asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what are the qualifications required for examiners in the Education Office for which the Class 1 competition and the subsequent probation prescribed for successful candidates do not furnish a sufficient test?

I am informed that under the existing system it is possible for the Board of Education to nominate as examiners persons with experience of various practical problems which could not well be tested by open competitive examination.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the Government of India have considered the advantage of adhesion to the Berne International Convention of 26th September, 1906, concerning dangerous phosphorus and poisonous matches; and, if not, whether inquiry will be made as to the possibility of the adhesion of India?

The Secretary of State for India is not aware that the Government of India have considered the matter, but will inquire and will ask for an expression of their views.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he is aware that the entrance examination for the Staff College, Camberley, is held in London for officers at Home stations and in India and other stations abroad as may be necessary; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of so altering the regulations as to permit of the entrance examination for the Staff College, Quetta, being held, not only in India, as at present, but in London and in India simultaneously?

The Secretary of State will refer the matter to the Government of India for consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the profits arising to Mr. Patten from the wheat corner; whether he is aware that this corner probably cost £12,000,000 sterling in increased prices to the consumer; whether, in view of this fact, he will co-operate with any Member of this House who shall endeavour to pass legislation with the object of prohibiting gambling in options in foodstuffs?

I cannot admit the accuracy of the calculations of the hon. Member, which appear to be based on the assumption that the entire rise in wheat prices in recent months was due to the operations of speculators. The rise in question, however, though no doubt influenced by those operations, would seem to have been largely the consequence of an undoubted shortage in the wheat supply of the world. With regard to the last part of the question, I fear I can add nothing to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 5th May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Russia has recently decreased the term of copyright from 50 years to 30 years after the death of the author; whether Germany has ratified the revised Convention of Berne for the protection of literary and artistic works signed at Berlin 13th November, 1908; and what extension of copyright has been granted by them?

I have no information with regard to any recent change in the term of copyright in Russia or Germany. The revised Convention of Berne has not yet been ratified by any of the signatory countries.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if the Board of Agriculture will consider the advisability of obtaining and publishing from established markets returns the live-weight sale prices of fat stock in a manner analogous to the returns of the sale of grain?

Weekly returns of the market prices of fat stock have been published for some time past. I shall be glad to send a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he had seen the proposals of the Association of Catholic Clerical Managers on the question of the heating and cleansing of schools at their meeting on 10th June; and if he is prepared to consider those proposals favourably and act upon them?

I have seen the resolutions in question, in which the Catholic Managers expressed their willingness to become responsible for one-half of the expense of heating and cleansing national schools if the Treasury should provide the other half. I am prepared to consider fully—and, if the facts warrant the adoption of that course, to submit for the favourable consideration of the Treasury—any scheme which would bring about the desired end. Before, however, considering the particular suggestion referred to, it would be necessary to have some details of the machinery by which the local funds are to be raised, and it would also be necessary to be assured that the scheme would be generally acceptable in Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of the delay in proceeding with the scheme for labourers' cottages in the Enniskillen district; and will he urge upon the Local Government Board the desirability of proceeding with the scheme in the interests of those labourers who, having been promised cottages, are in many cases put to great inconvenience by non-repair of the old condemned houses while they cannot get the new ones?

The council's application for sanction to the loan required to carry out the scheme as confimed was only received by the Local Government Board on the 7th instant, and will be dealt with without delay. The arbitrator made his award with respect to the authorised lands in March last, since when it has devolved upon the district council, not upon the Board, to take steps to obtain possession of the authorised plots and otherwise carry the scheme into execution.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state what steps have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to reinstate in his own or another holding John Reidy, an evicted tenant residing in Listowel?

The Estates Commissioners will consider Reidy's application in connection with the distribution of such untenanted land as they may acquire in the neighbourhood.

asked the Chief Secretary whether representations and applications have been made to the Estates Commissioners on behalf of the evicted tenants on the Hurley estate, at Lyreacrumphaul, North Kerry; whether their holdings have been inspected and reported upon; if so, with what result; and whether he is aware that these farms are only partly stocked, and that the reinstated tenants will not be able to meet their interest on the purchase money unless they get assistance from the Estates Commissioners?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into the applications of Thomas and Daniel O'Connor, to whom the question presumably refers, and, in the exercise of their discretion, have decided not to take any action in either case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Messrs. Griggs, of Dover, and Miskin, of Shorncliffe, were invited to tender for certain work at Shorncliffe Camp, the letting of which is still under consideration; and whether, in the event of either of those firms getting the contract, he will see that the terms of the fair wages clause are observed?

The reply to both questions is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has completed his inquiries respecting the firm of Messrs. Griggs, of Dover, who are carrying out a contract at Shorncliffe Camp for the War Department; and, if so, whether the firm are now paying the rate of wages current in the district to the labourers employed on the job.

The inquiry is still being prosecuted.