed. As to the circulation outside the Admiralty, I am unable to give any explanation as to how it came about that any of these documents found their way outside the Admiralty.

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that they were sent outside the Admiralty?

I have stated already that in regard to the numbers in one case 25 were printed and in the other case 50 were printed. The circulation of these documents outside the Admiralty is a matter quite unknown to me.

Does the right hon. Gentleman associate himself with the comments regarding an hon. Member of this House contained in the letters?

No, Sir. Probably it would be better if supplementary questions on this matter were put to me after the further question on this subject which is down on the Paper has been put.

Are we to understand that some-body has stolen these copies?

The whole of this happened years ago, and I am unable to offer any explanation.

Would it not be better to accept the suggestion made by the First Lord of the Admiralty before putting further supplementary questions?

I desire to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in any communications to the First Sea Lord which have been printed at the taxpayers' expense, Captain Bacon cast any personal or professional reflections on any brother officer on the active or retired lists; whether he could state for what purpose the letter or letters were printed; and whether the Board of Admiralty, as a whole, with due regard to the traditional methods of British naval administration, approve of the printing of such letter or letters and propose to continue the practice?

My hon. Friend is, I understand, in possession of a copy of a private letter addressed by Captain Bacon to the First Sea Lord which was printed for use in the Admiralty, and in which there is an incidental reference to the hon. Member himself. It would certainly have been better if the personal reference had been omitted in the printed copy, as it was solely for the sake of the remainder of its contents that the letter was preserved. The practice of printing informal documents of various kinds is convenient, and the Admiralty do not propose to give up this convenience in all circumstances. As regards the reference now complained of, I desire to express my regret that the hon. Member's feelings should have been hurt by this letter when a copy of it came into his possession.

I would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has read the career of the hon. Member for Lynn Regis, and whether he does not consider it brilliant?

Seeing that the right hon. Gentleman has described Captain Bacon's letters as private, what explanation can he give of the fact that no less than 50 copies of the letter were printed?

I would like to explain the whole of the circumstances because, most unfairly, Captain Bacon's name has been used in a way which implies a charge against him. The only crime, if it be a crime, that he has committed is that he is a very able man who writes remarkably good letters. [Cries of "Oh, oh"] He wrote two perfectly private letters to Sir John Fisher, and he had not the faintest idea that they were going to be printed or made use of in any public way. I have read the two letters, and they are admirable letters, and very long ones, and in the course of these two private letters Captain Bacon makes the personal observation which my hon. Friend very properly complains of. But in a private letter I do not suppose any one of us would deny that on occasions we have mentioned individuals by name—[Cries of "No, no"]—and not always in the most complimentary form. Captain Bacon's letters, without his knowledge, were printed, and the reason for their being printed was that they were remarkably good letters containing, outside the personal reference complained of, a very useful account worthy of being preserved of what has taken place during an eventful period in the history of naval administration. Sir John Fisher had a very great deal of work to do at that time, and when he read these letters he thought they ought to be preserved. He regrets, and nobody regrets it more than himself, that without editing those letters first they were printed for private use. The only complaint is that before those letters were printed the reference to my hon. Friend was not struck out. That is a matter for which he is extremely sorry, and for which I am also extremely sorry. As regards everything else in the letters it was entirely proper that they should be printed, because they were worth preserving. The mere fact of having 50 copies printed was merely giving an order to the printer.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the 50 copies were not printed because they reflected upon the personal character of the hon. Member opposite?

No, Sir. If the hon. Member saw the letter, which is a long one, he would agree with me that it was admirably written. The personal reference to the hon. Member for Lynn Regis was merely one short passage, in a long letter upon many different matters.

Is it not a fact that at the time the hon. Member for Lynn Regis was engaged in this House attacking Sir John Fisher?

I could not say without reference to the speeches made by my hon. Friend at the time. The whole incident occurred three years ago.

May we take it that the right hon. Gentleman disapproves of this incident?

I have stated again and again that I disapprove, and Sir John Fisher himself disapproves, of including in any printed document a personal reference to any individual Member of this House. I disapprove of it most strongly, but this letter was never published in any ordinary sense of the word.

Was Captain Bacon's letter a private letter—was it marked private or not?

I do not know that it was marked private, but it was written as a private letter. It was a private letter.

I move, Mr. Speaker, that the Question be now put.

As 50 copies of this letter have been printed, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to lay one on the Table of the House?

No, sir. It would be most undesirable.

said: Any further questions must be put on the Paper.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his Board was contemplating the construction of a naval base on the North-East Coast; and whether any investigations had been made as to the facilities afforded by the River Tyne for this purpose?

The Admiralty do not propose at present to construct another naval base on the North-East coast in addition to that at Rosyth. The suitability of the Tyne was considered before the selection of the site at Rosyth was determined upon.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any steps had been taken towards the construction of garages or shelters for dirigible balloons to be used in connection with the Fleet in the North Sea?

A dirigible and a shed are being constructed. It is premature to say whether dirigibles will or will not be used in connection with the fleet in the North Sea.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what progress had been made with the organisation of a reserve of steam trawlers for the purpose of sweeping up floating and submarine mines in time of war?

An officer has been appointed to organise and develop a force for the purpose referred to, and four steam trawlers have been purchased to work under him. It is considered undesirable at present to furnish further information than that the progress of the work is satisfactory.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the names of the. two "Dreadnoughts" which had just been ordered?

"Hercules" and "Colossus."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, under the new scheme of fleet distribution which came into operation in March last, the number of fully commissioned battleships in Home waters was reduced from 26 to 22 and armoured cruisers from 16 to 14; and whether there was any corresponding reduction in the readiness for war of Foreign fleets to justify this reduction on our part '

Assuming that the Atlantic Fleet in March last is to be included in the fleets in Home waters, the reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. I may add, however, that the actual fighting strength of the Home waters force is greater than before.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, referring to the recent purchases of Demerara rum, including the mark F.B., is the Admiralty aware that the said parcels had already passed through the Government broker's hands on account of other interests; and whether he will take action to prevent the Government broker also acting as a dealer?

The Admiralty is fully aware of the circumstances of the purchases referred to and is fully satisfied as to the regularity of the broker's action. As I have stated in reply to previous questions, the Admiralty broker does not act as a dealer.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he was aware that, in consequence of the manipulation of the market by the Government broker, with the tacit consent of the Admiralty, Demerara rum is now and has been for some time past standing at a fictitious price, with a result that the British public is paying from 3d. to 6d. a gallon more for rum than it ought to; and what action he proposes to take to alter this state of affairs?

There has been no manipulation on the part of the Admiralty-brokers. A comparison of the London prices, where the Admiralty purchases are usually made, with those of Liverpool, where prices have ruled higher than in London for the past eight or nine months, seems of itself to show that the London price is in no way fictitious. The Admiralty has no advantage in or influence upon this market, except such as a large buyer for actual consumption naturally possesses, and by buying at favourable moments owing to the Department being well advised as to probable course of supplies and the market. No action is therefore proposed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to his answer of the 2nd December last regarding purchases of rum by the Admiralty for the years 1906, 1907, and 1908, that the whole of the purchases were made through one firm of brokers who obtained offers in the open market without restriction of free competition; whether he is aware that in December last SO puncheons, marked G.G. in a diamond, excess. "St. Croix," were bought by the Government broker himself to arrive some considerable time before the sale to the Department by the Government broker; and in view of the fact that the present broker is a dealer as well, can he give an assurance that Ad miralty purchases of rum will in future not be made through one firm alone?

The rum in question was purchased at the lowest price of that or any other mark; the Admiralty practice is to buy "on the spot," and not "to arrive." The Admiralty is fully aware of the circumstances of this purchase. There is no irregularity whatever in the purchase of a parcel for the Admiralty which had already been sold "to arrive" by the same broker on behalf of another client. Whether such a parcel would be selected by the Admiralty does not depend upon the broker, but upon the independent selection of the Admiralty inspector from the total of all brands offering at the moment. As I have stated in replies to previous questions, the Admiralty brokers do not act as dealers, and no change in Admiralty procedure is proposed.

asked the First Lord of vthe Admiralty whether he can give any information as to the alleged attack on a watchman at the signalling station at Humberstone, near Grimsby; and whether there is now an armed patrol there at night?

The Cleethorpes wireless telegraph station, which is situated at Waltham, near Grimsby, was broken into by two men on the night of Sunday, March 28th. The two men are thought to have been employes of the contractor who had built the station. The station was not in working order at the time, and has only just been completed. The arrangements since made for guarding the station are considered satisfactory.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the original cost of building H.M.S. "Gladiator," the cost of raising H.M.S. "Gladiator" after her collision with the liner "St. Paul," and the sum received as proceeds of the sale of H.M.S. "Gladiator"?

The original cost of the "Gladiator" was £287,604. The cost of salving her was approximately £50,500. She was sold for £15,125.

Seeing that the original cost was £287,604, the cost of salving her £50,500, while she was sold for only £15,125, was it worth while to raise her?

The wreck had to be cleared. If she had been exploded the explosion might have caused damage on shore. The best course, therefore, seemed to be to remove the wreck.

I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the breaking-up condition was attached to the sale, and if so, how much has the nation lost by the sale?

My impression is that the usual break-up condition was not attached to this sale.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can inform the House how many men are now being employed at Rosyth?

The total number of men employed to-day by the contractors at Rosyth, including their staff and workmen, is 252. No doubt many men are at work elsewhere in connection with the contract.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state his reason for refusing the Return in regard to British torpedo-boat destroyers asked for on the 13th of this month?

It is not considered to be in the public interest to publish all the confidential details for which the hon. Member asked in the Motion for the Return.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman withhold information which is in the possession of every Admiral in Europe?

I have every reason for believing that the information for which the hon. Gentleman asks is not in the possession of every Admiral in Europe.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if the official estimate of the number of men employed in building a "Dreadnought," i.e., 1,000 to 1,500, includes the number of men estimated to be employed by manufacturers supplying materials, machinery, fittings, and armament, and also the men employed in the shipbuilding yards and shops; and, if the latter only are included, what is the estimated number of men employed outside the shipbuilding yards in the building of one "Dreadnought," and if the estimate is based upon completion in two years?

The number given in reply to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury was calculated for dockyard construction work only. We have no statistics available to allow an estimate to be given in reply to the hon. Member's question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman's estimate of the amount expended on labour only for labour employed in the dockyards?

Yes, for dockyard work only.

Is he also aware that on the basis that it takes two years to build a "Dreadnought," the average wage for each man, on his estimate, would be upwards of £450 per annum?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that many German merchant ships carry small guns, and that the captains have their commissions, pennants, and uniforms ready for an emergency; and, if so, what steps have been taken to protect the British mercantile marine, especially on those stations from which many of our small craft have been removed?

The Admiralty does not consider that it is in the public interest to make any statement as to the information we possess on the subject matter of the question or as to the course it is proposed to adopt for the protection of commerce. I must not be understood to assent to the correctness of the hon. Gentleman's information.

Arising out of the answer, can the right hon. Gentleman state, without injury to the public interest, what steps the Admiralty are taking to guard against this danger?

That is exactly what I think undesirable to make public.

Did I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say he must be taken as assenting or dissenting to the correctness of the information?

I am not assenting.

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that the facts are as stated in the question?

We are very reluctant to give information on the point. I can only repeat I must not be taken as assenting to the accuracy of the statements in the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any ships included in the Dilke Return, published on Friday last, have since the date of that Return been placed upon the sale list or in any other way discarded as ineffective; and, if so, will he state what ships have been so dealt with?

I should be glad if the hon. Member would defer his question, as I have been unable to obtain the information required to enable me to answer it to-day.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the cruisers which are told off for trade protection are also told off for duty as watching cruisers; and, if so, how can they execute the two duties at the same time?

The question of what duties are assigned to particular vessels in war cannot be stated, but the hon. Member may rest assured that no vessel is assigned to carry out two incompatible duties.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the letter of Captain Bacon to Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher, making serious reflections on an hon. Member of this House, was printed by Messrs. Eyre and Spottis-woode at the orders of the Board of Admiralty; whether he can state how the letter came to be circulated; and whether it was in any way marked as confidential?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The letter was not circulated in the ordinary sense of the word, and I have no knowledge as to how any copy obtained publicity except by what has been published in the Press. Although the letter was not marked "Confidential," it was obviously a private letter.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman who is the person actually responsible for the directions given to the King's printers to print this libellous document?

I have said again and again that the letter was printed by order of the First Sea Lord.

May I ask whether it has not been the custom from time immemorial to print letters of a private character in order that the subject matter of those letters may be brought within the official ambit of knowledge within the Department, and has not the regulation recently issued had the effect of limiting the very considerable number of unregistered letters so brought into official cognisance?

Yes, Sir, that is the case. It is the common practice of every Department to print letters by order of the head of the Department for the purpose of future reference. Nothing more was done in this case than that.

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman officially associates or dissociates himself—

Order, order. That does not arise out of the question on the paper.

Who stole the letter?

In view of the fact which has been admitted by the right hon. Gentleman these letters were not printed by the private printers of the Department, but were printed by Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode—

Will the hon. Member ask his question without repeating a previous answer?

Well, in view of the fact that—

The hon. Member is disregarding my ruling.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that in future private and confidential letters are marked "private and confidential"?

I have already said that this was obviously a private letter.

—

On a point of order, Sir. I do not know whether your attention has been called to an observation by the Noble Lord opposite (the Earl of Winterton). The Noble Lord asked whether we proposed to observe the ordinary standards of honour.

As my observation was obviously disorderly, of course I withdraw what I said.

Could not these letters have been printed at the Admiralty instead of by public printers?

reply was inaudible.

When there are 50 copies printed is it the practice of the Admiralty to keep a record of the number issued to each individual member?

I will inquire. I think it probably would be.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ascertain the exact distribution of the 50 copies of this letter which have been circulated?

I have asked for the exact distribution, but nobody knows how the letter left the Admiralty.

I meant the distribution at the Admiralty.

How many copies are still left?

I should think 45 out of 50. At least, they were there.

If hon. Members are going to ask questions in this number and of this length it will be impossible to get through the questions on the Paper.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many battleships and armoured cruisers were under construction by or for the German Government on 1st May in the years 1900, 1904, and 1909 respectively?

The numbers are as follows:—

Will the right hon. Gentleman say, in view of the figures he has just given, what justification there is for—

Order, order. That is not a proper question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the arrangement reported to have been concluded with regard to the construction of the Canton-Hankau Railway will insure that British firms will have first option of executing orders for materials purchased out of China, in accordance with the agreement signed on 9th September, 1905, with the Chinese Government?

I understand that the arrangement just concluded contemplates the distribution, in equal proportion so far as is possible, of orders for material among the firms of the three countries who are parties to the arrangement. This applies to the Canton-Hankow line, as well as to the Hupeh section of the Szechuen line, and to any other lines which may be constructed in the future. I must point out that the agreement of 1905, to which the hon. Member refers, did not exclude competition from foreign firms as to the terms to be offered to the Chinese Government, though the question as to the limits beyond which such competition would not be in accord with the spirit of the agreement is one which His Majesty's Government found it necessary to raise in the course of the negotiations.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this railway is to be constructed by British capital, and that the understanding arrived at at the time was that preference should be given to British firms with regard to the supply of materials?

No, Sir, the statement of the hon. Member is not correct.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he had received information that for five years the crew of a British whaling ship, reported to have been lost in a storm in the West Indies, had been incarcerated in a Venezuelan prison; and, if so, whether he had taken any action in the matter?

No such official information has been received, but His Majesty's Minister at Caracas will be instructed to ascertain the truth of the report.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount received from spirit licences in the town of Tralee, county Kerry, for the year ended March, 1909; and what were the gross minimum and gross maximum amounts which would be received under the proposals of his Budget?

There are no statistics available which would enable me to give the information desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he would state what was the proportion of direct to indirect taxation in Ireland and in Great Britain in 1907-8; and would he say what the proportions of these respective taxes would be for 1908-9, under his present Budget proposals, in the two countries?

The proportion of direct to indirect taxation in 1907-8 was:—

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he would circulate as a White Paper the prepared but unspoken portions of his Budget statement?

No, Sir.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot circulate those portions, will he communicate them to his journalistic friends'?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the introduction of the Development Bill was dependent on any of the Resolutions in Committee of Ways and Means, of which notice appears on the Paper?

No, Sir.

Will this Bill be brought in in Committee of Ways and Means, separately set up for that purpose?

Yes; I think there must be a Resolution before that Bill is introduced; I think so. I will make inquiry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the consumption of whisky in the United Kingdom last year; what he estimated the consumption to be this year; and how much he estimated a tax of 3s. 9d. a gallon on that amount to produce?

I am afraid I cannot give the hon. Member the information for which he asks. Whisky is not shown in the Revenue accounts separately from other British spirits—i.e., spirits manufactured in the United Kingdom.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any estimate as to what will be the probable decrease in the consumption owing to the increased duty?

I am not quite sure. I will see by the time that the spirit tax comes on, whether I shall be able to meet the wishes of the hon. Gentleman.

On what basis is the £1,600,000 in the table issued in this morning's White Paper based. What is the decreased consumption? There must be some basis.

I quite agree, and if questions are put to me when the discussion comes on I will do my best to answer them. I cannot do it by question and answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the figures?

I will see if I can.

In view of the repeated requests made by the whisky distillers year after year, can the right hon. Gentleman see his way in future to give statistics with regard to whisky in bond in every year, distinguishing between that made by pot still and patent?

That does not arise out of this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received a memorial from the Irish Automobile Club, praying that the proposed taxation on motor cars and duty on petrol be not imposed in Ireland; when was a tax last levied upon cars in Ireland, and what percentage of the estimated revenue by the taxes stated is Ireland calculated to produce; will this whole matter be considered so that Ireland may not be unfairly taxed as it is at present proposed, owing to the different conditions prevailing in the two countries, such as the poverty of the people, cost of getting motors into the country, dearness of petrol, and the expense of upkeep owing to bad roads?

I have received the memorial to which the hon. Member refers. As I explained in my Budget speech, there has not hitherto been a tax in Ireland on motor-cars, though prior to 1823 duties were leviable upon carriages. I cannot, on my present information, give a precise estimate of the proportion of the revenue from the new motor car licences which will be derived from Ireland. But, after careful consideration of the whole matter, I fear I cannot agree with the hon. Member that there are sufficient grounds for exempting the owners of motor cars in Ireland from the proposed new tax.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is an Act of Parliament passed in 1823 which lays down that no carriage tax shall henceforth be leviable on Ireland, and that that Act has never been repealed?

I am quite prepared to take that fact from my hon. Friend, but these taxes which I have levied are not for the purpose of general taxation, but purely for the expenditure on the roads. Ireland will, of course, get a share of it for the purpose of improving the roads, and if Ireland wishes to be exempted from the tax. I should like to know my hon. Friend's view as to whether he would like Ireland to be exempted or not from the benefit?

Are we to understand that the entire tax levied in Ireland will be given back to Ireland for use on the roads, and will it be expended by an Irish authority or a central authority in England?

As to the second part of the question I should like to have notice. In regard to the first, I should be very much surprised, from what I know of the condition of the roads in Ireland, if a larger proportion is not demanded for Ireland than for any other part of the country.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot go the whole way, will he consider between this and the bringing in of the Bill whether he can give a rebate to medical men using motors in medical work as in the case of the commercial men in Ireland?

There are several questions in regard to that. As the hon. Gentleman knows very well, medical men are getting a rebate under my proposals.

Only on the tax, not on the petrol.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will favourably consider in the direction of remitting entirely the petrol and motor taxes in the case of Irish dispensary doctors who use their private motors for the more speedy and efficient discharge of their professional duties in relieving the suffering poor under their care?

As at present advised I do not think there are sufficient grounds for granting doctors further concessions in addition to the rebate, which I have already proposed, of half the licence duty on their motor-cars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received representations from veterinary surgeons urging that their profession should receive the same rebate on petrol as he proposes to allow to the medical profession; and whether he proposes to grant their request?

I have not proposed to allow the medical profession a rebate upon the petrol used by them. As I have already explained to the House, I do not see my way to extend to veterinary surgeons the rebate of half the licence duties allowed to doctors on their motorcars.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the petrol used on the average by medical men will amount to something like £12 a year?

Will the right hon. Gentleman extend this rebate to lawyers and clergymen?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in Ireland it costs 3s. 7d. to obtain a certificate of birth; whether it will be necessary to produce these in order to secure the £10 rebate per child on income tax; and whether, if birth certificates are held to be necessary, he will arrange that the charge for them shall be reduced to a nominal sum?

I am considering the point raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state whether, where a profit rental is paid for a licensed business, as in the case of all railway refreshment rooms let to tenants and of the Clarence Pier, Southsea, viz., £1,260, assessment £1,140, the licence duty will be based upon the assessment when the actual value of the rooms is not more than £100 a year?

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether chalk and clay are to be regarded as ungotten minerals, and to be taxed as such under the terms of the Budget; whether the grounds of private lunatic asylums, such as Chiswick House, Chiswick, hospitals, convalescent homes, and inebriate homes will be affected by the proposed tax on unearned increment; and whether land redeemed under the Land Tax Kedemption Act would be subject to the tax on capital values or mineral values?

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he contemplates that the undeveloped land tax shall apply to land such as the Bramall-lane Cricket Ground, Sheffield, on which many of the Yorkshire county matches are played?

These are questions which I think can be more satisfactorily dealt with when the Finance Bill is in the hands of hon. Members.

Does the right hon. Gentleman apply that answer to my question?

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present taxable capacity of Ireland relatively to that of Great Britain?

So far as the yield of the various duties, which are levied in Great Britain and Ireland at uniform rates, gives any indication of the comparative taxable capacity of the two sections of the United Kingdom—and I have no materials for making a calculation upon any other basis—the proportion on the figures for 1908-9 is approximately as 14 is to 1.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state whether estate duty is claimed in England on tenancies in agricultural land held under ordinary agricultural leases or tenancies at full rents?

Tenancies in agricultural land in England are governed—for the purpose of estate duty—by the same rule of valuation as other property. If they have no market value, no estate duty is claimed.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to carry out the recommendations of the Poor Law Commission by means of regulations and orders, as recommended by the President of the Local Government Board, or whether it is intended to propose legislation on this subject in the usual way?

The Reports of the Royal Commission on the Poor Law are being considered by the Government, and I am not in a position to make any statement as to the steps to be taken for carrying out the recommendations of the Commission.

asked the Prime Minister whether he or the Government have, since the Royal Commission on the Welsh Church was appointed, made any representations or requests to them; and, if so, what were they and what was the result?

I have on one or two occasions been in communication with the chairman of the Royal Commission in connection with questions of which notice has been given by hon. Members. I am not aware that any requests have been addressed to the Commission by or on behalf of the Government.

Will the Government be prepared to consider the question of making a request to the Royal Commission to abstain from publishing two volumes of the evidence without publishing a third?

I think that would be an illegitimate interference with the discretion of the Commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the £1,600,000 which he expects to get from the new spirit duty this year will be payable by England, Scotland and Ireland respectively, calculated on the quantity of spirits consumed in the three countries?

The amounts, calculated in proportion to the quantities of spirit consumed in the three Kingdoms respectively, will be:—

Is it the fact that the right hon. Gentleman stated in his Budget speech that the percentage of reduction anticipated would be 11 per cent., and whether, in view of the official figures given last year of the amount of spirits consumed in Ireland, he will state how he arrived at the figures which he has just given? It will not be 11 per cent., but nearly treble that amount.

The hon. Member is entering on a question of estimate. That, of course, I shall be prepared to defend when the discussion comes on, but it is purely a question of what the abatement will be, owing to the reduction of consumption and other causes.

That is not my point. It is whether his estimate of 11 per cent. reduction on the official figures of last year would give the sum he named, or whether he took some figures not before this House, and of which the House has no knowledge?

I am not quite sure I follow the hon. Member's point now. I have simply distributed the £1,600,000 between the three countries on the proportion of the present consumption.

May I ask whether the official figures show that the consumption in Ireland last year was, roughly speaking, £3,000,000 or £2,700,000, and whether 1½ per cent. reduction on that would not give treble the amount he has stated in estimating the amount for next year?

The hon. Member is asking me what the consumption was in Ireland. That I must have notice of. I cannot carry the figure of that sum in my mind.

I would ask why it was found impossible in preparing the White Paper issued this morning to give a separate calculation of the yield of this new tax in Ireland. I would remind the right hon. Gentleman that we got at least a half promise from him the other day that he would have a separate calculation made as to the yield of these new taxes in Ireland. Why was not that done?

It is impossible to make a calculation. A good deal must depend upon the estimate. There are no figures which enable anyone to arrive at the actual figure of distribution.

This is a somewhat serious question. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great many of the calculations made by the Treasury including that given to-day, an estimate of the taxable capacity of Ireland, are regarded by people who know this subject as not merely inaccurate but ludicrous.

That is not a question, but a statement.

asked whether, in view of the fact that petrol is used by some persons for commercial vehicles and also for other purposes, how such persons are to obtain the 50 per cent. rebate on the petrol used for commercial vehicles?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 10th inst. to the hon. Member for Hammersmith.

asked whether any steps have yet been taken to carry into effect the recommendation of the Royal Commission upon the duties of the Metropolitan Police that an officer duly qualified by knowledge of the law and experience in legal proceedings, acting under the direct superintendence of the Chief Commissioner, should be appointed for the purpose of dealing with complaints against the police by private persons and conducting inquiries into them?

This recommendation presents some administrative difficulties, but it is the Secretary of State's intention to carry it into effect, and he hopes to be able to make arrangements for that purpose very shortly.

asked if the two volumes of evidence taken before the Welsh Church Commission, which are to be published with the Interim Report, contain the evidence of the four Welsh bishops?

No Interim Report has yet been received by the Secretary of State. I believe, however, that the evidence of the four Welsh bishops is contained in the third volume of the evidence.

May I ask whether the publication of the Interim Report has been decided upon in consequence of representations made to the Commission by His Majesty's Government, and whether it is possible that the third volume may be published, containing the evidence of the Welsh bishops at the same time, if not before, the Interim Report?

I have no knowledge of any Interim Report having been signed by the Commission.

asked whether any request has been received from the Royal Commission on the Welsh Church for consent to the publication of the first two volumes of evidence without the third; whether such consent is essential to such publication; and whether such consent has been given?

The answer to the first part of the question is that no such request has been received. The answer to the second and third parts is that the publication of such documents is not by authority of the Secretary of State, but follows on their presentation to Parliament, if they are presented, by Royal Command. The Secretary of State's position in the matter is that of adviser to His Majesty.

asked when it is proposed to introduce the legislation dealing with the detention of inebriates which was promised in the King's Speech and on two subsequent occasions during the Session?

The Secretary of State regrets that he can add nothing at the moment to the answer which he gave on 29th April to the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division of Shropshire.

asked when the Bill dealing with dairies in Scotland will be introduced?

The Secretary for Scotland intends to introduce this Bill in another place before the Whitsuntide recess.

asked whether the Secretary for Scotland is aware that in the Report of the medical officer of health for Ross and Cromarty just issued attention is again called to the fact that the infectious diseases hospital at Stornoway is in urgent need of a water supply; and, in view of the danger to which patients are thus exposed, will the Local Government Board take such steps as may be necessary to ensure an adequate water supply being provided without further delay?

I am aware of the statement referred to, but I can only refer my hon. Friend to my answer of the 9th March, 1909, to the effect that in the present financial condition of the Lews District Committee there is no immediate prospect of making this improvement.

Am I to understand that the Secretary for Scotland and the Local Government Board for Scotland are so utterly indifferent that they intend to discard the Public Health Act?

The Secretary for Scotland is not discarding the Public Health Act. The Local Government Board have no power.

Am I to understand that the Local Government Board has no power whatever to enforce the Public Health Act?

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the action of the newly elected Dalziel School Board at their first meeting in excluding by special resolution two members of the board from the convenerships of any of the public schools in the parish; and whether, in view of the duties imposed upon this authority by the Education (Scotland) Act of 1908 and previous Acts, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Department is in communication with the School Board of Dalziel as to the facts of the case, and I hope to be in a position to reply to the question of the hon. Member at an early date.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the case of Edward Hudson, Lisgarr, Ballyroddy, Elphin, county Roscommon, who had an old age pension granted to him by the Boyle sub-committee, and had the pension disallowed, on appeal by the pension officer, on the grounds that the record of the claimant's birth was not forthcoming; and whether, seeing that this record with a number of other documents relating to the parish were burned after the death of Father Egan, P.P., and that it is claimed that Hudson was born on 31st October, 1838, and was married on 3rd February, 1873, the pension will be granted in this case?

I have not been able to obtain the information. Will the hon. Member put the question down for Monday?

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that fish merchants in Dingle, county Kerry, after repeated requests for assistance to public boards in Ireland, have established a scheme of supplying fish, fresh and cured, of various kinds, neatly packed in cases from five pounds upwards, to various parts of Ireland and Great Britain; and whether inquiries will be made and assistance given to make this scheme a success?

The Department are aware that one fish merchant in Dingle is, with financial assistance from the Congested Districts Board, making experiments with a view to the sale of cured mackerel in the home markets. The merchant referred to has not yet reported on the experiments. The Department are unable to give a guarantee of assistance to this scheme at the present stage, but the matter will be considered when the results of the experiments are known.

Seeing that foreign markets are almost closed to the Irish fisheries owing to the extraordinarily high tariffs, will the Department of Agriculture give special attention to this new experiment?

We will consider it whenever the results are known.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he has received from the trustees of the Cork Butter Market a Resolution approving strongly of the Bill now before Parliament to prevent the fraudulent sale of margarine for butter, and urging the supreme necessity of passing it into law, so as to prevent the injury now being inflicted upon the staple industry of Ireland; and will he state whether the Government propose to give facilities for the passage of this Bill through Parliament?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers, can he say if the hon. Member in charge of the Bill is in communication with him, and whether he is aware that the hon. Member for Mid-Cork has not his name on the back of the Bill?

The Resolution referred to has been received. As regards the second part of the question, the Bill relates to the United Kingdom and not to Ireland only. The question as to facilities must therefore be addressed to the Prime Minister. I am in constant communication with the hon. Member for Kildare in regard to this Bill.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can give any information concerning the contemplated reservoir for London to be made near Kingsclere; and if he can give the names of the villages about to be done away with for the purposes of the reservoir?

I understand that the chief engineer of the Metropolitan Water Board has been engaged upon various schemes for providing an additional supply of water for London from the Thames, and that, amongst other schemes, he is considering one for the construction of a reservoir in the Enborne Valley. No decision has, however, at present been arrived at on the subject, and hence no determination has been come to with regard to the site to which the hon. Member refers. I may add that the chief engineer will be happy to give him any reasonable particulars with regard to this scheme if he puts himself into communication with him.