asked the Home Secretary what was the number of accidents in the slate quarries of Carnarvonshire during the year ending 31st December, 1908, giving separately those to men working inside and outside the quarries; and what was the number of men employed inside and outside the quarries?

At the slate quarries of Carnarvonshire, in the year 1908, there were nine fatal accidents inside the quarries, causing the death of ten persons, and three fatal accidents outside, causing the death of three persons—total thirteen. In the same period 633 nonfatal accidents, involving an absence of more than seven days from work, happened inside the quarries and 260 outside—893 in all; 893 persons were injured by these accidents. The number of persons employed inside the quarries was 3,101; outside, 4,707; total, 7,808.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many special service ships will be manned for the forthcoming manœuvres, specifying the proportion of active service ratings, coastguards, and Naval Reserve men?

The number of special service ships to be mobilised for manœuvres is 16. They will be fully manned, but it is not desirable to publish the manning details.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state how many men were employed at Devonport Dockyard on 24th October, 1908, and 1st March, 1909, respectively; how many are at present under notice; and whether he will consider the possibility, in the interest of economy, of stopping further discharges and employing usefully the extensive machinery recently erected at Devonport and at present lying idle?

The number of workmen employed on 24th October, 1908, were 8,510, and on 1st March, 1909, 9,323. No Vote VIII. men are at present under notice of discharge on reduction at Devonport. It is not known to what machinery reference is made, but all necessary use which the work demands is being made of the plant available at the yard.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the coastguard station at Dalkey, county Dublin, has been sold or let, or is intended to be sold or let, for the purposes of a sanatorium?

The Admiralty propose to dispose of this property, but no decision as to its future purpose has been taken.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the displacement of the "Neptune"; will she be a solitary unit of a class or will she correspond to the "St. Vincent" or "Hercules" types?

It is not considered desirable to give any particulars of the "Neptune" or later vessels at present.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if it is the intention of the Admiralty to test internal combustion engines for propulsive engines in any of the vessels of this year's programme?

No arrangements have been made for fitting these engines in the ships of any class this year for which they were not adopted previously.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what is the amount voted by Parliament for paying compensation for animals slaughtered under the Diseases of Animals Acts; is there any unexpended balance which would be available to pay for compensation under the new Tuberculosis Order of the Board; or will a supplemental grant be asked for?

Provision is not specifically made in the Vote for paying compensation, but a sum of £40,100 is provided for the current financial year, out of which certain expenses incurred by the Board in the administration of the Diseases of Animals Act are defrayed. There is no unexpected balance available for the purpose mentioned. The payment of compensation for animals slaughtered by local authorities under the Tuberculosis Order will be a charge on local rates in conformity with section 19 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether the Small Holdings Commissioners have as yet inquired, in accordance with section 3 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, into the applications for land at God-stone and Beddington, in Surrey; and whether, having regard to the fact that the suitability or otherwise of the applicants does not appear to have been investigated by the county council, they will at once make the necessary inquiries and suggest a scheme for each place to the county council?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Board understand that the applications have been investigated by the county council, but if my hon. Friend can supply me with information to the contrary, the Board will make inquiry into the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the following substances when found in Great Britain are to be considered minerals within the meaning of clause 12 of the Finance Act: abriachanite, acanthite, acmite, actinolite, adamite, adinole, adularia, ægerine, æschwnite, agalmatolite, aikinite, alabandine, alabaster, alalite, albertite, albite, alexandrite, algodonite, allanite, allemontite, allochroite, allamorphite, allopalladium, allophane, almandine, alstonite, altaite, alum, aluminite, alunite, alunogene, amalgam, amazonstone, amber amblygonite, amblystegite, amethyst, amianthus, amphibole, amphodelite, analcime, anatase, anauxite, andalusite, andesine, anglesite, anhydrite, ankerite, annabergite, annerodite, annivite, anomite, anorthite, anthophyllite, anthracite, anthraconite, antigorite, antimonial nickel, antimony, apatite, aphrite, aphrodite, apophyllite, aquamarine, aragonite, arcanite, ardennite, arfuedsonite, argentite, arkausite, arksutite, arquerite, arsenic, arseniosiderite, arsenolite, asbestos, asphaltum, astrakanite, anthophyllite, atacamite, atopite, augite, aurichalcite, avaite, avanturine, axinite, and azurite?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given to-day in the House to the hon. Members for the Holborn Division and for Darlington.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the number of samples of worts or beer taken from brewers for sale for analysis of the original gravity during the period when the Inland Revenue staff, through work in connection with the Old Age Pensions Act, was insufficiently manned, say, during each of the half-years ending the 31st March, 1908, and the 31st March, 1909, with, for each of these periods, the number of brewers sampled and the number of cases in which the original gravity was found to exceed by one degree or more the gravity entered by the brewer; the number of surcharges of duty; the number of compromise fines inflicted, stating the highest and lowest fines; the number of prosecutions in court; and the number of cases pending?

The information requested is as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will follow the precedent of the late Prime Minister in the case of the Small Holdings Bill, and issue as a Parliamentary Paper extracts from evidence and Reports of Parliamentary Committees and Commissions bearing on the land taxes proposed in the Finance Bill?

I am considering the question of laying before the House various information bearing upon the Land Values Duties, including particulars as to the legislation on this subject now in force in certain British Colonies, and I will note in this connection the suggestion made by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated consumption of domestic and imported spirits during 1909–10?

:I assume that by estimated consumption the hon. Member means the amount of spirits which it is estimated will pay duty and be retained for home consumption in 1909–10. The figures are as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of death duties chargeable on estates of persons dying in the last financial year, according to the rates of the Finance Act of 1894, Finance Act of 1907, Finance Bill of 1909, distinguishing estates under £150,000, £150,000 to £1,000,000, and £1,000,000 and upwards respectively?

These detailed figures could only be ascertained at the expenditure of a very great amount of time and labour, and, with every desire to comply with the wishes of the hon. Member so far as may be practicable, I do not feel justified at the present juncture in imposing this additional burthen on the Inland Revenue Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the question of restoring to the county of Huntingdon the county battalion which existed previously to the creation of the Territorial Army?

In preparing the scheme for the formation of the Territorial Force, units were allotted to counties mainly on the basis of population, and the county of Huntingdon was allotted the maintenance of half a battalion. As three of the Huntingdonshire companies are considerably below establishment it would be premature to consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will be good enough to circulate to Members copies of or extracts from all Acts quoted in the Milk and Dairies Bill, so far as is needed for the right understanding of that Bill?

The Bill contains very few references to other Acts, and such references as there are occur only in subsidiary provisions relating to the machinery for carrying the measure into effect. The Bill can, I think, easily be understood without them, and in the circumstances I hardly feel justified in throwing upon public funds the cost which would be involved in reprinting the enactments.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, with reference to the estimate as to the cost of relief per pauper in England and Wales, given on page 59 of the recent Blue Book on public health and social conditions, whether he will state how much of the cost per head of paupers relieved in Poor Law institutions is attributable to in-maintenance, and how much to salaries of officers and other charges; and what would be the total annual expenditure if all adult paupers now in Poor Law institutions or in receipt of out-relief were to receive an allowance of 5s. a week instead of continuing to receive Poor Law relief?

The average annual cost of relief to an indoor pauper in England and Wales for the year 1906–7, which is estimated at £29 5s. on page 59 of the publication mentioned by my hon. Friend, includes £12 10s. for in-maintenance, the remaining £16 15s. representing salaries of officers, loan charges, and other expenses in respect of indoor relief. The number of adult paupers (excluding lunatics in asylums, etc., and casual paupers), who were relieved on 1st January, 1908, was 586,705, comprising 207,455 indoor and 379,250 outdoor paupers. If an allowance of 5s. per week were made in these cases, the annual cost, apart from any expenses of administration, would be about £7,627,000, i.e., £2,697,000 for indoor, and £4,930,000 for outdoor paupers. Of the 207,455 indoor paupers, however, 186,895, or 90 per cent., were classed either as not able-bodied paupers or insane, or—if ordinarily able-bodied—as being relieved on account of sickness or temporary disability. Hence it must be anticipated that a very large proportion of the indoor poor would be debarred, on medical grounds alone, from availing themselves of an allowance intended for their support outside poor law institutions.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the last examinations for assistants of Excise and assistants of Customs were held in May, 1908, and July, 1908, respectively; whether the schemes of the two examinations were dissimilar; and, if so, whether in future examinations under a new scheme for the combined post of assistant of Customs and Excise will be held?

The last examinations for assistants of Excise and assistants of Customs were held in May, 1908, and August, 1908, respectively. The schemes of the two examinations were not identical, but it is contemplated that in future there shall be only one scheme of examination for the post of assistant in the joint service.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can say when the next examination is likely to take place for assistants of Excise and Customs; and whether, in view of the present uncertainty as to the subjects of the examination, he will consider the advisability of publishing a scheme for the information of intending candidates?

It is not known at present when the next examination for entrants to the Customs and Excise Service will take place. The scheme of examination for future candidates is under consideration, and due notice of it will be given before any examination is held.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the advertisement of a certain firm of manufacturers of school furniture in Dublin to the effect that the desk made by them is the only desk approved of and recommended by the Board of Works, Ireland, and that other firms pretend that they have the Board's patterns, but that no other standard than theirs has official authority; will he state if desks manufactured by any other firm have been accepted for use under specifications of the Board; and, if so, will he state the number of such cases and give the names?

I have seen the advertisement which the hon. Member has kindly supplied to me. Since the date of his question of 6th May on the same subject the Board of Works have approved the pattern of adjustable desk forwarded by one other firm, viz., Messrs. Hearne, of Waterford. I may add that the Board are prepared to consider any number of patterns that may be submitted to them and to approve those that may be found suitable.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he is aware that the revenue from the sale of intoxicating liquors and drugs in the province of Madras rose from £1,274,139 in 1905–6 to £1,699,830 in 1908–9, and that a further increase of £66,660 is estimated for the current year; whether there has been since 1906–7 an increase in the number of shops for the sale of country liquor in proportion to the population; whether he is aware that the sales per shop rose from 138 gallons in terms of proof strength in 1906–7 to 152 gallons per shop in 1907–8; and whether, in view of the increased consumption which these figures indicate, he can state what measures the Government intend to adopt in order to check the further spread of the drinking habit.

The facts are as stated by the hon. Member. They indicate a serious increase in the consumption of alcoholic liquor in the Madras Presidency. The Secretary of State is informed that the Madras Government has taken steps since October last to reduce the number of shops, to raise the duty on country spirit, and to discourage the consumption of strong liquor. An inquiry into the number and location of liquor shops has been carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Excise Committee. The reductions contemplated represent one-tenth of the shops open in 1907–8.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is yet in a position to say when a reply may be expected to the memorial addressed to him by the women typists in Government Departments on 17th May last with respect to the new scheme of salaries for typists in the General Post Office?

A reply has been sent.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whet-her he is now in a position to give the House information as to the sale to the tenants of the Crossle estate, Cookstown union, townlands of Tolvin and Tullyodonnel, county Tyrone, in view of the fact that a year ago he stated on behalf of the Estates Commissioners that an offer would very soon be made?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the land judge did not accept the offer made by them in this case. An amended offer has recently been made, and is now before the land judge for consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary whether there are now ready about 300 acres on the Lord Rathdonnell estate to be divided among evicted tenants, from whom 250 applications have been made; if so, whether he can state if it is the intention of the Estates Commissioners to first of all reinstate tenants in the locality before any alloments are made to men from a distance; and, if not, will he say why this is not to be done?

The Estates Commissioners are acquiring 301 acres of untenanted land on the estate referred to under the Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Act, 1907, but no scheme has yet been approved for the allotment of the land when acquired.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a proposal is at present before the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland to amalgamate the National schools at Derryboy, Raffrey and Barnamaghery, county Down; if so, can lie state the reason; and can he give the average attendance at the three schools for the past three years?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the amalgamation of these three schools has been suggested officially in connection with an application for a grant towards building a new schoolhouse for the Derryboy National school alone. The reasons for the proposal are that all three schools are small, no one of them making an average sufficient for two fully qualified teachers; that the Barnamaghery school is unnecessary; that a new schoolhouse is required for the Derryboy school; that the three schools are situated so close to one another that a school built on a site centrally situated would accommodate the great majority of the pupils, while the remainder could go to outlying schools; and that the teaching in one large central school would be of much better quality than in the three small existing schools. The following are the averages of attendance at the three schools for the past three years:—

asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that several applications have been made since 30th April, 1908, to the Land Commission for a lease of a plot of land purchased from Mrs. Rea, Ballynease, county Derry, for the purpose of a teacher's residence; whether, consequent on the death of the tenant's husband, an application was made for a new land certificate, but that, although 14 months have elapsed, the application has not yet been granted; and whether he can state the cause of the delay?

I am informed that in the case referred to in the question Mrs. Rea at the end of July last applied to the Land Commission for liberty to sub-divide her holding, which is subject to the provisions of the 54th section of the Irish Land Act, 1903, with a view to selling two roods of it for the purpose of the erection thereon of a national school teacher's residence. The Commissioners consented to the division of the holding as proposed, and so informed the solicitor for the applicant in September last. Legal difficulties have, however, arisen in the matter owing to the death of Mrs. Rea's husband, who was the original purchaser of the holding. These have now been disposed of, and Mrs. Rea's title to the lands will be registered at once. She will then receive notice in due course from the local registration office giving her full instructions as to the method of obtaining her land certificate.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say what is the cause of delay on the part of the Estates Commissioners in apportioning the untenanted land at Stylepark, in the county of Limerick, amongst the evicted tenants in the county; have they yet purchased and taken over the lands; and when may they be divided and given to 'the evicted tenants?

The property referred to has been purchased by the Estates Commissioners, and an inspector has been directed to prepare a scheme for the division of the untenanted lands as soon as possible.