asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the advisability of so improving the conditions under which naval ships' cooks work that the full benefit of the new scheme of victualling, and the general messing system, may accrue to the men of the lower deck; whether, whilst it is necessary every man in a man-of-war should assist in action as a fighting unit, he will arrange that ships' cooks be ex cused from all possible evolutions during the forenoon whilst dinners are being prepared and cooked, and that sufficient coal for culinary purposes be placed in the cooking galleys by recognised coaling parties in order that the men may benefit by the undivided attention to cooking by the staff; that every possible opportunity be afforded to the cookery staff to attend and qualify in cookery at the National School of Cookery; and that a definite enclosed mess be allocated for cook ratings in depots and ships, adjacent to the galley, as the present system is very unsatisfactory?

The question of improving the cookery arrangements in the Fleet is constantly receiving attention, and its importance to the success of the new scheme of victualling is fully recognised. The points raised in the second part of the question are connected with the internal economy of a ship, which are left to the discretion of the commanding officer, and the Admiralty do not consider it desirable to fetter his discretion in this respect. The ship's cook class have their stations at general quarters, but it may be assumed that they are otherwise excused as far as is possible from all extraneous work during the hours when meals are being prepared. Cook ratings qualify at the schools of cookery at the naval barracks at the home ports, where they are trained under instructors who have qualified at the National Training School of Cookery. The exigencies of the service do not admit of the attendance of more than a limited number of men at the latter establishment. I am not aware of any grounds for the statement that the present system is unsatisfactory, and the suggestion that all cook ratings should mess together is open to objections from a disciplinary point of view. Such an arrangement would also probably be unpopular with chief ships' cooks and ships' cooks, who mess with chief petty officers and petty officers under present conditions, and it is contrary to the Admiralty policy which is that as a general rule chief petty officers, and as far as possible petty officers, should be provided with messing accommodation separate from the rest of the ship's company.

asked the First Lord of Admiralty whether any of the forts on the coasts of Durham or Northumberland are armed with 12-inch guns; and whether any gun in the forts in those counties exceeds seven inches?

It is not considered in the interests of the public service to give any information concerning the defences in question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will say what discharges of workmen have taken place in Portsmouth Dockyard within the past month, and if, and to what extent, further discharges are contemplated in the near future; and whether such discharges are in the nature of a reduction of the establishment there or merely by way of an adjustment of trades, and in the latter event have other men been, or will be, engaged?

During the past month 100 men have been discharged and 23 are now under notice for discharge; no further discharges are contemplated in the near future. The discharges have been mainly in the nature of adjustments between trades, 50 men having during the period referred to been transferred from the engineering to the constructive department, while 48 fresh entries have also been made in the latter department.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that complaints have been received from the Warwickshire as well as from the Shropshire Yeomanry that the forage was so bad that the horses would not eat it, he will give the name of the general officer to whom the complaints are to be addressed?

The complaints should be addressed by the commanding officers to the brigadier commanding their brigade, who would, if he thought the case justified such a course, send the complaint to the general officer commanding-in-chief, Southern Command.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether his attention has been called to the destruction done by rabbits on properties adjoining Salisbury Plain, near Kimpton; whether he will issue orders for their extermination; and how many accidents have been caused to troop horses during the last 12 months owing to the prevalence of rabbit-holes on the Government land?

I have called for a report on this subject.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state the average price of store cattle in May, 1909; the average price in May of the preceding 10 years; the percentage of difference this year; and how the latest reports compare with the June prices of the last 10 years?

The average prices of store cattle, per head, in fairs reported to the Department in May, 1909, together with the average prices in May of the ten years 1900-1909, and the percentage of difference between these two averages are as follows:—

The Department have no record of monthly prices before 1900.

The Returns of store prices in the month of June indicate so far an average in the several classes above the average of the preceding 10 years for the month of June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the provisions of the Labour Exchanges Bill, he can state the approximate number of skilled and unskilled labourers at present out of employment in Ireland, classified according to localities, trades, and sexes; and what is the estimated cost of the working of the new scheme in Ireland?

There are no means at present of ascertaining, even approximately, the total number of workpeople out of work. Such returns as are received from trade unions cover only a small proportion of the working population in Ireland. It is hoped that when Labour Ex- changes have been established for some time fuller information as to the extent of unemployment in Ireland will be available. It is proposed to begin by establishing Labour Exchanges in temporary premises in about six of the principal towns, with a proportion of sub-offices, but I am not prepared at the present moment to state the cost of hiring and adapting such premises.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the provisions of the Labour Exchanges Bill, whether he can state the number and location of the Labour Bureaux already in existence in Ireland, and the average number of cases dealt with annually; and whether, under the Bill, it is intended to draft labourers from Ireland to Great Britain and vice versâ ?

So far as I am aware there are no Labour Exchanges in Ireland

as distinct from the registers kept by the distress committees at Dublin, Belfast, and Galway. It is not the intention that the proposed Labour Exchanges shall encourage migration generally, but that they shall assist persons for whom definite situations have been found to move, and thus take advantage of such situations while at the same time discouraging the movement of labourers when not really required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to page 5 of the Foreign Trade and Commerce Return last issued, whether the figures relating to the exports of Germany for the three months ended March are provisional or rectified figures for each of the three years reviewed; and if he will see that in future the precise character of the figures is stated in a footnote and not vaguely indicated on page 4 of this publication?

further asked the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to the monthly White Paper, entitled Accounts relating to the Trade and Commerce of Certain Foreign Countries and British Possessions, if he will see that in future the corrected Trade Returns of such countries as Germany, where provisional figures are first issued, are printed in the publication, as soon as received, side by side with the preliminary figures, with a note directing attention to the nature of the rectification?

The figures relating to the exports of Germany in 1907 and 1908 in the table referred to are definitive; those for 1909 are provisional. In accordance with my answer to my hon. Friend's question on 20th May, I have considered the question of giving greater prominence in the Monthly Accounts of the Trade and Commerce of Foreign Countries to the explanation of the difference between the system of valuation of imports and exports adopted in the United Kingdom and other countries, and propose to make the necessary alteration in the next issue of the Accounts. I will consider in this connection how far it may be practicable to adopt the further suggestion contained in my hon. Friend's second question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he could see his way to promote legislation to grant abatement of Income Tax to British public officials continuously resident out of the country on public duty for over six months annually, even though they rent a small residence in Great Britain?

Such officials are chargeable to Income Tax as residents in the United Kingdom, and I regret that I cannot see my way to alter the law in their favour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in some instances old age pensions officers have upwards of 1,600 pensioners in the area under their charge; whether the Board of Inland Revenue considers this number excessive; and what steps it is proposed to take?

In any existing case of this kind the officer, though in nominal charge of the area, has the assist- ance of another officer in the performance of his work. There has not at any time been any intention of allotting so large a number of pensioners to one officer, and in the rearrangement of areas, which is being carried out, every effort will be made to equalise the work, and to prevent any undue amount of pension work being allotted to one officer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he could state the consumption of British spirits and foreign spirits per head of the population in Scotland, Ireland, and England and Wales for the years 1906, 1907 and 1908?

The consumption of British spirits (potable) and foreign and Colonial spirits (potable) per head of the population in England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland in each of the calendar years 1906, 1907 and 1908 was:—

asked the Paymaster-General whether the provision in The-Teachers' Superannuation Act, 1898, that disablement allowances should be reconsidered at intervals not exceeding three years, implies that when an allowance has been reconsidered it shall not be withdrawn for at least three years; whether he is aware that the pension to Mrs. E. E. Austin was reconsidered and renewed in the year 1907, and that the allowance was stopped in 1909; and, if any irregularity has been committed with regard to the treatment of this matter, whether he can undertake to have the allowance restored and any back payment that may be due handed to Mrs. Austin?

There has been no irregularity. The matter is governed by section 2 (3) of the Act and the rules thereunder, No. 23 (1) of which provides for the suspension, determination or reduction of a disablement allowance if at any time after the grant thereof, whether on the periodical reconsideration of the allowance or not any of the prescribed disqualifications are found to apply; and one of these disqualifications arises under section 2 (3) of the Act if the recipient "becomes in such a position as not to be in pecuniary need of the allowance." During the present year it was found for the first time that the joint income of this teacher and her husband (including Mrs. Austin's disablement allowance of £31 15s. 8d. per annum) amounted to £440 per annum. There was no alternative but to suspend the allowance under the above quoted rule. The Treasury are advised that in view of section 2·(2) of the Act they have no power in such a case as this to award the teacher a superannuation allowance or an annuity. But they have felt justified in continuing Mrs. Austin's disablement allowance to an extent equal to the small annuity produced by her own contributions to the Teachers' Deferred Annuity Fund, which, however, covered a period of two years only.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he was aware that Mary Harkin, Tullyhullion, Drumbollogue, East Donegal, made application for an old age pension on 29th September, 1908; that she gave particulars as to her age and circumstances to the pension officer on 31st October, and on 19th January inquiry was made why she did not get her pension, and was then told that there was no record of her application; that on 13th February she was noticed to attend at Drumbollogue post office to give particulars as to her parents to send to the Census Office; that on 5th April application was made to her for the same information she had given on 13th February; that on 1st May her son wrote to the Census Office to find her age, and on 6th had a reply stating that she was 76 years; that the Letterkenny pensions committee on 2nd May granted her a pension of 5s. weekly; and whether he will have this case inquired into, and Mary Harkin paid the arrears that are due to her from 1st January?

The essential facts are as stated in the question, except that there is no record of an inquiry by the pensioner on 19th January. Further inquiry will be made as to the delay which has occurred in dealing with the claim. There is no power under the Act to pay a pension in respect of any period prior to the allowance of the claim by the pension committee, but if it appears, as the result of the further inquiries which are being made that the delay was due to a failure in duty on the part of a Government officer the Treasury will consider whether any compensation can be made to the pensioner.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, since the advent of motor omnibuses and other motor traffic, the expenditure on the maintenance and cleansing of the roads in London has largely increased; whether he will ascertain from the London road authorities the probable amount of such increased expenditure; whether he is aware that the increased burden falls upon London rate-payers, and is not met to any extent by Government grants; and whether he can take any steps with a view of relieving the ratepayers of London from this addition to burdens which have been admitted by the Royal Commission on Local Taxation to be unduly heavy as compared with the rest of the country?

The following table gives particulars of the expenditure on the maintenance and cleansing of the public roads in London in recent years:—

It will be seen that the expenditure in 1907-8 was actually less than that in 1901–2, though in the intervening years it was somewhat greater. I am aware that any such increase was borne by the ratepayers. I am not in a position to take steps with a view to relieving them of it, pending the consideration by the Government of the general question involved.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether in each of the following Poor Law Unions in Hampshire, namely, Romsey, New Forest, Lymington, Christchurch, Ringwood, and Fordingbridge, he will ascertain what proportion, or how many indoor paupers at the present time, would be able or willing to avail themselves of an allowance of 5s. a week intended for their support outside the Poor Law institutions if offered to them; and what would be the total cost and the cost in each Union?

I have considered my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I doubt whether the results likely to be obtained from the special inquiry which it would be necessary to make to give effect to it would be of sufficient value to justify such an inquiry being undertaken.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he can give the number of persons reported as employed in the Census of 1851, and in the Census of 1901?

I have communicated with the Registrar-General on this subject, and I find that the Census Reports do not afford the means of ascertaining the number of persons employed, as the persons enumerated were required to state their usual occupation without specifying whether they were employed or unemployed at the date of the enumeration.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he has received the recommendations of the Government of India with regard to the reorganisation of the Indian Telegraph Department; and whether there is any prospect that the Government of India can see their way to assimilate the pay of the administrative grades of the Telegraph Department to that of the Public Works Department?

(in the absence of Mr. Buchanan): The Secretary of State has not received the recommendations of the Government of India, but is expecting them shortly.

asked whether the reply of the Government of India has yet been received as to the advisability of making officers of the Indian Army eligible for rewards for qualifying as interpreters in European languages other than Russian?

A reply has been received from the Government of India, and is under the consideration of the Secretary of State.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state if an application for reinstatement has been received from John M'Kiernan for his farm at Drumkielvy, Mohill, county Leitrim, on the estate of Mr. George White, Cloone, Grange, as this estate has been sold about 18 months ago to the tenants?

No such application has been received by the Estates Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state when Francis O'Rorke, as representative of Francis Masterson, Tully North, on the estate of the Earl of Leitrim, Francis Doulon, Errew, on the estate of Mr. Latouche, and Patrick Reilly, Killahurk, on the estate of Colonel Storey, all evicted tenants in the vicinity of Carrigallen, county Leitrim, will be reinstated in their homes, or have the inspector's reports in those cases been favourable to the evicted tenants?

The Estates Commissioners have decided to take no action in reference to Francis O'Rorke's application for reinstatement to a holding from which his grand-uncle was evicted on title. Francis Donlan's former holding is in the occupation of another tenant, and his name will be considered in the allotment of untenanted land to be acquired by the Commissioners. No application for reinstatement appears to have been lodged by Patrick Reilly.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that during the Chief Secretaryship of Mr. John Morley a Resolution in favour of extending the Allotments Act to Ireland was unanimously passed by the House of Commons; and whether he will take measures to carry that Resolution into immediate effect during the present Session?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my predecessor to a question on the same subject asked by him on 16th July, 1906. I have nothing to add to that reply.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of the delay in the reinstatement of the representative of the late Mr. Thomas Berry, having regard to the fact that the case has been in the hands of the inspector to the Estates Commissioners for upwards of three years?

The Commissioners are unable to identify the case to which the hon. Member refers. If he will state the name of the person seeking reinstatement as the representative of Mr. Thomas Berry, and the estate on which the lands in question are situate further inquiry will be made.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of the delay in the reinstatement of Mr. John M'Grath, of Knocklong, county Limerick, having regard to the fact that his case has been in the hands of the inspector to the Estates Commissioners for upwards of three years?

John M'Grath's name has been noted by the Estates Commissioners for consideration in connection with the distribution of untenanted land in respect of which proceedings are pending, but which have not yet been acquired by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary if Mr. Hickey, Cullinagh, Kilmeaden, county Waterford, an evicted tenant, has been offered a farm near Cahir, county Tipperary; and, if so, has he been informed of its situation, area, and future instalment payable in respect of this farm?

The Estates Commissioners propose to allot Hickey a holding on certain lands in county Waterford, which they expect to acquire at an early date under the Evicted Tenants Act. The Commissioners cannot say whether their inspector communicated to Hickey the particulars referred to in the concluding portion of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary if the lands of Butlerstown, Waterford Union, have been acquired by the Estates Commissioners with a view of placing evicted tenants on them; if so, can he state if these lands have been given to evicted tenants, and can he give the names of such evicted tenants; has the person who has had the grazing of these lands for several years offered to purchase such lands from the Commissioners; and, if so, has his offer been accepted or refused?

Proceedings are pending under the Evicted Tenants Act in respect of these lands, and the Estates Commissioners expect to acquire possession thereof at an early date. They propose to allot the lands, when acquired, amongst evicted tenants, but it would be contrary to established practice to publish, at this stage of the proceedings, the names of those to whom allotments are to be given. The Commissioners have not received any offer from the person referred to in the concluding portion of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have yet divided up the untenanted lands on the Goold Verschoyle estate situate at Athea, in the county of Limerick, amongst the evicted tenants, cottiers, and labourers in the district; and will he say how long these lands have been purchased by them?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that this estate is being sold by the owner direct to the tenants;, and that it will probably be inspected in its turn in the course of the next few months. The allotment of the untenanted lands will be duly considered by the Estates Commissioners when they receive their inspector's report.

asked when will the representatives of Mrs. Bridget McCaffrey, Woodford, John Reilly, Deri- niggan, and the representatives of Thomas McCurry, Woodford, all evicted tenants on the estate of Mrs. Upperton, near Carrigallen, county Leitrim, be reinstated in their homes, particularly as this estate has been sold recently to the tenants?

As regards the application of John Reilly, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for North Longford on 22nd June, 1908. The other applications referred to in the question will be considered by the Estates Commissioners when the estate is being dealt with in its order of priority.

asked when will Francis Pinkman, Killbracken, and Patrick Prunty, Killbracken, evicted tenants on the estate of Colonel Pennefeather, near Carrigallen, county Leitrim, be reinstated in their homes?

The Estates Commissioners have not received any application for reinstatement from Francis Pinkman. They do not propose to take any action in reference to Prunty's application for reinstatement in a holding at one time occupied by his brother, who is now in. America.