asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Russian troops were occupying any other towns in Persia than Tabriz; and, if so, on what grounds?

Beyond the detachments alluded to in my answer to the hon. Member for West Mayo on the 20th ultimo there are none.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Russian loan had been finally accepted by the Shah; and, if so, whether he was now in a position to inform the House as to the allocation of the money?

The question was still under discussion on the 1st instant. As regards the latter part of the question I can give the hon. Member no information beyond that contained in the answer given to the hon. Member for Bath on 26th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the forthcoming visit of the Czar of Russia to the shores of this country had any official character or would receive any official recognition?

asked the Secretary of State if he was aware that the Czar of Russia intended to visit English territorial waters at about the latter end of July; and if the visit would in any way be officially recognised by the Government?

asked the Secretary of State if he could say what was likely to be the extent and duration of the proposed visit of the Emperor of Russia to this country; and what places will be included in it?

asked when the proposed visit of the Emperor of Russia to this country was expected to take place; and whether His Majesty's Government were responsible for arranging it?

In reply to the first question, and to the question asked on this subject by the hon. Member for South West Ham (Mr. W. Thorne), and the first question asked by the hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Morrell) I would beg to refer the hon. Members to the reply given on the 10th instant to the hon. Member for North Hackney. As regards the first part of the hon. Member's second question, I beg also to refer him to the reply returned to the hon. Member for North Hackney on the 10th instant. The time is early in August. As regards the second part, a visit to His Majesty the King by the Emperor of Russia, amongst the series of visits which His Majesty proposes to pay during the summer to the Sovereigns of other countries, and to the head of the French Republic, especially during the Emperor's presence in the English Channel, is both natural and in accordance with international courtesy. His Majesty's Government take full responsibility for the visit.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the intense and growing feeling in this country against the Czar visiting it? It would be a very good job if the Russian people—

Order, order. The hon. Member is not asking a question; he is making a speech.

I do not think my question was really answered—

Order, order. The hon. Member is not asking a question.

Official recognition is what I want to know about?

I have answered it. I have said the Government took full responsibility.

Will there be any expenditure of public money in connection with this visit, and, if so, will the Estimate be laid before the House before the expenditure is incurred?

It has not occurred to me that there will be any special expenditure beyond what is usual. If there is any special expenditure, I am not aware so far that we have had a special Estimate in connection with other visits to this country.

Is it too late to arrange that this visit shall be of a purely private character?

It is quite out of the question that the visit which the Emperor of Russia is going to pay to the King at Cowes should be on different lines to those which he pays to other Sovereigns.

I hope he will get his deserts when he gets here. The British do not want him.

May I, Sir, call attention to the fact that an hon. Member said that when the Czar of Russia came here he would get his desserts. Is that in order?

I said I hoped he would.

It is a discourteous expression to use towards the monarch of a friendly foreign country.

He is an inhuman brute. [Interruption.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has consulted the Chief Secretary for Ireland as to the propriety of publishing the letter of the ex-President of the United States on account of its interest as affecting Ireland?

I have consulted my right hon. Friend and we agreed that there was no reason to depart from the usual practice of not publishing officially private communications of this nature. There is no objection to publication by others, which I understand has already taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Circular addressed to the European Powers by the Russian Government when it proposed to send troops to Tabriz?

As I informed the hon. Member for Leicester on 4th May, the Circular has been published by the Russian Government in the Press. It will be included in any further Papers which may be laid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he will lay further Papers on the affairs of Persia, and up to what date these Papers will come; and whether he has yet obtained the permission of the Russian Government to publish the Russian despatch of January last on the affairs of Persia?

I hope to be able to lay further Papers on the affairs of Persia up to and including 10th May last, about the middle of next month, but I cannot commit myself to the exact date. The Memorandum of the Russian Government of January last will be included in the correspondence.

asked whether any fresh powers have been conferred upon the Criminal Investigation Department; and what steps His Majesty's Government are taking in consequence of Sir Laurence Jenkin's condemnation of police methods to protect the liberties of British subjects in India from police invasion?

The police officers of the Criminal Investigation Department have the same powers as other police officers in India, and no powers beyond these have been conferred upon them. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2nd June last.

Have the condemnations reported been general and comprehensive, or have they been confined to the particular cases to which such comments related?

All that will be known when the Report from the Government of India reaches this country.

asked whether any Turkish troops are at present in Persia; whether any communications have passed between the Turkish Government and the English Government on the question of sending Turkish troops into Persia; and, if so, whether the British Government have made any objection to the sending of Turkish troops into Persian territory?

There are Turkish troops in Persian terri- tory near Salmas and in the neighbourhood of Urumia. The Grand Vizier has lately informed the Persian Ambassador at Constantinople, in reply to his representations, that a Turkish officer had been killed and a Turkish Consulate attacked by Persian Kurds, that the Porte had no intention of occupying Persian territory permanently, but that, as long as there was no Persian authority, they must take steps to protect their people. There has been no recent communication between His Majesty's Government and the Turkish Government on the subject.

Is there any foundation for the statement that the Russians have despatched 150 men to Urumia?

I could not answer that without notice. In the present abnormal condition of affairs in Persia it is, of course, possible that changes may take place from day to day.

Is it not a fact that the points occupied by the Turkish troops are strategical points adjoining their own frontier which are menaced by the Russian military occupation of parts of Northern Persia?

Is it not the case that there is a geographical boundary dispute of long standing in that district, which may give a colourable explanation of Turkish occupation?

Yes, it is true that there has been a long-standing boundary dispute extending over some years. With regard to the question of what are strategical positions and what are not, I believe there are very few positions the strategical value of which is not a matter of opinion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will inform the House of the reason why the construction of the Kowloon Railway at Hong Kong, laid out by a competent engineer, the length being about 22 miles and the final estimate of cost some £500,000, was not let by public tender to any of the responsible contracting firms willing to construct it for that sum within a specified time, but was being carried on departmentally, with no time limit, at a cost now estimated at over £1,000,000; why the principle of public tender, enforced by other Government Departments, was departed from by the Colonial Office in respect of engineering works in the Colonies; and whether, seeing that the payment to Crown Agents of a percentage on the amount such works gives them an interest in increasing that amount, and the control of such works gives them extensive patronage in the Colonies and unlimited discretion in the placing of orders for manufactured materials, also without any test by public tender, he will say when the Colonial Office will, like other public Departments, abandon nomination and patronage and adopt public tender in the Colonies as in this country?

The decision to construct this line departmentally was taken on the advice of the consulting engineers after full consideration of the circumstances. The increase in the estimated cost, to which my hon. Friend refers, is due partly to unexpected difficulties in construction and partly to extensions of the original design. The question whether such works shall be constructed departmentally or otherwise is decided in each case on its merits, and I may mention that more than one important work in the Crown Colonies is now being executed by contractors as the result of competitive tenders. The Crown Agents are not paid by percentage, but receive fixed salaries. The Colony does not pay to them a percentage on the amount of the work in question, and the Crown Agents have neither the control of the work nor any patronage in the Colony in connection therewith.

What was the original estimate per mile for the tunnel portion? Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that it has already cost £200,000 per mile?

I cannot say offhand what was the original estimate. That very tunnel is one of the particular points to which I referred in my answer where the amount was exceeded owing to unforeseen difficulties.

How is it that in the making of the railway, the object of which is purely commercial, the commercial principle of inviting tenders has not been adhered to as is required by all other Departments of Government and public companies?

I have answered most of that in my answer I think. If the hon. Gentleman will put down another question on the subject I will give him a fuller answer on that specific point.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the circular issued by the Colonial Office some years ago confining the right of appeal to the Governor, of persons employed on the Sierra Leone Government railway, to heads of departments, all of whom were Europeans, is still in force; whether pay for overtime on the railway is confined to those departments in which Europeans are employed; whether fines up to 20s. may be, and are, imposed for trifling offences; and whether he proposes taking action for the removal of these causes of grievance to the natives employed on the said railway?

It is the rule that all persons employed on the Sierra Leone Government Railway, whether Europeans or natives, except heads of departments and men on the permanent establishment, can be dealt with by way of discipline by the general manager, without the right of appeal to the Governor. It is not the case that pay for overtime on the railway is confined to those departments in which Europeans are employed or that fines on the scale suggested by my hon. Friend are imposed for trifling offences. No distinction is made between European and native employés in these respects.

asked when the renewal of the contract for a steamship service between Jamaica and the United Kingdom will come up for consideration; and whether, in view of the fact that Ireland contributes to the subsidy paid in connection with the contract, it will be made a condition that at least some of the steamers shall call at Queenstown, both on the outward and homeward voyages, and thus give a direct exchange of trade between Ireland and the West India Islands?

The Secretary of State has not yet received from the Government of Jamaica any official proposals as to a new contract for a steamship service between the Colony and the United Kingdom. This matter will be discussed with the Governor, who is now on his way home on leave of absence. I cannot say whether it will be possible to arrange a call at Queenstown in connection with a new contract, but the suggestion will be brought to the Governor's notice.

Could steps be taken with a view to ensure that previous to a renewal of the existing contract full opportunity will be afforded for the consideration of this very important matter?

We will consider it most carefully at the Colonial Office, and I shall be glad to communicate with my hon. Friend. With regard to the consideration of this very important matter? be a question for the Prime Minister.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that at one time a considerable direct trade was carried on between Ireland and the West Indies?

I hope it will be the case again.

asked what was the amount and value of wheat exported from the United Kingdom during the 12 months ending 30th April, 1909, and the amount of flour exported from the United Kingdom in the 12 months ending 30th April of each of the years 1899 and 1909?

During the 12 months ended 30th April, 1909, 400,610 cwt. of wheat, the produce of the United Kingdom, of a declared value of £152,881, and 572,855 cwt. of wheat, the produce of foreign countries and British Possessions, of a declared value of £240,595, were exported from the United Kingdom. During the same period 1,824,342 cwt. of wheatmeal and flour, manufactured in the United Kingdom, and 83,290 cwt. manufactured elsewhere, were exported, The records for the 12 months ended 30th April, 1899, are unfortunately defective, but in the 12 months ended 30th April, 1898, the exports of wheat-meal and flour were 400,061 cwt., manufactured in the United Kingdom, and 405,109 cwt. manufactured elsewhere.

Did the first figure represent re-exports as well as direct exports?

I should like to have notice of the question.

asked how many of the nine Indian gentlemen undergoing deportation are confined in gaols; what are their names, and in what gaols are they?

All the persons referred to are confined in gaols. Their names are:—Sabodh Chandra Mullick, Manoranjan Gaha Thakurta, Krishto Kumar Mitra, Sachindra Prosad Bose, Shamsunder Chakravarti, Aswini Kumar Dutt, Satish Chandra Chatterji, Pulin Behari Das, Bhupesh Chandra Nag. The names of the gaols in which they are respectively detained were given in reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for the Newbury Division on 23rd February.

How many of these gentlemen are confined in gaol?

I have answered the question.

asked whether the attention of the Secretary of State for India has been called to the fact that on Wednesday last leave was unanimously given by this House to bring in a Bill to amend in important particulars the Regulations under which the Executive in India was authorised to deport British subjects without charge or trial; and whether he will bring to the notice of the Government of India the suggested Amendments?

A copy of the Bill will be sent to the Government of India in the course of ordinary routine. The Secretary of State is not prepared to take any action in advance of a mature decision of Parliament.

Will the Government give time for the further progress of the measure?

I cannot say.

In communicating this to the Government of India, will they be informed that practically any Bill obtains a first reading and that no significance attaches to the fact?

Is the House to, understand that when the word "deport" is used on that Bench, it means "imprison"?

asked when provisions of the new Reform Act likely to be put in operation in Bengal?

The Secretary of State is unable at present to give any definite answer as to the date at which the provisions of the Indian Councils Act will take effect in Bengal, but the Government of India have the matter under consideration, and will publish the Regulations as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the uprising of the zemindars which resulted in the overthrow and imprisonment of the State officials in the native State of Mandi; whether, previous to this, the zemindars had repeatedly petitioned the Punjab Government to protect them against he corruption and maladministration prevailing in the State; and whether he will cause an official inquiry to be made into the whole circumstances which led to the rebellion?

The Secretary of State has no official information on the subject. He has asked the Government of India to furnish a Report.

May I ask whether the revolting zemindars were natives of India, and whether the corrupt officers of the native State, for protection against whom they appealed to the British Government of the Punjab, were natives of India?

I am afraid the answer I gave to the hon. Gentleman opposite applies also to the supplementary question, namely, that the Secretary of State has no information.

May I ask whether this question indicates some great improvement in British-Indian administration or some little enlightenment on the part of its critics?

Is the hon. Member aware that several European officials are implicated in this corruption?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any information about the Midnapur case as to whether, in the police inquiry, every arrest was promptly reported to a magistrate and within the maximum period of 24 hours; whether the requirements of the code of criminal procedure as to remands of accused persons to police custody were observed in the inquiry by the magistrate; and whether the inquiry ordered by the Secretary of State in Council will ascertain whether, in matters concerned with the liberty of the subject, justice was administered according to law.

The Secretary of State has at present no information on the points raised in the first two questions. Full reports of the case are on their way from India. The inquiry which has been ordered by the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal (not by the Secretary of State in Council) will no doubt cover the whole conduct of the case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he would state the dates whereon the last four alterations in the import duties on wheat into France and Germany were made; what were the several rates of such duties; and what were the average prices per quarter during each year following such alterations in each such country and in the United Kingdom respectively?

I will have the information asked for by the hon. Member printed in the Votes. [ See Written Answers this date. ]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the negotiations promised at the Colonial Conference with a view to the establishment of the All-Red Route had broken down or had been suspended; and, if not, what stage in such negotiations had at present been reached?

As I have already informed the House, I am not yet in a position to make any statement on this matter, which is still under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Great Southern and Western Railway Company were entitled to exclude the representatives of all the hotels in Killarney from their station on the arrival of trains, and make an exception in the case of the two hotels owned by Mr. Fritz Koenigs, whose representatives were allowed on the station; and whether he could take any steps to prevent this preferential treatment?

I do not think that I can add anything to the reply which I gave to the question put by the hon. Member on 22nd June last year, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he could state what number of persons were suffering from favus in the metropolitan area according to the last returns?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. There are no complete Returns of the number of persons suffering from favus in the Metropolitan area. The disease chiefly exists amongst children coming from Russia and other Eastern countries, and I find that, in the year 1908, 23 children had been admitted to the special favus school of the London County Council, 28 had left, and there were 76 still on the roll.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention had been drawn to the statement lately made by the chief immigration officer of the Port of London before the Immigration Board of that port to the effect that letters of invitation to immigrants from persons in this country were being hawked about at Bremen, and could be bought by any intending immigrant for a small sum, these letters containing ostensible offers of work meant to enable the persons in possession of them to evade the Aliens Act; and whether he would direct immigration officers to act upon section 7, sub-section (4), of the Aliens Act in cases where they had reason to believe that immigrants had used letters of this description for the purpose of creating a false impression in the mind of an immigration officer?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the prosecution of any person under the section quoted does not rest with the immigration officers. They report any case of serious misrepresentation to the inspector under the Act, and, when my attention is called to the question, either in this way or by the reports which I receive of the proceedings before the immigration boards, I consider it fully, and I have, in proper cases, directed proceedings to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention had been called to an accident which recently occurred on the new dock works at Immingham by the breaking of the gib of a crane; whether his Department were represented at the inquest; if so, whether any official report upon the subject had been received, and does such report mention the fact that the crane had been in use for over 10 years; and what action he intended to take to secure proper inspection of dangerous machinery upon public works?

No, Sir. The accident was not one which was reportable. under the present state of the law to my Department, and no officer of the Department was present at the inquest, or had notice of the inquest in time to attend. I understand that the accident was duly reported to the Board of Trade in pursuance of the Notice of Accidents Act, 1894. As regards the last part of the question, the hon. Member is aware that I have introduced a Bill this Session which deals with the question of safety on engineering works.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he recently informed me that the Board of Trade had no power to demand notice of accidents or to inquire into the causes of accidents when they occur at docks in course of construction?

Well, Sir, I think that is a question for the Board of Trade.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state how many battleships and cruisers were away from the Second Division of the Home Fleet, in dockyard hands, during the week of 16th to 22nd May, and what were their names?

The battleships "Commonwealth," "Hibernia" and "Dominion," and the second class protected cruisers "Juno" and "Talbot"; also (from the second cruiser squadron) the "Natal" and "Warrior."

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Admiralty approve of the system which allows seven out of 19 battleships to be away from the first line of defence at one time?

It would depend entirely on the circumstances in each case.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what number of bandsmen are included in the 16,028 warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Royal Marine Artillery and Royal Marine Light Infantry?

In the number 16,028 are included the following bandsmen for Royal Marine divisions and depot:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what vessels had been condemned since January, 1908, as useless for war service in the British, Japanese, United States, German, and French navies?

In the Duke Return for the current year only battleships and cruisers are included which are under 20 years of age from date of launch. A comparison of this year's Return with that of last year shows what ships have been omitted. No similar age-limit is adopted in the Dilke Return as regards other classes of ships. Vessels belonging to the foreign Powers named in the question which have been removed from the effective list since January, 1908, will be circulated with the printed papers.—[ See Written Answers this date. ]

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he cannot give the actual number of British vessels that have been condemned? It would be an act of courtesy on his part to do so. He tells me practically to go to work and find out for myself.

I did not wish to convey that impression. The hon. Gentleman will observe the form in which he puts his question. He asks: "What vessels have been condemned since January, 1908, as useless for war service." Many of these vessels omitted may not have been condemned, but placed on the mother bank. They may not be in commission or immediately employed, but it is quite possible that they might be useful for service. The use of the word "condemned" does not cover any possible case that I could deal with in answering the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the original dates of completion for the "Bellerophon," "Temeraire," and "Superb"; and why were these ships delayed?

The original dates were:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is in a position to give any further information to the House with reference to the number of "Dreadnoughts," or vessels of the "Dreadnought" type, which Austria has in preparation or contemplation?

We have no further information.

asked the Postmaster-General how far he is proceeding with the shortening of the hours in rural post-offices; if it will entail a later delivery of letters in the morning; if he has considered the probable effects in the interests of farmers, especially of small holders; and how far it will affect the possibilities of labouring men making deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank?

The hours for public business at rural post offices are, as far as possible, being arranged to cover periods ranging from eight hours to 12 hours a day, according to the importance of the business transacted. It was the view of the Parliamentary Committee which dealt with the question that the small rural post offices should not be open for the transaction of postal business for more than eight hours a day. The restriction in no way affects the time of the delivery of letters by postmen. I have no reason to think that the alterations made will appreciably affect the interests of farmers, or of labouring men desirous of making deposits in the savings bank; but I shall be glad to consider any case of alleged difficulty or disadvantage that may be brought to my notice.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that in a recent enfranchisement by the Tynemouth Corporation under the Lands Clauses Acts of copyhold land, part of the manor of Tynemouth, and acquired for the purposes of a burial ground, the claim of the lord of the manor was £2,079 16s., whilst the total amount paid annually in rents was only £2 2s. 7½d.; whether he is aware that, although the total sum awarded to the lord of the manor was less than half the sum claimed—viz., £792—yet the whole of the costs of the arbitration was borne by the Corporation under section 34 of the Lands Clauses Act, 1845; and whether he will take steps to secure such an alteration in the law so that in all similar cases of compulsory enfranchisement of copyhold land the matter of the costs shall be left to the discretion of the arbitrator?

I am informed that the statements in my hon. Friend's question are substantially correct. The Corporation were, I understand, advised not to make any formal offer to the lord of the manor for the settlement of his claim. They therefore became liable for all costs of and incident to the arbitration under section 34 of the Lands Clauses Act, 1845. I am not able to give my hon. Friend any promise of legislation in the direction he desires.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the office of Registrar of Deeds for the East Riding of Yorkshire has been vacant since December, 1908, and that a statutory duty of appointing a duly qualified successor is imposed by The Yorkshire Registries Act, 1884, upon the East Riding County Council; whether he is aware that the attention of the East Riding County Council has been already directed by the Local Government Board to their neglect in discharging their statutory duty; and whether, in view of this continued neglect to discharge such duty, he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to transfer the power of appointment to another quarter?

This matter appears to be within the jurisdiction of my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board, and I must refer my hon. Friend to his answer on 4th May last to the same question. I may add that a Bill proposing to amend the Yorkshire Registries Act, 1884, upon the East Riding of Registrar of Deeds to be performed by a county council official at a greatly diminished cost is now before the House of Lords, and the whole question will be considered by the Government in connection with that Bill. Under these circumstances, I do not propose to introduce another Bill for the purpose suggested in the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a village of privately-owned huts built to accommodate the navvies employed upon the Immingham dock works, near Grimsby; whether he has caused any investigation to be made as to the sanitary arrangements provided for this village; and if so, what is the nature of the report he has received upon the subject?

My attention has been called to this village, which was visited by one of the medical inspectors of the Local Government Board in April last. The inspector states that the village has an abundant supply of water, and that the sanitary accommodation is of a satisfactory type and adequate in amount. The drain- age of the huts is reported to be good, but the arrangements for the disposal of the sewage are not so satisfactory. A sufficient remedy for this, however, could only be effected by means of a scheme of sewerage and sewage disposal which would probably cost several thousand pounds.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform me whether the report contained information to the effect that there was an open sewer within a few paces of those huts?

I intend to have an interview with the inspector who made this report, and in the event of the sewage disposal not being as satisfactory as it should be we shall probably have to take further action.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if his Department has purchased the timber on the Baggot estate, county Galway, from the Estates Commissioners for the purpose of promoting Irish forestry; and, if so, will he state what is intended to be done in the matter?

The purchase of the woods on the Baggot estate, county Galway, is at present the subject of negotiation between the Department and the Estates Commissioners. The negotiations are on the point of completion, and the woods will be vested in the Department as Trustee for the nation under the Land Purchase Act, 1903.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the officials of the Department have recently been engaged sampling sales of Irish butter in several of the large centres of population in Great Britain; whether the samples have been submitted for analysis; and with what result?

One hundred and fifteen test samples sold as Irish butter were obtained in London and Liverpool by the Department's officers, and were submitted for analysis. The analyst reported that only 22 of the samples were genuine butter.

What steps have the Department taken to stop this increasing fraud in this country—a fraud both on the producers of butter and on those to whom the margarine is sold as butter?

The administration of the Food and Drugs Act is in the hands of the local authority, and not in the hands of the Department, but the Department have sent a special officer to England and Scotland for two years past, and they are doing their best by prosecutions to bring the offenders to justice.

Have any prosecutions been ordered by the Department in consequence of the result of the analysis of this substance sold for butter?

I am not able to answer that question off-hand. There are several prosecutions going on in England at the present time. I am not sure whether the margarine prosecutions are among the number.

Has the right hon. Gentleman brought under the notice of the Local Government Board the fact that. out of 115 samples of alleged butter submitted for analysis 93 were found to consist entirely of margarine, and can he say whether the Local Government Board would not take any action on the matter?

We are in communication with the local authorities.

I beg to give notice that on this day fortnight I will ask what and how many prosecutions have been instituted in consequence of the systematic fraud that has been practised in this matter.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question. Has he brought these facts under the notice of the Local Government Board?

I do not know about the Local Government Board, but I am quite sure that we are in communication with the local councils.

When questions are addressed in this House to the Local Government Board we are referred to the Board of Agriculture for England, and when they are asked of the Board of Agriculture for England we are referred to the Local Government Board. We can get information from neither.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how these frauds were perpetrated with impunity?

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Miss Jessie Brown, a resident of Glasgow, who was arrested on the evening of Saturday, 28th December, 1907, by two constables in plain clothes and conveyed to the Southern police court and brought before a baillie there on 30th December and convicted of a charge of loitering about in Bridge-street and South Portland-street, Glasgow, and importuning five men for the purpose of prostitution; and whether the Lord Advocate has, after investigation, satisfied himself that the charge and conviction which followed thereon were both unwarranted?

My attention was directed to this case some time ago. Although the accused was convicted no punishment was imposed by the magistrate. She was simply admonished and liberated. Subsequently she was advised that if she desired to have the conviction quashed her proper course was to adopt proceedings in the High Court. This course, I am informed, she declined to follow. It is still open to her, and, if adopted, would, I understand, meet with no opposition from the criminal authorities in Glasgow. It would, in these circumstances, be improper for me to express any opinion upon the question whether or not her conviction was unwarranted.

Can the hon. Gentleman say anything about costs?

They are very small, and it is entirely in the hands of the court whether the applicant will receive them or not.

Is the hon. Member aware that this poor person has already taken legal proceedings, and has been non-suited upon a technicality; and is it a fact that evidence, medical and otherwise, has been already adduced that this poor woman is absolutely innocent of the charge altogether?

I am not aware of that. I am aware that there has been some evidence, but whether it is sufficient to warrant what my hon. Friend says I am not in a position to say. That will be entirely for the court when the case comes before them.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware of the difficulty experienced by the inhabitants of remote mountain and moorland districts, where roads are bad, in sending their children a considerable distance to school; and whether he will consider the advisability of taking steps to give power to education authorities to send teachers to such children at their homes or to make the parents an allowance towards the cost of providing teaching for the children at their homes?

I am aware of the difficulties referred to. The remedy suggested by my hon. Friend would require legislation, which I cannot undertake at present to initiate. There may, however, be other remedies, which are under my consideration.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state when the discussion on Sub-head E of the Treasury Vote will be taken?

I am not at present in a position to say when this Vote will be taken.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Labour Ministry of the Australian Commonwealth while in office decided not to offer a "Dreadnought" to the Imperial Government but to consider a scheme for the defence of Australia insteads: that the Labour Party, now in opposition, is of the same mind still; that public opinion outside of Parliament, as represented by the Press and public meetings, is also much divided on the question; and whether, under these circumstances, His Majesty's Government will delay a final acceptance of the proffered "Dreadnought" until the opinion of the electors on the question has been authoritatively made known by a general election?

No, Sir; the form in which the generous offer made by the Government of the Commonwealth will be finally accepted by His Majesty's Gov- ernment will depend upon the friendly and confidential discussion at the forthcoming Conference.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in reply to the last part of my question, say whether His Majesty's Government will delay a final acceptance of the proffered "Dreadnought" until the opinion of the electors on the question has been made known authoritatively by a general election?

No, Sir. The communication came to us from the Government of the Commonwealth, and from them alone.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the time which the work of the Session must necessarily consume, he will consider the expediency of adjourning the House during the month of August, and resuming business so soon thereafter as may be deemed necessary?

This is an attractive, though, I fear, not a practical proposal.

asked whether the holder of a grocer's off-licence, who has sub-let a portion of his premises to the Post Office or to some other tenant, will be assessed under the Finance Bill upon the whole of such premises for the purpose of licence duty?

If a portion of the premises is sub-let so as not to be in the occupation of the holder of the grocer's off-licence, that portion would not be taken into account for the purpose of ascertaining the annual value for licence duty.

asked, as regards liability to pay Income Tax in the first instance, whether in England the claim is made upon the lessee of the owner of a ground rent or upon the owner; whether in Scotland the claim is made upon the person bound to pay feu duty or upon the person entitled to the feu duty; and whether there are any differences in the mode of collecting this tax in the two countries?

Both in England and Scotland the general practice is to obtain the Income Tax applicable to ground rents and feu duties by way of deduction made by the persons liable to pay such rents or duties. There are, however, in each country certain instances in which, owing to the payer of the ground rent or feu duty being personally entitled to total exemption, it has been found convenient to collect the tax on the ground rent or feu duty direct from the recipient.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in an official form, No. 11 E, some assessors of Income Tax have stated that exemption and abatement can be obtained only by signing a form of declaration sent therewith, and giving a full statement of income from every source on page 3 of the Form of Return; and whether this statement is correct, or if a claim for exemption or abatement may be made at any time within three years of the end of the year for which the tax is charged by a person aggrieved who has appealed at the proper time?

If relief is to be given at the time of assessment, it is necessary that the particulars mentioned in Form 11 E should be furnished, but a claim for exemption or abatement by way of repayment can be made within three years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that increases in the staff will be required in the Inland Revenue Department as a result of the provisions of the Finance Bill, he will arrange that a number of the forthcoming vacancies be filled by the appointment of officers of Customs and Excise made redundant by the amalgamation of these two services; or, if not, what immediate steps he proposes to take in order to restore the natural flow of promotion in the outdoor branches of the Customs and Excise Department.

As regards the question whether increases will have to be made in the staff of the Inland Revenue in connection with the Budget proposals, I must refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 5th ultimo to the hon. Member for the Barkston Ash Division. While the absorption of redundant officers in the public service, so far as they might be suitable, would be an important consideration in arranging for an increase in the staff of any Department, it would obviously be premature for me to arrive at a decision upon a matter of this kind until the Finance Bill has become law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what he based his estimate that a grant of £600,000 to the proposed new road authority would cause a relief of 4d. in the pound in the rates; and what proportion of the £600,000 will in fact go to relieve the rates of ordinary expenditure on road maintenance, and what proportion to extraordinary expenditure for the improvement of roads in the interests of motorists?

The hon. Member has misunderstood what I said on this subject in the House on the 9th instant. I did not state that the relief likely to accrue to landlords under my proposals, which I estimated as equivalent to a remission of 4d. in the £ in the rates on agricultural land, would be due solely to the expenditure of £600,000 on the improvement of the roads; but I included in this estimate the saving which will be derived from the operation of the pension proposals of the Government. I explained in my Budget speech that the whole revenue derived from the new taxes on motor cars and motor spirit will be devoted to the improvement of the roads, subject to the control of a central authority. I do not propose that this money should be spent upon ordinary road maintenance, but it is none the less clear that it will result in a considerable saving to local authorities, who would otherwise be compelled to undertake—as I understand they have already done and are doing in many districts—costly improvements with a special view to motor traffic.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he was now prepared to consider the measure for the improvement and amendment of the law regulating school attendance in Ireland; and if he was prepared to support a Bill dealing with the subject?

I am always prepared to consider any measure for the improve- ment of education in Ireland, but I am by no means convinced that it would now be expedient to extend the provisions for compulsory attendance at schools in Ireland, and particularly until some agreement has been come to as to their proper cleansing and heating.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he was aware that the Galway County Council at the present moment are unable to collect rates due on land, purchased by Estates Commissioners and divided amongst tenants, in at least 10 townlands in consequence of the valuation not having been revised at the time of division, and that under the present system two years' rates will become due, together with arrears, before rates can be collected; and will he make such alteration as may be necessary, so that the rates may be collected in such cases without entailing loss to the county?

I understand that the facts are as stated. Under the existing law the Commissioner of Valuation has power to issue revised valuation lists once a year only, namely, on or before 1st March, and the lists for revision must be forwarded to him by the local authorities in the previou sJune. The Commissioner has a certain discretion as to accepting supplemental lists, and he informs me that in the case of county Galway the period for lodging cases for revision has been extended to the utmost limit. The difficulty in this and similar cases is due to the interval which must elapse between the date on which the tenant purchasers came into occupation of the lands and the time when the revised valuation can be officially brought into the rate books. I have no power to alter the procedure which is prescribed by law.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will ask the Estates Commissioners to have a further inspection of Mr. John Creagh Harnett's farm, at Knocknacrohy, near Abbeyfeale, county Kerry, with a view of enlarging uneconomic holdings and giving allotments to the labourers of the district; whether he is aware that Mr. Harnett is willing to sell; and whether, in view of the congestion in the district, the Estates Commissioners will do what they can to secure Mr. Harnett's farm?

The Estates Commissioners intimated to Mr. Harnett the price which they would be prepared to advance for the lands if sold to them, but he was unwilling to sell at such price, and has not instituted proceedings for sale under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Commissioners cannot see their way to increase their price Dr to have a further inspection made.

Is it not a fact that this is a largely congested district, and that there is a large number of uneconomic holdings, and in view of that will he say whether they will reconsider their action with a view to securing this farm?

The only way they could secure the farm is by an increased price, and they are not disposed to give that.

Is it not a fact that in other districts the Estates Commissioners have not only agreed to an increased price, but have also allowed a considerable amount for fines?

asked the Secretary of State for War if commanding officers of Yeomanry regiments were invited by letter from the War Office, at the time when recruiting was proceeding slowly last year, to recruit above their strength, and that subsequently those who responded to the appeal were told that they could not bring out for training those who have been enlisted beyond the strength?

No such letter was circulated last year by the War Office. Perhaps the hon. Member is alluding to a circular letter of last March, which authorised Territorial units to enlist recruits above establishment in order to provide for possible losses arising from discharges among those who enlisted in the Territorial Force for one year only. The letter, however, laid down clearly that such men so long as they were supernumerary were not to be allowed to attend the annual training in camp.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can hold out any hopes of an increase in the retiring allowance of quartermasters and riding masters holding the rank of major?

This subject is still receiving consideration.

I beg to ask my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister whether he is now prepared to say what course the Government propose to take with regard to the Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill?

Yes, Sir, I am. In view of the pressure of business this Session, the Government have come to the conclusion that it will be impossible to carry through all its stages so highly contentious a measure as the Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill, and they have, therefore, decided to make the Bill the first Government measure and to pass it through all its stages (in this House) next year.