asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will 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?

furnished the following particulars:—

GERMANY.

The last four alterations in the import duties on wheat in Germany took effect from the 1st July, 1885, the 26th November, 1887, the 1st February, 1892, and the 1st March, 1906. The statement below gives the rates of import duty in each of the years following these alterations, and also shows the official average price of wheat for the Kingdom of Prussia, the "Gazette" average price of British wheat in the United Kingdom, and the average declared value of wheat imported into the United Kingdom in each of the same years:—

FRANCE.

The last four alterations in the import duties on wheat in France (exclusive of the changes involved in a temporary suspension of duty during two months in 7898) took effect from 30th March, 1887; 10th July, 1891; 1st June, 1892; and 1st March, 1894. The statement below gives the rates of import duty in each of the years following these alterations and also shows the official average price of wheat for France, the "Gazette" average price of British wheat in the United Kingdom and the average declared value of wheat imported into the United Kingdom in each of the same years:—

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total amount hitherto expended under the present or late Government on Stobs Camp, including purchase of land, roads, bridges, railway sidings, sheds, kitchens, tent-floors, etc.; and whether, in view of the fact that only 700 Regulars and 48 Volunteers used the camp in 1908, he will take steps, by improvements in the camp, to remove the prejudice now existing against it, and so bring about a better use of public moneys now lying idle?

The total sum expended on the items enumerated amounts to £85,409 10s. 5d., including about £50,009 for purchase money. The ground is very suitable for the object for which it was purchased, and for which money was spent

on it—that is for the training of troops, and it is not considered necessary to incur any further expenditure in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the Artists Corps is to be reduced to 400 men; whether the corps at present has 700 men in the ranks; and when was the decision to effect the reduction arrived at.

After careful consideration it has been decided that if this unit can undertake that a percentage of its members will be prepared to join the Terri- torial Force as officers, if required, on mobilisation, the War Office will be justified in giving the corps in exchange for this undertaking a full establishment of eight companies. The strength of this unit on 1st June amounted to 25 officers and 637 non-commissioned officers and men.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty have recently been buying secondhand steam trawlers; and, if so, what has been the price paid for them?

Four such vessels have been purchased. It is not considered desirable at this stage to publish the prices paid.

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

supplied the following particulars:—

Vessels belonging to foreign Powers which have been removed from the effective list since January, 1908:—

Japan—

1 Coast defence vessel, "Fuso."

2 Gunboats, "Chokai" and "Maya."

8 Torpedo boats, "Kotaka," "Fukuryo," and Nos. 8, 9, 11, 14, 26, and 27.

United States—

3 Gunboats, "Calamianes," "Mariveles," and "Shearwater."

1 Transport, "Zafiro."

Germany—

4 Unprotected cruisers, "Sophie," "Stein," "Charlotte," and "Blucher."

1 Gunboat, "Ulan."

France—

Removed from effective list:—

To be condemned in addition:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the total number of officers and men it takes to work a vessel of the "Dreadnought" class?

The numbers vary in different ships of this class, but, roughly speaking, 700 is the figure.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state the result of the negotiations for the purchase of a site for the new post office in Collinstown, county Westmeath?

The newly appointed sub-postmistress of Collinstown has experienced considerable difficulty in procuring accommodation for the post office, but it is hoped that the matter will shortly be settled satisfactorily.

asked the Home Secretary whether an offer was made by Our Dumb Friends League to supply the Metropolitan Police stations with the humane horse-slaughterer in order to enable the police to fulfil their duties under the Injured Animals Act, 1907; whether this offer was declined; and what was the reason for the refusal?

This offer, and a similar one from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals several years ago, were declined, because it is desirable to retain the practice of permitting skilled persons only to slaughter an injured animal with this instrument, which in unskilled hands may be dangerous if used in a public street. My predecessor agreed that, if the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would supply the instrument gratis to the veterinary surgeons employed by the police, a higher fee should be paid by the police in cases where it was used; but I understand that this arrangement had no definite result because of the reluctance of the veterinary surgeons to act as slaughterers. I am informed, however, that the society are always ready to supply the instrument, and that it is, in fact, practically always used by the slaughterers whom the police employ. Out of 77 horses slaughtered in the Metropolitan Police district during the last six months the instrument was used in 75 cases. I may add that the Act of 1907 does not require the police to slaughter an injured animal themselves.

asked the Home Secretary what steps he proposes to take towards the provision of one day's rest in seven for the London police?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the full statement which I made in the House yesterday in answer to several questions on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention had been called to the inconvenience caused to the public in the morning by carts and vans remaining stationary for long periods in Berkeley Street, Piccadilly; and whether, having regard to the narrowness and the importance of the thoroughfare in question, he will place a police constable on point duty in it to keep the way clear?

I am aware that the street is much used in the morning by vans delivering goods at clubs, business premises, and private houses. These vans, however, are not allowed to remain longer than necessary for this purpose. There is little general traffic before 11 a.m., by which time the street is practically clear of vans. The street is under constant supervision. There is already a fixed point at the Piccadilly end, and I am advised that there is no occasion to establish another.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he has any power to intervene in the appointment of a certifying surgeon for the parish of Kilwinning; and, if so, whether he will use his influence to secure a continuance of what has hitherto been the practice—namely, that the appointment for the burgh and the parish shall not be held by one person?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. It is the case that for a long time different certifying surgeons have been appointed for the burgh and parish of Kil- winning respectively. Both districts, however, are small. The burgh has a population of only 4,556, with 16 factories, and the parish a population of 3,559, with 8 factories, and there is very little work altogether in the two districts for a certifying surgeon. It is proposed, therefore, as the post of surgeon for the parish has become vacant, to combine the districts, in accordance with the established policy of the Department, and to appoint the present surgeon for the burgh to the combined district. The practice of amalgamating the smaller certifying surgeon districts has been found to work extremely well, and, after consideration, I have approved of the arrangement proposed by the chief inspector.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will publish the figures showing the number of students who left college nearly 12 months ago, and have not yet obtained schools; and whether he is prepared to consider the desirability of altering the training college course, so that one set of students complete their training at a different time from the rest, and thus to a certain extent graduate the supply?

I am considering the advisability of obtaining the figures referred to in the first part of the question. I regret that my hon. Friend's suggestion in the second paragraph is not practicable, but I may point out that the supply is, to a certain extent, graduated by the fact that the Certificate Examination is held in December, while the examinations for students in training colleges take place in July.

asked the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been called to the insufficiency of teachers' training colleges and also to their denominational character, thus precluding many of the teachers from having had the benefit of collegiate training; and whether in view of this fact he will modify the rule recently issued that teachers will be excluded from future promotion on this ground?

The provision, which will be included in the forthcoming Code, limiting head-teacherships to teachers who have satisfactorily completed a course of training in a training college, will not apply to persons who have been recognised as certificated prior to 1st August, 1910. The provisions of the Training College Regulations, under which access is secured to half the vacant places in each college without denominational restriction, combined with the increased accommodation available in the colleges provided by local education authorities, may be expected to prevent the infliction of any hardship on teachers becoming certificated after 1910.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the value of postage and Inland Revenue stamps used on Stock Exchange contracts and sale notes, respectively, in each of the last three previous years?

The Stamp Duty above 1d. on Contract Notes for the three years ended 31st March, 1909, was as under:—

The Stamp Duty of 1d. on Contract Notes (of the value of £5 and under £100) cannot be distinguished, as the duty is included among the other postage and 1d. Inland Revenue stamps.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in calculating the annual value of licensed premises in respect of premises where auxiliary or accompanying trades are carried on, a divided assessment will be permitted so that only the part used for the licensed business will be valued in arriving at the duty to be paid; and, if the licensee carries on a livery and posting business, will the stables be separated in arriving at the figure for licence duty?

The answer to the first part of this question is that if there is no structural separation of the premises between the portion used for the sale of liquors and the portion used for auxiliary or accompanying trades the duty on the Excise licence will be charged according to the annual value of the whole of the premises, and the answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked what was the estimated annual yield of the new brewers' licence duty; and what was the yield of the old licence duty in the last financial year?

According to the last report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, which relates to the financial year ending 31st March, 1908, the number of licences granted to brewers of beer for sale in that year was 4,808, and the duty at the present rate of £1 per licence would amount to £4,808. I am unable to say what amount will be received from the new licence duty, as that duty depends upon the number either of bulk or of standard barrels (at the option of each brewer) brewed at the brewery. The total number of barrels brewed in that year is given in the same report as 35,359,024 bulk barrels and 34,491,415 standard barrels.

asked what was the quantity of spirits on which Customs and Excise duty was paid during the month of April last?

The figures for the month of April last are:—